[Silkwater Lake] Visitations [Kreig Messer]

by **Markus Andres** on January 22nd, 2014, 10:33 am

Markus listened to the squire explain the situation in Sunberth, he was a bit surprised at how many details Kreig actually gave him. Including a little backstory to the reasons why the city had gone to shyke and hated peace and order. Exactly the opposite of Syliras, no governing body, no sort of centralized command or petch, even common decency. It just made Markus believe that Syliras was the best city and the only beacon of hope for any sort of return to civilization for the entire continent. Certainly not through Zeltivan greed or Ravokian evil. Markus stepped in to take Kreig's place in front of their makeshift target.

"I do not think it helps either that strong, young and righteous minded men like you... Hmm, perhaps I should not have included young in that list." Markus joked as he gathered the trio of arrows in the palm of his hand. "Joke aside, that the men with a good and clear conscious leaves the city for better places, leaving behind the rotten apples. And please, do not take this as an encouragement to return to Sunberth, I'd rather have your strong arms by my side than in the gutters of Sunberth." Markus spoke rather seriously. As he nocked the first arrow against the string. Felt the breath from his lungs slowly seep through his lips as his muscles tensed. Prepared themselves for the exertion he was about to force upon them. The string barely managed to get fully pulled back before Markus had let the arrow fly. It solidly burrowed itself into the ground right before the trunk. The second arrow was fumbled with for a second before it too had been put on the string. Powerful biceps tensing as he pulled the string back. Arrow let loose a moment later, this time a solid hit directly into the wood. Splitting the age old fabric apart to make room for the arrow. Markus smiled for a brief moment before he realized the last arrow was yet to be nocked and sent at the target. With all haste he nocked the arrow against the bowstring and the composite shortbow string was pulled back. The briefest of moments spent upon aiming before the arrow was released into the wilderness. Flying to the right of the target and hit a tree somewhere behind the target.

"Wow. I might actually be getting worse. Oh well, do you ever miss Sunberth? Any family you got there?" He spoke as he stepped away from their designated shooter's spot.

by **Kreig Messer** on January 22nd, 2014, 9:46 pm

"Well, I can't imagine you were good in the first place so I don't think there is any difference" Kreig shrugged, in truth for the value of such brave men to do any good in Sunberth their needed to be a lot of them, or one of them had to be particularly smart in order to steer the city to the right path. Sunberth, Kreig thought, would forever be the city of Anarchy but a dim hope within him hoped that the darker aspects of such disorder could be subdued or at the very least lessened. The problem with the knights of the order, at the very least the common rank and file knights, didn't see that gray line.... most couldn't, or perhaps refused to, see the complexities that caused the dark actions of men to take over. He was certain some of those high up in the command chain knew such a thing existed, that their own black and white ideology would be useless without at least trying to get the gist of the others.

"I like to think there are far better men then me" Kreig said as he watched Ser Markus fires his arrows in quick succession, with only one of them burying themselves into the trunk of the wood successfully, the rest having missed their targets or falling short just in front of it. Kreig took his position, prepping his crossbow once more and lifted it against his shoulder, sitting on one knee whilst he rested the elbow of his left arm against the other leg.

"Used to have a mother, Dira guide her soul, raised me as best as she could in a chaotic city like Sunberth. She was one of the good few, let me tell you " He held his breath after he adjusted the elevation and aim of his crossbow, stilling himself as he pulled the trigger, the bolt flew through the air and struck the bark of the wood near dead center as the head of the bolt pierced through it.

Kreig grinned at that as he stood up and prepped his crossbow again for another shot "Taught me to read and count, pressed upon me that I should avoid killing unless it was in self defense. She also taught me to look between the lines if my eyes could allow it, to see what others could not" He lifted the stock against his shoulder and took aim once more after prepping another bolt. Quickly he fired, the bolt having narrowly the target as it grazed the edges "Illness took her from me too soon I like to think" Kreig told the knight again he prepped his crossbow and readied another bolt, took aim and calculated all the variables he could think of before pressing the trigger once more. The bolt struck the very upper left corner of the trunk, biting off the bark as it stumble to the ground awkwardly.

"Time to fetch our projectiles I imagine?" Kreig asked he motioned for the knight to follow so they can begin the gathering "So what of yourself, dear senior? Any family you like to speak of?""

x

by **Markus Andres** on January 28th, 2014, 9:21 am

Markus could relate to Kreig when he spoke of his deceased mother. It was something that did always strike a bit too close to home. Always brought back memories he would prefer remained dormant. Markus nodded solemnly when he spoke of his mother, bless her spirit. Markus saw the bolt strike true and turn the trunk a little more into a pincushion. The grin on Kreig's lips was a stark contrast to the subject at hand. At least it meant Kreig did not linger in the past and had moved on. He could nod slowly when he spoke of her being taken from the world too soon by illness. For Markus, it had been his kid sister who had taken his mother from the world.

"Vayt claims too many people and it is always too soon." Markus stated as he moved forward to gather the projectiles. "And call me Ser, or just Andres... Dear senior sounds... Wrong. And you should always consider anyone outranking you as a better man or woman. We do not promote people unless they're outstanding individuals." He did not mind being on a familiar tone with Kreig, but he had to maintain the discipline between the two. Discipline was Markus' alpha and omega. Discipline was what got him out of bed when his mind was barely awake. Discipline was what kept his back straight after the eight' hour of guard duty. Relaxing on that discipline was only done for people he cared about and trusted. Kreig was moving well into that territory, but it was best he made sure to maintain a level of professionalism between them. Much like how he tried with Fallon.

"And yes, I have family in Zeltiva, a rather large family from what I heard last. I don't keep contact with them so it is rarely I hear about changes. They could all have died in the plague from all I know. It sounds harsh, but since my own mother died and my father gave me to the knights, I do not feel any kinship with my family. The family name is the only part I still got that I care about. In any case, I'd rather not talk about them. Always makes me in a foul mood. Besides, I got a new family now. Thousands of brothers and sisters, whom I can trust with my life. The knights are more a family than the Andres ever could be." Markus said. Spoken a little too long and had indeed crossed into the familiarity area that he had just tried not to overstep with Kreig. Too late to change anything now. He knelt and picked up an arrow that had eluded his sight earlier and brought it back to the fold.

"I must say, your mother do sound like an incredible woman. Teaching someone the ideal of Self defence only in a city like Sunberth takes a certain strength of character." Markus was fairly certain he had gathered all his spent arrows now, including the one he pulled out of the trunk. "You can be proud of your heritage. But what of your father? Or any siblings?"

by **Kreig Messer** on February 1st, 2014, 12:10 pm

Kreig shrugged at that "Maybe they are Ser, all I know is they're higher than I in rank and skill and that my views may differ" Kreig said as he began tiringly removing the bolts from the husk of the tree. Feeling the only reason he was supposedly getting better was simply because there was no windage and that distance was simply managable. He still had as many misses to his hits, these hits simply felt that he was finally going into some sort of rhythm that he had no idea he got into in the first place "Most knights I met seem to be alike when it comes to ideals.... Suppose thats the benefit of most of them being order born or raised" Kreig said in a tone that hid whether he thought it positive or negative, in truth he thought it a negative when it came to some things, but it worked for the knights and it didn't seem to go wrong most times. So who was he to argue? He was still trying to figure out where he himself was going ti be in the future "And I'll still call you Dear Senior if you insist on calling me Old Man!" Kreig let out a small chuckle.

He stopped breifly as he listened to Andre's fanily situation, seemed he didn't have much of a family to begin with 'Well, its no wonder you're a loyal Although hardly alike, it reminded him of the many gangs of Sunberth. Gangs typically offered that sense of belonging, that sense of Family and Community that so many of Sunberth's young and disenfranchised so desired... It was one of the reasons that many gangs in Sunberth would spring up so suddenly and quickly.

For the knights....Although Kreig was certain in his belief the knights didn't know it and thus unintentionals....it was a powerful recruiting tool, whether it was a young lad offered to them by their families like Markus or perhaos an orphan they scooped up from the Orphanage, they had a large chance of producing knights even more loyal than their order born compatriots.

"hmmm? Don't have any Andres" Kreig said as he resumed collecting his bolts "My old man, as far as what my mother kept saying about him, was some sort of travelling nercenary with a good heart. Alive or dead? Thats an answer I don't have, if he is alive then I might have siblings.... not going to rule that out" Kreig said as he grabbed the last bolt from the ground and placed it in his quiver "All I know is all I know, if I'm meant to know more then I'm certain that Fate will let me know in its usual methods if breaking news...which is to say, unexpectedly." Kreig hefted up his crossbow against his shoulder as he went back to the spot, the bow pointing up in the air as he looked back at the knight "So up for more?"
x

by **Markus Andres** on February 6th, 2014, 11:24 pm

Markus was learning more and more about Kreig, his reservations about his superiors being unquestionably better knights were one of them. Markus had had some qualms with superiors not stepping up when the going got tough and instead had to rely on Imass, but since then he had not had that same problem, mainly because he had never been in the same precarious situation since. A fact he enjoyed tremendously.

"You sound a bit sensitive about your age. But okay, if you detest it so much I will refrain from calling you old man. I promise by Wysar." Markus responded with a earnest voice. If the squire hated the nickname so much, he would stop using it. On the other hand, Rhuryc back in the day had also yelled at him for calling him an old man. Back then Markus had kept using the nickname just to annoy the older man. Hearing Kreig tell he had no siblings, or rather, that he wasn't aware of any siblings through his absentee father. Markus ignored his final question for the moment and gave the smaller man a powerful clap on the back. It was a friendly gesture, a little hard, but he knew the man could take it without a whimper.

"Kreig, you have an entire order full of brothers and sisters. Never forget that my friend." Markus paused briefly to let it sink into the thick skull of Kreig's, before he continued and looked to the skies at the descend of Syna, it was still early fall and thus the sun would descend only slowly. But it was prudent to get started on the evening chores if they were to leave at first light in the morning. "No, I think we have had enough fun for today. We'll be leaving at first light of Syna in the morning, so we need to get started on a fire and dinner. I am a horrible cook, so I am going to let you volunteer for that job. Get the fire going and I'll check out the terrain... Make sure it is defensible in case we get trouble during the night. I know you probably checked this out when you first set up camp, but I'd like to see for my self." As Markus spoke he moved about, made sure Alluia was having enough to eat, that she weren't standing in a terrible place. He patted the powerful mare on her neck. got out an arrow and held it in his left hand. Ready to put an arrow into a target if it should attack him. Luckily most raiders and animals should not being getting desperate for any late year kills before they either hibernate or winter comes.

Kreig had been here for several days and he ought to have a good overview of the area and possible fall back positions where he could easily defend himself should anything come at him. The wilderness was petching dangerous and Markus could recall his knighting quest. He had been so nervous and frightened for the first tendays in the wild that he had barely slept. An hour or two before he would wake up at the slightest sound. He still respected the wilderness and he was a little impressed that Kreig had gone out here voluntarily to train in solitude.

"If I'm not back before darkness falls, get back to Syliras post-haste." Markus said as he began moving along the perimeter of the camp.

by **Kreig Messer** on February 11th, 2014, 7:08 am

Kreig shrugged at that, they were his comrads…he’d treat them as such, but brothers and sisters? That would take time still. His brow raised at that “ I don’t think I’ll be able to get a fire going or food for that matter,” Kreig warned as he pointed to his tent “I’ve a supply of beef jerky Ser, that’s pretty much what has been keeping me going lately “He hoped he heard that part, but didn’t matter really. He’d set up a fire at least to the best of his abilities, he was sure he had kindling somewhere to help start a fire.

“And do what you will Andres, might be a wolf or so I’ve missed, might not be” Kreig nodded, then began his own duty of looking for wood. Quite frankly he didn’t know what kind of wood to find. He moved to his tent to bring his handaxe, it might be a weapon but it could still be useful in the regard of getting wood. He approached a tree and looked at the branches, quite unsure which would be the most proper wood to use…… he didn’t even know what type of tree it was but shrugged and simply brought up his hand axe and swung it at the branch, attempting to cut off the branch and any other’s he thought he could use from other trees.

Once that was done he gathered the branches to the camp site and began searching for rocks to set up the boundary for the camp fire. There were various stones but the ones he chose as he wandered about were the ones that looked bigger than his fists combined. They were heavy things too as he crouched and picked them up with both hands, the process taking him perhaps 10 chimes for each stone to find and bring back. He set them up in a circle around the wood he gathered and nodded to himself, thinking he had done a good job.
He went back to the tent and searched for his flint, rummaging around and tossing some of his belongings during his search. Once he found it he left the tent and went back to where he sat up the fire thingy…and wondered how he’d start the fire. …and just sat there for a bit, confused. So…with no idea on what to do, he grabbed a rock and began knocking and rubbing the flint against it…trying to get a spark or something.
x

by **Markus Andres** on February 18th, 2014, 12:48 am

"Well, you should learn how to make a basic fire before you head out into the wilderness next time. Might not be early fall next time around." Markus let the squire's patronizing remark slide, the knight was in a good mood and he would not ruin it by reprimanding the squire once more. With the arrow resting lightly against the string Markus walked through the forest. There was a sense of freedom being out of the city, but that sense was almost always only there to lull the unaware into a quick death at the claws of some nasty beast out of legend... Or a wolf driven crazy by hunger.

There was a gentle slope down from the side of the camp facing away from the lake. Would give any defender a slight height advantage and slow any advance by a small margin, it was not enough for two men to defend it against a larger force. Might buy them enough time to get on their horses and retreat. Though this he doubted as well. Markus continued when he saw something interesting. There were some thorny bushes. Several feet tall and looking rather vicious with half an inch long thorns pointing in every direction. Markus looked at for several long moments before he continued.

Markus was happy it was still warm and fall had not set in fully. For it meant that the crowns were still full and that meant any flying predators would have a harder time getting to them. At least they would be warned if they crashed through the branches. Markus continued. The area to the north of the camp was a little with less of a geographical advantage favouring the defenders. But the vegetation was denser with a lot of bushes and other undergrowth that meant it would be hard to sneak up on an alert guard without making noise- but it would make it harder to spot them if they moved stealthily enough. The south he had already seen and it was more open with more of a spread between the trees. It was by far the path Markus favoured if they were to retreat. Kreig had chosen a decent place to set up camp. Markus returned to the bushes he had seen before and put away the arrow and drew the Bastard and with a fine strike severed the bush from the ground. Markus put away the sword and reached out and grabbed the trunk of the bush and yanked a good part of it away from the rest of the wild bushes. His gauntlets and leather gloves saving his hands from being pierced by the thorns. Markus dragged the bushes behind him as he returned to camp. He would have been gone for half a bell or more.

"Look what I found. Can make the camp a bit more secure. But the area seems secure enough. If we get into trouble, ride south. That route favours our horses." Markus looked around camp and found a pair of close standing trees where the bushes would fit perfectly. There were more down there and he would make the trip back and get those to further make their camp defensible for the night. He started setting up the bush between the two trees. Making sure any attacker would be forced to crash through the thorns to get to them from that angle. It would not deter anyone who was dead set on eating the two men, but might have them come from a different angle.

"There were more bushes back there, be back shortly." Markus left the bow in camp this time. Would only hinder him in his word and he was confident he could handle most creatures with the Bastard. Luckily he ran into no trouble carrying another pair of thorny bushes back to camp. Another clearing between a pair of trees were made inaccessible.

"How goes it with the fire, Kreig?" Markus asked as he looked at his own handiwork. Another angle of attack denied for the undetermined. "Need any help getting started?"

by **Radiant** on June 22nd, 2014, 3:03 pm

Markus :

Kreig :

Notes :

My radiance is not bright enough?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, beam me a PM and we can work it out.

Skill	XP Earned
Weapon: Composite Shortbow	+3 XP
Leadership	+2 XP
Teaching	+1 XP
Wilderness Survival	+1 XP
Socialization	+2 XP
Rhetoric	+2 XP
Interrogation	+2 XP
Storytelling	+1 XP
Riding: Horse	+1 XP
Land Navigation	+1 XP
Planning	+1 XP

Skill	XP Earned
Weapon: Crossbow	+4 XP
Wilderness Survival	+1 XP
Socialization	+4 XP
Storytelling	+4 XP
Rhetoric	+3 XP
Teaching	+1 XP

Completed [Silkwater Lake] Visitations [Kreig Messer]