Order 66

If Dardinus was the sword,

Aurellion was the shield.

Both serve the same lord,

And made enemies yield.

Yet the nobles waited with bated breath,

To send these two heroes to their death.

Their jealousy made them scheme

To the point that they blaspheme.

As they made the kingdom wince

At the death of the prince.

Publius Pollius, a historian in the Empire of Chavaria

….

"House Aurellion, halt, kneel and receive the imperial decree!"

Daemonus, commander of the Chavarian imperial guards, shouted out, making the convoy stop, and the flap of the carriage opened to reveal Throrilsia in her glittering golden armour as the soldiers gathered around her.

Seeing them stop, the imperial guard went to surround them only for the Maquesses voice to ring out loudly, making them stop the dwarven woman drawing one of her mithril axes.

"Stop! Do you want to die?"

The Marquess of Nalora said viciously, making Daemonus sigh. He had hoped to avoid a confrontation, but it appeared that House Aurellion was already on guard against them, making arresting or killing them much harder. The old commander had seen the Pelican Guard in battle. They were on par if not better than the ex Chavarian Royal Knights, now Chavarian Imperial Guard they had been told that a noble foolishly tried to attack them and told them of Flavius' plans but hoped that the house's extraordinary loyalty would help to overcome their suspicions apparently this was not the case.

"Commander Daemonus Prince Flavius killed my husband, and now you, alongside some of the men loyal to him, want to give us a decree. Would it not be one commanding our deaths, as it is unlike the prince and our emperor to allow potential future problems to persist."

"We in House Aurellion are loyal to the death but not so loyal that we are willing to have our line exterminated to allow the emperor to sleep easy at night! Also, if the decree is not about our arrest, why did you try to surround us just now."

The Dwarven woman said, her voice calm and firm.

"So, Commander, what is the emperor's decree?"

"You can tell us from there, but if you or your men take one step forward…."

"Then many won't see the light of a new dawn!"

Knowing that even if he lied, they would ask to see the decree only for it to be about their deaths as the emperor would never risk writing a fake decree or nobles and those with bad intentions who heard about his event could claim that any decree that is not in their favour is fake and use it as a justification to rebel or satisfy their own greed. The commander read out the decree opening an ornate scroll that he kept in a leather satchel, knowing that it would lead to a fight, but due to the guard put up by House Aurellion, he didn't have much choice.

"In the name of the gods and by the will of Heaven, the emperor decrees! Lucius Aurellion killed Prince Victarion, betrayed his country and lord, slaughtered loyal subjects, and failed in his duty to protect the royal line! He is hereby stripped of all of his lands and titles, his family, who without virtue failed to stop him in his vile acts, tried to escape from just judgement and are to be executed under order 66 of article 60 of Chavarian law!"

"MEN! ARREST THE TRAITORS!"

Daemonus shouted, his voice resounding throughout the dark night.

"ARREST THE TRAITORS!"

The imperial guards roared together, charging towards Pelican guards.

"Those of you who continue to protect House Aurellion know that you will be in violation of order 66. You will be demoted in rank and subject to familial execution alongside the traitorous Aurellion family!"

"Lay down your weapons, and you will be spared!"

Daemonus shouted but did not get the effect he excepted in reply to his words the Pelican Guards just ignored the old commander and calmly drew their weapons, ready to fight. Usually, when something like this was announced, it was not uncommon for the men of traitors who were at a disadvantage to turn on their leaders to save themselves from such a brutal fate. This is doubly true for members of the imperial army as they have their names and family members recorded by the imperial court instead of a single lord as in the case of a lord's private army.

This was also the reason why before leaving the capital, Leon made sure to destroy all documents that had to do with the Pelican Guards except for the training manual that he kept on him, ensuring that there was no way for the Imperial Court to enact vengeance on the loyal family members of the Pelican Guard.

Seeing the vast 5,000-man-strong set of imperial guards approach them, both Leon and Thorilsia knew that they stood no chance of defeating them on the field and immediately activated their prearranged escape plan. Leon took 300 of the best pelican guards to go in a different direction to Thorilsia. By now, the 500 men that Thorilsia's family had stationed in Chavaria secretly to protect her and her family had joined them.

But even with their help, fighting 5,000 Chavarian Imperial Guards and the noble troops who were also after them would be impossible, so they went in separate directions, hoping to split the forces chasing them or allowing one to escape while the other was hunted down. A few hundred Pelican guards fought a desperate rearguard action helping to hold off the Imperial troops for a brief time allowing Leon and Thorilsia to escape in different directions.

Watching the division of the forces of House Aurellion and the three small cloaked figures riding horses with the smaller group of soldiers made the Chavarian troops stop for a second as soldiers looked at their commander at whom to follow.

"Commander, three small, cloaked figures are going with that smaller group. Do we follow them?"

A soldier asked, aware that while they had the ability to split their troops, making the wrong decision could end up with one group of traitors escaping.

"General Archtorius! You know House Aurellion the best what is your opinion?"

The imperial guard commander looked at the man who had accompanied Lucius from The Battle of Brunag up until now, wanting to use his expertise to know which group to focus on or whether splitting the troops was but a trick to lower their numbers.

Archtorius, however, had his eyes glued on one particular person, a man who was dressed in armour that the Chavarian general had not seen, calmly going through the many thoughts that bombarded his mind feeling increasingly conflicted before gaining resolve after remembering what happened that day. The day he was forced into taking part in Flavius' conspiracy clutching a crumpled letter in anger that was delivered alongside a box barely a week earlier.

"The Marquess of Nalora is a skilled master-level fighter who is very overprotective of her family which is why she did not trust you after hearing about Flavius' scheme."

"Did you not notice that most of the guards went with her carriage? Her children are likely with her as she would not trust anyone else with their protection. Focusing primarily on her would be sound if we wish. We could send a master-level fighter and about 1000-2000 men to deal with the Pelican Guards who went the other way if we wanted to be sure they did not split the heirs to House Aurellion."

Archtorius said absentmindedly, being forced to help but think back on events that happened ten years ago.

'To think that you would still be alive and serving Lucius after all these years, vice general Leon.'

'You two really put on a good show ten years ago.'

'No wonder all my attempts to reconcile you failed all those years ago.'

Archtorius thought, now in his mid to late thirties, having inherited his father's county long ago.

'My hands are tied, but I hope this will give you a chance to escape. The family of such a loyal subject who should not be treated this way.'

Archtorius thought, knowing just how skilled Leon was 10 years ago when he was a master-level fighter and imagined that as long as only one master-level fighter was sent, his old friend should be able to defeat him and at least escape with anyone left in his charge.

The Chavarian general was intelligent even though he could not risk openly going against orders and even had to help actively or risk his family's death, as it was how he was forced to participate in Flavius' scheme in the first place. But something like this could be easily explained away. Unfortunately, he will forever be remembered as the person behind the death of Lucius by House Aurellion.

'You can hate me, but my little son's life means more to me than the world itself.'

Archtorius thought, his hands balling into a fist for a second before relaxing, being the only indication of the man's unstable emotional state. Unfortunately, the Chavarian general was not the only person who recognised the silvery crimson armour of Leon, deciding to follow wherever the imperial commander went.

"Commander, I would like to take two master fighters and 1000 elite troops to follow the smaller group."

Scorpius said as the person who had accompanied Lucius for most of his early career, the old captain of the Chavarian Royal Knights had worked closely with this old vice-general to protect Lucius,

"Oh, do you recognise someone in that group who could be problematic?"

The imperial guard commander asked. Having worked with Scorpius for many years, he knew that only a select few people could gain the cold man's respect.

"Yes, the man leading the smaller group of men with the 3 cloaked figures. I think that he is Leon Mantelon."

"Leon Mantelon, huh?"

Daemonus said quietly to himself, trying to remember when he last heard this name over his long career serving the now imperial family before remembering an event that happened 10 years ago.

"Isn't he the vice general Lucius fought with 10 years ago, leading to the vice general getting discharged?"

"Yes, commander. However, before that fight, he was the most loyal protector of Lucius after Brunag. I think he started to be suspicious of why I was always on Lucius' side. He likely clocked on that in the event that Lucius turned traitor, I was there to kill him, but if not, then I was to protect him with my life."

"Because of this suspicion, Leon created the Pelican Guard for House Aurellion 1 year after, but then, after a fight between him and Lucius, Leon disappeared without a trace."

"I, alongside those who were close to the two, never understood why the two close friends suddenly fought, but now it appears that he was placed to protect Lucius' heir and family when it was born."

"Are you sure it's been 10 years, and I heard the fight ended with Lucius being incapacitated for two months."

"Yes, commander, I could never forget the armour of the man who was my equal on the battlefield, if not better."

"Please remember, commander, that we are dealing with the spider of Chavaria here."

"What The Battle of Brunag showed is that Lucius Aurellion and the noble house that he leads Is anything but normal for the last people to underestimate him and his plans…."

"Are now 10 feet underground…."

….

Railius could feel the wind blow past his face as the horse he rode on accelerated to an exceptional speed. Now that the smaller group did not have the large carriage or baggage of the convoy slowing them down, they could go much faster using the hesitation that appeared due to the Chavarian imperial forces having to decide how to split their forces to get a head start.

The chase continued for many hours, both sides having fast warhorses, making it hard for Scorpius, the Imperial Guard, and the other forces he led to catch up. The blazing sun, which glided slowly through the sky, beat down its relenting heat on the soldiers who sweated profusely under its unrelenting fiery gaze.

Unfortunately for Leon, Scorpius was skilled in tracking and had stations from which to get fresh horses which is why as more time passed, the pursuing imperial forces got closer and closer and why, even when changing horses, it did not take long for the imperial troops to catch back onto the scent of the smaller Aurellion host.

Railius was quite bored on this ride but used this downtime of rhythmically bouncing up and down on a horse to sort out his thoughts, feeling completely safe in Leon's capable hands, looking through the notifications that had appeared when the guard commander announced the imperial decree.

[House Aurellion has been kicked and branded a traitor by the Empire of Chavaria.]

[Those loyal to The Chavarian Empire will hunt your dynasty to extinction.]

[Order 66 has been issued, meaning anyone who helps you will also have their families executed, lowering the chance of anyone risking themselves to help you out.]

[Any control over the armies of Chavaria has been revoked, and all former subordinates in the Chavarian armed forces are likely to come for your head.]

[The Pelican Guard have stayed loyal to House Aurellion and will follow your Dynasty no matter what the future holds.]

[House Aurellion has lost its landed noble title of Marquis, with all lands being ceased by the Chavarian imperial family.]

[Members of the imperial guard have been sent to arrest or execute your dynasty's members.]

[Thanks to your dynasty's extensive preparation for this circumstance, you have a small chance of surviving.]

[Congratulations to player Rising Pelican of Loyalty for being the first player with a noble title to be branded a traitor by an empire]

These notifications only appeared once the imperial guard commander announced the imperial decree, surprising Railius as most games would tell players when they had been kicked from a guild or faction, but in Dynasties Online, only when it is revealed to your character like it was to Railius during the announcement of the decree would it be confirmed that they were kicked or branded a traitor to a faction.

'Interesting, so while we can be suspicious that something is happening, the system won't confirm it until we have done so ourselves by hearing it in character.'

Railius thought assuming that being kicked from an NPC faction would be similar to a player faction making information even more critical as, unlike in other games, a player won't get a notification to say that they are kicked from a faction until someone has a dagger at their throat or ambushed them as the imperial forces had to Railius and his noble house.

'Anyway….'

Railius continued thinking concentrating on the last system notification that had appeared with annoyance.

'Eccentric ass game! Since when has being the first person to become a traitor been an achievement!'