Sociopsychoactive
02-16-2004, 06:26
The man approached the throne of the great Emperor of Byzantium, bowing so low his head barely cleared the floor.
'My liege, I bring portents of death.' He stammered as the Emperor glanced up, his sunken eyes drifting over to the quivering retch prostrate before him. The lord chamberlain rushed forward, shooting the seer a look of pure disgust at the mans foul smell and unkempt appearance, stained as he was with the blood of many chickens, for he had examined the entrails several times over before daring to bring his news before the royal court.
'How dare you...' The Lord Chamberlain starts, only for the Emperor to bellow 'SILENCE'
The entire court immediately fell silent as the Emperor staggered to his feet, leaning heavily on an old, but well made broadsword. 'It is I who decides who dares speak in my presence, not you Seer Speak your warnings and be quick, I have little patience for the verbosity practiced by so many in this room.'
'My Liege, forgive my impertinence but the tidings I bring could spell the destruction of the vast empire which you command. I have forseen a vast army of demonic beasts arising in the far east, set to sweep across the lands like a plague of locust, devouring all in their path. These harbingers of doom have the heads of dogs, the torso of men and the bodies of horses. They carry weapons that a mortal man could not lift with ease, and for every one struck down a hundred will be spawned from the hell from whence they came.' The terrified man blurted out in one rush of breath.
The Lord Chamberlain sneered and called for the guards to remove this charlatan, but again the Emperor stops him 'I decide what portents and prophecies I shall hear, for did not my ancient ancestor forge this mighty empire on the promise of his seers that all the eastern world would be his to rule as he saw fit.' The Emperor said calmly, walking over to the window overlooking the sea of Marmara. 'And do I not rule over all that was promised and more? Where shall these hell-beasts strike first, you who see's what has not yet come to pass?'
The seer looked up, meeting the Emperors gaze for a moment before averting his eyes, for the Emperor had been known to execute men for a mere look. 'They shall come directly from the east, a vast hoard striking westward, and burning as they go. The signs are not precise, but they do not show this happening until the time of your grandsons reign. Though I have witnessed the vast numbers of your own armies, I fear these hell beasts shall number more than the grains of sand in the desert. I am not a military man my liege, but the omens indicate that if we are to survive this onslaught we must begin preparations now, for when the first demon is sighted they will already be striking toward the heart of your empire.' He said again bowing so low his head was barely above the cool marble floor.
The Emperor strode back to his throne and shook his grizzled head. 'And what proof do you offer me of this, seer? How am I to know that this is not merely the illusions of a soothsayer, vying for a position in my court.' He said sitting back down, and suddenly the seer saw how old the Emperor really was. 'Why, none my liege. There is no proof to any who do not posses the sight, and I desire no rise in station, I do not desire to be here any longer than in necessary. I merely wish to ensure the empire is ready for this threat, for it shall come without warning, in the time of the third crusade toward this very palace.' The seer said, attempting to back away. The Lord Chamberlain stepped forward again, only to find the Emperors sword blocking his path.
'Let him go, he has told us all we need, begin building fortifications in the east at once' The Emperor shouted and made his way to the war room.
To be continued...
'My liege, I bring portents of death.' He stammered as the Emperor glanced up, his sunken eyes drifting over to the quivering retch prostrate before him. The lord chamberlain rushed forward, shooting the seer a look of pure disgust at the mans foul smell and unkempt appearance, stained as he was with the blood of many chickens, for he had examined the entrails several times over before daring to bring his news before the royal court.
'How dare you...' The Lord Chamberlain starts, only for the Emperor to bellow 'SILENCE'
The entire court immediately fell silent as the Emperor staggered to his feet, leaning heavily on an old, but well made broadsword. 'It is I who decides who dares speak in my presence, not you Seer Speak your warnings and be quick, I have little patience for the verbosity practiced by so many in this room.'
'My Liege, forgive my impertinence but the tidings I bring could spell the destruction of the vast empire which you command. I have forseen a vast army of demonic beasts arising in the far east, set to sweep across the lands like a plague of locust, devouring all in their path. These harbingers of doom have the heads of dogs, the torso of men and the bodies of horses. They carry weapons that a mortal man could not lift with ease, and for every one struck down a hundred will be spawned from the hell from whence they came.' The terrified man blurted out in one rush of breath.
The Lord Chamberlain sneered and called for the guards to remove this charlatan, but again the Emperor stops him 'I decide what portents and prophecies I shall hear, for did not my ancient ancestor forge this mighty empire on the promise of his seers that all the eastern world would be his to rule as he saw fit.' The Emperor said calmly, walking over to the window overlooking the sea of Marmara. 'And do I not rule over all that was promised and more? Where shall these hell-beasts strike first, you who see's what has not yet come to pass?'
The seer looked up, meeting the Emperors gaze for a moment before averting his eyes, for the Emperor had been known to execute men for a mere look. 'They shall come directly from the east, a vast hoard striking westward, and burning as they go. The signs are not precise, but they do not show this happening until the time of your grandsons reign. Though I have witnessed the vast numbers of your own armies, I fear these hell beasts shall number more than the grains of sand in the desert. I am not a military man my liege, but the omens indicate that if we are to survive this onslaught we must begin preparations now, for when the first demon is sighted they will already be striking toward the heart of your empire.' He said again bowing so low his head was barely above the cool marble floor.
The Emperor strode back to his throne and shook his grizzled head. 'And what proof do you offer me of this, seer? How am I to know that this is not merely the illusions of a soothsayer, vying for a position in my court.' He said sitting back down, and suddenly the seer saw how old the Emperor really was. 'Why, none my liege. There is no proof to any who do not posses the sight, and I desire no rise in station, I do not desire to be here any longer than in necessary. I merely wish to ensure the empire is ready for this threat, for it shall come without warning, in the time of the third crusade toward this very palace.' The seer said, attempting to back away. The Lord Chamberlain stepped forward again, only to find the Emperors sword blocking his path.
'Let him go, he has told us all we need, begin building fortifications in the east at once' The Emperor shouted and made his way to the war room.
To be continued...