The Tale of Sir Lancelot - part 1. Dolorous Guard

[chevalier_mal_fet]

Characters: Sir Lancelot, aka the Servant Berserker, and All & Sundry
Setting: All Around the Tower
Format: Prose and Action are Both Welcome
Summary: Having just lately arrived, Sir Lancelot is in search of his Master
Warnings: No Warnings at Present. Unless you are a Monster, then look out.

Your world has been destroyed...

Lancelot, for he knows himself at the moment, is largely unmoved by the strange letters. He destroyed his own world long ago.

At the moment he is more concerned with his immediate surroundings, the mysterious clothing (and the collar) on his body, and the absence of his Master. His last memories before waking are of fire, of wind, and of thwarted rage. But he feels nothing now save a grim wariness. If this is indeed a Reality Marble, it is a mysterious one, and might contain anything. If an event caused by the Grail itself, then he can only meet what will come. If a device of his Master's-- Lancelot finds himself less than pleased with the idea.

Alone in the room where he has woken, he wastes no time in materializing his armor, and, as the situation seems an unusually urgent one, his sword. Both are as black as ever. His helm he leaves, as in carrying his blade he will be known regardless. He does not open the chest.

Reaching out to his Master, Lancelot is gratified to detect a faint pull. He will follow it, wherever it leads.


The Dormitory Hallways
Lancelot makes his way along the hallways nearby, but not limited to, 3-02. Any monsters he encounters, he will fight and slay. Any people he encounters, he will speak with.


The Cafeteria
Unable to pinpoint his Master's location, Lancelot proceeds to the bottom of the Tower. He is intrigued by the Cafeteria, and also by the idea of eating, which he has not done since he was living. He finds the idea of eating food in this place to be problematic, as he wonders if it might not be cursed or enchanted in some way. Being reared by Faeries will leave one with such ideas. Still, he's aware how important it can be to abide by the rules of magic in a possibly magical place. You'll find him stirring his oatmeal contemplatively.


Floor 10: The Aquarium
In the midst of continuing his search, Lancelot is distracted in the Aquarium. Water draws him like nothing else. He finds it calming, even now, in spite of his agitation at following his Master's poor prana signature. This water, obviously enchanted as it is not contained, is full of life. He shouldn't dally long here, but the sight is lovely, and it's difficult to resist stopping a moment.


Floor 25: The Meadow
This would indeed be an odd place for Lancelot to find his Master. Usually, the magus huddles unseen in dark corners, sewers, alleyways, and the like. He's searched in such places, and slain some few Monsters in the process, but has yet to find his Master. Still, there is a refreshing breeze here, and no obvious threat.

Comments

Dormitory floors

[pinnaculum]

[At the sight of the man in armor, Sephiroth, who is traversing the halls in his usual birdlike way: not quite walking, not quite hopping, not quite teleporting, comes to a complete standstill.

That armor. That sword. His eyes light up. Literally as well as figuratively. If cool were a term he was likely to use, he would use it to describe the man before him.

Not at all intimidated by sword, armor, or the size of the man, he heads toward him, walking normally now. He knows he has to speak to him.]

Hello.

[He carries a sword of his own, sheathed, although it's a slight weapon compared to Lancelot's blade.]

Re: Dormitory floors

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[Not a monster. At least not outright. But he would swear the child, for it is a child, was Fae. His bright, strange eyes and light feet, his bold demeanor and his fair face-- Lancelot has not seen anything like this child since he was nearly one himself.

As the boy's sword is sheathed and his greeting is courteous, Lancelot lowers his own blade. He nods gravely in greeting.]

Hello. Tell me, are you captive here, or are you of this place?
I am called Lancelot.

[pinnaculum]

[He continues to gaze up at the man admiringly, eyes wide.]

I was brought here. I'm a captive. [He doesn't like to think of himself as being a "captive", doesn't like that sense and idea of being confined, but it is true, so he answers the question accurately.]

My name is Sephiroth. I'm pleased to meet you, Lancelot. [Even in his admiration, he remembers his manners.] This is the Tower. Are you a soldier?

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[The boy, "Sephiroth"-- it even has the sound of a Fae kenning-- is bright and mannerly. Lancelot wonders at his bearing and his weapon, but feels no pang at the kidnapping of a child. He himself was taken as a babe, after all-- but to a far better place than this, as he has judged it.]

Well met, Sephiroth. You have an unusual name. Though I suppose my own must sound as strange to you.
I'm lately arrived to the Tower, but no, I am not a soldier. I am a Knight. I serve a Master and fight on his behalf.

You look to have a fine weapon. Have you used it here?

[pinnaculum]

I have never met anyone else with my name. [He's slightly proud of it, as he's proud of his uniqueness in general.] Or with your name. [Because it's certainly not a common name, where he's from.]

A knight. [He likes the sound of that, although knights are just old stories of the distant past where he's from.] Are you fighting in a war?

[He's pleased to have his own blade mentioned, and he nods.] I have used it to kill monsters. Your sword is also a fine weapon. I haven't seen one like it before. [It's new and interesting. he'd like a sword like that.]

[chevalier_mal_fet]

I thank you, Sephiroth. We are plainly uncommon then, as are our weapons.
Have you kept a count of your victories here?

[Once upon a time-- but that was so long ago, when he last spoke to a child who didn't fear his haggard face, his ruined voice.

He finds he is nearly smiling. The boy reminds him of himself at this age.]

Yes, I am fighting in a War, though I do not know if the War goes on without me. I have come here without my Master, and I must find him.

[pinnaculum]

You're welcome. Yes, we are. [Sephiroth doesn't mind being put into the same class as this man. He has no fear of him whatsoever. But then, he has very little fear.]

There are so many monsters. I have not kept count. But I have had many victories.

[And, importantly, no defeats.

He is always precise when fighting, but the number of monsters he slays isn't significant. As long as he wins and wins admirably: that's what matters.]

I patrol the floors to keep people safe. [Like a SOLDIER would.]

Are you part of the war of Masters and Servants?

[Sephiroth doesn't know what it's called, but Diarmuid had mentioned it to him.]

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[He nods. How is it that he enjoys this child's company more than any he has had in some time? It could be that the child reminds him of his own strange childhood, or that Sephiroth's warlike, valorous nature speaks to his own. Either way, he finds himself pleased.]

You do well then, Sephiroth, and I wish you much glory.

I am part of that War, yes. I will take the victory for my Master, and myself. As you know of it, you must have met others from my War in this place-- or this place is itself part of the War. Though I begin to doubt this is so. Tell me, who have you seen here who spoke of the War?

[pinnaculum]

Thank you. I will be a hero, and a general, when I am older.

[He nods. He thought that must be the case. It had sounded so similar.]

I spoke to a man named Diarmuid. He had a spear he could summon, named Gae Daerg. [And Sephiroth goes on to describe the spear in detail, as he had been very interested in it. He's much better at describing the weapon than the man.] It can disrupt magical barriers. [But not his Materia.]

He told me the war would not be fought here, because the item it is being fought for isn't here. He said it was better to fight the administrators. They are the ones responsible for our presence here.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[Lancer, then. Lancelot had no known his name before, but it is a useful thing to have.
He smiles gravely down at Sephiroth, enjoying his description of Lancer's weapon.]

I have thought this might well be so. Perhaps it is as well that the Grail has not come to this place.
I have knowledge of the man you spoke with, though I have not faced him in Battle. He is known to me as Lancer.

To be a Hero is a high calling. [And a great height from which to fall it is, too.]
Have you always felt it?

[pinnaculum]

I thought a war could be interesting. You won't fight without the "Grail"? What is it?

[If it was a war between a few people, it might not cause too many casualties. Having a Servant sounds like fun, although he would rather fight for himself.]

Diarmuid said we could spar sometime. [This clearly has earned him high marks in Sephiroth's book.]

I have always wanted to be a hero. [For as long as he can remember, that is. Some points of his life are hazy in his mind, but he doesn't examine them too much.]

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[Ah, youth.]

Yes, I was reared as a Champion as well. I always desired to bring glory to myself and-- any I served.

[He will not mar this Fae child's dreams, and so he does not speak of his fall.

The Grail is an Enchanted, Blessed object, filled with Truth and Wisdom. When I take it for my Master, it will grant my Master the desire that is dearest to him and its power will re-shape the world to reflect his wish.

"Diarmuid" and I are Heroic Spirits, summoned to fight on behalf of our Masters, willing to fight for the glory of Battle and our own desires. The War has indeed been interesting-- but I shall prevail, in the end. I promise you this.

[pinnaculum]

My primary purpose is combat. [Because that's the same thing, right?] I think I will fight for the WRO. [Their army seems to be the closest thing to what he wants.] They work to protect people.

I have heard about the Holy Grail War, too. I did not realize they were the same war. I read about the Grail in the library. It grants a wish? [Hmm. He can see why people would fight for such an object, but he has a researcher's skepticism as well as a soldier's desire for battle. He's not impressed by things being "blessed". It's like something you'd read about in a poem. Poems... why do poems make him skeptical? They seem to, though.] How are you sure it works?

Diarmuid told me that, that you are a copy of a hero, and you will disappear when the war is over. Diarmuid lost. [He supplies that information as if to be helpful rather than sympathetic, not seeming too terribly worried about Diarmuid's fate. He adds, also helpfully:] So you may still win.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

Ah, the WRO must be a large army then, to protect a whole people.

Your friend speaks the truth. I am only the Spirit of the man I was when I was living, when I was a Knight in the court of my King. When I take the Grail for my Master, he shall have wish, and I shall have my desire also, and rest. I shall disappear.
[He can't deny the attraction in the idea. His smile lingers.]

As for the Grail itself, I must take it on Faith, that it is what it is claimed to be. Do you take nothing on Faith then, Sephiroth?

[pinnaculum]

It is. It is the World Regenesis Organization. It works throughout the world. [Pretty impressive, right?] Though they say I am not old enough to fight. [Pretty ridiculous, right?]

What is your wish? [Sephiroth doesn't seem to worry about asking overly personal questions.]

Faith is not proof. Maybe you are fighting for nothing. [He remembers Diarmuid had said most Servants didn't realize they would go back to the throne and be erased, without even remembering that they had won.]

[chevalier_mal_fet]

I fought at your age, but not against armies, only my tutors, and such opponents as were chosen for me. It may seem so to you, but you will not have overlong to wait until you are are a man and have ample opportunity to gain the glory you desire.

[This child is canny indeed, as well as more bold than some Knights he has known.]

Faith is not proof, certainly. But if I fight for nothing, as you say, and do it in good faith, with honor, then the effort itself is Worthy, I think.

[Lancelot cocks his head, fascinated.]

I had rather hear what wish you would make, Sephiroth.

[pinnaculum]

I have fought many practice battles, but not in a war. I am old enough here to fight monsters. I can fight men. They say I should wait years. [Which is obviously too long.]

But to fight for nothing would be a failure.

[He doesn't agree, though the talk of honor does mean something to him, for some reason.]

It would be better to fight well than not, even if it was for nothing. Is that what you mean? I hope it is not for nothing.

[He considers Lancelot's question, though he'd rather have his own answered.]

I would not make a wish. What I wish for I will accomplish myself. [He pauses. However...] If I had to make a wish, I would ask to learn the truth about myself.

[That's a simple enough wish, right? Surely nothing could go wrong...]

oh, certainly nothing could go wrong... *cries*

[chevalier_mal_fet]

I found in life that the Truth can be a strange and treacherous thing. But I admire your Spirit. Indeed, I think you will being about your own Truth, in time. You've such a Will about you.

[Lancleot nods in consideration.]

Yes, that is what I mean, to fight with well and with honor even if there is no quest, to make one's own meaning and keep it close.

[Oh, he had failed to do this in life, and it pains him still. He feels an uncharacteristic spark of optimism. He feels hope for this boy.]

NO THE TRUTH WILL SET SEPHIROTH FREE

[pinnaculum]

I always want to know the truth.

[He's a regular Fox Mulder.]

How is it treacherous? [The truth? Dangerous? No way.] I will not stop looking. That is my quest.

Yes, fighting well is important. [Sephiroth nods gravely. Here's someone who understands being a warrior. So many other people don't seem to.] With honor... [That reminds him of something...] That is what I want to do.

BUT FIRST IT WILL PISS HIM OFF

[chevalier_mal_fet]

Well then, Sephiroth, fight with Honor, and follow your chosen path, no matter how hidden from you at first. I have often heard it said that such paths are the most rewarding.

[Lancelot looks down consideringly into that wide-eyed face.]

The Truth can be Treacherous because it changes form depending on the one who holds it. My Truth might be different from yours, yet might concern the same thing. Therefore, it is difficult to Know in a meaningful way.