Editing Royal Erathian Military Command (section)

== The Legacy {{wll}} ==
The following is a short story that was written by a New World Computing employee and published on the now-defunct fansite "The Nether Gods".
:<div style="font-style: italic;">"It was a warm, southern-hemisphere spring day. A gentle breeze blew through the wide-open windows of the Palace, finally having the chance to clear out the stale air that had been trapped inside all winter. True, this winter had been warmer than most, bringing only dismal, dreary rain on days that should have ended with a blanket of angelic, powdery snow covering the palace grounds, but today just seemed… fresh. Like a new beginning.

:High above the Palace a pair of [[Griffin]]s soared, riding the wind in long lazy circles. The sun glistened off the rooftops, still wet from yesterday's rain, and the sounds of the swollen [[Teal River]] could be heard over the activity in the Palace courtyard. It was almost as if nothing was wrong with the world, thought the figure who watched from the balcony of his sleeping chamber. Nothing wrong at all.

:The man continued to watch, finally turning his attention to the courtyard. To his left, two mounted patrols undoubtedly discussed the latest news. One of the three-man teams was just setting out, the other had just returned. Fortunately no sign of any incursion had been seen. The [[Erathia]]n capital, for now, was safe.

:Off to his right he could see a group of refugees, seemingly identical to those he had traveled here with just two days ago. Even from this height he could make out the frightened and shocked faces of women and children. But no men. Like those he had arrived with, the men had been swiftly recruited into the Royal Erathian Military Command. I should have gone with them, he thought. I have made knowledge my life's work, at least I could have put it to good use.

:The balcony was high enough that he could see the Military's practice field across the river. Nearly two hundred soldiers were arranged in great double lines, apparently sparring with each other. At that moment he was grateful that he had not joined the other men. That sort of activity was definitely not his style.

:Just then there was a knock at the door of the suite. He took one more look around, noting the irony of a people engaged in a destructive war, all beneath a spring day that was striving to give life to the land. Turning, he stepped back into the room, feeling the chill of the still-cold floor through the soles of his shoes. Reaching the center of the room, he stopped. "Come in," he said.

:The door opened just enough for a chubby little man to enter the room, obviously one of the Courtiers of [[King Nicolas Gryphonheart|the late King]]. The man took two steps, stopped, and bowed cleanly and deeply before speaking. "[[Professor Xanthor]]," he said, "they will see you now."

:[[Xanthor]] followed the courtier through the palace. The warm breath of spring had not yet penetrated the interior halls, and [[Xanthor]] found himself wishing he had put on some warmer clothes. The courtier did not speak, but he somehow managed to perspire in the chill air. The only sound was that of their feet, and the *swish swish* of the fine silk garments that the courtier wore.

:"What happened here?" [[Xanthor]] finally asked, hoping to strike up a conversation. No one had come to see him in the two days that he had been at the palace except for the servants who had brought him food. The guard posted outside his door would not speak, except when [[Xanthor]] attempted to leave, only telling him then that, for his safety, he needed to remain in his quarters. It wasn't until he demanded to see the King that he learned of the [[Nicolas Gryphonheart|Gryphonheart's]] death, and he had spent the better part of yesterday trying to bribe information out of the servants with food off his own plate.

:[[The courtier]] did not even break stride. "I'm very sorry, but I've been forbidden from discussing anything with you, Professor." He then glanced around, making sure no one was nearby, and continued, lowering his voice to just above a whisper. "What would you like to know?"

:[[Xanthor]] smiled. At last, someone willing to talk. "Well," he said quietly, "you could start with why I've been a prisoner the last two days. "I'm a scholar, not a thief."

:"I know how you must feel, but you have to understand that ever since the Royal Military Command took control following the King's death, they've been hoarding information regarding everything. The war is going badly. Not only have the [[Kreegan]]s overrun the eastern borders, but the [[Dungeon Overlord]]s have vanished. The Military claims that the [[Kreegan]]s finally defeated the [[Dungeon Overlord]]s, driving them all the way back to [[Nighon]], but there wasn't actually a fight. The [[Dungeon Overlord]]s just… well, vanished!"

:[[Xanthor]] struggled to remember his geography. He knew that the eastern third of the continent was riddled with caves, as were several regions in the west. Could the [[Overlord]]s have really given up their control of [[Eeofol]]? If so, why would they have done it without a fight? [[Xanthor]] realized that the Courtier was still talking…

:"…have been reports of refugees as far north as [[AvLee]]. Half of [[Erathia]] has been overrun, yet that whelp of a [[Lieutenant Darvin]] continues to tell us that nothing is wrong, that the fight with the [[Kreegan]]s is merely a border skirmish. They have kept the royal court cooped up in this palace for the last month, and continue to deny us information."

:"Wait a moment," [[Xanthor]] interrupted. "If the Military Command is being so secretive, how is it that you know what's going on? Are you on the Council?"

:[[The Courtier]] cleared his throat, then stopped in front of a door. "Here we are, Professor," he said, changing the subject. He knocked twice before opening the door.

:[[Xanthor]] followed the chubby man into the room. He did not recognize any of the faces of the seven men standing around a large table, nor had he really expected to. [[The Courtier]] announced him, then bowed cleanly and moved toward the door to leave, pausing only to wink in [[Xanthor]]'s direction. Then he was gone, and as the door was closed heavily behind him, [[Xanthor]] realized that this probably wasn't going to be much fun.

:The near side long table was covered in what looked to be reports, scrolls, and letters. A great cloth map of the continent lay draped over the far end. The room was warm, too warm compared with the chill of the Palace hallways, but it was clear that the fireplace had been going all night and morning. [[Xanthor]] looked at the faces of the seven men, wondering if he should speak, but one of the men, a well dressed, older man with fiery red hair and a long, sculpted mustache, broke the silence.

:"Thank you for coming, Professor," he said. "I am [[General Morgan Kendal]]. I must apologize for the lack of information, but we really had no idea what to do with you. You see, most of the men fleeing the fighting are quickly trained and put right back into it, but we have a more serious problem with you. We need information from you, but we also need your secrecy. We need to know that what we discuss in this room today never gets discussed beyond that door."

:[[Xanthor]] thought it over. "General, since I don't know what this is about, it is difficult for me to make such a decision. However, since I think I know what you wish to discuss, I have no choice but to agree."

:"Good," the General smiled. "Finally someone who might actually be trustworthy. You can't imagine how difficult this has been, or," he said, pausing, "maybe you can. [[Dannil]], get the Professor a drink." The youngest of the seven, suddenly realizing he was being addressed, quickly jumped into action, and before he knew it, [[Xanthor]] held a goblet of what seemed to be a fine Erathian Red.

:The General continued, introducing the other five men. The fair-haired one was [[Lord Haart]], who had served [[Roland Ironfist]] in [[Enroth (nation)|Enroth]]. The next was [[Ryland]], a ranger among the [[AvLee]]an settlers near [[Grainrich]] in eastern [[Erathia]]. Standing next to [[Ryland]] was a bearded wizard from [[Bracada]], [[Theodorus]]. Across the room was [[Orrin]], commander of the archery yards, and [[Ingham]], Headmaster of [[Steadwick]]'s [[Monastery]]. "And you have already met my Lieutenant, [[Dannil Darvin]]," the General finished.

:"Quite a gathering," [[Xanthor]] said, "but I don't understand where I fit into this."

:"Where you fit," the General's expression had become a frown, "is here, as our source of knowledge. We, the seven of us standing before you now, have yet to see what you have. We've been commanding from the rear; sending orders to the front lines and waiting for reports to return. You, however," again the General paused. "You have been there, in the midst of the battles. We are hoping that your reputation for curiosity has allowed you to observe what's really happening out there."

:[[Xanthor]] wanted to laugh, but detected something else coming from the General. "You mean you don't know what's going on? And you think I have the solution? Please, General, I'm a scholar, not a spy."

:The General seemed saddened. He turned, looking into the eyes of some of the greatest leaders in the world, each in turn, before returning his gaze on [[Xanthor]]. He clearly needed to say something, but couldn't seem to find the words. After several moments, he spoke.

:"When the King was murdered," he began, then saw the look of horror on [[Xanthor]]'s face. "You didn't know? As best as our investigation could determine, he was poisoned, but that is a separate matter." There was another long pause, and he began again. "When the King was murdered, I, by writ of law, became the temporary ruler of [[Erathia]] until such time as a suitable heir could be selected. The [[Kreegan]] attack into [[Rionpoint]] could not have come at a worse time. Much of the nation was just learning of the loss of their King, and suddenly they were called to help defend a leaderless [[Erathia]]."

:"As if the entire nation had lost its heart," [[Xanthor]] interrupted.

:"What?" the General asked, looking surprised.

:"Oh, nothing, it's just something I heard a long time ago… talking to a traveler from [[Enroth (nation)|Enroth]]. Tried to tell me about some [[Temple of Baa|cult]] he was part of. It's nothing, really. Please, General, continue."

:The General appeared pleased. "It looks as if you have more information than you know, Professor. More information indeed."</div>