Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:31 pm
Grid: J-10
Location: Just outside Orion.
Bernard Quorandis and his army had taken their time marching towards Orion, in order to allow the wounded to travel with them. It was a sorry sight that met their eyes as they came over the last hill before the city.
"Orion," announced Quorandis to Elwen, who was riding beside him. "The Golden City."
Elwen looked down at the sprawling city, surrounded by yellowstone walls, the buildings made of the same material, and where it hadn't been burned, covered in golden thatch. But it was a much damaged city. There were gaping holes in the walls, yellowstone debris littered the streets. Houses were almost totally dismantled. And in the late sunset light, there were few signs of movement in the city.
"It's been four years since I was here," said Quorandis, half to himself. "Four years since I was given command of the Talistrani division of the Cavaliers. This city has been through a lot..."
"Will we enter the city?" asked Elwen.
"Not today," said Quorandis, shaking his head. "I don't know how safe it is. We'll join the allied camp tonight, and compare notes with them. Tomorrow we will enter the city. I wonder how de Graff has done at rounding up the local nobles."
They went down the hill, past the ruined walls of Orion, and to the Allied camp. Bersun and his Falcons were returning even as they were. Sir Dractor, Willem, and Barbod, and a Bull Knight excort came to meet them. Sir Victor de Graff was close behind, with the intent to report on his findings.
"Hail King of the Wolfpack! Hail King of the Bull Knights!" cried Quorandis in greeting. "Congratulations and thanks for your victory."
"Welcome," said Barbod, more simply. "Our thanks for keeping Falconis off our backs. Welcome home!"
As they made their way into the camp, de Graff made his report.
"Some of braver nobles who escaped began to make their way into the Allied camp even as the battle was still being fought. More have come since our victory, and we gathered several that fled south on our march up here. It seems that only one or two nobles of the Inner Court survived, as they were away from the city, but several of the more powerful nobles who were not a part of the court have come to join us. Among those who have been brought into camp is Constantius Legonis."
"Legonis?" said Quorandis. "As in, the Imperial House of Legonis. A relative of the Emperor?"
"His uncle," nodded de Graff. "He's the youngest brother of the late emperor's father. Since the Emperor died without offspring, and since his older uncles and cousins seem to have died, Constantius appears to be the Emperor-apparent. Obviously though, we will still need to confirm that his older brothers and their children are deceased, but as near as we can tell, that would be a formality only."
"Yes," said Quorandis, "BloodVaine would have made certain that as many members of the Imperial family as he could find would have been killed. What kind of a man is Constantius?"
"An excellent man," said de Graff. "He's not too old: mid-fifties. He spent most of his life in the diplomatic service, the last few as ambassador to the Black Knights, and is thus well-equipped to take over the rule of this nation. He's a good man too, and has no history of corruption or scandal. Best of all, although he's a widower, he has two boys. The older was killed by BloodVaine, but the younger was serving with the Cavaliers in Royal Knight country, and is still alive. I've sent a delegation to bring him back to Orion."
"He has a heir then," said Quorandis. "Excellent. You've done a great job. As soon as I meet with and thank the Allied leaders, and visit Constantius, I'm going to turn in. It's been a long day. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, sir."
Location: Just outside Orion.
Bernard Quorandis and his army had taken their time marching towards Orion, in order to allow the wounded to travel with them. It was a sorry sight that met their eyes as they came over the last hill before the city.
"Orion," announced Quorandis to Elwen, who was riding beside him. "The Golden City."
Elwen looked down at the sprawling city, surrounded by yellowstone walls, the buildings made of the same material, and where it hadn't been burned, covered in golden thatch. But it was a much damaged city. There were gaping holes in the walls, yellowstone debris littered the streets. Houses were almost totally dismantled. And in the late sunset light, there were few signs of movement in the city.
"It's been four years since I was here," said Quorandis, half to himself. "Four years since I was given command of the Talistrani division of the Cavaliers. This city has been through a lot..."
"Will we enter the city?" asked Elwen.
"Not today," said Quorandis, shaking his head. "I don't know how safe it is. We'll join the allied camp tonight, and compare notes with them. Tomorrow we will enter the city. I wonder how de Graff has done at rounding up the local nobles."
They went down the hill, past the ruined walls of Orion, and to the Allied camp. Bersun and his Falcons were returning even as they were. Sir Dractor, Willem, and Barbod, and a Bull Knight excort came to meet them. Sir Victor de Graff was close behind, with the intent to report on his findings.
"Hail King of the Wolfpack! Hail King of the Bull Knights!" cried Quorandis in greeting. "Congratulations and thanks for your victory."
"Welcome," said Barbod, more simply. "Our thanks for keeping Falconis off our backs. Welcome home!"
As they made their way into the camp, de Graff made his report.
"Some of braver nobles who escaped began to make their way into the Allied camp even as the battle was still being fought. More have come since our victory, and we gathered several that fled south on our march up here. It seems that only one or two nobles of the Inner Court survived, as they were away from the city, but several of the more powerful nobles who were not a part of the court have come to join us. Among those who have been brought into camp is Constantius Legonis."
"Legonis?" said Quorandis. "As in, the Imperial House of Legonis. A relative of the Emperor?"
"His uncle," nodded de Graff. "He's the youngest brother of the late emperor's father. Since the Emperor died without offspring, and since his older uncles and cousins seem to have died, Constantius appears to be the Emperor-apparent. Obviously though, we will still need to confirm that his older brothers and their children are deceased, but as near as we can tell, that would be a formality only."
"Yes," said Quorandis, "BloodVaine would have made certain that as many members of the Imperial family as he could find would have been killed. What kind of a man is Constantius?"
"An excellent man," said de Graff. "He's not too old: mid-fifties. He spent most of his life in the diplomatic service, the last few as ambassador to the Black Knights, and is thus well-equipped to take over the rule of this nation. He's a good man too, and has no history of corruption or scandal. Best of all, although he's a widower, he has two boys. The older was killed by BloodVaine, but the younger was serving with the Cavaliers in Royal Knight country, and is still alive. I've sent a delegation to bring him back to Orion."
"He has a heir then," said Quorandis. "Excellent. You've done a great job. As soon as I meet with and thank the Allied leaders, and visit Constantius, I'm going to turn in. It's been a long day. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, sir."