Scenario:Lancelot - The Dedicated Knight Falters

The Dedicated Knight Falters

The crew is honored at an awards ceremony for their role in saving Feendrache twice from disaster. Later that night King Carl and Lancelot ask the crew for help with monster extermination.

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Feendrache has now been twice saved from seditious plots by Lancelot and the crew.

(Captain) and company have once again returned to Feendrache to attend an awards ceremony in their honor.

Lancelot: Thank you for going out of your way to come back here.

Lancelot: His Highness insisted that I personally extend his gratitude to you and your crew.

Vyrn: Heheh! What an honor!

Lancelot: The purpose of this ceremony is also to soothe the fears of the citizenry.

Lancelot: Nonetheless you have little to worry about, (Captain).

Lancelot: Stalls have already been set up in town ahead of the ceremony, so why don't you soak up some of the atmosphere before we start?

Vane: So this is where you've been, Lancey!

Vane: Get your formal armor on! You're behind schedule!

Lancelot: Whoops, you're right.

Lancelot: Vane, take over for me and show everyone around.

Vane: You got it, buddy!

People from across the land have gathered in the throne room and the ceremony begins.

King Carl: Most esteemed (Captain). On this occasion we thank you for your steadfast support during our kingdom's darkest hour.

Vyrn: Heheheh, (Captain) can't resist a kingdom in peril!

King Carl: Our gratitude to you for your dedication to helping people knows no end. Thank you.

King Carl: Siegfried. You have time and time again come to our aid.

Siegfried: No, the capital would surely have been lost without the ardent efforts of these young knights.

King Carl: Don't sell yourself short. This land would've fallen without you.

King Carl: All of Feendrache is indebted to you.

Siegfried: Your Highness! The honor is all mine.

King Carl: Vane, Percival. We must also extend our thanks to the two of you.

Vane: Hehe. As long as you and everyone else is safe, that's good enough for me!

Percival: Anyone would have done the same considering the circumstances. There's no need to thank us.

King Carl: Haha, is that so? I see you two are the same as ever.

King Carl: And finally, Lancelot.

Lancelot: Your Highness!

King Carl: Your new armor suits you well.

King Carl: That gift is a representation of your devotion and loyal service.

Lancelot: I humbly accept this gracious gift! I vow to redouble my efforts to serve you and the country!

King Carl: Citizens! Hail your heroes! The saviors of Feendrache!

The crowd breaks out into applause and raucous shouts of joy.

With the ceremony over, everyone enjoys the after banquet, feasting and making merry to their heart's content.

That evening King Carl, accompanied by Lancelot, pays a visit to (Captain) and the crew in their guest chambers.

King Carl: Thank you once again! I trust you enjoyed yourselves at the banquet?

Lyria: Yes, it was a lot of fun, and the food was delicious!

King Carl: Hah hah hah! Wonderful! I'm glad we were able to finally show you some hospitality.

King Carl: Now as for our visit... Lancelot.

Lancelot: Yes, Your Highness! (Captain), the truth is we have another great favor to ask of you.

Lancelot: I mentioned this before the ceremony, but the people are uneasy after being brought so close to disaster not once, but twice.

Lancelot: As a result we have increased the number of monster extermination patrols to show the might of the White Dragons.

Lancelot: If the citizenry know that the knights are close by, that should assuage their fears.

Vyrn: Mm-hmm, sounds good to me!

Vyrn: So what's this favor you want to ask us about?

Lancelot: (Captain), we'd like you and your crew to join those monster-hunting raids.

Lancelot: Your involvement as the saviors of the kingdom are sure to galvanize the population.

Lyria: Yes, that makes sense. Let's help out, (Captain)!

King Carl: Goodness, we've done nothing but rely on you since the very beginning. We are forever grateful.

Vyrn: Hehe, that's super encouraging coming from the king!

Starting tomorrow the crew will accompany the Order of the White Dragons on their monster hunts.

The Dedicated Knight Falters: Scene 2

The patrol arrives at a small village where they are hailed as heroes, but Lancelot overhears unsettling doubts about King Carl's rule from the villagers.

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Proceeding with their monster-quelling patrols, (Captain), the crew, and the Order of the White Dragons reach a small village.

Villager 1: Gasp! Aren't they the White Dragons? They're the ones keeping the kingdom safe!

Villager 2: And those guys with them are the skyfarers that saved the kingdom!

The villagers give the passing column a warm ovation.

Vyrn: They love us! They really, really love us!

Percival: It's because a tiny village like this isn't able to keep away all the monsters that live in the area.

Lancelot: That's why they've been waiting for us.

Lancelot: We'll have to do our best not to disappoint them.

Lancelot starts to prepare for the coming expedition against the monsters.

As he is doing this, the chatter of the villagers reaches his ears.

Villager 1: I know we depend on the order, but we got caught up in two disasters thanks to old King Carl...

Villager 1: Trouble's brewing again. I can feel it...

Villager 2: He ascended the throne way too quickly if you ask me, right after the last king died.

Villager 2: He's always been known for his generosity, but I'm not so sure he's cut out to be king...

Villager 1: I heard that his older brother always kept a firm hand on the rudder. If only he'd stayed healthy...

Lancelot: ...!

Lancelot: (How could they say that? Their shaken faith is worse than I expected.)

Lancelot: (To go so far as to question His Highness's governance—)

Lyria: Lancelot, what's the matter?

Lancelot: Ahem. It's nothing.

Lancelot: Let's set out! Those monsters won't take care of themselves!

Vyrn: Yep, leave it to us! Come on, (Captain)!

The Dedicated Knight Falters: Scene 3

Lancelot overhears villagers criticizing King Carl's style of governance—Percival surprisingly agrees with the villagers. Percival then asks Lancelot what his priorities are, sending Lancelot into a rage.

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Lancelot: (We've managed to purge the evil from the land, but not the anxiety that's taken root in people's hearts.)

Lancelot: (There must be something I can do for the people and for the kingdom... but what?)

Percival: Hey, Lancelot.

Lancelot: ...

Percival: Hey!

Lancelot: Huh? What is it, Percival?

Percival: Stop staring off into space.

Percival: We don't know where the monsters will attack from. You need to stay on your toes.

Percival: I shouldn't have to tell you that.

Percival: We can't afford to slip up now.

Lancelot: Yes, you're right. Sorry.

Percival: Humph. Were you shocked by what those villagers said?

Lancelot: So you heard them too?

Percival: It's not that surprising. It was more or less expected given the circumstances.

Percival: It seems his reputation as a soft-hearted ruler has become a cause of concern for the people out here.

Lancelot: Ugh! Don't tell me even you believe that drivel!

Percival: Quit barking, you lap dog.

Percival: Heh. His Highness this, His Highness that. You're more of a bootlicker than a knight.

Lancelot: What did you say? Are you questioning my chivalry?

Percival: Look, if you're going to call yourself a knight, don't forget who it is you're meant to protect.

Percival: So who is it? A single man who bears the crown, or the entire populace of a country?

Lancelot: ...!

Percival's words send Lancelot into a barely concealable rage.

Suddenly monsters fly out from a thicket, aiming for Lancelot's back.

Lancelot: Wha?

Percival: You're gonna have to launch a better surprise attack than that.

Vyrn: Oh no! They got us surrounded!

Lancelot: The village won't last long against a horde of monsters this large! We've got to stop them here!

Lancelot: (Just what I need to regather my thoughts!)

The Dedicated Knight Falters: Scene 4

Upon returning to the castle after a day of monster hunting, Lancelot is visited by King Carl. The king urges Lancelot to leave Feendrache with (Captain)'s crew to explore the skies and expand his horizons.

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(Captain) and the crew help the order complete their patrols. They all return to the castle unscathed.

The patrols are scheduled to continue for tomorrow. In the meantime Lancelot agonizes over what he had heard earlier at the village.

Lancelot: (Just defeating monsters alone isn't enough to allay the fears of the people.)

Lancelot: (But... what else can I possibly do?)

Lancelot: (When it comes to my principles, Percival probably takes me for a fool.)

Lancelot: (Huh? Who could that be at this hour?)

King Carl: I'm sorry to disturb you, Lancelot.

Lancelot: Your Highness? I'm sorry you have to see the knights' quarters in such an unkempt state!

King Carl: It's all right.
Hahaha, I see what you mean.

King Carl: I believe Vane was supposed to have tidied all of this up.

Lancelot: My deepest apologies.

King Carl: But you must also take some of the blame for allowing your quarters to get into such a state.

King Carl: And just what is vexing you so much that you'd neglect your basic duties?

Lancelot: Forgive me. It's something too trivial for a knight to be as troubled over as I have been.

Lancelot: However, I have by no means been neglecting my duties!

King Carl: Yes, yes, no need to get worked up. Hoho... You're quite the earnest fellow.

King Carl: I've been worried about you for some time now, Lancelot. You work too hard.

Lancelot: I'm a knight! It's only natural that I should give my life to my king and country!

King Carl: And for that I am grateful. Nevertheless I'd like for you to stretch your wings every once in a while.

King Carl: How about it? I can ask (Captain) personally if you'd like.

King Carl: It might do you some good to take a gamble on those skyfarers and get away from your duties for a while.

Lancelot: Your Highness?

King Carl: Hoho. That's an order, Lancelot.

Lancelot: (It's as the king says. Perhaps some time away will do me good.)

Lancelot: Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am ever grateful.

And so Lancelot leaves with the crew at the behest of King Carl.

Lancelot is being given the chance to observe his country and his order from a broader perspective.

He will need some time to discover the path to his own brand of chivalry.