Rolled 6, 20, 8, 19, 16 = 69 (5d20)
>>5741755“I’d kind of like to think I’m more than a ‘friend’ to Hawksssong and itss new Queen,” yous ay.
Ekaterine blushes cutely—even under thesecirumstances—and she pouts a little.
“Th-Theral! Be serious! This is no time for, for FLIRTATION.”
“I AM being ssseriouss,” you say, and then raise your voice over the confused murmuring which results from this enigmatic statement. “O swear an oath that I mean only the BESSST for Hawkssong, and itss people, of ALL racesss. I mean to be much more than a mere ‘friend’ or ‘ally’.”
“We have no need of some Dark God-worshipping despot, monster!” one of the older Paladins objects.
You frown at the interruption, and look to Ekaterine to discipline the man… But she is still looking to you with concern, awaiting an explanation as well. You cringe inwardly, and set about explaining yourself.
“I come not ass a conqueror or despot… At leasst, that iss no LONEGR my intent. I wish for jusssticce, fairnessss, PEACCCE above all elsse… But that hass NOT been the norm in the Hawkssong I have sseen, hass it?”
You address this last question to Queen Ekaterine, the young social reformer that she is, ever the friend of the lowborn citizen and the foreigner. You look into her troubled eyes, and beseech her understanding.
“You taught me a better way than what I had originally evissioned, but I know you agree with me on thisss much, my Queen: Hawksssong iss a ssocciety in need of reform. Raccial tenssionss, and the hypocrisssiess of the elite… Ssoemtimes, a noble aim requiresss the peaccce which comes with the ssword, from the firm hand of a determined, ssstrong, and fairminded monarch. In Bloodrisse, that isss me. Here, that iss YOU, my Beloved One… And if I am any ssort of ally to the people of Hawkssong, and I WISH to be, ssometimess harm MUSSST be done to ssome, to ssave and preserve others.”
[Fifth d20 applies only to Ekaterine.]
