004 🔥 audio | action;
[ When all of the beloved Honored Guests check their devices this morning, they find a mysterious audio file awaiting them. Those few who know of Wrathion will obviously recognize the Black Prince's voice. ]
My dear and fellow Honored Guests. Quite some time has passed since we have seen the mysterious forces of Mes'Klou wandering the streets of this doomed city. Not a word from the fanatic cult or the mysterious Ardon. Don't you find this strange at all? Those who wish the destruction of all do not simply fall quiet when their leader is killed.
Thus I have conducted my own research and studies on the matter. From the thick forest home of the once member of the System to the dusty old archives of the Library. I believe my findings have proved valuable to those who wish to know more of Mandalus's own Headless Horseman. It is a tragic story indeed, should these millennium old stories be true. Yes, Honored Guests, I did say millennium.
Should you be interested in these findings? You can find one of my contacts through out the city. They are not too hard to find if you simply look. From there they will give you my location. We do not want to be too obvious to any roaming worshipers of Mes'Klou.
I look forward to our discussions.
[ For those who wish to find Wrathion's informants, they are regular people strung out across the city. They wear black clothes with red tints of armor. When approached and asked about the message left for the network? They simply hand the Honored Guest a small talisman in the shape of a claw. Then, instructions. There is a back door to the Library in the Old Town District. Once the Honored Guest arrives at the back door, they are escorted by a pair of guards that are heavily armed and dressed for combat.
The back door leads the Honored Guests into a large old library room that looks like it hasn't been used in at least decades. Some areas have been cleaned of dust and cobwebs, while others are still thick with it. Old paintings hang off the walls of what one would presume is royalty. They stand tall - women, men and not humans - alike draped in teals and purples. Towards the back is the Black Prince himself, nestled among some curtains. Books are spread around. He greets each Honored Guest by name of course, he has had the time to see their interactions on the network and who they are.
Once they are all assembled, the Black Prince stands. ]
It is good to see that at least some of you are curious as to the mysteries of this realm. I believe that solving them will help us not only find a way to destroy Mes'Klou, but find our ways home. And now, for introductions. My name is Wrathion. The Black Prince as my title is in my own realm. A useless title in Mandalus, but my title nonetheless.
Now. [ He spins a globe that is beside him. ] It would seem that there are many places like this hidden in Mandalus. Long forgotten even by those that work in these buildings. This room was once used as the historical records for the royal family. Ah, yes, Mandalus once had a royal family! Over a thousand years ago. Perhaps our dear Princess Iafara is related to them and perhaps she is not.
As fascinating as this royal family is? There is one member who stands out above them all! Even more so than the last Queen and King of this realm. [ The short man walks over to a curtain that hangs on the wall. With a flick of his wrist he moves it back to show an elaborate tapestry. It is faded and ruined from the ages, but one can tell where people once sat. Wrathion points to a part of the tree that has been literally burned off. ] This man. His name has been erased from most official history and documents. Fearful of the power the man commanded, they believed that even his name could summon him. Thus all records of his name have been erased from the public documents. Even the royal paintings were destroyed! Such a shame.
Thankfully, I am far more resourceful than long dead men of government.
[ For that, Wrathion walks over to another part of the room. He reaches behind an isle and drags out a body with a ornate jeweled dagger in his heart. The prince cares little for the display and removes a piece of paper from the dead man's person. ]
While the name is gone from their history, the name remains potent in the circles of Mes'Klou. And, thanks to a very brave champion, more of his tale was discovered. [ Kaylee was very useful for this. ] You see, Honored Guests. The Headless Horseman is not just some random powerful corpse that was reanimated by the Cult. Oh, no. He is a feared man. One that the royal family went to extreme measures to destroy so that Mes'Klou could not use him in the game. We see how futile their efforts were.
[ Wrathion rolls out the piece of paper. ] Our Horseman was once named Prince Aurim Shordi Trevintis. Crown Prince of Mandalus, General of the Mandalus forces! Such an important figure. The stories the Cult worships say that he was a great conquer of foreign lands. Then, while he was away, something happened. They say he "saw the truth of the universe." The Prince renounced his family and title, taking up the arms of Mes'Klou's purpose. Through the new found power of his god, Prince Trevintis raised the bodies of those he slaughtered to fight in his ranks. He laid siege to his own family.
The legends are hardly detailed to explain how Prince Trevintis was captured by the remainder of his family, but he was. There he was tried and sentenced to death for high treason. Fearful of his powers, they bound the Prince's soul to his body and chopped off his head. The body and head were sealed separately. All was thought to be dealt with until our dear Madam Morris broke the seal on the Horseman's body. Now he has returned to be the general of the forces of Mes'Klou.
[ With a sneer, the man tosses the note aside. ] I pose that we find his head, Honored Guests. There must be a way to destroy this Horseman. As we have seen in combat he is incapable of being destroyed by normal means. And, should his power be real, he will raise the dead from battle for his own nefarious purposes. I doubt you would like to find your friend on the other side of the battle field with armaments pointed at you.
[ Wrathion then sits himself back down amongst the curtains. ] Thus I pose the question to you all: who is willing to destroy the Prince of Mandalus and strike a decisive blow against Mes'Klou's forces?