The fist of the Gods|Malagard, Khelek

[adris]

A priestess of Efil worked her way into the barracks at the Khelek Crystallands. She was hoping to find a general by the name of Melodic, a name she picked up at the local branch of the Efil temple. A way to describe her is she is cute, like a helpless little girl, distressed at being around all those weapons. Asking around she narrowed down the woman that fit the correct description and approached her.

"Excuse me, General Melodic?"

Her voice was small, almost a squeak. In her hands was a formal letter from Michelle, wrote in very much the same tone as the one Ace recieved in the city of Ronduin. It detailed the events of the holy war and her request for the army of Khelek to stand down. The priestess presented the letter to Melodic to take and look through whenever she was ready.

[aivea]

"Yes? There's no need to look so shaken, not even one of them will hurt you unless ordered to do that." Accepting the letter, Melodic adds, "Thank you for bringing this."

She opens and reads the letter, frowning slightly at the contents. "I'm afraid I only control a quarter of Khelek's army, but I understand what it is that you need. Do you want to come with me to see my fellow generals?"

[adris]

The girl tried to stand stronger, but the very way her body his built couldn't help to keep that aura of helplessnes out of her eyes. In other words, the girl almost seems as if her portrait is as stereotypical of the kind of image the army of Efil wanted to give out of themselves.

"That would be good, we don't want to hurt who we don't have to. Could you show me to where they are ma'am?"

She looked more then happy to get out of the barracks, that was without question. She nervously awaited general Melodic to show her where she needed to go in order to speak with the others.

[aivea]

"all right; don't worry, they're not in the barracks," Melodic assures the girl. After tucking the letter into one of her uniform pockets, she adds, "Come with me."

She leads the priestess into the mostly empty officer's dining area were the other three generals are taking a quick break from their duties. However, two of the generals- Fang, and Argyl- are talking to Distance who is wearing the regalia of being Archpriest of Taed.\

"Go on, introduce yourself and let them know why you're here. They won't bite, and they tend to like to hear things first hand over second hand."

[adris]

The girl looked to a nearby window and nodded her head three times while saying a prayer to Efil that requires such a motion. After finishing she steps slowly over to get herself beside the archpriest of Taed. She starts with a little curtsy to them all to keep her image up.

"Hello all. I am here with a message from the temple of Efil. I was going to deliver it to you two but I have a much more important message for this kind sir here," She turns to the archpriest with a happy smile, "I regret to inform you good sir, that due to infractions by your temple upon the name of Efil, you and all your followers must be terminated."

She tried not to give him any time to react to the news before she took a dagger from beneath her robes and shoved it as hard and fast as she could at the heart of the archpriest. The little girl gritted her teeth and was ready to be slain, not taking her eyes off her target for even a second.

[aivea]

Distance collapses over when the dagger strikes true, and the three generals that were sitting rise quickly to their feet. Though Cypran, and Melodic stand back to stay out of the way; Fang swings a punch at the girl to distract her while Argyl attempts to restrain her.

"You are under arrest on the charge of pre-mediated murder; surrender immediately," demands Argyl.

[adris]

The girl was happy enough to leave the knife in the chest of the archpriest. She took the punch without resistance, and didn't as much as twitch when she was put under arrest.

"Very well, Efil's will was done here I have no quarrel with you sirs. Just tell me what is to become of me."

She even held out her hands so that they could be bound. On her wrist a storm sign showed, which she used to signal the armies of Efil to make her move. It was her opinion that as long as the generals are dealing with her, they aren't worrying about the slaughter taking place in the Taed temple concurrently. The signal was given, starting at the point of the temple furthest from the door four templars began the dirty deed of culling all of the 'enemies of Efil'. They would do this until either the task was done or they fell themselves, the armies making thier march for the next stop on thier list.

[aivea]

"Well, first you are going to be put in prison, and your name recorded in the record of those charged of capital crimes with your crime and plea next to it. Usually those guilty of murder are either executed or held in jail the duration of their natural life," explains Argyl. "Before your trial, though you will be under guard, and shackled you may see any two people you wish. Anyone you have in mind?"
__

The priests and followers of Taed in the temple do fight back against the invaders as soon as they are close enough to attack.

[adris]

The girl looked up at the generals, from one face to another. She considered her options carefully to figure who would be best to spread the word of her attack and who would be best help free her from her shackles.

"If I can get anyone, I would like to see the leader of Khelek and the judge who will try me in court. I believe they will be best to hear my case."

-----
The templars were trained fighters, giving back with everything they had, and ready to die for thier beliefs, making sure if they fell, someone was going to fall with them. One of the four was a fire, and proceeded to set anything flammable ablaze in an attempt to make the Taed priests have to fight more then just four blood hungry sword wielders and maximize casualties.

[aivea]

The generals have a quick whispered conversation before Argyl binds the girl's hands a bit more securely. Once that's done, the four escort their prisoner toward, and into the palace. Though the guards quietly speculate about what would have prompted those of such rank to be accompanying a single prisoner.

Fortunately, the door to the study is open, and Melodic knocks on the doorframe before entering. "Master Haukea?"

"Hm? Is there something you need, general?" inquires Haukea, putting aside the report on the situation in Caelium that he'd been reading.

"Our prisoner would like to speak with you," Melodic answers.

For a few seconds, the Master looks puzzled; it is extremely rare for the generals to personally arrest anyone, and even more so for their captive to want to see the Leader. "...Very well. Your prisoner can have my undivided attention for as long as needed."

"Go forward, and mind your manners," instructs Cypran to the captured girl.

[adris]

The girl almost wanted to giggle when told to mind her manners, even if she was the only one who knew that she didn't plan to cause any disruptions. Her job was more then complete when she stabbed the archpriest, anything else she can do for Efil at this point was just icing on the cake.

"Thank you for seeing me good master Haukea. You see, me and my people are on a Crusade to seek justice on those that declared war on Efil milord. Now you might not care about our force, but just by having you see where I am now, having a chance to talk to you, justice does speak to your heart. Unprovoked they led an attack on our most precious of figures, do you blame us for responding? For fighting a war where we avoid civillian casualties? I promise you the forces of Taed will not be so polite if we were to lose."

That was a good start in her mind. She didn't care what he said really, kind of hoping her execution would either be ordered or she could return to her forces with an army behind her. In either case she kept calm and quiet, and didn't struggle at all against any suggestions.

[aivea]

"Despite the circumstances, you are quite welcome. If that is the case, then why were you brought before me in irons, and guarded by my generals? Being bound as the most dangerous of criminals does give a rather unfortunate first impression, as you might have predicted. How are you going to avoid civilian causalities in a war that does not seem to be against the army of any nation?" Haukea looked into the girl's eyes before adding, "If it truly was unprovoked, I cannot blaim you for responding. However, I do hope that you understand that I would prefer to know the entire story if the laws of my land where broken, and can only serve justice when both the laws and the circumstances are known."

[adris]

She shrugged her shoulders, more then happy to tell the side of the story Haukea has yet to find out. Of course it will have the normal biases, but she dosn't have any reason to lie to the leader of the ice.

"Well, our leader, her holiness, was brutally killed by who was clearly priests of Taed. Our temple, not wanting to take lives unnecessarily petitioned Athrug to peacefully hand over the murderors and all this nastiness would be swept under the carpet. They refused, cursing the name of our dead high priestess and saying they had right to take the will of the forces into thier hands. Our templar warned them again, saying that war was the only alternative, and again they refused. So we set out on a war to take revenge for the act as we promised we would do. We try to keep citizens out of the way by asking cities before our army enters whether or not we can do what we have set out to do. When we made it to this city, that is exactally what I was seeing general Melodic for, when we happened upon your local archpriest of Taed. Feeling the call for justice overwhelm me I killed him without warning, which leads us to where we are now milord."

She didn't take a break, everything she said was the first thing that came to mind. In other words, everything she said was the truth as she percieved it. He was going to give her his undivided attention, she was going to grant his request and answer all of his questions in full, including why she broke the law and how she got arrested.

[aivea]

"Ah... I see how that would provoke aggression, and their unwillingness to listen or do what was necessary to avoid war."Though it does strike me as odd that those who follow Efil would be the ones launching a campaign of bloodshed. The Master looks thoughtful for a few moments. "No one has the right to take the will of the Forces into their own hands, and they have committed unprovoked murder which is likely to be one of the few crimes punishable by death no matter what nation the guilty find themselves in; it seems that your actions were not entirely in cold blood, then. However... have the followers of Taed resisted that you can recall? What has been the reaction to your crusade from both your enemies and the other nations?"
__

Though the fires were a bit more trouble than planned on, the followers of Taed had appearently decided it was best to remove the cause rather than simply put out the current fires while there was the potiental for more. The Fire templar became the target of both the weapons, and elemental abilities of at least six Taed followers, so desperate were they to get rid of the one that was the greatest threat to both themselves and the property. That didn't mean the other three were being ignored, simply that the most that attacked a single one of the others at the same time was four.

Those who were not directly fighting focus on pointing out the fires.

[adris]

"They have fought and killed our members as we have killed thiers. Our superior strategies and quick strikes made it so that our losses have numbered less."

That was a fair and honest answer in her opinion, she didn't want to include the fact that they were striking before the temples even had enough chance to defend themselves.

-----
The templars kept fighting until they were cut down. The fire templar made some good work by igniting the robes of the priests standing in large groups, but he was quick to fall against the combined might of his enemies. The others benefitted from being given simpler assignments, and continued thier bloody duty for as long as they could, trying to stop firefighters whenever possible.