QE1012 and Knightly's Origin Story

THIRD WINTER MOON - ACMAJ KINGDOM - HIGHMOON

     Hello? Hello! Yes!

     ♪I stole a magic book! It writes what I say!♪

     Hello! This is QE1012, slave of the Dragonborn Kingdom of Acmaj on Jasper Island, Zoso. My bros call me Twelve. Actually, I just have one bro, but if I had more, I’m sure they'd call me that, too. 

     I stole this magic book from the High Mage for three reasons.

 Number one: I can’t write worth ____. It’s that darn slave education, man. I can kill someone with any weapon imaginable but can hardly write my name- love it!

 Number two: We’re gonna need a record of what’s going on in order to keep the plan straight since it’s SUPER elaborate and genius. 

Number three: So that people can know what we did, how we did it, and- most importantly- why we did it. For posterity. Though, if we’re being honest, it will most likely end up being ‘exhibit A’ in the trial against us if we get caught. 

     But we gotta stay positive!    

     Anyway,

     Before I explain the plan, I’d like to introduce the maker of the plan, my very best friend in the entire world, Prince of Acmaj, who won’t talk to the book because he doesn’t approve of me stealing stuff, the sexy, sexy Dragonborn… Knightly! 

Stop.

Say hi to posterity, Knightly!

No.

     Knightly is very, very smart. He’s a druid and a chemist (royal education, man) and we’re going to run away!

     Ok, ok, so Knightly is the son of Xepauloxus and Ronaz, the rulers of Acmaj, and his full name is Prince Knightxus Acmaj. Magnanimous names, am I right? He’s running away with me because-

 ♪his parents are tyrants♪ 

And I’m running away because

♪being a slave sucks and Knightly is my bro!♪

Stop singing.

     Ah, a man of few words. What else about Knightly? His favorite plant is Chlorophytum Comosum.

Stars, you have the brain of a five year old. 

     Watch your mouth, I’m 24! Now to explain the plan. So, Xepauloxus, Ronaz, and Knightly’s older sister, Tenzia, went to The Gulf for war council and they’ll be gone for two days. Who’s in charge while they’re gone? Knightly’s older brother, the second oldest, Prince Medraj. And who knows that Medraj has been messing around with women when he’s supposed to be weapons training? That’s right: Knightly, my brother from another mother. My accomplice. The brain to my brawn. My partner in crime. 

I’m just here to make sure you don’t steal anything else.

And?

Come on, it’s for posterity!

And because, when it counts, you do the right thing. That is rare in this kingdom. And I respect you. And you fight well. 

And because your parents are tyrants?

Yes, because my parents are tyrants.

     So, the plan is to leave tomorrow. Until then, I go to guard rounds like everything is normal. I’m in Tenzia’s Elite Guard, so luckily my faction isn’t being watched as closely while she’s not in the kingdom. Nobody should notice my absence until she gets back. 

     While I’m doing rounds, Knightly will go to his brother, Madraj- you know, the one we can blackmail. Madraj’s job is to cover for Knightly for as long as possible after the rest of the royal family returns. As a prince, Knightly does have some responsibilities that will definitely get us caught if they aren’t fulfilled, but, since he is the youngest, he doesn’t have his own guard yet, and it’s normal for him to be gone all day (hanging out with me!) so we should be able to slip away unnoticed if we have some cover.

Key words: should be.

     Slip away to where, you ask?

     Everyone knows that Nozo- North Zoso, that is- is the runaway capital of the world. Get lost in the crowds! Surround yourself with magic users! Probably 30% of the population is runaways!

     We’re obviously not going to Nozo. That’s the first place people will look for us.

     South Zoso? The land of magicless, anti-fun, racist conformists? The perfect place to hide from powerful, angry Dragonborns! Nobody in their right mind would go there!

     I hate Sozo. I’m not running away to a place that is arguably worse than what I'm leaving. Plus, Knightly’s a Druid- magic by nature- so we can’t go to a place where magic-users get publicly executed.

No, thank you.

       Where will Xepaulaxus and Ronaz never think to look? At the neighbor’s house! Elliar, the island right next to Jasper. Not densely populated, no powerhouse governments, not racist. And Knightly has a buddy there that can house us until ____ blows over. 

She said she’d house me. I never mentioned the hyperactive elven kleptomaniac that’s tagging along.

Hey, the book heard you! We’re supposed to be heroic historical figures, people to look up to. 

A true role model for the future generations?

Exactly.

If you are the role model for future generations then Garyx have mercy. We’re going to raise illiterate criminals. 

And Dragonborn babies with no appreciation for talent and plants growing out of their _____!

*Laughs* Just stick to telling the plan before I rethink my comment about respecting you.

That’s basically it. Easy, right? Knightly is a genius at making plans. My rounds start soon; I have to go. 

I’m off to blackmail my brother.

Easy, right?

THIRD WINTER MOON - ACMAJ KINGDOM - HIGHSUN

     There’s been a slight change of plans. 

     Knightly went and talked to Madraj. Madraj said he doesn’t care if we tell Xepauloxus and Ronaz about his women, because Ronaz did the same thing when he was Madraj’s age and Xepauloxus already knows and doesn’t care.

Apparently I made an err in judgement pertaining to the character of my brother. I apologize. 

     He also said that as soon as they get back, he’s telling everyone we tried to blackmail him and run away. 

Well, ____.

We’re leaving tonight. 

FIRST SPRING MOON - ONYX CITY, ELLIAR ISLAND - LOWSUN

     Are we there yet?

     How much longer?

     Knightly, are you sleeping? You’ve been sleeping all day, wake up!

Twelve, we don’t even know whether it is day or night down here, so shut up.

Ha! I knew you weren't asleep! 

We’ll be there soon.

You said that yesterday.

I think I’m going to throw up, I want to go above deck.

You aren’t going to throw up, you haven't eaten anything. If we go above deck, we risk the royal family seeing us.

Uggghhh, but I-

What was that?

Hush, Twelve-

Was that what I think it was?

Let’s go, hurry.

…

YES! WE’RE HERE!

Ah, yes! It’s beautiful! The beach, the trees, no powerhouse governments, the fresh air- ah, I think I might cry.

Twelve?

Yeah?

Thank you. 

Thank you, Knighly! I’m not a slave anymore!

Come to think of it, me neither.

*Laughing and cheering*

We’re free!