The Black Death followed Kings and Queens. Lords and Nobles. Even simple business owners. It dragged them out of their beds, and into the streets. It left orphans of hired soldiers and power vacuums everywhere it visited. It did not speak when it came into town, but similar acts made clear its purpose. The morality it abided by was different than those of the humans, and the lengths it was willing to go to project and spread that morality was more than any of the magically blessed tribes were willing to go. On both sides of the sentient aisle, they knew its creed and its effects. Why a power would bless those lesser to the humans, the scholars, the rulers, the empowered. They had no clue.
Two horses, one white and one black rode into the town of Khannis. Children who looked out their windows in excitement were quickly pulled back into their homes, with the adults daring to peer out the blinds. For many, they rapidly locked their doors and armed themselves with familiar weaponry. Each beat of horse hooves on the dirt road towards their destination, another beat added to the heart rate of the people. Everyone knew the price of what the leaders of Khannis allowed. It paid for a school building with a running well. Houses repaired and set to survive the winter. Not even for participation, just for guardwork and transportation. They had no hand in their suffering. It was the fault of the Mayor and the Foreigners for tempting them. It wasn’t in their nature.
The one with white hair and sparkling eyes dismounted from his steed. The woman with dark hair jumped off soon after. They both looked at each other, their conversation inaudible to the citizens but the gist soon made clear as the white haired one sat outside, while the dark haired one went into the Mayor’s office. The man leaned against the wall as shouting and violent noises came from the brick house. A few unfortunate men and women were thrown out the windows, yet none to a fatal death as whatever magic the man possessed seemed to halt the fall of the unlucky ones with a cushion of wind. The shouting and general rowdiness attracted more people to witness the encounter. Until finally, the woman came out with Mayor being dragged by the chains newly placed around his arm. As he was dragged out into the street, his personally tailored outfit sullied and blood that flowed from his nose, he was left to face the public as the man read his charges.
“ Mayor Roto. By the authority of Queen Talisandra, you have been placed under arrest for the crime of unfair labor practices and violating the trade rules of the Kingdom. The envoy for your arrest is one Lucia Conners accompanied by Avean Conners. By resisting arrest, you and your guards have forfeited your right to a peaceful seizure and respect of property, thereby the Kingdom has no obligation to compensate you for damage to property. Further-”
“I understand, you confounded agents. Just get on with it.”
A sigh came from Avean as Lucia lifted the man by his hair with one hand, keeping him at face level with her brother. “Right now, we came to arrest who we need to and free the ones you’ve quote on quote 'employed'. While the Kingdom’s agents will deal with tracking down and organizing the deals you’ve already made, it would be in your best interest to cooperate now and save yourself from further damage. “
From the crowd, several whispers and emerging thoughts began to arise.
What will happen to the town?
We can’t pay back all that money!
Enough to feed and clothe the children for months.
Why protect them?
Why did they send them?
These were the questions on the mind of the people as they dragged the mayor away to their destination.
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In a loghouse, a few yards away Lucia, Avean and the Mayor stood outside its gate. As Lucia dropped him to the ground, Avean bent down to talk to him.
“And this is it?”
“Yes.” By Avean’s perception, that was all he was willing to say.
“Alright. Lucia, watch the Mayor. I’ll settle things in there.”
“Don’t die, Ave.”
“Never will, Lu.”
As the robes of Avean fluttered in the wind, the Loghouse gates flew open.
“You don’t need to be so fancy about it!”
A thumbs up from Avean even as he walked forward. The wind coming from behind Lucia as the doors suddenly shut.
The wind he left in the air stayed for a bit, until the forest returned to its natural state. Silence for a few moments. Appreciated by Lucia, until the Mayor decided to pipe up.
“Is it true,” asked the mayor.
A side-eye towards her detainee. "Is what true?”
“That it gave you your power. That you are its acolytes. Its servants.”
“Oh yeah, we have dinners every three days. “
“Don’t fool with me.”
“You’re right, I only joke with people I like. Not people who enslave other races like we’re back before the Splendor Age.”
“Just because we were intimidated into tolerating them, doesn’t mean you pull that facade that everyone else does. Something made by Morias isn’t some authority in morality.”
“And just because you pay them like them like shit, doesn’t make your workforce any less evil,”retorted Lucia. The same question asked a different way. Constantly. “Besides, everyone up-top agrees that there’s no connection between the Black Death and Morias’ crusade.”
“Everyone’s heard your sob story! They prattle the same babble all the same as Talisandra’s heroes! Her hands! A joke.”
….
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“Hello gentlemen!”
The workers of the yard had already dropped what they were doing. Rugged hands and workplace bodies staring at a man… no. To them, a boy who had no business being anywhere near here.
“Due to the issues regarding who you place in your workforce, my associate and I have come to reform the workplace. If you wouldn’t mind leading me to your foreman or supervisor or the like, and lead me to the Treants under your employ.”
Of the men that stared at Avean, one came forward. 5’10 and bearded. Shaggy hair up top and cut short for pure workplace safety. With the look in his eye and the way he held the saw in his hands, he certainly wasn’t happy to see Avean come. On his arm was “Nature’s Own.” On his chest was Maddock Haus.
“You that Black Death’s kin?”
“I was given its power, yes.”
“Why you here?”
“Because your workplace is illegal. Ever since the reforms-”
“No.” Maddock spit out whatever gunk he was chewing on. “ I mean why are you here. We get those like you every once and awhile. Bitches who pray to that thing. Usually they wind up dead or hung. So why are you still walking, boy?”
The confident smile on Avean’s face remained ever plastered. “As the Queen’s Arcane Hand, I have been gifted the responsibility to enforce her will for the good of the Kingdom. That would probably be why those who want me dead haven’t gotten their way just yet.”
“Then they haven’t been trying.” A sharp shout from Maddock and the entire workforce came to face Avean. Hats of working men hid the bloodlust behind their eyes as Avean felt their magic power start to gather and move within them. The smell of sweat and cut grass. Of a forest after a tree had been cut down. Nature’s scent blew through the loghouse.
“Makes sense you’d be more on the Physical side of the magic path.”
Digging into his pocket, Avean revealed a circular ring of moonstone.
“I didn’t come to fight any of you but if it's needed, then I’ll do what must be done.“ As adjusted the rings upon his finger, with a tightened fist and a curling hand gesture, Avean taunted his opponents. “Time to feel the wrath of the Arcane Hand!”