His own Vassal

[Nathaniel]

OoC: This is going to seem kindof solo, but it's open.

Ic: Nathaniel walked into his fathers city, looking at the general state of it. Nathaniel knew it had become a barracks like place for a small force of Etrurian Soldiers. Luckily his father held estate here and had a decent relationship with the people, he hadn't been arrested like his mother due to Nathaniels "preachings". He didn't expect a warm welcome from the rich or the soldiers, but he knew once the people knew he was back, they would be happy.

He saw that many people were displeased by the soldiers patrolling their city. Though many younger men seemed quite pleased by the number of "camp followers" with the Conscripted by Scripture men. Sadly when Nathaniel thought of that, he noticed that it was a name the Etrurian army might use, and not just something he could laugh at inwardly. But back to the lovely ladies who followed armies in hope of maing money, usually attributed to the level of their relationship with their father. They would most likely draw the younger men to them, and supply and demand would cause the men to slowly be unable to afford the rising prices. Causeing a bit of trouble. Nathaniel had become lost in thougt, and did not realize he was at the gates of his Manor. So he knocked the door knocker hung on the wall.

[Nathaniel]

Nathaniel was delighted when it was his old man serveant to answer the door as opposed to one of his fathers lackeys. His man was Clivus, his mothers godfather, who'd come to take care of Nathaniel once the young babe was able to survive with a different situation than his mother standing over him. The two had been completely inseprable, until Nathaniel sent to ward with a lord of some Lycian country when he was nine. He couldn't remember seeing as he was only nine, plus the man only intoduced himself then left Nathaniel with the knights and tended to his business. That was why Nathaniel was such an able soldier, he had trained as a knight for almost two full years, with nothing else in his way. His reflexes, instincts, and impulses were left that way, so he was always a solid soldier.

Wen he had returned to Etruria, the relationship was unchanged, the only words exchanged was when Clivus said, "Well, you've gotten taller." Now when the giant old man opened the gate he said, "So now you're a priest hmm? They drilled the logic out of your mind?" Nathaniel saw the hints of a smile on the corners of the mans mouth.

[Nathaniel]

After an embrace and explaining how and why he came back, Nathaniel and Clivus walked into his old mansion. He knew his father would be roth with him, but he'd take the chastisement. Nothing could feel mre harsh then the knowledg of his sweet mother being arrested due to him. But when he got to his fathers council room, the man wasn't alone. Morwith MacFaren had never been one to be told what to do with his city. It seemed it hadn't changed because of the Pious Pauldrons. His father was in a spirited argument with the Commanding officer.

"I told you, I'll not leave my city in your hands whilst I leave for the capital. Leinster must always have a MacFaren as it's governor, and you don't seem to have that name." Then he noticed Nathaniel. "D**n it! Must you vex me so Elimine? Sending him at a time that would help all but myself? Knowing full boody well I don't want to see him." The lord of Leinster made a sign to apologize for his use of the Saints name. The Oficer turned and saw the immediate resemblance the two shared and laughed. "You have no choice , to think we leave your city in the hands of the reason you must leave." The man laughed an annoying laugh, but Nathaniel didn't look at him. He and his father were having a battle the way his father had punished him when he was little. Nathaniel had never been able to bear his gaze too long. Until the day he bedded the barmaid girl he'd never held this game for more than a minute.

The man noted the situation so he took his leave. He turned at the door and said, "I'll expect yo gone on the morrow my lord. The Prophet and his men aren't ones to cross," his eyes flicked towards Nathaniel, "especially for you." He laughed again, snorting this time.

[Nathaniel]

Nathaniel's father broke of the stare by turning, lifting a book from his desk and flinging it at a wall. " I shall not suffer you. I'm leaving now, to plea for your mothers freedom. You may not pass any act without the signature of Commander Carberri and Malmont. On my return I shall make you leave. You are my son, but I will not suffer you. Lord Morwith stomped out of the room. Malmont would be a problem. He was a loyal lapdog to his father and the church, and ran all the banking in the city. Without him the coffers would bleed, but the small folk would suffer.

Nathaniel sat in the chair behind his fathers desk. He saw the papers he was looking at. It was the definition of treason, in Etruria, Lycia, and Bern. Under none of them was Nathaniel guilty. Then he saw the definition of blasphemy. Nathaniel stood in disgust. He made to leave the room but saw something that caught his eye. A suit of Violet armor, with a cut in the shape of a waning crescent on the chest. Nathaniel walked over to it. He eyed it then looked at his own body. A perfect fit. He got a strange thought in his mind. He decided to take a walk through his families vineyard.

The walk changed into a ride very quickly. Many people were tending the vines, picking grapes and creating posts for the MacFaren way of making wine. Many stopped and smiled at him. Eventually, he found it. The old wine cellar door a mile from the mansion hidden behind a hill to trick thieves. He tried to open it but it was rusted shut. He struggled twice more, and third time was a charm. He made his way into the shallow darkness. He could still see when he came to the first torch. He reached into his pocket, he still kept a Flintstones or two with him out of habit, and lit the thing.

The hall was empty. It was gigantic, and he could have seen without the torches but not extremely well. This was a man made hill, mainly stone and wood under soil, with small holes making for an amount of lightning in the day time. Nathaniel'd never understood it, but some how it worked. Just as it'd work now.

[Nathaniel]

Nathaniel answered all the questions vaguley. Yes his gaurds had left. No, he'd been asleep. No, he had no idea why out dated armor was worth stealing. Thank you commander.

Nathaniel's ancestor's armor had been "stolen" in the night. Actually, Nathaniel had broken his window, and taken the armor to his cellar along with a white horse. Clivus had led the guards toward a road leading away, to "investigate". Nathaniel planned to use the armor to be a symbol for his people. He only hoped he could set a few things right before his father returned. It was good he'd done it that day, a riot broke out in the sqaure, and someone was needed to quell the people other than the Regimental Religuos-men. It was only noon, but it was raining, Nathaniel acted to ride thru the vine field to gather the workers for safety.

Yet a moon of Violet, rode a white stallion to his doom.

[Nathaniel]

Nathaniel dismounted his horse in the square, apparently a vendor had been stabbed by an idiotic soldier forrefusing to sell him bread. The people had killed him, and gone rampant. A few citizens layed dead and dying, in pools of blood. Nathaniel rode up, and saw the citizens trying to break through the shield wall. He ran up and began to lad a few people away. Many tried to beat and slash at him but it didn't matter. The amor was strong but one chink near his stomach.

He pulled away a small boy. Sat him down, then poined at the ground, as if to say, "Stay here kid." The little boy pulled off the mask Nathaniel had hought to pt on befor leaving. Most of the citizens gave up when they saw him helping calm other people. One woman persisted farther than all. She had a dagger and Nathaniel knew she' be more important to stop.

He grabbed her arm when he reached her. She turned at the m,ailed grip, and stabbed Nathaniel, miraculously in the chink of his armor. Nathaniel saw her eyes. Those eyes. The girl who'd started the way he lived the past four years. She ended the life she'd started. Nathaniel fell back, and died to screams and the rain drumming on his face.

His lips opened in his grin, at the thought that he'd done nothing but hurt. "You won't suffer menow father. And if Elimine exists, I'll be in Hell." And Nathaniel died with a smile on his lips.

Fin.