![[googlee8d0c356b89eb879.html]] # Act 1 — Last Day > **Out. Rhemtoil Village — Morning (1082 <span class="smallcaps">at</span>)** > > A little ways from the Imperial-town of Lageta is *Rhemtoil*, a village of Battania at the foot of the Sideric Mountains. Presently, the village is undergoing the slash-and-burn method of farming, and dangerously close to their homes. Here, *Emperor Arenicos* will make his *very* public visit. Accompanying him is his long-time companion *Garios Comnos*, general of the Calradian Empire. Apparently, the Battanian High King has allowed the raiding of imperial lands for cattle. Most recently, Carphenion Village was raided. Fortunately however, no one was killed in the raid. Still, the Emperor has arrived in number to the closest Battanian-village, as a show of force to the Outer-Kingdoms that the pillaging has not gone ignored. Arenicos and Garios finally arrive at Rhemtoil. Their warband disperses, reinforcing the already militarily consumed village. Staying by Arenicos’ side though, is the Vaegir Guard. Foreign-bodyguards of the emperor. General Garios scans the area, and his nostrils flair. > **GARIOS** > > “And here we are. Smell that? I have to say. No matter how many times I come here, I never get used to the Battanian’s *distinct* scent.” > > He plunges down from his saddle. > > “The ashy odor, mixed with the dirt and mud—and the potent stink of shit they live in. *By the Heavens…* The Miron River is right there, do these people even use it?” > **ARENICOS** > > “It is not at all that distinctive. Farms do usually smell like this. Though, I have to admit, here, it is a lot *stronger* than I remember. I think I feel a headache coming on—hope I am not getting sick.” > > Arenicos carefully climbs down from his horse. > > “When we hid in the woods, I must have just blotted it all out. Avoiding the search parties was probably demanding all my senses. Never have I thought a confident step could be a curse. Heavy-footed, I am. Had I been born a thief I would have been damned…” > **GARIOS** > > “You and I both.” > **ARENICOS** > > Arenicos shakes his head. > > “I hate being back here.” > **GARIOS** > > “Really? I feel just the opposite.” > **ARENICOS** > > Arenicos gives a sly grin. > > “Is that so? Maybe you are getting sick too.” > **GARIOS** > > “For me, Battania is like one of those women. That when they drink too much their personality flips. She turns fiery and impulsive. Telling you all without omission. Battanians are like that always.” > > The General looks back to Battania. > > “And those are the best women to bed—to conquer. Truth be told, to me, a carnal pleasure is not a pleasure if the work is easy. They fended off our advance once before, *your majesty*—not this time.” > **ARENICOS** > > “I hate to interrupt your fantasy, you old bull, but unlike you, I know an *unwanted* advance when I see one.” > > Arenicos points to the villagers. They are behaving. There’s been no confrontation with the emperor’s soldiers. > > “They get the message. Our being here is no invasion—just a warning. Besides, there is no reward to be found here. Just bad memories…” > **GARIOS** > > “There you go—doing it again.” > **ARENICOS** > > “Doing what again?” > **GARIOS** > > “Opting for the safest, clearest path forward. One that costs little, but gains nothing.” > **ARENICOS** > > “No one *died* at Carphenion.” > **GARIOS** > > “The savages beat the Headman, and stole their cattle!” > **ARENICOS** > > “So—what? We beat up the cows here, and spirit away the Headman?” > **GARIOS** > > “We take this *opportunity* and run with it!” > **ARENICOS** > > “War? Is that what you think I should do?” > **GARIOS** > > “It would align with what you *say* you believe.” > **ARENICOS** > > “What are you on about, Garios? You know about what I believe in.” > **GARIOS** > > “Oh, do I?” > **ARENICOS** > > Arenicos sighs. > > “Look. Veteran’s will get land, you have my word. But in order to get that land we need to build strength. Strength and silver are what we need right now. Not another war…” > **GARIOS** > > “*War*, my friend, is the *only* way you get those things.” > **ARENICOS** > > Arenicos rubs his temples. > > “And there it is, I was right. My head is starting to throb now.” > **GARIOS** > > “The Heavens threw you a bone, and what do you do? You let it fall past you. Like always. Eventually, you are going to have to commit to *something*, Arenicos. We cannot just sit idle forever. War is upon us, whether you want to see it or not…” > **ARENICOS** > > “For Calros’ sake, Garios. You make it out like they sieged the capital. All they did was take some cows.” > **GARIOS** > > “All they did? All they did! (…) They insulted the Empire and is what they did. And the animals will do it again. Maybe the Sturgians will hop in on the parade next time?” > **ARENICOS** > > “Alright I admit that I have, *maybe*, sat longer on this than I should have. And you are right to council me, my friend. You offer a vital and deeply revealing perspective on this issue. So I shall not disregard your position on this—as you know things Senators cannot, while sitting in their seats all the way in Lycaron. Though, right now, I think it is too early to decide. I must speak to the rest of my council, before reaching a conclusion.” > **GARIOS** > > “Oh please. Your majesty, if you live the rest of your life under the whims of those corrupt effeminate eels in the Senate, you will not be the master of your own destiny. It will be fear. If there is one thing I admired about Emperor Neretzes, it was his conviction.” > **ARENICOS** > > “You admired something about *Neretzes*? Maybe you really are coming down with something.” > **GARIOS** > > “Others called it stubbornness, I thought it was honor in its most pure form. He knew living and ruling were one in the same thing. They both require *conviction*. Staying the course, even if things did not go as planned. Granted, things never really do.” > **ARENICOS** > > “Precisely. Before I was elevated; back before Emperor Neretzes died, he left quite a hole in the royal coffers. It is like he somehow never realized, mobilizing all the armies of the Empire, and hiring clans from the Outer-Kingdoms, would be incredibly expensive. He left the treasury virtually empty, and five-years later, I still have not found a way to refill them. I do not want to end up like…” > **BATTANIAN TEEN** > > But right then, a teenager from the village erupts out the background, sprinting towards them. He’s shouting something, is it a war-cry or a poem? > > “Of Mon, we sing; for Aeril was thin! For Caladog, out we ring:” > > The youth is hefting an axe, and starts shifting for Arenicos. The Vaegir form a wall in front of the Emperor, but one of the Vaegir Guardsmen looks uneasy. Garios steps in front of the wall. > **GARIOS** > > He shoots a glance at Arenicos. > > “Allow me, your majesty. You saved me once before; during the Battle of Pendraic, now let me return the favor.” > **BATTANIAN TEEN** > > The youth is getting close. He continues shouting. > > “‘Fly, arise—fight for the king!’ Our land we seize again!” > **GARIOS** > > Garios readies himself, lifting a javelin out of his pack and aiming. > > “A straight line? Really? Typical brainless-barbarian.” > > Garios lines up the shot and winds back. But a Vaegir Guardsmen, breaks formation and shoves Garios off balance. Arenicos is dumbfounded. Garios misses his throw, the javelin merely whiffs past the teen. > **BATTANIAN YOUTH vs. VAEGIR GUARD** > > The youth slows down, as the Vaegir draws in front of him. The man brings out his mace, and squares off with the boy. The teen swings the axe randomly and wildly, in wide sweeping motions. The Guardsmen effortlessly evades all of them. The youth clearly has no training what so ever. The Vaegir easily parries one swing and kicks the teen in the stomach, hard, knocking the wind out of him. In that same motion, as the youth crunches over, the man lifts up and brings down the mace on the boy’s head. Expertly finishing the youth off with a quick combo—a parry, a kick, and one hit. The teen lies still in the dirt. Still breathing, but unconscious. > **GARIOS** > > Garios re-orients himself, his face is awash with fury. Garios marches directly up to the Vaegir Guardsmen. > > “What do you think you are doing?! Pushing me when I am fending off an assassin! (…) Huh? Explain yourself, now!” > **VAEGIR GUARD** > > “With respect my lord, we were ordered to maintain peace at all costs. When I swore to follow the emperor’s commands, I meant it with all my heart. Because of the Emperor’s orders, and because I knew I could handle this threat peacefully, I had no choice but to step in, my lord.” > **GARIOS** > > “That animal tried killing the Emperor, the man you took an oath to protect, no matter what! Assassination is an offense punishable *only* by execution, not a wimpy knock on the head.” > > Garios looks to Arenicos for approval, but the Emperor merely turns his gaze. Garios continues. > > “If truly wish to fulfill your orders to the letter, and honor your oath, then take this.” > > Clank. Garios drops his dagger at the Guard’s feet. > > “And make this barbarian actually useful for once in his life. Turn him to an example. Show those animals what happens when they pull an axe on us. *Their silence will be our peace.*” > **VAEGIR GUARD** > > “I am sorry, General, but these directives do not match the Emperor’s ord—” > **GARIOS** > > “You are not a citizen and you are no soldier, so do not call me *general*. You are too much of a fool to be ever become one. You are not even worthy being a baggage carrier. You are some half-wit pirate from Nordland. A Vaegir. Who came to Calradia to pillage and steal.” > **VAEGIR GUARD** > > “Actually, my lord, I am Rhotian not Vaegir. I grew up in Lageta. I dreamt of one day being the world’s greatest *baggage carrier*, but I was not cut-out for it. Too much training involved. So I settled for just being the Emperor’s personal body-guard… my lord.” > **GARIOS** > > Garios steps closer to the Guardsmen. > > “First you place your filthy hands on me, now you are talking back!? Would I could, I would have you whipped in the streets and castrated for this *utter* insubordination.” > > Garios picks up his knife. > > “I am going to overlook your actions here, as you are not under my command. You would be too stupid to understand my commands anyway. But understand this: I do not care if you think you are doing your job, if you *ever* touch me again, I will kill you.” > > Garios starts towards the motionless youth, but the Guard blocks him. Garios’ eyes light up. The other Vaegir Guards look un-nerved. Garios is known for three things: his love of wine, his love of women, and his temper. > > Garios clenches his teeth and unsheathes his sword. > > “Listen close you Rhotian-Dryatic-Myzeiad; you tribal vacuous-Palaic fuck, if value your life you will move or else you will be feeding the vultures at Ornian Rock!” > **ARENICOS** > > “Enough!” > > Arenicos snaps, rubbing his temples in circles. > > “This is just making my headache worse.” > > Arenicos sighs audibly. > > “Arzagos, you are hereby relieved of your service to me. Putting your hands on your social-superiors, even being the Emperor’s personal bodyguard, is *unacceptable*. That said, I do feel you were trying to follow orders to the best of your understanding. For this, you will get a full-month’s pay in-advance by the Quartermaster. Tell them I said so.” > > Garios turns to Emperor Arenicos in disbelief. > > “And take the boy with you. Have the Surgeons take a look at him. If they clear him, then he is free to go. If not. Then he is in the doctor’s custody, not mine.” > **FORMER-VAEGIR GUARD, ARZAGOS** > > “Thank you, your majesty.” > > The former-Guardsmen, Arzagos, leaves with the unconscious Battanian-youth for the Surgeons. > **ARENICOS** > > Arenicos looks to the General, Garios is pinch the bridge of his nose, clearly this was not how he would have dealt with the situation. > > “I already know what you’re going to say. I am too forgiving—too soft.” > **GARIOS** > > “*Soft* would not be the word I would use, brother. *Cowardly* would be more fitting.” > **ARENICOS** > > “Trust me, Garios, killing the youth would have created more problems than it solved. Anyhow, it would not have been just.” > **GARIOS** > > “Just? There is nothing just in this world. If justice existed then: Lucon would be dead, Sturgia and Battania would disintegrate, Vlandia would give back our land and leave Calradia, and the Aserai and Khuzaits would know their place. (…) Nothing, Arenicos, is just in this world. You have to do what is best, and often that is through *force*—not by wishing things would change. What would our ancestors think if they saw us now?” > **ARENICOS** > > “Well, Echerion was once quoted saying: ‘I prefer the most unjust peace to the most just war.’ I think he may approve.” > **GARIOS** > > “Oh, Heavens above, Arenicos… Never have I seen a soldier fight so ferociously for his brothers as you, only to give up on them when faced by children swinging sticks. Look, hesitation leads to destruction. You know this! (…) What kills the most soldiers is not the melee, but what happens when the line breaks. *Fear* kills the most men, on any battlefield. > > Garios kneels. > > “You majesty, please. Just give the word. Re-institute the Legions, and I could take it. All of it for the Empire. “ > **ARENICOS** > > “I am sorry, old friend, I will not rush to give our land more widows, more madmen, beggars, and orphans—like the hatred for the Empire—there is already enough as is.” > **GARIOS** > > Garios stands. > > “When I heard you got rid of the Legions, I simply justified it in my head. ‘No, he is not losing his mind. This declaration is only for a time, to save money. He will come around to reason, I need only make shine a light on it.’ Riding here with you today, I knew I had to try. I thought about all your responses and how I might counter them. Like I was strategizing before a serious battle. I thought of a few responses from you that worried me. But to be honest, Arenicos, I worried most of all that it did not matter what I said. That nothing could sway you. A Battanian tried to murder you, and you let him go. It is clear to me now that you are not willfully-blind, worse, you have gone mad. You have been so careful not to break the Empire, that it broke you. You have gone so numb by the sheer gravity of what *could* happen, that you are not seeing what *is* happening right in front of you! And the worst of it is… you may not live long enough to ever see that…” > **END SCENE**