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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4581282" data-attributes="member: 3285">Purity and Corruption: Part 6 – A Truth of Purity?Night fell and the streets were filled with masked and costumed revelers celebrating the Burning Man festival in every way imaginable. A most unusual and unfamiliar sound echoed from every corner and alleyway. It was the sound of laughter and merriment on the city streets of Nishanpur.Returning with the Sarishan to the Ebon Steed, they found the common room is mostly empty. Caius and the others were settled near the fireplace, discussing matters quietly among themselves. When the Nutesh entered, Baecinia nodded her head and rose, ushering everyone into a private dining room, away from even the few people in the common areas of the inn.“Good, now we can begin.” Baecinia turned to Sebastian. “Would you do us the honor of shutting the door and making sure we are not disturbed? Listen to our telling, as well, for once this is done, and our record is safe in Sarishan vaults, we would ask you to help us spread this far and wide.”She turned to Nutesh: “Please witness and record all that is said here. I can assure the honesty of all here, but to lend extra weight to our statements, I would like to use the candle.” Nutesh handed her the large white candle. “By means of this Taper of Truth, let there be no question that all we say is spoken in pure honesty.”Nutesh readied his quills and parchment and nodded. “Vhen all is done, your testimonies vill be sealed in blood. So it is done, in Sarish’s name. Proceed.”“I shall begin,” stated Baecinia, “for this tale begins with me and mine. I hereby attest that I am Baecinia val’Virdan, of Erduk. I am the widow of Marcus Octavian val’Virdan, former Autocrat of the Swords of Nier. Ten years ago, before the return of the Sword of the Heavens, we lived in Erduk.“My husband was not liked by the head of the Sisters of Nier, who was and is Basuhe val’Virdan. He did not allow her the free reign she preferred in her endeavors. Therefore, when a young cleric named Quintus Attulus val’Virdan began rising through the ranks, she took notice.”Ilmarė inhaled sharply.  To hear about a young cleric named Quintus hit a little too close to home.“She took a personal interest in his activities, as the records of the Sisterhood in Erduk can confirm, since a vision that he was ‘blessed by Nier’ came forth about that time. She groomed him, indirectly, for advancement, bringing him ever closer to herself in both viewpoint and proximity to power.“At first we took little notice, but we became more concerned as time went by. It became clear that the Sisters heavily influenced Quintus Attus, but many of my husband’s lesser advisors did not see a problem with that. Our culture is one ruled by strength, and my husband was older than I...When his hair began to gray, many among the Swords began to look among themselves for the one who would challenge and defeat him for the leadership of our people; it is our way.“In time, our situation became more dangerous. Eight years ago, Basuhe herself prophesied that the Sword of the Heavens would return when Quintus Attulus became Autocrat. They had solidified their power block, and were preparing to challenge my husband.“Under normal circumstances, this would not have been unjust; it is the law of our people that the strong should lead. Although many thought otherwise, it was not at all a foregone conclusion that Quintus would defeat my husband in single combat. My husband was a veteran of many battles, and was far from weak. Quintus was yet young and inexperienced. The others can confirm this.”There was a scattering of head nods throughout the room.“When the challenge came, my husband was expecting it, and ready. He was not afraid...We have a saying about old swordsmen: they get to be old swordsmen by being good swordsmen.“As was traditional, we joined Quintus and his patron Basuhe for dinner in the home of a neutral third party, the night before the challenge. This is done so that the two combatants can evaluate each other, and bloodshed can be avoided if one can be convinced to concede. There is no sense in spilling blood when the outcome is obvious.“But my husband, as I said, was far from weak, and Quintus was too arrogant, or perhaps too sure of the knowledge of what was to come, to even consider backing down…“As was traditional, they drank from the same glass, and ate of the same meat, in order that no poison could be suspected. After the meal, we retired home. By morning, my husband felt uneasy, and perhaps a bit unwell. We did not think of poison then, but thought it only nerves. He proceeded to prepare himself for the challenge, and we went forth to the center of the city, where such things are done.”“Again in keeping with tradition, they fought without armor and with identical weapons. All of the equipment was inspected by a neutral party to assure that there could be no foul play. They squared off, and began to fight…” Baecinia seemed disturbed at the memory.“It didn’t last long. As the fight progressed, my husband’s breathing began to be labored, and he began to tire, much too quickly, as I knew quite well from observing his daily practices! He still fought well despite this, and both opponents were wounded several times, though not mortally, to be certain. But then, he staggered, and seemed to be in great pain. Quintus closed in and ended the match swiftly, decisively, in that moment.“After my husband’s death, his body was turned over to me to be prepared for his state funeral the following dawn. As I washed and prepared the corpse, I examined him closely. The priest who was responsible for preparing the funeral pyre inspected the body as well, and we agreed that something was not right.”Baecinia indicated Jurbe with a nod.The Nierite acknowledged her. “What she says is true. None of the wounds, by themselves, would have been immediately fatal to him, not even the final blow. His tongue was blackened and swollen. I am certain that he was poisoned, though by what and how I know not, as the food and drink were checked over magically beforehand, and the body did not have the emanations of poison, which I am able to sense, with Nier’s blessing. Everything else could be explained away as an old man’s body failing him when he asked too much of it.”“Blackened and swollen?” asked Ilmarė. “I’ve seen this poison before. It’s called Blue Sleep.” She had a terrible thought.  “What did you do with the body?”“His body was cremated in a state funeral the dawn after his death. There was no way to delay it. Why?”Ilmarė opened her mouth and then closed it again.  “Nothing.  Go on.”Baecinia resumed her story. “I knew if we could convince enough people of the truth, that my husband had been poisoned before the match, that Quintus’ accession could be nullified. A general tournament would need to be called, and that pretender could be kept from the Autocrat’s chair.“Instead, what I found was scorn. Too many, it seemed, wanted to believe that my husband was just too old, and weak, to stand up to a challenge. Too many wanted to believe that Quintus could usher in the return of Leonydas, the Sword of the Heavens, as Basuhe had so conveniently foretold. Nevertheless, I pressed my case as best I was able.“I found myself ostracized by the community in Erduk. Those who stood by me found their positions of prestige gone, their very safety threatened. Caius and I left Erduk. Others stayed. It mattered little; we could not continue our search for justice under those circumstances. We would have found ourselves dead in the night at the hand of Basuhe’s agents, or at least, so we believed.“When Leonydas DID actually return, we were all stunned. We decided that any chance we might have had for justice was long gone. We went about what was left of our lives as best we could.“But now Leonydas has disappeared, and the army of the Swords has been defeated in open battle. What better indication that Quintus does not deserve to lead our people? We have another chance now, a chance to bring the truth to light, and I wish to take it.”The other witnesses then went on to testify. Traevus was an active member of the Sisters of Nier in those days. He recalled seeing Basuhe val’Virdan, the leader of his order, speaking privately with many of the families considered “neutral” in the days of the confrontation, including the family that hosted the final supper for the combatants. Furthermore, it was Basuhe herself who presided over that fateful, final supper, and who cast the divination that showed t the combatants consumed no poisoned food or drink that night.Caius testified that he was the weapon master in Marcus’ household, and trained with him daily. The exertion of the brief fight should not have tired him so much. He was in better condition than the final fight showed him to be. “So you two aren’t really married?” asked Kham.Caius blushed as he exchanged a look with Baecinia.  “During our flight from Erduk and the dark times that followed, we became…close, and some years later we were married.” “Oh,” said Kham.“Not to dishonor Marcus’ memory!” Caius added quickly. “Rather in a bond to preserve it and ensure that the truth would be revealed some day.”Kham was unconvinced. “Sure, whatever.”Angven testified that she heard the last words of Quintus that day, as he left the field of conflict. “Quintus was quite pleased,” said the dwarf.  She looked very different without a layer of soot covering her.  Her hair was up and rubies glittered from her ears. “He muttered: All as was foretold to me.”“You realize all this is just circumstantial evidence.  Even with this,” Ilmarė gestured at the candle, “…magic candle of yours, there is no conclusive proof.”Baecinia glared at her, but she remained silent.  “Good. It is done,” said Nutesh.Baecinia and the others each placed a drop of blood on the completed transcription of the testimony. The Sarishan went through the Oathmaking and the parchment shimmered with purple light for a moment. “Now,” Baecinia stated, “we can escort the scribe back to his home, and we can begin planning on how to release this information to the whole city!”Sebastian nodded in approval.  “If Nishanpur is to be won back from the Nierites, it must be through a war of ideas.”Kham looked sideways at the dark-kin.  “Let’s hope none of your ideas kills us.”</blockquote>

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