EPISODE 166: FORGING A NEW AGE 6
— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR 7291. SEASON: COLOR FADING.
CLANG!
Queen Titiana’s words returned order to the Council of Nobles. Fortunately, she spoke in time, as the atmosphere quickly developed into something few wanted to face. Marna Gamal, mother of Madria Gamal and current [1st Daughter of Madris], the effective leader of the [Church of Madris], kept a hard gaze on Tendra Lorde. Although the Queen had cleared the air for the conversation to return to the task at hand, no one took the opportunity to speak.
What did it mean to be the [Chosen of Madris]?
To the [Common] Edryan, it meant he was a representative of the Goddess in the Mortal Realm. He was a messenger of Her voice. He was the leader of Her church. There was more, so much more, but simply put, the [Chosen of Madris] was considered the voice of the Goddess. That fact only solidified his image throughout his short birth as more and more changes emerged in the Edryan society.
To the noble…? It should mean the same thing. Yet, not all could accept such a figure. Not out of doubt, for their Goddess or some misconception of Her words—no. It was simply human nature to rebel against things they deemed unfair— unreasonable . A prince was one thing. And, when there were multiple, competing for benefits and drawing nobles to their side, then the board game was fair . But , when there was one figure—one man who could monopolize all of Edryan… then… there were problems.
It is human nature to rebel.
The [Chosen of Madris] watched from above, and the conversation slowly returned to the topic at hand. Many voiced their concerns and many voiced their agreements, as both sides of the same coin argued. He mentally sighed, his indifferent face relaxing as (The King’s Indifference) deactivated. He sipped at his red wine, as he listened to the arguments.
“…Judiciary holds far too much sway in the…”
“The Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy will ultimately result in the loss of our [Lords] and [Ladies] status. There will be massive implications when it comes to our classes…”
“Yes, but the change will not be by much—no Great House bases their first class on ruling—at least no one stupid enough…”
“…Generals will be anointed by the Templum… would this give them direct access to divine-based classes? Would this not cause a fundamental change in our military forces?”
“…should the Monarchy Division of this new government become corrupt, how would the other branches be able to check them? Of all the branches, this one holds the least involvement, and no other branch can easily combat their power.”
“That is the fundamental reason they hold little power in each of the branches outside a few functions. It would be nearly impossible for the Monarchy Division to hold corrupt officials. Article Four, Section 3.76 states that…”
“What of the establishment requirements…? The donation amount to begin the funding of this new government is…”
“Oh, is a few hundred Edri or items of equivalent value too much? Can you not let a few mana crystal mines slip between your greasy fingers Agin Ode.”
“Andra Koi such wealth is paltry sums to the Ode House. I’m only afraid your Koi House will suffer far too great a blow to remain relevant should this change pass.”
“…establishment of the Bellum is asking far too much. Donating to establish this new government is one thing, but to weaken our families by providing troops to form the first national armies? And, this naval force… not many houses have navel traditions, and of those active, only the Drrow, Koi, and Liaon…”
The [Chosen of Madris] continued to listen. Hours passed since the debate stated, and the late evening sun was beginning to emerge over the Hall Of Heroes. A conclusion would be reached today as the debates coming from both the Royal Faction and the Old Power reignited. Those who were more neutrally inclined stayed silent or, like Lord Elbaf, they provided a tidbit or two. None hadn’t said their exact stance. Instead, they slid around the sides of the conversations, only offering input on a topic of their interest. The takes that came up interested him, worried him, and more. He kept his calm, as eyes occasionally glanced at him. He turned his attention back to the conversation, his eyes barely widening as a new voice spoke.
‘ Why Do You Allow Them The Option to Debate? ’
The [Chosen of Madris] smirked and responded internally to his Goddess. ‘Why don’t you?’
It’d been a while since he heard a voice in his head outside his own. His mind pictured an ebony-gradient, horned howl. He hoped she was ok. He glanced at a spatial bracelet on his wrist, which held a stone-like egg of a dragon—the Dragon.
‘ You Are My Voice, What You Say—What You Desire Will Happen, Regardless Of Whom Is Against It. ’
He didn’t respond for a few moments. The voice of Wisdom and the heavy presence of the Goddess descended on his shoulders. The other two watched, he could feel it, feel Them. They kept their silence, more interested in the ongoings of the mortals rather than the thoughts of the [Chosen]. They used his eyes to watch and his presence to judge the feelings of those present. The [Chosen] did the same and finally, after a few minutes of silence, he responded.
‘That’s why you lost— twice. ’
The attention of all three was on him now. They waited, wanting an explanation. Such words did not anger them but made them curious.
‘You ordered Alidra, not once considering her feelings because you hold the strength not to. She broke the Union Saphens held and failed to do… whatever it was you tasked. Then you attempted again with Carno—this time he came close, but not out of a desire for your goal, but for another . Again, ultimately, he lost. Now…, now…, it is my turn. I will face a world with far more readiness for a magi invasion than any previous—this is how I will win.’
He glanced down, several hours passed since the Council of Nobles began to decide the fate of Edryan. Many hours passed as they reached conclusions, perhaps hidden agreements, and more. Things that the [Chosen of Madris] just didn’t care for.
‘ By Giving Them A Choice, ’ came a curt questioning response from Wisdom.
Perhaps his words did affect them. ‘ Yes. Your World Lacks Freedom—Far Worse Than Mine Did. I Will Give The People That Freedom And For That… They Will Forever Be Grateful. ’
The [Chosen of Madris] stood, his actions immediately drawing the attention of all present. The light from above considerably decreased as the day went by. The Council of Nobles now sat in the late-evening light, gazing at their [Chosen].
They were served LSG snacks and other goods throughout the ordeal to keep the hunger at bay. None were to leave until a conclusion was reached. These men and women ruled the country, and whatever they decided would forever be the path Edryan took. The [Chosen] gazed at them with indifferent eyes, not through the use of a skill, but his genuine reaction.
Why Did He Give Them A Choice?
‘Since birth, they have looked at me as if I were not human, as if I was not like them…’
‘ You Are Not. ’
‘…but I am. But I Am, ’ he stated to Her strongly—not knowing whether it were Her he attempted to convince or himself. ‘I have fears. I have weaknesses, wants, and more. Yet…, they do not see that. What they see is You. They see me as some sort of prophet or holy envoy whose every word spoken is a spoken word of Yours. It would be so easy to just say, ‘this is the way’ and allow no questions, allow no other voice to have a choice.’
He stared at the Council of Nobles. Not speaking, but having a conversation through his actions alone. He stood above them.
‘It would be so easy to say this is what we are doing, and none of you may say otherwise. If I were another man, I would have fallen into that quagmire, that trap. You would have lost a war and consumed my potential—my soul. Thus, I resist it.’
Tendra Lorde stared up at the [Chosen] who silently floated above them. His eyes narrowed, but he kept his composure as no one spoke. Simra looked up curiously, unsure as to what Law was doing. She’d learned a lot about the country and its upper nobility in the past few hours. The talks on the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy went long into the day. The evening sun barely peeked through the grey clouds and the pool of water above.
Stolen story; please report.
Liana Drumian, Marna Gamal, Vivian Consus, and many others stared at the [Chosen of Madris] in silence. They could feel her presence through him. It nearly felt like she was directly here, directly standing above them. It took everything in Marna to restrain herself from prostrating. She tightly gripped the armrest of her seat, which began to show visible cracks. Her connection to the Goddess Madris was far too strong to not know when her divine presence descended. The only thing that halted her was the actions of the [Chosen] himself.
‘You require a unification of the continent and not a subjugation. Since my realization, I’ve pondered on every single word present in my divine quest—my crusade .’
Crusade: Holy War of Unification
Quest Details:
Goddess Madris has tasked you with a quest for unification. Unite the lands of the Elrunian Continent underneath one banner. You must start a war within the next ten years or face the consequences.
Rewards:
Didn’t I save your soul three and a half times? What more do you want? I guess you can have one thing.
Emperor of the Edryan Empire and Detraction of a half favor you owe Goddess Madris.
Failure:
Your potential and soul are reaped by yours truly. 😘
‘You require the land of Genesis to be united . Perhaps to return Union to its former glory for a specific purpose I know not of. You, and the twelve thrones, play a game of chess—the magi are white and get the first move. The rest of the world is black and must wait for our actions, our turn to be over before they can act. Tell, me, what are the rules of our game ?’
The [Chosen] began to pace above the Council of Nobles and prepared himself to speak.
“The Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy has held its debate nearly since dawn. Now, it is time to cast your vote. The voting is simple,” the [Chosen] gazed around as he spoke. His eyes landed on every member of the council. “We will start from our Queen and circle counter-clockwise. Each house must say their decision.”
The Goddess laughed. Their three voices blended into harmony as one. ‘ Oh, You Surely Are Interesting. I Did Not Choose Wrong. It Only Took You Sixteen, Nearly Seventeen Years To Ask—Now A Restriction Has Been Lifted. ’
Her voice was a mix of all three incarnations of the Goddess. In certain parts of her speech, one of the incarnations sounded slightly over the others. The Chosen’s face nearly changed at the words of the Goddess, instead he quickly turned and returned to his seat. He glanced at his mother, who sat in her (True Body). The Queen glanced back, smiled before standing.
“The Edryani House votes… Yes… for the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy. Our country is on the precipice of a Great-, no, a [Golden Age]. There are certain hidden system requirements that have already been filled. Only a few more are missing for such a feature to be activated for Great Edryan.”
Once she finished, the Queen looked to the next speaker while returning to her seat. Liana stood and like the Queen gave her ultimate decision.
“The Drumian House votes Yes for the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy. I believe it will lead our nation to a more stable path and ready us for what is to come. In less than ten years, the Path of Apotheosis opens, giving not just us, but all over a certain level a chance for more. This new system of government will help cultivate talents in preparation for such an event.”
‘ We, The Twelve, Are Playing A Complex Game Of… Chess . We’ll Call It That Since It Fits. There Are Rules And Regulations—Restrictions, And Authority. I’ve Had Several Restrictions Placed On Me For This Game Through Authority. This Prevents Me From Saying Or Doing Certain Actions Until You’ve Asked And/Or Figured Something Out For Yourself. By Asking The Of The Rules, You’ve Removed A Restriction .’
“The Kain House votes No for the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy. My Kain House cannot support such a system that removes the acknowledgment of our history. The CBCM immediately removes our status as [Lords] and [Ladies] removing our tradition and history.”
“The Nepos House votes Yes for the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy. This is Edryans opportunity to put all our differences aside and join together as a whole. Just like alchemy, when ingredients of different mixtures and components come together, they can be made into something more!”
The [Chosen of Madris], no, Lawruthian barely paid attention to the vote. His attention more focused on the words of the Goddess. Her voice continued its weird reverb pattern as the Goddess spoke.
‘ The Board Is Genesis, While The Pieces Are The [Chosen] Or Other Figures We’ve Elected As Representatives. We, The Magi, Are White And Thus, We Get The First Move. When You Attack, Make It Count .’
“The Coal House votes No for the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy. A change as monumental as this should be carefully considered. We believe there should be more time given to comprehend and process what the CBCM will and can do for Edryan. There should be a greater involvement from more diverse parties.”
“The Khan House votes No for the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy. Our feelings align with House Coal.”
“The Ohhao House votes No for the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy. We hold little confidence in the future of an untested system and would prefer to remain stable with how Edryan currently operates.”
‘ You Oversee The Pawns, Rooks, Knights, And Queen. I Have Further Restrictions Placed Upon Me, But I’ve Delivered To You Your First Knight. ’
“The Drrow House votes… Yes… for the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy. The future is uncertain and a war that will swallow the whole world is brewing. We magi are the Brewmasters who will unleash this war. It is best we come together under a united system so that we may accomplish the goal of our Goddess.”
Lawruthian Edryani looked at the speaker in surprise. He listened to both the words of the Goddess and the speaker while doing his best to process both. He did not expect the Drrow to vote in favor of the CBCM, not after the stunt they pulled during the auction.
“My Consus House favors the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy. We vote Yes . This world will change, and at its helm will be the [Chosen of Madris].”
“Well spoken! My Oni House votes YES . Our world is changing. Our magic is changing. Our [Chosen] has already changed Edryan in so many ways I’ve lost track. It is time our government reflects that change.”
Lawruthian’s eyes gazed toward Simra Enlar, who seemed to have a small, nervous, but excited jitter in her body. The young woman watched each speaker with an intense focus and held far more excitement than he showed. This was his first Knight? Perhaps not, perhaps so. His thoughts drifted to his two [Heroes]. His mind began to whirl as he thought of all the different implications and who would fit what criteria.
‘A Complex Game of Chess… huh?’
‘ Yes. One That Will Ultimately Bring Light To A Matter Those Fools Refuse To Acknowledge .’
“The Adel House votes NO . This new government will bring ruin to a nation that has withstood the test of time.”
“The Jarrah believe likewise—our vote is No .”
“The Usaap House will vote No as well. Although the implementations by our [Chosen] have not failed our Edryan state, we believe there has not been enough time or discussion to come to a well analyzed decision.”
“The Musa House votes Yes. I have analyzed the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy in various ways. To walk down this path will open a future of class diversity and ingenuity that will bring innovation within Great Edryans borders. We must take this opportunity in the little time we have to ensure it can prosper.”
Lawruthian mentally counted the votes. Seven Yes, and seven No. There was a balance that was kept as the nobles of Edryan voted. In total, there would be thirty-two votes. Should members of the Ahuum or Maar show, then there would be thirty-four votes in total. Unfortunately, of the two mentioned, only one member of the Maar was known to Lawruthian—a figure he rather keep hidden for now. Fourteen votes were cast, but there could not be a tie in the voting for the Class-Based Constitutional Monarchy. Should they tie, then it was the same as voting no. To become a reality, the CBCM needed a majority vote—Lawruthian, no, the [Chosen of Madris] would have it no other way.
CLANG!