a new rising presence

Echoes of steel reached a crescendo within the air, each step breaking the silence as the final step clapped upon the cobble of the road. The road had ended, not because of an obstacle, but rather by a lord.

A silence followed, only for the entity to place one of his bony fingers upon the scarf that hid his face. Embers rolled out of the fabric, as the curved lips revealed itself into a large grin.

"Basil, is it not?"

Then the embers imploded upon themselves, leaving traces of light around the justice. A pause was given, only for their gazes to meet.

"Alabastre is under your control. Illburg is under your control. You are quite a fascinating entity in this realm. Perchance, will you give an audience with one justiciar of the godless?"
(Ordideus)

Manifestations of magic all too familiar.

Yet, the most that he's seen it was back in Osrona. As much as he knows that this sort of magic belongs to anybody who cares to master it, there's still an odd association with Osrona, if only because of how many magi from there seem to dabble into such art..

But while the man approaches to Basil, he eventually speaks out.

"Yes. My name is Basil."

"I'm a king of Alabastre and High Lord of the Rhoynur."

The testament of such is found upon his appearance; where the riches and gold are left upon the tanned frame of the Rhoynish akin to the golden earrings, and the golden arm-rings on each arm; one that signifies his own passage of the rites as adult, and another that belongs to the High Lord.

Depicting all glory of Njorun, the Primordial of the Rhoynish.

"And what is it that you needed, then?"
(Basil)

A translucent light ran in the ether, with the justiciar's left hand grasping only one bolt of such a light, only for it to shatter as if a mirror upon his fingertips. A light of judgement sought for its restraint within the reflections. It feared nothing, but itself. It was clear, whoever this entity were to be, he did not care for death.

The energy would cascade onto his semblance, only for his eyelids to close and his curved lips, to be carved downward into a grimace. How the justiciar hated the self-righteous, the lords of this realm, the ones that stood in their sin of idle and ignorance.

"Rhoynur have been seared by the light, used as pawns by those that had shackled their potential. You seek to bring back their glory, do you not, High Lord?"

Then, the eyelids opened and the icy hues of the justice would once more settle upon the visage of the high lord. A pause, a silence of the dead roamed, only for the justiciarto speak on his arrival.

"Perchance, the banner can assist you. In return, we seek your assistance. We are of great purpose, to bring peace and prosperity to this realm, as well as democracy. Perchance, a foolish notion to deliver to a lord such as yourself which might oppose it. But, we have not come this far because we only think of ourselves, do we?"
(Ordideus)

"Hm.."

It seems to make the High Lord ponder for a little while, perhaps thinking over the notion that Ordideus brings up; while he continues speaking, Basil's gaze seems to be adrift in thought- for while he listens in, only eventually does his gaze turn back at him.

"The Rhoynur were seared by light all too many times."

"It's a long, long history of abuse, slavery, and even genocide at the hands of other. Each time my people sought to immediately throw themselves at the enemy to avenge all the wrongs.. it backfired."

"I seek to establish something more than a scattered huddle in the desert. But.. I already did that. Now it's about restoration of true Rhoynish nation."

Something that not many could relate to. To bring up a broken, scattered nation from the bottom up? It's not an easy task - especially considering that so many people are always looking to do something of theirown, though..

"Peace and prosperity is brought with Coalition, as the terms we've laid on the summit are the foundation of a different Esshar."

"Democracy, however.. I don't think this would even work under current climate." A pause, to which he adds.

"Had you ever seen the amount of fools that roam about.. you'd agree with my point immediately. Giving a fool the power to decide fate of nations, even if it takes many of them.."

".. is a death sentence."

Maybe in the future, at some point, but clearly that's not possibility. Although..

"What is it that you seek help with, exactly?"
(Basil)

There was clear truth in the word of the high lord, justice had already thought of this; That the fools chosen by masses would shatter this great country. Alas, he had a plan against this, one which he was not planning to reveal in public.

"You are correct, we of the banner have already planned against this possibility. We seek to place a council as head of the country, to oversee election of the representatives. The age of kings will one day end. You might not agree, but this is the course which we've decided for the future. The coalition that stands currently, is not with permanence; It is fake. This cycle shall continue, as hundreds of years have proven my statement."

A clear declaration of conflict was given, one that was with purpose; Ordideus was not planning to honour the bloody contract, scribed by those that have honoured the pouring of innocent blood. A contract has to be made in peace, in truth, in light, with transparency.

"We have all decided the course of fate. Will you come along with us, or have you decided to stay in the past? We will be of help, if your true purpose is peace, prosperity and transparency. Rhoynur must be honoured, for their painful history, they must be respected. We thought to be transparent with you, High Lord."

"I respect your effort at least that much. For a lord that is unlike any other."
(Ordideus)

It almost seems..

Like a dream too distant. The fact that the age of kings would one day end is obvious on its own - simply because of the fact that everything, eventually, ends. Yet, whereas Ordideus remarks of that, he only shakes his head.

"It would end one day, true."

"But when? A single month? A year? Ten years? A century? An entire era?"

A clear implication that it can last far more than their own lives, and as much as Ordideus remarks of that..

"You have a dream that would take a lot to accomplish."

"But what you don't understand is that there is no country to speak of. Esshar as you envision it? Doesn't exist. These are fractured pieces of whole."

"Broken Osrona, and the leftovers hiding in the woods. Us, Alabastre and Ilburg - then Myllenoris, and Theria." Could he not see? These are all different sides, separate kingdoms, and while they share territory in Esshar..

They're all different.

"To make the council you speak of is to imply that everybody else is in agreement to follow it, that every single side would obey."

"But.. I hear of this for the first time in my life, so I would assume that I'm the first one you've ever approached - or perhaps, others didn't think of you important enough to tell me."

And either case is bad.

"I'm not here to crush your dream."

"I'm here to give you a wake up call."

"Before making such statements, I heavily advise to make a name for yourself. Uniting a single nation is difficult, and I can say that from experience."

"But you seek to unite all nations, which is tenfold more difficult. You'd need a lot of resources, allies, background and many more things to do so, don't you think?"

It's almost odd to Basil that he has to tell this to Ordideus, but.. perhaps, he needed this.

He seemed rather young. Maybe he lacked experience necessary to think this through.

"--Besides.."

"Before you make suggestions of transparency.. you ought to inform who this council is, and whom it consists of, hm?"
(Basil)

Ah, the lord thought to give a lecture to the justiciar. One that was not with fallacy, that was a certainty. The justiciar placed both hands upon his back, intently listening as he nodded along with the statements of the high lord.

Only when he was finished, the justice would speak up.

"We of the banner have chosen not to reveal ourselves. We have actually confided you, as of this moment, with our existence. We have existed, around you, within your walls, within even your circle. We are everywhere, and we will make this change. My death, will not change the will of the people."

The gaze was unwavering and the wake up call, it was thereby clear, he had already considered.

"We do not seek to tell you of all our entities. But, you may know those that stand beside myself, as the most devout of this revolution; Cayden, and Miura. They are executioners, prepared to each lead experienced magi into battle if this revolution needs to be forced into this country."

A bated sigh was given, only for the justiciar to heave his left hand, wiping the hair away from his eye only to speak further.

"We are not one, we are not ten, we are not one hundred, we are not thousand. We are those that have been downtrodden, ignored in the larger scheme of the politicians and the religious fanatics. It is enough, it is time to end the age of kings. We are prepared to do what it takes to bring forth such an age."

And then, when these words were said, one could hear a fire burning within the chest of the justice. It was then clear, this young man was prepared to lead a military into battle for a cause they did not believe, but knew to be right in their hearts. They were all prepared to die in the march if it meant that the generations thereafter could enjoy prosperity.

"All have suffered at the hands of an entity. Teraphim, which have cursed the walls of Osronans, only to massacre their families. Osronans, which have enslaved the will of your folk, only to use them as pawns in their conflict. The witches, which had caused their creation; The Teraphim."

It was clear the justice had studied everyone, on every historical point. Ordideus was capable of foretelling what the past was and therefore, predicted the future that would happen if the people did not take control.

"Our death will not be the end, if that is what you think. A true leader seeks not followers, he seeks those that are willing to pick up where the former has left up, to lead forward. The democracy will come. That is my promise, high lord. Many will struggle against it, but we will be victorious."

Then, the hand of the justiciar grasped at his scarf, only to raise his chin. Not in pride, nor in hate, it was that he stood tall for the banner which he was chosen to represent.

"We are not right, we are not wrong; We are the necessary change this country needs. The innocent have drowned for long enough in fake coalitions and irresponsible rulership. We will grant you our strength, in return for the partial use of your territory to build a fortress for our operations. Underground."
(Ordideus)

Revolutions.

But he's studied the texts, hasn't he? To an extent, this has almost seemed.. somewhat familiar- because the Rhoynish of the past actually participated in the activities similar to this. While the historical records of the Rhoynish tales pass down the generations, there's but a single line that he can notice being traced.

"You know.."

"This reminds me awfully lot of the organization that existed, and was at its peak after Conquest of Rhoynur - because many of my kind were disgruntled and joined the effort." Something that many others have heard of, especially if they lived to tell the tale.

"The Syndicate."

Acting in shadows, attempting to conceal oneself.. it's all too familiar with what he read about; but while Ordideus speaks of it all, he remarks.

"I do not need your entities."

"Truthfully, I have no interest in stopping you in any way possible. If your revolution succeeds, then good for you - the only reason I ever embraced the title of a king is to make a point to Osrona, back in the day." What kind of point, however? He doesn't elaborate. He doesn't deem it necessary to speak on it any further.

"But I care not to be the same royalty that Osrona is. It's never been about that."

Although, with that said..

"You ask for a lot to make your base of operations here, especially considering that I know little of what it would entail - or how many of you there are. Or whom you are, to be precise.."

"No leader makes such decision lightly." That much Ordideus should understand. "I'm sure you would give it time to think about, had you been in my shoes - it's not everyday you're asked to house unknown number of people, and unknown faces."

A pause, to which he adds.

"But.."

"I'll consider. If it were to happen, it won't be underground around castle, but elsewhere within territory of Alabastre. The underground at that area is already claimed."
(Basil)

The justiciar nodded in respect to the high lord, his hues still unwavering as he would set them upon the queen if only momentarily. There was a certain hatred within his heart, burning for those that were royalty and nobility. But, these were different.

Basil became lord to prove a point.

"Basil, you may take as much time as you'd like. Perchance, the desert would be most fitting for this operation. But, it is your choice to approve or deny this construction. It is a responsible leader, that does not take such decisions lightly. That is why we've sought you out."

A statement given with nothing but understanding. As a leader without territory, the justiciar couldn't be a chooser, for he was in this situation, a beggar. Although with many that stood behind the revolution, there was not a single location which they could reside in and speak freely.

It was difficult, it had already been difficult to keep this secret in the shade forso long. It was as if all of the banner had lived a double life, for the cause of the greater good.

Nothing was said, as the justiciar then looked around with his eyes. It was clear he wanted to hide his connection with the lord, not for the banner, but the lord himself. He revealed to be open-minded and the justice was not planning to ruin that.

"Is it possible to speak on a later date, to lift your worries?"
(Ordideus)

"Hrm.."

Now that he thinks about it.. there's something that was a better option altogether- because the desert was actually a way more remote location from the rest. So with that said..

"Actually.."

"I'd be far more willing to think about lending territories within underground of Ilburg. Considering that there's an entire city underneath, as well as complex underground system.."

"It would be better in there. Besides, the vaults of Alabastre are already occupied - by myself."

"We'd be forced to share personal space a lot."

And that would be detrimental in many ways. Besides.. asking a man to give up his personal space is a bit unreasonable regardless, isn't it?

"I'll think of it."

"We can also speak later on, but.. it would be better to consider Ilburg for that matter."

"It's being reconstructed as well, and with oasis in there now, it isn't nearly as poor anymore."

Thankfully, with the presence of new High Lord and the Overseer, Ilburg has only improved in many ways than one. But to digress..

"Unless you have anything else, that'd be all for now."
(Basil)

"That'll be all then."

The justiciar heaved his right hand as a sign of good faith, as it was the hand which saved lives and granted protection, opposing the left hand which was prepared to uproot lives.

"We shall speak on this matter in private on a later date. If you wish to discuss further, you can deliver a message to one of our executioners; Miura or Cayden."

With a pause, the justiciar turned around.

"Or you can find myself in the desert, when you are prepared to give your answer."

With the clap of the justice's steeled boots over the cobble, one could hear the steps of the justice distance themselves from the lord. In the distant mirage one could see a fire burning brightly, as if holy fire, when he finally left sight altogether.
(Ordideus)

There could be much discussed about it, but..

In the end, he knows that it would be better off to be discussed in privacy- simply because the action of such could be detrimental to both sides, if somebody interprets it in particular manner.

"I shall."

"And safe travels. Farewell."

For now, it seems that the conversation would be over, until the later date.
(Basil)