[quote] To: All nations of this world that follow the one true faith, From: His Holiness, Doge Rudun of the Holy Stomian Empire and the Haloist Order. His holiness has requested your presence of all of the leaders of those glorious nations that follow the one true faith in the Summer Festivat. A grand feast will be held at the White Palace before sermons will take place to thank the lord for his bounty. Finally the leaders will be blessed with holy water before talks with the Doge and the Emperor may begin about other topics that may come up. [/quote] --Imperial Castle-- Varik loosed smug smile as he read the invitation, more so amused than anything else, more at the talk with Doge and Emperor. Such a perverted religion. Committing such atrocities under the guises of peace and religion, it was laughable. Stroking his goatee it was simply too much, though the woman across the chess table looked at him slyly. A buxom beauty of forty that retain her youthful look from her twenties. "Do tell dearest cousin what is find amusing."Emrie, spoke as she moved the high decorated knight onto a white square. "The Stomians have sent this invitation to all those the follow the Hailost religion. Though I do suppose I will go considering I have a small sect of these helots in our country." Handing the invitation to Lady Emrie, afterward grasping a purple apple. One of the few thing they could grow, as he studied the board intently. Lady Emrie loosed the same smug based smile she had witnessed on Varik's face. "I see your amusement cousin, it is laughable but what if they dare try to kill you?" "They won't and if they do it's an excuse for war. Happening in their city under the guise of religion, all the world would see their shame for letting a leader perish in their good hands. Though I would be taking Mariet with me to see if I can procure some other allegiances in the south, that is if she finds herself a man with such a worth. I would leave the throne to you in my absence, my sons are playing there game, so I will let them for their own amusement." Kill all questions, her ladyship might have. Finishing the apple before tossing of the balcony. " And our other interests?" Emrie spoke watching him move the rook to take the knight. " Well The Deauxerran League is of no concern I found other means. Revoking iron and steel shipments from them and the Stomians, extra shipments are going out to others. The Judicai are proceeding a planned and the sixth legion is in a training exercise. That all dearest?" Varik asked. "It is." Moving the king to take the rook. "Stalemate." Smirking as she got up passing by Varik but not before whispering something in his ear. "The door will be unlocked." Each loosing grins before departing each others company. --Southern Borders-- Supreme Judicator Viktor Hicroat was not only a prominent lord but also a master of his work. A master zealot to the Borvan Dynasty, but also a ruthless and gruesome man. In his private abode outside Hokum, monitoring the spread of religion and incoming caravans from the Stomians. This time a priest, a little extreme but the offenses he piled up was more than the Judicator could abide by. "This time you are charged with the following: Preaching in a public forum, Converting openly, Speaking against the Emperor, and Spitting open other peoples faiths. All of these are second offense and I won't bring you back a third time. How do you plead?" Seeing the man being ready for quartering. But all he received was a spit in the face. "So be it." Nodding and as he did the Judicai whipped the horses to pull. The screaming hadn't started yet but it would soon enough. Muscles started tearing bone cracking. In a moments notice the legs and arms were torn, rivers of blood flood from the the arm and leg sockets. "Give the body to the wolves."