The Versian City Council (Vers)

[Fish Stick]

The Versian City Council was not a building, but was instead an open forum, a courtyard. It was paved with uneven, bumpy gray cobblestones. This was a square space, wide and open, where one could stand and see the blue open Sherian skies.

A rather large circular fountain rested in the exact center of the town square. There were alabaster nereids inside, merfather and mermother and merbabies all gently shooting water from their mouths as they clutched each other and played. The water sparkled, pattered on itself, made rainbows.

Little shops lined the square, little colorful shops. Nestled between two buildings and resting on the second floor was the tiny office of Isa Berkan, the head of the Council, where she lived and worked. Very few knew this, though occasionally they might see blonde Berkan stepping out onto her rickety balcony, to run the monthly council meetings for the scant few who believed that they could rule better than mages could.

OOC: Original Description by Kenaz

[Eyvind Redbeard]

3rd Brightening of the First Cycle of the Month of Immanis in the season of Winter; Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

And it was from Berkan's window that she saw a colossal man some of the Versians could call a giant with flaming hair standing in the courtyard of the Versian City Council. There was a fierce look upon the man but he also looked calm, deadly calm. Covered in furs over his black cloak and wearing a black clad armor the man was not alone, a handful of other armored figures stood behind them and if one was to pay attention at their armors they would recognize them as Imperial Legionnaires, their color instantly informing they were Black Shields from the Manjet Legion, the very same who had not two Brightenings ago moved into Draelmar Hold to Vers' south.

Someone knocked at Isa's front door and when it was opened there was yet another of these Black Shields standing there. This was a young Vagaran, with blonde hair and a pleasant smile on his face although he resembled as weary as his companions in the courtyard.

"Cencoris Eyvind Redbeard Avornmagor Björnsson would like to meet with the Versian City Council, message as already been sent to all other dignitaries of the city and they will be coming shortly. I hope this sudden meeting doesn't disturb your doings but it is something important to Vers and its people."

Eirik Elebsson bowed his head slightly and smile stepping aside so Isa could walk out of her door. In other parts of the city other members of the Black Shields knocked at other city Officials' doors calling them for the meeting as well. It seemed Eyvind had something in mind, what would it be?

[Fish Stick]

As Berkan stepped out onto her balcony, to look around, she spied the vagaran looking up to her, and explaining to her what exactly he had done. Frowning a bit, she sighed, and went back inside. Taking a sip of tea, she quickly returned outside, and then saw some of the other dignitaries arriving. "I see what you have done, and indeed i will listen to your words..." she said briefly. The thane of the city also arrived, with the other eleven councilmembers. "What is it that you wish to discuss with us?" she then asked, awaiting the Vagaran's answer...

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The colossal Vagaran standing in the middle of the Council yard bowed his head in respect for the arriving dignitaries and once they were all gathered he too, took a seat in a cobblestone bench like all others aside of his soldiers who formed a chain around the courtyard preventing perturbations from the outside.

"Serale, and thank you for coming here so quickly. I know this isn't the common way in which you discuss matters of state but this isn't a common time. As you well know the War with the Orcs came to an end with an Armistice being declared but there are other perturbing news. I am sure all of you know what I refer to. The appearance of a Skyship over the skies of Aelyria Prime, the return of the Ancient Aelyrians and the Coronation of the Regent as Prince of a New Kingdom of Aelyria. Well, I am a sworn Imperial Officer, which means I serve the Empire above all else and I have sworn to defend it from both external and internal threats.

I have yet to fully understand what happened in Prime but at first it resembles me to be a threat of proportions beyond my simple mortal mind. I will explain myself.

For millennia the Ancients kept themselves outside of the affairs of mortals, denying them help and advise, not to mention what they did before that. The forced union under their banner. In this scenario you have a group pf individuals who came from a lonely island and started to use war to unite different people, there is no need to give you a History lesson as you are certainly more versed in it than I am. Said group of individuals then left without a trace, leaving mortals to their affairs. Fair enough, in a way, unfair in other. The use of brute force to create the world the mortals lived in after their disappearance can be viewed as both prejudicial or benefic, that I will leave for you to decide after my speech is concluded.

Then suddenly they reappear and declare the Regent a Prince of a Kingdom. Well, for a Kingdom to exist there must be a King and the only person I think they would claim to be a King would be one of their own, an Ancient Aelyrian. Therefore they have turned a once fair man into a puppet of their own. Making Milo a Prince is an attempt to accept mortals within their ranks and appease the populace. In my opinion it should be them the ones trying to be accepted, not us.

I won't stand idle while strangers flying out of pure mythology take over the land and the realm in which I live and therefore I will defend the Empire and the People. Now here is where my plan could have a flaw. Because the Empire was created by the Ancients and therefore I would only be defending a former creation of them, but no.

Once this threat is over I intend to offer freedom and independence to all those who desire it. I don't consider myself the right man to make sure decisions and to draft people to a war that may not be their own, therefore I only offer you this proposal. To fight for the Empire to ensure your future freedom and that of your Sherian countrymen."

Once he was finished Eyvind leant back, his back very straight, and waited for the responses, critics and possible insults.

[Z'kron]

From the back of the crowd a thin, nervous looking, open-shirted man wearing a knee-high boots with feathers, (an employee of the Imperial High Sage who had been awkwardly stranded in Vers by his employer partially due to his horrendous fashion sense), yelled out a querying reply. His voice sounded a little like a wattlebird going through puberty.
"What's to stop them from just blowing us up? They wouldn't even care!"
He shook his fist dramatically in the air at the Vagaran, awaiting an explanation of the plan with eagerly bewildered puppy-dog eyes.

[Ramadi Tanin]

Ramadi had been sitting on a rooftop and looking out over the peaceful city of Vers, the first of his stops on what he'd hope would a short and productive search for some repair. It was during this idle process of thought that he'd noticed the sable-clad soldiers picking their way around the town. He didn't know what to think about them, really, since they were clearly more disciplined than an average town watch, but also too well-armed and uniform to be a band of simple mercenaries. He couldn't imagine what a group of professional soldiers would be doing in the city of Vers, since, even though he hadn't been in the town for more than a few days, he had already seen enough of the city to surmise it was able to to hold it's own with ease against any threat that these warriors could. Perhaps they were the guards of some sort of aristocrat, but he conceded that he didn't know for sure yet, and they seemed to hardened for that, regardless.
He'd followed them, walking along the rooftops of the city, which he'd found to be extremely convenient since he'd gotten there, as he'd not once yet seen a person look up, and he made good time everywhere he went when he didn't need to deal with crowds. He'd found himself leaping the gaps between buildings with ease due to his newfound strength, and was admittedly more pleased with it than he should have allowed himself. The Relequis felt the metallic talons of his right boot shattering shingles as he flexed his toes, watching the proceedings of the plaza below. In spite of the groups of people gathered here and there, he could clearly hear what was being said thanks to the keen senses of his ancestors, and his curiosity quickly went from mild and passive to immediate and engaging. He settled himself in on the outer sill of a second-story window where he was veiled in the roof's scant few shadows of the brightening and adjusted his hood so that it wouldn't muffle his hearing. He felt he needed to hear every word.

[Atl Myrsa]

Ponutis 48

From: His Royal Excellency The Royal Lord Magus Atl Myrsa Bureau of the Arcane, Aelyria Prime Serale I write to you in responce to a herald article that will shortly come out. I need to know of all the arcane institution that are within your realm of power. If you have any religious institution that teach Thaumaturges to its priest and only its priest, they may be excluded as they fall under the realm of the Archprelate and the Church of Faith. If though they teach none priest any magical arts they are no longer considered and exception. The purpose of this announcement is that to often the Arcane school run according to various traditions which cause radical differences in the teaching of Arcane through out the kingdom. We ask that you share this with the heads of the Arcane schools through out your territory after the announcement in the Herald. The Bureau of the Arcane and His Royal Highess are begining to issue Royal Arcane School Licenses. Each school must meet certian standards. They will be given six months to either meet these standards or present to the Bureau a long term plan to impliment them. The standards of the Licenses are as such. Each school must have record system of their students. The students must register with a valid Visa, and supply the school with their information. Schools must confirm that their students have a place of residances, or provide them with a residance and food for the time of their teaching. The physical needs of their students must be taken care of. To often do we have potential students who can't aford the training because the can not provided a living. How the schools do manage to provide this is to be left up to them and the local area. As long as it is with in Royal Law. As for the educational needs. Simple arriving to the class room is no longer enough. The student must show their abilities outside of class room, and outside of random combat situations. Students must volunter their time either in service to the school as seen fit or in the community as arranged with local entities. Also a test before the master of the School will be required to show that the student can think on their feet, we are here to teach magus to think about how they are throwing around arcane power. Lastly our schools have become to complaincent. Recent Arcane events have occured and they occured outside of the Schooling system of the Kingdom. Each school must open a research section. They do not all need to invent the next flying ship, but we need to exapand our magical range. This leads to the last requirement. All of their Teachers must have Arcane Teaching Licenses, and introduce Tenor. As in the cause of School Licenses these are to confirm and improvement in our teachers. The exact requirements for teaching Lisences are be that they must prove themselves in a test of arcane at the time of licensing. To keep their lisences they must show that they can do research as well as cast magic. They must also take a teaching test. Tenor will allow Masters to make research into what they feel is critical with out fear of dismissal as long as they obay Royal Law. The rules of tenor are to be set up by each school. The Bureau is making plans to purchase a press to print arcane articles sent in from the Masters across the kingdom their by making their research known across the kingdom. Lastly their will be licensing of Masters who teach but are not part of any school, but that will be handled by the Bureau itself, and reports of independant masters would be appreciated. I thank you for your efforts and do not fear to write to myself about any questions you may have. Atl Myrsa Royal Magus

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The Vagaran grinned at the man's question. It was the easiest question to make and the most difficult to answer.

"Good question and I will answer to it since it is the core of your concerns, of everyone's concerns. In practical terms I don't know a way to prevent them blowing everything they desire up. I am no Arcana expert, my trade is the blade and military strategy, you can now understand why I lack knowledges of rethoric.

I won't tell you how you can prevent it from happening, I will tell you why it won't happen. It won't happen for the simple fact that if they decided to erase Vers from the face of Telath simply because Vers decided to stand with the Empire, in a show of both defiance, strength, courage and belief they wouldn't be erasing only the fighters, the mages but every single woman or child in the city. That if they decide to use extrem methods. There is always the possibility that they will send an army to take the city, well against an army Vers stands a chance, a very good one. You are known to be the most proeficient Mages in the whole Empire and I am sure you would be up to your fame.

I also have to say that against an army you wouldn't be alone in this, you would have the whole Empire helping you! The Imperial Legions are more than a match to anything you throw at them. We've learn to respect these Ancients through fear of their almost divine power. Now I tell you that there isn't anything divine in erasing a city from the face of Telath or sending an army to try and quiet a city that stands for what it believes. If you make of Vers an example you will be most prestigiated for those who stand against the Kingdom, let them try and throw everything they have at us. Yes! Us! Because I will not abandon you, the Imperial Legions will not abandon you. We are sworn to protect the Empire and above all, its People. We will stand and fight and die so the People can be free from these tyrants and usurpers! Let them call us cowards to us the joint might of the Imperial Army and the city of Vers, let them test our mettle. You are but the first, your stance will dictate the future of this realm and I trust you to believe in my words when I promise to fight for you if you fight for the Empire.

If the Kingdom comes it will only drawn more support to our cause, people will think the Ancients as the tyrants they really are. Vers does not stand alone.

Ceterum censeo Regnum esse delendam. (Furthermore, I think that the Kingdom must be destroyed)"

[Fish Stick]

"You make a very compelling speech..." said the head councilwoman, Isa Berkan. "And I think we shall have to take a brightening or two to discuss our findings with it, as well as speak with the masters of the Academy, for we're sure that they themselves will have a thing or two to say about it..." Taking her time speaking, another councilman spoke up, his name Brand S'loth.

"Why must we even take any time to deliberate. I say we join this man without second thoughts. His reasoning is sound, and the city is by far one of the greatest powers, or could be if we put our arcane might to what it should be..." he said, a grin crossing his face, as he himself was a journeyman sorcerer. Isa nodded a moment, and then looked towards the other council members. "What do you all say?" she asked. "Do we succeed from this kingdom for the Aelyrian Empire? or do we stay with the Ancients, and play as a puppet under their rule?" she asked, curious to see what the rest of the council would say.

Murmers amongst them began to occur, and then talk. Out of the twenty councilmembers that appeared there, fifteen raised their hands in favor of joining Eyvind. the other five were undecided therefore their votes were nullified. "Then it is settled," said Isa. "What would you have us do?" she then asked Eyvind, to see what the next step in his plan was...

[Eyvind Redbeard]

A feeling of happiness and responsability was born inside the red-haired Vagaran the moment he heard Brand S'loth speaking and the reaction his words had on the remaining councilmembers. In this cold Brightening of the Era 10249, 1534 Eras after King Constantine had founded the city of Colonia, now known as Aelyria Prime, symbol of the first expansion of the Aelyrian Kingdom that would later become the Aelyrian Empire, history was being made. Eyvind was seeing it with his own eyes, for the first time in millennia someone was taking a position and saying no, no more! No more would these vile and greedy winged and so called sons of Ioannes creatures force mortality to bow before their desires.

Not everything could be joy and the weight of responsability was now upon his shoulders. The fate of all the inhabitants of Vers depended on his words and decisions now. A man that almost resembled a giant in height fell the weight turning him as small as an insect.

"Thank you, thank you. It fills my heart with joy to know that you share the same thoughts and feelings as I." A simple thanks from a simple man. "The future still seems cloudy and taking actions against the Kingdom before knowing exactly who stands with the Empire and who doesn't may be too risky. Betrayal awaits at every corner, it's a sad truth. Therefore the first thing to do is to prepare for any eventuality. Like your wise councilman said, Vers is one of the greatest arcane powers if brought back to its full might.

Then there is the northern border with the Principality of Prime. Although ordering my soldiers to build a defensive and fortified line similar to the one that goes from Draelmar Hold to Notus would be a good thing to do when fighting a convencional war, in this case it gives us little advantage. Therefore, because building such defenses too close to the border would call too much attention, I will send two Provincial Regiments to be stationed near the city and start building a defensive complex around it. Perhaps your Elementalists among others could provide some expert help.

Two other Provincial Regiments will be sent to Castle Phondra to provide a forward defense position in case the agents of the Kingdom suspect or discover what is going on in here. They too will fortify the region around the Castle and the docks where the Imperial Navy makes their home. Two other Regiments will be moved to the region south of Vers, one to Boreas and one to Eurus where they will protect both the river crossings and the Vorgan Mines.

For the moment these are the only Regiments I think i can remove from the Draelmar-Notus line. Cohorts of the Manjet Legion will be accompanying the Serpents.

As for me, I will leave Sheria in a journey through the realm to continue bringing cities to the protection of the Empire."

[Fish Stick]

Berkan listened as he laid out his plans. Smiling, the little old lady looked towards Eyvind. "You are very attentive to detail young man, and i commend you for that... It is what we need in a leadership position if you are to accomplish this goal... As for the two units that you'll be sending to the city, do it discreetly... the ancients probably have eyes over the entire realm, and are watching our every move... We can't draw any unneccessary attention to ourselves by doing these military manuevers. I will send the Master Elementalist of our school to see you when your troops arrive to see if he can't help out with anything... his name is Torrence, and he is extremely skilled, so i'm sure he'll serve you well..." she said, and then walked forward to shake the large Vagaran's hand as a pact that she would not go back on her word, nor would the rest of the council, whom still had some Rakyra backers within them...

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The melon sized hand of the Vagaran held the woman's strongly but gently assuring her he would do what he said he would. The last thing Eyvind wanted was to let the Versian people down, the Versian people and the People of the Empire as a whole.

"I won't fail you, that I promise you." He said to Berkan and then turned to the rest of the Council. "I promise this to all of you that until my last breath is given I will fight for the People and for Freedom! Remember these words and remember the name of the one who pronounced them for I am Eyvind Redbeard Avornmagor Björnsson and all those who will stand in my way shall fall for the safety and security of the People! I am the Sword and you are the arm that holds me, as long as you back me I will smite your enemies!"