Ceremony to be held atop the North Tower

by Mayor Winfield, May 2, 2000

The Knighting Ceremony

The time does come when a Squire succeeds in demonstrating his completion of Squirehood. Such a day is for ceremony, solemn oaths to the Knight's Code, knowledge, and revelry.

Two men of noble background came to PaxLair and became Squires and understudies of the Knights of PaxLair. They were tutored and trained in the old ways and the new. Now these two Squires are ready for their Knighthood having been recommended to me by the Knights of the Roundtable.

These two Squires to be knighted are none other than Emmeril and Tassadar.

Location of the North Tower in PaxLair

The Knighting Ceremony will be held atop the North Tower in PaxLair, a tower used as a place for Justice and Knighthood--a tower based on the ideals of Virtue, Right, and Good.

The ceremony will take place:

  Wednesday, May 3, 2000
  Promptly at 7PM by the Eastern Sky
    (PaxLair Town Meeting is at 8PM)
  At the North Tower in PaxLair
  Felucca Facet, Chesapeake Shard

The ceremony will last about 20 minutes and must start on time. So Knights, Squires, and visitors are encouraged to arrive early.

All are welcome to attend this ceremony to be conducted in the spirit of peace. PaxLair is a short distance from the Crossroads and the Compassion Shrine. It is in a meadow filled with intrigue, peril, and legends.

But there is still more to the evening...

Crossroads Fortress

I was riding east of PaxLair today and decided to rest inside the Fortress at the Crossroads. It was there I felt a sensation of someone present who was not a healer, a local merchant, an adventurer, or a town guard. The sensation I had was filled with sorrow.

I entered the fortress from the quarters and provisioners tower on the west side. I made my way up the ladders to the roof. The sensation seemed to lead me even as I closed my eyes. On the roof, I passed across the crossroad and the sensation faded. Confused, I turned to the northeast and climbed down the ladders into a meeting room with more beds.

As I pondered the feeling I had, I rested a moment in one of the sturdy chairs. The sensation came to me once again, almost startling me. As if guided by an unseen hand, I departed the northeast tower and walked across the road that leads to Vesper and Minoc. The doors to the southeast tower opened by themselves with a creaking sound. I entered and saw healers at work mending a few adventurers. The sensation drew me to the next floor, so up the ladder I went.

The feeling of sorrow overwhelmed me as I entered a training area on the second floor. The light was dark, but a fire was burning dimly and softly to one side. I dismounted my horse Dragonspeed and approached the fire. In the light of the fire I saw a man dressed in a light blue cloak and bearing a shield of similar color. He sat upon a bench near the fire.

An Old Knight

His face was badly wrinkled. His pure white hair receded back across his head. His long white beard flowed down his chest. His hands were terribly scarred. I stepped closer and it was then he tilted his head toward me. He opened his eyes.

"Long have I sat on this bench thinking of the days of long ago," the man said slowly in a low and raspy tone. "The memories are all I have left as my brothers are long gone. I am the last." His voice trailed off as he turned his head and stared into the fire. His lips continued to move but he uttered no sound.

I leaned forward slightly and said in a quiet voice, "Sire, may I ask who you are? How have you come to be here?"

The old and withered man continued to stare into the fire. His lips still moving without a sound.

I wished to not disturb him but the sensation I had was overwhelming, begging me to speak once more.

"Sire," I spoke once more. "I am Winfield, an old man from a city near here. How may I aid you? I was drawn here by a feeling I do not understand."

"That feeling, Sir Winfield, is my feeling. My sorrow. My pain," the old man turned to face me with eyes narrowing as if he were to fall asleep. "I am an old Knight from a time before you were born. My name is not important, but my tale here is very important. My tale is yet untold.

A Tale of Legends

"Tis a tale of legends and legendary men and women. I must tell my tale soon before I pass on like the rest before me." His tone became more direct, more pointed. "Bring here, Sir Winfield, your Knights and other Knights of the Realm. Bring them to me so I may pass on to them what I know. I do not wish to see the deeds of valorious Knights fade from the memories of those who seek to serve as they served."

I was about to ask him to tell me his tale, when he held up his hand as if he knew I would ask.

"Now is not the time to explain these things, Sir Winfield. The Knights must gather here and listen to my words. Only then can I explain that which I know and the deeds of past Virtue."

"I will bring them as best I can, Sire," I replied. "I will bring those desiring to come immediately after I perform a ceremony in our city. This will be tomorrow's eve."

"Please indeed do that, Sir Winfield. Bring as many who would like to hear my tale. Bring them before my time is gone." The old Knight shifted on the bench and leaned back against the wall.

"I will rest now and await your return." The old Knight closed his eyes and fell fast asleep.

I looked upon him for a long time as the fire grew dimmer. I noticed a scroll laying beside him upon the bench. I unrolled it and squinted to read its script by the firelight. It contained the following words.

After the Knighting Ceremony in PaxLair on Wednesday at 7PM by the Eastern Sky, for those interested, we will proceed directly to the Crossroads Fortress on Felucca to meet with the Old Knight. We will try to return to PaxLair for our weekly city meeting at 8PM by the Eastern Sky, yet I imagine the old Knight's tale could be lengthy. I am not certain.

Note: This is a Player Quest, not a Seer Quest.

--Winfield, Mayor of PaxLair

Updated on: May 2, 2000
© 2000-2001 by PaxLair, a Player City on Chesapeake, Ultima Online