Editing Red Sword Calls-FB Posts (section)

===5246-The Arrival of the Cult of the Savior/Slayer. ===


In a dark corner of the new vasty Hall of the Palace Commons a small group of gentles sit and drink of the Whiskey of Amber.

One small man in fox fur leans against the back of the booth with a plain man across from him. The pair smoke thin green cigars. A Centaur sits cross-legged on the ground beside the table, but his height is towering over the others. His massive upper body a fierce collection of scars of long black ink under the skin, which one might assume were tattoos if one was unfamiliar with the jungles of Tosa. In his hand is a massive tankard sloppy with dark foamy ale. The last of the group is a halfling of a clearly disreputable sort.

Striding in quickly with a frazzled frown to them is a light tall man with a musical walk. His walk might be called discordant and in a minor key. His friends see the Bard of Tosa approach and fight hard to restrain chuckles.

Venki speaks quickly, almost out of breath, “Well Lop, he's finally here. They are riding down the concourse in full panoply. All of them. He didn't just come to talk to us, like the lunatic said he would! He brought his whole legion. 5500 Knights of the Savior Slayer on armored horse. That's more mithril then the Bank of Wall and more rearden then in all of Amber.”

Taking a chug from Jake's tankard, he races on, “I watched for awhile! People are either fleeing in terror or hanging out windows to watch. There is a growing group of Amber Elite following them trying to decide what kind of invasion they are? A captain of the Elites is with them and he looks.... pissed. Reltorious has been refusing to turn to speak to them of course, just marching here. I had really hoped to be on the road myself before when he got here. He always treats me...well... you know... like..like....... ”

Fort chuckles “Like his God of Wind and Music? I wonder why? I know the feeling though. He can be a little hard to deal with. Hibit... Go find Guinness, get him to go meet them. Have him see to their horses at least. He knows where they go. Then... make yourself scarce”.

Standing and finishing off his tankard, the halfling heads to the exit, “Sure thing. I'd rather not have to listen to him anyway.”

Jake nods, “I've fought beside him and his lunatics for centuries and I still can't stomach spending time with him off the field. Their camps are like museums without the camaraderie. On the field though.... pragmatic...his people are very ...practical.”

Venki stars up at the massive centaur in panicked eyes, “Practical? Methodically bloodthirsty you mean! Harriet has her clerical core follow them on the field to heal them immediately so they don't dispatch the wounded! I watched one of them dispatch a wounded foe because he had a broken arm!”

Entering the great tavern is a armored warrior topping six and a half feet, resplendent in mithril plate armor and a flowing green cloak.

Lop “Did you march here dressed like that or did you arm when you got here? Please tell me you transported here through the trumps we gave you?”

Reltorious-”Yes, Sir Lop, we arrived by the North Riding trump. After which I took them on reconnaissance in force, under arms, cloaked in our Guard of Silence. To assess the surrounding grounds. We marched out the Northgate, west then, down to the West Gate. On the march we briefly skirmished with what I assume are Amber Regulars and only a splendid man in White Armor restrained them. Prince Julian I assume from the cards. Then we had a unremarkable scuffle with the City guard after they took offense to our casting of coppers to the beggars at the gate. So far I have found these Amberites to be sore in need of the Word. I shall endeavor to teach them the ways of gentle company and the might of.....”

Suddenly the paladin's eyes go wide.

Stopping in mid sentence, the armored man notices the Musical bard in the company at the table, trying to hide beneath a cloak. He begins to kneel as Venki rises, “Blessed Venki of the Song of Glory, I greet... “

Venki' stand quickly, moving a slight bit closer to the warrior, ” Damn it Reltorious! Stand up this instant! By Grog's Broken Tooth, I told you to not do that here!.. And for the love of … How many times do I have to tell you?!? That's going to really piss off the Amberites! Ask Alex if you won't listen to me!”

Relt nods humbly, “My apologies, Great Venki whose Song Floats on the Wind.. His Majesty has made it clear that our genuflections and salutes should reflect the local practices. It was a reflex. I shall let my troops know that you are here and to accord your Tosian respects in manners the locals use to respect their gods.”

Lop sighs and chuckles softly as Venki whimpers and puts his head in his hands.

Lop, “Very Good Relt, just be careful. King Random is lord here and even Alexandir has accepted that.“

Venki, looking rattled, blurts aloud, “I touched a rock! OK, Reltorious!!??!! It was just a powerful rock!!! I'm not a god anymore then you are, you stiff backed crazy...” The great hand of the Centaur pressing the bard to the bench.

Jake, “Ya.... we all know, Venki. You just touched a rock papa Jeremy gave you. How were you to know? Its not like you're a Thrice Crowned Bard, holding the power of the word and the way in 3 realms or anything? Its not like daddy isn't one of the scariest creatures i've ever met, including ones i've killed. The Fairhands are all charming fiends. I'm sure you missed a book someplace. ... Sit down and pour us a round.. It'll keep ya busy”

Jake looks to Lop “So, boss, am I dealing with this fanatic or is he your business? Technically speaking they're not CHAD. But they are here.”

Lop, “I'll handle them, Jake. After I sort things out they will probably be under your authority.”

Relt speaks to the master of the hall. ”Sir Lop, if thou wishes me to follow this horse I will, but CHAD is of no interest to me and mine. We have come to do good work in the name of the Great Powers. We come at the call of the God of War and Emperor of Tosa and he told me to report to you. We hope no blood will be spilled of course but should it be so we shall execute the woes of war as deeply as needed”

Fort laughs knowingly at the Paladin of Tosa, “Ah the Savior Slayers at their finest. You're a credit to your madness, Sir Reltorious.” Leaning on Lop's shoulder softly speaking, “ I cant wait till they argue theology with the Unicorn Priests.”

Relt frowns “And thee, Bondmate of the Fox? Hast thou bowed to the Unicorn? Is she your muse now? I shall listen to the Children of the Unicorn as is their due. As I have been directed by the God of War to ...”

Venki' shouts “HE TOUCHED A DAMN ROCK, RELTORIOUS! I WAS STANDING RIGHT FOOKING NEXT TO HIM!!!!! He was born a blacksmith's son dammit and he's told you so himself!! ”

Lop and Jake yell in unison, “We KNOW!!!”

Fort chuckles as he puts his hand on Venki's shoulder, earning a scowl from him before settling down.

Fort, ” Venki, my friend, you really can't blame Relt about this. You did touch the rock. Jeremy touched the rock. Dolki, Alex, Mitcholt, Zatonic, Geata, Merceno, Harriet, Digan, even Caland all touched the rock. I declined to touch the rock, you will remember. Relt is just responding to the magic of you folks having touched the rock. For the love of [[Mac's Bar]] you and I both know the difference is semantics. So shut the hell up about it, please. ”

Venki rises, drawing a deep breath before speaking softly, clearly holding a tight reign on his panic.

Waving a shaking hand toward the mithril tower, “Fortunadus, the problem isn't just Relt. Its his followers and the fact that they are infectious. Their conversion imprint is a terribly dangerous thing to have at work in Amber. Its dangerous to have something so dynamic at the center of Shadow.”

Lop turns to Fort, “Wait... What does he mean, Fort?”

Venki starts to speak but a soft fox gloved hand lowers him as Fort rises. Looking at Venki, he twists a curious concerned lip.

Fort whispers, “I see it now, Venki. You're right of course. Lop, bide a moment.” Lop bides.

Taking a deep drink from his tankard, for dramatic effect as much as refreshment, a bard's trick.

“Ya, Lop.... my hysterical friend may have a point. It might be safer to march the Cult of the Savior Slayer out to Diaga or Diega Raks or some side way off the Jeweled Road. Someplace out of the immediate vicinity of the Primal Pattern of Amber. In York, Tolknor used Founder's Right to limit the influence of the Savior creed's magic. And in the Tosian sphere the Savior message has hit a sort of balance already. The total mass it can and will infect, as empowered by the Rock Venki keeps yakking about.”

Taking another sip and settling next to a wide eyed Venki.

Lop ponders, a frown of understanding starting, “And their being here means a sudden rise in the Cult among Amberites. A religion rising in Amber that venerates Tosians is bound to piss off Random.”

Fort nods and continues, 'Well yes, there could be local issues but that's not the problem. Even our being here, in such numbers, will reverberate out into shadow. The multiplicity of shadow means the Cult might pop up in places the Savior Slayer Cult never preached, as a function of the reverberation of the Pattern. Even their being here briefly is dangerous. Our SSC venerates Tosain rock-touchers but what might the SSC mode venerate in shadows removed from the original?”

Frowning, Fort looks up at Reltorious.

“ Crap....., I can't believe I missed it. Its worse then that... Lop, I recommend you contact Digan immediately and transfer Reltorious and his whole cadre as far from Amber as safely possible. In fact, I have to insist. We weren't going to use them here anyway. Headquartering them here could be disastrous. Their effectiveness in battle does not outweigh their infection in peacetime. Alexandir must be told as well. He probably has another 3 legions of the SSC on the way.”

Jake grumbles, “Damn... I knew you wizards were going to mess this up. I was really looking forward to heavily armored cannon fodder. But if groups like them pop up worshiping other things? Bad.. It took a lot to get Kirgor deprogrammed after the SSC whacked him with this conversion rant. They gotta go.”

Nodding, Lop looks to the shinning Paladin, “What do you think, Sir Reltorious?”

Nodding slowly, “As thou dost ask me I must swear truth. Great Fortunadas and the Divine Venki of the Wind in Glory and Song Exaltant make a valid point. Our truth is realized often among our listeners. Even now children of this warrior realm admire our mithril panoply and wonder what we are? Soon they will hear our sermons and like moths in all realms will seek our flames. My men are at attention now, and speak no word. But by faith it shall not remain so."

Frowning, " If Great Fortunadas and the Divine Venki Who Touched a Rock speak truth, then my brotherhood must continue to march today. But rather then magical transport, let me lead them by the Arden road out into shadow. We were meant to march that colorful road. Let us start it here.”

Lop looks to Fort. “What do you think?”

Fort, “They have been marching up and down the county as it is already, under their marching vow of silence I assume. If they march out in silence then it might be safe but I think they have been here long enough to effect things as we have. I'll go with them. Find them a nice niche somewhere up the road.”

Jake, “Much as id prefer not to, I'd better go too. Make sure the lunatics don't start trouble before we get them secured someplace.”

Lop nods to Jake. “Right then. Sir Jake, Take Sir Reltorious and his men on the road. They like the fast run, so take them fast. Ill contact Prince Julian to give you an escort and a free path. Fort, Ill contact Alex. You get them a few days past Diaga and find a station of some kind and post them there. Ill probably have to speak to King Random as well.”

Jake pats Fort's shoulder, “Well Foxman, mount up. We'll be on our way.” Fort nods and lightly leaps up on the centaur's back and the two leave, with the armored paladin in their wake.

Venki looks about at the departing notables..”Hey... guys?.. He called me Venki Who Touched a Rock?.....Did Reltorious just make a joke? Please tell me one of you heard him make a joke? ”

[[File:Venkifairhand.jpg]] [[File:Jakewhitetail2.jpg]] [[File:Reltoriuos1.jpg]] [[File:Hibbit2.jpg]]