The Herald from the Far Beyond/Crowns Up
Crowns Up
Cast of Characters:
General Torodash: The General of the Kingdom of Zorodon.
Marshal Miama: A close advisor to the General and coconspirator.
Marshal Kurig: An advisor to the General and coconspirator.
King Harangi: King of Zorodon.
Supreme Justice Caibot: Judge of Zorodon.
King Jamar: King of Babamar, and brother of King Harangi.
High Financier Nytora: Banker of Zorodon.
Captain of the Guard.
So it begins,
This tragedy details the fateful decision of General Torodash to usurp the crown from King Harangi in the Kingdom of Zorodon. His failure was because of the loss of a key coconspirator, the regain of conscience, and most deciding of all the betrayal of Marshal Kurig. The Most High was not pleased with the way this story played out but has allowed it to be told as an example for any would be conspirators. Since the first telling of this tale, it has been used by mentors all over as a tragic lesson in conspiracy, loyalty, and fate.
It was a cool summer day when King Harangi signed the peace treaty with King Jamar. For these two rulers, this treaty would bring the end of a vicious fratricidal war that waged between them for many years. For a few others, it would be perceived to be a deal between two brothers who had given up on their cause and their people. Some celebrated it as a solid foundation to a future of peace and cooperation, while others scoffed at their King’s fickle one-sided diplomacy. This is the tale of one high ranking individual who believed firmly in the second perspective, and was preparing to correct it with military action.
When peace had been declared, the city of Anamo was in an uproar. Half in glee over the end of the war, the other half outraged that it ended so suddenly. The price in blood both kingdoms paid was heavy, and in this war where there were no significant gains for either side, a peace settlement meant the end of wasting lives, but also brought no clear victor. In the palace of the King, in the Chamber of War, General Torodash vents his frustration over the sudden treaty. His anger is uncontainable.
- ”Argh! Can you believe this? The King signs a peace treaty without our consent. Not only this, the war has come to an end without a clear victor. Has he gone insane? How much has been wasted for nothing?”
Along side the General are his two Marshals, Marshal Miama and Marshal Kurig. They are his advisors and both command two veteran armies.
- Marshal Miama says, “General, what are we going to do now during this peace? Our men are going to become lazy and dull, our days are going to be filled with desk work instead of field campaigns. Must we suffer this indignity?”
- ”I hear you all too well Marshal Miama. I only wish there was some way we could correct the problem.”
- ”And what is the problem General?” Marshal Kurig asks.
The General hesitates trying to sift the tone of Marshal Kurig’s voice. Kurig had been a loyal Marshal for most of his career, rising quickly and maintaining his outstanding leadership. If he detected the hint of rebellion in the General’s voice in the wrong way, the General would quickly lose a much needed ally.
- ”Marshal Kurig, I fear our enemy will break the deal. The King of Babamar has never been a man to be trusted, and time again we learn this truth the hard way. Not this time! More important than this, our King’s decision was not done with the consent of any of the High Council, or the Gathered Body. He acts in his and his brother’s self-interests. I am his General would it not be right to have at least consulted with me? How could he just sweep the carpet from my feet as I conduct the war? Now, there is no victory in his actions. It is akin to surrender.”
- ”I am in full agreement General. This is a disgraceful way to end the war. Our soldiers have died in vain. The King should just have surrendered our heads along with our blood.” Marshal Miama added.
Marshal Kurig weighed the words of his two colleagues; both seemed to be angered and deliberate. If he were to disagree with them, they would surely exclude him from their trust in the future. If he were to agree with them, he would be betraying his King and admitting the King’s incompetence. The more immediate matter prevailed.
- ”I suppose you are right General. How do you suppose we correct this problem? It is not like we can tear up the peace treaty and return to war?” was Kurig’s response.
- ”No. King Harangi would never allow the war to begin again without his order, nor would the people. We must put a new person in power. Someone who is not related to our worst enemy and someone who would overturn the treaty with enough might that no one could refuse him.”
An idea floated in their minds, and it was Marshal Miama who first voiced it.
- ”We must overturn the King. General Torodash, you are the only man qualified to replace him. This is the only way.”
The General was filled with ideas of grandeur and glory in his mind. Feeling the majesty of becoming a King, proclaiming to all how weak and wrong King Harangi was, and that under his rule the Kingdom of Zorodon would return to war and conclude it in victory. The General smiled.
Marshal Kurig shuddered when he heard their conclusion. He was not a man to be a participant in such deviance, such shadowy agendas, but he could not work out a way to exit. He felt trapped to agree, and so he did.
- ”General Torodash, you must become the King. You must!”
- The General replied to both of them. “It will not be easy, or bloodless, but I am afraid that you are both right. The overturn of the King is the only way to bring triumph and victory to our armies. Too much has been spent in this war to just end it now. We must end it in victory or not at all!”
The three conspirators cemented their plan with an oath of loyalty to each other, and swore to bring the victory their Kingdom deserved. After careful strategizing, they decided to assassinate the King three weeks from that day. The day they chose was the three year anniversary of the Rabus Bay Massacre, where an army from Babamar slaughtered an entire village in search of a wounded Marshal. When the Babamarian army finally found the Marshal, they boiled her alive. There would be a small ceremony outside of the palace memorializing the dead. The General felt that they would be the perfect crowd to reveal the corpse of the King to, and to declare his own ascendance.
A week had passed since that fateful meeting, and the collaborators went about their business as usual. The General took to openly venting his frustrations over the peace treaty to any who would listen, but not to the extent that the King would become suspicious of a coup. Torodash was setting himself up for a legitimate takeover, one that would only work if it had been sowed properly. If the people knew he was against the King’s decision, they would easily accept his ultimate actions as reasonable, and hopefully rally behind him. If he had kept it secret until the day, the peasants would be in too much shock to follow him. They would feel as if they were following an impulsive regicide, and would not let him live. Selling it was as important as performing it.
The King’s response to the General was “relax and enjoy the peace.” He was completely oblivious to the narrative now being unfolded. All the while the General was doing his public duty Marshal Miama was scrutinizing the assassination plan. She was making sure it would be done at the most opportune moment, without any interference by guards, with the highest chances of success for the General and without much backlash from the High Council or the nobility. She spoke with High Financier Nytora and persuaded her that the King’s treaty was not in the best interests of their kingdom. She also learned that Supreme Justice Caibot was bitter that the King did not ask his advice over the treaty. It seemed to her their plan would work all too easy, as if the King had practically arranged it all for them. She realized that because it was all too easy that there was a chance it was a trap, but she reassured herself that the King was not intelligent enough for such subtle maneuvers.
Three days before the day of deceit, Marshal Miama was caught in a venomous feud with a Marshal from the Kingdom of Babamar. This Marshal had been a guest in the King’s palace for some time and was enjoying the luxury as if he was prince. Marshal Miama, being a temperamental woman, accused him of overindulging the King’s hospitality. The enemy Marshal, who was not a very intelligent man, told her she was insignificant and could not stop him. They dueled to the death. The enemy Marshal was severely wounded but poor Miama was killed.
General Torodash found himself without his most trusted and effective ally. He never considered Marshal Kurig of any consequence. The Marshal had stayed out of the conspiracy as much as he could. The General did not mind because Miama was pulling enough weight. Now that Marshal Miama was dead, the General feared Kurig would confess their plot. Standing over the corpse of his fallen friend, the General swore to her that he would achieve their goals at any cost, even the price of Kurig’s head. In order to kill the King, Marshal Kurig must die.
Marshal Kurig was saddened by the death of Marshal Miama. He knew her for a very long time and always admired her courage on the battlefield. He wondered how her death would affect the General’s coup, but was too nervous to confront the man. The idea of regicide was beginning to sink uncomfortably in his head. He did not want to allow such a heinous act against nature to occur. He was especially responsible because he knew all about it. Marshal Miama was the muscle of the plan, and Kurig was always afraid of speaking against her, but now that she was dead the General was alone against the entire Kingdom. If he could only reveal his plan to the King, the General would be executed and all will be well. Kurig became excited for the rewards he would receive. Maybe he would be given command of a region in the beautiful south. Baron Kurig, Count Kurig! Better yet, Duke Kurig! He frowned at that last one. There was no way the King would make him a Duke. Unless he saved the King’s life! Kurig decided that he was no longer an associate with the General, and that he would quietly wait for the General to strike against the King. In that moment, Kurig would leap out and kill the General. It is perfect! He thought to himself, smiling as he walked down the corridor. I don’t want to kill the King anymore, so General Torodash must die.
General Torodash stood at the top of the bell tower overlooking the palace court. He had found this spot to be a refuge from the commotion of the capital. This perch proved handy time again because it was out of the way for most of the nobles he sought to avoid. Visitors were rare to this tower. He pondered the best move he could make that would assure his chances of success. If he sought out Kurig and killed him too soon, security would increase and he would not be able to get to the King. If he waited too long, he feared Kurig would turncoat and betray him. The best solution, he decided, was to murder Kurig the morning he was to assassinate the King. Hopefully, no one will discover the Marshal’s body until it was too late and the General would be able to commit his deed without worry. His next question was if he should hire an infiltrator to kill the Marshal, or do it with his own hands? He thought on this for a moment then came to another fateful decision. His hands should not be stained with such low blood. He must reserve his hands for the King. He saw how good it would be to wake up that morning and know his greatest threat was eliminated. Then he could calmly organize himself for the bigger kill, the King. He still felt restless and uneasy. All of this was going to happen a day away and he was not sure if he was fully prepared. That was a bad sign for something so momentous. This should have been planned to the very letter, as Marshal Miama was doing. Now that she was gone, he felt detached from the whole thing. Maybe he would give up and let it be. Maybe that was the best answer, the safest one. Let it go, he thought. Forget about Marshal Kurig, forget about his master plan, and just let it go. No one will know. A new path suddenly opened up before the General. Instead of taking his chances on murder, he will take his chances on life. He will do as the King ordered, relax and enjoy the peace. He felt a large wave of calm and solace enter his heart. He was no longer bitter, no longer angry, and no longer committed to his bloody plan. I don’t want to kill the King anymore, Marshal Kurig will live, and all will be well.
That night, the night before the plan was set to deploy, Marshal Kurig rolled around in his bed conflicted and miserable. He was tormented with all of the possible pit falls in what he was planning to do. What if he was too late to kill the General, he would jump out to find the corpse of the King and a blood thirsty General? What if the General arranged to have him killed before the assassination? What if – oh no!- what if the General was coming to kill him tonight! Kurig sat up sweating, unsure of what to do. He was split and worn over so much thinking. This straining was exhausting him, but he felt as if he was running out of time. At any minute an infiltrator, or the General himself, would sneak into his chamber and throttle him in the night. He panicked. He told himself to forget the plan for tomorrow afternoon; he had to save his own life tonight. With malice in his eyes, he clothed himself and secured his blade to his hip. He knew the only thing that could save the King and himself had to be done this instant. He had to kill the General. Once the General was dead, he would be safe, the King would be safe, and he would be a hero for foiling the regicidal conspiracy. Marshal Kurig stealthily exited his chamber determined to end it all this night.
General Torodash slept serenely. All the guilt and pressure was lifted and he felt a new man. He resolved his conflict by burning all the evidence about his conspiracy in his fire place. It was a cleansing act that rid him of the conflict he felt about his plan. It rejuvenated him and excited him to start the next day without the terrible agenda on his mind. He even began to prepare an official confrontation with the King over the peace treaty. It would be a rational, reasonable, and legitimate debate. He would make an argument which other ministers and High Councilors could discuss, and open a dialogue with the King. He would resolve his issue publicly and civilly. He rolled to his side and pulled the blankets close to him.
Marshal Kurig found his way silently to the room of the General. He quietly opened the door and entered. Stalking through the antechamber and into the doorway of the bedroom, he saw the General asleep in his bed. He readied the blade and walked over to the side the General was facing. Face to face he saw the General sleeping soundly. The Marshal raised his blade high into the air and paused. Then with a savage thrust he began to stab the General over and over again. Blood spilled over the bed sheets onto the ground and soaked the Marshal’s knees. The General winced then moaned then went silent as the Marshal continuously stabbed. When he saw the macabre before him, the Marshal knew he had saved his Kingdom.
The King was awoken by a shaken servant. He opened eyes as the Supreme Justice entered the chamber in his sleeping gown.
- ”What is the meaning of this Caibot?”
- ”Terrible news Your Excellency. Marshal Kurig has murdered General Torodash.”
The King was stunned.
- ”Why?”
- ”He was raving about a conspiracy against your life Sire, but he was unable to produce any evidence.”
- ”No evidence, eh? Why would the General think to kill me? He has been speaking openly against me, yes. He has been arguing publicly, true. But this is not the actions of a man who was conspiring in secret. It is just not his character. Marshal Kurig on the other hand has said nothing. The silent ones are always those to watch out for. I think this man has gone mad. Let me see him.”
The King and the Supreme Justice left the room and found the Marshal covered in blood in the arms of two soldiers. The Marshal was weeping and mumbling about the conspiracy. The King spoke,
- ”Marshal Kurig, why have you done such a grotesque act?”
- ”My King, my King, I saved you! He was going to kill you…so was Marshal Miama.”
- ”Marshal Miama is dead! She was killed three days ago. Can you prove that the General was going to kill me?”
- ”No…I don’t have any proof. Miama had it all. I don’t know where she kept it.”
- ”Search Miama’s goods,” ordered the King, “Let’s sort this wretched night out.”
The Captain of the Guard was already waiting with a report.
- ”King Harangi, I have already searched the late Mistress’ chambers. I have found nothing to corroborate the Marshal’s statements.”
- ”Is that so? What about the General’s chambers?” the King replied.
- ”All we have found were notes preparing to argue against you in the forum tomorrow. Apparently he wanted you to discuss the reasons why you signed the peace treaty without the High Council’s consent.”
- ”Yes, that is what he has been saying for the past three weeks. What about anything to do with murder?”
- ”Nothing found, Sire.” Was the Captain’s answer.
- ”They kept it hidden my King, it is all hidden…I just don’t know where!” Kurig spewed.
Two days after the anniversary of the Rabus Bay Massacre, Marshal Kurig was sentenced to death for the cold blooded murder of General Torodash. After his hanging, he was buried in an unmarked pit and cursed. The General was given a heroes burial, and his coffin paraded around by the mourning peasants. Then he was buried in a grand tomb originally built for the King. “An honourable grave for an honourable man”, the King proclaimed.
So ends the tragedy of General Torodash and Marshal Kurig. May the Most High forgive them and grant them peace in his care.
