Posts from ☀️ Arselia and Akonia Auto-translated

- Yes, until this evening. Say hello to the girls and Lord if you see them.

With Soneta's barriers and the Emerald, she'll have 1,758,736 HP 🤔

which is still less than a random priest's attack.

- Come on, maybe we should finally visit our neighbor? It feels a bit unsettling not knowing who we've been living next to all this time.

- You're being so bold today. First, a marriage proposal to Her Highness, and now you want to crash the game server by exceeding the wait time limit. - "Or is this a clever way to get rid of me?" - Actually, our neighbor seemed a bit unfriendly, but if you want to conduct an experiment, go ahead, why not.

- Meow, - the cat turned away unhappily, showing that he didn't like that nickname.

- Oh, come on. - he clicks his tongue. - I thought it was the Lord who used to do that in your gang. Or maybe a stray piece of Him really did end up in one of your cycles of reincarnation? That would be hilarious. - realizing that he was talking to an animal, he became a little embarrassed. - Okay, Master Sirrion, Sir, I hope I can continue to count on your feline favor.

Raptilion:

—You're being quite bold today. First, a wedding request to Her Highness, and now you want to crash the game server by exceeding the timeout limit. —"Or is this a clever way to get rid of me?" —Actually, our neighbor seemed a bit unfriendly, but if you want to conduct an experiment, go ahead, why not.

—We're in this together, that's why I'm being bold.

—Alright, Master Sirrion, Sir, I hope I can continue to count on your feline favor.

With an approving meow, the cat began to guard the house from unwanted guests.

Sanex and Klin arrive at Raptilion's house and knock on the door...

The redhead nodded understandingly. She had assumed as much, but she still had to ask, just in case Kalina's expectations of the ceremony didn't align with reality.

Presumably, everyone gathered shortly after. Some had been woken up, some came through the doors — ideally, all Carnelian members should have been present, but Fury wasn't waiting, considering lateness not too critical on one hand, and on the other — running after everyone and searching for them was somewhat burdensome and undignified.

Everyone was asked to stand in a semicircle, and the Grandmaster herself stood on a step, below which a cushion had already been thoughtfully placed. Arivelle was asked to set the mood for the proceedings, which, given the "homey" conditions of the headquarters, weren't all that pompous — this wasn't a castle... But nothing of the sort was required either.



Erefir beckons Tluassa with a glance, evidently deciding to begin the ceremony with the younger members, then moving on to the elders. They were to approach one by one and kneel on the cushion. Since Tluassa was from Villia, this was likely all familiar to her.

— Tluassa Elfir, just yesterday you were our recruit, but you've already managed to demonstrate your valor at the tournament and triumphed in the first battles I witnessed, and I confirm your skill before everyone, — the redhead had pondered this at night and, straining her memory, realized that a squire who had participated in battles, by all canons, cannot but receive the title of knight. Of course, formally Tluassa hadn't been knighted at that point, and yet Erefir wanted the titles she bestowed to match the essence, not the letter of the law.

Label 1:
— Do you swear, serving in the Order of Carnelian, to uphold the ideals of knighthood and preserve your honor, and the honor of the organization? Do you swear, serving in the Order of Carnelian, to be loyal to the order, to heed your superiors, to aid your equals, and to respect your subordinates? Do you swear, serving in the Order of Carnelian, not to use force without need, but to use it without hesitation to fulfill this oath and to defend Margel? — the oath was crafted with deliberate cunning for any foreigners and free spirits: if they wish to lay down their duties — always welcome, these aren't lifelong shackles, but necessary conditions of service. And one could only hope these conditions were fully justified by the honor bestowed.

Having waited for the brief replies, from somewhere in the Grandmaster's secret pockets she produced a belt, on which already hung, in its sheath, the ceremonial knife of a Carnelian knight:


Despite its uselessness as a weapon, it was clear this was no simple work — something Erefir had tried very hard to craft at the forge the day before, refining many elements with the metal school, so many smiths would likely marvel at the strange manner in which it had been done...

Tluassa was girded. After that, Erefir placed her right hand (though she was left-handed...) on the candidate's shoulder, a second later striking the priestess's cheek with the edge of her palm. Not being a royal personage, Erefir deemed it proper to knight this way, rather than by laying on a sword (though, of course, doing it with Apophis would have been quite pompous as well).

— Let this be the last blow you endure with humility. In the name of Her Majesty the Empress Naria es Diesra Arual, from this moment I declare you, Tluassa Elfir, a Knight of Carnelian.

If all went according to plan, the next should have been Arivelle, but she was only entitled to the rank of squire, which was simpler. When the elf maiden settled onto her knees, Erefir said:

— Your path as a warrior is only beginning, Arivelle, but I see great potential in you, and your first battle is not far from this moment. Do you swear to work diligently until then to gain skill and courage?

And, after the replies, and the laying on of hands without a blow:

— In the name of Her Majesty the Empress Naria es Diesra Arual, from this moment I declare you, Arivelle, a Squire of Carnelian.

From this message, it was clear that this status was soon to change.

Next was Harold, who was treated by the same principle as Tluassa.

— Harold, you arrived in Anuzish only yesterday, but you've already been named the fourth strongest among the many warriors of the city. And yet remember that strength means responsibility more than privilege.

Goto Label 1 with the name replaced

When Harold, after the oaths, girding, and all the rest, was named a knight, it should have been Klin's turn, if he had arrived by that point.

(?)

While performing the ritual, Tluassa smiled inwardly – what if she answered “no, I don’t swear,” stood up, and left, slamming the door? Despite this, she completed the procedure with her usual grace. At the moment when Erefir was finishing the initiation process, her eyes suddenly caught an uninvited face – Nadia Aquamarine, standing on the other side of the carnelian window, captured the event with her camera.

Beata and Guion saw Nadia and decided that from now on, they would always check to make sure the windows in their room were properly closed. And just in case, they would buy a chest with a lock for handcuffs and whips.

Nadia waves to them in greeting.

They waved dismissively and glanced at their superiors.

During the ritual, Tluassa smirked at a private thought — what if she answered "no, I don't swear," rose from her knees and walked out, slamming the door? 

Missed the chance to become a fallen knight, like in the old expansions.

They waved their hand in response and glanced sideways at the higher-ups.

The Grandmaster seemed not to notice the uninvited guest, continuing the ceremony exactly as planned. In fact, Fyr even joked to herself that the presence of the press made the event more official... But the curtains should be drawn tighter — full agreement with her subordinates' thoughts there. 😅

After Harold and Klin (they'll play their part whenever they do, but if Klin doesn't show up at all, Erefir is already jokingly prepared for a demotion to squire), a brief pause follows.

-- The names called next fought shoulder to shoulder with me against the dragon known as the Apostle of Hopelessness. And although this achievement would not have been possible without aid, it was precisely this deed that became foundational for our order and turned us into who we are now. Therefore, the warriors who boldly held their weapons in the presence of the terror of Velfern's cities must be singled out — not excluding our ally.

Erefir takes a clear step away from the cushion.

-- Thanks to her, all the mad fury of the dragon was not enough to inflict even a shred of harm upon its future victors; such was the strength of her spirit and her faith. In the name of Her Majesty Empress Naria es Diesra Arual, henceforth Kalina Mellis shall be titled an honorary Knight of Harmony of the Carnelian Order.

Erefir exercised her right to appoint such titles too — a small pleasant regalia for one who does not answer to her but still rendered good service; this had also become accepted as a relatively new tradition. When Kalina approached, she had no need to kneel, and no one struck her, but she was handed a charter confirming what she had earned.


And how glad the redhead would have been if the monetary reward had already arrived (if indeed any is due) 😌 But she worked with what she had.

After Kalina, the Grandmaster returned behind the cushion and summoned in turn Garrett, Guion Tamaris, Beata Laxae, and Kilika, fully repeating the ritual with Tluassa (see label 1).

Four exhortations were spoken.

-- When the dragon saw you, it lost its destructive powers, as if its blood had frozen, as if its magic had run dry and turned to stone — such was the power of your gaze. Now, in the name of Her Majesty Empress Naria es Diesra Arual, you, Garrett, are named Knight of the Basilisk of the Carnelian Order.

-- Your strikes were the last for the Dragon of Hopelessness, cleaving its ultra-dense body like a meteor stream cleaves the endless cosmic void. Now, in the name of Her Majesty Empress Naria es Diesra Arual, you, Guion Tamaris, are named Knight of the Falling Star of the Carnelian Order.

-- You were not only our ranged hope in that battle, dealing terrible damage to the dragon. No, after the battle you did not rest either, but firmly resolved to return hope to the hearts of Margel's people. Now, in the name of Her Majesty Empress Naria es Diesra Arual, you, Beata Laxae, are named Knight of the Arena of the Carnelian Order.

-- Thanks to you, the reptile that was supposed to writhe like an elusive serpent, that could at any moment cowardly flee, depriving us of hope for a swift victory, turned into a vulnerable turtle. Surely your calm face made it cease resisting its fate and well-deserved retribution. Now, in the name of Her Majesty Empress Naria es Diesra Arual, you, Kilika, are named Knight of Serenity of the Carnelian Order.

"Guyosha is simply amazing!" thought Beata, glancing at her husband during the oath-taking ceremony. "The main thing is not to specify which arena knight Beata is, lol," thought Guyon, swelling with pride for Beata during her initiation. I'm a little unsure about how to role-play, but Biba and Boba are being themselves.

/Sorry for the delay with these posts, I wanted to make them look nice, especially after the dedication. Anyone who doesn't like it is free to leave./
/Actually, I lied. There was also a buff from the song, sorry... We can discuss it separately if you want./

Everything looks great, excellent posts 👍 It's worth it.

— You remind me of an old friend of mine, Drako. In your outlook on the world, personalities, and appearance, the two of you are nothing alike, but your standing in society and work ethic are almost identical. — A worthy man, then. — Sonata's mustachioed interlocutor suggested without a hint of modesty. — What was his name? — Larian Twice. — It was unlikely that this name would mean anything to him, but there was no point in concealing it either. — By the way! I just now noticed that even the number of letters in your names matches! — Oh, the world is full of amazing coincidences, so I'm not at all surprised by this. Who knows, perhaps he and I are brothers separated since infancy?! — Ha-ha, hardly. Having decided that the time for pleasant but unproductive chatter had been exhausted, Drako Mellis surveyed the converted room of horrors: in its place now stood the temporary headquarters of "Aconia," the empire's new military formation. — How are your soldiers, settled in already? — Uh-huh. — Satisfied? — Partially. Some of them have homes in Margel where they've managed to put down roots, so accepting this unexpected relocation might not be so easy, but they'll get used to it. — That's right. Warriors on active duty need to maintain high morale and familiarity with each other's faces in everyday life as well: in war, they won't be able to rely on family members from their home hearth! Continuing his inspection of the temporary headquarters, the governor stopped in the middle of the main hall and carefully examined the decorations filling the interior. — Would my assumption be correct if I said that this depicts you? — He gestures with his gaze toward the "Sonatka" hanging in the center of the room. — Quite... An unusual design. — Yes, that's so, ha-ha... Perhaps we could use a flag or a coat of arms, maybe both, but until we have such symbols, the guys decided to use this piece. This canvas was made by one of my students, so beyond its aesthetic and symbolic value, there's also a sentimental element here. — I see. And this?.. — Eir von Walravn. From what I know about her, she was the founder of the school of martial arts practiced by some of my charges. — Ah, Baldr's School of that foreigner with the strange name... Do you feel betrayed, jealous? Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! — No, not at all. If it helps them face the coming events with greater confidence, I'm all for it. — May I ask, do I understand correctly that you permit cohabitation between men and women? — Yes, but only with the consent of both parties. Let me preemptively answer another likely question of yours: regarding interior decor, clothing, and ways of spending free time, I have no strict rules; as long as the organization's goals are achieved, becoming a tyrant over daily matters is not part of my plans. Of course, I will not allow anyone to besmirch the honor of our benefactress-empress, but none of my people would dare go to such extremes anyway. — Your prerogative. Then prepare yourselves — we'll deploy you in Nephria, and your colleague in Farella and possibly the south. — Seeing the lack of understanding in his interlocutor's eyes, the governor appointed by Naria as commander-in-chief of imperial forces explains. — Today it was confirmed that Farella, Calcite, Nephria, and the Harran Empire are preparing a coordinated attack on Welfern lands. The start of the campaign was planned for today, but apparently something went off plan. I never would have thought anyone would be mad enough to form an alliance with a nation of undead, but as it turns out, the phrase "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" applies even in such a seemingly insane situation. — In that case, shouldn't we hurry? — No. "Aconia" and "Carneol" will still have the opportunity to play a role in the coming conflict, perhaps even a decisive one, but there's no need to rush preparations. — Understood.

When Drako Mellis left her alone with her own thoughts, the national anthem of her native empire suddenly began playing in Sonata's head.

So much had happened, and how many years had passed since she was a little imperial princess? She had many memories associated with that country, both bad and good, but lately she felt only nostalgia toward it. Most of all, of course, she missed her beloved husband, whose memory always made her heart ache painfully in her chest, but to a slightly lesser degree she recalled her childhood with a shadow of longing, when her mind, heart, and soul were not yet burdened by questions of politics, economics, and war, and her brothers and sisters were close friends rather than rivals in the struggle for power. By this day, even the hatred toward Tiarius had somehow faded away and been forgotten, which was somewhat strange, because judging by Rinza, her native world had long since moved forward, while she remained in a past consigned to oblivion by the universe. But be that as it may, this ghost will fulfill its purpose without forgetting its origins.

Sonata's abilities change.

Flowers of Night -> Flowers of Ackervald Melee attacks (on adjacent tile) reduce the target's maximum health by (charisma)%.

Full Moon -> Tsukimi The character's attacks deal +100% damage from SM (void), attack range increases to 10. When the character takes damage, spends 1 AP to block it.

Moon Dance -> Dance of the East All characters within the swordsman's SP radius receive up to 12 attacks (total). Cooldown: 3 turns.

Quick Sword -> Larian Justice Two additional attacks (100%), attacks against villains deal void damage.

Dash -> Lightning of the South The character deals damage to all enemies along their movement path.

Crescent -> Harmony of Seiran The character deals damage to all enemies around them (+2).

Sword Dance -> Noblesse Oblige Before the character attacks, a charisma check is rolled against the target's will; if higher, the target leaves combat. If this action cannot be applied to the enemy, works like sword dance.

Flash Royal +25 luck. Passive feature: ???

An attentive reader might notice that the name of each ability served as a tribute to the eight regions of the Reymian Empire, but to a native inhabitant of Anuzish, all of this meant nothing.

The Grandmaster seemed to not notice the uninvited guest, continuing to conduct the ceremony exactly as planned. In fact, Phyr even joked to herself that the presence of the press made the event more official...

Nadia:

In the name of Her Majesty, Empress Naria es Diesra Arual, Kalina Mellis is hereby appointed an honorary Knight of Harmony of the Order of Carnelian.

Accepting the scroll, Kalina allowed herself to say a few words to those gathered.
- I won't bore anyone with my beliefs, if you want to listen, you know where to find me, so I'll just say this: not so long ago, in my life, there were no beliefs or plans, I just went with the flow, and now I'm being appointed a Knight and I'm leading a large number of people towards a more harmonious future, in my opinion. So know, friends, that anything is possible in life, the main thing is not to give up, to take initiative, and not to neglect the people who are truly close to you.

-- Thanks to you, the reptile that was supposed to writhe like an elusive snake, which could at any moment cowardly flee, depriving us of hope for a quick victory, turned into a vulnerable turtle. It is as if your calm face made it stop resisting its fate and deserved retribution. Now, in the name of Her Majesty, Empress Naria es Diesra Arual, you, Kilika, are named a Knight of Serenity of the Order of Carnelian.

With dignity accepting her appointment, Kilika regained her cheerful state of mind and clapped happily.
- Jun will be surprised, I'll be bragging about it today!