Eiskalt State of Affairs: The MizBiz/Order Side

[Zack Blaze]

With the growing number of Ixian Knights on the horizon, The alliance between Misery Business and The Order of the Crimson Hand wavered. The temporary capture of Zack Blaze as well as the disappearance of Lichensith Ulroke made it so the rescuers of Eiskalt were victorious in their efforts. However, due to the insurmountable chaos caused by the war, several cities and most of the Eiskalt gates were destroyed. Many of the inside attackers have either disappeared or were captured, some even turned on their brethren.

The chaos has caused something to stir in Eiskalt, something that nobody could have predicted....

((Much like the fficial IK side of things, this is a way for MizBiz/Order peeps t gain some IC closure with a one-post conclusion to their affairs. Be sure t ask other PCs for permission to bunny if needed, and have fun!))

[Zack Blaze]

"Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Robert Uccisore, and I am the Vice-President of Misery Business Incorporated." He looked to the masses that were writing down every word he spoke. He called this conference in order to let the entire world know where his company stood on the events that took place in Eiskalt. In truth, Robert's boss and friend, the President of Misery Business was the one who ordered the attack on the country. The true instigator of the war would be kept secret from the masses, however, as Robert had to make sure that his people looked like the victims in all this.

"When we initially sent Zack Blaze to Eiskalt, we sent him with the mission of being a good will ambassador to the people." Robert could hear people write away at their notepads as well as the hushed whispers of rumor mongers, "I had no idea at the time that the Hero of Underwood, the man who once saved the entirety of Concordia from a very dangerous ogre, would one day be manipulated by a most sinister evil himself."

There was a silence that filled the room at this. Robert smirked and readjusted his blue tie, which seemed very out of place with his grey suit and black shades. "Zack was brainwashed by an organization known as the Order of the Crimson Hand. They manipulated our liaison into thinking their way was the best way to pacify and open relations between Eiskalt and Corone. The Crimson Hand has operated in secret, and they are something we have been monitoring for months. They decided to make their move when we sent some of our best operatives out. Several members of Misery Business fell to their whims. Rest assured they are being cleansed of the venom the Hand injected into them at this very moment."

"If what you're saying is true, then surely you've found the mastermind behind this 'Order of the Crimson Hand?" The question came from an elf in the back of the rows of seats and Robert noticed the twitching ears of the creature. There was a chance that this question was asked to keep the Hand a secret, but this was something the President and his right hand prepared for.

"I think it's better if you hear it from him," Robert stepped back and allowed Zack Blaze to stand in front of the redwood podium. The youth could see that his height above the crowd made it easier for his voice to project. All he needed to do was stick to the lines given to him by his boss. He could hear the gasps of the crowd as he took the stand. There were a few people who seemed as though they wanted to leave. Zack was the entire reason Eiskalt burned.

Now he had to convince them otherwise.

"Let me start by apologizing for my actions," Zack stood straight, though the grey suit that matched Robert's made the younger warrior quite itchy, "Even though the actions performed were not of my own free will, it was still my body that executed them. I have the blood of many on my hands, and I take full responsibilities for my actions. I have already surrendered to the Corone Guard, and after this meeting, I will await trial for my crimes committed in Eiskalt."

"That's all great and all," the pale white elf spoke up once more, "but that still do---"

"Lichensith Ulroke," Zack interrupted the Order's plant, "That is the name of the Order's leader. Our first meeting in Eiskalt is what triggered my brainwashing. His plan was to send me to destroy the Icebreaker Castle while one of his agents planned an attack in Corone. The target of the attack was unknown, as well as the agent involved, but I can only hope that they were unsuccessful. It was him that concocted the plan to poison Eiskalt, not the Ixians, though any attacks made by the Knights in retaliation was of their own doing."

"Why should w believe anything you say?" The elf asked.

"Well, because you're trying to discredit me, being an agent for the Order and all," Zack's matter-of-fact delivery caused the crowd to gasp, and two suits quickly came up and grabbed the elf by the arms. He began to scream as a knife slipped out of his sleeve and into his hand. One of the suits saw this and quickly batted the weapon away. They pinned the dastardly elf to the ground as he struggled against their advances.

"Long Live The Crimson Hand! Death Awaits those who stand in our way!" He shouted while the guards slammed his head into the hard concrete, causing him to go silent.

"Secondly, some of our people secured letters found in a laboratory, though who they were sent to remains in question, but the letters speak of both the Order and Ulroke's plans. We also have the testimony of a man in our custody who was almost killed by Ulroke for questioning the Orders decision to go to war."

"Last but not least," Zack said, "it's no lie that there is no love loss between myself and Ashla Icebreaker. Lichensith used this schism between us to advance the brain washing process, which can typically take weeks. As I said, I take full responsibility for my actions, but I stand here to day begging the people of Althanas to hunt down these members of the Crimson Hand, these fiends who turned on one of their own when he had second thoughts and provoked Alerar to send in a small militia to fight, unaware, against the former army of man once touted as their savior. This scum needs to be found, and executed. Not only because of what they did to me, but for what they did to Eiskalt. Never forget, Althanas. Never forget. Thank you."

Zack bowed his head and allowed a few tears to fall from his face. He sobbed a few times as he turned from the masses that now had dozens of questions for the boy. Robert stepped back up and pushed his shades up to his face, which somehow calmed the crowd. "There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. As we tell you this, similar conferences are being held all around Althanas to make The Order a publicly known thing. You may believe us if you want, but believe me when I tell you this. Misery Business will not leave a stone unturned to find Lichensith Ulroke and make sure he pays for his crimes."

Zack, now escorted by two more grey-suited man holding each of his arms, smiled as he heard this part of Robert's address. Oh Robs, he thought, you have absolutely no idea...

[Lye]

As pale skinned as the dried ivory of his skeletal throne, Lye clicked one of his throwing needles against the arm rest. Extreme displeasure wrought his face into knots as it lay wedged against the palm of his hand. The slumped posture mixed with the rhythmic tap spelled out one obvious truth, he was pissed.

Beyond the stone steps at his feet stretched a long wooden table with chairs along its length and bodies to fill them. Unease seethed from each silent man and women. Some of which held scowls and stared dagger toward the throne. Tension filled the air, and each rhythmical rap of Lye's weapon against the bones elevated it further. Finally, the eerie silence of the grand hall broke.

"Where in the fuck were you on the battlefield?!" shouted a rather infuriated woman who looked as though the term "lady" had never once been used to describe her. Lye's eyes snapped toward the outburst and halted his hand.

"You left us there to die! With no command or leadership!" she continued and rose abruptly from her seat. The assassin condescendingly raised his head from his palm and he shuffled straighter upon his throne. Meanwhile, the others present began to murmur their own dissatisfaction. The woman smiled at the response, then placed her hand upon her hip in confidence.

"If you had your shit together, than maybe we would have won this stupid attempt of a wa---"

Her expression immediately switched from defiance to shock. She opened her mouth but words would not escape. Similarly, the room fell silent. She glanced around to her blankly staring brethren as her shock melted to concern, then panic. Her hands trembled to the warmth at her neck and felt the needle like protrusion lodged within it. Panic stems stupidity and, without a rational thought, she jerked the only thing which limited blood loss from her throat. Thick vitae spattered across the already stained oaken table and upon an unlucky few. Her scream devolved into only gurgles. Her backward stagger knocked both her and chair alike to the cold stone floor. There, she kicked feverishly in vain attempts. More screams produced only shorter and shorter bursts of pink mist from clenched hands.

"We were not intended to 'win' anything," Lye spoke sternly above the ruckus. "You were also assumed to know what you were doing, which was maintain resistance to the invaders or, in more comprehensible terms, kill things. In that regard, those of you present with heart beats, did very well. I commend you."

The woman's body finally came to rest, and her hands slid upon a puddle of crimson.

"Now, to prevent further loss and hopefully still your aggression towards the outcome, I will share the purpose of your hard fought labor," the leader of The Crimson Hands continued while he lifted himself from his throne. While a few dissenters looked upon him with scorn, the remaining attendants provided him with undivided attention.

"Primarily, we were intended to distract the main Ixian forces and create dissent among their ranks. Secondly, we were to shift blame of the chaos upon our employers, Misery Business. While that partially succeeded, information of our involvement was leaked to the locals and has caused diverse animosity. Relations with Alerar and Eiskalt are also shaky at best." The assassin continued to descend the stone steps as inquiry and befuddlement set into the attendants.

"This has set a world stage and placed a lot of pressure on the Ixian Knights, Misery Business, and The Cult of Blessed Torture. Granted, we also gained unnecessary publicity. All in all, we showed the world that the Ixian's attack dog, Jensen, is not as tame as one would like. The Misery Business poster child is wanted for laying siege to a peaceful nation, and the Cult of Blessed Torture is not as immortal as one would believe."

Puzzled faces, unable to realize the value of these accomplishments, continued to look upon their leader. Lye sighed.

"Within this chaos of distorted public image, we are going to topple these factions. The Ixians will crumble, our employers will be hunted, and the Cult will be abolished. This will pave the path to securing our grasp within the rest of Althanas. We will grow factions across the lands and hold a silent grasp on all positions of power. Then, I leave the world to all of you. To do with as you please."

The last two sentences clicked for those present. While the motive and methods lacked complete truth, the promise of unlimited freedom hooked the simple minded under his employ. As they erupted into roar of approval, Lye's face remained stoic. He did not smile, nor offer them a sly grin. Instead, he turned and silently exited from their naive celebration. Only in solitude, did the master assassin crack a devilish smirk. The first of the dominoes had fallen.