behindcloseddoors | CLOSED ♔ the width of a thread on a spider's web

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CLOSED ♔ the width of a thread on a spider's web

WHO || Myrilandel de Tanos, Thomas Bancroft, Jack Chessing [closed]
WHAT || Dragon's Claws seeeecrets
WHERE || The Knights' hotel room, New Orleans, USA
WHEN || Friday, Oct 19th, late
HOW || Actionspam

After all the out and out fighting has worn down, Thomas & Jack have retired to their separate joined room to discuss future plans for the mission. Things quiet down eventually, most people going to bed, or finding a quiet corner to brood.

Maybe Myri stepped out for air again, or maybe she never came back in. Either way, she's the only one on the balcony when she hears the raised voices of the two Dragon's Claws drifting down from their own room. Their balcony door must be ajar, and either they're unaware, or don't care at this point.

Jack sounds practically livid. And even worse, thoroughly disappointed.

"You've stepped entirely out of line, Thomas. I recognize as much as you do the necessity of taking lives when we have no other choice, but that was not the way, nor the time, to do so The effect this has had on the younger knights..."

Thomas sounds dismissive as he says: "Were largely in favor of it, and not just because they're all murder-happy. Jack, these aren't normal circumstances, how many times do I have to tell you that? This isn't the time to go all high and mighty. The entire future of the Knighthood is resting in our hands and we can't afford to hesitate."

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[She'd been tossing and turning all night, trying to get comfortable, but not sleeping for more than a half hour or so at a time. Amaranth was getting tired of her tossing and turning and had all but kicked her out of bed some time before dawn. Myri slipped a robe over her pajamas and headed for the balcony. Maybe a bit of fresh air would clear her head and help her sleep. She closed the balcony door behind her and finished tying the robe belt around her waist, but just as she secured the belt, she heard voices.

As the words registered and the direction became more clear, she was able to discern just who it was that was speaking. The Dragon's Claws were just as divided as the team, it seemed. She still felt sick about what had happened on the mission and what the others had seen in the swamp. But to justify one horror for another? It didn't sit right with her.

She stepped closer towards the sound of their conversation, placing both hands on the railing around the balcony and listened (Listen 12).]

I'm entirely aware of the stakes. But allowing a prophecy to dictate the measures we're willing to take could very well be what steers us to the very downfall that was predicted.

If the alternative is having to live with ourselves for sitting back and letting it all unravel because we were afraid to make the wrong move? I'll take it, gladly.

You're still young, Jack, and you're ignoring the benefit of my experience here. In the century I've known him, I've never known Wynnefalshond to fear a damned thing.

But this. This has had him on edge since I was a green squire.

Edited 2013-02-05 00:56 (UTC)

A prophecy that's completely and entirely vague. We don't know how it will threaten the Knighthood, or what this has to do with the drow.

If Wynn had truly thought this matter of such urgency at the onset, he never would have sent a battalion of Knights with so little experience between them.

[Prophecy? Myri doesn't recall hearing anything about a prophecy. The very idea of something making Wynn nervous is so foreign to her that she wonders if she heard them correctly.

The comment about their group's lack of experience makes her bristle a little, her spine stiffening. Sure, it's... true, but that doesn't mean she likes to hear it. By now, she's listening very intently. She knows that she should just go inside and go back to bed, but now she's can't. (listen 19)]

Edited 2013-02-05 03:38 (UTC)

Or maybe he was afraid his older Knights would be too set in their ways to accept that our methods may have to be adapted to meet this new challenge.

If we compromise what we've stood for all these centuries, out of fear, we're throwing away everything we've sworn to. Everything we've fought to become.

We're stronger than that, Thomas. We all are.

[She stands quiet and still, hands still holding tightly to the rail of the balcony. She chews on her bottom lip as she debates what to do next. Finally, after a few heartbeats of indecision, she releases her hold on the railing and steps back inside the hotel room, but doesn't go back to bed. Instead, she moves through the suite as quietly as possible (move silently 13). She heads for the door to the Dragons Claws' rooms and knocks.]

[ it's jack who opens the door, looking surprised. thomas is visible on the couch, head back against the cushions, hat over his eyes ] ... Sir de Tanos. Good evening.

Sir Chessing. Sir Bancroft. [She nods to each.] Might I come in?

[ thomas answers, muffled below his hat, as he waves a hand extravagantly ]

Of course, my dear. We welcome the distraction.

[She gives a polite nod and a smile as she steps past Chessing and enters the room. Her hand idly tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. For a moment, she searches for her words and almost regrets this decision at all, but after an awkward beat of silence, she drops her hand and stands straighter.]

I was on the balcony... getting a bit of fresh air. And well.. I couldn't help but overhear. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, Sirs, truly. But... I feel as though there's a great deal that we're not privy to. And while I'm sure you have your reasons to keep secrets, I cannot help but wonder if such secrets might create more danger for those of us who are unknowing.

[ there's a bit of a pause, and then they exchange a look that says clearly: 'well shit'. thomas just barks a laugh, but jack sighs and pinches his nose ]

I'm sorry, Myrilandel, that you had to hear it this way. Please. Have a seat.

[ he waits until she does so, thomas scooting over to afford her room, before continuing ] What you overheard is classified as level six information, and the fact that we've allowed that confidentiality to be breached so thoughtlessly on our behalf is... troubling.

But you must understand, above all, that the very reason this has not been shared with the team is because we know next to nothing about what the secret is. [ how confusing. he seems to recognize that and continues: ] The 'prophecy' to which we refer has to do with the murals and paintings in the hallway of the castle that leads to the Round Table room, which contain a painting of the symbol you've known to be connected with the Talisman. But the prophecy itself tells us nothing about the significance of either the Talisman or the events that might surround it. We know nothing beyond that it represents a great potential threat to the Knighthood, if the oracles who completed those paintings are to be believed. [ he has a sharp look for thomas to accompany that ] Which we have no way of knowing. To spread this information to the team is to encourage a sort of paranoia that can lead to unnecessarily extreme decisions.

[She sits on the couch, but doesn't recline back. Her hands fold neatly in her lap, but her posture shows all the anxiety she's feeling at the moment.

She tries to recall the murals, but it's been so long since she's been in that hall that they're all blurred in her mind's eye. She makes a mental note to take a closer look the next time they make it back to the castle.

If they make it back.]

But if so much is unknown, what can you possibly look for at this stage?

The paintings are all on a similar theme: the Knights against an army of spiders, or an army of drow, and spiders are merely a symbol for the drow goddess anyway.

The connections to the case remain tenuous, but Jade herself has drow heritage, and she remains linked to the Talisman itself.

I would agree with you, Myri, in that I think it's dangerous to try looking for signs that aren't there, and letting it influence the decisions we make. Prophecy is a dangerous business, and more often than not, it's in trying to avert it that we cause prophesied events to unfold.

It's best to remain cautious overall and proceed without giving overmuch attention to the words of oracles. Which is why I must ask that you keep this knowledge to yourself.

So by seeking Jade out, we could be unknowingly bringing about this enemy to our door.

[She lets out a shaking breath.]

I didn't speak to Jade much when we had her near. Most of what I've heard about her has come from Rafael, and he is ... questionable source, at best. But I have never been one to judge a person by their heritage. These... drow. Jade isn't the only one, I'm assuming. There are others?

[She's not the most knowledgeable on all the races the Shadowkind have to offer.]

Oh, heavens no. There are tons of drow out there, worming their way into things left and right. [ he throws her a look ] Don't get me wrong. They aren't all bad, as you say. But like it or not, there are some races with a pre-disposition for evil. Some by nature, such as tieflings, and some - which is much worse in my opinion, and more difficult for them to combat - by nurture.

Dark elves come from a societal structure that is xenophobic at best, completely and entirely malevolent at worst. In the Shadow World, it's very difficult to find a dark elf who hasn't been indoctrinated since birth with their ridiculous dogma and belief in their poisonous caste system, and style of Machiavellian internal politics. Most of them would rather die than listen to anyone try to convince them there's another way to live.

It's more complicated in this world, thankfully, in that some of them have those memories wiped straight out of their heads upon arrival. They get the chance for redemption they'd be hunted down for taking in their own world.

But they're hunted here, as well, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Some have the opportunity for redemption, but not all. You mean to say that there are some who remember the teachings they grew up with in the Shadow World and have brought that mindset through to this world?

[She's beginning to piece together this threat.]

And they would seek to destroy the Knights simply due to a difference of opinion?

[ jack nods, though hesitantly ] It's more than a 'difference of opinion'. They believe all other life to be below them, and would eradicate or enslave it all if they had the opportunity. But they are smart opponents and they know their limits, which is why in this world in particular, where their numbers are small, they keep to the shadows. Operate behind the scenes wherever possible. Many of them have sought to resurrect the 'house' systems to which they belonged in their former worlds.

Do you believe they could be behind this religious cult operating out of NOVA? Were any of those at the meeting earlier these... drow?

[She's still struggling to connect the dots, to see how their current circumstance relates to this fated threat.]

They're certainly weren't any full-blooded drow, no. And they wouldn't work with Shadowhating humans even if it got them what they wanted. They have too much damned pride for that.

In other words, we've no idea whether this applies to the prophecy or not. Which is why I continue to hold the stance that we shouldn't go trying to force it to fit over our current circumstances until we know more.

[She nods, going very quiet for a few moments.]

You're right. Telling the others would only cause panic. The more of us who have our wits about us for the task at hand, the better.

[She smiles in a sad way.] I suppose I can no longer be counted among those.

I think your wits will do just fine.

[She laughs a little at that.]

Perhaps. So long as I stay away from the fey wine.

A wise choice, perhaps. [ a tiny smile ] Again, I apologize that you had to find out this way, Sir de Tanos.

It's not your fault. You had no way of knowing anyone would be awake to hear. And I'm sure you've both got quite a lot weighing on your mind.

[She gives them both a sympathetic look before standing from her seat.]

I should let you both get back to your discussion. I'm sure you have other pressing matters to attend to without prying eyes... or ears, as it were.

Oh, I think we've had enough discussion for my taste, either way. Good night, Myrilandel. Sleep well.

[She smiles and nods before taking her leave of their room and finding her way back to her own bed.]

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