#etma

No, I Didn’t Die. I’ve Been Roleplaying Too Much (Check My Pinned And Click On The ‘Menelaus Rp Blog’ If You’re Curious)

It was a cold, gloomy night outside of the castle. Clouds moved slowly past the moon, casting shadows over the grounds and making all living things appear darker and more frightening than they ever would have been otherwise. Raindrops, reflecting the eerie moonlight on their convex surfaces, sat suspended off of tree branches. It had rained earlier, but now all was still save for the scurrying of small, woodland creatures. 

Inside the castle, a group of men in expensive clothing sat around an oak table, all wearing the same somber expressions. Occasionally one would stroke their beard or cough, but for the most part they remained perfectly still. They would turn and face the door at the head of the table every once in a while, as though they were waiting for somebody important to come bursting through. The door itself was rather remarkable. A huge, wrought iron thing filled with intricate designs. The men sat and stared at the door for another several minutes before they opened, slowly.

The man who walked out was young, but held himself as though he were a much older man. He wore black robes, with a gleaming sword on his hip. The cape that fell from his shoulders was the same shade of green as the men around the room's clothing. The colors of the Sotan military. He glanced downward for several long seconds before sighing and facing the men with a grim expression.

"My father," said the man, "Has passed."

There were gasps from about half the assorted officials. The others, particularly a woman in the back of the room, looked at the young man suspiciously. He waited several seconds before raising a hand for silence.

"As you all know," he said, "By birthright I am now the king of Sota."

He scanned the room, watching the reactions of the assorted monarchs and generals. He immediately memorized the faces of those who looked displeased and prepared to have them executed at a later date.

"My father," the man said, "As you all know, was a remarkable man. He sat on the throne for fifty years, and in those fifty years we have emerged from the middle of this continent and expanded into the military superpower we are today. We are five times bigger than ever before, and we have managed to conquer new lands. We are the most successful country this world has ever seen."

Nods of approval from around the room. The woman tilted her head forward, so as to hide her face from the new king. He took note of that as well with a slight frown, before looking back to the general assembly and continuing.

"But, there is a grand problem facing us today. Not all the world is as fortunate as us. Some labor under the delusion that democracy will bring peace, others that their religion is superior to the Brotherhood of Sota. Still others decide to leave their citizens to their own devices, and others refuse to trade with us, leaving their countries far weaker than they have the potential to be. This is the grandest problem facing us today, and I have the solution. My father's final wish.

"We must continue the path of expansion that he started if this world is to become a better place for all of us. We can show these other nations the right way. Our way. The Sotan way. If we manage to seize this continent, not only will we be more powerful than ever before, but the entire world shall benefit from our domination. My father's final request was to improve this world, and I intend to follow his orders," the king said, "With or without some of your assistance."

He glanced around the room. Many of the men nodded hastily, others seemed genuinely thrilled at the notion of control. The woman stared at the kind, stony-faced. 

"Unite under me, your new king! Join me, and this world shall be cured of its diseases! United, Sota cannot fail in its mission!'