The Crux of the Matter

[Rystil Arden]

"Ah, I see, I see. I just have one more question for you then. If you'll follow me? I'll take you to where I can show you Elpis as well" she leads him back to a large mirror, "Mirror, mirror on the wall. Heed my words and show me all," she bids the mirror.

*Suddenly, an image appears, showing Rinaldo at the top of the tower talking to Vanitri:*

"Ashnar can be saved if we can get his body out of the tower before the tower is destroyed. We can then carry the body to Monemvassia, where we are sure we can find someone to ressurect him. He is a knight of Monemvassia and it sure the church there will help us. But if we can trick Sin, we will be able to have Ashnar help into recovering Laynie," the image of Rinaldo tells Vanitri.

*Sin turns to Rinaldo, her easy smile quirked a bit as she raises an eyebrow:*

"Now then--bearing in mind that I did see all of that and the rest before you came down here, can you give me any reason to trust your lies? I am not a fool, Rinaldo, dear. You're not going to 'trick' me."

 

[Velmont]

Rinaldo is not even impress by the mirror trick. "Interesting device. Let's see it another way, you need me and I need you. Now, you can either accept that or you can kill me now or even take my soul and Vanitri will destory the Crux and all that madeness will end. It's not the solution I prefer, but it is one I can accept. You? Are you ready to risk your life or even your soul for what you things it worth it?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Blackmailing me with the death of myself and my innocent children, even if you risk destroying everyone in the region? Rinaldo, you know you're making me think you're the evil one here. But please--you saw as well as I did what happened to your pixie friend Tenebrynn when she tried to go after the Crux. Vanitri will just be vaporised too. Your idle threats do not scare me...In fact, all I need to do is make contact with my sentient journal, as your Vanitri has so kindly mentioned that she's somehow around and able to influence things...If she can bring Elpis back here, why then, I suppose I would have no need for you after all, now would I? The only reason I have to deal with you is that you are convenient...if you make this inconvenient for me...well then, you're of no use to me, now are you? Normally I wouldn't hurt someone just because they are of no use, but when they're threatening me and mine...well, you see where I'm going I'm sure."

 

[Velmont]

"Well, tell me how I can trust someone named Sin, the evil impersonation of Eleyna, an impersonnation who has created children that impersonate the major sin of human nature? Someone who has kill and trap the soul of my friend and threaten me and my friends?" asks Rinaldo, still calm in front of the Sin.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Who told you I was an 'evil impersonation'. You know, the things that people say sometimes...aren't always accurate. Was it Senex who said that, Senex who appears to have betrayed everyone in an attempt to get us to kill each other? In different situations, different people will seem evil...frankly, I think you seem the evil one here. I am not threatening to possibly kill thousands, you'll recall."

"As for the soul...well, you have to understand the person I'm dealing with--that is to say, you. You've made it abundantly clear that you would have killed me and destroyed the Crux if I hadn't done that while talking with your friend. I did what I had to do to save myself from a terrorist who threatened everything I hold precious along with innocent lives besides. You aren't like any merchant I've had to deal with in the past...more like a religious extremist terrorist."

 

[Velmont]

"Yes, it is clear that I wanted to kill you. You've kill and kept the soul of a friend. One of your 'innocent children' threaten us of death, another throw us fireballs to us and almost kill us. Another have charmed us and turned against each other. Love asks us to kill Ashnar and Tenebrynn. And all of them attack us with deadly spell, none really try to subdue us. All I have seen, it is powerfull wizards that use all to acheive there goals, even the darkest magic.

Look at you 'innocent' children. Wrath, Pride, Gluttonery, Envy, Lust, Greed... I suppose you have one name Sloth too. If it was only name, it would be that bad, but they obviously have the default there name tell.

You've offered us to bring back to life our fallen, removed the tower safely and let us go. I must tell I've considered that offer, but in exchange, you ask us to give you a young girl so you can use her body as your own, virtually enslaving her soul just like you've done for Hogarth. That would also mean you and your children would be free, and you've had plenty of time to show us your bad side.

Now I have this dilema, choosing between the sacrifice of us and destoy the Crux, the tower and you with it. It might kill everyone in the region, but that's what you told me. The other choice would be to accept your offer.

The problem with the latest choice, it is I have no garantee you'll repsect your part of teh bargain. You could be truthful or lying cunningly to me. I have no garantee that you would hold your words. But if you are a btter person than you've have shown me up to now, I suppose you might have some garantee?

But how about, instead of giving you Laynie, we would help you to get your body back? You told us you wanted to have it back. If it would allow Laynie to live freely, it would both show your good will and would prove me I was wrong on you."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"All of the incidents you cite were performed in order to prevent you from killing us all--they had gathered information that stated, correctly, that you planned to destroy the Crux. That made you an enemy--a crazy terrorist that had to be stopped at all costs. You keep bringing up your friend and his soul, but as I've said many times, I had to do it--that's the only reason you're down here right now talking instead of up there killing everyone. You are the one who was attempting genocide first--it is no surprise that we would try to stop you. It isn't like we came to your house and stole the souls of your family while you were away--which is essentially what you guys were planning to do before my daughters managed to get you to let me out."

"As to your new suggestion, it is stupid. Why risk the danger of the Crux to this region by dealing with my body first? We need to eliminate the danger first by researching and peacefully stopping the Crux--then, and only then, will I have all the time I need to safely find a way to get my body back. And so for that, I will need to borrow Elpis's body for a time. Surely she isn't so selfish that she would risk the lives of thousands just for that?"

"As to my word, I'm truer to it than you are, considering the scheming you were doing behind my back. I have no reason not to keep my word."

 

[Velmont]

Rinaldo fell silent a moment. "I have no reason yet to beleive you. Put the blame on Xu and Envy if you want, but your side open the hostility even before we knew you exist. I tried to speak with Xu, I tried to make a peacefull negotiation with Xu, and she just threaten us. I tried to speak with Envy, but she tried to kill us. You never tried to speak to us until the moment we reach the Crux, until the moment we hold your faith in our hand. From there, you speak to me with words that I want to hear. Words that put doubt in what I knew.

You might be cunningly manipulating me, or you might tell the truth. Fine. Give me a proof that you can hold your word if you are so true to it. Bring back Ashnar to live. That would be a proof of your good will. It's not like Ashnar would be a danger to you, you could easily kill both of us with a single spell, no."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"They tried to contact you, but you were gone where they couldn't find you--I guess where Guile and the others were hiding? By the time they found you, it was too late, as you were already well on your way to destroying the Crux."

"Look, I'll tell you what--you don't believe me that I can bring your friend back, that's fair. As I told you, I'm not even sure that it will work. The good news is, if it does work, she's back to how she was before she died, with none of those echoes of death draining her life essence or whatnot. But I don't trust you, especially considering your whole 'trick Sin' speech...However, I am a fair woman, so I'll give you two options for the bringing back Ashnar thing. Option 1--I bring her back, and then after showing that I can, I kill her again, pending your return of Elpis. Option 2--you accept a Soul Contract Death Pact to give me Elpis--if you don't know what that is, it basically means that if you renege on your end, you die and your soul is forfeit so you can't be raised--and then I raise and let you keep your Ashnar. Sound fair?"

 

[Velmont]

"They tried to contact me? I find that a bit easy to tell that now. That's why it is hard to believe you, you seems to have the way to bring the good excuse only now. The problem, there is no way you can prove it now I suppose, or maybe your mirror have recorded Eve telling she wanted to speak to us and where she punish Envy for what she has done to us.

But there would be a way to make sure you are telling the truth, but it would be too convenient for me, so I can forget it I think.

If you raise Ashnar, will I be able to talk to him before you kill him again?"