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Post by Thorlah on Mar 2, 2015 23:09:07 GMT -5
-PART ONE: CAPTURE-
Bennath 31st, Year 102 of the Seventh Age-
Personal account of Crossbow-woman Arisha Menas
Day 31~
The Grand Commander sent us to investigate the ruins further. Apparently, his innate demonic senses gave him pause the last time we were in the area. Some of the Sorcerers are grumbling about our avoidance of the gate, clearly to our west, and how we seem to only be hunting stragglers over here.
Mareek and I aren't so down about our relatively light fighting. We all knew coming here was only the beginning.
"Operation Kaggath".
Most of the troops could not care less about its meaning, but apparently, the Silent Riders were allowed to learn the whole truth of it.
Now there's a force I'm rather curious about.
They seem, in writing, rather useless in the field of battle. Yet I have been in multiple battles with them at my side, and they always seem to prevail regardless.
Today, however, is our day.
After three hours of grueling digging, I found a pile of rubble that seemed to be attached to the ground itself. Turned out it was in fact an entrance to a secret tunnel!
With no hesitation, I flew the signal flag, and the Grand Commander himself came over as if he were signaled for a meal.
"What did you find?"
I had never been so close to the Grand-Commander, but I could easily tell he was a demon. His human guise, as good as it was, could not cover the smell of cinders emanating from him. All the stories generally were warnings of how devious and cruel demons were, but the Commander was different. He seemed genuinely thrilled at our discovery.
"Crossbowmen troops, you have my respect. You'll be enshrined for this."
Enshrinement. We'd be the first humans to be enshrined in Zarosian history, since the Second Age.
We were about to kneel, and then party as if there was no tomorrow, when we heard a strange noise from the tunnel.
With no hesitation, we trained our weapons on the figure inside, ready to riddle their body with more holes than a sponge. The Grand Commander leered into the tunnel, and went from placid, to a truly demonic aura...one that was actually chilling. If I were the source of his vitriol, I'd surely have a mental break. Our commander was not of the common demon class, but rather something...indescribable herein.
"This is unfair! Those fools! They didn't see my vision! So perfect, so flawless! I will get them. Just they wah..."
The pointy-eared man hadn't noticed us, and worse yet, had walked right into the Commander.
In a deep growl, with a gaze so piercing, my prior joy at success was drained, the commander spoke to the pointy-eared man.
"Edgar Muntz. Dead or alive, you're coming with me."
So this was Edgar Muntz. He's much more...eccentric than I had imagined. I could only try to avoid picturing the horrid conditions of West Ardougne with this lunatic in charge.
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Post by Thorlah on Mar 3, 2015 1:14:42 GMT -5
-PART TWO: ARRIVAL-
Bennath 31st, Year 102 of the Seventh Age-
Bleddyn Iorwerth's POV-
The revelry of the troops was akin to a sweet pastry, and far more infectious than even the capture of Baxtorian Falls. Northern Kandarin was alight with the flames of campfires and braziers prepared for any retaliatory strike.
My concern, however, was that I be there for the interrogation of our latest acquisition. Rules of engagement dictate that we first get Lord Carnilliean's opinion before acting.
...Unless of course he is not involved in the battle.
Forfeiting his rights to any say, it rests in the hands of interested parties to deal with the affairs at hand. Certainly the Grand Commander has other engagements to prepare for, and Lord Allenby is not yet appraised. Then there's Gram Collinson, so enraptured by the Lady that he'll hardly be any help. That leaves myself the highest authority available, aside from my gnomish cohort, who is preoccupied.
These are the rules of Clan Iorwerth, and are the rules of this kingdom as well.
I cannot delay my arrival.
I must be the one to interrogate him.
Deserters get their due.
Rule Seventeen of the Code of Warfare by Clan Iorwerth.
Journal of Neil Allenby, on-board the vessel "The Spearhead", 10 Minutes Later
The nearly endless rocking of the boat has finally started to get to me. I wouldn't call it sea-sickness, but rather I'm sick of being out at sea.
Should've heeded Fadir's advice and stayed ashore.
I've learned my lesson.
Just as I begin to let my mind wander, I felt my pouch of runes tremble.
"Something troubling you?"
"These are for emergency use only." I said, gesturing to the now glowing rune pouch. "If I'm being contacted then...I dread the cause."
"You fear your kingdom lost?"
"That, and the citizens dead...or worse. Only news of paramount importance can justify the use of the emergency runes."
"Then why are you wasting time talking to me?"
"Fadir, I..."
Fadir sighed.
"Worried the crew might get agitated at you using magic. Don't be. We all know about how you'll only use it in an emergency. So go on! I'll clear the deck if you need me to."
"You're fine. We're family now."
Fadir couldn't help but laugh.
"Suit yourself brother!"
With a deep breath, and a fist full of salty sea-air in my mouth to nearly gag on, I dumped the runes out onto the deck, and allowed them to form a circle that once formed, began to create an astral projection of the location and individuals contacting me.
"My Lord."
It was Arthur, which meant this was beyond a doubt serious. He knew the rules, and had thrown dozens of men and women into the ocean for breaking them.
"Grand Commander? I sincerely, honestly hope this is a mistake."
Arthur chuckled, much like demons making deals would in my dreams...or nightmares.
"Not at all, my Lord. We got him."
"Got who? You found a long dead Saint Azzanadra? Sliske? Postal Peter?"
The Grand Commander, to my fathomless shock, laughed at my snarky comment.
"Normally I'd brush off such humour, but I am in fantastic spirits today. My Lord, we have Edgar Muntz."
A chill went down my spine.
Edgar Muntz.
Andreus' downfall began with him.
The reports of the city were...terrible. I had nightmares of Edgar dragging his statues around the city, on the backs of his citizens as they screamed for mercy from a man that had none, and generosity from a man made of greed.
At last, I would get to meet this man.
The one who would not meet me unless I gave him no less than five divisions of the armed forces, art, and rare treasures.
Edgar Muntz was at last captured.
Arthur vanished from view, and a loud screech sounded, drawing the attention of the entire crew on the upper decks.
Once in view, I was able to get a good look at the man that led West Ardougne.
His sandy-brown hair, although in tatters, was in remarkably good condition, especially for a man living in a city so derelict. His eyes were the same colour as his hair, but seemed to have an odd element to them. It wasn't one of greed as I had expected, but it almost appeared like a blissful ignorance. Insanity? I couldn't gather it from first glance.
"Zo, dis is howl you treat your ah-lies? You peach bruverhood, yet I am in chains! The people, they will see through your lies!"
I felt anger flicker like a weak candle flame, but I was able to resist.
"You weren't exactly giving us any other options here. We lauded you with gifts, and you in turn lock us in. I felt more welcome when I had a pack of wolves roving around me three months ago!"
Edgar moved to try and get more comfortable, but to his anger he was so tightly bound, no amount of shifting or struggling would move his position.
"What do you car?! You arr as bahd as your peedecessores!"
Clearly I was getting nowhere.
"You have until Lord Carnilliean gets to your location to talk. Grand Commander, that'll be all for now."
"Yes my Lord."
Just as the transmission cut (due to Arthur being fifteen feet away), I heard another person enter the room with Edgar, and slowly close the door.
"Wait, who's there?!" I tried to get in, but to no avail. The runes were spent.
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Post by Thorlah on Mar 5, 2015 20:23:20 GMT -5
-PART THREE: UNVEILED-
Bennath 31st, Year 102 of the Seventh Age-
I arrived just as Lord Allenby was done with his emergency call.
Even from behind, I could recognize the man in the chair, bound and tattered.
"Tell me what you know, 'Muntz'. My patience runs thin."
Edgar attempted to struggle and turn the chair to face me, but the heavy iron chains did their job and kept him immobile.
"Mayo you tell me who you waar?" Edgar said in a rather peculiar type of speech.
"I don't waste much time on deserters like you, Muntz."
Edgar went pale.
"No..."
"Yes. Bleddyn Iorwerth. I bet you didn't expect to hear my name again, did you."
When I walked into his field of vision, I watched him cringe in sheer terror.
"One-hundred and one years feels like nothing more than a blink of an eye now, doesn't it." I flatly murmured, shoving the table out of the way.
"I thought you died in the Great Silencing!"
"Great Silencing, the Deafening, Fall of the Sixth Age, Ragnarok, Runefall, Animacide, The Invention's Activation...So many names for that dark time. We lost what we had known. We lost our central pillar of society, we lost our very voices. Songs that wafted on the winds, choked out. Woods in harmony became cold and dark. There was no guidance, no way, no hope. The Clans...By Seren the clans...How many even still have the names? I fear that I may be the last to bear the name of the stalwart Iorwerth in mind, and law."
Edgar shook his head rapidly, to the point I worried he would get vertigo and be useless to converse with.
"You're the coward, the deserter! Don't you get it?! Seren abandoned us! She left us in silence! How else do you think we can ever cope?! We do what we have to, and don't you dare act as if you're beyond that!"
I balefully laughed.
"Lost your peculiar inflections I see."
"What use do I have for them in a conversation with an Elf."
"Stop pretending you aren't an Elf too."
Edgar's gaze narrowed, and he finally looked like one of the elves that had raised our generation.
"Fine. But I won't tell you anything."
"What do you have to lose? Do you really think Lord Carnillean is a worthier recipient?"
"Let me retort: What makes you think I'll talk to anyone about what I know?"
My patience wore too thin. With no time for him to wince, I kicked him in the chest, sending him and the chair backwards and on to the ground, smacking his head on the stone floor.
"Perhaps I should ship you west. Let the Elves to the west sort you out."
"Like I'd let you send me back there!"
-AHEM-
I looked up to see Lord Carnillean standing in the doorway.
"I apologize for my delay. It would seem the weather was not on my side."
"My Lord is moreso concerned about your lack of reinforcements."
Lord Carnillean nodded in acknowledgement.
"He and I will be discussing that in the next coming days. I assure you it was not my intention to leave your men and women deserted for this battle. Indeed, my men were quite riled up to finally remove Edgar from the lands to our west."
Edgar prepared to try and tell Lord Carnillean that we were 'treacherous liars', or something of that nature, but Lord Carnillean had heard these sorts of taunts far more than even we had.
"Save your putrid breath Edgar, I've heard it all before. I suppose you're going to say the Zarosians are liars, backstabbing schemers? You've said the same of me, and of even the Seers of the north twenty years ago! None of us will take your babble seriously."
Lord Carnillean seemed quietly pleased I had kicked Edgar's chair over, and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"Do as you want, Councilor. Once you and the Council get whatever it is you want from him, send him my way if you wish. I know of a perfect day to remove this man from our world."
In my gut, I knew he spoke of Tyrannicde Day, the day when King Lathas and the second to most recent Lord Iorwerth died. Some sources say the King was exiled, and was found brutally mutilated and deceased shortly thereafter, whilst others speak of the 'World Guardian' disposing of the tyrant themselves. Either way, I knew it was a holiday that burned effigies of said men, or if they had one handy, an actual tyrant, would be publicly executed.
"I'll let Lord Allenby know of your schedule plans. I see no reason why he'd disapprove. In fact, I daresay he might want the whole council to come along to watch!"
Lord Carnillean smiled as he stood in the doorway.
"We will gladly extend an invitation to you all officially. As for now, however, Lord Allenby is likely awaiting my reply, and offering up counter-offers for how to make good on our dealings. All the best to you and your countrymen and women, Councilor Iorwerth. As for you Edgar, I'd suggest you get a good measurement for neck size. Until then!"
Once the door locked, I knew Edgar would spill his secrets. In fact, I wholly believed Lord Carnillean had made the last comment solely for my benefit, so as to frighten Edgar to the point of his breaking.
"I...I'll talk. I'll tell you all I know."
I then pulled his chair up, and uncuffed him.
I knew he wouldn't run. He remembered me well enough to know I had over fifty ways to brutally put him down, and even more ways to kill him if he tried. He valued his life far too much to chance it.
"Where are we going?"
"We aren't going to leave you here on the front lines, Edgar. We're heading back to the capital. You will be spilling these secrets to the Council in person."
"I never agreed to talk to ALL of them!" He gasped while I gripped his arm tight enough to cut off blood-flow, at least until he was back in cuffs.
"Just the Inquisitional Tribunal."
"And just what is that?"
"The leaders of the country, and our key archivists. Lord Allenby, Lord Herman, Lord Markus Hemmsley, and myself."
Edgar could not argue, and fell silent as we got into the carriage, and departed for the capital.
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