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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Endur" data-source="post: 2747473" data-attributes="member: 3346">The Night Sky is Full of Stars.The wind blows through the Tower windows, rustling the curtains and the hair of the woman who is looking out the 8th floor.  She moves away from the windows, but it is obvious that the wind blows freely through the room.The room is richly decorated, as an audience chamber to impress its guests.You have never seen her face before, but from the insignia about the room, her clothes, and her bearing, it is obvious who she is.  She is the reclusive Lady Jolene of Samprastadar, the wealthy Supreme Mistress of the Celestial Order of Veluna.  Before Prince Thrommel disappeared twenty years ago, she was betrothed to Prince Thrommel of Furyondy and had been destined to become Queen of Furyondy, Veluna, Verbobonc, and other lands.  For over twenty years, she has been the most powerful noble in Veluna, but she is bound by the dictates of the church, for the Church of Rao controls all matters of state in Veluna.A knight in full plate armor enters the room.  “My Lady, if it pleases you, the prisoner is ready to confess.”The Lady replies, ”Nothing about this will please me, but now is as good a time as any.  Send for Erdso, and then bring the prisoner.”A few minutes later, a scribe in simple robes enters the room and kneels by the throne that dominates the chamber.The Lady then takes her seat on the throne.  The original knight then returns to the room followed by two knights escorting a prisoner.  Although the prisoner may once have been human, it is clearly a monster of some sort.  Sallow, greenish-yellow skin, black finger nails, corruption and disease manifest across a  body that is skin and bones.The Lady speaks, ”Erdso, record this audience.  “Creature, you may begin your confession.  Confession will save your soul from eternal damnation, lies will avail you naught.”The creature opens it mouth to speak, you can see irregular black teeth and yellow gums.  “Your majesty is most merciful.  I will not speak any lies.“I have committed sins against the Gods.  I have sacrificed to evil gods and sought power over my fellows.  “I fought at the battle of Emridy Meadows twenty years ago on the wrong side.  I was the first to flee from the forces of Furyondy and Veluna.  The Prince pursued me, and I ambushed him.  I took him prisoner.  After years of torture, I murdered him.  I danced upon his grave.” ”Silence!  I will hear no more of your foul lies!  A creature like you could never have defeated the greatest hero there ever was, whether you used guile, poison, or spell!”“Return the creature to his cell.”The two knights roughly remove the protesting creature from the audience chamber.The lady addresses the remaining knight.  “The creature confessed to terrible crimes.  Normally we would turn such over to the Church for execution.  But this creature is deluded; it could not have slain Prince Thrommel.  It might be innocent of all the crimes it confessed to.  So we will not turn him over to the church.  Instead, it will remain a prisoner.  “Furthermore, the creature’s lies might cause alarm amongst the public.  The claim that Prince Thrommel is dead, even from a discredited source, would cause political turmoil.  Such a claim might even cause Prince Thrommel to be declared legally dead. “My judgment is this: the creature will remain a prisoner.  Furthermore, the creature will be prevented from repeating its lies to anyone outside this room.  Erdso, you will destroy all records of this meeting or this prisoner.  You are dismissed.”</blockquote>

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