The Fall From Grace

[Deleted User - 819397]

So much talk over someone who was dead! How could they babble on about someone whose story had ended? Not only that, but Oren wanted him to dismantle his creation! Dist was about to launch into a tirade when Daniel said he should keep it if he was able, and move to the courtyard. "I should be able to keep it up for another...half hour?" Doubt was evident in his voice, but he'd be dead before he admitted this whole Golem was a bad idea...besides, in the courtyard he'd be able to move around and DO something with it, so he'd be able to rationalize to the king why he'd wrecked the dining hall. However, it appeared the other Inquisitors weren't listening, and now Oren was challenging Daniel to a duel over their differing opinions. "ENOUGH!" he shrieked from his lofty perch inside his creation. "We're all Inquisitors...we can't fight each other when there's another enemy! Seriously, I'm all for playing pranks...you know that...but to do that kind of thing now...that'd be insanity...practically challenging each other to duels right now is just as ridiculous! Both plans have merit, but I for one am heading to the courtyard...I'll get more use out of my friend in a larger space. I'll crush anyone I come across that's not a friend. The rest of you do what you need to do...but don't fight now. Seriously, you have to have the cracked person tell you that...sheesh. Anyway, time's wasting, and there isn't any blood on my Golem yet!" he called, directing the behemoth in the direction of the courtyard.

 

[DeletedUser13682]

Why was Oren being so defiant? He wasn't a soldier, he was a woodsman who happened to save an idiotic Inquisitor. And he challenged Daniel to a duel. Before he could admonish Oren again, Dist did that very thing. Sure he lumped Daniel in as well, but he meant well. "Thank you, Dist. I'll be right behind you. Oren, after this is over, I'm getting you off the Inquisitors." Daniel followed Dist out to the battle in the courtyard.

 

[DeletedUser31931]

Oren cursed Daniel as they ran off. It was just him defending the chamber now, but he couldn't leave it. One of them had to defend the King. If Daniel attempted to get Oren off the Inquisitors then Oren could easily do the same. Daniel had abandoned his post go seek some fun in the courtyard whilst Oren held the King's post. Also, Oren had been put in charge of the defence yet Daniel was openly questioning his orders. The man was a fool. He had is good traits, but he was still being a fool. Oren made a mental note to speak to Raerrith and explain the situation after this was over.

 

[DeletedUser]

The Courtyard

The three sides were decimating each other. After about ten minutes only 30 or so remained, eleven grey warriors. The rest were cloaked in black, mixed Brystkel and Luchper. One of the black-robed cultists suddenly leapt towards the guards, making a swing with his double-ended halberd. The blow caught Crux in the head. As the figure landed amongst the guards and began to kill them, Curx sank to his knees as a large part of his face slid off, sliced off completely by the blow.

The King’s Chamber

Cladenhon was hardly consoled by Oren’s offer of a fight to the death, nor was he enthusiastic in response to Daniel’s rational argument. Gripping his sword tightly Cladenhon launched himself at Oren once Daniel and Dist had moved away, letting loose a primeval scream as he did so.

Daniel and Dist

The trip down to the courtyard was uneventful, however the remainder of the castle guard was scrambling to join the fight, well outnumbering the cultists.
The duo arrived at a large entrance into the courtyard. On the opposite side a large group of guards led by Raerrith and Sir Krane were fending off an attack from within. In the middle of the courtyard a mix of grey and black cloaked figures were fighting an apparently three-way battle. Interestingly the grey figures seemed to barely react to blows against them, which merely resulted in ash falling to the floor from their bodies.
The man and Torin were already here, and were strolling out into the courtyard. With a deft swing of the Widowmaker, the man decapitated a black-robed cultist, as Torin ran another through.

 

[DeletedUser31931]

(OOC: Checked with tiger, it's fine.)

Oren sidestepped Cladenhon's charge before parrying his first blow. It was clear the man had gone mad with grief and could not be reasoned with for now. "I apologise for any damage I do to you sir." Oren said before parrying another blow, this time though he looped his sword around flicking Cladenhon's sword arm up sending his sword flying away. Then he smacked the man's hands with the flat of his sword, knocking them out, disbalancing him, and with a heavy thud he smashed his boot with full force into Cladenhon's chest sending him flying into a wall.

 

[DeletedUser35174]

Krane saw the figures slice and hack at each other till about 30 remained, then one of the Black robed figure jumped towards the guards and sliced at Crux. Crux fell to his knees his face completely sliced. As the attacker started killing guards Krane ran to meet him, a few steps away from the attacker and Krane stabbed the man, aiming for his heart.

 

[Deleted User - 819397]

Dist cackled as he saw the large scale fight in an open area. "FINALLY, I can do something with this thing!" he shrieked with glee, causing the behemoth to move as quickly as he could. "Listen you ignorant savages, and you shall hear the beautiful sound of your demise!" he called to the enemy as the Golem moved ever closer.

 

[DeletedUser13682]

As Daniel entered the courtyard, the last great battle of the night was unfolding. The two rival cults were fighting each other, with the Royal Guard fighting both. Raerrith and Krane were leading an attack on thr far side of the yard and the mystery benefactors were slaying cultists left and right. Dist gave a strange battlecry as he led the golem to the fighting. Daniel gave a simple yell as he also joined the battle, swords swinging away at the cultists.

 

[DeletedUser]

Oren

Upon his meeting with the wall Cladenhon fell unconscious. The lobby was a picture of carange. Two dead inquisitors, ten dead guards, two dead cultists outside in the corridor, a dead assassin and an unconscious nobleman.
Now Oren could finally relax. The battle had moved away, and chances were it wouldn't be coming back.

Sir Krane

Before Krane's blow punched deep into the cultists' chest, destroying his heart, the cultist lashed out at Raerrith, who had his back turned. The halberd's blade slammed into the High Inquisitor's neck, severing his spinal cord. Raerrith collapsed to the ground in a heap, unquestionably dead.

The Courtyard

Dist's golem lumbererd forward into the fray, having a massive impact. The wide blows from the stone arms cast the enemy aside like leaves on the wind, killing many.
With the combined force of the increasing number of guardsmen, the golem, the remaining Inquisitors and the grey-clad warriors soon enough the number of cultists was reduced to zero. Twelve grey warriors stood in formation behind the man and Torin, as others looked around in awe at the courtyard, paved in flesh and blood.
"Gentlemen," Began the man. "I thank you for your assistance tonight in bringing these pieces of filth to their justice. Your help will not be forgotten when all is falling. With that I bid you goodnight." Instantly the grey clad figures, followed by the man and Torin ran up onto the ramparts and leapt off down into the town, disappearing into the night.
"Victory is ours!" Shouted one of the guardsmen, who was soon joined in cheer by many others. However for every man who kicked the corpses and cheered, there was one who collapsed from exhaustion.

 

[DeletedUser31931]

Oren could hear the cheers from down in the King's Chamber. "It's over," he sighed to himself, "It's finally over." Then he raised his voice. "My King, the attackers are dead, we have won the day, it is safe to come out now. Although I warn you, it is not a pretty sight." The fight had been long and the cost had been high. Shyther and Leo were dead, the Cladenhon's family name would be ruined once the secret got out, and many families would be grieving tonight and there were still many threats laid hidden in the future, but for today, they had won, and Oren intended to enjoy himself for once.

 

[Deleted User - 819397]

The Golem crumbled, Dist gently floating out and coming to rest on the ground, pale with exhaustion. "We did it, hah...hahaha..." he murmured with tired satisfaction. "Well then, if our work is done, I need to sleep...probably for a week or so. I haven't used my powers that much in so long it's kind of sad how long it's been. Good work Daniel...sorry you got cut up a bit...I'll put in a good word for you when I wake up...Oren'll likely follow through on his threat...and you certainly don't deserve to be kicked out of the Sentinels...ok, I have to go or...or...or....zzzzzzz" The mad animator had fallen asleep in the courtyard, surrounded by corpses and the crumbled remains of his Golem, sitting in his chair, legs sprawled awkwardly because the seat's legs had been cut off. He had done his work, and now it was time to sleep.

 

[DeletedUser13682]

The battle was over, the day won. The courtyard, and the rest of the castle, was filled with the bodies, blood, and ash of the combatants. Though the forces of the King were the victors, His Royal Guard made up the majority of the carnage. Daniel walked through all this, wearing nothing but his sleep shorts and the blood and ash of his fallen foes, and a bit of his own, the chest wound was still bleeding and the crossbow wound had opened up a bit.

As Daniel walked back to Dist, he accidentally kicked a familiar head. Raerrith was dead. This relieved Daniel; he wouldn't have to worry about Raerrith revenging if word of how the dead lords had been made to talk got out. But still, the Scourge and the Resurrector knew, and if Daniel was to replace Raerrith, either he would be their slave or their end. Daniel would take care of that later. For now, Dist needed attention. After a moment of lucidity and promising to support Daniel against Oren, Dist fell asleep, otherwise unharmed, thanks to the golem. A couple guardsmen passed by. "Get Inquisitor Dist to his room, carefully, then report back to Inquisitor Krane. He's in charge of cleanup here." After the guardsmen had confirmed, Daniel headed back to the King's chamber.

Oren was standing in the room, Lord Cladenhon was unconscious. Daniel ignored Oren and knocked on the door to the King's safe room. "King Herenduil, Inquisitor Blackburn reporting. We have won the day, all assassins and cultists are dead. We have suffered heavy casualties, including High Inquisitor Raerrith. If you would like to observe the damage, I would be more than willing to escort you."

 

[DeletedUser31931]

Oren saw as Daniel arrived. After Daniel called out Oren spoke "Daniel, I apologise for earlier. I was simply doing what I thought best for the King. If us Inquisitors can't even work together then how are we meant to protect the King? Comrades?" He stuck out his hand and waited for the man to shake it, or to reject his offer, in which case, he could say he tried.

 

[DeletedUser13682]

Before the King could exit, Oren offered an apology and his hand in comradeship. Daniel looked Oren straight in the eye, through the blood and ash that had run over them. He leaned close to Oren, barely a few inches from his face. "Oren," Daniel spoke in a barely audible whisper." if I am to count you comrade, I must know you are on my side. Raerrith is dead, and I intend to take his b place. He was a horrible man who did horrible things. I need to get the Inquisitors away from that. Are you with me?"

 

[DeletedUser31931]

Oren listened to Daniel's speech and took a moment to take in the news of Raerrith's death before replying "I believe that the Inquisitors should be led by honour, I'll back you, on the condition that I take Second in Command, we made a good team the night of the banquet. I don't think that Raerrith was intentionally evil, I think he did the wrong things for the right reasons. However, I am with you to lead the Inquisitors to a more honourable position so long as my previous condition is fulfilled. What say you? Have we a deal?"

Oren had expressed himself plainly to the guardsman, he knew that he would not be able to take Head Inquisitor, as Daniel would gain the backing of the Royal Guard, whilst Oren might get the nobles considering he had been the adopted son of one of the leading nobles however it wouldn't be enough.

 

[DeletedUser13682]

Daniel was glad that Oren was on his side, though not so glad that it required him to be Daniel's second. He had wanted Dist to be his second in command. But a moment of thought saw a solution. "You and Dist. You will have all physical world issues, and Dist will have magical world issues. Does that work for you?" Daniel stuck his hand out, hoping Oren would shake it.

 

[DeletedUser31931]

"I know nothing about that, so it's a deal." Oren said before shaking Daniel's hand. "Also, I wouldn't really trust him too much with tactics, he's a good person, but you do remember where he first came from don't you?" Oren liked Dist, he just wasn't really inclined to trust him. "Where is Briccone? I haven't seen him at all, he appears to have vanished from the castle?"

 

[DeletedUser13682]

Oren accepted, filling Daniel with relief. Oren would be able to get nobles to support Daniel, Dist, being a powerful sorcerer, had enough power of his own to give him the weight of half the court. Daniel would have the Royal Guard. Speaking of Royal Guard, Uurden was dead as well, leaving the Royal Guard lleaderless. That was a position that would be best filled by a real Guardsman for once, maybe one who was also an Inquisitor.

Daniel was interrupted from his thoughts by Oren asking about Briccone. "He was a traitor. Raerrith let a criminal in, and it was about to bite him. I had some auxiliary search for him. They were recalled I think. I'll find him, and make him pay."

 

[DeletedUser31931]

Oren heard what had happened in terms of Briccone and shook his head. "I knew he was no good. Once we've finished the clean up and made sure it's safe I'd like to go after him. If that's alright with you, also, I don't suppose you'll be wanting me to call you sir, I don't know if I can stretch that far." The last bit Oren smiled, showing he was just having a laugh with Daniel. "Anyway, I suppose we better take the king for a walk around, you up for it, chief?"

 

[DeletedUser13682]

Daniel chortled at Oren. "Of course not. I'm still Daniel. And yes. I want that illegitimos found. If you want to find him, find him." Before Daniel knocked on the King's door again, he looked in a mirror. He was covered in gore and not much more. "By Stacia, I don't think I'm fit for touring a king. But it might add to the scene. What do you think Oren?"