Gemstone Knights (Full/Closed/Started)

Terrance | Mount St. Helen's

I stepping through the portal, I expected to come through in the Realm of Knights. Instead, I came out in another volcanic crater. "John, where are w-" I said, turning around. He had disappeared back into the portal. A small, white piece of paper fluttered to the ground as the air stopped shimmering where the portal closed. I picked it up and unfolded it. "Use the Diamond," it read. I took a deep breath and pushed my eyebrows together in a scowl. What was that supposed to mean? I had heard that some of the older knights communicated quite frequently with their gemstones. "Ok, Diamond. Where do I go from here?" There wasn't a single sound, not even a thought in my head.

I sighed and looked up at the overcast sky. My fingers slid into my satchel and brushed the Diamond. I got the oddest feeling, and a single word popped into my mind: "Left". I glanced that way, directly into the sunset. Leaning against the crater wall was a large slab of rock. In the semi-dark of twilight, I noticed an orange glimmer from the other side. I ducked under the rock and into a dark entry chamber. Several unlit torches lined the southern wall. On the northern wall, there was small niche with a fire glowing inside. I took a torch from the wall and lit it. A passage lead west and down, opposite the entrance. I walked down the passage, the orange glow from the torch lighting up carved writing along the walls.

I came out in the main chamber, which was a circular stone room almost fifty feet across. There an altar in the middle, on which a flame constantly flickered. "Now what?" I thought, holding up the torch and turning around to examine the cavern. "Hey, Diamond," I said, my voice echoing off the walls. "If you're ever supposed to talk to me, now would be a good time." I got nothing.

I stood in front of the altar, with my hands grasping the rim. I stared into the orange glow, until my thoughts went completely blank. I was transported in my mind to a strange, dark place. "Hello," said a voice that seemed somehow familiar. It came from no direction in particular, it came from far away and from inside of myself at the same time.

"Are you the diamond?" I asked. "Because every time I try to talk to you, I don't hear anything."

The voice laughed. "Yes. Your abilities are still developing, so you have not been able to contact me directly. But after today, it should be much easier." The diamond's voice faded away to a breath of wind.

Back in reality, I shivered, feeling a breeze on my skin. That was weird for inside a cave. The flame on the altar flickered, indicating I wasn't imagining it. Something inside of me felt like it was changing.

Then, the diamond said a single word: "Portal."

"Yeah," I said, "I have to get an older knight here to portal me back to the Realm of Knights. Real helpful, there." I rolled my eyes.

"Open a portal yourself," said the Diamond. I wasn't so sure. Then again, I felt, somehow, like I could do it. So I pulled my sword out of its sheath, and, like I had seen the older knights do, ripped it through the air. A swirling portal opened in front of me. Feeling quite happy and proud of myself, I stepped through into the Realm of Knights.

Spoiler

It's not to early for the transformation yet, is it? I haven't really been following along.

Aaron Macleod | Training arena

I walked over to the other knights some had grouped together and were talking about was just happened, I didn’t add much to the conversation within the minute or so I was there.
“What the?” I heard one say. On the ground a there was a phone, we all looked up and round confused to what was going on? Then my head, it was heavy and my legs weaken. Were under attack? No, too simple. I dropped down to my knees then to my side, my vision went blurry. Nothingness followed as darkness clouded everything.

“Hey wake up.” I heard a small voice say. I sat up quickly, I was still outside. By the looks everyone was just getting up themselves. I then noticed one of them had a drawn on moustache, I smiled at the thought then realised so did everyone else.
“Oh don’t tell me…” I muttered to myself and moved over to the pond. I looked at my reflection and saw I had been doodled, a black eye and whiskers on either side of my cheeks. I hit the water out of rage.
I paced about for a minute then got the spirit mirror out. I looked at it and saw my mother’s face, smiling like she always did when she looked at me, so warm but lonely at the same time. That’s how it made me feel.
I sighed and put it away, it was just little joke no need to over react I thought calmly. Now I’d better go get this of my face.

Jessa Grayson

I flopped down on the floor with a sigh. I was SO bored. I couldn't stand it any longer. I sat holding my stomach, hungry and miserable. I sat for probably hours, in silence, before I heard a voice.

"Here, from Angelus," I heard a voice growl, as a chunck of bread and bottle of water came rolling across the floor.

I snatched the food and voraciously tore the bread apart, swallowing it before I bothered to even chew, and chugged half a bottle of water before I could stop myself.

I've got to ration. I said, as I set the bottle of water down in the far corner, so I didn't 'steal' a drink.

I sat down in a the opposite corner and sighed. Even if I was bored, I was't hungry anymore. Maybe Angelus isn't so bad after all.

A minute later a second bottle of water was tossed through the door. "You'd better ration this. Angelus usually isn't so free with pleasantries."

I quickly set the water beside the other bottle and then sat down in my far corner. Well I guess he doesn't hate me, after all.

Samual Heartstrings

I was looking through my window, staring at the stars. A good friend of mine had once said stars where the gateways to heaven, and that traveling the could enlightend our futures. Then he had laughed and said something along the lines of, "Quit dreaming moron." I sighed, my stomach rumbling. This was going to be a long night. I sat in a corner, depressed. At least not eating gave me time to think; planning and meditation has served monks before. I switched to a crosslegged possition with my eyes closed and let my mind wander. What if, when I get out, my friend is still in here? No, I'd gladly take whatever time she has; a knight should be strong, good at what they do. Obviously, I can't fight, which, by extension, means that I can't be a Knight. We are expected to wage combat, to eventually fight the man who is teaching us. The winner gets high rank and status, as well as wealth. My chances of getting that where almost nothing. My best chance would come from hiding and picking off the last man standing. There's no honor in that; none of the things in that strategy where even worth singing about. So, if I help my friend get to the top? I have done my role; I have been honorable. Time in jaol is not helping her get to the top.

I looked down at my hands; hands of a bard, not a soldier. When I got out, 9-1 chance I get my butt kicked daily. 5-1 increased chores, 2-1 where side jobs to avoid getting my butt kicked. So I'll take her jobs too. She needs to focus on one thing, being the best she can be. Because when the time comes, I'll be the guy on the floor, black and blue.

Contract

Alone is a feeling
That is also physical.
And alone, you can learn
Things that others deem whimsical.

I've learned that my chances
Are slim, That there's
Nothing I can do
To win.

But she can;
She can win it,
And so I do digress
To be the very best for her;
Make her better than the rest.

And here I have decided
To sign this document,
My name is Samual Fletcher;
I will help Jessa win.

Spoiler

Double Posting FTW. Let's bring back some inspiration, ehh?

Samual Heartstring | Dungeon

He whispered into a wall. "Gemstone, if you can hear me, tell the Silver Bullet I wish to speak with him. It's not about geting me freed from the pit, it's about the girl." He sits back and re-reads his poem. It was almost a contract, but it would need to be signed by two witnesses for that. Oh well, it'll serve as a reminder. Maybe this time, he'll listen. Apparently notes slipped in coat pockets don't get read. He played a few bars on his Lute. He recognized it as his courage song and played it louder. Hopefully Jessa would hear; she needs to have it. It'll be like a drive.

He played furiously, looping it. Then he changed songs to a song of strengthening and a song of freedom. Hopefully the fates will change ours. Hopefully, she'll be ready for the contest. I don't know how much my songs will do, but A guy can hope. Maybe they won't do anything; I don't have my gem. Maybe the wolf was a fluke. I can't think like that, not right now. Work, free her mind, strengthen her body. He concentrates on playing. The songs begin to intertwine and it starts sounding slightly middle-american. Like mariachi.

Jessa Grayson

I heard a tune coming from a few cells deeper in the dungeon- inspiring, reassuring me.

I closed my eyes and let my head fall back, enjoying the music- letting it run through my body, and revive my spirits. I quickly felt better.

"Thanks, Sam," I whispered.