A shimmering image of Baldrick forms slowly in front of you
and says:

        Where do you want to meet?

The image then fades away into nothingness.

 
Chico nods.

You concentrate on your gem, it begins to glow brightly.
You tell Baldrick: Anywhere you wish.
 
Chico says to you in xyllic:
     Shiann wrote me a mail, you sure you got no mail from her?

You say in xyllic:
     I am sure.

*** I did check the mail office again. No mail. As suspected, the wrong
*** destination.
 
A shimmering image of Baldrick forms slowly in front of you
and says:

        The stables bar in Harts?

The image then fades away into nothingness.

You concentrate on your gem, it begins to glow brightly.
You tell Baldrick: I will be comming shortly.

*** Need to talk with Chico first.

Chico says in xyllic:
     Gwen....

Gwenderon sings in xyllic:
     Hm?

Chico says in xyllic:
     Baldrick and Squeak were in love, Baldrick is married to Kama. Kama did
     suicide right in front of Baldrick, Shiro is all mad. Kama's suicide was
     forever where she can't get a ressurection anymore.

Chico says in xyllic:
     Was too quick?

Gwenderon hums a mystic melody.

You shake your head.
 
Chico says in xyllic:
     But the point.

Chico says in xyllic:
     Here is the letter Shiann wrote:

*** Chico @conversed the content to me, after I agreed
*** oocly to treat it as having been handed the copy of
*** the letter he got.

 To those dealing with this issue,
 As we all know Kama suicided over Baldricks failure
 to keep his oaths. I was really angry over him not telling
 me the whole truth. And I of course defended his honour
 to Shiro
 For those not aware of this Kama is Shiro's niece.
 After much prayer and meditation to gain focus over
 the whole situation. I see the reaction of Baldrick
 showed yes he broke the oath of loyality, but in doing
 so he followed the oath of humilty. When I saw him
 after this he was broken and torn with the knowledge
 of what his actions had caused. I do not hold him responsible
 for Kama's actions. Nor do I see suicide as anything of
 Rokoon, it is a cowardly, evil act Huitzis preform.
 
 So from my meditations, I think the best course of action
 is to let Baldrick show the true heart of a knight.
 To take responsbilty for what he did..by serving penace
 of a demotion to squire, and spending more study on the
 reasons behind the oaths.
 I believe Shiro only wants him expeled to murder him, and
 do not believe we should leave a follower to face such.
 I would ask that Baldrick continue to try and work things
 out with Shiro, this being the knightly way. He has already
 offered his life, but Shiro wishes it seems to not only
 kill him but to destroy him.
 In these times we see the true measure of a person, and
 should aid them in seeking Rokoon in such. I cannot stand
 idly by and allow the selfish act of suicide to destroy
 a follower of Rokoon.
 And I pray others feel the same. Ajax had already heard of
 his acts, I assume from Pan. But he took says he'll protect
 his ally.
 So I'd hope Shiro would see that his personal hurt, although
 terribly I'm sure, should not cause rifts in the alliances
 of our guilds.
 I'm also sure many shrikes wouldn't support such an action, as
 suicide, for it goes against the ideals of Koranishaxx to the
 core.
 Hope to speak to you all soon, my prayers go with all of us
 as we deal with this.
 -Shiann

Chico says in xyllic:
     Since Baldrick broke 4 vows and no guildrules....it is not a matter for
     the clergy.
    
*** Seems Chico miscounted, but he is not clerk, but a cleric. *grin*

You say in xyllic:
     I will talk to him now.

Chico says in xyllic:
     Neko is the one who has the last word on everything in this.

You say in xyllic:
     THank you for handing over Shianns letter to me.
 
Chico nods.

*** So I went to Hart's to chat with my former page.

This is the spacious main room of the Inn, a bright and cheerful place.
Natural tree trunk pillars support the ceiling, which is all dark with
smoke and age. Several rough-hewn tables and benches are set between the
pillars.
A large door in the southern wall leads outside. In the back, next to the
counter, stairs lead up to the guest rooms, and another door opens into
the garden. An open doorway in the west wall leads to an adjoining smaller
gambling room.
There is a sign hanging above the counter.
You can leave: south, doorway, garden, stairs.
Baldrick[dragon_knight, kama] and a young smiling female human.

Baldrick sits down at big table on the left.

You sit down at the big table on the left.

Baldrick sings in xyllic:
     You heard about Kama?

You nod.
 
You say in xyllic:
     Shiro informed me, bearing much anger in his heart.
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     As is his right.

You say in xyllic:
     Family always touches us close at heart.
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I have offered him my life should he wish to take it.

Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I am responsible for her death, she could feel that I didn't love her
     anymore.

Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     And it broke her heart.

You nod.
 
You say in xyllic:
     Love and compassion can do this.
 
As Baldrick looks down at his engagement ring, it emits a soft glow of gold, silver then bronze in quick succession.

Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I returned my tabard and longsword to Shiann.

You say in xyllic:
     The question is, do you think you betrayed the Knights?
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I was not loyal to my wife, loyalty is the virtue found lacking in me.

The sun shines brightly, and soft, fluffy white clouds drift across the sky outside.

You say in xyllic:
     You became a knight long after your marriage. Was your relationship with
     Kama already deteriorating by then?
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     Kama divorced me sometime back.

Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     We remarried when I became a Squire.

You say in xyllic:
     I see.

Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I pledged my love to her, but it faded away when she wasnt here.

You nod.

You say in xyllic:
     Love needs to be mirrored and returned in order to thrive.
 
You say in xyllic:
     Unreturned love quickly dies.

You say in xyllic:
     So your love slowly died and new love blossomed I guess.
 
You say in xyllic:
     Which of you sought the meeting?
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     Which meeting?

You say in xyllic:
     The one after which Kama took her life.
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I did.

You ask in xyllic:
     To which purpose did you meet with your estranged wife?

Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I wanted to talk with her...sort out how we still felt.

You nod.
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     See if she wanted to start again, see if we had a future.

You say in xyllic:
     Just out of curiosity, who of you was the driving force at your divorce?
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     Kama divorced me when I went away.

You say in xyllic:
     So, in other words, when you went away, she outright divorced you, but
     you did not when she went away. Only after you noticed that your
     feelings had changed you tried to sort things out.
 
You say in xyllic:
     I received a letter from Shiann.
 
You say in xyllic:
     Apparently Shiro asked her to look into the matter.
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     She told me she sent me one as well, I haven't read it yet.

You say in xyllic:
     She didn't see any breaking of the guild rules in your behaviour and as
     a result refused to sit in judgement over your actions.

Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     When I went away...

Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     Kama didnt fall in love with someone else.

You say in xyllic:
     But she rid herself of the bond that connected the two of you.
 
You say in xyllic:
     However, she brings up short commings on your side in following the one
     or other oath.
 
You say in xyllic:
     But this is certainly no reason to abandon the life of a knight.
 
You say in xyllic:
     It requires time to contemplate and refamiliarize with the oaths.
 
You say in xyllic:
     So unless you wish to leave the order, I will not force you to do so.
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I have brought shame on the Knights.

You emote: Stonebeard takes a long and close look at Baldrick.
 
You say in xyllic:
     You can either flee the consequences, and leave the guild, or accept the
     punishment for your failures.
 
Baldrick raises his head and looks at you.

You say in xyllic:
     I know, that despite your changed feelings for Kama, you surely are
     grieving right now.
 
You say in xyllic:
     So please, do not make hasty decissions.
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I will not flee from my mistakes.

You say in xyllic:
     Think on it. Think of what life as a knight means to you and for
     yourself.
 
You say in xyllic:
     Think closely.
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I love the Knights, and Rokoon.

Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     To leave them would be the worst punishment I could inflict upon myself.

Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     A punishment I surely deserve.

You say in xyllic:
     As I said, I will not cast you out. However, I will present your case to
     the knights and ask them to decide wether you shall be demoted to squire
     or not.

You ask in xyllic:
     Will you accept the decission of the council of knights on this case?
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I will.

You smile proudly at Baldrick.
 
The sun shines brightly, and soft, fluffy white clouds drift across the sky outside.

Baldrick sings in xyllic:
     I have one request

You say softly in xyllic:
     What can I do for you, my former page?
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     I request that I be excused from duties for a time, I need space to
     grieve for Kama.

You nod.
 
You say in xyllic:
     I still wish to see you visiting the sermons. But from guard duty and
     page education you are excused.
 
You ask in xyllic:
     Is that acceptable?
 
Baldrick slowly states in xyllic:
     Thank you.

You hug Baldrick tightly.
 
You say in xyllic:
     I will hurry to guard the crypt.
 
*** Morion just had called for the morning sermon.

*** Some time later, Shiro had time for a talk, and we met again
*** in Eldomar's house, hoping in wain to get some undisturbed
*** place to talk at. I had jsut come from the mines, as you can
*** see from my wheelbarrow. In the mean time I had discussed the
*** problem with Shiann as well.

You are standing in the middle of Eldomar's home. The walls of the
hall are made of polished granite. At the northern wall of the room is
a statue of a falcon. A table is right next to the statue.
You can leave: out.
An oak table and a wheelbarrow.
Farid[genie], Monty[rokoon, judge, smith, laros] (surrounded by a
shimmering barrier) and Shiro[warshrike, jitsua] is resting here.
 
You say in xyllic:
     I don't want to be rude, but I would prefer a private meeting.

Monty blesses this area in the name of Rokoon.

Monty says in xyllic:
     oh, sorry, didnt know it was a meeting.

Monty politely excuses himself for his rude behaviour.

Monty starts moving out.
Monty stomps out.
Farid floats out.

Shiro nods.

Shiro sings in xyllic:
     They were just here as far as I know.

Shiro sings in xyllic:
     I figured it would be as well.

You say in xyllic:
     I have talked with Shiann and Baldrick.
 
You say in xyllic:
     And have thus concluded my investigation.
Shiro nods.

You say in xyllic:
     Shiann found no breach of the guild rules in Baldricks actions, and thus
     refrains from rendering judgement or getting the council or the clergy
     involved.
 
Shiro goes hmmmm.

You say in xyllic:
     However, same as me, Shiann sees the breach of the oaths in Baldricks
     behaviour.

Shiro nods.

You say in xyllic:
     From my personal meeting with Baldrick I can say that he did not expect
     Kama to react in such a rash and, you may forgive me, stupid way.

Shiro nods slightly.

You say in xyllic:
     Baldrick has already offered you his life, he told us. But I would
     advise you against taking that offer.

Mystra assembles herself from the dust on the ground.
Murf arrives in a puff of smoke.

Mystra whispers in xyllic:
     Sorry.

Mystra starts moving out.
Mystra flutters out.
Murf leaves out.

You emote: Stonebeard looks at the roof for a whole.
 
You say in xyllic:
     The breach of oaths is evident, and it will delt with, within the Dragon
     Knights.

You say in xyllic:
     Baldrick faces demotion and a quite long stay as squire before he can
     hope to achieve the rank of Knight again.
 
Shiro chuckles quietly.

You say in xyllic:
     He will more than have to prove that this time he understands the
     meaning of the oaths.
 
Shiro sings in xyllic:
     I would advise a thorough testing and to watch him closely.

*** At this point I got a bit angry. How dares he tell me how to run my
*** guild.

You say to Shiro in xyllic:
     Advise as you will, this is guild internal, and your suggestions, how
     ever well intended they are meant, have no meaning.
 
You say in xyllic:
     I don't tell you how you have to talk to your warshrikes, so please, in
     all your grief, refrain from doing so with the knights.
 
Shiro sings in xyllic:
     It isn't so much grief as my own views of how his actions have been for
     years now. If you consider it or not is up to you of course.

You say in xyllic:
     I consider his actions as a knight only. The past is of no consequence
     to me.
 
Shiro shrugs lightly.

Shiro sings in xyllic:
     Very well.

You say in xyllic:
     I hope this matter is closed then.
 
You say in xyllic:
     I will inform you of the outcome of the voting though.
 
Shiro sings in xyllic:
     My thanks.

You roll over to get into a kneeling position, set one foot forward and push
yourself up to return to a standing position.
 
Shiro stretches his legs and stands up gracefully.

You bow.

Shiro bows.         
 
*** Later that night, I put a note on the board to inform the rest of
*** the guild of what they needed to know. Not all of course, I am no
*** gossiping marketwoman.

You look at the bulletin board containing fiftynine notes.

 59: Baldrick                                                     (08.06.301)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Due to the recent loss of his wife, Sir Baldrick asked to be
temporarly relieved of his usual duties as a Dragon Knight
in order to have time for mourning.
I granted him this request on the condition that he will
attent the sermons to seek peace in the words of Rokoon.
Please show him courtesy and compassion when you talk to
him.

Neko Stonebeard, Herald of the Dragon Knights
--[59 of 59]---------------------------------------------------------------

*** Vanadis, a young cleric recently having returned from a long voyage
*** had some questions, so we chatted a bit.

Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     It is all strange for me to find such malice in the hearts of men.

You say in xyllic:
     Oh well... there is a long story to it.
 
You say in xyllic:
     First of, Kama and Baldrick had been married and divorced before.
 
Vanadis nods to you.

You say in xyllic:
     Kama divorced him when he left for some time.
 
Vanadis nods to you.

You say in xyllic:
     When this time Kama left, Baldrick didn't divorce her.
 
You say in xyllic:
     However, his love to Kama faded and he found new love.
 
You say in xyllic:
     When Kama returned and Baldrick had a talk with her, well, you know the
     outcome of that.
 
Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     I see, yet he still did not divorce her and their troth included a
     pledge nay to lay with others?

Vanadis nods sadly.

You nod.
 
You say in xyllic:
     And exactly that is a problem.
 
You say in xyllic:
     As the second marriage took place when Baldrick was already a squire.
 
You say in xyllic:
     He broke an oath he took as a knight.
 
Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     Well change is the way of things... *sigh* this is indeed sad...

You say in xyllic:
     For this action he will face a voting of demotion.

Vanadis gasps in astonishment!

Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     Would it not be better to suspend him...

You say in xyllic:
     What do you mean with suspend?
 
Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     Like force him to be a squire for far longer than necessary?

You say in xyllic:
     He is a full knight, not a mere squire.
 
Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     Then he may not grieve over twice the loss... his wife and his order

You say in xyllic:
     He has taken the oaths.

You say in xyllic:
     He will be demoted to squire and remain squire for a longer period than
     normal
 
Vanadis nods slowly.

You say in xyllic:
     We will have to be sure he understood the meaning of the vows this time.
 
You say in xyllic:
     It is a bit embarassing, as I was Baldricks mentor.
 
Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     It is love...

Vanadis sighs.

Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     And lust...

You say in xyllic:
     He broke the oaths that define a knight. Punishment has to follow.
 
You say in xyllic:
     He understands.
 
You say in xyllic:
     He even offered to resign from the knights.
 
You say in xyllic:
     And he offered his own life to Shiro.
 
Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     Hmm I see, aye... the offer of resignment is worthy of a Knight... but
     to offer his life to one who made such a claim as Shiro.

Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     But Baldrick might be sad and his mind clouded by emotions and anger.

You say in xyllic:
     He seeks his own guilt for Kama's action.
 
You say in xyllic:
     He is really devastated by this.
 
Vanadis nods to you.

You say in xyllic:
     That is why I wrote the note. So that he will get the support that we as
     his guild can give him.
 
Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     Aye I fear, but to offer his life to one who just lays blame instead to
     help is for naught as well.

Vanadis smiles at you.

Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     That is indeed a very good thing.

You say in xyllic:
     Do not forget that Shiro was Kama's uncle.
 
Vanadis hugs you.

Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     I am glad that you are Herald of the Knights.

You say in xyllic:
     Kama was his family too. It is understandable that Shiro seeks to lay
     blame on someone, and whom to strike easier than his nieces husband.
 
Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     But is the Jitsua not Voice of Akai-Kurishi and thus a mediator of Gods?
     Is he not supposed to be beyond such petty feuds?

Vanadis nods.

You say in xyllic:
     Even the Jitsua is but a mortal, with feelings and a heart.
 
Vanadis nods.

Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     And is it not too stern to punish Baldrick for being mortal too? With
     feelings and a heart?

You say in xyllic:
     You might see it as single minded, even stubborn execution of rules. But
     think of this: It is the vows that a knight takes that make him a knight
     !
 
Vanadis nods to you.

Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     Well mayhap..but let us consider this..

Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     A man is that what he strives to be, so it is important that he tries to
     uphold the vows as sincere as he can. It is not the punishment that will
     define the man.

You say in xyllic:
     Without our vows we would just be ordinary warriors, chaotic and unbound
     like the Razza warriors.
 
You say in xyllic:
     The life of a knight is not an easy one. But once you took the vows,
     made them part of what you yourself are, acting against them, is like
     cutting off a limb of yourself.
 
You say in xyllic:
     The punishment will give Baldrick time to rethink his path.
 
Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     Hmm.. Yes, but this cutting takes place in the soul of the knight as he
     realised that he failed, Is not this torment enough punishment?

You say in xyllic:
     It is more symbolic than anything else. But it will help him build
     character, define his path anew, and get his bearings right again.

Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     But I am a fairy and not a knight, mayhap I just lack the spirit to
     understand how unyielding a knight must be.

<OOC>: Vanadis: Just one question, did he realise back then that he should
have divorced her?

Vanadis looks up to you.

<OOC>: he could have just written a mudmail to the wizards to get divorced.
he chose an ic way
 
<OOC>: Vanadis: haha I knew it... you wear a red dragon on your tabard...
thats why  thought you were still about to take the templar test (thinking of
some days back)

<OOC>: and just for your info, the "restrictions" of a squire compared to being
a knight are just that he cannot vote on the herald and cannot take pilgrims and
cannot train others in skills
 
<OOC>: Vanadis: So a Knight is more equivalent to an Priest

<OOC>: Vanadis: As in the books it is listed as similar to cleric

<OOC>: basically yes.
 
<OOC>: Vanadis: there are no platinum tabards yet?

<OOC>: dragon knights are roleplayed mainly
 
<OOC>: there are
 
<OOC>: just check the knight shop, n, d, n from here.
 
<OOC>: Vanadis: but why are you not wearing one, as Herald you must be
Templar, aye?

<OOC>: as dragon knights are officially razza warriors, there are no skill
restrictions like with clerics
 
<OOC>: I became herald when there was no templar rank yet. and without the test,
I will not wear a platinum tabard
 
<OOC>: Vanadis: Ahh I see :-) that is very honourable indeed

Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     I will pray for Sir BladrickŽs Soul and that he may return on his true
     path

<OOC>: its part of the roleplay. I do not pretend to be something that I am not.
I am not a templar because I was not tested.
 
You say in xyllic:
     I am sure he will appreciate your support.
 
Vanadis whispers in xyllic:
     I have prepared a Sermon on Self-Knowledge, perhaps my words will help
     him back unto the right path.

You say in xyllic:
     When my duties permit, I will join your sermon as well.
 
You say in xyllic:
     I am eager to hear your wisdom on that matter.