OSS Meeting March 24, 1999
The Order of the Silver Serpent
Meeting of October 24, 1999
By Sten Hunter Visitor to the Order
From the back of the room came a loud "thud" as the door was thrown open to the meeting hall. Flashes of lighting and the sound of rain falling in sheets and howling wind came from around the shrouded figure. As the tall man pulled back the hood to his cloak and shook the rain from himself the light from the torches illuminated his face. "Hail Sir Wolfe, tis about time you made it." I said. "Hail Lord Hunter." was his reply. All the other gathered gave greeting as Grand Marshall Wolfe made his way to the front of the hall. He placed his wet cloak on the long table and turned to us.
"Well I had thought to introduce to you some of our new members and give them the Oath tonight but it seems that they were all detained." One of the Order of the Silver Serpent spoke up. "I guess they all had more important things to do." He said as the group burst into laughter. Wolfe then gestured for the assembly to quiet down so that the meeting could continue. "First I'd like to ask Lord Hunter to stand and tell you about his idea." "Thank you Sir Wolfe. I'd like to get right to my point. Sir Hildagar is doing a fine job with overseeing the creation of our library that I think it time we ourselves added to it." Turning to take in the whole group I continue. "I would like all that are able to compile a history of sorts. One of yourselves and of your beginnings and origins. I would like the fair citizens of our land to get to know us better. Now this is in no means mandatory only I think it would be good fun for us all if your lives were chronicled and put forth into the Order of the Silver Serpents Library." Pulling my chair back from the table I seated myself again and waved to Sir Wolfe to carry on the meeting. "Next I would like to call Sir Hildagar so that he may brief us on the status of our fine library." He said. Standing from his table and pushing his chair back Sir Hildagar stood and went to the center of the room. "Greetings fellow Knights. I have good news. The library is coming along fine and well. I am opening two new sections to it in fact." He said, eyes proudly ablaze. "The first section will be a chronicle of our deeds and tales where all of the people of the land may know of our valor and bravery." He then turned and looked out over the other side of the meeting hall. "The other section will be a revised version of our Gallery. Where the people may see our deeds of Valor and our likenesses." That being said he thanked everyone who had helped him with the Order message board and promised new accessories to it.
Next Wolfe called the Guard to the center of the room, it was time that some of the valiant get their just reward. Turning to me Wolfe asked me to start. Looking down the long line of gathered Knights I cleared my throat and began. "I Sten Hunter, Visitor to the Order call forth Sir Fielmann." From the end of the double line a dark shadow appeared. His Shadow Plate armor gleamed but he wore the black shroud of mourning and we all felt his pain. As he approached I asked him to kneel. "Sir Fielmann." I said. "For acts of valor above and beyond your duty. For your act of bravery in the trail of Thor Ironside I would like to bestow you with this reward. I raise you to the rank of Serventies Armigeri, rise Knight." The double line of Order of the Silver Serpents did then burst forth in cheer as Fielmann stood. "Thank you all." He said. "But I'd like to say something if I could." And with that moved to the center of the group. His walk was slow and his eyes showed tears welling in them. He began to speak but from my vantage point was only able to hear a little of what he said, but mostly it was this. "Last week a member of my Guild passed on and that is why now I wear this shroud of black. To mourn her loss and so that others may remember. I would like to dedicate my promotion in rank to her the Lady Jenesta." And with that the eyes of the Order of the Silver Serpent burned with praise for Fielmann and his loss. Then Wolfe said to the group. "The Lady Jenesta was to become a member of the Order of the Silver Serpent on this night and it saddens me to know that she will not be a part of this fine group." I then turned to Sir Wolfe and spoke my mind. "I wish to raise a motion before all that are gathered here tonight. I wish to make the Lady Jenesta an honorary member of the Order of the Silver Serpent so that we as a group will never forget those that have fallen and those that will." At once it was seconded by Sir Midas and the Guard cheered. "Yes that would be a fine thing to do." Said Sir Wolfe. "And let us make a new section in the library." I said. "For those that have Fallen so that all may remember." "Aye, let it be done." Said Sir Hildagar keeper of our Lore and library. Turning to the table behind him Sir Wolfe picked up a piece of paper from his cloak.
Reading it he then turned back to the assembled warriors. "Would Sir Quaestor, Sir Weapon X , Sir Hildagar and the Lady PurrFection come forth." The four of them broke from the lines and came forth to kneel before Sir Wolfe. "I Sir Grey Wolfe today wish to reward you for your honor, bravery and self sacrifice. Today you become more. Today you become Serventies Armigeri. Rise Knights and take your place one step closer to the virtues." With that the four rose and smiled at each other as the remaining Order of the Silver Serpent cheered wildly. As we all took our seats again Sir Wolfe asked a question to the group. "Now that more of you are raising in the ranks how can we show this?" He said. I plainly replied in jest "Make them bowed down like the dawgs that they are!" and the group burst into laughter. Tristan spoke up next with his idea. "How about Sashes with different colors to help tell us apart and show our rank." a splendid idea I though but Wolfe said that he did not want an answer now but that we were to write it down and submit it.
Wolfe then decided that the meeting had gone on far to long and that it was time to end it. All the Order congratulated the newly promoted and said their farewells to one another as they donned their cloaks and prepared to go back out into the stormy wet night. I could hear the horses galloping away from the meeting hall as I chanted the words that would take me to my home in the woods near Trinsic. As I settled into my bed and pulled the sheepskin comforter closer and as I closed my eyes I said a little prayer for Jenesta where every she may be.