Noxtrael
04-13-2009, 03:57 AM
This evening a troubling change in events has come to pass, another dark cloud gliding across an already stormy sky. While we gathered our knights in Stormwind for our weekly Council, a great shouting was heard in the streets. We set out into the city to find its source, and discovered that a Night Elf of Invictus Sanctum had been put under arrest by an unnamed soldier who identified herself as being with the King's men. Already, several knights of the Stormwind Royal Cavalry who had been in council with the suspect Night Elf had fallen in to escort him to the Stockades.
"What is the meaning of this?" I intoned to the soldier at the lead. "I would hear the charges laid against this man ere I allow you to pass."
The soldier glowered and replied, "Their leader has been murdered, and he is to be taken away under charge of treason by the order of the King."
The group continued along to their way to the Stockades, and so I ordered my knights to mount up and march alongside them as observers. Lady Teesah slain? I had no reports of my own on such a grim matter, but I was resolved to make use of our might to ensure that there was no mischief or deceit in play under our watch.
We arrived at the Stockades, by then a large host of 10 or so knights from each the Order and the Cavalry. Officers of the Cavalry had arrived by then, and I spoke with Commander Jin at length to learn further details of the arrest. I was suprised to find that they had no further knowledge than did mine own Order, and that their own requests for official documentation had gone unanswered. Furthermore, the soldier who had made the arrest had slipped out.
Eager to find the truth of this matter, I charged Avatar Aerudar and Master Natarazono to watch over the accused Night Elf--both to ensure that he did not attempt to escape as well to safeguard him from any harm that might be planned if this proved a ruse. To Master Grethor I gave command over the remaining knights that I left to garrison the Stockades. Alongside knights of the Cavalry, I deemed that the Stockade was well protected until the matter could be investigated.
While Jin led a party of knights and officers of the Cavalry searched the city to bring back the arresting soldier for questioning and verification, I made my way to the Keep to speak to King Varian on the matter. As I kneeled before the leige of Stormwind, what I learned was troubling indeed. His dark brows shadowing stern grey eyes, King Varian confirmed that the order had come from him. Lady Teesah's body had been found in her quarters, apparently murdered. But this was not the sole charge laid against the Night Elf in question, for the King had reason from unrelated matters to believe the entire clan of Invictus Sanctum may be implicated in treason. To determine the truth of the matter, a standing order had gone out to gather all members of the clan and bring them to Stormwind for a trial.
While I voiced my doubt that a clan as honorable as Invictus Sanctum was known to be would be found truly guilty of such allegations, I vowed to aid as I could in ensuring the King's justice could run its course. When I returned to the Stockades, the Cavalry's attempts to locate the lone soldier had been without fruit, as she had apparently vanished from the city. Though this further caused doubt in my mind as to the legitimacy of any claims, the words of the King were proof that it was a matter that required more scrutiny. Despite the grim implications of this turn of events, I was glad to see the worthy actions of Stormwind Cavalry in their part in handling this unexpected incident. They have indeed become a disciplined and strong force of order within the Alliance, I saw, and I resolved to take steps towards coordinating with them on this and other endeavors. The Night Elf was given a place in the Stockades, and we departed to carry out the King's will.
While the Stormwind Cavalry began to round up any members of the Sanctum within King Varian's realm, I gathered the knights of my Order about me to arrest a large group of the Sanctum who I had learned were gathering presently in Theramore.
However, even as we prepared to make for Lady Jaina's citadel, the cries went out that Darkshire, Westfall, Lakeshire, and Goldshire were each intermittently subjected to hit and run attacks by several bands of the Horde. Thus we reigned in our steeds and redirected them to the defense.
Arriving in Westfall, we hunted the Horde across the fields with the assistance of local informants to track their movements and eliminate them one, two, or three at a time. No sooner had the fields been cleansed than we were arriving once more in Goldshire to put down a band of marauders. False alarms were raised in Lakeshire, Westfall, and Goldshire until at last a solid report of a large group of more than ten Horde in Darkshire reached us. In a mighty charge, we crossed the river and into the besieged town center. In all of a few moments, the Horde forces were utterly shattered. As I looked about the battlefield, I reflected that many and more of them were hardly seasoned warriors. After that, the campaign turned to preventing the escape of the last of their ragged forces.
When peace had finally settled upon the realm once more, we set ourselves to our task of bringing the King's justice to Theramore. One of those who had fought alongside us in that campaign was himself a Death Knight among Invictus Sanctum, and so I trusted him to act on his honor and return to Stormwind and present himself to the King to await the Trial. Though his response showed that he had by no means determined to do so, his case would have to wait until another time.
A mage's portal sped us along that way, but even so I sensed that many of the Sanctum had departed from Dustwallow while we were occuppied with the Horde. Those that remained nearby seemed to have fled into the surrounding swamps. With a weary sigh, I ordered that my knights spread out through the Marsh, seeking where they might be hiding.
Just as our search was concluding, the Adept I had stationed in Theramore sent word that several members of Invictus Sanctum were sighted once more in Theramore. We returned swiftly to the citadel, where the remaining Sanctum clansmen awaited us to hear what we would say. As I dismounted, I saw that two among them were former allies from the Order, Sir Novacon and Lady Callencia.
"Greetings," I said, striding towards them with a slight smirk by way of apology. "No doubt my knights have told you why we have come, but I assure you, I strongly believe that this must be some misunderstanding, for you have ever proven valiant and worthy allies. Yet the King's laws must be abided, so long as they are just, and it seems we must needs bring you before him to find the truth of these allegations of treason. In a way, it is an act of friendship that we have done so. For if we bring you to Stormwind, we can garauntee your safety and fair treatment in the proceedings ahead. I do not doubt that many would seek to harm those who are even charged with treason, but we would sooner ensure that justice reigns."
At this, Callencia mounted and dashed off into the darkness ere any could stop her. I shook my head, knowing that while it was likely as not merely her usual reaction to wounded pride, others would certainly see guilt confirmed in her flight. Novacon merely expressed his own sullen doubt about the sort of justice that awaited them in Stormwind, enforced at the points of the swords of those he thought his friends.
Frowning at his dour mood, I replied, "King Varian is a just sovereign. It may be that one or two among your number are guilty of this treason, and they shall be weeded out and the honor of your clan restored. I had rather hoped that you and your clansmen would be eager to return to the King and establish their innocence, so that this entire matter may be laid to rest. And so I ask you, will you either allow us to escort you back to Stormwind or swear on your honor that you shall go there voluntarily when you have attended to any personal matters first?"
"And if I refuse?" Novacon responded with a defiant lift of his chin.
I sighed deeply. Why is he pressing the matter? Does he not see that his actions make it seem as though he is guilty? "The innocent have nothing to fear from those who seek the truth, I assure you. But I do not pretend my show of force here to be anything other than what it is. If you or your clansmen refuse a summons of the King, that is in itself a treason. It will not be permitted."
"Brought down by the very brothers I once served alongside, that's appropriate enough," he muttered with an odd mixture of mirth and sickness upon his face. "Which of you would be enforcing that then?" he spat, his eyes darting from face to face.
I stepped forward. "I ask no man to do what I would not do myself." Steadying my gaze upon him, I unsheathed my greatsword. He searched my face, as solemn and uncompromising as any battle helm. This man was once a friend, and still an ally. But he, like any who have looked into my stormy blue eyes, knew all too well that any past kinship we might have had would not spare him from my judgment should he seek to defy justice.
"That is how it must be then," he said, and in a moment he had disappeared--whisked off to Warsong Gulch by the magics of an unseen ally.
I sheathed my blade once more. "So it is," I whispered to the empty space before me.
Turning now to my knights, I addressed them, saying, "In the days to come, any knight of the Fabled Order has authority to bring word of King Varian's wishes to those clansmen of Invictus Sanctum. You may either accompany them to the Stockades to await Trial, or take their sacred oath that they will do so of their own volition when they are able." I looked now to the darkening skies above Theramore. "It is my hope that many among them will prove as nobility as I believed and come willingly, so that their words may be heard against those of their accusers and weighed against the evidence. Treat them honorably, for I still believe many or most to be innocent of the charge. But if any should refuse, as these have here tonight, then there is nothing more we can do for them."
"What are your orders, m'lord?" Master Grethor asked. "If they refuse?"
I considered my next words carefully. "Foolishness is not punishable by death... but treason is. Any who foolishly refuse to submit themselves to the King's justice have in their pride denied the right of their sovereign to judge their innocence or guilt. You may engage any who refuse with force, as deadly as needs be."
Grethor bowed, as did the others. Returning the bow, I took up my old quarters in Theramore's barracks. The night was late, and tomorrow the hunt would begin.
--From the libram of Lord Noxtrael Fatebreaker on the Alleged Treason of Invictus Sanctum
((OOC, this is an event that was begun by the officers of Invictus Sanctum. I would of course not institute such a drastic, albeit exciting, change which would essentially amount to god-modding someone else's guild by fabricating evidence for or against such a claim. We merely became involved as impromptu observers, which is one of the exciting bits about RP events.))
"What is the meaning of this?" I intoned to the soldier at the lead. "I would hear the charges laid against this man ere I allow you to pass."
The soldier glowered and replied, "Their leader has been murdered, and he is to be taken away under charge of treason by the order of the King."
The group continued along to their way to the Stockades, and so I ordered my knights to mount up and march alongside them as observers. Lady Teesah slain? I had no reports of my own on such a grim matter, but I was resolved to make use of our might to ensure that there was no mischief or deceit in play under our watch.
We arrived at the Stockades, by then a large host of 10 or so knights from each the Order and the Cavalry. Officers of the Cavalry had arrived by then, and I spoke with Commander Jin at length to learn further details of the arrest. I was suprised to find that they had no further knowledge than did mine own Order, and that their own requests for official documentation had gone unanswered. Furthermore, the soldier who had made the arrest had slipped out.
Eager to find the truth of this matter, I charged Avatar Aerudar and Master Natarazono to watch over the accused Night Elf--both to ensure that he did not attempt to escape as well to safeguard him from any harm that might be planned if this proved a ruse. To Master Grethor I gave command over the remaining knights that I left to garrison the Stockades. Alongside knights of the Cavalry, I deemed that the Stockade was well protected until the matter could be investigated.
While Jin led a party of knights and officers of the Cavalry searched the city to bring back the arresting soldier for questioning and verification, I made my way to the Keep to speak to King Varian on the matter. As I kneeled before the leige of Stormwind, what I learned was troubling indeed. His dark brows shadowing stern grey eyes, King Varian confirmed that the order had come from him. Lady Teesah's body had been found in her quarters, apparently murdered. But this was not the sole charge laid against the Night Elf in question, for the King had reason from unrelated matters to believe the entire clan of Invictus Sanctum may be implicated in treason. To determine the truth of the matter, a standing order had gone out to gather all members of the clan and bring them to Stormwind for a trial.
While I voiced my doubt that a clan as honorable as Invictus Sanctum was known to be would be found truly guilty of such allegations, I vowed to aid as I could in ensuring the King's justice could run its course. When I returned to the Stockades, the Cavalry's attempts to locate the lone soldier had been without fruit, as she had apparently vanished from the city. Though this further caused doubt in my mind as to the legitimacy of any claims, the words of the King were proof that it was a matter that required more scrutiny. Despite the grim implications of this turn of events, I was glad to see the worthy actions of Stormwind Cavalry in their part in handling this unexpected incident. They have indeed become a disciplined and strong force of order within the Alliance, I saw, and I resolved to take steps towards coordinating with them on this and other endeavors. The Night Elf was given a place in the Stockades, and we departed to carry out the King's will.
While the Stormwind Cavalry began to round up any members of the Sanctum within King Varian's realm, I gathered the knights of my Order about me to arrest a large group of the Sanctum who I had learned were gathering presently in Theramore.
However, even as we prepared to make for Lady Jaina's citadel, the cries went out that Darkshire, Westfall, Lakeshire, and Goldshire were each intermittently subjected to hit and run attacks by several bands of the Horde. Thus we reigned in our steeds and redirected them to the defense.
Arriving in Westfall, we hunted the Horde across the fields with the assistance of local informants to track their movements and eliminate them one, two, or three at a time. No sooner had the fields been cleansed than we were arriving once more in Goldshire to put down a band of marauders. False alarms were raised in Lakeshire, Westfall, and Goldshire until at last a solid report of a large group of more than ten Horde in Darkshire reached us. In a mighty charge, we crossed the river and into the besieged town center. In all of a few moments, the Horde forces were utterly shattered. As I looked about the battlefield, I reflected that many and more of them were hardly seasoned warriors. After that, the campaign turned to preventing the escape of the last of their ragged forces.
When peace had finally settled upon the realm once more, we set ourselves to our task of bringing the King's justice to Theramore. One of those who had fought alongside us in that campaign was himself a Death Knight among Invictus Sanctum, and so I trusted him to act on his honor and return to Stormwind and present himself to the King to await the Trial. Though his response showed that he had by no means determined to do so, his case would have to wait until another time.
A mage's portal sped us along that way, but even so I sensed that many of the Sanctum had departed from Dustwallow while we were occuppied with the Horde. Those that remained nearby seemed to have fled into the surrounding swamps. With a weary sigh, I ordered that my knights spread out through the Marsh, seeking where they might be hiding.
Just as our search was concluding, the Adept I had stationed in Theramore sent word that several members of Invictus Sanctum were sighted once more in Theramore. We returned swiftly to the citadel, where the remaining Sanctum clansmen awaited us to hear what we would say. As I dismounted, I saw that two among them were former allies from the Order, Sir Novacon and Lady Callencia.
"Greetings," I said, striding towards them with a slight smirk by way of apology. "No doubt my knights have told you why we have come, but I assure you, I strongly believe that this must be some misunderstanding, for you have ever proven valiant and worthy allies. Yet the King's laws must be abided, so long as they are just, and it seems we must needs bring you before him to find the truth of these allegations of treason. In a way, it is an act of friendship that we have done so. For if we bring you to Stormwind, we can garauntee your safety and fair treatment in the proceedings ahead. I do not doubt that many would seek to harm those who are even charged with treason, but we would sooner ensure that justice reigns."
At this, Callencia mounted and dashed off into the darkness ere any could stop her. I shook my head, knowing that while it was likely as not merely her usual reaction to wounded pride, others would certainly see guilt confirmed in her flight. Novacon merely expressed his own sullen doubt about the sort of justice that awaited them in Stormwind, enforced at the points of the swords of those he thought his friends.
Frowning at his dour mood, I replied, "King Varian is a just sovereign. It may be that one or two among your number are guilty of this treason, and they shall be weeded out and the honor of your clan restored. I had rather hoped that you and your clansmen would be eager to return to the King and establish their innocence, so that this entire matter may be laid to rest. And so I ask you, will you either allow us to escort you back to Stormwind or swear on your honor that you shall go there voluntarily when you have attended to any personal matters first?"
"And if I refuse?" Novacon responded with a defiant lift of his chin.
I sighed deeply. Why is he pressing the matter? Does he not see that his actions make it seem as though he is guilty? "The innocent have nothing to fear from those who seek the truth, I assure you. But I do not pretend my show of force here to be anything other than what it is. If you or your clansmen refuse a summons of the King, that is in itself a treason. It will not be permitted."
"Brought down by the very brothers I once served alongside, that's appropriate enough," he muttered with an odd mixture of mirth and sickness upon his face. "Which of you would be enforcing that then?" he spat, his eyes darting from face to face.
I stepped forward. "I ask no man to do what I would not do myself." Steadying my gaze upon him, I unsheathed my greatsword. He searched my face, as solemn and uncompromising as any battle helm. This man was once a friend, and still an ally. But he, like any who have looked into my stormy blue eyes, knew all too well that any past kinship we might have had would not spare him from my judgment should he seek to defy justice.
"That is how it must be then," he said, and in a moment he had disappeared--whisked off to Warsong Gulch by the magics of an unseen ally.
I sheathed my blade once more. "So it is," I whispered to the empty space before me.
Turning now to my knights, I addressed them, saying, "In the days to come, any knight of the Fabled Order has authority to bring word of King Varian's wishes to those clansmen of Invictus Sanctum. You may either accompany them to the Stockades to await Trial, or take their sacred oath that they will do so of their own volition when they are able." I looked now to the darkening skies above Theramore. "It is my hope that many among them will prove as nobility as I believed and come willingly, so that their words may be heard against those of their accusers and weighed against the evidence. Treat them honorably, for I still believe many or most to be innocent of the charge. But if any should refuse, as these have here tonight, then there is nothing more we can do for them."
"What are your orders, m'lord?" Master Grethor asked. "If they refuse?"
I considered my next words carefully. "Foolishness is not punishable by death... but treason is. Any who foolishly refuse to submit themselves to the King's justice have in their pride denied the right of their sovereign to judge their innocence or guilt. You may engage any who refuse with force, as deadly as needs be."
Grethor bowed, as did the others. Returning the bow, I took up my old quarters in Theramore's barracks. The night was late, and tomorrow the hunt would begin.
--From the libram of Lord Noxtrael Fatebreaker on the Alleged Treason of Invictus Sanctum
((OOC, this is an event that was begun by the officers of Invictus Sanctum. I would of course not institute such a drastic, albeit exciting, change which would essentially amount to god-modding someone else's guild by fabricating evidence for or against such a claim. We merely became involved as impromptu observers, which is one of the exciting bits about RP events.))