Mordular's First Task 27th Samsheen, Late Tradetide

[Guest]

Mordular switched his mien and his demeanor like the change in the lighting of a candle in a dark room as he switched from advocate and speaker to the Queen back to listening to her Majesty's response.

"Although it is the Priestess' response and agreement which counts the most, of course." Mordular began, with an inclination of his head. "I have no objection to the first condition that you lay out your Majesty. I see the wisdom in what you say, and it would go a long way to placating any objections the Dark Knights themselves might have to the formation of a rival armed force." Mordular continued.

"As for the second point, your Majesty, I confess that such a balance of force concerns me more than a little. My zeal is somewhat dampened by the prospect of Anasati's followers having similar rights. I have no objection to the practical and industrious followers of Molten, however, having their own force, of course."

"However." Mordular continued. "I will abide by the decision and thoughts of the Priestess in this matter." He turned to regard Lilandra expectantly.

[Tristam]

"It is said equality is a three edged sword, Mordular." The queen commented. "We are sure there are those among Anasati's ranks that cringe at the thought of warriors of the Moonlady. Let that thought hearten you." There was as much chuckling as dark murmurings among the crowd of courtiers around the royal dais.

Liliandra spoke once more. "I have full faith in the good that the Sentinels are capable of and the capacity ofYour Majesty to keep the peace. The Temple of the Moonlady agrees to your conditions."

Queen Ser'raquine rose gracefully from her throne. A nearby page hurried to her side and offered up a scroll and a stone writing stylus. "Then it is so decreed." He announced over the the skirtching of her stylus on parchment. "This Royal Charter empowers you to levy and train the Moonlady's Sentinels. We expect the other two temples shall petition for their charters within the mark. Make good use of the time." She advised.

The page stepped lightly down the dais and presented the scroll to Lilandra with a bow. The Queen sat down once more and appraised Mordular. "We are impressed with your bravery." She said simply. "We are unsure if we should be pleased you remained or upset that you did not join the Ascent. We grant you a boon." She decided. "One item from our armory. Let it be known to the other temples that the one brave enough to be their first and their face shall likewise be honored."

[Guest]

Mordular tried to remain impassive as the decision was made, but the brightness of Mordular's eyes betrayed his pleasure at the decision of the Priestess, and, subsequently, the Queen. He found himself bending slightly at the waist as the announcement was made. When the Queen spoke of the boon, and the praise, he barely flushed.

"I am but young, your Majesty." he only said in response to her mention of him having not going up with the Ascent. "I will do my best to be worthy of the boon which your Majesty is so gracious in allowing me. I shall wield it with the honor and righteousness due my new station-to-be."

Mordular bowed deeply to the Queen.

[Tristam]

"Your words due you credit, Mordular." Her Majesty replied. "May your deeds always do likewise."

Lilandra bowed to the Queen and allowed Mordular to escort her from the chamber. "That went well all things considered." Lilandra murmured. "Her gift to you is a double one. The followers of Anasati and Molten will squabble amongst themelves who should be brought forward to claim the boon offered them. Once again we are bought some time."

One of the Queen's guard approached them as they crossed the threshold of the audience chamber. "I have been instructed to bring you to the armory, Sentinel." He spoke the term with respect. "I am pleased to be your guide through it. The gift must match the warrior to weild it after all."

[Guest]

Mordular shuddered slightly, as the guard addressed him with the new title to be.
It felt like a new set of clothing that was garbing him. It would take some getting used to, he thought, as a couple of moments of time passed as he let the words echo in his ears. Finally he gave a nod of the head.

"Of course. It would be a far less useful gift if it was not one suited to my hand." Mordular agreed, starting to display a small smile as he did so.

He regarded the guard for a moment, and then turned to face Lilandra.
"If I am of course dismissed, my lady?" he asked the Priestess questioningly. He waited for a sign of assent before continuing. "Where shall we meet once I have made my choice?" he asked.

[Tristam]

"I will await you at the entrance, Mordular." Lilandra replied. "I trust you will choose well." So saying she drifted off down the corridor. Some courtiers in the hallway greeted her by name and she went off with them chatting.

"This way then." The guard gestured and began to lead Mordular through the palace. "Have you given any thought to what you wish to seek out?" The guard asked Mordular. "Weapon or armor?"

[Guest]

Mordular watched Lilandra depart from his presence after a dumb nod of agreement at her choice of meeting space. In point of face, he watched the Priestess depart and continued to watch her departure, mezmerized, until the words and the gesture of the guard broke him out of his reverie.

"Oh, yes, of course." Mordular said, turning and nodding. Mordular hurried his footsteps to try and keep up with the stride of the guard. It took a few pace for Mordular to match it and keep up with his guide.

"The gift from her Majesty was unexpected." Mordular answered honestly after a few moments thought as he continued to follow the "I almost expected to be imprisoned, rather than rewarded." Mordular went silent for a few more footsteps.

"Suggestions, such as you might give, would be appreciated." he finally finished.

[Tristam]

The guard chuckled at Mordular's confession. "You are not the first to enter expecting to carry his head out and instead walk out with a crown of gold. Of course, quite a few have walked in favor expecting favor and not walked out again." The guard shrugged. "I am told that Her Majesty calcualtes her capriciousness. Keeps the factions off-guard that way." The guard cleared his throat loudly. He had said too much. Back to the point of the endeavor.

"Enough of such talk. Your boon. Well the exact choice would be down to the weapon and armor your training has favored up to this point." The guard replied. "In the general sense though, you have been pushed forward as an example. I'd choose at item that really stood out and made people notice. Armor or shield might be better for that but all the stories of the heros mention their swords by name. I guess it really depends on the kind of story you wish to tell, Sentinel."

[Guest]

"I am not overly skilled with a shield." Mordular said after a moment, nodding carefully as the guard spoke, perhaps a little too freely, about the factions of the city.

"And while Armor might suit me somewhat better." Mordular considered, speaking and thinking aloud in the same trains of thought. "you are right, there is precious less renown in a suit of armor than a weapon. And one does not always wear armor, whereas a weapon of note is more often at hand."

"At least" Mordular smiled slightly. "as I have heard of in tales of heroic deeds." He waved a hand in dismissal of the thought and faced a hand.

"A Blade. I think I would be served best, and serve Gulanadur best, with a fine long blade, better than the one I carry now." Mordular said firmly.

[Tristam]

"Then we shall visit the room of blades and we shall see what weapon calls to you." The guard agreed. Several twists and turns later, they arrive at a large metal door flanked by two guards that snap to attention at the sight of the guard with Mordular. His guide unlocks the door with a heavy iron key and the door creaked inward. The room beyond was bare with walls unadorned. "Wait here a moment, Mordular." The guard entered and Mordular could hear the shifting of stone. "You may enter."

A door now appeared in the wall to the left. Inside, the walls held a variety of swords hanging from pegs lit by a glowing crystal in the ceiling. There was a variety of shapes and designs and many of them were foreign to Mordular's eyes. Of the size blade that Mordular was searching for, there were three. The first was a straight blade with a simple bar crosspiece and a hilt of dark metal capped with a jet pommelstone. The blade looked keen but the metal lacked lustre. The second blade curved slightly with a thinner blade. The crosspiece was a pair of spreading bat wings. The hilt was steel wrapped with copper wire and capped with an iron pommel. The third was a straight blade that gleamed in the light. It had a bell guard around the hilt and the pommelstone was a diamond.

[Guest]

Mordular walked in with trepidation, his eyes gleaming and bright with wonder as the blades surrounded him on all the walls, lit by that glowing gem in the ceiling. He walked around the room slowly, clockwise, letting his eye drink over the details of all the blades. Not only did he look at the blades suited to his reach and height, but the others as well.

It was not everyday that one had the privilege of visiting the Armory, for a gift or even just to gaze upon the blades himself. As the minutes passed, however, Mordular finally settled his eyes on blades more suitable for himself, and found himself torn between the finest three blades.

He didn't dare lift any of them just yet, but Mordular hovered his right hand over each blade's pommel, as if willing to learn more about them through close proximity. First, he hovered his hand over the dull and dark straight blade, despite its modesty something in it drawing him. Next, his hand held over the bat winged hilt sword. He let his hand rest a little longer over this one. Finally, his hand hovered over the most beautiful of the blades, the diamond gleaming to his eyes. It took an effort of will for Mordular to tear his hand away and not pick up that blade immediately.

Finally, he turned to the guard. "You don't know anything of these blades, do you?" Mordular asked. "This blade, for instance." his finger extended to the relatively plain sword. "seems almost out of place, amongst the others."

[Tristam]

"I know not its history but something of its make." The guard replied. "Like much work of the blademasters, the folded steel technique was used to give the sword strength and sharpness. This blade was treated with an alchemical powder between each step such that it was folded into the blade and worked throughout its substance. The result is the lack of shine and dull appearance. Perfect for one that did not want the glint of a blade to give away ones position." The guard opined.

"The curved blade came from an experiment in cavalry though not the riding of bats as the cross piece might indicate." The guard chuckled. "For a time Gulanadur had a squad of lizard riders that could race out into the tunnels with speed and this blade was passed down through the captains of that squad until it was retired for service as being too much trouble than it was worth."

"I know little about the third blade." The guard admitted. "It is of surface make and quite old. It is a trophy from the days of betrayal and conquest before our just punishment and imprisonment beneath the ground."

[Guest]

Mordular listened with rapt attention as the guard detailed what he knew of the three blades most suited to Mordular's eye and hand. He found himself nodding at all of the guard's points, but his eyes strayed to the three blades again and again as the guard spoke.

Finally, Mordular gave a bow to the guard. "I thank you for your counsel and of what you know of the blades." Mordular first gestured to the bat-winged blade. "I am no cavalryman, and I fear that a blade more suited for cavalry would be slightly less useful for someone who fights on foot, as I do. I've never ridden a lizard, and not a bat either." Mordular smiled slightly.

"As for this blade." he gestured to the beautiful blade next. "It is pretty, and as such it is pleasing to the eye. It attracts me for that reason, but beauty alone does not an effective weapon make. No, I cannot choose that blade, even as it gleams and tempts me with that gleam."

"And so we come to this one." His hand reached out and took the simple straight barred sword with the jet pommelstone. He lifted it from its position and experimentally hefted it. Mordular nodded to the guard. "This one. It may be the least beautiful of the three blades, but this is the blade I choose with the boon given to me by her majesty."

[Tristam]

"I somehow thought that is the blade you might choose." The guard smiled. Reaching behind the stand, the guard retrieved a black leather belt and scabbard that went with the blade. "You see I do know one more thing about that blade but did not wish to influence you. This was the name given to it by its last owner." The guard held out the scabbard for Mordular to examine. There were runes lightly burned into the leather, black against black such that only one up close would notice them. They proclaimed the blade to be named:

Darkmoon.

[Guest]

Mordular took the scabbard and belt from the guard with reverence and his eyes focused to read the dark runes upon the dark scabbard. Subtle and a hidden message for those who knew where to read it, Mordular let a finger trace over the runic letters before nodding.

"You are right of course, I might have unduly been influenced to come to this blade on its name alone, which would not have been fair to the other two choices." Mordular said with a trace of a smile.

"Like the darkest phase of the Lady's Moon which I have yet to see." Mordular said with satisfaction as he put on the belt, and then took the sword and placed it in the scabbard.

"Yes, I think I have made the right choice." Mordular said with satisfaction and a smile. "And I thank you for aiding me to come to it."

[Tristam]

"A pleasure, Sentinel." The guard nodded to Mordular and smiled. He then offered his hand to Mordular. "I am Cirion Ach-Lunari, Heart Keeper of the Queen's Guard. There are four of my lineage that once wore the title of Sentinel. It pleases me beyond words to see that order reestablished."

[Guest]

Mordular took the hand that Cirion Ach-Lunari offered, and shook it firmly but did not make it a contest of strength.

"It has been too long a time since any have had the right, the privilege and responsibility of being a Sentinel." Mordular agreed with a nod of the head. "Being the first, it will be a great weight and responsibility for me to bear, not only for those other Sentinels that follow me..." Mordular paused. "But, as you say, the reputation of the past to live up to as well."

"Still, while your line may have produced Sentinels in the past." Mordular continued, and smiled slightly. "Being Heart-Keeper is of equal prestige and duty, be it to the Queen rather than to the Goddess."

[Tristam]

"I like to think that I serve our Goddess by serving our Queen." Cirion said mildly. "Her Majesty is a devout follower of Molten as are most of her family. They work hard, work tirelessly toward whatever they think is best for Gulanadur. Can you imagine all that energy being directed back into the old ways?" He whispered.

"That is why I am here, Sentinel." Cirion pronounced. "I am an influence of the Moonlady that is always by her side. Perhaps if she trusts a follower of the Moonlady with her life, then she will come to trust the Goddess as well." Cirion smiled. "A vain hope perhaps but I can only do what I can."

[Guest]

Mordular nodded quietly at Cirion's almost confidential admission, regarding the Heart Keeper in a new light. Mordular's eyes regarded him at first casually and then appraisingly, and he then inclined his head more than the nodding he had just finished.

"By Deeds, yes. The Priestesses and Priests have their role to play, and so do all of those who follow her as well who are not called to serve in that manner. You do inspire and remind me, Cirion." Mordular's mouth had a trace of a smile. "that I needs must go down to the Temple Tier and offer my thanks to the Goddess, for preserving my life when others were lost. And to give her thanks for giving me this opportunity to serve Her further."

[Tristam]

"Well spoken." Cirion nodded with a smile. "I wish you well, Mordular, and would leave you with this piece of advice. Every group requires both a Leader to make the hard decisions and a Heart Keeper to bolster everyone's morale when those hard choices have to be made. If you find you cannot be both, find your counterpart swiftly."

[Guest]

"Rare is the person who can embody both roles. So your piece of advice is doubly useful for it." Mordular agreed, after a few moment's consideration of Cirion's world. "I am ready now to take my leave, and continue on my own path. Well armed." His hand strayed to the hilt of his new blade. "And well informed."

Mordular walked with Cirion toward the entrance of the crystal-light room. Mordular glanced upward at the crystal one last time, and then glanced one last time at the swords and arms and armor before giving a nod to Cirion.

Mordular gave a short bow. "Bh ea fiadhea ta ealiu"

[Tristam]

Cirion simply bowed in return and let Mordular step out into the hall. He heard the grinding of stone again as the chamber was closed. Then Cirion rejoined Mordular and returned him to the main hall.

Lliandra was waiting on a stone bench and rose as they approached. "Are you properly accoutered now, my Sentinel?" She asked.

[Guest]

Mordular kept quiet during the entire trip back to the main hall. His eyes flickered now and again to the passage, ahead, to the sides and behind him, almost as if he expected himself and Cirion to be followed or observed during their passage. He held his hands together in front of him, letting his clasped hands brush the hilt of his gifted blade now and again as he followed Cirion to where Lilandra awaited him.

Once he reached the great hall and Lilandra rose, Mordular stopped and bowed to her. He then walked forward and unbuckled Darkmoon, keeping it in his sheath as he knelt and held it out before him, to her in both hands. He did not look up at her, but anyone could see the pride in his eyes. "I have, my lady. This is Darkmoon."

[Tristam]

Lilandra laid one hand upon the sheath and murmured a prayer of consecration over the blade. "You have chosen well, Sentinel. Now let us hope we are as fortunate and skilled in our abilites to attract people." Lilandra gestured for Mordular to rise."

"There are some that will come to us following family honor and tradition." Lilandra spoke. "But too few, I fear. Have you any thoughts on how best to fill our ranks?"

[Guest]

Mordular accepted the sheathed sword back from Lilandra and rose to his feet upon her command to do so. After she posed her question, the dark adhiel regarded a point in space beyond her left shoulder, clearly lost in thought.

Finally, he spoke, turning his gaze to the Priestess as he did so.

"We should begin, I feel." Mordular began. "with those who hold the Moonlady dearest and strongest in their hearts. Just as mushrooms are planted in the best of sometimes very difficult to work stony soil, so we should, too, favor the best places to recruit candidates, first, before turning attentions to more difficult realms."

"As such, my own House, and Ach-Lunar, of the Nobles, would be the place to begin, given the special place the Moonlady has in our hearts." Mordular said.