Obi-Wan Kenobi

Half-Orc Paladin of Dratho. Master of Soresu. Theredas Native.

[thxnegotiator]

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Paladin of Dratho || Oath of the Jedi || Half-Orc

Age: 36 Gender: Cis Male (he/him) Orientation: Pansexual Hails From: Theredas

In service of the Temple of Dratho in Theredas as a Senior Paladin, Obi-Wan was raised as in its hallowed halls, brought as an infant by biological parents he had long made peace with. The Temple was his family, and donning the symbol of the God of Fate was as inevitable as his next breath. He is a master in the defensive dueling form of Soresu, and not too shabby at the rest.

His assignments for the Temple have taken him across Thereda, but at his heart, he is a Theredas native. He's been running through it since before he had memories, from the busiest streets of the market and their gateway to the city's underbelly to the polished halls of Souris as a wet-behind the ears apprentice.

He has terrible posture.

Above all else, the Temple of Dratho preach the inevitability of fate, but fate is neither stagnant nor cold. Life is worth living. Love is worth fighting for. Compassion and justice are not the same as kindness, but all are worth defending - even in the face of defeat. All things are temporary, and thus must be felt to their fullest but released without qualms.

There is no Death. There is only the Force.

He has only ever questioned his loyalty to the Order twice. Once, when he was younger, for a reason he does not like to think of. Once, because of Anakin.

Pending Approval: He has recently returned to Theredas after three years in the Deep Roads of Silesia, to help his former apprentice adapt to the loss of his dominant arm following a long-standing conflict.

Campaign 001.

It is tradition for members of the Temple of Dratho to play a part in royal weddings, either as escorts, honor guards, or simply esteemed guests. Though largely a symbolic gesture, representatives served as a sign that the Royal Family and their continued success was a part of Fate's great decree.

For the most part, Obi-Wan has no issues with the Newmonts and is fairly well-versed in their history. He has his own favorite monarch and everything. And he doesn't have anything particularly against inter-species unions. However he finds it difficult to understand why the youngest noble hadn't simply kept their paramour as a concubine. It screams of political suicide and the shortsightedness of youth.

Regardless, this, if anything is a sign that the Newmonts are following the path set for them by fate. For fate is hardly ever boring.

[herowithnofear]

Anakin crooned at him, the half-orc's sour expression doing nothing to lessen the beauty at his neck. He hardly had a moment to gloat before the tables were turned with a speed the tiefling associated with the battlefield. The Paladin's cheeks got very dusty after that, red darkening into something deeper. He cleared his throat before Obi-Wan had a chance to strike. "Let's move on... there!"

And then he hooked his arm tighter around the half-orc's neck, and steered them deeper into the fray of dancing bodies. The patrons at the tables were covered in mead from the harassment.

[thxnegotiator]

There was something satisfying about watching his former apprentice suffer. Some would call him a bitter old man about it, and they would not be entirely wrong, but also, because Anakin looked like those funny little deer that liked to gallop through the forest in such a rush, that they were caught off guard when a tree came up to smack them.

There hadn't been nearly enough of that warmth over these past three years. He was more than happy to play the fool for Anakin's happiness.

Even if it meant braving a sticky floor.

He tugged on Anakin's flower necklace.

Deadpan, "I didn't know you were such a romantic."

[scattersbrain]

CLOSED STARTER ; @thxnegotiator requested HUSK.

sessions 01 - location ; souris tavern.

SLIDING A HALF-FULL glass of rum across the bar , husk forced a smile onto his lips. whoever had decided on the free drinks , was going to SEND HIS TAVERN out of business. fast. and all in one day.

" curtsey of the happy couple. " another forced smile. cat ears twitching. he needed to POUR HIMSELF A DRINK. — maybe multiple at this rate.

[thxnegotiator]

"Careful, dear. If you smile any wider, you might strain something." He played wide-eyed and earnest well enough that any claim of sarcasm wouldn't have stuck, even without his holy symbol painted on his pauldrons. But Obi-Wan took his drink too easily.

It was, after all, for the happy couple.

And he and Husk had done this dance before.

"Anything interesting on the market?"

[herowithnofear]

And as dutifully as ever, Anakin marched on the half-orc's heels.

"Dangerous," he said, eyes already round with interest. The streets smelled of perfume, of baked goods, of salted steak and honey mead. The sky was terrifyingly blue, the flags and banners and streamers alike all brandishing the Theredas emblem shone bright against its backdrop.

"I can pick? That's dangerous."

He snagged Obi-Wan's elbow with the tip of one sharpened nail, bringing him to a halt in front of the display. Lively music, spinning locals with their arms intertwined--the interior of the Lady Hare's tavern was bustling despite it being mid-day. Testament to the celebration, flowers hung down from the rafter's in complimenting shades reminiscent of the to-be-wed's eyes. One elf nestled alongside such streams of flora caught the tiefling's eyes, and before the older Paladin could protest, Anakin was already waving her down.

"A crown of flowers, in honor of the royal wedding," she trilled, offering one to the pair. They seemed in style for this kind of event. Anakin's arm wound its way around Obi-Wan's neck to pluck at one of his straw cowlicks the older man forgot to lay in their haste.

"My friend here just loves the celebration of it all," he said. "In fact, he's such a romantic that it often holds his tongue. Perhaps the flowers will break him out of his shell."

[thxnegotiator]

"To ea-t'Anakin." He complained, disappointment exaggerating his accent to a tune only his closest companion ever seemed to consistently play. He could not even properly glower at the tiefling, etiquette would not allow him, not when a lovely selection of fresh blooms were already being draped around his neck.

He wrinkled his nose to keep from sneezing.

"I suppose you have a matching one for my friend," he said, in the same tone he'd used when they'd been stationed to guard the Dark Paths.

The shopkeeper hid a smile between one graceful hand, reached across the way to offer Anakin the very same blessing - and a little extra.

A kiss on the forehead, for a fine brave paladin.

[lamisters]

Gods above, Arthur hadn't seen him in years.

It all came barrelling back then, all those memories he had shoved away to deal with on his death bed. All that regret. All that pain. All that everything.

His mouth opened, as if to speak, but suddenly his hand was in Obi's and the market was a blur. There was a peel of silence, of such stillness that Arthur thought the world had stopped her rotation.

It wasn't until Mabel let out another heavy bark, that the universe came crashing back into focus. Arthur went stone still, as unbreakable as the toughest rocks on the highest mountain. Mable had rose up, her heavy black paws landing like an anchor on his thick fore-arm. On the arm that Obi had taken. Arthur wrenched that hand away suddenly, as if he had been stung. He stared at the other half-orc, half in disbelief and half in anger. His eyes roamed the others face. He was older now, bearded and older but still no less handsome.

Arthur couldn't help it, when his gaze fell to the others lips. They had been boys, last he had seen him. They had been green and soft bellied and in love. Until they hadn't been.

He wrenched his eyes away as quickly as he could then and said, gruff and angry "-what'chu want?. Ain't you seein' that I'm busy?"

At his heel, Mable snort-growled and did not take her big black eyes of the stranger.

He's not a stranger though, Arthur wanted to tell her. He's Obi-wan. He's an old love and an old kiss and an old hurt. I loved him once, I think.

[thxnegotiator]

It came as such a surprise to be denied, that Obi-Wan would have laughed at his own audacity if the center of his chest didn't abruptly feel like it had been hollowed out. Spring blossoms and scabbed knees, dust-dirtied hands and an ever-present warmth in the back of his throat, his memories of Arthur felt like trying to clutch at the threads of a dream. After a decade apart, the strongest that remained were tied to the way he'd made him feel.

It was foolish to expect anything of someone after so long, but Obi-Wan had never really thought that his dear friend's warmth would be taken from him. Even after they'd left.

They'd been so young. Surely now they were too old for grudges.

"Arthur." He tried again, taking a dutiful step back at the behest of a very sharp pair of teeth. The hound was well-cared for. Arthur had always been so good with animals. "It's been far too long."

He tried for a smile. "I almost didn't catch you staring."

[lamisters]

V lay there, on her back in the dirt and wondered, what the fuck she had done to deserve this idiot. Some paladin goody two-shoes that seemed to ALWAYS be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Gods, she hated him (kinda).

"Shut up" she glared at him, eerie white eyes narrowing. The long scar that stretched from her forehead, over her left eye and down her jaw, puckered with a shared displeasure. "-you preach so much, it's unbelievable. You should take up a job in the temple, old man, would be easier on your bum-fucked knees than chasing me about."

V was suddenly free of him and she made a move to roll over, onto her belly to push up onto her hands, when all of that stupid paladin weight came crashing down on top of her.

She screamed, loudly and in surprise. He was a heavy brute and it knocked the wind right out of her. She groaned loudly, arms and legs splaying out spread eagle style as he lay on top of her. She kicked her feet and waves her hands, knife still clutched desperately in one of them.

"Fuckin'...asshole!" she screamed, voice strained as she tried to catch her breath. "-whadda' tryin' to do, kill me for real?!"

[thxnegotiator]

Whoops-!

Obi-Wan ducked just in time to avoid a rather nasty stab wound, bringing his bracer up. Metal clashed with metal in a satisfying clang, but it was mostly lost under that blood curdling scream - some exaggeration notwithstanding.

"I do actually work with a temple, Dratho - you know. It's not for everyone, but you might even enjoy it."

He ducked again, raised his hands in a mockery of surrender.

"This is really very undignified. If I were you, I'd surrender immediately," he said like he wasn't half of the problem. And with his raised hands, he shot off a single spell, sending a string of floating lights towards the sky. The near universal sign of requesting backup.

[hayden-christensen]

OBI-WAN KENOBI & ANAKIN SKYWALKER ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Part V (2022) | dir. Deborah Chow Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) | dir. George Lucas

[herowithnofear]

"You won't understand it," Anakin said, expression decidedly stern. "Not until it's you."

But he took the jab good-naturedly, ducking out of the way of the half-orcs hand before pushing off of his column perch. Obi-Wan was right. The sun was shining, the tielfing's skin soaking up the warmth like he was taking a long drink of cool mead, and the realization that this was his first outing in weeks was enough to remind the Paladin that this was supposed to be a happy occasion.

So he basked in it. Just a little, lips curled like he was preening. "Where to today? You're surely the expert. Word is you're one of the best social-drinking Paladins in the ranks now. What did I miss?"

[thxnegotiator]

"It's a good thing I plan on dying old and alone." He offered with no hesitation, practically beaming as he marched forward, into spinsterdom or the nearest bar, whatever came first.

(Usually Dex's. Because Dex always treated him right.)

He waved off those rumors. Obi-Wan hadn't been in the running since long before they were sent off to guard the front; it was before Anakin's time, and if he had his way, his former apprentice would never fully hear about it. Senior Paladins had to maintain some illusion of decorum after all.

"And on your first day out of the Halls of Healing? Why, we'll have to find somewhere special."

[herowithnofear]

Everything Obi-Wan said was objectively, irrefutably true. The royals were duty bound, more oft than not, to uphold the customs of the high society they represent. Each movement, each decision of both the heart and mind, sent a statement that would ripple through Theredas and either unite parties, or further divide them.

"People rarely crave that level of scrutiny," Anakin said, expression unreadable. He returned to staring at the city below. "I do not think she asked for this."

But maybe this was a statement that needed to be spread. Maybe there were some traditions made to be broken. No one understood duty the way those taken the Oath of the Jedi did.

"And what of their partner?" he pressed. "What if they're not content to sit idle in the shadows?"

[thxnegotiator]

"Then perhaps they should have married a commoner." Obi-Wan said, blandly.

"With power comes responsibility, Anakin, and I would prefer a leader who cared enough to bring their people's welfare into consideration than the alternative."

Then he leaned forward, and took another swipe at his former apprentice's horns.

"Are you still being huffy or perhaps can we discuss this over drinks?"

[herowithnofear]

Anakin looked back at him, feeling the half-orc's eyes focused on him. He wasn't jumping to conclusions. Not yet, and not with Obi-Wan--but the Paladin looked keen to hear the other's answer.

"And what would you suggest her to do, Master?"

It was a question balanced on the fine, sharp line of opinion. The approval and disapproval marks may as well have been hovering midair, but Anakin knew Obi-Wan's practicality weighed over any matter of the heart. That's what made him him. That's what made the older Paladin near untouchable.

"Has your head ever told you one thing while your heart begs for another?" It was poetic, if Anakin hadn't crooned it with purely teasing intention. To someone who knew the Paladin, it might've looked like tactic to hide his own vulnerability.

[thxnegotiator]

"Like when I want to sleep for five more minutes, and my co-Captain is demanding I get up for something he claims is important?" Obi-Wan drawled, giving Anakin a very pointed once over. Sure, most of the time he'd usually been called to avoid the certain death of being slaughtered in his sleep by bandits. But still. It was the principle of the thing.

He let his hands fall to his side, shook his head once.

"The nobility have a long history of trusted companions," he said diplomatically, because even the most prestigious concubine was just someone without the proper blood to earn a throne. "And if our Highness chose to spend more time with their partner than their spouse, no one would bat an eye. Their duty to their people comes before their duty to themselves. Their people want stability, not love."

[herowithnofear]

And there he went--lecturing. But the older man's words did not fall entirely on deaf ears as Anakin might've wanted him to think. He straightened just enough to pull his horns from his grasp. The tiefling still looked restless, and when the half-orc turned to face him, the Paladin turned his focus to the city, instead.

"I refuse to display decorum when it isn't returned."

Enemies in the faces of friends.

"You should tell that to the crowd, Obi-Wan," the tiefling grunted. "The newspapers, too. Tell them who there friends and real enemies are, because it isn't the newlyweds."

There was a suggestion that, perhaps, there was more apprehension about the event itself over any implications on Anakin's ability. The Paladin leaned against one of the temple pillars, and watched as another cloud of dreamy pink and red streamers were draped over a local bakery. When he crossed his arm, the wood of his current prosthetic sat bulky against the meat of his forearm.

"Do you really think it's wrong?" he asked. "To be a human wed to a tiefling? How are you not taking it personally?"

[thxnegotiator]

This time the paladin kept his distance, opting instead to take in the younger knight's profile, his brow furrowed in thought. He stroked a hand over his beard, the tips of his tusk more pronounced when he frowned.

He had not realized recent events would resonate so strongly with Anakin, and perhaps therein lay his own shortcomings.

"No, of course not. Love cannot be wrong." He said, because compassion was a tenement he would always stand by. But love did not exist in a vacuum.

"But perhaps it can be - a little short-sighted."

[herowithnofear]

Anakin came to a halt, heels skidding against the tile as the bottom half tried to walk ahead while his top half was definitively stuck. He turned on his heel, nostrils flared like a bull, before coming to a halt directly in front of the half-orc.

He glared at him, until he realized he was still an inch taller, and then smirked. It came out more like a grimace.

"You're not pleased," he said. "Even you, lover all of things boring and diplomatic, are not looking forward to staying posted outside of the dining hall while the happy couple get messy."

[thxnegotiator]

Obi-Wan pursed his lips like he knew what Anakin was thinking. Three years in the field was more than enough to reestablish that line of thought. Or maybe he was just intimately familiar with what his former apprentice looked like when he was trying (and not failing) to vex him.

"Would a little decorum physically wound you?" He said, then held up a hand, equal parts apology and request for silence. At least half of that would be permitted.

"This is more than a courtesy call. The royal family is experiencing unprecedented levels of public disapproval. Our presence is meant to be a reassurance as much as a countermeasure to anything untoward." He continued, which was frustrating in itself, because he was willing to bet Anakin already knew that. There was very little that escaped the Paladin's attention, when he was focused.

So Obi-Wan's tone softened, a moment of hesitation turned towards decisiveness. He faced the tiefling fully.

"I know that you are frustrated, Anakin. But do not read slights against your person when there are none. If you spend all your time looking for enemies, you may begin to see them in the face of friends."

"You've been making good progress. No one can deny you that."

[herowithnofear]

"What, am I on marital duty now?!"

The tiefling's voice bounced off of the marble walls, a few patrons towards the back lifting their heads at the offending noise. The world outside and the city spread out before them were decorated in favor of an embracing of love and union, of a tradition as old as the nation itself--however, the bright colors and festivities felt dull in the light of their recent assignment.

But the cleric had made his order--bedrest, mandatory healing potions every evening, and no, emphasis on no, active duty. That meant no defense, no pursuit, no field-work, no hunting--nothing but diplomacy and good-natured guard-ship. Anakin felt sick to his stomach like he wasn't just now getting his first breath of fresh air in weeks.

But the tiefling flung his head back, both a confirmation and accusation, to make sure his companion was still hot on his heels.

"You can't possibly be excited. Not even you. What are we going to do all day?"

@thxnegotiator

[thxnegotiator]

"It must be your charming personality. You would be every nobleman's delight."

It had taken a great many years and a thoroughly bruised ego to realize that *Not even you* wasn't as personally cutting as it was meant to sound. Sometimes Anakin was just snitty - with him. Specifically. Obi-Wan did not take offense.

Mostly because it infuriated Anakin when he didn't.

But he stormed after him, his boots clanging on the Temple's polished stone, reassuringly familiar in a way that made the vaulted ceilings seem less extravagant. It had taken more time than he cared to admit to see his old home as home, but once Theredas had settled around him, it felt like a cloak Obi-Wan had never removed.

"Slow down, Anakin, slow-" He reached out, and caught his former apprentice by one of his horns, halting him in place. A quick glance around reassured him that they were alone in their immediate vicinity.

Obi-Wan probably should have checked that first.

[lamisters]

Bastard.

It was the first thing that came to mind, screaming to a halt in her frontal cortex until V was scowling so deeply that it made her look much, much older than she was.

"You?!-" she hissed "-oh...You fucker!"

She screamed then, cut of when his boot came down firmly on her hand. V swore she could hear the bones crunch. In that moment she wished she had worn her fighting rags, the ones she set with metal nuts of her knuckles. Gods, V would have loved to upper cut him with a fist full of metal.

Instead, she was forced into a roll. A sloppy one, but at least it got her out of the way of a sword pommel.

She lay on her back, arm twisted at an awkward angle as he head dipped back and she stared up at him. "Always fuckin' up my day, huh?" V grinned up at him then, waggling her eyebrows "-I mean, if you wanted me below you so badly-" her voice lowered, trailing of into something mocking and sultry then "-you just hadda' ask."

The Knife from her boot was a sudden surprise. She had rolled back onto her front and had the little steel blade pressed into the back of his leg, right where the Achilles tendon sat. She looked up at him, from under a flop of dirty, pale hair and grinned again "-looks like we got ourselves a stale mate here. Fancy just letting me go old man?"

[thxnegotiator]

There was a blatantly glaring question about the company he chose to keep that Obi-Wan was not entirely surprised by the knife. The timing of it, certainly, but the fact that V had one? Absolutely not.

He held up his hands in a mockery of surrender.

"Why do you keep doing this? You're a charming young lady, have you ever considered getting a job? Maybe at the market. Maybe chopping down big pieces of lumbar. I hear that's very therapeutic, something about anger management."

Then he just lifted up his heel, in a full retreat, pulling away from her entirely. It should've given her a clear route to escape, the sort of opening one should have been smart enough to never afford a vagrant like V. Except Obi-Wan let both his feet come up, in a graceless, pseudo-self tripping motion. It sent him falling, ass over teakettle, right on top of her.

And the thing about plate armor was that it was really heavy.

Throw in an extra really there for flavor.

[lamisters]

Mabel barked suddenly, a loud, dull thing that rattled the stalls and had some of the old women jumping right out of their skin.

Arthur jolted on impact, twisting around to find no one there again. He growled, grumbling something foul under his breath. Mabel was on her feet, snarling in the opposite direction than her master.

"-This ain't funny!" Arthur snapped, twisting again when he realised someone had come to stop in front of him.

He glared, eyes so blue and so bright they were almost aflame with rage. "What the hells were you-"

He stopped, words dying like embers on a frost bank on his tongue. He knew that face. He knew those eyes and fucking gods save him, he knew those lips.

Mabel was tight against his leg, jowls pulled back and flashing a set of sharp white teeth. Arthur reached down, anxiety riddled, to lay a solid, heavy hand on her head.

"You." was all he said. All he could manage. Arthur felt his throat tighten and his brow sharpen when he frowned. He snatched back his coin purse with more vigour than he meant to, snarling at Obi-Wan. He shoved it carelessly into the pocket of his long coat.

"Shut up." he grumbled awkwardly, cheeks flushing just the slightest shade of pink, out of anger, Arthur tried to tell himself. "-an' get outta' my way." He gave Obi-wan a withering look, but it just wasn't as overtly angry as the usual dirty looks he dished out. "-Got places to be that don't involve you."

[thxnegotiator]

It was a boy's jest, entirely unfitting for someone of his station or anyone who could grow as many whiskers as he, but Obi-Wan would blame it on the mood in the marketplace. The excitement brimmed over whenever royals did anything unnecessarily showy, and the promise of good booze did twice the leg work of the happiness that came with anyone's wedding. But he could also blame it on a pretty face.

Though it was not a face he could immediately place. He should be embarrassed. This time it seemed Arthur was quicker on the draw than he was.

The slope of an aristocratic nose, deepset eyes. Russet locks that looked almost bronze when they caught the light - he knew that face, he knew those eyes. He knew, the faintest knick above his eyebrow, from a broken window a pair of reckless young fools tried to crawl out of to avoid being caught somewhere they knew they weren't allowed.

And all at once, he was breathless.

"Ar- Artie? Artie is that-"

That was as far as he cared to go. Obi-Wan took the other half-orc by the wrist before he could even think of walking away. (Once had been more than enough.)

[dancerpetaled-deactivated202403]

a mini lyric starter from a song from my own playlist for OBI WAN @thxnegotiator from KAR'NISS.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 𝕶𝖆𝖗'𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖘.

・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"cruel and unusual , we're taking control."

the loth sworn drow elf spoke softly , long fingers tracing the rim of his glass. "that's what they told me before I was outcasted to the surface...."

[thxnegotiator]

"You have to give them credit for style though, no one excommunicates you quite like a church." And from what he'd heard, the Underdark was exceptionally devoted.

Still Obi-Wan gestured to the scroll, the etchings along it tattered edges worn enough that they threatened to tear just by sitting on the table between them. "I did not mean to bring up difficult memories. But I suppose you haven't seen anything like this before, then?"

[lamisters]

For @thxnegotiator

It had been a simple snatch and grab. Get into the Manor. Snatch the stupid magic scroll and get out again.

Or at least, it was supposed to be a simple snatch and grab.

Yet here V was, barrelling down a side street with said stupid scroll tucked under her arm and a troop of guards hot on her tail. One shouted at her, ordered her to stop and instead, she took a sharp left into an alley way. She shoved the scroll into her mouth and made quick work of scrambling up a side wall and hefting herself over the top. She landed hard though, not expecting the ground to be so far away from the top of the wall. Her ankle rolled and V carried through on the momentum, landing right on her ass. She spat the scroll out at someone's feet to catch her breath, only then realising there was someone there at all when it was too late.

She cursed, foul and under her breath before clambering to her feet and making a desperate reach for the scroll before the other person did.

[thxnegotiator]

The echo of clanging metal marked the guard's progress with all the efficiency of a glowing beacon, and the night was alive with the sounds of annoyed grunts and "- went that way!" or "Over here!" and more popularly, "Watch your fuckin' sword!"

Someone had made a mess, and someone else didn't want to be responsible for cleaning it up. Tale as old as time.

And some people just had the uncanny ability of being at the right place at the right time. Obi-Wan would call it fate. Other people would call him a smug bastard, and they could all be right on special occasions.

A gloved hand closed on top of V's, pinning her grip to the scroll.

"Oh my dear, we have got to stop meeting like this." He said, and tried to bash her head into the handle of his sword.