A Knight's Return
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Yandros on 08-11-2016, 21:54:59</h2>
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				Title: <strong>A Knight's Return</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>08-11-2016, 21:54:59</strong>
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				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It had been a long winter.&nbsp; Cold, dark, lonely and worst of all?&nbsp; Boring.&nbsp; After traveling from Vingaard Keep through Solamnia to the port of Hamilton, Kethis has been assigned to the remote area of Valens.&nbsp; An unknown little patch of dirt to most, it was an honor guard position in name only.&nbsp; All knew he was there due to becoming too close with his draconic partner, and the two years there had been to put distance between the two of them.&nbsp; The first year had not been terrible, as much of the time there was spent settling into the routine of the city.&nbsp; But the second year, when a blizzard came over the Bay and settled in for three months.&nbsp; That is when he was wondering what offence he had given the gods.&nbsp; Or what god of evil had taken a personal interest in making his life hell…<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But those two years are over, finally.&nbsp; And the journey back to Solamnia could occur.<br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Stepping out of the cabin, the knight is wearing only a simple bit of padded cloth.&nbsp; Heavy armor on a boat, while sailing through the Straits of Algoni is not a wise idea.&nbsp; Especially when the winds are heavy, and blowing a stinging rain nearly sideways.&nbsp; But yet, even though the weather is poor and the ship swaying from side to side, he simply had to get out of the small enclosed room that was his.&nbsp; A need to stretch his legs as well as just look up to the sky he no longer flew through.&nbsp; Sighing softly as he stands near the door to head below deck, his eyes remain upwards towards the sky.&nbsp; Trying his best to remain out of the way of the sailors working around him, even they are looking towards the knight with expressions of confusion.&nbsp; Why would anyone want to be outside during this, let alone just standing there.&nbsp; But they do not pay much mind, as work demands more of their concentration during the storm.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eventually though, Kethis turns and walks back below decks.&nbsp; The floor under his feet moving up and down, side to side; it takes a bit of careful navigation for him to go back to his room.&nbsp; But once there, he takes a seat upon the small cot that has been provided for him.&nbsp; His armor, polished and shined, stands upon a rack in the corner while his sword and shield rest against the side.&nbsp; Thankfully they are held in place by a small peg of their own, otherwise they would have already gone skittering along the floor.&nbsp; But with the ship moving so, all he can do is reach over to the scroll case hanging from the corner of his cot.&nbsp; Pulling forth the letter from within it, his eyes scan the words he wrote before.<br><br><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Aranrhod,<br>I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits.&nbsp; I have just landed within Edgerton, and once the ship is unloaded I shall be making my way towards Caergoth.&nbsp; I send this letter before me, in hopes that it may find you before I am all the way to Solanthus.&nbsp; Within Caergoth I have duties to attend to, along with some small business within Garnet.&nbsp; But from there, I shall be making my way to Solanthus post haste.&nbsp; <br>If it is not too great a favor to ask of you, would you perhaps care to meet again?&nbsp; I know it has been some time, but I do hope your memory is as long as your span.&nbsp; I shall have some time of leave once I reach the great city, before I am to be put back to duty.&nbsp; <br>I look forward to telling you of my time within Valens, and my excursion to Icewall.&nbsp; As well, I do wish to hear of your own adventures these past two years.&nbsp; Hopefully we shall be able to take time to speak of them when I return.<br><br>Once again, I do hope this finds you in good spirits.<br><br>May Paladine favor,<br>Kethis</em><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Knight's Return</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>haikuoftears</strong> on <strong>08-11-2016, 22:37:39</strong>
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				The sudden separation had been hard for arahnrod, questions swimming in her head left unanswered. It was worse because their newfound relationship was still fragile. She had searched for him after that meeting, but had been called back by her own duties. She never saw him since and had only heard that he was given a mission and she was to be partnered with another. The last came as a heartbreaking shock to her, despite being delivered as gently as possibly by the dragon disguised as an elven adviser.<br><br>Contrary to her initial belief it wasn't Taleyah who had plotted the separation, and had admitted he himself did not know. For months after he had spent time with her in her human form, teaching her manners, ettiquette, the the ways to deal with the pain that came from her new emotions. She was young after all, and compared to humans they were practically immortal, but he could only teach her heart so much, and he had watched as she went through the days as if lost, learning humanity by rote.<br><br>Finally the day came when her new rider arrived, and Taleyah had never seen aranrhods take human form again. Unfortunately the knight was one of the few that believed dragons were nothing more than sentient beasts, treating aranrhods like an oversized horse. She accepted it though, it had kept her from being close to him, speaking only wheb there was no other choice and carted him around like so much a sack of potatoes. Within the year she had seen her first injury, a mere skirmish to chase bandits from the border turned bad from her rider's neglect, tearing her wings to nearly beyond repair. The worse? He had blamed her for it, a stupid beast who couldn't take orders. They were separated shortly after.<br><br>Now nearly two years later she was alone again, her wing not quite healed, out of her own choice. If she couldn't fly, she wouldn't have to be ridden, cowardly but true. Taleyah had found make work for her on the ground though, training squires by having them try to hold on while she tried to fuck them off, far better that barrels on a rope hauled by servants. She had come to accept her fate, for no letter arrived, no news of her knight, no hope that he had pined for her the way she did him. So she trained youngsters and young men, channeling her frustrations in her attempt to break them from their foolishness.<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Knight's Return</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>09-11-2016, 06:07:33</strong>
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				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a sigh of something between relief and bliss, the bottom of his foot hits stable ground.&nbsp; Stopping only long enough to steady himself along the stone, Kethis has his eyes closed as he takes in a deep breath.&nbsp; While the salt still lingers upon the air, the ground underneath him is not moving.&nbsp; But soon enough he has to start walking again, as there are others disembarking from the ship behind him as well.&nbsp; Not wishing to halt the progress of the procession too much, he cannot help but smile as his feet start to carry him down the length of the stone dock.&nbsp; Not long after walking down the dock though, his eyes scan the busy streets of the city’s market.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Finding what he was looking for within minutes, the Knight hefts the pack upon his shoulder as he walks over towards a familiar looking building.&nbsp; Couriers.&nbsp; They are in every city, and thankfully usually reliable to deliver messages between the cities.&nbsp; As well, with the pay from his duty causing his purse to be heavy, it would be simple enough to send his letter along.&nbsp; Never mind the fact that walking into the building in full dress armor would cause the workers there to think twice before trying anything funny with his letter.&nbsp; Thankfully though, it did not take much, and soon he was walking outside to the market once again.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Knight's Return</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>haikuoftears</strong> on <strong>09-11-2016, 08:34:29</strong>
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				His arrival had been watched for, and&nbsp; from the moment the first letter arrived and was intercepted, to the moment his ship reached port, eyes and ears have made sure to track him down. So it was no surprise that his latest letter did not leave the city, much less the building. When he stepped out a person in nondescript clothing walked in, remained for a few minutes and walked out, clutching something, seemingly unaware of the knight, heading off with the precious parchment to report to whoever had been following him, seemingly unaware of the large knight in a crowd.<br><br>Not so everyone else though, as a hearty greetings called him from behind. "De Sulthen!" As another armored knight rounded the corner. He wore a less remarkable version of the solamnic armor, with worn leather gloves carrying what seemed to be bags fresh meat. "By the gods, it is you!"<br><br>He trotted over, shifting one of the bags to clasp his shoulder in greeting. He was a large man, six feet and then some of wiry muscles, his mustache a glory in his face. Sir Alvric de Kars, weaponsmaster at high clerist tower had not changed since the day Kethis first arrived at the tower, and eveb after years he seemed to not only be ageless but had trimmed everything but whipcord over muscle. Yet his face creased not in hardship but in smiles, one readily offered him in friendship.<br><br>"You are a sight, Kethis. your lady sure will be surprise to see you. You are heading home then?" He asked. For Alvric, home was the tower, having not wed in all these years. "Your dragon will be just as glad--" he seemed to pause, the hand on kethis' shoulder moving around him as he lowered his voice. "Your silver... She had been given to partner Nikolas after you left." <br><br>And of course everyone knew Nikolas Helkis, nible heir, backward in all things, and vocal in his questions. Dragons, even those of the light could be corrupted, he said. Look at Huma and his dragon who flew him to treachery and death. They could not be trusted, who could when they are merely a step above animals, favored though they might be by the gods. That knight.<br><br>"Your lady dragon..." Alvric sighed, shoulders raising helplessly. "She is away from him now, but... I don't think the youngling did well after you left. Well...you'll see. Have you sent for a rider?" He asked, cheering up. A few squires came round the bend as well, in a wagon, a knight with them. That one dismounted and nodded in greeting, his whiskers betraying his youth. "Ah, Leonard. Will you ask your blue lady if she would take me as a passenger?" "But...you came here riding the silver." "yes but her rider is here now. And she is much too little to carry both." Aranrhod, here. Now.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Knight's Return</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>10-11-2016, 05:35:01</strong>
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				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At the sound of a greeting, Kethis turns around to see who was calling for him.&nbsp; And as the sight of Alvric, a bright and fond smile comes to his face.&nbsp; Stepping towards the other man as well, his hand comes up to clasp his old friend’s shoulder.&nbsp; Gripping tightly as the other man speaks, he ends up nodding his head quickly.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I just came back to town.&nbsp; I was near Icewall, for a two year span…”&nbsp; Shaking his head then, he moves his hands to brush against his own arms.&nbsp; Just mimicking shuddering, as her lets out a bit of an amused laugh.&nbsp; But as the other man speaks, his mirth and joviality fades rather quickly.&nbsp; Furrowing his brows at the news of Aranrhod taking another rider, it was dwarfed in his mind by the dawning realization of who she had been assigned to.&nbsp; He knew the man, and while he was not a bad individual, his thoughts towards partners tended towards the archaic.&nbsp; Narrowing his eyes a little bit, there is a dark look coming over his face before the two of them are interrupted.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Looking over towards the newcomer that has approached, his eyes flick up and down over this youth.&nbsp; The young knight can be barely into his majority, and from how he stands?&nbsp; Certainly is not used to being around Knights who have spent years in service.&nbsp; Let alone the fact that Kethis is dressed in a more formal armor, one most suited for parades and the court, rather than one to be used in the field.&nbsp; Of course it could, but it simply is not the most suited for such activities.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“A young silver.&nbsp; She is here, you say?&nbsp; Interesting.”&nbsp; Setting his shoulders as much as he is able, his voice drops nearly an octave as his words come out in far more commanding tone than normal.&nbsp; “You will take me to her, now.&nbsp; I wish to see who is here, along with the area that she is being kept.&nbsp; Now.”&nbsp; The last word spoken brooks no room for disobedience, as he is already starting to walk a few steps.&nbsp; Pausing only long enough for the youth to step in front of him, he is then marching off in the direction of the yard.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Knight's Return</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>haikuoftears</strong> on <strong>10-11-2016, 05:56:57</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The young knight seem to react slowly, rolling his eyes towards Kethis before they widened, a very embarassed look on his face. He was indeed still young, just knight a fortnight before and had only been around the weaponsmaster who didn't stand to protocol and other squires before. He had stayed back because he needed to learn the manners, and it seemed he already did an faux pas. "I...yes, lord knight." Alvric chuckled, not helping at all as the young man continued to dig his own grave, though he did wander ahead, keeping up with Kethis. <br><br>It was easy to find the direction, even without anyone's help, children running around excitedly and crowding at the square was the telltale sign. One little boy stumbled against his leg, clutching a carrot, his little legs weaving through the traffic to push himself through the crowd. "I got a carrot!" Came the excited yell.<br><br>And there, in the square rested two dragons, one bigger than the other by such a margin that it looked the way an adult does to an older child. Both were silver, their scales glinting in the soft light as children crowed around them. They had saddles for riding dragon back, and hooks on the side of packs. A few had sat in the larger's foreleg, who seemed amused at it all. The smaller one, a silver shading to slate near her ridges, who looked like she should be an adult but was too small, yet proportioned was tucking her head down to the boy's level...looking bemused.<br><br>"Well? Don't offend the child, Aranrhod. Take the gift." Came the rumble, tinged with much laughter. The smaller dragon canted her head at the larger, the look clearly saying he would pay for it later before reluctantly opening her mouth. The boy tossed the carrot in as if he did this all the time, and the larger dragon, and a few of the adults nearby held back snickers. Aranrhod looked like she didn't want to swallow.<br><br>"Well?"<br><br>"..."<br><br>The boy looked up expectantly, and to aranrhod's utter horror another one came running back before she could do anything to toss another carrot. The damn little buggers probably thought she was a horse! Well, now she looked offended, but at her companion whose rumbling laugh was like thunder rolling in from a distance. They arrived just in time, though it was the younger knight's clanking armor that drew attention to them, people turning their heads to greet the knights.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Knight's Return</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>11-11-2016, 05:24:03</strong>
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				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Stepping past a small stall that had hidden him from sight, Kethis comes to an abrupt stop.&nbsp; Just looking out over the area to see two dragons, his eyes immediately go towards the smaller one.&nbsp; Coming in at just the right time, he watches the carrot go flying towards her face.&nbsp; Only to then be snapped up, and that all too familiar look of distaste come to her face.&nbsp; With the second carrot now flying through the air, he steps forward and fully into view.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Coughing slightly as if to announce his presence, it is more to let the others in the area know of him.&nbsp; He was more than certain the dragons already knew, as their hearing would have picked up on the metal on metal sounds of armor long ago.&nbsp; Though, he also knew of just how long it had been.&nbsp; Would she know his armor anymore?&nbsp; Would she even recognize his face?&nbsp; Of course she would.&nbsp; But yet, why was she here?&nbsp; He had just sent the letter, and the pig she had been assigned to was not in town.&nbsp; Or was he?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All these thoughts flew through his mind, before his thoughts all of a sudden went utterly blank.&nbsp; Everything he had thought to say to her, it was gone.&nbsp; And all he could do was thank Paladine for the chance to be here once again.&nbsp; In the presence of the dragon he had grown so close to, those years back.&nbsp; Forcing himself to swallow in order to clear his throat, his voice still comes out in something of a strained tone.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Aranrhod.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Knight's Return</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>haikuoftears</strong> on <strong>11-11-2016, 15:50:09</strong>
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				The carrots lay like lumps on her tongue, in chewed. She really didn't want to eat them, but the children were still there. She needed to distract then somehow or suffer vegetablish horror. That was wheb she first heard the clanks of armor. Even her companion turned curiously, as the sound were nothing like the ones of those they came here with. He saw first. Craning his neck up over the crowd. Aranrhod would have done the same but moving at the moment would mean she would accidently bump against the two children, so she remained ducked down, tilting her head just a little at the throat clearing.<br><br>The crowd parted even as she tried to place the sound, feeling as if she heard it before. Then he stepped into her line of sight, and she blinked not so fast that it sounded like daggers drawn together. She lifted her head, even as Alvric and the other knight came forward and started looking the bags in the other dragon's saddle. His cheerful "Look who we found, lady dragon!" He secured the bag and shooed the children genially, before turning with arms crossed, watching the scene with a look between smug pleasure and honest curiosity. Afterall, it has been a while since the silver spoke, and she had been away from her rider for two years... And females of any species liked to hold grudges for such disappearances.<br><br>Aranrhod stared at him for a long time, from his booted feet up, then back down, before she slowly raised her head, the children stepping away as they stared at the scene. With her head raised she seemed larger than him still, despite being a runt, light catching her scales as she shifted to face him fully.<br><br>"Eh'ih."<br><br>A booming laugh cane from the other dragon, startling most of the crowd at the sound that emerged, even as Alvric raised a brow. Did she forget to talk? That sounded nothing like his name. Aranrhod wasn't amused by the laughter, though she didn't turn away, eyes narrowing as he just stood there. Was he expecting some dramatic welcome then, like the human love stories Taleyah made her read to help her understand her emotions? Well he could go back to whatever abyss he came from them.<br><br>"Or ack"<br><br>A low growl, turning that draconic head away, high above the heads of anyone nearby. Two volleys of something orange erupted from her mouth in a trajectory headed somewhere hopefully beyond the children's ability to recover it, followed by a gust of icy steam. Then she turned back, eyes narrowing even more as if to dare anyone to further laughter. "Bloody carrots." The other dragon laughed harder.<br><br>"Kethis." She repeated, as if she didn't just try it earlier with amazing failure, "you're back." Nothing welcoming about her words, and her tail flicked once as if a woman flicking her hair towards a man they were crossed with. Then she turned away, waddling off, saddle and all as Alvric and the other knight tried to chase her back. "Oi!" He called, trying not to laugh in relieved amusement. Yes, females reacted the same, indeed. "We have to get back today!" The waddling silver growled and flapped once, started heading off towards the docks, clearly saying in a high rumble "have him carry them back for all I care!". <br><br>There was a long silence, as suddenly the plaza emptied of everyine but the kbights, squires and one dragon. Alvric turned and cleared his throat, having a hard time wiping the grin off his face. He cleared his throat once, twice... The finally managed a choked "well...at least she's speaking again."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Knight's Return</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Yandros</strong> on <strong>26-11-2016, 06:21:26</strong>
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				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blinking in a mixture of surprise and shock, Kethis stood rather still as the dragon he knew greeted him in such a cold manner.&nbsp; And in truth, he remained standing there for the better part of a minute before shaking his head.&nbsp; Grumbling a bit to himself and under his breath, he turned upon his heel to look towards the other Knights present.&nbsp; Puffing up a little and setting his shoulders straight, he nods once to Alvric.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Fair enough.&nbsp; It seems I have some business to tend to.&nbsp; I will trust you with the minor details of this trip.&nbsp; Provisions, path, and the like.”&nbsp; Speaking in a tone that brooked no tolerance for disobedience, he nods once to the other Knight before looking towards the second dragon that was present.&nbsp; Taking a step towards the large scaled creature, he clears his throat before speaking.&nbsp; “Thank you for seeing to her, and making certain she came here.&nbsp; It seems that I need to speak with her a bit.&nbsp; Alone, if you do not mind.&nbsp; And a favor, if you shall grant it to me?&nbsp; Make certain the others do not follow.”<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Without waiting for a reply from the dragon, Kethis spins and starts to walk off quickly.&nbsp; Following in the direction that Aranrhod had stalked off, it was not all that difficult to track her.&nbsp; Seeing as the streets towards the docks were not exactly fit or set for a dragon to pass through, there were a few shouts from some of the merchants and citizens of the city.&nbsp; But after only a few minutes had passed, he was walking up near the waddling dragon that he knew so well.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“ARANRHOD!&nbsp; What exactly do you think you are doing, walking off like that?!”&nbsp; Shouting her name at first, there is no mistaking just who was speaking.&nbsp; And the words that followed were nearly boomed, with a voice of a Knight used to being heard over the din of a battlefield.&nbsp; “You will turn around, this instant!&nbsp; If nothing else, to say hello!”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: A Knight's Return</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>haikuoftears</strong> on <strong>26-11-2016, 07:02:24</strong>
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				The streets were indeed unfit for a dragon's bulk, especially one who was mantling as she stomped ahead. By the time the knight had finally caught up with her, the streets had turned narrow, for she had turned without thinking and ended from the main road to the smaller residential streets.<br><br>The people who had been witness to a dragon marching along the streets were wise enough not to follow, though they did stand at the mouth of the street she was now stomping in till only the tip of her tail and the faint glint of metal from the knight's armor could be seen. The boom of his voice reverberated against the walls though, makibg it seem louder and more ominous, which finally dispersed the crowd.<br><br>Aranrhod had kept going, until after the echoes died off, string so suddenly her wings scraped against the walls of the houses. Either the street and houses were empty or people didn't bother with what happened outside, for they remained essentially alone. She looked up, wishing she had flown off earlier, cursing her own reaction and partly wanting to see if he would give chase. Damn Taleyah and his books on female ettiquette. She swiveled her neck around, only inches from scraping the wall, eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.<br><br>"Hello."<br><br>She turned away, wiggling to add a few more yards of distance between them.<br><br>"Goodbye."<br><br>Another wiggle, until she finally did get stuck, wings forced to press against her back, sides heaving as she got stuck between a wall and a house that seem to be drunk, tilting sideways towards the street. Up was no escape as well, as the buildings had lines of clothing across each end, along with strings of appeared to be bread and cheese to keep the rodents from getting at them. Her tail flicked out, clipping the edge of his boot s it thumped in the ground in irritation.<br><br>"....bloody hell."<br><br>
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