"No, not at this time, thank you." Roman answers.  It was simply a precaution to take before chancing an encounter with the archon, be it renegade or a representative of a new faction.  If only the damnable creatures were not so difficult to kill!  Spare bodies seem like cheating somehow.  Best then to listen, hopefully unperceived by the creature (what senses does it have?) and hear what it says before making a judgement.

Roman and Baerin return to the parlour where they had waited previously and are soon informed that the Archon Hadraniel (though the word Archon is not mentioned) intends to address the Council of Sages in the Guildhall again, that very rotation.

At the appointed time they are shown to the public gallery in the Guildhall, high above the floor of the main chamber and find themselves a place in the shadow of a buttress to listen from.  A short while later, Hadraniel appears, seeming to pass through the roof with ease, and drops towards the floor.  The sound of its blades cutting the air as it passes is terrible, like the roaring of a great storm.

As it reaches its desired position, it does not wait for permission to speak to the Council, instead launching into its address without preamble...

+ WE ARE THE SAVIOUR OF YOUR PEOPLE.  ENEMIES COME, AND THEY WILL DESTROY YOU WITHOUT OUR PROTECTION.  THESE SERAPHIM AND NEPHELIM LAY WASTE TO WORLDS AND ENSLAVE THEIR PEOPLES.  YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM HERE AND WORKED UNTIL YOU DIE. +

+ WE ARE YOUR ONLY HOPE.  WE LEAD AN ARMY THAT OUTNUMBERS THOSE OF THESE UPSTART FACTIONS.  YOUR WORLD WILL BE PROTECTED BY OUR GENERAL, AND THE SORCERER BERD.  THE NEPHELIM AND SERAPHIM WILL NOT TAKE YOUR WORTHY CITIZENS AND LEAVE YOUR LANDS RUINED AND EMPTY. +

+ THIS PROTECTION, THOUGH, DOES NOT COME WITHOUT A PRICE.  OUR SOLDIERS REQUIRE PAYMENT, MUCH AS YOUR SCHOLARS DO.  AND WE REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TROOPS TO ASSIST  IN THE DEFENCE OF YOUR WORLD.  YOU MUST PAY TRIBUTE IN GEMS, PRECIOUS METALS AND WARRIORS.  IN ADDITION TO DEFENCE, WHEN THE WAR ENDS AND YOUR WORLD IS SAVED, WE WILL SEND TEACHERS HERE, SO THAT YOU MAY LEARN THE GREAT SECRETS WHICH WE HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL. +

The Archon pauses, circling slowly around the floor of the chamber, then, + WE ARE HADRANIEL.  WE HAVE SPOKEN, AND WE AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE, AND THE FIRST PAYMENT, SO THAT WE CAN COMMENCE THE DEFENCE OF YOUR WORLD. +

Is it even a real Archon ?  Asking for treasure ?  It seems real enough, but the demands are..petty

Roman begins the trnasformation into his Elemental form. If he decides to confront the thing - whatever it might be - better to do so in a form which takes no hurt from blades, no matter how sharp and strong they might be.

Baerin chuckles as Hadraniel speaks, "I forget the name of the place, but a year ago, or thereabouts, I came to a village where the people were distinctly unwelcoming towards strangers.  Turned out they'd been visited about a week afore I got there, by a man who sold them potions to cure everything from boils to baldness, only none of them worked, it seems."

"This one" he gestures towards the Archon, "makes me think of that man."

Hadraniel is talking again, the harsh metallic voice echoing through the chamber, + WITH OUR ARMIES TO DEFEND YOUR WORLD, YOUR CITIES WILL BE SAFE, AND YOUR SHOLARS WILL BE FREE.  FREE TO PRACTICE THEIR TRADE.  FREE FROM THE THREAT OF SLAVERY BENEATH THE NEPHELIM AND SERAPHIM.  FREE TO LEARN THE SECRETS OF ALL WORLDS, TUTORED BY WISE AND NOBLE ARCHONS! +

+ IS IT TOO MUCH THAT WE WOULD EXPECT YOU TO PARTLY FUND THE ARMY WHICH WILL DEFEND AND TEACH YOUR PEOPLE? +

+ CHOOSE QUICKLY IF YOU WILL ACCEPT OUR OFFER.  WE WILL NOT COME HERE AGAIN.  THE CHOICE IS SIMPLE: DEATH AND SLAVERY VERSUS SAFETY AND LEARNING. +

And in the gallery, Roman transforms into his elemental form, watched by a grinning Baerin.  "That should give the bugger something to think about."

"Aye, I think you have the right of it." Roman comments, before the transformation changes his vocal apparatus too thoroughly.  He continues to watch. If the thing honestly means to leave if it's offer is refused, there may be no need for confrontation.  The ill-advised fraud may be dealt with later.

+ THE ARMIES OF THE NEPHELIM AND SERAPHIM ARE CLOSE BY.  THE FIEND HARBONAH LEADS THEM.  THOSE WHO ARE NOT ENSLAVED AND TAKEN TO OTHER WORLDS WILL BE DEVOURED.  THIS WORLD WILL BE TORN ASSUNDER AND CONSUMED IN THE FORGING OF WEAPONS.  YOUR TIME GROWS SHORT.  YOU MUST MAKE YOUR DECISION TODAY.  DO YOU DESIRE THE PROTECTION OF OUR GENERAL, AND OF BERD, WHO STANDS AS TALL AS THIS HALL, WITH EYES THAT BURN LIKE SUNS?  OR WILL YOU STAND ALONE? +

One of the Council members steps forward, "If what you say is true, then it would be foolish of us not to pay your price, Noble Visitor.  Observe... "

A door opens at the far end of the hall, and a procession of the bizarre creatures shuffle in.  Most are carrying items which, from the shapes of them, Roman would guess to be weapons, but some, in teams of four, are bearing large cases... six of them.

"This is, naturally, merely the first fraction of the payment you will receive.  We would hope that it makes our wishes in this matter clear to you."

The Archon Hadraniel moves forward, spinning faster now, and even from where he stands in the gallery, Roman can hear the hum of blades cutting the air.

This has gone far enough.  Rising into the air, a sickly green lightning flickering ahead of him, Roman addresses the assembly with his thunders.  "THE CREATURE, HADRANIEL LIES! "

As Roman soars out above the lower floor, one of the large cases is pried open by a guard.  The lid crashes to the floor, revealing the case to be empty.

The Archon, its attention momentarily diverted by the lack of contents in the large box, seems confused, shifting backwards and forwards between the empty case and the next one in line, as yet unopened.

Then, with a roar pulled straight from some primordial forest, it rushes towards the Chaosite who now stands revealed in all his terrible might.

+ WHO ARE YOU, CREATURE, TO INTERFERE IN OUR PLAN TO ASSIST THESE PEOPLE?  BECAUSE OF YOU, THEY HAVE REFUSED THAT AID, AND THEY WILL ALL DIE UNDER THE ASSAULT OF THE SERAPHIM AND NEPHELIM!  SPEAK!  WE WOULD KNOW THE NAME OF THE ONE WE ARE ABOUT TO SLAY, THAT IT MIGHT BECOME A BYWORD FOR FOOLISHNESS! +

The second crate is opened, and shown to contain just as much wealth as the first...

It seems that intervention was unnecessary.  Or maybe not - the creature might have vented rage upon the inhabitants.  Better it vents rage on one who can withstand it's blades.

The thunder makes reply "Ask The General.  Ask The Nephilim.  Ask Those I Slew at Charyk."

Roman prepares a slash with Wormwood to destroy the thing as it attacks him.  The weapon has proved potent against danioti, but is this an Archon at all ?

The Archon starts towards Roman, blades howling as they cut the air, and then Roman's words reach whatever passes for ears on the danioti, and it hesitates, just for a moment...

+ CHARYK? + its voice falters, and it veers away.  Then it hesitates again, before sweeping back around in a long curve towards the Chaosite.  + WE KNOW YOU NOW.  AT CHARYK YOU WERE VICTORIOUS ONLY BECAUSE OUR FORCES WERE NOT PREPARED.  THIS TIME YOU ARE KNOWN TO US! +

It rushes in towards Roman, who retaliates with a slash of the bolt of lightning he wields, but the creature dodges aside and comes at him from another angle.

On the floor, far below, the natives are scattering, fleeing in terror...

"Seraphim" rolls the thunder.  Is this Harbonah's plan?  It still seems...petty.  Perhaps the creature merely speaks of its former allegiance.

So long as it chooses to attack, Roman cannot afford the time to bring his other tactic - the use of Logrus tendrils to catch and ensnare - into play.  Instead he attempts to predict the creature's path, through his insight into the patterns of chance.  If the creature has sense it will strive to evade predictability by randomising its attacks - and against any but a Lord of Chaos, it would likely succeed.

The Archo does not attempt to avoid conflict...

It hurtles directly towards Roman, who simply moves aside and strikes at it as it passes.  Sickly green lightning flares, dancing from blade to blade around the danioti's form.  It shrieks, droplets of molten metal scattering from it to scorch the floor far below, and darts away, only to circle back and come at Roman again, this time in a drunkard's walk which attempts to avoid the Chaos-forged weapon.

+ SERAPHIM NO LONGER!  HARBONAH IS A FOOL! +  Trying to match randomness against one who grew up in the Courts proves to be a losing tactic, and Roman beats the creature back, showering more molten metal into the lower levels of the hall.  + WE CHOOSE OUR OWN DESTINY NOW! +

It holds its distance now, circling Roman and snarling like a wild beast.

Far below the duelling pair, some of the hot liquid metal has struck a tapestry.  The fabric starts to burn, the flames dancing rapidly across the dry cloth...

Talking of fools, the Archon's choice of destinies seems to be less than wise.  Roman moves to attack.  True the danioti can run away, but it seems reluctant to do so.  Problems below will have to be dealt with by those there.  Roman hardly notices them, and in the mindset his current form would not care if he did.

Roman moves forward, and the Archon charges to intercept him.  Metal bites into the Chaosite, tearing at his substance, even as Wormwood strikes.  The two combatants are locked in battle, even as flames dance across the walls below.

The locals hurry towards the exits, crying out in terror as the flames spread.

Slightly above Roman, and a little to one side, Baerin  clambers out of the gallery and starts to slide down an arras, one which is not yet burning, though it is uncertain for how long it will remain untouched by the flames...

Roman slashes at Hadraniel, and for a moment the taint of smoke in the air around them is replaced by the crisp smell of ozone as lightning tears a score of blades from the Archon.

Hadraniel screams and tries to break clear...

Baerin realises that the bottom of his escape route is burning.  At the next opportunity he clambers into one of the lower galleries coughing in the smoke-laden air.

Wind and rain cannot be harmed by knives, however sharp.  The momentary disruption caused by their passage manifests as pain, but does no lasting hurt.  Sensing victory, Roman presses his attack, to slay his foe before it might depart.

Roman's blade hisses and crackles as it sweeps in endless patterns of destruction, and booms like thunder whenever it touches anything.  It cleaves the Archon's form as easily as it does the smoke-filled air, and Hadraniel's howling rage becomes a shriek of pain.  It drops towards the floor, metal shimmering in the light of the flames, and Roman follows.

Another blow, another peal of thunder, and the danioti screams, + WE YIELD! +  It's voice is slurred, and its blades, glowing almost cherry-red as they cut the hot air, seem to waver in their eternal orbits.

+ WE YIELD! +

The Archon begs for mercy.  The storm replies - and the storm always answers "No"

The bar of lightning reaches out, touching the rim of the wheel.  Metal shrieks, and molten shards scatter across the floor of the room, leaving white hot grooves in the stonework.  Any further words from the Archon are drowned out as wooden beams, weakened by fire, break, and a large section of the ceiling drops to the floor of the hall, further fanning the flames.

Hadraniel is pinned now, blades trapped by fallen masonry and starting to soften in the heat.  The Archon is unable to revolve, and rotation is the very heartbeat of an Archon...

...and Roman does not stop.  Striking blow after blow until the Archon is finished.


OOC: I hope that someone noticed my little homage in the last post ?

With Hadraniel's lifeless form laying among the flames and starting to buckle and melt under the heat, Roman moves away, suffering only the mildest discomfort from the fire, and most of that due mainly to the fact that the flames and smoke obscure his vision.  There is a roar, and another large section of the building falls, sending smoke and embers billowing upward into the sky...

Roma whirls out of the building, to find a safe place to land and solidify into his armoured form.  Having assumed a form with different  patterns of thought, he considers te destruction.  More than expected, but less than seemed likely if the Archon had chosen to take offence to the refusal of its offer.

The structure continues to burn.  Massive stone blocks crack in the heat and topple into the ruin, wooden roof beams collapse, sending showers of sparks soaring into the sky, nearby buildings catch light and add their own glare and heat to the inferno.  The noise is terrific as the flames roar and large sections of buildings crash down, and all around Roman the natives scream and wail as they try to extinguish the flames on the buildings which are suffering the least with buckets of water.

The larger fires they leave alone... attempting to control those is clearly futile.

A voice comes from behind Roman, one which isn't screaming, "Damn! That could've gone better, wouldn't ye say?"  Baerin's clothes are scorched, and he has some missing hair and an unpleasant looking burn on his face.  His left hand is cradled inside his ragged, soot stained shirt, and his bow, minus the string, is held in his blistered right

"Aye" Roman mutters, being more used to fighting Archons outside, he hadn't expected quite that degree of property damage.   "It might also have gone worse for them..."  An extortion racket is usually backed up by violence - and the Archon hadn't seemed inclined to peaceful solutions.

"No, that's what I'd heard of them - that they've a tendency to be a little more... on the direct side." 

Baerin gazes up at the building, wincing slightly as most of the remainder of one wall topples into the inferno, producing another explosion of embers which drift out over the city.  The sight of a nearby roof starting to burn brings an expression of concern.  "We should move away from here.  Somewhere less warm." and he starts to move away from the fire.

Something else concerns the man though, and he stops after a couple of paces, "D'ye think others will come looking for the bastard?"

Roman starts walking with Baerin.  "It may not be dead.  I hear that they have more than one body.  If one body dies, it may still use the others."  He considers options,  the documents still have to be read - and ideally disseminated to multiple people, for differing perspectives.