Brotherhood Temporary Encampment

(Walther von Hohenstaufen Grand Komtur: Giplor Vauc'Tutt)

Adrian patrolled his encampment, which was small, one last time. Everything seemed to be in order. The Knights were tending to their equipment, while camp followers were foraging and hunting the local wilderness to restock their food supplies. The Knights of the Black Cross would need to situate themselves here, nearby a defensive river, until such a time as Hochmeister Konrad arrived and began overseeing construction of a new headquarters.

Giplor would probably have heard by now that the Brothers intended to build a new headquarters, and if he came to Goraia seeking his Brothers he'd find them here, and could speak to Adrian if he wanted too. Of course, he could be waiting until the headquarters was built first, and need not come to this camp.

Meanwhile, any new recruits could come here to sign up and become a Brother for the time being.

"Heinrich," Adrian called over to the Komtur. "Should any newcomers arrived, send them over to my tent."

"Yes sir," Heinrich responded.

Adrian looked up from the map of the Norkari Mountains; his job was to find a suitable route that would cause the least attention when the Brothers began their excavations. He was the komtur there, or at least he once was, so he knew the geography. Ultimately, his attention would be put on the sudden movement of the tent flaps.

"Hello there," Adrian said and rose up from his wooden chair. He grinned at the newcomer and walked around his desk to shake his hand. "Walther von Hoehnstuafen? My name's Adrian von Heschburg, Komtur of the Isranian Chapter. Or I was, until the Hochmeister needed be elsewhere. Now, all of the komturs have been grouped here in Goraia, to prepare the new headquarters."

Adrian looked Walther up and down and agreed that he had a healthy body for the role and deduced he was a knight. "We're always looking for capable warriors, Walther. I am glad you've come. But you must make sure you're ready for this. Your allegiance should be to the Brotherhood, and to no one else. You should never trade the Black Cross for a cloak of another. And you must do as your superiors command; failure to follow our orders will result in severe punishment. You must also swear to live a life of poverty; the Brothers do not join the order for monetary gain, and so you must understand this order will not make you wealthy. Finally, never quarrel with your fellow Brothers; from henceforth, these men and women you see are your brothers and sisters, and you should befriend them and cooperate with them beyond your best abilities. Do you understand, sir Walther?"

Adrian drew his steel longsword and held it upright in a ceremonious way. He closed his eyes and whispered a prayer along the smooth steel surface. Walther would know these words as a general prayer to the Most Holy. The blade then lowered and touched one of Walther's shoulders, then the other. "By the power vested in me by Hochmeister Konrad IV, and who in turn has been entrusted with power by the Vessian Emperor himself, I delacre you, Walther von Hohenstuafen, a Knight-Brother."

After he was finished, Adrian sheathed his blade and would allow Walter to rise. "This was only an initiation, Walther. I am not the Hochmeister or the Emperor, so I cannot officially grant you full Knight rights, but from henceforth consider yourself a Knight-Brother. Konrad will force all of us to renew our vows in the next headquarters, it will be a rebirth of the order."

The procedure was not entirely ceremonious. There was much more to be involved in an initiation, but this quick action was common when the Brothers were out and about. In a few short weeks, Konrad would re-knight the Brothers and force them to all renew their vows. The Brotherhood was beginning to undergo a state of change. They had to assume a bigger role in this growing world.

"Here," Adrian handed Walther a sort of pendant: merely a shield with a black cross and two swords crossed behind it, hooked onto a necklace that should be worn around the neck. "Oh, and you'll need this." Adrian took a spare tabard and cape from nearby, both white with black crosses. "You must wear this at all times. Brother."

"Actually," Adrian began, "if you're ready to get started now, I do have something for you." Adrian walked over to the desk where his map was and motioned at it with his hand. "We have yet to establish a presence in the Land-Tiller's Expanse, the Black Vale, and the Kingdom of Gauldin." Adrian had overlooked Alban and Belrow, as they were not exactly 'settlement' options. "The Land-Tiller's are an agrarian culture, and I think they would prove invaluable allies to our order. Having them on our side, and nurturing the relationship can help us in the long run. The Black Vale is full of dark magic, and so I might suggest only a recon post be established there so we can monitor what is going on there. Gauldin is a typical feudal system, and I think it would be a great place for us to acquire new recruits."

Adrian then looked at Walther. "All three of these locations are suitable. I would suggest the Land-Tiller's Expanse, however. If you would like, you could go there, request entry, and speak to a representative. Request some land in which to build on, secure an alliance, and ensure we are given freedom to pass through their borders. The land you acquire will be used to construct a chapter house and other structures. We don't normally go for full-on alliances, but the Land-Tiller's can be trusted; ensure them the Brothers will provide a garrison there to protect their people. And we will require the freedom to pass through their borders so further operations are not impeded. Do you think you will be up to the task? If so, would you prefer to go alone, or have me send one of the other Brothers?"

"I shall go." In walked the brutish Varan, Gustav. "Better than sittin' 'round here doin' a whole lotta nothin'," he said in his nordic accent. "Konrad in Stonevale; Heinrich in Sorala; Rodrik in Bogmill; gimme somethin' to do Adrian!"

Gustav and Adrian had known each other for quite a while, so formalities seemed to be tossed into the wind when they spoke. Adrian only grinned and laughed a little before responding. "Very well, Gustav, you shall accompany Walther on his trip. But," Adrian looked at Walther, "let him take the leader. I want you to see what our new recruit can do."

Gustav patted Walther on the shoulder, "sure thing, Adrian," he said with the joy of the Varan. "Let me know when you're ready to go, Walther," he said.

"Adrian," the Hochmeister entered the encampment Adrian had set up, in the guise of a standard Knight-Brother.

"Konrad!" Adrian was very surprised to see the Hochmeister so soon. "What... I thought you were-"

Konrad held his hand up and prompted Adrian to stop talking. "I sent a decoy to Stonevale." Adrian's face took on a worried look, but Konrad reassured him, "it is merely for time's sake," he continued. "My decoy will continue speaking to Levanius, and get a claim on some land here so we install a garrison... I would hope. Any new developments?"

"Yes. First, Brother Rodrik has been sent to investigate disturbances in Bogmill. Heinrich was sent to the Sorala Desert to investigate an artifact retrieval. And I sent Gustav with a new recruit, Walther von Hohenstaufen, to the Land-Tillers Expanse, seeking a potential alliance."

Konrad stood still and smiled at his komtur. He then laughed - which was rare for such a stoic and stark man. "Adrian... that's good. You would make an excellent Hochmeister one day." Adrian smiled shyly and his face turned red, trying to look away from Konrad. "We should go. To the Expanse, that is. They're having a festival soon, and I think it would be important for us to have a presence there. If nothing else, then to establish good relations with the locals."

"Should I ready the men?" Adrian began to move for the tent's exit.

Konrad smiled again, "show me how you give me orders," he said in a half-jokingly manner.

<exit> (Adrian and the other Brothers also exit)

Giplor arrived shortly after Adrian left. He came with carriages of water and food for the camp. His horses and men stood out as normal, but the carriages even more because they were not Atlantian. As they arrived at the camp, the men unloaded at the 'kitchen' tent.

Giplor himself would look for whoever was in charge. He didn't see any of the Brothers horses, so he knew someone new had been left in charge. Time to introduce himself.