>>5272733>>5272745(QM: wow, these replies are really good!)
>>5272724>Betray Bastich>Don't betray Bastich>No beauty lasts Maiden-Knight>have you not been singing a song of your own ?You see a cruel smile twist the features of the Maiden Knight. To your eyes, she is truly Beautiful. You wonder if it is something about the armour... those armoured bosoms... ahem. Her armour defends her from your Song - it would just be so easy to drown in her impassioned eyes, surrender and embrace her unshakeable fervour and faith... kneel before the Oriflamme, The Oath And Light, which is noble and good and true - it frees all beneath it from suffering and war... all you need do is betray one lowly thief, a liar and cut-throat. A disgusting man of no virtue or honour. You will be rewarded with weapons, armour, treasure, title - finally acknowledged...
The Cruel Maiden-Knight speaks:
- I sense conflict in you, Young One.
(QM: Starships explode in the background, your thoughts betray you, you have a twin sister, if you will not turn to the Dark Side, perhaps she will etc)
You wish to serve the Light, to betray one amongst us who covets the war-tithe, the Heregeld, for themselves. But this one is known to us. Come, Bastich - step forward...
The disguised thief Bastich comes forth. He says:
-It is true, Young Hero! I was sent to test you. To see if you held fast to your word. I betrayed Cadarn and Learmont at the battle... that is how I am still alive. They are now all in the Dungeon, being tortured horribly. Alongside your scarred friend, Tamlyn. The truth is she thought she could fight against the Oath, against Unferth... she is quite a strong one. But she will be made into a Maiden sooner or later. Tamlyn wanted to join the Blearie Queene, spread the legend of some monster of the Old Forest, to ensure The Oath and The Light never reach it... how foolish! But these legends and myths do not exist. There is only the Oath. You speak of Songs? The Song of the Oath is the strongest - that which the skalds of Iosaef King Unbidden sing. You speak of Beauty - behold the Maiden Knight before you. And you think Beauty does not last, that Death comes to all - only when the armies and the cannons of The Oath deliver it. The Song and the Wild have no battalions - they will never defeat The Oath and The Light! Come, Young Hero, embrace the Oath as I have done!
You notice Bastich the Swindler wink with very little subtlety at the end of his long speech. The Maiden Knight does not react or appear to observe this. How much of his speech is true? Is there some deeper plot here...?
