0 Graduation

A pair of Urgans seek to return a dangerous artefact.

Two travellers with veiled faces looked downhill on Lady Sigrun giving a speech.

"Yes, yes, yes. I know the divination." Gorren slapped her companion back. "It also read that Petrak was good."

"This is different. The old lich was judged on his strategic worth." Old man Bordyk sniffed. "Killing him would--"

The woman pushed her companion aside. "And how might this human lady—the infamous Lady Sigrun— be different?"

"Well for one," the old man snorted, "I have taken measure of her, not consulted with spirits."

"Petrak is an undead abomination. Humans do that, you know. She would have little trouble joining him…"

But Gorren ignored that Sigrun had already refused such things. "The lich ruling over Senrigoli canyon is a concern for another day."

"We cannot let this Lady Sigrun of yours have access to our artefact."

"It has a name. Lumoc. And we are not considering her for custodianship." Bordyk stepped toward Gorren. "Are we?"

A human stepped up the path, and gripped the handle of his sword as he caught the dark green of the travelers faces.

The woman turned her back to the human. "I don't want human hands on Lumoc."

"I thought we already cleaned the glass from your helmet there, sister," the old man said, stepping forward. "Last thing we want is one of us wielding the thing."

"I don't know how Kursey got out of there." Gorren shuddered, her veil slipping to reveal a pig snout, complete with tusks.

Kursey had stolen Lumoc while the demon magic kept the loyal crew asleep. "Korog's a fool if he thinks the spirits support him," Bordyk snorted. "Anymore than an archer supports an arrow."

"So you say." The urgan woman adjusted her sword to hide under her robe and pulled her veil tight. "Do you intend to put a glamor over us?"

And pass the test for her? Heh."If she cannot see past our faces, she will not be worthy of this task."

"Idiot. Ha like that, the way you think like a warbent, not a rules-changer or a thorga."

"Even humans embrace our logic when they want to succeed." He stomped on the edge of the mini cliff, and fell a few feet. "The untested breeds tho."

The woman batted him with her shoulder. "You notice they are all human?"

"No sense letting them near our piglets." The old man oinked. "Only the urgans would graduate."

They took their place behind the sitting human audience, revealing their snouts..

Several of the sitting knights gasped and stood, hands on their weapons.

The Lady Sigrun coughed and snorted, in a mockery of the urgan voice, "These toothless wanderers better know their place, or I'll hack their armor to bits."

"Did I say she was exceptional?" Bordyk snorted under his breath. Then, nodding, he announced, "Few humans know how to speak to an urga as you do."

"Your fine words honor us but mark well: all of these fine warriors know how to handle visitors, both in word and in weapon. There is no question which side would prevail." The Lady Sigrun showed her teeth as her students settled.

The signs of provocation in Lady Sigrun were subtle, but sufficient to calm the travelers—who opened their arms and stamped to signal she should continue.

She cleared her throat and looked at each of the people watching."Soon, I met up with my mentors. Corielle heard the voices of the divine, and Ben, the voices of ancient poets. Together they guided me to my path."

"Singer of songs, lender of legends, Ben with his love for words inspired me to forge my surest weapon against evil: the paladin's oath."

As the humans clapped, the urgan gloves rang out against each other's breastplates. When the din of approval lowered, Lady Sigrun opened her scroll and presented it for the crowd. "So I pass it onto you. Please, recite it with me:"
{/quote}

"From this day forward, I pledge myself
to the path of honor.
I am the shield of the beaten,
I am the sword of the meek:
I dwell in the path of disaster.
I am the trumpet of the forgotten:
my voice shall fill the shameful silences.
I am the beacon in the tide of darkness:
so long as I may stand, I stand for hope and call all to safety."

"Lot of words for saying 'I promise to help people.'" Bordyk quipped.

Goren grunted.

"You have all risen beyond the limits of what is required. I am proud to send you into the world, to do as your heart demands."

One by one they rose and walked past the Lady, touching palms and taking a leaf of paper.

When Bordyk and Gorren came before her, Sigrun's eyes sparkled. "So what brings you two ugly pigs to see me."

Gorren smiled proudly.

To be sure no one else might hear, Bordyk looked around. "We have found something that is not well to remain in mortal hands."

"We must hear more of your story. If we are to be sure that this must return to you."

Lady Sigrun shook her head. "I am a poor teller of tales. So poor that you already forget I have just told my origin story."

"We arrived late and need the long version."

Sigrun looked uncertain until she caught the eye of a squirrel.

Bordyk pointed to the fluffy creature. "I told you they talk to her in squirrels."

"Yet she can see the spirits?"

Bordyk shrugged.

Sigrun looked at the chairs with a sad look, and then beckoned Bordyk to walk with her. "Where else to begin, but that last mission before leaving Mack's home?"

Bordyk sneered at the thorgabent turn of words but nodded.