The Good, the Lawful, and the Chaotic

It's sometime later that afternoon that finds Seldan, now cleaned up, divested of armor and pack, and looking a good bit more relaxed, sitting on the edge of the fountain in the Temple Plaza, a satchel next to him, reading from one of the scrolls from it.

Erendriel had to go back to the Temple herself to report on the successful mission. Grinning, she zaps a random rock as she makes her way around, and then sees Seldan. "Oh hi again," she giggles, over whatever dismay she felt at Seldan's reaction earlier.

She might be over it, but Seldan isn't judging from the look he levels at her. It's not cold, and not really all that angry, but it says he's got a bone to pick with her. "Erendriel." He stuffs the scroll away in the satchel, and removes from it the book that was mentioned earlier, placing it across his lap. "We need to talk."

Erendriel hops on over, holding her backpack straps as she approaches. "Sure... we can talk on the way to getting your book? Oh, there it is." She'll then reach for it if allowed.

Seldan withholds the book for the moment, laying a hand over it. "Soon enough, Erendriel." He's serious, not a trace of smile, and more than a little tense. "I know what you seek to do, Erendriel. I heard most of that conversation at evening prayer. Your goals are noble and appropriate ... but your methods are not. Were you not told to acquire rather than incinerate?"

Erendriel nods. "I was told to be sure of what it was, to acquire if I could, and if I could not, I had to do what I had to do. Those scrolls are terrible, and I was there alone, without backup, or support of any kind. I had no choice."

"Do you know why I could not support you?" Seldan keeps his voice low. "I could not support you, because it would have compromised my service to the Dreamer to do so, even though you acted in pursuit of Her goals. Yes, I uphold Her aims, but I am also sworn to uphold the rule of law, and peace and order. You impersonated a city agent, an illegal act, right in front of me, Erendriel. It matters not your aims, if I help you in doing that, She will turn Her face away from me, and rightfully so." He keeps his tone level, but with an effort. "Do not put me in that position. If you do, I will not aid your enemies, but I will not aid you, either."

Erendriel folds her arms. "I don't understand. If the law says literally murdering everyone in the city is okay, um... you would rather I stood aside and let them all die?"

"True civilization makes no such demands. If it does so, then it is evil, and I am bound to work to change it." Seldan places his free hand on the fountain. "But I cannot directly defy it, no. I will not stop -you- from doing so, but the ends do not justify the means, and greater evils than any imaginable can and have been created with good intent. That is why the vows. I could do great evil, meaning to do great good, if I were to allow the ends to justify the means. A bit more patience might have uncovered another method. Instead, we were very fortunate that none were seriously hurt when that fireball went off."

Erendriel shakes her head, but smiles. "We weren't fortunate. I was careful. I ordered them to back off, and they listened to me." She seems to take a great deal of pleasure in that last part. "I could have started a fight. I could have like.. just been direct. I wasn't. I Was subtle. I let them go not even knowing what really happened.

Erendriel shakes her head again, and sighs softly. "If you can't help with that, then that's fine. That just means I was right. I was alone. I was out numbered. I did what I had to do, in order to save lives."

Seldan shakes his head. "You might have traced the scrolls back to their intended destination, and in so doing exposed and cleansed the cult as well, -then- acquired the scrolls and removed them," he points out. "Because they never reached their destination, the cult remains a threat, do they not?"

Erendriel raises a finger. "But I did. They think if they go see the Inquisitor in their home city, they'll get paid. He will then... take care of the rest. They're going to walk right into a purification."

"The shippers, yes, but the destination is unaffected and remains hidden," Seldan points out calmly. "What did they intend to do about the group for whom that shipment was meant? Does that mean that we have an abyssal demonic cult in hiding here in Alexandria?"

Erendriel sighs. "Seldan, I'm not working alone. You're so quick to judge me, assuming the worst. Why?"

"Because your actions put me in a dangerous position, and you speak of things that I am also bound to act on in my own right. I can overlook your actions in the name of a greater good, but I cannot ignore the possibility of a demonic cult loose in the city. I will aid you, if you ask, and I will do whatever I can." The set of Seldan's jaw betrays his frustration. "But I think it best if I not intervene in your affairs." He picks up the book and shoves it back into the satchel.

Erendriel bites her lip. "Oh come on. Don't pout. You really needed to know what's in the book. I can take 5 minutes and read it to you. It come with the ears." She winks. "But, let me explain. The Acquisitioners are a worldwide organization run by Elunite priests, mostly dedicated to stopping powerful artifacts from destroying entire cities and continents. This is mostly being handled by Inquisitor Shakil out there in the Lion Kingdom. I've never actually been there, but he sends sendings here, and we send them back. Well, they do it in the temple. They give me scrolls to Send to them if I need to, then they Send out to Shakil. I just got back from reporting, and they're letting Shakil know now. So now, with the scrolls safely disposed of, Shakil can move and take down the whole thing, wihtout having to worry about innocent people getting hurt."

Seldan makes no move to remove the book again. "There are many in this city who can read the language. If necessary, I am certain the bardic college would do it for a small fee. As for the rest, I understand your aims, and I know that the intentions of Her faithful are good. I am certain that if Inquisitor Shakil is involved, then it will be properly handled. That name is known to me." He closes the satchel and its scrolls up. "But a demonic cult is far more important than a research project out of curiosity."

Erendriel folds her arms tightly, and sighs deeply at the seated Seldan, at a fountain. "Come on Seldan. I mean, if you're cutting me off, then I guess that's just what you're doing. I'm just, you know, one small part of Shakil's project. I went in there, in person, and personally confirmed what the scrolls were. I saw them with my own eyes. I saw how powerfully destructive they are. I made sure to destroy them, safely, with nobody able to get hurt. Not even them. And now that it's safe, Shakil is going to end the cult and drive off the demon. If you're going to cut me off about that? I guess I never knew you at all, then."

"That is not the reason why." Seldan sighs deeply, pulling the satchel to his side. "I ... don't think you care about anyone but yourself. You are proud of how your work benefits all of us, and rightfully so. But ... I was put in a compromising position, a dangerous one, in the process, and I do not think that bothers you at all."

"That is not the reason why." Seldan sighs deeply, pulling the satchel to his side. "I ... don't think you care about anyone but yourself. You are proud of how your work benefits all of us, and rightfully so. But ... I was put in a compromising position, a dangerous one, in the process, and I do not think that bothers you at all. I would ask you to at least try not to openly break Alexandrian law in my presence, but I do not think you have enough regard for the law, or for me, to do so."

Kaydin leaves the temple of gilead and he makes his way over to Seldan and Erendriel. "Friends!" He says happily before reaching into his satchel for a red bag. "Try that. Its a special mixture of peppers and venison." He says as he offers it to Erendriel. "You like hot stuff." He says as reason for offering it to her.

Erendriel tilts her head at Seldan. Arms still tight, she gawks. "How... how are you put in a compromising position? I didn't ask you for anything." Shaking her head, genuinely baffled.

GAME: Erendriel rolls sense motive: (12)+1: 13

Erendriel does look at Kaydin, though clearly quite troubled by all of this, waving slightly. "Thank you..." she says softly, taking the offered thing in her hand, beneath her folded arms.

Seldan looks up at Kaydin, and shakes his head, with a small wave of his hand that declines the invitation. "I explained that to you, and you did. Your words say that you expected me to aid you, and did not understand why I did not. I attempted to explain, and you rejected that explanation."

Seldan looks up at Kaydin, and shakes his head, with a small wave of his hand that declines the invitation. "I explained that to you, and you did. Your words say that you expected me to aid you, and did not understand why I did not. I attempted to explain, and you rejected that explanation." He sighs. "I will seek your assistance, if you will give me your word that you will not openly break Alexandria law in my presence, unless there is no other choice."

Kaydin looks between the two. "You both are fighting about breaking laws?" Kaydin asks curiously as he looks confused. "City laws are weird and make little sense." He says as he watches the two of them.

Erendriel takes a slow, deep breath. "Seldan, I told you I don't understand. I still don't understand. Why are you being this way? You say you attmepted to explain, but I keep saying I don't understand, and you just keep talking bad about me. I think you're just prejudiced. That's how you're acting. You're not being fair to me."

Rhyn has arrived.

"I'm not being fair to you, when you blindly put me in the position of standing by while a friend puts herself in danger, or falling?" Seldan is incredulous. "In danger of sacrificing everything I am and everything I work for? And that doesn't bother you at all?"

Erendriel pulls her hand out from her folded arms, and points at Seldan. "You're lying. Is that what Paladins do? They lie about people? I didn't ask you to do anything. I didn't ask you to sacrifice anything. I offered toh elp you, and you lie about me." Raising her voice, definitely agitated and hurt here, and not particularly hiding it.

Kaydin just stands there looking between the two. He pulls out some jerky and begins to eat it while he watches the two argue. For now he looks relatively bored but other then that fine.

"Erendriel, I am not lying about this." Seldan is clearly agitated as well, but is trying his very best to remain calm. "Perhaps I misunderstood your intent when you spoke at the dock, but it was clear to me that you sought my approval for your actions. You are now telling me that you did not wish my help at the dock?"

Erendriel is still very tense and inward in her actions. "Seldan, do youknow why I talk to you? Do you knwo why I offer to help you? Do you know why I spend time with you?" She rolls her eyes and looks away. "I wanted to be nice to you adn be your friend, even when you kept being so judgemental of me. Pausing, shifting her feet. "I don't come to you because I want things from you."

Seldan is still incredulous, his jaw falling open a little as he listens to her. "Never have I claimed any such thing, Erendriel. I say these things to help you, and to further Her teachings regarding magic, because I am sworn to do so. Because I am committed to the oaths I swore - to uphold Her teachings, to uphold law, order, peace, and justice, to help the innocent and punish those who would harm or threaten them. I am committed to them with all that I am and with all that I have. With all that I have ever been and ever will be. Do you know what will happen to me, should I break those oaths, even once?"

Erendriel inhales sharply and sighs just as dramatically. "You keep saying that but you never actually explain."

Oh. OH. She doesn't -know-. Seldan pauses a moment, collecting his thoughts. "I have told you that my power comes from the Dreamer, have I not? When I swore myself to Her service, I spoke those oaths, and I meant them. She accepted them, and grants me Her grace and Her power in return for keeping myself on the path of good and right, and upholding those oaths." He puts his elbows on his knees, leaning forward. "She will turn Her face from me if I break those oaths, even once. I will lose all of Her gifts and Her blessings. I will likely lose my magic as well. Without Her, I am but a man with a sword. My family will also turn their back on me, and rightfully so."

Oh. OH. She doesn't -know-. Seldan pauses a moment, collecting his thoughts. "I have told you that my power comes from the Dreamer, have I not? When I swore myself to Her service, I spoke those oaths, and I meant them. She accepted them, and grants me Her grace and Her power in return for keeping myself on the path of good and right, and upholding those oaths." He puts his elbows on his knees, leaning forward. "She will turn Her face from me if I break those oaths, even once. I will lose all of Her gifts and Her blessings. I will likely lose my magic as well. Without Her, I am but a man with a sword. My family will also turn their back on me, and rightfully so, because I will have shamed them beyond all repair."

Erendriel looks at him hard a moment. Inhaling again after listening to every word he says, since, well, she did challenge him to finally explain. "And so that's why you badmouth me, and treat me like garbage, and won't even let me help you. I see." She then turns away.

"If that is how you choose to see it." Seldan straightens, and stands, hefting the satchel over his shoulder. "I value you as a friend, Erendriel, and as an ally. I would have you not hate me. I would have your help. But ... there are things that I cannot accept, that I am oathbound not to stand for. I will not speak on small things, if you will not openly invite me to violate my sworn word."

Erendriel pauses, and whirls back around. Biting her lipo hard, blinking. "Good," she says very softly. "I'm not asking you to do anything. I just wanted a friend here." She inhales again closing her eyes a moment. "Want to let me read that book for you?"

"I would be grateful." Trying on a smile, Seldan tilts his head in the direction of somewhere a little quieter. "I should show you the family tree as well. I do not jest when I speak of family." He turns to find a good place to translate a book in peace.