The Mayor of Acorn lived in a three story, five bedroom manor at the head of the town’s main street. Its wood paneled walls were painted all white, and its windows were filled with expensive panes of Leone’s one-way aether glass. To Orion Donner, Mayor Sackary was just like every other entitled aristocrat to call Goldcrest Valley home. He slung his riches around as though money had no value, all the while complaining that he did not have enough. His life, up until this point, had been without consequences. There was no foley his superiors in the Goldcrest metropolis couldn’t clear up with a few turns of their magical hats. That was the way the world used to work. Sackary didn’t know it yet, but there was nothing left of the corrupt institutions that had made him the god of this little place. No one cared about him anymore, and Orion was going to make sure he realized it. He bashed the door’s iron knocker into its mount as disrespectfully as he could.

The mansion’s door opened just a crack, and the face of a snobby butler materialized within.

“Very sorry,” the butler told Orion. “The mayor is not seeing visitors today.”

Orion placed the butt of his legendary spear at the butler’s feet so that the door could not close.

“What is your name, doorman.” Orion demanded with the dispassionate intensity of a drillmaster. The doorman failed to hide his terror.

“Malcolm… sir.”

“I have come to share with you the information, Malcolm, that Sackary is no longer the lawful overseer of the town of Acorn. Do you understand what that means?”

Malcolm was entirely sure he had no idea what to do. He had spent the greater part of his life running from situations such as these; situations in which he was forced to choose between two masters, both of whom would punish him for obeying the other. He began to stammer.

“Let me in, Malcolm.” Orion spoke with the authority of his general’s rank. His rank meant nothing anymore, but his confidence was worth more than ever before.

“Yes sir.” Malcolm conceded.

Orion signaled to the men with which he had come with a halting palm. They were three of his best. Denton was a prodigy of investigation and practical strategy. He was the man to whom Orion turned when battle inevitably got messy and protocol had to be breached. Preston was a master marksman. There was no man, save for possibly Jakan ‘The Left’, whom Orion would rather have watching his back. Cassidy was a dervish with the two slim blades he wore upon his lightly armored back. Cassidy was one of the few men in any army Orion had ever led who could reliably best him in honest combat. Whatever awaited Orion within Sackary’s home, he would face it without his men. It would not do to be seen storming an official’s home by force.

“Mayor?” he called up the broad set of spiraling marble stairs. “Sackary?” No response came. “I am Orion of House Donner. I’ve come to talk. I have an important message for you! I mean nobody any harm.”

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Something was afoot in this resplendent home. There were no servants about. Had they all gone home? Had they realized the valley’s impending state of anarchy and stolen what they could? It didn’t seem as though the house had been looted. Orion climbed the stairs and made his way to the mayor’s office. Its door was ajar, caught on a tasseled crimson carpet.

“Apologies for my directness, but I am coming inside. I mean no one any harm.”

Most men would feel afraid in a situation like this. Orion felt only slight unease. He was not afraid of the legal consequences his actions likely wouldn’t have. He was not afraid of mayor Sackary, or any paltry ambush he might be setting. Orion was a veteran of stress and violence. He was confident that his feather-light greyscale plate armor would absorb whichever projectiles came his way. Even without armor, and even in the confines of the indoors, he could best ninety nine of a hundred men with his lifeFiber spear. He nudged the door open with the butt of his spear. When he saw what was inside, he began to feel afraid.

“I am glad you mean no harm!” bellowed the monster within. The monster who had spoken was Gaius pan Tracchus. Gaius was an artificially engineered human variant of type Alpha. His body was a testament to destruction, and mind a testament to war. Standing, he would have measured over seven feet tall and weighed over four hundred pounds. His muscles and bones thrice as dense as any human’s, and his intellect proportionally superior. Orion performed at the height of human potential, but he stood no chance against an Alpha of Gaius’ caliber.

“Come in!” Gaius’ invitation was a command.

Orion removed his helmet respectfully, and leaned his spear against the wall. It would do him no good against an enemy such as this. He maintained his impeccable confidence as he entered the room.

Gaius was not alone. Behind him lounged a beastly human with the scars of a gladiator and the sneer of a gangster. Sackary himself cowered in his regal easy chair. His cheeks were flushed, and tears still idled at the corners of his eyes.

“Gaius pan Tracchus.” Orion spoke respectfully. “I am honored to meet you.”

“Yes, you are. And I am glad to meet you as well, Mr. Donner.”

The room fell silent as the four men silently established the power hierarchy that defined their relationships. Gaius spoke first.

“So. Orion. Tell us. You clearly have a request to make. Why have you come?”

Orion weighed his two options. He could play to reason - try to convince Gaius to treat the Xotica people nearby with civility. His second option was to bluff, and hope that Gaius did not care how the Xotica were dealt with. He chose the riskier of the two.

“I have no request. Just information to share.”

Gaius looked amused, and Orion suspected he had chosen right. Gaius respected power, and for the moment he was entertained. Orion continued his bluff.

“Aerin Elrohir and his nation of Xotical will not be required to leave the South Tower tonight nor at any other time. Such is the desire of the New Order.”

Orion stared into Gaius golden irises. Gaius looked to Sackary. Their silence rang like a gong. Gaius chuckled to himself.

“Well it’s decided then. Aerin stays.”

Orion made the final play of his bluff. He stood, collected his spear, and turned his back on the room.

“Tracchus!” he called on his way out.

“Donner!” came the response.