Scene 51: "Après moi, le déluge"

[Lev Lafayette]

Scene 51: "Après moi, le déluge" 

Having no means by which Icthya, Kalen and Baros to
receive messages from the rump Fellowship, a mind-link
is received by the latter that Aalmon and Knarl are on
their way to the thrice-walled city as the Far-Rider
enters the forest. Icthya realises that time is of the
essence, excuses his pun, and calls for runners to aid
their journey. The sentient shrubberies gather in
their numbers and lift the dam-builders into their
branches and take off in the forest at great speed,
much to the most vocal displeasure of Kalen. "Faith
and begorrah!", he exclaimed "To be carried at this
pace by foliage is unnatural... If only there was a
path paved in stone I could travel without fear in a
straight line using something manufactured... with
wheels!". In contrast Icthya could barely contain his
laughter.

One suspected however, that much of Kalen's protests
were actually show. The journey was remarkably
comfortably and speedy as the arms of the runners bent
with great flexibility with every bump along the way,
even more so than a spring made of the finest Mostal
craft. Within hours they arrived at the City almost
simultaneously with Knarl and Aalmon, where they were
ushered by the Aldryami to the entrance hole of
ingress beyond the walls.

Once again Kalen was greeted to Rotterex, the talking
Bazak, and his colony, who quickly explained the
course of events and how Anzhur had appeared "like an
Angel of Malkion" before them and that he requires
Dwarven speaking tubes to amplify his voice and as
quickly as possible. Kalen, with skill and tools, set
to work working as quickly as possible with assistance
from the bazak who brought pieces of metal [skill -5,
success, vs failure, minor victory overall].

In the mean, Aalmon Far Rider took his prisoner far
into the tower, where Anzhur had practised the rites
and arguments that would prepare him for his debate.
Aalmon threw the militia soldier roughly upon the
rooftop stones and commanding that he speak; initially
there was some resistance, but Aalmon called upon
Starfire Spirit to Reveal Secrets [success (10) vs
success (5), marginal failure]. Still the militia
soldier stuttered, resisting the calls to reveal his
new cultic membership and their secrets.

Kalen Ironhand, aided by other members of the
Fellowship acted with great speed in placing the
Dwarven Speaking Tubes in place, and tho' Anzhur
seemed oblivious to their acts, doubtless they would
be appreciated. His voice spoke clearly across the
Thrice Walled City [success, roll of 2 vs success roll
of 3, marginal victory], and the inhabitants stopped
in wonder and strained their ears to listen at the
speech of the form that bore the symbols of their
King, yet spoke of unity with heretics and war against
their Pope.

And Anzhur Daymare, Bane of Sinners, spoke that the
Southern Army of Seshnela had fallen to Vampires, a
story which caused great wailing and gnashing of teeth
among the thrice-walled city. Although it pained
Anzhur, known Slayer of Werewolves, to say so, he also
suggested alliance with the Telmori which generated
murmurs of approval. But when he spoke of alliance
with the Aldryami, the assembled throng called back
'Did they not surround our lands with forest? Are we
not held as prisoners in these walls as the walking
trees lay seige?'. To whit, Anzhur argued that the
Aldryami had actually offered great protection in
building a new Forest, for if it did not exist, the
Vampires would be upon them already.

Then Anzhur spoke of great betrayal, and how those who
appear most loyal to the people and Kingdom of
Seshnela had betrayed them; and there was murmurs of
acceptance, for the people had become long used to the
byzantine politics and expected revelation that their
King himself had betrayed his own land for powers or
wealth unimaginable: But no! Anzhur claimed that Pope
Theoblanc himself was secretly the leader of the
Vampiric horde that confronted their lands and this
the crowd reacted with cat-cries and screams of
denial.

On the ground Karala attempted to convince some women
that Anzhur spoke the truth with her charismatic
presence and ability to convince others. Unfortunately
the women she chose were Noble attendants to the
Rokari church, of the Wizard caste [fumble 20, vs
success 7, total defeat]. The women set upon the pagan
and casting spells of binding and silence, dragged her
away [Whoops! Sorry Dougie!].

But in that moment, Anzhur with flashing eyes command
the Nolos militia soldier to speak [critical 2,
success 8, minor victory] and when faced directly with
a HeroQuester, the soldier found his tongue. He spoke
of how Theoblanc believed that true Rokari could not
be touched by Chaos, and that the most pure of faith
were protected by Malkion himself. Solace itself could
be found on the Mortal Plane in the form of the
Undead, who were only wicked due to their pagan
heresies. The militia soldier, now fearless, began to
rant, Chaos and sin within oneself can be expelled
into the world, itself Sinful, and tho' beasts of
Chaos will be created from this expulsion, the Boristi
remain pure! With new howls of protest coming from the
congregation, the soldier heaved and vomited up a blob
of primeval chaos itself and rose above the
battlements to confront Anzhur.

The battle was short and swift; Aalmon, Kalen and the
others were quite capable of dispatching the Gorp and
Anzhur far outmatched the Boristi initiate, cutting
him down with his True Silver Sword. Yet a wave of
unease, swept over Anzhur not like he'd experienced
for some months. He felt no Chaos within the Borosti,
indeed, he seemed pure. Could it be that he spoke the
truth? That the Borosti were indeed capable of
literally expelling sin and chaos from their essence?

The crowds howls of protest turned to cheers with
Anzhur's easy victory, although many still seemed
troubled [11, success, bumped to critical, versus 9,
success, bumped to critical, minor defeat overall].
Clearly they would fight under the leadership of the
heretic and they would willingly do so alongside the
Telmori and Aldryami. But they could not believe that
their beloved Theoblanc would be of such a nature, or
was under some sort of spell of control. In battle,
though Aalmon, this could prove to be a problem.

Anzhur rose slightly above the tower stones, and
prepared for the great crossing into the Essence
Planes, recalling the Sixth Malkioni Ecclesiatical
Council [success 9 (bump to critical) vs failure 19,
bumped up two to critical success, bump Anzhur down to
normal success, Anzhur must spend 1 HP to continue -
which I presume you do!]. Surrounded by a holy aura,
filled with the Holy Spirit, bearing the King of
Seshnela's regalia, he spoke of the need for all true
Malkioni to unite and even be led by those they have
hitherto considered heretics most foolish, for their
differences were minor compared to that of their
former guardian, Pope Theoblanc, and his army of
Vampires. 

Now in the form of Prince Hrestol, Anzhur argued with
Aarolin that there could be mobility between the
castes, a debate which he won, which was entirely
probable given that those present were rulers of the
land [failure 20, bumped to success vs success 18,
bumped to critical, marginal failure overall],
although Aarolin was prepared to cede that some
mobility had to endorsed by Malkion, otherwise
HeroQuests themselves would not be possible for surely
they represented stepping beyond one's caste and even
more. [The Rokari priests will eventually decide that
brevet caste can be allocated and technically with no
time limit].

Then Anzhur/Hrestoli spoke of a vindication of the
rights of women, and proffered proofs of their
equality and difference. "Their weakness and
suspectibility to Chaos is a result of their social
standing, not that their social standing is a result
of their weakness and Chaotic nature". Surprisingly,
this debate was successful [Roll 2, critical vs roll
3, marginal success. The Rokari Priests will allow
women to become members of the Wizard and Knightly
castes].

In the third debate Anzhur offered salvation,
repentance and benevolence against Aarolin's arguments
of eternal damnation through heresy, paganism and
deviance. This argument was easily one by Anzhur [roll
9, critical vs roll 15 failure, total victory. The
Rokari Priests will allow salvation and repentence
through deeds and will open up the Church for debate].

In the final argument, Anzhur argued that the proof of
Rokar's divine recognition could not be denied; but
the rules he set were appropriate for that time only.
"A Church that does not have a living Faith must
inevitably have a dying one - you must move with the
times!. [Roll 2(!) critical vs roll 6 bumped to
critical, marginal success; the Rokari Priests will
hold another Council to debate their old rules and
their contemporary relevance].

Sain Hrestol left the Council, and Anzhur returned to
earth and the mundane world faded back into view. No
longer glowing with the Holy Spirit, Anzhur was, once
again, but a man. He had engaged in one of the most
powerful attempts to convert one of the most
conservative faiths in all Glorantha; he had not
achieved an absolute success, insofar they were not
flocking to become members of the new Hrestoli Church,
but the door was now open for reconciliation between
the two faiths long estranged.

Anzhur looked upon the many hundreds of Knights,
Wizards and Nobles of Seshnela. He considered the
Telmori, lying in wait for the new Dawn. He thought of
the dam built by Icthya, Kalen and Baros and the
mighty torrent of Holy Water that would rush into the
lowlands. He thought of the thousands of Nolos
soldiers, mercenaries and the multitude of undead
raised from the Red Ruins and Asgolan Fields. He
thought of the incredible scale of the battle that lay
ahead, outnumbered five to one at least, but with some
unexpected advantages on their side.

"Après moi, le déluge"

And he still carried the regalia of the King of Seshnela.


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