GLOBAL STORYLINE UPDATE: Of Inquisitions and Intrigue...
Dec 27, 2015 9:00:06 GMT -8
Sir Caedric Moore, Yorick, and 3 more like this
Post by Sir Caelan Munro on Dec 27, 2015 9:00:06 GMT -8
Global Storyline Update: Of Inquisitions and Intrigue...
Story and build by Mitah Val Karem
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Blindfolded and with bound hands, the prisoner had lost all sense of time and direction as he was led down a long spiral staircase. A heavy wooden door opened and he was led into a chamber. Flames were crackling and the smell of the fire filled the room.
More annoyed than angry he shouted into the room “Who are you? Where have you taken me? Do you even know who I am? I have friends in high places ...”.
A voice sounded from the other side of the room, “Indeed you have, Lord Strauss. And this very fact would be the reason you are here now. Rest assured, your family and your guards will not be harmed and will be released shortly. Your fate however will depend on your cooperation. Speak the truth and no harm will come to you. You have my word.”
“What worth is the word of a thief and abductor! Remove this blindfold and untie me, and I will be the judge of ..."
“Enough! Lord Strauss, please do not test our patience,” someone replied. He knew this voice, he heard it before, but without the proper context he could not place it. “This is an urgent matter, and the longer you resist the longer it will take. You were on your way home from a trial, or coronation, or ... let us say event. There was an attempt on the life of Prince Jarius of Loreos. And for some reason Mark of Falworth was suddenly proclaimed Prince himself.”
“That is all public knowledge, you do not need me here for this,” Lord Strauss answered.
“Very well then. What is not public knowledge is that the would-be assassin was captured and is held somewhere," another voice interjected. This time it was a woman's voice.
“How could you know this? Only a few people from the House of Lorean know about this matter...”
“We have our sources. What do you know about this assassin? About his motives..." the familiar voice continued.
“Nothing. Jarius and Mark only talk in private. All I know is that he was sent by the Order of the Shadows,” Lord Strauss replied finally, still angry about still not knowing who had taken him and what this whole inquiry was about.
A murmur went through the room. There must have been at least half a dozen people quietly talking amongst themselves.
“Thank you, Lord Strauss. You where very helpful - I think this matter can be laid to rest rather quickly. Lords, Ladies: Did any of you attempt to assassinate Prince Jarius? ...No matter how deserving of a sharp blade through the heart he may be.”
Silence.
“Good. So it is settled. More lies and propaganda from the mouth of a snake. We shall reconvene this council after I return from New Lenfald.”
A chair slid back over the rough stone, and someone on the far side of the room stood up to speak. “Balgrim. Balgrim, son of Chief Balgrim the elder.”
“What about him?”
“Chief Balgrim was with the Order before his death, and he groomed his hothead son to be his successor. Perhaps his son has done this thing.”
“That seems farfetched. Why would a young outlaw chief attempt to kill a Loreesi prince?”
“He would not. But he would surely attempt to kill one of the Areani.”
“But why go after the prince, a well guarded high profile target? No offence to your people, but in my experience Outlaws don’t take the difficult path if there’s an easier target.”
“No offence taken. After the war the Areani rounded up collaborators of the Queen, and apparently sometimes being in the wrong place at the wrong time is enough to die by an Areani blade. His family was unlucky enough to be in the wrong place.”
“But to go after the Prince, he must either have been there personally for the massacre, or... or Jarius is the leader of the Areani, and is responsible for it overall.”
“We currently have no way to know the truth, but it is an idea worth investigating further. Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that it is not our place to intervene here. If it is Balgrim, he has to face the consequences for his own actions. He could have brought his theories to the council, but we should not risk open war. Agreed?”
“Agreed” many voices replied.
“Now, I will set sail for New Lenfald within the hour. You are welcome to accompany me as far as Garheim if you wish.”
Their prisoner just stood there, silent, not knowing what to think or believe. Suddenly the familiar voice addressed him from a short distance, “Thank you for your cooperation Lord Strauss. You will be returned to your household immediately. You may relay what you have heard here to Mark of Falworth at your own risk, he is wise enough to draw his own conclusions. But if you value your life you better not tell anything of this meeting to Prince Jarius. Who knows what HE will do to you.”
Lord Strauss replied “I DO know you. You are Lord M...”
“No names, please. Farewell, Lord Strauss, and don't forget our warning....”
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Happy New Year everyone!
Story and build by Mitah Val Karem
----------------------
Blindfolded and with bound hands, the prisoner had lost all sense of time and direction as he was led down a long spiral staircase. A heavy wooden door opened and he was led into a chamber. Flames were crackling and the smell of the fire filled the room.
More annoyed than angry he shouted into the room “Who are you? Where have you taken me? Do you even know who I am? I have friends in high places ...”.
A voice sounded from the other side of the room, “Indeed you have, Lord Strauss. And this very fact would be the reason you are here now. Rest assured, your family and your guards will not be harmed and will be released shortly. Your fate however will depend on your cooperation. Speak the truth and no harm will come to you. You have my word.”
“What worth is the word of a thief and abductor! Remove this blindfold and untie me, and I will be the judge of ..."
“Enough! Lord Strauss, please do not test our patience,” someone replied. He knew this voice, he heard it before, but without the proper context he could not place it. “This is an urgent matter, and the longer you resist the longer it will take. You were on your way home from a trial, or coronation, or ... let us say event. There was an attempt on the life of Prince Jarius of Loreos. And for some reason Mark of Falworth was suddenly proclaimed Prince himself.”
“That is all public knowledge, you do not need me here for this,” Lord Strauss answered.
“Very well then. What is not public knowledge is that the would-be assassin was captured and is held somewhere," another voice interjected. This time it was a woman's voice.
“How could you know this? Only a few people from the House of Lorean know about this matter...”
“We have our sources. What do you know about this assassin? About his motives..." the familiar voice continued.
“Nothing. Jarius and Mark only talk in private. All I know is that he was sent by the Order of the Shadows,” Lord Strauss replied finally, still angry about still not knowing who had taken him and what this whole inquiry was about.
A murmur went through the room. There must have been at least half a dozen people quietly talking amongst themselves.
“Thank you, Lord Strauss. You where very helpful - I think this matter can be laid to rest rather quickly. Lords, Ladies: Did any of you attempt to assassinate Prince Jarius? ...No matter how deserving of a sharp blade through the heart he may be.”
Silence.
“Good. So it is settled. More lies and propaganda from the mouth of a snake. We shall reconvene this council after I return from New Lenfald.”
A chair slid back over the rough stone, and someone on the far side of the room stood up to speak. “Balgrim. Balgrim, son of Chief Balgrim the elder.”
“What about him?”
“Chief Balgrim was with the Order before his death, and he groomed his hothead son to be his successor. Perhaps his son has done this thing.”
“That seems farfetched. Why would a young outlaw chief attempt to kill a Loreesi prince?”
“He would not. But he would surely attempt to kill one of the Areani.”
“But why go after the prince, a well guarded high profile target? No offence to your people, but in my experience Outlaws don’t take the difficult path if there’s an easier target.”
“No offence taken. After the war the Areani rounded up collaborators of the Queen, and apparently sometimes being in the wrong place at the wrong time is enough to die by an Areani blade. His family was unlucky enough to be in the wrong place.”
“But to go after the Prince, he must either have been there personally for the massacre, or... or Jarius is the leader of the Areani, and is responsible for it overall.”
“We currently have no way to know the truth, but it is an idea worth investigating further. Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that it is not our place to intervene here. If it is Balgrim, he has to face the consequences for his own actions. He could have brought his theories to the council, but we should not risk open war. Agreed?”
“Agreed” many voices replied.
“Now, I will set sail for New Lenfald within the hour. You are welcome to accompany me as far as Garheim if you wish.”
Their prisoner just stood there, silent, not knowing what to think or believe. Suddenly the familiar voice addressed him from a short distance, “Thank you for your cooperation Lord Strauss. You will be returned to your household immediately. You may relay what you have heard here to Mark of Falworth at your own risk, he is wise enough to draw his own conclusions. But if you value your life you better not tell anything of this meeting to Prince Jarius. Who knows what HE will do to you.”
Lord Strauss replied “I DO know you. You are Lord M...”
“No names, please. Farewell, Lord Strauss, and don't forget our warning....”
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Happy New Year everyone!
)
