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[Thrax]

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So much needed to be done. There were stacks of papers on Thrax's desk that had to be read and sorted regarding consignments of supplies to be shipped; documented information to be assimilated and analyzed; letters, both personal and formal, replied to; spies' notes evaluated. Thraxas shook his head, wishing he could simply cast a fireball spell to consume the lot of it. He sat down at and began the task of going through it all...

Four hours later it was done. He had a good grasp of the day to day operations of the township he had "inherited" from his twin. There were changes to be made, but before that, letters to be written.

He sent the first to Lord Fong, canceling his plans for a meeting. He did not have the passion against the Protectorate that his brother did, but most of all he did not want to entangle himself in hostile politics until he was more comfortably settled into his new role. The least attention drawn to him, the better.

He wrote a letter to Magnate Isk, reaffirming their friendship and his commitment to helping rebuild Magincia from his own private funds.

Then there was the matter of Delucia. He was intent on having it for himself. Calling together ten of his ablest mercenaries, he explained his plans to them.

"Delucia is a cesspool of vice. It is in worse shape than Papua was when I first went there. The riddance of the Lycan menace has only brought in lesser, but more intelligent, thugs to control it. You all will accompany me there and we will make short work of them," he told them.

Then they set out for the town.

The first place they visited was the fortress to speak with the guards there, and then their leader.

"I am here to restore order to this town. You can help me do it, or you can continue to look the other way, taking your paltry bribes from the local hoodlums who will soon be out of power and gold," he stated flatly. "Or you can join me and receive ten times what you have been paid by them. Which is it?"

The captain scoffed. "We don't take bribes! Get out of here before we show you the sharp end of our swords!"

Thraxas smiled and leaned in toward the man. "Make us!"

The man's eyes widened his face grew livid. "Guards!! Arrest these men! If they offer resistance, kill them!" he screeched.

Nobody moved. A few of the guards wandered away as if they did not hear him. He stood alone, stunned by the realization that he had lost their loyalty. He gave vent to his fury, drawing his sword and lunging at his arrogant opponent. Thraxas stepped back quickly and drew his kryss, parrying the strike, pushing the sword down so that its tip buried into the ground. Then, in one swift motion, he raised his left foot and stomped on the flattened blade, breaking it. Before completing that countermeasure, he was well into an offensive spell that sent the man reeling backwards as he took the full force of an energy bolt to the chest. He lay on the ground panting, clutching at his smoking breastplate. Thraxas prepared another spell, pointing his kryss at the man's face.

"No! Quarter! I surrender!" he cried. He saw a red glimmer in Thraxas' eyes and knew he was doomed.

"Kal Vas Flam!"

Before the flames had finished enveloping the hapless man, Thraxas stabbed him in the throat for the coup de grace.' Blood spurted briefly, splattering the corpse and sizzling in the dying flames.

Thraxas sheathed his sword. "Feed his corpse to the dogs," he told his men and they complied. He turned his gaze to the other guards who had stood by, watching the spectacle.

"Now, who is next in charge?"

[Thrax]

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The local controlling thugs were few in number, and without the aid of the guards to enforce their will, quickly scattered or were rounded up and deported unceremoniously. Thraxas made certain that the new leader of the guards was someone whom he could trust to obey his orders and keep the peace. He then called for a town meeting in front of the Inn. Most of Delucia's small population was on hand, out of curiosity if nothing else.

"What you are now seeing is the complete reversal of your fortunes. From now on, there will be no more bribes, no more corruption, no more officials who fleece you for their own gain. You who are legitimate business people and decent, law-abiding, folk should welcome this change. You who are criminals in the employ of criminals had best attempt reformation, or else leave forthwith. No more lawlessness will be tolerated in Delucia!" He paused to let that soak in. Then he continued. "There will be no new laws save two: there will be a curfew from dusk to dawn and the gates will be closed. Also, there will be no public gatherings without the express permission, in writing, from the Captain of the Guard. Live your lives in quietness and decency and there will be no trouble. Try to steal, extort, bribe, or otherwise deal in lawlessness or try to take advantage of your fellow men and women, and you will most assuredly suffer for it."

A young man, in his twenties, bravely stepped out from the crowd. He pointed an accusatory finger at Thraxas. "Who do you think you are?!" he said, defiantly. "What gives you the right to come here and tell us what to do?!"

Thraxas smiled. "Two things give me that right; the very same that your predecessors utilized, so you should be used to it," he said, tapping first the money bag hanging from his belt, and then to the hilt of his kryss. "If one does not work, rest assured the other shall! Any objections? Anyone agree with this young fool?"

There were murmurs from the crowd, but nothing intelligible could be heard. Thraxas pointed to the young man. "Arrest him," he ordered his mercenaries, who quickly caught the man as he tried to run away. They gagged him and took him into the Inn.

"There is no good reason for anyone to object about us doing this. Lawlessness shall come to an end! The only people who would oppose this will be those who have the most to lose by it... criminals!"

He dismissed the crowd and stepped into the Inn.