Oh, and mention your height in your PM. It's kind of important. Uryens and especially DamoB will understand!
…but the ironguts unleashed a hellish torrent of blows and stomps to squash or smash eleven goblins
Also isn't there an issue re: the goblins 'failing' animosity in the turn, well, 'failing' in the sense that they rolled a 6 and moved forwards?
[High Priest Gabriele Condlumar] has in his possession a finger bone of Castriccio della Scara, an ancient Tilean hero who according to legend faced an army of shimmering, magical demons and personally struck down fifty before perishing himself. This can provide added protection in the form of increasing his ability to dispel the enemy’s magic. He hopes (soon) to retrieve the rest of della Scara’s corpse and inter it in the temple to provide what he believes will be a holy blessing for Trantio.
“No surrender, no hope of rescue, our allies will rain hellfire from the skies about your homes and we will march into Trantio, where I will skewer that pathetic pig son of yours on Le Teuer and burn your temple to the ground. You were a fool to bait me, I never forget stupid old goats like you, and know that my wrath, and that of the Golden Company, will fall upon you like wolves on sheep.”
Battle Wizard (Level 2) = 140 pts
School of Magic = Alchemy, Robe of Cathayan Silk (T&G), Dispel Scroll - (+25)
The enemy general, a strangely attired war leader (being shirtless, shoeless and in short yellow breeches, armed with a viciously curved blade)
The Skeleton saluted in the ancient Reman army way which can sometimes still be seen in certain military formations that can trace their lineage back that far.
The Skeletal officer however did break the unearthly silence that tended to permeate the area around the soldiers of Lucius Valerius Maximus's Legion. Condlumar noted, even through his miserly state, his mind ravaged by war, loss and treachery that the words were spoken in a magical fashion and not of the necromantic way of which the undead are normally re-animated.
Titus Flavius Turpio, Dominus, Pilus Prior of the Second Cohort of Legio IV Felix Invictus.
Condlumar nodded slowly, his lined face bore a half-smile.
Gabriele Condlumar, High Priest of the Goddess Myrmidia you are arrested for heresy and treason to the great god of law Solkan Invictus and the throne of the Reman Empire. You are taken into my custody in the name of the Megas Domestikos and await trial by Inquisition.
A squad of Legionaries silently trooped into a formation to the side and behind Condlumar, their ancient weapons ratting, the sound of armour on bone. They had no need to take hold of the old man physically, for Condlumar was led away towards the city, the dead of night enveloping the little party into total darkness, the moons curiously blocked from shining their lights down onto the scene where moments before they had illuminated the camp of the Compagnia del Sole.
To the officers watching, the Priest seemed to be swallowed up by the darkness.
Announcement from the Council of Remas
By Order of the Leadership of the Cerulean league and the Vermillion Legion,
For the purpose of ensuring the best possible outcome of the forth-coming peace talks between the leadership of these two mercenary factions
There shall be a temporary cessation of hostilities for the duration of turn 11 between the Cerulean league and the Vermillion Legion
No Vermillion forces will attack locations controlled by the Cerulean league, and likewise the forces of the Cerulean League will refrain from attacking lands under Vermillion control until the conclusion of the Council of Remas.
Any breach of this order may result in the failure of the talks and the immediate dissolution of the Council.
I shall re-iterate my guarantee of safe conduct. The priests of Remas have invoked the divine protection of Solkan the Avenger: any who violate the peace of Remas will suffer nothing less than total obliteration. Solkan is unforgiving and inflexible. Do not doubt his power. Nikephorus III Monomachus.
‘There is no need for such threats in my case, for I have honour enough never to stoop so low. I am a true servant of the gods, and know full well what their displeasure feels like. Myrmidia has of late abandoned me, yet I stay loyal and pray daily for her blessing to be re-bestowed upon me.
Let the noble members of this grand council be undeterred by the lies spread by those who wish to see us fail before we even have chance to meet.
If I, who have lost my son and my city and the love of my god, can come to these talks to look for future peace and prosperity, then surely the rest of those invited can put aside fears created by the petty minded gossipers and spreaders of dissension.
Whenever leaders meet there will be talk of assassination and treachery, such is the nature of many (low) men. Our servants and subjects cannot all be as noble as us. Let us lead by example and show how men of honour can behave.’
‘In so far as you are all honest men, who have never wronged me, I Gabriele Condlumar, High Priest of Myrmidia and chairman of the council of the Vermilion Legion, do hereby agree to the terms as presented.’
‘Do not speak weasel words in a chamber sanctified by Solkan the Avenger, Priest!
If you agree to the terms, say so in clear and unambiguous language.’
’I speak the plain and simple truth, uttering not one word I do not mean. I have yet to lie, and do not intend to. I say again, if you be honest men you can trust me. If you wish me to call you liars before I accept your terms, then the terms themselves would be ridiculous.
The gods can be capricious, but it is not for the Despot, a secular ruler, to decide when they are and when they are not. He would make himself ruler of the gods. I am a high priest of the church of Myrmidia, and a servant to the gods.
If you wish to tear down the treaty by claiming to misunderstand my words then it would be proof that you never intended to see the terms through. Are you so shifting as to say "Oh, you used words that expressed the need for our own honesty, that's annoying for we intended to lie. We take back what we offered." If so, then it is you who speak in 'weasel' terms.
In what way is it, or ever it shall be, appropriate to speak to a high priest in such a manner? And on a much more base level, in what way would you expect the father of a murdered son, and an exile from his own city to answer? You think I should say: "I do not care if you are honest, I still agree."
I stand by my words. You have my agreement in so far as you are honest men. If you say this is not good enough then you are declaring yourself liars.’
’The Cerulean League have brought serious charges against you: that you did commission the murder of Silic of the League.
I give you this chance to defend yourself against this allegation. Swear before Myrmidia and Solkan that you did not do this deed.’
‘Your Highness, Nikephorus III Monomachus
You must name my accusers, otherwise the indictment cannot be considered legal. I shall not be goaded into defending myself over such a base accusation if the accusers remain anonymous. Know this, your highness, these Ceruleans are enemies of our Legion, and would accuse you at the drop of a hat of some evil deed if they thought they could get away with it.
Do not let them lead you by the hand to disrupt the truce that we have. If I had commissioned Silic's death, then it would be a mere balancing of the foul deeds he has committed against me. Would you consider it nothing if your crown was robbed from you? Would you do nothing to right such a wrong?
I advise your majesty to find a way to dismiss these accusations, otherwise you will become a puppet in their hands, as they have tried to make me on many an occasion. There is a precarious peace just now, but it is only because it suits the Ceruleans for this moment in time. They would slit all our throats at the first opportunity if they thought it would benefit them in the slightest.
I have not the tiniest intention of considering my enemies in war, men who have merely made a truce with us, my judges. Such is a ridiculous proposition. Should I lay down arms on the field of battle and hand myself over to the foe because one of their men was killed in battle?
Consider what you ask before you make such demands of me. Consider the parties involved. And think not that Myrmidia, goddess of strategic war, would consider the death of an enemy general, howsoever brought about, a bad thing.
And in all this, I admit nothing. For I will not play their games.
Condlumar’
‘I, Count Isaac von Siegfriedshof of Istrien, Master of Morale of the Cerulean League, demand that High priest Condlumar will be delivered alive and in chains to myself on pre-arranged spot … we, the League, holds the right to extract punishment and vengeance as we see fit!’
From the far corner of the room, among the Reman officials observing the trial the Konostaulos spat on the floor and muttered to those nearest,
"Traitor! He produces the evidence that he himself tried to manipulate the Despot into making himself an enemy of the League!
Faithless cur, he calls the League an enemy of the Legion, when days earlier he had signed his own name to a treaty of truce!
Countless Cerulean soldiers from all manner of places have been slain by the troops under his command during the course of this war, each of them the son of a mother and father, and yet he reserves the right to throw the peace of Remas into turmoil for his own petty vengeance, this is not the act of a noble lord, nor a priest, but a bitter and twisted old man. Would he welcome the blades of a thousand Marienburg widows, whose husbands fell at the seige of Commercio I wonder..."
The Pontifex Maximus watched the Priest of Myrmidia intensely during his impassioned speech. The self righteous fool! he thought with a sneer. The Solkanite was a tall man and elderly, his balding head showing the liver spots of age. The robes of his office, blood red and midnight black hung on his bony frame in what one would assume would be unflattering, but the High Priest of Solkan seemed to wear them with the majesty they were designed to create. A lot of effort had gone into creating that effect, money too.
Around him, the hooded Inquisitors sat silently, awaiting their master's rebuttal. Picking his words carefully in his mind, the ageing priest made to stand up but was caught halfway when the Basileopator himself rose from his seat, his skeletal frame impossibly able to make him stand upright. Caught in the curious position of half standing, half seated, the Pontifex slowly lowered himself down, hoping that none of his subordinates had noticed.
Lucius Valerius Maximus, silent as the grave - the Pontifex chuckled at the analogy - leant forward to the bowl of water placed on the stone table before him. The Priest had been wondering what the upstart undead bastard had put that there for, and the reality dawned on him with cold dread.
The Basileopator dipped his skeletal fingers into the bowl, slowly, and with ceremony washing his brittle and yellowing hands with the pure water. Drying them with a towel offered by the Gnomeish scribe, he turned towards the Pontifex and bowed his head, perhaps to the assembled clergy, perhaps to the sacred icon of Solkan raised up on the wall behind them.
With that simple gesture, the skeletal lord marched towards the exit, the great lacquered wooden door opening for him with the slightest wave of his hand. His two skeletal legionaries, his Equities Singulares fell into step behind him, the door slamming shut after them, the sound reverberating around the trial room.
The Pontifex could now feel all eyes on him, particularly those of the accused, Condlumar. The Solkanite cleared his throat and stood.
"I see clearly that you have not lied, but instead steered a very careful diplomatic course in your words - even to the point of almost speaking plainly concerning your justified hatred of Prince Silic of Trantio. If lying is a sign of treason, then such a label cannot be put upon you.
I see also that you have sought only rightful vengeance for a terrible wrong done to you, and you did so by killing not your master, nor servant, nor ally but an personal and public enemy. And the death of enemies in a time of war is to expected.
It also occurs to me here and now that all can see the dignity of your office. You are a high priest, a noble of Trantio and father to a prince. People will not forget this now, for you have shown that you are not a man to be wronged. You will seek suitable justice against those who wrong you, and you will fight your enemies tooth and claw.
I believe Solkan, the Almighty God of Law, the Avenger, Invictus Himself, has indeed worked through you. You may have wronged your allies in the sense that you disagreed with their truce, but you have been truthful to yourself and to Solkan.
I can see little Evil in you, Priest of Myrmidia and I speak for this assembly when I say that all charges made against you before you entered this chamber shall be dropped forthwith."
Condlumar showed no emotion at these words, the merest hint of a smile playing across his lips.
The Pontifex smiled maliciously. "However, a more recent accusation has come to light. You dare to mention another god's name in the prescience of Solkan Invictus! You sully this courtroom with the belief that another god is the Avenger's equal! Solkan will not stand for such a disgrace!"
Condlumar's face turned to stone, not the smallest hint of a smile now.
"You shall be taken to a place of execution where your head shall be struck from your neck in the prescience of the most Powerful of Gods, this will be an example that the will of Solkan the Avenger cannot be broken.
Take him away."
As the guards moved to take the Priest's arms by his shoulders, the tiny, squeaky voice of the gnome spoke up over the mumbling of approval from the assembled Inquisitors.
"My Lords, I have been instructed to present this letter at this very moment!"
The Pontifex Maximus sent the small creature a withering look.
Impatiently, "Get on with it, Gnome"
"At once, my lord!"Quote from: Nikephorus III MonomachusLucius Valerius Maximus,
Now, to the matter of the trial of Condulmar: my agents in Trantio have informed me that Prince Silic is not dead. He lives, though he is lost in un-waking sleep and has a long road to recovery. Thus the charges against Condulmar are inaccurate and must be amended.
Given this new information, and the clear mental instability of the man, I ask you to exercise clemency. Offer him retirement to a quiet estate in the Reman Plains if he will step down from military command and from his office as high priest. Please explain the reasons behind this decision to the court.
Nikephorus III Monomachus.
The Pontifex sat quietly in his seat, seething with rage. What did it matter that this letter was presented at this time? The execution could still take place! He waved at the men-at-arms to carry on.
As their mailed fists closed on the priests thin arms, the door crashed open, the sound causing many of the assembled Solkanites to flinch in astonishment.
The slow beat of hobnailed sandals marching perfectly in step marched uniformly into the chamber, the squad of undead Legionaries led by the Basileopator himself, his armour shining golden in the torchlight.
The Men-at-arms froze. Mighty men though they were, legends had been told of the undead, and thee Guardians of Remas were particularly feared, many still remembered their butchering off the few Cerulean soldiers stationed in the city during the reconquest.
Lucius Valerius Maximus turned his eyeless gaze onto the soldiers who released Condlumar immediately before running from the room, their duty to Solkan forgotten.
The Pontifex, though trembling with fear stood turned his voice on the undead General "How dare you! You desecrate a holy trial of Solkan!"
Lucius' voice seemed to cut through the Priest's mind like a saw, every syllable sending pain coursing down his spine.
You are the one who desecrates my God, Priest. Now begone to your temple.
He glared at the assembly of hooded Inquisitors, their fear plain to see.
All of you!
The room was filled with the sound of velvet slippers scurrying across the chamber.
Lucius turned to Condlumar.
It seems your revenge has not yet been served, Priest of Myrmidia. Though in the interests of the state it never can be, know only that your every breath is revenge enough on those who wish you dead.
He looked to the Gnome.
Let it be known, scribe that the word of the Despot is to be un-challenged, that he is the voice of Solkan on earth and any who disagree with this judgement are to have the full fury of Vengeance unleashed upon them.
The city of Trantio was overlooked by a thin, high tower in the center of the city. White light pulsed through the huge windows of the tower, creating a lighthouse, a beacon in the recovering land of Tilea. Chanting could be heard day and night, reverberating into noble houses and backwater slums.
A small bed was situated in the highest room in the tower, drenched in sweat and blood. Encircled by six members of the order of White Magic, a body convulsed and heaved under the thin blanket. Each movement of the chant brought more spasms and clenching of teeth. As the mages swayed, the bed shook across the marble floor. The body shuddered and stretched itself in all four directions, and after 5 days of light and prayer, the body fell motionless.
For some time, the city of Trantio was silent. The city has recently been in a flurry of activity, preparing everything for the delegates of the Golden Company and the Tyrian Guild. They were to bring peace this the ravaged land. A Vermilion representative was notably not attending.
Slowly, the eyes of the depleted and starving body opened.
It was like waking up in the middle of your deepest sleep; the body was paralyzed, unable to muster the energy to move, and you can't help but be fearful at your helplessness. The White Mages looked down on their lord with a measure of both satisfaction and surprise. A mage closest to the head poured a thin clear liquid into the body's mouth. Instantly, the corpse shuddered and relaxed. As the eyes closed, the mouth opened.
"Who?" said the body quietly.
"Condlumar, my lord."
"We will not leave Tilea."
"Yes, my lord. Lord Silic von Petrova, Silic the Attuned, Grand Master of the Knights of the Black Writ, Master of Diplomacy for the Cerulean League, Count of Morea, Prince of Trantio, Silic the Resurrected."