The Pale man lifted the knight and carried her to the table they ate at earlier, mainly because Rasmus was too weak. The mage claimed he was still sapped by the 'draining' attack he had suffered earlier at an unknown time and place, but he had doubts he could carry her at the best of times.

She probably weighted a hefty hundred sixty or hundred seventy pounds, plus fifty for the armour, another twenty for her gear, and stack another ten for her weapons atop of that. That was nearly two hundred and fifty pounds and there was no way Rasmus could budge that. Even though she was laid low by the Gargoyle attack, she still gripped her blade tightly. Rasmus wondered if that was some type of magic or simply dedication.

Regardless of her weight, the Pale man easily hefted her in his arms, and was surprisingly gentle with her, which of course was unexpected given their opposing moral views. After witnessing her 'smiting' the ambushing gargoyle, Rasmus was convinced she was a paladin, a holy warrior of Iomedae, while the Pale man was a Gelugon from Baator, an ice devil from the nine hells. Those two should be scrapping if it weren't for Rasmus' interference. He only assumed that the Pale man acquiesced to his wishes to aid her simply because he refused to continue until he did so.

"Ahem," coughed the Pale man. "Your demands amount to nothing unless it concerns your safety. Remember I still have the potato sack option. I merely wish to aid her since I'm fascinated by her background."

"Eh? Her background?"

The Pale man pointed to her armour. "Clearly she was a Hellknight, but has converted to this Iomedae sect you keep thinking about. To my limited knowledge, Hellknights are supposed to be incorruptible arbiters of law in the most brutal fashion, it would please me to see what would bend her 'iron will' make her stray from her ideals."

Rasmus shrugged. "Despite their fearsome appearance and reputation. A paladin of Iomedae isn't all that different from a Hellknight. Well, they are different in who they serve and the amount of mercy they show, but in regards to dedication, skill, courage, and honour they are practically the same."

"Oh, that's disappointing, "sighed the Pale man. "I was hoping for some grand tale of subversive temptation or maybe an epic story detailing her tragic fall. From what you've told me, it seems more like a lateral move than a moral collapse."

"I consider it a spiritual ascension," gasped the Paladin in a deep voice with a thick Ulfen accent. While gravely injured, she somehow not only recovered consciousness but struggled to sit up on the table, blade still in hand.

Rasmus immediately jumped back with a yelp, she was armed and clearly dangerous and though the Reclamation knights were after his master, being his apprentice made him a likely secondary target.

The Pale man on the other hand was not fazed by her revival, he simply bowed deeply before her, which was either suicidal given he was still within striking distance from her blade and was basically offering her his neck, or it just showed the Pale man's confidence. "I am glad to see the wounds you suffered were not fatal my lady. We would have offered more aid, but neither my companion nor I are skilled in the divine arts."

The paladin eyed the pair carefully as she placed her left hand over her chest, chanted a mantra, and a light pulse seemed to sweep over her. She did this twice more, and seemed greatly recovered from the beating she took. While she was still wounded, her open cuts had closed and she seemed renewed with vigor.

"I thank the pair of you for your assistance," she said cautiously. She then turned to Rasmus and stared straight at him. "It was you that warned me about the Gargoyle above me. I thought it was a woman at first, but I recognize your high pitched warning."

Rasmus turned red and wished he didn't make that cowardly yelp just now as the Pale man chuckled.

"I am Sylgja of Vyre a crusader of the Great Reclamation, whom am I addressing?"

"I'm Rasmus del Strada, from the Menador mountains," said Rasmus who instantly regretted being so direct. He should have used an alias or something like Ras or Shadow Joe, to make her think he was an adventurer of some sort. Now she would assume he was an enemy if she had done any research on Leto's tower before assaulting it.

"Reinhardt of Grom, exile of Stygia, recent residence Mystara. Tactician turned tax collector, though I'm currently in the escort business it seems."

Rasmus turned to the Pale man. "Your name is Reinhardt? Why didn't you say that earlier."

Reinhardt shrugged. "You never asked, and I kind of like the moniker the Pale man. It sounds almost biblical, though it's nowhere near as ominous as Shadow Joe."

The three then sat or stood uneasily. They knew she was a Reclamation knight and therefore was after Master Leroung and by association Rasmus. The way she was glaring at Rasmus, he guessed she knew he was one of the apprentices of the tower. Meanwhile Thrune knows why Reinhardt announced he was from Stygia, one of the more famous layers of the Great Pit, also given a paladin's ability to sense supernatural evil, she must have guessed he was some type of Infernal by now.

"So…are we going to fight or something," asked Reinhardt, breaking the long silence. "I assume you two are enemies although indirectly. I have no quarrel with you, and I would prefer a more peaceful resolution. If however, you want to test your strength, I will be happy to oblige in Rasmus' place."

"Why did you two not dispatch me, claps me in irons, or disarm me while I was unconscious," she asked. She then pointed at the holy symbol of Iomedae on her chest. "This should have made it clear I was your enemy."

"I'm a peaceful man at heart," replied Rasmus. "Whatever disagreement you have with my master I want no part of it. I am just a student who only wishes to escape this tower. I have no political affiliation or agenda." Which was not completely true, given the way he witnessed the Halfling servants were treated. He now saw the current castes in a very unfavorable light and grudgingly gave the Reclamation more credence to their views.

"Also we had no manacles, you wouldn't release the grip on your blade, and we didn't think you would get up," added Reinhardt to her earlier question.

Sylgja laughed. Although she was much bigger and intimidating than any woman he had ever met, Rasmus couldn't help but admire the features on her cut up but still handsome face; the large blue eyes, the high cheek bones, full lips, and even the gentle curve of her chin. He also noticed she resembled Vandia except she probably outweighed the maid by fifty pounds of muscle, her nose was a bit crooked, she had short white hair instead of long curly blonde hair, and her voice was at least two octaves lower.

"For saving my life, I will leave you two in peace, less you cross my path again and hinder my quest," said Sylgja finally. To prove her point, she sheathed her blade. "Iomedae bless your path," she added as she slowly stood up and slid off the table.

Rasmus considered her generous offer and nodded. Live and live was his motto. He had no desire to kill this strangely beautiful woman, nor did he wanted to be killed by her. Though they had the advantage in numbers and in health, he saw how she made her sword glow and dispatched that Gargoyle in one blow. It might have been an ability she could only use once but he didn't want to find out.

"Wait," interrupted Reinhardt. "Though I'll admit we are diametrically opposed to each other in our world views, our short term goals are not incongruous. Rasmus here, simply wants to escape the tower. I would like to be paid for my services, before assisting young Rasmus. You wish merely to slay Lord Leto Leroung. A true villain who most likely deserves whatever he has coming to him. I propose we aid each other in our endeavours, at least until the point our paths logically diverge. We could use your blade as we venture through the fog, who knows what other denizens or madmen will stand in our path, while you could use our strength while you are still recovering your own."

Sylgja started to protest, but lost her balance and stumbled. Rasmus quickly ran to her side and caught her before she fell flat on her face, though the effort almost sent the both of them tumbling to the ground . Though he hardly looked heroic in his struggles, at least he proved to himself he could support her dispelling his earlier doubts when she was unconscious. As he barely held her in his arms, she looked up at him and briefly studied his face. Rasmus blushed at the attention even as he hefted her up with all his might. "Careful there, you're still weak on your feet."

"I accept your offer," she said as she steadied herself. "It looks like I need your help more than you need mine though."

Reinhardt smiled. "You say that now, but wait till you see Rasmus in battle."