Fable - Ask The Trial of A Dreadlord

[Siena]

Vel Osgen

"The Demon King, huh?" Siena said the words as he stared at the man behind the bars, her expression neutral as he looked up at her. A wry smile touched his face, the chains around his throat and tied to his hands rattling slightly as he slowly shook his head. He had the look of a wolf about him even now, wrapped in steel and collared like a pet hound. There was something about him that screamed danger.

Even to Siena.

"I always hated that name, but it's not the worst name to be known by. Is it?"​

Barrin of the First sounded like a man who was sitting on a throne, instead of languishing in a cell. The way he conducted himself, the composure within his voice. There was not a semblance of fear, or even mild concern. From the way Barrin was their positions might as well have been reversed. Siena in the cell, and he lording over her.

It was utterly infuriating.

Siena had to work to keep her face straight as she stared at the man. Lips thinned for a brief moment, and then she cleared her throat. "Barrin, First Level Dreadlord formerly of House Virak. For crimes against the Republic of Vel Anir you are to be transported and tried at the Court House of Vel Osgen."

For a brief moment she paused, then continued. "Do you understand?"

"I understand."​

Barrin said, pushing himself up against the wall and standing. The chains around his throat seemed to stretch slightly, rattling as the man stood to his full height. That air of arrogance did not go away, in fact it only seemed to grow as he loomed over Siena and the others. A frown touched her lips, and briefly she wondered if he knew something that she didn't.

"Get him out of the cell." The Lieutenant said with a motion to her companions.

 

[Draven Helmer]

Draven had only ever heard Barrin of the First, he had quite a reputation that proceeded him, he was one of the youngest first ranks and was immediately promoted to it after graduating, he was a prodigy in many regards. Draven would be lying if he didn't he respected and admired that.

his magic was the most disturbing thing to be briefed about, it was insidious the ability to 'infect' others with this black sludge changing and controlling them, it was disturbing to even for a Dreadlord to be.

With the Lieutenants order, Draven would enter the cell standing to one side, Barrin was a couple of touches which honestly surprised he always he imagined a lot bigger than from reputation he had. he wouldn't touch the man, not with his magic, instead Draven used his magic to pull his chain to force him to stand up and pull him out of the cell. His magic was the reason he was chosen for this job.

 

[Lysander]

Lysander had his hands hanging loosely at his sides. Slightly behind Siena as she spoke, looking over at the dreadlord that had been captured. Despite being a part of the guard now— which was fine with him as almost everything else was— when he had been called to help transport a criminal, he went. No questions asked. Besides, the name alone was enough to explain the importance of this task. After all, Barrin of the First was a name that everyone was aware of.

Even his brother would know the name belonged to someone who held immense power. And immense evil. The trial was just for show. This man— no this demon— would be condemned for their crimes.

And so, despite being still and silent, face unreadable because there was nothing to read in the first place, Lysander stepped into the cell. Draven of course was doing what many could not: get the demon king to move without touching him. Lysander could move him, although not in the most humane way, and so he allowed Draven to work his magic. Quite literally.

Lysander was watching the criminal, waiting. A part of him figured that he wouldn’t comply willing, but another part argued that considering he was all chained up, nothing serious was really bound to happen. But if anything did happen, the dreadlord understood what to do. Push him away, pull Draven back. Just don’t let anyone get infected.

 

[Siena]

As the Initiate dragged Barrin from his cell Siena watched carefully.

She had been charged with bringing the man to trial, even after her strong urging against such a thing. It would have been better to simply execute him, see him dead in his cell. The Governor and Councilor of Vel Osgen had objected however.

The Republic was not the old Vel Anir. One had to have a trial to stage an execution. Even monsters such as Barrin deserved to defend themselves. A fact which still made her grumble.

Barrin was floated out of his cell and then brought down the main hall of the prison. A few others in their cell whooped and hollered. Calling out in support or anger at the Dreadlord. The Demon King, for his part, remained utterly silent.

He simply stared ahead, waiting, until they finally reached the light of day.

Clouds hung in the air above, a light patter of rain falling down as they stepped out of the double doors. On the street sat a wagon, heavily armored and plated with steel. "Put him inside."

Siena said with a motion. As they approached the wagon, Barrin spoke for the first time since leaving the cell.

"I never liked killing Dreadlords."​

He said quietly to Draven and Lysander, entirely ignoring Siena.

"I suggest you run, when it happens."​

 

[Draven Helmer]

Draven would continue to push the former dreadlord, his focus was held entirely on moving the large man through the prison, the whooping and hollering of the other prisoners were providing him with good practice maintaining his concentration in stressful situations, and that what he wanted to grow stronger.

once outside his carriage was waiting for him, a sarcophagus of steel for the man. Draven would do as the lieutenant asked and begin to move Barrin to the cart, then he spoke. Draven didn't say anything, his eyes just went Lysander then to Siena, hoping he wasn't the only one that had heard what he had said.

Draven wasn't a coward, he wouldn't run unless it was the last option, so he continued to move the man and place him inside his mobile prison.

 

[Lysander]

There was a part of Lysander that recoiled from how Barrin’s voice resonated with a sense of camaraderie towards them more than the implications of his words. Lysander may have been a dreadlord, Draven may have been an initiate, but that hardly meant they could be likened to such an unsightly criminal such as The Demon King. His face was still unreadable as he ushered that seething snarl to dissipate and be gone.

“Draven,” Lysander warned, glancing at him so the young man understood that he had heard as well. “Place him in, or I will.” A simple, hard push. A single push into that metal contraption as they made their way to the Court House of Vel Osgen. Lysander would have enjoyed that honor, but instead, he thought it might be best to focus on something other than the Demon King being a prick. Rather, he looked over at Siena, deadpan yet prepared. He felt that if the Demon King did have a plan in mind, something would happen, now. Now would be the best chance for escape.

 

[Siena]

Siena's jaw tightened as the Dreadlord threatened them, her lips thinning for a brief moment as she simply shook her head. It was a minute thing, barely recognizable.

The tick was offered to the two Dreadlords.

They couldn't respond, anything they said was just walking into more of his goading. Best to get it over with. Best to get themselves on the move. She took a step forward as Barrin was loaded, grabbing the heavy iron door and slamming it shut. "Let's move."

Siena said, walking to the front of the carriage and pulling herself up.

Two more Guardsmen fell into line behind them, each one on horses.

She waited just long enough to allow Lysander and Draven to climb aboard, and then quickly cracked the reins. With a lurch they began to head through the city. They moved swiftly, people pushing out of their was quickly as they rounded through the streets.

As their journey continued, people began to disappear. The crowd thinned, and it seemed more and more folk simply were not there. A tension filled Siena's body, and she frowned slightly. "Keep an eye ou-"

Before she could even speak an explosion suddenly erupted within the street, tearing up cobbles and sending the carriage onto it's side.

 

[Draven Helmer]

Draven climbed aboard the cart with others, he would keep watch of their surroundings as Siena drove the cart, he too noticing thinning crowds. being alone in streets gave him a bad feeling, he was to search metal objects near them when the explosion hit.

Draven flung from the cart and propelled several meters from it, landing with a hard thud as his body roll across the cobbled floor, lay still for a mere moment before groan of pain came from him and he began to move. His torso was pained all over from the impact with ground, opening his eyes he tried to focus on the confused blurry picture in front of him, ears ringing from the explosion unable to hear anything clearly around him. slowly the world came back into sight as Draven began to pick himself up from the floor.

 

[Lysander]

The explosion caused a momentary widening of Lysander’s eyes, but like all other emotions, even shock needed to be muffled. Of course, his emotions needed to be controlled not his actual thought processes. Lysander was thrown over and the only thing he could focus was to not allow that cage carrying the demon king being thrown on them. Before he even hit the ground that force was being used which pushed the carriage away from him and Draven, and hopefully Siena as well.

Lysander hit the ground, the air being knocked out of him and through years of training he fought through it. Was on his feet in no time, drawing his twin curved blades. Ears ringing, he was disoriented and focused slowly on that carriage, on that cage that housed such a fearsome foe.

“Lieutenant!” Lysander shouted— he hadn’t meant to shout, but couldn’t hear how loud his personal volume was.

Siena Draven Helmer

 

[Siena]

Her head spun, her vision blurred.

Head lifted from the cobbles, thin lines of blood soaking through her hair as she slowly looked around and pulled herself from the ground. Fingers, scraped up and bruised, pressed against the broken road as she began to look around. She heard Lysander call, her lips thinning as she tried to remember what had happened.

A figure moved out on the opposite street, three others directly behind him. They were cloaked, all wearing a drab brown with their faces hidden. "SECURE THE PRISONER!"

Her voice broke out even as her ears rang.

She could barely think, couldn't have said what or who triggered the explosion, but that didn't matter. They had to make sure that the Dreadlord didn't escape.

Almost as if directly in response to her shout the three men darted forward. Two of them drew swords, the third one only raised his hand. Another explosion echoed out, breaking the cobbles besides Siena as the Lieutenant dove away.

Lysander | Draven Helmer

 

[Draven Helmer]

As he rose to his feet he could make out the cloaked men approach the liueantent blades drawn, focusing was hard hard for him right now as pain and ringing in his ears, so he with simple use of his magic but that was only needed for now.

the charging men would feel swords pulled from their grip and onto floor, one tried to quickly pich his up only to find themselves incapable of lifting it from ground. Draven drew his own sword and his made his way to engage them.

Siena Lysander

 

[Lysander]

Securing the prisoner, yes, that was what was most important.

But so was making sure that no one got hurt.

Lysander’s blue eyes quickly took stock of where his comrades were: Draven was going head to head with the three men that appeared out of nowhere. The one in the middle, he must have been the one causing the explosions. His gaze went over to Siena, and another explosion just before her.

Quickly, Lysander pushed the force of the explosion away from Siena, his magic did nothing to affect her but that was he didn’t pull her away from it. He started stepping towards the cage, a slightly serious look on his face. He was sure there was more than three. There had to be more than three.

When Lysander was meters away, another explosion, right in front of him. He pushed himself back, narrowly missing it and then brought his gaze to that one with their hand raised. Fine. He’d go after him first. Without further ado, Lysander charged, his twin blades poised and ready to kill.

Siena Draven Helmer

 

[Olvir]

Siena found herself half worn as she managed to drag her feet up. Her head was ringing, her vision blurry, but she saw the three confused men struggling to pick up their weapons. All of them let out curses, but one shook his head.

He motioned to the other two, calling out towards them and then gesturing to the Guardsmen and Draven. Two of the men broke off, immediately moving to bullrush Draven and tackle him to the ground.

The other man moved to do the same to Siena. Throwing her back as the third man rushed towards the cart. He jumped up, his hand pulling out a knife. It’s hilt smashed against the lock on the cart, once, twice, then thrice. The door slammed open, and the prisoner pulled himself free.

His hand immediately shot up, grabbing the third man’s throat. A wretched scream echoed from the man’s lips, his body suddenly convulsing, twisting, and turning. Bones shattered, skin tore, and the man who had freed the Dreadlord transformed into a monstrous, horrid ghoul. It dropped to the ground, and then suddenly charged at Draven.

Standing, witnessing all of this was Olvir Weiroon.

His face a mask of shock, three Weiroon House Guards behind him. He let out a curse, and then quickly motioned. ”We have to help! Go!”

The young Noble shouted, rushing forward.

Draven Helmer | Lysander