Fire A wild fire can destroy a nation but a controlled fire can build a nation

Slumming It

Bright Shadow The biting wind caresses my bare skin, And the black sky mirrors emotions within, Despair ever near, approaches from the rear, Yet hope is my light, cast away shadowy fear. © 2013 by Pthasse Amadeus

Supreme Emperor (Conclusion) It wasn't long before we approached the square; I stepped out first and cautiously surveyed the area, searching earnestly for would-be assassins. Satisfied, I signalled to his highness that it was safe for him to exit the carriage. He stepped out of the carriage, completely unarmed and adorned with fine cloth and precious jewels; and in moments two Mages and the rest of his personal guard joined us. The Lord Emperor and his entourage proceeded towards the podium, but not before he spoke a few words to the Mages. Before we reached the podium, the Mages approached me: "The Lord Emperor wants to secure your fealty." They informed me. "I have been a most faithful subject, what more does he want from me?" I responded. "He has your blade, but he also wants your heart." They replied and I repressed a sneer, he would never have that, I thought; and didn't notice the mumblings of a spell. I wasn't expecting what happened next and perhaps that was why it was so effective, but they cast a spell upon me and I was like two minds within one. A part of me still detested the vile Emperor, but there was a new part that spewed an undying love, which betrayed my true heart. The Mages smiled and took their leave, rejoining his highness. I was his completely and there was nothing that I could do, so long as he lived I would be a slave to his will; I was compelled to kill any who attacked the Lord Emperor. That was when I had a thought as to the true purpose of his appearance at Port Goodwill's square, was he planning on compelling the whole city? I found myself wondering where the other Mages were, and their absence confirmed my suspicion. They were probably hidden within the city walls, preparing to cast their spell. I shook my head as I thought of the power he would wield; he would control all the families of this city and consequently the inherit high concentration of ambient magic that made the site of this city special. Besides the access to raw power, he would also control one of the most important ports on the continent, the largest Trade Houses and of course the Tower of One, which housed the original Book of Logos and the ruling seat of this world's most influential religion. Alas, there was little that I could do... We stepped unto the podium and the two Mages stood at either end, weaving magic and preparing a protective shield for the Emperor's safety; and before long the crowd gathered around us. The Lord Emperor stepped forward and began his address, while the Mages finalised their spell. Suddenly, a solitary individual launched herself from within the crowd before us. She was swift and before any of the guards had reacted, she launched a precisely aimed blade at The Lord Emperor, and blood flowed freely from the open wound on his neck, even as he pressed his hand firmly over the cut. The Mages prepared to cast a different spell, but they were felled by the assassin's accomplices and before I fully comprehended the situation the assassin fell upon The Lord Emperor; who stumbled away, trying to cast a spell to preserve his #life. That was when the compulsion took hold and I drew my blade and attacked the assassin, even as the Emperor's #life blood poured out from his fatal wound. But try as I did, I couldn't stop my attack on the assassin. I unleashed my formidable skills and training, and I put my strength and speed behind each swing; and just as I struck the fatal blow the compulsion left me. The Lord Emperor was dead, killed by his own hubris and thirst for power, and now the assassin's accomplices advanced upon me. I dropped my blade and fell to my knees, and I lifted my eyes to the sky, praying for the safety of my family; I silently wondered about the fate of the world that I would soon be leaving behind. I gazed deep into the sky above; it is said that when we live The Witness watches our lives, so that our tale can be retold in our own words when we die, and so live on forever... I smiled and I felt even happier with the hope that my family would live, and I, through them. The people were free and their champion, the assassin was dead, brought down by my blade... My hands. If only things were different and I hadn't been compelled, I thought, they would never believe me... Tears poured freely down my cheeks as I accepted that I would never again hold my wife, nor hear the laughs of my children. And yet I also smiled because I knew that this way, there was a chance that my family would live and die free. It was not my wish to live, so that they may be hunted... I felt the cold steel pierce me with little resistance and the crowd erupted. I remained as I was, taking in the sight of the clear sky above and reliving my joyful memories, as the gift of #life left me. The End © 2013 by Pthasse Amadeus

Supreme Emperor Pt. 2 One would think that surrounding himself with an army of conquered men would be dangerous to the Lord's health, but numerous assassination attempts were unsuccessful because Lord Kronon had also surrounded himself with Mages, and a personal guard of soldiers he trusted; well, those that he had ransomed and others that he had his Mages compel with magic. And so the once Lord Kronon, proclaimed himself Emperor of the continent of Gedoth; he changed his name to Emperor Gedoth, or Lord Emperor as he liked to be addressed. He was as much a genius in his evil deeds as he was in military strategy and so his enemies fell at his might; all save Port Goodwill. It was a very well fortified nation state, with formidable military might, powerful ships and adept Mages. Alas, that state also fell, and now I escorted him with the rest of his guard through the streets to the main square, where he would formally address the conquered people and inaugurate himself as Supreme Emperor of Gedoth. During the campaign to take Port Goodwill and even afterwards, I searched for my family, but they were nowhere to be found. Little did I know that The Lord Emperor had taken them into his court, they were hostages even if they didn't know it; and that was when he conscripted me to his personal guard. He needn't have said more, I clearly understood his unsaid threat, and now here I was escorting the evil Emperor and I must defend him with my #life, else my family is forfeit. We rode in a gilded carriage, adorned with gold and stolen jewels, carried upon the backs of slaves form previous conquests; he didn't need the slaves, he had horses, but such was his way. The majority of the Emperor's army returned to Southhelm, his new fortress in the South, while others were garrisoned at the more unruly cities. Upon his majesty's orders, all soldiers except his personal guard were to guard the perimeter of the city; and they dare not approach the city without due cause. That meant, any armed individual unknown to the personal guard found within the city, would be treated as the enemy, which of course came with all its benefits. We proceed down the streets that were filled with folks, forced to bear witness and prostrate themselves before their new ruler, and there was a mixture of emotion in the air, laced with heavy tension. The city that once had the strongest economy on the continent, with the deepest ties to power and influence, fell at the feet of the Emperor. The ancient, yet sturdy gates that once held fast against the cascade of evil now opened its door to a denizen of hell; such was my hatred for this evil man. "Eric." Lord Emperor said to me. "Pay attention, something is amiss." He added. "Yes... Lord Emperor." I responded and he smiled a cruel smile, knowing that his ransom kept me as leader of his personal guard; the ever vigilant, stoic custodian. (To be continued...) © 2012 by Pthasse Amadeus