Size apparently seemed to be a matter of contention in this galaxy. Perhaps because it had yet to break the barriers to what lay beyond. Not surprising, as it appeared to be, well, unnecessary. Why do that when some of its most powerful representatives could challenge the gods?

The vessel was only large because of the purpose of its forebears: to fight an eternal war of subjugating a universe. Here, where the scales were radically different, this vessel at the tail of a lion suddenly approached the head of a rat.

A spark as a number of smaller craft launched forth from one of its voluminous hangars, allowing the warship to remain floating stationary halfway through the clouds. The gunship, along with its escort of interceptors, would finish the journey. Their rugged, worn, pockmarked plating demonstrating that they had seen many conflicts, as they descended, landing a brief distance from the conglomeration of knights stationed in preparation to meet.

So did lower the ramp, and from within descend in double file a contubernium of Albarican Knights, armsmen hailing from the Seventeenth Legion. The two lines split up and faced the gap in between, raising their swords in salute as a trio of individuals descended.

In an inverse triangle of sorts, two individuals taking the lead. To the left, a tall man in crimson armour, eyebrows furrowed intensely. To the right, a seemingly young woman in grey armour that matched those of the rest, a head shorter than her peer.



Bringing up the rear of the triangle, a figure almost as tall as the first, fully armoured, with a fur-trimmed white cape, and a leonine helm that sported a similarly white mane.

This triad marched between the space provided by their subordinates, stopping just after passing the last one. A few moments of silence passed, as each individual quietly assessed their surroundings, and those standing before them.

Dame Olwyn was the first to speak, raising up an imaginary visor with her salute. Whether salutes evolved in this culture from the raising of visors, she would have to determine later. "Hail, friends! We come in peace!"

"We are sojourners from far away," Sir Grayvian added. He still couldn't be quite sure how this could have happened. The armour might have differed from theirs, but there was no doubt that such attire could only be recognized as belonging to an order of Knights. "Servants of the Albarican White Empire. We come here seeking knowledge and understanding, in the name of our liege, Suzerain Rhomynia I."

"A pleasure to make one's acquaintance, Sir Gallius." at their would-be host's request, Sir Grayvian raised his hand. In snappy response, the Legionaries turned to face the boarding ramp, and marched back up. The Knights Cordis, and the Council of Ferusalem. They would have to keep in contact with these folks. Chivalry was rare. To find a culture rather similar to their own was quite the marvel indeed. "I am Sir Grayvian of Talc, Knight Lord of Talc."

A hand gestured at the shortest of the three.

"Dame Olwyn of Maloree, Knight Legate of the Seventeenth Legion." Of said three, this one seemed the most laid back, at least, expressing herself with a smile. "Good to see that Chivalry lives elsewhere in the universe!"

The pair split apart to allow the figure standing behind them to speak. The Suzerain removed her helmet and held it under her arm briefly, before dispelling it into the ether. "Rhomynia I of the Chief Scholar's House of Fullbuster, Suzerain of the Albarican White Empire."

She stepped forward to take precedence over the group. "Albarica shall remember your civil hospitality. If you seek any recompense in return for this knowledge, I will gladly command it."

As the Tenth Councilman took off aloft his airborne steed, the three looked at each other, before calling upon their own steeds via tears through the Warp. Quickly mounting up, they were soon in the air and following after the Cordian Knights from a comfortable distance. Beneath them, vast, fertile plains and woods spread out, occasionally broken by mineral rich mountains. This truly was a virgin world.

"The similarity truly is uncanny, my liege," Sir Grayvian started, his voice kept relatively loud enough to be heard past the wind, but soft enough to be kept within the group. "Were it not for the fact that this is our first major incursion into this universe, I would have suspected that these were some sort of lost colonial effort."

"Even Sir Gallius noted the disparity in power though," Dame Olwyn pointed out. "It is abnormally beneath Knight standards." The Caerleons by themselves already possessed a significant power potential. Coupled with the extensive lifespans resulting from the interbreeding the Agarthans in ancient times, the time to grow that potential only increased further. "Either they are too young..."

"Or they have not quite enough experience." the crimson knight finished. "Either way, it is our responsibility as fellow adherents to Chivalry to help guide our cultural kinsmen."

"It is soon to be making such conclusions," the Suzerain stated. "Thus far, we have seen basic superficial similarities. We shall probe their Chivalry, and if the match is as deep as you two seem to hope, then I shall make that offer. For now, we are here for their knowledge."

With Rhomynia snapping the reins on mighty Regulus, the steed neighed and galloped forth in a burst of speed, slowing down to a canter once she was next to that of their host. "My subjects find it fascinating that we seem to share a common Chivalrous culture. And I must admit that it appears most unusual to see something so similar arise across such a great distance. T'would be an honour if you would share the history of your people."

The Suzerain listened to Sir Gallius' brief history of the past four months that led to the establishment of this world. The lone survivor of a planetary catastrophe that engulfed his homeworld, the sole carrier of a Chivalrous culture otherwise lost to time.

"They may not be your true people in the ways of flesh and blood, but they have taken to your culture with pride." Perhaps it was a matter of the Agarthan principle of cultural assimilation. Race did not matter to her so much as the commonalities in behaviour. "In that sense, they are your people now. And to establish them in such a noble pursuit. Truly admirable."

Perhaps that was why she could see a kinship as a possibility.

"My power is a gift from my predecessor, a warrior-king of greatest renown, from where I come. But it is something I have learned to make my own. The same could be said of my armour." For the most part, at least. That Heart was another matter entirely. "Our ships are relics that he left behind, weapons built to function without end, a potential answer to a question that he ceaselessly pondered: what does it take to fight an eternal war?"

The Agarthan Standard Template... backbone of a civilization meant to go on indefinitely. "The Albarican Empire was once a nation within my predecessor's Empire. On his death, that Empire has shattered, its constituents fighting for survival. My people carved out this small semblance of order in all that chaos."

The steeds, winged and not, landed upon one of the platforms of a great structure built into the side of a mountain, impressive for something that had been done within the constraints for four months. Not something assembled out of prefabricated construction materials, but done so by hand and with craftsmanship.

"A fascinating form of security." Sir Grayvian nodded as he noted the means with which the doors were opened. Not through technology that he could tell, magic was the more likely explanation.

"Want to add that to the list of things we might want to learn?" a question Dame Olwyn would ask in jest, but only get a hint of a smirk as response.

At Sir Gallius' beckoning, the Suzerain took the lead and stepped on inside. The structure was just as impressive from the standpoint of an interior. Stained glass windows allowing rainbow rays to paint the floors with light. An atmosphere of appropriate scale and measure.

Regardless, she would concentrate on the task at hand, as she walked forth in perfect regal cadence. "Which is why we seek knowledge. Knowledge that can bring about peace, much like that which you and your people experience on this world."