Completed [Theater Square] Too Soon... (Tabitha)

[Radiant]

Theater Square, 15th of Bell, 16th of Spring 514 A.V A.V

The Syliras Theater Square, a grand place where plays and performances of various kinds were held out. From a simple group buskers to professional actors, all were welcome to perform. Located in the middle of various districts and connecting them, the theater square is a very popular place as it was easy to reach and spacious enough to hold thousands of people. Unlike most of the citadel, an open ceiling allowed Syna and Leth's light to shine through during day and night. In this particular afternoon, two performers, twin brothers - though not identical - named Binger and Alhon Sorian were performing a play, a play regarding city issues that might seem rather sensitive for public displays.

"Oh! This is a disaster!" Binger shouted on the stage, wearing fake armor, mimicking a Syliran Knight.

"What is it, Ser Binger?" Alton followed closely behind, also making a mock facial expression.

In front of them were make-shift poles that held two mannequins with thick rope around their necks, giving the image of a suicide act being carried out.

"Another self-murder, Ser Alton!"

"What?! Again? It can't be..."

The duo continued their play, Binger raising a hand to console Alton, "It is what it is, Ser... may these poor souls return to Dira, Only Sylir knows why they ended their own life..."

"Perhaps, perhaps!" Alton suddenly perked up, making a mock widened eyes expression of shocking revelation, "This is not suicide, but the work of..."

"The work of...?" Binger inquired curiously.

"The Rogue Knight!" Alton shouted as he held his arms outwards. The audience all gasped and murmured as the display. With the suicides of two squires not long ago combined with the rumor of an armored vigilante stalking the streets, it was not that far-fetched that these 'suicides' might not be suicide after all...

"Yes, yes, I agree, m-"

"ENOUGH!" Binger's dialogue was cut off as an authoritative firm scream echoed in the theater. All eyes turned to one entrance of the square, there, stood in his full plate armor and gigantic presence was Sergeant Knight Titus Maximus. The Warhammer-wielding knight had a scowl on his face then he stepped forward, followed by three other knights, "We don't need you clowns to spread messed up bullshyke!" The barely-held anger is his voice was obvious, "This is the THIRD time we have caught you, red-handed, jesters! Knights!" He gestured to his companions, "You know what to do..." Without further command, the knights began climbing onto the sage and arrested the two busker.

"The truth shall not be hidden!"

"Indeed! The people deserve to know!"

The twin brothers shouted in desperation as the knight carried them away. Titus then faced the crowd, crossing his arms over his chest, "Alright! Show's over, people! Don't listen to those hooligans, they are spreading bullshyke. Time for you to go on with your day." The Knight huffed as he calmed down a bit then faced the crowd once more, "Any questions?" Some of the audience seemed confused on what was going on, but no matter, the Knight would ease their doubts, unlike those fools who was trying to plant the seed of disruption in the Fortress City of Peace.

OOCAlright, Tabitha, feel free to respond to the scene and be creative in what direction you want this thread to take, if you aren't unsure about something, just send me a PM.

[Tabitha Aryns]

“Tabitha dear, slow down” “But if we don’t hurry, we’re going to be late-” “I know, I know child, but slow down.” An elderly looking woman quipped at her daughter, frail in frame, wrinkles beginning to heavily accentuate her face, and graying black hair pulled into a thinning nest of strands called a bun; adding on with a tired exhale of breath. “The theater is going nowheres, and I don’t have the energy to be frolicking about like you. I’m not that young any more!” At this, the daughter slowed down, walking the pace most comfortable with the older woman, though she wouldn’t be able to hide the worry on her face. It had to be starting, they were going to miss the performance. Tabitha had never been to a theater before, let alone to see a play, it had come across her ears the same morning in the Soothing Waters that there would be one this afternoon; via the local gossiping customers, and the launderers just coming in. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to get her mother out of that dank and dark apartment of hers, and out in the open, to be around people, to see, hear, and generally experience the life bustling beyond closed doors. She had to weave her way through waves of people, sprinting in between the occasional gaps of people that opened between the many hallways just to make it to her mother’s apartment. Perhaps it had been all in vain. Though they had arrived, on Tabitha’s constant ushering, and consistent rallying her mother to the cause of seeing just one play. Just one, and that it would not hurt her to get out of the apartment every once and awhile, Tabby had been able to convince her mother to go. On Ceras’ general knowledge of the hallways and where each would lead, they were able to navigate their way to the theatre, begrudgingly on her part. Upon entering the theatre, both mother and daughter looked up in an admiring awe of the open ceiling, and the vast space of which consisted of two stories. The play seemed to have just been starting. “See Tabitha, now lets find a seat, I need to sit.” Ceras prodded at her daughter’s side, pointing over to a staircase going up. Tabby complied and began moving towards the destination as: “Oh! This is a disaster!” Rung into the air, perking Tabitha’s interest, causing her to stop and look towards the buskers. Her mother moved past her, and began ascending the stairs with some minor difficulties, Tabitha pulled her gaze away long enough to follow after her mother. “What is it, Ser Binger?” Came next, making Tabby’s stomach do a flip, and then a flop, why couldn’t her mother see the importance of getting to a place as early as they could. They were missing the play by walking up the stairs. It was just as they made it to the second floor where all the seats were, did the next bit of dialogue come, moving to sit in some of the empty front row seats. Ser Binger’s voice called out. "Another self-murder, Ser Alton!" with Ser Alton’s own retort. "What?! Again? It can't be..." Tabitha’s eyes lingered on the mannequins for a moment, taking in the sight and narrowing, before resting on the actors. What the absolute petch? Tabby thought, momentarily disgusted as intrigue settled in. oocI am reminded of Monty Python, and the quest for the holy grail.

[Tabitha Aryns]

"It is what it is, Ser.” Tabitha and her mother watched as they listened to the two performers, the two ‘knights’ were dressed in mock attire, and the set behind them was becoming increasingly disturbing as the play went on. “May these poor souls return to Dira, Only Sylir knows why they ended their own life..." Why would anyone end their life so abruptly? Glancing over to her mother she caught the intent stare at the play down below, face grim, wrought tight with lips pulled taut. This hadn’t been something she had hoped to bring her mother to, it had been her intention to cheer the older woman up, but how could that even happen when the topic being spewed was far too controversial for Tabitha’s tastes. It made her nervous, for reasons unknown to herself, a tangled feeling in her gut writhed uncomfortably until the loud shouting of: “The Rogue Knight!” Pulled her attention away from the sensation, away from the slowly downhill expression of her mother’s, and back to the play. Who? Tabitha questioned, cocking an eyebrow at the two actors below. Ser Binger went on to agree with Ser Alton, but was quickly interrupted by a booming voice that made Tabitha cringe in her seat, it gave her heart a jump at the sudden sound. Though Tabitha did not know who the voice belonged to, it only took the sight of full metal armor to indicate who was killing the act, knights. “Oh, not that hogwash again, I thought we were done with this Rogue Knight nonsense.” Mumbled Ceras, only for the ears of her daughter Tabitha, the irritation clear in her voice. “We only just got here and they’re shutting the blasted thing down.” Nodding, Tabitha agreed with her mother on the circumstances, yet she didn’t fully understand what the problem was. If the act was a play, and the play was an act, and both play and act were relatively false, why were the knights having a sensitive moment over a lie? Didn’t everyone know that when something was false it wasn’t to be taken seriously, and if it were, then maybe, just maybe there was some truth behind the accusations. Of course others may not think like herself. When the knights began hauling the two actors away, and the leader, Tabitha presumed due to his previously booming voice, and issuing of orders, she leapt to her feet and leant against the railing. As loud as she could, Tabitha called out to the leader, not in disrespect, apathy, or anger, but in pure curiosity, and some frustration over having of just gotten there for it to only be shut down. “Who is the Rogue Knight? If its bullshyke then wouldn’t everyone else know that too? Its a play for gods’ sake! Plays aren't true.” “Tabitha Aryns!!” Ceras near shouted at her daughter, for as old, and frail the woman acted, she still had a piercing iron grip, and her feet as reflexive as a cats. Her mother grabbed onto Tabitha’s arm and jerked her hard to look her daughter in the face. “For Dira's sake! What are you doing, are you crazy?” Her mother’s voice went into a harsh and growling whisper at the end. “Apologize to the knight before you get us both in trouble.”

[Tabitha Aryns]

“No.” Tabitha responded bluntly to her mother, furrowing her brow in confusion at the older woman. She was simply curious on who the Rogue Knight was, and why it was such a big fuss, she wanted answers. Why her mother was also becoming agitated over Tabitha was just another question for later. “Father said that when some-” Smack! The hit echoed in the theatre, fading softly, and then silence. Ceras had slapped her daughter across the face, stunning the poor girl as pain exploded in her right cheek, stinging, shocking her into submission. For a moment Tabitha didn’t move, the angle of her head remaining where it had been jolted after the slap, trying, so desperately trying to process what had just happened. Her mother had never hit her like that until now, not even as a child, or a teenager, this was an unknown action, her own reaction speaking volumes where words could not. W-what..? Tabitha’s gaze swiveled to her mother’s hardened face, the talon like grip relinquishing its grasp. “Don’t you dare bring your father up.” Ceras growled at Tabitha. Pointing into her palm with a shaking index finger as she continued on with every chunk of sentence. “This is not Zeltiva.” Tabitha flinched, reflexively, though the action was not even directed at her. “This is Syliras.” Again. Next she pointed in the direction of the knight down below. “The rules are different here. Now do as your mother says, and go apologize for your ignorant behaviour.” Numbly, Tabitha nodded at her mother. Tabitha’s feet were anchored to the floor, she did not budge. Her mother’s face went scary, twisting, glaring. “Go.” This isn’t my mother. “Go.” Ceras repeated, harsher. This isn’t my mother. “Petch it Tabitha Aryns.” Ceras sharply pushed Tabitha in the direction of the stairs. “I said go!” Tabby’s feet stumbled to maintain balance, catching herself before she could lose her foothold, and hurrying to the stairs. “We’ll be right there!” Her mother called sweetly down to the knight, a facade, a lie, she hobbled after her daughter with what Tabby felt was murder in her heart. Tabitha’s mind remained on one thought, and one thought only, who was this imposter that she called mother? Maybe she had caused her to snap her last line of patience, for this wasn’t the normal behaviour that Tabitha remembered, this wasn’t the mother who loved her, who cared for her, who- They were in front of an expectant Ser Titus now, her mother glaring grumpily at her waiting for Tabby to speak, possibly having of said something but she didn’t remember hearing anything. Tabitha blinked, how had she gotten there so fast? She swore she had only been half way down the stairs just then. "Are you going to apologize or not?" Ceras chimed when Tabitha did not respond right away.

[Tabitha Aryns]

Will I? Brown eyes flitted between the small woman who was her mother, and the large man in armor who was a knight; the red welt her mother had left on her face was a painful reminder of why they were in this situation now. No. I won’t. Even if I do, it’ll be an empty apology, and thats worse than lying. Tabitha had snapped out of her daze, sensing the tension in the air between her, her mother, and the knight in front of the two smaller women of drastically varying ages. However the knight was observing her, Tabitha noted dully, his stare piercing through her very soul. Was he waiting for her to apologize as well? Sucking in a breath of air, whatever the outcome, she would not be bullied into telling a lie; even if the bully was her mother. Her father had taught her to seek the hidden, ask questions, and though she may not always receive a satisfactory answer, she would keep searching for the right one. She released the breath slowly, preparing herself. “I’m..” Tabby started, leveling her eyes to meet the knights. “Not sorry.” Ceras visibly stiffened at the response, eyes bulging at her daughter in disbelief, her daughter had done exactly the opposite of what she ordered Tabitha to do. “I won’t apologize, because it’ll be an insincere lie, is that what you want me to do? Lie to you?” Ser Titus raised an eyebrow at the young woman. “I suppose not, but you are insulting the memory of two squires young woman. Those fools were using their deaths to justify their bullshyke conspiracys.” Tabitha's ground stuttered, lips fading into a frown, she had not meant disrespect to the memory of any dead person, or persons. “Are you sympathizing with those fools!” The inflection in his voice suggested he was ready to apprehend her like those jesters. “No.” Tabby stated, shaking her head no. “I just wanted to come here to see a play on the basis of some gossip I overheard my co-workers sharing, I wanted to bring my mother to the play in hopes of cheering her up.” She side gestured to the older woman next to her who looked like she was having a mental seizure. If Tabitha had to guess what was going on in her mother’s mind, it must have been panicked scolding that she couldn’t bring herself to audibly voice. “While I am.. Sorry.. For those two squires’ deaths, and families, I am not for asking questions.” Her gaze faltered to the ground as her shoulders slumped, disappointment lumping itself in her throat. “Mother should know better, I’d be disrespecting my father’s memory if I didn’t seek answers.” Refusing to look at her mother’s mortified and ashamed expression, or up at the knight, she had honestly expected more from her mother. Had she been wrong to? Ser Titus interjected with a question of his own. “I take it your father is dead?” Tabitha nodded painfully, she hadn’t cried once over the ordeal but on multiple ocassions she had almost lost her control. Knowing he wouldn’t have wanted her to but that didn’t mean she hadn’t felt the loss of her father, while Ceras on the other hand had been expressing her grief in more extreme ways. “Yes Ser, he is.”

[Tabitha Aryns]

The knight did not reply right away. What was this feeling? It was neither of relief or disappointment, an exhaustion had crept in, heavily weighing on her shoulders and stealing away her energy. Interacting with people in such tension fueled environments had always caused her to become tired, but this? This was several times worse. All Tabitha wanted to do right then was escape to her apartment and curl up in bed, sleep the feeling away, hide until all was better, wait the bad out, but she wouldn’t be able to do that. She had an obligation to watch out for her mother, even if her mother had suddenly stepped off the well worn path, took a road few travelled, and even fewer still that found their way back. "Whattdya' know, this kids got spunk." “Alright, listen up, and listen good. Next time you’ll do well to ignore the gossip you hear, poking around is an invitation to get thrown in the tank, and other knights may not be so lenient when you question them.” Ser Titus finally warned with a commanding tone, catching Tabitha’s attention well enough for her to look back up at him again. “The Rogue Knight is nothing more than a figment of people’s imaginations. Fools that were spreading lies and rumors to disrupt the peace in Syliras.” “Does that answer your question?” He questioned Tabitha, glancing over to Ceras once Tabby had nodded her head yes in confirmation. “Next time when you discipline your daughter, less violence. G’day madam.” With a nod of his head, Ser Titus, and his remaining knights left, leaving Tabby and her mother to go about their day, and dwell on their thoughts. Her mother’s shoulders sagged as the last of the armor had disappeared from sight, leaning against her daughter for support, as Tabitha had not been the only one who had found the situation to be extremely exhausting. Reflexively Tabitha caught her mother, supporting the older woman’s weight as well, an action she had not meant to do, as she was still frustrated with her mother for slapping her. “Tabitha.” Ceras whispered weakly. There was no answer. “Tabitha, sweety?” Her mother’s tone turned to worry now. “Yes?” Tabitha finally replied to her mother, still not looking at the older woman, instead her gaze was transfixed on where the armored knights had walked out. The event had passed as soon as it happened, the jesters, the play, the knights, the arrest, and finally the confrontation between Tabitha and the knights. The answer she had received was simple at best, and would do for now, but she couldn’t help but feel there was more to it than just petty rumors and lies. Tabitha wanted to know more, but without her mother there to safety block her, Ceras would stop her before she could even start to learn. Her mother wouldn't understand anyways. “Lets.. Lets go home sweety.” Ceras’ home. “I’m.. I’m sorry.” Tabitha glanced down at her mother, a fake smile gracing her lips. Replying cooly. “Alright mother.” For now, it does.. Ser Knight. She thought silently to herself as they exited the theatre, mother on her arm, hobbling along, and a straight faced Tabitha, with many questions left unanswered. For now it does.

[Caesarion]

GRADES!

Tabitha :

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Investigation	+1 XP
Persuasion	+ 1 XP
Observation	+ 2 XP
Intelligence	+ 2 XP

Lores

Lore Earned

The Rogue Knight: A Knight's Secret

Ser Titus: Knight Sergeant

Two squires died by hanging

Something is wrong with Syliras...

Location: Syliras Theater Square

Loots

A slap on the face!

Notes :

Ooh, I really liked reading that thread. It was emotional, exciting, and generally entertaining. I love it when characters take an interest in something otherwise inaccessible to them, like the Rogue Knight. Bravo.

Alea iacta est!

If you have concerns, questions or praise (inmydreams;_;) for your grade, drop me a PM and we'll do a number!