[h1][center][color=silver] Two Weeks ago [/color][/center][/h1]

The only light in that small room was a waning candle that sat next to the parchment he scribbled frantically on. It was a short message, to the point, he only wished it could be longer. But as the room shook again the man sighed, he was tired from the fighting, from the war. They thought they had started to gain ground again, but it was just a ruse. Somehow those mindless monsters had thought to give them a false sense of hope, and it worked. The room shook again, and the man put on his crown. A knock at the door came then and captain Obrien rushed inside promptly.

"Mi'lord Lucius, they've broken through, we can't hold them any longer. What do we do?" The captain said gruffly.

Lucius grabbed his letter, and sealed it with wax. He then handed the letter to Obrien. "Take this letter to my father, get the wounded out and back to Dramon with haste. I will by you as much time as I can. Do I make myself clear?" he said sternly.

Obrien's face was full of sorrow but he shook his head.

"Good, then go! Get that letter to Emperor." Lucius said again.

Obrien stood tall, bowed then left in a hurry. Lucius slumped ever so slightly, but he grabbed his sword and left he room in the opposite direction. Westgate shook again, and in the distance he could hear men screaming. Men dying. And the creatures bestial wails that followed. One never truly got used to them, they were just so unnatural. Lucius exited the building overlooking the courtyard, a mass of green things scurried through the gaping hole where the gates used to be. His men put up a defiant stand all around him. 

He began to shout a rallying cry as he walked down those stone steps towards the chaos, "TO ME MEN! WE SHALL FIGHT ONE LAST TIME! FOR HOME! FOR COUNTRY! FOR SURVIVAL! NOW FIGHT! FIGHT!" As Lucius jumped into the fray with the honorable men and women of the Sol Protectorate, he smiled. They would be home a little more time. And then he was struck, and everything faded.

[h1][center][color=silver] The Present [/color][/center][/h1]

Val held his head high as he strode into the throne room. Today was the day, Emperor Darsun the third had hand picked him to lead the mission to the Ebony Mountain. He wasn't sure why, but Val thought it was probably how well he distinguished himself over the years. All of his feats had not gone unnoticed, plus he would never refuse the call for the Empire. The Scorned would pay for what they did to the Sol Protectorate, and for Prince Lucius. He had only met the prince once, at a ball no doubt, but he left a good impression on him. Granted, he was only guarding the perimeter and the prince had gone out for some fresh air with his wife, Collette. The Prince nodded in passing and that was when he was first starting out years ago.

Val was on far better terms with the Emperor, he had even received an official resignation of his duties once. He hadn't been to Dramon in what felt like years, and walking through the throne room brought back a wave of nostalgia. Once the Scorn arrived, the Templar of Arcanum were tasked with going behind enemy lines and studying it. No easy task, especially when the damn things wailed and alerted more to your presence. They had lost a lot of good people over those two years, and things were only getting worse. Val had just returned from the Scorned zone, as the Templar's called it. It was a shock to find that Westgate had fallen, but that was why he had been sent, to see why the enemy were withdrawing. He should have noticed the trap, but they all had thought the creatures were mindless. This new information was concerning, for if the Scorned showed intelligence, then they were killing them all because they [i]wanted[/i] to.

He arrived at the throne itself, empty of course, he had arrived early as he usually did to such important meetings. Val admired the simple beauty of the throne from his helmeted gaze. It was silver, etched with gold and small rubies but still large enough to demand respect. Dramoria himself sat upon it, and his line ever since the unification of the Empire. Truly it was a site to behold.

Large doors on the right of the throne opened then, and through them came the Emperor followed by attendants and scribes. Val took a knee and bowed his head as the Emperor took to the throne. Then he spoke, "Ever dutiful the Templar's, always arriving early, even before we Emperors. You may rise Valson."

Val stood up, the Emperor wore a soft smile but his eyes were full of sorrow. He could not imagine what the man was going through, with the loss of his son and Empire loosing the war. He answered him in a reverent tone, [color=gold]"Thank you, my lord. It is a great honor to be here, and lead this mission."[/color] Val shifted slightly as he finished, there were questions he had, but it was not his place to ask them. Like why in fact were they recruiting adventurers? The letter he received made mention of this, and the means by which they would fight the Scorn. 

The Emperor looked at him with a distant expression. "And I thank you for being here, my loyal Templar. I'm sure you have questions but they will have to wait until everyone arrives. It will be... Easier for me to address any concerns then. Come now, stand next to me and let us await our arrivals. If any of them try anything, which I doubt will be the case, I will feel safer."

Val said nothing as he walked up the thrones steps and took his place. He fidgeted a bit before calming himself, he was anxious for things to get under way. They had a war to win.

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