King Tharassian
Governor-Militant
- Location
- Victory Bay, Kronus
Lucky for you this is the equivalent of classic... Update later today.
The Maid of the Comet: A Tale from Azeroth
- Thread starter King Tharassian
- Start date
- Fantasy
Lucky for you this is the equivalent of classic... Update later today.
C4d
Has approximate knowledge of many things.
- Location
- Germany
According to Warcraft chronicles Light and Shadow, Order and Disorder, Life and Death are basic forces of the universe like gravity or electromagnetism with Light and Shadow being the most fundamental of the pairs. Every form of magic is derived from them.
The closest thing to light gods you can find are probably the prime Naaru but even they are not the ultimate authority since you can wield the light completely independent from them or even in direct defiance to them as long as you truly believe that what you are doing is the right thing while doubt in your actions cuts your connection to the light.
In our case here this is really good because Jeannes true believe in her god qualifies her to wield the powers of the light.
King Tharassian
Governor-Militant
- Location
- Victory Bay, Kronus
All of that is OOC knowledge. Most people in Azeroth do anthropomorphize the Light, assigning it a Will and a benevolent goal for mortal people. Essentially, they believe in God when God is actually a non-malevolent Azathoth.
C4d
Has approximate knowledge of many things.
- Location
- Germany
Yea i know and that is why i added that last part because the only relevant thing about my exposition is that Jeanne should be capable of going full paladin and wreck undead face with the best of them.
Unless she is fundamentally unable of wielding the light because of some metaphysical incompatibility.
Chapter 1.4
King Tharassian
Governor-Militant
- Location
- Victory Bay, Kronus
"I was called to it."
The moment the words left your lips, Thornby's expression changed under his helmet.
"Called to it? But that would mean -"
"That I am drawn along my path by divine purpose?" You interrupted, seizing the initiative. "Because I am. I have been called to action in defiance of what those around me thought I was destined for. I am unhindered by doubt or hesitation in my mission, for I know that my cause is just, and my path righteous." Every word was a promise, every sentence a statement of holy intent. Thornby seemed shocked; awed, even. He almost physically recoiled from your words, and his eyes are wide.
"You are blessed? But that's…" He seemed less hesitant than disbelieving. "There hasn't been any sign! The priests and paladins received no vision from the Light! If you are truly blessed, then…" He trailed off, staring at you, and then recoiling further as if struck. "The comet. Was the comet the sign?"
The soldiers were all listening now, though the priests had begun rites over the fallen to one side of the grove. Under their helmets, their expressions were unreadable. Nonetheless, they all seemed to feel the same awe that Thornby was displaying.
You were too busy trying to understand just what he said to care. The "Light?" Was that the church in this land? It had to be. And from what Thornby said, it was regarded as near-divine. Perhaps…
"Milady?"
Thornby's voice drew you from your thoughts, and you saw that every soldier in the clearing was staring at your hands, from the warriors in green armor to the "sea-priests" in their bizarre vestments. They all seemed illuminated, as though a light was shining down upon them from somewhere around you, that same light bathing the grey mist that drifted lazily through the forest in such a way as to create clouds of flickering golden light.
You almost didn't look to see what so fascinated them. Almost.
Drawing your hands up far enough to see, you found them washed in a brilliant golden aura that seemed to repel the cold you did not even realize you felt. The same warmth came from the light that had enveloped you in your fall. It felt like what you'd always dreamed: the love of the Almighty coursing through you, directed as through a lens to destroy evil and safeguard the innocent.
If this was their "Light," then you were blessed, indeed.
You did not intend to preach, nor to sermonize. You were His instrument, and you would make known who you were.
"If I am not blessed, may He place me there. If I am, may He so keep me." You could not help but remember the English, questioning whether you had been given the grace of God. You could not help but remember your answer and say it aloud. And though you had only said it now in a whisper, you somehow knew that the men and women around you had heard it. You raised your head again and looked Thornby in the eye.
"Yes. I have been called. I am chosen for a cause greater than myself. And I see around me all the signs that my mission is needed. The dead walk, and the righteous fail. You say that you are on crusade?" Thornby only nodded numbly. "And you have seen this Light before?"
"Only in the hands of paladins, milady." He seemed nearly unable to speak. "Paladins and priests, and," he hesitated, "rarely so potent."
Then there were others, men and women who had been called as you were. The thought was both comforting and terrifying. If such power was necessary, what foes might hinder the path of the faithful, and how terrible could they be that He made his will so clearly known, when in your own home He had rarely intervened at all? But you could learn of this place and the dangers besetting it later. For now, you would do His work, whatever that entailed.
"Then know this: I am here to strike down evil and save the righteous, wherever they may be and by whatever they may be threatened."
Every one of them was raptly listening, and you had the distinct feeling that this moment would have effects beyond these few who witnessed it.
"I am Jeanne the Maid, and I am here to do His work."
The moment the words left your lips, Thornby's expression changed under his helmet.
"Called to it? But that would mean -"
"That I am drawn along my path by divine purpose?" You interrupted, seizing the initiative. "Because I am. I have been called to action in defiance of what those around me thought I was destined for. I am unhindered by doubt or hesitation in my mission, for I know that my cause is just, and my path righteous." Every word was a promise, every sentence a statement of holy intent. Thornby seemed shocked; awed, even. He almost physically recoiled from your words, and his eyes are wide.
"You are blessed? But that's…" He seemed less hesitant than disbelieving. "There hasn't been any sign! The priests and paladins received no vision from the Light! If you are truly blessed, then…" He trailed off, staring at you, and then recoiling further as if struck. "The comet. Was the comet the sign?"
The soldiers were all listening now, though the priests had begun rites over the fallen to one side of the grove. Under their helmets, their expressions were unreadable. Nonetheless, they all seemed to feel the same awe that Thornby was displaying.
You were too busy trying to understand just what he said to care. The "Light?" Was that the church in this land? It had to be. And from what Thornby said, it was regarded as near-divine. Perhaps…
"Milady?"
Thornby's voice drew you from your thoughts, and you saw that every soldier in the clearing was staring at your hands, from the warriors in green armor to the "sea-priests" in their bizarre vestments. They all seemed illuminated, as though a light was shining down upon them from somewhere around you, that same light bathing the grey mist that drifted lazily through the forest in such a way as to create clouds of flickering golden light.
You almost didn't look to see what so fascinated them. Almost.
Drawing your hands up far enough to see, you found them washed in a brilliant golden aura that seemed to repel the cold you did not even realize you felt. The same warmth came from the light that had enveloped you in your fall. It felt like what you'd always dreamed: the love of the Almighty coursing through you, directed as through a lens to destroy evil and safeguard the innocent.
If this was their "Light," then you were blessed, indeed.
You did not intend to preach, nor to sermonize. You were His instrument, and you would make known who you were.
"If I am not blessed, may He place me there. If I am, may He so keep me." You could not help but remember the English, questioning whether you had been given the grace of God. You could not help but remember your answer and say it aloud. And though you had only said it now in a whisper, you somehow knew that the men and women around you had heard it. You raised your head again and looked Thornby in the eye.
"Yes. I have been called. I am chosen for a cause greater than myself. And I see around me all the signs that my mission is needed. The dead walk, and the righteous fail. You say that you are on crusade?" Thornby only nodded numbly. "And you have seen this Light before?"
"Only in the hands of paladins, milady." He seemed nearly unable to speak. "Paladins and priests, and," he hesitated, "rarely so potent."
Then there were others, men and women who had been called as you were. The thought was both comforting and terrifying. If such power was necessary, what foes might hinder the path of the faithful, and how terrible could they be that He made his will so clearly known, when in your own home He had rarely intervened at all? But you could learn of this place and the dangers besetting it later. For now, you would do His work, whatever that entailed.
"Then know this: I am here to strike down evil and save the righteous, wherever they may be and by whatever they may be threatened."
Every one of them was raptly listening, and you had the distinct feeling that this moment would have effects beyond these few who witnessed it.
"I am Jeanne the Maid, and I am here to do His work."
"What was that?" Michael was ranting near-incoherently, as Catherine and Margaret watched.
"What happened?" You hadn't seen Michael like this since Rouen, and that had been an actual disaster.
"Once the light passed, he just started yelling about how it was 'impossible.'" Catherine shrugged, continuing her spinning.
"I still don't understand how he's been yelling for this long without taking a breath." Margaret was staring at him. "He either has very large lungs or -"
"Or maybe we don't need to breathe, Margaret." Catherine said, as though reminding her of an obvious fact.
"Oh! Yes, that's right!"
"How long?" Margaret was absentminded at times, but not absentminded enough to forget that people could do things like hold their breath.
"Uh…" She tapped her chin in thought. "Maybe an hour? Things have been faster in here than out there."
"An hour?"
"We haven't been able to get a word in for almost three-quarters of that." Catherine muttered.
"Michael." He did not hear you. "Michael! What do you mean 'it's impossible?'"
"No time!" Michael was growling. He never did that! "Get out there, girl! Now!" Before you could even ask what was wrong, he pushed, and -
"- ptain! Captain!"
"What is it, Jallund?" Thornby had turned to face another soldier, this one carrying what looked like a handheld cannon.
"Deathguards, sir! They must have come north from Deathknell!" Those names meant absolutely nothing to you, except confusion at why someone would apparently love the word "death" so much to use it in so many names.
"Damn." However, they apparently meant a great deal to Thornby. "They must have been on patrol. All right, Tirasians!" He rallied the others again. "Enough dawdling! We have to be ready for them! Footmen in the front, rifles in the trees! Stay in groups of two or three; we can't afford to be caught by a flanking attack!" The remaining soldiers, about fourteen in total, got into formations faster than you would have expected: eight in a line facing the East, and six "rifles" in the forest around the clearing. There was no sign of the three sea-priests.
"Captain?"
"You'd best get somewhere safe, milady." Thornby kept his eyes Eastward as he spoke. "Holy mission or not, you won't survive a hit from a deathguard with no armor. I'd suggest disappearing into the forest. And don't go South, but if you have to…" He turned to look at you briefly. "Don't listen to the whispers."
You couldn't help but stare as he ran to join the shield wall, even as the first walking corpses could be seen entering the glade.
"Well, hello, crusaders!" The foremost one called out, sounding jovial through his rictus grin. "We didn't expect entertainment out here. What brings you into our path?" He swept his arm at the modest shield wall. "And with such hostility? We're all Lordaeronians here, aren't we?"
"That depends, deathguard!" Thornby called back. "Can Lordaeronian blood flow where there is only dust? And for that matter, can it flow where sea water fills its place?" The soldiers shook their shields and yelled out in response, in some gesture of pride.
"Tirasians, then." The deathguard rubbed his jaw. "Must be from Vandermar. Have to admit I'm curious why you're this far West. and how you got past the Bulwark." He grinned even more widely. "But we only need one of you to tell us that. And you know it. So why don't you stand down? We'll settle this all friendly-like."
"And if we don't?"
"Eh." The deathguard shrugged. "We can always use more newraiseds. And being one of us tends to change your perspective a little, see. Is that your answer then?"
"What do you think?" Thornby growled back.
And you…
[] Listened to Thornby. They were wielding butchers' knives as though they were swords!
[] Ran to join the soldiers. You wouldn't let them die when you could stop it. You didn't leave at Orleans, and you wouldn't now.
[] Circled around, and attacked from behind. You might not survive a straight fight, but maybe the light of God could collapse the skulls of the dead as well as heal wounds.
[] Called the Light. Divine retribution might not solve all problems, but it might help lessen this one.
[]Write-in (May be applied in combination with other strategies)
And there you have it. A nat 20. Feel lucky my QM dice didn't mitigate it too badly.
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- Location
- USA
[x] Called the Light. Divine retribution might not solve all problems, but it might help lessen this one.
- Location
- nz
[x] Called the Light. Divine retribution might not solve all problems, but it might help lessen this one.
King Arthur
The Once and Future King
[X] Ran to join the soldiers. You wouldn't let them die when you could stop it. You didn't leave at Orleans, and you wouldn't now.
- Location
- USA
They are Forsaken, and these brave men and women are Scarlet Crusaders. Alas the greatest power against the rising dead would be the Light. So let us attempt to unleash it upon friend and foe alike, soothing our allies wounds, and granting extra pain to every injury dealt to such undead abominations!
nmWarden
Webcomic Glutton
- Location
- Texas
It looks like that 20 was a very important roll! Jeanne may not wield the Light as a Priest or Paladin, but there are other paths.
1. Auradin
2. Templar
3. Exemplar]
4. High Divinist
5. Finally ignoring the Scarlet Inquisitor is the Scarlet Crusader
1. Auradin
2. Templar
3. Exemplar]
4. High Divinist
5. Finally ignoring the Scarlet Inquisitor is the Scarlet Crusader
ThatGuyWithIdeas
Treize died for our sins
- Location
- Romania
[X] Circled around, and attacked from behind. You might not survive a straight fight, but maybe the light of God could collapse the skulls of the dead as well as heal wounds.
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- Location
- United States
[X] Circled around, and attacked from behind. You might not survive a straight fight, but maybe the light of God could collapse the skulls of the dead as well as heal wounds.
Terran Imperium
[French]
- Location
- Southern France
[X] Circled around, and attacked from behind. You might not survive a straight fight, but maybe the light of God could collapse the skulls of the dead as well as heal wounds.
- Location
- Earth
[X] Circled around, and attacked from behind. You might not survive a straight fight, but maybe the light of God could collapse the skulls of the dead as well as heal wounds.
C4d
Has approximate knowledge of many things.
- Location
- Germany
[X] Ran to join the soldiers. You wouldn't let them die when you could stop it. You didn't leave at Orleans, and you wouldn't now.
Jeanne literally just got her light powers and has absolutely no idea what they can do, even if the light is very intuitive to use i don't think it would be her first go to option.
And ambushing an enemy force by her own without knowing their capabilities and with terrible equipment seems like a bad idea to me.
Since Jeanne has her own faith you likely cant put her into one of the classes that exist currently but im reasonably sure that the end result will be generally called a Paladin, which path specifically is probably something we will end up deciding somewhere along the line.
Jeanne literally just got her light powers and has absolutely no idea what they can do, even if the light is very intuitive to use i don't think it would be her first go to option.
And ambushing an enemy force by her own without knowing their capabilities and with terrible equipment seems like a bad idea to me.
The biggest difference between the wielders of the light is their ideology and combat doctrine, if they have one.
Since Jeanne has her own faith you likely cant put her into one of the classes that exist currently but im reasonably sure that the end result will be generally called a Paladin, which path specifically is probably something we will end up deciding somewhere along the line.
Terran Imperium
[French]
- Location
- Southern France
Well, its what we have that we are sure will work against them. We don't really know how the soldiers and us will fare against them so we take the safe option and not charge.
King Tharassian
Governor-Militant
- Location
- Victory Bay, Kronus
Voting will probably end later tomorrow.
- Location
- canada
ya see, here's the thing... Jeanne is a nearly fanatical believer in her faith so I highly doubt she wouldn't believe her new god given powers would not be able to smite the undead and other evildoers.
- Location
- USA
Gotta agree with San, also damn the Scarlet Crusader actually has some rather badass abilities XD.
C4d
Has approximate knowledge of many things.
- Location
- Germany
Guess ill change my vote because smiting them with new powers is still better than trying to flank an unknown threat on her own. Also more dramatic than sneak attack judgement.
[x] Called the Light. Divine retribution might not solve all problems, but it might help lessen this one.
Don't take ability pools like they are in the game as set in stone, there is no reason why a Paladin shouldn't be able to cast smite and holy fire.
And since the Crusade is right here it stands to reason that Jeanne will get some kind of instruction form them including some of their personal abilities.
- Location
- USA
I think it'd depend on how thoroughly she imbeds into their organization. But yeah i'm hoping we can get that circle of "fuck off undead" as that seems rather neat XD.
King Tharassian
Governor-Militant
- Location
- Victory Bay, Kronus
All of that is dependent on y'all. You're the ones choosing how she moves in a general sense, and you'll have a lot of opportunities once you get out of this. That is, if you can find your way, and figure out where you are.