The Kingdom of the Emerald Hills

the calloused hands trembled in the onsetting fall breeze. it was bizarrely chilled of late. the temperature had taken a dive in the recent weeks. tonight was no better.

he stoked the fire again and yawned. it was easily 2 turns of the great hands after midnight. the watch had grown monotonous enough to turn to entertainingly shuffling leaves with his feet.

POP.

Thangorn gripped the hilt of his bastard sword and swiveled to face the source of the breaking twig.

His breath condensed, reflected in the small fires light he had expertly lit a few hours earlier. His shadow seemed magnified, dancing in the tree line ahead of him. Shaking his head he smirked.

'Not every sound bring ill will.' he whispered the mantra to himself, successfully calming his nerves.

--------------------

'Regent Thangorn.' exclaimed the flustered messenger. 'A message sir.' Thangorn accepted the folded missive and read.

'Regent Thangorn,

May this message find you well. I will first apologize for not having waited for you to join me on my travel north. It was something I had to attend personally. It was better that you had stayed within the walls of our beloved Midnight Sun.

I will be returning shortly, but for now must travel into the deep south. I have had a reoccurring vision. Of a coiled serpent nestled 'neath a crescent moon. Of a single drop of salt water disturbing a tumultuous ocean. Of a phoenix rising from behind verdant collins.

It is by off design that I travel south.

I will return shortly with word.

I will be traveling the second road beside the old Mor'grach fields. The one with the withering scarecrow.

Perhaps I will be fortunate to see an old friend.

Regards
S

-------------------

He had received the message a few days earlier. He had visited the same field with the same ugly scare crow since.

Thangorns fatigue had begun to catch up with him. Eyelids began to weigh like plate maile.

Sleep.

--------------------

Thangorn stirred at the sound of a distant rooster. The smoldering fire offered little light. It would have been a disaster had it been darker. The clouds churned softly in the gray sky above. Soon, the sun would break the darkness.

He caught the scent of death before getting a chance to wash his face. Gripping his familiar sheathed sword, he jolted straight up and stood menacingly on his feet.

'AAAAHHHHHhhhh...'

Goblin corpses littered the small clearing. Five or six stiff bodies waited to greet the rising sun.

He squinted as his eyes focused on the arrow shafts peeking through heads, backs, and necks. They were well made and even marked. Bravely he approached the nearest arrow and yanked on it.

The slurping sound of dry flesh and syrupy blood almost made him lose his midnight snack.

He traced the marks on the unique fletching.

'Sutra.'

The sun threw it's violent rays of light upon the small clearing. Thangorn didn't notice it until it was too late. Retching spasms from his stomach forced him to expel his last two meals.

The sound of sizzling flesh was just as bad as the smell of rotting and burning goblin hides.

S
[cont]

_________________
The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu

It had been two days now on the foreign path. The familiar road signs with the proud phoenix rising behind emerald colored hills soon gave way to shoddy pieces of timber with hurried cuts resembling writing.

Each gave it's advice on a direction and destination.

He had managed to stay off the main roads for fear that his trek would be prematurely interrupted. The weather was just as cold and mocking as what he left back north.

The visions had become somewhat more vivid with the passing days. His slumber was always visited with the roar of distant oceans that shook his soul and the sensation of a coiling snake in his brain. Sutra was determined to get rid of the unwelcome assault on his already rattled senses.

---------------

Three hours after his last stop, he finally reached the southern borders. A fortified wall, unlike any he had ever seen. It housed two guard towers on either side. The flags snapped wildly in the autumn gust.

A coiling snake under a crescent moon. Like the one he had seen in his dreams. To it's right, a golden phoenix, seemingly rising from verdant hills; warmly familiar a sight.

'Identify yourself and state your business!' a voice boomed defiantly into the cold snap, emanating from the Celestial checkpoint.

'I am Sutra Bahuas, citizen of the Emerald Hills and resident of the Barony of Midnight Sun, and my business leads me to the royal capital of the Celestial Kingdom. I have my paperwork in order.' With a confident hand, Sutra produces his kingdom passport and waves it in broad sight.

'Ah! Sutra Bahuas.' A second voice shouted, this time from the Emerald Hills tower, 'the borders between the EH and the CK, they've been put on high alert for reasons unbeknownst to us. Any word from Queen Reine?'

Sutra pressed his right hand unto his brow, squinting up to reply, failing to shield his eyes from the noon sun.

'No, this is the first time I've heard of any such precautionary tactics from our southern neighbors. And the kingdom is in the middle of quelling an uprising by some zealous cult and their gods. Madness all of it I say!'

Pebbles and twigs creak and crunch under his impatient feet. 'Well? Am I permitted to pass, or am I just going to wait here until your kingdoms next coronation?'

'Two figures emerged from the CK tower and approached Sutra in a cautious manner.

'Papers?'

Sutra handed his sleeved document and waited. With a moment of whispering and rustling of papers, the documents were stamped and handed back to the cloaked figure.

'You've got 24 hrs. Anything after that and you can and will be arrested on sight for over staying your travel visa. Get it?'

Nodding his head Sutra manages a thankful smile and tucks his paperwork back into the folds of warm material.

'Got it chief.'

Making his way up to the wooden gates, an excited voice quickly spouts off. 'Hey Sutra, mind bringing back some CK taffy? Our rations are low and we can't get the CK shift to help us out with that request!'

Genuinely smiling Sutra nods agreeably. 'A case for my friends on the southern front!'

The gates closed thunderously behind him as he stood on foreign land. The Celestial Kingdom.

With a driven sigh of relief, Sutra realized with painful acknowledgment, that his journey was only half way traveled.

S
[con't]

_________________
The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu

'wake up sutra...'

the whisper tore through him with acute intent. his spirit rose again on the fingertips of mother.

she smiled.

pain racked him with unforgiving remorse. the searing flesh shook him into apathy.

in his left hand, the mark of the distant oceans.
in his right hand, the mark of the moonlit serpent.
in his spirit, the mark of the golden phoenix.

---------

Santos stood after having hidden for so long. He was granted the same vision his brother was experiencing.

'Soon...'

S
[con't[

_________________
The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu

He had an hour and a half left. Had he not delayed with taking the goblins out he could have made it in time, perhaps getting to see the new Queen take her throne here in the Celestial Kingdom.

No, had he not stopped and made sure young Regent Thangorn of Midnight Sun was alright, the Barony would be one less youth, and Sutra was glad to break the trend that had recently plagued the withering town.

He was too far south to attempt to return home. His path had taken him past the royal grounds of the host lands he was visiting. With attention drawn now to the East, he had to set out and make contact with the monarch of the Wetlands.

It had been a long walk, occassionaly settling down at a towns crossroads, wearily eyed by the natives as some sort of leper, Sutra would learn that rumour of Wetland aggression was to blame on the festering distrust of strangers.

With growing concern for his own well being, Sutra decided to finish his trek off of main roads, hidden by the tree lines as best he could manage.

He could see the border town between the Celestial Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Wetlands. They were twin sister towns, separated by a strong wall.

Soon his travels would lead him East, perhaps in time to see the Wetlands crowning and meeting with the newest monarch to the south, Queen Linden.

Random thoughts danced on the edges of consciousness. He wondered how his home kingdom, the Emerald Hills, was handling the uprise of an offshoot cult bent on spreading the four plagues upon the lands. Surely they would quell any disturbance in the lands. The kingdom's shift in power was close approaching, and they would ensure that it would be done seamlessly.

He overlooked the vast plains. His mind's eye traced the golden rolling plains. An unseen voice reassured him his journey was not in vain. Sooner than expected though, he would find himself to the north of even his own lands.

A white rabbit darted a few meters to his left. A smile crossed Sutra's lips. A memory echoed in his tumultuous mind of a childrens tale. One that for a brief moment, brought a sense of tranquility to the anxious traveler.

Soon.

S
[Con't]

_________________
The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu

"3 silvers then.." wheezed the toothless merchant as she peered through crumpled eyelids. Sutra flicked a gold talon into her money box.

He thought he could read a frown forming on her face, though the mass of wrinkles hid any facial expression.

Pacing a few steps away from the small taffy booth on the busy merchant's row, Sutra stood with a well hidden money purse and rational suspicion.

Pretty girls walked by in small groups, children rushed through the maze of bartering adults. Merchants bickered about competitive prices and superior wares.

His eyes surveyed the frantic fervor of everyday life here in the Celestial Kingdom. He sensed something not quite right though. Many eyed him with unease. Others simply turned their backs on him expecting him to attempt to buy or speak to them. An occasional vendor made himself busy, retying the batch of live hens hanging upside down.

Pacing eagerly to leave, Sutra made his way through a small alley, an doorway to a hole in the wall sort of pub up ahead. A little down time and shadows taunted him. The sun, though hidden by friendly clouds, would occasionally peek through, distracting him from thoughts pushing up and demanding attention.

"You Wetlander filth! You come to seduce us with illusions of grandeur and slit our throats while we sleep!?"

Turning on his right heel, Sutra curiously looks over his shoulder, barely dodging the angry fist. Luckily, it glanced off his left temple and nothing more. Quickly finding a wall, Sutra presses his right heel against it, to serve him as a measure of space.

Surrounded by three burly and unkempt men, Sutra analyzes the situation.

"Well, what have you, you dirty Wetlander!?", spouted the largest of the three.

"I'm actually on leave from my garrison, from the Emerald Hills. I'm here for the taffy, see..." his blood thirsty hand produced a taffy box. "See!?"

The three men looked at each other, Sutra slowly slipped his left hand unto the hilt of his dagger hidden underneath the shiny gift box of taffy.

------------------------------------

'So, you're telling me that some of the surrounding towns have been ransacked by...the undead?' Sutra reiterated.

The red bearded man known as Ethos Shatterswords nodded as he gulped down his second black stout.

'Aye, the dead from the Wetland's side. They say ol' king Redhawkes up to causing strife, especially since the queens coronation.' A strong chain of gaseous eruptions escaped his dripping lips.

An hour passed as Sutra assimilated as much information and gossip as possible. Tales of entire shires being burned down due to the spreading of a plague had begun to strike an undercurrent of fear in the hearts of many.

----------------------------------

He weighed his options now. Leaning on the stone railing on CK's half of the border town's bridge, he considered his next action. Traffic on the bridge was almost nil.

He initially trekked down to the south to have an audience with the new Queen and to speak with one of the candidates for the throne of the Wetlands. Word had reached him that a man by the name of Sir Slydur had won the peoples hearts. Many of the folk in the CK distrusted anyone not their own and with due reason.

Pressing the gold foil wrapped taffy box under his left arm, Sutra flicked the tip of his only blade in his right, the sound of thudding metal on flesh produced a state of meditative serenity.

"Do I keep to the East and find the incoming monarch of the Wetlands?"

Teleport...

"Should I find the queen and get more answers?"

Teleport...

"Will warning the crown to the north in the Emerald Hills be enough?"

Teleport...

"Why now, the dead, here?"

Teleport...

Sutra closed his eyes and cleared his mind. Soon, all would fall into place.

Teleport.

S
[con't]

_________________
The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu

A runner approached Sutra and handed him a well
wrapped brown parcel. Slicing off the cords and
unwrapping it, he discovered a single piece of paper
with the mark of the Shadowguild and directions to a
place called Mount Bonnell. "Your master, the one who
sent this, where is he?", Sutra demanded.
The runner shrugged, pointed to the paper, reigned
his mount around and left in the direction he came.

***
A small party could be seen at the edges of the
cliff, looking at maps and roasting small woodland
animals over a spit. One particular figure seemed
familiar, and was easily recognized when he turned to
face Sutra. "Septumus...you never fail to amuse me..."
Before his friend could answer, another figure
emerged from a camouflaged vantage point. A woman,
decked out in regal warpaint and full armor looked him
over.
Sutra eyes her cautiously and bows his head to the woman. "Your
Majesty, Dame Linden Tul, I presume?"
She steps closer, reaches out to his chin and raises
his face. "Sutra, look past the glamour, hear my
voice...."
Sutra recognizes the Royal Decoy and lets loose a
hearty laugh. "One can always expect the unexpected
from you. Enlighten me, what are two Sable Priders doing
in a foreign kingdom, posing as an annointed monarch
and her escort?"
The longer he looks are her, the more the glamour
wears off. "Prince Forest appointed me Ambassador
to the Celestial Kingdom. I was given no time limit by
which I had to begin my duties, so I opted to stay in
the Emerald Hills while the unannointed king reigned.
My main purpose in staying was to secure a place in
the Elementary Magic School for my precious halfling
son, and now that is accomplished.
"A true Queen is now on their throne, one with whom I
have only great love and adoration for. She once swore
fealty to me, in turn I have sworn fealty to her. She
is in great need of my services, and I am obliging her
by providing her with a decoy and with intelligence
while she and the Royal household relocate to another
palace.
The danger and intrigue are nothing compared to the
debt of kindness and love I owe to her.
"Septumus has accompanied me because his skills as a
Master Assassin and counterfeiteour are utterly
invaluable in such a dangerous operation.
Additionally, he is a thoroughly...persuasive...
interrogator, something I utterly lack the stomach
for. Likewise, if we were to get caught, he would
dispatch me quickly, before our secrets were revealed.

"We have not forgotten our motherland, our immediate
actions may take place here, but our long term service
is still to the Emerald Hills. I am still the
appointed ambassador, looking for intelligence and
diplomatic reports.
Sutra disgests this new turn of events. A member of
the Emerald Hills nobility roaming the Celestial
Kingdom as a Royal Decoy and spy, accompanied by a
Master Assassin. Was fortune smiling upon him after
the recent trial by fire?
"Her Majesty has a letter for you that only I could
deliver. Septumus and I need to be back on our way,
but do expect to see us in a few weeks as ourselves
again in the Hills. "
She hands him a letter on fine parchment that faintly
smells of vanilla, bows and mounts her horse