Manor of Thane Riconus Xin'dell - Jaki

[Charlie Wallace]

The Manor of Thane Riconus Xin'dell stood near the Aedile's Office. Two stories high, the Manor still showed signs of its original purpose in its height and wide doors as one passed the metal fences near the entrance. Close to the walls was freshly planted grass and flowering bushes. There were guards at the entrance.

The guards were human and members of the Sapphire Guard as indicated by their crests.

[Jaki Vampyler]

Timestamp:
1st Brightening of Junctior
Season of Autumn.
Era II of the Celestial Mandate.
Era XIV Post Fractum

Jaki Vampyler had entered Portshire less than a quarter of a candlemark ago. However, she was determined that she would be efficient here, would achieve her aim before she allowed herself to rest. So she walked up to the Manor of the Thane, as directed to her by the two guards at the gate, and looked around. When she saw the guards, Sapphire Guards, apparently, she walked up to them and spoke to the closest one, assuming that they were not busy, of course.

"Serale. My name is Jaki Vampyler and I would like to make an appointment to see His Grace, the Thane. Could you tell me how I might go about that, please?"

Her question asked, the young human woman waited patiently for a response, hands clasped in front of her as she stood ramrod straight.

[Charlie Wallace]

ooc: Hi Jaki, I PM'd a link to this thread to Riconus. CW.

[Riconus Xind'ell]

The guard at the gate returned inside the manor following Jaki's words, returning only a moment later alongside an elderly gnome with a well-trimmed beard and robe of blue silk. He offered her only the most pleasant of smiles before acknowedging her request. "A pleasure it is to meet you, Miss Vampyler," said the gnome. "My name is Xavier, Sir Riconus' personal advisor and assistant. He has instructed me to request all individuals interested in the betterment of Portshire to see him in person, and it would honor us if you accepted our invitation."

Should Jaki accept the request, Xavier escorted her into the sparse manor, unlike most thanal offices in that it was only furnished where necessary, without much elaboration. "You'll have to forgive the humble appearance of the manor," explained Xavier. "Sir Riconus is still a soldier at heart, and so, the need for ornate or elaborate fixtures inside his place of work is beyond him. The hope is that we will have all the unneeded items left by the former thane auctioned off, and the revenue generated can then be invested into the city's poorer neighbourhoods."

Xavier eventually brought Lilith up to the second floor, where only a single door of dark cherrywood could be found in a thin hallway painted white, lighted only by the two windows which gave a few of the Portshire Docks. Xavier rapped twice on the door before entering slowly, instructing Jaki to follow before he made introductions in a triumphant voice.

"Your Excellency, I present to you Miss Jaki Vampyler.

Miss Vampyler, I present to you His Excellency, Sir Riconus Xind'ell, Earl & Thane of Portshire."

The Syl'rosyan behind the desk, with flopping black hair and sported in an overcoat of heavy brown leather, looked up quickly from his work to notice Xavier, and gave Jaki a warm smile that all his visitors were well accustomed to. He rose from his chair, and approached Jaki with a light bow, kissing the back of her hand as a gesture of his good nature, if she allowed it.

"A pleasure it is to meet you, Miss Vampyler. But all formalities and titles aside, please just call me Riconus. I'm glad you came when you did, as I just returned from doing some errands around the city; I haven't even been afforded the time to take my coat off, as it were. But now that you are here, please, have a seat." He showed Jaki to an armchair that rested opposite his around his large desk. It wasn't long after that he took his coat off to reveal a loosely fitted green shirt tucked into black slacks, unbuttoned twice at the top to show the slightest bit a large nobilitas necklace adorned with silver and gold. He quickly made his way to the liquor cabinet placed not too far away from his chair, and asked Jaki politely if she wanted any refreshments as well. "Would you care for something to drink, Miss Vampyler? From water to wine, I'll probably have whatever you fancy. However, if you care to join me, nothing refreshes me quite like a tall glass of Medonian Red."

He poured himself a glass of the red wine he raved about, and waited to see if he could get anything for Jaki, before returning to his chair, leaned back, and prepared to listen to whatever she had come to say. "So then, what brings your attention to my office this brightening?"

[Jaki Vampyler]

ooc: I'm sorry that there's been a delay - I've been MIA due to RL kicking me. I'm back now, though, and am really hoping that I can continue with this pc. If there's an issue with this particular timestamp or anything, though, I'll begin it again later in the winter. Up to you! Sorry again!

Jaki nodded to the gnome and smiled at him pleasantly. She did not seem to notice his race, and indeed that was true of her. She had no concern with people's heritage or race, rather only being concerned with people's acts and deeds. So she nodded her assent to Xavier and followed him in to the manor. It was a place that met with Jaki's approval, truth be told, as she considered decorations and other trappings to be unnecessary and unbecoming of those who held lives in their hands. So she smiled again and Xavier and spoke quietly "It seems to me that the Thane is a very wise man. Thank you for your help in this, I appreciate it very much"

She followed Xavier then, up the two floors and waited as he rapped on the door in front of them. She went in and smiled a returning smile to the Thane, offering her hand to him to shake and grinning as he kissed it. That kind of courtly manners was rare, she considered and she felt herself warming to this elf in front of her. She listened to him speak and nodded "And my name is Jaki, please feel free to call me such. I would be delighted to join you in a Medonian Red" She briefly wondered what Medonian Red was, whether it was red wine or red berry tea as she sat down and then nodded her thanks as he gave her a tall glass of the wine. Sipping it very gently and smiling at it she placed it down on the table and folded her hands in her lap before continuing.

"I came to Portshire because I want to make a difference. I asked at the gate if there was somewhere where I could get training in the sword and work towards helping the town and they sent me here. Your assistant, Xavier, was most charming and I find myself here. I have no skill in arms, in fact all I am trained for is cooking, but I am eager and willing to learn"

That said, she sat back and once again folded her hands in her lap, waiting for him to reply. She watched him and listened attentively, waiting to see what he would say

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Riconus poured a second glass of wine for his newest guest, before offering it to her with a gentle hand and warm smile. He opted to take a chair a few feet from Jaki's, instead of sitting in the seat behind his desk, which might make things too formal. A moment or two elapsed for the Syl to sniff and sip his wine slowly for the first time, reflecting on his passion for the drink with warmed cheeks. "They say this particular Medonian is one of the best full-bodied wines on the continent... but hell if I care what that means, so long as it tastes good, no?"

Jaki's training in the culinary arts was certinaly something unique within Portshire, for few academies within the city offered to train in such skills. It wasn't that the city wasn't particularly fond of high cuisine, but rather because much of the cod and trout plucked from the harbour didn't require the highest degree of expertise to make it edible.

But Jaki wasn't here to cook, she was here to fight... and by the gods, had she come to the right place to sign up. While Portshire likely wouldn't see much more fighting for a while, with the presense of Her strength noted during their recent routing of vysticchi bandits, the city was still General Headquarters for the Sapphire Guard, who had regiments raised in hotspots all over the Empire.

"Well, m'lady, I always have work for someone looking to stand fast; although, I cringe at the idea of sending a woman as beautiful as yourself into harm's way." he said with a smile and sip of his wine. "But if you see such to be your fate, then I will only try to guide your path.

If you seek training in arms and the blade, you'll find it most appropriate to head to the Field of Maj, home to the Sapphire Guard. From there, you can elect to be a 'reservist', which would require your serive only on a limited basis, but training would still be free. Or, you could become a full-time member of the guard, which along with receiving free training, rooming and boarding, you'll receive a Constable's salary, and will be granted the oppurtunity to transfer to other regiments in the SG.

If you don't mind me asking, m'lady, what prompts your desire to fight?"

[Jaki Vampyler]

She sipped the wine and smiled at him before answering candidly"To be entirely honest with you, I find it hard to differentiate between one red wine and another ~ my pallet is simply not sophisticated enough... plus, if I try to drink too much too quickly, I am very quickly inebriated. It is not a good combination" she admitted with a grin.

He had work? That was good. She was pleased with that and it showed on her face. Although his compliment went over her head as it was rather prone to do with the young woman, Jaki nodded. That whole arrangement sounded wonderful and she could not repress a wide smile. His question, though, was a serious one and she put the glass down, which she had been studying and nursing most carefully, before answering.


"I do not have a desire to fight, Sir." she answered, honestly"I would hope for a world where fighting is unnecessary and there is peace. But we do not live in such a world and I believe that the tenets of the Sacred Three must be upheld. If I stand by Truth, Honour and Justice, then I must be prepared not simply to stand by them, but to fight for them. I wish to make a difference. I would rather that there was no bloodshed involved, but if I need to draw a blade to defend an innocent, I would do it effectively and save us both rather than die alongside them"

She coloured slightly at the long explanation, her cheeks flushing a pale pink. It no doubt sounded foolish to the elf in front of her who was probably so much wiser than she could ever be, but Jaki was, in many many way, a very simple soul. And where there was injustice, she wished to put it right. So she looked at Riconus and hoped that he did not think her too simple for his task.

ooc: she'd go straight there, but obviously the timestamp is all grandfathered and stuff. Shall I timestamp the field of Maj as the first of winter and assume some delay for her? sorry for the gazillion questions!

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Riconus continued to drink his wine, sip by sip, as he listened to Jaki's explanation regarding her intentions. She certainly appeared to be quite admirable, even if slightly too trusting of mankind's ability to find peace rather than war. "Very noble, Miss Vampyler. I must say, I am somewhat surprised to hear such enthusiasm, for your last name would indicate your relation to one of the Empire's most wealthy households, and a desire to stand on the frontlines is not often a trait bred into such priviledged individuals."

On that note, he discontinued the idea of pointing out her affiliation to the Vampyler House, for only Diana knew her standing with the family. Was this to glorify her House's name? Was it to defy their wishes? Such information, for him, was certainly irrelevant; all that mattered to Riconus was that she was ready to fight, and to understand that the fighting wouldn't be over anytime soon.

"Very well, Miss Vampyler. Remember those virtues you just told me, and I am positive you will be able to find the path you seek in life. I must warn you, however, an Aelyria without bloodshed involved in nowhere in our near future. It would seem that this Empire runs on a fuel of war, and many who run this realm - myself included - would not stand where we do this brightening without the fame and fortune that come from the battlefield."

Riconus stood from his seat, and withdrew a small letter from his desk. The letter was given the Syl's signature at the bottom and rolled up slowly, before wax from a nearby candle was dropped over it, and the Seal of Earldom of Portshire was finally stamped. The rolled and sealed missive was then handed to Jaki, nonchalantly.

"When and if you choose to visit the recruitment officer at the Field of Maj, give him this letter. It states that you seek deployment to whatever Regiment in the Empire you wish, and that if you seek it, you will be offered an officer's commision upon the completion of your training.

Whatever I have in this world, Miss Vampyler, I owe it to the times I put my arse out on the line with the Imperial Legions. Perhaps you will find your glory and destiny in the defense of those who cannot defend themselves, as well."

The letter read as follows:

To the Recruitment Staff of the Sapphire Guard, I, Sir Riconus Xind'ell, 1st Earl of Portshire, Thane of Portshire, and General of the Sapphire Guard, give my personal recommendation to the person in possession of this missive. He or she is to be given full rights to transfer to any of our Regiments throughout the Aelyrian Empire, as well as offered commission as an officer in his or her Regiment of choice. Yours Respectfully, Riconus Xind'ell Earl Riconus Xind'ell

OOC: lol no problems. Yeah, you're probably best off to just TS your arrival at the FoM for the first brightening of winter. You could just assume the delay had something to do with your decision to join

[Jaki Vampyler]

She smiled and nodded when he mentioned her family "My brother is Epicurus Vampyler. I have been most fortunate in my lifetime and I have been rich in every way it is possible, really. Money, love and respect have been readily available. I think that this upbrining carries with it a responsibility, and I hope to fully meet that responsibility. I am welcome to return home whenever I want, I merely choose to do this because it is the right thing to do" she said and smiled. She hoped he understood, but then, it was difficult to explain to some people. She did not know if Riconus would understand, but all she could do is explain it the best she could and leave it at that.

She took the letter and smiled a grateful smile which lit up her face "I can not thank you enough for giving me this chance, Riconus, I really can not. I will do my best, I promise you"

That said she folded the letter carefully and nodded "I will not take up any more of your time, Sir, I am sure that you have many better things to do. Thank you, though, most sincerely."

Unless Riconus wished to communicate in some other way, she would take her leave at that point, clutching the piece of parchment in her hand.