Open Highest Order of Betrayal [Miro]

[Sevris]

14th Day of Spring 514 A.V So many things were beginning to form in his head. Was the one he served day and in and day out not pleased with his efforts. For years it had been his calling to be one ofthe Ebonstryfes fiercest warriors. The greatest officer the Stryfe would ever have, to be greater than even the deadliest Druvin and his grandfather Lazerin. Certainly he had proven himself worthy to be marked by the God of Evil. Then again...he was the God of Evil. After turning Paladin he was given access to the accolades and titles it meant earning the position of Paladin at such a young age. A prodigy some might even add, killing a dire and stopping a Yukmen uprising. He even defeated Shinji, a Field Commander of the Rising Dawn, and his lieutenants in mortal combat. Yet he was not marked again. It was his dream..his destiny to be one of the Druvin, and soon the Voice. There were whispers about her consistent absence. None that have made any critical impact to the city, besides Gru'Tral and Lazerin going to war with one another. Sevris brushed the thoughts aside as he sat in his office checking the defenses of the city. His servant came in bringing in his wine and bread. And also a letter on the platter. "Message from the Vitrax Master Lazarin," the slave said. "Leave it on the table," Sevris replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. He picked up the letter and saw that it was an important message, the sigil of the Ebonstryfe embedded on it. He opened it with a letter opener and read its content. Report to my office. There are matters that demand our attention at once. - Master Kakarov Baner An eyebrow arched heavily upwards as he read the title written on the page. "Now what would a Master of the Stryfe want with me?"

[Sevris]

The White Shade walked through the door to Vitrax. He was now infamously known throughout Ebonstryfe because of the coup de'tat between Lazerin and Gru'Tral. With his assassination of Ansel and his suspicious rise to Paladin sparked interest where it there should be no interest. One of those people he was wishing to avoid was Master Kakarov. He had no official business with him so seeing him was rare. Always involved in foreign affairs then the city ones nowadays. But the young Paladin had been granted an audience. For what, he would have to find out with a little of prodding. A human slave walked beside him. Torinth was dressed in brown fine cotton clothing. A slave of the Lazarin were feared, but at least they were clothed and fed well. The duo strode through the many forces that were bustling about around them. Soldiers to Apprentices practicing various duties. They went to the top of the Vitrax where he used to take residency before they built his manor in the city. There was an office Kakarov would use whenever he came into town from political duties. Sevris made his way till he was in front of the large oak door. Knocking first, he was told to enter the room. On the other end a man was standing behind a large desk filled all assortments of scrolls and official documents. Much like his office desk at his home. However this man was monster of a man. Still a wonder why he wasn't made a Druvin like some of the other higher ranking Lords. Dressed in the finest of red satin clothing he was imposing and impressive. The Shade did not trust him. Perhaps he is scorned by Rhysol. Like maybe I was. He tried to banish the thought. It was a dangerous one. "The Shade? Is that what they are calling you now?" He asked in a deep reverberating voice. "As long as they call me Sir or Paladin. The name can be whatever they choose Master," Sevris answered. "Smart answer. We don't have need for glory seeking warriors. Like your...cousin was it? Ansel Lazarin's untimely death." The tone in the room took a subtle change as for once the Paladin realized that the Master could turn very brutal in seconds. For whatever reason that suited him. "He met his fate when he chose Gru'tral as his leader. Who has fled the great city of Ravok. A strange way to show our love to our savior and father Rhysol." "That's the type of devotion we need. Which is why I called you here. I need your expertise in a mission of dire importance."

[Sevris]

The Lazarin could feel the intimidation emanating from the Master. But he was not afraid. He had faced many foes on the battlefield, his devotion to Rhysol kept him alive this entire time. He straightened up and fixed his silk clothing. "What is thy bidding my Master?" "Along the path leading to the the Southern Trading post they're has been an uprising. Possibly from the city of Nyka but an increasing number of bandits have shown up and have been harassing trade routes. I don't need to remind you how important the routes are." "But we have guards and men patrolling the Southern Trading post?" " Usually that would be enough but they are undermanned from the large group of barbarians. A spy from the Black Sun has found more exact natures of their forces. They number in the 80's and they grow everyday. "So your grandfather Lazerin as instructed me to deal with this uprising in the swiftest of fashions. Which is why I asked you here. He seems to think you are fit as a field general. And has tasked that I let you lead the charge. I'll be sending Marshall Ty Guss as reinforcements, but you will have command. You should be able to handle it. As you know what we do to failures." Sevris needed no further reminding. They had made short work of a Paladin that failed in the attempt to take back a fragment from the clutches of Sahova. "I'll ready the companies and head out for the barbarians camp." "You are dismissed."

[Sevris]

15th Night of Spring 514 A.V It had taken the better part of the entire day to ready all of his troops and to get them too the Southern Trading post. Along with his company there was an extra company in the small command of Marshall Ty Guss, who happened to be his old Commander when he was just an Apprentice. Apparently Sevris was some hotshot kid who thought he could take the world, to Ty Guss's eyes. There had been some suspicious events during his last mission with Ty when they had the Yukmen excursion. But nevertheless orders were orders. If Lazerin wanted him along with Sevris then he had no choice. A hundred strong Ebonstryfe warriors stood ready battle. Sevris's scouts said that the bandits were holed up in a camp somewhere and they would hear the Stryfe coming. But by then it would be too late. They were heavily fortified with the tower on their side as backup. He had archers there and on the ground. Sitting upon a Bloodbane horse, his new Apprentice the Master Wizard Miro was beside him. In his strange getup it was disconcerting too the Lazarin for a while but he got used to it. Sevris was fashioning his black and golden brigantine armor and a golden mouth mask. Very easy to pick out who was the leader among them, however Ty Guss remained impassive and quiet. Wearing black plated armor he was also on top of a Bloodbane horse beside him. "We will catch them while they sleep. By the time they realize we are coming. They'll be dead." Sevris said to Miro and Ty who were standing among the commanders circled around the Paladin. "Remember. Everyone dies. No one survives."

[Miro]

Miro was not oft one to receive much attention from his superiors in the Ebonstryfe. A mere apprentice for the greater part of a year, he had felt mostly forgotten. He was not very much capable of training himself in the Vitrax. At least not in the physical manner that most other apprentices practiced. His disabled body and irregular appearance discouraged him from even being around the others. Instead he practiced magic, attempted to play on the authority given to him. He sought alternative ways to gain recognition.

Schemes, that's what they were, plain and simple. It was all he knew. Always to create a scenario in which he could come out appearing the hero. Most of the time it was to create a problem where none existed, one he happened to be there to solve. Many people ended up framed, and most involved manipulated. Any way to gain power and domination could not be refused. The Chained One could not resist his cravings. It was an imperative, but by now something embraced. It was the gift Uldr had given him to guide his life.

So what a surprise it was to receive a letter of summons. This by a man the undead had met, a Paladin of the Ebonstryfe, the Lazarin Sevris. Their encounter was brief, but an impression had been made. A good one it seemed. Hypnotism was in part to thank for that, though as well by results given. The wizard had made high claims of his ability and delivered on them. Truly this was because of Ender, the apprentice's reliable Familiar. The Irylid remained sealed most of the time in the form an icy bracelet.

Miro had followed the instructions of the letter and arrived to answer the call of duty. He had been informed of the task, at least in slight, but did not know many of the details. They were not important. All that the Reimancer needed to know was how to serve his superiors and earn the favor of the Ebonstyfe. So here he stood beside Sevris, staff in hand, eager to please. It was to be a massacre of those who threatened Ravok. "Of course, Sir Paladin. Their deaths will be both silent and swift. One moment they are lost in a dream, in the next they are before Dira."

To be surrounded by all of the Ebonstryfe was enough to strike awe. The Marshall Ty Guss, Soldiers and apprentices alike, and at the fore of the command Sevris Lazarin, Miro's Paladin. All of the people here around him wore the colors of the Ebonstryfe, but the undead apprentice did not. The closest he came was his black cloak, but beneath it shone the red of his armor. To be among these sons of Rhysol, how dearly he wished to belong. It was the first time the wizard felt as if he truly was a part of the organization.

[Sevris]

"Order is Chaos. Without order we are broken. When you are broken. Words become lies. When you lie. Actions become betrayal. When you are betrayed. The world becomes evil. When evil lives, there is order. In Chaos we rule. In Rhysol's name." Sevris finished his prayer with the rest of his men. He made it up himself, but the men seemed to like the creed. They would say it every time they rode for battle. To show his dedication to the God of Evil. The men silently lowered their heads and then back up again. "Lets move out." The Paladin veered his hands back to get the horse to turn around. It reluctantly did so but not without buckling him slightly. He bent down and whispered into the horses ear. "Don't make me into some fool," Sevris threatened. Leaning back up he led the rest of his troops out towards the bandit camp. Miro seemingly appeared from no where, beside the trotting horse carrying the Paladin. "Ah Miro. Heres what we have in store. We'll take leading the charge, and Ty will take the rear. Pretty simple plan but we'll have archers do some damage before we take them. An Acolyte from the Black Sun gave us their coordinates and layout. They barely have scouts but we do not know where they are. We'll take them before then." A row of horsemen rode in a line front of the Stryfe archers. Sevris was in between both of them. They were walking a good distance. It almost felt like chime. It was supposed to be this far but, something seemed...strange. The Lazarin couldn't shake the feeling.

[Miro]

Miro bowed his head to join in prayer and absorbed every word. When it concluded, he too spoke the words, "In Rhysol's name." It was a nifty little prayer, for what it was. It was not often that the Chained One spoke praise to the Defiler, but it was often a treat when he did so. Usually it meant good fortune was to follow. And of course a deal of chaos too. Though it was at this time that a problem presented itself. Everyone here was on horseback, and the apprentice was without a mount.

The wizard put this out of his mind for now, as tactics were being dicussed. The plan seemed effective. The archers would thin their numbers, then two waves of assaults would finish the job. Miro and Sevris were to be in the lead charge, which was perfect. Reimancy would be more effective with less friendly units to possibly hit. Simple enough, it was easy to commit to memory. Back to the issue of being horseless. Something had to be done quickly.

There were soldiers all around, all mounted. At least one of them had to be skilled enough to take an extra rider. The undead turned to address them and spoke in a plain voice. "Excuse me, gentleman, I require some assistance. I haven't a mount, and you all do. I need somebody to carry me into battle." It was an awkward request, and for a few moments it went unheeded. However a soldier rode up and lifted his hand. "I'll do it." He seemed capable enough of the task.

To mount the steed, it was quite difficult. Miro struggled to even get his good leg in a stirrup. To then from there lift himself and get his weak leg over the horse was even more difficult. After a while of struggling, the rider turned to assist the wizard up. Even on the mount he was still uncomfortable. To attempt to ride with one arm and a staff was no easy task. He could not ride steadily like this. In order to keep from falling off he wrapped his arm around the man who carried him.

The soldier was not quite comfortable with being held, but he said nothing. He had witnessed the way the Paladin had treated the wizard. It was simple enough to see the status the apprentice held, despite his rank. The Reimancer turned back to Sevris, though he got the sense the man had something on his mind. "I may not be the best at mounted combat, but it shouldn't effect my magic too much. As long as I can aim my staff, I can kill."