"Shit." I was in a dark cave, I could see above the hole I had been dropped through,under my feet I heard the crunch of bones, wherever I had been left it wasn't a place people got back out of. The light was pretty low, making the dimensions of the cave barely visible, I couldn't tell if that was because this cave was in another cave or if it was night out. You would wonder how I went from discussing strategy with rebel leaders to being left in a cave underground, well the answer is I overshare way way too much (I know with all my admissions to crimes in this journal you'd think I'd learn to keep my mouth shut, but you see I'm writing this journal after these events, so of course I still haven't learned to be quiet).
So I was planning things out with Commander cranky pants when I let it casually slip I had once been an associate of Morley (something like "Well I'd think Morley wouldn't be that stupid") she asked how I knew him and I mentioned the previous association (cleaned up mind you I didn't tell her I was a necromancer or anything, I'm not that stupid). I left it at that and thought this was one of those "look Trezlan is useful because he knows the enemy" when I drank my drugged wine that night and wound up in the cave sometime later (look when you're drugged time doesn't make sense anywhere) it became apparent my allies didn't actually think I was worth much to be allied with.
So for those keeping track, I got lost for a couple weeks and when I finally caught up to the people I was supposed to be helping, they drugged me and left me in a cave to die to whatever creatures were hiding within. I tell you if I wasn't such an awful person I'd think I was being unfairly dealt with in the universe, but since I am, well I know I'm being correctly dealt with.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Rebel Rousing
"You're late." Being late is a matter opinion. Its all perception, to you who has been waiting I'm late, to me I'm exactly on time or you're late for not coming and getting me. In this case I was late because I HAD NO IDEA WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO! If I hadn't come across a passing Guard patrol, I would have been lost for a lot longer. Thankfully I did run across one of their scouting parties, and they directed me to where I was requested and I arrived at the camp I was supposed to be at, so a gruff woman who looked to be many times a grandmother could complain I was not on time. Such is the life of Lorentino.
The command tent I'd been ushered into didn't have a lot of decoration. There was a table with a map and some marked positions, a small desk with a chair next to a cot with minimal blankets. If the commander wanted to show she was not much better off than the group she was leading, it was working. As for herself she was old, really really old. Her face had wrinkles on wrinkles, and her skin looked like it had been fire blasted. Hair was thinning and grey and hung to about her shoulders. She talked like she swallowed glass, her uniform was impeccably clean, even if it was that awful powder blue. No rank isignia though, I'd heard the Guard avoided them so as to not become targets for Red Hand long distance killers (the Red Hand of course was the opposite and had been punished for it all war long).
"I'd apologize if I thought this was somehow my fault, but since it is not I'd suggest we just move on." There weren't any guards within the tent, but there had been a couple stationed outside. So I was alone with their leader, The Guard didn't seem that smart, as outside of the ring Toneron had given me, they had no indication I was anyone they should trust ever.
"I'm just at a loss as to what you're doing here Mr. Lorentino, we got the weapons shipment, you don't look like much of a fighter, so what are you are a planner?"
"Sure I'll go with that."
"And what kind of plans would you propose."
"Awful ones."
"Glad to have you on board then, I feel so much better at our chances."
"Thank you Commander Trill, its always good to be so warmly welcomed."
"What are you even doing out here anyway Lorentino?" She was resigned, like she knew I was a bad hand and she'd have to play it out.
"I can't go home or I'll be executed, so I have to win your war to be welcomed back."
"Wel at least we are on the same page." It was true, either The Guard wins, or they all got murdered, the war didn't have a lot of compromising, though it wasn't like The Guard was letting the Red Hand off easy either, they had a shoot on sight order for any magically inclined people. Which makes my aiding them all the more hilarious. It is a bit sad I sided with the normals to put down the magical and now live under their rule, but its not like magical people don't deserve it, we are horrible people only interested in more power that are potentially explosive murder machines with the corruption. It's amazing people don't just kill magic children as early as they show signs. Well openly do that anyway...
The command tent I'd been ushered into didn't have a lot of decoration. There was a table with a map and some marked positions, a small desk with a chair next to a cot with minimal blankets. If the commander wanted to show she was not much better off than the group she was leading, it was working. As for herself she was old, really really old. Her face had wrinkles on wrinkles, and her skin looked like it had been fire blasted. Hair was thinning and grey and hung to about her shoulders. She talked like she swallowed glass, her uniform was impeccably clean, even if it was that awful powder blue. No rank isignia though, I'd heard the Guard avoided them so as to not become targets for Red Hand long distance killers (the Red Hand of course was the opposite and had been punished for it all war long).
"I'd apologize if I thought this was somehow my fault, but since it is not I'd suggest we just move on." There weren't any guards within the tent, but there had been a couple stationed outside. So I was alone with their leader, The Guard didn't seem that smart, as outside of the ring Toneron had given me, they had no indication I was anyone they should trust ever.
"I'm just at a loss as to what you're doing here Mr. Lorentino, we got the weapons shipment, you don't look like much of a fighter, so what are you are a planner?"
"Sure I'll go with that."
"And what kind of plans would you propose."
"Awful ones."
"Glad to have you on board then, I feel so much better at our chances."
"Thank you Commander Trill, its always good to be so warmly welcomed."
"What are you even doing out here anyway Lorentino?" She was resigned, like she knew I was a bad hand and she'd have to play it out.
"I can't go home or I'll be executed, so I have to win your war to be welcomed back."
"Wel at least we are on the same page." It was true, either The Guard wins, or they all got murdered, the war didn't have a lot of compromising, though it wasn't like The Guard was letting the Red Hand off easy either, they had a shoot on sight order for any magically inclined people. Which makes my aiding them all the more hilarious. It is a bit sad I sided with the normals to put down the magical and now live under their rule, but its not like magical people don't deserve it, we are horrible people only interested in more power that are potentially explosive murder machines with the corruption. It's amazing people don't just kill magic children as early as they show signs. Well openly do that anyway...
Friday, July 6, 2012
There's a lot of Norths
When someone tells you to go North, its usually not considered good directions, unless its like "Go north thirty feet and boom there you are." Which is to say when Toneron suggested I go North it was a lot like telling me "just go over there find a guy." I mean if I went too far up North I'd wind up in the damn Lunar Empire (which was a few weeks away from being wiped out at the time, I'd go into it, but why bother it was a tiny little group not connected to the war that got wiped out for being stupid, Nidget calls himself the last emperor of the Lunar Empire, that tells you how crappy it had to be). Also it wasn't like I wasn't WALKING THROUGH A DAMN WAR ZONE! So to say I had difficulty getting to the group that Toneron wanted me to assist was putting it mildly! The only nice thing to happen during that time period was the Red Hand had doomed themselves before I had even gotten directly involved!
You see one faction in Red Hand territory that was content despite their war nature to let the conflict go on by were the Followers of Fire. They worshipped war, and had a large army amongst their "priests", but they did not want to be involved in a territorial war, nor did they think it was their place (they had learned of course from Ronerawth kicking them out of the country after the last conflict). There was of course a conflict within the Followers though about which side to support should they had to support a side, and much like the overall conflict it came down to who could use magic and who could not. In the Followers they had distinctions in their priest hiearchy between magical users and non magical (non magical were thought of as lessers due to not being as adept at physical combat). Obviously each side wanted to support their own faction in the overrall Red Hand conflict, but the elders at the top forbade it. That was until the magical followers allied with the Red Hand to murder the Elders (a plot so stupid if I wasn't completely unaware of it I would have thought it was my plan to end the damn war myself!). It actually worked, the magical group in a brilliant blitz attack killed all of the elders in one go. The problem of course was the magical followers (known as the True Priests of The Fire God) have less membership than the none magical, and killing off the Elders didn't lead to the none magical just accepting the True Priests as their leaders.
It actually lead to the none magical to unleash their trump card; the Sins of the Fire God (I know this entry has a lot of different factions, I'd apologize, but if I started to apologize for every confusing entry I'd never tell you anything original again, sin is short for Assassin, because calling them asses would likely get you killed). I wasn't aware of their existence and neither was the Red Hand, until their judges and leaders started showing up in pieces or on display. Sin's are nasty to begin with, these guys took it to a new level, supposedly raised from birth within the church to murder for whoever they were pointed out, they were maddeningly efficient and horribly brutal. There was a story shortly after the Followers formally entered the war, where a True Priest was hiding in a town and a Sin was sent to find him. The townsfolk were pro Red Hand and so they hid the True Priest from the Sin, until he murdered everyone. And I don't mean like murdered just the men, he killed everyone in town and burned it to the ground. All told it was over fifty people, including several children.
Point being, the Red Hand had pissed off a faction that unleashed remorseless killers on them, and an army of men who literraly lived for conflict. It was beautiful in stupidity, probably go down as the all time boneheaded move of any war ever. I like to think it was Morley who did it, but I know he's too smart to be that dumb. None of that of course dealt with me WANDERING NORTH FOR TWO FREAKING WEEKS! See I wrote all that down to excuse being lost for a couple weeks. You're welcome.
You see one faction in Red Hand territory that was content despite their war nature to let the conflict go on by were the Followers of Fire. They worshipped war, and had a large army amongst their "priests", but they did not want to be involved in a territorial war, nor did they think it was their place (they had learned of course from Ronerawth kicking them out of the country after the last conflict). There was of course a conflict within the Followers though about which side to support should they had to support a side, and much like the overall conflict it came down to who could use magic and who could not. In the Followers they had distinctions in their priest hiearchy between magical users and non magical (non magical were thought of as lessers due to not being as adept at physical combat). Obviously each side wanted to support their own faction in the overrall Red Hand conflict, but the elders at the top forbade it. That was until the magical followers allied with the Red Hand to murder the Elders (a plot so stupid if I wasn't completely unaware of it I would have thought it was my plan to end the damn war myself!). It actually worked, the magical group in a brilliant blitz attack killed all of the elders in one go. The problem of course was the magical followers (known as the True Priests of The Fire God) have less membership than the none magical, and killing off the Elders didn't lead to the none magical just accepting the True Priests as their leaders.
It actually lead to the none magical to unleash their trump card; the Sins of the Fire God (I know this entry has a lot of different factions, I'd apologize, but if I started to apologize for every confusing entry I'd never tell you anything original again, sin is short for Assassin, because calling them asses would likely get you killed). I wasn't aware of their existence and neither was the Red Hand, until their judges and leaders started showing up in pieces or on display. Sin's are nasty to begin with, these guys took it to a new level, supposedly raised from birth within the church to murder for whoever they were pointed out, they were maddeningly efficient and horribly brutal. There was a story shortly after the Followers formally entered the war, where a True Priest was hiding in a town and a Sin was sent to find him. The townsfolk were pro Red Hand and so they hid the True Priest from the Sin, until he murdered everyone. And I don't mean like murdered just the men, he killed everyone in town and burned it to the ground. All told it was over fifty people, including several children.
Point being, the Red Hand had pissed off a faction that unleashed remorseless killers on them, and an army of men who literraly lived for conflict. It was beautiful in stupidity, probably go down as the all time boneheaded move of any war ever. I like to think it was Morley who did it, but I know he's too smart to be that dumb. None of that of course dealt with me WANDERING NORTH FOR TWO FREAKING WEEKS! See I wrote all that down to excuse being lost for a couple weeks. You're welcome.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
The Empire Goes Out with a Bang
I had fallen asleep in the rafters (you know I'm surprised I never died by falling off of the damn things while I was up there, I guess something is looking out for me). I had to admit I was more than a little worried about the empire I had gotten myself trapped in (no thanks to that damned fool Tripp), so of course I slept like a baby and woke up to the sound of sandals making a loud slapping noise on the ornate floor in the throne room. The emperor had joined me in our slumber and was equally as awakened by the sound of the sandals. The approaching man was dressed in light silks, I couldn't entirely make out his face, but it appeared he was down an eye (there was a scar that ran down the left side of his face that was very prominent, it cut across the eye and I figured most likely he didn't have the function of it), he also was armed with three pistols, one in a clutch under his left arm, one on his right hip, and a third in a rear holster also set up for the right hand, I couldn't tell for sure, but it appeared he was right handed. Under the pistol on the left side was dagger of a sort as well, there was a matched opposite one on his right side, but it had no pistol above it.
"Who are you? What is the meaning of you being in my throne room?"
"Mordere, I'm here to deliver a message." The name was not as well known then as it is now, the man who I have come across a few times since this, is a Sin (short for Assassin, because calling them ass's would be vulgar and not be as scary) and he isn't known for being a man of a lot of words.
"Ok, where is the message?" The emperor went to grab a pair of reading glasses and was killed before he could even reach them. Mordere had drawn his pistol and fired the single fatal shot faster than I'd ever seen before or since.
"The message is your empire is dead, and now so are you." He turned on his heel, the smoke from his pistol shot still hovered where he had previously been. I took in a sharper breath than I intended and Mordere turned his pistol drawn again hammer already hit back tracking the rafters. He spotted me with little trouble and hesistated for a small moment, then smiled and holstered his pistol. He left not bothering to shoot me (because I'm a shorty we are not worth it I figured). I waited a while to be sure he would not return and then checked on the Emperor.
The bullet had hit him just above the right eye, and blown out the back of his head. He was beyond any magic or ability to save, even if someone wanted to. His crown though was very much intact, and had a lot of very nice jewels in it. I was afraid to take the crown, but since a man had just walked in and shot the emperor, I figured no one was left who cared. And I was right, as I left the throne room I could see bodies everywhere. People had died suddenly, clutching at their throats as if choking, probably because they had. The few survivors who remained had been executed in the streets by the passing Guard army.
I would come to find out afterward they had poisoned the water (because one of the advancements of the empire had been a way of routing their central water supply this proved especially devastating). I had been saved by not having drank for a couple days (couldn't find an open bit of water available without someone watching it), I was able to escape the ensuing guard massacre, because no one cares about shorties. And so you now know how I became an emperor, I stole the crown off a body after everyone was poisoned to death because no one wins a war without murdering a lot of people. You know maybe I should have just told the shortened story instead of this longer one.
"Who are you? What is the meaning of you being in my throne room?"
"Mordere, I'm here to deliver a message." The name was not as well known then as it is now, the man who I have come across a few times since this, is a Sin (short for Assassin, because calling them ass's would be vulgar and not be as scary) and he isn't known for being a man of a lot of words.
"Ok, where is the message?" The emperor went to grab a pair of reading glasses and was killed before he could even reach them. Mordere had drawn his pistol and fired the single fatal shot faster than I'd ever seen before or since.
"The message is your empire is dead, and now so are you." He turned on his heel, the smoke from his pistol shot still hovered where he had previously been. I took in a sharper breath than I intended and Mordere turned his pistol drawn again hammer already hit back tracking the rafters. He spotted me with little trouble and hesistated for a small moment, then smiled and holstered his pistol. He left not bothering to shoot me (because I'm a shorty we are not worth it I figured). I waited a while to be sure he would not return and then checked on the Emperor.
The bullet had hit him just above the right eye, and blown out the back of his head. He was beyond any magic or ability to save, even if someone wanted to. His crown though was very much intact, and had a lot of very nice jewels in it. I was afraid to take the crown, but since a man had just walked in and shot the emperor, I figured no one was left who cared. And I was right, as I left the throne room I could see bodies everywhere. People had died suddenly, clutching at their throats as if choking, probably because they had. The few survivors who remained had been executed in the streets by the passing Guard army.
I would come to find out afterward they had poisoned the water (because one of the advancements of the empire had been a way of routing their central water supply this proved especially devastating). I had been saved by not having drank for a couple days (couldn't find an open bit of water available without someone watching it), I was able to escape the ensuing guard massacre, because no one cares about shorties. And so you now know how I became an emperor, I stole the crown off a body after everyone was poisoned to death because no one wins a war without murdering a lot of people. You know maybe I should have just told the shortened story instead of this longer one.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Raftersations
A good hiding place is like anything else in life, best out of reach of things that can kill you (except because of guns thats a very limited set of places). Failing that, in a place no one would ever think to look. Which is what lead me to scaling up into the rafters of the palace with some stolen food supplies and hoping for things to get better (not the best plan, but plans are plans). The best part is that the rafters were fairly high up and no one seemed to look up there (I had previously been tasked with cleaning up in the rafters and after discovering an unhealthy amount of dust, figured no one has been up there... ever). They also were connected to the whole palace, meaning I had the run of the place and could slink down to grab food, drink, or go to the bathroom without people noticing me. Which is what lead once again to hearing something I probably would have been better off not knowing.
"Emperor they demand we give up any and all arms and submit to their rule." I was in the throne room, because I wanted to feel a bit royal, also I had gotten lost earlier.
"I already capitulated to their request! What more can the Red Hand demand of me?" The emperor was old, and getting older with each passing moment.
"These aren't the Red Hand my lord, they call themselves the Guard, and they heard about our deal with the Red Hand, they demand we stop providing for their enemy." I felt for the emperor, in trying to please one group promising anihilation he angered the other, this frequently happens to me as well, though on a smaller scale, and usually involving people who lend money.
"Damn this war! We can not win." I'd heard the phrase before, but usually not at the government level, I felt for the Lunar Empire, but they should have known this was coming, they could not weather any storm forever.
"My liege what shall I tell them."
"Tell them I need more time."
"Yes my lord." As all things had happened. Time had already ran out. The emperor didn't know it, neither did I, but his people were already lost. The Guard had decided to make an example out of them, and any who opposed them, and so in a way I watched the last royal meeting of the Lunar Empire, well aside from when I get drunk and call court on my own, but this was at least more official!
"Emperor they demand we give up any and all arms and submit to their rule." I was in the throne room, because I wanted to feel a bit royal, also I had gotten lost earlier.
"I already capitulated to their request! What more can the Red Hand demand of me?" The emperor was old, and getting older with each passing moment.
"These aren't the Red Hand my lord, they call themselves the Guard, and they heard about our deal with the Red Hand, they demand we stop providing for their enemy." I felt for the emperor, in trying to please one group promising anihilation he angered the other, this frequently happens to me as well, though on a smaller scale, and usually involving people who lend money.
"Damn this war! We can not win." I'd heard the phrase before, but usually not at the government level, I felt for the Lunar Empire, but they should have known this was coming, they could not weather any storm forever.
"My liege what shall I tell them."
"Tell them I need more time."
"Yes my lord." As all things had happened. Time had already ran out. The emperor didn't know it, neither did I, but his people were already lost. The Guard had decided to make an example out of them, and any who opposed them, and so in a way I watched the last royal meeting of the Lunar Empire, well aside from when I get drunk and call court on my own, but this was at least more official!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Between the Army and Certain Death
"No." I was in the kitchen, my boots were still coated in grime and I admit I probably smelled a little worse for wear. Tripp was actually looking nice, dressed in chef whites and he was actually directing others around if you can believe that (I know its hard to believe a shorty of any stature could command respect, even more unbelieveable if you knew Tripp Like I did).
"We have to leave Tripp, this place is about to go a very bad place." I was pleading with him to listen to me, I realize this is a reversal in fortunes and it didn't take very long for it to happen.
"No Nidget I like it here, I know you hate it because you have to actually work, so leave, take whatever made up excuse you have and leave, I'm done with you anyway I just needed a body guard and you sufficed." I felt used, because I had been. I'll admit my concern for Tripp evaporated pretty much when he told me that. My only tie to the Lunar Empire gone I gathered my things to take off, I hadn't made a lot of money or stolen anything, so all I really had was my thieving tools, my weaponry and my dirty clothes. So not exactly a great traveling outfit, but I've made due with less on worse, so I was set to take off.
I wasn't the only one, it had only been a few weeks since Tripp and I had arrived, but the flow of people leaving the empire was pretty big in the other direction. Well it would have been if there wasn't a damn army between us and leaving. Yes the force that had threatened to destroy the Empire had just arrived. So I did what I do best. I hid and hoped it all went away. And you know the best part? It actually did. Well sort of...
"We have to leave Tripp, this place is about to go a very bad place." I was pleading with him to listen to me, I realize this is a reversal in fortunes and it didn't take very long for it to happen.
"No Nidget I like it here, I know you hate it because you have to actually work, so leave, take whatever made up excuse you have and leave, I'm done with you anyway I just needed a body guard and you sufficed." I felt used, because I had been. I'll admit my concern for Tripp evaporated pretty much when he told me that. My only tie to the Lunar Empire gone I gathered my things to take off, I hadn't made a lot of money or stolen anything, so all I really had was my thieving tools, my weaponry and my dirty clothes. So not exactly a great traveling outfit, but I've made due with less on worse, so I was set to take off.
I wasn't the only one, it had only been a few weeks since Tripp and I had arrived, but the flow of people leaving the empire was pretty big in the other direction. Well it would have been if there wasn't a damn army between us and leaving. Yes the force that had threatened to destroy the Empire had just arrived. So I did what I do best. I hid and hoped it all went away. And you know the best part? It actually did. Well sort of...
Monday, July 2, 2012
How The Mighty Are Brought Low
Tripp had been right. The Lunar Empire was actually accepting shorties (or really anyone) who could cook and clean to keep their tiny hamlet running. It wasn't even hard to cross the "border" (I put that in quotes because it was a couple guys standing next to a wood barricade with guns older than me). Tripp had of course been assigned to the kitchen (which is why he carried all those kitchen implements), me I got stuck cleaning things. Which you would think would afford great opportunities to steal things. You'd be dead wrong!
No see shorties don't get normal jobs like dusting plates or something. No we have to climb under and through pipes all over the damn land! I tell you the worst part about this con was actively working hard. Like I'd never had a real job until the Lunar Empire, and yet there I was scrubbing pipes and hoping to find a bit of coin or discarded jewlery (neither of which ever emerged). I did however hear something that lead me to believe that things were not well in the lands of the Lunar Empire. It should have been readily apparent from the lack of people and the demand for people to come be servants, but what can I say I'm not always as observant as I should be. It was while I was cleaning out a clogged storm drain that I heard a couple Lunar Empire guards discussing something. I couldn't tell who they were (nor did I really know anyone anyway) but I'll let their conversation speak for itself.
"The emperor has gone insane, we can not ally with them."
"We have to, if we do not we'll all be destroyed they were clear on that."
"Destroyed?" The one guard laughed, "How can they destroy the gods chosen?" Here is where I had to avoid laughing.
"We must act soon, and the emperor knows this."
"Perhaps we should act, to remove the emperor." At this point they walked off and I slipped into more muck (I mean why not make a bad situation worse?) But I was terrified of the conversation. An empire in turmoil is not a place to be doing day labor, its not even the place to swing in for a bite to eat. And there I was with knowledge of an attempted coup or potential destruction and the thing most on my mind? I hoped the mud would come out of my boots. Yeah I'm a man of action.
No see shorties don't get normal jobs like dusting plates or something. No we have to climb under and through pipes all over the damn land! I tell you the worst part about this con was actively working hard. Like I'd never had a real job until the Lunar Empire, and yet there I was scrubbing pipes and hoping to find a bit of coin or discarded jewlery (neither of which ever emerged). I did however hear something that lead me to believe that things were not well in the lands of the Lunar Empire. It should have been readily apparent from the lack of people and the demand for people to come be servants, but what can I say I'm not always as observant as I should be. It was while I was cleaning out a clogged storm drain that I heard a couple Lunar Empire guards discussing something. I couldn't tell who they were (nor did I really know anyone anyway) but I'll let their conversation speak for itself.
"The emperor has gone insane, we can not ally with them."
"We have to, if we do not we'll all be destroyed they were clear on that."
"Destroyed?" The one guard laughed, "How can they destroy the gods chosen?" Here is where I had to avoid laughing.
"We must act soon, and the emperor knows this."
"Perhaps we should act, to remove the emperor." At this point they walked off and I slipped into more muck (I mean why not make a bad situation worse?) But I was terrified of the conversation. An empire in turmoil is not a place to be doing day labor, its not even the place to swing in for a bite to eat. And there I was with knowledge of an attempted coup or potential destruction and the thing most on my mind? I hoped the mud would come out of my boots. Yeah I'm a man of action.
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