Ch.51

The battle would see its end in less than a day with the fall of the cathedral. Many paladins remained alive within Capricene, many fleeing upon the fall of the cathedral, while those who remained, wounded or captured, could hardly heal their own wounds or find the strength to fight back any longer, as their moral and faith had been utterly crippled by the sight they had witnessed; the unholy flames of Fall.

The Seratholic Paladins were stripped of their armor and weapons and imprisoned for the time being, while his army took to the streets to secure the city. Banners of Fall were raised in major cross sections and upon towers. The Fallenic Knights would offer aid to the citizens, while passing along word to the criminals who'd aided Innah'vadah in their efforts.

The destruction caused by the day's battle left the city in an uncertain state. It was as though the city itself were creaking from its joints, shifting side to side like a pillar in an old dock, held together by a rusted nail, and wearing down by the ever swaying water of the sea. Part of the reason why was because blood had been shed before the arrival of the Innah'vadahns, ignited by the underworld gangs who rioted against the church. Now, the leaders of said gangs found themselves on top, a surprise to even them who were quick to act.

"This is my home!! Mine!!" The unruly and unpleasant voice of the manor's owner rang out as he was being shoved and tossed between shoulder to shoulder, like the sound of a screech owl with a bad cough he made his frustration known. "This... This is my home!! You scoundrels!! You barbarians!! You! You ingrates!! Festering rat eaters!!" The Fallenic Knights who'd stormed into his home in seizing all assets and wealth paid him no mind, even as he continued to holler out the door as he squeezed his way through their march. "Stop that!! Unhand my belongings!! Is there no law and order in your actions?!"

"Law, and order... You say?" Erik responded in approaching the weaselly elder. The previously riled man, who remained loud in the face of a dozen knights storming his quarters, immediately shrunk in face of the figure who now stood before him. Tall and far more menacing than any of the other black knights, with his cascading cloak, he appeared more than just a man in armor, an unspeakable existence that in his very presence, made man question what death truly was. "I know who you are, Count Dufred Illapoem. You supported the church in their efforts against me, and in doing so, by law of my decree, you forfeit all rights to property and ownership. You are stripped of your title in the eyes of the empire, and are nothing more than a slave without a collar. Consider yourself free, free to convert and live the rest of your life a servant, or make the wrong choices, and find yourself forgotten, without so much as a grave." The man slumped to the ground as though all spine he once had was a figment of his imagination, a slug who with stifled breath, became lost in his own fear. "I hereby allow you to live in exchange for the gift you have offered me, mortal. I accept. This manor will serve me well."

Aleksandr and Deklin followed, spaced behind their lord as he entered into his new abode. Aleksandr's expression was dim, yet Delkin's in contrast, made clear his excitement. As he passed by the slumped elder, he examined the terrified expression of the man, writing in his journal with a blind yet rapid hand.

The seized manor would come to serve as a place of rest for the time being, as well as a base of command. All valuables were taken to be smelted down or sold, leaving the manor to be somewhat of a ghost house, as clear outlines of where portraits had previously hung from the wall were now transparent to all who'd walk the hall.

In order to quell infighting and establish order, those of considerable positions within the city were brought together in gathering at the city hall, dozens of men, some women. They gathered midday, four days after the city's conquering. They were of considerable wealth and authority, nobles, councilors, the mayor, as well as the underworld's leaders, recognizable criminals who brought with them a foul stench from how they were looked at with scorn and raised elbows. In return, they would shoot back clicks of their tongue and glares. It would only take knights being present to keep them in order.

A clear distinction was made, as the building's main hall centered an aisle that ran straight down the many seats. As they entered, they made it clear as to which side was to be sat at. Some were already sitting, finding themselves suddenly on the wrong side much to the discern of the approaching men and women of established status.

"To think, our new masters would allow the pigs to sit at the table." A woman would insult, much to the anger of the three men sat before her.

"The fuck you say to me!?"

"You lot shall move, don't you think it?"

"We were 'ere first."

"That hardly matters not. Look across. Notice how, your, kind, is sitting to the right of the room. Now scurry off."

The antagonized ruffian stood to the man, barely an inch from headbutting his forehead. The nobleman inched back, yet his disgusted look remained.

"You wanna go?!"

"Heavens no... I am above that."

"Oh, you look like you'd be above." His eyes drifted off to the man left of whom he'd been conversing with. The noble picked up on his insinuation, an anger arising within him, he scowled. "Who is it you take it from? Is it this swine who does you from the back and below?"

"How dare you?!"

"You wanna go?!" A knife pulled in threat, a foot through the door of the room.

"Let us calm ourselves now." A voice spoke out from the entrance, followed by the heavy sound of a bundle of footsteps. Chester, followed by nearly a dozen knights entered down the aisle. Lightly his cane tapped in front of him as he made his way down and to the stage. "Violence that is sudden and surprising is a skillful attack, but when it is expected, it is merely a lack of control and ability. Now sit." His voice was calm and to the point, a demeanor that inched closer and closer to that of his lord with each passing moment. He had managed to become the only voice in the room as he took up the podium and began his introductions. "Now then. Your invitations to this gathering were because of those of considerable position within the, old, city order, still hold connections and properties. Perhaps you may realize that those of comparable position that are not in attendance, are because they actively aided and supported the Seratholics in their efforts. All of those in attendance are either of such a position and remained neutral, selfish, or actively aided Lord Fall. To those of you who did, I extend onto you my lord's gratitude."

"Hold on..." A man on the criminal side of the room stood up. "...You... You're Chester Brendolf."

"That I am."

"I don't get it. We broke knuckle and gutted those pale northerners, dying ourselves. There is something that just doesn't make sense 'ere."

"I shall explain, my good man. I am Chester Brendolf, Steward to Lord Fall. I, as his messenger, as well as advisor and servant, am here to bestow upon you the laws of the empire. You are now citizens of the Fallenic Empire. The capital will be our glorious city and kingdom of Innah'vadah. He has already conquered much of Tel'vane and had begun business here, in Highland under the false name of Henry Codux."

The room erupted in a bickering from both sides. Everyone knew the name of Henry Codux and his many business doings within Capricene. Many knew even better his dirtied hand, as his reputation had proceeded him.

"Codux?!"

"They are one in the same you say?!"

"Yes."

"What the hell is this?!"

"Silence!!" Chester banged his cane on the floor. "Silence!!" He banged again. Finally, the room fell silent as he regained order. "My lord is a just god and a benevolent king. In our homeland, Innah'vadah, the capital of the Fallenic Empire, he is praised as the father of fathers, the old and forever. He is immortal and all-wise. In Innah'vadah, there are no taxes, there is no crime, there is no disorder or starvation. All wealth is managed by him and him alone, for he bears the responsibility of our people's wellbeing. All of the empire's assets are managed by him because our people trust him as they would their own father. All of the goods that were sold here under his name, were goods from Innah'vadah. Our tailors, brewers, smiths, farmers, and so on. Every fruit, clothing, weapon sold were Innah'vadahn made, and the profits are used for to expand, and return useful goods back home. Lord Fall is more than a figment of imagination to be worshipped in hopes of luck, turning around your pitiful lives. He will see to it that you are given purpose and resources. This city is now his, and as it is his, he will polish it as he sees fit. You are his people, thus you will be granted knowledge and purpose, of course, his society requires order. You will learn the laws of the empire and follow them thoroughly. You all should have been given Fallenic Tomes that are inscribed with the Fallenic virtues and laws. You shall read from the second page."

"The book that came with the invitation...? I have neither."

"To those that failed to bring the tomes given to them along with their invitations, listen well. I shall recite clearly the laws you are to follow. Marriage is sacred in the empire, thus, you are bound until death do you part. There is no such divorce or taking of another spouse in the loss of your first. Marriage is monogamous. The only exception is our lord, who with his long life, will take on more than one wife, but each one of his wives are forever precious to him. Consanguinity of relatives is forbidden. Blasphemy is forbidden. Perversion is forbidden. This includes rape, the lusting of others who are not your spouse, the showing of genitalia, the exposure of too much skin, and adultery. In Innah'vadah, there is no such thing as a bastard. All children are legitimate and the refusal to recognize one's own kin is punishable by castration or death. All citizens are to follow the the eleven virtues of Fallenism: diligent, temperate, competent, brave, sanitary, patient, loyal, wise, ambitious, fickle, content. In contrast, you are to be aware of and control yourself before the eleven sins of Fallenism: sloth, intemperate, incompetent, craven, filthy, impatient, disloyal, stubborn, glutton, dependent, avarice. The practice of magic and witchcraft is fully accepted. It is the pursuit of knowledge in the eyes of our lord. Deviancy is criminal. This includes the perverse acts of indulging in lay with creatures of low intelligence and of the same sex. Such actions will be met with punishment, including death. The loss of one's mind will be met with mercy in the form of death. All murders of Fallenists are considered to be treachery, as all of Lord Fall's people are his kin, and all kin of his are born with his blessings. The foremost tenet of the Fallenic Faith is that Lord Fall's word, is divine law. To disobey him is to sin. Now then, finally, understand this. Discrimination will only be tolerated when the banners being waved are of a different color, when the role of man and woman extends outside their place, and those of young or old, fail to do as they should. When in matters of race, species, or upbringing, we are all Fallenists."

"If I may be so kind as to interrupt..." A well dressed man on the left stood up in asking. "Where do we, come in?"

"Ah... That would be simple. Your positions, on paper, are nothing. However, by our lord's grace, you will be given... Special treatment. Keep the rabble in line, do as you are told, and you may benefit."

"Well then. I have never once been a religious man, sure as hell, did I hate those damned Seratholics and their preaching quires, but I believe, I am already a Fallenist at heart." An eager grin, at which many would follow.

While on the outside, things were kept neat and within the lines, underneath, there was nothing but splattered blood and messes to be cleaned.

A muffled groan of pain could barely escape through the strap that covered the paladin's mouth. His body was strapped down, his torso cut open, and his limbs missing.

"Let this be a lesson in immortality." The prisoner's surgeon and torturer spoke over him, raising up a razer, a surgical instrument, in seeing his own, deep blue iris, reflecting back at him. "The body is a prison that holds the mind. Death is a release, and to be unable to be freed, as such, is a fate worse than being dull." Four others crowded around the strapped man, with all five of them wearing protective clothing that covered them from head to toe. Into the flesh he dipped the blade like a quill into ink, a jerk of the body pulled at the straps as the man reeled from the pain. Almost instantly, the tissue began to heal.

He himself, would study the ins and outs of the nature of holy mana, discovering its properties like a chemist would study an element. Magic was the act of manipulating mana, but mana was merely an element of its own, with its own laws and weight. Erik would go on to learn much of the nature of holy mana, finding its uses and strengths, that of its weaknesses as well. A number of paladins did not survive his experiments. He would drown them, burn them, flay their flesh, introduce acids and drugs. In only a matter of days, he would make the perfect ward against evil, entrapping them in illusions of euphoria, brought about by their own souls.

The paladins that were captured were more than prisoners, less than slaves. Through surgical procedures that Erik had taught his own doctors to reproduce, the Seratholics were stripped of their limbs and drugged. They were delivered like cargo back through the gates, to the west of Tel'vane. Construction was quick to begin in establishing a post on the edge of the desolate land, with the limbless torsos of the paladins, posted upon wooden logs as a wall to ward off evil.

Due to the nature of their mana, they were able to survive without a means of killing themselves. It was found that even starvation and dehydration would not free them from their fate. Though it weakened their bodies, so long as they had oxygen, they would live.

It would prove to serve well, as the creatures of the night that would flock to attack in search of food, wouldn't dare to approach. Even the Fallenic Knights found the act of using living men as wards to be barbaric, but it was a tasteless act.

The survivability of those wielding holy magic was a known fact, that even Chester, curious as to why his lord refrained from wielding it himself, asked.

"My lord, may I ask?"

"Go on."

"If their magic is so adept at healing, could it not cure you of your ailments?"

"No. Holy magic is dangerous. It offers the benefits of cold resistance, clarity, heightened moral, increased stamina and physical strength, but it does so by stripping the wielder of their body's natural functions in order to make them solely reliant on holy magic. The Seratholics preach that it is a sin to wield basic magic, thus they outlaw the practice deeming it witchcraft. This is why mages and wizards were forced to either give up their practice, or were executed. The truth is, holy mana is highly isolative, thus it would be virtually impossible to wield any other kind of magic at the same time. It would be like mixing oil with water. In order to cure sickness and heal wounds with magic, you need to have an understanding of what you are trying to accomplish. Healing a flesh wound is simple. You reconnect the tissue. However, curing small pox would require you to know what is causing it. Their magic skips this process by cleansing the body of all impurities, this works, but only because it does not differentiate between what is healthy, and what is not. Our wounds heal naturally over time, though slowly. Their magic would strip you of that in replacing it with its own. I learned this when I drained one of the Seratholics of their mana completely, and they were unable to function normally. It is comparable to substance. Their magic gives them a sense of euphoria. This must be why the Seratholics are so zealous and headstrong. They are addicts."

"I see... Then to give in to its attractiveness would be to give up your will."

"Indeed."

"A vicious magic, yet... It requires faith in their religion to obtain, does it not? Does that mean their goddess is real? For it to come from somewhere."

"Yes. Much like how I am able to offer my own magic and teach how to wield it, I believe they have a similar way of passing on their practice. It would not be so farfetched to say that their goddess is real, or was once real at a certain point in time. Perhaps her descendants pass on her legacy."

"They say their goddess is a beautiful angel with wings and a halo of light. That she is immortal and created the world. Surely an exaggeration." Erik looked to Chester with silence. "...My lord?"

"You would be surprised the possibilities in the world. Even to kill a god, it would only take a cursed dagger."