A Fading Song: IC Chapter 1 Echoes of the Past

[New Strausberg]

http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=366462

Ooc
It is a time of peace...Even if it is only for a short time, with the end of the war and the supposed death of the last Mad King a war some thought would never end has finally come to a conclusion, today marks the celebration of the end. All nations even the people of the Ecroneian Kingdom celebrate the time at which this war ended. However it is also a sad time, today is also a time of remembrance especially in Krotis of the kings and lost loved ones that where killed. In the city of Guan Mai a grand festive is currently being held to honor those who fought so bravely to keep there lands safe from there enemies. In the Empire the Emperor is praised as the savior of Krotis and has made moves to expand the lands of the Imperium into the barbarian lands. Even in Ecroneian lands the Princess now Queen has called for her nobility to meet in the capital to discuss the state of the kingdom and its holdings all would seem fine....that would be if it was true...

While things have calmed in a sense political intrigue and anger of the common people have swept the Dynasty and Ecroneia, even as the festivals go on the people of Ecroneia are starving, brought on by there harsh and unforgiving land they have exhausted what food they can in the long drawn out war. The people call for action to fix this problem, they are starving while the nobility and there new Queen sit in the capital and do nothing but talk, the people of Ecroneia so used to brutal and violent action have grown to only accept it as truth, they see this hesitation as weakness and grow more and more restless each day. If things weren't bad enough the Inquisition has arrived...as part of the treaty with the Imperium and Krotis there has been a ban on the worship of the god of war, fertility, and most infuriating of all harvest. With the demand for food going higher and higher the presence of the Inquisition on Ecroneian soil do not bod well. Some reports have even said that members of the Inquisition will often poke around site of long ended battles of the old war, no one knows for certain but some claim there looking for something.

Meanwhile in the capital of the Dynasty Guan Mai political opposition is paramount, unlike most civilizations Krotis would be considered more of a republic then most would think. Noble houses rise and fall at the whim of a mighty assembly. Even now the great Jai-lan is a target for those who would usurp power, for those who feel they where cheated out of true reward for there survival of the war, and now forced into a treaty which allowed the Empire to use Krotis lands to send there inquisition north has also put there own subjects in harm of the overzealous Imperials. many would see a new leader put on the throne, if Jai-lan were to die and the assembly name a new leader besides the peace loving Krotis family then war with the Kingdom of the North would be unavoidable.

The ones that seem truly in control of there destiny is the Empire...Profiting madly from the ending of the war the Empire has begun expansion into no mans land, they are only to be met with wild Barbarians known as the Zenvo, Tribalistic barbarians which have until recently prayed on the inner fears of the Imperial soldiers and caused massive routes time and time again, now however without the worry of the war spilling over into its lands the Emperor has decreed any soldier seen fleeing from the Zenvo are to be declared heretics and burned by the inquisition. Eager to see what lies beyond the no-mans land the Emperor has employed mercenaries, Nobles, and anyone else who can hold a sword and willing to fight the Zenvo's tricks and march forward with a considerable sum of Imperial Rams (R-Am-s) the equivalent of a gold coin+ in the Dynasty and even more in Ecroneia. The Emperor is currently holding a meeting with his wyvern knights ready to end the Zenov's meddling once and for all.

Even still, with all these goings on a much darker threat looms...while most would attribute the 400 year war to simple madness of the Ecronian Kings and Queens some would say there was a much more sinister meaning to the war. For now however no one can say for certain...this is a dark and uncertain time, the world is ready to be shaped by the strong. Who will rise to the occasion and uncover the mysteries of the world? Who will fall and who will survive this trying time...and who will simple be lost to the Echoes of the Past... Only time can tell...

[The Flame Dawn]

"Sister," a young man shouted as he chased after a carriage with an escort of horsemen from the local garrison. The carriage was made of a finely polished wood with jade laced along the edges and clay tiles covering the roof. It was being pulled by 2 horses and around a dozen horsemen, wearing scale armor and wielding spears were located at the sides and rear of the carriage.

"Stop the carriage," the man shouted, the carriage stopped as he frantically made his way to the door, the silhouette of a young woman could be seen through the paper screen. The man opened the door and sat down across from the woman, she was dressed in an elegant silk kimono. The man who barged in was dressed similarly, with a silk Hakama and a sword strapped to his side.

"So how is it outside dear brother," the woman said in a cheerful, though teasing tone, she had a hand fan open which covered her mouth though her eyes gleamed with playful youth.

"It was pleasant outside, but I would have enjoyed it more without the running," her brother replied flatly as he began to fix his hair, a hair pin was beginning to slip out of his chonmage, "you should be lucky there hasn't been rain recently or else we would have looked unpresentable to the others."

"I," his sister quickly corrected him, she couldn't help but giggle as her brother sighed.

"Well regardless, it would have ruined our name," he said, still not amused by her actions.

The carriage ride was cloaked in silence as the two of them made their way to the capital city. The two of them made their way to the palace and were eagerly greeted by a servant girl.

"Greetings oh beautiful Lady Eclesh Maplos and fearless Lord Hidesuke Maplos," the servant girl said with a bow as she elegantly moved her arms to point towards the palace, "various Lords and Ladies have already gathered."

"Thank you," the two siblings said in unison, though Hidesuke was quick to begin the walk to the palace.

"Please take this as a token of my appreciation," Eclesh said as soon as her brother was out of sight as she handed the girl some copper coins and a silver coin.

The girl was at a lose for words as Eclesh walked off, she bowed deeply and gave her a silent prayer of prosperity and health.

[Russian people of america]

The Kingdom

A row of horses traveled along the dusty dirt road leading to the capital city. Twenty horses to be exact, expensive pure bred horses that most normal people wouldn't have a hope of buying anytime in their lifetime. The men who rode these horses wore expensive Armour with a certain crest em-blazed on the front of the Armour and on their shield's. One could tell that these men had seen combat at one time or another. They wore expression's of pride and honor, one's only a warrior would dare wield in public. However one man didn't wear this expression, and yet he was virtually the same as all the other men. Had a pure bred horse, fine Armour and a powerful sword sheathed at his hip. And yet his expression was so much more different from his companions. It was the man in the front of the line, his expression wasn't one of superiority or honor. No he sported the expression one would expect to see on a visionary, someone who wanted to change the world. As they passed a small crowd of peasants and artisans had gathered. Some threw arrogant nasty look's at the men, unable to realize that these were the men who had guaranteed the would live free, that they wouldn't be absorbed into some Empire or Dynasty. Some others noticed the first man and gave him apologetic smile's and happy waves. No matter who you were, this was certainly an odd sight. Noble's rode in carriages, they didn't ride horses in plain view. Marcus gave a gentle movement of his arm in a whipping motion, telling the horse to speed up. Seeing their lord speed up the other men followed suit.

Soon the twenty horses were pounding closer and closer to the capital of the Kingdom. Bypassing hungry merchants and angry townsfolk. One man was being whipped for stealing bread. The whole sight horrified him, these were his people. These were his brother's and sister's, his elders and young one's. They were hungry and that was plain as the day. Still nothing he could do now, he had to meet with his queen soon. The Queen of the kingdom, the last of her line. She was extremely important, her life had to preserved no matter what. Without her the nation would fall apart in brutal infighting between the numerous noble group's. And she had her own problem's, people wanted him dead and he was a war hero, she was the leader of a starving nation and her life would be threatened anytime she was in public. Soon they approached the capital's gate. Once they had passed by the guard's he dismounted his horse, walking until they reached the building that held the Queen and her subject's. He expected some sort of greeting at the door's, however no one seemed to be there for him to greet. Hesitantly he pushed open the door and entered the building.

[Ascium]

Captain Varik Carta
Emperor's Palace

Captain Varik had just arrived at the palace, he had been visiting his family when he had received the news to report to the palace. He walked down the steps to the ground floor of the wyvern stables. Once he landed, the stable hands quickly went to work on removing the newest set of wyvern armor. This armor covered the upper parts of the body and added armor to the tail with several spikes on the end. Varik was excited to try this new armor in combat, over the last several years, the armor had improved as well as wyvern-wyvern combat. He walked out of the stables and walked closer to the palace. When he bumped into Lady Eclesh. "Oh, sorry lady Eclesh, I am in a hurry the Royal Wyvern Wings have been called to the palace for some reason. Now if you will excuse me." Informed Varik as he continued his way to the palace. He couldn't deny it though, lady Eslesh was attractive, but also a noble of high standing. Once he arrived at the palace he entered the room where the meeting was going to be held. "I am the last to arrive or well the last of the leadership to arrive my Emperor" Informed Varik as he bowed tot he Emperor and waited for him to announce why they had been called. But he had a feeling that it was going to be something about the north. No mans land as they called it, it seemed to fit the part after all it was nomadic tribes that lived there anyway.

[Drakorvanyia]

Spiremourn, Traerean Empire
As usual, the sky was overcast over the small village. Surrounded by pine and, further away, large mountains piercing the sky, Spiremourn was an isolated settlement, coming into contact with others only through the occasional passage of a trade caravan, or a traveler. The most they found of the outside world was through the town's only guard, Victoria Valthorn. She was an odd one, a cavalier under employ of the emperor to protect the town. She was much more capable than any of the town's local militia, probably more so than all of them put together. However, despite her vital role in Spiremourn, Victoria was not unused to alienation.

The town was deeply involved with the local church, which towered above all other buildings atop a hill near the southern border of Spiremourn. As a result, the townsfolk were hesitant, or downright unwilling, to accept outsiders who did not conform entirely with their beliefs. Victoria was one such individual. She wore cloaks and hoods almost constantly. She hardly came out during the day, and she never attended mass with the rest of the village. For someone who was supposed to be upholding the values of the empire, Victoria did a poor job of supporting the church.

It was during one such mass that Victoria rode along on her horse by the looming forest rather than attend the church meeting. Riding with her was Josef, a lumberjack who she had found discontent with the way the church ran literally every aspect of Spiremourn. He slid off the horse, walking around in a slow circle with a grin. His eyes shifted to Victoria, who also dismounted the white stallion.

"So what'd you take me all the way out here for?" He asked as Victoria walked to him, and allowed the man to wrap his arms around her armoured form. She looked up to Josef, who was at least five inches taller than she. In doing so, her hood slipped to reveal her sickly pale face, and ebony black hair. "Something you wanna tell me?" To that, Victoria only smiled, leaning in towards Josef's ear.

"I just wanted a snack is all." She whispered, letting her tongue slowly, lazily, roll from his earlobe down his neck. He shuttered with a gruff chuckle, squeezing her a bit tighter in his arms.

"A snack? Whatever do you me-ah!" Josef's eyes widened as he felt a sudden sharp pain in his neck. Victoria had bitten into his flesh, but the wound reached far deeper than it should, thanks to the bone white fangs potruding from the girl's mouth. Josef couldn't talk as his face went white, and his strength left his body.

An hour later, Victoria rode from the woods and back into town. Josef was not with her.

[Dalria]

Carnegie

The sun shone bright upon the paved main street of the city. The city could make a man awestruck, large noble houses lined the streets with various shops taking up the rest of the space. Yet the most breathtaking part of the city was the Portus District, which housed the largest bazaar in all the lands. Men and women from all sides of life journeyed miles to buy exotic goods you couldn't find elsewhere. Hundreds of merchants peddled their wares; you could get anything, even things considered illegal by many standards simply if you knew where to go. The port was the bazaars heart, feeding the blood into its veins. An assembly line of workers unloaded the massive ships that were docked at port, the men who disembarked these fine vessels were veteran sailors whom worked for the prestigious Malone Trade and Commerce Company, ironically the majority of people who worked in Carnegie, hell even the merchant trade, were either employed by the De' Malone's, employed by a Patrician family who swore fealty to the De' Malone's, or were part of the Three Kingdom Trade Commission in which the De' Malone's had heavy influence on. The Malone's were the men who built this city and the company which ran it...or one could call a small empire. The city sat as a beautiful and rich gem which was also autonomous from the empires jurisdiction due to the Autonomous and Free City Act signed nearly one hundred years ago. It was not only known for being the influential trade company's capitol, or housing the largest bazaar and assortment of wares, but for being a place of refined culture and innovation. Yet the city had it's fault; for one a rigid caste system dominated life in the city as indentured servitude ran high and anyone who wasn't considered "middle class" or higher were nearly inhumanely treated. Another problem was the thick tension between the aristocracy and the plutocracy. Even as merchant lords ran this place, nobility flocked to buy property as summer homes or similar purposes. Several times in the cities history had the nobility and merchant lords nearly descended into bloodshed.

De' Malone Manor

"Sire, the Augsinburg fleet has arrived and have completed their shipment" a servant called out to a robed man sitting lazily by the fire.

He smirked, "simply extraordinary, they made great time of this shipment. You make sure to offer a bonus to those sailors and also offer my compliments to Sir James Rolland at the School of Nautical Endeavors for his pristine work in training this current generation of sailors, he has done an amazing job" the man put his hand near the fire and waved it back and forth, embracing the heat.

"Anything else Lord Mayor Isaac?" the servant questioned.

"Fetch my wife for me, will you please" Isaac asked. The man nodded and exited the room. He had been pleased at the companies efforts in the past several months. Production of goods had been up by 18% and sales of goods had been up by a whopping 24%, the coffers of the companies were filled to the brim. This had allowed the Lord Mayor to sit back and allow regional administrators to continue doing their glorious work. Isaac had only handed very slight issues lately such as exterminating a small bandit gang which had plagued one of his overland routes and putting down a strike by an association of angry serfs.

"Mi'lord, how are you feeling today" a young and beautiful woman chimed as she stepped into the room.

Isaac smiled right back, "I am doing great my dear Alison, relaxed and ready to start a days work. You know, I have been thinking that maybe we should send my young cousin Fredrick to be mentored by one of the empires bureaucrats" Isaac questioned.

"You have always said you hated the bureaucracy and that all Malone's would be taught by Patrician's and men of trade!" Alison laughed.

"I do hate those damned bureaucrats, always trying to raise the taxes on my goods when they don't understand the very basics of trade! Yet the imperial governor of the colonies is taking age and when he passes someone has to step up to the job. If we can get someone of our family in the seat, the coordination between our autonomous region and the imperial colonies would be greatly improved" Isaac stood up and waved for one of the servant girls to come to him, "please get me one of my silk attires" he then focused back on his wife.

"This is why you are in charge" Alison giggled as she wrapped her hands around him and kissed his cheek.

"Look my love, I am soon to be hosting a gala event. I want this to be huge! Company shareholders, Imperial administrators, and various men of power shall all be invited! I want you to start planning the event now, there is no budget. We must make haste! I have a meeting with the shareholders in three hours and after I shall start writing letters to those invited" he then kissed her in return and then quickly ran off to find his attire for the day... the monthly shareholder meeting was about to begin.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

The College of Uvdarren

The imperial capital of Uvdarren was known for many things, ranging from the court of the Emperor to the many strongholds of the imperial legion located within the city, but what the city was really famous for, above all other things, was the massive university in the center of town, the College of Uvdarren. The imperial government had been blatantly hostile to the College's interests ever since they first annexed the city, with the College representing the old order of the city, the intellectual elite which once ruled over the city. The College had always been loyal to Uvdarr, the God of Knowledge, throughout its entire existence, and, in violation of the Empire's laws, provided a safe haven and refuge for Uvdarr worshipers across Uvdarren; considering the large quantity of Uvdarr worshipers in the City of Knowledge, it shouldn't come as any surprise that their resistance to the imperial inquisition won them a lot of respect amongst the population of the city. The Empire had been constantly trying everything they could to bring the worship of Tarvos to the College, and purge the worship of Uvdarr, but every attempt had been thwarted by members of the College. There was, no doubt, a lot of imperial inquisitors that wanted to simply burn the College down to the ground and send in the legion to wage open war against its members, but not only would doing so cost the lives of a great many soldiers fighting the College's wizards, but attempting to destroy the city's oldest and most revered institution, considered a holy site by Uvdarr worshipers, would invoke public outrage, with riots on the streets, and the chaos in the city would be uncontrollable.

The College had been conspiring to drive the Empire out of the City of Knowledge for centuries; to have Uvdarr's holy city be corrupted and tainted by foreign barbarians, who shun knowledge and science, and who refuse to accept the word of lord Uvdarr, was a disgrace. Uvdarren was meant to be a meritocracy, led by the loyal servants of Uvdarr, not a monarchy ruled by some foreign blasphemer of fortunate birth. The College's leadership had been building support for a rebellion against the Empire for hundreds of years, and many of the Uvdarr worshipers within the city stood with the College, ready to strike at the heart of the Empire whenever it showed weakness. Of course, until the Empire found itself in a war against a worthy opponent, until its armies had been weakened, the College wouldn't have the strength to overcome it, but if and when that day came, the College would be the first to strike against the Empire. The College had always hated the Trarean Empire, ever since the first Emperor invaded the City of Knowledge, and it had made an eternal vow to one day reclaim the city in the name of Uvdarr. It was a well known fact that the College engaged in subversive activities against the Empire, and a lot of people either loved or hated them for it, depending on their loyalty or lack thereof to the Empire.

Either way, the order of the day in the City of Knowledge was dealing with a band of brigands on the Empire's frontier, apparently known as the Zenvo, with the Emperor himself calling a meeting to decide how to deal with them; nobody in the College had any interest in fighting savages in some gods-forsaken wasteland, having far more important things to do than kill a bunch of tribal marauders on the other side of the continent. Still, while the College had no intentions of helping the illegitimate Emperor with his ridiculous crusade to conquer a worthless wasteland, the Emperor, for whatever reason, seemed to believe otherwise, as the Great Keeper of Knowledge, Mora Tharatha, had been invited to attend the meeting. To make the invitation seem even more ridiculous, the Emperor apparently thought that the College would tolerate letting imperial inquisitors, the people with which the College had been waging a war in the shadows against for centuries, oversee the security for the Great Keeper. While the members of the College had no doubt that the Emperor wouldn't be foolish enough to try to assassinate one of the most respected people in the city of Uvdarren, a move which would invoke major public unrest, the Emperor's little invitation was a joke, an insult, and he was a fool if he honestly expected the champion of Uvdarr to be at the beck and call of an illegitimate foreign barbarian waging a war against Uvdarr worshipers.

Accepting the invitation and obeying the Emperor's request would make the College look weak, and it would legitimize the rule of the false Emperor over Uvdarren; Great Keeper Mora Tharatha wanted to make it very clear that the College was a private institution and would maintain its independence from the Empire's inquisitors. Considering this, Mora sent a courier to the Emperor's palace, delivering a letter from him to the Emperor, refusing his request, stamped and sealed with the All-Seeing Eye of Uvdarr. The letter reads:

To he who would call himself Emperor,

The College of Uvdarren is, and always has been, a private institution, and so long as members of the College still live, it will continue to operate independently. The College's knowledge is a privilege, bestowed upon those worthy of it, and all who seek it are beholden to the same standards and entry requirements, be they of high birth or not. I, and the College's teachers, have no obligation to enlighten outsiders. We are not at your beck and call; if you, or anyone else, wishes to speak with the College's leadership, you, like all others, are required to either pass the entrance examinations or get an explicit invitation from the College recognizing past scientific and academic accomplishments. The College is far too busy with real research and study to be bothered to care about your conflict with a few savages in the gods-forsaken wasteland you wish to conquer.

I refuse your joke of an invitation. Our information isn't freely given to anyone, regardless of their political status, aristocratic titles, or wealth. If you truly expected me, or any other servant of the Lord of Knowledge for that matter, to blindly do your bidding, with our well-known enemies, the imperial inquisitors, being in charge of our "safety," then you were absolutely mistaken. Perhaps if you were to start treating the followers of Lord Uvdarr with a little more respect, and end your ridiculous inquisition, I would be a bit more inclined to consider granting you an audience, but until that day comes, you will not be considered a welcome guest of the College, and neither I nor any other member of the College will even consider giving you our valuable time.

Mora Tharatha, Champion of Uvdarr, and the Great Keeper of Knowledge

[Drakorvanyia]

Spiremourn, The Empire
As the congregation of the church came to an end, the town square was flooded with a dully robed crowd. Aside from the low murmuring of the townspeople as they talked among themselves about the absence of both their town guard, and now Josef the woodcutter, during the ceremony, there was a cawing sound. A raven, black as night, descended from the drab grey skies above and descended towards the armoured figure of none other than Victoria.

She extended her arm for the raven to land on her vambrace, a note tied to its leg. The soldier carefully untied the parchment from the raven's leg, and watched as it flew off into the distance. Unrolling the parchment, Synivexa's eyes, hidden beneath the shadow of her hood, scanned across it for whatever it was she was needed for. A meeting, it seemed. Her presence was requested as she was one of the Imperial Wyvern riders. Fitting she should attend, not as if she could refuse anyway. Victoria crumpled the paper into a ball within her fist, and dropped it to the ground. She turned, and strode towards the woods from where she had just come.

She ventured much deeper than she had previously, until there were not even the stumps of trees felled by woodcutters. Indeed, she could barely even see the lantern lights of Spiremourn behind her. As she continued on, the only sound became the crunching of leaves beneath her boots, and her breathing in the silent, chill air. It was not long until the crunching of leaves was accompanied by a third sound, another crunching. A different crunching, one more rough and defined. It soon became evident what the source of the noise was.

A wyvern, tall and imposing. Its wings were slammed against the ground as it tore into the corpse of some dead animal. Nay, a dead person. Josef, who had been reduced to little more than a ribcage broken open to reveal whatever organs that the giant beast did not devour already. The creature slowly raised its head, staring at the approaching Victoria with glowering yellow eyes.

"We're going, Jags." She snapped. Almost immediately, the wyvern, dubbed 'Jags' by its rider, lowered its head. Victoria stepped on its bony head, and as the beast lifted its skull once again, she walked across its thick neck to a hollow between its two shoulderblades. Waiting for her was a leather saddle and reins. Victoria spun around, and plopped herself in the seat, taking hold of the reins and lashing them. Jags shrieked, a sound that could be heard from Spiremourn, despite the distance, before darting off into the sky within a second. Left in its wake was a hole in the forest canopy, and Josef's half eaten corpse.

"To the capital. Our emperor wants us."

[New Strausberg]

"Sister," a young man shouted as he chased after a carriage with an escort of horsemen from the local garrison. The carriage was made of a finely polished wood with jade laced along the edges and clay tiles covering the roof. It was being pulled by 2 horses and around a dozen horsemen, wearing scale armor and wielding spears were located at the sides and rear of the carriage.

"Stop the carriage," the man shouted, the carriage stopped as he frantically made his way to the door, the silhouette of a young woman could be seen through the paper screen. The man opened the door and sat down across from the woman, she was dressed in an elegant silk kimono. The man who barged in was dressed similarly, with a silk Hakama and a sword strapped to his side.

"So how is it outside dear brother," the woman said in a cheerful, though teasing tone, she had a hand fan open which covered her mouth though her eyes gleamed with playful youth.

"It was pleasant outside, but I would have enjoyed it more without the running," her brother replied flatly as he began to fix his hair, a hair pin was beginning to slip out of his chonmage, "you should be lucky there hasn't been rain recently or else we would have looked unpresentable to the others."

"I," his sister quickly corrected him, she couldn't help but giggle as her brother sighed.

"Well regardless, it would have ruined our name," he said, still not amused by her actions.

The carriage ride was cloaked in silence as the two of them made their way to the capital city. The two of them made their way to the palace and were eagerly greeted by a servant girl.

"Greetings oh beautiful Lady Eclesh Maplos and fearless Lord Hidesuke Maplos," the servant girl said with a bow as she elegantly moved her arms to point towards the palace, "various Lords and Ladies have already gathered."

"Thank you," the two siblings said in unison, though Hidesuke was quick to begin the walk to the palace.

"Please take this as a token of my appreciation," Eclesh said as soon as her brother was out of sight as she handed the girl some copper coins and a silver coin.

The girl was at a lose for words as Eclesh walked off, she bowed deeply and gave her a silent prayer of prosperity and health.

Krotis Capital, Festival of Light
All over Krotis today was a very special kind of day, in remembrance to the end of the war for the last five years there had been the Festivals of Light. In remembrance of the last days of the horrible war they celebrate there victory so that they may never forget the lives of all those lost. Nobles and lords from all over are called each year to come and celebrate at the capital but some lords choose to celebrate in there own holdings or simply cant make it.

Everyone from the lowest of peasant to Krotis himself celebrated this event, sadly however many lords would use this time to expand their influence by eliminating other nobles and trying to bribe, intimidate, or even assassinate other lords. It is a sad but daily part of life in Krotis, in a land ruled truly by a court whoever has majority appeal rules the day in the end with Krotis at its head however the leader can veto anything that is to irrational. Only time may tell how long that stands however....

The Kingdom

A row of horses traveled along the dusty dirt road leading to the capital city. Twenty horses to be exact, expensive pure bred horses that most normal people wouldn't have a hope of buying anytime in their lifetime. The men who rode these horses wore expensive Armour with a certain crest em-blazed on the front of the Armour and on their shield's. One could tell that these men had seen combat at one time or another. They wore expression's of pride and honor, one's only a warrior would dare wield in public. However one man didn't wear this expression, and yet he was virtually the same as all the other men. Had a pure bred horse, fine Armour and a powerful sword sheathed at his hip. And yet his expression was so much more different from his companions. It was the man in the front of the line, his expression wasn't one of superiority or honor. No he sported the expression one would expect to see on a visionary, someone who wanted to change the world. As they passed a small crowd of peasants and artisans had gathered. Some threw arrogant nasty look's at the men, unable to realize that these were the men who had guaranteed the would live free, that they wouldn't be absorbed into some Empire or Dynasty. Some others noticed the first man and gave him apologetic smile's and happy waves. No matter who you were, this was certainly an odd sight. Noble's rode in carriages, they didn't ride horses in plain view. Marcus gave a gentle movement of his arm in a whipping motion, telling the horse to speed up. Seeing their lord speed up the other men followed suit.

Soon the twenty horses were pounding closer and closer to the capital of the Kingdom. Bypassing hungry merchants and angry townsfolk. One man was being whipped for stealing bread. The whole sight horrified him, these were his people. These were his brother's and sister's, his elders and young one's. They were hungry and that was plain as the day. Still nothing he could do now, he had to meet with his queen soon. The Queen of the kingdom, the last of her line. She was extremely important, her life had to preserved no matter what. Without her the nation would fall apart in brutal infighting between the numerous noble group's. And she had her own problem's, people wanted him dead and he was a war hero, she was the leader of a starving nation and her life would be threatened anytime she was in public. Soon they approached the capital's gate. Once they had passed by the guard's he dismounted his horse, walking until they reached the building that held the Queen and her subject's. He expected some sort of greeting at the door's, however no one seemed to be there for him to greet. Hesitantly he pushed open the door and entered the building.

Kingdoms Capital
In the Kingdom at current a different note is being sung...a sour note..Devestated by the war the new queen is only able to hold power throught the fear that he father commanded. She is not her father however...the new Queen is a kind and noble soul which tries to see the plight of everyone. Her nobles see her as unfit to lead so many hardened by battle, the Queen now seeks to open up trade with anyone who could help them in there time of need. Some nobles stoic isolationists seek to keep the kingdom "pure" and to rely on no one but themselves to give there people what they need.

The Nobles present where all drinking the Queen deciding after last night horrible infighting that it would be best to start with the warlords drunk and happy before trying to get them to agree to the hard truth that the kingdom was dieing..without its armies now crushed and defeated they must seek aid, the most shocking of which had been offered by Krotis who is seeking to rebuild the relationship with the Kingdom. Krotis had always for whatever reason tried to bring the war to peace quickly and without much bloodshed. they where never one to back down but it was obvious they wished the war on no one.

Sighing the Queen mumbled to herself, "This will be a rather long day.."

Captain Varik Carta
Emperor's Palace

Captain Varik had just arrived at the palace, he had been visiting his family when he had received the news to report to the palace. He walked down the steps to the ground floor of the wyvern stables. Once he landed, the stable hands quickly went to work on removing the newest set of wyvern armor. This armor covered the upper parts of the body and added armor to the tail with several spikes on the end. Varik was excited to try this new armor in combat, over the last several years, the armor had improved as well as wyvern-wyvern combat. He walked out of the stables and walked closer to the palace. When he bumped into Lady Eclesh. "Oh, sorry lady Eclesh, I am in a hurry the Royal Wyvern Wings have been called to the palace for some reason. Now if you will excuse me." Informed Varik as he continued his way to the palace. He couldn't deny it though, lady Eslesh was attractive, but also a noble of high standing. Once he arrived at the palace he entered the room where the meeting was going to be held. "I am the last to arrive or well the last of the leadership to arrive my Emperor" Informed Varik as he bowed tot he Emperor and waited for him to announce why they had been called. But he had a feeling that it was going to be something about the north. No mans land as they called it, it seemed to fit the part after all it was nomadic tribes that lived there anyway.

Emperor's Palace
The Emperor had called upon everyone of his noble Wyvern riders in preparation for a massive move into the area known as No-Mans land. The Area was thick with the indigenous tribe known only as Zenvo..the strange tribe had in recent months destroyed five legions...Five legions of the best and brightest that the Empire had to offer all of them wiped out by the zenvos magic and some strange flaming beast..."My Royal wyverns..wings of the Empire i call to you under very dire circumstances...as we speak the Barbarians known as the Zenvo and there shamans have decimated five entire Legions. They wield strange magic and it is said that they control a beast made of flames. The reports i have say that my last general was fed to this beast and his screams where that of an unholy fury."

The Emperor sighed and put his hands behind his back, "The strange forests and No-mans land are inaccessible from the air so unless you can find a way in from above you'll have to take your wyverns and use them on the ground. you will have the support 4 legions already present in the area. i will have you provided with a map, i send you now with the blessing of the Empire..if you have any questions now would be the time to ask them my brave soldiers. Complete this task and i will grant you anything your heart could ever desire you have my word as Emperor."

Soon after he had finished his breifing of the knights he recived the letter from the Collage it was...somewhat that of which he expected but it gave him an idea... "Chaplin Master Korvan of the Inquisition will go and personally deliver a very special decree to the Collage. It will be something that they cannot ignore, The Chaplin himself must read it aloud for all to hear perhaps it will show the collage that the Emperor is not to be challenged so."

Chaplin Master Korvan, the Highest ranking Inquisition member currently in the Capital, A man of strict devotion to the Empire, its people, and its god. With him every last member of the inquisition made a march from the capital directly to the collage. The Emperors decree would be adhered and for better or for worse the collage would hear it. As they marched from the Palace the Chaplin and his forces gathered a number of prying eyes, marching directly to the Collage gates they tried to be civil with a great number of people watching the one who acted first and lost there composure would lose this engagement. "THIS IS THE INQUISITION CHAPLIN MASTER KORVAN, BY DECREE OF THE EMPEROR OPEN UP AND HEAR THE WORDS OF YOUR RULER! THIS DECREE GIVEN TO ME BY THE EMPEROR HIMSELF SHALL GO INTO EFFECT AS SOON AS READ, I AM ONLY TO GIVE IT WITH THE PRESENCE OF YOUR LEADER, HAVE HIM COME OUT AND BE SEEN!"