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Description
Continued from Here: Vrann Krodus at The Circle

The armed forces of Domania were as organised as any military force could be, with each individual regimented and ranked. From the lowest foot soldier to the most senior General, every man and woman knew his or her place. It was mandatory to serve in the Domanian Army by virtue of a decree that had been laid down many generations ago by a long dead Emperor, and had never been repealed. Everyone had to serve at least five years in the service of the Empire. How else could Domania have conquered almost two thirds of the known world?

Dax Adron served his Empress proudly, with immense skill and emotional detachment. Pleas for mercy or clemency made no impression on him. If his Empress decreed that a man should die then, to Dax Adron, that man was already dead, and it was only a matter of time before his body caught up with the facts. That dedication had led him to rise through the ranks faster than any other Domanian in their history. At just twenty-five years of age, he was the youngest General to serve. More than that, Dax had been selected personally by the Empress herself to command a small company of the very best soldiers, and to execute some of the most secret and dangerous missions – missions only the Empress, Dax, and his men were privy to.

Dax’s latest mission carried the Empress’ utmost attention, so much so that he and each of his men carried a document, imprinted with the seal of the Empress and carrying absolute authority in its words:

“This man is to be given everything he requests, by my authority, and upon pain of death. Signed: Vitolia Ellenia Sitrassi – by the Gods' decree, Empress of Domania”

Their mission: To locate and return a certain piece of enchanted armour to the hands of the Empress herself, and only to the Empress. That is how the mission was briefed to the men under Dax’s command. Only Dax knew more than the rest of his company, and the Empress had sworn him to secrecy:

Many centuries ago, when the world was at risk of burning under the weight of the magic being drawn in by the Lorestones, the Cloud Skiers came to Rengarth and performed three enormous tasks. First, they repaired a device known as the Great Artefact, built by the sorcerers of Shiria and designed to draw magic away from Rengarth as quickly as the Lorestones could draw it in. Second, they erected the enchanted circles all across the world as a means to patch the holes that were being ripped in the fabric of reality caused by the magical chaos. Third, they channelled all of the excess magic in the world into twelve artefacts of great power, and gifted one artefact to the head of state for each of the twelve nations of Rengarth. These became known as the ‘Twelve Heraldic Artefacts’.

The Heraldic Artefact gifted to Domania was an enchanted arm. It would consume the left arm of the man or woman who held it to their shoulder, and take the shape of that arm, replacing it. It would have all the flexibility and dexterity of the original, and much more: it would bestow exceptional fighting skill upon the bearer, as well as lend extra protection to them. It was indestructible, could not be affected by any Rengarthian magic, and would lend those attributes to any weapon it held. It did not matter if the bearer was left or right-handed; the arm would either take on the skill of the other, or lend its own skill to it. It was known as the Bodyguard’s Arm, and had been worn by one bodyguard after another in the service of Emperors past until the death of its last bearer. A new bearer had yet to be chosen by the Empress when the artefact disappeared without trace from the Empress’ own private chambers.

If anyone should learn of its absence, the Empress feared her absolute authority would waver. Therefore, a duplicate had been crafted and was being worn by one of her most trusted confidants. Only the Empress, the confidant, and Dax Adron knew of this. Dax himself had executed the master craftsman who created the forgery, so the secret had been kept.

Dax Adron’s mission would not be an easy one. Nevertheless, with the Empress full authority behind him, no Domanian would dare stand in his way to complete it.

Continued Here: Dax Adron and the Cloud Skier

Description
Continued from Here: Vrann Krodus at The Circle

The armed forces of Domania were as organised as any military force could be, with each individual regimented and ranked. From the lowest foot soldier to the most senior General, every man and woman knew his or her place. It was mandatory to serve in the Domanian Army by virtue of a decree that had been laid down many generations ago by a long dead Emperor, and had never been repealed. Everyone had to serve at least five years in the service of the Empire. How else could Domania have conquered almost two thirds of the known world?

Dax Adron served his Empress proudly, with immense skill and emotional detachment. Pleas for mercy or clemency made no impression on him. If his Empress decreed that a man should die then, to Dax Adron, that man was already dead, and it was only a matter of time before his body caught up with the facts. That dedication had led him to rise through the ranks faster than any other Domanian in their history. At just twenty-five years of age, he was the youngest General to serve. More than that, Dax had been selected personally by the Empress herself to command a small company of the very best soldiers, and to execute some of the most secret and dangerous missions – missions only the Empress, Dax, and his men were privy to.

Dax’s latest mission carried the Empress’ utmost attention, so much so that he and each of his men carried a document, imprinted with the seal of the Empress and carrying absolute authority in its words:

“This man is to be given everything he requests, by my authority, and upon pain of death. Signed: Vitolia Ellenia Sitrassi – by the Gods' decree, Empress of Domania”

Their mission: To locate and return a certain piece of enchanted armour to the hands of the Empress herself, and only to the Empress. That is how the mission was briefed to the men under Dax’s command. Only Dax knew more than the rest of his company, and the Empress had sworn him to secrecy:

Many centuries ago, when the world was at risk of burning under the weight of the magic being drawn in by the Lorestones, the Cloud Skiers came to Rengarth and performed three enormous tasks. First, they repaired a device known as the Great Artefact, built by the sorcerers of Shiria and designed to draw magic away from Rengarth as quickly as the Lorestones could draw it in. Second, they erected the enchanted circles all across the world as a means to patch the holes that were being ripped in the fabric of reality caused by the magical chaos. Third, they channelled all of the excess magic in the world into twelve artefacts of great power, and gifted one artefact to the head of state for each of the twelve nations of Rengarth. These became known as the ‘Twelve Heraldic Artefacts’.

The Heraldic Artefact gifted to Domania was an enchanted arm. It would consume the left arm of the man or woman who held it to their shoulder, and take the shape of that arm, replacing it. It would have all the flexibility and dexterity of the original, and much more: it would bestow exceptional fighting skill upon the bearer, as well as lend extra protection to them. It was indestructible, could not be affected by any Rengarthian magic, and would lend those attributes to any weapon it held. It did not matter if the bearer was left or right-handed; the arm would either take on the skill of the other, or lend its own skill to it. It was known as the Bodyguard’s Arm, and had been worn by one bodyguard after another in the service of Emperors past until the death of its last bearer. A new bearer had yet to be chosen by the Empress when the artefact disappeared without trace from the Empress’ own private chambers.

If anyone should learn of its absence, the Empress feared her absolute authority would waver. Therefore, a duplicate had been crafted and was being worn by one of her most trusted confidants. Only the Empress, the confidant, and Dax Adron knew of this. Dax himself had executed the master craftsman who created the forgery, so the secret had been kept.

Dax Adron’s mission would not be an easy one. Nevertheless, with the Empress full authority behind him, no Domanian would dare stand in his way to complete it.

Continued Here: Dax Adron and the Cloud Skier