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Message: <blockquote data-quote="James McMurray" data-source="post: 165437" data-attributes="member: 743">That evening, William steps out of the Mansion and into the alley behind the Temple to Pelor in Greyhawk City. After the vampire incident, they were asked to be more discrete in their placements of the Mansion, so as not to alarm the populace. To his surprise, there in the alley beside him is an altar boy, wearing the garb of a Child of Glory: the Paladins in training for Heironious. He recognizes the boy from services in the Temple to Heironious in Lopolla, over 1,000 miles away."Sir, I was told to bring you this." The boy holds out a small iron box, wrapped with a pink bow. "The lady pointed to this spot and said you'd be here. Wow! I'd heard about the heroes who live in the sky, but I got to meet them! Wait'll the guys hear about this. Ooh! Is Kargur the Brave inside? Is it true he tore his way out of the belly of a Tendriculous with his bear hands? What's a tendriculous? Are you going to whisk me through the air back home? The lady said you would." William reaches for the box and the boy keeps gushing forth questions."Didn't you kill an evil dragon all by yourself? Wow! I hope I can be as brave in the service of Heironious one day. What about Galrond? Is it true that Heironious put lightning in his eyes to smite the unworthy?" The boy seems to realize he has been carrying on, and calms for a moment. "Forgive me sir, I have forgotten myself in my boyish exuberance. Master Dorth would be displeased at my lack of decorum." He bows deeply at the waist and his voice switches from that of a carefree child to a respectful noble tone, "I am Initiate Arthur, although it will only be one week before I take the Rite of Passage, and when I enter the Order I will get to choose my new name.""Well, Arthur. It's a pleasure to meet you and to answer your questions. Yes Kargur is inside... Yes, he was swallowed whole and he was forced to rip his way out of the beast... It's a giant rock eating monster but to be honest with you I hardly remember the thing because we have fought creatures far more deadly in our travels for the Valiant.""Maybe, if you gain my trust. I have sent nine dragons screaming to their deaths, (tapping sword on scabbard) one of them was in a mono-e-mono fight. Yes, Galrond was blessed by the Valiant and it is present in his eyes. ""But if it's battles you want to here about, I and the others can tell you some stories. Combat with vampires while in their layer and freeing their hostages, Going to another plane to slay demons and devils, and overthrowing the evil rule of a demon possessed monarch. I guess we've killed everything evil that has walked or crawled at one time or another.""I am very proud to meet a future champion of justice and Valor. (hand the box back to the boy). I think you have earned the right to open the box. After all, you have traveled a long way. ""Thank you sir." The boy reverently takes the box back, the pride on his face plain to see. Moments later his face drops, as he lifts the latch and pulls on the lid. Tugging harder, he grunts under the effort of opening the small chest. Although it does not even have a latch for the lid, it does not budge. A moment later he stops and looks back at William, "I guess its stuck." He hands it to William, giving one last half-hearted tug. As William touches it, the lid flies open under the boy's hand, and the suddenness of it sends the box flying to the ground, where a small flesh-colored thing and a scrap of parchment falls out.Looking down, William and Arthur see a human hand. Arthur seems taken back for a moment, then he mutters under his breath, "A paladin does not fear" and he somewhat calmly reaches down to pick up the hand. Just then, a gust of wind moves through the alley and sends the parchment scurrying towards the street. "Oh no! I'm sorry sir!" cries Arthur as he rockets down the alley after it. His youthful legs let him easily catch up with it, and he comes walking back, brushing dirt from the letter he holds. "Forgive me, sir. It was my clumsiness that dropped this. What does it mean?"William looks down at the hand on the ground and his heart skips a beat. Across the back of the hand is a long, familiar scar. His brother Jacob had a scar exactly like that, gained in swordplay with William. Coming from a military family, the youths spent many of their free hours playing with wooden swords and target practicing with blunted arrows. ------------One Summer afternoon, they snuck into the Siege residence while their father was on duty and took down the dueling daggers from their place of honor on the mantle. Sneaking towards the back of their home, they carefully pulled the daggers from their mounting. "En guard, Lil' Willie!" cried Jacob, as he dropped back into a fencing stance. Soon the boys were dueling rapidly, neither one coming near the other, until William tripped and fell. Leaping to catch him, Jacob managed instead to catch the back of his hand on William's blade. As the crimson sprayed from his hand, William stood in shock for a moment. Not knowing what else to do, he rushed his brother to the Temple of Heironious, only a half-block away."Sir David, Sir David, come quick! Jacob's hurt." Sir David, the protector stepped out of the back room. "What'r ye interruptin' me meditation fer boy?" Seeing Jacob’s hand, he moves forward. "Bah, ye'll get worsen that in yer family's line o' work. C'mere, lemme see it." Jacob moved forward, and Sir David grasped his hand as the boy gasped in pain. "Heironious, these boys seek your name Glory. Please repair the damage dealt in their youthful exuberance and haste to please you." As he finishes the prayer, Jacob's wound heals, leaving behind a long pink scar. "Well boys, looks like The Valorous left ya a keepsake. Per'aps ye'll be lookin' at it the next time ye decide ta play with yer father's blades? William me lad, ya done a good thing bringin' 'im 'ere."As David looked down at the young lad, something in his demeanor changed. "Let me get a closer look at you lad. Yep, as I thought, you've got the mark of Heironious about you, a wonder I never noticed it before. Take this." Sir David reached into his tunic and pulled forth a small wooden holy symbol, Lightning in a Clenched Fist. "I'll have to speak with your parents about this."-------------Arthur runs up with the letter and holds it forth:" Greetings bastards,As you have probably already realized, I grow tired of our constant warring. You have constantly assaulted me in my homes, long after our association was through. You have killed my friends and allies. You have even gone so far as to kill my replacement self. This will stop.As you can see, I have William's brother Jacob at my mercy. I also have Garth, captain of Kargur's brigade from the March, but the box could only fit one hand.If you value the lives of kith and kin, you will meet me in Lopolla tomorrow. I will be in the Battle district, where my good friend the Sultan of Za-dran has arranged for us to meet in the Arena. Tell the gate guard your names and he will escort you to your places. These hit and run raids you cowards constantly make have grown old. I regret the need to involve your families in this matter, but if it is the only way I can bring you to me, then so be it.Know that if you fail to arrive tomorrow morning, both your honor and your people will be forfeit.Nuala,Mistress of Lorge HallHeadmistress of the Black Academy" "Well Arthur, this should be a good lesson for you: Never leave an enemy behind. Once you start something, finish it at all costs. William puts the hand back in the box, and says a small payer before continuing, "Arthur, my party members and I have been in a running battle with a terrible and evil foe that threatens the very existence of life, and the souls of innocent people. This evil has even put your young life in terrible danger. It must be stopped at all cost, because the longer it's around, the more people will suffer. If we let it go now, then thousands of good people will be doomed.""I will escort you to the church. I want you to wait there while I get the others. After everyone has talked with you and asked their questions, we will take you back to your home if you wish. I know you are a brave man, but there is great danger here and the longer you are with us the more danger becomes you."Arthur looks both proud to be called a man and angered at the hint that he is not ready for danger. "I will wait for you as you ask sir, and I will return to Lopolla with you, for I must report these things to the Masters at the Temple. However, if I may be so bold as to ask a boon of your mighty band of heroes, even though I am not deserving of it? I ask that you allow me to avenge my honor. I was swayed by the woman's beauty and failed to see the darkness in her heart. She used that in order to perpetrate a most foul deed upon you, and by doing so has tainted my own honor. I would like to stand beside you on the field of battle if I may. Although I am small of stature, my blade strikes swiftly and surely."Before William can reply, the portal to the mansion flickers into existence again, and the remainder of the group step out, with Galrond muttering about durations soon expiring. Looking up, Galrond notices the boy and says with a smile, "Well now, who is this young lad here William?" I hope he knows that we're in the heoring business, and don't take kindly to door-to-door salesfolk?"Arthur looks up at the group and stands in awe, silenced by the presence of all of his heroes in one place.</blockquote>

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