4 - 020: The Fourth Piece

[K Man]

All (But Romar) -

The giant Kuo-Toan chieftain stands up to his full height, towering over the battlefield. He surveys the scene, blood and sweat dripping from his green skin. He sizes up Garor who, moments ago, he was locked in a death match with. His eyes take in much before he opens his mouth again.



"I have been twisted...lied to?"

He looks to the bodies of his advisors risen again and spits in disgust. He looks back to Krysta, the one speaking to him.

"How do I know I'm not lied to again? Speak more of this trust...this pact we are to form."

"Why should I ally with this 'Sturmguard'?"

"The Master has yet to touch the sanctuary of our waters. What use are they to him and what will we gain from this pact?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Romar - The night passes quickly, probably more so that you expected it to. When dawn comes, your heart pumps with the possibility of your demise, but it beats even faster with the possibility of fighting for Veya...for her honor. Before too long, it is nearly noon and you make your way to the steps before the castle of Ravenshead.

The crowd surrounding the steps is less than you expecteded...significantly so. True to his ideals, the 'Faceless Knight' seems to have not shared his fate with many others...keeping this duel a relative secret. Only King Sturmguard, the Dwarven King Grandil and a few others high in the chain of command are present. The remainder of the crowd, small as it is, is just people milling about - going about their daily business.

You notice, on a table nearby covered in a brilliant crimson cloth is a pair of longswords, silvered an gleaming. Next to them is a pair of small steel shields, also polished to a shine.

The weapons for the duel...

The 'Faceless Knight' stands motionless nearby, clad in his full armored regalia, helm included, watching your every step. King Sturmguard stands next to him, also stoicly watching your approach. When you near close enough, King Sturmguard breaks from the side of the 'Faceless Knight' and walks towards you.

He leans in close, keeping what he has to say to your ears alone.



"I will ask you this once Romar Belamor....are you sure this fight is worth it?"

__________________________________________________________________________________________

[Fangor the Fierce]

"If we were here to lie to you, then you would be dead already, along with your advisors. Yes, we would gain much from you joining our forces, but there is more to it than that."


She shifts her weight, knowing this is going to take some time. Turning to Adelia, she smiles before speaking to the leader again. "I have a proposition then, to show all that is true. Adelia there can help. She is trained to use her powers to only allow the truth to be told. Let us speak the truth, and leave nothing to be revealed. If you would permit it, she will use the power to bring about an aura that will engulf you, myself, Garor, and any others that would have much to say. In that aura, if you allow yourself to indulge in its power, we can each speak of what has transpired, and show that what we speak of are not lies, but simply the truth."

OOC - Ok, this is where Adelia can cast Zone of Truth:

Zone of Truth
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Clr 2, Pal 2
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Area: 20-ft.-radius emanation
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
Creatures within the emanation area (or those who enter it) can’t speak any deliberate and intentional lies. Each potentially affected creature is allowed a save to avoid the effects when the spell is cast or when the creature first enters the emanation area. Affected creatures are aware of this enchantment. Therefore, they may avoid answering questions to which they would normally respond with a lie, or they may be evasive as long as they remain within the boundaries of the truth. Creatures who leave the area are free to speak as they choose.


With this, she will speak the truth, and relay all that he would ask, and tell of how the Master has manipulated him by using the advisors to sway his mind. Garor can also speak of him not having any part in killing the chief's old leader. That is, IF the chief agrees to this....



EDIT: To move things along.

IF he agrees....


"The Master is out to destroy all in his grasp. Once the land falls, then that leaves the sea. If he were intent on leaving you alone, then why would he infiltrate your forces, and plant obvious spies? If you truly were not in danger, then he would not have devised this plan to pit you against King Sturmguard."

"As for the death of your leader, Garor can relay that part of history. Many have died at the hands of the Master, or in the service of fighting against him. Whole towns have been annihilated, with only a few able to survive. Thousands of people, leaders, children, mother, fathers and siblings, all dead by the Masters plan and troops. Many others have suffered a worse fate than the death of one, having lost all dear to them. Do not let the Masters shroud over you keep you blind to the one obvious fact."

"The Master is out to control all that he can, or kill anything in his way." The mere tone in her voice tells that her conviction in this war is to do one sole thing. To save the world by finding a way to rid it of the Master.

"If you ignore this threat, that only grows stronger with each step he takes, then I am sorry for you and your people."

"As my father told me before, who is now lost to this very war, do not turn your back on things that seem small. 'When the non-followers of the religion were beaten down, we turned our back. When the outcasts were stricken down for being different, we turned our back. When it was all over, after all others had been beaten down, that left only us to fend for ourselves.'"

"There is no narmful intent on you allying with us. Only hope that once this war is over, that both of our people can turn back and look, saying 'I did not turn my back.'"

Krysta turns to Garor, knowing he could relay the story of Cannon's Foot better than she.....

[VemuKhaham]

Before noon arrives, Romar first prays to his god for additional strength in the battle to come. He was never educated in the ways of chivalry though, and does not know if the duel that is to come allows for his divine magic.

...

Romar returns the stoic impressions on all faces present with a persistent gaze. When the king whispers in his ear, Romar knows that Sturmguard disapproves of his actions. He glances to king Grandil, this great man who knew the ideals of honor and lived up to them with dwarven persistence, if only to sense a hint of his opinion on this matter. But he did not knew what had transpired, and neither did Sturmguard.

Now keeping his eyes fixed at the Faceless Knight, he replies the king in a soft voice.

"You have known me longer than today, mylord. If I was not sure about this, then do you think I would stand here today?"

He turns to look at the king shortly, before heading towards the weapons on the table. A fine longsword, though his own one would've suited better. He knew every curve in its hilt, every flaw in its steel - which it hardly had. Nevertheless, the weapon seemed good enough.

A shield. It was a long time since he had picked up any of those. He had had a brief training with them during his crash-course to become a warrior that all recruits received quickly before the siege of Carealal. He knew how to handle one, but a second sword in his off-hand had always felt more secure to him. Offense was the best defense, but now he wasn't so sure...

He picked up the sword, strapped the shield on his arm, and returned to stand opposite the Faceless Knight once again. Before the fight begins, he speaks to his opponent once:

"Grant me no quarter should I fall; you will receive none from me either."

and after that, he asks the king for the rules, curious if magic is accepted within the knightly codes of honor.

---

I assume these weapons are plain, no MW or magic. In that case, my stats would be:
Longsword +10/+5, 1d8+3, 19-20/x2
AC: 20
HP: 59/59
I also prepared special spells for the duel, so if magic is allowed, I'll just give you my alternate spell list for today only (Only 1st level cleric spells are relevant):
1x Sanctuary (domain)
1x Protection from Law
2x Cure light wounds (1d8+2)

[GeneralMHB]

Yuri turns to the Cheif and makes his address in his native tongue:

Already as we speek, he has a fleet of ships preparing to sail out into the waters to claim territory already not taken. 'The Master' has already infiltrated your ranks. His armies amass from within this continent set for conquest of your kingdom. If we do not join as one, all of the cities left standing will fall within three years time.

It is your choice Chieftan: We must unite or we both fall.


He awaits a reply....

(OOC: Sorry for the no-post last time, had some issues with IRL.)

[Jevva]

Not quite certain of the conversation that's going on around him, Galdren merely stands guard, keeping his eyes open for any further treachery from the Master.

[Japic]

jevva said:

Not quite certain of the conversation that's going on around him, Galdren merely stands guard, keeping his eyes open for any further treachery from the Master.

Ditto... I'm just a big dumb guard, doing what I do second best, guarding... (first would be smashing the shit out of things)