Greymir's Arrival

'It is the year 1848 A.N. the eighth to ninth year of the Vollante conflict. Newspapers and broadcasts spread the word across the continent. The Vestrisian-Vanguards and their allies won a great victory in the Bymere Country. In this region, three full armies of Nazdar troops and slavers aided by marauders were demolished. Battles not only occurred in the country, but secret reports are spilling out about war in the underworld. A company of Vestrisian soldiers went down in the underworld venturing dangerous realms of hostiles.

            The Nazdar had a clear dark presence in the underworld. Their forces numbered in the tens of thousands. As an attempt to incur the Vestrisian-Vanguards' progress the Nazdar rallied various creatures to their ranks in the dark labyrinths.

            What began as a normal investigation of a vampire epidemic turned into a raging series of battles that took the Vestrisian Vanguard through the underworld, across the moors, and black plains of the underworld.  Investigation, vampire hunt, sabotage, interception, and liberation came hand in hand in the triumphant victory at the tribal holds of Kappa, Lemith, and Agrav. During the first stage of the great underworld conflict Vanguards learned a great deal on the vampirism outbreak. Nazdar slavers launched short ranged missiles and released gases into the area of West Balkmell, Nautira. While fighting in the underworld Vanguards discovered captives and holes full of dead…'

            "Turn the radio off." Arctice demanded he grew tired of hearing the news in general. Arctice was glad to hear of the victories the Vestrisian Army and Navy won across the Vollante-Vestrisia. He just wanted to hear something else other than the babbling reports of reporters and announcers. The radio broadcast continued the report despite his demands. Arctice sat up in the couch listening to the annoying voices over the broadcast. ' Do you think this victory will allow Vestrisian forces to retake the Balkmell Region?' the announcer asked. A confused voice answered the ridiculous question. "Well, I don't think the victories made much of a dent in Nazdar forces. It has given a heads up on Nazdar strategies for invasion.

            "Could somebody please turn that off!" the young Forsythan yelled. "Juno-Rose, Jousen can you shut that off? I heard enough news for one freaking day!"  The radio went quiet at his request. He sat in the lounge of a passenger freighter alone. The other politicians and passengers were elsewhere aboard the barge like freighter. Looking around the empty room, Arctice spotted two females standing at the entrance with frightened expressions. One was an auburn haired human-elf in a winter dress draped over with a fur coat. Next to her stood a humanoid- Puck with a short body, dark blondish hair and tan skin tone.

            He stared at both of them bewildered by their beauty. Arctice looked around the room again checking for anyone else in the room that might be behind him. Seeing no one else in the lounge of sofas and chairs, Arctice returned his gaze to the females in the door. Aboard the freighter were the sub leadership of Vestrisian Union of the Vattoram Republics. Two of the main leaders, the founders of the Union, accompanied Arctice for the three years of hiding. King-Aedile Orion of Naatidra, and Ephor-Consulate Alon of Geverine are the two leading founders who travelled with Arctice. He looked at the auburn elf who was his secretariat, physician who went everywhere he travelled.

            "Jousen where is everyone?" He demanded from her. Jousen tried to get the words out of her mouth to no avail. The humanoid Puck, Juno-Rose spoke for the speechless elf.

            "Consulate Alon is in his quarters arguing with his wife over the phone. Aedile Orion is in the second deck with four members of the sub-leadership, Senators Aivis, Othellis, and Kyen." she told him.

            "Where are the others?" Arctice snapped in an  agitated voice. He picked up a note book with records of propaganda, and rising leadership positions emerging in the Republics. The sub-leaderships being formed in the Vestrisian Republics; are set up to maintain the government law over the various regions in each kingdom and nation of the V.U.V.R. At this time the main leaders are having difficulty governing countries and provinces while engaging the requirements of the war.

            "We are not sure where the others are." Jousen replied expecting Arctice to strike her for an unclear answer.

            "This is very important for the Union's capability of maintaining law and order while keeping up with the war. As refugees an new citizens are pouring in from the enemy's grip, it is crucial to create a sub-leadership in the states that have one ruler  or official governor to manage everything!" Arctice hollered, raising his voice aboard the freighter. The two females cringed in response.

            "Calm down, everything will be sorted out soon enough sir. Your main task at this point is to reward a select group of soldiers who fought well in the campaign over the Bymere country." replied Jousen sounding happy, she attempted to brighten the mood for the succeeding Maxim-Senator.

            Juno-Rose took the scene of calming Arctice down a bit. "Mastar Arctice calm yourself think of pleasant thoughts. Sit back down and relax." She took him by the hand softly and escorted him to a chair. Arctice sat comfortably in the chair as Juno-Rose rubbed his shoulders and neck.

            "Relax your jaw Arctice breathe slowly as I massage your shoulders, neck and arms." she commanded the Maxim-Senator.

            Arctice felt more calm than he ever was in his life. Juno-Rose's hands performed the miracles of relaxation in the body. He felt loose around the muscles in the neck and shoulders. Juno's hands continued their magic on Arctice, making his eyes close and focus his mind on calming matters. Several officials entered the room to see Arctice getting a massage from his Zunia-companion. An Aedile named Devor Enius spoke to Arctice concerning the sub-leaderships they needed to form.

            "Ahem, Mastar Arctice should we get started with the sub-leadership for regional and city offcials?" Devor asked him as the Mastar was being relaxed.

            "Not now Devor we will discuss that later. Let's discuss other issues and events together while we wait for the others to show up." Devor sat in the chair next to Arctice.

            The other four officials remained standing as though they were not there. Two humans, an elf, and a Zhenrai Elmenii, Nenmare Erbin Othelson. The Elmenii were a mixed race of elf and Forsythan background. Zhenrai Nenmare served as a bodyguard to Maxim-Senator Arctice. The other three were future holders of the Quaestor offices for main cities such as Zethra, Metrah, and Udraine.

            "What other matters did you want to discuss?" Devor asked.

            Arctice sat quietly in his chair leaving the Aedile in silence as Juno's hands captivated him in a calm state of mind. The young Forsythan opened his eyes and turned his head towards Devor's direction.

            "How old are you Aedile Enius?" he asked in a soft tone.

            "Thirty three years old, Mastar." Devor answered unsure why the Maxim-Senator asked about his age. He tried to speak but Arctice beat him to it.

            "Do you remember my father Argrithe?" He asked the Aedile.

            "Mastar Maxim-Senator Argrithe Greymir? I remember him clearly, like it was yesterday. He was a great leader, a marvelous artisan, artist, and practitioner from what I heard and read about him. A hell of an organizer!"

            "Knew how to run things, didn't he?" Arctice added to the Aedile's knowledge of his father.

"Did you ever get to meet him?" Arctice sat up straight once Juno stopped.

            "Once when the VUVR was just starting out as small corporation. I remember standing next to him before the campaigns in Gaskouth Ladai and the Castarian Wars. he spoke to me, shook my hand saying. 'Soldier do you believe the Vestrisian Union has what it takes to face the Castarian Empire and fight a campaign in the Valde continent?' I said sorry sir I am too mesmerized by your presence to reply."

Laughter filled the room, Arctice smiled at Devor, it vanished as he turned his body to face Devor with a stern look.

            "Do you recall his death?" He asked Devor who looked taken aback by the question.

            Devor became speechless as though the thought of Argrithe's assassination still haunted his dreams. "I do not wish to discuss this right away Mastar." he replied weakly.    

            Arctice paused for a second. "Let's walk around and get some exercise." Arctice stood out of his chair, softly groping Juno as he passed her.

            Mastar Arctice stopped at the door realizing no one followed. He motioned for everyone to join him to another part of the ship. Juno grabbed his notebook and remained standing near the other officials(senators). "Devor, Nenmare follow me closely. I want to continue the discussions on my father."

            They did as he ordered them to following close behind. Arctice led the group through the halls. Juno and Jousie were the last to follow the trail. "My father was assassinated by the Dark Lord Aliscar Razdor, the real traitor of the Forsythan race. An exile who became dark with some twisted and corrupt form of power."

            "What do you want to do about him? He is far too powerful, you know what he did to your father!" Nenmare warned the young Forsythan. Arctice stopped in his tracks and turned to the other Senators.

             "Ledos, Curtian, you will be assigned the offices of Quaestor in New Valorum and Metrah, Nemis. I want both of you in charge of appointing steward positions, Praetoriates, and other Quaestor positions in regions and cities in need of governing magistrates." Arctice changed the subject in a split second and returned to the previous one.

            "I am well aware of what he did to my father! He would not so lucky with me, nor would have been so if my father saw him coming!" Arctice explained on the elevator down to the second level.

            "What I intend to do is to return to the public eye and avenge my father's death!" Arctice stated with a sincere tone to his voice.

            The freighter landed in the city of Udraine where the heroes of the Bymere battles awaited the newly elected Maxim-Senator. The attendants and stewards went on a search for Arctice and his party. They found him chatting with Aedile-King Orion, Senators Aivos, Othellis, Kyen, Ledos, Curtian, and Aedile Devor Enius. Nenmare the bodyguard, Secretary Phycisian Jousie, and companion Juno Rose stood idly by.

            "Sir we have landed." Jousen reminded Arctice of his current schedule. He turned to her with acceptance for the reminder.

             "Thank you Jousen for keeping me on task with the schedule. My fellow senators our presence is required at the Udraine Plaza."

            “Should we continue discussions on the sub-leaderships later?" Othellis recommended.

            "Agreed." replied Arctice ending any further discussions on the sub-leaderships.

            They disembarked from the freighter in front of a crowd of twenty thousand citizens and soldiers. Each party member stepped down the ramp to greet the awaiting Duchess of Udraine, Mysdran Kyshar, three Generals, and four groups of war heroes.