"I don't think it is talking about Izrador OR the gods from before Israfel... I can't explain it but I feel like we need to research it perhaps... I want to make it go but at the same time I wonder if we can't garnish more information about it." Xochtli explains, seeming genuinely concerned.
Fleur looks at Xochtli long and hard, then shrugs. "If it's not hurting you, I agree that getting more information about it and from it if possible is a good thing. The fact that the legate doesn't want us to learn what it has to teach, is perhaps a sign that we need to learn more."
She looks tellingly at the legate, then finally asks him openly, "You are the first legate who we have met who is both rational and sane, rather than a murderous fanatic. What makes you different from the rest? Why are you so diametrically opposite your colleagues in your attitude and demeanor?"
The Legate smiles, a smile mixed with amusement and sadness. "Before I answer that (and I shall, miss, make no mistake), I have a question for you lot: why do you seek so hard for lost gods? What is it that you hope to find?"
We seek to restore the intended order of this world and the gods place within it. To remove Izrador's blighted touch from this world. To free the people of this world to find their own destinies, as opposed to the serving as food for Izrador.
"There isn't a place I can go without being under suspicion for what I am, it's something I want to change."
Kers glares at the Legate. The shadow owes me in blood. I will collect. He does not elaborate.
The Legate sighs heavily. "Let me tell you a tale. Imagine, if you will, that you seek something beyond yourself, some purpose or sense of wholeness. You try craft, you try family, but nothing works. Something is missing from your life and you cannot name it. Your seeking drives you to long nights of thought, long avenues of ideas who never amount to much. It gnaws at you, consumes you, drives you ever onward. Then one day, you find that which you seek. Belonging, purpose. But that belonging and purpose flows from a source so dark and wild and terrible and beautiful that it flows into those empty places and fills them with itself. You suddenly find exactly what you wish: a sense of belonging, but your own self is so diminished by your search that you end up losing what little you began with in the joining. You are a snowflake in the blizzard. That is why my fellow Legates are so often zealots and madmen. They have never had enough of themselves to even try to stand up to the will of a God. You cannot know what it feels like, for if you did, you would not wonder." He takes a moment to pause and stare at Xocthtli, as if watching her for any sign of madness.
"But for myself? I never sought such a joining. I was given to the church as a young man, already full of myself and headstrong. I committed some minor crimes, theft and the like and my choice of punishments was to become a novice in service to Izrador or lose my hands. I chose service. But for me, Izrador is not 'evil' or 'vile' as you seem to believe. Izrador is a force of nature. He is the hunger of the predator in the night. He is the shadow of the hawk over the mouse. He is the drive to live, to survive despite all else. He is darkness, yes, but it is the darkness of nature, the darkness that drives us to reach the last few inches to take the rope and haul ourselves up from the chasm. All things die, children. All things age and fade and are consumed in their time. Izrador is the natural end. Izrador is the hunger and the fear and the will to live. Evil is a term of men, a contrivance in the eye of the beholder. If the servants of Izrador have done you harm, I sympathize. But think not too harshly of madmen, children. They have punished themselves far worse than you could ever punish them."
So what now... We just accept what you say to us and we go back to our lives? Kers asks somewhat incredulously.
"I cannot allow you to follow that... thing's advice. The longer it lives in your friend, the most harm it will do to her, until she eventually is consumed by it. She's better off dead than that. But I never expected you would have any trust, children. That's why I sent for them." He suddenly gestures upward and you see orcs slinking close to the edge of the crater. Instead of the hulking orcs you've seen before, these are dressed in greys and blacks, shadowy outfits fit for sneaking. They're leaner as well, armed with light blades and some sort of throwing blades. They move nearly silently, and there seems to be at least 10 of them arrayed around the crater rim.
Fleur whispers under her breath... "Assassins..."
It was expected
Israfel assumes a defensive stance, staff begining to arc with power.
What do we do now legate? Do we fight and die? Or is there further discourse?
Kers will lunge for the Legate, and try to use him as a bargaining chip to get us out of here.
"That explains why he was so chatty. He is just as bad if not worst then the rest of the legates, distracting us with his so called explanations while we get surrounded." Xochtli ready her bow for combat.
Fleur's hand slides slowly toward her weapons as Kers grabs the Legate, holding his arm tightly. Israfel readies herself, he staff glowing with arcane power and Israfel readies her bow, while something inside her begins to whisper.
The Legate smiles a tight thin smile. "You did not trust me, children, do you think I would not act the same? Had you acted in good faith, I would have had no need of such measures. But since you did not, I do. Unhand me, son. I assure you, the Oraki above will not hesitate to destroy all of you should I fall. My safety is, after all, merely tangential to their mission."
Let him go Kers
We accomplish nothing dead and I very much want the truth of that ... thing. Either Izrador has fallen further than any imagined or the gods have. Both place this world at risk.
"Don't you get it Israfel, these orcs aren't here for his safety, they are here to kill us just like the rest of him. Kers, don't let him go, we need to kill them."
Kers looks at the orcs, and from Israfel and Xochtli. The man seems to strain at the required calculation. Suddenly he says, as if having reached a decision, Asking questions is not an act of bad faith. And you had no idea what we would say or do when you brought these assassins to kill us. in fact you still don't. But you are the one in bad faith here and like my father said, it only takes one turd to spoil the whole pot of soup. Your lies make me distrust even the things I cannot verify. If this is important to stop us, you are no simple functionary as you lead us to believe. If it is not important to stop us, and you are doing unimportant work, then those killers are more show than anything else. I think you are a big deal, and I think I will hold you close, and I think you had best send those killers back into the woods or you shall end here. And failing your God, well... I think your afterlife might be an unpleasant affair. Call them off now. Then we can all talk again. You see, it is the idea that asking questions is a show of bad faith that makes us hate your bastard God.
The Legate opens his mouth to respond to Kers, seemingly relishing his opportunity to lecture to a captive audience, but stops as a sudden TWANG and THUD sound from above. As if a signal, more twangs and thuds follow and suddenly the orcs above are set upon by elves wrapped in green and brown clothing, wielding bows and wicked swords! The Legate freezes, but four orcs slide down the crater to attack!
Kers
Xochtli
Fleur
Israfel
Orcish Assasins
Round 1:
21 Israfel
17 Kers
10 Fleur
6 Orcs
5 Xochtli
Fleur maneuvers to get a flank, preferably with Xochtli, but if not, then with whoever is closest. She strikes the orc that lies between herself and her ally.
Kers thrusts the Legate to the ground. If you make a single move I will deliver you to your Gods tender mercies myself glaring at the man. He arranges his weapons and seeks an opening.
Maneuvering to engage the orc closest to Fleur, Israfel swings her staff in both hands, energy arcing from the weapon as it misses the orc.
Keep the Legate alive Kers, we'll hold the orcs.
Xochtli pulls out a dagger as she rushes to the an orc to flank with Fluer and thrusts it in to him.
Round 1:
21 Israfel
17 Kers
10 Fleur
6 Orcs
5 Xochtli
Orc 1 11/34
Orc 2 34/34
Orc 3 34/34
Orc 4 34/34
Israfel moves to flank with Fleur, but her own strike is off, possibly due to the shadowy orcs. Kers grabs the Legate and thrusts him to the ground, snarling his warning. The Legate nods and says "I have no interest in dying this day!" Fleur, seeing her opportunity, slashes viciously at the first Orc, inflicting a terrible wound.
The 1st Orc, still reeling from his wound, stabs viciously at Fleur! , but his attack is feeble as his side bleeds!
The 2nd and 3rd Orcs step to flank Israfel, stabbing at her viciously! and However, Israfel sidesteps one stab and blocks the other with a quick flip of her staff. The 4th Orc stands back, studying the situation.
Xochtli, seeing Fleur attacked and sensing opportunity, steps behind Orc 1 and stabs him, her sword seeking his vitals. Only his armor saves him as he turns the blade aside and keeps it from penetrating too deeply!
Round 2:
21 Israfel
17 Kers
10 Fleur
6 Orcs
5 Xochtli
Fleur again attacks from flank with Israfel, slashing viciously at the orc.
Kers tries to keep his eyes on the Legate, but concern for Fleur forces action. He looks for a flanking position on an unhurt orc and swings his ax with deadly determination.
Finding herself surrounded, Israfel assumes a defensive stance, attempting to strike the one Fleur has engaged.
Israfel's staff whirls, keeping her foes at bay. Kers' axe flies with a grace and speed of its own, cutting deeply into one of the assassins. Fleur slashes accurately, cutting deeply into the orc, but barely missing a vital artery. Still, the orc is pale, bleeding from multiple wounds and nearly dead.
The badly wounded orc launches an attack at Fleur, , but it misses poorly. Of the two orcs surrounding Israfel, one attacks her and one attacks Kers . Neither one lands, while the last orc stands back, watching the battle.
Orc 1 1/34
Orc 2 27/34
Orc 3 34/34
Orc 4 34/34
ROUND 3:
21 Israfel
17 Kers
10 Fleur
6 Orcs
5 Xochtli
Xotchli will continue her attack on the same orc.
and for round 3 if the orc is up, subtract the sneak attack and +2 if its not and she will move to the next nearest for an attack.
Fleur again attacks the badly wounded orc, hoping to bring it down. If it's already down, she will move to another, still trying for flank.
Kers sets his jaw and takes another swing. This is like chopping wood.
Seeing Kers strike the first orc, Israfel turns her attention towards her other opponent, swinging her staff in both hands.
ROUND 3:
21 Israfel
17 Kers
10 Fleur
6 Orcs
5 Xochtli
Orc 1 DEAD
Orc 2 19/34
Orc 3 25/34
Orc 4 34/34
Israfel's attack is barely deflected, but Kers is able to cut down the first orc like a woodsman fells trees! Fleur turns her attention to the other Orc troubling Israfel, and cuts into it deeply, spraying a gush of blood across the crater. Xochtli sets her jaw and lunges at the third orc, cutting deeply into him!
The second orc swings at Israfel , while the third orc ducks under the blade of Xocthli to flank Israfel! He swings at her: , hitting her and opening a vicious wound! , which bleeds freely.
The last orc studies the situation, holding back, then drains a small bottle and disappears!
ROUND 4:
21 Israfel
17 Kers
10 Fleur
6 Orcs
5 Xochtli
Israfel continues her attack against the orc, swinging her staff in both hands.
Fleur strikes again at the orc that stands between herself and Israfel.
Kers does not consider tactics, but merely swings at the next closest opponent.
Xochtli will attack what she can, attempting to flank another.
ROUND 4:
21 Israfel
17 Kers
10 Fleur
6 Orcs
5 Xochtli
Orc 1 DEAD
Orc 2 6/34
Orc 3 25/34
Orc 4 34/34
Israfel, staggering from her wound, swings at an orc, but comes up wide. Kers hacks as well, but in the fray his axe swing goes wide. Fleur attempts to come to Israfel's aid, but her attack is foiled. It is only Xochtli whose blow lands solidly! She staggers the orc attacking Israfel, opening a grievous wound!
The orcs respond, the second one attacking Israfel , dealing damage! The third orc swings at Kers , and deals a nasty wound! damage to Kers!
The last orc, appears from thin air beside the Legate and slips his sword into the man! The Legate lets out a cry of pain as the sword blade twists! With a soft sigh, the Legate falls to the ground, his wound gaping open and bleeding out. The last orc whistles in an odd ascending note and the orcs begin to pull back, abandoning the attack.
ROUND 5:
21 Israfel
17 Kers
10 Fleur
6 Orcs
5 Xochtli
Kers ignores his own wound and rushes to the Legate to try and staunch his.
Fleur looks at the orc retreating from combat and narrows her eyes, readying an action to strike if the orc changes his mind and attacks again. She steps forward as he backs away but only 5', letting him pull further away than that, her own step forward just a warning that she is ready if he again pursues the attack.
Kers rushes to the Legate's side, but the blood flows too freely to stop. The man, pale as the light fades from his eyes, mutters a prayer to Izrador and is shocked when no healing comes. He looks at Kers and grabs him to pull him close. "My God forsakes me. Please, you must not open the seals. What lies beyond... will doom us...all..." With a last gasp he falls still, eyes staring.
Clutching her wound, Israfel sags to her knees, attempting to sing a song of healing before she loses consciousness.
HP 7/18
Temp: 4/4
I am sorry, I failed to protect the Legate. Whatever else he may have been, he believed what he told us.
Is anyone else in need of healing. I will do what I can.