Particularly Potent Promises

[zenith needle]

Sitting before the altar of Ilamter in the guild's temple is Akx. The almost eight foot tall gnoll turns a bundle of cloth over in his paws. Woven cord kept it fastened around whatever was concealed within, though this did little to ease the gnoll as even through the cloth he could feel the irrational fear the blade sparked in the back of his mind. His baser instincts demanding he drop it and back away. His flesh remembering the cuts from an all too similar item involuntarily tensing, as if waiting for the object to animate and strike at him itself.

"Help all who hurt, no matter who they are." The words echo across the stone structure, as they are spoken and repeated once and then once again. A practiced tone, but it still carries belief and faith.

With a sigh, Akx reaches his right paw into the bundle, the blackened coloration having lightened and faded towards a dusky-gray ever since he had allowed one of Roe's items to regenerate him and heal his scars. He tries to push a connection out to the object concealed in the cloth and once again feels the item bite back at his psyche, refusing to permit his attunement.

With a huff he pulls his hand back and simply stares at the altar for a few moments, "Some kind of help... or sign... or... anything would be very nice right now." He mutters towards the structure, before exhaling sharply and beginning to think on it a bit more. A few minutes pass before the idea hits him as he fishes in his pouches and withdraws a handful of coins. Several are placed at Ilamter's shrine, though one is selected for a different place as the gnoll takes his bundle over towards a different altar.

Now kneeling before the shrine of Bahamat, Akx takes a platinum coin leaves it as an offering. "Iii know Iii do not follow yyouuu, but... Iii would like to speak with my friend Klang." The gnoll asks, closing his eyes as he makes the request.

[civic belfry]

A bright flash of platinum light fills the room.

"VERY WELL!" A booming voice sounds and as the light fades a small winged Kobold can be seen flying next to the altar.

"Just a little trick," He laughs " I happened to have a visit in mind already, having heard about how you guys helped out my village, was headed to the temple when I heard you and I couldn't resist."

He descends to the ground and folds his wings around his collar like a cape, "Then again, with folks like Bahamut, perhaps he knew that this would be the right timing. How have you been?"

[zenith needle]

Akx hastily moves to shield his eyes as the light fills the space, dropping the cloth to the ground, a faint tink of metal striking stone as some part of the object within is exposed in the fall.

He stares in awe for a moment until Klang laughs and he joins in for a moment before the realization of the concealed item resting on the ground. There is a quick snatching motion to recover it before looking towards the kobold.

The looks over to small kobold with a sheepish smile as he clutches the bundle before the altar.

"Iii have been both better and worse. Iii am sorry for what happened with the village, Iii feel as though Iii bear some responsibility... the fiend Iii had told yyouuu, The Broker. It was his forces that attacked."

[civic belfry]

"Don't apologize," he replies jovially, "You protected the keep and fought off the strongest forces of invasion. It was good work. Not to mention helping out with the power source."

He tilts his head, looking at the bundle,

"Now then, I'm guessing you wanted to talk to me about whatever is going on in that cloth? That or flying lessons," he gestures at the wings, "Your tail isn't quite built for flying, but from what I saw you did okay. I'm guessing those came from the fancy cards you used the other day? Now don't look surprised, one of the perks of training for exarchdom is getting to peer into what goes on my town from time to time in between sparring and studying."

[zenith needle]

"Iii know, Iii know, but... it should not have happened. Hhee should not have reached this far. It means... well it means before long someone will have to deal with hiiimm." His grip tightens on the bundle before loosening as Klang draws his attention back to it.

"Yes actually! This, yes." Akx excitedly offers the bundle forward before pausing, pulling it back and beginning to work at the cord keeping it fastened. A moment later, resting atop the cloth is a radiant silver longsword polished to a mirror finish. Single-edged and decorated with various Celestial markings though in an agnostic fashion, in the presence of Klang it almost seems to emanate glow as it is moved towards the kobold. The smile wavers a bit as the weapon seems to react to Klang's presence after denying Akx several times over.

"It is... at least Iii think it is... like yyouuurs..."

"And also, it is not just mmyyy tail that is not built for flying, all of mmee is not. Iii manage though. Yes the cards gave the wings, but...," His head turns to glance back across the temple, eyes settling on Ilmater's shrine, "Iii think Ilmater may have made them the color they are..."

[civic belfry]

Klang peers up at the weapon and nods.

"Excellent make, definitely blessed by powerful holy magic."

His eyes glow with a platinum light as he reaches a claw out towards it, just hovering above the blade, causing it to glow brightly.

"Yup," he says confidently, "That is a Holy Avenger alright, perfect for slaying fiends. I've decapitated at least four Archfiends with mine so I can attest to their effectiveness."

He glances over the wings, then back at the blade.

"I see... in that case you've definitely gained his favour. But it seems you've not attuned to this weapon. Having some trouble with it?"

[zenith needle]

"It keeps... pushing mmee away. It is not like the hair pin or the gloves or any of mmyyy items. It will not let mmee connect." Akx turns his gaze downwards, away from the shrines.

"Do yyouuu think it is mmee?"

[civic belfry]

He pauses a moment, scratching below his chin.

"Some weapons are built for a purpose, for a particular type of warrior. I would not be able to attune to something meant for a wizard. This one... this is meant for one who has sworn an oath."

"Not just any oath though," he adds, "The kind that knights make to swear loyalty to their liege or their deity. "

He waves a hand upward towards the statue, "My oath, of course, is to Bahamut, but not just to him as a being but his tenets," he produces a well worn and partially burned prayer book, "Specifically, my vow was that of "Conquest" but in the sense of becoming Unconquerable myself, defeating tyrants, protecting those who cannot defend themselves, and overall lifting up other smallfolk. This stemmed from my specific needs, desires, and failings."

"So to connect with it, you need to show it your resolve by dedicating yourself to a specific purpose..." he tilts his head, "But what makes you want to pursue this sort of weapon? You seem to manage quite well with your gloves."

[zenith needle]

"It is... The Broker. Many of hhisss..." Akx falters, searching for a word to refer to the altered gnolls, "...creations... are made by being twisted with fiends. Yyouuu told mmee weapons like this were very good at dealing with them." The gnoll looks down, some small inflection of guilt bubbling up at the mention of the gloves.

"Iii cannot keep putting down ones that were... that are like mmee with tooth and claw. They do not deserve mmyyy bites."

[civic belfry]

"I see... sounds like you have quite a history with this fiend," He replies, "I've had my far share of foes that I was willing to go far to defeat."

He exhales some smoke that swirls and forms the shape of fiend, then a wizard, and finally a dragon.

"I would caution against losing yourself to revenge, an Oath of Vengeance is quite powerful but it can leave great anguish in its wake."

"As for not wanting to harm your kin, I understand, there were powerful allies I had that I did not seek the aid of when it came time for my battle because I did not trust them to put the lives of those who, willingly or not, worked for the enemy."

[zenith needle]

"Around every corner Iii find more and more. Hhee was from mmyy pack. Hhee was the namesake of mmyy exile..." Akx shudders, feeling scars that are no longer there.

"It is not about revenge. If it were, teeth would be deserved. At every turn Iii have done tried to help those that hhee has twisted even though hhee seems to find more and more to warp..."

[civic belfry]

"Hmm, quite personal indeed," He says, tapping his tail on the ground in thought.

"Do you know what his plans are? At least his motivation? That could lead you to a proper Oath to defeat him?"

[zenith needle]

"Plans... no. Iii have never even wanted to know, Iii know it might not be smart, but hhee cannot speak without gloating or making an offer or taunting... it has been easier to just block hhisss words out. Hhee swears that all hhee wants is to help... but hhee only reaches out to those when there is no other choice for them." Akx tightens his grip on the sword, cloth being what keeps the blade from cutting into him. "Hhee has been making monsters in mmyyy image. Hhee cut the heart out of another gnoll, ignited it and returned it as a weapon. A mockery of mmee."

"The worst part is hhee does actually help some of them. Not all in a way that is good, but some... and Iii want to let hhimmm do that. Without making others worse."

[civic belfry]

"I'd expect such from a fiend, they talk far too much while saying very little."

"I see, so his followers are "willing"," he says with a groan, "They feel indebted, and thus are far more dangerous."

"You empathize with his victims, and want to see them get what they need. This makes you see some good in this Broker?" he asks, not waiting for an answer, "That is their game, they tell sweet half-truths only to lace them with poison."

He lets out a sigh and paces back and forth a bit.

"However, you did say he is from your pack and suffered exile as you did... I don't know of many who spawned in the hells and retain enough of their former identity like that. I cannot blame you for pitying the creature, though even this could be a trick. What do you intend to do when you face him?"

[zenith needle]

"He is not of the hells. Iii am not sure if hhee ever truly died. Iii have done some magical research, learned what Iii could about hhimmm. Some fiend gave hhimmm the same bargain hhee gives others. 'Accept this deal and be changed or succumb to yyouuurr injuries.' Perhaps that is why Iii am struggling to know what Iii will do. Hhee is another victim... Iii want to try to save hhimmm like Iii have some of the others. Under it all hhee is like mmeee."

" The gnoll gives an exasperated chuckle.

"Perhaps Tee-ahc chose wrong in picking hhisss warrior... look at mmee signing infernal contracts for work and sympathizing with a fiend..."

[civic belfry]

With surprising speed, the Kobold flies up to eye level with Akx and gives him a flick in the nose with his claw.

"None of that nonsense!" he says sternly, "If you did not have sympathy you'd make for a poor follower of Ilmater, and a rather unpleasant individual all around!"

He continues to flap his wings, though not as fast as one might expect to be required to maintain altitude.

"The blade of justice is but a mere instrument of torture if not first quenched in the waters of mercy. You must destroy evil, but that does not mean closing off your heart to the pain of others. Perhaps this fiend cannot be helped, but the fact that you feel this way is what may allow you to help those he has ensnared."

"And if he is somehow not fully turned due to whatever deal this is, then maybe there is something you can do, but don't let it eat you up inside if that ends up being impossible."

[zenith needle]

Akx winces in regards to the flick, it stung a bit but the pain did bring about clarity, "At the end of it all, if Iii cannot help hhimmm, Iii can at least put hhimmm down..." Akx shifts the hilt of the weapon to be grasped with one hand at his side as he rubs his nose.

"Still mighty as ever..."

[civic belfry]

"And don't you forget it!" he grins before descending back down to the floor.

"Good, you said what you want, now forge that want into a conviction, hammer out a plan, and wield it to victory! What is your oath?"

[zenith needle]

Akx's grip tightens on the hilt. He turns back towards the shrine of Ilmater. "It is an oath to help and guide those that have lost themselves. To offer them another chance to do right by themselves. To lift those that have fallen farther than far. To redeem them."

Akx holds the sword out towards the altar, a faint glow moving along the blade as it shifts to accommodate itself to itself to its new wielder. The blade widens from a thin, straight blade to a longer, curved one, hooked like the tooth of a great beast. The crossguard flares out and fills with a poof of fur, spotted like the one bearing the weapon. Underneathe Akx's grasp, the hilt becomes adorned with red leather and the agnostic celestial writings become a smattering of Ilmater's iconography and lightly etched prayers. "Iii will save who Iii can and free those that Iii cannot."

[civic belfry]

"Good," He says, his eyes taking on a platinum glow again.

"The blade senses your conviction, what is its name?"

[zenith needle]

"H'raax'ga." The name escapes his maw before he can even think on the question, coming straight from the blade itself.

"Healing Fang..." Akx clarifies, translating the title. "Iii do not know if such an edge can heal, but who am Iii to argue with the chosen name."

[civic belfry]

"Excellent," He replies as he once more takes to the air.

He produces his own blade and holds it out above Akx's head.

"As protector of Noacharthel, I grant you, Akx Titanmaw, the title of "Mendclaw" that you may fix what is Broken. Let H'raax'ga be the tool, not of mere destruction, but of renewal."

[zenith needle]

Akx bows his head, feeling the promise made take root, feeling the divine magic wash over him, feeling a new title cling to him.

"Iii will wield it with care."

[civic belfry]

"So you shall," he replies, "A Paladin of Ilmater you shall be, and as a Knight of Noacharthel you are welcome. Whatever past that haunts you, whatever regrets you have, know that, while they will always be a part of you, it is your actions from here on out that define you."

"Raise your head, Sir Mendclaw, and may your strikes with that blade be outnumbered by hands outstretched in mercy. May the drops of blood spilled be drowned out by water and wine poured out for loved ones."

"Rise, and let the red cords of Ilmater guide your claws towards gentleness, your maw towards kind words, and your arms around those in need of protection."

[zenith needle]

He stands, feeling deeply, truly different and in a much better way than many of his other changes here at the guild.

"Thank yyouuu, Klang..." The sword finds its way to Akx's belt, no longer fitting the original scabard it had come with. He would need to get a new one made for it.

With a breath of relief, the gnoll flashes Klang a full toothed smile, "Now, Iii believe yyouuu came to the guild for a reason other than this, yes?"

[civic belfry]

The Kobold descends back to the ground again.

"You are very welcome," he replies, "As for my purpose here, mostly wanted to pop in to visit. As well as thank those who helped my town."

He gets a mischievous grin, "I assume that Harengon was the confidant you mentioned before."

[zenith needle]

"That just reminds mmeee how long it has been since wwee spoke." He replies with a softer smile, "Yes, yes... ssheee is that and more. Friend... partner..."

His eyes then widen a bit, "Hrrrm... it has almost been a year, just under a week from now..."

[civic belfry]

"It has been a while yes," He says, scratching the base of his horn, "Though, it hasn't felt like it, been rather busy, slaying dragons and fiends, setting up the town, training for Exarchdom. Been rather non-stop."

"I take it you've been rather busy yourself?"

[zenith needle]

"Oh that was not about us speaking... it is almost the anniversary of something else..." Akx shrugs, tucking that thought away for later, "Iii have been about as busy as Basha allows. Breaking the deals of devils, sealing a strange singing lich... the usual guild work."

[civic belfry]

"Ah, I see..." He replies, "Seems like good work to pursue. Sounds like things haven't changed all that much around here. Always some evil that needs smiting, some absurdly wealthy being who seeks violent entertainment... Is that still common?"

[zenith needle]

"Yes, yes. There were many not that long ago for the higher ranks. Not seen one recently though... maybe two months since the last? Almost a shame, Iii do not mind fighting in those arenas, usually there is some measure to make sure wweee will not be killed so Iii do not have to worry as much about the others fighting with mmee."

[civic belfry]

"I suppose it was nice to just the exercise in without the end of the world at stake," he replies with a nod, "Certainly not the worst mission to do."

"Glad to see that you are doing well though, in spite of your troubles with that fiend you seem to have grown stronger in body and mind since we last spoke."

[zenith needle]

"Ah, yes... more boons from the cards. Stronger, smarter, tougher... the wings, Iii am faster and practiced in most skills..." The gnoll begins to count off the abilities granted by the deck.

[civic belfry]

The Kobold chuckles, "I'm ot talking about magic stuff, I'm talking about experience."

"You've been through more, made new allies, formed bonds, and even seem more confident in the common language. There is much to celebrate that you worked for, no need to attribute it all to some fancy cards."

[zenith needle]

"Yyouuu are not wrong about some of it... and Iii do still need to maintain what the cards have given, the magic only granted those things, Iii must still work to keep them. Not that Iii mind it. It helps fill the time between jobs."

As Akx thinks in bonds, an uncharacteristic flare of heat emanates from him.

"Bonds have been made, but at least one was lost... and Iii wonder what yyouuu might make of it?"

[civic belfry]

"Exactly, I have a belt that augments my strength, but I must still exercise every day. No magic is a substitute for hard work."

He tilts his head and his tail taps at the grounds as the gnoll mentions broken bonds.

"Oh? Lost someone? By death or simply went in different directions?"

[zenith needle]

"Different directions is a way to say it... Iii broke mmyyy promise to Tee-ahc and told hhimmm about it." Akx says with a dour tone, suddenly feeling as the the sword at his side awkwardly heavy where it rests.

"Iii needed to sign a devil's contract for a job. The contract was destroyed, along with many others. Iii sent fiend that demanded it be signed back to Hells afterwards for good measure... Tee-ahc was still... not happy to hear about it. Gave mmee a choice, to be destroyed by hhimmm and brought back without the fire of Kossuth or hheee would disavow mmee, leave mmee, no longer friends..."

[civic belfry]

Klang let's out a long sigh as he listens what Akx says, "That is quite a shame."

"Tiac..." He begins, "Is a good man, a good man that wants others to share in what he believes to be good. Unfortunately, he gets in his own way in that regard. Naturally, I do not approve of fiendish contracts, but I have done jobs that involved fiends and other evil beings before, one time even entertaining them. Though I typically did not know until the job began."

"You did more than most would by taking the fiend and his contracts down in the end. Resulting in a net good at the expense of your comfort."

He raises his blade and points it up at the gnoll.

"But don't think it'll always end up all sunshine and roses, what you did was risky. I'd advise against it in the future. Tiac isn't wrong in objecting to it, but was wrong to give such an extreme ultimatum."

[zenith needle]

The aura of the blade washes over Akx, filling him with the same dread and fear from when it was being swung at him all those months ago. He tightens his jaw, a hand naturally falling onto H'raax'ga's hilt and the aura of both swords intermingle and the dread fades away for a moment as his own resolve steadies in its place.

"Iii do not want to have to do it again. Iii did not want to do it the first or second times either."

His eyes drop down, past the kobold and to the floor.

"It is no excuse, Iii did fail hhimmm, promised hhimmm Iii would not do these things and did it anyway."

[civic belfry]

"What is done is done," Klang replies, "It is the future that you must put your efforts towards."

He puts his weapon back in its place.

"I do not know whether or not Tiac will find it in himself to try and make amends. I believe that he would like to, but thinks that it is his duty to be strict, not as much with you, but with himself."

He exhales another bit of smoke that curls into the shape of a battle in the hells.

"Last I saw him, he had invited myself and a few others to foil a plot by Levistus. We fought through many Archfiends before we even got to him. In the end we were victorious, but our energy was spent," Another puff of smoke forms a terrifying Visage, "Before we could leave, the ruler of the hells appeared, returned his underlings to their places and demanded we leave. Now I am not one to shy away from fighting any fiend, but we were all exhausted and we had not accounted for fighting him in our plans. Tiac very nearly started a fight anyway, were it not for his more level-headed superior in his order, things may have turned out badly."

"All is to say, he can be impulsive when it comes to the topic of fiends."

[zenith needle]

"Hhee mentioned that hhee had business in the Hells some time ago..." Akx gives a soft chuckle, "Iii offered to go. Hhee even told mmee Iii could go if Iii could beat an adult dragon on mmyyy own."

At the conjured image, Akx swears the temple darkens, shadows pulling towards where the altars of the less than good deities reside, "Asmodeus..." He growls out.

"Tee-ahc was willing to pick a fight with hhimmm? After all the others?"

[civic belfry]

"Very much so I'm afraid," he says as he dismisses the image, "Fortunately, he has talked out of it and we went on our way, having accomplished what we set out to do. Archfiends really aren't as powerful as they want you to think, once we got close, Caed, a fellow knight of Bahamut, melted the icy shield of Levistus and it took me mere moments to bring him down from there."

He gives a proud, tooth-filled grin.

"But facing so many back to back would wear any team down eventually."

[zenith needle]

"Iii am sure... though Iii do not think even on mmyyy best day Iii would want to fight... that." Akx shakes his head, clearing away the visage from the front of his mind.

[civic belfry]

"No, I'm sure a creature like that has many nasty tricks," He says with a shake of his head, "Anything that can maintain power down there for that long is in such a position for a reason."

He gives another grin and taps the symbol on his armour, "Though should he give the word, I'm sure we'd find a way."

[zenith needle]

"Iii feel as though if death would stick to that one... one of the gods would have handled it by now..." He gives a short shrug as he glances about the temple, "But Iii am still... newer to faith, maybe there is a different reason they have not."

[civic belfry]

"Beyond my understanding, though I suppose that is why I have to study before becoming an exarch. So many rules and such to know and history to learn." He sighs, "Mercenary work was much easier."

[zenith needle]

A quiet giggle escapes from Akx, "Yyouuu could always come back to it. Iii am sure the Platinum Dragon could spare yyouuu for some years..."

[civic belfry]

"He has been rather lenient with my excursions down here, to which I am immensely grateful," He glances back at the shrine to Bahamut with a warm smile, "If anyone is in a hurry about these things it is me, the smallfolk, especially Kobolds, need someone up there looking out for them. Only deity we ever had was a subordinate of her, his tone contemptuous, "And he got trapped forever by the Gnomish deity."

[zenith needle]

"Iii wish someone would do that to-..." He stops himself, remembering his only moments-old vow, "Never mind... Iii should not keep yyouuu much longer then, beside, there are others yyouuu need to see yes?"

[civic belfry]

Klang stretches out his wings before taking to the air again, "I suppose I should be off, it was nice to speak with you again. Keep up the good work and thank you again for your help with that Broker mess in Noacharthel. Please extend my thanks to your allies if I don't spot them while I'm here."

[zenith needle]

"Yes, yes, Iii will make sure they know." Akx gives the kobold a wave before making his way back to finish his prayers at Ilmater's altar.