She reaches for her sword; it glows with holy light. 

She is still confused, very very confused -

- "you wanted to avoid a fight?" she says tensely to the man she healed. "Saying, we will leave -"

It's really not the smartest way to start a fight but tongues -

She appreciates Alfirin. It's really really not the smartest way to start a fight but if, in fact, his bizarre about-face was because he regretted helping his cultist friends ambush them then she'd prefer he live. (The sword's not merciful. She doesn't prefer it enough to give up the sword's being holy.)

He wants to be OUT of this FOREST

Do they really have to arrest them, really - he still doesn't understand why they didn't attack him first -

"She healed us," he says, backing away, instead of making decisions. Please please someone officially relieve him of command -

The half-orc narrows his eyes and holds up his open hand instead of drawing his own sword. His companions have drawn their weapons, but they don't attack. 

"Are you a cleric?"

Baphomet cultist orcs wearing stolen Narikopolus armor who are confused about whether clerics get Lay On Hands or can empower their swords as holy...?  

"No. I'm a paladin." She doesn't say 'obviously' but it's not impossible to read into her tone. "On leave from the war, visiting Kantaria. You are wearing the arms and armor of the Doux of all Menador, and your companions the signs of civilization's great enemies." Just in case they, she doesn't know, had some fae alter their appearances and they don't know it; it doesn't really hold together as a theory but neither does anything else.

Still obviously confused. 

"We wear the Archduke of Menador's armor because we are the Archduke of Menador's men." Ferran has backed away far enough that Carles thinks he can place himself between him and these two if necessary. They can't do much to prevent the caster from targeting him besides kill her, if she has an interest in killing him, which it sounds like she doesn't. "Paladins are illegal in Menador, but if you happened here by mistake while teleporting away from the Worldwound, I suspect the treaty may protect you. I don't happen to have its terms memorized."

"...paladins are not illegal in Menador," she says, this being a particularly important point of confusion. "Baphomet cultists are. I am not familiar with 'the Worldwound', but I have my commission from the Emperor." Who will want to hear about it if the Doux of Menador's men are orcs and cultists.

It is particularly confusing that they are orcs, honestly. Why would orcs believe they could get away with pretending to be the Doux's men.

"...Baphomet cultists are also illegal in Menador," he says, since that's the easiest thing to address. "Which Emperor?"

"The Emperor is Kydonis, praised in all the paradises."

"No, I mean - what country are you from?"

"...I'm from here. My father's land is two hours' riding west of here, and it was his father's before him, and his father's before his, and his father made the place habitable in the first place. His lord is Hassant, and his is the Doux, and the Doux serves the Emperor. What country are you from?" Do orcs have countries?

"I am from Cheliax. I have lived all my life in Menador. Whether I still am in Menador or not, I certainly was this morning, when we set out into the Barrowood. My father is Archduke of Menador, and has tasked me with killing its monsters, though not currently with arresting those who break its laws."

"I want to understand one thing first." He gestures to Ferran. "You healed this man?"

She considers whether there is any polite way to say "you are claiming to be the son of the Archduke of Menador and you to all appearances are half orc" and decides there is not, since she can't name a single man she knows who wouldn't kill you for saying something like that of their father.

"I did."

He takes his eyes off Iomedae for long enough to clearly address Ferran. "What condition were you in when they found you?"

"I couldn't stand," he says, quietly.

"We couldn't leave Ferran to pursue them if they were to run," she suggests. "It would be irresponsible."

"Mmm."

"You said you were, in fact, trying to get to Kantaria?"

This is the least incomprehensible part of the whole conversation; they are trying to figure out whether they are obligated in having a fight they do not want. It is confusing how anyone with any honor in their heart could associate with Baphomet cultists at all but it's - a hopeful sign.

"Yes. My father told me that there is a great beast stalking the lands around the Barrowood, called the Iron Gargoyle, so we wished to travel to Kantaria and ask where it was last sighted. Have you heard anything about that?"

"No. We were doing routine forestry work and ran into a group of colossal centipedes."

"Like the monster that Iomedae killed?" asks one of the riders in back.

"...I haven't killed it, I was just planning to ask if it would be helpful to do so while we're here."

This gets some stares.

"What year is it, right now?"

"...3805. Which is how long it's been since Aroden ascended."

"Is that possible?"