Goblet of Glory vol 1:

Percival sat within the mess-hall of morality, which was located down the hall from the rec-room of rectitude, which itself was located around the corner from the privy of purity; a room which, despite its name contained some unholy smells especially when brother Rotundus was finished using it.

Percival had gathered with many of the other members of his order because they were about to receive news about one of their number, Sir Joseph and his quest to retrieve the Goblet of Glory.

The lore keeper charged with guarding the orders history, stood atop one of the tables and waited for the assembled Paladins to quiet down before addressing them. To Percival, the lore keeper resembled a librarian more than a knight; his armor had a rusted appearance which caused it to resemble tattered robes rather than armor, his plume trailed along behind the rear of his helm like unkempt hair, and the eye holes of his helm had dented inwards and now resembled thick spectacles which gave him the appearance of always squinting. When he was certain he had everyone's attention he began to speak.

“My brother's, we have gathered here today so that we may bestow upon you the fate of Brother Joseph who, as you all know was chosen to quest for the goblet. Word has reached us that Brother Joseph has fallen."

A series of murmurs and a choked sob swept through the crowd before one of the Paladins, Sir Joshua, stood and raised a hand beckoning for all to quiet. The lore keeper was a man whose dedication to virtue and the order was of course without question; but he was also a man of advanced years and prone to stopping midway through a sentence, and it was often necessary to pause a moment and allow him to continue. Sir Joshua realizing this, cleared his throat, which produced the sound of armored plates grinding together, and gently prompted the lore keeper to speak.

“Um- fallen you say?”

“Indeed,” The lore keeper intoned gravely.

Renewed murmurs and another choked sob swept through the room before Sir Joshua turned to the crowd and quickly dismissed them with a wave; and if he didn't know better Percival could have swore he saw the man's helm regard them with annoyance. Sir Joshua turned back to the lore keeper and paused a moment for him to continue.

“Please continue on brother.” He said gently.

“Yes indeed.” The lore keeper repeated.

Sir Joshua, ready for the crowds response, raised his hand high above his head as if his hand were an ax and the crowds objections were a giant tree he sought to fell. He brought his hand down with the force of a tidal wave then turned a glare on the crowd before quickly returning his attention to the lore keeper.

“Please continue on.” He prompted gently.

“Yes of course.” The lore keeper responded. “Now um...where was I?”

“Sir Joseph,” Sir Joshua prodded gently.

“You were about to tell us his fate.”

“Ah yes,” The lore keeper replied. “Sir Joseph has indeed fallen.”

This time, before the crowd could react, Sir Joshua thrust his hand out behind him as if he were trying to stop the sea itself from entering the room. “Please continue brother.”

For a moment everyone sat in silence, the silence seemed to stretch out for an eternity before finally the lore keeper cleared his throat and began to speak again.

“As I said, Sir Joseph has fallen… up some stairs, and thus will be unable to quest for the goblet.”

“How does one fall up stairs?” One of the knights inquired. “Who will now be questing for the cup?” Another asked.

Sir Joshua spun around with the speed of a whirlwind and bestowed a slow lingering gaze on every man in the room, his visage resembling that of a fierce predator, the eye sockets of his helm blazed with divine light and settled uncomfortably on every man in the room. One knight who had been about to speak fell silent and regarded Sir Joshua as if he were a fierce predator, and he nothing more than an animal caught within a snare from which he was desperately trying to escape. He turned to the rest of the room and gently pleaded.

“Perhaps we should hold our questions until the lore keeper has finished speaking.” He suggested meekly.

“I was just thinking the same thing.” Sir Joshua replied.

Sir Joshua waited a few moments making sure everyone understood before turning back to the lore keeper. Percival for his part wasn't sure the mans gaze couldn't have melted steel plates had he chosen to do so.

“My apologies brother. Please continue.”

The lore keeper stumbled over his words and Sir Joshua ever a pinnacle of virtue was there to help him up.

“You were just telling us that Sir Joseph had sustained some injury and now will not be questing for the goblet.”

“Yes indeed,” The lore keeper agreed. “It is as you say. So now regretfully we must choose a new Champion to quest for the goblet.”

No sooner had the lore keeper finished speaking than every man in the room stood to his feet. A Paladin did not raise his hand. These were not children in school, these were champions in church. Percival stared at the assembled paladins all holding the same pose, their breastplates jutting forward, their shoulders back, their helms tilted at just such an angle that they appeared to be offering a challenge to the world.

Every men gathered seemed to have the same thought. It was obvious who would replace Sir Joseph in his quest for the Goblet. They would surely. For several moments no one spoke. They just stood in silence, a silence that seemed to stretch on into the eons. Percival began to wonder if every man in the room had turned into a statue and he alone was unaffected. He reluctantly rose from his seat, stepped forward, and cleared his throat.

“Lore keeper, if it pleases you and the other assembled Paladin's I would like to be the one to take up the quest in Sir Joseph's stead.”

Percival had meant for his voice to come out sounding strong and clear, unfortunately his voice betrayed him and the squeak at the end probably did little to bolster his case. His doubts were soon confirmed a moment later when the lore keeper began to speak, and fell silent as the room erupted in laughter. After the assembled paladins had had themselves a good laugh at his expense Sir Joshua stepped forward and regarded Percival personally.

“Brother you must be jesting, surely. Although I would never question your virtue you have not even embodied your armor yet.”

It was true. In order for a member of their order to become a true champion and spread light and virtue to the world, they were called upon to give up the last vestiges of their humanity and truly embody the spirit of their order.

Every Champion present had undergone a process by which they transformed into something greater and became a living symbol of their order and their faith. This process was called embodiment and it had turned every man standing here into a physical and spiritual personification of light, purity, and virtue; all save Percival who, as his mentor before him, had declined to undergo this ritual.

Percival's mentor, Sir Charles, had decided to stay human and Percival had decided to follow in his footsteps.

“Lad why do you believe that you are more qualified than the other brothers here to go quest for the goblet?” Sir Joshua asked, his voice still tinged with humor.

Percival was about to respond with some platitude about glory and virtue to the order but he stopped himself. He could feel the lie squirming inside him like some kind of parasite. Instead he decided to tell the truth.

“Because I want to find out what happened to Sir Charles and learn his fate.”

The assembled Knights fell quiet and Sir Joshua stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Percival’s shoulder.

“Son,” Sir Joshua said gently. “Myself and many others didn't understand Sir Charles’ decision to not embody his armor but his love of virtue and of the order were without question surely.”

“Surely.” Many of the other paladins agreed.

“Whatever Fate has befallen Sir Charles physically,” Sir Joshua continued. “His spirit is surely with our Lord.”

“ Surely.” The other paladins agreed somberly.

“Sir Joshua, I pray that you are right. But when I dream at night I can hear Sir Charles voice calling out to me telling me he's trapped, begging me for rescue. If he's actually in some kind of danger and my dreams are more than just dreams, I want to be the one to rescue him. And if he cannot be saved-.”

“Continue son,” Sir Joshua said gently.

“If he cannot be saved, then I would like to be the one to give him his final rights.”

“Your dedication to Sir Charles and to the order are not in question, but if you quest for the Goblet as you are, as a man. Will you be able to pass the trials and attain the Goblet?” Sir Joshua asked.

“Perhaps we should ask Sir Joseph.” Percival countered.

Sir Joshua seemed about to retort but then paused and seemed to reflect deeply. Sir Charles had undertaken the trials as a man and had failed. Sir Joseph completely embodied and completely dedicated to the order had undertaken the quest as a true champion of virtue and light and had also failed. Sir Joshua turned to the lore keeper and said.

“Brother we require your assistance.”

The lore keeper, faced with all of this information, seemed like he was about ready to speak but then fell silent and begin to think deeply about the choice. Sir Joshua decided to join him, then all of the other knights decided to join him, and finally Percival decided to join him.

For several moments no one spoke. All of the knights in the room were deep in thought. These men were not used to politics or logistics or any other kind of ticks. Their world-view was a simple one; they were used to smiting evil, and spreading light and virtue throughout the world. They tended to leave politics to the politicians, many of whom seemed to be so lacking in light virtue that they often required a good smiting, it was commonly agreed.

After sometime the lore keeper gently cleared his throat. Most of the paladins reclaimed their seats and only Sir Joshua and Percival alone remained standing.

“Have you come to a decision?” Sir Joshua asked.

“I have.” The lore keeper replied.

The lore keeper turned to face Percival his expression grave.

“Sir Joshua is right in pointing out that the trials are fraught with peril and any man under taking them could quite easily sustain injury or perish.”

Percival felt his heart sink and the lore keeper turned to regard Sir Joshua. “ However.” He stated simply. “However, it should be remembered that the founder of our order Sir Galen, was himself, a man when he decided to go quest for the cup and perhaps too many of us have forgotten this fact.”

“ So have you made your decision?” Sir Joshua I asked.

“I have.” The lore keeper replied. “Sir Percival, you will be the champion chosen to go quest for the cup and represent our order.”

“Thank you brother.” Percival said simply. “I will not fail you, any of you. I will find out what happened to Sir Charles and I will bring back the Goblet for the glory of the order.” The knights applauded enthusiastically.

Sir Joshua stepped over and placed a comforting hand on Percival’s shoulder. “Before you leave please kneel and close your eyes. I have a gift for you.”

Confused Percival knelt and tried to relax as the knight placed his hand at atop Percival’s head. Sir Joshua intoned prayer and warm light spread throughout Percival's entire being. When the light subsided he was holding a long sword in his hands, Sir Joshua's longsword.

“Sir Joshua, I cannot accept this.”

“Nay lad.” Sir Joshua said, brushing aside his concerns. “ You can and you will. Tis not just a sword but a reminder, that while you may physically travel alone. I, the knights here, and all the light of our order go with you. When you undertake your quest for the goblet promise me two things.”

“Anything.” Percival replied.

“Promise that you only ever raise your sword to smite evil and defend others.”

“And the second?” Percival asked.

“Promise me that I will not be called upon to learn your fate, that you will return to us.”

“I give you my word.” Percival said to the older knight.

“Good,” Sir Joshua cried. “Then let us pray.”

“May the light of virtue shine in me and accompany me on all my deeds. May our Lord bless my endeavors and grant us glory. Amen.”

Percival rose and vowed that he was now ready to face any challenge. He would find out what happened to Sir Charles and return successfully with the goblet.

Surely.