01-25-2016, 12:41 PM
A few weeks had transpired since the overthrow of Darkshire’s central government.
The mayor was gone. He wouldn’t be back.
Despite the fact that it was mostly a show trial in a kangaroo court, Mortimer’s support had eroded long before he entered the room to be held accountable for the decline of Darkshire over the recent year. In his defense, the mayor probably wasn’t actively consorting with the drow, but the fact remained that he had been playing dirty politics and overlooking his duties. On top of that, the murder of Dobson’s father had certainly been done with the consent of the late Commander’s old friend.
With the mayor’s ouster, the legislature for Darkshire had been dissolved as well. With the recent goings-on, it was determined that there needed to be a new edifice of power in the city.
In the new system, Darkshire would be governed by two trios of individuals—a junior triumvirate and a senior triumvirate. The senior triumvirs were comprised of Dobson, Demetri (who had served as makeshift guard commander the last few months), and Nathanial Holden, the senior-most councilman who had supported the Skendors. Amongst the junior triumvirs, Shang Tsung was the most vocal and visible individual, but he was joined by a military man—Captain Jacob Halifax—and a businesswoman named Valeria Windsor.
Unlike the previous system, the town guard would be folded into the political and bureaucratic system. With the junta, comprised as it was of former militia elements, there would be no separation of the military and the civil service. The two institutions would be fused at their heads and live or die together. The undead creatures that once stood watch over the walls were removed, although some accounts say that they just toppled to pieces on the same afternoon that the mayor was ‘exiled’ from town.
With the old role of Commander folded into the duties of the triumvirates, the real power of execution within the military would rest with its highest-ranking officer, Lieutenant Atelos. The Spartan, born and raised in a militaristic society, seemed the natural fit for the job. That he was loyal to the new government and a darling of the people served as icing on the metaphorical cake.
Even after the pieces had fallen into place, the individuals involved knew this wasn’t going to be easy. Despite having flushed away the mayor and the ineffective government, they still had to contend with an ailing economy and a very vocal minority of former power-holders. Darkshire teetered on the brink of a full-scale civil war—something that the mayor and his opponents had both attempted to avoid in their maneuverings to secure greater power.
As Shang sat in THE Pub late at night, he took another flagon of ale from Cheyenne. Even though he wore a fancier costume, he still took his drinks at the same watering hole, if only to keep up appearances.
“How’s everything ‘downtown’?” Cheyenne asked as she leaned forward across the counter and smiled at one of her favorite patrons.
The sorcerer snickered. Referring to the Town Hall district as anything like a legitimate downtown would be akin to calling a shack a palatial estate. “It endures,” he muttered as he shot a glance around the bar. Before he could finish his sweep, the southern belle ran a hand down his forearm to get his attention.
“Over there,” she whispered as she pointed to a booth in the corner of the building. “Showed up on time… unlike you, Sunshine.”
“Some of us have real jobs,” Shang shot back with a wink as he slid the woman a few golden coins and headed over to the booth. He slid down across from the cloaked man, who offered no words to break the momentary silence. “How was your workday?”
“I took my new friend for a walk by the lake,” the man replied in a tone that lacked any sort of tone or cadence. “He decided to camp for the night.”
Shang grinned and slipped the man a satchel of coins beneath the table. “Always a pleasure, Ravik.”
The cloaked man snickered, breaking the robotic façade for just a brief moment. “Let me know when you find a new friend for me.”
“I always do,” the sorcerer whispered.
The mayor was gone. He wouldn’t be back.
Despite the fact that it was mostly a show trial in a kangaroo court, Mortimer’s support had eroded long before he entered the room to be held accountable for the decline of Darkshire over the recent year. In his defense, the mayor probably wasn’t actively consorting with the drow, but the fact remained that he had been playing dirty politics and overlooking his duties. On top of that, the murder of Dobson’s father had certainly been done with the consent of the late Commander’s old friend.
With the mayor’s ouster, the legislature for Darkshire had been dissolved as well. With the recent goings-on, it was determined that there needed to be a new edifice of power in the city.
In the new system, Darkshire would be governed by two trios of individuals—a junior triumvirate and a senior triumvirate. The senior triumvirs were comprised of Dobson, Demetri (who had served as makeshift guard commander the last few months), and Nathanial Holden, the senior-most councilman who had supported the Skendors. Amongst the junior triumvirs, Shang Tsung was the most vocal and visible individual, but he was joined by a military man—Captain Jacob Halifax—and a businesswoman named Valeria Windsor.
Unlike the previous system, the town guard would be folded into the political and bureaucratic system. With the junta, comprised as it was of former militia elements, there would be no separation of the military and the civil service. The two institutions would be fused at their heads and live or die together. The undead creatures that once stood watch over the walls were removed, although some accounts say that they just toppled to pieces on the same afternoon that the mayor was ‘exiled’ from town.
With the old role of Commander folded into the duties of the triumvirates, the real power of execution within the military would rest with its highest-ranking officer, Lieutenant Atelos. The Spartan, born and raised in a militaristic society, seemed the natural fit for the job. That he was loyal to the new government and a darling of the people served as icing on the metaphorical cake.
Even after the pieces had fallen into place, the individuals involved knew this wasn’t going to be easy. Despite having flushed away the mayor and the ineffective government, they still had to contend with an ailing economy and a very vocal minority of former power-holders. Darkshire teetered on the brink of a full-scale civil war—something that the mayor and his opponents had both attempted to avoid in their maneuverings to secure greater power.
As Shang sat in THE Pub late at night, he took another flagon of ale from Cheyenne. Even though he wore a fancier costume, he still took his drinks at the same watering hole, if only to keep up appearances.
“How’s everything ‘downtown’?” Cheyenne asked as she leaned forward across the counter and smiled at one of her favorite patrons.
The sorcerer snickered. Referring to the Town Hall district as anything like a legitimate downtown would be akin to calling a shack a palatial estate. “It endures,” he muttered as he shot a glance around the bar. Before he could finish his sweep, the southern belle ran a hand down his forearm to get his attention.
“Over there,” she whispered as she pointed to a booth in the corner of the building. “Showed up on time… unlike you, Sunshine.”
“Some of us have real jobs,” Shang shot back with a wink as he slid the woman a few golden coins and headed over to the booth. He slid down across from the cloaked man, who offered no words to break the momentary silence. “How was your workday?”
“I took my new friend for a walk by the lake,” the man replied in a tone that lacked any sort of tone or cadence. “He decided to camp for the night.”
Shang grinned and slipped the man a satchel of coins beneath the table. “Always a pleasure, Ravik.”
The cloaked man snickered, breaking the robotic façade for just a brief moment. “Let me know when you find a new friend for me.”
“I always do,” the sorcerer whispered.
![[Image: Shang.jpg]](http://www.omniverse-rpg.com/images/Shang.jpg)