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Post by Alezand Jozlyn, Allaine knight on Oct 12, 2006 10:14:04 GMT -5
Alezand Jozlyn, garbed in pine green and navy robes, trimmed in black leather banding and boots, stepped into the vaulted doors of the the grand chapel. The musky odor of old woodwork and wearing leather seating filled his nostrils with a tang. His eyes swept around the expansive room as he lowered his hood. The quiet that permeated through the air was as thick as the dust covering much of the place.
He came here for a reason, though not one that normally brought him to these kind of places. He was here not to affirm his belief, whatever that maybe at this time, but he was directed here as a meeting with someone. The terms of this rendezvous were still unclear. He was armed with his usual complement, his long sword, his short sword, various knifes and daggers numbering in a dozen with different purposes were arrayed throughout his tunic and belt. Most were concealed. Only his two swords, tied to either side, were plainly visible.
He walked with that characteristic stride of his inner strength. Not hubris, just self trusting. He had nothing to fear, and knew as a rational man, when to be fearful. His overall mission was a worthy and just cause. He turned, after passing a number of empty rows, and found a seat in a pew toward the front. His head lowered, a time of reflection under another power came to him. His thoughts covered all that had transpired in the last month. And though he did not believe in everything the Bible said, he still was a Christian. A loose, understanding one, but one nonetheless. He was there in that contemplative state for several minutes when...
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Post by Vidar on Oct 12, 2006 11:13:42 GMT -5
With a soft creaking noise, followed by a muffled clunk of wood on iron, the doors to the Chapel were barred shut from the inside. Standing now in front of them was a figure robed in white, with a deep hood pulled over their face, obscuring all features from view.
"You have returned," a voice said plainly, this one coming from a source other than the simple scribe who had just shut the doors to the chapel. The voice was that of Father Vidar, who now strode forth with an air of utmost confidence to stand before the alter that stood at the head of the church. Fanning out along the far sides of each row of pews were no les than half a dozen of Avaren's guardsmen.
"You would do well to know that even as we speak, the army of Avaren makes camp at the Abandoned Citadel, preparing to destroy the nest of heathens where they wallow. In but a single weeks time they will be back, victorious after the wholesale cleansing of the heathen scum."
"You, on the other hand, are a different story. You might have been let free after it was proven that your information was not a waste of time and effort yet decided to run away when the heretics launched their little surprise raid." he said, shaking his head slowly, as is chastising an errant child, "Cowards; I heard all about what happened. They came in when there were few guards and then ran like cowards with their tails between their legs before we could give them proper justice."
"For your actions of once again conspiring with Avaren's greatest enemies you should be dealt swift and certain death." He said, making a swift chopping motion with his hand, "Yet..." he continued, "Our god is a forgiving god. You tried to repent once and failed, if you wish, I shall give you a second chance. Do you accept?"
ooc: My apologies for deleting your post, Laura, but this thread is for Alezand and I, no one else.
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Post by Alezand Jozlyn, Allaine knight on Oct 13, 2006 13:30:29 GMT -5
"One must do as is seen necessary. You see that I did not stay within the camp of the Mages. Do you really think that they would accept someone like me. Come now Father, you surely are more knowledgeable than that. If you were to know your object of scrutiny, then you would know that I am a free and swift spirit. I pledge to no crown. I pledge only to that which is right. I am a man of God. But everyone knows that the holy bible is left to interpretation. You surely do not share the same views as your colleagues of the cloth, in the matter as to what truly is spoken within its pages. I could hand you an excerpt, you would almost certainly accept it for some other meaning than what another person that I handed the same piece. But you, you wish to claim that you know God, that you speak his will. That I can not condone. You are mortal, just as I. You are not His one and only. And he does not have to reveal himself to you in every motion of this turbulent world. I..."Leaving the word to hang as he considered his words, "...Exsist only to serve the good of all people. And in my acceptance of others and my oath to their well being, I can be sure that I am not going against God, for I am following the basest of all his teachings. To love, to care, and to protect. I am not jaded as to look for favor from God by my actions, nor to gain power. The gift of knowing that I have made a difference in some many lives by doing the simplest of our lessons, is enough. For what God would we have if he would damn me for being just a simple, humble soldier for Him."
Alezand began a slow pace around the supposedly pious man. "You, I see through you, just as I see through most of my enemies. It is a skill learned through much hardship. You are not here to spread God's word, nor his love, or his teachings. You stand here, on the verge of a treacherous act. No, I do not condone the Herculides house fro their actions. But you are no better. God does not reward some one for gaining power. You are a poor man, Father. You do not see the riches that God as to offer for those just simply wish to live. I, in the simple act of greeting a lonely girl, have found love. I, in the act of selfless loyalty, have group of powerful friends who stand beside me no matter what. Because they know I'd do the same for them in a heart beat. You have no friends. You have only pawns. And pawns are only meant to be used and cast away. And when your protective barrier of lies, deceit and treachery falls with those that you use, where will you stand? Fortunately for you, you are not my enemy, not yet anyway. And you still have time to reconsider you position. But I sense something. You have a task for me...?" Alezand said, his eyes dead on the betraying features of the priest. The man probably did not expect to be confronted so directly, especially by someone who was technically a wanted man. "What is it Father, what do you have for me? You must have some purpose for me, or you would've attempted to put me in irons again already. We both know you are not here to capture me, as I am not here to fight you." Alezand stood, calm as could be. What he had said was affront on the Father, but the man needed to know exactly where the knight stood on this. Though he would like to know what this calling was for, Alezand was certainly not his man. In a way, Alezand wasn't anyone's man, well except Adrienne when he thought about it. He wasn't fully under Cain's command, and he obviously wasn't serving Riane and her husband. In fact, only one king in history got the blessings of Alezand and his fledgling clan was Ricard. Shame really. One of this days, he was going to find out what happened to him...
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Post by Vidar on Oct 13, 2006 22:43:46 GMT -5
"You ever seek to show your foolishness and insolence in the face of god's messenger himself." Vidar said, with a clear tone of mocking scorn apparent in every syllable, "While it is true that each may interpret the word of the lord as they will, it is also known to all educated citizens that the church has the final say in any interpretation. Our word is absolute, as we are chosen by god to pronounce his laws, for we are much much more than simple mortal beings. Even if our bodies perish, our spirits will see eternal glory for our loyalty to god alone."
"There is no 'treacherous' act that we may ever carry forth, as everything we do is exactly how the lord plans it to be. I- we care not for power," he said, quickly covering his mistake, almost placing this as a personal matter instead of an attack against the church as a whole, "All we seek to do is purify this city."
"No matter how much you may claim to seek to protect all people, there are always those who need to be exterminated for the good of others and indeed the greater good of the city. These mages, whom you seem to think worth defending, do the works of the devil without remorse, seeking only to damn themselves and any others they can in the process, all for their blood oath of servitude in return for their vile magic." he continued, shaking his head slowly, as though he thought Alezand ignorant at having to have this explained to him. "Your theory would have them slit your throat with you giving them a smile the entire time they did it."
"Finally," he said, his face now a passive mask, "I don't need friends or companions. All I need is the lord's good opinion, for that is all that ultimately matters." With a beckoning gesture to someone behind him, he continued, "No, I am not here to fight you, yet you need to prove yourself in order to be forgiven for your transgressions against the lord." At his gesture, a single warrior broke from the loose circle of guards to approach Alezand.
The figure bore heavy plate mail and wielded an enormous war hammer; he was an absolute giant of a man, standing nearly seven feet tall and carrying his weapon, which would have bowed a normal man from it's weight, as one might carry a wooden training sword. "You stand on hallowed ground, fighting a paladin of the lord," he said simply, even as other attendants of the chapel quickly moved in to drag pews away from the pair of warriors, creating a large ring in the midst of the room. "If there be any evil in your heart, you will fail, to your own self-afflicted sentence of death. If you should prove the stronger, you will have proven your strength of faith and be absolved of all crimes." Vidar said, with a clear aid of one who expected the former conclusion.
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Post by Alezand Jozlyn, Allaine knight on Oct 14, 2006 0:03:25 GMT -5
"So, you figure that a mere test of mortality is a matter in which God decides who is worthy and who isn't..." Alezand shook his head, in disgust, defiance, and in disbelief. "You think I have something to fear in this. Wish that I just crash here at your feet and claim that I have been a bad, bad man and that I wish to repent just to save my hide. You truly need to examine your opponents more, or choose them more wisely." Alezand drew his shining elven crafted longsword. The blade sang as it cleared the scabbard. It was easily twirled through his grasp, well balanced and a curved hilt and pommel made it even better manipulated. He brought the weapon in a firm guard, its brightness glaring through the darkness of the dusky church. "I am a soldier. Death does not make me waver. I have stood in the face of damnation and darkness many a time before, and to think I would turn away now in fear for my own life again is foolish. Death has stared me in the eye, and we have come to know each other as equals. I have seen things on the field you wouldn't care mention in your darkest nightmare. And I have pulled through. And even I don't, to suggest that I turn back now to preserve myself, would equally damn me in front of God and erase all that which I have fought and bled for. To fall here would not fail me, but damn you for taking another candle standing against the dark away, snuffing out. What will you do when there are no more candles left, and you are surrounded in the Dark. You are not my judge, as I will show you." And with that, he checked his assorted armament. His various daggers, four in all, his secondary sword, and of course, his favorite weapon. He never traveled anywhere without his inventory. Every blade had a purpose. sometimes he carried more. He wasn't wearing his mail, but he wouldn't need it for this fight. his speed and agility was superb enough to out maneuver this brute. And chain mail didn't do much against hammers anyway. His only armor was a set of plate shin guards, light shoulder paldrons under his cloak and elbow and knee braces. He squared off to his enormous opponent, though he stood a foot or two from initial strike range of the paladin. Bowing to his opponent, with all the grace that his people observed to every proper opponent, "Shall we..." he asked and straighted quickly. His body fell back into that coiled spring it was trained as so much, ready...
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Post by Vidar on Oct 16, 2006 8:05:58 GMT -5
"Don't be a fool," Vidar said, issuing forth a quick bout of laughter, thinking this warrior of the verge of ignorant for his misunderstanding of this most simple of concepts, "This is no simple test of mortality, this is a test of faith. For in the house of the lord, one's true strength of arms matters little, as only those with the greater strength of faith can prevail. The only way you will leave here tonight is if your faith be greater than that of my own paladins; god's sword among mortals."
It was folly for the warrior to accept and folly to flee, for there were few with greater purity of heart than that of a paladin, even a normal man of great faith in the church would have failed against such purity, yet here was one who consorted with the devil's own servants; he would surely perish, to stand in judgment before the lord and receive his sentence of eternal damnation.
Alexius, the name of the paladin before Alezand, bowed briefly, saying nothing as the two squared up to battle. He was a man of great faith one who had server Vidar loyally for many years. He had been there at Vidar's side when Elyan was dethroned and would continue to fight for the 'true' king of Avaren until he decreed the land and everyone in it pure from the evil that beset them.
Though the warrior stood a couple feet from striking range, Alexius needed only take a pair of steps foreword for his massive stride to carry him back within a reasonable attacking distance. It was then that he swung his war hammer in a mighty before himself, seeking to smash his opponent with the first strike; aimed at his midriff in the assumption that he might try to drop under the attack and strike foreword.
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Post by Alezand Jozlyn, Allaine knight on Oct 17, 2006 3:41:09 GMT -5
Alezand had one distinct advantage here in this confrontation. He was decidedly faster than his opponent. That knowledge and skill alone would be able to hold him until he figured out how to actually beat the paladin. And swift as breeze, the great warrior closed and swung, mid level in a folding move. Alezand, in a reflex of basic combat drill, jumped straight up, knees to his chest, feeling with much discomfort, as the weapon grazed his buttocks beneath him.
Falling back, his rear landing with a thump on the wooden floor, Alezand rolled backwards and came back up in a ready stance as the paladin had completed his sweep and prepared his next attack. Alezand did not like this at all. He was out classed at the moment by weaponry and armor. Only his agility was his saving grace right now. At range, he could nothing. He had to get in close where it was too tight for the paladin to swing efficiently. A hammer was a powerful offensive weapon, but it had a very limited range, and in defense it was rather crude. Alezand pondered his next move as the paladin lined up his...
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Post by Vidar on Oct 18, 2006 7:42:49 GMT -5
While the warrior had managed to dodge the first sweep of Alexius' hammer, his collision backwards onto the ground brought forth several small cheers for their hero, as it seemed Alezand was greatly overmatched. Their cheers went ignored by the hammer-wielding giant even as Vidar gave them a harsh command for silence.
Alexius was not in the least disappointed that his blow had failed to connect, although it would have much gratified him to have won this battle without prolonged struggle, as he did not personally believe in armed contests to decide ones faith; acting on the orders of Vidar as he knew full well that his word was god's command.
Lifting his hammer again, he swung it before him again in the same arc, feeling even if the warrior did the same maneuver or tried to dive under the weapon, then he would never be able to get in a strike and be forced on the defensive until that one critical moment where he made a mistake.
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Post by Alezand Jozlyn, Allaine knight on Oct 22, 2006 16:47:01 GMT -5
This was going to get ridiculous, and then nasty quick if Alezand didn't do something fast. The next attack came in the same fashion, and this time, Alezand leaped back as he noticed the Paladin failed to close the distance as much this time as he had before. But this time, as he just stepped out of range again, Alezand turned and reached into his tunic, and in the same motion spun left and dealt a dagger out in a blinding attack to the aggressor's face.
Sharp and well weighted, the finely crafted weapon shot toward the paladin, as Alezand desperately hoped that it would have its desired effect. He only needed a moment, a slight advantage over this behemoth. Whether the weapon would pierce the helm or find its mark, Alezand was not sure, and it didn't really matter, for he only needed a second. He almost held his breath in that spit second as the blade left his left fingers in his pirouette. He knew better though, and he returned to his guard back up with both hands and had his right side facing the massive combatant.
His next move depended on that dagger as his mind raced ahead in that heart pounding, combat thought that slowed everything down to a snails pace when in reality, only moments were passing. He knew what he had to do, and even now his body was ready to motion for his next move...
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Post by Vidar on Oct 23, 2006 8:48:00 GMT -5
Once again the smaller warrior managed to dodge the killing blow, his agility showing forth as he saved his life again. It seemed it would come down to nothing more of a test of Alexius' nearly inexhaustible endurance, to keep driving the warrior back more and more until he was in a corner with no option but to submit to the lord's justice.
Stepping foreword, he began to take another swing in the same fashion as before, yet caught a glint of metal moving quickly and from his opponent. Realizing what it must be, and not willing to take the chance that it get a lucky shot through the slats of his visor, he twisted his head to the side, jerking back as the dagger clanged against his helmet.
The blow, while causing no physical injury, caused him to jerk backwards, his swing going wild as he took a step involuntarily backwards, pulling back his hammer in mid-swing and holding it defensively before him as he waited for the ringing left in his right ear to subside.
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Post by Alezand Jozlyn, Allaine knight on Oct 23, 2006 10:26:54 GMT -5
It was all that he needed. Alezand stepped swiftly into motion, capitalizing on that split-second reaction that changed the initiative. He rapidly closed on the paladin's forward right, approaching the now exposed blind spot, and leaped up to bring a crashing overhead blow to the brutes already ringing helmet. But instead of landing on his feet in the short jump, he carried down and attacked the paladin's compromised stance.
Alezand swung with all his body could muster in a sweep kick to take the opponent down to the ground. It would be a tough move, for the enemy out weighed him greatly. But, the dagger had caused him to retreat a step, thus throwing his balance, and the second strike to the helm also was directed more to disorient rather than to damage the great soldier. He hoped it had that effect, there was no way of telling in that second. If luck continued to be on Alezand's side, he just might take the initiative back. Grim hope and determination gripped him as he executed the move, his sword held in his right hand just along his side to give a guard as best he could at this point...
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Post by Vidar on Oct 24, 2006 9:22:24 GMT -5
The warrior took the blow, as there was little he could do to stop it. Although he was much larger than his opponent, he was already attempting to recover from a previous blow thus could not effectively guard in time to hold his ground and fell, impacting the floor with a resounding crash and a clattering of plate mail.
In the process of falling, his war hammer had managed to leave his hands and had gone skidding a few paces away, coming to rest beside one of the large pillars that supported the roof of the chapel.
Failure was simply not an option, for, showing such a lack of faith seemed to this warrior completely intolerable; a punishment worse than death. Still, the warrior had thrown himself upon Alexius, which, while throwing him to the ground, also placed him within easy striking distance. No longer encumbered by his mighty war hammer, Alexius' hand darted out and grasped Alezand by the ankle, jerking sharply to attempt to throw him off-balance, while Alexius stood once more.
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Post by Alezand Jozlyn, Allaine knight on Oct 24, 2006 13:05:12 GMT -5
"whoa!?" Alezand cried in surprise as the paladin gripped his foot and slid down down toward the enemy despite his attempt to escape his hand. Realizing his futility in the gesture, Alezand resigned himself to one thing he was trying to avoid. He had to act quickly before the soldier regained his stance and thus the upper hand.
With reluctant but firm execution, he drew his short sword and stabbed down as hard as he could upon the hand that grasped his ankle, aiming for the joint in the armor covering the wrist. Also in desperation to get free, he aimed a kick at the paladin's chin as Alezand struggled to regain his footing, scrambling on the floor in earnest. His eye drifted to the fallen hammer for second to check that it was still out of reach. He didn't need to be bashed like a gong. It would certainly ruin his day...
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Post by Vidar on Oct 25, 2006 9:32:55 GMT -5
While Alezand had cried out in surprise at being attacked from the ground, Alexius had maintained his footing to an extent, managing to draw himself into a sort of crouch on the ground; though his armor creaked in protest at the odd position for a knight in plate mail to be in.
Jerking his hand back, releasing the warrior’s ankle yet preventing himself from losing a hand, he brought his other gauntleted hand up to intercept the second attack; a kick aimed at his chin, catching the man's foot once more in a vice-grip.
Still holding his foot, he straightened his legs, jerking sharply on the foot he carried, for the warrior without armor shouldn't have enough weight to stop himself from being hurled, especially by someone much larger and physically stronger. Thus it was that Alexius, with firm grip still on the warrior's leg, attempted to hurl him against a pillar, perhaps breaking his back is he succeeded; although not the same pillar where stood his war hammer, unfortunately.
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Post by Alezand Jozlyn, Allaine knight on Oct 25, 2006 10:52:30 GMT -5
Alezand was really thinking fast now, despite the sensation of now being suspended upside down, seeing his plight and realizing the danger present inherent in being made airborne within a confined space. In complete flight or fight response, he acted, total savagery in mind. He needed to get out of his grasp now and he needed to end this quick. Unfortunately, Alezand was going to have to make this more bloody than he had planned.
In a flash of twin blades, he swung into motion even as he was being extended in the paladins throw. the long sword spun toward the hindering gauntlet, whilst his other sword shot straight toward the opponent's waist line, aiming a piercing blow to the point where the lower armor met the torso plates. To control his outward trajectory, since it seemed rather inevitable that he needed to escape the brute's hold one way or another, Alezand pushed off hard with his free foot on the breastplate of the paladin...
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