$2 Kent
$5 the Hero fund
$4 Mage Tech, currently at 6.
Claims:
"It was Monday. Vice President Heavernr Winthorst hated mondays. His breath fogged in front of his eyes as he slowly descended the steps into the depths of Jioh Prison. It was the first Monday of the month, and tradition stated that the Vice President of Craetoria must do his part cleaning out the penitentiary system.
He paused to allow an elf guard to unlock the tall wooden door to prison level D-23, known as death row to the inmates. The door creaked open and silence met his ears. Winthorst reflected on the idiocracy of tradition. In many countries in Haven, one member of the accused was pardoned each month. However, in Craetoria, the prisoner was executed. Only the people could pardon serious offenders.
The stillness was broken by the click of talons upon rock. Ri'threthr, warden of Jioh, was a spectacularly massive great dragon, whose scales richness was undimmed by the long hours hidden in darkness she spent watching the prisoners.
Ri'threthr jerked her head, and turned one hundred and eighty degrees in a fluid movement, no small feat for such a massive beast. The vice president followed her through the long stone corridor, and arrived at the fist cell. It was going to be a long day.
---------
Winthorst arrived at the third cell on the left in the "Special" prisoner section a little past lunch. Convicts housed here were best kept in solitary for various reasons. Some were escape artists, some convicted of treason, some were simply psychopathic. However, even by those standards the man in this cell was an oddity.
Most prisoners recognized the VP, and knew why he toured the jail every month. Commonly their reaction to his presence was a mix between the basic ingredients screaming, cussing, hiding, weeping, and begging. Very rarely was he ever ignored, and then it was typically by those whose minds had fled long ago. However, as he passed the magically reinforced bars of this cell, the prisoner inside didn't even look up form his work.
A long piece of parchment was spread across the cell floor, covered with what looked like diagrams of a machine, surrounded by a pentagram. This did not particularly worry the Vice President, as cells in Jioh were made impervious to most magical attacks. The simple and astronomically expensive inclusion of ground Earthsnake scales in both bars, mortar, and celling was extremely effective in keeping all magical residue inside of the cell.
As a further procession, a small chip of scale was implanted into the back of any known magician at their processing after indictment. Still some prisoners insisted on attempting summons, which inevitably left them trapped at the mercy of the powers they had invited to share their abode. Any such attempt was simply listed as a "suicide" on guard paperwork.
"Just another crazy" Winthorst murmered to himself, watching the prisoner draw an ethieor symbol next to what looked like a lever on the diagram. Out of curiosity, he examined his listing of cell occupants, and did a double take. Johun Doby! He knew this case!
Nearly a year previous, Doby was one of the greatest mages in the know world. His specialty was known as Techromancy, combining disciplines like alchemy, mechanics, and physics with powerful magic to enhance productivity. If you wanted to produce a new spell, charm, or other product, it was almost certain his name was on the patent.
However, every successful businessman makes enemies.
Doby had a romantic interest in the daughter of an old rival, and had created her a keloiskiope as a present for her birthday. When the gift was tested out imediatly after being opened, according to the one survivor, it exploded, killing the entire family, and the rival.
The courts ruled it an assination by Doby, and he was to face death.
Winthorst smiled.
---------------
On Tuesday the rope dropped, and Doby kicked his way into the darkness. Most agreed it had been a good hanging.
---------------
Doby opened his eyes. Blurily, he could see a desk in front of him, and an occupied chair. The world swam.
A tolling bell sounded in his ears as he breathed deeply. The ringing quieted... and words pierced his conciousness. "Oh, excellent" said a high, yet gravely voice echoing Dobys thoughts, "You're awake".
The voice continued
"I have a deal for you, and a task. As this world becomes more and more unstable, we must fight to stay a step ahead of hostile nations."
a pause
"Do you recognize me? No? Good. No dont try to talk, the ropes, they do dreadful things to the voicebox.. And, no, this is not a dream, the rope was very real. You were hung within an 8th of an inch of your life, very precise science, necessity really. Oh, would you like a glass of water?"
Doby nodded, and realized that his hands weren't tied. Almost instantly an ice cold glass was pressed into his hands. He took a sip, and the world sharply came into focus. He stared at the glass, shocked.
"Yes, it was spiked"
Dobys eyes jerked up, and in shock he spilled his glass.
"Bloody hell, thats not cheap" the Vice President of Craetoria snapped, gesturing at the carpet, or perhaps the drink.
"But whatever"
Winthorst leaned forward..
"Boy do I have a job for you. Meet Kent, he is new too. He will explain the rest. Let it suffice that you will now use your skills for a much more nobel cause" An exceptionally creepy smile spread across Winthorsts face "Welcome, my new Chairman of Technological Development. Your new name is Urial Johins."
sorry i counted my claims
