The Knights Next Door

[King Aragorn of Gondor]

Nym waved back to Shana, really just wanting this day to end.  She heard them talking about something, Castles?  Were they going to build a Castle?  How did she get into that class?  Whatever, she didn't want to bother them.  So, she went to browse the shelves again.  She noticed Lopen sitting around and told him, "Choose a Fiction book, Lopen." She had been ignoring him for the most part of the day.  He smiled at her and got the book, Dry by Neal Shusterman.  She grabbed the book, Lopen standing proudly on the shelf, smiled at him, and went to go check these books out. @AonEne @Ookla the Maybe-Existent @Sorana

[AonEne he/him]

12 hours ago, Ookla the very snazzy said:

Dry by Neal Shusterman

Quote

*dead noises*

Edit: cat

 

Edited December 27, 2019 by AonEne

[King Aragorn of Gondor]

Quote

Exactly, that book, sigh, made me really,really thirsty.

@AonEne

[AonEne he/him]

Quote

That book made me worry about humanity. Like most of his books. He’s a great author, though - I’d recommend him to anyone. Especially the Unwind and Everlost series; you really fall in love with his characters. 

By the way, important to everyone! Due to the member limit of Discord’s Direct Messages, we now have a full server for TKND/P/G. There’s a link in the OP. In addition to discussion both off-topic and on, planning, and jokes, there are channels dedicated to side RPs or one-offs in the universe. It’s all gonna be very fun, so join us! 

If you’re interested in joining but don’t have a Discord account, don’t worry, they’re not hard to make and I’m happy to help if needed. If you don’t want to make an account for whatever reason, don’t stress, nothing we do on there is integral to roleplaying here. However, I anticipate it adding an extra layer of fun and meaning to stuff. 

 

[Lunar Blessing she/her]

Quote

How far into the school day are we?

 

[+Sorana she/her]

1 hour ago, Blessing of Potency said:

How far into the school day are we?

Quote

Still in the morning. Most characters are in the library right now.

If anybody has an idea what to do, apart from planning how to turn our house into a fortress, we have lots of room to add that one.

 

[I think I am here. he/him]

On 26/12/2019 at 11:19 PM, Sorana said:

“Maybe we could add a secret way out of the whole area. Deep in the ground, as an emergency exit."

“That’s a good idea,” Rob said. “But we need to make sure it’s hidden really well. Or it might turn into a way to secretly enter the house, or ambush us. Maybe a perpetual light weaving, with some spheres to charge it?”

He frowned, thought about what she said. Shana was right, some Voidbringers had the surge of gravitation and could fly.

“Some can even teleport,” he said. “Go into Shadesmar, walk forward, and reappear within our home.” For a moment he found himself annoyed at the Voidbringers and how difficult they were to stop.

“Have we ever considered following a Voidbringer to its base?” He asked, changing the topic. The sphere in his pocket pulsed. “And invading their home? It’s like a cockroach infestation, sometimes you just need to...”

To what?

Rob trailed off, shook his head.

“I don’t know. Bad idea.”

[Wyndlerunner he/him]

James walked through the hallways of the school, listening to Blind Guardian play through his earbuds- they were his favorite band, much to the surprise of many who knew him. If he had a nickel for every time someone told him that they didn't expect him to like metal music, he'd probably have enough to pay for a fast food burger. School had been going well so far, but he had a book that needed returning to the library- so the library was where he was headed, before his lunch break. You seem a bit off James The Nightwatcher sent, though she didn't speak, James could practically hear the motherly concern in her voice. It's all right, I'm just not the best in crowds, they put me on edge. He sent somewhat dismissively. 

A few minutes later, James walked into the library, where he noticed a few familiar faces, causing his blank face to light up in a grin- an action that was not uncommon in the library, but even less so than the found family that he had with the other Radiants. He gave a slight wave as he dropped the fantasy tome with a dense thud into the returns bin. Then he headed for the shelves- he needed another book to keep him company.

Quote

Guess who's back? Back again.

 

[+Sorana she/her]

15 hours ago, Ookla the Maybe-Existent said:

“Have we ever considered following a Voidbringer to its base?” He asked, changing the topic. The sphere in his pocket pulsed. “And invading their home? It’s like a cockroach infestation, sometimes you just need to...”

"kill them all?" Shana finished his sentence and sighed. "Yes, it's a bad idea." With another sigh she started to write down what they had so far. "But I fear that without, this will never end."

"We can't stop those teleporting, and unless we install a lot of flight defense mechanism it might be hard to get the flyers. So maybe we should concentrate to slow down those coming on foot, so that we deal with the faster ones first."

She waved at James, noticed him immediatly head over to the shelves with the books and smiled at him, before turning her attention back to Rob. James looked tired, as if he was a little unwell, and she felt worry churn around her stomach, but she only sighed. Books. Somehow had told her, that they were like imaginations from the other side, like a glimpse into a different world, but she didn't really feel that way. Most of the time she couldn't concentrate and stick with one long enough, that she was able to learn enough about the martyr or the the maiden and the mistrel knight to become really involved in the story.

"But I agree. We should follow them home. We still got the one in our cellar. If we question him, and then set him free, maybe we can use him. Attack them for a change." She shook her head. "This is awful, like a cycle that never ends. I know that violence isn't the answer, but it seems to be the only was. As if this is a game and nothing else. Just a friendly match of King of the hill, with our house being our hill and their base being theirs. If we get rid of each other - "

"We could install lights that react to movement. And alarms. So that we get informed when something large moves in the air around our house, or breaks through the wall."

1 hour ago, Wyndlerunner said:

listening to Blind Guardian play through his earbuds

Quote

Do you OOC listen to them as well?

 

[Wyndlerunner he/him]

9 hours ago, Sorana said:

Do you OOC listen to them as well?

Quote

Yeah. Actually the whole comment about people being surprised by James liking metal is very heavily influenced by my own experiences

 

[+Sorana she/her]

4 minutes ago, Wyndlerunner said:

Yeah. Actually the whole comment about people being surprised by James liking metal is very heavily influenced by my own experiences

Quote

I agree

I save them live only once, but it was such a great evening. Everybody was singing the more famous songs along, and I stood somewhere close to the first row as well.

 

[Wyndlerunner he/him]

Just now, Sorana said:

I agree

I save them live only once, but it was such a great evening. Everybody was singing the more famous songs along, and I stood somewhere close to the first row as well.

Quote

Man, I wish I could see them live. I got introduced to them through the song "Wheel of Time", and suddenly had the epiphany This band literally reflects all of my interests. Now they just need to write a Cosmere song 

 

[I think I am here. he/him]

20 hours ago, Sorana said:“We could install lights that react to movement. And alarms. So that we get informed when something large moves in the air around our house, or breaks through the wall."

Rob nodded. “Movement sensors would work.”

He sighed. Shana was right with how she described it. It was a bit like a game. The Voidbringer, invading, being fought off only to return. Except in the real world real people were at risk, real people died, and the Voidbringers seemed to have the express goal of dismantling the Radiants, while Rob and the others had their normal lives to deal with.

“It seems as though there are really only two options to stopping them for good,” Rob continued. “Killing them all, or curing them all.” Rob knew which one he wanted to be the outcome. He remembered what Shana said about having a Voidbringer in the cellar.

“I forgot we captured one,” he said. It was actually something that could help them in the long run. Never before had Rob seen them try to communicate with the Voidbringers, or interrogating them. Maybe... Rob’s thoughts focused on the dark sphere. Would the Voidbringer have answers for what it was? Would he have answers for what a cure could be?

“And maybe a lightning rod? To attract lightning they throw to that point instead of hitting the house?”

[+Sorana she/her]

6 hours ago, Ookla the Maybe-Existent said:

“And maybe a lightning rod? To attract lightning they throw to that point instead of hitting the house?”

"Yes." Shana added it to her list and when she read it over, she had to laugh. "We're building a fortress." It felt good. To finally do something, to stop being attacked and try to prepare for the Voidbringers. There was no need to wait like a pig to be slaughtered, not when they could prepare and fight back.

"We should talk to him. Find out if there's a cure." She waved at Cassie, James and Nym, gestured for them to walk over.

"I think we need to discuss it with the others." She suggested. "See if they are alright with that many changes. And we need to work together as well. The two of us can't build it up on our own, but if we work together we can do it."

Quote

Just an offer to participate, if you want to.

@Ookla the very snazzy

@Wyndlerunner

@AonEne

[I think I am here. he/him]

4 hours ago, Sorana said:

“I think we need to discuss it with the others." She suggested. "See if they are alright with that many changes. And we need to work together as well. The two of us can't build it up on our own, but if we work together we can do it."

“No man has all 10 surges,” Rob agreed, quoting something he heard from Doc once. “We each have a role we play, and together this will be a breeze.” He looked up at the group Shana waved at and waved at them too.

“I wouldn’t expect the Voidbringer to tell us the truth, though,” Rob said. “We’ll have to fact-check what he says. Or give him a large incentive to tell us the truth.”

[King Aragorn of Gondor]

"Hi."  Nym said, confused.  What were they doing?  She had thought castles, but then they talked about Voidbeingers, and Lightning rods?  "What are you doing?"  She asked.  @Ookla the Maybe-Existent @Sorana

[+Sorana she/her]

2 hours ago, Ookla the very snazzy said:

"Hi."  Nym said, confused.  What were they doing?  She had thought castles, but then they talked about Voidbeingers, and Lightning rods?  "What are you doing?"  She asked.  @Ookla the Maybe-Existent @Sorana

"Planning how to defend our house from the Voidbringers." Shana explained and gestured towards their plan. "If you have any other ideas, tell us. The more the better.

"And we might want to write a list of questions for our imprisoned enemy. Maybe we can catch him lying and find the truth out that way."

[King Aragorn of Gondor]

On 12/31/2019 at 11:51 AM, Sorana said:

"Planning how to defend our house from the Voidbringers." Shana explained and gestured towards their plan. "If you have any other ideas, tell us. The more the better.

"And we might want to write a list of questions for our imprisoned enemy. Maybe we can catch him lying and find the truth out that way."

"Interesting."  Nym said, she was pleased that she wasn't the only one who cared about protection.  "Have you already thought of basic systems like a movement sensor and cameras?"  She didn't doubt their intelligence, but it never hurt to ask.  @Sorana @Ookla the Maybe-Existent

[+Sorana she/her]

3 hours ago, Ookla the very snazzy said:

"Interesting."  Nym said, she was pleased that she wasn't the only one who cared about protection.  "Have you already thought of basic systems like a movement sensor and cameras?"  She didn't doubt their intelligence, but it never hurt to ask.  @Sorana @Ookla the Maybe-Existent

"We considered them, yes - " Shana pointed at some crosses on her improvised map. "But I'm not that sure, how huge of an advantage they will be. Our enemies and walk, fly and teleport - and they are fast. Some of them will reach the house within seconds, and then we will know that they are there."

She considered the topic for another while and then added more cameras and movement sensors. "Do you think it's better like that? Then at least we are prepared should they try to sneak up on us and take some time."

[AonEne he/him]

Quote

Hey everyone, new poll is up. 

Cassie loved her job. She got to make money while training to work in a library, a profession she was somewhat interested in, and she got to read. The librarians were nice; the book selection was extensive; most of the activities she performed were easy, some even bordering on boring; and she was close to the other Radiants, if they needed anything. It was a good job. 

So why was this one of the worst times of her life? 

Her normal energy was gone before she’d stepped through the doors. All day Cass had blinked away a tired fuzz from her brain, struggling to focus on the numbers beneath a barcode, a student telling her how to spell their last name, where she was in the shelves. At one point she found herself sitting in the nonfiction section staring aimlessly at the 500s and realized she was supposed to be putting away a new book.

At another the head librarian, Mrs. Erikson, pulled her into her office behind the desk and said quietly, “Are you okay? You’ve been staring off into space a lot today.” 

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Cassie said quickly, then bit her lip. “I’m fine. Just distracted, I guess.” 

“Well, if you’re sure,” Mrs. Erikson said dubiously, and sent her off to unwrap printer paper. 

But she hadn’t lied, because she was distracted. Not by something that was there, but by what wasn’t. No lights in the corner of her eye, checking out the new book rack as Cassie worked. No excitement zipping straight through their bond whenever someone walked in, no matter the purpose, regardless of the fact that people came in and out all day. No one trying to urge her to open an interesting-looking book so she could read the first page - or to take the book home and turn all the pages for her after that. No presence in the back of her head, wordless but always there. 

Why, by all the storms, had she assumed in that crucial moment that just because her spren couldn’t talk, she wouldn’t miss her? 

With Joy’s emotions gone, Cassie lived with new ones: guilt and grief and emptiness. With her own personal light not bobbing overhead, the ceiling lights made her flinch the first time she looked up and saw them, their bulbs too dead somehow. She hadn’t brought any Stormlight, and found herself desperately wanting some, so she could duck into a back room and just leave. When shelving magazines got monotonous, she counted her heartbeats, and curled her grip as if she was holding the hilt of a sword. 

It was a relief when Rob, Shana, James, and Nym entered the room. They were something she could think about besides trying to focus on her work, something safe to think about that wouldn’t have her biting her lip so hard it almost bled. Another incentive to heed the Words. 

Life before death. She had whispered them in front of a Voidbringer and she wasn’t going to betray them now, even if they weren’t binding anymore. 

Cass finished her current task and saw Shana waving her over. Pulling a chair over to their table, she smiled and tried to make it seem genuine. “Hey, what’s up? School going well?” 

@Sorana @Ookla the Maybe-Existent @Ookla the very snazzy 

Edited January 5, 2020 by AonEne
I have written many words

[I think I am here. he/him]

14 minutes ago, AonEne said:

Cass finished her current task and saw Shana waving her over. Pulling a chair over to their table, she smiled and tried to make it seem genuine. “Hey, what’s up? School going well?” 

Rob looked up, and like with most emotional things was completely oblivious to the fake smile.

“Yeah,” he said. “I won my debate. I’m guessing it’s going well for you too?”

[AonEne he/him]

17 minutes ago, Ookla the Maybe-Existent said:

Rob looked up, and like with most emotional things was completely oblivious to the fake smile.

“Yeah,” he said. “I won my debate. I’m guessing it’s going well for you too?”

“Congratulations,” she said, the smile getting a little more real. This was a big deal for Rob. “That’s great. And yeah, pretty average.” She was normally pretty good at lying, not that she had to test it much these days. She halfheartedly wondered if any of them would figure out this one. 

[+Sorana she/her]

1 hour ago, AonEne said:

Cass finished her current task and saw Shana waving her over. Pulling a chair over to their table, she smiled and tried to make it seem genuine. “Hey, what’s up? School going well?” 

"Hey." Shana smiled, and then shook her head. "School is a catastrophe." She admitted. "I failed maths and then my teacher gave me the 'poor orphan, do need someone to talk to' speech."

She frowned, looked at her drawing. "And all of this only shows me, how we have no idea what we're facing. We are mixing a medieval castle with modern technology and I feel like we'll learn that our enemy comes by with plasma cannons instead." Frustrated she placed her head on the table, not looking at anybody. "I don't know how to sort it all, anymore. I worry about you, about attacks, about training, and then I'm expected to pass this year." She lifted a finger. "If I don't get a B in the next test, I'm done for. And I don't even know when to sleep, when should I study?"

Shaking her head she sighed, tried to make up for her words. "Apart from that I am alright."

[King Aragorn of Gondor]

Nym cringed when Cassie mentioned school.  "Well, choir was... interesting.  I have this thing where I learned Shakespearea long time ago and now I speak it every time I get nervous or frustrated I sorta speak Shakespearian.   And this happened in chir so now half the school thinks I'm outta wack."  She said this with a forced smile.  She didn't need friends, did she?  She had books, those were sort of friends right?  @AonEne @Sorana @Ookla the Maybe-Existent

[Lunar Blessing she/her]

Ashlyn puts her car in park and sits there for a minute. Alright. School. Learning. No thinking about magic people and a bracelet that may not actually be a bracelet. With a breath she gets out and locks her car, her feet taking her to the school.

Quote

I’m not dead!