Friends, Romans, Countrymen [o]

[Dorian]

Dorian's step was quiet, calm, sure as he strode up between the marble collumns that, in what seemed like a lifetime ago, had served as his backdrop for an impassioned speech to the noble dignitary that had argued within the building. But they weren't his audience today. No, he had called his Knights, and anyone else who would listen, and he stood in front of the small crowd, forcing back any second thoughts. The time for regrets had passed. He had cast his fate, and for better or worse... this was it. Swallowing, the lord lifted his head. His tongue darted out of his mouth, wetting his lips, and he held back the urge to push his hair back over his shoulder, a distraction from what he had to say.

"My fellow Ylisseans... my protectors of fate.... no. That's not right." He shook his head, taking a deep breath and letting it out again. "My friends. I thank you all for coming out here today to hear me speak. I am honored that you think so highly of me, or at least, you believe strongly enough in what I have to say that you're willing to put up with me for better or for worse." That drew out a few chuckles, so after a short pause, he continued. "I have come here today not to ask you to lay down your lives but instead to ask you something important. I wish to depart soon. There is no good that we can achieve here, in Ylisse, when we leave the rest of our continent to fall into ruin, ripe for Grima's rage. I ask that you all begin getting your affairs in order so that we can depart for Plegia."

Dorian ignored the soft whispering that his words evoked. "I know, this is a lot to ask of you. The journey will not be an easy one - it is likely that the Grimleal will not take kindly to our presence, and that says nothing for the grudge between our two countries. But I have sent my most trusted man forward to meet with the crown queen of Plegia, and she has been a sympathetic ear, something we need in these troubled times." The lord's words were more confident now, coming from him with little trouble. "I will not, however, ask of you to do something that I am not willing to do myself as your commander. Instead, I will ask this: look amongst yourselves for your strength and your courage, your allies and your weapons, and join me. Together... together we shall unite Plegia and Ylisse and yes, eventually Ferox too, under one goal. The goal of saving our world from destruction, and what nobler goal is there than that?"

Words. -- Tags. Xavier, Kieran, ryth, Nascha, Alisone, and others Notes. Yes I did just lay out where we're going and what we're doing next. Also we're gonna look for the Fire Emblem on the sly but we're not announcing that. *brick'd* Also Dori I love you but we need to work on your speech ending skills.

[Matthias]

awkward first time posts ahoy

Matthias arrived on time to Dorian's fancy-dancy little meeting, though he arrived with little fanfare, and did absolutely nothing to point out his own presence. Those that knew him, knew him, he figured - and this move was hardly to make a scene. It was to simply listen in.

In any other case, the Steward of Ylisse certainly wouldn't have honored these people with his presence. He had better things to do than listen to every speech from a faction that he supported but wasn't truly allied with. But, with rumors of the Knights of Cydonia finally getting up and doing something, and with Amaryllis out, busy with some job or another, he figured he might as well go and visit them personally, once - even if Dorian would forever come across to him as a boy with little more than spirit. ...Well, to be fair, Matthias supposed he could respect spirit, in it's own way. At least, it got Dorian some followers - though none impressed him as he gazed over the room of gathered people. Just as well, because if someone had, they would have become a target of vicious bribing and prodding until they caved and worked for Matthias instead of a loser like Dorian.

Though the man knew ahead of time that the Knights were planning on leaving, the choice of destination still managed to surprise him a tad - Plegia? So soon?

Well.

Alright.

That saved Matthias some trouble, at least, and if there was anything that he didn't like, it was going out of his way for inconsequential people. Another interesting note was the contact with the Plegian queen - a part of him wondered, just how much was it accurate that she was a nice woman? Or was she just willing to use whoever to erase her temporary enemies, the Grimleal?

Well, it hardly mattered. It wasn't like she was bold enough to come speak to Matthias, after all. He was certain there would be no time where he would have to decide if she was worth the investment of his time. He was completely and totally and 100% dead wrong. When Dorian finished his speech off with a somewhat corny question, Matthias ceased leaning against the pillar he had chosen. As much as he simply wanted to leave...

He'd give it another few minutes, and if nothing else interesting was said, he'd just casually walk out, as unannounced as he came in.

"text"

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

Cassius' steps were crisp, deliberate and with a certain strength that echoed between the marble columns of the building. With each stride, he defied the throne room's gaudy displays of wealth and grandeur; they were a waste: a cesspool of a clinical white. Folding his arms, he waded in. His glare slid to the side, his head unmoving as he acknowledged Matthias with a disgruntled roll of his eyes. He wasn't criticizing Dorian no, but he sure as hell was criticizing Matthias' decision to drag him into this garish shithole. After all, it smelled. It smelled like rich, snooty nobles with their upturned noses and tasteless cashmere silk robes. Regardless of the stench and considering the effect Dorian had had the last time he was here, a little military presence was probably good to have.

Cassius couldn't deny it. Dorian did have a charisma about him. As people hushed to hear the man's careful words, he settled into the lilt of his speech. He too was worried about Grima. Being a Captain of the Ylissean military didn't magically exclude you from that anxiety. Then again, as Dorian had emphasized, Grima's threat extended to the entire continent and its people: from the lowly potato farmer to the esteemed aristocrat. 

The temptation to join tugged at his heart.

Ever so often he would peek at Matthias in an attempt to read him, to decipher his thoughts and opinions about the proposed plan for a Plegian passage. But staring at the man made him want to punch him in the face. 

Cassius made sure he wasn't the first to clap. Actually, he refused to clap at all. He didn't want to paint an opinion without checking with Matthias first. After all, he was there as an extension of Ylissean army; his actions reflected theirs and despite his hands' desire for applause, he stayed calm. 

The comfortable scene of Matthias leaning against a column made his legs tired, but Cassius was determined to keep away from his. No way in hell was he going to give purpose to a stupidly expensive hunk of concrete. If only it was made out of potatoes.

TAGGED ERRONE HERE
NOTES YISSS

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Lyrica]

some coincidences are deliberate

tagged @lotsapeople

Already from the beginning of the speech Lyrica knew that Dorian, the leader of the Knights of Cydonia, was a much braver person than herself. Maybe it was a side-effect of the lack of a spotlight on her throughout her life, combined with an already meek nature to begin with, and she knew she would have simply frozen up there in front of so many people. Even then... it didn't seem he was without his flaws. Was it a bobble in the speech? She was pretty handy at writing essays, maybe she wouldn't be too bad at writing speeches? Lyrica would offer but... what if she was turned down? No, it might be safer to not try and make waves right away.

Then again... she never made waves.

The fair-haired girl continued to stand where she was as she gazed up at their leader with the rest of the assembled crowd, Knights and bystanders alike. As she spared a moment while Dorian was gathering breath she scanned the crowd as best she could. She wasn't the tallest person around, that was for sure. It did look like some nobles and members of Ylisse's military had turned up to the speech as well. Knowing how her own parents who could barely consider themselves of noble birth had treated the Knights when they sought out help, she could only imagine how much more the full-blooded nobles must have really disliked what was going on right now.

That wasn't quite as worrisome to her as the news they would be heading to Plegia. Lyrica knew her history books and knew quite well of the grudge between Ylisse and Plegia. Not only that, it would be her first time out of Ylisse at all. Wasn't this a bit of a big step? Just a few days ago she'd left her home town for the first time, and now leaving the country? She cheered along with the rest of the Knights, and the citizens that joined in, but hers was a bit weaker and shakier, easily drowned out by the rest of the crowd. She didn't know completely how to feel about this, though she did find their cause to be just and noble.

CODED BY DUCKIE OF GS

[Kieran]

This Carousel Spins Round and Round words: 884. tag: @dorian and co.. notes: First Kieran post woo. It had been early morning when he had first heard they were gathering in the capital. The Knight's of Cydonia, the group he had just joined not to long ago after hearing Lord Dorian's impassioned speech he had given at his own village, were gathering for another speech and then preparing to finally move out. As much as he hated crowds and large gatherings Kieran couldn't help but be elated at the notion of hearing another of Dorian's speeches. They had an effect on the normally shy boy he couldn't quite place. They were empowering despite being somewhat awkward. Dorian seemed to be ill equipped to give motivational speeches but the passion he put into every word more than made up for the skill deficit. Not that he'd fare any better. In fact Kieran was quite sure he'd be rubbish at public speaking. He was too shy and cowardly to stand up in front of a group of people and speak like that. Indeed, with his tiny stature, feminine looks, and garb meant to hide himself Kieran looked like the very picture of a timid mouse hiding away from the world. Sadly, his long hooded robe stood out alongside his nervous gait as he walked the streets of the capital on the way to the meeting place. Kieran had the hood of the long black and red robes up over his head and only a few errant strands of his deep scarlet colored hair peeked out from under it. His burnt red eyes shifted nervously back and forth as he walked along. In truth he hated this place, the capital. Its where his father had been murdered and where he had been most ostracized by the people and the noble court. It was as if they could smell the Plegian on him and automatically wanted to nail him to a cross and set him ablaze. Such was the affliction that was hatred. Deep seated prejudice caused by pain and suffering was hard to shake. It was easier to place the blame on someone rather than admit that not everyone of a certain nationality, race, or creed was a bad person. His father had taught him to be opened minded as a tactician needs an open mind in order to best perform their job. Yes, having a cloistered, closed off mind was the key to one's own downfall. Somehow Kieran managed to make his way to the castle without incident. Already a crowd had gathered to here Lord Dorian speak. That suited him just fine because it meant he could hide among them and be out of sight. If there was only a small group here he'd have been more easily spotted and singled out by anyone of the court who knew him through his father. He did not need that kind of pressure foisted upon him right now. He was perfectly content to serve Lord Dorian in the shadows alongside the Master Tactician and Ryth. Yet somehow the crowd seemingly formed in such a way as to create a gap where he could be easily spotted. He shuffled in place uncomfortably and waited for Lord Dorian to speak. He could feel judging appraising eyes upon him. Golden eyes pierced into his very soul. It felt like the Steward was singling him out with his disdainful, scornful gaze, but as the moments passed and the man cast the same look upon the rest of the knight's Kieran breathed a sigh of relief. The man had a low opinion of all of them. For some reason though that genuinely angered him. By what right did this man have to turn his nose up at them? He ought to give him a piece of his mind. He should... but he wouldn't. Instead Kieran shrunk back once more and withered when the man's gaze turned back towards him right as Kieran was about to move out of the crowd and give the, no doubt highly opinionated, noble a piece of his mind. Instead now Kieran merely stood and shuffled uneasily in place as Lord Dorian finally made his appearance and gave his speech. As Kieran suspected it was a grand and honest once. As he also suspected, as far as structure went, it was utter garbage but somehow that made all the better. There was something real to the way Lord Dorian spoke that empowered him. Kieran was a boy of many insecurities so seeing someone overcome their own faults and give such wonderful speeches filled him with a powerful feeling. What was it? Courage perhaps? Courage was a powerful feeling indeed. It was doubly powerful when it moved the normally awkward and shy into doing things they normally wouldn't. Things like move out from the crowd and be the first to speak up. Things like being the first to clap in response to a great speech. Both were things that Lord Dorian had caused Kieran to do. The former when he first heard the man speak and the latter now. Though, of course, Kieran also walked out from the crowd and now stood closer to where the rest of the knights would surely gather. Kieran also was now filled with the courage to respond to his Lord's earnest question. "T-there isn't one. I-in my opinion at least."

ⒶⓀⒾ

[Deleted]

The gallant boy would not be alone in his effort for long. The stares that locked onto him were bouncing to the walls and ceilings as heads began to turn about restlessly for the heavy clicking of metal ringing in the room. It spread like waves across the crowd, causing them to shift under the grasp of an unknown current until a pathway had been made by the middle, connecting the grand doors and the elevated flooring that Dorian stood upon. Across the lord, on the other side of the room, was a knight fully clad in white clothes and black plate armour. Every inch of his skin was covered: with gloves for his hands, a tall pointed hat for his head, and a pulled up turtleneck masking half of his face, leaving only the skin around his eyes to be seen. Accompanying him was a nondescript woman, perhaps a servant.

"It's him!" whispered an excited woman.

But the recognition only caused confusion. Who? Who was he? He appeared to be someone but no name surfaced from anyone's memory. The few that recognized him only knew him from stolen glimpses and still, they did not know his name nor what talent or achievement he had. But that was the essence of it. He was a beautiful mystery, known like a romantic secret only to few.

Sir Ptolemy faced the small chaos he'd caused dauntlessly. He intended to simply stay on a corner and wait it out, but a different role had been asked of him. With his heavy lance on hand, he walked forward, his servant disappearing somewhere or completely going unnoticed, and stopped in the middle of Dorian and his audience like a guardian to protect his lord. Ptolemy said nothing. He offered what might had been a smile at the redhead (a girl?) if the communicating look he'd given could be interpreted as such. He was silent but he made his statement clear.

[Alisone]

@all

Alisone was leaning against a pillar nearby, and while she was listening to Dorian's speech like the rest of them, her eyes weren't on Dorian. She was too busy scoping out the rest of the listeners. She saw bluebloods in the audience, as well as people who looked too shiny and too armed to actually be anything close to lower class. She felt a little self-conscious, considering she had just got done a heist at the palace not even the week before, but at the same time, she could probably talk her way out of any trouble, or use her newly found connection to a Lord for support. She'd owe him, but that was fine. It wouldn't be the first time she had used someone and owed them later.

She scanned the rest of the audience members, and a few of them stood out. A man that carried himself with authority and grace, one with a critical eye and at least one follower. Alisone narrowed her eyes a bit behind her mask and her eyes travelled to the follower. The man listened to this speech of Dorian's, but every so often, his eyes would flicker to the authoritative man, and Alisone tried to place why, but couldn't figure it out. She couldn't figure out the keyword that was supposedly his trigger. Maybe she hadn't been paying enough attention. Next, her gaze shifted to a woman who looked practically enthralled, yet still had an air of delicacy about her that Alisone would never want as a potential ally. And don't even get her started on the red haired girl that followed Dorian around; she had no idea what her purpose was, other then to be a cheerleader, which she was doing a good job of doing right this second. Alisone nearly scoffed, but she kept it held in. These types of speeches weren't good for answers or critiques, these were metaphorical questions meant to invigorate the mind and not the mouth. The new entrance of a lancemen standing between the crowds and Dorian made Alisone raise an eyebrow.

Dorian had more allies than she thought.

She adjusted her hat and kept her eyes locked on Dorian next. He was awkward and he delivered his speech with considerably less grace than expected... or probably about the same amount of grace she expected. After all, the first time she ever saw the man, he fell off a horse at her feet. Her lip curved at the memory and she averted her eyes.

“Good job, prettyboy.” She murmered under her breath.

[Lilou]

WHEN WE BEGIN TO SOAR

Lilou stood behind Dorian, a short distance away, because a leader needed space to deliver a speech to the masses. She stood upright and alert, not expecting any untimely threats to show up, but it didn't hurt to be a little bit paranoid. She wouldn't know what to tell Basil if Dorian were shot through the throat on her watch. Dutifully, she applauded when the speech was done, but not for very long nor with anything but a token display of enthusiasm. Her only real thought was why. Why were they going to Plegia? What was there for them, besides disaster? There was a civil war in Plegia, one that even a ragtag group like the Knights of Cydonia had no real place. Heading there would be politically rude at best, incredibly unwise at worst. Lilou sighed. Other people were whispering among themselves, but she only felt a headache growing. She had no words for this. Did they even have the funds to sustain a journey to Plegia and back? They were low on vulneraries, she recalled. She'd have to restock before they left Ylisstol, lest they overwork their healers. "Well spoken for today, my lord," she said softly--it was the truth, she saw no reason to lie--not to be overheard by anyone but Dorian and his closest retainers. "I only hope you'll be just as well spoken when we encounter the Plegian queen." Perhaps that last comment wasn't needed.

[Aurelia]

some coincidences are deliberate

tagged @lotsapeople

Aurelia stood off to the other side of Dorian, though she was just a step further back than Lilou was. And right now, she was fighting the urge to pick her nose something fierce. The green-haired knight ordinarily wouldn't have minded if someone saw her picking her nose. It wasn't going to reflect on her ability to actually get things done, but it just might reflect on Dorian. Somehow. She wasn't sure and there was a big reason she didn't even think of trying to play politics. All she had to do was follow Lilou's orders (more or less) who in turn was following Dorian's orders (more or less).

Though she knew she'd been through Plegia once, she had no memories of it, hardly being able to be called a child at that time. All she knew is that it was hot and full of sand. People always talked about how difficult it was to move horses through, and she didn't like the sound of that at all. Anyways, politically-speaking she'd leave all the heavy lifting to Lilou and the other people who were considerably more in charge than herself. At least the crowd was excited, for what it was worth.

"Aww, I dunno, if he does that well, maybe we should have a career change to actors. I'd pay to see that!" She laughed openly, seeming unconcerned about Dorian attempting a potentially corny motivational speech to the Plegian queen. While she still restrained the urge to pick her nose, she didn't restrain the urge to scratch the lower part of her back where it was itching too, while keeping an eye on the gathered knights in front of them. Certainly a diverse crew, that was for sure.

CODED BY DUCKIE OF GS

[Nascha]

Nascha stood near the back of the gathered group of Knights and others. Her ears were covered today, and she was clad in her normal worn traveling clothes. Today, she was just part of the crowd, and she was doing her best to not stand out. Another day, perhaps when they inevitably took to the field, she would be a dragon. But now, the focus was on Dorian as he gave his speech. Nascha focused in his direction as he gave his speeech, although with every whisper-filled pause her eyes darted across the crowd. She hadn't spared much attention to the other Knights yet, so this was her first chance to gain an impression on most of them. There was at least one obvious noble, with a follower, knights in armor so shining that Nascha briefly wondered if it had ever seen use, a woman very excited to see the speech-giver, a shady-looking person in a mask, a girl who almost timidly responded to Dorian's somewhat cheesy question.

"Well, you're no slouch at recruiting, at least," Nascha muttered, returning her attention to Dorian. "Now I guess it's time to see if they're worth anything." She wanted to have faith in them. Really, she did. But when Grima's power was such that even she, the descendent of the mythical Dark Dragon, felt frozen and helpless, faith was not in plentiful supply. These people looked untested, and it would have to wait until she saw them in battle before she could see what they were really like. As for Dorian, she could only hope that he was as good or better at actual leadership as he was at public speaking.

[Dorian]

Most people probably would have thought Dorian's speech cliche and tired, rushed and something that he had made up on the spot. And yes, he had come up without an idea of exactly what he wanted to say, and yes, he could easily have a speech written to explain what he wanted to say in far more eloquient words. But that wasn't the point of his speech. No, in fact, to write it out was something that would defeat the entire purpose. He wanted to be someone who was held accountable for his actions, someone approachable and human. And that meant that he spent his time on training, on scouting, on being a member of the Knights rather than writing speeches. The words he had to offer may not be the best, but they would be true and they would be his.

He was still human, and he had his flaws, but that was what made him different. He didn't ask for blind worship like so many of the other lords. He asked for trust, and if he was turned away, he would make sure he earned it before asking it again. That was just how he worked.

The lord offered a smile towards the few more familiar faces in the crowd - the girl he had seen but not talked much to but in passing, the woman who he recalled vaguely as being a manakete, the tactician that trailed after him and Ydolus like some kind of puppy, and of course Alisone, who he made a mental note to ask to return anything she had stolen. He liked the thief well enough, she was pleasant company, and he acted a little severe with her at times, but it was well-intentioned and in a manner that he hoped would keep her out of trouble.

At the comments behind him, however, the noble resisted the urge to let out a little growl; why was it that even when Basil was nowhere in sight, his older brother still managed to make him feel like a fool? "Ladies, please," he hissed in an undertone through his smile, cocking his head slightly to the side and smiling in what appeared to be a friendly manner so that no one aside from the two of them would know what he was saying, "if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all."

Crystal eyes flickered forward, and he offered a wider smile and a slight bow, the very least he could give the knight before him. "I thank you for your steel and your time," he stated, nodding. "I hope I shall not disappoint." And his eyes flickered up to rest on the steward at the back, touching upon the other lord for a moment before darting away. It was a subtle game, much more of Basil's style, what went on in Ylisse, so he would leave it to the man who relished the give and take of power. He had other concerns, namely getting across the border and considering his audience with Maeve.

So instead of pushing the point, the lord laughed and waved his hand. "Go on, shoo, enjoy the sights. I'm not conceited enough to pretend I'm more interesting than the capital... or that Ydolus isn't going to want to sequester me for strategy talks." And with that last attempt at humor, he allowed himself to be hustled away, mind already whirling.

He had no idea what type of reception he'd just made for the Knights... but hopefully it would not be quite such a negative one.

Words. -- Tags. @all Notes. Wrapping this up and calling it a day. *lies down and dies* I hate midterms. I hate them so much.