Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Final Chapter)

[Deuce Traveler]

Caramip begins talking fast, and in the middle of the discussion Dartis braces himself as he recognizes that she is about to let loose a spell. Suddenly, the lead guard lets Dartis go and begins to argue with the magistrate. "Sir, this isn't necessary. These people seem quite nice and I don't see any reason why we should bother them any further."

The man grimaces and raises his hand as if in the act of casting, "You fools, she's enchanting you!" His spell is interrupted by the guard, however, who intervenes by throwing himself between the two groups and throwing off the magic.

The second guard yells outside for reinforcements as he attempts to grapple with Dartis.

 

[Fenris]

Caramip begins talking fast, and in the middle of the discussion Dartis braces himself as he recognizes that she is about to let loose a spell. Suddenly, the lead guard lets Dartis go and begins to argue with the magistrate. "Sir, this isn't necessary. These people seem quite nice and I don't see any reason why we should bother them any further."

The man grimaces and raises his hand as if in the act of casting, "You fools, she's enchanting you!" His spell is interrupted by the guard, however, who intervenes by throwing himself between the two groups and throwing off the magic.

The second guard yells outside for reinforcements as he attempts to grapple with Dartis.

Dartis looks around at the other patrons as they apprehensively watch. He can't fight he entire guard. He pushes the guard against the man in the robes. He holds a hand up to Cara.

"Fine, I will accompany you, though you still have not answered my charge, nor identified yourself or under what authority you detain me. I had not realized that the Empire had grown so fearful of it's importence."

He turns to the barmaid "Would you do me a favor and send a message to Imperial Commander Sassarius and let him know that an old friend from the north has come to see him and let him know these gentlemen have escorted me away" as he tosses a few coins on the bar.

Several word in the last sentance were spoken with a great deal of sarcasm. Dartis walks directly out of the bar calmly and with purpose.

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Caramip Ashhearth

She in the midst of sealing their escape with another spell when Dartis makes his sudden and unexpected surrender. Her spell fizzles and she soon finds herself walking out the door behind her campaign with a frustrated look on her face. She quickly motions for her befriended guard to join them and says, “No need for fighting, just promise that no harm will come to either of us, ok? Good!”


OOC: DAMN IT! We were so close!! Curse Dartis and his Lawful good intentions!

 

[Fenris]

She in the midst of sealing their escape with another spell when Dartis makes his sudden and unexpected surrender. Her spell fizzles and she soon finds herself walking out the door behind her campaign with a frustrated look on her face. She quickly motions for her befriended guard to join them and says, “No need for fighting, just promise that no harm will come to either of us, ok? Good!”


OOC: DAMN IT! We were so close!! Curse Dartis and his Lawful good intentions!

OOC: I know, I should have been a Paladin. Immune to disease would have been very handy right about now.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

The magistrate seems taken aback as he had fully expected to continue the fight, but then raises a hand in a silent command to his men. They hesitantly give Dartis space. "Very well. In return for your cooperation you will be allowed to walk freely. As for by what authority I act, I act in the name of the Emperor as myself and my colleagues have been sent by his order with the specific instructions to track down the hiding priests of Festios and their allies. These are dark times that may spell the end of this great Empire, and so I admit that our current techniques are focused more on speed and brutality than respect for the rights of the citizens. May there be reason for change and soon. As for Commander Sassarius, I cannot guarentee that your friendship with him will be to your benefit. The Emperor has asked that he remain many miles outside the city for now, along with his army."

The magistrate motions for you to follow him, which you do through half-empty streets that you imagine must have been filled with life before the plague. Now you see the few survivors either staring into nothingness with hopeless eyes or muttering to themselves in anguish over lost relatives and friends.

Although you walk freely, Collasti Mefust has been tied and gagged and is being partly driven and partly kicked towards the still beautiful Imperial estate. The guards don't smile as they rough him up; their actions are less sport than complete contempt. You reach the tall marble columns of the Imperial palace and the magistrate receives nods from the many guards. Those standing here seem healthier than those in the rest of the city, and as you and the magistrate climb the polished stairs to the main hall he seems to read your mind. "The priests that the Emperor has still allowed to legally worship are working hard to fight back the disease and keep the city alive. However, this is the head of the city and therefore the head of the Empire. The members of the government and its protectors are given the best treatment for if the Senate or the Emperor were to fall it would likely throw the fragile remnants of Tallione into complete chaos and death. Damn Festios!"

 

[Fenris]

The magistrate seems taken aback as he had fully expected to continue the fight, but then raises a hand in a silent command to his men. They hesitantly give Dartis space. "Very well. In return for your cooperation you will be allowed to walk freely. As for by what authority I act, I act in the name of the Emperor as myself and my colleagues have been sent by his order with the specific instructions to track down the hiding priests of Festios and their allies. These are dark times that may spell the end of this great Empire, and so I admit that our current techniques are focused more on speed and brutality than respect for the rights of the citizens. May there be reason for change and soon. As for Commander Sassarius, I cannot guarentee that your friendship with him will be to your benefit. The Emperor has asked that he remain many miles outside the city for now, along with his army."

"And would this be to prevent the spread of more disease, or merely the continuation of the petty politics of the capital?" says Dartis thinking back to the face of Sassarius and the image on the Shield of Kings.

"The priests that the Emperor has still allowed to legally worship are working hard to fight back the disease and keep the city alive. However, this is the head of the city and therefore the head of the Empire. The members of the government and its protectors are given the best treatment for if the Senate or the Emperor were to fall it would likely throw the fragile remnants of Tallione into complete chaos and death. Damn Festios!"

"Damn Festios indeed. Though I have to wonder who will be left for the Senate and Emperor to rule if they do not adequately protect their own people from this insidious plague. It seems a paradox does it not Magistrate. If the Senate falls, the Empire will fall, but if the Senate stands it may have no Empire to rule. By the way, you never gave me your name Magistrate."

 

[Deuce Traveler]

As they journey, the Magistrate answers one of Dartis' questions, "Actually it alienates are already suffering people, but there have been some extremely important successes." He nods towards the bound Collasti Mefust as way of example.

When the group reaches the doors to the Emperor's court the man answers the other inquiry. "I am Magistrate Gracchus Sassarius, recently restored to service despite rumors of my half-brother's desire to take the throne." The Imperial guards to the court open the double doors and introduce him by title and name as he holds worth his symbol of office, the holy symbol of Plativus, god of civilization and philosophy. He strides forward with his own guards pushing Collasti ahead of them.

In this large hall with grand arches that let in the light of the sun you see several men standing in front a tall marble chair and wearing the robes of members of the Senate. Still, one tall and old man with a balding head, piercing eyes, and a martial bearing seems to draw your eyes with the force of command that he brings. "Magistrate, I see you have brought in Collasti but who are your additional companions?"

After Gracchus explains the circumstances in which he encountered you, the old man nods towards one Senator who seems to cast some kind of spell. The Senator nods towards the old man in readiness, and in turn the old man asks, "Now answer truthfully these questions. How do you know Collasti? What are you doing in the city? Who are you?"

 

[Bloodweaver1]

ooc: Sorry been busy, will respond shortly.

 

[Fenris]

When the group reaches the doors to the Emperor's court the man answers the other inquiry. "I am Magistrate Gracchus Sassarius, recently restored to service despite rumors of my half-brother's desire to take the throne."

Dartis stops to look at the Magistrate and with a wry smile replies "You don't look much like him, do you think those rumors are true of your half-brother? And where would he get such an idea?"

After Gracchus explains the circumstances in which he encountered you, the old man nods towards one Senator who seems to cast some kind of spell. The Senator nods towards the old man in readiness, and in turn the old man asks, "Now answer truthfully these questions. How do you know Collasti? What are you doing in the city? Who are you?"

"If the bound gnome before you is Collasti, then I only know him as a patron of a tavern I stopped in momentarily. I have come to the city to learn more about the plague that threatens and cripples it. As to who I am, I am no one of consequence any more, but you may address me as Dartis." replies Dartis humbly and honestly.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

"You're right we don't look alike. My father married a Dorinthian slave girl after my mother died, although I must admit I got along with my younger sibling well enough. As for the stories of his possible treason, many of the emperor's advisors tried to convince us that it was true, though I sometimes doubt the emperor himself believed it otherwise he would have commanded my half-brother to appear in front of the court without his army instead of having him wait miles away. Then the true treason was revealed to us during this rise of Festios' disease and many of the advisors were revealed to be worshippers of Festios, Oberius, and Cryon."

As you answer the three questions the advisor near the emperor says, "Truth, truth, and truth"

The old man smirks and says, "Well, yes. Some truth anyway. Now two more questions. Your statements make it seem as if you are ignorant of the plague that has beset the Empire. Your accent and appearance is strongly Dorinthian, and I assume you've been out in the country or farther away from our grasp instead of the urban centers we have controlled since we have lost the Dorinthian urban centers due to the plague. So, are there still fair amounts of Dorinthians still surviving and untouched by the plague? And do you fear that the plague will reach them all eventually regardless?"