Because I truly cannot help myself (Canon is Dark Souls)

[slayer_of_dragons]

Dost thou seek to test my patience Mun?

Even if I have become the last of Lord Gwyn's knights, thy foolishness is great indeed to think that I would choose to turn my back upon my duty.

I pray to thee that this passing whimsy fades quickly... for even if I were to be granted more honorable company than the likes of Smough, I shall not play patsy to thy whims. I will do mine duty even unto the day Anor Londo is swallowed by the sea.

Comments

[swordprincess]

That is...an interesting way of speaking...

[thisisbait]

[Ah, one of those inhumanly tall knights from lore.]

Lord Gwyn? [Pate knows the history of Drangleic only so much as he could use to sew his lies together, and Lordran was mentioned more than once in texts he's read.]

I believe you are displaced in time, sir.

[slayer_of_dragons]

Perhaps to thee it is. Thine tongue however speaks in a way common to thy ancestry human. No offense is meant, but thine words carry not their weight in respect.

[slewmyfear]

You're still ali-

[Of course he would be. Time's been wonky for a real long time so why should she be surprised by this?]

[slayer_of_dragons]

[For a good long moment Ornstein simply fixes his gaze upon Pate.]

Thou speaketh with the tongue of a charlatan... however I can taste the truth in thine words.

The weave of time hath been rendered to threads that lay upon one another. For mine to be tangled thusly is no great surprise.

[slayer_of_dragons]

Thine face is not familiar to mine eyes human...

[So he might be from before-]

But thine voice I have not forgotten. Nor the blade that thou carry as thy own.

[thisisbait]

[Don't worry, he is here to help.]

Mm? I meant no offense, of course. [He gives a faint smile.]

Indeed, all realms seem to move in and out of each other at whim. This one in particular is not as familiar as my home, and so it should be the same for you.

My name is Pate. It's a pleasure.

[slayer_of_dragons]

[For now, judgement of this human is withheld. He doesn't apologize though, a little too proud for that.]

I am Ornstein the Dragonslayer. Captain of the Four Knights of Gwyn and protector of Anor Londo.

[thisisbait]

My, that's a grand title. Should I bow in your presence?

[This is one of those instances where Pate is (faking) total sincerity, but the way his voice is so smarmy, it just sounds sarcastic. Oops.]

[slayer_of_dragons]

Thine cheek in speaking to me thusly may see thee dead upon my mighty spear Pate. I beseech to thee to carry thine tone with exceptional care.

[Ornstein's grip on that spear of his gets a little tighter. Enough that lightning sparks along it's body.]

That thou were willing to share thine knowledge with me is the sole reason thou remain unharmed.

[thisisbait]

-- Forgive me, Sir Ornstein.

[Pate ducks his head and slowly eases into a kneel, attempting to show respect. Of course the crackling spear of a huge knight of obvious rank is more than intimidating. Truly, he's at his mercy, but Pate believes he can at least mend the situation.]

I did not mean to imply disrespect.

[slayer_of_dragons]

[Slowly the knight takes a step forward, and raises his spear as the lighting ceases. Ornstein reaches out to tap Pate on the shoulder lightly to bid him to rise.]

Thou art forgiven Pate. Few humans are humble enough to offer apology as thou hast done. Thine mild-mannered behavior suits you.

I don't have icons and I'm still settling into his voice/lore, but I couldn't resist!!

[abyssm]

[Beyond a gentle clinking of armour, there is nothing but silence as Artorias comes forth. Though comrades, at this point in time, he is unsure if he's worthy of such a acquaintance. He knows what he becomes.

So he'll pass judgement on to Ornstein. All Artorias provides is a low bow, and a soft:]

Lord Ornstein.

I know the feeling.

[slayer_of_dragons]

Artorias...

[Ornstein regards his fellow knight. Though he had expected to see a number of faces come and go in this strange place, this was a surprise most unexpected... but definitely not unwelcome.]

Rise. There is no need for such formality from thyself.

[He approaches, placing a hand on the Abysswalker's shoulder.]

It is good to see an old friend.

Dark Souls, the veritable black hole....

[abyssm]

[An old friend. It's difficult to make out underneath plates of armour, but his shoulders relax. Not enough to seem strange, but certainly evident of a peculiar wariness. One Arotias does his best to push to the back of his mind.]

It is.

These strange circumstances aside, I am pleased to see you are well.

Its like its an Abyss or something isn't it?

[slayer_of_dragons]

As am I to lay mine eyes upon thou, whole and untainted.

[Yes... he remembered Ciaran and Gough bringing word as they returned from Oolacile. And how soon after they had both chosen to lay down their weapons and duties. A bitter feeling boiled within.]

Artorias. From when within the tangled tapestry of time hast thou come from?

Thick and suffocating enough to take a stroll through...

[abyssm]

[He swallows thickly, hands clenching into fists at his sides. He has no intention of forgoing the truth, least of all to Orstein. But still, his response comes after a pause.]

...T'was after Oolacile. After Sif. [Surely that information is enough.] There was another present. I remember our blades crossed.

[Though the memory is fuzzy at best. Like images from a dream.]

Then nothing. My presence here this day yields the greatest sense of clarity I have felt in an age.

And then trip and fall off a cliff.

[slayer_of_dragons]

... Yes... I know of whom thy speak of. Ciaran and Gough bore word of this wanderer.

[The same wanderer who set about putting the matter of Oolacile to rest. The same wanderer whose deeds were put under Artorias' name so that in death the one who stood before him could retain his dignity.]

That thy mind is thine own once more brings relief... If only Ciaran and Gough had remained...

[swordprincess]

I...

[She's extra confused now. Is she being disrespectful just by speaking in her "common" tongue?]

I...don't know what you mean...

[slayer_of_dragons]

Thine speech... it carries itself as a flickering spark. What it bears in brevity, it lacks in substance. Bearing but a fragment of heat and light from a full flame.

[Translation: He thinks humans talk a lot more cheaply and in a shorter manner than his kind do.]

[gough]

[Hear that? That familiar, booming chuckle, hearty as it is loud? That's coming from the giant sat next to Ornstein.]

How good it is to hear thee well, Sir Ornstein, and quite the same as ever at that. Such nostalgia warms my heart.

[swordprincess]

Well...the "flare" of speech shouldn't matter as long as people understand you.

[destruir]

[This here dragon is just going to scoff at that username of yours, Ornstein. It's more like a disdainful growl than a scoff, though.]

A slayer of dragons, are you? Lokus tet... A lofty title you dare to take.

[slayer_of_dragons]

Gough.

[Surprise after surprise it seemed. Still... Ornstein was definitely not complaining.]

The same can be said of myself to see thou art in good health.

How hast thee fared in the passing ages?

[slayer_of_dragons]

[He's no Dovahkin, but Ornstein's more than willing to rise to the challenge. The moment you speak he has readied his spear, watching your every movement as if waiting for an attack.]

Interesting for one of your kind. For the many I have encountered and slain thou art the only beast that hast the tongue to speak.

[Ornstein doesn't lower his guard at all. No. Alduin is probably as smart as he sounds so he refuses to be caught unawares.]

Yes. I am a slayer of your kind! Thou whose kind are named the Eternal Dragons! Thine stone scales which allow thee to live for eternity past cataclsym and sickness hath been rent by my mighty spear for my sport and heads taken for my trophies!