[center][h1][color=008000]The grand Library - Arkronia[/color][/h1][/center]

The royal palace might be the most important government center of the Akronian nation but the Grand Library of Arkronia is considered the eternal memory of an entire race. In this grand complex, all knowledge and data is gathered from across the realm and beyond the great seas. Ancient tomes written in times before the Arkronians conquered the waves are stored within the buildings of this metropolis of books. The grand library is more than just a collection of books. In its fast halls, all the data that is written down is methodically stored. From the taxes paid by the Akronian citizens to the tributes paid by the crown’s vassals. Every grain produced within the realm is administered within the library. 

Books from all across the realm are collected and translated in the many languages by the thousands of scribes who work in this place. If a government meeting would take place, scribes from the Grand Library would attend the meeting and methodically write down every word spoken. Everything that ever was put to paper can be found within the grand library. For some, this place of knowledge was far more valuable than the Royal palace. 

Peatyr Breathnach was such a man. His lavendish and expensive clothing betrayed that this Vulpin had left his homeland many winters ago and made a fortune in the Arkronian capital. He generally calls himself an entrepreneur in exotic leisure activities while Vulpin would just say that he runs whorehouses. In truth Peatyr was much more, a merchant of information. He was a man who knows about the vices that lay hidden behind the facade of virtues of the Arkronian upper class. As it was Peatyr himself who facilitated his clientele into giving in to their darkest desires. 

The Vulpin straightened his expensive silk tunic as he made his way through the entrance of the grand library. Just like all other men and women who wanted access to the library he waited patiently in one of the lines to ask for access to a certain part of the library. But unlike most, he chose his waiting line based on the librarian that was behind the desk. The Arkronian that was handling the request belonged to Peatyr’s clientele. The man who had dedicated his life to serving the written word had a rather peculiar way of unwinding his stress.

The Vulpin gave a smirk as he noticed that the poor librarian had recognized him as he approached the desk. [color=008000]“Alan Arkronis”[/color]

[color=008000]“A..A..Alan Arkr.o.nis”[/color] Stuttered the librarian as he stared in disbelief at the anthropomorphic fox in front of him. He knew who this Vupin was and more importantly, he knew what this Vulpin knew about him. [color=008000]“How can I be of service?”[/color] 

[color=008000]“What a pleasure of meeting you here Ramon-Raz. Usually we only meet in a different kind of establishment. It must be a total coincidence”[/color] Said the Vulpin with a smile. That last part was of course a blatant lie as Peatyr had chosen to be here because he knew that Ramon-Raz would have customer service shift. [color=008000]“Now you mention, there is something you can help me with. I would like access to the hall of the six gods”[/color]

The hall of the six gods was the building dedicated to all religious tomes and books. Only the highest members of the Arkronian clergy have access to this hall. Even the Arkronian king was prevented by divine law from entering this building without one of the six kardinals of the gods accompanying him. 

The face of the librarian turned pale as he was utterly shocked about the request this lowlife Vulpin was making. And yet, he could feel where this conversation was going. [color=008000] “I’m afraid I have to decline your request mister Breathnach. Only members of the clergy are allowed to study the religious tomes that are gathered in the hall of the six gods.”[/color]

The Vulpin gestured the librarian to come closer. As the Arkronian bowed down  Peatyr started to whisper in his ear. [color=008000]“Being a librarian at the grand library of Arkronia is an absolute honor. A position only granted to some of the best university students that the kingdom has to offer. The pedestal you're standing on is extremely high. Just think about how deep the fall would be if the Grand master of the library would learn of your taste for Arvan boys. Just write down the name of the minister of religious affairs. Then your administration will be in compliance with Arkronian and religious laws.” [/color]

No Arkronian face would ever come as close to the color white again as the face of Ramon-Raz, the librarian. Caught between a rock and a hard place he knew that the only way to keep his honor and statue  was to comply with the request. He wrote down the name as requested by the Vulpin and handed him the access keys to the hall of the six gods.

The hall of the six gods was one of the smaller buildings on the complex. It was dedicated to storing all the religious tomes and books. If you ever wanted to learn about the religious laws the Arkronian state was founded on, the hall of the six gods was the place to be. With all that was happening in the kingdom, the tomes that remained here mostly untouched would become relevant again. The value of its content would definitely be on the rise.

The Vulpin walked past the shelves filled with books and tomes. All neatly organised in various categories. What Peatyr was looking for were the books of divine law. Arkronian rulers were granted the right to rule based upon divine selection of their bloodline. Now with the king dead and the only heir to the throne sick, there was a good chance that the six cardinals would have to gather to select a new bloodline. That selection procedure was based upon the divine laws that were written down ages ago. 

It didn’t take the merchant of knowledge long to find the shelves filled with books and tomes on religious laws. He grabbed some fine silk gloves from his pocket before picking up the first few books. These works have been put to paper many centuries ago and preserving their condition was important. The Vulpin placed the first stack of books on the study table in the center of the hall. As a beam of light from a strategically placed window illuminated the table he started to read. Page after page, book after book. Taking in the contents and procedures that the cardinals would have to take in order to grant a new bloodline the right to rule.

Peatyr Breathnach was in such a deep focus that he did not realize he was reading out loud. [color=008000] “The six cardinals will congregate in prayer until the gods present then with a noble bloodline of their creation.”[/color] For a moment those words resonated within his head. A noble bloodline of their creation. The Vulpin knew the Arkronian creation myth well. The Arkronians were created by the gods of order while the rest was created by the gods of chaos. However all races are a creation of the gods in Arkronian mythology. The books on divine law only mention ‘the gods’ and never a specific god or subset. With a smirk on his face the Vulpin closed the books and put them back. [color=008000] “Only six keys to the kingdom and I already own three of them. Now that the market was far bigger than anticipated, I can fetch an incredible price.” [/color] The merchant murmured to himself as he put the books back on their shelves and made his way out.



[center][h1][color=008000]Arkronia - Ministry of the army[/color][/h1][/center]

Ekram-Rhas, the Arkronian minister of the army sipped from his wine as he went through the various documents on his desk. Most contained status updates on the various armies and regiments of the great Arkronian nation. Most of them contained messages about soldiers and officers getting sick. The grey dead was spreading and the army was getting affected. If it was up to the minister of defense, he would have started a war of extermination against the more rebellious nations yesterday. The longer they waited, the less soldiers they would have. However such a war could only be started by the king. Something that seemed to be extremely unlikely to happen with a sick heir.

The sound of knocks on his office door made the minister look up from the paperwork. Before he could say anything the door opened and Ohrahm-Braz, minister of intelligence entered the room. With a meager length of only 201 centimeters and a slender build, the man looked as unimposing as an Arkronian could be. His clothes were as average as they come and after meeting Ohrahm-Braz, it would be extremely hard to describe his looks. However it was his cunning that made him feared and respected across the realm.

[color=008000]“Alan Arkronis. Let's skip the formalities and move on to talk business”[/color] Spoke Ohrahm-Braz. 

[color=008000]“As you are aware the crown prince has contracted the grey death. The reports of his healers suggest that he might live for many months but will eventually die. His health will soon have deteriorated to the point that he can no longer lead the kingdom and our great nation will be kingdom without king. A position of considerable weakness. Especially in these dire plague stricken times.”[/color]

Ekram-Rhas sipped his wine as he listened to his colleague from the ministry of intelligence, wondering what he was scheming. [color=008000]“So? What is the business that you wanted to talk about? Get to your point.”[/color]

[color=008000]“The crown prince needs to die. Preferably during the coronation ceremony.”[/color] replied Ohrahm-Braz. He waited a bit to see how the minister of the army would respond but could not read his reaction. 

After a moment of silence Ekram-Rhas put down his glass of wine and smiled. [color=008000]“So you have come here to talk about regicide. You are well aware that we Arkronians are bound by divine law to do such acts against our own brethren. No Arkronian assassin would be willing to commit such an act and risk his place in the afterlife. So I assume that you’ve only let me in on a small part of your scheming.” [/color]

The minister of Intelligence smiled. He knew he had peaked the interest of his collegue. [color=008000]“I am well aware of that fact. That’s why we must find a willing culprit to commit the act. During the coronation of the crown prince the capital is filled with the low-lifes from the various vassal states. I assume there will be people around who are more than willing to commit such an act for the right incentive.”[/color]

  The minister of the army stood up from his chair, walked to a cabinet on the side of his office and poured in some wine for his guest. He knew that minister Ohrahm-Braz was right. The crown prince was unfit to rule and needed to be removed for someone else to take his place. Ekram-Rhas himself had solid papers when it came to the Cardinals selecting the new royal bloodline, most likely the best from all the nobles who were involved in the current administration. But that would still be a gamble. You’d never know what the gods decide through their avatars on Mycoria. He had to look for a way to increase his chances with the gods and Cardinals if they would remove the crown prince from this life. Not to mention that there were still some loose ends. Someone needed to take the fall for the act.

[color=008000]“So, even if you can find someone who’s willing to kill the crown prince. People will start to ask questions if there isn’t any culprit caught. Someone needs to take the blame” [/color] Spoke the Minister of the Army.

[color=008000] “I am well aware of that. That’s why I have come to you.” said Ohrahm-Braz as he reached inside his clothes and grabbed a dagger that was native to the Yuravian people and put it on the desk. “Or do you prefer the Saa’kaleed Abiat?” [/color]

A smirk came upon Ekram-Rhas face. If the crown prince would be found dead with a Yuravian dagger in his back when all the vassals delegations would be in town, the Arkronian government would most likely blame the Yaravians, or whomever they choose to be the culprit. Not to mention that the assasination of the crown prince would be nothing less of an act of war against the Arkronian nation. It would warrant a proper Arkronian response that could be handled without their king declaring war. And with himself leading the Arkronian army to glorious victory, Ekram-Rhas would certainly earn the favor of the gods.