Gemstone Knights (Full/Closed/Started)

Angelus Pacis | His chamber

I knew Nabaat was more mad at James and Camile. She and I both were, since those two Diamond Knights stuck their noses where they didn't belong. I wasn't about to give up just yet. I was willing to give Nabaat what she deserved. she wanted me and I wanted her. Whether the Knights of my generation denied it or not, I would go to extremes to get Nabaat to turn her back on the Black Pearl and make her mine. I would not let Camile, James, or Mina- an Opal Knight of my generation who had a crush on me since only the gods know when- stop me from taking Nabaat as my bride. She was destined to be mine. My heart just knew it.
With a grunt, I got on my feet and put my hood back on. Without another word, I went to the meditation chamber and sat down on the floor. I sighed. "One of these days, Nabaat, I will marry you and have you as my one and only love. Your heart and mine are calling, so we shall answer their call." I sighed again and began my meditation.

Jessa Grayson| Training Area

Sam laughed at me. "If I didn't care what your name was, why would I tell you mine? And, quite honestly, I'm bored outa my mind too. You sure are talented with that bow."

He looked around and added, "Well, I think the others may not have noticed because they're fighting duels, or absorbed in converstaion. They didn't really notice my songs either..." he sighed, "Did you see where the Grey Bullet, err, the Gray knight went?"

I glared at the tips of my boots, wary of Sam. Why is he talking to me? He has no reason to...

But flattery was a weakness of mine, and he had noticed my marksmanship; my chest expanded a bit at the compliment. He was right, of course. Everyone else was occupied with other things; though I still resented the lack of any reaction.

"No...something's happenening in the palace...I don't know what though," I replied gruffly.

I fingered the fletching on my arrows, a nervous habit of mine.

"I bet whatever's happening is more interesting than this," I grumbled, "But I don't know. What do you make of it all?"

Camber Harper | Training Arena

Well, that had been..... Interesting. I had heard a large explosion, but then, I hadn't seen what caused it. Perhaps the trainng arena wasn't quite the place to stay any more. Things had gotten tense enough around here, and I didn't feel like trying to find someone to train with. I glanced over and saw Jessa talking with another boy, with a lute... I think he was one of the new Opal recruits. Hm. I looked away from them, hoping not to draw attention to myself as I made my way more into the forest, or maybe the garden..... Yes. The garden sounded fine.

Heartstring, Samual | Training Area

I could tell she was proud of her arrows by the way she puffed up when I spoke of them. She said, "I bet whatever's happening there is more interesting then this, But I don't know. What do you think of it all?" 7 unexpected words.

"Uhh, well, I think what ever got the Grey Knight's attention was powerful. I guess we could go check it out..." Sam shrugs. "Maybe you could blow more stuff, make it more exciting." This person, Jessa, was quite a looker, but I had a feeling that she wouldn't really go for a guy like me. Even a freindship seemed rare to me. Inwardly, I sighed. Meeting new people was always awkward for me.

Stormy|Training Area

"Spit on them," Sammy instructed. I gave her a skeptical look but then she explained further. "The plant needs liquid to work properly." I nodded once and then looked down at the plants in my hands. I wasn't sure what she was planning on doing with these, but it couldn't hurt to humor her, could it?

I spit on the bits in my hands, thinking that it made the plants look really nasty. I'd never seen these kinds of plants before, so I wasn't sure if it was safe to hold them. Sammy seemed to know what she was doing, even though I didn't. I looked back up at her for further instruction.

Jessa Grayson| Training Area

I was nearly as surprised as Sam looked, when I heard the last words coming from my mouth. "What do you make of it all?"

Why would I ask him what he thought? I never do that... I wondered, No. I know why. I won't go into the castle alone and I'm too big of a chicken to ask him to go too.

"Uhh, well, I think what ever got the Grey Knight's attention was powerful. I guess we could go check it out..." Sam said with a shrug.

Ah, right as planned.

"Maybe you could blow more stuff, make it more exciting." Sam added with a sigh.

I raised an eye brow. Maybe he had appreciated my diversion after all...and I did like to shoot...

No, I need to save my arrows, I thought with a sigh.

"I-uh- I can shoot things while we go to the castle?" I suggested.

I was a bit shocked by that comment too. Treacherous tongue, I grumbled inwardly, I try to tell him one thing, and then suddenly I've said something else...well, I do like to shoot.

"Alright," Sam agreed a bit awkwardly.

"Alright," I stated, for no better reason than to have the last word.

I nodded and took a few steps towards the castle, then looked back at Sam.

Samual | Training Arena

I kicked my apprehension on the window and followed her. But apprehension refused to go away, choosing instead to cling to the doorway. She looked back at me, and my tongue decided to act without permission; "Somethin' wrong?" Chit. If she doesn't wanna go, that means I'll have to go check it out alone. And my combat skills were, well, not the best. I had a good strike, but in the end, I'm a musician, not a fighter. And how many oppertunities do friends give you before they decide to just flat out ditch you? Ugg, such stupidity, Tongue, such stupidity.

Aaron Macleod | Inside the castle

Two knights pushed pasted me yelling at me to move out the way as they stormed in, when I finally realised what was happening I was too late to act. Two knights were dead and the one responsible, she was gone. I sighed, was it from relief, disappointment or the shame of not doing anything. Master when off somewhere and I did the same.
I walked back the way I came, my head and eyes facing the floor. I monitored the cracks and marks on the floor. I tapped and rolled my sword on my shoulder as I finally I reached the entrance. I looked up at the window the knight that was hanging from the window was gone, he must of gotten out of the way when the elder knight was thrown out the window. I cracked a small smile and continued slowly drifting forward to the starting position of this event.

Jessa Grayson| Training Area

Sam took a few steps towards me and then stopped. "Somethin' wrong?" he asked.

I narrowed my eyes and glared at him coldly, trying to determine whether his inquiry was genuine, or mocking. I wouldn't tolerate being patronized; not now, after all I had gone through.

He seemed a bit distressed by his comment.

And we know all about your tongue turning on you, don't we Jessa? That's what got me partnered with him in the first place. I straightened my blouse, I really should be gracious and let it pass...but what would that do to my image? No, it wouldn't do.

"Nope, just making sure you weren't chickening out," I sneered, as I turned my back towards him and took a few steps forward.

Samual Heartstring | Training Area

I had to grin, "Chicken out? A good bard witnesses what he sings about," I say, unslinging my lute and strumming it. "Or I could, maybe, try to club them." I looked down. Fighting + Me = Disaster kept playing through my mind. Yep, chickening out, probably a good option. But, friendless-ness sucks to much. "Lead on," I say, looking away*

Jessa Grayson| Training Area

I glanced over my shoulder and saw him grinning. "Chicken out? A good bard witnesses what he sings about," he said, as he unslung his lute and strummed it. "Or I could, maybe, try to club them."

He looked down at his feet, and I smirked. He seemed to feel about as confident as I did, yet he was talking like he was ten feet tall.

Maybe I like this boy after all.

I quickly sombered my face as he glanced at me; he looked away just as quickly. "Lead on," he said.

I turn my back on him and grin again. The boy talked big, if nothing else.

Oh yes, this isn't going to be a hard partnership at all , I think, as I start towards the castle, I only hope he can actually fight...

I take the stairs, two and three at a time, enjoying the burning sensation in my legs; it had been a while since I had felt constructive pain. Usually I was getting beat to a pulp in my sparring lessons.

I push on one of the massive wooden doors; making it squeak ominously on it's old hinges as it swung inward. I stepped inside a bit too quickly; I was sure that it was an obvious slip of my bravery. I held my hand against my chest, trying to make my heart stop fluttering. I stepped back to let Sam pass; he was staring at me.

I quickly pulled my hand down to my side, but it was too late, he had already seen it. He hesitated a moment, seeming unsure of what to do.

"So-um-do you...I mean, I think that Angelus has Nabaat covered..."

I had never felt so relieved in my life. I was getting out of this, and not having to chicken out myself.

"You mean you don't want to go?"

"...I think we'd survive longer if we just pranked the other knights a bit."

I grinned. Pranking I could do.

Samual Heartsrings | Castle Doorway

She looked almost as glad as me. Almost. "So, we need a plan, something that'll get most of them at least," I say, thinking. She's got a crack shot, and I can play a mean tune... How could we comb- I got it. I think I've got an old phone in my pocket... I started digging through my pockets, and found it. No connection, but it'd still work for what I had planned. "Do you think you could shoot this at someone?" I asked, ginning.

Jessa Grayson| Doorway of Castle

"So, we need a plan, something that'll get most of them at least." He said, as he began digging through his pockets; finally he pulled a cell phone out and held it up triumphantly.

Surely he's not planning on crank calling them. I thought he meant a real prank. I sulked.

He grinned at me. "Do you think you could shoot this at someone?"

I bit my lip, "Um, I'm not sure...If I had a sling shot I could, but..."

I rocked back onto my heels and sucked on the inside of my cheek; it'd be funny if I could manage to launch the phone at someone, but I couldn't figure out a way to do it.

I could tape it to an arrow...but that would hurt when it hit somebody, even if I used a practice tip...I'll just have to make a sling shot, I guess.

I turned and quickly walked back out of the palace.

"Hey, where are you going?" Sam called after me.

"I've got an idea, come on."

I practically ran to the bush by a wall of the castle; I quickly crouched behind it, and motioned for Sam to follow suit. I started to pull the dagger from my boot, but thought better of it, since Sam was watching, and pulled my sword from it's sheath; a moment later I held a stubby branch with a fork in the top of it.

I nimbly cleaned the leaves from the branch and then re-sheathed my sword.

"Do you have--no, you wouldn't..."

"What? Do I have what?"

"Do you have a rubber band, or a...a...hair tie! I've got one!" I excitedly yanked the the elastic band from my hair, and looped it around the fork.

I triumphantly held it up to Sam. He closely examined the sling shot, silently noting the gnarled stick and hastily constructed sling.

"...Can you do anything with it, though?" He asked doubtfully.

"Sure! I can shoot a sling shot nearly as well as my bow...not as far...but it'll do," I assured him.

"Come on then!" he said, as he sprang to his feet and handed me the phone.

"Who gets it?" I asked gleefully, as I scanned the other knights.

Samual Heartstrings | Training Area

"Wait, can you go to the recording stuff? I think it's the third track, but don't listen to it," I said, handing her earplugs. I remembered recording a few of my songs on that phone. I think the sleep song was that one, but it's possible that it could've been the love song. Lets hope it was the sleep song, that way we could graffiti their sleeping bodies. I took a second look at the sling shot, "Are you sure that'll hold?" I had to ask again.

"Wait, can you go to the recording stuff? I think it's the third track," Sam said, "But don't listen to it."

Jessa Grayson| Training Area

Sam handed me a pair of ear plugs as I examined the phone closely; wondering what was on the phone that I wasn't allowed to hear.

"Are you sure that'll hold?" he asked again.

"Yes, I'm sure," I replied dismissively, "...How do you work this dang thing?"

Sam took the phone back and pushed a few buttons; soon he looked at me, "Ready?"

"Yeah."

"No you're not, or you wouldn't have heard me ask. Put your ear plugs in," he ordered, as he turned away from me to scan the other knights.

I recoiled a bit, not sure how to react. I had never tolerated being bossed around...yet I didn't feel like confronting him about it. He did it so flippantly I couldn't honestly believe he had meant anything by it.

This is where I should ignore it, and make a friend. I told myself; but my tongue had other ideas.

"I'll put them in when I'm good and ready," I stated.

"Alright...well are you good and ready?" Sam asked lightly. "I don't wanna turn it on unless you put the ear plugs in...I'd hate to have to mark you up after you passed out."

"I'd kill you," I growled.

"...Yeah, I know."

The boy kept surprising me. He turned his back to me, allowing me to grin at him; a thing I'd never do if he could see me. I put the ear plugs in, and crept along the castle.

When I got near enough to the other knights to shoot the phone, I dropped behind a bush; Sam started the tune, and I shot it into the group of knights.