Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva knew this was no less than the end she deserved. She supposed, in her heart of hearts, she'd always known it would end this way. Backed into a corner. About to be executed or ripped to shreds. She just hadn't expected that she'd get to taste such ecstasy of happiness in the weeks before she passed. The Raveness squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for death. 

[Fallapede]

1 hour ago, The Ward's Guard said:

"Needed money."

Jasper nodded. "A most reasonable answer."

Edited September 8, 2021 by Fallapede

[xinoehp512 he/him]

A nameless advisor entered Ivian's presence. He bowed to the king, and checked to make sure no one else was in the room.

@Channelknight Fadran

[Channelknight Fadran]

Ivian's fingers rapped on his throne. Another visitor?

"Well, get to it." He said.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

13 minutes ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

Ivian's fingers rapped on his throne. Another visitor?

"Well, get to it." He said.

"Your majesty," said the nameless advisor, "are you aware of how your family came to possess the throne?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

"No, I do not."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"Your family seized power from the Sturmjoln's two hundred years ago, after a civil war had left the land in ruin," explained the advisor. "This much is common knowledge. What is not, however, is what was done to the remnants of the formerly ruling house. Due to the power inherent to the bloodline, it was decided that the best course of action was total extermination."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"I assure you that I would never resort to such means if I were the one making these decisions."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

2 minutes ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

"I assure you that I would never resort to such means if I were the one making these decisions."

"A luxury that your ancestors decided could not be enjoyed, if the world were to remain whole."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"I am not my ancestors." Ivian growled. "I'm barely of their blood, too."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

The advisor pressed his lips together. "No," he said. "You are not." He considered for a moment, then turned around and strode out of the room. "Come with me," he stated.

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Where?" Ivian first asked.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"The dungeon. And what lies beneath."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"It is not your place to tell me where to go."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

On 9/7/2021 at 6:09 PM, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Riva knew this was no less than the end she deserved. She supposed, in her heart of hearts, she'd always known it would end this way. Backed into a corner. About to be executed or ripped to shreds. She just hadn't expected that she'd get to taste such ecstasy of happiness in the weeks before she passed. The Raveness squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for death. 

The general growled and shouted, flailing his arms in every direction as he thrashed against the men who held him to no avail. They held him with the tried and practiced strength of the veterans that they were. His breathing quickened as he became panicked, screaming curses at the men as he gave them his all. The shear helplessness of it all pained Fischer as he watched it, nearly causing him to fumble as he tried to sneak up on the group. Muller's movements in raising his blade caused the young man to quicken his pace, choosing to accept the risk of being found out as he signaled for the other three men to move. They had surprise, but as soon as that was gone the number of their foes would make it impossible to succeed. Fischer took in a deep breath, inviting the stillness of the mind that came with battle, then nodded towards the others. 

Nowak shouted, startling Muller and drawing his blade. "If you want a fight, I'll give it to you!" The older sergeant called out, swinging his blade to meet the captain's in midair. Fischer and the two others jumped on the four men holding down the general just before they whipped around, recognizing the ambush just too late. They grappled for only a moment before the general bellowed in anger, lifting himself up to join the fray. Fischer grit his teeth, losing count of the blows he had taken. He forced himself to focus on controlling his own body, his own weight as he threw it around to knock aside the traitors. 

Just as quickly as it had started, Fischer found and opening and rolled out from the mess, scrambling to his feet just in time to see two of the men get knocked down. He glanced towards the sergeant, seeing that he and the captain had locked swords, swinging wildly at one another. Fischer caught himself staring at the way the combat moved, as it lacked the solemn methodology that had been taught to all of the Praetorium Guard. It was instead a brutal fight where both men tried anything to gain an edge. 

Fischer blinked, and Nowak shuddered, his knuckles turning white. The captain's lips moved silently as Nowak dropped his sword, the captain's blade having been rammed through the older sergeant's chest. The superior officer shook his head solemnly just as Fischer screamed. 

He didn't remember drawing his blade, he didn't remember charging towards the captain, he couldn't even remember the calm of battle as he swung wildly at the murderer that stood before him. Fischer grit his teeth to hide another scream while the captain dodged back and forth, trying to escape the younger man's wrath long enough to give him time to reset his stance. Fischer didn't care, all he could do was strike, growing more desperate every time it simply slid through air instead of flesh until it made the sharp clang when the captain finally parried. The two stood for a moment, their blades locked before the captain leveraged himself to shove Fischer back. 

The younger man recovered quickly, returning to the stance that had been drilled into him since he had been twelve. He found himself catching and controlling his breath. He tried to recapture the battle focus, but it remained elusive. He chose instead to watch the captain's stance, trying to anticipate what he would try and adjusting his own stance to counter it. 

Only after what had seemed like an eternity did the captain move forward hesitantly, testing Fischer's stance now that the younger man had appeared to calm down. In a flash, Fischer blade whipped forward, making the first strike that was easily counters. He stepped forward, parrying once before feinting to the left, only to jab suddenly at his opponent's right. The captain jerked to the side, trying to avoid the surprise strike before taking the blow to his ribs. Fischer didn't paused when his opponents gasped out at the pain that came through the sleeveless mail, and followed up quickly with a swipe at the captain's sword arm, cutting through the exposed cloth and skin beneath. The captain hollered in pain just as Fischer struck his pommel upon the man's temple. 

Even before the body fell, Fischer whipped around to see the other traitors incapacitated, but he held in the sigh of relief as he rushed to his sergeant's side. 

-------

Caden cleanly kicked one of the traitor's, Corporal Powllee's, weak knee before striking him on the back of his skull. Without a moment's hesitation, he rushed over to his wife, dropping to his knees. "Dearest, are you alright?"

On 9/7/2021 at 7:11 PM, Fallapede said:

Jasper nodded. "A most reasonable answer."

"Uh, why do you do," the guard cleared his throat, "whatever it is that you do?"

Edited September 9, 2021 by The Ward's Guard

[xinoehp512 he/him]

10 hours ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

"It is not your place to tell me where to go."

The advisor shrugged. "Very well. If it is your desire to leave the resolution of the situation to others, you need not come."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

3 hours ago, The Ward's Guard said:

Caden cleanly kicked one of the traitor's, Corporal Powllee's, weak knee before striking him on the back of his skull. Without a moment's hesitation, he rushed over to his wife, dropping to his knees. "Dearest, are you alright?"

"I'm... I..." She showed him her broken fingers. "My hand, look what they've done to me! In my office... I have potions... Oh!" She hugged him and cried, taking care with her mangled appendage. 

[Fallapede]

4 hours ago, The Ward's Guard said:

"Uh, why do you do," the guard cleared his throat, "whatever it is that you do?"

"It is, however slightly, preferable to being executed."

[Channelknight Fadran]

2 hours ago, xinoehp512 said:

The advisor shrugged. "Very well. If it is your desire to leave the resolution of the situation to others, you need not come."

"I was going to come," Ivian said, standing, "but at my discretion, not yours."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

The advisor said nothing, merely led the way down to the dungeons.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Ivian followed, silently praying that he wouldn't have any more visitors tonight.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

On 9/9/2021 at 4:32 AM, Zephrun's Imperium said:

"I'm... I..." She showed him her broken fingers. "My hand, look what they've done to me! In my office... I have potions... Oh!" She hugged him and cried, taking care with her mangled appendage. 

Caden gripped her tightly, "I thought I was going to lose you, too."

On 9/9/2021 at 4:40 AM, Fallapede said:

"It is, however slightly, preferable to being executed."

"If you say so." He gestured to the door they stood before, "here's where you'll wait for your audience, if the King even decides to talk with you."

Edited December 19, 2021 by The Ward's Guard

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“I t-told you the guards were plotting. Listen to your stars cursed wife.”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"I never thought-" Caden shuddered, trying to hide the tears that were welling his eyes. "Please, forgive me."

-------

Fischer rushed to the sergeants side, nearly slipping on the blood that pooled beneath him. He focused on the man instead of the blood around him, turning him over to see his blood soaked shirt. "No no no no," Fischer hurriedly cut open the uniform, trying to clear it away from the wound so he could dress it, but the blood that he knelt in caused his fingers to start trembling. He hardly took notice when Nowak coughed, "kid, are you alright?"

Nowak weakly lifted a hand towards Fischer, but the young Guardsman took it only to put it down on the ground. He hushed the sergeant, "you'll be fine, just rest."

"Did we-" Nowak coughed weakly, "are you safe?"

Fischer looked around in a panic for a bandage, "yes, they're dealt with. Just give me a moment, you'll be fine, too." He hated lying, but he couldn't bear the thought of confronting the truth.

Nowak only shook his head, "it's fine, Fischer. I just . . ."

"Sir." He tapped other man's cheek, "Nowak, you can't fall asleep now. You have to stay awake!"

His sergeant didn't respond, causing Fischer's breathing to grow shallow. He turned towards the other from the Praetorium guard, "I need help! We have to get him to the medicine ward, now!"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva moved to kiss Caden, then paused, pitying the young soldier's cries. "I can help him," she said. "My potions heal as well as hurt. Get him to my office."