Fifteen moves smoothly into a flanking position and sets to work.
Fireday gives a small, cruel smile as his blade strikes true, but wastes no time following with another blow!
"Justice."
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Ghartone was not prepared for your swift and brutal assault. You shoot and slice and hack at him, and the captain of the Technic League falls, his blood staining the walls and floor of the room.
Holg cleans his adamantine blade and let's Fireday to give the last finishing coup de grace "So, is it now the time for talking?"
The Kellid registers the researcher notes, interested to see about the Technique League plans and learn about their hideout and entrance, and picks up any valuable objects.
Knowing everyone else has one already, Holg picks up the ring of protection and fits it into one of his fingers.
Holg cleans his adamantine blade and let's Fireday to give the last finishing coup de grace "So, is it now the time for talking?"
Molly bursts out with a rude giggle as she clears the misfire in her musket, dropping one of the tools she uses.
Fifteen scoops up the access card but seems largely uninterested otherwise. Molly's giggling gets a confused look from the android.
"I'm not sure..." Fireday replies. "As I said, we may need to try and heal the Black Sovereign to get him lucid enough to listen to us, and I foolishly neglected to prepare the right spells to do so."
Holg smiles back at Molly "Ok. Then let's try to cleanse the Black Sovereign. Fireday, I count on you to make him out of the Technique Maze. And if not, I hope Kaska can claim his throne"
And looking back to Meyanda "And if he does not accept either, I will challenge him"
If we are all set, Holg looks for the way to the Black Sovereign's throne.
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"That was too easy, given that this guy was supposed to be a captain," says Meyanda. "Though we did go six against one on him."
She hefts her sword back up and says, "If Fireday manages to heal the Black Sovereign, he can prove that he's still fit to rule. If not... well, a different test for him, by Gorum."
When you are ready, you march up to the Black Sovereign's throne room. This vast hall rests directly beneath the palace’s central dome. Its curved walls arch upward to a height of eighty feet above the center of the chamber. Great smoking torches sputter on the walls amid hundreds of hanging skulls, furs, weapons, and other trophies harvested from humans, monsters, and robots alike. Over a dozen wooden feasting tables fill the hall. Looming above it all from an upraised stage is the Sovereign’s throne—a vast chair of black-pitted metal surrounded by even more trophies and mounds of tribute.
A dozen human guards and two gearsmen watch over the score of visitors feasting and celebrating here. Kevoth-Kul himself lounges on the throne, overseeing the fstivities.
As soon as the crowd notices you, the dull roar of feasting quiets as all eyes turn to you. Without even bothering to rise from his throne, Kevoth-Kul bellows across the room to you. "We were not expecting newcomers! Well, don't just stand there, step forth and introduce yourselves. Tell your Sovereign why you think yourselves so important that you should interrupt my feast!"
Molly eyes the man's sword and covers a smirk with her hand. "Definitely compensating for a lack of ... something?" she whispers to Fifteen.
"Are you suggesting that he has a large sword because his manhood is insufficient to please a woman?" Fifteen asks, likely louder than she should. "You do know that there is no relationship between the male sex organ and other parts of the body? He has big feet but that does not correlate to anything else."
She finally seems to notice the looks her little speech has attracted...
Holg observes the feast and takes good note of the guards and the gearsmen "We did not know there was a feast. Perhaps we should come at a different moment"
"We are the Red Talons, one of the small Kellid tribes in your dominion. There is important information you need to be aware of. And we came in the hopes to discuss it with the Sovereign of all Numeria" the Kellid leans over his adamantine greatsword showing up the group is also armed "Perhaps with a bit more of privacy"
Molly snorts with laughter and steps slightly behind her wife to hide her mirth. "You really need to learn how to use your 'aside' voice, Love," she says amidst her giggles. "That wasn't meant for the whole room - just you."
She also takes advantage of her partially concealed position to ready her musket.
"And I am Fireday, Sword-Knight of Iomedae and adopted kin to the Red Talons."
He steps forward and bows.
"It is an honor to finally meet such a famed and heroic ruler in person. As the Goddess of Rulership, as well as Justice, men like you hold a special place in The Inheritor's heart."
Kevoth-Kul sighs and rolls his eyes. "Your words are pretty, but they mean nothing!" he shouts. "I have never heard of the Red Talons, which means you must be insignificant. Nobody will miss you when you are gone. You will fight to the death for my amusement! Guards!"
The palace guards and gearsmen ready their weapons...
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"Clearly he is unable to fight himself." Fifteen says, facing Molly, but still talking louder than is needed. "Perhaps your were right and the sword is compensating for a lack of courage. There are many animals which use elaborate threat displays to avoid real conflict."
She turns to the Black Sovereign.
"It is the only logical conclusion. Too many drugs and pampering have made you weak and lazy, reliant on guard to do your work for you. It is fortunate you do not leave the palace, no-one would want to see you anyway if this is how you act."
She whirls one curved blade around in a bright ring of steel.
"If you are still a warrior then you will fight me yourself."
It may be the even tone she delivers her analysis in, but the nature of the challenge doesn't seem to penetrate the Black Sovereign's drug addled skull.
Kevoth-Kul laughs heartily. "You? You are no bigger than a twig! I could snap you in half just by looking at you! You are not even worth my time!"
"We are a small tribe only because of the plots of the Technique League and the White Scars that attacked our village for their own selfish profit. But they did not wiped us as they thought. We are back and kicking strong" Holg raises his greatsword and casts compel hostility to bring all the attention upon himself "And I will be pleased to show you why you should have us into consideration before they seize all of your power and land"
Spotting the guards arming themselves, he shouts and the Kellid's muscles increase into oversized rage.
"Nah, he can probably fight fair well," Molly says, stepping out from behind her wife and leveling her musket at the nearest guard. "The big sword is compensation for having a tiny lad."
Fireday stiffens at the Sovereign's dismissive attitude and readies his weapon.
"Iomedae is rulership, yes, Iomedae is justice...but more than anything, Iomedae is valor! Without valor, a ruler has nothing. So I ask you, Kevoth-Kul...do YOU have valor still?" He says, pointing the crescent at the Black Sovereign, "Or has the Technic League left you with nothing?"
He narrows his eyes, trying to see if showing some spine might make the tyrant more amenable to talk.
"Valor? I still have valor!" Kevoth-Kul declares. "And the strength to defeat any challengers! You wish to test my mettle?"
He stands and draws his greatsword, waving off his guards. "You will face off against me, then. And my pet golden gorgers!" He whistles, and a trio of golden-furred, eight-legged beasts scurry to the Black Sovereign's side. "Do you accept?"
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"We've met beasts such as those before," Fireday comments, doing a brief turn and displaying the pelt on his cloak. "A friendly test of arms, then? There's been enough death this day. We win, you will hear us out; you win, we will depart. Fair?"
Holg looks at Kaska and when he sees she does not react, he whispers "Let me be your champion. I will fight for the tribe"
While this happens Fireday steps in, and so, Holg looks at the android and waits to see what is Kevoth-Kul's answer.
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Meyanda brings her greatsword down from her shoulder, tosses back her hair, and says, "I look forward to it. And afterward, we feast."
"It is good! Let the challenge commence!" the Black Sovereign declares. The guests and guards in the hall clear the tables away from the center of the room, and with a growl, Kevoth-Kul hefts his adamantine greatsword and prepares to fight!
"This is truly a fight to be proud of. Gorum lend me your strength!" Holg casts channel vigor and swiftly moves 60 feet to gain Kevoth-Kul's back, offering a succulent flanking position.
Fifteen gets right up in his face, and stabs the Black Sovereign.
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Fireday plants his weapon in the ground.
"Iomedae! Grant me the fervor to show this ruler the Light!"
Then he strides forward to join Holg in flanking Kevoth-Kul!
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Molly sights in and fires. The satisfying sound of metal on metal rings through the air as the man's huge sword drops to the ground.
"See how you fare without your metal lad," she says with a smirk as she reloads.
Meyanda notes that the team is really laying into the Black Sovereign, so she hauls her sword back up onto her shoulder and says, "It seems you have lost your blade! Here, I'll fight you fairly."
Fifteen and Fireday both score hits on the Black Sovereign as they rush in to attack him. Molly shoots the sword out of his hands, causing it to clatter to the floor. Meyanda walks up and slugs Kevoth-Kul on the chin, but the burly man doesn't even flinch. Holg moves around to flank the Sovereign.
"I will crush you!" the Sovereign declares, flying into a rage. He adopts a guarded stance before swinging a heavy fist at Fifteen.
The aurumvoraxes launch themselves at Fifteen, Fireday, and Meyanda. One grabs hold of Fireday and rakes him with its claws!
Meyanda sorta struggles with the aurumvorax but can't roll well enough to do anything meaningful.
"Din't yer mum ever teach you not to hit a lady?" Molly shouts out at the man swinging at her wife. Ignoring the fact that the man doesn't have his sword anymore and is resorting to his fists, the halfling opens up with deadly precision on him.
Fifteen takes the blow without comment as her nanites spring into action and returns with a number of her own. The Black Sovereign may be strong but he has no concept of dodging, and that is a very bad thing when facing a fighter like Fifteen
"Look at me Kevoth-Kul!" focusing Gorum's mastery to display like a true Stage Combatant in the arena without doing lethal damage to the Kellid ruler, Holg hits and hits hard with the flat part of his blade.
Fireday chuckles a bit as the aurumvorax savages him.
"Was this one I wear kin to you?!" he exclaims as he tries to escape the beast.
Then he follows up by attacking back!
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Meyanda turns, annoyed, as one of the aurumvoraxes tries to claw her and says sternly, "Down!"
"Who's a good boy? Whoooo's a good boy?"
Disarmed and disoriented from the Numerian fluids he has consumed, Kevoth-Kul never really stood a chance. Multiple bullets and sword strikes bruise and batter the barbaric overlord, and with several final blows, Holg brings down the Black Sovereign! Fireday escapes from the aurumvorax's clutches, allowing Meyanda to calm down the trio of angry beasts with her wild empathy.
A stunned silence falls over the feast hall as you stand over the unconscious form of Kevoth-Kul!
Fireday marches over to the Black Sovereign and places the tip of his weapon upon the man's chest, waiting for him to stir.
When he does, he has but one question: "Do you yield?"
Kevoth-Kul groans and stares at the blade. "Yes. I yield," he grunts, shame in his eyes.
"You fought with honor, Black Sovereign. Now let's get you to your feet and tend to your wounds. Then there are things we must discuss, of great import to Numeria and your rule, for your throne is in grave danger."
He crouches down and offers Kevoth-Kul his hand.
"Well, in that case, by the Laws of the Plains, you have lost and the Red Talons won" then Holg looks towards Kaska "It has come the time to rule with less testosterone here. As their champions, we proclaim our chieftain, Kaska of Red Talons, as the new Black Sovereign and Kul-Inkit as her consort, to rule together over all of Numeria"
"Is there anyone against it in this room?" Holg raises his blade and looks authoritative rather than threatening to look for possible troublers that need further convincing "If not I do suggest you keep eating, dancing and happily talking now"
Nobody in the room dares to speak out against you. One by one, they return to their feasting. Kaska nods gratefully to Holg as she approaches the Black Sovereign's throne. Slowly, reverently, she lowers herself down upon it. A grin spreads across her face. This is the role she was born to play. All hail Kaska, the Black Sovereign of Numeria!
Once she's assured herself that her wife hasn't taken an grievous wounds, Molly watches the transfer of the throne with respectful silence. She gives Kaska a simple bow once she takes the seat.
"That chair doesn't look at all comfortable," she whispers to Fifteen. "I wouldn't want my bottom sitting on it."
Fifteen mirrors her wife's actions, bowing respectfully to the new Black Sovereign as her hand seeks out her wife's.
"It is said that all thrones are hard so that the ruler doesn't become too comfortable." She whispers back. "The ideal is sound but the practise is probably not."
Meyanda is busy kneeling down and rubbing the tummies of the golden gorgers.
"Just fix the poisons in Kevoth-Kul's system and it should clear up his addled brain and let him realize that he's failed his tribe and it's time to step aside for new blood."
Holg observes Kaska taking sit in the throne and grins.
Nodding to Meyanda, the Kellid kneels to the side of the fallen Kevoth-Kul "Let's see if this works..."
"Gorum, expurgate the venom of the Technic League lies and drugs from this champion of the kellids" the cleric touches Kevoth-Kul with heal.
Fireday's eyes widen at the sudden and surprisingly smooth transfer of power.
"Well...was in grave danger. Now that throne, and the danger to it is Kaska's," he says with a shrug. Then he looks at Kaska and raises his weapon in salute. "Congratulations, Sovereign Kaska. May you reign long, in peace, justice and honor. Iomedae's blessings upon you."
Then he turns back to Holg and Kevoth-Kul, figuring they still had to mollify his wounded ego after his wounded body was healed.
As Holg's magic takes effect, the haze lifts from Kevoth-Kul's mannerisms. His pupils, which had been hugely dilated, return to normal, and he blinks and shakes his head, roaring in shame and rage. "Argh! I can think clearly again--for the first time in years. I see now how the Technic League has manipulated me all this time, how they used me as a puppet while they ruled from the shadows. They must pay for their crimes against Numeria!"