[RPG] [FEI] Rebirth, Part I

[James]

A vast column of people marched through the streets of Idapur: men, women
and children. For a solid mile saw the light of torches, the point of raised
pitchforks and other implements of destruction: their path steady, their
arms ready and their minds clear. At its head marched Orphen, Duke of
Idapur, Saviour of Aenilia; he who saw the rule of heresy shattered and the
rule of merit rise. Beside him marched Luyten, Regent King of Greater
Aenilia, Liberator of Aenilia; he who tore Aenilia in two so that it might
be saved.

Onwards they marched, towards the last remnant of Old Aenilia: the corrupt
and oligarchic Vandaenil, the guild of elite that claimed itself a temple.

They had not made it less than a thousand feet before the horde surged,
breaking down the doors, forcing their way through the fat officials in the
guise of priests by fist and steel. Just ahead of them were Orphen's own
men, identifying the sacred texts from the heretical remblings before
putting the latter to torch.

Outside, Orphen and Luyten stood at the great plaque adorning the building's
front wall. Holy words greeted them, having been tainted by those twisting
them to their own gain.

"Must this be done, my lord?"

It must.Orphaea looked down at his gloved hands - as Orphens, they had still
not healed from last time the plaque had been shattered. Heresy started
here, and it is here that heresy shall end.

Wordlessly, Luyten handed Orphen a great hammer. Gripping it tightly, Orphen
lifted the hammer and struck the plaque. It was unclear if he felt any pain
at striking the words this time - the only emotion Orphaea showed was
greater determination and strength at each blow.

Finally, the plaque shattered. Without pausing for breath, Orphen took up
the metal scraps, moved to a portable smithy closeby set up for this
purpose, and cast the scraps into the flames.

It is done.

"Indeed."

Luyten remained for a moment, staring into the brazier which stood before
them, its red flames glittering as the remnants of the plaque melted before
his eyes. Then, he reached out for a moment, shutting his eyes and breathing
in the surroundings and feeling the heat emanating from the glowing metal.

He raised an unlit torch to the heavens and muttered an undecipherable
prayer to the Aenil as the crowds which massed behind them watched intently.
Lowering his gaze once more, he lit the torch with the bright flames of the
brazier, its incandesence flaring out to engulf the crown of the torch with
its cleansing fire. Luyten turned to the Vandaenil and reflected for a
moment longer.

"At last my task is done, my reign as King is ended, and I give up unto the
Prophet of the Aenil a new realm, forged in the ashes of the old and the
corrupt."

And with his last words he hurled the the flaming torch high up on the roof
of the guildhouse, it sputtered for a moment as it struck the solid tiled
surface, but then its flames were joined by hundreds of others who had also
thrown aloft their instruments of destruction. The tiles smashed, revealing
the seasoned wood beneath.

Luyten and Orphen stood for a moment, to watch the temple as the flames
within spread and the building started to collapse.

We will rebuild... we will see this land pure and blessed in the eyes of the
Aenil again.

"I am ready, my lord."

You will serve well, lord Luyten. Now, it is time for me to see to my
people.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://news.battlemaster.org/pipermail/rpg/attachments/20060708/d569372f/attachment.htm