Thresholds of Power

No one truly knows when the emperor took over the central city region. No one knows how he captured the castle from a now forgotten kingdom. No one knows even what his face looks like, for most that are in his presence are killed. What is known is the that emperor is a Master of Information, a master of fear, a master of the mind. Skulls are scattered around his castle, skulls are around his neck, skulls are found about the mask the emperor wears, and in fact, one sees his theme is death, his theme is skulls. Lands he occupies on the Island once were full of life and light. Previous free lands were full of happiness, yet, now darkness fills the lands. The emperor is sure to decorate his conquered territories the same way he decorates his castle in central city, he adorns the lands with the skulls of the conquered countrymen. When it was time to conquer the monk clans and Yagers, both groups capitulated to the empire. Some factions in both groups wanted to rebel and fight back, and in fact, some whispered of allying with rebel factions found about the island badlands. But the leaders saw what the emperor had accomplished in mere centuries. The improper consolidated power and was able to main control and order. In some twisted minds people see the empire as a peach keeping force.

Although soldiers of fortune and mercenary for the right price, The Yegars are the elite arm of the emperor's army. Some generations ago there was a truce drafted between the Yegars and the Imperial forces. Yegars would follow the Emperor's will and wouldn't ally themselves with enemies of the empire. In fact, anyone who wasn't under Imperial control is an enemy of the empire. The Yagers pride and cunning propelled them to high ranks in the imperial forces quickly. Some question why the Yagers didn't oppose the imperial armies, because the Yagers have machine and electrical technology. Now, eighty years since the truce between the Yagers and the empire, the central city of the empire has many machines and electronic devices. None of this technology is seen outside of the Yager and Imperial controlled territory. The exchange of technology from the Yagers to the empire granted them continued autonomy of their territories and the ability to move freely. No other Imperial controlled people have this freedom other than the Monk clans.

The monk factions occupied territory for millennia and always healed the sick and sheltered the weak. The monks are always men, for women are not allowed in their ranks. They add to their order through recruitment of orphan children and children generally through the lands. The monks are renowned for their martial arts schools and use of physical energy. But, in Imperial service their training was restricted to being an academy structure similar to the military structure utilized by the Yagers and Imperial forces. Gone is the time of peace brought to the people by the monks, now they heal the Yager and Imperial soldiers while they're in battle. Interestingly enough, the empire could do without the monks but centuries ago an elite monk discovered a mysterious ability to go beyond healing minor and major wounds, he was able to defy death. The emperor has long sought out this ability to poccess it for himself. There is always one keeper of the ultimate ability, but the keeper of the ability since imperial control has always avoided imperial forces. The lastest two keepers of the ability was the late master of the Wiseman and the Wiseman himself. Neither will allow the empire to use them, and the Wiseman decided long ago to allow the life granting knowledge to die along with him.

The Emperor knows of a prophecy of a Kaian copy which will rise in strength and overthrow him someday. This prophecy is spoken of quietly, for those who speak of it are often arrested and imprisoned for expressing statements against the empire. It is a secret edict passed to all Yegar generals and high command to look for possible Kaian copies that are abnormal. Normally copies are mindless and docile. They aren't much different from their Kaian host, and copies often are reabsorbed into their host. The copies are known for their extraordinary strength and Kaian's which can produce copies are sought after as slaves because their labor is twice as valuable.

The night was still as the messaging pigeon arrived quickly to castle with its sharp talons full of parchment paper. The bird flew day and night for three days from the Kaian lands possessing a message of intrigue, a message of the possibility of the prophecy in play.

A pigeon has arrived from the north notices a guard on duty in central city. I must alert my commander he thinks to himself. The guard turns to his left and quickly explains to his fellow guard of his urgent task and they both salute each other with clinched fist crossed over their heart as they were taught to in the academy.

"Commander, sir a messaging pigeon has arrived on the steeple of the castle," mutters the guard while saluting and bowing to his commander.

"Come with me lets retrieve it. Have you spoken of this to anyone yet? These messengers come from Yager high command and are never good news for us," says the commander with a grim tone.

"What do you mean commander, we live to serve the empire," says the guard.

The commander looks in the guard's young eyes and can see the guard's breaking at the academy to make him an unquestioning soldier worked well. The commander sighs, because he senses they will be mobilizing soon.

Soon, later, after the news of the messages arrival slowly spreads a delegation of Yager delegates arrive to central city. For highly coded and important messages its customary for a delegate to decode and read the message in front of the emperor.

"Here, this arrived this morning. It is a message for you all," the commander says grimly.

The three Yager delegates reluctantly take the message from the commander.

"Which one of us will read this to the emperor?" Says one delegate.

"I won't I heard what he does to delegates. I rather like living my confrontable life," says another delegate.

The sound of a sword being unsheathed is heard and the animals around the delegates and commander scurry and fly away in fear.

With sword in hand in a battle stance the third delegate shouts, "Cowards and fools you are. You speak pure heresy against our majesties Emperor Imperial forces and Yager high command! Damn fools if I didn't need to you deliver the message, I would cut you down now."

In a cowardly, meek manner the two delegates bow to the sword wielding man. The commander smiles and admires the delegates bravery and clutches his fist and slaps his fist against his heart to do a high salute. He has always heard of brave Yagers but never seen a delegate worth a damn.

"Come with me fools, I know the way to the Imperial throne room, "explains the brave delegate.

With a smile peaking slightly through his mask, the emperor looks upon his telling orb which shows him actions of his subjects throughout central city, his imperial lands, and places his spies occupy. The orbs are how he can see the loyalty or disloyalty of his subjects.

Francis has always been a loyal subject over the years thinks the emperor to himself. He mused at what it would be like to add Francis to his elite guard. Although he is an elderly Yager delegate he still knows how to do two things that matter for power and control. He is brave and loyal. That is all that is needed the emperor thinks to himself. As Francis enters the room with the message in hand and the two delegates in tow, the smile on the emperor's face turns into a frown.

With one hand on the left handle on his throne and the other hand on his right knee the emperor bellows in a commanding voice," What brings you to my presence?"

Bowing and with reverence, Francis quickly explains the message to the emperor, "Master there is word of a possible threat to your great empire. Schroeder while on a mission in the Kaian lands encountered a Kaian copy that looks like Queen Rousha...."

Interrupting the emperor says, "What that fool Rousha made a copy? I would of thought that beneath that worthless wench. I need to teach that dog how to heel at our presence, continue with the message Francis." The emperor knows this message is important because just Queen's foolish actions aren't enough to grant his attention of this level.

"Well... master the Queen Rousha's copy fought Schroeder and was able to be his match. The message says she landed a wound on him and was able to out run him." Francis bows his head lower, "Master Schroeder believes she is the prophecy."

"Francis you are a good and loyal soldier. You know what your next step is to do. Alert our spy networks and I want all information available about this Kaian threat. I am giving a kill on site order, understand"

"Yes, my emperor."

The emperor extends the hand that is on his right knee, "I value your loyalty, bravery and wisdom Francis, but these fools are a waste of your time, my time."

The emperor waves his right hand around and suddenly the sword on Francis' side becomes unsheathed and slices the head of one delegate.

While letting out a loud cackle filled with a smile which is seen through his skull mask, the emperor lowers his right hand back on his right knee.

Francis' sword lands in his hand and he leaps towards the other delegate and slices their head off. Both delegates heads roll to the ground almost instantly together as the emperor and Francis do the work of routing out the weak and disloyal to the empire in their midst.

"Francis what can I do to convince you to join my elite guard."

The emperor smiles and reaches both hands out. Without direction just as he knew to murder the trader, Francis walks closer to his emperor and kneels before emperors throne and without places his head in the emperor's hands.

"Master I am at the service of the empire, I follow your lead your order."

With Francis' head and life in his hands the emperor says, "yes I know you're loyal but tell me your honest thoughts."

"Master I am too old to serve in the elite guard, I am better off being your eyes and ears on the Yegars. I already keep an eye on Schroeder and his brothers"

"Yes, and you are a valuable asset, I am going to retire to my meditation chamber."

The emperor releases Francis' head from his hands. Francis bows and leaves the throne room quickly as the emperor retires to his meditation chamber to review the days findings from his viewing orbs and spy networks.

Meanwhile, Schroeder arrives back to the Yager stronghold to speak with his brothers about the prophecy threat. He thinks to himself that he wishes to minimize the risk of the empire laying blame to him allowing the Kaian wench escaping him while he had a chance to eradicate her.

"Brother! You're are back from your trade mission with the Kaians but why? Brother You're a week early," exclaimed Raijin.

"Half breed you're not my brother, you're a mistake which your miserable wench of a commoner low breed mother should have aborted you. I don't know why my father laid with your wench mother, " screams Schroeder.

Raijin is a dutiful subject and soldier of the Yegar regime and attempts to fit in with his three brother's trifecta of leadership. Raijin is half Yegar and half Turtik and just as Kaians, Turtik people weren't not highly valued by the island people. Raijin and Schroder's late father was respected throughout the Yager lands when he was head general of all Yegar forces, yet when he got the Turtik woman pregnant with Reijin he feared he would lose favor with the empire and his people. Yet, he always treated Raijin as if he was a full Yegar and instilled the core Yegar values inside of him.

However, Schroeder, Slazhter, and Smithiz never acknowledged Raijin as their brother. They were appalled their father allowed Raijin to have a mongoloid name and not a proud Yegar name. In most country and Yegar affairs the brothers exclude Raijin, but they funded his academy fees for they desire him to be a good officer in the mighty Yegar military. It's family tradition after all.

Schroeder extends his arms and hands and suddenly with excitement shouts towards the sound and figures he sees at the door way of his chamber, "Slazhter and Smithiz it is good to see you brothers".

The three brothers embrace each other, and glare are Raijin.

"I suppose I should be going, eh I got a final exam to study for which is coming soon. Soon I will be a lieutenant, " Raijin says with enthusiasm. He clenches his fist and places it in his heart, giving his brother the proper imperial salute and then leaves the chamber.

"I tired to get him out of here before your arrival brothers!" explains Schroeder.

With a big grin on his face and striking his brown hair back Smithiz says, "my brother it is ok but we are concerned, what is this of a rumor about a Kaian attacking you and beating you! We can't allow those mongrels to think they can step out of their place."

"This is unbelievable brother you're the best fighter in our mighty military. You have the most confirmed kills out of any forces by your own hands!" shouts Slazhter, "you must reclaim our family honor. Smithiz don't coddle Schroeder! We must fucking kill the filth that dared lay a hand on you."

"The wench actually stabbed me with a knife, I lost her in the woods when I was tracking her and once, I saw she was a copy of the retched Kaian Queen, I knew she was possible prophecy. "

The brothers looked at each other and exchanged words about the situation. After a long discussion they prepared a message to be sent by carrier pigeon to the monk spy network. The monks have many spy agents serving the empire in many capacities. Schroeder has good contacts within the spy networks and he is going to call in favors. The pigeon is sent off towards its destination of the spy network.

The two monks with their long cloaks with hooded heads and crossed arms have their conversation about important matters.

"Master the Yegars are making their move for information. A message arrived this morning marked as urgent."

"I know of the situation, they are seeking information about the Kaian wench who bested Schroeder. More importantly, how is our asset? Do we have any new information on the secret ability? "

"We don't know anything new from the asset, but our other agent is watching the Wiseman closely and reports back weekly with his movements."