mindwanders

Inquisitor Olyvar stood tall in the magistrate's chamber, accompanied by the group of vigilant Cambion who had pledged their loyalty to his cause. Among them was a witness who had seen Captain Harrold conspire with the Unconquered to carry out the sinister plot against Olyvar.

The magistrate, a stern man with greying hair and weary eyes, listened intently as the witness recounted the events they had seen. The tale was damning, and even though the magistrate held sympathies for the captain's views on the Lineaged, he couldn't ignore the evidence presented before him.

"Are you certain of what you saw?" the magistrate asked the witness, his voice heavy with the weight of responsibility.

"Yes, Your Honor," the witness replied firmly. "I saw Captain Harrold meet with the Unconquered in secret, and they spoke of their plan to kill Inquisitor Olyvar and make it look like an accident. The Captain offered a hefty sum for the Unconquered's services."

The Cambion, with their goat-like features and metallic markings, stood behind Olyvar, their gazes unwavering and vigilant.

The magistrate sighed, torn between his personal beliefs and the duty of his office. "This is a grave accusation," he said, rubbing his temples wearily. "Captain Harrold has served the city watch with distinction for many years, and his stance on the Lineaged, however misguided, has garnered support among the highborn."

Inquisitor Olyvar spoke, his voice measured and calm. "Your Honor, I understand the complexity of this situation. I bear no ill will towards Captain Harrold, but the truth cannot be ignored. His actions have led to an attempt on my life, and the witness before you can attest to that."

The Cambion nodded in agreement, their eyes burning with determination. They knew the importance of standing up for justice and protecting those who were vulnerable and marginalized.

The magistrate looked at Olyvar, his expression conflicted. "Very well," he said finally. "I will issue a warrant for Captain Harrold's arrest based on the testimony provided. But know this, Inquisitor Olyvar, the path you have chosen will not be an easy one. The highborn will not take kindly to the arrest of one of their own."

"I am aware of the challenges ahead," Olyvar replied resolutely. "But I cannot stand idly by while injustice prevails. The Lineaged deserve a chance to show their virtue, just like anyone else."

With the magistrate's reluctant authorization, the wheels of justice were set in motion. Apprehending Captain Harrold was a dangerous undertaking, one that could potentially spark unrest and backlash from those who supported the captain's views.

As the magistrate penned the warrant, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He knew that Captain Harrold's arrest would be a divisive moment in Highguard's history. But he also knew that it was necessary to uphold the principles of justice and fairness, even if they clashed with tradition.

Weariness weighed heavily upon Inquisitor Olyvar as he made his way through the cobbled streets, having spent hours preaching near the bustling market after his encounter with the Watch the night before. Despite his exhaustion, a glimmer of satisfaction shone in his eyes. He had managed to convince some local preachers to accept an anointing of Pride and spread his message of acceptance to their congregations. It was a small step, but a step nonetheless towards a more tolerant Highguard.

As he walked, lost in his thoughts, Olyvar's attention was drawn to the sounds of children playing nearby. A group of young ones skipped and sang a rhyme about the Lineaged, their innocent voices carrying the cruel words through the air like dandelion seeds on the wind.

"Sharp horns, gold eyes, stop your ears against their lies... Knife ears, stag's horns, rue the day that they were born..."

The words stung, for they spoke of prejudice and hatred, the very sentiments Olyvar fought against. He approached the children, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten, and as he neared, their innocent laughter faded. They looked up at him with wide eyes, as if realizing they had sung something wrong.

"Children," Olyvar said gently, "do you know what that rhyme is about?"

One of the girls shuffled her feet, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "It's about the Lineaged, sir," she replied hesitantly.

"That's right," Olyvar nodded, crouching down to their eye level so they could plainly see his piercing blue eyes and spirals upon his cheeks. "But you see, those words can hurt. They can make the Lineaged feel sad and unwelcome."

"But Mama says they're bad people," a boy protested.

Olyvar sighed softly, understanding the weight of prejudice even in young hearts. "Not all Lineaged are bad, just like not all humans are good," he explained. "They're just different, and that doesn't make them evil. It's their actions that determine who they are, not how they look."

The children exchanged uncertain glances, seemingly torn between what they had been taught and what the Inquisitor was saying.

"Think of it this way," Olyvar continued, a smile forming on his tired face. "What if someone made up a rhyme about you, saying mean things? How would that make you feel?"

The children looked uncomfortable, shifting their feet in the dirt.

"We should try to be good citizens," Olyvar encouraged gently, "and build up others instead of tearing them down. That's what Pride teaches us."

He paused, hoping his words were sinking in, and then added, "You have the power to be kind and understanding. Remember that, and you'll make Highguard a better place for everyone."

The children nodded, and one of the girls spoke up, "We'll try, sir."

"That's all I ask," Olyvar said, a sense of hope and determination returning to his tired eyes. "Now, why don't we find another skipping game—one that includes everyone, no matter how they look?"

The children brightened at the suggestion, and soon laughter and joy filled the air once more as they skipped together, leaving behind the hurtful rhyme in favour of inclusivity and acceptance.

In the heart of the Empire and the birthplace of The Way, the Virtues are in conflict. Pride in the traditions of the past are confronted by those that say those traditions demean their fellows. This night, a bitter wind swept through the cobbled streets of the Crown Quey. The moon's pale light struggled to pierce the thick canopy of clouds, casting an ominous shadow over the bustling port.

Amidst the dimly lit alleys, a small group of Lineaged huddled together, their features twisted by the taint that ran through their veins. They were outcasts, shunned by the highborn, and forced to live as second-class citizens within the walls of a city that despised their existence.

One of the Lineaged, a woman with piercing blue eyes and long daggerlike ears, growled with frustration. "We cannot live like this forever," she spat, her voice laced with bitterness and sorrow. "The highborn think us evil, cursed by the very magic that courses through our beings. We must show them that we are not to be feared!"

Her words resonated with the others, igniting a spark of defiance in their hearts. They had endured humiliation and torment for too long, and the hunger for acceptance burned within them like a roaring inferno.

As the Lineaged huddled, plotting their desperate bid for equality, a sudden commotion erupted from the end of the alley. The heavy clank of armoured boots echoed off the stone walls, and torchlight danced erratically in the darkness. It was the city guards, sent on yet another raid to hunt down the despised taint-bearers.

"Pah! They come for us again!" a man with long goat like horns jutting from his forehead sneered, his lips curling into a snarl. "I'm tired of running and hiding like some wretched rat!"

"We should stand and fight!" another Lineaged cried, his bark covered fist making the noise of wood on wood as he punched a nearby crate in anger.

As the tension mounted and the guards closed in, the desperate rebels prepared to make their last stand. But just as the clash of metal and magic seemed inevitable, a voice like thunder split the air, cutting through the chaos like a blade.

"Enough! Put down your weapons!" commanded Inquisitor Olyvar, his presence striking like a bolt of lightning. The wind caught his glorious dark mane, parting it just enough to give a glance of the small antlers on his head.

The guards hesitated, uncertain of whether to obey the renowned Inquisitor or press forward with their mission to round up the Lineaged. Olyvar's reputation as a virtuous priest and a champion of fairness preceded him, but the fear of the tainted ones ran deep in the port city’s veins.

"I said, put down your weapons!" Olyvar's voice thundered once more, his eyes ablaze with determination.

The guards, compelled by the Inquisitor's unwavering authority, finally lowered their weapons. The Lineaged watched in awe as Olyvar strode forward, his black and gold armour gleaming even in the darkness.

"Prejudice blinds you, and fear weakens you," Olyvar declared, his voice resonating with power and conviction. "The magic within them, does not make them evil. Virtue is not defined by blood but by deeds. I have travelled these lands and witnessed both the noblest and the cruellest hearts beat within humans and Lineaged alike."

The Lineaged glanced at one another, hope glimmering in their eyes as they listened to the Inquisitor's words. For the first time in their lives, they felt seen and acknowledged, not as twisted pariahs but as individuals capable of goodness.

Olyvar raised his hand, sprinkled liao across the alleyway chanting words of consecration as an aura settled upon the narrow street. "I urge you all to reconsider your judgment," he declared, his voice ringing like a clarion call. "Let us rise above the past and embrace the potential for unity and understanding. Only then can we build a Highguard where all may live without fear."

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, torn between their ingrained prejudices and the words of the revered Inquisitor. Slowly, reluctantly, they lowered their weapons and withdrew, leaving the Lineaged to stand in awe of the man who had just interrupted their plight so dramatically.