>>118415
"Hey babe, nice mount. Care if I borrow it for a bit?"

Under whose authority?

Is, is that Tim?

>>118415
"I am no enemy of good. She is in my care and I believe she can be saved. I do not wish to fight, but I will not let you harm her. Perhaps we may have a drink and talk things over before resorting to a less civilized method of debate."

>>118415
Tell Timotei that his evil radar is off again. A truly evil entity raped her and she has the same residual evil that was present on the orc from before after she had sex with The Boss.

>>118419
Okay, is he talking about Grek (maybe, maybe not) or Geppa (much more likely if this is Tim, considering his senses.)

The mentally ill are an evil to be slain? Am I a source of evil for attempting to cure the mind of one twisted by others since childhood? Is there a soul that exists that is beyond redemption?

>>118415
ask him how he knows your name

Tim? is that him? ask him who he is.
...
regardless although it's true she is evil in a sense. she could also be considered confused, lied to, or just angry at the world. it's not entirely her fault... entirely. besides at least she's no longer hurting anyone and we are trying to help her to some semblence of good. all be it slow.
what is he going to do is the question you should ask him.

"Oh hey Tim. How have you been? Listen, I have a prisoner inside, and I'm hoping to help her. I hope that's OK."

ℜidder 2010/01/25(Mon)14:49 No. 118427 ID: c16184
File 126445974118.png - (104.40KB , 700x700 , c18-23.png )

"Timotei? Is that you?"

The man removes his helmet. It is the paladin I know, but his expression is different somehow.

"It doesn't matter that we worked together. I found the guidance I needed for developing my natural abilitiy."
"Whose authority do you ride under now?"
"The Helianthus. I fight evil with them."
"I see. Timotei, the woman inside is more deranged than evil. I want to give her a chance to change. She'll be in good hands within the tenday."
"I can't let you do that, Ridder."

Hurm.

"We need to stabalize her mental condition so she can tell us more about those who hired her. If we kill her now, we will gain nothing, and new mercanaries will be hired. Certainly there is an evil in front of us, but behind it is an even greater one... one we cannot and will not ignore."

"Is not redeeming someone a better deed than simply killing them?"

>>118427
he wants to kill Geppa without even giving her the chance to repent or change her ways. You can't let him do that either, Ridder, if you have any knightly justice in you, you'll protect Geppa.

>>118427

"I'm going to have to insist. She may prove more useful alive than dead. Surely someone as yourself believes in redemption?"

When the battle inevitably start, sigh. "Can i at least get into my plate so we can have a fair duel?"

>>118427
The mark of a true hero is one who gives his foes the chance to repent. If she is truly lost, then what must be done will be. But we must give her this chance. It is what broadens the line between us. It is what gives us hope that, some day, we will not need to fight.
For the sake of that hope, we will fight if need be.

"Wait, are you sure of your target? You wouldn't happen to be sensing a Fang, would you?"

It was Timotei who said that evil was hurting people when you don't need to. There is no need to kill a helpless prisoner.

But before this possibly gets out of hand, ask him why he can't let us "do that".

ℜidder 2010/01/25(Mon)15:16 No. 118436 ID: c16184
File 126446137298.png - (101.56KB , 700x700 , c18-25.png )

"Timotei, it was you who said that evil was delivering pain when it is unnecessary."
"Yes, but killing all evil is necesarry."
"I would agree with you, if I had not just spend several hours and resources on uncovering the captive's reasons behind her madness. If death was her destiny I would have delivered it before getting her here. Timotei, I shall not cross blades with a champion of good in the name of an insane woman, and I hope you feel the same."
"...Where are you taking her?"
"An old friend of mine, a gentlemen and scholar in numerous fields, and a prince. He can take care of her."
"Well okay. But I'll be setting up camp here so you don't try anything else."

these terms seem acceptable to me all in all.

"Fair enough. Now we wait for him to arrive."

>>118436

This is going to be bad...

Talk to Timotei. Ask him how and where exactly he received guidance.

Perhaps we can glean the reasons for his sudden change from happy go lucky paladin to Sturn since we've last seen him.

>>118436
This one also wishes to know how he is getting his guidance now.

>>118436

"Go ahead. I have nothing to hide."

What's the worst that could happen? I mean, it's not like he'll detect evil from Muschio or anything.

ℜidder 2010/01/25(Mon)15:58 No. 118450 ID: c16184
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"Very well. I have nothing to hide."

He dismounts casually. I take this as an opportunity to approach him.

"It is good to hear that you found the guidance you needed, Timotei. Can you tell me about your mentor and the organization you belong to?"
"The Helianthus are an order of paladins who worship the Sungod. They helped me to control my senses so I don't get overwhelmed anymore. We are cleansing this continent right now. The Sentinel demands a no-mercy no-tolerance policy to prevent backstabbing and misguidance. That's why I can't treat you any differently, Sir Ridder."
"I understand, Timotei."
"My superior will come here in a few days because I will not be able to report back. She will want to know more too."

>>118447
Use truce to get in and kill her anyway, gray-guard style.
I hope it won't come to that.
Ridder, do you recall anything about the order he mentioned?

>>118447

True, but Timotei seems to have slipped into the 'lawful good' phase a little further, thus making him a general threat to people actually trying to help others.

Code first, then any survivors.

Ridder needs to stay Neutral good to stay on Tim's good side. We also want to help everyone, so we can't show Timotei Black Fang. Or Mad Petal. Or anyone, really...

For now, press him for information.

>>118450
Ask him about the cleansing ritual he mentioned before. What does it entail?

inb4 sex

>>118450
"What is preventing you from reporting back? If you have duties to attend to, don't let me keep you!"

Yes... ask about the ritual.. for all we know it might actually be useful (and if not it is ate least useful to know what he expected of you.)

>>118450

Hoo boy... I have a good idea as to who his mentor is...

This is not good... not at all...

It's that Volto chick, I'll bet.

Talk to him some more. Tell him of your help successfully uniting part of a kingdom.

>>118450
yeeeah, put T'lear on guard duty at the small bathroom.

Also ask Nakraska about building a barracks and/or an outdoors workshop for Grek and Petal

ℜidder 2010/01/25(Mon)16:15 No. 118461 ID: c16184
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"What prevents you from reporting back?"
"I haven't destroyed the evil I was sent out to destroy. I need to keep watch."
"Tell me about the cleansing ritual."
"That is only for when evil has been destroyed. We scrub down the buildings with sunblessed water to prevent evil spirits from settling in."

I doubt boasting about my achievements will aid our relationship. I may as well leave him to his camp. He obviously has strict orders to follow.
Muschio will be able to assure him and his mentor that Grey will be in good hands.

So shall I return to my other duties?

Considering your base was haunted that doesnt sound like the worst idea.

>>118461
Unless his 'mentor' is that Malto-hating revolutionary Volto woman you liberated a mount from, Ridder.

Be prepared for this possibility. If it is her and she comes by when the Prince is visiting, I can only forsee bad things.

These paladins don't sit right with me, Ridder.

Someone who intends to kill someone because they are perceived as evil may not be good at all.

Someone who wants to kill someone because their views differ from the victim surely is evil.

>>118467

Good intentions, Wrong actions.

Common plight of the Paladin.

>>118467

Therefore, the Paladins must commit suicide!

Or something.

End of Chapter 18 ℜidder 2010/01/25(Mon)16:41 No. 118473 ID: c16184
File 126446648280.png - (120.95KB , 700x700 , c18-28.png )

There is little I can do now. Hopefully Timotei's mentor has more authority to make decisions.

For now I best return to my own followers.

I am just glad we didn't have to fight. Little Geppa will get her chance.

>>118415
Ridder, why did you call Iesgip Sticks?

>>118461
hmm. He says destroy the evil. If you reform Geppa, wouldn't that also count as destroying the evil that infests her?

Be careful about working with paladins. They can easily go from protecting people and destroying evil to "cleansing" anything they don't agree with.

>>118478

Slip of the tongue. He's got her on his mind, after all.

>>118525

Very much this. They've got a good history about them, but then again, that usually entails a lot of innocent blood that goes unmentioned.

I hate to say it, but we must protect Geppa first, and possibly give Timotei a sound thumping on the head should he try something stupid.

And if his mentor is that Volto women... even worse. We'll have to deal with that problem.

Ye gods. What if she and Mushio somehow wind up at the same time?

That would not be good.

Anyone else realize that Tim is going to be waiting outside when Muschio comes to visit? Tim will see him and go "YOU HAVE HUGE EVIL! SMITE AND CLEAVE!"

Tim seems brainwashed to me.

Just sayin'.

It's odd that he was sent out here specifically to kill Geppa. How did he know about her and that you were not going to killing her? Why was he so unfazed at finding you here? It seems he was briefed on the situation and told to come kill the evil, but how did they even know before sending someone in?
It seems that the The Sentinel is attempting a hostile take-over of the entire continent, and you and the "Knight Blades" are in their way. When they became aware of the failure of the Fangs and found that you were still keeping Geppa they sent Timotei out in hopes of you and he clashing over the issue.

>>117906
Anyone notice the feather-helmets torching Geppa's home?

I believe their "no-mercy, no-tolerance" bit is a little extreme... Nothing is black and white, and trying to force such an idea will create more chaos than order. "no-mercy" doesn't sound very righteous at all!

I'd guess if he sees your allies he's gonna try to slaughter them.

>>118625

While that does seem to make a great deal of sense. Maybe they just have someone in their ranks who is VERY sensitive to their sense evil skill.