The Tale of Cimerora

Greetings, stranger. The Senator has sent you over to hear my tale, has he not? It is a sad one, I am afraid. I am the wife of Gaius Severa. He was one of Valerius' top men, highly decorated in fact, during the rule of Imperious.

When Romulus sought to take over Cimerora from within, my husband fought alongside Valerius each day. They were so much like brothers. Valerius tells me that my husband was slain in Vespillos Pass, as he leaped in front of him, blocking a sword meant for his head.

My husband died an honorable death and I miss him. But these are the days of blood and battle and, sadly, many of the widows here have tales like mine.

You should speak to Brutticus Aurelius. He is a fine soldier and is fiercely dedicated to Imperious. He can tell you more.

I do not recognize the tribe or battalion of your garb, but I sense a fierce thirst for power in you, for good or bad, I do not yet know. You are a soldier of sorts, of that I am sure, so you will understand my tale.

I am in complete servitude to Imperious, the former ruler of Cimerora. He was ostracized from his kingdom some months back by Romulus, a pathetic and conniving pig of a man. To look at Romulus months ago, you would not believe this act to be something he would be capable of. One day, however, he changed. By the demigods of Hades, his power grew. I am sure of it. He has harnessed something so powerful that it defies logic and understanding. But he is a fool and barely controls it. If he is left to his own foolishness, this power will be his undoing.

I welcome that day. The man is dangerous. However, if this ... power ... is unleashed, I fear it will be the end of all our strength, and of the generations to come.

Go now and speak to Atticus the Commoner. This war affects all of us and he has his own tale to tell.

I am Atticus. Just Atticus, a humble fisherman.

I come from no great birth or lineage, but I have lived here in Cimerora for all of my life. Until Romulus took over, this was a peninsula of opportunity. I felt that I had a voice and was taken care of by Imperious. But now, all of us who are loyal to Imperious have been cast out to this small fort.

Romulus lives the life of an impostor Emperor, reaping the rewards of all the work Imperious has put a lifetime into. He is a bad man. Evil. Something dark lives inside him, I think. I cannot explain it. But he is not the man he used to be and I fear for us all. If we cannot find the soldiers to fight against him, our cause will be lost. Not only that, the cause of all future generations as well.

You should go talk to Julia Pria, one of our town merchants. She can tell you how this war has affected her, too.

Hello, traveler. Do you seek to hear my tale, as well? Ah good. The Senator has been sending to me travelers he thinks can best aid us so that I may give them my own story. That I shall do.

This beautiful town used to be the jewel of the peninsula. Ships once lined up to dock in our marina and trade among other lands was constant. Each morning, the sounds of tradesmen and townsfolk hawking their wares and haggling each other could be heard across the city. We were prosperous and the Emperor, who had a mind not only for rule, but for economics as well, set forth agreements and policy so that even the least of us was taken care of.

Those days are long past us now. Almost daily, Romulus' men lay siege to this fort and attack us both subtly and in plain daylight. His men have pillaged the town, kidnapped its women, and frightened away traders from lands across the sea.

We get by, but for how much longer, I do not know. If you would take on our cause, perhaps we could one day move back into the Kingdom and take our place as its rightful citizens.

If you have not done so already, you should speak to the old woman on the hill. Hers is a very insightful if not confusing tale.

See you, Red Tomax, I do. A time not now you are from. My eyes see not, but understand you I do. Know I speak true and listen to me well. Dark times to come. All that is then will end from the darkness now. Gone. Power. Gone. End of the demigods.

Evil the crystals be. They are part of the thing that sleeps, but will soon wake. It is the mechanical colossus that brings death to us all. Stop Romulus and beware the dark thing that sleeps. If it ever wakes, the light will go out. Only darkness for the time that is now until the time that is then. The end of us all will it be.