Rise of the Inquisition: Reconstruction

Lord Inquisitor XXIX

Still in the throne room of the Dracula Keep, everyone listened to Paladin as he explained what he had envisioned for the duel.

"My rules for the duel are simple. First, neither one of you is allowed to have outside interference," he turned to King Viocene. "Which means that if either one of you commanded the others around you to fight for you, it'll be considered breaking the rules - and I'll involve myself with the other side," he foot started tapping the floor once again. "Second. I want the duel to happen within my sight, I don't want you two going off somewhere where I'm unable to see you - either one of you might break the rules while out of my sight..."

And while that is true... it isn't the main reason why I don't want them going out of my sight.

If either one of them have any more Divine objects, they'll use them in a last ditch effort to save themselves. They'll avoid using it until the very last moment, and if they're out of my sight, they'll quickly try to hide it so I don't discover it.

"...Lastly, I don't want either of you doing something distasteful," he turned to Evius. "I want this to be an amusing and fair fight. I don't want this fight to end up being... terrible to watch."

Good fights are always fun to watch, bad fights aren't... especially when you spend money on them just to watch someone get knocked out within the first ten seconds.

"That's a rather... ambiguous... thing," King Viocene says. "Simply... you could find anything... distasteful... at any random time for... no particular reason..."

"Surprisingly, I agree with King Viocene," Evius crossed her arms. "Such a rule is open to a lot of interpretation... however... I trust that you will fairly enforce them."

"...Of course you're... fine with it..." King Viocene shook her head. "The Lord Inquisitor came to... help you take Transylvania... after all..."

Paladin swiftly turned to King Viocene

"You're absolutely correct," he says. "This is my way of helping her. However, just because I came here to help her, doesn't mean I don't want a fair duel. Besides..." Paladin turned to the Armored vampires that were thrown against the wall. "The other option was me actively participating in the fight against you, and we both know that your defeat would've been guaranteed that way."

King Viocene's turned away and her eyes narrowed. She recognized that the Lord Inquisitor was indeed correct - she had no way of beating him. At this point, the best way for her kingship to survive the Lord Inquisitor was through this duel. While she wouldn't say it, she recognized that she needed to be grateful for being given a fair chance at preserving her rule.

"Anything else?" Evius asked.

"Mmm... yeah..." Paladin turned to Evius. "No matter who wins, the victor must be respected. if King Viocene wins and you lose Evius, I can do no more for you. On the other hand, if you win and King Viocene loses," he turned back, "she must respect your victory."

"Good... When do we start?"

I believe we're waiting on someone.

Looking back at King Viocene, they watched as she nibbled on her thumb as she considered the rules and the consequences of losing. Of course, it was a short-lived consideration since she recognized she had no other choice, so most of the time she spent in silence was used on battle planning.

"Yes... when do we start..."
"We start when the battlefield is decided," Paladin placed his hand on his chin. "Considering that you are already the ruler of Transylvania, it is only fair that you get to decide where the duel takes place."