Finding Answers - [ Closed - Striker ]

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Third Brightening of the First Cycle in the Month of Immanis in the Season Spring; Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV
Post Fractum. The Second Era of the Regency of Milo L'Evienne

Keldon made way through the ruined city towards the Headquarters for the Imperial Legions stationed in Paxia. He had been meaning for this conversation to be much sooner then later however events decided it would be this day. He wanted answers, answers to why since the city was retaken the Imperial Legion under its current command had done very little, were trust once laid it disappeared. This was not something Keldon was ready to accept. Nor was he going to allow to have his name tarnished by someone who failed to act when needed.

It was apparent that the current commander of the Legions here had a knack for that. He had failed to act once and attempted to pass forth the torch however Keldon did not allow him to do so, now the torch which remained in his hand dwindled and was not passed on. The Provost wanted to know why.

Looking at the entrance of the compound he made his way to find Provost Dariaus Drake. Once found he would walk upto him and speak. "Provost, we need to have a word in private." should he be in company, or if he was in his office he would walk in and close the door behind him, should any be in the room he would dismiss them then close the door.

[Striker]

Situated a short distance to the southwest of Paxia, the Imperial Legion encampment was fortified by a multitude of strategically erected watchtowers and guard posts. The silhouettes of patrolling sentries could be seen milling about the area, proceeding back and forth across their designated locations and occasionally pausing to converse with passing guardsmen. For the most part, the encampment was relatively restful and there was an air of contentment throughout the vicinity.

Beyond the encircling watchtowers, the inner portion of the camp was occupied by hundreds of tents, each of which bore the insignias of various companies and units pertaining to the Legion. Small campfires could be seen dispersed about the spacious rows in between the tents as well, and many figures huddled around these flames, holding their hands out to bathe in the warmth emitted by the embers or simply to exhaust their leisure time joking with comrades.

Upon appearance, Keldon would be permitted through the flanking watchtowers that guarded the front entrance of the Imperial encampment. Led by a silent but dutiful private, it was only a short matter of time until the Provost of Paxia was brought to the center of the congregating army where a large tent, several feet above the rest to denote the authority of its dweller, could clearly be discerned.

Disappearing into the tent for a fleeting moment, the private returned shortly afterwards and bade Keldon to enter. Upon doing so, the Provost would be welcomed by the heat emanating from a small blaze ignited in a fire-pit in the center of the enclosed space. Furs of all sorts and sizes were draped about the walls of the tent, and a suit of gleaming armor on a mannequin could be seen in the back of the area, looming over a makeshift cot draped by many linens and other lucrative materials.

Darious Drake was poised on a seat beside the fire. His blue eyes, glimmering as the light from the fire reflected off them, sparked with recognition at the sight of the arriving Provost. For a moment it seemed as if Drake had seen a ghost for it had been a long while since he had last seen let alone heard from Keldon Elsdragon. “P-provost Elsdragon. You’re alive…?”

Rising confidently to his feet, Darious nodded to the private attending to the entrance of his tent and signaled for him to seal the tent’s entrance.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Standing there infront of his is the man he wanted to ring inside a bell for a good candlemark but instead of showing his anger he nodded his head briefly. "Did you expect otherwise Darious? You where there when the people moved through the sewers and off the ships where everyone gathered to head for Nexus Prime." he said with a pause and looked down at his uniform.

"However now there is no battle to win, and no clear enemy. Now there is a city in ruin and the people are dying. So tell me Darious what have you been doing lately? As I recall there is no one in direct command of the legion making you the senior officer in charge." he said with a smile standing there, although his arms where crossed, his nose twitched as he waited for an answer.

[Striker]

“The men grow weary, Provost.” Darious levelly responded. Turning around to face the suit of glittering armor, he folded his hands casually behind his back as he stared into the flames of the fire pit. His shoulders, noticeably slender and lacking the bulk standard of most veteran soldiers, slouched lowly as a prolonged sigh escaped from his lips.

“Last winter was a grueling one. As much as the people of Paxia have suffered, so too have our comrades suffered in their own right.” Spinning again to face Keldon, Provost Drake’s gaze darkened and his finely kept brows narrowed above his eyes. For the first time since Keldon had known him (which admittedly wasn’t long), it seemed as if any resolve that he had once required was now surfacing to his features.

Relaxing finally, Darious breathed out again and folded his arms across his chest. For now, at least, his complexion softened and he nodded to Keldon. Any accusation underlying Keldon’s tone, apparently, was lost upon Drake. “It’s been hard maintaining the men’s morale. They find little purpose in being here, and many of them have been heard mumbling about returning to their homes. You can’t blame them, can you?” He laughed for a moment. “On that note, where in Aeternia have you been? It’s good to have you back, though. Hopefully we’ll be able to get out of here soon.”

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon sighed slowly, although he understood what he was saying it still did not excuse the lack of action. "Every winter is a grueling one, even with buildings it is not an enjoyable experience to serve and you know that. However it is our duty, just as it is your duty to keep moral up in anyway you can." he made a slight sign once more. "Tell me Provost have you been doing anything other then routine patrols? Get the men out there going after those that put them in this state, orcs still roam the area so let's put our blades through them. Many of these men want to do nothing more then see combat, and those who have want to stay away from it. So give them what they need, give them a reason to stand watch in the cold winds and make sure nothing slips past them." he finished his voice was starting to rise but he quickly kept it down as he looked around the room waiting for an answer.

[Striker]

Darious’s countenance darkened as Keldon spoke, not because he harbored any resentment for the Provost, but because embedded in Keldon’s words was the implication that the Legion would not be returning home –not soon at least. Sighing deeply and resting one hand upon the table as he leaned upon it, Provost Drake’s gaze lowered to the earthen floor.

“You haven’t come, then, with orders for our leave…” Darious clarified, and his visage suddenly strengthened as he shook his head. It was clear that he was disappointed by Keldon’s suggestion, but he masked his expression behind a hand which he used to wipe his weary eyes.

“And it’s not that simple, Provost.” the tired man said, finally taking the time to address Keldon’s question. “You were not here during the winter. My men feel abandoned by those who sent us here. Some of them even died during those grueling winter cycles, and even more have become famished and starved. They believed that they would return home when the job was finished; the job was finished, Provost, many months ago. Why are we still here?”

Renewed energy danced in the Provost’s eyes as he sighed angrily. “That is exactly the problem, too, the men don’t want anything more to do with Paxia. We’ve lost many already, and they see little point in defending a city that has no hopes of return. Surely you must understand that.”

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon nodded his head in understandment. "No Provost I have not come with orders to dismiss the legion, currently there is no way to do so the men are needed... for what I wouldn't have a clue what they were needed for the last era. However they are needed now," Keldon paused and took a moment to think as he looked around the tent.

"Tell me Provost, prior to the siege that destroyed this city where did you call him?" He raised his hand to stop the answer. "Humor me for a moment Provost. You say the men want to return home however many of the career soldiers including yourself called this city home for several eras. Began to know the people, its history did you not." Flicking his hand once more out of small frustration he nodded. "I am going to assume you did. Tell me when is the job done then Provost? This city now sits in ruins and the people who called it home are trying there best against all odds. This legion has offered no assistance but patrols which they are assigned to do, the province had offered no assistance. Tell me Provost how would you like it if this was your home and not your assignment? If you had been granted leave from a city like Paxia was and you returned to a city of ruins. There are soldiers like us all over the empire and I am rather sure some of them where born within these former ruins or close by." He said with a pause thinking.

"I know I was Provost, not only is this city personal to me it is a focal point for what is to come. War is on the horizons, or so many thing including myself. Two large cities of the empire lay in ruin and yet no action has been taken against the attacker because we do not know who it is from. You say this city has no hope... I am here to bring it hope Provost. It is going to rebuilt and not focused on being a merchant city but on a city-o-war, its fortifications will rival Primus Gaudeos and that of the Imperial Capital." he said moving over Drake and putting his right hand firmly on his shoulder.

"The men want hope, so let us give them hope. Let us give the people hope, how many cities must fall before our troops realize that what they do effect greater cause's then just a ruined city." looking the man in the eyes he thought briefly. "How many men do you currently have off duty at the moment?" He asked curiously.

Once Drake said whatever it is he had to say he would nod slowly then make the following request. "Can you have every officer you have currently not on duty assembled in the ruins of the Rainbow Citadel?" he asked wondering what the answer would be.

[Striker]

“That is precisely my point, Provost. This is not a home any longer. Look at it!” the human’s features flushed a deep red as he puffed out in frustration. Shaking his head and tracing his narrow chin with his index finger and thumb, the commander of Paxia’s Imperial Legion issued a deep sigh. Had the opening of his tent been spread apart, he might have gestured for Keldon to examine the horrid scene to the north with him.

“There is nothing left, Keldon, nothing at all. A few thousand civilians? So what? They are the people who had nowhere else to go, the people who have been marked for death. But they are not our families, Provost. No, our families have fled long ago, leaving us here to toil for a city that has little chance of rebirth. The men want to return to their families, can you not understand that?” He asked, staring at Keldon firmly for several long seconds. “…there place is not here.” the Provost added afterwards.

Glancing to Keldon’s hand as it settled upon his shoulder, Darious looked upwards and listened intently to his counterpart as he spoke. It was clear from the glimmer in Drake’s eyes that he wanted to believe what Keldon said, that Paxia would indeed become the fortress of awe that it deserved to be, but that was a dream lingering in the horizon, one that might never be touched without immediate help from the Imperial Government; the Imperial Regent and his cabinet had done nothing to relieve the men…

“Hope, Provost? After Narim and Paxia, I am beginning to believe that such a thing no longer exists. How we can fight an enemy that has no name, an enemy that has waylaid and already defeated two of our grandest cities in the Empire? Justice has not been served Keldon, and the people realize that. It steals from them any hope that they ever had.” Sighing again, the fatigued Provost wiped his face with a hand, poising his fingers at his temples as he massaged himself softly.

“We have several thousand off duty, Keldon.” Darious said, answering the man’s question with a tidbit of remorse. Obviously it spoke volumes of his idleness over the past few months. “And I suppose that I could arrange for the off-duty officers to meet at the Citadel, but for what purpose? It would take time, too.”

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon let out a rather long sigh as the man finished his statement, now however he understood why the Provost had lost hope, and intern the rest of the legion no longer had hope. "What if they were your families then Darius? What then? Would your hope still remain even in the face of despair? Or would it widdle away like it has now?" he said as he moved slightly award from the Provost as if he was going to pace but turned around sharply only a foot away. "Do you remember back inside the Citadel when you relieved yourself of command and instated me as the overall commander of your forces? Do you also recall why I declined your relieval?" (Post Reference) Keldon said pausing briefly. "I told you that these are your men, and they still are. You need show them hope, when they feel weak they turn to you for strength. To there officers, and in the end to there commander. Which is you Darius..." Keldon looked into the eyes of the Provost, his words were more of a tone for man to man, soldier to soldier, not officer to officer, or placing blame on anyone. "When the orc's constantly pushed themselves on us I was scared beyond belief however I showed none of it, every darkening that passed I awoke with the fear that the day maybe my last, the last thing all those families and people inside the Citadel who where scared would ever see. I wish nothing more then to be home with my kin, but that is not where life decided to place me, so I tucked in the fear and used strength in it's place. I would like to think that gave the men hope during those long darkenings... they all fought with heart for there families and for the protection of the province and empire..." he finished reaching his hand out grasping Darius's shoulder.

"The city will be rebuilt that I know, my blood is in this city, it shed during its defense and it shall shed during its construction. In this world when is Justice truly served, it becomes clouded by politics and hidden agendas and not in the interest of the people. Conflict is on the rise my friend, our enemy is not the Xet, or a foreign nation, the enemy is now within from our own lands, those who we call our own could wield a dagger and lay waste to the people... do you think the Xet or a foreign nation planned those attacks? I find it unlikely, whispers speak of those within our own boarders. So what shall happen? That is something no one knows, but if the empire goes into civil war then your families, and the families of all those around the empire are in danger. Is it not worth protecting them with our lives?" he finished sharply concern in his voice, it was true conflict was on the rise and it was likely a rebellion would come to pass in the future, how far or how soon was unknown. But signs of it where all around, the man before him had merit to be a Provost although Keldon wondered if he was more afraid of the ability to command and the responsibility's with it.

[Striker]

The exhausted Provost’s hands, naked of any coverings, clenched into firm balls by his sides as he shuddered beneath Keldon’s reproach. As much as he hated the position that he had been forced into, he inwardly admitted that there was truth to Provost Elsdragon’s words. What if it had been his family who had been caught in the siege? What if it had been his children who suffered because of a lack of Imperial aid? Would his opinion have been altered?

These questions weighed heavily in the officer’s mind as he faced the gleaming armor mounted upon the pole in the back of the tent, the symbol of what he no longer represented. There had been a time when Darious Drake, Provost of the Eighteenth Imperial Legion, had been valiant in battle, born of the stock that was oftentimes spoke highly of in the more prominent veteran circles of the military. Where had his passion gone!

Lowering his head, Drake’s eyes clenched to a close, though he avoided looking to Keldon to shield himself from any embarrassment. Finally, after a long and alleviating sigh, his head tilted upwards as his icy blue eyes lowered from the mannequin of armor. “Rebellion?” He asked, turning his head ever so slightly that he might spare an inquisitive glance to Keldon. Indeed, rumors had been stirring in the shadows about some major event about to transpire –whatever it was, though, had been spoken of in undisclosed whispers.

“Who would dare oppose the Empire…?” Darious demanded, spinning around immediately. His gaze, although previously flecked by self-pity, seemed to have adopted a palpable aura of concern. “What do you know, Keldon?” the Provost crossed his arms over his chest, not in a defiant manner, but in a sincerely apprehensive one. Like the soldiers in his Legion, Darious was not without a family of his own. If there was something to be known, something that would enable his loved ones to escape the fate of the Paxians, then he had to learn of it.

The Provost sighed again. “Will this conflict never end? I tire of it, Provost, I really do.” Shaking his head grimly, Drake finally sat upon the edge of his desk. “Will the Empire ever know peace?” He rhetorically asked, though a part of the way he phrased his question seemed to imply that he sought an answer from Keldon.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon stood there and watched the Provost, he was a man and with all men they had there compassion, the urge to fight for there lives, and the lives of those who they love. Keldon knew it, its what kept pushing him forward on the walls of the Rainbow Citadel. He did not fight for his family, or his own life. But he did fight for the families and lives of all the surviving Paxians.

As Darious whipped back and started to ask his questions, genuine concern on his face Keldon made a brief smile and nodded his head. That was what he was looking for. That was the passion behind any man that could drive them forward against insurmountable odds. "There is the flame that drives you Darious." Keldon said in a tone that denoted he was trying to speak to a friend. "The Empire will know peace when the political bickering amongst its people ends and those would have hidden agendas realize that what you do to one in the west, effects many in the east and vice versa... but I do not know who would challenge the Empire directly. Although I am sure there are many who would plan behind its back and not show there true selves." he said with a pause his own voice showing concern. "Those are the ones that concern me the greatest... those are the groups that could attack Paxia again." he said lowering his head briefly, in his own mind he was taking a brief second of silence in memory.

"I serve in this uniform to protect the people Darious" he said pressing his hand up against the imperial crest on his armor. "I wear this uniform to be the flesh that stands between the charging orc horde and the innocents behind me. I serve to protect the people and dream of bringing peace to them and remove the fear of death... but I can not do that alone Darious. I need the support of my fellow brothers in arms, the support of the people." he said with a pause looking to Darius confidently in his conviction. "What happened here could of happened to any city in the empire, it could of been any of our family effected. Any of your men could of lost family from you and I down to the lowest legionnaire and we will all be effected by it." he finished and walked close to Darius and put his hand on the mans shoulder and grasped him as if he was reaching out to a brother, looked into his face and asked him. "What did you serve Darious?"

[Striker]

Darious did not comment immediately. He instead returned to a small chest situated in the back of the room where he procured a cup of water. Draining the glass in a matter of seconds, he sighed deeply and wiped the residue from his lips. As he stared into the fire, though, it was evident that something disconcerted him. The look in his eyes, the glimmer of defeat and self-resignation, reflected in the light. Whatever was bothering the idle Provost was clearly beginning to surface upon his features.

“Paxia will never be attacked again.” the Provost said, returning to stand in front of Keldon. Lowering his gaze momentarily, the tired officer shook his head. “Not by the orcs, not again.”

“I used to serve an idea, Keldon…” Darious began, briefly looking to the fellow provost’s extended arm. “…the idea that my service in the Imperial Legion would mean something, that the Empire that I fought for could maintain peace and equality in the land so long as people agreed to defend it. I fought in the belief that a life of servitude would reap benefits beyond the material…” Shaking his head emphatically, the weary soldier unfolded his arms from his chest and held them by his sides. “But there is no joy in being a soldier, Keldon, sometimes it seems as if it’s a meaningless job. Half of the time we are warring with our own countrymen or arresting our own people. I-”

The Provost cut himself short as he looked back to Keldon, momentarily lowering his head apologetically. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to rant, Keldon, but sometimes I tire of being a lackey. Does it not bother you that the problems that Paxia faces could long ago have been avoided if the Empire had taken preventive measures against the orcs in the first place? What happened in Paxia should never have happened, and it shouldn’t have happened to Narim or Vortex either. I enlisted to become a soldier to defend my countrymen, Keldon, not watch them get slaughtered by orcs which the Empire should have slain long ago.”