Rayek looked around at the farmlands surrounding Tristram, the capital city of the Republic of Immortalis, as he sat upon his steed, now plodding at a leisurely pace for the long journey recently undertaken from the lands of the Daoine Sidhe his current home and land of allegiance. Here and there was the stalwart and stubborn old farmer still trying to tend the fields of his forefathers, but more often the lands were distended with weeds and even young saplings springing up in fields long since given over to nature.

Rayek thought back to his times in these lands and remembered them as rich, robust, and fruitful due to the labors of the Immortals who lived there. Long had these lands prospered under the careful eye of the High Council. For decades the Republic had survived droughts, famine, wars, and plagues always coming out stronger and fitter. Rayek knew much of these things from the longstanding alliance that had been forged long ago between his nation and the Republic.

So it was that he had difficulty in coming to terms with what he saw. As he continued his trek down the road he noticed a light cloud of dust rising beyond a hill set in front of him; the source of which he could not yet see. Placing his hand over his eyes to shield the late summer sun Rayek peered ahead until he could make out, just now coming over the ridge, a pack wagon laden down with goods and an old man in ragged clothes snapping at the team of horses in an irritated manner.

“Ho there friend!” Rayek called out to the man as he approached. “I have traveled far to reach these lands only to find barely a soul in sight and the ones I do find leaving atop what would appear to be all of their belongings! Mayhap you can tell me, is something amiss? Where are the children and the proud people of this land?” The old man spit upon the ground as he rumbled on, not slowing a bit and spoke, “Ye’ll find no chil’ren here. They’n gots off already with’n they’s parents who’s had the good sense ta be off from this forsaken place already. Ye’d best heed ma words an turn tha beast around now b’for ye too suffer the blight o this here land. Now be off with ye, I’ve travel’n ta do an ye’re keeping me from it! HYAH YAHK!” The man slapped the reigns hard enough that the horses whinnied in pain and chomped at the bits in an effort to move their load faster. Rayek was taken aback by the old man’s response and wondered what it could mean. He was unsure of what it was, but there was surely something going on in these lands to be sure.

Several hours later Rayek found himself in the streets of Tristram, on the very boulevard leading to the Great Hall itself. While there were a few more people present here than in the outlying lands he was stunned to see that even here, where hawkers had once yelled our their wares and children had run merrily through the streets, people were largely absent. Even now he looked around and saw many of the cities inns, stores, and normal thoroughfares were boarded up with hastily nailed boards across some of the doors and windows. Such was the extent of the lack of commerce that his original intent to find a nice tankard of ale and a warm bed for the night after a game of dice, or cards perhaps, had been thwarted thus far.

Rayek had long since given over trying to strike up a conversation with the few stragglers he saw as it had become apparent they wanted nothing more than to be left alone, presumably to be about their business of leaving. Instead Rayek had decided it best to seek out his old friend Freedom, with whom he had once shared many a pleasant conversation with in his early days in the nobility. After winding through the streets, rather quickly compared to the days of old where the throng of people would have slowed one immensely, Rayek came upon the personal residence of Freedom. Rayek gave a knock but received no answer. Again he knocked, and still he heard nothing. He was contemplating yet another knock when a familiar voice broke in, “I doubt you will find Freedom at home. He has been largely absent and at tasks elsewhere since the dissolution of the High Council.”

Rayek turned swiftly out of surprise at the voice and what it said to see for the first time, something good. “Minion my old friend!” He exclaimed with genuine happiness. He strode quickly over to where the former Count stood and shook his hand vigorously. “I cannot tell you how good it is to see a familiar face! I have traveled far from my home, back in time it seems, to this place where I once had my roots and all around me is a growing desolation devoid of commerce, people, even life it sometimes seems! And now you tell you the High Council is gone as well?”

Minion calmly shook his head in the affirmative. “Yes, I fear it is exactly so. Much has transpired since you were last here, and Freedom, is not one of the least who is involved in them.” Rayek couldn’t contain his questions and interrupted, “But the Council, you said it was…dissolved? How can this be? Tell me everything, I beg you!”

“Peace my friend, peace.” Minion said raising his hands in a mildly, placating fashion. Rayek could not help but notice the look of a sad something in his face; A look of resignation it appeared. “There is much to tell and this is no place to do it, let me take you to the last place were we might take a drink in Tristram.” Rayek agreed to this proposal as he himself had had no luck whatsoever in the matter. As Minion led him through the streets towards the center of the city and closer to the Great Hall itself Rayek noticed that some of these houses and buildings had been without caretakers for more than mere weeks. Here and there a shingle was missing from a roof, or perhaps a tattered and dirt stained banner hung limply in the wind. Perhaps to Rayek’s greatest distress was the occasional broken window pain or door handing open on bent hinges where it had been forced open. It seemed that Tristram had fallen prey to looters on top of everything else; this was once a thing unheard of for this great city had the very army of the High Council, the elite Council Guard, to protect it and patrol its streets. Crime had once been nearly nonexistent in this place making its plundering all the more a tragedy. As they approached the center of the city, Rayek could now see that the great walls surrounding the fortress keep of the High Council were shut up tight at its main gate. There were no guards as there had once been but the hinges had begun to rust so long had they been closed. The battlements were all empty and no activity could be seen in though the tightly shuddered windows of the great tower in which Rayek had known the High Council to personally reside. Even the great banner of the Republic was becoming tattered by wind and weather; once it had been cared for dutifully by the keepers of the Great Hall as a matter of great pride.

Rayek broke from staring at the great stone structure and his thoughts were interrupted by Minions voice, “And so we are here.” Rayek looked around and was again taken aback by what he saw. “This is no tavern, inn, or any other such establishment.” He said in astonishment. “This is the grand marketplace. Where are the traders, the wares?” He asked as he looked around and saw only a few barrels, some empty tables, a few chairs (some overturned), and just a handful of people lounging around. “They are gone, to put it bluntly.” Minion said absently as he approached a burly man in rusted chain mail with a great axe upon the table in front of him. Rayek assumed it was to protect his meager goods spread about him on the ground. No doubt this was a traveling peddler of goods come to stop in at what he had thought would be a lucrative visit. Rayek could only imagine what the man must think of his decision to visit ‘grand’ Tristram in its current state. Minion approached the man and laid a few coins upon the table which the man picked up with a scowl and tested with his teeth. Seemingly satisfied he turned and produced two wooden mugs into which he poured very dark ale from one of the barrels sitting next to him. Minion didn’t even bother to thank the man, saying much to Rayek about the quality of service, and came back to Rayek gesturing to a table not entirely given over to decay though it was missing one leg and found its support from an empty crate. “It isn’t much, but it is the best you will find for now.” He said almost wistfully. Not wishing to be rude Rayek took a swig of ale, but remained dubious as to the cleanliness of the cup it was presented in. Minion seemed not to notice, or at least seemed more resigned to the current state of things, and took a deep swallow of the sour tasting ale.

“Ahh, well, that’s better” he said with a sigh. “There are some stories wherein the telling is eased by a bit of drink” he added with a mirthless laugh. “So, where to begin?” “Well for one, what has happened here? Where is the High Council? Albertus, Dennizon, Vadrigald, Farseer?” Rayek asked in a rush. “Gone, Vadrigald and Farseer somewhat longer ago, and Albertus and Dennizon retired from the Council only 1 year gone by. They were replaced, of course, by a Council appointed by Albertus himself. Four there were Aldius, Freedom, Jaha, and Zen. Four were they, two more than that of the previous high council, educated by Albertus himself in their roles, years of experience at their backs, and yet it crumbled.” “What crumbled?” Rayek asked quietly, sensing this to be an emotional tale for his old friend. “The Council, the clan, everything.” Minion said with an edge of disgust to his voice. “But how? These were men of noble heritage, good report. Was there a sickness they inherited and could not purge from the land? And whats this about Freedom making the High Council? Why I never thought to see the day in our youthful days together! But more importantly I suppose is that the Freedom I knew would at least have fought such a thing until his death!” Rayek exclaimed, growing more puzzled by the minute. “And why did Albertus and Dennizon leave to begin with?”

“So many questions, so many twists and turns” Minion said, sounding less agitated now and more tired than anything to Rayek’s ears. “Dennizon was called away on a mission of such importance that he could not guarantee he would be able to return. It was sudden and unexpected but one day he was with us, they next, gone without so much as a ceremony in his honor. He wanted it that way it was said, but few there were that understood it truly save perhaps Albertus in those early days. For months Albertus labored then alone to train up the next High Council, hand selecting from the best of our leadership at the time and giving them the privilege of his years of knowledge, even bestowing upon them the fabled rings of the High Council. Eventually, however, Albertus said he felt a call in his heart to go and seek out his companion and counterpart, Dennizon, for he felt that he was needed in a most dire fashion. He did not elaborate extensively on what was going on but he said he felt his time had come to pass on the charge of leadership of the clan to a new generation of Councilors and that he felt peace in such a decision as he would be leaving things in good order, outstanding in fact. We, as a people, seemed at our zenith and what a glorious future it was that we saw with the installment of a new and youthful High Council. There had been a surge in our population with a boom of blessed children and many rich merchants moving to our lands for the excellent business ventures it offered. New alliances had been forged and our friends were many, us chief amongst them. The nobility here flourished as it had not in decades as well. Truly it seemed that things could not get much better. But, it would ultimately seem that there would be a race for the door for our dear old Albertus between, believe it or not, himself and the new High Council. The first to go was Zen, who left early on to preserve the dignity of office and admit it was more of a job than he was able and willing to take on. He was then replaced by Breac, a man of good repute within the guild and of an age associated with wisdom.”

“Pff, so many changes in sort a short amount of time! I never thought to see it so in these lands!” Exclaimed Rayek, followed by a great gulp of ale which was now going down more smoothly. “Well indeed, nor did we.” Said Minion in agreement. “It was a tumultuous time to say the least and it had our heads in a whirl. But, the people never lost faith. The High Council had always been a constant, stalwart leader and it would remain so we felt. It just needed some kinks worked out. Besides Albertus was, after all, still there making sure things kept on as they should despite these setbacks.” “As indeed it should be” nodded Rayek solemnly taking in what Minion said and remembering Albertus fondly. He remembered the man had a will power that that of water on rocks , determined to forge its own path through the tougher substance if necessary. The High Council’s leadership was the very reason the Republic had survived what it had, and for as long as it had. With Albertus’ guiding hand passing the reigns on it seemed that success must be imminent. “But,” Minion said interrupting Rayek’s thoughts, “it was not a faith that turned out to be well founded in so many respects, as you can see.” Minion said gesturing at the tattered canopy tent over the marketplace and the general desolation of the place.

“One morning Breac was gone. This being only mere days after his induction into the High Council. He had said not a word to anyone except for an officer by the name of Ballom who in turn passed the information on to the rest of the High Council. Needless to say such a scandal had never been seen before in our grand High Council. The highest honor of the land scoffed at and thrown to the dogs in pursuit of something else with nary a word for the wise about it. That is where things really went downhill.” Minion drained his mug and Rayek waited impatiently as he excused himself for a refill. Upon his return Minion took another long swallow before carrying on with his story. Rayek remained silent unable to think what to say to what he was hearing.

“From there things went swiftly downhill. Several meetings of the High Council were called by Albertus warning of matters that needed the attention of the High Council and that he could not be there to do it always, for his time to depart was almost at hand. But, alas, his summons and words went unheeded and things began to fall apart piece by piece. Freedom seemed incapable of accepting the failures of his counterparts in the newly formed High Council and spent his days languishing over the apathy of one, the leaving of another, and so on. Truly, though his heart was golden and his training sound, Freedom was deemed impotent by many whereas before he had been the one on which most of our hopes for a smooth transition, when Albertus left, had lain. It was widely rumored that even he entertained thoughts of retiring from the Council for his discouragement in the group’s activity. Finally the day came when Albertus, though not gone yet, handed over all duties in a final transition to the new High Council and set about preparing for his departure. This was the storm that broke the dike so to speak. Our economy began to fail and foreign exports and imports came grinding to a halt. Land prices skyrocketed and our coin lost its value. Businesses began to leave or go bankrupt causing unemployment and farmers could not find buyers for their produce. It was a chain reaction that lead to an exodus of people that grew with each passing day. Most of this was caused by new policies enacted by the new High Council, governmental decisions I won’t bore you with, but needless to say people quickly began to see that this new High Council, with Albertus finally taking his hand from matters was simply not up to par. Each day it was something new, and each day the High Council did nothing aside from push things to the side, explain them away, or just ignore them altogether. Oh, they tried in their way. I know from my connections that Freedom most of all called meeting after meeting in which certain issues were raised but for all their talking nothing productive ever materialized. And then one day, Albertus announced he was leaving.” Minion paused, a distant look in his eyes, as though reliving those moments in his head. Several minutes passed in silence, silence that Rayek could not bring himself to break, before Minion came back to himself and spoke again.

“With Albertus gone the people lost hope for the inaction or impotence of the High Council. There were feeble attempts at reform by Freedom and Jaha, but they were never followed through on even then. Worse, the officers had to bear the brunt of leadership as the council became increasingly absent from the public eye; rarely addressing the people or even showing themselves in public. Then it was Jaha’s turn to leave, called away on an errand for his wife Kitana. Only Aldius and Freedom remained in any capacity. A few frantic meetings were held to try and create a plan to bring the clan out of its downward spiral but no progress was seen. It was our lowest point, and our faith had been shattered upon the cruel rocks of realism that the High Council, had failed. It was a broken entity, a figurehead mockery of what it had once been.”

At this point Minion seemed as though he might be overcome with emotion but he regained his composure and sat staring into his mug. “What happened then?” Rayek asked almost timidly, feeling the great loss as keenly as though he had experienced it now himself. He was, after all, once a man of these parts and its failures moved him to the quick. “Well, nothing; utterly nothing for a time.” Minion said morosely. “But it was not to last. Action, bitter sweet action, was coming to the Great Hall. One bitter cold morning with the wind howling in a fierce blizzard two hooded and cloaked figures rode into town and hooked swiftly up the city streets to the Great Hall. Few there were that saw them but the city guard, what few were actually alert anymore, spread the tales of what they saw in the taverns. It was Albertus and Dennizon, returned from their exodus and it was a dark passing that they made that morning into the Great Hall. A meeting was called and Aldius and Freedom were summoned to meet with the two former Councilors. Little is known of what transpired there but Aldius later came out in a fury and rallied what people of the populace he could claiming disaster had befallen the lands thanks to his predecessors and he intended to make it right. Most followed him confusedly but seeing no other option willingly nonetheless to new lands in the East.” Rayek sucked in a hiss of air through his teeth. “But, what did Albertus and Dennizon do? And Freedom, where was he in this? Did he go as well?” “No Freedom did not go, though he seemed tempted, at points, to me. He even went so far, later on of course, to publicly decry the actions of Albertus and Dennizon that led to this tragedy as he saw it. But his actions, for better or worse, changed nothing that day. As for Albertus and Dennizon, well they seemed content to watch everyone go. In fact the only public announcement they made was a decree that anyone who wished to follow Aldius should do so, and that they were dissolving the High Council.” Said Minion.

“But why? Exclaimed Rayek, “were not Dennizon and Albertus come back to assist the council? Could not their combined strength have reformed the bond of leadership with the people and saved the lands from its current state?” Rayek simply couldn’t understand what had happened and felt betrayed by the very men he thought would have been saviors. “It seems to me that they very well MAY HAVE brought on the final destruction of this land. After all Aldius did not abandon his role as leader. He shepparded the people away to start new and fresh did he not? And what of Freedom? How could he of all people let this decay set in? By the God’s he was trained in the old ways of the Republic!” Rayek was surprised to find such resentful feelings for the former leadership building in his heart. There was so much that didn’t make sense to him. “I don’t understand it.” He said finally and took another deep swig of ale, draining the mug.

“I cannot claim to understand it myself” replied Minion dejectedly. “The return of Albertus and Dennizon should have been a joyous occasion but instead in signaled the end of the Republic as far as the eye can tell.” “And where are they now?” Asked Rayek. “Sealed within the Great Hall, its doors sealed with powerful magic that cannot be penetrated. They have said little, and cannot be reached. Freedom met with them for a while but even he was eventually shut out. There has been much speculation as to what they are up to, but who can tell. For a time many watched to see what they would do, but when days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, well, people began to give up on waiting. More and more folks went to Aldius’ new lands, some taking advantage and looting in the name of the true Republic, until it has become what you see now.”

Rayek sat stunned at this tale. How could it happen? How could Albertus and Dennizon stay shut up in that tower of theirs doing nothing? Somehow they had driven off the last hope for leadership in the land and then did not choose to fill it themselves. It seemed so unlike the leaders he had once known. It seemed, unfair, wrong, and selfish. “Well, so it is as you say then old friend, the end of the Republic has come.” Rayek concluded now understanding why Minion had earlier seemed resigned to the destitution that surrounded him and his encounter with the old man escaping that on the road. “Ahh Rayek, but do not presume overmuch my feelings in this matter for I said as far as the eye can tell it seems to be at an end.” Minion said with a slight smirk to his lips and a twinkle in his eye for the first time since they began talking. “There is still the matter of the heart, and what my heart sees is hope. In my heart I cannot accept that Albertus and Dennizon are doing nothing or that our great country will perish and cease to exist. Not like this, not while they live. In that I have faith, though it is tested often, and my heart tells me to stand fast; I am not alone there. Others feel similarly, most notably perhaps for you, Freedom.” With those words the two fell silent for a while and drank more ale without speaking. When finally Minion excused himself it was time for sleep, late into the evening. Rayek assumed he would have to bed down in the very streets and was glad he had packed well for his journey. Minion’s words continued to run through his head and he increasingly felt there was a puzzle to be worked out and a pulse beneath the skin of it all hinting at something yet to come. What it would be he could not begin to guess, whether the complete death or resurrection of these lands, or something entirely new. Whatever it was, he decided he would wait around to see it. He had made plans for an extended visit anyway and now he saw no reason to change that. Perhaps he could seek out Freedom and at least get a roof over his head and more perspective on the matter. Yes, if it was a waiting game then he would be there to see the end of it.