It had been a terrible battle in Cascadia, the Pit Demon had beaten and broken Roth like a rag doll. But the paladin had survived and, as a result, had come out victorious. The demon was now laying at the bottom of a very deep lake with Rothardan's most prized possession embedded in between its eyes. His father's blade, the Lionheart, was lost. Though Roth had won, he felt strangely empty having lost his father's sword forever. He didn't take a change in trying to recover it, in case the demon came back to life. It was now forever at the bottom of Cascadia's lake bed.

News had travelled fast of how Roth had beaten a pit demon. The paladin was now recognized in many a place, and was a celebrity in Cascadia. It was quite embarrassing, Roth only wanted the quite life and didn't like people staring at him all the time, unless he had something on his face. Bards were singing songs about him, and a puppet show was being made in his honour. The Paladin was happy that people were safe, and was happy that no threat could ever come to the city again, for Cascadia had been plucked from the ground by magic and now was floating in the clouds.

Veronna of course had heard of Roth's victory, and had summoned him post-haste to the temple. It was one week after Roth had been told he was to guard Taras, and it was only one week before started. The Paladin had been wondering what Veronna could want with Rothardan, and was eager to meet her about whatever this could be. Entering the temple once again, Rothardan looked around for his friend.

"Veronna," he called, "I am here..."

Veronna had summoned Rothardan to her temple, needing to speak with him and wanting to give him something. The goddess had heard about Cascadia and was slightly guilty for not being there, but her friend Roth had been, along with many other people who helped protect the city, killing many demons and saving the city from being swallowed up in to a pit which lead to the underworld. She had also heard of Rothardan's victory over the Pit Fiend who had been commanding the army from hell.

She wore a dress appropriate for the heat wave which had just moved in the other day. It did not go past her knees, the light material made of a beautiful silver fabric. The top had simple straps to keep it up, and around the bodice it formed nicely to her shape. Her hair was pulled back and braided, though it was much shorter then it had originally been last summer. Her scimitars were at her hips, looking slightly out of place with the rest of her outfit. Her feet and legs were bare, and red tattoos were visible starting at her ankles and going up her legs. the same was with her bare arms and her neck.

As she descended the last flight of stairs, her hands gripped something wrapped in a blue cloth, tightly. Her red eyes seemed out of focus as her feet hit ground level. She was thinking. This blade she held had originally been for her niece, the daughter of Athyik and Jhael. But she had not seen her in so many years, and the blade was just gathering dust, since Veronna did not have time to use every weapon in her armory.

Her gaze snapped up, as she saw Rothardan looking for her. She heard him calling out to her, stating he was here. "Welcome Rothardan." She smiled, a true smile, one that showed she respected the paladin. "I am pleased to see you came so fast." She said as she walked towards him, the blade she held hidden within the material. "First I must congratulate you, your bravery and sacrifice is something that will not easily be forgotten." She bowed her head to him. "And I am sorry for your loss." Of course she was referring to his lost sword. She knew what some weapons meant to people. Her connection to her scimitars was so strong that she would truly loose a piece of herself.

The heat bared down on the paladin, but he was fully prepared for the worst of it. Rather than wear heavy clothing, Roth had decided to wear a white sleeveless vest and white trousers to match. Yes, it was a magnet for all sorts of dirt, but it was nice to feel the breeze float through the cotton and onto his body. Veronna herself was wearing a beautiful dress that matched her hair, and the paladin smiled as his friend entered the area. She was holding something, and Rothardan could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. But not from fear... a feeling that Rothardan could not describe. It was as if whatever Veronna was holding in that cloth was calling out to him. It was shaped like a sword, he could see the frame that was jutting from the cloth. But there was something odd about this sword, something familiar.

"Welcome Rothardan. I am pleased to see you came so fast." Veronna began, a smile forming on her face as it always did when she met with Rothardan. The two had been friends for a couple of years now, and Rothardan trusted Veronna completely. If she needed him at the temple quickly, he got there quickly.
"First I must congratulate you, your bravery and sacrifice is something that will not easily be forgotten. And I am sorry for your loss."

Veronna bowed her head in respect, and Rothardan nodded. His sword was the final link to his father, the only heirloom left. Now it had gone, the only thing stopping the demon from arising. It was fortunate that no evil person could touch the blade, only the good could possibly stand to be in it's presence. So therefore, the blade would stay there.

"Thank you Veronna," replied Rothardan, "My father would have been happy to know that his weapon is being used to keep a great evil at bay, and I am only happy to know that Cascadia is safe now.
"So, what can I do for you today?" the Paladin asked.

Veronna smiled as Rothardan asked what he could do for her, the paladin wanting to get down to business. "I am sure your father would be proud of you. And I know what I am about to offer will not replace the blade which you have lost, but hopefully it will serve you well." She said as she removed the cloth from the sword she held. The weapon held a beauty about it that could not be matched any other sword. This blade was crafted on the Celestial Plane, and blessed by the angels. I have not been able to use it, and it is to great of a blade to be left in an armory unused." She extended it to him. "I would like you to take this blade, I am sure it is a sword that you will put to good use."

Truth be told, she could not actually hold the blade for very long. She guessed it had to do with her being so chaotic. Though at times she appeared good, she knew her alignment was much more chaotic then Rothardan's, and that the blade would accept him for his lawfulness. She let the paladin look over his new weapon in silence, hoping that he would like the blade. As Veronna waited she let her right on relax on the hilt of one of her scimitars, thinking of when she had received the blades from her husband as a wedding gift. She had lost her original pair from the Dark Lands when she had about given up, and had thrown them in to Therab. The scimitars she now carried were heavily enchanted, and no mortal without her permission could touch them and live.

She waited for Rothardan to say something, not wanting to interrupt him as he looked over the blade. She would understand if he did not wish to take, it might not be what the paladin was looking for, but it was worth a try to see if he did want it.

(Sorry about the shortness....)

"I am sure your father would be proud of you. And I know what I am about to offer will not replace the blade which you have lost, but hopefully it will serve you well."
The warm comment was welcome, and made Rothardan smile. Veronna giving him a present was nice as well, though she was right. Nothing would replace his father's blade, but it was always useful to have a sword to defend yourself with.

"This blade was crafted on the Celestial Plane, and blessed by the angels. I have not been able to use it, and it is to great of a blade to be left in an armory unused. I would like you to take this blade, I am sure it is a sword that you will put to good use."

Veronna unwrapped the blade from it's cloth sheath to reveal something of ornate beauty. The blade was made of a special metal, not just iron or steel, and had been engraved with angelic ruins. The handle was special as well, unlike any other he had wielded. This was a very special weapon and would serve him well...

"Veronna... this is beautiful..." Rothardan said, his voice full of gratitude... "I don't know what to say Veronna. This is, BY THE GODS I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!"

Rothardan had just finished looking at the angelic ruins, and realised this was no ordinary holy powered sword.

"Veronna... this is the Angelblade. It's not just a holy sword blessed by the angels, it is THE holy sword blessed by the angels. The ruins are an ancient incantation that can only be read by Celestials and those who are infused. Once read, if the blade judges you worthy, it will awaken..."

Rothardan looked at Veronna with awe on his face, how did Veronna get her hands on this? The Angelblade was presumed lost after the great holy wars... and yet it had been with Veronna all this time?

"Veronna... do you think I should unlock it?"