Co1: The Stranger in the Crimson Cloak.

[General Spritz]

"Next!"

His Royal Majesty, Divine King Deliphos, tossed his chicken bone onto his plate as the previous commoner- "Sillybarn" or whatever it was- walked quickly back through the doors to his throne room. The guards there opened the doors without request, and a slightly better dressed commoner woman entered. The soles of her boots clicked against the marble floors as she approached, almost annoyingly so. The commoner then kneeled at the appropriate spot, her head bowed in respect. Deliphos saw the woman bite her tongue just before she could commit the most common faux pas. A respectable measure of her upbringing, for whatever that was ultimately worth.

Deliphos reached for another chicken leg by his throne. "What is her business here, Telen?" He disinterestedly asked over his shoulder.

His royal advisor Telen adjusted the glasses upon his thin nose as he looked over his papers. "This one is Aisa Intrauge, my liege. She hails from the village of Coresto in the mountains to the North-East. She claims that her people are suffering greatly under a terrible plague."

Deliphos paused before he could enjoy his chicken, his brow furrowed. He turned his head to look at Telen."Coresto? Didn't I send some doctors there some... two weeks ago?"

Telen flipped through his papers quickly. "It seems it was four weeks and three days ago, my liege." He replied simply.

"That's riiiiiight. It was... six doctors and at least ten carts of supplies, if I recall. And you mean to tell ME-" Flecks of chicken grease splattered upon the commoner woman as Deliphos gestured pointedly. "-that you and your tiny village STILL require more??"

The woman- Isa, or something- gave no reaction to the grease upon her as her shoulders sat tight above her arms. "Forgive us, your highness." She spoke, in a rather nasally tone. "But all of the doctors... They fell to the plague some three days ago. We are down to our last two carts of medicine, and it's taking us every able-bodied bodied person to tend to the sick, and we fear that we will miss the entire harvest season without aid."

"Unbelievable." Deliphos took a grisly bite out of his chicken leg as he leaned back. "Cahn yuu belieff dis, Telum? *smack* I shen them sho mush of the tings that I bough with MY treashure, and DIS ish the shanks I get??" 

"It is an... unfortunate necessity, my leige." Telen responded calmly, pointedly trying not to notice the grease stains already setting in to the King's robes.

"Nechestity my foot! Ish pheshents that don'-" Deliphos paused to take a drink from his tankard, small drops of ale dribbling from his chin as he swallowed disgustingly. "Ahhhhh. As I was saying, it's peasants that don't know how to not waste what they're given that're ruining this country!"

"Be that as it may, your highness," Telen leaned forward slightly to catch the King's attention. "Can we really afford to let this plauge reach the inner country? Our trading industry might not bode well if interrupted."

"Hungh." Deliphos grunted. "I suppose that's true enough. Fine!" 

The King pointed a jeweled finger at the woman. "Listen here. I shall send you ONE more doctor and ONE more cart of medicine. If the plauge is not cleared up within the month, then I shall DOUBLE the debts you owe me. Am I clear?"

The woman wisely kept her head down. "...Thank you, your highness." She spoke through gritted teeth. 

"Good. You are dismissed." Deliphos remarked with a casual wave of his hand.

The commoner wisely decided to leave as quickly as possible, and the annoying sounds of her steps mercifully left with her. Deliphos tossed what remained of his chicken onto his plate. "Ugh, finally. That was the last one for today, right?" 

Telen flicked through his papers for as moment, then nodded. "You have nothing else until the dinner with Duke Morgros this evening."

"Ah, I was wondering when he would finally accept my invitation! Tell the chefs to prepare-"

"Excuse me, your highness."

Deliphos jerked in surprise. Turning around, he saw a mysterious cloaked figure standing before his throne. The only thing that could be seen under his hood was the barest hint of a well-defined chin, and the cloak itself was so dark red as to be nearly the color of blood. Deliphos saw that the edges of his cloak had some sort of golden filigree, but the details were too small to make out.

"Bu-Wh-What is this??? Who ARE you???" The king sputtered angrily. At this, the mysterious figure knelt before him, revealing a powerfully muscled forearm that was so highly tanned, it also looked to be made of gold. On the stranger's wrist was a wide jeweled band, practically covered in rubies. Of the stranger's sleeves, there was no sign.

"Forgive me for my lack of decorum, your majesty," The stranger spoke, his voice bold yet flinty. "But I bring urgent news that must be delivered to you at once."

Deliphos furrowed his eyebrows. "Well then, out with it!"

The stranger lowered his head slightly in respect. "I have come from the jungles far to the south, and I bring news about the forces you have sent there."

"The jungles to the- OH!" The king's eyes lit up with recognition and glee. "Of course! It's about time the good General was finished with his silly project! What became of his expedition?"

The stranger lifted his head slowly to look the king in his eyes, and all Deliphos could see was the slight shine off of the stranger's eyes. " I'm afraid..." He spoke slowly, "That the expedition was a complete success."

A tense beat passed between the two. Deliphos tried to read the stranger for any sign of deception, but what little he could see was almost as unreadable as stone.

"Why... did you frame that as grim news?" The king asked slowly.

"Because the temple did not house a magical relic as the good General assumed." The stranger spoke, his voice surprisingly even. "Instead, a terrible beast was imprisoned within. Once freed, it then slaughtered the General, his entire legion of soldiers, and what remained of the nearby village, all down to the last man."

Deliphos gripped his throne tightly, and he felt a bead of sweat start to form on his brow. "A-And... Where is this "beast" now?" He asked fearfully.

At this, the stranger's lips widened into a terrifying grin, and Deliphos saw that his eyes begin to glow a fierce and terrifying red. "Why, I came here personally to thank you." 

The stranger's cloak suddenly glowed with arcane light, and a massive firestorm flared up around him. Deliphos gave a startled yelp as the stranger was lost in the blazing inferno. The pillar of fire grew higher and higher, tongues of flame spiraling outward on the ceiling as it reached its peak.

"I must say, I am quite disappointed, "Divine" King." The stranger's voice came mockingly from the firestorm, and Deliphos struggled to see through the tears the stranger slowly rise to his feet. His cloak seemed to burn away from his form, yet the form of the cloak remained, highlighting the golden ruby-studded cuirass that he was wearing. His hair has as of the fire itself, and blood red lines seemed to flow from his eyes and down his cheeks, highlighting the terrifying grin the stranger still had.

"During my journey here, all I ever heard was how "powerful" your lineage was." The stranger started walking towards the throne with slow and purposeful steps. "That you and your kin were capable of changing the landscape to your will, and that the mountains themselves knelt before you in deference. That, were you willing, the very SEAS would drain beneath the earth far below its waters."

The stranger stopped before Deliphos, who could do nothing but shiver in fear as he desperately tried to lean away from the flames. The two locked eyes, and Deliphos saw nothing but burning red within the stranger's eyes, promising nothing but burning fury for eternity. 

And Divine King Deliphos, He who Commands the Unbreaking Stone Eternal.... broke first.

"Kyahhh!!!"

With a start, Deliphos turned to scramble over the arms of his throne, desperate to flee. He barely managed to turn his back to the stranger before he felt a hand grab him from the back of the throat. The stranger's grip felt like it was unbreakable iron, and Deliphos could only gag and scratch at the fingers squeezing his windpipe. He felt his feet lift up from the floor, and the table that had held his chicken was knocked over as his legs flailed beneath him.

"To think that such a pathetic wretch would be of my kin." The stranger said, his voice now terrifyingly calm. "Your very existence is a mockery to me and my kin. I think it is time enough that such an insult ends."

The stranger looked to the side. "You there, cowering behind the throne." 

"EEP!"

Slowly, Telen peered around the throne's backside, his glasses rattling on his nose as he shook like a leaf.

"Y-Y-Yes-s-s?" He spoke stutteringly.

"You were this one's scribe, correct?" 

"H-h-h-his m-m-majordom-m-mo, s-sir!" Telen squeaked out.

The stranger smiled. "Good. Come and bear witness to the words I shall speak, so that ALL will know of my coming."

With that, the stranger turned around, Deliphos still in hand. The firestorm in the middle of the room suddenly fizzled out, and Telen could see that the guards had been gathering on the other side, trying in vain to get through.

As the fires died, a few had pulled their swords in preparation, but none dared approach once they saw Deliphos. The stranger lifted the king higher and spoke to the crowd in a loud booming voice.

"Listen well, mortals! I am Aun'Shilough Loughen, He who Commands the Burning Light of Judgement! My mission- nay, my very purpose- is to cleanse that which would disrupt the Perfect Order of the world!"

Aun'Shilough then began to float in the air, and Deliphos felt the grip around his throat somehow tighten even more. Darkness started to gather at the edge of his vision as he tried in vain to get air into his lungs.

"To those of you who would join me in my mission, I offer you an equal share in that which would benefit us all! To those of you who would not interfere, your judgements shall be quick and merciful!"

Deliphos felt himself being moved forward, and through his hazy vision he saw his guards watching with fears in their eyes.

"And to those of you would interfere, THIS shall be your fate!"

With nary a movement, Deliphos suddenly burst into flames. He spasmed and struggled as he burned, the choked screams dying in his throat as he tried to make them. After a few short seconds that felt like an eternity, the king's arms fell still at his sides.

Aun'Shilough tossed the corpse at the feet of the guards, who all jerked back in revulsion at the sight of their former monarch. They all felt the room grow hotter as flames began to swirl around the monster once more.

"Know that ALL shall be judged in time, and that a new age of peace and order is upon us all! The world shall be cleansed of filth, and those that remain shall be gifted a utopia greater than anything that mere mortals can achieve! Seek that which is righteous, so that which is sinful shall be purged with no mercy! So ye I say this upon the honor of the Primal Elements!"

With a sudden flash, the fireball in the center of the room shot upward, and the entire castle shook as it blasted off outwards into the distance. Dust blinded everyone in the room as the shockwave knocked everyone off of their feet. Telen could do nothing but huddle behind the throne in fear.

Then, all grew quiet, with naught by the falling pieces of rubble to contrast with the sound of sizzling flesh. Slowly people started to claw their way out of the rubble, and some merely sat there in dazed silence.

Telen could only sit on the floor beside the throne, papers clutched to his chest as he stared at the corpse of the former king.

He almost prayed that he would stand up, that this whole tragedy was nothing but a bad dream.

But somewhere deep down, he had already accepted the truth.

Nothing was safe from what was to come.