The Woeful Wintumber
Jan 17, 2015 20:55:55 GMT -5
Post by Thorlah on Jan 17, 2015 20:55:55 GMT -5
-The following takes place during the two-turn Wintumber of the Year 101 of the Seventh Age.-
A prominent and well respected member of the ruling council, Councilor Herman, gave me his account of the past few weeks to share with those that wish to see behind our veneer.
Funny, how things can change so quickly, yet remain the same for so long.
Commander Henrik
"Do you like it?"
I nodded my head slowly as I handed the sketch artist his dues.
Each Councilor had a portrait of themselves up in the main entry to the Council Chambers, partially for posterity, and for recognizability. My portrait was from the days when Neil's father William was in charge, and most certainly was overdue for an update. Rather than have a typical painting done, I instead went into the Main Quarter and had a local sketch artist make a drawing instead. My only regret, upon placing the drawing up on the wall to replace the old painting from my younger years, was that outside, it had been raining, and the artist had reflected that.
I suppose it's a foolishly minor thing to be bothered by, in the long run.
Especially with the recent events of the past two years.
A Council made up of my peers, men and women I had known for decades, now sits almost entirely vacant.
A third of the members had been murdered in increasingly brazen and bold attacks, with each one left out for display by the killer, or killers.
Then, my protege Councilor Earl LeMoorenig, passed away from an illness, determined to be natural, two months ago.
Councilor Errman, my last remaining friend from years past, had been steadily becoming more and more psychotic, and had foregone his duties until last month, where he came into a concluding meeting, and said the following:
"Deceit sits at the arm of power...and I declare...Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword...For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD!!!"
Before any of us could react, Errman slumped to the ground, and was seemingly submitting to being detained when he snapped back to life, and set each guard against the other, giving himself a chance to escape and retreat to his household, where he has been holding up ever since.
All that remained of this once full Council was my god-son, and leader of the Kingdom, Neil Allenby, the Pontifex Andreus, Gram Collinson, and myself.
Neil was off embracing his heritage, and training with the Fremennik, whereas Gram was off preparing to seek alliance with what he believes are the Elves, and from my own experiences with Serenists, I would believe him, though I equally am cautious of how they will react to us.
This meant Andreus and I were left to rule in their stead.
Nothing could worry me more.
Once, before this war began, I would have been at total calm with the notion of Neil's dear friend working with me. However, his nearly fatal attack last year has become a point of complete and disturbing change within the man. Adorned with robes in white, black and gold, he keeps his face obscured and remains detached. Most believe he is fearful of further attacks against himself, but I have known this man since he was an infant. This is not how he reacts to fear; This is how he acts when he has no personal stake in anything at all, and when he has immense intent to leave all others in his wake to burn and choke their final breaths.
"Is something...bothering you, Councilor?"
The wings on his back were real, and if one were to delve into the illegal action of grafting, then perhaps I could understand the Pontifex's wings, but they would most definitely be Demonic.
The wings he had were Icyenic, and the thought of just how he got them was one I tried to avoid dwelling on, at least until I could find someone, or some group that was or is of the ways of Saradomin. They would be my only hope of finding an answer as to how he found a living Icyene, and what in this universe possessed him to make him think it was a good idea to take them.
"No Andreus, I'm alright. I am just trying to figure out how the new ones will do."
The new ones. Every morning, I would be asked about the elections for the Council seats, and of when the new members would officially begin their work. Andreus seemed keen on delaying them indefinitely, whereas I wished to have time to know them before either Gram or Neil returned, so as to not let another crack-pot get past my watch.
Earl had created the former iteration of our espionage networks, after William passed, but I had been his teacher, and the one who founded the original networks, so reviving wartime spy networks was left to me. To let a maniac into the Council reflected horribly on me, and was a fact that brings me horrible shame to this day. My record had been spotless until the incidents began. I had been so skilled, William even left guardianship of his only child to me.
If I were so blind to this deception, what hopes did I have to keep Neil safe?
I had to renew my skills, and improve once more. My record was to begin anew, and I was not going to let the Allenby family down.
In the midst of my pity parade, the first new Councilor arrived. He was of short stature by our standards, but for his race, was quite tall. Covered in head-to-toe blackish-blue robes befitting a deceptive mage, he took in the atmosphere, and promptly came to his seat, the former chair of Councilman Matthew, a rather average fellow that rarely interceded on any proceedings.
"What a spectacle of architecture this place is! Still, I do miss the dressings of home. I suppose I must settle for this stone forest instead of a lush land full of life, if I am to be a Councilor."
"You'll get used to it Glourn." I said with a chuckle. What I thought was a small, and slightly helpful tidbit seemed to offput Councilor Glourn instead.
I had no time to ask him any further, for the next Councilor had arrived. She was of average height, and was nearest my age, rather than the mostly young crowd chosen beforehand. She held a calm and polite demeanor, and was all but 'cut from the cloth of aristocracy', as the phrase goes. Her family claims to hail from the Ardignas line, through King Thoros, but such claims are always heavily dubious, unless you either hail from the Fremennik, the Gnomish Kingdoms, Elven Clans, or from the Old Kingdom that includes Misthalin and the Desert Bandits.
"My, this place is quite peculiar. It smells like an old church, yet is as clean and polished as a newly completed celebratory hall!"
"Councilor Karen, welcome." I replied calmly, watching her politely curtsey before sitting in Annabelle's old seat.
Next came our Military Commander's right-hand man, a fellow Demon that has worked with Sir Henrik since they came to this world. However, this man's history was quite different, with his being a 'lower' class Demon, and being reclassified as a Shadow Nihil upon Lord Zaros imbuing him with his magics.
"Councilor K'larrn, I welcome you."
The Councilor looked up at me, and nodded quickly. He was one of my personal picks for a Council seat. He, like the others I had hoped (and voted for) would win, has held the rules and regulations as flexible guidelines, ones that need to be respected, but not turned into a revolting new dogma.
"Arthur has said this place would feel familiar, and I believe he is also correct as to why. The World Gate, standing in silence, is still a sight to behold. I saw it during my tenure as a warrior for the Empty Lord, and during my forced servitude under Zamorak. But I did not cross through it until the Second God War. Quite the sensation, Councilor Herman. I wish that you humans could have experienced it...the rush of crossing the universe in an instant...Magnificent."
"K'larrn, perhaps you would be willing to save your gushing for *after* the meeting? Most of us would prefer to keep this brief."
Bleddyn Iorwerth, was, unlike Karen, quite able to prove his lineage, and had documentation of it and of his services during the ages leading up to and through the Second God War. I was wary of supporting his candidacy, but I realized his personality, a stark opposite to Neil's, would be tremendously helpful in reaching their shared goals. As such, when Bleddyn spotted me, he smirked and nodded in salutation, before taking his place at my left, the former seat of Councilor Earl.
As a group, the next three walked in, talking amongst themselves, rather loudly, about rumors and the like.
"Did you hear about the investigation into Councilor Emily's death? Apparently, a Mahjarrat killed her, and fed her soul to a Airut!" whispered Henry Morton, a man so vocal in his admiration of both Zaros and Sliske, he made the horribly backwards claim that Sliske was the perfect incarnation of Zaros.
"You ought to keep your trap shut Henry. You sound like a blithering buffoon."
The next one to speak was Markus Hemmsley, a well-known scholar that kept his political and religious views to himself, but was one of the brightest, if not the brightest, mind of the nation. My last personal preference for a seat.
"Let's make peace, you two! We must be brothers in arms, brothers in thoughts, protectors of the weak and infirm!"
The final new member was Richard Dorne, a descendant of a rich Varrockian merchant. He held a naive view on anything and everything, and was the most two faced man I had ever heard of. He was beloved by those that didn't know him, and a nuisance to those that did. If his kindness and generosity were rooted in far more realistic and genuine goals, perhaps he would be a good man. His goals, however, did not exist at all. He was kind solely to be the most beloved person in the room, town, country, continent, world, universe, and subsection of reality. To describe him much further would be insult to the people that are in fact worthy of notation by even the most vile of scum.
"Everyone, everyone, settle down! We have a meeting to complete!"
"Just skip the fluff and make this brief, Councilor Herman, it's unlikely we'll get much further."
"True. Alright, we hereby officially induct you, new Councilors, into this governmental body, and make your appointments by the vote of the public at large...official!"
The group of three hooped and hollered loudly, like drunken young adults after a binge, aside from the academic, who quietly left. The others silently stood up and likewise departed, with Andreus shortly behind them.
We would have to hold another meeting, and actually get something done with this next one.
I...will not look forward to it.
A prominent and well respected member of the ruling council, Councilor Herman, gave me his account of the past few weeks to share with those that wish to see behind our veneer.
Funny, how things can change so quickly, yet remain the same for so long.
Commander Henrik
"Do you like it?"
I nodded my head slowly as I handed the sketch artist his dues.
Each Councilor had a portrait of themselves up in the main entry to the Council Chambers, partially for posterity, and for recognizability. My portrait was from the days when Neil's father William was in charge, and most certainly was overdue for an update. Rather than have a typical painting done, I instead went into the Main Quarter and had a local sketch artist make a drawing instead. My only regret, upon placing the drawing up on the wall to replace the old painting from my younger years, was that outside, it had been raining, and the artist had reflected that.
I suppose it's a foolishly minor thing to be bothered by, in the long run.
Especially with the recent events of the past two years.
A Council made up of my peers, men and women I had known for decades, now sits almost entirely vacant.
A third of the members had been murdered in increasingly brazen and bold attacks, with each one left out for display by the killer, or killers.
Then, my protege Councilor Earl LeMoorenig, passed away from an illness, determined to be natural, two months ago.
Councilor Errman, my last remaining friend from years past, had been steadily becoming more and more psychotic, and had foregone his duties until last month, where he came into a concluding meeting, and said the following:
"Deceit sits at the arm of power...and I declare...Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword...For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD!!!"
Before any of us could react, Errman slumped to the ground, and was seemingly submitting to being detained when he snapped back to life, and set each guard against the other, giving himself a chance to escape and retreat to his household, where he has been holding up ever since.
All that remained of this once full Council was my god-son, and leader of the Kingdom, Neil Allenby, the Pontifex Andreus, Gram Collinson, and myself.
Neil was off embracing his heritage, and training with the Fremennik, whereas Gram was off preparing to seek alliance with what he believes are the Elves, and from my own experiences with Serenists, I would believe him, though I equally am cautious of how they will react to us.
This meant Andreus and I were left to rule in their stead.
Nothing could worry me more.
Once, before this war began, I would have been at total calm with the notion of Neil's dear friend working with me. However, his nearly fatal attack last year has become a point of complete and disturbing change within the man. Adorned with robes in white, black and gold, he keeps his face obscured and remains detached. Most believe he is fearful of further attacks against himself, but I have known this man since he was an infant. This is not how he reacts to fear; This is how he acts when he has no personal stake in anything at all, and when he has immense intent to leave all others in his wake to burn and choke their final breaths.
"Is something...bothering you, Councilor?"
The wings on his back were real, and if one were to delve into the illegal action of grafting, then perhaps I could understand the Pontifex's wings, but they would most definitely be Demonic.
The wings he had were Icyenic, and the thought of just how he got them was one I tried to avoid dwelling on, at least until I could find someone, or some group that was or is of the ways of Saradomin. They would be my only hope of finding an answer as to how he found a living Icyene, and what in this universe possessed him to make him think it was a good idea to take them.
"No Andreus, I'm alright. I am just trying to figure out how the new ones will do."
The new ones. Every morning, I would be asked about the elections for the Council seats, and of when the new members would officially begin their work. Andreus seemed keen on delaying them indefinitely, whereas I wished to have time to know them before either Gram or Neil returned, so as to not let another crack-pot get past my watch.
Earl had created the former iteration of our espionage networks, after William passed, but I had been his teacher, and the one who founded the original networks, so reviving wartime spy networks was left to me. To let a maniac into the Council reflected horribly on me, and was a fact that brings me horrible shame to this day. My record had been spotless until the incidents began. I had been so skilled, William even left guardianship of his only child to me.
If I were so blind to this deception, what hopes did I have to keep Neil safe?
I had to renew my skills, and improve once more. My record was to begin anew, and I was not going to let the Allenby family down.
In the midst of my pity parade, the first new Councilor arrived. He was of short stature by our standards, but for his race, was quite tall. Covered in head-to-toe blackish-blue robes befitting a deceptive mage, he took in the atmosphere, and promptly came to his seat, the former chair of Councilman Matthew, a rather average fellow that rarely interceded on any proceedings.
"What a spectacle of architecture this place is! Still, I do miss the dressings of home. I suppose I must settle for this stone forest instead of a lush land full of life, if I am to be a Councilor."
"You'll get used to it Glourn." I said with a chuckle. What I thought was a small, and slightly helpful tidbit seemed to offput Councilor Glourn instead.
I had no time to ask him any further, for the next Councilor had arrived. She was of average height, and was nearest my age, rather than the mostly young crowd chosen beforehand. She held a calm and polite demeanor, and was all but 'cut from the cloth of aristocracy', as the phrase goes. Her family claims to hail from the Ardignas line, through King Thoros, but such claims are always heavily dubious, unless you either hail from the Fremennik, the Gnomish Kingdoms, Elven Clans, or from the Old Kingdom that includes Misthalin and the Desert Bandits.
"My, this place is quite peculiar. It smells like an old church, yet is as clean and polished as a newly completed celebratory hall!"
"Councilor Karen, welcome." I replied calmly, watching her politely curtsey before sitting in Annabelle's old seat.
Next came our Military Commander's right-hand man, a fellow Demon that has worked with Sir Henrik since they came to this world. However, this man's history was quite different, with his being a 'lower' class Demon, and being reclassified as a Shadow Nihil upon Lord Zaros imbuing him with his magics.
"Councilor K'larrn, I welcome you."
The Councilor looked up at me, and nodded quickly. He was one of my personal picks for a Council seat. He, like the others I had hoped (and voted for) would win, has held the rules and regulations as flexible guidelines, ones that need to be respected, but not turned into a revolting new dogma.
"Arthur has said this place would feel familiar, and I believe he is also correct as to why. The World Gate, standing in silence, is still a sight to behold. I saw it during my tenure as a warrior for the Empty Lord, and during my forced servitude under Zamorak. But I did not cross through it until the Second God War. Quite the sensation, Councilor Herman. I wish that you humans could have experienced it...the rush of crossing the universe in an instant...Magnificent."
"K'larrn, perhaps you would be willing to save your gushing for *after* the meeting? Most of us would prefer to keep this brief."
Bleddyn Iorwerth, was, unlike Karen, quite able to prove his lineage, and had documentation of it and of his services during the ages leading up to and through the Second God War. I was wary of supporting his candidacy, but I realized his personality, a stark opposite to Neil's, would be tremendously helpful in reaching their shared goals. As such, when Bleddyn spotted me, he smirked and nodded in salutation, before taking his place at my left, the former seat of Councilor Earl.
As a group, the next three walked in, talking amongst themselves, rather loudly, about rumors and the like.
"Did you hear about the investigation into Councilor Emily's death? Apparently, a Mahjarrat killed her, and fed her soul to a Airut!"
"You ought to keep your trap shut Henry. You sound like a blithering buffoon."
The next one to speak was Markus Hemmsley, a well-known scholar that kept his political and religious views to himself, but was one of the brightest, if not the brightest, mind of the nation. My last personal preference for a seat.
"Let's make peace, you two! We must be brothers in arms, brothers in thoughts, protectors of the weak and infirm!"
The final new member was Richard Dorne, a descendant of a rich Varrockian merchant. He held a naive view on anything and everything, and was the most two faced man I had ever heard of. He was beloved by those that didn't know him, and a nuisance to those that did. If his kindness and generosity were rooted in far more realistic and genuine goals, perhaps he would be a good man. His goals, however, did not exist at all. He was kind solely to be the most beloved person in the room, town, country, continent, world, universe, and subsection of reality. To describe him much further would be insult to the people that are in fact worthy of notation by even the most vile of scum.
"Everyone, everyone, settle down! We have a meeting to complete!"
"Just skip the fluff and make this brief, Councilor Herman, it's unlikely we'll get much further."
"True. Alright, we hereby officially induct you, new Councilors, into this governmental body, and make your appointments by the vote of the public at large...official!"
The group of three hooped and hollered loudly, like drunken young adults after a binge, aside from the academic, who quietly left. The others silently stood up and likewise departed, with Andreus shortly behind them.
We would have to hold another meeting, and actually get something done with this next one.
I...will not look forward to it.
