Arc 1-T: A Question of Honor

A disgraced knight needs to choose between earning money for his retirement and supporting a cause greater than himself.

Structure

Exposition

For most of his adult life, Thakon used to serve in the Royal Army and was even granted the prestigious rank of Knight, which is a very rare achievement mixbloods. However, when the Purity Law took effect, that title was stripped away and the very people he had sworn to protect turned against him an his family. Thakon managed to escape and go into hiding, but the rest of his family was murdered before he could get to them.
Over two decades later, he is working as a bodyguard for a rich Elven ore trader named Orta'Bilas. He has been employed for a little more than twelve years now. Right now, they are staying in Sil'heva where Orta'Bilas wants to expand his family business.

Conflict

Thakon has witnessed many examples of what a nasty person his employer actually is. But he depends on this job for several reasons.
Traveling outside the kingdom is expensive, especially if he wants to leave Elven territory altogether and move to the Werewolf homelands. He needs funds for passage on a ship, but also sufficient reserves for buying housing, furniture, and securing his overall livelihood during retirement.
This job allows him to stay in wolf form while in public. His employer prefers to show off that he and his property are protected by big, strong "beasts." This lets Thakon hide the fact that he is attuned to the Element of Ground - without fur, the related markings would show on his skin and reveal that he is an Elven hybrid.
And due to the Purity Law, this would either be his death sentence - or an opportunity to blackmail him into slavery.

Rising Action

State of Alarm

Thakon overhears an argument between Orta'Bilas and the lackey that handles the shadier parts of the business. He learns that the lackey had hired an assassin to dispose of the local rival so that the Orta company can swoop in to ill the void. However, nothing came of it yet, and the boss is getting nervous... Either he was scammed, or his rival found out and is about to start a counterattack.
Orta'Bilas insists on Thakon watching him more closely, which means longer, more exhausting working hours. On the bright side, Thakon manages to negotiate for better pay.
A few days later, someone indeed tries to get to his employer, but the former knight knows how to defend assets from enemy agents. He spots the assassin just in time and chases them to the roof. The hooded person glances at him before leaping off the edge, and Thakon is taken aback when he spots glowing pupils. They hint at Elven fire magic, which does not match the Werewolf ears poking through the hood.
Thakon decides against telling anyone. However, knowing that another hybrid is living in this city makes him think more about his standing in Elven society.

Closing In

To keep his job, Thakon assists his employer in improving the security around his residence, office, and warehouse. He also advises him to involve the city guards in addition to the already hired ones.
Three days after the first attempt, Thakon stands watch outside his employer's office and overhears a meeting with a contact from the city guards. The night before, a Fire wielding hybrid had been arrested when she tried to install a bomb at the administrative office of the warehouse. The city guards even suspect that this might be the Shadowflame, a killer that had been escaping law enforcement for many years. And she escaped this time, too, with the help of a slave that Orta'Bilas owns.
Upon closer inspection, the city guards discovered that said slave is a hybrid as well - one whose Elven magic has been suppressed by a Ground seal, which indicates that Orta'Bilas knew of her mixed lineage. Therefore, the slave has been confiscated while the city guards investigate further, and Orta'Bilas will at the least have to pay a fine according to the Purity Law. He is also warned that the city guards will examine all of his personnel - slaves, employed servants, administrative staff, and guards - to see if he shelters more of these illegal "abominations."

Climax

Now Thakon knows that he needs to get away before the examination starts - which will mean losing his stable income and becoming a fugitive from the law. He contemplates giving up and joining his family in whatever afterlife might await him.
The old man starts reminiscing about his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who never got to life out their natural lifespan. When his mind wanders back to his own situation, it occurs to him that the assassin seemed quite young as well, and he can't help but feeling relieved that she escaped the city guards. However, this reminds him that a second hybrid - also a woman, like his own children - was not so lucky.
Consequently, he starts wondering if there is a way to save the slave, and slowly remembers why he joined the army in the first place. Since he has nothing left to lose, he decides to focus on the values that he used to hold as a Knight - at the very least, it would be an act of defiance towards those on whom he wasted his loyalty.

Falling Action

Thakon packs his belongings and leaves after his shift. He pretends to head to Orta'Bilas' office for checking the security measures once again, but instead he goes to that of his local rival.
As he had hoped, he indeed encounters the assassin who had chosen to side with the original target - not only because he is an ally to the Werewolf minority in Sil'heva, but also because the Orta company is crucial to supplying the Royal Army with steel.

Resolution

Thakon manages to convince Ria that he is no longer loyal to Orta'Bilas, and learns that there are two more hybrids involved by now. He gladly provides inside information on the security measures, and the four start planning. First, they will free the imprisoned slave and restore her suppressed ice powers - and with that powerful asset, the group will move to attack Orta'Bilas.

Plot type

Character Arc

Location

Sil'heva

Protagonist(s)

Thakon Blackpelt

Antagonist(s)

the city guards
Orta'Bilas

Side Character(s)

Sona'Ria

Themes

Decay

Thakon is aging and already past his prime.

The kingdom he once served has lost the values that he supported.

His living space is falling into disrepair because it's not a priority for his employer.

Loyalty

Thakon wants to honor the contract with his employer, even when he learns unpleasant truths.

The kingdom's flag keeps reminding him of his one-sided allegiance to the royal army.

Thakon gets the opportunity to stand up for his other hybrids like him.