(Second flashback begins. There’s a pause against blackness)
Baron: Well?
Stoic: Hmm….where did I leave off last time?
Shroud: You left your hometown.
Stoic: Oh…right, right. By Aracdius, this is all so long ago.
Baron: But what did you do? Start selling armor?
Stoic: What? No, I never sold armor in my entire existence up until a few months ago.
(pause, the screen starts to come in. Zeno is in the wilderness)
Stoic: My problem was I didn’t even know exactly what I wanted to do. All I knew was that I had to leave Nillen Valley.
(Zeno comes across a woman being harassed by two thugs. He beats them up, they run away, and he gets back to his journey)
Stoic: I always liked to fight for people in trouble, but if I wasn’t going to join the knighthood, there wasn’t much I could do with that.
(pause)
Stoic: I’m not sure how much time went by while I wandered from place to place. I went South from the valley into the area where Harrol is now….and once you passed that region, you got into the lesser developed areas. I felt completely aimless…until one day at a small bar.
(Zeno is inside said bar. He sits down and gets a drink. Soon he overhears a woman in armor talking with two guys)
Girl: Enough! I’ve told you three times already.
Man: You haven’t told us the truth, wench! Where did you get that armor?
Man 2: From your brother? Or maybe your father?
Girl: No. It’s mine. I’m a knight.
Man: Everyone knows there are no girls in the knighthood.
Girl: There’s more than one knighthood, you fools. I earned my title fair and square.
Man 2: “Earned.” Ha Ha, yeah, we know what that means.
(Music starts. A voice comes from off-screen. This dialogue is subject to change)
Voice: Daphne is a skilled lancer. She’s a compassionate person with a desire to better the world around her. That is how she earned the chance to be a knight.
(You-know-who walks in)
Man: What? Who the hell are you?
Volrath: The one who knighted her, of course.
Man 2: We aren’t stupid. The only person who can knight someone is Miles Stormblade. Everyone knows that.
Volrath: That was true for a long time….but no longer. Daphne is just one example of what tomorrow’s knights will look like.
Man: You saying something rude about the Solendians?
Volrath: That was the intention, yes.
Man 2: Watch it! Our sons are real knights!
Volrath: I suspect their best qualities came from their mothers.
Man: Oh, that’s it! You’re gonna pay, wise guy!
(They circle Volrath for a few moments, and then charge. He hits them both with fire spells without moving. They fly backward. Zeno jumps in his seat)
Zeno: Magic too? What’s going on here?
Bartender: Hey! None of that in here! I don’t need my place burned down!
Volrath: No….certainly that’s not what I would want either. I apologize. However, I am not going to simply give in when threatened this way simply for sharing information.
(pause. Volrath looks at the other tavern guests)
Volrath: What I said was true. There is a new knighthood now. If you are tired of the Solendian traditions of tradition and ignorance, traits you have seen on display here this afternoon, know that there is an alternative.
Daphne: Everyone is welcome. Men, women, humans, non-humans. We don’t restrict membership to anyone who has a genuine commitment to justice.
Stoic: I couldn’t believe my ears.
(Volrath and Daphne leave)
Stoic: I was a little nervous…but it didn’t take me long to realize I might never have another chance like this.
(Zeno runs out the door. Scene shifts to outside the bar)
Zeno: Wait?
(They turn)
Daphne: Yes?
Zeno: This new knighthood…anyone can join?
Volrath: Indeed. That is what she just said. Are you interested?
Zeno: I….yes! I definitely am!
Volrath: Ah, good. Feel free to come with us. What’s your name?
Zeno: I’m Zeno Slade. And you?
Daphne: I’m Daphne Joan…and this is Volrath Blacksteele.
Volrath: Pleasure to meet you. I’ve been scouting this area for a while now, and I’ve heard scattered stories about the man in the red bandana.
Zeno: Really?
Volrath: I would not lie.
Daphne: Come on! Our castle isn’t far!
Zeno: ….castle?