A challenge is made

[Ress]

Ascending wood, 26


* A child, no older than fifteen, scrambled back from the imperial manse, panting and heaving from the great distance sprinted. he stopped just short of the tent village which the people of Imperveress erected so that they might stay to make sure the "Emperor" did not escape.. and wanting to be there for the execution. With lungs burning from the exertion, he ran through the tent city, listening to the sounds of the powerfully charismatic voice as he got closer. Finally, the child arrived at the congregation of people. Pushing his way through, he made it to the front, and ultimately.. to this scarfed leader* " They!... They are trying.. to prove... Emperor Ress.... Did not do it!!!"

* the crowd was silent for a few moments.. not knowing what to make of this.. especially singe there was not a word from this black haired, purple eyed north-easterner. His green scholarly robes offset by his purple scarf... obviously a proud and arrogant man, not unlike Ress himself*

* It was a few moments until the man began to laugh.. a slow soft laugh, growing into a full throated laugh. The crowd followed along with his laughter untill he heaved a sigh and calmed himself* " Then let them waste their time! I have the truth on my side, and that is all I need! You may all be the judge in this.. and so long as there is so much as one of you believe he is guilty by the time his execution date arrives, our " Emperor" gets sacrificed to the field! Guilty until proven innocent, thats how criminals should be treated, and thats how things will be around here!... bring whatever arguments you like, ruling Exalts.. but I will prove to you, the truth of this situation... and the terrible manipulation a deprave monster has wrought to all your minds!"

* the crowd cheered once more as the man finished. He smirked, baring his pearly white teeth. He sighed as the crowd began eroding into chaos, pleased that he had gotten everyone to see reason. He patted the back of his pants, searching for something... but began patting franticly as he realized what he was looking for was no longer on him.. a twinge of dread spread through him.. but disappeared just as quickly*"... they will never find it.... so no reason to worry"

[Dal'Lumen]

Ascending wood, 26

Driven by some strange motive the zenith Listened to the Purple scarfed man as he slowly but determinedly pushed his way forward toward the speaker in the middle of the crowd. reaching the innermost reaches of the gaggle and facing the now silent man, Dal simply stood there off to the side grinning at the leader as he fumbled around with his pockets. striking that familiar pose as he tilted his head to the side and pinched his chin between his fingers, his eyebrow raised slight and curious, he seemed to have arrived there with ought this man noticing him.

still grinning as he said with a deep calculated voice "My name... is Dal'Lumen, And I, like you, search for the truth and I will find it. What is you're name, my fellow truth seeker."

[Ress]

Ascending Wood, 26


* Mr. Scarf blinked in surprise as the brazen, bald headed man called him out. a look of anger crossed his face, but was quickly replaced by amusement. He smiled, closed his eyes and gave a small snicker, before opening his eyes and addressing this man* "Truth?... you seek the truth? You know nothing of the truth, Mr. Dal'Lumen. But since you seem to be new around here, I will give you my name... I am Zealous Mongoose! The Defender of the people and master of everything that is true!... so you have decided to aid those Exalts in their honorable, yet foolish quest to save the monstrous and bloodthirsty serpent, the ex-Emperor Ress... know this, new man... The Mongoose will always consume the serpent.. no matter how his venom might spread!" * The People of Imperveress cheered at this show, clinging to every word of this charismatic leader of theirs.t Zealous Mongoose simply smiled, not nearly as outwardly arrogant as Ress, but almost equally as persuasive*

( 7 success social attack to everyone {Including Dal} in earshot to convince them that he was indeed the person to get behind)

[Dal'Lumen]

Staring down the scarf toting Zealous Mongoose, a firm stance and relaxed posture sided with a brow raised grin that almost suggested that Mongoose had just said something idiotic.

"Oh, well! The master of truth? I didn't recognize you, had I known I most assuredly would have come to you first, before the exalts. I trust you have substantial evidence which proves the emperor is indeed the vicious monster you describe him as? Oh you must, why else would you be the echelon of truth and justice - *Dal turned around to scratch his head at the stockaded emperor* He certainly looks like a vicious animal does he not?"

Dal turned back to Mongoose and opened his arms as if to receive his answers tangibly.

"I have sided with no one my friend, I am just a simple visitor to these lands. As I said - I seek truth, I wish to find answers to the questions of this tragedy. You perhaps wouldn't be too busy attempting to usurp the power of the "serpant" to tell me what you plan to present as a counter argument to whatever evidence the Exalted return with? You do, have some palpable evidence... haven't you?"

Dal'lumen gave an innocent look which moved into a smirk as he shifted his weight forward a little as if pushing his will down upon Zealous Mongoose

tell me, and maybe I can help.

(4[6] success social attack to convince mongoose that Dal is not on the exalts side, and to mock the self righteous leader.)

(1[3] success social attack {lol, lame} on everyone listening to question zealous Mongoose)


[ I added the extra dice for your stunts and rolled them for you]

[Ress]

Ascending wood, 26

*Mongoose folded his arms across his chest, raising an eyebrow in his unamusement. With a sigh, he responded to this oh so subtle mockery* " So you stopped by to simply make a fool of yourself and waste my time? Of course I have evidence... I have witnesses too.... and that Emperor over there is a dangerous beast" * his left arm flew out, leaving his index finger outstretched and pointing at Ress, who is still in the stockades* " If you want to see the truth... stick around. In no more than ten days time, there will be the trial of Ress... and you will witness me producing the evidence that will put this beast to death... or if you like, you may play devil's advocate. That will just make it all the sweeter. Now go.. assist the other side... Sun knows, those misguided fools will need all the help they can get"

[Dal'Lumen]

Ascending wood, 26

Dal sat there smiling happily, tilting to the side a little as he shifted most of his weight onto one leg. His hands were on his hips and a care free chuckle could only slightly be heard coming from him.

"Oh, I will go soon enough Mongoose, Originally I had no intention of making a fool out of anyone... your boastfulness incited that. I did however come to assure that the Emperor would be well taken care of to the date of his trial; proper food, water, and holding arrangements for him... Unless you intend to hold a man as powerful, and potentially, by chance, innocent - as the Emperor in these stockades for 10 days."

Dal'Lumen slowly walked over to the stockaded Ress and walked a slow circle around the man and device. A hand gently passed over the wooden surface of the stocks and then Dal moved his gaze up and looked around at the crowd, finally resting his eyes on Zealous Mongoose.

"The Emperor is held by his own will, not by your stockades!
Should he wish it - he or his fellows could break him from these things and leave unharmed... But he stays here - why, you might ask? Because he, like you, believes in a proper lawful system."

Dal' turned around and looked at a nervous looking man. "if you could my friend, would you bring me some water? I have traveled a long way." The man looked a little flustered at this outsiders request and regarded Mongoose as if waiting for his "Ok"

"I suggest, dear Zealous Mongoose - that you do take good care of Ress's needs come the day of his trial, His death is punishment enough. If it was the doing of Ress, he made no one suffer before their death. There are Strong stone rooms In this manse, You could keep him in one of those, held there he would be much more secure."

"Come to this agreement, and I will be on my way..." Dal stood there smiling boldly.

(8 success Social attack, to convince mongoose to take care of Ress
and move him to a secure holding room in the manse.)

(3 success social attack to make the crowd empathize with Dal lumen/Ress, and push Mongoose to listen.)

[Ress]

Ascending wood, 26

* The crowd was dead silent for a moment, Mongoose included. He put his hand to his chin as he thought over Dal's words. He then looked up and gave a nod*" Yes.. you are right.. he must be taken care of until we find him guilty. As fir inprisoning him within one of his own manses.. now that is a poor idea. there is no telling what sort of strange powers any one of these could hold... but you are correct.. we will need a new place to hold him. Somewhere totally secure... because the murder weapon has not been found yet. I look forward to our next meeting... you are wise indeed, Dal... wise indeed.... * He snapped his fingers and a gaggle of people from the crowd ran off, aparently to go get something* " Guilty untill proven innocent, my friend..."

[Dal'Lumen]

Ascending wood, 26

Dal opened his arms wide and gave a very deep, and formal bow to Mongoose. The Gray eyes watched the scarf clad man all the way down, while an almost invisible smirk played upon Dal's lips... a few moments later, he stood back up and crossed his arms beaming again.

"I am glad we could reach this agreement, Mongoose - willingness to compromise is the sign of wisdom in and of itself. Fair well until next time..."

Dal took a few steps toward the stockades which held Ress, and knelt down to be face to face with the Emperor, those gray eyes searching the eyes and face before him for any sign of malevolence...

whispering in the faintest voice that could only be heard by the ears of Ress "That is what I can do for now my friend, wherever they take you should be safe, for what keeps you in, also keeps others out... You have good people looking out for you, for their sake I hope you are innocent."

Dal stood up and began walking away from Ress, the crowd, many in which looked awed, and afraid as this tremendous presence moved with fluid grace past them. They opened up and let him pass by as he set his sights to the northwest... He didn't stop, he made no hesitation, nor did he take his eyes away from the horizon when his voice thundered.

"That water I asked you to bring, It is for Ress..."

Taking several more strides before Dal'Lumen picked up his pace to a jog, and once he had cleared the crowd it was a decent run... feeling he was at a good enough distance from the gathering he ran full out leaving a trail of kicked up dust and swirling wind as he streaked into the distance.

[Ress]

Ascending wood, 26

* The Emperor somehow still looked regal even in the stockated, and more in thought than worried. When Dal addressed hi9m, he looked up and mouthed something to him*

( Perception+awareness to tell what it is. Difficulty 3)

[Dal'Lumen]

(3 Success's to hear the emperor)

[Ress]

Ascending wood, 26

*and clear enough, Dal could make out that Ress was mouthing to him " Check near the Manses". He did not seem pleading, more matter of fact, as if he had full confidence in this stranger*

( Perception+socialize, difficulty 7 {not mandatory})

[Dal'Lumen]

(10 die roll, 3 auto success for Social Excellency [2]; total 6 success's 7 needed - Failure)