You have just woken up in the barracks, feeling the already-hot sun streaming through the stone-walled windows. There is a feeling of anticipation that you can't place a name on the origin for, but after a few moments it floods back to you. Today is the day of Assignment, the day all qualifying knights finally receive their life-defining quest. Today is your chance to show everyone who has ever doubted you what you're capable of.
You crawl out of bed and...
[[Head for the showers]], to make yourself presentable for the King.
or
[[Head to the Library]], hoping to cram anything of use in your head before your quest.As you head to the showers, you can't help to admire the greenery and draperies that the castle staff has decorated the castle with. While admiring the decorations, you lose focus on your destination and stumble directly into another person, spilling all his arm's contents on the ground! A small set of hands grabs you around your arms, and sets you still.
"You okay?", asks the small-statured gentleman you just stumbled into, his non-existent eyebrows knitted together in concern. The floor is littered with scrolls and tomes you just knocked out of his hands, but he only seems to care about you.
You stare, realizing you just stumbled into King Frankus's new head-mage, Diesellian. Diesellian was just hired recently to cover the vacancy left from last year's Assignment day massacre. King Frankus has emphasized his acclaim around the kingdoms and warned of his eccentric nature. You mutter out an apology, and quickly hurry down the corridor, deciding the less you speak with him, the better. If you mis-speak, King Frankus may order you to be disqualified, or worse... In your haste, you fail to notice Diesellian's lingering gaze and slighty flushed face, as he raises a hand to the spot where you hit him.
You [[continue to the showers]].The passage to the library takes you up and around multiple staircases, eventually leading you to massive double doors, which has pewter handles shaped like chihuahua's, King Frankus's favorite beast. You extend a hand and pull open the surprisingly light doors open, and enter the Library. The scent of Frankincense and Myrrh washes over you, inviting you further in. You eyes adjust to the dark candlelit room, and you realize as you walk in, that you aren't alone.
A curly-haired man sits alone at a table, his hooked nose deep in a thick tome. At the creak of the door, his sea-blue eyes flick up to yours, and become uncomfortably transfixed on you. After a while, he seems to realize he has been staring, flushes pink, and turns back to his book, clearly just pretending to read now. You think he is quite interesting to look at, with such strange features that catch the eye. As you traverse the aisles and pick up a book on warrior cantrips, you try to wrack your brain on where you've seen him before. After a time, you realize he's the king's new Head Mage, Diesellian. The knights were warned that he will be playing a considerable role in today's Assignment day, and to not anger him as such.
You head over, hoping to get an advantage or idea of what today's quest will be, you think that since he is so important, he must know something. As you approach, he is ssemingly pretending to not see your advance, and continues to read and make notes on a piece of parchment beside him.
You hope you are correct in his identity as you say, "Mage Diesellian, right? I'm Huntereas, knight of Frankus. I heard you will be playing some part in today's party?"
[[Continue]]He's shifty, looking everywhere but your eyes, hands twitching, but scoffs regardless, "I'd hardly call it a party. A quest to find the most protected ward in the world, risking life and limb for an ancient king who likely may die tomorrow, is not my idea of a good time."
You're taken aback. The new head mage, speaking so freely of this supposed secret quest, especially to a stranger. "So that's what we're doing. The king wouldn't tell me when I consuled with him, stating it was of the most secrecy, and anyone who spoke of it would die a cursed death," you bluff, face smooth like stone.
Diesellian sputters, fear filling his face, "I didn't mean-"
You laugh, "I was fucking with you, there's no curse. At least that I know of. But seriously you should be careful with those secrets of yours. Being so loose can lead you into sticky situations."(align:"=><=")[[[<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bc46faed4d8f4d0d1713d1cf95b8424c/278e726549a4ba50-6e/s100x200/d91a2644d331e56217fb4b11190be6e743c918fa.gifv" height="400" weight="500">->CYOA]]]