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Tamryn Jorandur addresses anyone who assembled at the ampitheater in the Entertainment District, her armor still battered and smeared with blood and zombie slime. Two long slashes, one in the mail protecting her gut and one bisecting her breastplate, bore testament to the surpremely powerful blades that tore the metal like paper. She looked tired, exhausted in fact, but her voice was strong and her eyes burning with conviction as she spoke.
Posters to the effect, conveying the same information, were going up at the Temple of the Triumvirate and at the Temple of Helm.
"Friends, today I bear you sad news. Forces opposing Sundren and the faiths that seek to uphold the land against the threats that beset it kidnapped Hano Fetten, paladin of Torm... and Nulnius Lightbringer, Paladin of Gorm. They sent a letter demanding the release of Neradnal Ill'korash from his cell in Sundren City. The letter was signed and sent by Elric Gallows, a man who represented the killer Hennabi in a trial that I am sure most of you have not forgotten."
"I am equally sure you have not forgotten the name Neradnal; how he butchered the innocent, sank into the depths, and was ultimately captured by common people. Men and women like you, wearing Exigo colors, who did what they had to do."
"To release this monster back into the land is anathema to us, to the Helmites and to all who believe that justice should prevail. We could not accept this barter, even as there was no guarantee that we would see either of our own alive again. Sir Balthasar led me and a group of our knights to the Necropolis. The Necropolis... some of you might remember it green, and grassy, a testament to the fallen generation of heroes that made Sundren a land in which you even now take pride. It has been despoiled; overrun by undead, and it was once again so when we arrived."
"Battle was joined. In the end, we slew the guilty parties but were driven back by overwhelming undead forces. Trickery, as suspected; neither paladin was present. Doubtless, their dark masters commended them for their treachery and restored them to life, but the facts stand as presented." She fingers the edge of a gash. "I too, fell, and was borne to safety by sir Balthasar's selflessness."
"We still do not know where either Hano or Nulnius are held. We suspect them lost to us. Our enemy threatened their very souls in their letter -- sacrifices to the Black Hand." Her eyes harden. "But such is the risk borne by every paladin, and gladly. To accede to the demands of terrorists and liars would be to demean their memory. They would have had it so; we but honor them. Turning loose another murderer is not an option, and never has been."
Tamryn's eyes sweep the crowd. Her legs are as water; she can feel her back cramping with the effort that it takes to hold it straight. Soon... soon... "Do you expect me to preach at you? To tell you that taking the gifts of those who mean you harm is wrong? To exhort you to fight impossible foes? How can I? I have no authority to..." She coughs. "...to tell you any of that. Look at me! I am exhausted. I am battered. When I move, my joints are sticky with my own dried blood. I am mortal, flawed. Weak. And... I am no paladin. I am afraid. I am deathly afraid for my friends."
" ... but to feel fear ... that is not wrong. It is natural. It is human. What is wrong is to bow to the fear, to let it control our minds and bodies. To let it take away our lives while our bodies still breathe."
"You can fight this." She does her best to meet the eyes of everyone who is listening, even if it's only a streetsweep and the town criar. It needs to be said. "Send up a cry of protest for our friends. Tell everyone that you will not stand for these ... terrorist tactics, these threats against mens' immortal souls. Ask for our friends back. As with... Neradnal... the fight will not be won by those in the shiny armor with the glowing white horses..."
"...it will be won by you. Sundren."
Tamryn draws in another ragged breath. Just... keep going... "I know that there are people in need. I know that children stave while the military parades. I have heard you. ...if... you have need... see me afterwards, at the Lanterns... I'll give you what you need, from my own purse, if you'll just talk to me. Tell me what concerns you. Tell me what you think. I'll listen."
With that, she stumbles down from the stage and sneaks a Potion of Lesser Restoration. It's enough to clear her head and dismiss some of the cramping as she makes her way wearily towards the inn.
Posters to the effect, conveying the same information, were going up at the Temple of the Triumvirate and at the Temple of Helm.
"Friends, today I bear you sad news. Forces opposing Sundren and the faiths that seek to uphold the land against the threats that beset it kidnapped Hano Fetten, paladin of Torm... and Nulnius Lightbringer, Paladin of Gorm. They sent a letter demanding the release of Neradnal Ill'korash from his cell in Sundren City. The letter was signed and sent by Elric Gallows, a man who represented the killer Hennabi in a trial that I am sure most of you have not forgotten."
"I am equally sure you have not forgotten the name Neradnal; how he butchered the innocent, sank into the depths, and was ultimately captured by common people. Men and women like you, wearing Exigo colors, who did what they had to do."
"To release this monster back into the land is anathema to us, to the Helmites and to all who believe that justice should prevail. We could not accept this barter, even as there was no guarantee that we would see either of our own alive again. Sir Balthasar led me and a group of our knights to the Necropolis. The Necropolis... some of you might remember it green, and grassy, a testament to the fallen generation of heroes that made Sundren a land in which you even now take pride. It has been despoiled; overrun by undead, and it was once again so when we arrived."
"Battle was joined. In the end, we slew the guilty parties but were driven back by overwhelming undead forces. Trickery, as suspected; neither paladin was present. Doubtless, their dark masters commended them for their treachery and restored them to life, but the facts stand as presented." She fingers the edge of a gash. "I too, fell, and was borne to safety by sir Balthasar's selflessness."
"We still do not know where either Hano or Nulnius are held. We suspect them lost to us. Our enemy threatened their very souls in their letter -- sacrifices to the Black Hand." Her eyes harden. "But such is the risk borne by every paladin, and gladly. To accede to the demands of terrorists and liars would be to demean their memory. They would have had it so; we but honor them. Turning loose another murderer is not an option, and never has been."
Tamryn's eyes sweep the crowd. Her legs are as water; she can feel her back cramping with the effort that it takes to hold it straight. Soon... soon... "Do you expect me to preach at you? To tell you that taking the gifts of those who mean you harm is wrong? To exhort you to fight impossible foes? How can I? I have no authority to..." She coughs. "...to tell you any of that. Look at me! I am exhausted. I am battered. When I move, my joints are sticky with my own dried blood. I am mortal, flawed. Weak. And... I am no paladin. I am afraid. I am deathly afraid for my friends."
" ... but to feel fear ... that is not wrong. It is natural. It is human. What is wrong is to bow to the fear, to let it control our minds and bodies. To let it take away our lives while our bodies still breathe."
"You can fight this." She does her best to meet the eyes of everyone who is listening, even if it's only a streetsweep and the town criar. It needs to be said. "Send up a cry of protest for our friends. Tell everyone that you will not stand for these ... terrorist tactics, these threats against mens' immortal souls. Ask for our friends back. As with... Neradnal... the fight will not be won by those in the shiny armor with the glowing white horses..."
"...it will be won by you. Sundren."
Tamryn draws in another ragged breath. Just... keep going... "I know that there are people in need. I know that children stave while the military parades. I have heard you. ...if... you have need... see me afterwards, at the Lanterns... I'll give you what you need, from my own purse, if you'll just talk to me. Tell me what concerns you. Tell me what you think. I'll listen."
With that, she stumbles down from the stage and sneaks a Potion of Lesser Restoration. It's enough to clear her head and dismiss some of the cramping as she makes her way wearily towards the inn.
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