Ring of Freedom
Contents
Information on the Item
About The Item
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Background Story
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"Tell us again, tell us again" The old man smiled and lowered himself onto the rickety wooden bench as the children gathered earnestly around his feet. "We weren't always an appendage, we were once a mighty realm of our own" The children nodded in appreciation. "We faced severe odds, but our Prime Minister would never back down from those that would destroy us. My father was there, he tells me there was only two choices for Oligarch, death or freedom." "Wouldn't it have been better to live?" a young child asked, with wide eyes. "Without freedom, no" The children's faces looked sad at the fate of their forefathers and some shuffled uneasily. The old man reached out to one boy with reassurance, "All is not lost though. This is where it gets interesting... When it seemed that our realm would fall, our leaders arranged a meeting with the witches of the woods of Commonyr. Among the witches was a very old sage, rumoured to be part elf she was at least 500 years old. The leaders were nervous about the meeting, but they had little option The sage chanted, sang and danced around a fire in the forest while the leaders watched in horrified awe. Once the ritual was complete she told them quite calmly that Oligarch would become enslaved and become the appendage that it is today. The leaders were upset and disbelieved the sage, telling her the attacking force had promised that it would become a new realm. But she insisted that it wouldn't be so, that greed would mean the city would be absorbed into one of the existing realms and the promise broken. She told them not to fret however and she handed them a ring with a shimmering blue stone. Take the Ring of Freedom, keep it from your enemies. One day, someone will wear the ring and liberate your city, your home and return to it the freedom and autonomy that it now enjoys" The children's eyes were brimming with hope and excitement, "Where is the ring today?" The old man smiled, "No one is certain. My father told me that the leaders took the ring and returned to the city for the final siege. Some say the elves took the ring in the final siege and have locked it away so that the prophecy can never be fulfilled. Other people say that the realm leaders sent it away from the city hidden in trade caravans, knowing that it needed to survive for the future" The children murmured among themselves. One of the older boys grunted sullenly, "My father says this story is nonsense, told to children for entertainment. He says there is no ring and no freedom for Oligarch city" The old man frowned at the boy and shook his head sadly, "Tut, tut. My boy, this is virtually fact. My father's closest friend's sister spent a night with someone who had spoke to someone who was actually in the forest with the sage when it happened. I assure you the ring will surface one day." |
Stories
The Acquisition
Rumours of the Ring Spread
Roleplay from Katsuyori
Message sent to everyone in your realm (78 recipients)
Sitting at his command tent in the fields of Braga shortly after the battles with the monsters that attempted to raid the local farms, Katsuyori turned to his captain. "How are the men?"
"Two perished, one wounded now with the healers. No further sightings reported in the area." Captain Tomas reported to the Chancellor occasionally taking a quick glance outside.
"Make arrangements to return to the capital. In any case, look for me in the local tavern in the nearby village when the men are ready to move out." Katsuyori rising from his make shift desk exiting the tent.
"Yes sir." the captain follow closely behind.
"Elric, follow me. And leave those. I won't need to write anything soon." passing by a scribe carrying stacks of reports who hurriedly lay them inside the tent and went after the Chancellor.
Arriving at a nearby tavern in a small village where the monsters appeared, Katsuyori and his scribe enters the tavern in the mid morning. The tavern is pretty empty at this time of the day with only a few customers having their breakfast and a group of children grouped around a peddler in one corner of the tavern.
"I'll get us a room Sir." Before Elric could call to the barmaid, Katsuyori tapped lightly on his shoulder, "We'll sit there." Pointing a the southwest corner of the tavern.
"One day, someone will wear the ring and liberate your city, your home and return to it the freedom and autonomy that it now enjoys..." continue with yells of excitement from the children around.
Listening quietly Katsuyori takes a seat and sip at the ale served shortly.
"What story is that? Didn't think I heard that before." Elric speaking softly to himself.
"Shh..." Katsuyori gave a quick glare at the scribe and return his attention to the peddler.
"Some say the elves took the ring in the final siege and have locked it away so that the prophecy can never be fulfilled. Others say...."
Katsuyori thought to himself, "Another one of those make up bed time fairy tales" which he stopped when one of the children mentioned "Where is this Oligarch you're talking about?"
Quietly, Katsuyori whispered softly to Elric where the scribe just nodded and started to approach the peddler and the children.
Katsuyori Takeda
Chancellor of Fontan
Roleplay from Katsuyori
Message sent to everyone in your realm (77 recipients)
some hours earlier before the sun rises
A small knock is heard and Katsuyori shifted his attention to the door in his reading chamber. "Come in Elric."
Slowly the door opened and the scribe entered cautiously.” Sir, sorry to disturb but since I saw there is still light in your room I thought I would let you know first."
"Go on." Katsuyori picked up a report from the previous day and started reading.
"About the story of the ring we heard down in Braga, I've asked around and it seemed to have surfaced lately over the past few weeks. The peddler heard it from one of the wandering bards from Hagley which he claimed came from the southwest."
"Southwest..." lost in his own thoughts, Katsuyori paused a moment.
"Sir, do you need me to find out more?"
Closing his eyes Katsuyori replied, "You're more useful helping me transcribe documents and reports than affirming some stories. Get some sleep, there's more to do when the sun rises."
"Yes Sir." Elric moving out of the room closing the door behind.
Shortly after the door closed, Katsuyori turned to face a dark corner of the room and a bulky figure appeared, "You summoned me?" remarked the bulky figure.
"You know Barak; I never understood how someone your built would be able to stay hidden and undetected in this room."
"Well, it's part of the job. So which region or noble you want checked this time?" asked Barak.
"You heard the conversation just now?" replied Katsuyori.
"You mean find the source of the rumor?" a slight look of surprise flashed across Barak's face.
"More, find out if this is just a rumor or if it's really true." Katsuyori said firmly.
"And if I find the story true and found this ring your speak of?"
"You just need to find if the ring exists. You don't need to find the ring."
"As you wish. Just a word of caution, you know you may no longer be the Chancellor by the end of tomorrow right?"
"I know. So, enlighten me if I'm not what would happen?"
"As our family oath dictates, we only serve the Chancellor of Fontan from generation to generation. So if you are no longer the Chancellor when the sun rises the day after tomorrow. You'll not hear anything from me."
"Fair enough. And about this investigation..." Katsuyori turned to look at Barak’s indifferent expression.
"A dictated by tradition, from the days my ancestors until me and passing on to my descendents, what we do for each Chancellor will remain with each Chancellor, just as I won't tell you what I did for Lord Gregor or Lady Lilith in the past. At the same time, the new Chancellor who might replace you would also never know what I did for you."
"I wonder if I should start to like or hate you... In any case, you may see my face again." Katsuyori grinned when making the last remark.
"I'll be back if you're still here." Without another word, the figure slowly moves back into dark corner without a sound.
Katsuyori Takeda Chancellor of Fontan
