A fight outside the west gate
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Aledhan Darkmere, the noble Moon Elf from Peltarch, sits with a smile on his handsome face; listening to each and every side of the debate, paying attention to every argument and counter-argument. Yet he remains silent until the mysterious voice pierces Jiydd's square ((See Shadowstrider's post if you weren't paying attention
))_You know, the suspiciously absent fellow is talking sense. I have travelled the length and breath of Faer'n in my two hundred years and made the acquaintance of a lot of Helmites and not once have I heard them speak of their god being so concerned with the 'Law'.
Protecting their charge; the weak, the poor, the young? Helm would demand they do this, yes.
But a man who concerns himself with the Law, and merely the Law… Why he sounds more like a Tyrran. Nay... for Tyrrans show mercy. His words, and indeed his actions, sound more akin to those of a Banite or another of the Tyrant Lord's ilk. Order above all, and the Law to be obeyed at all costs; that is the soul concern of many dark gods such as Bane, Loviatar, Gargauth and more beside; not Helm the Watcher; Helm the Protector; Helm the Steadfast. Do not trust this… this 'dark Helmite'. His words are twisted. Poison. He follows the will of another god, foolishly unknowing, or worse; with the full awareness of a dark god's concent...
I urge you People of Jiyyd; do not be so trusting in these dark times. A man may claim to voice the will of a benign deity, he may bare the symbols of a benign deity, he may even have convinced himself that such is the truth. But his words, his heart, his mind may be False and will show themselves for what they are. Unknowingly or knowingly such a person may be the pawn of a dark god.
I believe this masked stranger, who so feels the need to hide his face, is False. Do not trust his lies. Do not trust his poisoned words, nor give heed to his silken tongue. Already he has bent the ear of the loyal Helmite Rando and much pain he has caused.
Do not be too quick to hold Rando accountable for the tragedy that occured here. His only crime was to trust one who claimed to be the Herald of Helm. Did Rando show poor judgement of character? Yes. Yes he did. Did he turn his blade against his allies? Indeed he did. Rando will show the scars of his poor judgement for the rest of his life and no doubt needs must atone for his sins. But, misguided as he was, he believed he was following the dictates of Helm through one of the Watcher's Chosen, as he has believed in the past, and for that at least he can be commended. In his Heart he thought himself True.
Do not judge Rando; that is Helm's perogative to be dictated through his true clergy. Nay; help to teach him the error of his ways so that such as this never occurs again. He was merely the tool of this… Dark Helmite. I say it is he who is accountable for the misfortune that occured here. It is he, with his honeyed words, that turned Rando's blade against the Sunite. It is he that, in the quest for Law and Order, brought Chaos to the streets of Jiyyd.
Do not shelter this supposed Helmite, for he would only plot against ye.
Do not offer him respite, for he would only nurture his darkness.
Do not offer him mercy, for his dark heart would only consume ye all were it able.
Be Watchful good folk of Jiyyd._
Aledhan takes a breath and glances about the square, then with nary another word he turn on his heel and strides out the Western Gate, marching towards Peltarch…
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Rando wrote
@ebe6e5c25e:
Rando makes the point to those moaning that a priest of helm ordered him to act, a Helmite obeys the law. The priest in question is a priest of Helm. Followers of Helm obey a priest. Simple really
Rolan points out that this helmite priest isnt the law and doesnt dictate how the law should be upheld in Jiyyd, that is the councils job. If he had a concern he should have brought it to thier attention and let them deal with it. Simple really.
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Rando makes the point to those moaning that a priest of helm ordered him to act, a Helmite obeys the law. The priest in question is a priest of Helm. Followers of Helm obey a priest. Simple really
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Zyphlin ponders in his glowling blue lettering?
"Amana isn't a priest? I must've just imagined that healing and blessing I've gotten numerous times in the name of helm, the creatures he's struck down in the name of, and the number of time he's risked his life guarding the town in the name of Helm. Silly me and misunderstanding, of COURSE he must not be a priest."
Rolls his eyes as he finishes writing, before erasing it and going on
"Next he is going to say Kanen and Shane weren't really helmite paladins either. Good to know the looneys are out and about"
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Oh, a smartarse. Guud. Den eill ave two te "educate". Ei seggest ye check ye rank in yer cherch.
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Accept my punishment? I only did this to prove to the rest how evil you and your friend are…I didn't do anything that deserves punishment. You're the one who insulted me, by saying that all I do is lie on my back and give it to men for free.
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Scutum listens intently to the descriptions of accounts and explanations and justifications for the numerous acts of violence between town citizens. She retreats to the Town Council building. An hour later, a notice is posted by the Head Councilman Lens.
@5d541f64f2=Lens:
Hear ye, hear ye!
The Council will hold a hearing pending the outcome of the trial of Uthger, son of Rathgar, to investigate and possibly issue charges of murder and/or attempted murder against the following individuals:
Lyte Bry'Gaede
Rando
Priest of Helm, name to be determined
Gonnar Domne
SilMore names may be added, as events and accounts come to light. During these times of war, such behavior is intolerable, and may qualify as sedition. We have enough to worry about between constant orc attacks, the threat of the crystal cultists, duergar in the region, and lately even frost giant attacks, not to mention the strain the influx of refugees is putting on our food stores, infrastructure, and other services, without having to worry about townsfolk slaughtering each other over slights and taunts. We ask that General Grag, Amana, and Just'ene discuss this serious state of affairs to make recommendations to the Council as directed.
-Jiyyd Council
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Listen up, do nae think dis be a act ef followers ef Helm. Rando be excommunicated frem te church by Head preist Amana. Who ever te other preist be he ave nae power te reinstate Rando te de church. Ye judge te Church e Helm by amana, nae by sun renegade preist and rando.
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after he cools down a bit Rolan chuckles slightly as everyone talks
That fool has done it again, piss off Jirka….what an idiot. I hope she finishes him off this time for good, I will love to watch him get his arse beat a second time by her. Wont be much of a fight though.
As for attacking legion members....now alot of us have a score to settle with him, hope he is ready for a very painful life. I warned him not to touch my friends before....he obviously didnt listen.
shakes his head slightly then walks away laughing and saying the word idiot over and over again
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Before the fight, Yolanda could be seen trying to dissuade Belade from spiting Rando any further.
When it was clear this wasn't going to be resolved without someone being beaten up, she withdrawed, muttering about "little children" and "he's not worth the damn trouble"
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:: Gonnar's version::
I was hopping the discussion won't end in a fight….and in fact in didn't at first, because Belade didn't strike back Rando....But I could not see her dying again so I charged into Rando....he beat me up, too... but my good friend Kaax tried to help me and attack the evil Rando while someone I dont remember healed me....
When I woke up I saw Rando fighting with Kaax, and after kaax beeing knock down he attacked my very loved Blue Eyes ( Sil ) , I could not permit it...I took out my bow and shoot...and maybe luck, maybe I have really good aim...I hit him right at the neck ((dealing nice 26hp damage with a critical sneak attack)) and beat him down....noone touches Blue Eyes...noone......
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Jirka is seen talking to some of the people involved
"Ei warned Rando when he move up ere. HE better clear is act up er eil ave te "talk" te him again about how te behave in Jiyyd. This nae Nerwick, him nae te law. Ana nae un be attackin friends e mine… NAEUN! "
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Following the fight, among one of the many discussions of the event, a startling voice seems to interject into a commoner's conversation. The commoners see no source of the voice, and are unsure where the voice comes from, but the message is clearly heard.
"Funny sight, that. I always thought Helm was a god of protection, not law. In fact, I recall lines like 'protect the weak, poor, injured and young, and do not sacrifice them or others for yourself.' Also thought Helm was more concerned with loyalty than personal honor… so why'd Rando choose the dark loud mouth over his soldier? None of my business mind you, I'm a bystander... Just find the whole ordeal funny that no one seems to know Helm in a town where Shane once lived, and the temple still stands, is all."
The commoners, obviously startled, frantically look around, but still see nothing. As the voice finishes the calming sounds of Jiyyd's farms are the only thing that remains, and the commoners look at each other oddly, before spreading the rumour of the mysterious voice.
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* Hearing the story of the fight, Foilir frowns. Once again he has missed the opportunity to use his boot on some self righteous book thumpers and legion fodder.*
" <d>Me nae really care about yeh gods anna all dat shite.. but teh loosen summa legion teeth, anna crack spines of a few book thumpers… Ohh sound like a gud bar brawl of old..."</d>
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The generally pleasant and even tempered red headed Major of the Legion, Lyte Bry'Gaede, speaks with an even voice, that belies the fire shining brightly in her eyes.
"For many years now I have dwelt in Jiyyd, defending it's walls, making friends with the folk who live here. They are a kind and generous people, full of warmth, and seldom do I see a spat, let alone a real bloody brawl.
Let it be known that in all my time here, I have never once lifted my sword against another citizen or visitor to Jiyyd.
Ever.
I reserve that for a special evil…
..and it happened this day.
A person I have never seen, or at least, whose armor and helm I have never seen, was in the company of Rando, supposed Legion friend, and another third, witless sort of individual.
Together the three did nothing but look for someone weaker than they to accost and bully. No one in town had any wish whatsoever to argue with them, they forced a fight with the Paladin Belade, insulting her integrity, inferring her Goddess was a whore, calling her coward, and generally acting with such bullyness I could scarely believe I was seeing it in Jiyyd. They continued at this for hours, with her unmoving, trying to resist their never ending taunts.
This masked priest was clearly the instigator, acting as if he was a warrior, challenging all and everyone to break a law, and stupidly telling others to "arrest" anyone saying anything he didnt particularly like.
The evil he exudes is obvious, and I did not need Belade to check him to know that truly, here was a black heart.
Together, these three tormented the Paladin's pride and honor as far as she could stand it. These three bullies then challenged her to combat, and surrounded by them, with no chance of winning against admittedly mighty Rando, she trudged with them out of town to a sure death.
Elrien, Sil and I stood aghast, hardly believing such nonsense was happening in Jiyyd.
I followed, having already decided that if Rando struck this innocent woman, the Priest who was behind it would face a force of good, and would need to have more than an evil heart and a big mouth to prevail.
Bullys have a way of being utter cowards, and so it was with this large talking priest.
Rando attacked the Paladin, and I made known to the Priest that he would be fighting me. He refused to answer as fear gripped his black heart. I challenged him again to fight, stepped forward to him, and offered him the first blow, and called him a coward.
He back away, scared of an actual fight with real weapons, as Rando continued to beat the blazes out of the Paladin who had never looked for any trouble, who seemed to have decided resisting was futile. The people of the town were now angry at the three evil cads, and an foul mood seemed to take hold.
I repeatedly challenged the slovenly priest, calling him names. His kind shirks at a real challenge, but still I was amazed that instead of defending himself, he whined for Rando to aid him."
Lyte adds some mantis like moves to the story as she speaks
"I let go with one on the priest's thick head, to encourage him to fight like a man.
Rando hit me unexpectedly, and I could scarcely believe it. I hollered to Rando that I had no quarrel with him, but instead with his rat-like friend, and he seemed to be undecided and hesitated.
I busted the priest a good one, one that was intended to hurt, a lot. He squeaked and ran. I hit him one for Belade's Goddess Sune, and another for Mielikki, and a fourth for Helm, for having to put up with such an unlikable evil skunk.
Arrows were now flying around, and others were fighting, but I paid no heed. The priest kept scrambling like the rat he was, and I kept bashing dents in his dishonorable, useless black armor, getting angrier with each strike at the mans total lack of spine.
He dropped, finally, like a sack of jelly to the ground. He hardly seemed worth killing, and my anger abated.
Then, Rando, who I have never had a specific quarrel with, attacked without warning, like a snake.
Why this should be, against his Legion sister, I do not know.
A priest is not a god, but whatever this evil priest is, it is clear he means more to Rando that myself or the Legion. Rando's will is his own, and I see that he does not choose good, which is sad.
I tried twice to disengage Rando, not relishing fighting with a friend of the Legion, but he left me no choice but to defend myself. It was quite a spectacle.
We battled long, and arrows and spells flew on both sides around us. Corporal Sil came to my defense with her singing, more than once, and Rando had already barkskinned himself. We both were injured badly, healed, and reinjured. To be fair, he had more to battle at once than I did, and there is no doubt that he is a mighty warrior.
At one point he quaffed a mighty potion to heal himself, and surely but slowly, his superior skills with his weapon wore me down. I saw him heading for Sil as I collapsed, but by the time I came to, Rando also was laying in a pool of his own blood.
It was a terrible display of evilry, all completely unneccesary, and everyone who was there knows that the entire cause was not the Paladin…but the cowardly evil priest and his underlings, disturbing the peace of an otherwise good town.
I am glad to have stepped up, with the Blessings of Mielikki and Sune, to show everyone this black armored priest's true colors, so that we may recognize him each and every time he sets foot in Jiyyd.
Yellow.
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Oreth is seen buying four pies and four ales, and casting about looking for Lyte, Belade, and Blueberry.
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After the fight, an angry blonde elven lass can be heard:
"Scumsucking filth, Rando and the other!
Their claims of law and duty were naught but the mewling of an infant with a cruel streak! They respect nothing but their own brutish lust for violence - they are worth less than a demon, seeking only to destroy everything with a semblance of beauty or heart. May they rot in the abyss that spawned their vile souls."
