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Once, the Lord of Light banished Dark, and all that stemmed from humanity. And men assumed a fleeting form. These are the roots of our world. Men are props on the stage of life, and no matter how tender, how exquisite... A lie will remain a lie!

Master Aldia, on the sin of humanity

For many years the Order had worked peacefully among the people of the peninsular, prosperity and growth reigned. However, some of the tribes that lived within the peninsular had begun to drift from the Order, from failing to pay tithes, to outright attacks against patrolling Zaldun in the region. The High Council was shocked, there had always been respect for the Order among the tribes, something had changed, something had caused a rift between the once close friends. A mission was undertaken to investigate what had caused this drift, starting with the largest group, the Catarikans. The Catarikans had once been incredibly close with the Order, however, with the annexation of Ukaria and the removal of the Warlord known as Exar Kun they had begun to drift away from the once-peaceful Order. The leading investigator, an Ir'brak Master, Aldia, had been sent to the Catarikan court in the early morning in order to discuss with the High-Chief about what had begun to happen.

The court of the Catarikans used to be one of modesty and asceticism, however, this was not the case anymore. Gold adorned the walls and great banners flew from the rooftops, mosaics were prevalent across the floor and a great throne sat upon a dais above the 'commoners' of Catarika. On entering the court, Aldia was welcomed by the sounds of horns and a great applause, much to his displeasure.

"Welcome Master Aldia! We have been expecting your arrival, I hope your journey was enjoyable?" The High-Chief said, smiling.

"Thank you, Chief of the Catarikans I..."

He was interrupted by the Chief, "Please, we are all friends here, call me Alaxar."

"My apologies, Alaxar I..."

He was interrupted once more, "May I get you a refreshment? A slavegirl? Anything?"

"Thank you, but I am fine. As I was saying, I"

Another interruption, "Please, sit a while, we are having a feast in a small while, maybe wait until after to conduct business?"

"Chief, Alaxar, I must begin to say..."

Once more, "It's settled then! After a feast we will continue!"

Aldia almost sighed, revealing emotion, but he quickly checked himself and smiled at the Chief, before taking a seat among the lower tables. He was quickly moved to the higher table among the honoured guests, even with his arguments against it. The food that was brought out was luxurious and gluttonous, with the majority of the court, even the commoners, gorged themselves. Up on the higher table, people expectantly waited for him to eat, to which he did not participate in, the almost expectant nature of the guests worried him. While the feast begun to die down, wine was brought out and positioned on the table. Alaxar personally gave Aldia a goblet.

"Please, Master Ir'brak, have a refreshment and relax. You cannot always be on business."

Aldia looked at him suspiciously, something was off with the insistent Chief, it was merely 10 years ago when the Catarikans never once touched wine, something was not right.

"Thank you Alaxar, but I must pass, it is forbidden in the Order." He smiled politely.

"Please, it would be an insult to my court if you didn't have at least a sip!" Alaxar said jokingly.

Aldia again smiled politely, "If I must." He took a small sip, faked a swallow, and slowly spat it back into the goblet. An acidic taste lay on his tongue, a taste that he knew all too well. Death's Kiss. He tried to not show his understanding, and instead, he smiled. "A delicious drink, if I was not tied to my Order, I would partake in more." With that, Alaxar calmed down and went back to enjoying his feast, ignoring Aldia for the rest of it. However, once the people begun to clear out and Aldia stood up to leave, faking his intoxication, he was surrounded by Catarikan warriors.

"You fool, you expected us to just let you walk in here and leave? We have seen what you did to our brothers in Ukaria, now, you will pay." Alaxar said, smiling. "Now kill him." The guards nodded and moved in on the 'intoxicated' Master. Aldia feigned weakness and walked backwards against the wall, before drawing his Zaard and striking down one of the guards in one fell swoop. Alaxar looked surprised, "GET HIM! STOP WAITING AROUND!". The guards rushed in at once, striking with their swords, they were deftly blocked by the master duellist who quickly struck down the untrained guards. He turned to Alaxar, advancing with his Zaard in hand.

"Once, the Lord of Light banished Dark, and all that stemmed from humanity. And men assumed a fleeting form. These are the roots of our world. Men are props on the stage of life, and no matter how tender, how exquisite... A lie will remain a lie! You may sugarcoat your allegiance to the Order, you may place it in silk and adorn it with gold, but you lie to God, you lie to myself, you lie to yourself. You have let the dark come into your heart. Surrender, so I may take you to the Council for your crimes."

Alaxar backed up, but stopped abruptly and smiled. "I do not surrender, in fact, you should be the one to surrender." He pointed behind Aldia, who turned quickly to see a man in the robes of the Ir'brak but with an odd mask over his face.

"Zaldun, help me arrest this man!" He called.

"No." The man replied.

"No? I am Master Aldia, announce yourself!"

"I am Warmaster Drallig, Warlord of the Ukarians, Defeater of Exar Kun, Servant of the Ro-Kwa."

"Master Drallig? Do not do this, you are a friend to the Order!"

Drallig advanced slowly. "The Order exiled me, turned me to nothing. I was taken in by the TRUE order for the Ir'brak, people who understand your weakness. I have the power of hate and anger flowing through me. Now, die."

Before Aldia could respond, the exiled Master rushed at him with his Zaard, painted red, striking at his head and chest, Aldia barely had time to block the attacks. Aldia begun to strike back, showing restraint. Drallig responded with a kick to the chest, knocking over the Master.

"You have restraint, you will die because of this. You are a weak man, I am strong!"

Drallig slammed down with his Zaard, trying to kill the laying down Master, Aldia rolled out of the way and sliced out at the legs of Drallig, slicing the tendons completely. Drallig fell to his knees and dropped his Zaard.

"Master Drallig, I hereby place you under the custody of the Order, you will face trial for your crimes." Aldia said, puffing in between words.

Drallig smiled and looked up at him, before grabbing his Zaard and slamming it through his stomach, killing him. Aldia could only watch as the former master bled out on the ground. He turned his attention to Alaxar, who had conveniently stayed put during the entire duel.

"Alaxar, do not move, you are now in my custody. Come with me and you will face trial."

Alaxar looked at him defeated, his gambit had failed. As he took Alaxar out of the court he looked at the body of the once-Master Drallig, a strange tattoo was on his wrist, one that Aldia would bring up to the Council. On returning home to Zabrak, the High Council elected to send a force of Zaldun and militiamen to occupy Catarika until a new High Chief would be elected. However, the Council was a lot more divided on the Exiled Master Drallig attacking Master Aldia, especially the people who 'took him in', an unknown order who supported the Ro-Kwa? The Dark Force? This opened up many questions for the High Council, questions that would soon divide them...