Palamedes (First EP) - SotINF* - In the Forest

[olive_and_clove]

[OOM: and the noble Arthur fell in a swoon to the earth, and there he swooned ofttimes.
Le' Mort d'Arthur, Book XXI, Chapter IV]

The mist is thick in the forest before a man, a knight by dress (with chain mail, plate and helm), stumbles forth and halts. He is battered and bloodied and falls to his knees when he sees an open field with no sign of his quarry before him. He cries out in frustration and stabs the earth with the short, stone sword he holds and then finds he must hold himself up by weapon or fall over.

Please forgive the knight his dramatic entrance. He truly is not one for theatrics but he's not at his best right now.


[OOC: *The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.]

Comments

[katyafeline]

Katya is not from the time of knights. She has never worn armor, only rode a horse as a child, and has never once purposefully played the role of damsel in distress.

She does like swords though. She likes them a lot. You have to have a hobby, you know?

So there's a gal in jeans and t-shirt and rather a lot of glittery jewelry (current count is at earrings, a handful of bracelets, two necklaces, and a ring - she's keeping it down to a low roar for her current partner) watching the newcomer.

If he ditches that sword, she's planning on giving it a new home.

[olive_and_clove]

Unfortunately for Katya, Palamedes is keeping a very tight hold of the sword. She might be able to feel the sword though as it is ancient magic, or technology depending on whom you ask. Exhausted as he is though, Palamedes would not be himself if he wasn't aware of being watched.

"What realm is this?" He asks in a very tired voice, looking up to find his observer. He didn't notice a leygate or portal to another realm but going from Wales to the Highlands in under three days is unlikely, at least not in his time. Plus he was traveling East not North.

[katyafeline]

"Milliways. Though I doubt that means much." She would have to be blind, deaf, and drugged to not have noticed this fellow before. While she did spent part of last year in nearly that condition, she's been better since then. Since he doesn't seem like the running-off type, she finds a likely nearby rock and perches on it, crossing her legs under her.

[olive_and_clove]

He sways sits back on the ground before replying, "No I am afraid it does not. What Elder rules here?" It would be good to know if he is in a hostile realm or not. His voice is deep and rich, his words well spoken for all his exhaustion.

[katyafeline]

"None. And deciding who is oldest will probably end in a bar brawl." She replies, not bothering to dampen down her Muscovite accent.

At least this notatallnative seems friendly?

[olive_and_clove]

"My lady, I do not understand," Palamedes says truly confused but remembering his manners. "Does more than one Elder claim this realm?"

[OOC-And I'll be slow until tomorrow.]

[katyafeline]

"I mean that none rule it. Or all do. It depends on who you ask, and how hostile you are."

The last group that asked impolitely got shown the door. Along with a lot of weapons.

[olive_and_clove]

Palamedes pauses at this odd revelation, odd because the Elders have been warring for millenia. He collects himself enough to remove his helm and offer something of a bow, though this is awkward from his nearly prone position. He also notes her strange dress finally though her jewelery he had noticed before.

"Your pardon Lady, I forget my manners. I am Sir Palamedes of King Arthur's Court. How may I call you?"

[katyafeline]

"Most people favor loudly." She replies with an impish sort of grin, "But when they do, it is Yekaterina."

This is something of a lie.

Those who know her well enough to be calling for her either are friends enough to call her Katya, or enemies enough to call her Tiger Cub. But that's just details.

[basic_powers]

There's many sounds in the forests in Milliways, but the sound of a man crying out in such a way is not one often heard or found.

Which is why some minutes after the cry was let loose, two small shapes will be running towards Palamedes through the mist, also from the forest. One is a black, gold and faintly purple creature, the size of a large house cat, and looking nothing like such a animal. The other a small blonde boy, with a look of worry on his face as he peers at the armored man with the sword.

"Sir..you need help at all?"

[olive_and_clove]

Palamedes doesn't reply at first, instead taking in the boy and the odd creature with him. The creature suggests the boy is either an Elder or favored by an Elder.

"I shall be well enough soon, Lord," He says addressing the boy finally. "May I ask what realm this is?"

[basic_powers]

Like a tiny metallic dragon without wings and one serious desire to protect the heck out of the boy he's standing with. The little black and gold head leans out growling and sniffing at the larger man with teeth just slightly bared.

"This is Milliways, sir. Winston, be nice." The boy reaches into a pocket and pulls out a canteen from the battered armored coat, offering it to the man. Being that hurt means a human body needs resources to build itself back up, water is just the first step.

"Khhf."

[olive_and_clove]

Palamedes eyes the tiny dragon and decides to make very slow motions. He carefully removes his helm and then with his left hand (he's actually left handed but knows most people are right handed) pulls the sword from the ground and puts it behind him to shield it from the possible Elder.

"I thank you," he says reaching for the thing offered. It reminds him of a wineskin and he in fact can smell the water within. "I am Sir Palamedes of King Arthur's Court and servant to Tammuz, lately called the Green Man. How may I call you?"

[basic_powers]

Palamedes is a wise man, and after a few more moments of staring and sniffing intensely at the knight, Winston does at least stop growling and barring his teeth. This doesn't mean the little dragon doesn't stop disliking him, but he generally dislikes EVERYBODY at first, save his boy.

"I'm Tyler Marlocke, from PS238." Once the Palamedes has the canteen of water, he's going to dig some more into his jacket for a little plastic baggie of trail mix. Nuts, dried fruit, dry bread and some little brightly colored pellets. "Do you need help getting to the infirmary? The healer's office?"

[olive_and_clove]

Palamedes has had exposure to Elder technology...

"I just need rest though I thank you for you concern. I do not know the realm PS238. What Elder rules there?"

[basic_powers]

"Ps238 is the name of the school I go to, what's an Elder?"

[olive_and_clove]

"School...like the Greeks used to have?" He asks a little confused. In his experience children are under the care of their mothers or tutors and it is only young adults who leave for school*. "As to your question, some call them gods and they have been worshiped as such in the past and in some places still."

[OOC-*I assuming this is right given the power skimming I just did.]

[hecu_marine]

It's all right. Sometimes you just don't have the words, in a situation like that. Personally, Shephard prefers to smash things and swear, but that's him.

He has, perhaps thankfully, left his dog at home. However, he's been doing his PT in full gear including the gas mask today- so while he's not wearing chain or plate or a full-face helm, he is bundled up in the Powered Combat Vest his unit was issued, and wearing his own helmet, and if there's anything to be seen of his face it's through two great green lenses as he stops and stares.

He'll speak in greeting in a moment, he's just trying to figure out what's going on.

[olive_and_clove]

Palamedes is wary of the new comer and his strange armor but when he catches sight of his metal hand he bows his head while pulling the sword free of the earth to casually put it behind him. It's totally a sigh of respect and not to hide the weapon from the new comer.

"Lord Nuada, I apologize for entering your realm uninvited. I am Sir Palamedes, servant to Tammuz. If you would direct me to the nearest gate, I will leave your realm in peace."

[hecu_marine]

Blink, blink. Blink.

Shephard takes a moment to look over his shoulder and make sure there's nobody else there before responding.

"You, uh... you got the wrong man, I'm afraid," he says, and because nobody, nobody has ever in their life been that polite to him on a first meeting, he deliberately steps into what he thinks of as General Rogers mode: neither say nor do anything that Steve Rogers would consider shameful. "I c'n show you the way out if you want, but- this ain't my country. I'm as much a guest here as you."

"I c'n welcome you to Milliways, at least. That's the name of this place."

[olive_and_clove]

"Do you test me Lord? I can see your silver hand."

[hecu_marine]

"No, sir, no testing," says Shephard. And finds himself thinking: shit, first that Tyr fellow, now this 'Nuada', whoever he is. Whose legend am I gonna stumble into next? "This was-"

Hoo, boy, there is no way to get through this next part without sounding like he's bragging, or crazy, or both. Damn the luck.

"This was the work of the master smith of the Fair Folk in Elysium," he finally says, not really knowing how to handle this part except by straight-up bluntness. "I lost the hand in a battle, and a friend of mine helped me t'find my way there'n pass a great many tests. The smith told me he could replace what I lost, if I'd kill a wild boar-sow for him, alone except for one of his hounds." Very carefully, he flexes the fingers. "And when I came back with the sow's hide, this is what he made for me."

... good Lord that's not ever going to sound right to his ears.

[olive_and_clove]

"You are a fellow warrior then. I am sorry for your lose though I am gladdened by your gain." He reaches behind him to move the sword to a safer place before sitting properly. His legs were beginning to cramp.

"Can you tell me of this place? And how may I call you?"

[hecu_marine]

Okay, that he can handle. Shephard settles down as well; no need to be rude.

"Sergeant-Major Adrian Shephard, of the United States Marine Corps, at your service," he says. "Only Marine alive at the moment, but I got plans to fix that'n rebuild real soon. This place here's called Milliways, and folks say it's at the end of all things. There's more to it than just this forest, though."

That, he thinks, should do for starters.

[olive_and_clove]

"The 'end of all things'? Fitting," Palamedes says downcast. "I do not know what a marine is however. A warrior of some caliber one would assume given your story."