Saga of 5 Ages: The 12 Rings of the Emperor - Tales 1 & 2
Intermission

As one can plainly see, Quintus Magellis Baelarico was the epitome of what we, the Kendoku, had strived to acheive through our guidance of mankind. He exemplified the virtue, the generosity, and the compassion that we had attempted to instill within our charges. He was also fair-minded, and yet a strict adherent to the cause, the philosophy and the god of law and justice. This dedication was strongly prevalent throughout his entire existence and to the very end he did not deviate from its belief. Even as his faculties failed him it was his intent to pass on these principles to his followers in hopes that they woud live on and continue to profess that which he had embodied and symbolized during his life.

As to those who had pledged themselves to him, it is obvious that like attracts like. Just as evil is drawn to evil, these good-hearted souls saw the light that was Quintus and, being dutiful servants of civilized society, attached their fortunes to this most extraordinary man whose morals and ethics mirrored their own. Like all people who follow great men or ideas, they wished to raise themselves to his level, to be part of a larger, more noble cause in the hope that they too could replace their own strengths and live up to the potential of their ethos.

Quintus was wise enough to realize that, regardless of his efforts, he would never be able to restore or even preserve the empire of Diathilos single-handedly, and certainly not in his lifetime. Yet the one thing that spurred him on was the truth behind the terrible event; he had to know the how and why of this catastrophe. The utter and total collapse of a nation with the wealth, power and size of Diathilos was unprecedented. Certainly, lands could be conquered and governments overthrown but in this case there had been no invasion, no coup, no civil war. Thus was the perplexing paradox laid before him and his intellectual mind was tantalized by the vexing problem, while the sickness in his soul begged for a satisfying answer that would soothe his aching spirit.

Sadly, the magistrate’s quest was doomed to failure, not because of his advanced age nor the magnitude of the task before him but simply because (unbeknownst to him) the labyrinthine web of corruption and conspiracy went deeper than he ever could have imagined. Even so, had the truth been laid out plainly before him in the brightest light of day, it would have been far beyond his capacity to believe it. For Quintus was a man of unquestionable loyalty, to whom such things as deceit, neglect and apathy were inconceivable.

The truth of the matter was indeed far beyond the imaginings of any mortal man, as were the repercussions that rippled across Dreganos after the empire had fallen. No doubt those that had perpetrated the cataclysm could scarcely have conceived how their actions would change the world, for better or for worse. And yet the impetus behind those actions was startlingly simplistic, as I will discuss later.

But questions remain; what if the empire had not fallen? How would it have affected the future history of Dreganos? How many more scholars and servants of law would have been produced by that shining beacon of civilization? Would Diathilos have gone on to rule the world? These speculations, while fascinating, are unfortunately pointless, for the absence of this first great empire was keenly felt in all corners of Dreganos. Luckily, part of its legacy was able to live on in the nation of Armandia and the fledgling colonies of the Turaalian city-states. But never again would we see the likes of Diathilos as the culmination of societal endeavor until the western kingdom of Brynthonia rose to prominence.

Refocusing on our key player, Quintus was not an individual that warranted our interference, though the Kendoku were tacitly forbidden to do so. We were content to watch and record his actions and their consequences, being fascinated by the moral and ethical drive of this man and the effects of those ideals upon his party and the world around him. Honestly, we were quite curious as to just how far this man’s crusade would take him. His death in a cold and hostile land left many wanting for a more suitable end to this most noble and virtuous creature. Despite this seemingly inappropriate fate, he died a man of unwavering faith and belief, with more admirers than he would ever know.

But faith and belief can take many forms, and for the most part they are privately held convictions often practiced and realized in solitude, as we shall discover in our next tale...