The Ebon Blade: Tainted Trial

[Grogloki]

Tainted: The Trial of Itheros "The Butcher" Blackheart

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH6dzIJFIVU[/youtube]

Chains rattled through the Ebon Hold as groups of Death Knights gathered to see the spectacle… Four heavily armored Death Knights armed with two handed rune blades escorted an Elven Knight in black armor. The sound of plated feet on stone worked floors echoed through the silent halls, the only other sounds being those of a few gasping Knights that recognized the armored figure simply by the walk and rumors that had raced through Acherus hours before…

Word had reached the Highlord’s ears of an Alliance Noble estate that had been burned to the ground and the inhabitants along with the Lord brutally slaughtered. This was news that had tainted the Ebon Blade as a whole for at the scene of this heinous crime they found the Ebon Blade standard baring the mark of an infamous Dread Commander, one that was well known to both the Alliance and the Horde.

The Knights ushered the man into one of the Tormentors chambers as the Highlord watched with folded arms, the largest of the four Knights a Tauren was the first to speak, “They will get your side of what happened before you face your judgment Commander.” A simple calm nod is all that the Elf gave in reply. With a single unitized movement the four Knights strode back to the four corners of the room…. Various tools came into the black Knight’s view as he looked at the walls, different torture devices from all eras and for all purposed. The most deadly of which was known simply as The Rod among the Death Knights… It was used for extracting information from those Undead who are not bothered by such things as mortal pain.

Suddenly the large oaken door creaked open as a short Forsaken male hobbled in, “Hmm.. Ah.. AH! Yes yes yes, work to do work to do…” He muttered quickly moving to remove his dark robes revealing a butcher’s apron, “Now then… This won’t do… Too much metal on the flesh, Knights?” Without hesitation at the order the four Knights took quick strides back to the center of the torturous room where they began jerking and tearing the armor off the Elf until all that remained was his nude flesh. He rolled his shoulders shrugging them back in a gest of –shove off-. His head tilted back as his posture became rigid as if he were at attention. The chains still hung freely from his wrists and ankles…

After several hours of interrogation the four Knights exited the room with the man re-dressed in his military garb though the visible flesh now bore new scars. The gathering crowd followed as the four Knights led the man into the vast depths of Acherus where the Highlord sat upon a large stone worked chain from which he would pass his judgment.

The four Knights brought the man before the Highlord where he stood at attention and still shackled though this time he wore a strange collar around his neck that bore strange runes. There came a rather loud squeaking sound as half of a human torso wheeled itself out from the left side of the Highlord’s chamber throne using its hands to peddle, it coughed once causing the dangling intestines to wiggle a bit as it brought the wheeling board to a screeching slow halt, “You stand before the Highlord for crimes against the Alliance and the innocent… You will be given your trial and should you be found guilty… Put to death by beheading… Do you understand Commander?” Another simple nod came from the black armored Knight….. “Then for the record state your name, hmm?”… With seething hatred in his runic eyes the black armored Knight lifted his head causing his aquamarine hair to cascade over his face, from beneath his aqua strands glared angry eyes at the Highlord, “I am Dread Commander Itheros –The Butcher- Blackheart of the Ebon Blade… I stand ready for your judgment Lord…”

Spoiler:

This thread is open for postings by any Death Knight wishing to view, be involved, research, or delve into the mystery behind this. Feel free to post below as the trial unfolds with such things as character reactions, protests, or testimony. As always I ask for GM support in bringing this thread to life I will be playing as Itheros and mostly writing from his view point. I plan on RPing both IC and in this thread (never done this before so this will be a new experience for me! Lets have some fun!)

[FlootsyGaz]

Sounds interesting. Very interesting, can't wait to see where this goes.

[Grogloki]

IC posts are welcome here also the thread is open to all DK's.

[Kage]

Behind the crowd a lone figure stands. Imposing, large. He wears straight dark blue, leaving no shred of skin to be seen. The figure simply leans on the wall behind him. The rumors meant nothing. He knew the Commander wasn't guilty.

His eyes snap forward almost immediately as he recognized The Butcher. The blue glow from behind his help slowly starts to narrow as he listens to the group around him. Lies, hypocrisy. But he remains silent, almost a statue. His tusks remain still and the blue fades completely from view as the troll thinks. And he thinks hard. He remains in his position during the entirety of the interrogation, waiting.

No one spoke to the Forgemaster as he stood in the darkness. They all waited for the door to open. For Itheros to step out. The troll was no different. He was curious now as to what will happen to Blackheart. He was captured, and being interrogated at this very moment. It could only mean guilt was the verdict, no matter the truth.

When the door opens and the man is taken away, Drezz can't help but notice the new scars. The Rod must have been used. He moves with the crowd, listening and watching, keeping his silence. Once the group stops, his eyes close once more, listening to the exchange.

The blue from behind the helm light back up slowly once Itheros' name is spoken. Drezz, Forgemaster of the Ebon Blade removes his helmet for the first time sense returning to life. He stares at the back of The Butcher. He wanted to hear the truth on these actions. His dead white skin stands out against his armor, and he watches, and waits.

[WindZealot]

Veritas shuffled and sauntered throughout the crowd to gain a glimpse at the Dread Commander's trial. As she reached a good spot to observe, she merely froze. She knew naught of what the crimes the Commander was being tried for. Perhaps.....it'd be best to listen, the death knight thought, as she set her gaze upon the Highlord, and the Dread Commander.

[ThePharaoh]

The Knight continued heading north despite his Commanding officer being held by the Ebon Blade. The fight continued with his family and he needed to make sure they were safe. He sought after empowering his apprentice, furthering his training against his own better judgement. Itheros had been a friend to Jidaeo outside the order. He didn't resent any words that he told him, he felt the Knight was loosing his edge. He didn't see him fit to be their leader anymore. But why? Why was this knight losing his edge? ....It was his past, someone named 'Borg'. Itheros' former superior, someone who had defected to the Hammer. Jidaeo believed deep within his soul that this was the cause for the Commander's poor choices. He couldn't allow him to rot, but he knew Blackheart was strong he could take their pain. He understood his sacrifice was to buy them time. Jidaeo intended to use it, he intended to push Lucian to the edge.

He knew however he could not take his eyes off the real threat for too long, or he would be caught entirely off guard. Itheros didn't have a lot of time left, and even though it was troublesome Jidaeo was aware. He waded during the Blizzard awaiting Reigen's escort and Lucian to awaken. Time was ticking.

[Grogloki]

Whispering gasps echoed through the Hold as the Knights gathered around waiting to hear what the Dread Commander had to say regarding his actions, further more they wished to know why this infamous Death Knight had been put on trial for these so called “crimes” to begin with. What were these crimes? What happened? Was it all a lie or ruse by his enemies?... Time was running out for Itheros and he had this lone chance to save his own existence…

The tiny torso wheeled closer too Itheros with screeching wheels that wobbled and teetered with each push on the stone work floor of Acherus, “Dread Commander, stand and deliver your opening statement.” A sharp shove left the creatures right arm and struck Itheros’ in his right shoulder, it was of little issue but did wonders to annoy him. Itheros quickly drove himself upward to his feet. The tiny torso skittered away raising a defensive hand in fear, “Argh!... Easy Commander lest we decide your fate now!” A slight snicker rose from the crowd at the creature’s cowardice… After all who was he to speak to a Dread Commander in such a tone? No one Itheros thought to himself as he took a confident step forward toward the throne chair.

Upon the throne chair sat the Highlord, his posture rigid and true giving way to his military nature, he extended a waive hand gesturing for Itheros to give his statement. However before Itheros could speak the impish torso chirped up, “AH-em!... First… Your charges.” A devilish grin graced the fiends face. The Dread Commander was un-amused, “ Itheros Blackheart of the Ebon Blade you are being charged with the slaughter of an Alliance Noble Lord along with his entire estate militia and housing staff. How do you plea?”….

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuSzQCLjf0A[/youtube]

After the charges were read aloud the room went dead silent for a brief moment as a few mouths gaped while others simply shook their heads in disbelief… But it’s what happened next that truly shook the Hold.

Itheros slowly raised his shackled left hand motioning for the attention of the courts; he cleared his throat letting his cold dead eyes fall once more on the Highlord. An eerie silence filled the room as his black lips parted loosing shockwaves through the crowd, “Guilty…”

A feverish rush of whispers flooded the Hold and quickly rose to shouting voices some still clinging to the good in Itheros others condemning the man before them, “Traitor!”, “Kill him now!”, “Lies!”, “Blackheart would never!”.

Suddenly the crowd began to surge with slight acts of shoving and violence before the Highlord’s plated fist crashed down hard on the throne’s left arm rest… hard enough to crack and shatter stone… hard enough to silence a room of heaving Knights. Among all the unrest and confusion only one remained still… only one remained unmoved… The Dread Commander, his eyes ever fixed on Highlord Mograine.

With the room harshly silenced the Highlord waived the impish torso over to him and with two hurriedly hands the creature complied with haste. Mograine leaned over speaking to the creature in private, a hushed tone that no other could hear. There came a slight protest from the creature but that too like the room was quickly hushed by the Highlord’s threatening closed fist. With a simple nod the creature wheeled its way back out onto the floor where it sat before Itheros who was now surrounded by four other Knights… The same four Knights that had ushered him in to begin with… A raise of the impish fiends hand let the courts know that he was going to speak, “The Highlord sees fit to give you seventy-two hours to consider your response given your immense service background… If in that time frame there is no evidence to prove your innocence then by Ebon law you shall be held responsible for your heinous crimes against mankind and you are to be be-headed at noon following the seventy-two hour mark… Until then Itheros… Enjoy your stay in a cell.”

There came a sharp violent pain at the nape of Itheros’s neckline, his body seized and his fangs clenched so hard one cracked… One of the four Knights had placed the rod upon his spine knocking him unconscious… Shortly after which he was then drug away, his shackles scrapping against the stone…

[WindZealot]

Veritas raised her eyebrows in complete disbelief. Several thoughts of....anger. Confusion. Disbelief, of course. This was her COMMANDING OFFICER. Pleading GUILTY. As much as she felt the urge to yell bullshit or some other curse, she merely remained silent.

[Grogloki]

Seventy-two hours go...

[Grogloki]

48 left... clocks ticking...

[Reigen]

She had honestly thought the trail a joke from the beginning. There was no defense for the accused and the only evidence given was a banner and a biased opinion. Where were the witnesses? Why were not others questioned to see the credibility of the story? Beyond all of that, why was Jidaeo so concerned over the artifacts that he was willing to let someone who was hardly involved with them die for trying to help them?

Sometimes, she forgot how happy the world was to leave people behind. There was a scowl on her normally blank face as she landed upon the flight deck of the hold. Heavy footsteps followed, though she did not make her way to where anyone of true importance was. She avoided that, she didn't want limelight, she hardly wanted to take credit for half the things she had done unless they were truly useful to her. No, she made her way to the holding cell that Blackheart was kept. She didn't face the man, she didn't even spare him a glance and kept him to her blind side. A folded was extended to the guard with a simple request:

“Commander Ragnr knows where to find me should you require anything further.”

With that, the small elf turned and walked away, a look of disgust shot at the fellow undead within the hold. To her, a majority were nothing more than savages using their state as a means to wash themselves clean of responsibility, honor and any sort of common sense. As quick as she had come, she was gone.

[Folder contents will be PMed]

[Etmosril]

OOC: Is there even the slightest chance that Itheros won't just escape in a dramatic fashion with the help of a certain few others before the sentence is carried out? Because it doesn't look like it.

You'd think the Ebon Blade would be a little smarter about how to carry out executions by now.

[Grogloki]

OOC: There is a storyline unfolding. Not sure if you've decided to get involved or not so I'm a tad confused by your post. Why don't you PM me. If you were to be involved you might know why the execution is being rushed.