Catarina walked up to Vivian after she offered her the chalice, and with only her bare hand, slapped Vivian in the face. [color=fff79a]"You don't know me, Vivian. My honor... My word... They're not lies. Now maybe the drow can't hold a promise and orcs shouldn't be trusted, and it's true that humans are selfish and greedy, don't compare me to them. I choose to be different. You two chose to be stereotypical. If I had really wanted to take the chalice from you Vivian, I could have easily done so while you were asleep. If I wanted Malkai to be dead I wouldn't have saved him outside the gate. You don't have to trust me, but I will not stand here and let you call me a [i]liar[/i]."[/color]

There was a slight tear in Catarina's eyes. She wasn't going to let her emotions get the better of her, at least not as tears. She was a warrior; she would be strong. And she will assert herself. [color=fff79a]"Vivian, your past is the past. Unless your family intends to come after you, you shouldn't let them control you, not after you've already escaped them. Now you have a chance to do things differently. Be [i]better[/i]. And if they do come after you? That's what [i]I'm[/i] here for. I said I would protect you, and I will protect you. Nothing short of death will stop me, and I won't let that happen or slow me down."[/color] Catarina then turned her heads Malkai, walking over to him and slapping him in the face as well. [color=fff79a]"And for a druid, you don't know what true strength is. It isn't how powerful you are or what sort of animal is better at killing others. Power comes from [i]unity[/i]. Working together. That's how humanity, no, [i]any civilization[/i] becomes stronger! Kingdoms don't just happen because of one warrior or king who could kill everyone else. People don't get stronger by being the only one left standing. They get stronger because they can work with others who are both weaker and stronger than they are, making everyone stronger and surviving things they couldn't alone. Right now Malkai, you are weak. And if it weren't for me and Vivian, you would have died. You might have been okay with that, but I'm not! There's so much more you can do, and you can't do any of it if you're dead! So stop thinking that we're just going to keep hurting you, and both of you need to stop thinking that I'm just using you! Because you both know I'm stupid."[/color]

Catarina looked at the both of them, glaring at them through the tears in her eyes. [color=fff79a]"I'm stupid, paranoid, and I only know how to fight. I don't know anything about magic or the world. I can't even say I'm a good person... But I can hold onto a promise and protect the both of you. I can make sure never to betray you and ensure that you'll never get hurt again. Even if you grew up suffering, constantly betrayed, or have had someone close to you stab you in the back, you can bet your life that I won't do the same! You will be safe with me!"[/color] Catarina shouted at the two, making her passion known to everyone in and near the room. Which also included a woman in black and a halfling, to whom Catarina immediately moved herself to stand against. She made sure to block the inquisitor's path to Malkai and Vivian. 

[hr]

Parum simple giggled as Erika warned her of the witchhunt. [color=brown]"Dear inquisitor, I wouldn't have approached you if I didn't know what I was getting myself into. The fact that our simple hunt has become something much greater just means that there is more to profit from. But don't worry. I can assure you that no matter what happens, I'll be there to see it through to the end."[/color] Whether or not she'd be dead or alive, Parum didn't say. She didn't really know, but she had no intentions of dying. Aside from that Parum remained quiet and listened to Erika and the headmaster. Soon a guardsman came in and told them about three strange individuals that were carrying some sort of artifact. If Parum had to guess, it was the artifact from the temple of Nerul. He was a death god if Parum was up-to-date about her gods, and would certainly explain all the zombies and vampires in this desert. [color=brown]"Things are certainly escalating. Let's go see these guests."[/color]

Parum followed Erika to the guest room. Her halfling senses was able to pick up shouting, though it didn't seem like fighting so much as just yelling. By the time Parum entered the room she saw a woman standing between Erika and a drow plus an orc. Two of some of the most hated and mistrusted races, in a room, being defended from a human by a human. Parum could only chuckle. When Erika asked about how much the chalice would go for, Parum stepped into the room and gave it her appraisal. [color=brown]"Hmm... Considering that it is a magic object from a Temple of Nerul, that alone would make it 10,000 gold. But we have no clue what it's power is, which could increase it's price exponentially. Even a simple spell like a cure light wounds would make the chalice roughly 12,000 gold, and anything higher would make it 20,000 or higher. Not to mention that since it is linked to Nerul, it could be used as a catalyst by his worshipers for twisted rituals for even more wealth and power... Sufficient to say, it is a priceless artifact. I hope you were well paid to get this."[/color]