just a reminder- these stories contain knowledege that most foreigners would not know- the last ones are pretty open, but this story details a secret meeting which i want to write but which the other leaders, unless they have a VERY good spy network, would probably not know about.
The Coup:
Turn 16: An Opportunity
Part Three: A Radical Idea
Normally, members of the Radical Academics would meet at a library or at the academy, but tonight they were meeting at the manor house of Nezakat Vedat, a very accomplished witch who served as apprentice to Thomas Berubeg, perhaps the greatest Caswellan the Amurites had ever known. Nezakat was pushing 100 now. Her hair was white and her skin was parchment thin, but she moved with grace and ease bespeaking of magical infusions of an unknown variety.
The normally much muted crowd had exploded into a celebrative and festive atmosphere. Beer and harder liquors (purchased from unknown smugglers no doubt) flowed freely and the serving staff was providing ‘snorts’- little piles of an unknown dry white powder that members could partake of through their nostrils.
Balseraph musicians played a festive and lively, if not a little dark, tune, their music amplified with air and force magic. These mana were unknown to most Amurite mages but at the beck and call of those who had studied under Thomas the Caswellan.
Muttering a quick spell, the witch Vedat started to float and quickly ascended to a height from which all could see in her grand ball room. She began her speech, “Greetings fellow mages, scholars and members of the Radical Academics. For a long, long time, we have been working in opposition to the wretched yes-men of the order of Junil and for too long we have had to temper our wishes and desires for their meddling ways. But two days ago, every senator of the Amurite republic, many of which are here today, witnessed what could only be described as a ‘gift’ from Oghma and those who reside behind the veil. The church of Junil was split asunder. The muggles who follow them are split and weak.”
She pointed at one of the men present, “You, Luwin Born-in-Storm had tried and failed to claim the crown of the Caswellan for yourself in the last election and failed only by the merest of slim margins. An opportunity has presented itself however, and we would be fools not to capitalize. A new age is coming, a new age of power for the mages. No longer shall we be at the beck and call of the merchant’s coin or the soldier’s sword. No longer shall we make concessions and deals with the petty creatures of this nation that can no more cast a simple cantrip then they can wipe their own asses.
“We shall take command. The enemy is confounded, confused, bewildered! He turns his attention inward and consumes himself in his passion and ill-placed faith.
“Our tools are strong. The night of ascension is nigh. Arcane Lacuna is almost complete and we are not without our own allies.” The witch stops here, obviously enjoying the moment of suspense.
She waits a minute and the crowd is silent, wonder who she refers to when suddenly she motions to a dark velvet curtain at the far end of the room and causes it to whip back violently. Behind it stands a true monster, an abomination from the pits of hell, a servant of the veil, a six-armed demon complete with claws and six-inch fangs, four-protruding horns and a long serpentine tail that it was languidly sweeping back and forth. Every inch of the creature screamed ‘predator’ and the room was filled with fear at its obvious power. It too seemed to enjoy the moment as it surveyed the crowd with wide yellow eyes bereft of any pupils.
A soft whisper silently slipped out of the mouth of one in the crowd, barely a murmur, but heard all too clear in the deafening silence of the grand hall, “Junil save us!” It was such a tiny call, a muted prayer, but all eyes turned to the one who would mutter such a thing, here, in the presence of a demon.
Ðzzet Safavî stood with a hand over his mouth. Under his sheesh, his eyes were wide, full of terror as they darted from the witch Vedat to the summoned demon to the drunk and drugged crowd who were appearing to be more and more threatening. But Ðzzet Safavî was a senator and a respected one at that. He slipped a hand under his sheesh and rubbed the holy symbol of Junil.
Nezaket Vedat was feeling merciful it appeared for she spoke, “Little senator Safavî, it seems you have chosen the wrong group to make friends with. Return to your bowing and obedient sheep you call friends, the men of the wretched law-giver. Bah like them in unison and perfect timing and forget what you have seen here.”
She turned her attention to Luwin Born-in-Storm, “See to it that he forgets he was even here and leave him dirty and drunk outside the great library. Give him a few bruises while you are at it too.” Luwin bowed and took the young senator, a faithful of Junil by the arm and lead him outside.
The witch Nezaket Vedat was not done yet however, “We have more allies then just the followers of the veil, we also have much more influential figures to assist us.”
One by one she called them and they stepped from the dark curtain to pay allegiance to the witch’s plan.
“Marco Assam” a muggle merchant who had previously been bribed to vote for Luwin and had been caught stepped from behind the curtain.
“Myrcella of Ciriail”, a woman in a similar position stepped out. There was no doubt that money had brought these two weak-minded merchants to the meeting.
“These two senators command many votes, as I am sure you know, but I have another surprise for you. Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to…” she stopped for effect at this point. Again the silence filled the room, “my newest apprentice, the respected senator, and the FIRST SPEAKER OF THE AMURITE SENATE, Rodrick Bellisam!!!” The last words were shouted to much applause as the leader of the entire amurite nation stepped out from behind a the curtain and pledged his secret devotion to the ambitious witch.
Once again, the winds of Amurite history had changed dramatically.
(Well, since there are 21, I'm probably asking too much..)
