Re: Pannion Doman continued
High Priest Fieryheart hits the table with his fist after hearing you.
My King, do we have to heard such words? Isn't it true that a man forges his own self? A king may order to attack another nation and murder innocent people, but isn't a man that obbey the order to kill everything in his path, including harmless people, responsible for his own actions? Is an assassin innocent just because he has been hired by someone else? No, and the innocent blood that they have shed in multiple regions of this world still claim for justice! We are not even talking about men with feeble minds, that kill because of fear of the wrath of their emperor. Bridgeburners were the elite task force of the Karot Empire! A horde as dangerous and vicious as the forces of the abbyss! And you want us to think that we owe something to this scum? Let's see what we owe to the Bridgeburners, your majesty!
The entire destruction of Bastion, a town with ten thousands souls! They burned it to the ground to do battle against the undead army! And this Lady Maria Brightmane knows too well, because she was there! When the allied forces arrived to the ruins of Bastion, we healed the wounded, we gave food to the hungry and water to the thirsty. And by we, I mean humans, dwarves and elves! Brightmane, who fills her mouth with words of honor and ethics, a follower of a religion that claims to care about humans never healed them, never gave them food. She only fought and when the Bridgeburners came with a plan so absurd she never questioned it.
And now she dares to lie about what a poor preacher of Pelor has said. No commoneer would call such things to a noblewoman for they know the virtue of our ladies... and the wrath of Brightmane. And if there is any doubt, I will give the order to search for him in every town, in every temple to bring him to you, my king, and with magic you will see the truth of his words. No, that missioner only preached about what he say with his own eyes, and wasn't afraid of anything till Brightmance came and threatened him!
And let it be known too that I impeded Lady Brightmane break this kingdom's law when I stopped her attempt to go above her rights as a noble by arresting Lord Elazran. She was the first one who continuously taunted knights to battle her, like a capricious child attempting to attract attention. What peace, my king, could we hope for, if a noble sees fit to arrest another one just because? Wouldn't both family fight each other, employing not only duels or diplomacy but also armies? The unneeded spill of blood and the desire to avoid it are the origins of this law. But Brightmane decided that she could do what she wanted in her lands, as if she was a Queen! And now here she is, my King, asking for your judgement, the very judgement that she was so willing to ignore! She wants to add an accusation against me for spying her? Very well, I couldn't expect a less cynical attitude from her. I want her to produce any proof of that, or allow nobles to carry divines and experts to see if I am lying when I say the only time I ordered to use magic to see them is when we found her the first time."
"Cut the crap, Zusari." Lord Hermanel takes the word after hearing Elliana. "You know why the elves were ready to battle. Your religion is more like the one the orcs preach than the ones the rest of humanity has."
He abandons his position at the table and walks to the center of the hall, between the three tables. "Your religion not only condones, but also encourages slavery and the conquering of other races, like our allies, elves and dwarves! Even today, there are slaves in your lands, elves that have once been inhabitants of the lands ruled by The Chainbreaker and now are exploited for your benefit! If it were for your religion, we would be right now bathe in blood, battling against elves and unprepared for an invasion that took us all by surprise. Don't play the act of harmless maiden, for there is no fear running in your veins but tiranny and pride."
Lady Glenven now takes the word. "My king, this is only a feeble attempt of Lady Zusari to put the perils that her own vision driven by her zealousy in Zarus arise in our allies' actions. Elves and dwarves healed, helped, fought side by side with your servants. Suddenly they see members of a church that proclaim human superiority over all other races, human right to enslave, conquer and take whatever humans want or can take side by side with members of an army known for conquering and killing without remorse or second thought in their hunger for riches! As Lord Elazran said, birds of same flock fly together. Do they talk about honor? Is there any honor in threatening an unarmed man like the misioneer? Because that is what Brightmane did! Zusari is an hypocrit in shielding herself in a tolerance that she would not doubt in erasing should she have a greater measure of power! What safety we have, Lords and Ladies, that this alliance with the Bridgeburners won't go further in detriment of your majesty? For, as High Priest Fieryheart said, in different situations, we wouldn't have doubt in look to the other side. But the situation was and still is this: We are subjects of this realm, a peaceful realm that honor law and allies. And we respect our King's wish to uphold that peace."
And then, Lord Elazran's immediately speaks with a smirk in his face. "But Zarusians don't. Brightmane insulted all those who practice our faith, my King. They called us fools for hearing the advices of our allies. Allies that wouldn't have helped us if we waged war against them, as Zarus mandates. No, instead we heal, we help and we honor elf and dwarf. And that friendship makes us stronger than any invasion. Strong enough to stand here to hear this false accusations. Strong enough to heal Zarusians that don't know better out of compassion even when we knew that we would only receive attacks and lies these noblewomen in compensation! Strong enough to resist the taunting and disregard of any security measure in an army camp! And now I here demand Lady Brightmane and Zusari tell us what words the misioneer told that could taint her honor more than her acts! I can give faith that he never called her a whore. That, Ladies and Lords, is the sole invention of a woman that wishes so. Do you have a problem with me, Brightmane? Then spare a man that only told his truth and raise to my level, instead of imposing your cowarly misery to a commoner that can't defend himself against your power as a noble."
The King trembles... he shakes his head and then holds it in his hands. "Shut up! Shut up! You should no quarrel like that!" Lady Fieryheart looks at him and puts her hand on his. "What do I do? Tell me what do I do!" he asks her, still shaking. The woman nods and whisper something to his ear.