Re: The Legacy of Galryth Winterborn
Posted: June 23rd, 2021, 1:19 pm
9. A Trial of Character
Galryth sat in his stool at the tavern, absently nursing his whiskey as the stairs began to creak and moan in the distance from the weight of multiple footfalls. It was not unusual for a few people to be going upstairs, but this was a far greater number and frequency than normal. Was this the meeting of the infamous naked wrestling group he had heard of? Was there a Wolves sermon going on he hadn't heard of? After the footfalls died off, he could hear the vast group of people talking even from a few floors down. Snatching his whiskey bottle from the bar, he trodded up the stairs to see for himself.
Greeting him at the top, was a large group of people from nearly every group in the Providence. There were Wolves, First Torians, Deravin's, and a few members of the other factions scattered around intermingled with unaffiliated citizens. At center stage were Vera Silvercrest, Lucien Silvercrest, and Gryhun. What was going on here?
"Ah. Mister Winterborn." Lucien said upon seeing him and strolled over to where Galryth sat to plat a bottle of ale in front of him and returning to the center area.
He could hear Avi's voice amongst the crowd.
"Gryhun iz judge?" The man questioned.
Judge? This was a trial? He hadn't heard of any sort of trial or any announcement of one. Everyone else seemed to know about it, however, based on the giant gathering of people. Gryhun was to be the judge of it as well? He eyed the man, who was as always wearing his bear mask, and chuckled lowly to himself. Clearly, this must be the trial for the two men from Highfield.
"Mind if I partake in some of that?" An unfamiliar robed man inquired, stepping closer to Galryth.
Galryth motioned him to help himself, preferring his whiskey to ale anyway.
"You have friends here...be known." The man whispered subtly as he reached over him to take the bottle and return to his seat.
Galryth cocked his brow a moment in surprise. Friends for what?
He shrugged it off and went back to his whiskey as the trial continued to wait for the accused to show. After some time, and more shots, they decided to proceed without the accused and pass a judgment to be carried out upon the finding of the judge on guilt.
"Do any wish to present the defense for Wormwood?" Lucien began and scanned the audience.
Ramora stood up and walked to the stage to take up the defense for the absentee man. Proceeding to the stage, and amid many other talking parties and voices, she began.
"R&T releases a statement that summarized Jakell's story and had the initial response to his tale. Mr. Jakell Wormwood claims to have founded Highfield. He claims to have built the village. Feeling threatened that he'd be removed - or killed - by the Legion, he fled Highfield for Teneborough. As he and Flynn Barrigan left, they set fire to the village. The people of Teneborough - the people of R&T - were told this story. That the Legion was coming and would kill them. Teneborough thus dutifully defended what they believed to be refugees. Furthermore, Teneborough's council found that as the creater and owner of said Village. It was rightfully Jakell's to burn."
Galryth nodded to himself as she finished, happy with the rendition given and feeling it properly articulated what they had heard and seen from their perspective. That is, indeed, what they had been told and thought and how they reacted to the refugees, having expected the rest of Highfield to be coming as well, that the entire town had voted to burn it and flee to join them.
"I don't think that's true." Lucien spoke up once she was done.
"Are you Jakell's defense?" Ramona responded quickly, looking over to Lucien.
"Clearly no." Lucien replied.
"So, then, that is the case presented by the defense. Jakell set fire to the property he owned, thus no crime was committed." Ramona finished up and ceded the floor to Lucien. "And now we shall hear from the First Torian Legion."
"Jakell did help to found Highfield but it was not just him." Lucien began in his trademark accent. "He had worked with the Legatus, Vance Silvercrest on the project in addition to that their many members inside and out of Highfield that set and built those buildings and worked to keep them running."
So far so good, Galryth thought to himself as he continued to nurse his whiskey. He had no idea who built the town and their relationships with one another, only what he was told. Seemed very reasonable that the extent of ownership that Wormwood claimed was over-exaggerated or perhaps even outright misleading.
"Also me and Jakell have a long past." Lucien continued with the story. "He knows me and knows I wasn't out for blood. We spoke a few times and one of his chief complaints eas that his council were overly worried of his safety. Furthermore, I believe that R & T or at the least Renatus or Lamora knew of what was to come. They had several meetings with Wormwood."
Galryth gritted his teeth slightly at the last statement, wishing this were more of a real trial than this gathering of folks. This was pure speculation as far as he was concerned, but he had no idea. Had they met several times? Maybe, maybe not. He didn't know, and he believed Lucien didn't either, so it shouldn't be brought up. Only facts should be. They had enough in simply establishing that Wormwood did not own all of those buildings, and therefore, did not have the right to do with them as he pleased. If the entire town did not vote to do such, the case was closed, and arson was proven. It was simple, and yet, it seemed that this wasn't about establishing that, it was about protecting appearances and ego once more.
"It has come to light that Wormwood told Renatus that the whole of Highfield was coming out." Lucien went on. "In response, they build new housing and set up storage for newcomers."
Galryth's brows quirked upward as his hand instantly shot up at the misinformation.
"That's not speculation, that's preparation. He looted all of Highfield and he stuck that loot in one of the houses. So that fire, that theft, was well thought out." Lucien finished his proclamation.
Vera had seen Galryth's hand and motioned Gryhun's attention over to him. Others had already turned their gaze to him and he could feel their eyes watching him, likely judging his disheveled drunken appearance as well as the interruption. He didn't care though, he would voice the truth of the matter, as he knew it. Standing up, he swayed a bit and set the bottle down as he staggered to the stage and turned to the crowd. He was met by equal stares of anticipation, and anger. Clearly, some saw him as an enemy, others eagerly watched to see what would happen.
"As the Architect of Teneborugh, having built and designed it." He began, opening his arms to the people. "New housing was never erected for anything. The building used was set up over a month ago as one of the two buildings for the Banners. They had a barracks, and a building intended to be used for a headquarters."
Gryhun nodded a bit. "I remember that building being designed for the banners by Samara a month ago."
"Nothing new was built for them." Galryth went on. "It was repurposed for what we saw as an emergency housing situation."
"All empty until recently." Lucien proclaimed.
"Aye," Galryth conceded. "But it was built prior to be used as their meeting room."
"Planned ahead, aye?" Lucien prodded. "Before the fires?"
"That part, I don't know." Galryth responded flatly. "I was told there were people in fear of their lives that wanted to join us, and that's what I signed for."
"When?" Lucien inerjected immediately.
"When we released the statement to you." Galryth replied plainly.
"Before the fires?" Lucien inquired.
"Again, don't know. I am correcting what I -do- know and that's that no new buildings were made. That's all I have to say."
"Thank you sir." Lucien responded with a nod and motioned to his prior seat. "Take a seat mate."
He didn't know the timing of the fires in relation to the refugees, and so would not answer to that. He said what he knew to be true and kept away from speculation on anything he didn't. So far, aside from the attempt to make it seem as if this was a long-term plan, the testimony seemed to be unbiased and based on the facts. He just wished it would stick to the actual crime in question. They only needed to prove that he committed a crime by not having the appropriate approval or ownership to make such a decision on his own. Was actually relatively simple. Statements by those involved in building it was all that was needed.
Furio took the stage next. Galryth recognized him as the man who accompanied Vera to change the locks at Teneborough a few days prior. He had met the man once shortly after he arrived, and had sold him a suit of armor.
"Jakell was a man known by many around here. Friendly, a dreamer. He was also a friend of mine before and he spoke to me about what Highfield would be about. He told that to every single person after that. Highfield would be about helping people in need. Staying away from trouble and that there would be no single leader, no last word from a person. We would have a council and the voice of many, those that knew what Highfield would be about would say what would be best for it."
Galryth smiled to himself, almost laughed. Was he talking about Wormwood or Galryth? Taken out of context, they sounded the same. Substitute Council for Assembly, Wormwood for Galryth, and Highfield for Teneborough, and it would be a story entirely accurately describing his own life. It was equal parts surreal and hilarious. Heavens did he miss those damn Assembly meetings and his friends.
"Those were the roots in which Highfield was built." Furio continued. "I trust all of you know what happened at first. Jakell messed with a married woman and got beat because of it."
Galryth didn't. He was sure others probably didn't as well. Personal affairs weren't always, or shouldn't be, public knowledge to such an extent. He had heard rumors that Flynn and Jakell were a...thing. Again more rumors, he took no stock in rumors anyway but listened on as the man continued the tale.
"He called his council to ask what we should do. From that day on he was a changed man. He wanted revenge and only that. The council heard his words and decided he was in the wrong. Graelynn was appointed as Ambassador to speak with the First Torians and smooth things out. She spoke with them and even managed to get what he said he wanted so much. An apology from the First Torian. But he was not satisfied with it and dismissed all that Graelynn did. He dismissed all of that the council of Highfield decided, going against its laws."
Wanting revenge was understandable. A typical, flawed, vice of humanity. Everyone would want such a thing. He sometimes wanted it too, to see others suffer for their sins...to see Lucien spit his own teeth out...but that would mean he should be judged for his own vices as well. Once started along that path, who was truly without blame? This council did not seem to function as well as the Assembly did, however, if someone took it upon themselves to overrule it and do what they wanted. A shame.
"Lucien went to Highfield to put an end to it, to smooth everything, to say sorry. I know that was his intention because I spoke with Lucien that day. I also spoke with Jakell many, many days, trying to get him back to what he was but he would not listen. That same day, Jakell went to the First Torian fort and attacked Lucien. He bit him and kicked him. In a merciful act, Lucien didn't fight back and let Jakell go. Knowing that we the council of Highfield announced we wanted to vote for a new Reeve. He was mad, he was furious. He didn't accept it and said he'd think about it. Before the meeting, he kicked Ramona out of her own house and church. Therefore once again, breaking the laws of Highfield and acting unlike he was before and unlike Highfield should be. With that, discussions still happened and Graelynn decided she could take no more and left Highfield. That very night, Ramona was accused of stealing her own belongings from Highfield and left too."
Their town did not work how it was intended, how the Assembly worked. Nobody should be able to kick another member of the council if they all truly had equal say. Clearly, assuming all of this information was true, and he had no reason to believe otherwise...they had been massively deceived. At least he had. The only ones who felt in danger were the two they let in, it wasn't decided by all of them, it was by them alone and they had no authority to make such a decree. Ramona's story...Furio's story...what Viola heard from Mote all seemed to corroborate this. He felt ill.
He had heard enough, and got to his feet, slowly staggering out as the man continued. What else he had to say, didn't matter to Galryth. They should be found guilty in his opinion now, as they did not have the ownership or approval to do what they did. What a sad turn of events.
"Hey." The robed man from earlier had apparently followed behind him. "A word?"
Galryth looked at the man and to where he nodded at the room behind his shoulder and shrugged. He had no idea who this man was, maybe he was here to kill him? Didn't really matter to him anyway.
"Sure."
They stepped into the room right underneath where the trial was still going on, sitting down at the two chairs by the table, and began to speak.
"You seem a bit agitated with the drinking and all." The man began, peering out at Galryth from under the hood of the robe. "You're not happy with how this went down or the events of the red Sunday?"
"Just dulling the pain," Galryth stated and nodded to the second part. "My will to live died that day."
The man introduced himself as the conversation continued. They had met a few times already, though Galryth hardly remembered with his mind constantly half-drowned in whiskey. But he was here for something...he could feel it as the man watched him, gauging his reactions...prodding for something.
"Your house's power..." He began again. "Diminishing must be a blow to your plans that you spoke of earlier."
"We were never after power." Galryth corrected him, taking the whiskey out of the pack to top himself off. "Except in trading. We wanted the freedom to live life under our own laws. To build an open trade town, and a home for ourselves where all were equal in the say for how it went."
"Tis a shame to lose such prominent members." The man replied lowly. "Then this farce of a trial happening above us seems like it angers you?"
"A bit." Galryth nodded in agreement. "My friends were killed to secure these 2 men for this trial. Nobody seemed to be able to wait to get them in custody for it, and they aren't even here."
"Do you feel your friends died in vain?"
"Yes..." He responded slowly. "And no. They died doing what they said they would...protecting our town and its members. Even if those members entered under false pretenses...to them, they were doing what they said they would. Fulfilling their oaths and duty."
"Seems a horrid outcome to ones protecting their beliefs." The figure nodded. "How is your guild faring now?"
"It's gone." He shook his head sadly. "I am all that is left."
"What about Renatus' wife?" The man quickly inquired. "Lover?"
"What?" Galryth guffawed "He wasn't married and didn't have one as far as I know."
"Viola?"
Galryth nearly burst out laughing before waving a hand, suppressing it, and correcting the man.
"OH! No! No...-no-. She was not involved with him...in any way. Just a business associate like the rest of us, and has left the township. The few citizens there were have been told to leave as well, with no standing militia to protect them."
"What if it wasn't?" The man inquired, leaning in. "Would you rebuild? Become a power in the land? A trade conglomerate? Seek Vengence?"
"No..." Galryth responded after a moment, leaning back and taking a shot.
The figure before him sighed, leaning forward further.
"What if you had...unlimited power...backing your actions?" His voice lowered as he spoke, his gaze on Galryth intensifying. "And you could accomplish what you wished in this province. You don't seem as a man to me who would give up especially when you could avenge...take solace? in your friend's sacrifice?"
Galryth sat back, pondering this a moment. What would he do with unlimited power? Not something he had ever truly considered. His mind drifted for a moment as the possibilities flashed through his mind...the First Torian fort burning...Lucien's teeth being kicked out, replanted, and kicked out again on repeat...bringing everyone together under a flag of peace and prosperity that could only be done by the use of such power...power wielded by someone who had the mind and willpower to use it for goodness in the name of the powerless and weak...someone who would use it to protect those that couldn't protect themselves...to save humanity.
He was not that man and none of the possibilities piqued his interest or seemed possible. Nobody was that person, and those that thought they were could be infinitely more dangerous than those who realized they weren't. Perhaps this is why man was never meant to wield such great and terrible power? They could never truly wield it with benevolence as every human was as flawed as their egos. He was by no means an exception to that.
"I've no wish to take revenge." He said after a while.
"Be well that is may be..." The man sighed and began to lean back in disappointment. "If you change your mind seek out the collective members. Look for a rose. I am but an ambassador. Look for a rose or send a missive to me."
"I wish to live in peace...What is it you hoped I would want to do?" Galryth inquired out of curiosity.
"We had hoped you would want to rebuild." The robed man stated as he began to stand. "Stronger than ever. Divide the growing power of the so-called sycophantic Republic in this region. This is not the true Republic, just a bastardization of it as the trial above proves. We need others to make this known. Not us with the power, but true believers. Consider what I have said."
Galryth nodded, as an image grew in his mind. A giant machine, taller than a house, with all manners of levers, cogs, and wheels. It chugged along at a frantic piece, each part moving in step, allowing the others to do their job in an ever-running machine designed to do nothing other than run and sustain itself. One of the cogs, however, was slowly creating a problem. His mind focused in on it, a strange design that was hard to see as the cog whirled around in its fixed location. It's place in the greater machine. He tried to focus on it, allowing the machine to fade into the distance, becoming more and more blurred as his gaze concentrated. The spinning of the cog slowed, and he could make out more details. It was missing teeth. 3 of the 12 teeth were already gone. Straining hard, he focused everything he could on that specific cog, the one slowing the machine and causing it to skip occasionally as the broken teeth interrupted the normally flawless execution of its running. The symbols on its center...those inscribed...they were familiar somehow...but they moved too fast to see.
The man was on his feet and by the door already as Galryth opened his eyes.
"We are many. We are strong. But cannot be the face of this movement."
He could feel the familiar tug of another player trying to manipulate the pawn once more...
"Why back me though?"
"You have nothing to lose." The man said flatly, and correctly. " I know where Jakell and Flynn are hiding if you change your mind. Look for the rose."
With that, the man left, and Galryth sat alone to think about everything. Unlimited power...revenge...a face for their movement...more work for a pawn...more manipulation for the goals of others...
He closed his eyes and leaned back, popping some green cap mushrooms into his mouth, and watched the brilliant fractal patterns dance around him and consume his consciousness. As the lights danced around him, shadowing movements and melting reality, one thing stood out in the middle of that mesmerizing pixelated tunnel. A cog, with 3 broken teeth. Time was slower here and the wheel that once spun several times a second, slowed, more and more, changing colors as fast as it used to spin until it finally stopped and he could see what was written in its center. Two flared W's shadowing one another with a smaller R&T Enterprises Subsidiary Beneath it.
Winterborn Works...he was the cog...he smiled to himself as the cog in his mind lost 2 more teeth, then melted into the fractal patterned background. He opened his eyes, seeing reality through this new perspective, and watched as the torch's flames waved to him like a familiar friend. The woodgrain vibrated and danced to a song he could not hear, and the very air became a hug to surround him with love. For the first time, in a long time, he was proud of himself. He had been offered power. Power to kill, power to rebuild, power to control others...and turned it away. He had beaten the trial of character.
Galryth sat in his stool at the tavern, absently nursing his whiskey as the stairs began to creak and moan in the distance from the weight of multiple footfalls. It was not unusual for a few people to be going upstairs, but this was a far greater number and frequency than normal. Was this the meeting of the infamous naked wrestling group he had heard of? Was there a Wolves sermon going on he hadn't heard of? After the footfalls died off, he could hear the vast group of people talking even from a few floors down. Snatching his whiskey bottle from the bar, he trodded up the stairs to see for himself.
Greeting him at the top, was a large group of people from nearly every group in the Providence. There were Wolves, First Torians, Deravin's, and a few members of the other factions scattered around intermingled with unaffiliated citizens. At center stage were Vera Silvercrest, Lucien Silvercrest, and Gryhun. What was going on here?
"Ah. Mister Winterborn." Lucien said upon seeing him and strolled over to where Galryth sat to plat a bottle of ale in front of him and returning to the center area.
He could hear Avi's voice amongst the crowd.
"Gryhun iz judge?" The man questioned.
Judge? This was a trial? He hadn't heard of any sort of trial or any announcement of one. Everyone else seemed to know about it, however, based on the giant gathering of people. Gryhun was to be the judge of it as well? He eyed the man, who was as always wearing his bear mask, and chuckled lowly to himself. Clearly, this must be the trial for the two men from Highfield.
"Mind if I partake in some of that?" An unfamiliar robed man inquired, stepping closer to Galryth.
Galryth motioned him to help himself, preferring his whiskey to ale anyway.
"You have friends here...be known." The man whispered subtly as he reached over him to take the bottle and return to his seat.
Galryth cocked his brow a moment in surprise. Friends for what?
He shrugged it off and went back to his whiskey as the trial continued to wait for the accused to show. After some time, and more shots, they decided to proceed without the accused and pass a judgment to be carried out upon the finding of the judge on guilt.
"Do any wish to present the defense for Wormwood?" Lucien began and scanned the audience.
Ramora stood up and walked to the stage to take up the defense for the absentee man. Proceeding to the stage, and amid many other talking parties and voices, she began.
"R&T releases a statement that summarized Jakell's story and had the initial response to his tale. Mr. Jakell Wormwood claims to have founded Highfield. He claims to have built the village. Feeling threatened that he'd be removed - or killed - by the Legion, he fled Highfield for Teneborough. As he and Flynn Barrigan left, they set fire to the village. The people of Teneborough - the people of R&T - were told this story. That the Legion was coming and would kill them. Teneborough thus dutifully defended what they believed to be refugees. Furthermore, Teneborough's council found that as the creater and owner of said Village. It was rightfully Jakell's to burn."
Galryth nodded to himself as she finished, happy with the rendition given and feeling it properly articulated what they had heard and seen from their perspective. That is, indeed, what they had been told and thought and how they reacted to the refugees, having expected the rest of Highfield to be coming as well, that the entire town had voted to burn it and flee to join them.
"I don't think that's true." Lucien spoke up once she was done.
"Are you Jakell's defense?" Ramona responded quickly, looking over to Lucien.
"Clearly no." Lucien replied.
"So, then, that is the case presented by the defense. Jakell set fire to the property he owned, thus no crime was committed." Ramona finished up and ceded the floor to Lucien. "And now we shall hear from the First Torian Legion."
"Jakell did help to found Highfield but it was not just him." Lucien began in his trademark accent. "He had worked with the Legatus, Vance Silvercrest on the project in addition to that their many members inside and out of Highfield that set and built those buildings and worked to keep them running."
So far so good, Galryth thought to himself as he continued to nurse his whiskey. He had no idea who built the town and their relationships with one another, only what he was told. Seemed very reasonable that the extent of ownership that Wormwood claimed was over-exaggerated or perhaps even outright misleading.
"Also me and Jakell have a long past." Lucien continued with the story. "He knows me and knows I wasn't out for blood. We spoke a few times and one of his chief complaints eas that his council were overly worried of his safety. Furthermore, I believe that R & T or at the least Renatus or Lamora knew of what was to come. They had several meetings with Wormwood."
Galryth gritted his teeth slightly at the last statement, wishing this were more of a real trial than this gathering of folks. This was pure speculation as far as he was concerned, but he had no idea. Had they met several times? Maybe, maybe not. He didn't know, and he believed Lucien didn't either, so it shouldn't be brought up. Only facts should be. They had enough in simply establishing that Wormwood did not own all of those buildings, and therefore, did not have the right to do with them as he pleased. If the entire town did not vote to do such, the case was closed, and arson was proven. It was simple, and yet, it seemed that this wasn't about establishing that, it was about protecting appearances and ego once more.
"It has come to light that Wormwood told Renatus that the whole of Highfield was coming out." Lucien went on. "In response, they build new housing and set up storage for newcomers."
Galryth's brows quirked upward as his hand instantly shot up at the misinformation.
"That's not speculation, that's preparation. He looted all of Highfield and he stuck that loot in one of the houses. So that fire, that theft, was well thought out." Lucien finished his proclamation.
Vera had seen Galryth's hand and motioned Gryhun's attention over to him. Others had already turned their gaze to him and he could feel their eyes watching him, likely judging his disheveled drunken appearance as well as the interruption. He didn't care though, he would voice the truth of the matter, as he knew it. Standing up, he swayed a bit and set the bottle down as he staggered to the stage and turned to the crowd. He was met by equal stares of anticipation, and anger. Clearly, some saw him as an enemy, others eagerly watched to see what would happen.
"As the Architect of Teneborugh, having built and designed it." He began, opening his arms to the people. "New housing was never erected for anything. The building used was set up over a month ago as one of the two buildings for the Banners. They had a barracks, and a building intended to be used for a headquarters."
Gryhun nodded a bit. "I remember that building being designed for the banners by Samara a month ago."
"Nothing new was built for them." Galryth went on. "It was repurposed for what we saw as an emergency housing situation."
"All empty until recently." Lucien proclaimed.
"Aye," Galryth conceded. "But it was built prior to be used as their meeting room."
"Planned ahead, aye?" Lucien prodded. "Before the fires?"
"That part, I don't know." Galryth responded flatly. "I was told there were people in fear of their lives that wanted to join us, and that's what I signed for."
"When?" Lucien inerjected immediately.
"When we released the statement to you." Galryth replied plainly.
"Before the fires?" Lucien inquired.
"Again, don't know. I am correcting what I -do- know and that's that no new buildings were made. That's all I have to say."
"Thank you sir." Lucien responded with a nod and motioned to his prior seat. "Take a seat mate."
He didn't know the timing of the fires in relation to the refugees, and so would not answer to that. He said what he knew to be true and kept away from speculation on anything he didn't. So far, aside from the attempt to make it seem as if this was a long-term plan, the testimony seemed to be unbiased and based on the facts. He just wished it would stick to the actual crime in question. They only needed to prove that he committed a crime by not having the appropriate approval or ownership to make such a decision on his own. Was actually relatively simple. Statements by those involved in building it was all that was needed.
Furio took the stage next. Galryth recognized him as the man who accompanied Vera to change the locks at Teneborough a few days prior. He had met the man once shortly after he arrived, and had sold him a suit of armor.
"Jakell was a man known by many around here. Friendly, a dreamer. He was also a friend of mine before and he spoke to me about what Highfield would be about. He told that to every single person after that. Highfield would be about helping people in need. Staying away from trouble and that there would be no single leader, no last word from a person. We would have a council and the voice of many, those that knew what Highfield would be about would say what would be best for it."
Galryth smiled to himself, almost laughed. Was he talking about Wormwood or Galryth? Taken out of context, they sounded the same. Substitute Council for Assembly, Wormwood for Galryth, and Highfield for Teneborough, and it would be a story entirely accurately describing his own life. It was equal parts surreal and hilarious. Heavens did he miss those damn Assembly meetings and his friends.
"Those were the roots in which Highfield was built." Furio continued. "I trust all of you know what happened at first. Jakell messed with a married woman and got beat because of it."
Galryth didn't. He was sure others probably didn't as well. Personal affairs weren't always, or shouldn't be, public knowledge to such an extent. He had heard rumors that Flynn and Jakell were a...thing. Again more rumors, he took no stock in rumors anyway but listened on as the man continued the tale.
"He called his council to ask what we should do. From that day on he was a changed man. He wanted revenge and only that. The council heard his words and decided he was in the wrong. Graelynn was appointed as Ambassador to speak with the First Torians and smooth things out. She spoke with them and even managed to get what he said he wanted so much. An apology from the First Torian. But he was not satisfied with it and dismissed all that Graelynn did. He dismissed all of that the council of Highfield decided, going against its laws."
Wanting revenge was understandable. A typical, flawed, vice of humanity. Everyone would want such a thing. He sometimes wanted it too, to see others suffer for their sins...to see Lucien spit his own teeth out...but that would mean he should be judged for his own vices as well. Once started along that path, who was truly without blame? This council did not seem to function as well as the Assembly did, however, if someone took it upon themselves to overrule it and do what they wanted. A shame.
"Lucien went to Highfield to put an end to it, to smooth everything, to say sorry. I know that was his intention because I spoke with Lucien that day. I also spoke with Jakell many, many days, trying to get him back to what he was but he would not listen. That same day, Jakell went to the First Torian fort and attacked Lucien. He bit him and kicked him. In a merciful act, Lucien didn't fight back and let Jakell go. Knowing that we the council of Highfield announced we wanted to vote for a new Reeve. He was mad, he was furious. He didn't accept it and said he'd think about it. Before the meeting, he kicked Ramona out of her own house and church. Therefore once again, breaking the laws of Highfield and acting unlike he was before and unlike Highfield should be. With that, discussions still happened and Graelynn decided she could take no more and left Highfield. That very night, Ramona was accused of stealing her own belongings from Highfield and left too."
Their town did not work how it was intended, how the Assembly worked. Nobody should be able to kick another member of the council if they all truly had equal say. Clearly, assuming all of this information was true, and he had no reason to believe otherwise...they had been massively deceived. At least he had. The only ones who felt in danger were the two they let in, it wasn't decided by all of them, it was by them alone and they had no authority to make such a decree. Ramona's story...Furio's story...what Viola heard from Mote all seemed to corroborate this. He felt ill.
He had heard enough, and got to his feet, slowly staggering out as the man continued. What else he had to say, didn't matter to Galryth. They should be found guilty in his opinion now, as they did not have the ownership or approval to do what they did. What a sad turn of events.
"Hey." The robed man from earlier had apparently followed behind him. "A word?"
Galryth looked at the man and to where he nodded at the room behind his shoulder and shrugged. He had no idea who this man was, maybe he was here to kill him? Didn't really matter to him anyway.
"Sure."
They stepped into the room right underneath where the trial was still going on, sitting down at the two chairs by the table, and began to speak.
"You seem a bit agitated with the drinking and all." The man began, peering out at Galryth from under the hood of the robe. "You're not happy with how this went down or the events of the red Sunday?"
"Just dulling the pain," Galryth stated and nodded to the second part. "My will to live died that day."
The man introduced himself as the conversation continued. They had met a few times already, though Galryth hardly remembered with his mind constantly half-drowned in whiskey. But he was here for something...he could feel it as the man watched him, gauging his reactions...prodding for something.
"Your house's power..." He began again. "Diminishing must be a blow to your plans that you spoke of earlier."
"We were never after power." Galryth corrected him, taking the whiskey out of the pack to top himself off. "Except in trading. We wanted the freedom to live life under our own laws. To build an open trade town, and a home for ourselves where all were equal in the say for how it went."
"Tis a shame to lose such prominent members." The man replied lowly. "Then this farce of a trial happening above us seems like it angers you?"
"A bit." Galryth nodded in agreement. "My friends were killed to secure these 2 men for this trial. Nobody seemed to be able to wait to get them in custody for it, and they aren't even here."
"Do you feel your friends died in vain?"
"Yes..." He responded slowly. "And no. They died doing what they said they would...protecting our town and its members. Even if those members entered under false pretenses...to them, they were doing what they said they would. Fulfilling their oaths and duty."
"Seems a horrid outcome to ones protecting their beliefs." The figure nodded. "How is your guild faring now?"
"It's gone." He shook his head sadly. "I am all that is left."
"What about Renatus' wife?" The man quickly inquired. "Lover?"
"What?" Galryth guffawed "He wasn't married and didn't have one as far as I know."
"Viola?"
Galryth nearly burst out laughing before waving a hand, suppressing it, and correcting the man.
"OH! No! No...-no-. She was not involved with him...in any way. Just a business associate like the rest of us, and has left the township. The few citizens there were have been told to leave as well, with no standing militia to protect them."
"What if it wasn't?" The man inquired, leaning in. "Would you rebuild? Become a power in the land? A trade conglomerate? Seek Vengence?"
"No..." Galryth responded after a moment, leaning back and taking a shot.
The figure before him sighed, leaning forward further.
"What if you had...unlimited power...backing your actions?" His voice lowered as he spoke, his gaze on Galryth intensifying. "And you could accomplish what you wished in this province. You don't seem as a man to me who would give up especially when you could avenge...take solace? in your friend's sacrifice?"
Galryth sat back, pondering this a moment. What would he do with unlimited power? Not something he had ever truly considered. His mind drifted for a moment as the possibilities flashed through his mind...the First Torian fort burning...Lucien's teeth being kicked out, replanted, and kicked out again on repeat...bringing everyone together under a flag of peace and prosperity that could only be done by the use of such power...power wielded by someone who had the mind and willpower to use it for goodness in the name of the powerless and weak...someone who would use it to protect those that couldn't protect themselves...to save humanity.
He was not that man and none of the possibilities piqued his interest or seemed possible. Nobody was that person, and those that thought they were could be infinitely more dangerous than those who realized they weren't. Perhaps this is why man was never meant to wield such great and terrible power? They could never truly wield it with benevolence as every human was as flawed as their egos. He was by no means an exception to that.
"I've no wish to take revenge." He said after a while.
"Be well that is may be..." The man sighed and began to lean back in disappointment. "If you change your mind seek out the collective members. Look for a rose. I am but an ambassador. Look for a rose or send a missive to me."
"I wish to live in peace...What is it you hoped I would want to do?" Galryth inquired out of curiosity.
"We had hoped you would want to rebuild." The robed man stated as he began to stand. "Stronger than ever. Divide the growing power of the so-called sycophantic Republic in this region. This is not the true Republic, just a bastardization of it as the trial above proves. We need others to make this known. Not us with the power, but true believers. Consider what I have said."
Galryth nodded, as an image grew in his mind. A giant machine, taller than a house, with all manners of levers, cogs, and wheels. It chugged along at a frantic piece, each part moving in step, allowing the others to do their job in an ever-running machine designed to do nothing other than run and sustain itself. One of the cogs, however, was slowly creating a problem. His mind focused in on it, a strange design that was hard to see as the cog whirled around in its fixed location. It's place in the greater machine. He tried to focus on it, allowing the machine to fade into the distance, becoming more and more blurred as his gaze concentrated. The spinning of the cog slowed, and he could make out more details. It was missing teeth. 3 of the 12 teeth were already gone. Straining hard, he focused everything he could on that specific cog, the one slowing the machine and causing it to skip occasionally as the broken teeth interrupted the normally flawless execution of its running. The symbols on its center...those inscribed...they were familiar somehow...but they moved too fast to see.
The man was on his feet and by the door already as Galryth opened his eyes.
"We are many. We are strong. But cannot be the face of this movement."
He could feel the familiar tug of another player trying to manipulate the pawn once more...
"Why back me though?"
"You have nothing to lose." The man said flatly, and correctly. " I know where Jakell and Flynn are hiding if you change your mind. Look for the rose."
With that, the man left, and Galryth sat alone to think about everything. Unlimited power...revenge...a face for their movement...more work for a pawn...more manipulation for the goals of others...
He closed his eyes and leaned back, popping some green cap mushrooms into his mouth, and watched the brilliant fractal patterns dance around him and consume his consciousness. As the lights danced around him, shadowing movements and melting reality, one thing stood out in the middle of that mesmerizing pixelated tunnel. A cog, with 3 broken teeth. Time was slower here and the wheel that once spun several times a second, slowed, more and more, changing colors as fast as it used to spin until it finally stopped and he could see what was written in its center. Two flared W's shadowing one another with a smaller R&T Enterprises Subsidiary Beneath it.
Winterborn Works...he was the cog...he smiled to himself as the cog in his mind lost 2 more teeth, then melted into the fractal patterned background. He opened his eyes, seeing reality through this new perspective, and watched as the torch's flames waved to him like a familiar friend. The woodgrain vibrated and danced to a song he could not hear, and the very air became a hug to surround him with love. For the first time, in a long time, he was proud of himself. He had been offered power. Power to kill, power to rebuild, power to control others...and turned it away. He had beaten the trial of character.