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"Then will you tell us the story of what happened here?"

The question took the giant warrior completely off guard... for a moment he was speechless. The crowd held its breath for the breadth of several tense heartbeats... and then he laughed. The laughter rolled over the square, and it was almost as frightening as the barbarian's anger.

"You...," he gasped trying to talk through it, "...you mean to tell me you don't actually know already? You know what, I will tell you, and you can even confirm the truth of my words with those around you."

Imoak composed himself as best he could before continuing.

"When me and my companions got back from our... travels, we took a short trip you see, we found that a storm had shrouded the skies of this entire land. This storm was a completely unnatural occurance brought on by Radius. Apparently a sky of raining swords is, or was, a trademark of his. We weathered our way through it, and made haste back here.

My companions did what they could to help minimize the damage, I helped by getting people underground. As it turns out, this was a good idea, because Radius likes to work in threes. Three curses, or plagues, or whatever you want to call them. So this was just the beginning. One of my comrades managed to get the attention of Bulwark I guess, and he's the one that made the big dome which is now overhead. It helped.

Next came the giant golem, which tried to beat its way through the city shield, but to no avail. You can of course imagine what a metal titan would do to a city like this otherwise. Yeah, thats about the time I really started to hate that bastard Radius. Who picks on a mortal city like that? He had no cause, no reason to do so. I don't even like this city, but I felt awful for the people in it.

Well the third thing... the third thing was a column of fire, which would engulf the city, and scour it as thought the sun itself had turned on its peoples. This was the last straw. Me and mine decided to take a stand. It wasn't right what he was doing, and he needed to be stopped. Who wants to live forever anyway, right. So we got as many people underground and under shelters as we could, then the rest of us gathered together right here where we now stand. Once gathered, with those we couldn't get to safety huddle around, we announced to the heavens our defiance, and stared down the tyrant god himself.

I didn't know if we had a chance or not, but someone had to do something. So we did. One of my companions challenged Radius to take his life instead of smiting the whole city. Radius appeared before us, like a self-righteous ass, and agreed to the terms. I for one bellowed my rage, and channeled all my fury to try, and thwart him, while one of my tribesmen beseeched the heavens for aid.

I guess someone was listening, because a bunch of Radius' peers showed up, and did... something. This invoked some divine law, or other, that Radius violated by trying to kill us. He was then cut down by yet another deity who appeared at the last moment. He died, and the city was saved.

Now, what does this tell you? At least some of the other gods, didn't like your old patron. Enough to help kill him. Those same gods apparently like me, and my companions. Enough to take our side. The only cause that was served by Radius actions was his own petty anger. The cause that was carried out by his dying, was to aid a dying city, and save those opposing the atrocity. I didn't even like this city, I still don't really care all that much for it, but what he was doing was just... well, evil.

So when I heard that a bunch of monks had come to show reverence to 'him that had fallen', and give devotions to his memory, yeah I was a bit offended. It seems... inappropriate somehow.

There we have it you've heard me tell the story. What would you say now? Cause, I'm all ears."

"thank you. However much we regret the way things went in the end, it changes nothing in regards to our vows." The monks remove their garb, leavimg no indication of their affiliation."This has been enlightening, we shall return to our vigil."

"thank you. However much we regret the way things went in the end, it changes nothing in regards to our vows." The monks remove their garb, leavimg no indication of their affiliation."This has been enlightening, we shall return to our vigil."

arete wrote: [quote="]

::Ratchnar feels a tingle go through him as one of the figures apparently shifts their gaze to regard him. The figures remain silent, but a voice occurs in Ratchnar's mind, a vibrant, sultry, female voice.::

//You are one of those we seek, but not the only one. Where is the one who invoked the stone mason? Where is the one who defied the shield master?//

Rachnar speaks: well several my group were involved, what are your intentions? [/quote][/quote]

//Listen well, dwarf. KNOW that you are not alone in your struggle. Others have resisted the one you slew. Others have tired under his yoke, have struggled against his ways. You have been the focus of much attention, perhaps by some that you would oppose, but under these circumstances would be a lucky ally. And yet, do not rejoice too freely in your victories, as the struggles are far from over, merely delayed. The absence of the shield master from the firmament will do nothing to assuage the cosmic grief that his decrees have caused. Do you understand what it is we are trying to tell you? Of the constraints that we face?//

"And now... they are naked.", Imaok said to no one in particular. "You have me convinced. You're all crazy. A bunch of star addled monks, who have been cloistered behind stone walls for way to long."

Imoak looked around the square, and stared around at the onlookers. He pondered the situation further looking for a solution that would satisfy him. These beings were obviously not of their right mind. They had heard everything he had said, and still refused to see out his request. He wasn't being unreasonable he didn't think. He just wanted them to go elsewhere, to pray over their dead god. What they were doing seemed a slap in the face to the people of this city after all that had happened.

Stupid religion. Maybe thats why they were crazy, cause they worshipped a god. He had seen his comrades starting to loose their minds as they connected to the divine as well. He had never really taken religion all that seriously. Maybe thats why he wasn't going nuts, while everyone around him changed.

As he thought he came to something of a compromise in his own mind. It made sense. He would ask the city goers. It occurred to him just how little he cared about this place. He was angry with the monks, sure, but it wasn't worth this much effort. He had come to boot them out, and had ended up in a debate, ridiculous.

He made up his mind, and turned to the expectant crowds. He cleared his throat, and made his decision clear. "Okay, these people have made their intentions known. They aren't planning on goin' anywhere until they're done. For my part, I have shown them why they are wrong to do so. I was going to just throw them out, but now I have a better idea."

Imoak cleared his throat, "This isn't my town. I don't call it home, and I will be happy to go when we are done here. However, I have sacrificed a lot to be here, and try and help you people out thus far, so I'm prepared to do a bit more. I will let you decide their fate.", he said this as he pointed at the group of prone forms.

"I want to know, what you want. If their behavior is offensive to you, all you have to do is let me know, and I will be more than happy to 'escort' the lot of them out the front gate. If you aren't bothered by their actions, or have some qualm with me doing that, feel free to tell me. So there it is, the decision is yours to make. What would you, the victims of Radius actions have me do? Do they stay, or do they go?"

Imoak held his place in front of the monks awaiting the answer this crowd would give him. He knew what he wanted to do to those self-righteous buffoons, but he was getting bored with all the speeches, and wanted someone to either help him justify beating a bunch of pious pilgrims, or to tell him it wasn't worth it. Honestly, he didn't care which, but this opportunity was too novel to pass up.

::The crowd, having watched Imoak's display with fear and intensity, is taken aback by his sudden reference to them, and a pall of silence comes over them for a few moments. A few of them, after a moment, seem emboldened enough to cry out to him, and to each other.::

"This man would drive out those monks for prayer! When does it end! FREE ATURIA!!"

"A FREE ATURIA!!!"

"Kill the monks!!!!"

"Get out and take them with you!"

"Aturia for Aturians!!!"

"Get out!"

"Let them pray in peace!!!:

"People, HEAR ME!!!"
::This last comment from an Orc in dirty plate mail and carrying a battleaxe, who seems battle scarred but his armor shows decorations from Aturia's previous military. He continues.::
"We have suffered in days of late, in months of late, and we suffered under the lash of the Bastard. I fought for Aturia since I was a boy, and I have traveled the world. I am an orc, as many of you are, born and bred Aturian Orcish, but I Uurkash the Orc from Aturia, have seen free cities on the far side of the world, and we, Aturians, are a FREE CITY. And now, in our early nascent days as a free city, will not stand for oppression. We will not stand for the strong telling the weak what they can and cannot do. We saw this with the Bastard King, and for this we ran him out. And today, while these worshippers of the god who smote us are certainly an offense, we Free Aturians must choose against oppression. We must rise against those who would quash religion, who would force out peaceful dissenters, WHO WOULD FORCE THEIR UNJUST WILL ON THE WEAK. Together, we are strong. Let us be strong now, and show this oppressor that we are a FREE ATURIA!!!!"

::The crowd had grown in number, and in anger as Uurkash spoke, and at this last cry, they turn nasty, brandish weapons (mostly shortswords of various metals), and turn on Imoak, pressing in on him, an ugly look in their eyes, all while bloodthirstily chanting 'Free aturia is free'.::

Imoak just stood, and blinked. Confusion was not an emotion he was accustomed to, but he was feeling a large amount of it lately. This was too much. Was everyone here stupid, and mad? Gods, how he hated the cities. People shouldn't get locked up together behind walls. It made them forget themselves. Who the hell was that orc, trying to incite a mob?

Imoak bellowed a mighty roar, fueled by the storm inside him, which had been welling. Those market dwellers closest, could not help but baulk at the sound. An untrained mob was not his equal, and even the dumbest of them could surely see that. Coupled with the rumors, and witnesses to his combat prowess only a suicidal madman would have come closer after such a display. Then again these people had very recently begun to a slippery slope into such a state.

He took a heavy step forward, glowering at the mass of bodies, completely unmoved by their impotent rage. "ARE. YOU. STUPID?!", he yelled. "I just asked a question, which empowered YOU all to make a choice! I was willing to give you the chance to stand up for yourselves, and this is how you act? Take a moment to be enlightened. Me, and mine single handedly took down the powers that be in this city. Powers that kept all of you from living a decent life. Then we did the same to a god who would have seen you suffer for no other reason than he was a petty child.

After all this, a bunch of monks, however peaceably come to defile the sacrifices, and sufferings of yourselves, and your families. I came to let them know this wasn't right. That I, one who had sacrificed FOR YOU, wasn't gonna tolerate it. I WAS on your side. After talking with them, I even decided to let you lot decide my coarse. And what, pray tell, did you decide? Oh, that's right, you decided to attack me. ARE YOU INSANE?", spittle flew from his lips, as his anger began to find its hold.

"I swear by all the powers, if you people don't pull your heads out of your arses I'm gonna give you a problem you won't soon recover from. If you want to let these monks defile your city, then a simple 'leave them alone' would have been sufficient. But, if you're going to insist on this ridiculous behavior then by all means proceed. I dont usually fight those that don't pose a challenge, but this a special case, and you are all a bunch of very, very special people." His grin was back, a grin which promised ensuing violence, and his own joy thereof.

He peered through the ranks of the mob, and focused on his primary point of contention now, "You, orc. You wanna make something of it? If you have a bone to pick, then pick it. Don't send untrained rabble to try, and fight your battles. What do you think is gonna happen here? I STARED DOWN A GOD YOU TWICE ADDLED SHITFORBRAINS! I could kill all these hapless idiots with a few strokes of my blade. I'm not trying to brag here, but you need to understand the scope of what you're dealing with. Don't believe me...", Imoak grabbed the hilt of his weapon, and held it outward, "...take a look at my sword."

He pushed the jewel that activated his sword's compression magic. The massive blade unfolded itself beneath the gleam of the sun. It's tip shot out, and stopped just before slashing through the foremost rank of the gathered mob. The smell of warm urine began to rise from area. The blade swept up as he pivoted, and brought it to rest on his shoulders. The some of monks behind Imoak suddenly found themselves praying in the shade. A poignant fact, which wasn't lost on several of those gathered.

"NOW," the angry barbarian shouted with his wild grin, "if you want to be reasonable please stay where you are, and feel free to speak your mind. But, if you insist on being a problem, then by all means step forward, and we can have a different discussion.", Imaok said the word 'discussion' so as to infer that there would be very few words involved. He then awaited the next move in what was fast becoming a rather exciting, if not tedious, afternoon.

Liquidprism wrote:Imoak just stood, and blinked. Confusion was not an emotion he was accustomed to, but he was feeling a large amount of it lately. This was too much. Was everyone here stupid, and mad? Gods, how he hated the cities. People shouldn't get locked up together behind walls. It made them forget themselves. Who the hell was that orc, trying to incite a mob?

Imoak bellowed a mighty roar, fueled by the storm inside him, which had been welling. Those market dwellers closest, could not help but baulk at the sound. An untrained mob was not his equal, and even the dumbest of them could surely see that. Coupled with the rumors, and witnesses to his combat prowess only a suicidal madman would have come closer after such a display. Then again these people had very recently begun to a slippery slope into such a state.

He took a heavy step forward, glowering at the mass of bodies, completely unmoved by their impotent rage. "ARE. YOU. STUPID?!", he yelled. "I just asked a question, which empowered YOU all to make a choice! I was willing to give you the chance to stand up for yourselves, and this is how you act? Take a moment to be enlightened. Me, and mine single handedly took down the powers that be in this city. Powers that kept all of you from living a decent life. Then we did the same to a god who would have seen you suffer for no other reason than he was a petty child.

After all this, a bunch of monks, however peaceably come to defile the sacrifices, and sufferings of yourselves, and your families. I came to let them know this wasn't right. That I, one who had sacrificed FOR YOU, wasn't gonna tolerate it. I WAS on your side. After talking with them, I even decided to let you lot decide my coarse. And what, pray tell, did you decide? Oh, that's right, you decided to attack me. ARE YOU INSANE?", spittle flew from his lips, as his anger began to find its hold.

"I swear by all the powers, if you people don't pull your heads out of your arses I'm gonna give you a problem you won't soon recover from. If you want to let these monks defile your city, then a simple 'leave them alone' would have been sufficient. But, if you're going to insist on this ridiculous behavior then by all means proceed. I dont usually fight those that don't pose a challenge, but this a special case, and you are all a bunch of very, very special people." His grin was back, a grin which promised ensuing violence, and his own joy thereof.

He peered through the ranks of the mob, and focused on his primary point of contention now, "You, orc. You wanna make something of it? If you have a bone to pick, then pick it. Don't send untrained rabble to try, and fight your battles. What do you think is gonna happen here? I STARED DOWN A GOD YOU TWICE ADDLED SHITFORBRAINS! I could kill all these hapless idiots with a few strokes of my blade. I'm not trying to brag here, but you need to understand the scope of what you're dealing with. Don't believe me...", Imoak grabbed the hilt of his weapon, and held it outward, "...take a look at my sword."

He pushed the jewel that activated his sword's compression magic. The massive blade unfolded itself beneath the gleam of the sun. It's tip shot out, and stopped just before slashing through the foremost rank of the gathered mob. The smell of warm urine began to rise from area. The blade swept up as he pivoted, and brought it to rest on his shoulders. The some of monks behind Imoak suddenly found themselves praying in the shade. A poignant fact, which wasn't lost on several of those gathered.

"NOW," the angry barbarian shouted with his wild grin, "if you want to be reasonable please stay where you are, and feel free to speak your mind. But, if you insist on being a problem, then by all means step forward, and we can have a different discussion.", Imaok said the word 'discussion' so as to infer that there would be very few words involved. He then awaited the next move in what was fast becoming a rather exciting, if not tedious, afternoon.

::Those in front of the crowd attempt to reel back in the face of the towering barbarian and his massive blade, but the force of the mob forces them forwards. Orc spittle splashes into Imoak's face, as some of the more frenzied members of the mob rage in the face of his threatening demeanor. Imoak's warnings and threats are apparently unheeded by the bulk of the murderous mob who, angered by his perceived oppression and fervently empowered by the words of Uurukash, have become one in mind and purpose. The din of the crowd and the energy of the mob rapidly attract more people, the crowd reaching riot size in no time. Uurukash shrugs off the challenge he's been given, and continues inspirational shouts, his rhetoric and manner inspiring courage in the crowd. Those in front are forced forwards, and the crowd breaks from their resistance as a dam breaks, and the hateful, spiteful, raging mob seeks bloody vengeance for years of oppression in the form of the blood of Imoak Stormdrinker.::

OOC:: You have got to be kidding me. This entire city needs to be exterminated so that they never breed, and pollute the world with even more retards. Dumbest fuckers on earth (or wherever we are).

Imoak let go. He allowed his anger at these unreasonable miscreants to flow from his soul, and into his limbs. However, unwilling to kill any of them, as such an act would be far lower than his pride as a warrior would allow, he used his blade like a shovel. The warrior found himself using it's great flat sides to smash bodies from his path. It could be likened to a farmer wading through a field knocking over stalks of corn with a stick. In a single mighty swing he brought his sword down over everything in its arc. The mob could do nothing, but be moved. The monks were strangely safe as they were kneeling just beneath the angle of the goliath's swing. Imoak would perhaps marvel at this irony when he was later back in his right mind.

Slowly, but surely the great warrior made his way through the crowd. Moving toward the only creature he perceived as anything resembling a real threat, the orc. "You coward, get over here and fight me, you whoreson dog! I'm gonna crack your head like an egg! Using this rabble as a shield! You are no warrior for this city, you are a gutless worm, unworthy of the title!" Screaming his anger Imoak never stopped his march.

Imoak's size, skill, and momentum carried him through the crowd. He left only the pavement covered in the injured, and unconscious. He was fine with that however, he might get to see real blood today yet.

Liquidprism wrote:OOC:: You have got to be kidding me. This entire city needs to be exterminated so that they never breed, and pollute the world with even more retards. Dumbest fuckers on earth (or wherever we are).

Imoak let go. He allowed his anger at these unreasonable miscreants to flow from his soul, and into his limbs. However, unwilling to kill any of them, as such an act would be far lower than his pride as a warrior would allow, he used his blade like a shovel. The warrior found himself using it's great flat sides to smash bodies from his path. It could be likened to a farmer wading through a field knocking over stalks of corn with a stick. In a single mighty swing he brought his sword down over everything in its arc. The mob could do nothing, but be moved. The monks were strangely safe as they were kneeling just beneath the angle of the goliath's swing. Imoak would perhaps marvel at this irony when he was later back in his right mind.

Slowly, but surely the great warrior made his way through the crowd. Moving toward the only creature he perceived as anything resembling a real threat, the orc. "You coward, get over here and fight me, you whoreson dog! I'm gonna crack your head like an egg! Using this rabble as a shield! You are no warrior for this city, you are a gutless worm, unworthy of the title!" Screaming his anger Imoak never stopped his march.

Imoak's size, skill, and momentum carried him through the crowd. He left only the pavement covered in the injured, and unconscious. He was fine with that however, he might get to see real blood today yet.

::Seeing the barbarian cleaving a swath through the crowd to him, Uurukash utters a few arcane words and vanishes. The crowd, however, seem further empowered by Imoak's non-lethal attacks, and descend on him in a sea of flashing steel.::

OOC: ...uhm... there can't be much of a crowd left after a few great cleave attacks in a crowded market square.

Seeing the orc instigator vanish Imoak called out a few final choice words before turning his full attention to the mob. He swung his sword several more times, they toppled like a sea of rolling waves breaking before a comet. He was a force of nature, and they were simply mortal laymen. It didn't take long for the rowdy market to lose its momentum. He was trained to overcome superior numbers of assailants, and these had no skill. They were hungry, tired, and in pitiful condition to begin with. He was a warrior in the top of his prime. He had every advantage, and they had only an impotent rage, which withered, and paled next to his own. A part of him almost felt bad for them... almost.

Liquidprism wrote:OOC: ...uhm... there can't be much of a crowd left after a few great cleave attacks in a crowded market square.

Seeing the orc instigator vanish Imoak called out a few final choice words before turning his full attention to the mob. He swung his sword several more times, they toppled like a sea of rolling waves breaking before a comet. He was a force of nature, and they were simply mortal laymen. It didn't take long for the rowdy market to lose its momentum. He was trained to overcome superior numbers of assailants, and these had no skill. They were hungry, tired, and in pitiful condition to begin with. He was a warrior in the top of his prime. He had every advantage, and they had only an impotent rage, which withered, and paled next to his own. A part of him almost felt bad for them... almost.

OOC: What is the mechanic you are using to "use the flat of your blade"?

OOC: I believe that he is using the mechanic where you take a -2 to hit and deal subdual damage rather than lethal.

::In spite of his best intentions, and careful efforts to spare the lives of the mob, his great blade and great strength, even at the flat of the blade, is sufficient to kill the majority of the rioters. In a few clean strokes the bulk of the crowd is dead, dying, unconscious or injured, and those that were at the periphery run for their lives, spreading word about the great massacre that has taken place. Imoak stands among the fifty or sixty fallen commoners, sword in hand and somewhat bloodied. A window opens at the side of the marketplace, and a dagger is thrown uselessly out. It possesses a strange design, and lands within 20 feet of Imoak. A flash of light and arcane incantation from the window indicates that whomever threw the dagger has teleported away.::

::The monks, weak from days of meditating and praying without moving or taking water, break their vigil to tend the wounded. They show on their faces their rage at Imoak, but brave his potential fury and blood lust to attempt to save those they can with their simple methods. Having discarded their shirts they do so with backs exposed to the sun, and, perhaps ironically, fashion bandages from their tops which feature the markings of Radius.::