"Thank you Father," Sir Pedivere acknowledges the mishap gracefully by not mentioning it, merely reading instead.  His face changes expression as he scans the rolled piece of parchment.

   "I have been recalled to Court,"he begins, looking up from the letter and addressing the group.  "Sir Vailario is here to assist you in my place."  Sir Pedivere rolls the letter up, tucking it into his belt before moving.  "It is has been explained to you why we are here?" he asks the newly arrived knight, receiving a nod to his question.
   "My good yeoman, Colm, is now your man.  He is a good scout and pathfinder, make use of his skills,"he gestured with a sweep of his arm towards the forest warden.
   "Father Rys, and the good woman Chrissa, will tend your wounds and guard your soul should such become necessary,"he said, looking to the pair.  "My friend Calis,"he said, going to the man and longtime friend to clap his shoulders, "Is my oldest and trusted companion.  He makes himself useful in many ways and will make the quest more bearable merely by his company." He smiled at his friend with the pride of a brother.  His gaze turned to Kimberly  "This charming gentle I know not," he regards her for a moment, eliciting a downward glance of modesty on her part.  "But it would seem these mountains are known to her, since the wizard we seek has been slain, perhaps she can be of some help to you."  He regards Vailario and strides towards him.  "Find that which we seek and solve the mystery of this good man's death if you can,"he gestured to the tower.  "I must take my leave of you and return to the king with all haste."He moves to his horse, unsecuring the box containing the goblet that he had in his possession.  "Guard this well Sir Vailario,"he nods thrusting it to him and turning back to his horse to take to its back.
    "God speed you on this quest." He saluted Sir Vailario, nodded to the men, bowed his head to the ladies before turning and riding out in the direction they had taken the day before...

Colm nods in goodbye to the departing knight, and turns to see what the new one has to say

"Good-bye, my friend," Calis clasped hands with his long time companion. "I expect we will meet again." He turned to the others and wondered where they were heading and what the party would be like now that the only one he really knew left them.

Go with God, Sir Pedivere. Signs the cross over him. May the Lord bless you and guide, uphold you in times of trouble and counsel you at all times. May His countenance shine upon you in all that you do.

"We will, an' the Lord wills it."  Colm turns to the new arrival.  "We were just discussing our next move, Sir Knight."

Sir Pedivere half-turns in his saddle to salute them before he disapears into the dense woodlands that cover the sides of the mountain.

   OODM:  I'll let the party explain the predicament to our new knight.  I have given him the gist, but for gaming purposes and experience point purposes.  (Remember 100 xp per quality post!)

Sir Knight, since, it appears, we are to be quest-mates, could you tell us a bit about yourself? Also, what, exactly, have you been told of the quest? This way, we can bring each other up to speed on what is going on.

"I am Sir Vailario," he began regarding the priest with respect.  "I was sent by your king, Arthur, to help you in your quest to save the king of Norway from the treacherory that has befallen him." The knight's accent was thick but his words, understandable.   "I have travelled many days to find you.  I have met the apothecary Jeremiah and his fool.  I was selected to assist you for my bravery, as you can see by this armour that I wear, I am fearless in the face of danger."   The knight's scale armour is impressive and not, it would seem made of steel.  "I cannot replace your Sir Pedivere, but let us say I strive to fulfill his quest and bring honour to his name as well as my own as we save this king and serve yours."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:59, Fri 22 Apr 2005.

Calis continued to keep his thoughts to himself, especially now that his true friend left. He was the only pagan in a group of Christ worshippers and he felt even more out of place. As he stood nearby he wondered where the group were going to decide to go. He knew they needed a dragon scale and there was talk about going to Faerie, which isn't a good idea unless the group was protected or knew what they were doing.

You have met with Jeremiah then Sir Knight? Then you know we seek a dragon scale. Fr. Rys pauses as he looks more closely at Sir Vailorio's armor. Sir Knight? I notice that your armor is made of an unusual matieral. Is it perhaps the scales of a dragon?

Vail looks down at his armor, "Indeed it is, it has been painted over and treated so as not to decay but it is dragon scale none the less, the scales of my first slain dragon," he then looks up with a sense of pride knowing that he had announced possibly one of his greatest feats of combat, something that as a child he never thought he would perform.

A dragon slayer, how extraordinary! You don't, perchance, happen to have any extra scales laying about? If so, then we can take said scale back to Jeremiah.

Vail shakes his head solemly, "none laying around and as much as I would like to say it would work, and as quickly as I would hack of part of my armor if it would, sadly using the peices in my armor wouldnt.  The treatment on the scales as well as the paint that has been applied make them useles for anything but armor.  I'm here to help however, and we will find and destroy a dragon, but first I would like to rest, its been a long journey."

Tis a pity that you do not have any spares, ere our quest would be shortened. We still face the dilemma of needing to find a dragon scale for Jeremiah to create the antidote. And we have this puzzle of the spell to the lands of the fae, to which Fillian succumbed.

The party stands considering their next move, the warm sunlight of the morning making the day seem far more bright than the grim task before them.  There was much to decide, and time was of the essence.  The knight's arrival left the group with the strength of arms it would need to continue on its quest.  It was merely a matter of what to do next...

Fr. Rys is a bit confused by Sir Vailario's reticence. Sir Knight?

Calis nodded at the Father's words and waited for the knight also.

Fr. Rys notes that Sir Vail's face has begun to glaze over. Sir Knight, are you alright?

  "There are many dragons in this land.  It is why I came to Britain to serve our Lord and Blessed Lady in destroying these spawn of hell and send them from the earth once and for all,"he begins in a heavy accent.
   "I was questing to find another to slay when your king's servant Sir Kay asked me to find you and bring Sir Pedivere his message."he said, mentioning the recently departed knight.  "There are rumours of a dragon living in the mountains south of here.  is that what you seek?  To slay a dragon and take it's scales.  I can tell you, it is no easy task.  Three of the company of knights I travelled with were slain when we destroyed the one who's hide I wear now."he crossed himself in memory.

Are all dragons truly the spawn of Satan? I thought some held to higher morals than that. But anyway, our quest is to find dragon scales; not to necessarily kill a dragon. I understand such creatures are terribly dificult to kill; and from your personal account, that understanding plays out.

Calis snorted at the Father's words but he didn't comment on half of what the Father said. "Aye, we don't need to kill one, just get a scale. So to the south then?"

Sir Knight, why are you so reticent? You say you are here to aid us on our quest, yet are being more hindrance than help with your refusal to speak with us!

The knight stood in stunned silence, shocked by what he was hearing.  Dragons, not evil?  Tell that to the devoured maidens!  Tell that to St. George battling the Evil One in dragon's form!  And from a priest no less.  One who had taken the vows as he had.  One who had taken the sacrament of Holy Orders.  He frowned.  The goal, though, must be met.  The goal.  Saving an innocent man from a horrible fate.

He snapped himself from his trance.  Well, it seems that, in truth, we have but one option.  What clue do we have but the rumor of a dragon?  We must go south.  What other choice is there?   As to slaying the dragon, I shall do as the Lord dictates and as His Holy Spirit calls me, even should it mean my death.  Have you found guidance that would lead us elsewhere?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Fri 20 May 2005.

Having waited several moments in silence, it was now the knight's turn to express some frustration... Father?  Tis now you who holds our quest at bay.  I have no qualms leading this group and, yes, I would steer us south, but wisdom would say to lean to the experince of all involved.  What say you about our course?

OCC:  Not trying to be a schmuch, but your previous post, showing frustration at Sir Vailario (even though understandable), was still IC frustration.  Cool?

Still feeling out of place the minstrel finally spoke up again, "South it is then? Aye? Unless we decide to journey to Faerie but that might not be a good idea..."