As we continue Axiomatic Anarchy, Corey details Penance Arbiter -- a magical construct and avatar of supreme law. Judgment is done and he reveals just how unforgiving law can be.
Though the crowd roared curses and ripostes at the metallic proprietor, none presented themselves as they knew what came next. The lithe construct sidestepped to reveal a figure bound in chains. "As a reminder for those who question my judgment..." The hunched form was a mass of muscles and tan hide, though much of its wrinkled flesh hung limp and inanimate. Tuberous protrusions slithered down the right side of the troll's face, ending in vicious barbs. A complimentary series of similar tentacles rippled off its arms, though the wicked tips were bolted in a masterwork lock.
Whatever sired the unnatural troll had a sick sense of humor, for the monster's mouth constantly slid around its deformed face, making it utterly incapable of forming complete words. "Pleash, Math'r...'ot ag'in..." Its watery eyes locked on the uncompromising glare of the kolyarut.
Whispering through unmoving lips, Penance retorted, "Fool, don't make me remind you of what landed you in this position. Do you wish to follow your mother?" The mention of the troll's parent conjured the image of her desiccated body hanging limp from the inevitable's cold grip, its silvery veins glistening and reforming as her life energy invigorated the construct.
His malformed throat caught in a snarl and whimper, the troll bent its head low. "N-nnoo..."
"Excellent."
A midnight falchion soared into the air, rising swiftly with the momentum of Penance's swing. Allowing gravity to aid the maneuver, the kolyarut drew a bead on the troll's neck. The adamantine blade slid effortlessly through the creature's mottled hide. A grim warning to discourage any dissenters in the crowd. Even Gritgut eyed the spectacle with ample respect until he overheard a pair of wererats snickering as they swapped dried mutton between each other.
The larger of the two sneered, "Eh...I say he cut Ol' Wiggly cleaner last time...wasn't so much bile spewing then."
"What are you complaining about?" The runt jeered, spattering meat bits with each word. "We get more blood that way..."
Arbiter kicked the oozing mass over the lip of his platform. The lifeless form hit the arena floor with a heavy "splat," and almost immediately a handful of the kolyarut appeared to remove the body.
Anger rose in the oltreggan at the spectacle -- he enjoyed a good fight and hated to see a warrior slighted. He knew little of trolls, but had heard a tale or two about their ferocity in combat. The mere thought of pitting his anchor against one made his mouth water, but the subsequent growl of his stomach stole some of his gusto. Gritgut turned back to the two wererats with the mutton jerky and brashly took it from them.
The largest whirled around, and in surprise it sputtered: "Wh, what do you think yer doing ya stone headed orc!" It reached for the weapon at it side, but the oltreggan planted his fist into its pointy snout. The wererat crumpled, and its smaller companion disappeared into the shadows. Gritgut hadn't tasted better mutton.
The arena floor below the kolyarut's levitating platform slid away and an ethereal cage rushed out of the dark recess. The the finely clothed occupant hung slack braced against the back wall. The kolyarut spoke a phrase and the man seemed to awaken. Penance's platform lowered to within inches of the ground, allowing him to face the accused. With an arcane gesture, the inevitable dispelled the magical cage and the human staggered and swayed for a second under his own weight, but he remained erect.
"You are charged with trespassing upon the private grounds of Ravenis Proxi -- a crime punishable by death through conflict. If you should prove the victor, a pardon will be granted; otherwise, the decision of this court remains unchanged.
"For the benefit of the council, you must sign the Waiver of Pronouncement, which therein describes the parameters of your offense and the due consequences which result from said infringement against the codices of the realm.
"Will you now sign the Waiver?" A papyrus, its surface scrawled over in an elegant script in various languages, appeared before the semi-coherent man.
Raising a drooping eyebrow he answered: "Yes."
The kolyarut detached a small and slender object from his belt, which sailed to float before the man. The stylus' edges seemed sharp and oddly curved toward the tip. When the prisoner gripped its shaft, a grimace of pain flickered over his face -- the pen had pricked his fingers, drawing blood to the bottom of its shaft. The drugged man signed a half-legible Landon Quinntar before the waiver winked out of existence.
A portal opened at the opposite end of the arena, while Arbiter's platform launched upward to resume its place on par with the lowest tier of arena seats. A viscous cloud slithered into the arena, blunting the light into a dull spectrum of shadows. The mass looked roughly humanoid, lacking only a head. Most strikingly, another form was encased inside the oozy nebula. Ashen-hued, the figure wore a frayed robe with the symbol of the Five Gods embroidered on its chest. Much of the imprisoned humanoid's flesh had dissolved, revealing ivory bones and tendons. The empty sockets of his eyes shone with a black flame.
The undead mockery raised his skeletal and ooze hand and dictated in an oily tone: "Thou hast trammeled my hallowed halls! Thou shalt pay for thy transgressions!"
