CLAD and FoN go to war

[cRaZy8or5e]

“We in the Fists of the North, servants of the Northern Coalition and Guardians of Aetheria believe it is high time that we expand our Guilds Mandate of Conversion or Death to all members of Aetheria.” A collective gasp reverberated through the crowd at the bold statement made by the cleric known simply as “Judgement {FoN}.” Every person of authority was present in the Headquarters of the Northern Coalition, from the High Marshall, to the outpost Marshalls, to the leadership of the other warrior order, CLAD.

As the whispers of outrage, and shock subsided, Judgment began again, “For too long, Aetheria has been riven by the lawlessness that the other Gods inflict upon their factions. They influence the world to greater and greater chaos. Lawlessness is THE RULE” he shouted for emphasis pounding one mailed fist into another in anger, “not the rare exception. Our own lands are overrun by the undead, surely by Mask or Lolth’s design. Cyric’s followers grow more bold, killing EVEN their own! The lawful orders of the Dwarves in Ragnar’s kin are only as lawful as their own chaotic kin allow them to be. While there are some that” and here he sneered with disdain “claim to be lawful in that den of snakes and lizards we call Sleeth, it is merely another realm overshadowed by the heads of Tiamat and infested by sorcerous powers. The Last Alliance is an unholy conglomeration where the supposedly lawful frolic with the evil for this so called ‘greater good,’ which is simply an excuse for seizing power at whatever means possible, a road that can only lead to further chaos.” He pauses to shake his head sadly, “Even our forest friends are prone to seek neutrality over balance, peaceful coexistence over the righteous zeal of the law.” Then his eyes flashed angrily and pointed to the south, “I’ll not profane these proceedings with discussion about the Mystral Ascendency or the denizens of the Menzoduran, we all know what evil they visit upon the world.”

“We can no longer sit back and simply try to implement the law in our own lands. It’s time to spread law and order the length and breadth of Aetheria, across all its planes, from the highest peaks to the deepest corners under the mountains and in the seas. EVERYONE must convert OR DIE!”

Shouts of outrage and approval warred throughout the throng as Judgment paced back and forth, drawing a sword and twirling it over his head, shouting the FoN slogan.

The delegation from the Fists of the North drew weapons in their religious zeal. Others who disagreed drew their own weapons in a purely defensive gesture. The room was on the verge of open melee as arguments were shouted at each other. The only ones not engaged in the uproar were the members of the delegation from the Clericus Liberatus Anno Domini, still stoically seated and silent.

“SILENCE” roared the High Marshall. “PUT AWAY THOSE WEAPONS AT ONCE!” spells of protection and enhancement died on lips, blades tipped towards the ground, and were eventually sheathed.

“This is a council chamber, not a champion’s line” he said, referring to the martial means of settling a dispute, started when the two adversaries both placed their forward foot on a 6 inch wide line drawn on the floor. “We will discuss this matter in a peaceful manner so that our zeal and fervor can be saved for our true enemies. We are a law abiding army of Tyr, his justice by done, and as such; law and the effect of the law, Justice, MUST rule in here.” He eyed the crowd ominously.

Satisfied that order had been returned, he turned to Judgement, “Noble Priest of the Fists, no order has done more to secure the greater Glory of our Gods on the battlefield. You’re fervent devotion to the Law is duly noted, too often we forget that our coalition is about spreading the law to all of aetheria. That we cannot wait for this to happen of its own accord, that we must—“

“High Marshall may I speak” interrupted Ajantis of CLAD.

The High Marshall smiled, almost condescendingly, “Certainly noble Paladin, all of us, including myself have been affected by the righteous rhetoric of our FoN brother.”

Ajantis advanced to the front turning his piercing Aasimar gaze on the crowd. “I am a paladin of the Northern Coalition. I am the embodiment of Tyr’s law in this land. I am not merely one who observes the law, or simply proselytizes the law, I AM the law. It is true that we must spread the law, to all the corners of Aetheria, without fear, without hesitation, without distraction, without chaos.”

He smiled, “Simple enough really . . . except for one thing.” Here he nodded at Judgement, “there is the letter of the law,” and then holding up a finger for emphasis as he looked back at the crowd, “and THEN there is the intent of the law. While the law must be spread, and we must embody that law to all of Aetheria, we cannot simply force the law--”

“BLASPHEMER!” shouted the Fists of the North collectively.

“—Down the throats of Aetheria. To do so would only enhance the chaos that inflicts this land like a plague.” He shouted above the crescendo of arguments throughout the gathered warriors, “YOU SEEK TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BY ALIGHTING EVERYTHING! THIS IS MADNESS!!!”

“SILENCE ALL OF YOU!” The High Marshall cried once more as the crowd began to move to engage in combat once more.

Judgement pointed at Ajantis, face a mask of outrage and indignation, “High Marshall the Fists of the North are law abiding, but one more affront to our doctrines or any allusion to it being insane and we will be forced to issue challenge here and now against our brothers in CLAD.”

“You ARE mad and CLAD is willing to meet the Fists on the field of righteous combat to prove it.” Ajantis interjected with a cold look that turned the room quiet as death.

Bunson of FoN jumped forward, “You would actually attempt to combat the might of the Fists, you who love peace and should be sitting with our forest friends, experimenting with fungus and comparing brownie recipes? You who would rather see the compassion of Ilmater in ascendance over the Law of Tyr?!”

“PEACE champion” Judgement said, gripping Bunson by the shoulder. “CLAD has issued challenge, it is our honor AND our duty to meet their challenge on the field of righteous combat. The Fists of the North will meet their challenge to decide the orthodoxy of the Northern Coalitions guilds. Convert or Die, or . . .” and here he looked pointedly at Ajantis.

“Or?” Ajantis questioned.

“Or what doctrine would you have us follow, your own is not that of Tyr, peace and harmony are all fine ideals, but ideals that can only be assured ONCE the law has been implemented.”

“Fine, Convert or Die, OR healing and compassion for our enemies as they are ignorant of the beauty and contentedness that the law provides. The law does not have to be a martial undertaking. It CAN be a compassionate one, inspired by the peace and happiness of its adherents. You’re doctrine will bring all that we have fought for to ruination. I submit that the champion’s line be drawn in our lands, let our blood flow so that those who do not know the law will not have to spill theirs. Tyr Wills It.”

“Tyr Wills that the blood of the apostate flows freely along with the infidels. May Justice be done to you and yours Ajantis, so that Justice may be done to all in Aetheria.” With that, the delegation from the Fists of the North. As an aside over his shoulder Judgement shouted, “You know the place, the time is today. May Ilmater have mercy on you, for we will not.”

[Tsavong]

On a dark wet evening in the city of Garagoth stooped figure could be seen running across the city darting from shelter to shelter to avoid the rain. The figure ran up to the entrance to one of the buildings used by the Guild of Death and Strife and could be seen talking to the guard and giving him a small bundle of paper before running off into the night.


The bundle of paper was a set of minuets taken from a meeting in the Headquarters of the Northern Coalition normally these were boring affairs but this one was different, they spoke of drawn swords and a High Marshall unable to control his followers even open conflict between the Clericus Liberatus Anno Domini and the Fists of the North. This information was now in the hands of the Baneite Bard Banshee who could hardly believe what she was reading it seemed that the Northerners had gone mad and turned on each other.

Attached to the minuets was a map with two camp sites marked and rules for a torment were the Northern guilds would hope to settle there differences with a series of fights to first blood.

'This was the perfect time for the Guild to strike' thought Banshee 'To be the spark that would ignite a war between CLAD and the Fists and when they are exhausted from fighting each other the forces of Bane and the Ascendancy could strike and wipe them out. All I need is something incriminating and a aubergine.'

Banshee picked up a black hooded cloak and left the hall. Travelling quickly north using one of the Ascendancy portals she soon reached the camp of the CLAD guild were they seemed to be in a hurried process of arming a militia of there supporters it seemed that a possible civil war was closer than she had realised. The camp it self was in a state of organised chaos with supply left ungraded and people hurriedly rushing about. It was one of the supply tents that Banshee found what she was looking for a longsword with “Clericus Liberatus Anno Domini” inscribed into the hilt. Taking the sword Banshee left the CLAD camp to find the Fists.

It was well into the early hours of the morning when she made it to the Fists encampment it had clearly been a hive of activity earlier but now was silent as the most of the people with in slept.

Banshee hid in the woods at the edge of the camp anthill she found what she was looking for. A lone Fist guarding the camp was walking along the tree line now out of sight of the others. Banshee picked up the aubergine.

O'Doyle stunned for a moment stood looking at the aubergine that had just struck him as this had not happened to him before. There was a sudden flash of movement coming from the woods he looked up just in time to see the flash of steal then he felt a sharp pain in his chest, he looked down to see a sword sticking out of his chest and a cloaked figure disappearing into the woods and then nothing.

The next thing he sore was the faces of Judgement and Bunson looking down at him. 'Can you do anything for him' asked Bunson.

Judgement shook his head 'I've done call I can for now he needs rest but he should recover' he picked up the longsword and examined it he read the words on he hilt “Clericus Liberatus Anno Domini” 'they will pay for this' he roared.



*Just my take on what may or may not have been going on as FoN and CLAD stood on the verge of war