Killed.

[21:58] The front of the prison held many forms of punishment, most of them temporary. Stocks, primarily, but a few other implements as well. Among them was an ill-used chopping block, a heavy stone block stained red from past executions.

Kirai was led to it, pressed down atop it. "Kirai Kurokaiyo. The First Light has found you guilty for Kidnapping, Assault, Maiming, Resisting Arrest, and Assault on a figure of leadership with intent to kill.

And has sentenced you to die." The words struck with a finality, announced to all present.

"If you have last words before the Stars and crowd, now is the time."
(Atrosus lux Vandigan)


[22:14] Kirai having stood obediently by in silence as his judgement was delivered, would now raise his eyes to the crowd arrayed before him. His eyes having grown jaundiced, his skin taught, and his body bruised and scarred but showing no fresh wounds.

His eyes scan over the crowd arrayed here, his eyes that betray the facade of a man already dead. His eyes burning with an internal hatred that might rival the flames of those stars burning in the heavens above.

"My last words...?" He'd muse for a moment.

And then, he'd smile. A small, wicked little smile. A smile that might haunt the dreams of those who had come to see him die, come to witness his end...

It was a smile that should have been on the face of a man that had tasted victory in battle. Not a man who was now condemned to death.

"Yes, I suppose I have a few last words..." He'd begin, clearing his throat and taking a deep breath.

"Hear my words, and heed them well you vile and forsaken cowards! Knights of the First Light! Worshippers of Flame and Void! Filth-Blooded Nobles!"

"Hear my words, all those that lord themselves over this city and it's people! Tyrants and Fools that you are, you have brought me low, and I am left only to beseech the darkest powers that be that one day, all the world and all who look upon your rotting hearts, shall see the filth I saw!"

"That your truth, the disgraceful and wretched nature you dare conceal, be laid bare! That the foundations of this city shake themselves apart, and all your knights, and all your priests, and all your kings are crushed amongst it's bones!"

"My body may die here...! But my hate, my rage, my regret and that of all those that have died where I stand... That shall live on, and I give my life freely, I curse my soul to never join your loveless stars, so that it may haunt you all and that it may return to Osruna one day as a Demon of Vengeance to reap your wretched souls!"
(Kirai Kurokaiyo)

[22:20] A heavy greatsword was drawn from its sheath as Kirai prepared to speak, the blade tip planted in the ground with a sigh. Atrosus watched passively at the speech, not so much as moving a muscle during it. He was allowed his last words, his last opinions.

Not when they wouldn't prevent his death.

"Those are your last words? Then so be it." The Radiant stepped forward, placing the sharp edge of the sword against the dojo masters neck, letting it rest for just a moment.

"Kirai, I hope you find in the next life what you so clearly earned in this one. Stars guide you."

Heavy steel drew back.

And came down in a cleaving arc, separating head from body in one single swipe.

Ending the life of Kirai Kurokaiyo.
(Atrosus lux Vandigan)

[22:31] Any who might look to Kirai's children in the crowd, himself included, looking for a reaction out of them, some sign that they had bene rattled to their cores, roused by their father's words...anyone expecting a sudden reaction, maybe tears, or some other nervewracked response...

Would be sorely disappointed if they were looking at Jericho.

Kirai Kurokaiyo's adopted son looks on as he is executed with the same stalwart resolution that his father effused while he was to be executed.

He meets the man's eyes even as his head is being separated rom his body.

And when the head rolls, Jericho's bows respectfully. And in that moment, he remembered bowing before his father dozens of times...starting from when he could barely speak.

It appears that this would be the last time.

Well fought, father, to the bitter end...

For just a moment, for an instant, he can feel them. The bitter sting of tears beginning to well up in his eyes. The all too familiar feeling of him losing control of his emotions - of him being unable to suppress the natural, human reaction to losing a loved one. And in that moment, he understands.

Jericho understands why the code is written as it is, while those around him chime justice, while they breathe sighs of relief, that their boogeyman has been put to rest.

Because while their nightmare ends, his starts here.

A world without the man to whom he owed everything.

A deep breath, instead of tears. It's all he could do. Kirai was only dead if he gave up now.

Kirai was only dead if one foot stopped moving in front of the other.

It's all Jericho can do to console himself with the head of his father on the ground like someone's forgotten leftovers.

It's all a part of the code, Jericho.
(Jericho)