Crimson Paladin

A tribute to the former fans of Star Wars

Because Baby Yoda is a member of a mysterious species whom we know very little about, except every example previously seen was a Jedi Master, meaning that it's seems more plausible to believe that manipulating the Force is instinctual to them. Additionally, he's fifty years old and we know nothing of his past. Rey is a human, and the previous human force sensitive protagonists we've seen actually needed to be guided and trained in the Force to be able to use most of their powers.

It's one thing to be disappointed. The franchise has been producing turds since the Holiday Special came out. But the Sequels weren't merely disappointing, they were insulting.

And to give credit where credit is due, I'm not criticizing Rey's ability to beat Kylo. She was already established as a skilled melee fighter, and you don't necessarily need the Force to beat someone in a swordfight.

A tribute to the former fans of Star Wars

I was a huge fan of Star Wars, and Disney killed my interest in it, aside from The Mandalorian. The old EU was a disjointed mess filled with retcons and bad ideas, but it was respectful to the OT characters- Luke started a Jedi Academy (in a Sith temple, no less) and founded a new Jedi Order, Han and Leia married and stayed together despite the tragedy of their son turning to the Dark Side, and the Imperial Remnant mellowed out and eventually even formed its own corps of light-sided force users.

In the Disney sequel trilogy, all of our original heroes are jaded failures who exist to make way for the new heroes. I understand the concept of passing the torch, but it was done in a way that was hugely disrespectful to the spirit and characters of the Original Trilogy. I think both Finn and Rey had a lot of potential, but they blew it by giving Rey the ability to harness the Force in multiple ways without any training, and making Finn into a comic relief ex-janitor despite his interesting background as an ex-Stormtrooper who grew up in the First Order. I suppose they succeeded at their attempt to make Captain Phasma into the new Boba Fett, but unfortunately it was in the "caped, armored character who mostly stands around and goes out like a punk" way.

And for some reason, Disney took the dumbest aspects of the old EU, like Palpatine coming back (Dark Empire), a seemingly dead Sith Lord returning and pulling an army of Sith Troopers and ships out from nowhere (Star Wars: Legacy), Han and Leia's son turning to the Dark Side and becoming a fascist enforcer (Legacy of the Force), and an Imperial Remnant possessing a superweapon that can destroy multiple planets on the other side of the galaxy (Dark Empire II), and made them even dumber and nonsensical.

[/Vent Heat]

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

Fleuri Jodeau

It was during the conversation with Martiza that the hostess of the ball, Princess Eliabelle, made her appearance. Maritza proceeded to slither off to retrieve Jarde, who seemed to have made an attempt to slip away, leaving Fleuri to turn his attention to the princess. It was, to his knowledge, the first time he had seen her in person. He was unsure if she had been present at any of the tournaments he had fought at, and he secretly hoped she wouldn't remember him from them, because he'd rather not be reminded of the chapter of his life where he was a materialistic glory hound.

From what Fleuri knew of the princess, she was approximately the same age as Fanilly, and had a reputation as an affable, well-liked figure. She clearly had an interest in the Iron Roses, as evidenced by both her act of inviting them to her ball at the last minute, and by her present request for them to meet her. Sir Rowan Balthier was the first Iron Rose to respond to Eliabelle, during which Fleuri samppled the food on his plate and silently contemplated whether he should approach in kind or stay put unless singled out. He didn't want to cast the impression of refusing her, but to deal with royalty was to walk on eggshells, and he feared that any misstep on his part could bring shame to House Jodeau.

Fleuri's silent deliberations were interrupted when he felt a tug on his sleeve. Fleuri looked down to see a young girl, dressed quite oddly for the occasion.

"I can't find the sweets... there's so many people here, I keep getting turned around! Can you help me?" she asked the knight.

"Certainly," Fleuri replied, somewhat relieved at the distraction. He glanced at the nearby tables where Martiza had been filling her plate, looking over the contents of each table, until his gaze was upon the impressive cake at the table at the far end. "Looks like the sweets are over there, at the far table. Come on, I'll lead you to it," he said, as he begun to make his way to the sweets table, moving with utmost care as to not spill his plate or glass.

Strange outfit she's wearing for a ball. Probably some noble's child going through a dress-up phase.

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

You replying to the girl with the brimmed hat?
@HereComesTheSnow

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

Fleuri is free now, he can talk to her if need be.

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

Still here.

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

I'm waiting for Flappy.

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

Fleuri Jodeau

"I've been to soirées akin to this before, but nothing quite as high profile as this, and not as an Iron Rose," Fleuri answered, before turning to the table to fill his plate. He assembled an impromptu entrée from the available meat and vegetables, taking his time to make the dish look presentable for what would be a very brief and largely unnoticed existence. Once Fleuri was satisfied with his creation, he turned back to the serpentine knight, plate in hand. "To answer your question, I am enjoying it so far. House Jodeau is no longer a player in the game of intrigue, but we're still considered aristocracy and are thus obligated to keep up appearances, and I am honored to have the opportunity to attend a ball hosted by the monarchy."

All the more reason we must be on our best behavior, Fleuri thought as he briefly glanced over at Tyaethe and Gillian, still arguing with that noble.

Fleuri picked up his glass and took another drink. "And if anyone here disparages you, they're a fool. It is because of the valor of knights like yourself that they, not Phoran Cal and his treacherous cronies, celebrate tonight within the Crown of Thaln. Granted, not everyone who sided with the monarchy did so for unselfish reasons, but they all gained from the efforts of those who took up arms against those traitors."

@FlappyTheSpybot

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

Fleuri Jodeau

My work here is done, Fleuri concluded as he watched with some satisfaction. With Gerard and Jarde fully engaged in their storytelling, he took a few further steps back and turned around, slipping away from the conversation. He'd probably need to keep an occasional eye on them in case something unexpected came up, but it looked like they had this well in hand.

He took another look at what the other knights were up to. Near the refreshment tables he spotted Tyaethe near Gilliand and the captain, currently in the process of confronting a noble. Fleuri guessed it was some aristocrat who didn't like how the Iron Roses were run or how its captain was chosen. It wasn't an uncommon sentiment, especially after the order transitioned to a secular order in service of the crown, and it wasn't unheard of for even fellow Iron Roses to disagree with the tradition. With Fanilly being as young and new to the station as she was, such opinions would be emboldened for the time being.

It's best I don't get involved in whatever is going on over there.

He noticed Maritza at another table, currently gathering food and not engaged in conversation with anyone. I suppose it's as good a time as any to grab something, he mused. Fleuri weaved through the crowd to the table where the Knight-Serpenta currently stood.

"Good evening, Dame Verenna," Fleuri greeted her as he grabbed an empty plate in one hand and put his wine glass down with the other. "How are you enjoying the ball so far?"

@FlappyTheSpybot

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

Fleuri Jodeau

Fleuri was a bit concerned that his banter had only served to darken Jarde's mood. To step into this world for the first time with relatively little under one's belt was a daunting and intimidating task for those not brought up in it. The young knight's lack of arrogance and appreciation for his inexperience in the area of aristocratic gatherings was no doubt a virtue, and a welcome departure from the arrogant nobles who thought more of themselves than was warranted, but it was clear that a little confidence would benefit him.

At Jarde's prompting, Fleuri glanced over at Gerard, who had been approached by a few young ladies, and was regaling to them the story of Bandit King Jeremiah. What Jarde had missed, however, was that Sir Segremors' body language suggested that he was similarly out of his element, in need of a fellow knight's aid as surely as if this were a battlefield. Fleuri glanced at Jarde and back at Gerard again as he concocted a plan.

Yes, that ought to solve solve both of their problems.

"You're right, Sir Devaron," he conceded as he turned his attention back to Jarde. "This is not an occasion for lamentation. It is a time for celebrating our victory. And if you would be so gracious to assist me in this celebration, simply follow my lead." Fleuri approached Gerard and the admirers that had entrapped him, paying careful attention to their conversation and movements. He approached it not dissimilarly to a battle, interpreting a foe's body language and rushing to the aid of a clearly overwhelmed knight-brother.

"Good evening, Sir Segremors," he spoke up, drawing close to the group. "Regaling the ladies of the tale of our recent triumph over Bandit King Jeremiah and his bloodthirsty band of brigands?"

"It was quite the battle afraid I myself took a rather uneventful role in it. I cut down a few bandits, sure, but unlike some of the others, I didn't have the excitement of crossing blades with the Bandit King. He was quite the terrible foe, from what I heard though. Strong enough to fell a massive tree with a single swing of his weapon, and so tough that he went into battle without armor," he narrated, intent on grabbing their attention.

"Sir Devaron, you fought Jeremiah too, might you assist our friend Gerard here on recounting the battle against that terrible fiend to these lovely ladies?" he asked, gesturing to Jarde and drawing the group's attention to him. On a battlefield, it'd be grossly irresponsible to hoist the center of attention to a junior knight or squire in such a manner, and perhaps it was somewhat irresponsible here as well, but Gerard needed help and Jarde needed this experience.

With the assumption that attention had been diverted from him, Fleuri backed away to observe the commoner-born knights tell their tale, taking another sip from his glass. Once he could be sure they handle the ladies without a chaperone, Fleuri would be able to slip away and mingle with the others.

@PaulHaynek@HereComesTheSnow@VitaVitaAR