Crimson Paladin

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

I'm reading Lord Velbrance's lines in Nazeem's voice.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

Fleuri Jodeau

Fleuri drooped his shoulders a bit at Jarde's reply, which was a bit sadder than he had expected. "Everyone has to start somewhere, and you're off to a decent start. Iron Rose, veteran of the skirmish that slew Bandit King Jeremiah. In my book you've done more to earn your place here than a lot of nobility your age," he assured the younger knight. "With Thaln's aristocracy diminished by Cal's rebellion and the Iron Roses' role in squashing it, it is an opportune time for aspiring knights to cement themselves as nobility by their deeds. And the prestige of being part of the order is far more meaningful for warriors like ourselves than the prestige associated with being born to an influential family."

"And I'm sorry about your attire. Not really anyone could have done about that, with how little advance notice we were given for this party. Ideally, we'd have a few days to prepare for it, sort out everyone's formal attire, and perhaps ensure everyone is familiar with dancing and etiquette." Fleuri took another careful sip of wine. "But I suppose it couldn't be helped that our triumph over Jeremiah coincided so closely with the date of the ball, giving just enough time for the Princess to extend her last minute invitation, but not enough time for us to make adequate preparations."

"Oh, and speaking of your borrowed outfit, a word of advice. Be careful if you sample the red wines, they leave very noticeable stains," Fleuri cautioned. "I made that mistake once and ended up spilling it on a tunic that had been in my family for generations."

@PaulHaynek

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

I seem to have been ninja'd, so I edited my last post to interact with Jarde.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

Fleuri Jodeau

The remainder of Fleuri's day was spent cleaning his armor. It was a routine drilled into his mind during his time as a squire, and as a knight, he preferred to maintain it with his own two hands rather than entrust it to another. After the blood stains were removed and the metal polished, he retired to bed. He regretted not being able to interact with the other knights- after all, camaraderie and brotherhood/sisterhood were an important aspect of the Iron Roses- but he was simply too tired at this point.

The events of the next day were unexpected, but not unwelcome after the events of the previous one. In the morning, Fleuri was informed that Fanilly had selected him as one of the knights to accompany her to the royal ball, and thus much of the day was spent preparing. He bathed and groomed, then spent a few hours touching up on his formal attire. By the late afternoon when the ball drew close, Fleuri was ready. It was fortunate that he had gotten a good night's sleep the day before, because there was still much to do before the day's end.

For the ball, Fleuri's attire consisted of a white mantle over a white long sleeved tunic, accompanied with black pants, boots, and gloves. Both the mantle and tunic proudly the black sun symbol of the Jodeau family. This archaic-looking ensemble was was his family's traditional formal wear, nearly unchanged since before they gave up their wealth. While Fleuri was no longer relegated to wearing century-old hand-me-downs, he still honored his family's traditions by donning formal wear crafted in the same style.

As he and the other knights followed Fanilly to the ball, Fleuri looked up at the castle. He wasn't unfamiliar with these sorts of events, but he had never attended one as an Iron Rose knight. House Jodeau wasn't completely removed from Thaln's high society, still commanding some prestige from their history of service to the crown and to the Church of Reon. This time, however, he was representing an organization far more prestigious than a noble family- he represented the Iron Roses, making it all the more important that he not make any missteps.

It could be worse, however. I actually have some experience with this sort of thing, he thought to himself, glancing at Gerard. This is probably a completely new experience for a commoner-born knight like Sir Segremors or Sir Devaron. Fleuri didn't doubt their worthiness- if anything, it was a virtue of the Iron Roses that commoners like Gerard and Jarde could climb their way up the kingdom's social ladder through valor and skill at arms. It may take a while, but we'll make nobleman out of them.

Fleuri was led through the courtyard and into the castle proper. Fleuri waited until it was his turn to be announced, then stepped forward.

"Presenting Sir Fleuri Jodeau, of House Jodeau. Knight of the Iron Roses. Champion of the Brennan Tournament melee."

His first impulse was to look around. Fleuri made his way to one of the tables, glancing over the refreshments that had been laid out. He carefully picked up a glass of white wine, not wanting to risk staining his clothing red. The knight glanced over the vast room as he took a sip, looking over the guests in hopes of spotting someone else wearing the Jodeau colors. He had no idea if anyone from his family was also attending the ball, and was hoping for a chance to catch up.

"I don't see any of them. Guess I'll mingle with one of the knights. Fleuri saw Jarde wandering nearby, and took the opportunity to approach the neophyte knight. The young man looked pretty starstruck, no doubt it was his first time at an event like this.

"Sir Devaron," he started, taking another sip, "The ball is quite a sight, isn't it? How does it feel, taking that first step into Thaln's high society?"

@PaulHaynek

Champions Have Arrived in the New World: A Problem Children and No Game No Life-Inspired Isekai RP

Augis

"The catch is that this is not without risk. Partaking in a challenge can result in injury, death, or, being claimed as part of the victor's winnings," Augis answered, stepping forward and turning his head to Vel's plaything. It seemed somewhat disrespectful to undermine Lila like this, but as a warlock, Augis was uncomfortable with the thought of anyone committing to an arrangement- especially the perilous life of a champion- without an understanding of the risks and dangers involved. Besides, it would be very unwise to deceive those whose hands they were going to place their fates in.

"And I agree with Vel that we should would be most effective to show them our community first," he continued, now turning to Lila. "The ways and laws of our world may be sufficiently alien to the arrivals that a solely verbal explanation may not be enough to grant them a proper understanding." They seemed similar enough at first glance, but Augis was not one to assume that an otherworldly being's similarities ran any deeper than what he discerned on the surface. For all he knew, they could be more alien in nature and mind than the shoggoth.

@ghastlyInc
@VitaVitaAR

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

I'm ready for the timeskip.

Champions Have Arrived in the New World: A Problem Children and No Game No Life-Inspired Isekai RP

Augis

That could have gone better, Augis thought as he watched Lila stumble out of her hiding spot into the clearing. It couldn't have been the entrance that she was hoping to make, and certainly not the first impression she intended. Nevertheless, he assessed, things could be worse. The child was no longer panicking, and all things considered was handling her midair suspension fairly well. The snake reverted back to its human appearance and seemed to have a particular interest in Lila, perhaps due to the dragonblood's reptilian features. The fellow that Velktlthrih was attending to regained his consciousness and appeared unharmed. In fact, he clung to his aberrant caretaker, seemingly as interested in her as the snake girl was with Lila.

Quite the courageous one, to handle coming face-to-face with a shoggoth in such a manner.

"You there! Where are we? What is going on?" shouted the levitating child at one of the other new arrivals. Augis decided this would be a good time to reveal himself and explain before things had a chance to re-escalate. His attempts to push his way through the brush were hampered by seemingly every branch snagging his robes, as if the flora itself sought to restrain him. I should have simply disguised myself as a bush rather than trying to hide behind one, he thought to himself as he dislodged the branches from his attire. He managed to get through without tearing his clothing, although the resulting noise and movement eliminated any chance of making a subtle or discreet entrance.

"To answer your questions, madam, you are on a world known as Nova Terra, and were invited here. At least, I think you were. You'll have to ask Lila about the details, she's the one who brought you here," Augis spoke, pointing a gloved finger at the prone dragon girl. He himself wasn't totally sure about how this particular summoning worked. No rituals, no incantions in strange languages, no geometric symbols, just a few people falling out of the sky at a designated location.

"And I apologize about levitating you like that," the warlock continued, gently putting the girl down with a gesture of his other hand. "I was worried you might flee into the woods. Rest assured, we mean you no harm. Well, at least I don't. I can't speak for Vel over there."

@Styrgwyr@VitaVitaAR@Rune_Alchemist

Champions Have Arrived in the New World: A Problem Children and No Game No Life-Inspired Isekai RP

Augis

Augis peered through a brass spyglass from the edge of the clearing, observing as the "champions" were summoned. It was a last ditch attempt to save Silver Sun, to summon those from beyond to aid them. Assuming these folks were chosen carefully, it could work. It was the same logic he employed when he made a deal with that unknowable entity from beyond the stars- that someone from outside Nova Terra could be trusted to not have a stake in any of the other other settlements at Silver Sun's expense. There was always a chance it could backfire, but the only alternative was an inevitable doom for the settlement.

He watched carefully as they plummeted to the ground. For a moment it looked like they were falling too quickly, and that they might hit the ground at high speed. This worry only lasted a split second, as the arrivals' descent was momentarily halted right before crashing into the clearing. What was much more surprising was the transformation of one of the arrivals into a massive serpent. Even with the midair stop, the snake came down with ground-shaking force, knocking Augis off his feet.

"What in the world were they thinking," he complained to himself as he got up and dusted himself off, slightly annoyed that his white robes were now covered in dirt. "Why would they change into something that would hit the ground with even greater momentum? Unless, perhaps their momentum was conserved in the mass change," he briefly wondered aloud.

Recovering his monocular, the warlock looked through it, observing the new arrivals and waiting for Lila to greet them. At least one of them, a swordswoman from the look of it, had fallen directly onto the snake, but neither she nor her impromptu cushion seemed injured. One of them lay motionless on the ground. I hope that one's not dead, it'd be a tragedy to perish so soon after being summoned, Augis thought.

"DRAGON!" shouted another of the arrivals, a child who seemed quite distraught at the sight of the serpent. The child fled from the snake, slinging what looked like some spell or grenades at the serpent. The time for passive observation was over; Augis needed to intervene. Even if the snake looked like it could handle whatever was being thrown at it, and even if this little girl was more capable of taking care of herself than her stature suggested, they couldn't let her run off into an unknown world.

Muttering an incantation to call upon the power of his patron, Augis invoked a spell of levitation on the child, intent on halting her hasty and unnecessary retreat by suspending her a meter in the air. He remained at least somewhat concealed behind the brush, intent on not giving himself away before Lila could explain everything to them.

@Styrgwyr

Chronicles of a Lost War

Aerarius

When the dust cleared, Aerarius was able to perceive several bandits charging in his direction. At that moment, with no more than a few seconds to react, a figurative switch was flipped in the automaton's mind. Aerarius charged ahead, striking down two of the bandits with a wide swing of his sword, splattering blood upon his brass exterior. This provided just enough of an opening for a third bandit to strike the right side of his torso with an axe, but it had little effect on his alloy body beyond leaving a small dent in the plating. Without hesitating, Aerarius swung his sword back at him, cleanly slicing through the bandit's neck before the man had a chance to fully realize his mistake.

Aerarius didn't understand the mechanics of it, but he could swear in these moments he could feel the rush of adrenaline as if he was still a being of flesh and bone. As much as he might scoff at Sylphie for losing herself in her frenzies, he wasn't too different when things got heated, and at this moment, Aerarius the cautious analyst was gone, replaced by Aerarius the brass footsoldier.

The wise and logical choice would be to focus on taking some of them alive, to thoroughly interrogate them on not only their ill-intentioned operations, but on the general state of the world. They seemed to be of little direct threat to beings like himself and Sylphie that he could afford to hold back. Even at this moment, Aerarius recognized this, but in this state of mind, he did not care. As long as these wicked scoundrels continued to fight back, Aerarius would give them battle to the best of his ability.

Champions Have Arrived in the New World: A Problem Children and No Game No Life-Inspired Isekai RP

Star-gazing Warlock

Name: Augis

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Appearance: Unknowable ones from beyond the stars, hear my pact and lend me your power!

Personality:
Augis is a seeker of truths. He wants to know how the universe ticks, and why Nova Terra seems to tick differently. He wishes to gain insight into the unknown, and understand the uncomprehended, but he is not a fool. Augis knows the risks of delving too deeply into things beyond man's ability to perceive, and the dangers that the unknowable beings from beyond can pose, thus believes it is best to take it slowly than risk his mind being destroyed. If anything, his limited knowledge of his patron makes him all the more terrified of such beings, and he dreads the prospect of ever meeting one in person.

His pact with a being from beyond was not solely to sate curiosity, however. He cares deeply about his home, and has watched as more and more were taken from it as others took advantage of Silver Sun's weakness and misfortune. The only hope for the fallen kingdom's survival, he believes, is with the aid of those from beyond Nova Terra. Those beings may be terrifying, incomprehensible to human minds, and unknowable in their intentions, but they are at least far removed from the predatory politics of Nova Terra...he thinks.

In person distrustful of outsiders, especially those native to his world. Silver Sun's neighbors are nothing but opportunistic predators, and those beyond the world are unknown, possibly unknowable, wild cards. At the same time, Augis is aware that having faith in outside help is Silver Sun's only hope for survival

Abilities:
Warlock's Pact:
Augis has struck a deal with a powerful cosmic being and has been granted many powers. His contact with the entity has affected his mind, causing him to be immune to telepathic or psychic attacks from mortal beings, but at the same time it has become attuned to the whispers of his patron- and those of any related or similar beings. He is capable of casting a number of spells that touch the minds of others, such as charm, suggestion, and telepathic sendings. Additionally, his pact has granted Augis a few special powers that do not expend his own mana:

Eldritch Blast- Augis fires a powerful magic beam at his foe. He can optionally choose for the beam to knock its target back.

Disguise Self- Augis casts an illusion upon himself to appear as somebody or something else. It does not alter his voice, however.

Levitate- Augis can suspend someone- or himself- in the air.

Skills:
Eldritch Lore
Both through his own studies and communing with beings from beyond, he has obtained not-inconsiderable knowledge of eldritch matters.

Universal Interpreter
As part of his pact, Augis can read any written text.

Telescope and lens crafting
Augis was taught by his father to craft and maintain telescopes, and knows how to craft all the necessary parts, including the glass lenses. He can produce lenses for other purposes, as long as he knows the needed dimensions.

Astronomer
Augis is learned in the field of astronomy, and the associated mathematics.

Backstory:
Augis was the son of an astronomer who lived in Silver Sun. He was brought up to follow in his father's footsteps of charting the stars and determining the laws that govern the universe. He was taught mathematics, learned how to build and maintain telescopes, and when necessary, navigate using the stars. When he was 17, his father died, but Augis continued to carry on his legacy, observing the cosmos and making calculations. One thing perplexed him, however- he could not make his calculations add up. The laws that more less consistently governed much of what he observed did not seem to apply to Nova Terra. No matter how he tried, he couldn't make the math work out. Finally, he made a breakthrough- he observed something in the night sky that behaved similarly anomalously. He built a more powerful telescope to observe it, hoping that it'd lend insight into his own world. When he observed it, something gazed back at him and sent whispers into his mind.

Terrified, Augis smashed his telescope to pieces and for the next few weeks, he could not even bring himself to look into the night sky. As time passed, curiosity eroded his fear, and he began studying what he had found. He traveled to other communities to learn all he could of what he had made contact with. He traveled from place to place, studying these unknowable beings. As he learned more, the prospect of forming a pact with whatever he saw became more tempting. He was not blind to the plight of his home community, and here he had found something seemingly removed from the vicious politics of this world with no stake in the further debasement of Silver Sun. He built a new telescope and began observing the corner of the cosmos where that...thing resided. Soon enough, it noticed Augis, and with the knowledge he learned, he struck a pact with it for power.

For the next several years, Augis endeavored to develop his newfound powers and deepen the pact in hope of gaining even more power. He served as a mercenary with various communities, and made contact with others who had struck similar bargains. He occasionally got into trouble or associated with the wrong people, and it isn't a coincidence that he has focused on obtaining powers useful for keeping less enlightened folk from skewering him. During this time, he also witnessed firsthand the gruesome consequences of delving too deeply into or associating too closely with the unknowable things beyond the stars, lessons that he has taken to heart. When he felt that his powers had developed sufficiently, he returned home to Silver Sun, now even more diminished than it was when he left, and offered his services in hopes of helping to save it.

Origin: Nova Terra