The Nightingale, Act III: The Silence of the Lambs

[ewancummins]

The big man in armor steps forward. Anyone looking closely at him will notice that he wears a black mask, like a headsman.

To Ammanas, he speaks but a single word in a hollow, almost inhuman voice:
"Submit."
He places his other hand on the long handle of his huge axe, ready for chopping human bodies should it become necessary.

[steveflam]

"If I were you, I'd listen to him," speaks the feminine voice from beneath her hood and veil.

[VAN]

Boiros doesn't understand the prayer but due to respect for teh dead bows his head and remains silent.

When the Legate orders the woman with the cloak to bind Ammanas Boiros doesn't understand what the man said but judging from Ammanas stance and how he is holding his scythe defensively he figures out something bad is going to happen. So gets closer to Nicodemus and asks in low voice:

"What is this man saying? He wants to arrest Ammanas?"

[Trike]

In Mordentish, Nicodemus whispers to Boiros.

VIEW CONTENT:

The mayor has apparently said something to this Legate. He wants these people to bind Ammanas. There might be trouble. Be careful. Be ready.

[VAN]

Boiros frowns, is hard for him to understand what kind of problem the Legate could probably have with Ammanas, a cleric that yesterday risked his life going out of the village trying to find the hanged messangers and spend the whole night making a proper funeral for them... Then it strikes him, the Mayor most probably would have referred to the Legate that they went out during the night despite he adviced everyone stay put. Boiros looks at the Legate, the man with the plate armor and the woman with the hood for a second sizing them up. Without appear threatening Boiros keeps his right hand close to the hilt of his sword and is waiting for Nicodemus sign to attack or get in the middle and protect Ammanas if necessary.

[Trike]

Nicodemus speaks out in Darkonese. His words are directed at the crowd in general. But his eyes are centered on the man with his hand on an axe.

"This man is a Sentinel of the Eternal Order. Surely you could announce the charges against him before attempting to take him into custody. If only for the benefit of those townspeople who respect his religion."

[Le Noir Faineant]

The crowd around you, the surviving, tormented villagers, who have seen a maddened horse lay havoc to their only tavern,
who have seen two of of their own brutally murdered, and who live powerless against the horrors of the night, they stand aghast.

They see how, at the Legate's command, Otto and the hooded woman close in on Ammanas.

How the cleric's scythe begins to glow.

How the hooded figure raises her hand, and channels magic lightning between her fingers.


And how, within the opening and the closing of an eyelid, Otto is there, and how his axe cuts a silver line through the cold midday's air.

How the silver line cuts through the lightnings, and through manflesh, and draws a bloody line to Ammanas' scythe...


A second later, everything is over.

The hooded figure cowers down shrieking, looking at her sewered left hand.


Ammanas still stands, but a small red tear of blood rolls down his cheek.

The axe has missed him by a finger nail's length, and scruffed through the skin over his eyebrow...

And cut his scythe in half.



Then, you all black out, without warning.

When you regain your consciousness, everybody but the Legate, the magician, and the eyeless girl lies or cowers on the ground,
many people bleeding from their ears.

The Legate yawns, and reaches into the depths of his long cloak - for a golden apple.

He takes a bite.


"Another display such as this, and this village will be purified.

I will not tolerate disobedience, and less from people for whose services I pay."

The Legate throws the half-eaten apple towards Otto, for him to catch.


"You have shown the right spirit, boy. This village needs a bailiff... And a new mayor.
You will act as such from now on. Do with them" - another dismissive look around, especially to Ammanas and to the hooded figure - "Whatever you like."

[ewancummins]

Otto swings his axe into the now unarmed priest, knocking the man down in a single stroke. A quick look shows him that the bloodied, supine priest is not dead...yet.
To the villagers gathered around, he says- "Bind this man. Now. And bring me the old mayor.

[Trike]

Nicodemus shakes his head, stunned by the harsh use of magic and the speed of the axe wielder's strike. He dives into a position to shield Ammanas from another attack. His cane is raised to defend as he meets the new mayor's eye fiercely.

"I've seen this priest try to help this town. I ask only to check the severity of his wound and speak on his behalf."

Then he speaks softly so that only the new mayor can hear.

VIEW CONTENT:

"Please.....I will defend this man if I am forced to. I don't want to challenge or disrespect your authority."

[kintire]

Despairing of the stubborn Nicodemus, Caitlin slips up behind Boiros and puts a hand on his arm.

"Please, don't do anything! These fools are resisting legitimate authority. If it goes on, the entire village will be massacred! Please...."

[VAN]

Boiros looks at Caitlin once, then Ammanas unconsious at the ground and Nicodemus try to convince Otto to stop the attack. Then looks the terrified crowd that is gathered around. The cleric is really confused at this point. Ammanas and Nicodemus few hours ago saved his life when he was trying to suicide and now one of them is unconscious and the other is trying to help him. On the other hand Caitlin has a point, if the Legate gets angry because Ammanas is resisting the arrest, he may punish the villagers and for sure Boiros doesn't want that.

Lowering his head as he is a bit ashamed of his decision he whispers to Caitlin:

"All right, but I will not let them kill Ammanas or Nicodemus, can you ask the Legate or the man with the axe if I can heal them?"

[Le Noir Faineant]

We could put this into more graphic terms, but let's just say - Nikodemus dies a moment later. Screaming.


The legate is not at all amused.

And gets up from his throne.

Bad sign. Baaaaaaaaad sign.



"It seems I have to be more clear. More unequivocal.

These people, these strangers come to this village, and others start to die.


The legate walks over to where Ammanas lies bleeding.


"This man is suspected to wear these holy robes --- unjustly.
He is called on it, and --- disobeys."

The legate draws a long knife, a stiletto.

And slits Ammanas' throat.

"This is what happens to heretics."


The legate sits down again.

"Now, you all know the law. You all KNEW what was at stake.


The legate waves the girl and the magician over to him. He caresses the child's grotesquely eyeless face.

His eyes seem to glow.


"One. One of every family... Boy. One.

And if they resist... Mayor Otto. Bring me two."

[Le Noir Faineant]

The crowd lets out a collective shriek. The people back off from the legate.

Men, clenching their fists. Women, crying.


A stone flies into Boiros' direction.

"My children won't die because of you, STRANGER!"



The legate looks at Boiros, ostensibly pleased.

[ewancummins]

Otto raises his bloody axe from the corpse of Nicodemus.

He mutters-

VIEW CONTENT:

A brave man-- that was a pity.

After the Legate gives his grim command, Otto, seeing the old mayor backing out of the square, rushes forward and splits the man's skull with a mighty blow. He wheels about, freeing the enormous blood-smeared axe from his political predecessor’s shattered dome with an easy tug. Shouldering the axe and reaching down with one hand, he grabs the dead man by the collar of his shabby robes and slings him to the dust at the Legate’s feet.

In a loud and clear voice, he calls out to the assembled people-
“One from each family, come forward and kneel in the dirt, facing the Legate. No tricks, no screaming, no running, nothing stupid. Don’t make it two.”

[kintire]

Caitlin begins to tremble in terror, jerkily brushing back her hair, as it sticks to her forehead. One from her family: her Uncle. his own beloved wife, his own dear son, and her. She stares ahead not daring to look at her uncle, trying to delay the moment when he chooses her, trying to pretend it won't happen...

She stares at the looming figure of the new mayor, leans a little forwards, slips her low cut serving girl's dress a little further down her shoulders and bust and stares at him appealingly, eyes silently begging for mercy