Justiceseeker Chapter 9; Ancient Chivalry

Derek returned home a few days later to find Alex still hard at work, she was coming along with the information he needed on the term justiceseeker. Approaching the back of her chair he placed his hands on her shoulders as he looked at her notes.

“Well hello to you too” Alex noticed Derek wasn’t saying a word. “Sorry Alex” Derek kept reading. “What have you got so far?” “You won’t believe this” Alex punched a few keys on the keyboard, bringing up an interesting bit on the large screen. “Justiceseeker is a sword, and get this-a sword that used to be a man.” “What?” Derek couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Justiceseeker was an adventurer who decided to settle in Pomarj and become a cleric. He was killed while in search of his kidnapped friend and made a request that his spirit be transferred into his sword.” “Goot work Alex, I knew you could do it” Derek gently squeezed her soft shoulders. “Now if you’ll excuse me I have the munchies and would like to raid the kitchen before the house garbage disposal returns from the south” Alex disappeared through the hologram.

While Alex was gone Derek read the information on the computer screen, it was truly an amazing story and from the way the evidence pointed there was truth behind this tale of magic and muscles. Flipping through Alex’s notes Derek discovered jottings of a different nature, the words happy and birthday were imprinted on a sheet. The precept growled numbly at his discovery, hoping there wasn’t a party being planned in his honor. He hated it when they sang that dreaded song out of tune, he could stand fingernails on a chalk board better than he could his friends waling “…and many more”. If they kept up this yearly tradition, there definitely wouldn’t be many more to enjoy, suicide was looking good.

“My birthday!” Derek ran to find Alex scavenging through the cupboards. “Alex, has Andrea checked in?” “Yes I talked to her” Alex was filling her cheeks with creamy filled cakes; she looked just like a hamster storing his food. “What did she say?” Derek casually filled himself a mug of coffee. “She got you edible underwear for your birthday and hopes you enjoy them” Alex replied, feeling happy with herself for that comment. “What?” Derek spit out his coffee as a blush spread across his face. “D-Did you say what I thought you said?” “You heard me right, bon appetite” Alex slapped his skinny butt. “Alex” Derek quickly left the room, not worrying about the remainder of his hot liquid.

“Miss Alex you are wicked” Fredrick cracked a grin. “Serves him right” Alex was satisfied with herself. “It might make him think twice before investigating my dates again.” “Remind me not to make you mad” Fredrick accepted the cup of coffee Alex offered. “Maybe I better go check on him and I will take this cup to him for you” Alex poured Derek a refill. “Later Miss Alex” Fredrick chuckled at the mess Derek got himself into.

It didn’t take Alex long to find the precept, he was hiding out in the library as usual behind one of his dusty old books.

“Fredrick asked me to bring this to you” Alex set the mug on the table. “Thank you Alex” Derek was on his guard. “Andrea did say something else during our chat” Alex peered over his shoulder. “That’s ok” Derek didn’t want to hear anymore dirty talk from Alex. “She said she would see what she could do with the high council in India” Alex squeezed his shoulders. “Goot, I couldn’t get much funding from the tribunal” Derek was relieved. “She wouldn’t miss your birthday for anything” Alex smiled and kissed his cheek. “Alex” Derek blushed darkly from the kiss. “I will save the good stuff for Andrea to give you herself” Alex left Derek to his pretend work.

A week later…

Derek was pacing the library with his usual anxiousness; this case landed in his lap at a bad time. William Sloan was in an even worse mood than usual, the ruling precept hated tribunal hearings more than anything but this particular problem had to be dealt with ASAP.

“My gott where is everyone” Derek’s large feet and the hard soles of his shoes threatened to cause wear to the recent wax job on the shiny library floor. “Not here yet?” Alex walked in with a cheery smile on her face. “Not yet” Derek scowled and turned away from his faithful worker. ‘Thank gott for Alex’ Derek thought to himself. ‘If it weren’t for her, no one would be here.’

Derek decided to take his pacing to the kitchen for some coffee, he would have stayed and summoned the butler but he needed a change of scenery to lessen his less than satisfying mood. The hallways that had been vacant for the past 2 weeks left an empty feeling to the usually busy castle, thanks to William he had to send his house members away on assignment. All of them except Alex, the precept wouldn’t know what to do if he didn’t keep her close. Sometimes the well educated brain of the man with the graying hair possessed the thought that he would go completely crazy if he didn’t have her around. Alex was indeed an asset he wasn’t planning on losing any time soon. The background checking of her dates seemed to aid him in that plan, when they found out, most wouldn’t even give her a second date; they just tossed her number in the waste basket.

“Alex” the priest dropped his bag on the library floor to greet his old friend. “Philip” Alex hugged him tightly. “Thank god you’re back, Derek is going crazy.” “My plane was held up due to the weather, but I finally made it” the handsome smile of the Irishman was soothing to Alex’s nerves. “So Derek has you wanting to pull your hair out” Nick laughed from the library doorway. “Add that to your widening tush and you will look like Homer Simpson in no time.” “If that is a joke it’s not funny” Derek growled at his security chief as he passed him. “Sorry boss” Nick quickly pulled out the report Derek asked for.

“Not here yet I see” Derek rubbed his brow, the forming headache was proving to be a bit of a problem for him. “I talked to Andrea’s service, she is on her way” Philip promised. “Did you talk to her personally?” Derek cocked a brow. “No, but she was out of reach of modern means” Philip reminded the precept of how out of touch the archaeologist could be. “Derek, we do have a few days before we have to head out” Alex couldn’t wait to get back in the field. “If I know my sis well enough she will be here.”

“Did I come at a bad time” Rachel was about to sneak out but didn’t want to risk Derek’s mood turning on her. “Blondie hasn’t made it yet” Nick sat up straight in his chair. “Oh” Rachel quickly pulled out her file. “Let’s see what we have so far” Derek collected all reports from his house members. “Rachel”

“Edgar Mince and his boys are nothing but womanizing pigs” Rachel flinched as she twisted her copy of the report tightly in her hands. “Tell us something we don’t know” Alex’s skin crawled at the mention of the Atlanta house. “They all want to get us three in the sack” Rachel felt like puking as those words rolled off her tongue.” “Us three?” Derek questioned. “Alex and myself, but they would like to start with that tight pants girlfriend of yours” Rachel carefully watched to see if Derek’s expression would change.

“You know how it is Derek” Nick commented with a straight face. “And I quote the well educated staff of the Atlanta house; rub that pussy and see if it purrs.” “I see” Derek held his temper. “Andrea and I are welcome to come to Atlanta and give physicals anytime we want a real man” Rachel sat back in her chair. “They will provide the tongue depressors and are very well at taking temperatures.” “Gross” Alex was feeling ill now, she knew exactly what they meant by tongue depressors.

“Anything else?” Derek asked. “I will let you read for yourself” Nick gave him the page numbers. “Edgar said to give you this” Nick handed him a small brown bag containing cherry flavored chapstick and some handy wipes. “Said to use it well, page 8 explains it.” “Brown nosing-butt kisser!” Derek’s temper was boiling. “I think I will pay him a visit myself” Derek read the sickening words. “We have to deal with this first” Philip reminded him of why the tribunal was necessary. “Justiceseeker” Derek set the file aside for later.

“The clerics had a very interesting tale to tell” Philip told everyone to open their copies of the report he put together. “Many centuries ago a young adventurer by the name of Tharnnd, decided to settle down in the Pomarj Peninsula to become the first cleric of Trithereon. While on his many adventures he was accompanied by mages and warriors whose only goal was achieving justice in the world. When he decided to settle down, his faithful followers chose to stay and continue to work for him.

One day his student, Kalib was kidnapped by an evil doppleganger. Tharnnd took it upon himself to declare a bloodquest to search for him. As he lay dying, Justiceseeker whispered a prayer to the Trithereon demanding to be given the opportunity to avenge his own death, the god agreed and transferred a portion of his spirit into his sword. Get this; right before the massive slayings occured, the sword was stolen.” “That’s very interesting, Alex came up with the same information on Justiceseeker” Derek paced the library floor. “Can you tell us about this priesthood?” “Sure” Philip instructed what page to turn to.

Trithereon’s priests are a warlike, militant group known collectively as The Vengeful or The Free. They believe strongly in individuality, freedom of choice and avenging the wrongs they encounter. This is a chaotic group, so guesses about their behavior are not to easy to make. In general, these priests make other people’s business their own, unless doing so restricts someone else’s freedom. They are busybodies, but are also the champions of the weak and oppressed.

For example, if a priest is in a strange town and finds that the population is being oppressed by the local militia, the priest will certainly get involved, becoming a champion of the oppressed, probably without regard to the character of the 'oppressed', unless demonstrably evil. On the other hand, upon while seeing a merchant fleecing a customer, the priest would probably not get involved, respecting the merchant's personal decision to make a profit (even a huge one). He also respects the customer's personal decision to pay the amount asked. If the merchant were using magic or blackmail to get a profit, however, then the priest would become involved.

As a general rule, the Vengeful do not like governments, soldiers or oppressive (lawful) priesthoods. That is not to say that they will always be starting rebellions or fights. They simply have a different view of the world and do not like these type of groups.

Importantly, if the priest feels that someone is a willing participant in that group, the decision is respected. That means if someone chooses to be evil, the priest does not try to redeem or "save" that person.