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 Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:22 am
[[PRP between Yami's "Hallows Bane" and Epine's "Sylph Forcas". Please do not post without permission!]]
How many appointments was that now? He hadn't quite lost count but he really did not desire to dwell on how many individuals he had greeted, interviewed and dismissed as inappropriate. Oh, he had known from the beginning that a lot of his interviews would turn out to be a complete and utter waste of time - it was mildly frustrating to be made aware of just how disappointing the Kawani Province was. With the exception of a select few individuals he had long since come to the conclusion that the Lowlands were filled with sops who were more concerned with glory and the appeal they would have to mares if they were both unattainable and well trained combatants. Suffice to say they hadn't lasted long in his company and had been dismissed the moment their intentions became clear.
If there was one thing aspirants were, it was open books. He could read them in an instant and while he was capable of training those worth their salt how to hide their emotions - those without any potential were not privvy to such secrets.
He heaved a deep sigh, his shoulders rising briefly and then rolling to relieve the tension that had built up steadily over the last few hours. Deep thought and long walks tended to work well with one another, but not when they also provided an individual with a great deal of frustration. He did not profess to have the patience of a saint but he had always assumed he had a high level of tolerance - that was definitely being tested now. He could only hope that this next meeting would not prove to be a complete and utter waste of time. Unfortunately his messenger had given him very little detail in relation to the next soquili he was to meet, she was a fabulous secretary when it came to making sure he was never double booked but when it came to the details that may have been important to him - she never told him anything.
As a child he'd loved surprises, now he wasn't a great fan of them.
He came to a halt at the forest's edge, glancing left and then right to secure his surroundings before relaxing. He eased his weight onto his right hindleg and blew a long bout of warm air from his nostrils. He was early (as usual) but it would give him time to prepare himself for potential disappointment. He was getting rather good at the 'cut direct' so to speak but his optimism was taking quite the battering in response. After he had completed these interviews he was going to need quite a long period away from recruitment to dismiss the cynicism bubbling in his chest.
"Next," he murmured to no one in particular and then he waited, his monstrous size and gleaming gauntlets standing out rather plainly in the morning sun. He certainly didn't look like he fit in to such serene surroundings and more importantly he didn't look like he was peaceful either - if one were seeking out a stereotype to recognise their potential superior by then he fit the bill quite nicely.
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Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:54 pm
Upon hearing 'next' Hallows Bane stepped forward and stood before the alpha male. His neck was arched in such a way that it both showed confidence and intelligence while also showing unspoken basic respect for the Soquili in charge. The sun warmed his dark coat and made it glean, making him slightly uncomfortable. He was never one for really warm weather and opted to be in shaded regions. Be that as it may, he was here and in the presence of Soquili that would hold his future here in the Soquili lands.
Speaking of which Hallows hadn't been here for very long, maybe a week or so when he thought about it. He was a wanderer, never really staying in one place for very long. He was a Soquili with no definite boundries or home. When he had heard of the Knights of the Claw he started to think that maybe this would be a good way to plant his roots in this new place. His place of origin was still a mystery to him, not that he really cared, and he didn't have any definite friends; save for a rather mental dark colored mare named Sapphire and a less than normal stallion named Diabolus.
Be that as it may he turned his light green eyes towards the male in front of him, wondering what exactly this meeting would bring.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:34 am
Right on time. He was impressed.
Sylph's expression remained unreadable as he watched the stallion approach. It was in these moments that he was provided with a rare opportunity to observe and assess his potential recruits. He was able to see how they moved, the way they held themselves and more importantly, the weapons they may or may not have possessed. His initial impression had been rather abrupt, for all intents and purposes the stallion had reminded him of a Kalona but it was only on closer inspection that he disputed this stereotype. Like Sylph, Hallows Bane appeared to fall into the lofty realms of 'mutant', he was not quite like any other soquili and it was through no fault of his own. It would have come at no surprise to Sylph if he had been told the stallion had received less than desirable comments on occasion.
Suffice to say, the stallion moved with a certain element of grace and his initial approach had been very quiet despite his size. His wings were all but useless, even Sylph could see that but with the exception of that, the stallion definitely had some benefits. He was large, he had the potential to be incredibly strong with sufficient training and the horns upon his head would prove an invaluable weapon. Hell, if Hallows' had been feeling particularly creative he could have used his tail as a whip!
Mmmm yes, there was plenty of potential here.
"You would appear to be my next candidate," it was a statement, not a question. His brow lifted ever so slightly as he scrutinized the stallion more closely and then nodded, as if satisfied with his findings so far. Unfortunately it was now the moment of truth and usually the moment that completely ruined a meeting. It was time for Sylph to find out Hallows' true intentions and if his previous meetings were anything to go by, it wasn't going to be good.
He could only pray that this male was worth his salt!
"I assume you are either aware of what the Knighthood represents, or you have come to acquire more information. Depending on your answer we can proceed from there."
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:38 am
Hallow's bowed his head in a nodding fashion, his long bangs swings lightly across his brow and into his eyes.
" Yes I am aware of what this place represents, at least from what I've heard from my two-legger in passing. I hope that by coming here I can find a place for myself in these new lands, a strong tie to others who do not take threats lightly. I am neither mated nor courted, would rather keep to myself for as long as I can if you get my meaning. I feel that this place could offer all of this and more if you should let me into your ranks."
And with that Hallows ended his small speech, hopefully it would suffice to the wants of the alpha in front of him. Hallows knew, well most of the time knew, when to be serious and when to be sarcastic. He would rather get on this Soquili's good side than to be ran out because of ignorance.
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:51 am
Sarcasm had a time and a place, Sylph would certainly agree with this as well and while he rarely employed the use of such behaviour (he preferred dry humour) he could note it's uses. He'd seen his own troops use it while sparring, their sarcasm a cutting remark designed to provoke and to turn their opponent into a reckless and blithering idiot. Unsurprisingly it tended to work on the less disciplined aspirants but they had to be decidedly more creative as the ranks progressed - sarcasm had little affect on Sylph for example, who had long since honed his ability to focus on the task at hand. He would hear the words but he wouldn't react to him - only when the opponent was defeat, would Sylph provide him with the cut direct! A fitting end, if the alpha dared to say so himself (and dared he did).
Nevertheless, his brow did lift in a supercilious fashion at the small speech. He had heard the news in passing from a human? Sylph was mildly surprised by this, appearance wise, Hallows did not strike him as the type of stallion the colonies would have embraced. Then again, the colonies had been welcoming of Sylph and had even provided him with 'clothing' so to speak, he should have provided them credit where it was due. Granted he rarely understood the words that came out of their mouths but he had a rough idea of their meaning by how they reacted to him.
"I see," he replied after a considerable amount of time and pursed his lips. His brow lowered as his mind dwelled on the words he had been provided with. This stallion had made it clear that he was aware of the Order's immediate purpose (defence) and that he was otherwise unattached, so far so good. However, any male could be unattached when he chose and the phrase itself held little meaning - in an instant a stallion could change his mind and decide to dote on a particular mare. How could he be sure that he would remain loyal?
"And praytell," he continued at last and tilted his head to the side. "What is it that you believe that the knighthood can offer you that no other form of companion can?" he enquired softly. He had no desire to be rude or pushy, he merely wished to understand and secure his own thoughts. Sometimes males thought they knew what they wanted and then realised they'd made a horrid mistake; Sylph had no desire to thrust anyone into that position.
He just needed to be sure...
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:01 am
Hallows wasn't really surprised by the question, and so he answered.
"While a mate can supply someone with an immediate focus and attention it is not necessarily the same as a brotherhood of sorts. The feelings for a mate are vastly different than that of a connected brother in arms in which you rely on them and vice versa for protection. A brother is connected by blood, sweat, and sometimes tears. You are forever bonded to them be it positive or negative. While a mare may provide this in some sense they require more protection and as such can cause issues with both theirs and your own safety. I by no means wish to come out as sexist but that is the only way to describe it. I wish to forge bonds that cannot break by normal means. And I feel that by joining your knighthood this can be acomplished."
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:21 am
Touche.
Sylph had been bested and rather smoothly, it wasn't a competition but that was certainly the most adept response he had received in a while. More to the point, it bore a striking resemblence to his own take on things. Having an amorous companion was nice to a degree, even he had been privvy to those experiences before he had made his momentous decision. However, there was nothing more sound and nothing more special than the bond between the males on the frontline. Oh, the romantics would proclaim they would die for their lovers but would they really? It was doubtful at best; however, a band of brothers would completely annihilate anything that threatened them if it was necessary.
Sylph's expression became unreadable and for a while he lapsed into silence. Hallows hadn't come off as sexist, he had merely been stating a fact - when a mare was injured a stallion's instinct was to protect her. It was a dead weight on the shoulders and if he could recognise this now then it was safe to assume he would not take his duties or vow of celibacy lightly. No, Sylph was reassured that should the stallion ever take the decision to dedicate himself to a companion then it would be a careful choice indeed. That sat well with Sylph, it was realistic for him to assume they would dedicate their entire life to the order (though some might surprise him in this) but he would expect a long standing and loyal service until the day they changed their course in life.
"You could not have answered that better if you had tried," he replied more so for his own benefit than Hallows. Nodding curtly he fixed his gaze on the stallion with a sense of finality and relaxed - it would have been wrong to say he 'shrank' but he certainly looked a little less imposing. "You noted that your bond could be both positive and negative," he began and leaned back on his hind legs thoughtfully. "Define 'negative' and how would you seek to right or handle such a thing if it were to arise."
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:37 am
Hallows smiled grimly, something deep within the recesses of his lost memories of the past making him do so. But he let that go, saving those thoughts for later should he wish to think about them once more.
"Negative in the sense of betrayal. Despite the fact that a brother could betray you you will always have those past bonds of civility, comradship, respect, friendship, acceptace, a mixture off all, or a few. The memories of what you went through together will always stay within the recesses of your mind and sometimes the flesh. Scars, at least mentally, will never fully heal. Some, like myself, may overcome that obstacle and others it would be for naught. But that is all a part of the journey. There are memories I have locked deep in my mind and I do not know why. Nor does it really matter. Then do not hinder me in the slightest. Should the sense of betrayal arise for me I would deal with it accordingly. Now what that would be I could not say right now for I do not know what the situation is. But it would most certainly not be taken lightly, especially if it were towrds my other brethren."
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Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:03 am
A mix of both right and wrong answers, he was an intelligent creature indeed but clearly in possession of a past that had enough traumas in it to cause him to 'forget'. Amnesia in that respect was not necessarily a good thing but if Hallows had overcome it to some degree then he would not dispute it until it was proven otherwise. In time he had no doubt that such issues would come to the surface (they always did) but this didn't mean that Hallows would be forbidden the opportunity to prove himself. For the most part he had answered Sylph's questions in a most admirable manner and despite the numerous openings for sarcasm and dry jibes, he had opted not to stoop to that level. In short he had made a rather good impression on the alpha even in the first few minutes of their encounter.
"I believe that would be 'bittersweet'," he couldn't help himself, the correction slipped from his lips and he raised his eyes heavenwards. He gave a disgruntled sigh of frustration at his own tongue and then returned his gaze to the stallion, his expression grave. "My apologies, it is a force of habit that I correct a definition or provide a more suitable alternative," a wry smile lifted onto his lips and he permitted a sigh to escape them. "Another considerate answer and one not well practiced," it was a sign that Hallows was genuine.
"However should the issue of betrayal ever arise within the ranks of the knighthood it would not be your responsibility to deal with it directly," he lifted a brow at this and shook his head. "Well, it would not be your responsibility unless you received orders in relation to it. One would say if you were given orders to deal with the issue then it would be your responsibility," he dwelled on this for a few more moments and then pursed his lips in a thin line. The very thought of betrayal within his own ranks made his gaze harden, he'd absolute decimate anyone who tried it. "If it were on a personal level I would prefer that you direct your concerns to a superior as opposed to dealing with them yourself - I find that a mediator is rather useful to have between two individuals capable of causing severe damage."
He chuckled softly and his gaze softened once more, he'd seen a few very minor personal disputes between comrades and they usually ended in a most comical fashion whenever things weren't allowed to escalate. He still hadn't forgotten the time he'd been called a 'nodcock' by his sparring partner...
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 2:49 pm
With a nod of his head a small cluck of the tonguke Hallows allowed his posture to soften a bit to a bit more relaxed. He liked it here will enough. It seemed structured and professional, just enough to fit his tastes in what he was looking for. Sylph sounded like he knew what he was doing very well and agreed with him 100%.
"And that is exactly what I would do. Stepping across boundaries is the last thing I'd wish to do. Do you have any other questions or concerns? I'd be more than willing to them as best I can. All I can really say is that I rather like it here. It seems a bit like home. I hope I've met your expectations."
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:11 am
From the depths of his throat, Sylph permitted a soft bark of laughter to rise. Hallows had jumped the gun and asked him if he had any queries, something that the stallion found amusing. He supposed it was a valid question, he was sure there would be others in the world that required all information on an individual before permitting them to stay in an area. However, he was very much a soquili that relied on his instincts and the stallion in question had given him no major gorunds for concern as of yet. Rather than shun him through a lack of information or a failed past, Sylph was prepared to give the stallion the benefit of the doubt and in time perhaps he would feel comfortable enough to explain his past. There were some secrets that an individual was entitled to keep and given that Sylph had many of his own, he would be a hypocrite to demand total honesty from another!
Still, a smile did line his lips as he regarded the stallion. His laughter died down after a brief instant and he sucked in a deep breath to regather his thoughts. He had no questions of his own as far as could be seen on an immediate level - he was sure he would have some at a later period when Hallow's had been granted the opportunity to train and settle in but for the time being he was satisfied. This in mind, he settled a warmer gaze on the stallion and shook his head in silent reply to the initial query as though his chuckle hadn't done this already.
"I have no questions at present," he confirmed as though a further response was required. "However I would extend the same to you, if there is something you need to know then now would be the ideal moment to ask," he advised with the typical have smile he often held on his lips. His head tilted to the side and he waited expectantly for the stallion to continue, opting to disregard the heavy locks of hair that now tumbled away from his neck and rebelliously into his eyes...he'd had greater distractions than that in his life!
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:06 pm
"Actually I have none at the moment. I rather like to learn as I go. It adds more excitement in my life," Hallows chuckled after a moment of thought, allowing himself to relax more with the stallion.
Order, good sense of humor, Hallows felt this was the right move. With time came meeting others and meeting others ment forming a new life for himself. Although he couldn't help but wonder where he'd go from this meeting.
"Well, since you don't have any questions and I don't have any questions where shall we go from here?" he asked curiously.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 4:53 am
A valid query indeed. Sylph was certain that the stallion would have questions at some point in time but he seemed comfortable for now. With all the very basic introductions out of the way though, this did beg the question of how one should proceed. At present there were only a few orders that could really be given, all of which involved putting the stallion into position for training and a number of other bits and pieces that were required of him. This in mind, Sylph regarded the male for a few moments before rolling his shoulders and nodding towards the looming mountain range to the east - given the way he was stood though, it looked more like he was motioning to his left.
"Islagiatt territory lies within those slopes, I would advise you to make your way there so that you might introduce yourself to your mentors," he paused to let this sink in before continuing. "Additionally you will need to make contact with one of the resident doctors within Islagiatt, the one most available is generally Azzinoth but there are others in residence if you ask after them," again he paused, attempting to recall whether or not his uncle was definitely available. From what the male could remember, his uncle had just returned and had no intention of disappearing for some time at least which would prove beneficial to Sylph. "I should warn you that Azzinoth does not speak fluent Kawani, he can be understood but he is not as talkative as some might desire..."
"The other unicorns possess ample skills as well, you will need to consult with at least one of them to receive the go ahead to train," he sucked in a breath and shook his head. "You must understand that our training is rather unforgiving and we cannot permit those without sufficient strength to take part - it is a precaution."
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