I want YOU to join the Syliran Knights! (CLOSED)

[Imass]

The Windoak's Servant watched as the scene unfolded in front of his eyes.

The crowd was growing. Standing on the pulpit, the Knight was able to see men and women enter the fray. Alongside the two commoners now stood a pair of women in weaver's clothes. Beside the quiet Larknas was now a tall Zeltivan in fashionable clothes. However, none dared stand near the shady University student and the scared, butch woman.

Another person entered the fray. A small man, who probably stood at Imass' hip, began to weave through the scene. Only a few minutes had passed since he started, so it was easy to see everyone around him from his vantage point. Despite his eagle eye vision, Imass did not realize that this miniature man was in fact going around and manipulating the meager crowd.

When he called out Tock to friendly debate Bob's second remark was loud and clear. Despite the fact he could not make out who said the aggressive comment, it really sparked the crowd off. They all began to talk about this woman Tock. Despite the fact the Knight had done nothing, they were all jumping to her aid. It seemed as if Imass' mere presence was enough to offend the Zeltivans. People started to gather around the women as if to protect her from the Knight. The two commoners and the fashionable cloths man were now standing front of Tock.

Everything blew up in the Knight's face now. The crowd got rowdier and the butch woman began to curse him.

An uneasy looked settled on his eyes when he realized that the whole situation was spiraling downhill. No matter what though he would smile grandiosely. Imass needed to put on a stoic image no matter what. He knew that from now on every last word out of his mouth could be used as a weapon against him. Every little facial twitch, every movement would be analyzed.

When Nai'shee and Tock had finished their piece on how outraged they were at the Syliran Knights, Imass began. He needed to pull this crowd back into his favor so he said his speech.

Imass unbuckled his sword belt and held his sheathed weapon forward. He spoke is a clear, loud, voice. He did not yell, but his voice was strong and powerful it echoed in the area, "Tyveth, Lord of Honor. Strike me down if I do not speak the truth tis day!" The Knight dropped the gleaming broadsword on the floor behind him, "I bare NO ill will to your fair and beloved city!" He removed the Lakan from its sheath and handed it to the squire behind him, "I come in peace and honor!" Imass then removed the shield from his back and set it on the floor.

Removing his gauntlets and showed his midnight blue hands to all. He was sweating now. A seriously stoic look covered his face, "I will not lie to you, for I have taken Tyveth's most loving vow of honor and chivalry!"

After making his announcement he began his speech. He did not answer any of the questions yet. He didn't want to fall into a trap. He needed to say his piece first.

"I am Ser Imass, Unranked Knight who hails from the Safe-Haven of Peace, Syliras," He paused and scanned the audience. He face was dead serious now, "I have traveled here today NOT the destroy what you hold dear. I am here for the exact opposite. I am here to uphold the values of your city and help preserve your sovereignty as a nation!"

Imass cleared his throat, "Syliras AND Zeltiva march together, unified, on the city of Sahova to prevent the forces of evil from destroying everything we hold dear. You hold dear."

Now that he commanded some attention of the crowd, he really got started. He spoke was passion and fervor in his voice now, "I will not lie! We seek an object that Rhysol, God of chaos and Evil, covets greatly. If his forces managed to recover the item, darkness and despair will plague the lands."

"We, the denizens of Mizahar, already must deal with much. Even the peaceful Zeltiva is plagued with pestilence and disease. Even the strong walls of Syliras were damaged in the Storm. If Rhysol gains power then you can expect much more than mere natural calamity. You can expect death and blood from the forces of Ravok. They will rain terror in your beloved city and ruin your very way of life!"

"I see now Zeltivans have fierce pride in their independence and freedom," Imass paused passion still in his voice, "I fight to preserve YOUR way of life. I will march into the Valley of Doom. I will go do mortal combat with the Tide of Darkness. I will take up sword in hand and clasp the shield close to my heart for the freedom of the people of Mizahar. I take that burden, because someone has to."

His eyes flared and his voice got louder, "Someone has to fight. Someone has to put their life on the line! Money can't buy courage! Riches mean nothing to us! We do not fight for our own gain; we fight for your gain! If you can't understand this than I waste my breath" He clenched his fists and waited for a reaction.

[Larknas Tider]

Larknas was suprised by the reaction of the people it seemed there was some bad blood between them for some reason he coulnt understand fully, they had sent some people to the knights?. The crowd had actively showed it dint like the knight and most people would had left but this knight had stayed. Still all and all Ser Imass speech calmed down the crowd somewhat a few were still one step away from trying something stupid but most had calmed down hrm interesting fellow his actions were even more interesting whille he was speaking putting his shield on the floor and giving his sword to the other knights showing he meant no harm? perhaps but it dint matter. Larknas spoke a bit up now that the crowd seemed calm and no one seemed to be speaking. "Ser Imass why dont you tell us the reason you wanted people to hear you out today isnt this right?" He paused for a moment "If I understand you are gonna go to Sahova for some artifact marching with Zeltiva but if this is so shoulnt you wait a bit for the city officials that are more trustworthy to most people around here to try and recruit others? If that is your purpose that is" Larknas waited eagerly the knight's answer hopefully no one would object to hear him out especially that strange-interesting woman she was partically vocal in her opinions it seems and she also had gotten another arm out sigh where she keeps them coming from?.

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Tock listened to Nai's outburst with surprise, and a bit of pride in her friend. She'd never seen the girl get so angry before! When they had argued with the Svefran sailors, she had seemed more timid and quick to back down. Like she didn't want to cause trouble with people. Yet here she was, yelling and cursing! Tock couldn't remember ever hearing Nai curse before! Well, at least now she knew the girl had a spine in her. The Zeltivans mostly seemed to agree with Nai, shouting their support. For a moment Tock just crossed her arms and stood there, listening. Another stranger in the crowd asked why Syliras took their people, and why any more Zeltivans should possibly be taken. There were murmurs of assent at that, for Zeltivans loved their home, and few would want to leave. Tock couldn't blame them. She had been from Sunberth to Mura, through Syliras, Ravok, and Nyka. None had captured her heart the way Zeltiva had. Hell, she was even carving a statue as a tribute to the city! Another stranger suggested the knight should back down and let the Zeltivan officials handle this business. There was more assent to that, with several folks in the crowd calling out that if they were ever going to volunteer for anything, it would be because Maria asked them to, not because some knight did. She watched, arms crossed, a cold look on her face as the man started stripping his weapons and armor. She rolled her eyes at his talk of 'honor' and 'truth.' Fancy speeches didn't impress Tock, though he seemed to be shifting the attitude of the crowd. There were still glared and mutters, but the sheer unexpectedness of the action drew people's curiosity. He wasn't proving to be the armored bully people had initially thought, and that left them uncertain. They seemed torn between anger and interest, caught somewhere on the edge of their city pride and their curiosity about what the man had to say. When caught between two halves, people often looked to a leader. It was easier to make a tough decision when you had someone wise to help convince you what to do. Minerva Zipporah was far from what anyone would call 'wise,' and she certainly had never thought of herself as a leader. But her mild bit of fame as 'Trident Champion' made her stand out in the crowd (though the magic wooden hand perched on her shoulder surely helped with that). She wasn't so well known or influential as to be able to really rally the crowd or turn their views her way, but being known around the city certainly lent more weight to her voice. She sucked on her teeth for a moment in thought, vaguely aware of the eyes on her. The one point that weighed in the man's favor was that Tock HATED Rhysol. One of his crazy fanatics had tried to kill her, beaten her up, and broken her arm last year. So she was strongly in favor of anything that would keep Rhysol's crazy cult out of Zeltiva. But she also, like Nai, wanted to keep the Zeltivans here. Finally, she raised her voice and made herself heard, "Ya wanna fight, 'at's good fer yous. Yer right, someone'as ta..." The crowd tensely awaited what came next, wondering if someone, anyone was going to call out in firm support of the knight. "But WE ain't warriors!" she called out loud, thrusting a thumb to her chest, and sweeping her arm out across the Zeltivans to include herself among them. "We's builders, an' scholars, an' merchants!" There were nods and calls of agreement from the crowd. "Ya wanna fight 'gainst Rice-all," she told the knight, meeting his eyes, "'en I says, 'at's good fer yous. Someone 'as ta... 'at evil bloke is no good, an' yeah, someone's what gotta protect us. But YER the knight!" There were more calls of assent. "An' won't do us no good what if'n ya drag our men off fer ta fight, an' 'ey all git killed! What's the point in fightin' fer freedom, if'n 'ere won't be our people still left 'ERE, in our 'omes, ta 'as 'at freedom!?" "Ya want our 'elp?" she asked, raising her chin in a display of pride for her adopted home. "'En let us 'elp the Zeltivan way! Ask fer ships ta git ya where yer goin'. Ask fer supplies, an' warm beds while yous 'ere. Ask our scholars fer what 'ey knows 'bout where yer goin", an' whatchoo's facin'. We gots the smarts, an' the boats, an' we's good people what'll 'elp out... but ya gotta lets us 'elp OUR way! So's our PEOPLE can stays 'OME!" She found her face turning red with embarrassment at the cheers and applause this brought. She wasn't a politician, and didn't think it had been a very good speech. She certainly wasn't as good of a speaker as the knight, with the way he held himself so strong and used such pretty, noble words. She had just spoken from her heart. Zeltiva had captured her heart, and she wanted to protect it, and its people. OOCI'm drawing off Tock's "Trident Champion" status a bit here to explain her influence over the crowd.

[Nai'shee]

"Right", Nai'shee muttered to herself sarcastically, hearing Imass' oath. She had no doubts in Tyveth's power, but she wasn't sure the Knight was even aware what his words meant for them. She was maybe an exception, but sending Zeltivan to a fight was the funniest thing he could come up with. Many people weren't natives, tho, they came to study at The University.

He did a great job with his speech. Most of the crowd calmed down and stopped to yell out for him to leave, but the same way even more people left, realizing what was this all about. Nai'shee pushed away thought that she staid just to fight. She hated how he turned matters to his liking without answering any of their concerns. However, she was happy some still protested. Yes, this should have been left for Zeltivan officials to do. Maria got really popular recently due to her beautiful determining speeches and the girl was sure that even cowardly Zeltivans would risk their life if she asked them to.

Honestly, Nai'shee was dying to join him and she most certainly will, but she still knew that she wasn't raised as other Zeltivans, she didn't have late dinner or warm bed, she had to learn to live the hard way. But they didn't. She knew few of them liked forest and hunting but that was usually furthest point of bravery for them.

Hearing out Tock putting her thoughts into words, she couldn't do anything but nod aggressively in agreement. She would more likely wanted to backup to the point about telling Maria first and foremost, but she wanted to hear out his reply.

OOCPosting order can be so annoying sometimes, I've got nothing to add, you wrote my post-plans.>> XD

[Imass]

Why didn't the people of Zeltiva understand? Despite being the location of a great University, these men and women were the most ignorant people Imass had ever met. The Knight watched in disbelief as the woman known as Tock spoke. It was just too insane for the Akalak; the words coming out of her mouth where absolutely mind-boggling for him. Unless Imass understood her wrong, Tock basically claimed that the Zeltivans were cowards: Timid men and women who would hide behind books and boats. What was even more mentally strange was that everyone agreed with her foolish words. The butch woman, the two commoners, the well-dressed man, all of them, they all cheered her on.

In a matter of minutes, the Knight's confidence diminished greatly. He had been standing on the pulpit for less than a dozen chimes and already he was fighting a losing battle. Anxiety began to creep over his shoulders like cold ice. He didn't know what to say. Although he had a sliver of success, he was feeling the pressure now. All eyes were on him. He could not mess up. He did not want to mess up. There was no time to wait though. The crowd stood in anticipation for his rebuttal to the blushing woman's slang filled speech.

Unconsciencously he slipped his gauntlets back onto sweaty hands. He took a deep breath and scanned the audience. He didn't know what to say so he did what any servant of Tyveth would do, he spoke from the heart. He would not beat around the bush, nor try to deceive these people. He would stick true to Tyveth's plan and speak his mind straight up.

Imass started by explaining his position to the crowd in a loud, edgy voice now, "I be a faithful servant of Tyveth. And thus, I shall not lie or deceive thee, rather, I shall tell you the truth in my heart," Imass paused and raised his hand up in gesture to Minerva. He let loose with fervor in his voice.

"You say that there is no point in fighting for freedom if no one is alive in the city? You say that you are builders, scholars, and merchants?" Imass paused, "I mean absolutely no disrespect, but your words are so selfish Tock of the Third Hand," Imass said referring to her strange mechanical contraption.

Imass couldn't continue. There was a lump in his throat. He stopped again and raised his gauntleted hand to his face. He almost shed a tear with the passion beaming from his face.

"It is not about fighting for yourself or your own personal gain. It is about fighting for YOUR children and THEIR future! It is all about protecting the young minds from the bloodshed of war so that in the future THEY can be peaceful builders and scholars. It is not all about you," Imass repeated this fact, he sounded like he was almost weeping now, "It is not all about you! Tyveth help me! If we fail TODAY, then our children and their children will have to keep fighting. Blood will fill the streets of Zeltiva in the years to come and the future of your city will be ruin."

Imass paused for another moment in attempt to control his emotions. He called out Tock even more though, "You claim that you wish for lives to be saved, but I can already tell what you are all about. In reality you just want your own life to be saved. You are truly the definition of a coward, Tock of False Hope. You don't truly care for Zeltiva's future, because if you did you would do everything in your power to make a better TOMORROW!"

"Be gone foul woman! I wish not see your face anymore! Go back to your beloved mechanical contraptions and books! Go live in a fantasy world, while the armies of Rhysol burn the world to the ground."

He turned to his squire and grabbed his Lakan (racial weapon of the Akalak), "I for one will not stand for it! I rather die on my feet fighting for a better future than ignore the facts. Rhysol will be knocking on your doorstep in a years’ time if we are not successful."

Imass sheathed his weapon on his torso, "Leave my presence Tock the Beguiler! I need not thou poisoning the ears of those who would listen to my words of truth!"

[Bob Barton]

He really tried to be a nice guy today but the knight went as far as to draw his sword on his could-be ally, "Yikes!" Even worse, he ignored Bob's questions after that. No surprise actually since those fools always thought they were better than anyone else and could solve anything with their strength even away from their homeground. It was unacceptable especially when Bob was denied his answers. The knight will tell Bob what he wanted because while he may be getting a big, big, big reward there may be some strings attached just like the food some of his friends and family in Zeltiva got last season. He would not willingly put himself a position to get brainwashed for eternal servitude even if he was offered any amount of money or security. Whoever his Lord Tyveth was, he might not his chance to strike because when Bob was through, the knight might be mobbed.

While it might not accomplish anything now that Bob knew that the knight was a nobody who was only good for taking orders from his superiors according to his admission of his unrankedness, that could end up very entertaining. Bob searched some of the people right in front of him to see if the woman who reacted very strongly when the topic of the taken Zeltivans came up. Bob did the opposite of Ser Imass who spent his time to strip himself of his equipment and give that boring and pointless speech, "yawn." He was quiet in biding his time and preparing himself with his djed. If a knight needed his weapons and armour all over him in order to function, the Bob would do the same with his djed to go up against him. If someone could see it, figuratively Bob's would have been clothed in djed.

Well, if people saw it fit to ignore him then there would be no problem with him being silent as he ignored the knight and those around him to concentrate and pull the djed out of him towards the surface of his skin. Staying there until everyone has said what they wanted to, Bob said "the Grandmaster said nothing about Rhysol" but Bob could guess now what the man meant by conflict. Even if the man withheld his suspicions, "I trust him more than you since he told us everything he knew" and if with his position he was not sure of his enemies, how can this Imass be so sure? "If Syliras needed more people on their mission, he would be the one recruiting instead of some fool who knows nothing and feeds us whatever nonsense he wants to make people follow him. You think you'll finally get a rank by forcing people to get behind you?" Bob asked publicly stating how unqualified the akalak was and the worst possible motivations he might have.

Because that might help in Bob trying to make the purple man more purple with rage. That and some of the djed he sent to that poor woman who probably lost someone to the tyranny of Syliras so that she can feel less unhappy. Bob was in a fight of sorts and that djed he armed himself with was tossed at her like a gauntlet for a duel although it was directed at Imass. What it did to the woman was to give her a sudden thought about how the knight is dodging the question about what happened to those that were taken. Hopefully how she would react to that will turn out to be an effective blow against the knight that will help when Bob mentions that "the people taken probably don't look forward to the burden like you" and thumbed towards "Third Hand" as a matter of fact.

That was actually more because he did not want to have the knight's attention when he used the remaining djed he prepared. Forming it up, Bob gave one final word to Imass that it was he who was the "beguiler..." that everyone else was convinced he was before delivering the blow. The djed built up long and hard to pierce into the knight as Bob said the word. Aimed straight for his heart, a could be mortal blow to end this knight's fools errand once and for all because it was all so filled with the emotion of anger. While normally something like this would hardly be effective, Imass had everything going on wrong even before Bob stepped in. Why would it feel strange to feel frustrated now? Especially after that spirited speech of how evil this Tock was.

But for Bob this knight was the angry one and he was feeling a little bit frustrated as well. A natural feeling since Imass was already suggesting that they will fail after they started. Just how would this statement affect morale when half of the company was like him? Non-knights who were only in it for the money. Not really something that he normally would concern himself with but the djed in a sense helps him think when some of it decides to stick around and what Bob was thinking now is to bean the knight with his cane until he could speak no more. That would have to waitthough or all his plans would be petched.

[Larknas Tider]

This wasn't going well it was like people were going to mob the knight some left a few stayed.He dint care as much he wasnt going to join the knight nor was he partically fond of the city or knew many people around here so he dint feel angry towards the knight it was more like indifference. As he thought a bit he remembered something, he had heard some nights ago about a certain Tock after the knight mentioned was this her? ***** Two nights ago The tavern was empty that night a few sailors here and there some of them were trading stories Larknas came to drink up a bit that day had been hard with all the chasing he did inside the spire as he sat down to order a drink he heard the rowdy group of sailors speaking loudly in a drunken manner. "Ya know i saw that strange woman again she had three hands the other day i am telling ya!" the other sailor next to him laughed at this. "aA woman with three hands were you drunk at broad daylight mate puahahahah" another sailor around there spoke up. "Nay i think he be telling the truth there is a woman with strange magic in our town that creates this kind of stuff despite being strangey and having a fiery temper from what i heard she has helped a bit the city still never forget she be a mage still i know her name is.........is....Pot!" the other sailor laughed taking a gulp from his drink "nay i am sure its Tock!" at this point the drunken sailors had a fight on what her name was. But he had decided he wasn't that interested in that three hands magician pfffff if he had a a copper mizza on what some sailors swore when drunk he would be very rich indeed. ********* Anyhow she must be that Tock meh kinda infamous i wonder why i dint remember it till now oh well this was a bit interested but not much. Looking a bit around, he noticed there was a short guy, he dint notice as much before, but now he was practically vocal and seemed to know about the knights some bits of this and that. Still the crowd seemed........moody was such a thing possible? one moment ready to atack the other claming down before being again like before perhaps he should look to see if he should leave he dint want to be around if people started jumping on him. Best look at the aura when all else fail he would see if people wanted still to atack the knight or not. He took a deep breath as he used his djed to tune himself in as he pushed more and more till he started tuning with the auras around him he focused towards the bulk those that were more on the front. As he did that he felt a tiny bit light headed and he stopped pushing this was his limit on what he could see the knight and some people close to the front with him. As he did he noticed almost immediately that something was happening yes he was sure one of the auras seemed a bit off the one from there he looked with his eyes it was that short man again his aura seemed a bit bigger? was such a thing even possible. Just then he saw something strange that he was unable to convey into words,but he was pretty sure the source was the short man it almost looked like flux but very very diferent but perhaps he was wrong Netherless Larknas remained where he was that man was strange and there was a possibility he was dangerous too still, he would try to speak with him later for now, he stopped looking at the auras around him cutting his djed usage, but taking a swift look before that many people seemed ready to boil perhaps he should leave before they started anything with the knight. Still he could in his own way understand why they were pissed with that knight if anything it was justified,but still wrong to lash out that way.

oocsorrry for the delay i had left for the weekend and had no time to say so beforehand (also Bob well played XD)

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Tock's face turned red with rage when he actually called her selfish. This comment from the knight sparked some muttering from the crowd; the one thing that was known about Tock, aside from her contraptions and her eccentricities, was her charity work. She even recognized one of the families in the crowd from the infirmary, where she had been frequently volunteering to help with the sick children. She donated her time and labor. She fixed things for free. She entertained the children with her magic puppets. And this purple man had the balls to call HER selfish? Then he continued on to insult her, calling her foul, calling her a liar. This sparked more angry muttering from the crowd; now he wasn't just making fancy speeches and trying to persuade people. This had become a verbal assault, a string of insults against a citizen of Zeltiva. Tears streaked down her cheeks from barely suppressed rage. Betcha fer if I got 'at armor off, I could bleed 'im right 'ere, she thought. She had a dagger on her belt... and Grippy to disarm the knight of his fancy weapons. She could slice him open, gut him, leave him for the gulls to peck at until there was nothing left but rusted armor and purple bones... As he was rearming himself, Tock stepped forward with a limp. She winced at the pain from the wound in her side... a fight today wouldn't be a good idea. Maybe she could just pop him one... Face red from rage and pain, she was about to step up and see if she could at least manage one good punch in that smug purple face, when she felt a tugging on the hem of her shirt. At first she thought it was Handy, but he was perched on her shoulder. She looked down and saw the kid she recognized from the infirmary, a little boy named... Berty, if she remembered right. "Why is he saying such mean things, Puppet Lady?" he asked. The kid had to be seven or eight years old, too young to fully understand the politics at work here. Tock didn't understand the politics here. "Is he gonna take my Daddy away? I don't want him to go..." She stared at the kid for a moment, then rubbed a hand through his hair. He reminded her of a certain other little boy in the infirmary. One who NEEDED her. She wasn't going to go getting herself killed on some fool quest. Not when she was needed here. Rage cooled down to just below boiling, she lifted the child up and held him against her side, wrapping one arm around his back, the other under his legs to support his weight. The parents were nearby, but they'd seen Tock teaching the children in the infirmary, showing them how puppets worked, or how to build furniture. They'd seen the soft spot she had for kids (as much as she still tried to convince herself that she hated the little buggers). She stepped up to the knight and said, "Ya think I's a coward? Huh? Well, I's gonna tell ya, ya don't KNOW me, Purple Man. Ya ain't never met me. Ya ain't know what I's fought fer in this city." She lifted the hem of her shirt on the opposite side of where she held the boy, and pulled down the bandages to reveal her sword wound from a few weeks ago. "See 'at?" she asked him. "Got 'at fightin' ta protect the Uni from a bunch o' bad men..." This was half true; she'd also been trying to murder ome of those bad men, but nobody knew that. "Almost done gots killed fer it, aye? But I almost got killed 'ere, in Zeltiva, fighting fer my 'ome!" This promoted a few more cheers, though Tock's attention remained focused on the Purple Knight. "Ya wanna calls me selfish?" she asked, glaring at him with rage. "Ya ain't knows the FIRSTS thing what 'bout who I is, Purple Man." She shifted the child in her grip, turning towards the knight, then said to the boy, "Go on. Tells 'im what I done taught ya the other day..." "She taught us how to make beds," Berty said with pride, giving the knight a strong, defiant stare. "And how to paint..." Tock glared back up at the Purple Knight. "Ya gonna calls someone selfish, maybe ya should git ta knows 'em first. I what gives my 'eart ta 'is city. I fixed 'is house up, free o' charge," she nodded to a man she recognized in the crowd, Mr. Cooper. He was a friend of Montaine's, and a few weeks backshe'd repaired a hole in his wall, on her own time and without pay. "I built a lot o' 'ouses in 'is city. 'Elp fer ta make people 'as somethin' better in 'eir lives. I what stopped a thief what took 'is stuff," she nodded towards the back, where among the crowing crowd she'd spotted Mr. Jordac, the man whose boat had been robbed earlier in the season. "I's 'elp people out a lot, Purple Man," she said, stepping close and tilting her head back to look up at him and meet his eyes. "Whaddabout you?" She stared him down in challenge, her rage replaced now with a sense of righteous pride. "What's YOU ever done fer Zeltiva?" There were shouts from the crowd now, as the question was repeated by several others. "Tell 'im ya wanna take 'is Da away," she said, nodding to the child in her arms. "Tell 'er ya wanna take 'er fiancee away," she nodded to a couple in the crowd with their arms around each other. Many young Zeltivans were rushing info marriage now, after having faced the fear and loss of the Djed storm. "Tell 'im yer gonna pull 'im from 'is studies at the Uni..." she nodded towards a nearby student, holding a book, likely having paused here on his way to class. Tock knew these people. This was her home, her family. Even the ones she didn't know by name, she could look at them and know who and what they were. A student, a craftsman, a baker, a fisherman. "Ya ain't knows 'ese people, Purple Man," she said defiantly. "An' ya AIN'T knows me! So don't calls me no selfish, o' no liar, when ya ain't knows the first thing 'bout ME, o' 'bout what I does fer 'is city. If'n 'em Rice-'eads come 'ERE, I's be right up 'ere fightin' 'em what wit' everyone else. But I AIN'T leavin' my 'OME what fer no tight-arsed stuck up Bludger what's so in love wit' the smell o' 'is own shyke what as 'e can't step down 'ere wit' us common folk," she kicked the crate he was standing on to 'raise himself above' the rest of them, "an' actually git ta KNOW the people what yer tryin' fer ta march off ta die..." He didn't know her. He didn't know the city she'd chosen to make her home. He wasn't Zeltivan. But she was, regardless of where she'd originally find from. This was her home, and he had insulted it, along with her pride. He didn't know the first thing about what Zeltiva meant to the Zeltivans. And there was no way she'd stand aside and let him take anything, or anyone, away from her home.

[Nai'shee]

She listened to the purple thing - now getting back to the state where she wasn't sure if it was human - insulting him in her head and playing with scenarios of kicking the box he was standing on down and letting the crowd eat him alive. But, despite her cannibalistic thoughts she just loudly commented at his speech here and there.

"We're faithful servants of Laviku and thus we offered you ships and fish..."

"Who says you have brain capacity to realize the truth?"

She assumed he would just ignore comments, but she channeled her anger and got approval from the crowd. However, when he came to the point of insulting Tock her tantrum turned off, as if somebody cut the power in her brain. Her head, which was turned to anything except the speaker, turned back suddenly.

"What did you just say?" Not just that he dared to insult the most caring and hard-working person of the city, but he also managed to make Tock cry. Nai'shee never saw her cry again and could never imagine her friend being unable to control her emotions in such a way. For a moment she stared in surprise at her beautiful face getting redder and her eyes puffier. "How dare you?" The girl couldn't debate any further. She was pushed to her limits. If she talked privately with Imass she would just consider him stupid and wouldn't bother, but she couldn't imagine someone speaking up to Zeltivans and-

Nai'shee felt anger boiling her blood and blood rushing to her brain. She haven't been so out of control ever since her father died, maybe not even then. Nobody ever insults Zeltiva or her friends and this THING here just succeed to do both. Nai'shee's face probably got red marks. She began to focus her Djed, having no idea what will she do. At first, she wanted to use Flux, but having dozens of people around her and a knight as a opponent she decided that wasn't worthy plan. Instead, she gathered Djed in her palms, preparing to form more Res than she could handle at her stage.

Luckily, Tock stepped forward and took girls attention, stopping something that would definitely lead to huge overgiving. Djed rushed back from her palms, making her whole body shake for a moment. She heavily breathed out. Tock spoke back, getting the whole crowd behind her back. As she spoke Nai'shee felt proud again. Her scars were from protecting hometown as well, she fought an opponent who was far from her league, but thanks to her companions they managed to win and save Docks from being completely burned down (but still leaving major damage behind, tho). From the other side, she could have been the thief which Tock beaten up. She never saw her fight, she never even knew where was that scar from, but she assumed she was good.

"Yeah, how can you say someone is selfish, when you're selfish in the first place!", she agreed with Tock, but her yell got lost in supportive screams of the crowd.

She heard Bob's words, which Tock seemingly missed in anger and tears. They could be true. Why nobody else spoke up to them? Why was he on a box, instead of organizing a public gathering? Syrilan Knight probably could pull that out in Zeltiva, they seemed to be big organization.

"You're just dodging questions!", spoke a woman who wasn't too loud until now angrily. "What happened to my husband, to our relatives? You probably just made up war with Ravokians to cover that up and get away!"

Nai'shee doubted that was the case, but the whole situation was far out of control by now. Crowd was getting smaller and smaller. Zeltivans weren't people to yell and fight on streets. If he wanted to get their attention he should have spoken up to somebody who knew how to talk with crowd of Zeltivans.

Getting back to normal - again - the girl decided to think rationally. If she was to drown or beat up this man this wasn't situation to do it, no matter how much her adrenalin protested. But the girl wanted to hurt him, to hurt him as much as he hurt her, as much as he hurt Tock. So she thought of a plan to do that. "Why are we still listening to this man?!", she asked, yelling as loud as she could. She placed a bet on that that each and every citizen here had smarter things to do than arguing about purple man's nonsenses. "Let him speak to his giant ego instead, show him that he won't bring us down with his stupid insults! Don't you all have a place to be at?"

[Imass]

Yet Tock the Beguiler did not leave the presence of the Knight.

She did the exact opposite; the red hair goof took command of the whole crowd by giving them even more emotion to draw on. She just made everything worse. Imass was strangely focused on here fierce and passion filled voice. Somewhere in his subconscious the desire to bed a strong woman appeared. He did not act on it obviously.

Anxiety began to build up in Imass' chest when Minerva got inspiration from a small child. She even had the child explain her good deeds to the citizen. His credibility would never survive such a blow. There was no turning back. Imass began to lose all focus when she showed off her grizzly wound. Not even Imass had a wound to show off. He was almost pulling his hairs; what would he say? He had no idea how to respond. The final dagger that pierced Imass' heart was her tears of frustration. She had just as much conviction as Imass, her energy just misguided. The people of Zeltiva somehow regarded her with high esteem, there was no way to win the people's minds back.

Despair began to set it. Due to Bob's hypnotism Imass even began to doubt himself. He stood silent and the scene continued to unfold in front of him. He could not even focus anymore. All his meditation was not paying off right now, because terrible emotions were swirling in his soul. Since he was a boy, the Akalak suppressed his dark side, but now the situation was out of control. HE was out of control.

Imass' mode was quickly changing. His emotions were changing to the dark side he most dreaded. Anxiety, depression, fear, and doubt filled his mind. Doubt is what consumed him the most. He couldn't decide what to say next, he couldn't even decide if he was right or not. He was quickly losing fate.

The noble Knight slumped his shoulder and looked at the floor as Nai'shee's comments pierced the final defenses of his ego. She was the voice of the peoples, who were no victimizing Tock and making Imass look evil. In addition, Bob's hypnotism was now fueling a fire in Imass' mind.

Suddenly the crowd got quiet in wait of Imass' response. Although the Knight didn't realize it, but Bob had inadvertently tapped into Imass' dark side. Although the small hypnotist only added aggression and doubt to the cauldron of emotions, it was the last ingredient to produce his evil side.

The Knight looked up at the crowd. His zealous eyes were now dark and full of hatred. All the Akalak could think about was fighting Tock. He wanted to break her bones. He wanted to teach her what being a knight was all about. He felt the overwhelming urge to just cut her down and spit in her face; that is what the knights scarified in combat, why shouldn't she have the opportunity.

Imass opened his mouth, but the words that came out where controlled slightly by his fading, yet conscious good personality.

"Enough! I am no politician. I come in peace and truth to say my piece Is this not the city of the Great University? Nay! But that is enough! I am a warrior not a peasant, I shall not quibble anymore with ye shipbuilders. I am done with thee peoples."

Imass grabbed his broadsword and shield and prepared to leave, "I am a Worshiper of Tyveth. Everything I have said'est has been the truth and so is this: If you still want to contest me, I will accept any duel. Meet me at the city gates at high noon and I shall honor thy request. I shall only wait five ticks."