previously... Prologo Passato — Giustizia dall'Obbedienza [Righteousness by Obedience]

[iantruesilver]

Inside Bursio's Estate   Working in concert, your squadra swiftly cut down the rebel warlord Olenius Bursio and his cronies. As the Maralictor marches up to Bursio's limp body and clutches him by the throat, ready to either confirm his death or wake him for leverage, the rest of you make ready to take up defensive positions and reinforce the remainder of your company.   All of a sudden, a glint in the corner of the room catches Sophronia's eyes, and it wasn't necessarily coming from the treasure chest overflowing with gold pieces. Rather, it was something stashed against the corner of the wall just behind the chest.     The item would of course have been overlooked, it would be easy to do so the way it was seemingly so haphazardly tossed into a corner. But something at the moment drove the young hellknight to go toward it and pick the item up.   Taking the blade by the hilt, Sophronia drew the sword from its scabbard to inspect it. Just behind her, Maralictor Volso drops the warlord's body instinctively, semi-frozen in the shock of a realization refusing to sink in. "It... it can't be..."

 

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01 Desnus, 4715 — Citadel Dinyar

 

 

Inside the cathedral of Bastion Devotio, the northern portion of Citadel Dinyar, under the towering vaulted ceiling in excess of a hundred feet in height, numerous stone pillars support a gallery with iron railings above. The bulk of the chamber's floor is open, which would normally give a sense of overwhelming vastness in the space. However in this day, the cathedrawl floor is filled with members of the Order of the Godclaw, all neatly organized in ranks and standing at attention. Six members of Choaz Company stand at the front of the parade, the remaining six marching up bearing a coffin over their shoulders.

 

 

As the six of you pass each file of each platoon with the casket, the section commander snaps up a crisp salute, the gestures of respect following you all the way up to the front of the cathedral floor. Carefully, your sextet brings the pall up the steps and lower it onto a gray marble altar flecked with bits of gold.

 

"Her great sacrifice will not be forgotten." The tone of the service to honour Pale Giada's sacrifice was heavy, but Lictor Resarc Ountor here opened a tangent to the final piece of business of this gathering.

With a nod, Lictor Ountor gestured for Maralictor to march forward onto the pulpit. At a command of "Pre—sent!" off to one side, she produces the blade that you had captured from the warlord's estate some two weeks ago in the Menador Mountains, crisply drawing it out of the scabbard and bringing the sword up to nearly the hilt guard to her nose, before offering the blade on both hands to the Order's leader.

 

"When news first returned from the Menador Mountains, I was hesitant to believe the words on the page." The Lictor said, admitting his own skepticism, "And you would be too, if you knew the significance of what those words communicated. Even after Choaz Company returned with the relic, I had our most experienced smiths, armourers and quartermasters at work night and day, checking and rechecking every single detail, comparing it to the descriptions on record. I nigh had them doing everything they could short of destroying the thing."

 

"But they assure me it is true. Divine favour is upon we the righteous." Lictor Ountor continued, picking up the proffered blade by the hilt and lifting it over his head in a symbol of victory, "We have recovered Heart's Edge, the holy blade of Iomedae!"

 

Edited January 19 by iantruesilver (see edit history)