Circle of Truth 1
Jan. 11th, 2025 11:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shaker_e"Adventurer who won't take a life. But also knows which bodyparts most beings "can live without."" - Making Up Adventurers, Cohost, 2024
CWs: implied torture.
---
"Within the boundaries of this circle, it is impossible to tell a lie," The paladin explained, as she finished drawing a final glyph in the thin dirt around herself and her captive with the blunt tip of her sword. The minotaur who had attacked her in the dark of the maze, now bruised and bound heavily in ropes, swore at her, began to explain in detail all the different ways he would exact revenge as soon as he was free. The holy warrior was unphased, and sat on her heels in front of him, sword resting across her knees. "You can test it if you want. Or take my word for it. But understand - every word I say to you now is true. And you cannot lie to me. The truth will come whether you will it or not."
"Fuck you!"
"Now now. The Power that I serve forbids the taking of life. But at the same time, I know that if I simply release you, you're either going to attack me again immediately, or shortly thereafter. And if I leave you bound, it is only a matter of time till you break loose. So. I need you to promise me you'll never harm another person again. And it has to be the truth."
The minotaur laughed derisively, and resumed detailing his plans on how he would enjoy her death.
"I see. I thought you might say something like that." She opened her pack, revealing tools which would have been suitable for a butcher or a barber-surgeon, and after some consideration withdrew a scalpel. "I will ask you for your solemn oath that you will never harm another again. And if you refuse, or attempt to lie to me, I will begin removing pieces of your body. This will continue until you give me your word, and truly mean it, or until I have left you unable to harm another." She explained it calmly, bored-ly even, as though she had done this all many times before. "You won't die, of course. I will heal your wounds, stop the bleeding. But how you'll survive with what I leave of you will be in the hands of the gods."
The bull's threats had died off as the paladin went on, and he was beginning to sweat. "W-wait. You can't do that. That's not mercy!"
The knight smiled, a ghoulish imitation of good cheer. "I don't serve Mercy, I serve the Redeemer. I am simply forbidden to kill, even a miserable beast like you. Now, let's begin! Do I have your oath?"
"I promise I'll kill you! I'll hang you with your own guts! I'll-" the bull stopped short, horrified as the words he had MEANT to say were replaced with the truth of his intentions. "I swear I won't- I swear that the second you untie me, I'll tear your throat out with my teeth???"
"How terribly disappointing," she murmured. "Let's begin with the left index finger."
CWs: implied torture.
---
"Within the boundaries of this circle, it is impossible to tell a lie," The paladin explained, as she finished drawing a final glyph in the thin dirt around herself and her captive with the blunt tip of her sword. The minotaur who had attacked her in the dark of the maze, now bruised and bound heavily in ropes, swore at her, began to explain in detail all the different ways he would exact revenge as soon as he was free. The holy warrior was unphased, and sat on her heels in front of him, sword resting across her knees. "You can test it if you want. Or take my word for it. But understand - every word I say to you now is true. And you cannot lie to me. The truth will come whether you will it or not."
"Fuck you!"
"Now now. The Power that I serve forbids the taking of life. But at the same time, I know that if I simply release you, you're either going to attack me again immediately, or shortly thereafter. And if I leave you bound, it is only a matter of time till you break loose. So. I need you to promise me you'll never harm another person again. And it has to be the truth."
The minotaur laughed derisively, and resumed detailing his plans on how he would enjoy her death.
"I see. I thought you might say something like that." She opened her pack, revealing tools which would have been suitable for a butcher or a barber-surgeon, and after some consideration withdrew a scalpel. "I will ask you for your solemn oath that you will never harm another again. And if you refuse, or attempt to lie to me, I will begin removing pieces of your body. This will continue until you give me your word, and truly mean it, or until I have left you unable to harm another." She explained it calmly, bored-ly even, as though she had done this all many times before. "You won't die, of course. I will heal your wounds, stop the bleeding. But how you'll survive with what I leave of you will be in the hands of the gods."
The bull's threats had died off as the paladin went on, and he was beginning to sweat. "W-wait. You can't do that. That's not mercy!"
The knight smiled, a ghoulish imitation of good cheer. "I don't serve Mercy, I serve the Redeemer. I am simply forbidden to kill, even a miserable beast like you. Now, let's begin! Do I have your oath?"
"I promise I'll kill you! I'll hang you with your own guts! I'll-" the bull stopped short, horrified as the words he had MEANT to say were replaced with the truth of his intentions. "I swear I won't- I swear that the second you untie me, I'll tear your throat out with my teeth???"
"How terribly disappointing," she murmured. "Let's begin with the left index finger."
