Magna Aenilia Ecclesia/Book of Promises/The Curse Returns/The Missing Book
The Curse Returns: The Missing Book
(Roleplay from Xarnelf Lightstar)
The old cleric burst into the Paladin-King's private study, without even an announcement. Breathless servants immediately showed up behind him, apologizing profusely to their lord for being unable to stop, or at least slow down, the man. Thus, Xarnelf's contemplative musings were scattered as he turned his head to regard the interruption.
"Your Majesty! Grave news!" spurted the cleric, eyes frantic with fear and alarm.
The hero took one more sip from his wineglass before placing it back down onto the table. "Yes? What is it?"
"The Book... It's... gone."
"Which book?"
"The one... the vault... Promises."
"Promises? What..." His brow furrowed in concentration, and then it hit him hard, images of the past hammering his mind like a battering ram breaking through a stubborn castle gate. "What! You mean to say... No, it cannot be... The only ones who have access to, or even know about, it are..." Xarnelf's face suddenly blanched, as he came to a sudden realization. "No... No, he wouldn't dare..."
"Your Majesty! What should we do?" cried the desperate Temple guardian.
The Paladin-King seemed not to hear the man, as he continued muttering to himself. "It cannot be... and yet, that would explain..."
"Your Majesty?!"
Xarnelf finally noticed that he was being hailed, and his eyes unglazed. Focusing on the old man, who he now noticed to be from the Temple's inner guard--dressed as he was in the silver, flowing, and sanctus-adorned robe--the hero opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. The servants watched with rapt interest and curious surprise, but dared not say a word.
"Should I alert the city watch?! Inform the other Elders?! Send word to al--"
"No!" Xarnelf raised his hand to stop the frenzied cleric from continuing. "No... that would not help." He shifted his gaze over to the servants. "Leave us."
After they had grudgingly but obediently departed from the doorway, the Paladin-King waved the cleric over to take a seat. He motioned over to the bottle of wine and an empty glass at the side table. "Now, calm yourself and tell me exactly what happened..."
(Some time later)
"I see..."
Xarnelf took a moment to digest the Guardian's tale. Apparently, the old man had seen a robed figure depart from the direction of the lower halls at an unscheduled time. He had been on his way to his chambers when the stranger had crossed his path up ahead. The cleric had tried to hail the stranger, but it had been to no avail. By the time he had reached the intersection and turned the corner to call out, the mysterious man had disappeared from sight.
His instincts had told him to investigate the lower halls, and so he did. What he found were four dead guards and an empty pedestal. Now he sat uncomfortably, awaiting instructions from the Paladin-King.
"Tell no one else besides the Guardians whom you have already informed. I will personally see to this matter."
"Your Majesty, is this the wisest course? Surely we can use the aid of others, especially the Elders of the Faith?"
"No. The Book of Promises has been unveiled once more to the outside world. We cannot fully trust anyone within the Faith now. I bore witness firsthand to the chaotic influence of this powerful Artifact, when the Arcangela Arella initially introduced it to the public. It contains harmless words of wisdom, this is true, but it also contains influential words of power--the kind of power that is not meant for mere mortals."
Xarnelf paused before adding, "I fear that we should have attempted to destroy it when we had the chance, but the Prophet and his Disciple had chosen to preserve the Book. Now... Now, it might destroy us if we do not proceed with extreme caution."
"Understood, Your Majesty." The cleric seemed to hesitate for a moment as he stood, as if something else was troubling him, but he shook his head and moved to return to the Temple.
The Paladin caught the slight motion and inquired, "Is there something else, Rafael?"
The old Rafael turned back to fully face Xarnelf, but then dropped his gaze to blankly stare at the half-full wine bottle in contemplation. "Well, it's just that... Should we not at least inform the Patriarch of this dire matter? He alone of all the Elders should learn about this, besides yourself of course, Your Majesty."
In response, the King gave a bitter smile. "Markus? Oh, worry not, dear Rafael, I am quite certain now that the Patriarch already knows of this incident."
"What? How could he? The Patriarch is all the way in NeoSartania for the wedding, and I just discovered it earlier tonight!"
"How could he, indeed?" Xarnelf maintained his bittersweet grimace and reached for his wineglass. It took a couple sips before the implications dawned upon the poor old cleric.
"Hold... Your Majesty is not suggesting that... that the Patriarch himself ordered this sacrilegious theft?!"
"Of all the faithful, it is especially Markus who can no longer be trusted, as either the Patriarch of the Faith, or as the Duke of Nahad," the Paladin cryptically answered.
The Guardian furrowed his brow and twitched his nose in consternation. "Please explain, Your Majesty."
"The less details you know, the better. This is no time to be creating a tumultuous upheaval in the Church by alerting everyone to an eventuality that may or may not come to pass, especially since the Book of Promises is no longer protected. Suffice it to say that I have procured evidence of Markus's intended treason towards Aenilia in conjunction with Arcaea, in addition to his designs for leading the Faith astray."
Rafael gasped and fell back into his seat, discovering his legs suddenly unable to support his shocked person. "How... how could this be? But then, if what Your Majesty says is true... the Book... in the Patriarch's hands..." His throat became unexpectedly dry, and he quickly poured himself another glass of wine.
"Indeed, we will find ourselves with a most turbulent and uncertain future."
"W-what does Your Majesty intend to do about it?"
"Please, Rafael, as I have said, the less you know, the better. It is not that I do not trust you--you did come immediately to inform me of the theft, after all--but it is for your sake that I do not reveal my plans to you. Should one of Markus's agents happen to apprehend you, you will have no reason to lie, for you know nothing. Just continue about your business in the Temple, and act as if nothing out of the ordinary has occurred."
"A-as you wish, Your Majesty."
In truth, Xarnelf had not decided upon a set course of action, even though he had received the news a week ago. Certainly, there were multiple routes he could take to prevent Markus's plans from coming to fruition, but if he acted now, before the Patriarch publicly made his move, then how would the people perceive his actions?
Yet, if he waited too long...
(Roleplay from Markus Thurdan)
Within the dark woods of Idaol, far from prying eyes Markus walked his two most trusted guards with him. These men had been hand picked by him years ago, as men unyielding loyal to him. Markus was confident that these men would fall upon their own swords if he commanded it. They were blindly obedient to him as the Patriarch. They had a special zeal about them that most other faithful lacked. A zeal that had been lost. But with proper planning and hard work, would be regained.
Ahead Markus saw the man he was supposed to meet with. Another zealous guard wearing tattered clothes to hide his nature, "Do you have it?"
The beggar of a looking man reached inside his clothing and pulled out a box shaped item that was wrapped in cloth, "Yes, High Father. I did exactly as you instructed. I secured the book, turned the other guards on each other."
Markus took the item and unwrapped it to reveal the Book of Promises, "You did not read this did you?"
The man looked to the ground and stuttered as he spoke, "H-H-High F-F-ather, forgive me."
Markus eyes narrowed to tiny slits, "heresy."
The man began to cry as he threw himself at Markus feet begging forgiveness.
"I can not give you the forgiveness you seek. Only the Aenil can."
Markus motioned to the two guards behind him, they stepped forward and drew their swords, "You will meet with them shortly!" Without hesitation the guards hacked into the man as Markus pulled away to avoid getting any blood upon himself.
"High Father, what would you have us do with the body?"
"Leave it for the crows to feast upon."
"And of the reading of the book?"
"There is nothing that we can do for now. I had not anticipated this. Mount up, we must stick to the plan for now."
Mounting their horses they left the secluded woods of Idaol, and the body of the heretic as crows began to circle above...
