[HQ Ignorance] Re : Re : Re : Re : Scene 122: The Tower of the General

[lev at mimesisrpg.com]

> While Azhur was walking surrounded by the iron guards, he wondered if he
> was
> foolish or brave. Somewhere the woman he was loving was waiting for him,
> not
> knowing the madness of his situation. Still in his heart was no comfort
> from the
> Invisible God. He thought about the slaughters and the battlegrounds he
> had
> discovered around the Kingdom of War and kept focused on his duties
> instead of
> his fears. At least he was still alive and about to get an audience with
> the
> General...

Inside Azhur is marched up the ten levels of the Tower of the General. On
each floor, although he is only given the briefest opportunity to view, he
sees the production of the Iron Guards; from whatever source these metal
puppets are produced, there is no doubt in Azhur's mind where the wood is
coming from; the puppets of the city are killed and dismembered and cast
into the furnace. It reminded him of stories of the Kingdom of War.

Interestingly Azhur noticed that some of the puppets seem to expire before
they were hacked apart. It seemed quite fortunate that this was the case,
although he could not discern why.

Taken to the highest level of the Tower, Azhur was made to wait for some
time in a spartan chamber. At least it had a bare window, from which he
could view the plaza some forty metres down below. If he looked carefully
- and he tried not to cast his gaze too strongly - he could see the alley
way where he presumed the rest of the Fellowship still hid.

After a while two iron guard with gleaming 'skin' of gold and red came
into Azhur's chamber and directed him into a largely empty chamber that
hosted at least a score of guards and a minimum of regalia. Seated upon a
throne, was one whom Azhur could only assume was The General.

The Westerner drew in a short breath, as the iron puppet that sat there
bore great likeness to the self-declared Emperor whom he had left on the
mainland in human form.

As Azhur pondered on this meaning, the Emperor began to speak. "So I hear
that you are a King of a Western Kingdom that is beyond this pale? I hope
you have brought some good metal as a gift to me then".

Involuntarily, Azhur's hand moved towards the grip of his sword. It was
still there, it was still metal.

"Better still", said the General, "I hope that you can aid me in defeating
The Wizard. Because if not, you are no use to me, or to the people of
Puppetland. So royalty or not, you will join the fires to create true
soldiers!"

Outside, the quantity of guards in the plaza decreases hours after Azhur
was marched inside.... The possibility for a mad dash to the Tower even
seems to be a remote possibility.