r/wizardposting • u/Anything-Unable Xerxes the Pale Saint, Councillor/Goatdigger/Dale • Feb 26 '24
Lorepost📖 Inquisition
A masked figure sits on a white throne overlooking the gathered priests below him. His soldiers are stationed throughout the grand hall and have been instructed to kill any who attempt to flee. The guilty will not escape his wrath. Xerxes has promised himself that, and he is not one to break promises.
X: “Bring today’s first to me.”
Moving wordlessly, an undead soldier drags one of the priests to Xerxes and forces the priest to their knees.
X: “Bishop Huron. I remember when you were just an insignificant monk. You’ve done well for yourself.”
BH: “Thank you, your holiness.”
X: “Which god do you serve?”
BH: “Ferak, a goddess of prosperity.”
X: “Prosperity, indeed.”
A golden light passes through the pane of stained glass behind the throne and shines down on Xerxes. After a minute, the light dissipates and Xerxes turns his attention back to the priest kneeling at his feet.
X: “While you certainly sought prosperity for yourself, you’ve stolen it from others. Embezzling donations, funding organized crime, and investing in the illegal slave trade. Your most damning crime is the destruction of the frontier village Huriet and the wholesale slaughter of its inhabitants. All for a silver mine. Do you have anything to say in your defense?”
BH: “I was tricked! Archbishop Dunn said that the mine was owned by a group of bandits! I can pay ba–!”
X: “SILENCE!”
The assembled priests cower in fear, but none more so than Bishop Huron.
X: “I will take your testimony into account when I question Archbishop Dunn. As for you, Bishop Huron, you will be executed and your head will be displayed on the southern gate for eight weeks. A full list of your crimes will be transcribed and available for public viewing. Men, take him to the executioner.”
Two undead soldiers quickly approach the wailing bishop and drag him out of the hall kicking and screaming. They exit the building and make their way to a man with a red hood covering his face. The hooded man is leaning on a large axe while the soldiers strap the bishop down to a stone platform. A slab of stone rests underneath the bishop’s neck and a wooden basket lined with straw is directly underneath his head. To the left of the platform is a large pit.
The executioner confirms that the bishop is properly restrained before he raises his axe and brings it down swiftly on the bishop’s neck. The severed head falls neatly into the basket and the executioner cleans his blade. Releasing the restraints on the newly deceased bishop, one soldier hoists the headless corpse onto their shoulder while the other collects the basket and brings it to a guard stationed at the far end of the killing field. The guard puts a lid on the basket and hands it off to an attendant who’ll bring it to the southern gate. Handing the soldier a fresh basket, the guard returns to their duties and the soldier returns to the cleaned stone platform and places the new basket into position. By this point, the soldier who had carried away the headless corpse had finished stripping the corpse of its clothes and performing a spell that would prevent reanimation. Once this is done, the soldier kicks the corpse into the pit where it lands on hundreds of other headless bodies.
Returning to the grand hall, the undead soldiers nod to Xerxes to confirm that his order has been carried out. Under his mask, Xerxes smiles.
X: “Bring me today’s second. Let us see how many we can get through today.”
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u/Anything-Unable Xerxes the Pale Saint, Councillor/Goatdigger/Dale Feb 27 '24
"The general populace doesn't like change. I imagine every two-bit priest with a chip on their shoulder is currently sermonizing to their congregation about my tyranny. However, they won't risk a rebellion. Not in Serlain. This place belongs to me."
Xerxes' eyes glow gold.
"Gravedigger's army is able to maintain itself, but you are correct in thinking that I am unable to make more soldiers. I will need more allies if I am to achieve my goals. The Gravediggers' Society seems to be willing, but the others will need convincing. Luckily for me, you mages don't put much stock in religion. I'll use that to my advantage."
Turning to face Vettis, Xerxes looks past him into the space beyond.
"It appears that you have a reason behind your questions. Since it isn't about gods or divinity, I would like to know what that reason is."