Emperor August the Martinet
The Grypharim Empire rested upon two forces from the moment it was created — the Church of the Only God and the Order of Knights Templars. Blatant competition of these two forces threatened to tear the empire apart from within, to burn it in the fires of a civil war. But while nothing jeopardized the emperor’s power, a direct confrontation between the church and the Templars was safely avoided. The Iron Nest was the third force which kept a wary eye on the peace and tranquility in the country. This was the name of an impenetrable citadel next to Venovia, the capital, where the emperor himself and his military council, traditionally including the most experienced officers, resided.
Neither the Most Holy Pontifex, head of the church, nor the Grand Master of the Templar Order could think of challenging the power of the Iron Nest. Emperor August punished those, who dared to defy his will severely. During his long-lasting rule he won many battles and led many campaigns. His dream was to leave a strong and stable country to his son Maximilian, and he did his best to achieve this.
On the Emperor’s service
Lord Frederic Argyll was one of the seasoned veterans who proved their loyalty to the emperor more than once. He took part in many campaigns and almost died in one of the battles when his squad of imperial soldiers got into an ambush at a mountain pass. Almost all the legionnaires were killed in the bloody carnage that the green-skinned orcs raged into, but captain Argyll was lucky enough to survive. Though, ‘lucky’ is too strong of a word. He was gravely wounded and all but froze to death in the mountains. When legionnaires found his body, it was practically frozen into ice. Amazingly, captain Argyll survived, but he lost his left arm and leg. The injuries didn’t allow him to continue serving in the legion, and he returned to the capital, Venovia. Captain Frederic Argyll was from an impoverished noble family. And he received a decent pension and a place in the Iron Nest only at the mercy of the emperor.
After returning to the capital from the war, lord Argyll had three children: two sons — Verus and Gottard, and a younger daughter, Briena. One more child — a boy named Roland — grew up together with Argyll’s children. Argyll explained to everyone who would ask that this is a son of his old friend who died in a campaign, and that he cared for the boy in memory of his father. Read More...
The emperor’s friend and the empress’s adviser
Briefly visiting the capital, Roland always stopped by the house of lord Argyll. The young man matured very quickly and turned into a warrior. He was tougher than most warriors of his age. Briena Argyll was blossoming equally fast and became a charming young woman. The father noticed the glances between the young couple, and he didn’t oppose their feelings. He was thinking that to become kin to the emperor’s house, even through a bastard, would be quite an honor. Moreover, the future rightful heir, prince Maximilian, did not have any special talents and was rather unbalanced. His secluded life and constant misgivings of his mother were not good for the youngling’s mental and physical health. Who knows how long will such a man be able to lead the empire?
With time lord Argyll’s position at the court strengthened. He received the honorary title of Lord-Adviser. On the one hand, old emperor August favored him; on the other hand, he befriended empress Drusilla, to whom he conveyed everything that he found out from Roland about the emperor’s plans. Roland had no idea that he had become such a valuable source of information for Argyll. Drusilla had no secrets from the Lord-Adviser. She openly told him about her hatred towards the bastard. Read More...
The traitor
Roland returned to the capital as the head of the honorary escort transporting the emperor’s body. New emperor Maximilian met him at the gate of the Iron Nest, and the young men embraced each other without a word, as real brothers. Lord Argyll stayed close and observed this. Late at night, after August’s solemn funeral, he was waiting for Roland in the general’s suite in the citadel.
– You changed a lot, Roland.
– War changes men, lord Argyll.
Frederic knocked his artificial left arm on his leg:
– I know this well.
– Thanks to you and emperor August, I am who I am, lord Argyll, and I am not complaining. I am satisfied with my life of a warrior and the dangers I have to face.
– I can see that August raised a worthy warrior in you.
Roland was silent. He was still sorrowful because of the emperor’s death. At his funeral Roland wore his decorative armor. Now fire from the large hearth whimsically reflected on the polished metal surface. Read More...
Knight and Buccaneer
The people in Venovia forgot about general Roland very soon. No one shed any tears for him, apart from young lady Briena Argyll. Lord Frederic Argyll kept his promise: hard labor at the galleys was equal to death penalty. No one could ever escape from there and no one ever returned. The most able-bodied and tough men died at the galleys within a year. Their bodies were tossed overboard, and new slaves took their places. The empire fleet fought the numerous pirates and smugglers in the southern seas. And while the legionaries had no equals ashore, different laws were in force at sea.
Roland, who was accustomed to the tough soldier’s camp life, served as an oarsman at a galley for two years, and this was an unprecedented time for a slave. But even the one marked with the seal of gods could not survive in such conditions indefinitely. Roland’s strength was running low, when the ship, where he was serving all this time, was attacked by a pirate fleet. But for his oar, which was broken in the collision, Roland would inevitably sink to the bottom with the ship wreckage. For a long time he drifted in the sea clutching a piece of a mast. Each time, watching another sunrise, Roland hoped to catch a sight of a land, but he was surrounded only with carnivorous sharks, swarming the waters of southern seas. They waited patiently. As if they knew that their prey had no escape. As soon as Roland put a hand or a foot into the water, sharks were coming closer. Roland was worn down by thirst and his position, he was desperate. He knew he wouldn’t last long. As soon as he passed out, some wave would throw his body into the water, and he’d become a fresh meal for the predators, which were already tired of waiting. Read More...
The Emperor of Two Suns
The name of the templar knight from the flagship was sir Kay Olid, and he was almost twice as old as his young red-cheeked companion, sir Galahat. This is what they told Roland.
Groundbreaking changes started in the country after the sudden death of emperor August. Young emperor Maximilian was a complete opposite of his father. Emperor Maximilian was not interested in military affairs, and he was shamelessly bored at the meetings of the war council in the Iron Nest. The empire was facing a defeat after a defeat at its faraway borders and overseas. Numerous calls for help from the Order of Knights Templars were set aside. The Order had vast overseas domains in the East. Its headquarters — Tartus fortress — was also located there. Grand Master of the Order, sir Joseph Hightower, nicknamed the Old Master, was a loyal comrade of emperor August. The metropolis’ refusal to help with men and munitions strongly affected the Order’s militant force. As a result the Templars lost a sizable part of their possessions. The Old Master did not forget the blow he suffered. Read More...
The last one in his line
All of a sudden Roland was facing a difficult choice. On one hand, he had long ago forgone his past and found a new life for himself, free of all responsibility. On the other hand, he could not forget the words that emperor August offered him once about blood of the emperors flowing in his veins. Roland might still prefer to remain a pirate. But the only name — lord Frederic Argyll – reminded him of old wounds and unpaid debts. This man took away from him too much to be forgiven. He took away the love of Roland’s life. Argyll would never leave him alone, chasing like a ghost, even if Roland reached the end of the world. That very night Roland decided to escape.
None of the pirates knew his true identity. None of them ever asked him about it. Every crew member had their own reasons to become a pirate. But to get away from being a pirate was much more complicated. Even if you were the captain and everyone was afraid of you, you could not just drop everything and say you wanted to leave. Pirates had their own tacit maritime code, and woe betide those who dared to violate it.
Roland told sir Kay Olid and young sir Galahat the details of his plan. He was going to take them with him, as well as baby Demian. The knights were taken into custody on the ship, but Roland told them how to trick the guards. Read More...
Allies, not enemies
The most powerful state of Signum was lying in ruins. Common people thought that the end of the world had come upon them. Some of them encouraged others to repent and get ready for the apocalypse; others renounced the gods and the church and cursed them for all their misfortunes. A famine started among the survivors, unknown diseases were spreading rapidly. Rumors of unseen monsters from the borderlands were emerging. Robberies and murders became a usual thing. Previously influential noblemen, dukes and earls, were tearing the country apart. People, corrupted with gold and driven by fear of further ordeals, were willing to declare a new emperor in every surviving city or province, sometimes several rulers appeared per day. A civil war broke out and decimated the best of the knights just as a foreign invasion could.
The actual scale of the disaster that befell the once prosperous land was a real blow for Roland. He went inland after embarking with the crew of the Sea Witch, and encountered signs of desolation and destruction everywhere. Roland stopped in surviving settlements and declared baby Demian the new legitimate emperor, hoping to enlist more allies. People listened to him keenly. But then they were just hurrying up to continue their way. No one was amazed by another claimant for the emperor’s title these days. Read More...
Angels protecting a baby
Queen Zenobia arrived to Zirta fortress to see the baby emperor with her own eyes.
– A great future lies ahead of him, — she said, touching Demian, and then she looked at Roland intently. — The same blood flows in your veins, general Roland. You could be just as good an emperor as this child. Maybe even a better one.
Roland shook his head:
– I am just a soldier, my lady, and once I made a vow to his grandfather to protect the emperor. Even though that time has long passed, this is my duty.
Zenobia didn’t come to the fortress alone. Her young son Celebrian accompanied her. She said he was the first grypharim to be born in Signum.
– This is a good sign, — Roland stated. — I hope they will get along — your son and the future emperor.
– I really hope that too, — the queen said. Read More...
Being a pirate is easier than being a general
Both armies met in a few weeks after the conversation. Indeed, Niketor did not expect to see troops loyal to Demian on the approach to Zirta. He was nothing but pleased with this surprise. Once an experienced commander, Niketor could immediately appreciate his advantage. Confident of his victory, he started arraying his legions according to all the rules of the art of war in no rush. The formidable mix of people and steel could strike awe into anyone. Niketor’s strategy was to force his opponent to act recklessly — and he was right.
Upon seeing the usurper’s legions sir Galahat promptly gave the order for an all-out attack. He gathered all the force of his army to a steel fist hoping to drive Niketor’s legions back; they wavered under his strike, but stood their ground. Heavy fighting commenced. The usurper’s troops outnumbered their opponent, which allowed them to attack from both flanks. Niketor’s army started closing in on Galahat’s army slowly, but deadly and implacably.
When the battle’s outcome seemed foregone, winged creatures appeared in the sky in the west. A battle cry resounded above the battlefield, and the celestial grypharim warriors came down on the unsuspecting legionaries. Read More...
Messengers of Emrys the Only God
The balance of forces suddenly shifted to emperor Demian’s side in the next few weeks. This happened mainly due to the fact that squads of legionaries who used to serve Niketor started gathering in Zirta. The usurper’s defeat made them believe in the genuineness of emperor Demian, and the rumors about the celestial grypharim warriors spread around all the former empire lands at incredible rate. Cities and provinces neighboring Zirta started declaring their loyalty to Demian. Very soon Roland’s army was reinforced with hundreds of new soldiers and turned into a powerful force that was able to stand up against the threat from the Iron Nest.
General Roland was thinking about making a devastating attack on lord Argyll right in his lair. To do this he needed to capture Venovia, the former capital of the empire, and, first and foremost, the citadel. Most of the rebellious lords were willing to obey Argyll only while he remained the master of the Iron Nest.
Roland rallied quite an impressive army for his march on the capital. The citadel siege could drag on for a very long time, so Roland himself was forced to stay in Zirta. He was concerned that the rebellious lords could strike the fortress in his absence. He put sir Galahat at the head of the army. The young knight proved himself in the battle with Niketor, and Roland was confident in his courage. Before the campaign Galahat was gifted a griffin named Dagrim. This beast was beautiful and strong. Roland hoped that Dagrim would protect its rider if such a need arose. Read More...
In August’s arena
In less than three weeks sir Galahat laid a siege to the capital Venovia and its citadel, the Iron Nest. Lord Argyll, who took shelter behind the citadel walls, was enraged, but he could do nothing. Persistent rumors about miraculous salvation of the baby emperor and his celestial allies were spreading around every city and castle after the death of Niketor.
Every day new reports about more legionary squads defecting to Demian’s side were brought to lord Argyll’s table. No gold and no promises of lands and future titles could stop this flight. Argyll realized that if it carried on like this, Roland wouldn’t need any soldiers for the citadel siege —the Iron Nest would simply run out of defenders.
Praise Emrys, the Praetorian guards who used to be loyal to emperor Maximilian now obeyed Argyll wholeheartedly.
‘I will stand up to defend the Iron Nest and its treasures collected here by my two sons if needed!’ — He kept repeating.
Only a swift victory meant to instill fear in the hearts of those who dared to doubt him could help Argyll to roar back, and he was going to attain it at all costs and in the nearest future. Read More...
Revenge from the skies
The combat proposed by lord Argyll was just a diversion. As Roland feared, young Galahat readily entered the trap set for him. Argyll needed time to wait for help from the other rebellious lords supporting his rule in the Iron Nest. When Galahat and his people were treacherously killed in the August’s arena, the camp at the walls of Venovia was suddenly attacked by troops loyal to Argyll from several sides. The siege of the capital was raised before it even started. Roland’s army was completely crushed, and only pitiful remnants of it returned to Zirta.
Roland was very sorrowful after he learned about the events, especially about Galahat’s death.
– I knew it, I anticipated it. I shouldn’t have sent him alone. Galahat’s death is my fault, — he kept repeating to himself over and over again.
Queen Zenobia came to support him. Read More...
Theocratic Empire of Emrys the Only God
Father Conrad became the new leader of the One Church. With his election the church began winning back everything it lost rapidly. The new pontifex sent hundreds of preachers to the streets of every city, and those started gathering their honey like industrious bees. People willingly listened to the sermons delivered by the monks right in the middle of bustling streets and squares. Very soon the church welcomed thousands of new followers. Conrad formed military squads of Zealots — devoted believers and asceticism practitioners — from his monks, presumably to protect the church. Thus, he got his hands on a powerful weapon — an army of fanatics.
Back in the day the knights of the Templar Order kept the power of church inside the empire in check, but after the order was exiled from the capital – the church became the sole ruler of the citizens’ souls and minds. Sir Olid’s attempts to bring the capital to order came to very little. Fanatics bombarded armed knight squads with stones and feces whenever they would appear in the streets of Venovia. Read More...
Execution of the White Queen
The cold wind mixed with the icy rain and was slashing Roland’s face and shoulders mercilessly. The general was standing on the top landing of the North Horn tower and waiting for queen Zenobia’s arrival patiently. The grypharims were expected any moment. Usually he met the queen in his office, next to the young emperor’s suite. But not this time.
The men of inquisitor Atticus were on stand-by and could do it without him. But Roland forced himself to be present there and look into her eyes for the last time before it happens. The cold wind was stinging his forehead and cheeks. They were burning as if on fire. That moment Roland hated himself more than anybody else in this world.
As soon as the grypharims set foot on the wet slabs of the tower, Roland took off his hood and looked at the magnificent queen. Even a journey in such foul weather couldn’t ruin her celestial beauty. Read More...
The crusade
After he learned about the events in the fortress, Conrad announced that Roland betrayed the emperor and was holding him in Zirta by force in order to usurp power. The Pontifex led the crusade presumably to free the emperor himself. The army he gathered, which many lords of the Iron Nest joined, outnumbered the troops of the fortress defenders by several times. A long and bloody siege lay ahead.
Roland fortified the citadel and managed to get quite ready before the main force of the holy army approached. Besides, the general had no doubt that Conrad would try to resort to the church’s weapon of choice — assassins from the Illuminati order. He was afraid of them more than the storm itself.
Queen Zenobia swore that she would defend the fortress with him, though Roland suggested that she led her people far in the mountains. Read More...
The council in Zirta
– The Church of Emrys the Only God has always wished young emperor Demian nothing but prosperity and a long life. We are willing to immediately forget all the controversy between the church and the regent, general Roland. We request that emperor Demian arrives to the Iron Nest citadel as a token of his royal favor. In the citadel representatives of the church will crown him as emperor…
– Lies! — Commander Ajax interrupted the Pontifex’s speech. The templar stood up and was demonstrating his indignation with his whole proud appearance. — Everything this cleric says is a complete lie. Your church betrayed the emperor and attempted to destroy those who served him faithfully and loyally.Pontifex Conrad was drilling the commander with his eyes emanating hatred. He arrived to Zirta for negotiations after the templar cavalry suddenly appeared at the walls of the fortress and made the crusader army of the Pontifex surrender. Templars were age-old adversaries of the church in the empire. But nobody heard anything about the Order since they were exiled from Venovia and until very recently. The Order headquarters was situated in the faraway fortress city of Tartus overseas. Snippets of rumors about the death of Joseph Hightower, the previous Grand Master of the Order, and election of Baldwin the Handsome as the new Grand Master were spreading in the ruined country. The Pontifex just couldn’t expect to find templar knights in his rear. Their fleet landed less than a hundred miles to the south-west from the fortress, after which the knights marched to Zirta at full speed. Most of the Iron Nest lords rushed to move their brigades away from the Pontifex’s camp or openly joined the Templars, getting back at the church for their recent grievances. Read More...
Tartus castle
– Master, why are you repeating this name as if it were a magic spell? He is your undoing. He was sent by the gods… by your only god Emrys as a punishment for your people. And if you trust him, he will bring you to destruction.
The Grand Master was amused at the words of the slave. He even tried to arrange his exhausted face into a smile, which was still not visible behind the gilded mask.
– You are jealous, Zari! — He said playfully. — Confess to me, but honestly, are you jealous of this Roland you haven’t even seen? You are afraid that I will admire him more than you and trust him more than you.
– Bah! — The tawny warrioress snorted. But Baldwin saw everything in her blushing cheeks without the need for words.
Baldwin was a couple of years older than the youthful warrioress, but he looked more mature than her father. The face of the young man was covered with a skillfully made mask, his hands were hidden in blue velvet gloves, and his legs were wrapped up in a warm lap blanket, though merciless southern sun was shining here, at the edge of the great desert, all year round. Read More...
News from overseas
Later, when Pontifex Conrad, the leader of the Church of Emrys, declared himself the new ruler of the empire, Baldwin was ready to send his troops overseas. But the opinions in the Order’s Chapter were divided. Part of the knights, including commander Ajax, supported Baldwin’s decision. At the same time the other part — the ones wearing the symbol of the Blue Rose —opposed this. They said that the metropolis turned their back on them in a moment of need, and now they should reciprocate. Baldwin didn’t know what they should do. Zari was the one who gave him the necessary advice. Read More...
The battle on the stone bridge
Tartus was located at a very convenient spot on the shore. High walls, over five meters thick, separated it from the land. Menacing turrets stood every fifty meters. Joseph Hightower, the previous Grand Master, did impressive work on these fortifications. He raised the walls even higher and made the towers even stronger, even though, in his times the Order was under no threat. The headquarters itself was located in an even more secure and protected spot in the Knights Citadel — a fortress that erected on an artificial island. This patch of land used to be connected to the mainland, but the knights separated it with a wide water canal and threw a long stone bridge across it. This was the only way to get in and out of the virtually unassailable fortress by land. Read More...
Messengers from another world
– We were delayed by a storm. They are frequent in southern seas, — Roland replied knowingly. — It scattered our ships, and we had to gather the fleet anew.
– The Grand Master was waiting for you impatiently, he virtually stopped eating and sleeping. This weakened his body.
– What happened to him?
Baldwin’s gilded mask, crumpled and broken into two, lay next to the bed.
– He took part in the night battle.
Roland looked at the girl, and then at the sunken young man in astonishment:
– Is he capable of fighting or at least walking?
– Basically no, — she shook her had, and he saw tears of pain in her dark eyes. — Recently he couldn’t move without help. But in his heart he is a fighter, and he couldn’t leave his warriors. Read More...
Secrets of the Order
Tartus was quickly returning to its usual life. Merchants and craftsmen appeared in the city again. Life was bustling in the streets with renewed energy. A special award called the Order of the Stone Bridge was instituted in honor of the night battle on the stone bridge, when the templars didn’t let the Caliphate warriors to break into the fortress. The Grand Master himself awarded it to many Order veterans, including Diodor and Vitern, who distinguished themselves. Roland promised to send ships with new recruits from the metropolis in order to replenish the Order’s losses and to reinforce the eastern borders of the Empire. Read More...
‘Vallor will be ours!’
When Demian grew older, Roland insisted that the young emperor attended regular military sessions of the Supreme council in the Iron Nest. Representatives of the church and superior officials of the empire participated in the council. As the Marshal-Protector of the Empire Roland listened to reports of the generals of the steel legions attentively and issued important orders on behalf of the emperor.
Usually Demian sat through these long negotiations and discussions looking bored. The youth had just turned sixteen. The gaze in his dark eyes and his slightly sharp features showed a resemblance to his distinguished grandfather, emperor August, and his poor insane uncle, emperor Maximilian. Read More...