Holy Empire Council

The Holy Empire Council room was one of the grandest places to witness in the entire game. The people that sat here controlled most of the power in the continent. Elves, Humans, Dwarves, Beastkin, and more sat in elegant robes and shining armor. To an outside observer, it would seem like a painting come to life.

For those on the council itself, the situation was far different. Of the thirteen people that sat on the council, ten of them were players. These ten who had been fervent role players now found themselves thrust into the lives of their characters. Even though nearly two months had passed, most of them were still struggling with the transition.

An elderly elf dressed in robes that could buy a small city stood up and cleared his throat. The sound echoed around the quiet chamber. “If I may, I hereby call this assembly to order.”

Two of the council members nodded, while the ten players barely seemed to register the man. The elf’s eye twitched at the sight. A problem that he’d been dealing with a lot the last two months. He wasn’t sure why, but many of the Travelers had vanished one day. Those that remained were gripped with depression. “My fellow council members. The state of the Empire is terrible. Monsters that were destroyed on a daily basis have started to overwhelm entire cities. Guilds that once served to protect us have turned into bandits or useless husks of their former glory. At this rate, we will fall into civil war. We must act before it is too late.”

The human council man, an NPC of course, stood up as well. “I agree. Just last week we lost several dozen kilometers to the Great Forest. Territory that we took years to cultivate is going to be turned back into wild country! Worse, the rabble of Goblin and Orcs from Eblos is going to take it from us! I refuse to accept such a turn of events.”

Silence filled the room again. The elven council man turned to the rest of the group, but it was like speaking to the dead. Four of them suddenly stood almost in sync catching the elf off guard. “Handle it yourselves.” The elf balked at the statement. It came from the most powerful man on the council. A tall human that was regarded as the Warrior King of the Empire. As the elf stared at him, he felt like he was a shadow of his former self.

The rest of the travelers among the council stood up and they made their way out of the room leaving just the three NPC council members. The elf looked at his counterparts. “What do we do?”

“What we should have done a long time ago,” replied a beastkin. She was of the lion persuasion. Her fur gleaming a bright gold in the dim light of the council room. “We take out fate into our own hands. Muster our forces. Reactivate the Knight orders.”

“Are you sure that is wise?” The elf asked concerned. The Empire had ceased creating them a few years back as the Travelers seemed to enjoy destroying them regularly.

“I feel that we have little choice.”

~~