The Royal Capital of Ataria

Emperor Trevor Varek the VI was contemplating the set of documents before him concerning the land taxes when one of his messengers entered the room.

“Your Majesty, I bring news of the war games between the six Dukedoms,” he said as he knelt before the Emperor.

“News? Didn’t the games only start two days ago? What news could there possibly be?” Trevor asked as he checked off another spot on the land tax listing. “Good god man, rise. I can’t abide talking down to someone kneeling on the cold floor.”

“Thank you, your Majesty. As I was saying before, there is great news. House Ventris has won the games.”

“Won the games?” now here was something that was beginning to piqued his interest, “Are you sure man? House Ventris, the very house which has *never* won the games, lost every single match at the last four war games and has always been at the bottom of the listing?” he inquired now suitably interested.

“Yes your Majesty,” he said nodding his head enthusiastically, “the very same.”

“So how many matches did they win to secure this victory?”

“All of them, your Majesty.”

“All…wait, they couldn’t have possibly have competed in all the matches against all the houses in such a short time! What happened?”

“In a nutshell, House Ventris decimated House Draco on the first day. On the second day House Restav only managed to get through two of their matches before the healers at the healers tent sent word that House Restav’s guards would not be participating in any further matches. Originally they sent word that it would be just the next match but it looks like their injuries are worst than thought.” Replied the messenger.

“So how many people died?”

“Actually…none.”

“No one died and yet Restav’s guards were that badly off?”

“Yes your Majesty.”

“Hold on, that was only two days. What happened to the other three Houses?”

“They all conceded, your Majesty.”

“They all conceded,” Emperor Varek muttered, “So did they happen to say why they conceded?”

“Ahem, not officially but I have trusted word that Lord Joran mentioned that they wouldn’t get their asses handed to them. Lord Killian muttered something along the lines of ‘who the hell wants to get crushed and embarrassed like that’. And Lord Goodard mentioned that they’re not going up against their future in laws.”

“Joran and Killian didn’t want to get slaughtered, I can understand. But what’s with Goodard’s reply? ‘Can’t fight against future in-laws?’ Who the hell does he think he is? I’m the Emperor here and I make the decisions on whom my Dukes’ children can marry!”

“Your Majesty…just a reminder on who is married to Lord Goodard; Lady Eleanor Goodard.” Intoned the messenger.

The Emperor sat there and for a bit thought it through before he started to cough and pale a bit as realization hit him. “Lady Eleanor Goodard, she’s a Goodard. Ah yes, yes so they will be future in-laws. Good Good. Always good to have my subjects happy and all that. Send a betrothal gift to House Ventris and House Goodard with my blessings,” he said before he muttered under his breath, “Like I have a choice, not when she’s already decided. And I’m definitely not going thru trying to deny her again.”

“Of course, your Majesty.”

“Oh and prepare the Imperial guard for departure.”

“As you wish you Majesty….um, where are they going again?”

“We’re going to see just exactly what Ventris did to get these results,” the Emperor smirked as he contemplated how his guards would grind his Duke’s into the dust.

The messenger watched as the Emperor lost himself in his own little fantasy of how he would grind House Ventris’ guards into the dust as he walked out the door. The only thing going thru the messenger’s mind – ‘He wouldn’t be thinking what I think he’s thinking if he had bothered to ask about the vid crystal.’ The messenger had looked at the vid crystal as he sat waiting in the carriage to arrive at the Royal castle and what he saw and heard was a bit terrifying. Such brutality, such bullying, just a sheer, overwhelming beat down. It wasn’t surprising that the other three houses decided to concede no matter what their excuses were. He hastened after the Emperor. “Your Majesty, should we prepare the standard Imperial guard or would you like for us to sound the call for the Moon squad?”

The Emperor stopped for a bit as he scratched his chin in contemplation. “You know what, if you’re going to bully someone you may as well do it right. Summon the Moon squad.” Then he was off again, heading down the corridor at an fast walk but just shy of a jog.

The messenger bowed and then walked over to a segment of the wall and opened a small door. In the recess, there was a small crystal. He leaned in and touched the crystal which began to shine. “Summon the Moon squad to the assembly yard. His Majesty the Emperor would like to participate in a war game.” He then shut the door and headed out to the communications room, at all costs he wanted to be there to see what the outcome of the war game between House Ventris’ guards and the Royal Imperial guards – Moon squad was going to be like. Maybe he’d even put some money down on the Ventris’ guards – ‘Sorry your Majesty but I’ve seen the vid crystal and things do not bode well for the Moon squad.’