below the cut are a collection of roleplay meme prompts from george r. r. martin's a knight of the seven kingdoms ( tale one: the hedge knight ) some of which may be adjusted slightly for roleplaying formats, trigger warnings include mentions of violence, food, alcohol, animal death and death.
" i could find another hedge knight in need of a squire to tend his animals and clean his mail. "
" are you the stableboy? "
" i could. if i wanted. "
" i'll have none of that. i'm a knight, i'll have you know. "
" you don't look to be a knight. "
" do all knights look the same ? "
" is it ale you want, or food ? "
" will you be wanting a room for the night as well ? "
" half the town's gone to see the tourney, my son would as well, if i'd allowed it. "
" knights are built the same as other men. "
" you stay away from me, do you hear ? you stay well away. "
" my lord, i did not mean - "
" how can i tell you, with my mouth closed ? "
" and what might your mother say to that ? "
" my mother ? my mother's dead, she wouldn't say anything. "
" every knight needs a squire, you look as though you need one more then most. "
" you look as though you need a clout in the ear, it seems to me. "
" a true knight is cleanly as well as godly. "
" why would they name it a dragonfly? it looks nothing like a dragon. "
" the summers have been shorter since the last dragon died, and the winters longer and crueler. "
" one victory is all i need. that's not so much to hope for. "
" i could never hope to do better, so why should i try ? "
" what was true for you need not be true for me. "
" how did you get here ? did you steal a horse ? "
" you can't make me go. "
" i'd had enough of that inn. "
" i should throw you over my horse right now and take you home. "
" i would sooner sleep under the stars. "
" what happened to your hair ? "
" if you'll swear to do as your told i'll let you serve me for the tourney. after that, well, we'll see. "
" a falling star brings luck to one who sees it. but the rest of them are all in their pavilions by now, staring up at silk instead of sky. so the luck is mine alone. "
" i expect i'll be gone most of the day. you're to stay here and put the camp in order. "
" are you a knight ? a knight with a name, mayhaps ? "
" you are aware that those vanquished in tourney forfeit their arms, armor and horse to the victors, and must needs ransom them back ? "
" it's not too much to hope for, if the gods are good. "
" there's no crest either, it's just plain. "
" see how bright the steel is ? it will be your task to keep it that way. you know how to scour mail ? "
" one day, i mean to live in a castle. i hope to win a place above the salt before i'm done. "
" they will not allow me to challenge unless some knight or lord will vouch for me. "
" shall i wait here ? how long will he be ? "
" - more concerned if they were your sons, i'll wager. "
" _ has done this before. "
" you should never have commanded him to enter the lists. "
" i do not need to be reminded of my son's failings. he has only _ years, he can change. "
" he will change, gods be damned, or i swear i'll see him dead. "
" don't be an utter fool. he is what he is, but he is still your blood, and mine. "
" when the tourney is over, perhaps. "
" who are you, and what do you mean by bursting in on us ? "
" you and i are the intruders here. "
" a shield and a sword do not make a knight. even if we accept that these arms belonged to this particular knight, it may well be that you found him dead and stole them. unless you have some better proof of what you say, some writing or - "
" he told me about that, many a time. "
" i make it a practice to learn all i can of my foes. "
" why would you deign to joust with a hedge knight ?"
" tales grow in the telling, i know. "
" you gave him back his horse and armor and took no ransom, i remember. "
" you are the soul of chivalry. one day, the realm will be safe in your hands. "
" not for many a year still, i pray. "
" you wish to enter the lists, is that it ? that decision rests with the master of the games, but i see no reason to deny you. "
" the spring rains have swollen many of the streams, perhaps they are only delayed. "
" by law, only a trueborn son is entitled to inherit a knight's arms. you must needs find a new device, ser. a sigil of your own. "
" thank you again, your grace. i will fight bravely, you'll see. "
" i am, my lady, as great a fool as ever lived and as great a knight as well. "
" sweet lady, all men are fools, and all men are knights, where women are concerned. "
" what would you want painted ? "
" what color paint do you have ? "
" you're not too tall, you're just right for... "
" a squire must keep a courteous tongue. "
" let me down, the poor horse, let me down."
" a terrible sight, aye, but you must needs be strong. you'll see worse mishaps at other tourneys, i fear. "
" i saw a knight green as summer grass lose control of his lance, and i'll hear no more of it. "
" the jousting is done for the day, i think. come. "
" there, you see, your matter is attended to, and the wine awaits. "
" thank the gods that he is well down in the order of succession. "
" _ is all smiles and chivalry so long as his father is watching, if the tales be true... but when he's not, "
" there's a wild tale of robber knights going about, but i'll wager the prince is just off drunk again. "
" and now he must suffer seeing his own sons overshadowed by his brother's. "
" i cut it off, i didn't want to look like you. "
" a hedge knight is the truest kind of knight. other knights serve the lords who keep them, or from whom they hold their lands, but we serve where we will, for men whose causes we believe in. every knight swears to protect the weak and innocent, but we keep the vow best, i think. "
" they didn't tell me what they thought. "
" my uncle says i must humbly beg your forgiveness for deceiving you. "
" i never meant to lie. "
" would you care for wine ? "
" try not to spill it on _ , you've done them sufficient ill already. "
" one need not intend harm to do it. "
" he's a good boy. a good squire."
" you meant no harm to me, i know. "
" what you did... well, i might have done the same in your place. "
" it is never wise to strike a king's grandson in anger, no matter the cause. "
" let me ask you this - how good a knight are you, truly ? how skilled at arms ? "
" i believe it was _'s secret hope that their sons might outshine mine in this tourney. "
" they have both shamed him, but what is to be done ? they are blood of his blood "
" he is angry, and must needs have a target for his wrath. he has chosen you. "
" _ will tell him, i have no doubt. but the boy has been known to lie, too, as you have good reason to recall. "
" ... well it was doubtless innocent, but it was far from wise. "
" whatever he believes, or fails to believe, one truth is beyond dispute: for that offense you must be tried, judged, and punished. "
" to be sure, i will urge my fellow judges to be merciful. "
" my word carries some weight, but so does _. the risk is there. "
" you have another choice, though. whether it is a better choice or a worse one, i cannot say, but i remind you any knight accused of a crime has the right to demand a trial by combat. "
" why ? are you afraid to face this hedge knight alone and let the gods decide the truth of your accusations ? "
" you are too kind, sweet brother. "
" it would be selfish of me to deny you the right to prove the truth of your words at the hazard of your body. "
" don't play the fool, it will not serve. "
" your grace, what if no one will take my part ? "
" if a cause is just, good men will fight for it. if you can find no champions, it will be because you are guilty. could anything be more plain ? "
" does your lord father know you've left the castle ? "
" gods be good, i hope not. "
" not that i ever asked to have my honor redeemed. whoever has it can keep it, so far as i'm concerned. "
" the only thing i like less then horses are swords. heavy things, and beastly sharp. "
" i must steal back to the castle before my father wonders why i'm taking so long to sharpen my sword. "
" i would like a private word. will you walk with me ?"
" my dreams are not like yours, mine are true. they frighten me. you frighten me."
" i don't care to die today. "
" it may be that i've killed you with my lie. if so, i am sorry. "
" i'm doomed to some hell, i know. "
" if you think i wish any part of this, you're as thick as you are vile. "
" are there no true knights among you ? "
" have you taken leave of your senses ? this man attacked my son. "
" this man protected the weak, as every true knight must. let the gods determine if he was right or wrong. "
" my prince, is that chivalrous ? "
" why would the gods take him, and leave you ? "
" my father was only _. he had it in him to be a great king. "
" the gods know it is a lie, but i will hear the whispers till the day i die. "
" is that a mercy or a curse ? some of both, i think. "
" the realm has as many hedge knights as hedges. "
" if your grace has a better answer, i'd want to hear it. "
" it may be the gods have a taste for cruel japes. or perhaps there are no gods. perhaps none of this had any meaning. "
" there is a place for you there, if you wish. "
" he is an unruly boy, as you will have noticed. "
" he said that the realm needed good men. "
" he's seen sufficient of castles, i would judge. "
" princes are not made for sleeping in ditches and eating hard salt beef. "
" what is it you're afraid to tell me ? say what you will. "
" my lord father says that i am to serve you. "
" i hear they have good puppet shows. "
" i won't need to go into the castle, will i ? "
