Rise, Queensguard

[Pericles of Athens]

A few months later Brandon Snow arrived in the south. His features made him stick out amongst almost all who were present, he'd taken a ship to Kingslanding from White Harbor to avoid the Riverlands and their thrice damned Rivermen.. pansies all of them. He'd brought some twenty five of his Skagosi kindred with him, who took to setting up shop in a series of hovels in flea bottom. Not even the scum their would want to mess with tattooed savages from the far reaches of the North.

Snow hated this place, the sounds the smells the cramped space. He hated them all and he hated the southrons too. Hello? He called as he entered into the courtyard of the White Sword Tower, he didn't wear armor the bastard of Skagos never wore armor. His bronze axes hung at his hips and his exposed chest carried the scars of two dozen conflicts, amongst his kind tattoos and scars showed the story of a man's life but here they were foreign and strange.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Armand greeted each man in turn as they arrived at the Sept. He was dressed in his full ceremonial dress - armor of a golden hue, his white cloak billowing behind him, the sword at his hip. He had memorized the vows, prepared to give them to the new brothers. He wondered where Darklyn was.

"Hello there Tarly, Snow, welcome to the capitol."

[Oznerol]

ooc: we have to kill Darklyn. I hate to interact/depend on NPC.

Tarly looked with disgust to the Northerner.

Filthy barbarian, unwashed and rude.

"Ser Armand, here I am, ready to pronounce the words and the oath. In the Light of the Seven"

[Pericles of Athens]

Snow nodded to the Arryn, he'd come a foreigner to the North months passed but now their rolls were reversed. It's hot as a giant's balls down here, Armand. Who does this lot stand it? It had been hot during the war but as summer dragged on it only became warmer down south. He looked around the sept, the place smelt of death.. dead gods for a foreign people. I'll say the words here.. but they won't mean much if they aren't heard by my gods.

[Pontifex Maximus]

ooc: we have to kill Darklyn. I hate to interact/depend on NPC.

Tarly looked with disgust to the Northerner.

Filthy barbarian, unwashed and rude.

"Ser Armand, here I am, ready to pronounce the words and the oath. In the Light of the Seven"

Armand clapped the older man on the back. "Very good! We shall begin when the others arrive, Lannister and the rest. I am glad you brought your squire. I was just recently eh, given one. Some captured boy from a family we can't trust. I don't agree with this startling trend that squires come as hostages...but who am I to refuse The Hand" He said with some venom.

Snow nodded to the Arryn, he'd come a foreigner to the North months passed but now their rolls were reversed. It's hot as a giant's balls down here, Armand. Who does this lot stand it? It had been hot during the war but as summer dragged on it only became warmer down south. He looked around the sept, the place smelt of death.. dead gods for a foreign people. I'll say the words here.. but they won't mean much if they aren't heard by my gods.

"Servants will see to the heat." He said with a laugh. "Fans, chilled drinks." He had shivered during their bout but this northerner was wilting like a snow flower in the heat of the capital. "And I figured as much. Say the words here, and then we will travel t the Godswood at Harrenhall. We will be back in three day's time - but you will be able to swear your oath as is fitting for your faith."

[Pericles of Athens]

"Servants will see to the heat." He said with a laugh. "Fans, chilled drinks." He had shivered during their bout but this northerner was wilting like a snow flower in the heat of the capital. "And I figured as much. Say the words here, and then we will travel t the Godswood at Harrenhall. We will be back in three day's time - but you will be able to swear your oath as is fitting for your faith."

A servant came with a glass of water and a pitcher, Snow took the pitcher from the small crownlander and began gulping down its contents with gusto. Pouring a bit of its water over his hair. I'll take the shorter distance to the ruined Whispers and be thankful for it. He stated with a dark laugh. I gave those Strongs quite the beating in the war, doubt they'd be happy to see me again.

[Oznerol]

Armand clapped the older man on the back. "Very good! We shall begin when the others arrive, Lannister and the rest. I am glad you brought your squire. I was just recently eh, given one. Some captured boy from a family we can't trust. I don't agree with this startling trend that squires come as hostages...but who am I to refuse The Hand" He said with some venom.

Lannister? The Queen managed to have a knight from every kingdom or what?

"He's quite a capable and willful young man, eight-and-ten years of age and pretty satisfying as squire. He'll win his spurs soon"

Soon or never, until I find a proper replacement. Gods, I loved this one, glad that father forced me to have a squire.

Tarly chuckled.

"Indeed, and with those kind of squires you cannot sleep fearless, who knows what pain has his family been inflicted? However with a firm hand they will become obedient attendants"

"And who can refuse a father? I'm also quite a good example of that"

[Pontifex Maximus]

A servant came with a glass of water and a pitcher, Snow took the pitcher from the small crownlander and began gulping down its contents with gusto. Pouring a bit of its water over his hair. I'll take the shorter distance to the ruined Whispers and be thankful for it. He stated with a dark laugh. I gave those Strongs quite the beating in the war, doubt they'd be happy to see me again.

"Woe to the vanquished." Armand replied.

Lannister? The Queen managed to have a knight from every kingdom or what?

"He's quite a capable and willful young man, eight-and-ten years of age and pretty satisfying as squire. He'll win his spurs soon"

Soon or never, until I find a proper replacement. Gods, I loved this one, glad that father forced me to have a squire.

Tarly chuckled.

"Indeed, and with those kind of squires you cannot sleep fearless, who knows what pain has his family been inflicted? However with a firm hand they will become obedient attendants"

"And who can refuse a father? I'm also quite a good example of that"

Armand clapped the man on the back. "We will find our own family, and our own path now. Bywater will be my squire, I just pray that he isn't a sod." He gestured towards Raymund's squire. "Eight and ten years, he is a year older than me. I would be anxious to start off on my own as well. Perhaps something keeps him from doing so."

[Oznerol]

"Pray for that. And I'm glad we're going to be part of a true brotherhood"

Cockshaw nodded.

"Ser Armand, I started to squire at fairly old age, fifteen. Because, first I tried to make myself a path in the Citadel, with no avail. My father, Lord Cockshaw's cousin, begged Lord Tarly to accept me as his squire and in turn he commanded Ser Raymund to have me as his squire. Also, I lack the coin to purchase my own horse, armor and sword and for friendship to Ser Raymund I'm unwilling to leave his side, yet"

Raymund grabs the boy's shoulder.

"We've become quite good friends in these past three years, Ser Armand. But he's truly close to win his spurs"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Well, better late than never!" Armand replied. "As I've said before and will say again."

At that point a boy, around the age of fifteen appeared. He had short, black hair and a lightly freckled face. He had a boyish figure, weak and small. "Urm, Ser Armand?" He asked, hesitating. He looked incredibly nervous and agitated.

"Yes? I am Armand. And who are you?" Please do not say you are to be my squire.

"I am Mycah Bywater, your squire?"He stuttered. "And I have a..."

He was interrupted by a disappointed Armand "You? Have you seen ten summers?" He scanned the boy up and down, looking worried. Armand wasn't large for his own age, but he had the body of a man, not a weak little stripling. Training him would be almost impossible, he thought as he recalled his own training from the Master-At-Arms in the Eyrie.

"Please, ser..." He continued"Well what is it? Out with it!""Ser Darklyn is dead!" the boy replied."They found him this morning, stabbed to death in the Flea Bottom...stripped of his belongings..."

Armand frowned, more bad news. "If this is true then we have been struck a grievous blow. Our numbers were short before, and now even moreso. How could this have happened."

At this point, the Hand had stepped into the discussion and called out in a voice distinctly older than that of anyone else present. "He was stripped. He was robbed and murdered - half a dozen men must have assaulted him, if I were to guess. The smallfolk grow weary from the war, and impoverished. Food grows scarcer by the day and the squalor in the city has grown to unmanageable proportions. Every corner of the city stink of shite. I pray that more unrest does not foment." Royce needs to rebuild the city watch...quickly.

"Distressing news..." Armand replied.

[Oznerol]

"Well, better late than never!" Armand replied. "As I've said before and will say again."

At that point a boy, around the age of fifteen appeared. He had short, black hair and a lightly freckled face. He had a boyish figure, weak and small. "Urm, Ser Armand?" He asked, hesitating. He looked incredibly nervous and agitated.

"Yes? I am Armand. And who are you?" Please do not say you are to be my squire.

"I am Mycah Bywater, your squire?"He stuttered. "And I have a..."

He was interrupted by a disappointed Armand "You? Have you seen ten summers?" He scanned the boy up and down, looking worried. Armand wasn't large for his own age, but he had the body of a man, not a weak little stripling. Training him would be almost impossible, he thought as he recalled his own training from the Master-At-Arms in the Eyrie.

"Please, ser..." He continued"Well what is it? Out with it!""Ser Darklyn is dead!" the boy replied."They found him this morning, stabbed to death in the Flea Bottom...stripped of his belongings..."

Armand frowned, more bad news. "If this is true then we have been struck a grievous blow. Our numbers were short before, and now even moreso. How could this have happened."

At this point, the Hand had stepped into the discussion and called out in a voice distinctly older than that of anyone else present. "He was stripped. He was robbed and murdered - half a dozen men must have assaulted him, if I were to guess. The smallfolk grow weary from the war, and impoverished. Food grows scarcer by the day and the squalor in the city has grown to unmanageable proportions. Every corner of the city stink of shite. I pray that more unrest does not foment." Royce needs to rebuild the city watch...quickly.

"Distressing news..." Armand replied.

Tarly frowned while hearing Bywater and Cockshaw paled narrowed his eyes.

"Those news are worrisome, Arryn"

Tarly grabbed his sword's hilt firmly.

"If they haven't respected a White Cloak, embodiment of the King, what shall they do tomorrow? Even more, Darklyn was a common sight on the capital, they knew he was the Lord Commander, and still, he died. We must brace ourselves and hope this won't scalate into open rioting. My sword is ready"

[Pontifex Maximus]

Ooc: this post can apply to any other potential recruits who can respond in this thread later, but for the sake of progress I’ll just post it now. Until another RP takes the Queensguard away from this thread we will use it as out main RP for QG characters.

Armand looked stoic, almost insulted and angry. They had murdered his brother in cold blood. It was inexcusable. But what was Darkyln doing by himself in the Flea Bottom? Armand almost didn’t want to think about it…his previous commander was not known to take his vows too seriously…

“Candidates of the Queesnguard!” He said in acommanding tone to the men present. “Prepare yourself to take your oaths!” He whispered to his northern bastard friend “Close your eyes and Imagine yourself before the Godswood.”

Ser Arryn of the Queensguard, a sworn member, his White Cloak dangling behind him, drew his sword and held it in front of him. Armand composed himself and spoke in a slow and solemn tone. “Repeat after me.” He last a pause. This was a significant moment. It would define these men for the rest of their lives. They were words Armand knew well from his ceremony – just himself and Darkyln.

“I (insert name) do solemnly swear before (the old gods or the new) to protect the Queen from harm and threat. To protect any person or persons the Queen commands me to protect. To follow all orders from the Queen, the Hand, and the Small Council, to serve at the pleasure of the Queen, to keep the Queen’s secrets, to protect the Queen’s name and honor and to never take a wife or bear children. All of this I do so that the Realm may prosper, so that the Queen may rule, and that my virtue remain intact to serve those purposes.”
Armand narrowed his eyes, sizing up each member in turn. Whereas before he might have appeared barely a man, just a young boy looking for brothers, here he appeared to be an authority figure, a figure of complete resolve.

[Oznerol]

Tarly knelt, his hands resting on the sword's hilt.

“I Raymund Tarly do solemnly swear before (the old gods or the new) to protect the Queen from harm and threat. To protect any person or persons the Queen commands me to protect. To follow all orders from the Queen, the Hand, and the Small Council, to serve at the pleasure of the Queen, to keep the Queen’s secrets, to protect the Queen’s name and honor and to never take a wife or bear children. All of this I do so that the Realm may prosper, so that the Queen may rule, and that my virtue remain intact to serve those purposes.”

ooc: btw, the QG also swore to protect the royal family, like seen on the very ASoIaF or the Hedge Knight tale.