Master Plan
Twenty years after the Demon King Formotiis was defeated. Ephraim reigns in Renais, his people have prospered under his benevolent and wise rule. His beautiful queen Tana stands at his side she has faithfully devoted herself to him in every way. Their young prince Elray is a prodigy with the lance at thirteen years old he already fights with a fiery determination, it was clear that he was Ephraim's son. His sister Eirika, had gone to Caer Pelyn to be with her true love Saleh. Not much is known except that they have not yet had any children and that they are happy.
Jehanna is under the guidance of King Joshua and Queen Natasha. Their eldest child is the gracious Princess Flora. She is devoted to the clergy as her mother and shows great compassion for her people. Their younger son, situated to take the throne, practices picking locks and exploring every part of Jehanna Castle. After all it was built on the charred ruins form the old one.
Grado a very powerful nation, finally stable after the huge uprising it suffered during the war of the sacred stones, is ruled by the "Amazon Queen" Camilla. She led a resistance that tore through Grado's countryside bringing bandits and lawbreaker's alike to heel under her boot. Inspiring the people in every city she went through it was almost unanimous vote by the people that she should lead them into a better age; as she has done for the past ten years.
Carcino the mercantile republic is under the ruling of senator Poyp and his council of seven. Together they decide what to do and have been slowly accumulating more mercenaries which is beginning to worry other countries.
Innes rules Frelia and it has become a very strong country with the joined military power of Rausten through his wife L'Arachel. Their son is a brave boy named Ajax, he is very snotty and overconfident in his skills he practices jousting with the fellow knights. Innes is the regent of Rausten and for all reasons is considered her ruler as well. His network of spies has successfully stopped ten attempts to overthrow his rule of Rausten before they even started.
Our story starts with Lady L'Arachel, the queen of Frelia and Rausten has a dark secret that she keeps from her King. She has a bastard son in Rausten hidden away with his father on an expansive Rausten estate belonging to the late Pontifex Mansel. When she can get away she visits Rex who is now eighteen years old.
His father Rennac has showed him everything the boy knows. He is a skilled thief able to snag a purse from a passerby and disappear into the crowd. He can dodge incoming attacks as he gets in close enough to attack. He is deceptive and manipulative. The boy is the Rausten chess champion, currently awaiting to find an opponent more skilled than he. The boy's blue eyes could look icy cold and impassive to his enemies, and shine like pools soaking up knowledge and glittering when he was happy. He stood approximately five feet and six inches tall. His brown hair fall down his face straight covering one eye when he tilted his head during his thinking; the blue cape he wore encompassed both his front and black allowing him to grab his concealed sword and be ready to attack while his enemies suspect nothing. He practices with a sword every day and honing his skills of breaking open locks.
Recently Rex had begun to think what he was going to do with his life. He had simply figured that being the son of L'Arachel he would inherit the throne. Now his chances were looking slim with the chance that Prince Ajax would inherit both thrones. "Perhaps I will just take one throne from him. He is but one man, why does he need two anyways?" Rex thought to himself.
A pretty brunette girl ran up to him and plopped herself down right in front of him. "Whatcha thinking 'bout Rexy?" she purred n a seductive voice.
Rex turned toward the girl, her name was Kaylynn, and replied, "Deciding on my future and how best to become King of Rausten."
Kaylynn linked her arm with his, "So sweety what's our plan?"
Rex looked down at her, she filled out her cleric outfit wonderfully. She had certainly come a long way from the girl who was annoying and wouldn't leave him alone. She had custom sewn her own outfit to make sure it looked sexy on her. He replied, "Well I believe I will challenge the prince for leadership. If I must I will eventually play dirty."
He watched Kaylynn's body shake in anxiety, sometimes he thought this was all a dream as he wasn't sure he deserved such a nice sweet and beautiful girl as Kaylynn, but he would kill anyone who tried to take her from his side. He hardly went anywhere without her unless he was on his late grandfathers estate. And even then she was usually nearby in a room or in town. Kaylynn jumped on him her lips barely brushed his, her taste so sweet, she giggled very quietly, "I find you so irresistible when you're planning."
Rex couldn't help but smile the sexy smile that had captured Kaylynn's heart. He picked her up in his arms and carried her inside to his war room.
In his war room he put her down gently and held her hand. He looked at his makeshift company that was made up of the personal guards hand picked by Rex himself, each an elite warrior.
The first was a bald sage in an orange and red cape his name was Zollack. The man had dedicated his life to mastering fire. So much that his personality even resembled it. Very warm but able to flash from calm to bloodthirsty in seconds, he scared Kaylynn sort of. His body was hairless from all his numerous spells in which he engulfed himself with flame "because he liked it." The man was loyal to a fault and had proven on more than one occasion why he was the sworn guardian of Rex over anyone else.
The two wyvern riders were Cormack and Reila. The two were engaged Cormack wore blue armour which complimented Reila's black armour wonderfully. They both were skilled in the use of a lance, but Cormack also used bows and Reila used swords as her secondary weapon. Their personality's differed in numerous ways though. Cormack had a non-serious approach to life but would protect his comrades for anything. Whereas his Fiance lived day to day not sure what she wanted from life.
He looked around the room, "Greetings my makeshift army, it is time to plan for my succession. In order to stop that snot-nosed brat of a Prince from stealing my throne and mother; I have a plan."
Zollack spoke up, never afraid to speak his mind, "My liege it will be an honour to help you but how are we to fight an entire kingdom with just the five of us?"
"An excellent question my guard," turning towards the rest of the company, "How does one fight a nation? He has others take it down for him. We will wipe out the tiny village of Caer Pelyn, killing Eirika and Saleh. As well as any villager who dares resist us. Mind that we will be dressed as Frelian soldiers."
He stopped to take a breath he saw his audience was entranced by his plan he continued, "this should spur King Ephraim to either declare war or strike back by eliminating a royal member. Either way they will be busy fighting each other. While they are doing that we will begin to stage riots with his attention diverted he will not be able to fight a battle on both the home front and inside his own domain. He will eventually give one or the other. He will most likely drop our Rausten to defend his beloved Frelia. In which I will be crowned King of Rausten."
Cormack began clapping, "well thought out my prince, there are many variables, but if time has shown me anything it is that you have generally thought out your plans very thoroughly and I will follow you anywhere my lord."
Reila nodded as if her Fiance had taken the words from her mouth. Zollack simply chuckled his agreement.
Rex smiled seeing that his group was on board with his plan. He turned to Zollack, "I will need you to attack and rob four Frelian soldiers of their clothes so we may frame them for Caer Pelyn's disaster. Take Cormack and Reila with you to speed up your journey. I have a romantic day planned for ME and Kaylynn anyway."
Kaylynn squealed in delight. The other three got down on one knee then stood and all at once shouted, "Your Will Be Done My Liege!"
The next day Rex woke up early and slipped into his thief cloak and robes dressing for the day very quietly so as not to wake Kaylynn from her slumber he closed the door silently and moved to the war room where his guards awaited him.
When he arrived all three were suited up and looked like Frelian knights. He picked up the last suit of armour and began to put it on.
Zollack asked, "Are we not bringing Kaylynn with us?"
Finishing getting suited up his disguise complete, Rex looked at Zollack, "If anything happened to her I'd never forgive myself we will leave her behind."
Zollack nodded his understanding climbing into the saddle behind Reila. Rex climbed up behind Cormack as the wyverns set off for Caer Pelyn to commit a most horrible deed.
Around noon they flew low over Caer Pelyn. It looked so peaceful so untouched by cruelty. Rex would change that. He yelled to Zollack, "Burn every building to the ground and ensure that Eirika and Saleh are eliminated. Cormack, I trust your archery to pick off their elder, and then you and Reila may make sweeping attacks and prevent any escaping by air." All nodded their orders given each steeled themselves.
Rex and Zollack jumped off on a low pass by the mountain village, they rolled to reduce the impact. The villagers gawked at the uniforms Zollack wasted no time and began by burning the closest building to him. The simple home made of twigs and mud caught fire easily and spread it to the other houses quickly villagers screamed in fear running in all directions to escape the attackers and the flames. Cormack however, flew towards a large ornately decorated building that was currently resisting the flames he saw an old woman on top holding back the flames. Saleh and Eirika stood to her right and left. Cormack shot an arrow proud and true and it struck the old lady in the throat immediately allowing the flames to leap up the building hungrily devouring the wood.
Saleh and Eirika leapt form the building to the ground to be confronted by Rex. Rex lunged at Saleh forcing him to stumble backwards he fell and just as Rex moved in to finish the job he jumped away a rapier now poked at the spot where he had been. Eirika had drawn her sword and continued to put Rex on the run Saleh gathered himself and began chanting. Rex could see the situation turning against him he couldn't get past the precise lunges of Eirika's rapier. He hollered, "Zollack help me!"
The sage turned towards the brawl ensuing in the middle of the town surrounded by flames. Rex suddenly found an opening in Eirika's formation. Taking the opportunity he dodged a lunge got in close brought his sword up right under her chin, "I'm sorry" He mumbled as he buried the sword deep in her neck. Saleh let out a beastly roar lightning struck Rex har din the chest. He flew backwards he watched a fireball fly from the angered sage's fingertips aimed right at him he recognized the elfire and braced himself to feel the fire rip through him and devour him as quickly as it had the buildings.
Except that moment never came, zollack stood in front of him playing with the fore he then sen tit back to Saleh, Saleh tried to shoot lightning to stop it but it hit him faster than he had calculated. His body was ravaged by a spell more powerful than his own; he collapsed a blackened husk of flesh.
Rex whistled and the two wyverns dropped back in to pick up Rex and Zollack. They left the carnage behind them and returned home.
At Renais Castle Ephraim was enjoying his evening tea and reading a book on battle strategies. His silence was interrupted by a messenger bursting in tears filled the messenger's eyes. He peeked up from his book and asked what was going on setting it aside.
The messenger choked back the tears and solemnly said, "Caer Pelyn has burned to the ground. The village elder is confirmed dead by an arrow in her throat. Eirika lies with a horrible gash in her neck she is now gone from this world, her husband Saleh is a barely identifiable black corpse."
Ephraim put his head in his hands hiding tears. This is most grave please tell me do we have any idea who did this?"
The messenger responded, "Yes survivors who fled the city and spread the news report that the attackers were wearing the armour of Frelian knights."
Ephraim coughed, "Thank you please leave me I need a moment to compose myself."
The messenger with sad eyes left his presence. He wept for a while then said, "Shadow, I need you to dispel justice to the royal family of Frelia an eye for an eye. Eliminate Lady L'Arachel."
An assassin clinging to the windowsill on the other side of the wall said, "Yes my employer. I estimate my payment will be granted upon my return?"
Ephraim replied, "yes, it will be here waiting. Oh and only kill her leave the other two alive."
The assassin smirked, "As you wish" he leapt off the wall got in his carriage told his driver to go to Frelia. He cuddled up to his dog interceptor crooning at the dog as he sharpened his blade for his final job. He planned to retire after this.
And so Ends Chapter 1. I doubt all the chapters will be this long but anyways please review for me I appreciate anything you have to say. No flamers please.
-Okiri Maelstrom
