Rolled 17, 1, 2, 8, 13, 2, 7, 3, 9, 15, 7 = 84 (11d20)
>>5722593“Ewald, you are wrong in every way that mattersss.”
The Paladin’s rather bushy eyebrows scend the furrow of his brow, awaiting explanation with wordless incredulity.
“King Archoss wass a good man,” you begin. “Better by a good sssight than hiss cloying, power hungry ssson.”
“On that we can agree,” the Old paladin says, gruffly.
“I would not—did not—poissson that man,” you continue. “He will be missssed…. Albeit perhaps not by KING Rufosss. It makes you wonder whether anyone really needed to push him at all, to do what you allege he did to hisss brother.”
Sir Ewald narrows his eyes, as if scanning your expression for signs of falsehood—but your face is a mask of illusion ad magically-shaped false flesh. It betrays nothing.
“Princcesss Ekaterine came with me willingly. She isss not deceived—she knows exactly what sssort of man she married.”
“A man?” the Old Paladin balks.
“A man,” you emphasize, “who came here to visssit hiss father-in-law—after leaving quite profitable and mutually-agreeable trade talks.”
“No man at all,” Sir Ewald counters. “A monsster in human clothing, strongarming petty border-nobles into acknowledging his kingdom of fiends, beasts, and traitors, so he can build the strength to destroy us all.”
“The man who drove off the dragonsss who plagued you, to protect your people.”
He glowers, snarling: “I do not yet know your game, but you will not win it. You will never take Hawksong. You will never take our kingdom, not to destruction and not to rule in darkness. Your schemes end here, serpent.”
You sigh. Why does he insist on this? Is he really going through all this pagentry just for dueling decorum? Maybe he genuinely isn’t SURE of his accusations, and hopes to wheedle the truth out of you, to justify his violence? More the fool then—violence, as your god has taught you, needs only the justification of victory, and the pursuit of power.
“Admit it!” he roars again, growing impatient. “Admit what you are, who you serve, and your purpose here!” Draw steel, if you have honour at all!”
Without breaking his gaze, you reach down and remove your khopesh from its hanging loop of woven -dyed spider-silk.
“I am Theral, alssso called Long Wang,” you tell him. “I am Princcce of Hawkssong and King of Bloodrisse. I sserve the God of Glorious Conquest.”
You raise your kopesh-blade in a formal salute.
“I am here to duel an old man.”
The old paladin grins, but without humour. The duel begins.
4d20 Divination (DC 15)5d20 Sword Mastery for the initial clash (DC 16)2d20 dice for your foe's counter-strategy (DC depends on Divination roll, 12 or 17) 