The Otter

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Fionn MacKerracher

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@VitaVitaAR

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With some more choice words from both sides, the argument erupting between Fionn and Clarice passed relatively quickly—his frustration mounting to the point that he knew staying to continue would only lead to an attempt for further bloodshed at either of their hands. He directed one of the junior knights to strip the commander's corpse of its armour and weapons, much like they'd been doing with the other dead around the glade, before going off on his own, staring silently into the pool as it reflected the rising moon.

His ride back to Aimlenn passed in sullen silence, as he dropped far to the rear of the train rather than maintain his customary place near the front. A silence that persisted for the entire day after their return, the normally gregarious knight rapidly retiring to his room rather than socialize with the others; he was even curt at breakfast the next day, finishing his daily work out in the training yard without much to say before moving to pace around the castle.

As absorbed in his own thoughts as he was, though, he wasn't too blind to notice someone else lost in the same.

"Brooding doesn't really fit you, captain," he said in lieu of a greeting, though he waved as he walked up. "Too short for it. Not really the right place for it, either. Have you tried atop our tallest tower, or is there a good cliff nearby that you can glare out over?" In spite of the way he'd been since their last battle ended, he grinned in response to his own jokes. "We should probably trade places, though if we did that I'd have to worry about Renar and Serenity finding me and making fun of my attitude. What's got you all troubled like?"

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Fionn MacKerracher

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@VitaVitaAR@6slyboy6

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As though Fanilly's words had been the cue they'd been waiting for, one of the healers who'd followed up to the scene quickly stepped in, and Fionn handed Amy off as he looked back up, glare focusing on Clarice. "She dragged you over because I called for it, because there was something important, something lying right in your specialty. Alette sent you along to help us, did she not? To work with us? Is that the answer you needed repeated to you the entire time we were travelling here?" He stood, stepping forward quickly where Clarice had shrunk back for the moment.

Better to keep her on the defensive, rather than let her have some opportunity to claw back some shred of dignity. It was ultimately pointless, certainly not the most rational thing, and Fionn knew that, but between the personal insult of his chosen fight getting ripped from him at the last second, and the far greater travesty of a halfways-honourable duel like that getting cut short by some assassin's trick, his patience to put up with the woman's continual disrespect of Fanilly and his fellow knights was entirely spent.

"Alette might have been willing to put up with you being so thoughtless as to reveal why the group of you had been at the fort, but I can't imagine she'd put up with this constant insolence. I can't imagine she'll praise you as soon as any of us tells her how much of a spoiled, whiny, arrogant brat you've been, no matter how hard you try to make her. And that's without even mentioning that you were so impressed with yourself at finding her—" and he lifted his sword to point back in Veilena's direction, stepping closer still to bear down on the diminutive spellcaster before him—"That if she hadn't been paying attention, the Boars' ambush damn well could have worked! Is that what Alette pays you for? To be so convinced of your self-importance that you put everything else at risk? Or do you actually do your job when you're with her?"

He let his blade drop, though his furious, unblinking glare was still focused firmly on Clarice's own eyes. "That is what you need to apologize for, Clarice Kastin, all of it. I don't know you well enough yet to decide if you've made a mockery of yourself, but you've certainly made a mockery of the faith Alette placed in you, and have thoroughly disrespected our captain far more times than I can put up with."

The Lion's Banner: A Fire Emblem-Inspired Anime Fantasy RP

Cadmon Demet

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@Crimson Paladin@HereComesTheSnow

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István's sudden arrival was met with a glance up from Cadmon, before returning to the papers that had been delivered while the large knight went about saying his piece. "You're only saying that because you've never convinced her to get in a carrier," he replied to the comments on Sirona, before the gryphon in question had a chance to hiss at the man in reply. He set the betrothal offer down, glancing over the next before passing it off to István.

"Frith and Saric haven't managed to run things into the ground without us keeping watch over them. I trust my cousins didn't give you any trouble, Sir Falkner?" Despite addressing the knight, he didn't look back up at him, still skimming over the next letter held in his hand. By the time he reached the end of it, any small smile Sirona had brought to his expression had dropped completely, brow furrowed in uncharacteristic consternation for the young man.

"István, I'm going to kill this man."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Fionn MacKerracher

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@VitaVitaAR @Raineh Daze @6slyboy6

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By the time Amy had made it over, the Boars' commander had long lost any ability to speak around the well of blood rising to fill his throat; as his final breaths bubbled through Fionn knew there was likely no chance that Clarice and Veilena with their knowledge could halt the curse and prolong the man's life, or that Tyaethe might manage to pull something else out of her hat like she had the night of the ball. No, as Amy sank down against him and issued her own plea to the man, he closed his eyes with a sigh.

"Gods have what mercy on you they will," he murmured at the mercenary's last gasps, pink foam bubbling up and over the grimaced lips. "At least you weren't so proud as to refuse to try and aid us at the end." He let the body down as the others spoke up around him, one hand closing the corpse's eyes rather than leave their empty stare. His left arm wrapped around Amy's waist, dimly aware that she was relying on his physical support as much as she was trying to help with the enemy commander. With his right, he reached out, fingers wrapping around the hilt of the sword he'd dropped moments before as he placidly listened to the others speak around him.

Staring down at the Boar's face, still twisted with pain even in death. Whatever crimes the man had committed in life, he'd at least held on to enough of a sense of decency not to support the corruption of his men, enough of his honour to answer a challenge honestly. Betrayed and silenced by his patron at the last chance he had to make any show of repentance for his wrongdoing. After so many years spent on the field of battle, some in outright war, there was little that could make Fionn sick—but his stomach still roiled with revulsion at the injustice committed before his own eyes.

He hung his head, breathing deeply, still for a moment as the others spoke around him.

"Clarice Kastin."

He growled the name out in the momentary silence, his voice as brittle as grinding ice as he played back the last bits of the conversation around him, head still low. Not offering the girl the chance to try and win him over with some cute act or pout, nor leaving any room in his words for her to pick apart or disregard his statement. "You owe our captain an apology."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Fionn MacKerracher

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@VitaVitaAR @Raineh Daze @6slyboy6

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Fionn stood still in a moment of confusion as the disembodied voice rang out around him and the Boars' commander, his brow furrowing as he relaxed again from the ready position he'd just taken up. "What fresh hell is—" Then his eyes widened as the man cursed, blood covering his armour and the ground in front of him as he fell. All thoughts of a duel gone for the moment, Fionn dropped his own blade, rushing forwards to catch the man. "Tyaethe!" he bellowed across the battlefield, calling out to the only one he'd seen break a curse thus far. "Clarice, Amy, Veilena! Get over here!"

No sense, of course, in limiting it to just the one, when they had another who was well-versed in curses, a healer, and simply a powerful mage at the ready.

He turned back to the Boars' commander, quickly pulling off the man's helmet. "Whatever you have left in you, man, speak. If not a name, give us a title, something identifiable, quickly!"

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Fionn MacKerracher

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@VitaVitaAR

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"Síocháin leat," Fionn said to the fallen abomination as the Boars' commander addressed him. Glancing out, he could see the other cursed beings meeting similar fates to the one he'd been fighting. "Suaimhneas orthu. You're right. They shouldn't have been twisted like that." He half-turned at last to his initial target, hand lightly resting on the hilt of his sword. At least he and the Boar could agree on two things; the second was that, despite the exertion, he still wasn't a threat to take lightly.

It was good that the field commander was taking this seriously.

"You can still surrender," he suggested, light and conversationally. "We both know what'll happen to you, but it'll give you the time to make right with the gods and goddesses, let us know who did that to your men. Better than stumbling in the darkness until the end of days." He drew his sword, holding it loosely, letting it rest against his leading leg.

"If you fight, I'll give no quarter."

The Lion's Banner: A Fire Emblem-Inspired Anime Fantasy RP

Cadmon Demet

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@Crimson Paladin

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"Favourable trading rights through my border, financial access, all in the name of strengthening our bond," Cadmon replied with unhidden disdain. "And, of course, I would be honour bound to commit myself in defense of him if he should need it, and with me at his back, I'm sure he'd be quite a bit bolder with his many ambitions. At worst I fear I'd either have to turn traitor to the crown or be known as a betrayer of family. Out of all parties involved, the only one who wins anything is Baron Bridger himself." He flipped the page over, looking at the sketch left along the back of it.

Professional, and Baron Bridger wasn't one known to waste his money on overly idealized portraits.

"A shame, she is pretty. Might be I could accept, rescue the poor girl from a father that doesn't truly care about her, and then forestall any disaster by rebuffing him as soon as all the ceremonial tripe was done with. Leave him to wallow in his well-deserved humiliation. She might even appreciate it, at first...but that's not really a good foundation for a successful, long-lasting relationship. Are you done?"

The sudden question was clearly directed at the chimeric creature still fighting with his hair, though for once Cadmon's expression seemed at least somewhat amused. The scolded griffin squawked back at him, before continuing its valiant struggle. He rolled his eyes in return, looking back down to Roger. "You know, a lot of us envy lower knights like you. You have freedoms that many of us—those who don't just foresake their duties, anyways—don't have."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Fionn MacKerracher

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@VitaVitaAR

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Undeterred, or perhaps utterly unfeeling, the giant started to turn despite the spear that had thrust so far into its abdomen. Fionn cursed under his breath, yanking the weapon back out with a twist, hands as far back on the shaft as possible as he let the head drop to the ground and he backpedaled clear of the fists trying to crush or grab him once again. No matter that it kept attacking; the damage done, he'd definitely have it beaten on agility now, as any attempt to put weight on the leg that had suffered so many severed muscles and tendons would send it toppling.

Evading the initial grasp—and giving whatever foul fluid had been drawn from the giant a moment to drip back down the other end of the spear, rather than to try and rush more towards his hands—he quickly raised the weapon up again with a jerk of his arms, with an underhanded throw sending the point straight for the cursed person's distorted head in the same moment he backpedaled further from any reach the mutant had.

The Lion's Banner: A Fire Emblem-Inspired Anime Fantasy RP

Cadmon Demet

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@Crimson Paladin

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The griffin exited her carrier as soon as the door was open for her; as proud a creature as she was, though, she gave off nothing more to show her displeasure than some irate clicks of her beak before preening her feathers and taking a quick glance around the new room she found herself in. In a moment more she quickly leaped into the air, landing on Cadmon's shoulders, whereupon she immediately took to trying to tame his unruly red hair.

All the while studiously avoiding acknowledging Roger's presence whatsoever.

"I would rather he wasn't," Cadmon replied to the griffin knight's question, appearing utterly unperturbed by Sirona's struggling with his hair. "Evidently he and his wife must get very bored managing their manor, given by how he keeps finding children of his to try and betrothe to me. This is the third daughter he's tried it with, and he even tried one of his sons before this."

He read along a bit further, shaking his head as he did. "The dowry is abysmal, as always. He knows what my position entails, and yet he's got no intention to make sure she's able to support herself at the level she's used to living at if I should meet some untimely demise. The dower I'd have to put up to ensure her is far beyond what should ever be expected. And that's on top of everything he's hoping to gain through this match. I can't help but think he doesn't value or respect either myself or any of his children other than his heir."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Fionn MacKerracher

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@VitaVitaAR

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Fionn took the spear in both hands, holding still for a moment longer to observe how the cursed beast moved. Muscles straining against themselves to drive the bulk into motion; skin tearing away as it forced its grossly distorted body in his direction. While its size helped it to cover the ground quickly, there was little chance it could keep up with his nimble, undistorted form; however, all the surplus of overgrown muscle would help protect any vital organs, making it harder to take it out quickly. The weakest spots would be the same as on any human, but far harder to reach.

Now, to find how best to reach them, and return to his original goal.

When the great fists came crashing down upon him, he leapt off to the side, barely a foot between him and the massive hands; once his toes found purchase on the ground again he sprinted forwards, ducking low beneath the behemoth. Once clear of the legs, he turned on the ball of his foot, jabbing the blade of the spear forward and up in a vicious stab for the mutant's groin. A fierce, disabling strike, aimed to sever tendons, muscle, artery, and hopefully bury itself up in the monstrosity's intestines at the end of its travel, if it didn't nick the pelvis instead. The mutant would bleed and fall, and Fionn would put it out of its misery before visiting even fiercer retribution on the Boars' commander.