Maria von Hohenzollern
Truly a group of oddities all rolled into a single anterague walking through the city, but their destination was clear. At least to Maria it was clear. It took but a few moments of their time, but eventually Maria, the potential suspects in a crime that could hardly be understood as direct, and Ryan, the stranger who had found an even stranger land, had arrived at the Iron Bell Knights headquarters.
Simply put, “Headquarters” might not aptly describe the location. It was a military installation that seemed ripped out of the teutonic order from the castle-like bulwark, short bastions protecting the headquarters from any sort of outside harm. The opening arch was large, double or even triple the size of most men. Though the base was designed to protect the people, perhaps the designers thought it best to protect whatever lay within from the outside world, as one would do to protect a jewel or some sort of prize. However, unlike a true keep, the size of the building was nowhere near that of a true castle. It was a decently sized fortification, but it seemed more meant for perhaps an armored barricks than anything else.
After a short while of standing to the door, it had slowly, but surely opened, its heavy wood preventing the leaves from truly alleviating the great burden of it’s open. Well, perhaps that was not entirely true. The mechanics behind the door opening definitely alleviated the great weight of the door, but even so, the door’s weight didn’t allow the system to effectively obtain true effectiveness. A door that might as well be the closing gate to a castle was instead used to protect this base within the doors itself.
Buildings to protect those of the city when in need, and to prevent those who would attempt to rob or pillage the location. Not that there were many brave enough to disrupt the flow of the Knights. However, the Iron Bell knights, once a prominent force in Lugnican history, had been reduced to a shamble of its former self. To outlookers, the Iron Bell Knight;s downfall seemed to have been on the coattails of Maria’s ascendance, which is why Maria had become a tad bit infamous to those outside the Order, but there were hardly a more loyal or righteous Order of knights in all the lands.
The interior was perhaps a bit too over styled for a defensive structure, likely with help of the Hohenzollern interference. After all, Maria was from a distinguished household, and money was never an obstacle for Maria. She had lead the three to a room with the The interior was lined with silver candlestick holders and occasional porcelain, A room of riches, perhaps a bit too extravagant to exist within a structure of this calibre.
Shelves lined with a seemingly endless supply of books also were contained in this room. Some were novels, others the works of historians and playwrights. Some contained within them the laws of the lands and others information on criminals from past encounters.
The day shone through glass windows. A few windows stood out. They appeared to tell a story in the stainless glass. The tale of a knight who protected some sort of tower from harm. Most likely something relating to the Iron Bell Knights. .
Obviously, this room was someone’s personal study. And that someone would be Maria.
“Take a seat,” Maria requested of the two suspects, gesturing them to the seats before a desk of sorts .The two seats were positioned far enough that individuals would not be able to reach one another in the event they were to stretch their arms towards any given direction, but close enough as to have a degree of closeness with the individuals sitting. There was not a seat for Ryan at the time, however, he held little involvement aside from a promise Maria made to ensure his safety.
“Grian, your name was? Allow me to introduce myself to the both of you as well, Cheiko. I am Maria von Hohenzollern, commander of the Iron Bell Knights and an enforcer of Justice in this fair city. Normally there are other areas to interrogate witnesses and criminal alike, but I felt that I could at least trust the two of you within my study. I am much more comfortable within here after all, and I wouldn’t wish to alarm either of you with a more dreary setting. This is a civil dispute at best, and I am sure that we can at the very least get along.” Maria spoke in a rather matter-of-fact tone, as if she was reading from some sort of script she held in her mind. Perhaps that was not too untrue. After all, she did believe herself an arbitrator of justice.
“I am going to ask you a series of questions, and depending on the answer I shall determine the best method of future actions. I shall start with you, Cheiko. You seem to have a certain foreigner aura about yourself. As does your “friend”, Grian, but yours seems more akin to the individual I had promised respite for, Ryan. As a knight, I am under duty to the people under distress in this country. Could I perhaps ask about where you come from?” Maria then turned towards Grian to ask him a single question while she awaited a response from Cheiko.
“And as for you, Grian, could I ask your purpose for being within this city? You seem to also be a foreigner, therefore I must inquire your reason for being here? Are you here merely as a traveler as your appearance would suggest, are you immigrating, or perhaps do you have business within this city?” 
Member
