Dubhaine Family/Moira/Roleplays/2008/January

[Category:The Clan Dubhaine]]

January 1st

The Imperial Cagilan Guard had been camped outside the fortress city of Krimml for two days now, their brightly coloured pavilions and silk banners arranged with military precision. From the battlements above an observer could clearly make out the young squires going about their daily chores, fixing food and polishing helms and pauldrons, mending torn surcoats and fetching fresh firewood.

But the squires were but bit players in the spectacle, and soon onlookers from all over the city had gathered to watch the half-dozen noble knights at their training. Arrayed in the finest plate that anyone could recall seeing in many a long year, the dull black surface with its scarlet enamel chasing easily worth a Duke's ransom, many a respectable daughter of Krimml found herself harbouring romances of elopement and high adventure.

Of more interest to the soldiers of the city garrison though were the mighty axes the knights wielded and their fearsome lion helms, which seemed to amplify their battle cries into the murderous roar of those magnificent wild beasts. True they acted individually as knights are wont to do but the whirl of blade and haft as they sparred showed a speed and ferocity that few would wish to be on the receiving end of, and a rumour was soon abroad in the taverns that these were but the vanguard of a larger force seeking a liege worthy of their skill and courage: high lords of distant Atamara come to fight a holy crusade against the evil foes besetting fair Fontan.

Many months before, Moira had researched her expedition to the East Continent with her sisters Aoifa and Brigdha, studying at length the lore of these lands that had reached Cagil before coming to the conclusion that in Fontan she would have the best chance of finding honour. The parting of their ways had been tough on all three of them, but especially so for Moira who would only be accompanied by a few faithful knights and their squires on the long sea voyage.

At first she had found the land and its customs alien - unwelcoming even to nobles travelling under the foreign banners of her kith and kin. All was aflame with war and the common folk sought solace in strange religions but the more she saw of the good folk of Fontan, the more she felt the justness of their cause.

But still she could find no Lord or Lady willing to accept her small company into their service. Doubtless their foreign garb and ways caused a certain mistrust, or perhaps it was just that their numbers were too small? She knew that once she had a liege she could soon muster others to her banner and that the East Continent would echo to the war cries of Clan Dubhaine.

"Captain Heinman, you have charge of the camp. I intend to pay my respects to Lord Alexi and see if he might have some use for our services."

"Do you think it's wise to go into town unarmed Mi'lady? We are strangers to these people, and for all that they hang gawping at us from the fortress walls I can't say that they've exactly made us feel welcome."

"Don't worry old friend, I know what I'm doing. I have heard good reports of this Lord Alexi."

"As you will Mi'lady, but I'd still be happier if Aoidh and Uthwyr went with you."

"If it will make you happier I'll take my squire Iraen. She can carry my axe, although what exactly you hope that will achieve in a fortress of this size save for my quick and glorious death I can't begin to imagine."

"Aye madam, and doubtless our own glorious deaths would swiftly follow. But none could say that I had shirked in my duty."

"Duty dear Heinman will yet be the death of us all, but let us postpone it until another day," her raised eyebrow and sardonic tone bringing a rare smile to the veteran's face.

And thus it was that within the hour Dame Moira Dubhaine came to be walking unarmed and unhindered through the streets of Krimml, oblivious to the curious glances cast at her extravagant scarlet livery as, accompanied by her squire Iraen, she made her way to the palace of Lord Alexi, there to offer her fealty and that of her companions if this good Lord should prove as worthy as rumours had lead her to believe...