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| Author | A Competition of Survival |
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Kalirosh sat in a small windowless room of the Detention block. To say it was a waiting chamber would be too kind, it was a prison, but one of not so modest means. Apparently even criminals had degrees of importance, and being a Councilor won him the right to above average accommodations. That word – Councilor – brought a look of pain and worry to the Warlord’s face now. He didn’t know what would become of him, but before he had been placed in here his epaulet had been taken from him. It was only a decorative piece of cloth thrown over the shoulder of the Councilors, but he wore it as a badge – a mark of honor, denoting rank and purpose. Now all of that had been taken from him, along with the cloth itself.
Kalirosh sat so deep in contemplation that he was unaware of the figure that had entered the room until She was only a few feet away. The Empress stood quiet, troubled and pale. Her eyes were filled with a deep sadness and … something else.
“Your Majesty?” Kalirosh said out of both greeting and concern.
The Empress stood unspeaking. Her troubled face began to worry the Warlord more. After a long silence She spoke. “Your actions bring much doubt of your loyalty to the nation and amongst the Council members.”
“I know,” Kalirosh interrupted.
“I wasn’t finished”, the Empress stomped with indignation. - “Kalirosh, you were a friend of my father, you fought at his side…” The Empress stopped as her voice shook, preventing Her to burst into tears.
“Your Majesty...?” Kalirosh stammered.
“Despite these actions you are being called to service – to return to full active duty.”
The Warlord’s brow tightened, his jaw slacked open in obvious bewilderment. “How can this be? Why would you…?”
The Empress interrupted him this time. “The Empire is under attack. A massive army is gathering on all of our borders – beasts and humanoids alike. Our regular troops are unable to withstand this force and so all of the Empire’s Lords are being summoned to duty. You must gather the Knights and lead them, for the sake of all of our lives.”
Kalirosh continued to stare in disbelief, knowing at last the Mastermind Call that Hermit had spoken of had come to be – even without the presence of the green-sphere. He swallowed hard to remove the nervousness that threatened to take him over.
“There is no time for that question resting on your face. We must go!” The Empress led him out of the cell and through the backyard which was connected to the Central Square where the ranks of the other Councilors and high Lords had gathered. She turned to him after receiving an item from one of the court officials. An indigo cloth of fine quality – the epaulet that had been stripped from him. He received it with gratitude, though a feeling of unworthiness still clung to him.
As Kalirosh refitted the epaulet to his shoulder and was about to take the little narrow lane to the Square, Councilor Feurlis walked into his way. He wore a turquoise epaulet, the contrast between Kalirosh’s and his own was apparent – of similar color but still vastly different. When the Empress was well out of range he whispered to the Warlord, “This means nothing, Knight! Your actions will be accounted for and you WILL face trial!” The two exchanged angry glares, and exited to the Square covering the gaps in the line of Councilors.
Kalirosh looked shamefaced as the other Lords scrutinized him. The Empress however seemed to dismiss their judgments as inconsequential. All eyes returned to Her Majesty as She climbed the steps to the throne. Looking over the ranks of the mightiest of the Empire she commanded, “Go now Councilors, gather your troops and defeat this newest threat to our people! Let the name of those who die bravely be remembered always and the Victorious be spoken of in song and tale for ages to come! Let the people of the Empire rise to this, the greatest challenge we have ever faced.” | TL;DR version.
Events: Kalirosh is in detention, now having full time to reconsider his actions. His beliefs become ruined when Her Majesty enters the block and communicates him that the entire Empire is under attack. The primitive beings have laid a massive siege on all borders, apparently, the green-sphere never has been the cause or source of the Mastermind call. Kalirosh is summoned back into full service, but gets confronted by Warlord Feurlis who is not happy about the release and assures the knight he'd force trial upon him.
The Empress calls to the Councilors to organize total resistance to the Mastermind swarms.
Updates: First Survival Tournament. Duration: 2/3, 12:00 - 2/10, 12:00, server time.
Interesting facts: The Empress mentions Kalirosh having fought once alongside Her father, that would be none other than the Emperor back at His time. This explains the bond Her Majesty has cultivated towards the old veteran.
There is also a description of the Councilmen marks of distinction, the epaulets. Apparently, each Warlord wears an epaulet representing their faction's symbolic colour. |
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