Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

[Thraxas]

---

Thraxas, Regent of Yew, surveyed the smouldering landscape before him. Astride his regally-barded mount at the doorway of Empath Abbey, he gritted his teeth at the scene which was the source of his discomfort and unease. Rising high above the tops of the trees, smoke, black and gray, billowed skyward from half a dozen places. Each signified yet another stab at his authority.

No matter what he or the guards did, disenfranchised citizens, and, as he had suspected and discovered, infiltrating instigators and perpetrators from other towns, continued to start fires and strew garbage. It was a never-ending story with no letup in sight.

Stumbling toward him, half-carried and half-dragged by two guards, one on either side, was an elvish male, bruised and bloody. They cursed him as they threw him down at the feet of the Regent. "You ordered us to find an elf and we did, sire. We found this one starting a fire in the middle of town, no less!"

"Aye, in the very act, m'lord!" The other guard attested with a kick to the elf's exposed ribcage.

The prisoner groaned and clutched his stomach, propping himself up on one hand. "T..they lie. I did... nothing," he protested. "I was... minding... my own business." He looked up at the Regent with pleading eyes.

Thraxas could see he was telling the truth. He knew the elf had probably been found near a fire and, in their desire for reward and recognition, had been seized by the overzealous guards. "What is your name, elf?"

Lowering his head once more, he panted a reply. "My name... is... Typernion."

"And you hail from Heartwood?"

Typernion nodded slowly. "Aye... I do."

"Do you have family there, Typernion?"

Typernion shook his head. "I live alone."

"You lie, elf. Do you think by admitting you had them you would put them in danger?"

A guard kicked the elf again, knocking his arm out from under him. His face hit the ground hard, and when he lifted himself up once more, his nose was bleeding.

"That's enough," Thraxas ordered, waving his hand in a gesture of command. The guard stepped back but continued to scowl. "What to do with you. Our prisons are overloaded as it is. You would not be well-treated in them in any wise. What have you to say? What should I do with you?"

"Let me go. I have done... nothing."

Thraxas smiled. "Do you recognize my authority in Yew?"

Typernion hesitated.

"Your hesitation does not commend your innocence to me. I ask you again... do you recognize my legal authority and right to rule Yew at the appointment of King Sid, or were you not there when I was coronated?"

"No," the elf replied. "We... of Heartwood... recognize no rulers of Yew. Yew has been, and always will be... under our guardianship... alone. Y...You know this. Why do you ask me?"

"Well, if you do not recognize the crown, human or no, then I may only assume you are in opposition to it, and, therefore, are among those who seek its overthrow. Hence, it is highly likely you, and others of your kind, are either taking an active part in its current malaise, or inciting it." Then, looking to the guards, "Take him to my villa near Winterbreeze and keep watch over him until I get there. Make sure he is bound but do no further harm to him... do you understand?"

The guards consented. They picked him up and headed south toward the villa.

Thraxas watched them go and smiled. A good beginning.
_________________
"If a criminal has what you want, you do business with him."

[Thraxas]

---

Typernion chafed at the steel manacles which enased his slim wrists. The guards, bored, resentful, and prejudiced, cast venomous glances his way. Once, he had spoken to ask for a drink of water. A second later, he was tasting blood in his mouth. The guards sat at table, eating and drinking freely, offering him nothing, while he stood against a wall watching.

After what seemed an hour, the Regent entered the room just as the guards were clearing the table. "Helping yourselves to my larder?" he queried, scowling.

One guard mumbled an incoherent reply.

"Get out."

They complied. One hesitated a moment to see if an expected reward was forthcoming. Receiving only a cold stare from the Regent, he skulked away with the other to stand watch outside the door of the building.

"Pigs," Thraxas commented. He sat down at the table and poured himself a goblet of wine... then poured another. "Drink?" he asked, looking at the prisoner.

The elf shook his head. "I do not drink wine."

"Pity," Thraxas commented nonchalantly. He took a sip and sat back in the plush elvish made chair. He raised his drink in salute to the elf and downed its contents. "Delightful stuff. Clearly the best."

"Why do you hold me?"

The Regent pretended to ignore the question, then spoke up suddenly. "I need you."

"Need me? For what?! I have done no wrong! I was on my way back home when those buffoons accosted me."

"Where had you been?"

"I... had been visiting a friend."

"One who lives near here? An elvish woman?"

"Yes, but..."

"Kayla Ariesus by name."

"Yes."

"You are a suitor, I believe?"

Typernion nodded. "What does that matter to you?"

Thraxas leaned forward. "Kayla was convicted of insurrection some time ago. She spent quite a bit of time in the Yew jail for it. I let her go free on good behavior at the behest of Duchess Kaldhel, her kinswoman. If you are seeing her, you put yourself in a very suspicious position... especially when you are caught setting fires to the town."

"I did nothing of the sort!! Kayla will tell you... ask her!"

"Oh, I mean to. I will pay her a visit shortly. If she is up to her old tricks, then it will turn out very badly for her, and you."

The elf understood and leaned his head back. "I can see it now... you mean to use me as a culprit in some sort of scheme. It won't work. Too many of my people know my character, and hers. It will never stick."

"The only 'scheme' going is the rebellion of your people against my authority in Yew. Indeed, ANY human authority you will never recognize nor accept. You and your kind are behind this current madness, and once I make that clear... the elves are responsible, and are using humans to do their dirty work... the entire attitude of this rebellion will change direction!"

"You're mad."

"I am quite sane. I see through the veil your people wish to cast over our eyes. As for you, if you wish to see your lover again, you will sign a confession that you are part of an elvish conspiracy against the crown, and against all manifestations of human rule in Yew."

"You mean infestation!"

"Ah, so it comes out... the heartfelt prejudice! And here I was beginning to feel a bit sorry for you."

Typernion bit his lip. "I did not mean that... I am sorry."

"You only spoke the truth of your heart. Never apologize to anyone for it. Regardless, I will give you a few days to contemplate your choices." He stood up and walked to the door. "Enjoy the hospitality of my villa while you do. I will make sure the guards treat you better, fear not." With that he stepped outside.

Moments later the guards entered. Typernion had thought, had hoped, the Regent was serious about improved treatment, but he could tell from their expressions of glee, he was badly mistaken.
_________________
"If a criminal has what you want, you do business with him."

[Thraxas]

---

Typernion, seated and in chains, leaned against a wall seeking to get a moment's respite from the torments he had suffered at the hands of his captors. The two guards had taken turns throwing chicken bones at him whilst they feasted at the nearby table. He was hungry and thirsty, but begging for food or water only got him an annoyed scowl from them followed inevitably by some sort of physical torture. He only wished to rest. But even if he were silent, their incessant chatter was enough to drive him crazy.

"That's what I'm tellin' ya," the burly, unkempt, thin-faced man dressed sloppily in dingy, ragged, ringmail, maintained. "Everybody's tired of the abuse! Ya see what it got us, don't ya?" He bit down hard on another fried chicken leg.

His counterpart nodded. "You mean WHERE it got us." He turned to cast a disapproving glance at the elf. "I've got better things to do than babysit an elf!"

"Well, if things don't improve, I may be joinin' the rioters rather than 'rresting them. I saw the old man toss a bag of coins at a protester the other day. After I had 'confiscated' it from him, it had a hundred in gold inside! Not a lot, but for doin' nothin' except belly-achin' I'd say it was worth it."

Typernion had had enough. "I beg of you... sirs... I am in dire need to relieve nature. Might you please take me somewhere that I may refresh myself?"

The guards roared with laughter. "Refresh yourself, is that what elves call it?" one mocked. They looked at each other, grinning. "Why not," said the other. He pushed his chair back and got up to help the elf to his feet. Typernion was amazed that his manner was not brutal, but even friendly. He helped him toward the door and outside. They stood side by side on the front steps. "All right. Get to it."

Typernion scowled. "Here?"

"Sure, why not? Got something we don't, or are you ashamed of it?"

"Don't be absurd... but there IS such a thing as decency. Ever heard of it?"

The guard frowned. "Do you need to "refresh" yourself or not? If so, here's your one and only chance."

The elf looked about. Several houses stood nearby but no one was in sight. He decided the need to relieve himself was greater than the potential effect of being seen doing so, and got on with it.

As it happened, a female elf stood at the steps of her villa, scant yards away. She had seen both men exit the building. Surprise and shock forced a sudden and audible intake of breath to seize her. It was not for what the elf was doing, but for the knowledge of who he was. "Typernion!" she exclaimed. On impulse she hurried over to where they stood.

The guard saw her and intervened. "Stay back you!" he snarled, drawing his sword. "This man... elf... is my prisoner and you may not speak to him."

With a strange mixture of embarrassment and elation, Typernion finished his business and made himself decent once more. "Kayla!" he shouted. His cry got him the guard's elbow to the solar plexus. His knees buckled and he nearly fell, but caught himself. The commotion brought the second guard outside. "What's this all about?!" he asked, looking around.

"They know each other," his cohort explained, still brandishing his sword. He gave a stern look to her. "You'd best be on your way before you get him, and yourself, into a lot of trouble!"

Typernion nodded wordlessly. Kayla bowed her head once and hurried home, looking back to see the three of them re-enter the villa. Her heart sank as the realization that her fiancee' had been arrested by Thraxas' men, settled on her mind like a dark cloud. There was only one thing to do; only one person who could save him. She found pen and parchment and began writing.
_________________
"If a criminal has what you want, you do business with him."