NationStates Jolt Archive

The old emperor stood In the capital, Senitel. A large city located in the western parts of the world. This whole realm had been gathered thousands of years ago by the first emperor. Generation after generation the different emperors had succeeded each other. The chain of emperors reached thousands of years back in time and it would reach thousands of years into the future. No one could fight the power of the emperor. All power in the world was gathered in his hands. Tons of riches rolled in the gates of Senitiel each day. The emperor never lacked anything. Slaves suffered and died each day working in different parts of the world. Fresh fruit were brought in from great gardens, fur and meat were constantly brought by the many hunters forced to slave under the emperor, hundreds of pickaxes dug deep into the mountains collecting riches and thousands of of slaves grew corn to feed the many soldiers of the emperor. The emperors army were constantly collecting taxes from the free tribes.

The winter had been hard on the village. There supplies had run out during the autumn storms raging the cost. The fishing boats had not been able to set sail and those who had tried were found drowned, washed up on beach the next day or not found at all. Many had starved to death as hunting failed and those left alive when the spring came, were only spirits of there former selves. The emperor troop entered the village and demanded there taxes. They had all sworn loyalty to the emperor and they had a task to do. The soldiers were used to people, crying and praying, and pledging them, not to collect the little they had. But everyone had to contribute to the emperor of the worlds treasure vaults. When the troop commander realised that this village had no valuables to collect he jumped of his horse and walked towards the leader of the village. He drew his sword and easily separated his head from the body. The troop leader ordered his soldiers to collect every child in the village and take them as slaves. The children were tied behind horses and the party started moving. The mothers were crying and the fathers were silently swearing but no one dared fight the emperors men. This was the way the world had been ruled for how long as anyone could remember and this was the way the world would be ruled in the future. Anyone who fought the emperor would be captured and sent as a slave to work until he or she collapsed from the hard work or the brutal beating from the guards.

The emperor looked upon the world, he owned everything that one could own. Rebellions were crushed with the force of his mighty army and slaves were constantly bringing new riches into the city. The free villages and tribes payed there taxes or was taken as slaves. Those who openly fought the emperor were sent to the salt plains. Burning sun and hard conditions made it impossible to survive the torment for more then six month of hard labourer. But he was not happy. He desired more, more land and more riches. He pushed his slaves to work until they collapsed. He did not care, he had more then enough slaves.

The Druids roamed the land. They willingly fought the emperor. There history were even older then the line of emperors. They had but one wish, to overthrow the emperor and put there religious leader on the throne. They would create a world dedicated to there god Nud. They lushes around in the forest capturing the emperors soldiers. They moved as the wind and soldiers could just as well be fighting with there own shadow. They raided sleeping soldiers captured off guard and dragged them into the forest. There they preformed human sacrifices on stone altars to please Nud. These were the only force that could threaten the line of the emperor that had ruled the world since ancient times.

I've created the setting now you tell the story.

big bump :D

Smoke drifted lazily from the village’s rooves. It wasn’t much smoke, for there wasn’t much of a fire. The dilapidated roundhouse that serviced as a communal gathering place was the only place with a fire, and smoke travelled from under its eaves slowly, as if uncertain of itself. It did this because the village’s inhabitants didn’t wish to be seen, in their secluded forest hideaway. And well they might not, for they were outlaws. Not druids, but akin to them in their hatred of the Emperor of the World.

They were outlaws who dwelt there, murderous thieves and escaped slaves alike. Vagabonds and rogues who wouldn’t earn anyone’s respect, though perhaps pity. They lived from raids and scavenging, and did little but harp upon the great wrongs that had been done to them, which were indeed grievous.

One wouldn’t think it inspiring, but the man who watched them, unnoticed among the trees, saw beyond the surface impressions, to what they could be. Here, the stranger – younger than he would be in later days – thought to himself, I shall begin. He was new in his role as a traveller, and didn’t yet sport the worldly accoutrements he would in time to come. Nevertheless, he looked outlandish, in a way. He wore a leather coat with flecks of dried in mud about its rim, and underneath, a lighter brown jacket. Knee high boots of a subtler black make closed around the legs of trousers made from a material alike unto what would in the future be called denim, and a long loincloth type garment spoke of distant fashions.

He leaned on a staff cut from some distant wood, which held at its peak a stone of blue. Long black hair was pinned back behind his neck, and an amulet hung around the stranger’s neck, and a purse of monies hung beside him, but it wasn’t imperial coin. Instead, thin discs of gold and silver were within, as well as diamonds of the purest quality. He had the knack of being unnoticed, and so, he had the chance to remain unnoticed for some time.

And so, it begins…

The staff came up into the gut of the outlaws’ leader, Jack Strong. The slightly effete stranger didn’t even stop for a moment as this winded him. The blue stone smacked the fellow’s rump, and sent him stumbling across the floor, head first into a wall. With a dancing step, he applied his boot to the man’s backside. Jack Strong stumbled and fell completely, breathing heavily, winded. And the stranger laughed merrily.

“Come, fellow, rise. I hold no grudge,” he said, and extended his hand. And no, I don’t want to take over or anything. I’m far too old for that. What I do want to do is help, and teach you all to fight better…” Stares of confusion greeted his pronouncement.

If only they knew.

OOC: I felt someone ought to post. I’m going somewhere with this. It’s actually backstory for another character of mine, so, don’t kill him.