Fortis grinned. "I am the Dragon of the Earth, Magnus. As long as my feet touch the ground, I am unassailable and impetuous. If you live through this, even if you try and fail, I will introduce you to our temple. You will have certainly earned the right, regardless of your heart."

"But you wish for a sample kata?" His grin remained. "I see no harm in that."

He slammed his feet to the ground swiftly, like a sumo wrestler both in a hurry and possessing far more speed then they should. A tremor ripples through the ground beneath you as he moves his blade into a high stance. He steps back quickly, almost sliding along the ground with practiced grace, and then makes three small thunderous steps forward, giving the air a cut as he did so, and your senses swear the warrior's skin is becoming more resilient with each swing.

He stopped at the edges of the circle, and slide backwards once more, noting Magnus's own face. "You see more than a blade swinging, don't you? I might have overdone it."

My eyebrows raised as he starts the kata and I focus more on what he is doing. Seeing if he is moving his chi around to perform this technique.

"Your skin is harder and more resilient with each of those swings... Now that is Interesting. I assume that your Art has a Philosophy behind it? Could you tell me about it?"

"Had a feeling you noticed that." His grin went down to a smile. "I'm guessing you noticed what happened as soon as my feet touched the ground. I became as a mountain; strong and durable. Using methodical and relentless force, I can defeat anyone. Superhuman power, both of the soul and the body, is honed into perfected and idealized force."

You noticed that when he got into that stance, he became a living bulwark.

"I'm also guessing this sounds more appealing to you than this Temple's ideologies of faith, piety and conviction. While you can be forced into keeping your word, you cannot be forced into giving it, and if you choose to leave, I am under no contract to force you to remain. Figured you should know."

"That is appealing. I wish I had time to learn that.
Unfortunately, I know of this Righteous Demon. And he would be after that sword and it would be perfect for him. He has Faith, Piety and Conviction.
And I can't let him have it. Even if he is stronger than me at the moment, I have to try to stop him. Because otherwise, He will get the sword and then use it to subjugate everyone under tyrannical laws.
So I am going. Not because they called me or asked me. But because I have to."

Fortis shrugged. "Well, if you have to, then that is what you will do. Just make sure you can go past the point of what you have to do. I have been lucky enough to quest for this weapon and survive. I did not finish it, and I never will."

"Although..." Fortis clearly had a subtle thought occur to him. "You might want to ask him what he intends to actually do with the sword. If he wants to simply rule, it is just a start and he has a lot of work to do. There has been active effort in times past to exterminate rival schools before, and they didn't go well for anyone. It led to the scattering of the weapons, and the present division in the lands."

"Based on his core style, I wonder if he is not one of the Forgotten himself, a student from a school who's teachings were believed -"

At small, golden glowing orb materialized out of thin air to interrupt Fortis. "Hello, Magnus. I am your guide to the temple. This one is called Tariel, and I will guide you to the Temple of Reflection."

I turn to Tariel.
Huh. That was quick. Ormaz said that it would take an hour to summon someone else. Anyways, Greetings Tariel. I haven't seen anyone like you before. We'll leave soon for The Temple of Reflection.

I turn back to Fortis
"You are right. I should talk to him about his intentions for the Faithful Avenger. You mentioned the Forgotten before. Who are they? What style did they practice?

You also mentioned that you quested for the Faithful Advenger before. What can you tell me about what you experienced?"

"The one named Ormaz was not this one's summoner. This one was sent here by Master Pelor himself into the summoning circle in this place. They believe they summoned this one, and this one was ordered not to correct the error until this one was speaking to the one called Magnus. They are sleeping off the rigors of what should have been a failed summons - Master Pelor rushed the ritual." Tariel flickers. "Magnus has a purpose, and this one will aid him."

"The Forgotten are those who have discovered lost schools or techniques. Normally they only have a fragment, but Righteous Demon was too smooth for that - someone taught him formally, or he has immense natural talent." Fortis looked out towards what he believed the temple exit to be. "I chose poorly, that is what happened. I do not possess a soul that lends one to the blade. The Path of Devotion is one of the hardest roads to walk."

While Fortis is speaking, Tariel is moving to the exit, only pausing until Magnus followed.

"I see Fortis. Good Luck protecting Ormaz."

I think for a moment before reaching a decision.

I hold my hands together and nod my head a bit. I direct a prayer to Pelor.
Pelor, thank you for sending one of your servants to guide me to the Temple of Reflection.

After that I'll follow Tariel

I'll ask Tariel
"So how far away is this Temple of Reflection?"

"One day. Remain at ease, Magnus. There will only be a fight if it is desired." Toriel rang a quiet tune, an attempt to simulate peace through music. "This one was instructed to ask Magnus questions, until that one makes it clear they are unwilling to answer, or all questions have been answered."

"First question: why did Magnus answer a request for a celestial servant?"

I'll follow Tariel to the Temple.

"Eh... I didn't really mean to show up in that Summoning Circle. I don't really control were I show up in a world. Although... That magic did call me and told me that the Faithful Advenger is a very specific weapon. I'm guessing that the magic messed up big time. Can't really tell without seeing it mess up in action. It failed to call a Celestial Servant of Pelor. But it called me in an attempt to fulfil the request anyway. Maybe it knew that I would decide to do the request. Who knows. Magic can be surprisingly sensitive to intention.
That is just speculation though. Needed to see it to tell you more.
What is your next question?"

"Understood." Tariel proceeded to the next question with nary a skip. "What is Magnus's connection to this Demon? A link of unknown origins exists, with the power of a bond of fate."

"... That takes a bit of explaining. I'm a type of being called a Verser. We are effectively Immortal. When we are killed, We wake up in another universe. It has something to do with a substance called scriff. This Righteous Demon is a verser like myself. He was a native of one of the worlds I have visited. Somehow he followed me into my next world.

The Reason he calls himself a Demon is because his religion teaches that all versers like myself are actually demons that disguises themselves as humans. To his mind he is a demon that follows the way of his religion. Therefore he is a Righteous Demon.

I assume that you are relaying all of this to Pelor?"

"Understood. And I am. Master is curious about you."

A brief incident happens in route, Tariel ends up floating across a river that thankfully doesn't go over his chest (initially), but he didn't trust. (Thanks for the OOC insights!) Magnus ends up having to carry his armor over his head at the high point of the creek, because the base of the river is actually covered in a foot of algae and is over six feet deep rather then the five Tariel expected, causing it to panic and fire laser after laser into the water around him to ward off any underwater dangers coming for you, and glowing as brightly as possible to serve as a light source. Indeed, he actually turned white, and was radiating pure, righteous rage as he fired shot after shot around him.

When Magnus surfaces just fine, Tariel apologizes in its own way, with lots of 'this one's error' and such. After a bit of drying off, which Tariel aids with using low-key versions of the precision light, Magnus and Tariel continue, and he asks another question.

"What do you intend to do with the teachings once you gain them from the weapon?"

I'll tell Tariel that it is ok, I didn't get hurt or anything.

I reply to his question.

"... I assume the weapons teachings are like that kata that Fortis showed me. As for what I would do with them... We'll I end up fighting a lot. so I would obviously be using them to fight. Hopefully the purpose of the Fight is defending people or making the world a better place. Another thing I would do is research those techniques. They are fascinating to me. A seemingly mundane action having those kinds of effects. Maybe teach them to someone worth of learning them. It really depends of what I am doing after this quest or if I am even still Alive."

"Understood." Tariel responds to the answer this time, although in the same calm and level tone of voice. Even when apologizing, Tariel is very reserved. "Master says who Magnus defends or what makes the world a better place isn't necessarily righteous. Also who is taught, and how knowledge is applied. After all, Master points out this Demon believes it is right within that one's limited understanding."

"Master also points out that 'alive' does not have the same meaning for Magnus as it might for another one." Tariel pauses. "This one does not understand what that could mean. Magnus seems alive by all of this one's senses."

Tariel seems eager to change the topic. "Question: does Magnus believe he can defeat the Righteous Demon?"

"Eh. Alive in the sense that I am still in this world.
As for the Righteousness of who I defend or how I make the world into a better place.

I would like a world where people are free to pursue their full potential. Where there is only enough government to protect the people from those that would harm them. and the people can't be righteous if they are dead. I might not have all the answers. But I think my ideal is a step in the right direction

If the Righteous Demon is still like he was when I last saw him. He would make a crushing government that shoves righteousness down peoples throats with the force of law. The people are not genuinely righteous at that point. They just fear their government and act in line.

Point is Most humans or other sentient beings would probably prefer not to live in a society that takes their laws to that level.

Anyway... As for your next question. I can't tell at this point. Before I was much stronger in a direct fight. I'm stronger than any human and I'm a fairly good Swordsman and Unarmed Martial Artist. He was sneaky before and good at ambushes and killing. Before I beat him fairly easily even though he ambushed me. But he is better now. The Style might be enough for him to have an edge on me. My guess is that it would be an even fight now. maybe a bit in his favor. But if I can figure out these styles in the... day or two before I fight him I could probably swing it back into my favor."

"Conditional, otherwise uncertain. Understood." Tariel halted. "This one hopes Magnus understands a need to surrender this quest as a result of this admission. Sending Magnus to his death serves no one, and relics can be reclaimed later. Evil can be permitted a victory today if a long term victory can be secured later."

"These...are Master's words." Tariel had a waver in the voice, a hint of uncertainty. "This one was instructed only to guide Magnus to the Temple. This one's instructions do not deviate from this. This one will return to the Sun Realm, and tell Magnus only that the Dragon's Forge is west of here, and to look for a tall mountain with smoke coming from the sides.

"However, this one understands if Magnus wishes to continue. Conviction, piety, purity, devotion: these are the roots of the art that are being sought at present."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:18, Mon 13 Nov 2017.

"I wish to continue. Evil can only win if good men do nothing. I refuse to do nothing even if it kills me. Death is simply a facet of my existence now. I do not fear it.

Please. Guide me to the Temple of Reflection. I have to try."

Tariel starts to move forward, and halts again, voice again wavering. "Master believes Magnus should be training for this, and that if Magnus truly did nothing at the Dragon's Forge, that would truly surprise Master."

Tariel's voice became clear again as it began moving forward once more. "Magnus has made the wish to go to the temple clear. So that is where this one will direct Magnus."

"That is actually a damn good point. I really want to go to this Temple and get this sword because I said I would... I didn't set a time frame that it would be completed in.

Fine. Your point is acknowledged. I will go train so that I will be good enough later. Pelor, Could Tariel Guild me to the Dragons Forge?"

"This one cannot. The summon was for a specific purpose only. Magnus will have to complete the journey to the Dragon's Forge without this one, unless this one is summoned again for a new purpose." Tariel had halted all forward movement, but his voice stopped the waver. "However, this one would wish Magnus the most sincere of Master's blessings should this course be chosen and this one's services ended. This one has rarely seen the Master be wrong."

"Thank you Tariel. It was pleasant talking to you. Maybe I'll see you later. Have a good day."

I'll watch Tariel disappear and then Smirk.
I pray to palor.
"I would Like to Summon Tariel to guild me to the Dragons Forge. I request that you send him to me. What Must I do to perform the Summon?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:59, Mon 13 Nov 2017.

Magnus gets an image in his mind of a circle, and of rites of summoning being completed, with sacrifices of personal energy or food being preferred. One hour is the minimum calculated time...unless the god pushes it, but due to the lack of a divine link, this would be unlikely to work.

I'll draw the summoning circle in the dirt and then start performing the  hour long rites. I'll sacrifice a part of my personal energy for the summoning since I don't have food on me.

Magnus realizes after crafting it and beginning that this is not merely a summoning circle he has crafted: this is an oracular circle, one meant to contact a powerful being directly. If this is what is needed to summon Tariel, it is overkill by a long shot.