POV: Victor Sterling
For the next few days, any time Zellora was in the same room as me she never made eye contact and was a shade redder. For me my brain started to run the old customer service auto pilot. Polite and professional, no hint of the torrent of emotions caused by the bomb shell dropped.
Unfortunately, the day of the End of Regency Ceremony was here. Fancy tux, check. My Forge Family, check. Stage in front of a few thousand people, FML, check. Speech memorized, check. The crowd was impressive. The six remaining councilors decked out.
Once the time came, the crowd naturally quieted. A band started to play what I quickly learned was the unofficial song of Sterlingstead, Blacksmith's Blade. From the city hall the councilors paraded out with elegance grace and professionalism. The notes of the song fading as the took their places on the platform.
A small pause of silence came before a song that I had picked for the theme that would play quietly in the Forge of Creation, Hammer and the Anvil. This marked the start of our procession from the gates of the Forge. I lead with my sub-masters at my flanks, each dressed with both elegance and a touch of simplicity.
“... and I am the Blacksmith singing, the hammer and the anvil song,” the dwarven choir completing the piece signaling the start of the event.
The first to center stage was surprisingly Ms Vernilot, the seat of the Protection Gods, “Today marks a new chapter in the history of our world. Today like the nineteen before marks a day when a god has come to our world. For 480 years this city has waited for him. For 375 years, this council has fulfilled its duty to grow and maintain the lands and the people for his lordship. In the hour of fulfillment the seat given by the Regency Treaty to the Pantheon of Rulers, ran to his masters. In his absence, I the current holder of the seat given to the Pantheon of Protection declare the Treaty of Regency dissolved and I honorably hand the power given to me by said treaty to the rightful ruler of Sterlingstead, his lordship Victor Sterling.”
I stand as she approaches. In her hands is two badges, one taken from her dress. Kneeling before me, she offers badges to me. Using my telekinesis skill, I make them float off her hand each resting above a shoulder.
“Josmien Vernilot, I hear by relieve you of duty and thank you for your service to the city,” I say with the formality and ritualism required by the situation.
Next is the draconid, Kilto Redscale, “I Commander of the Sterlingstead Guard and councilor for the Guard come to not only hand over the power granted to me by the Treaty of Regency, but to swear my fealty and through me the fealty of the Guardsmen who stand with me. We who hand bled to keep the peace and protect this city from threats, swear our selves to Lord Sterling.”
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He presented his badge and his sword to me. The badge joining the others. His sword I gingerly took it by the hilt raised it to the sky and, with some magical theatrics, burst into flames and replaced with a sword I crafted the day before as a new badge of office.
With the new sword I tapped his shoulders and head, “Rise Commander Kilto Redscale. Your men's and your efforts are honorable and will never be taken lightly. I am humbled and thankful that you shall continue to uphold this duty.”
Instead of returning to his seat he stood behind ours.
Ironbelt was next, “For the crafters of this city, we dedicated this city to you. We toiled. We inproved. We built. For we understood, you respect the work of those below you as you once toiled to raise the seat of your power, The Forge of Creation. I, the crafter's councilor, give to you the fruits of our dedication to your ideals. We only ask that you honor our effort.”
“Your effort is far from wasted. I have seen what was made where none was before. Kilirra Ironbelt, I thank not only you but those under you and those that came before for your service, dedication and effort. Rise and join me to continue your effort for the craft is a great joy to myself and can only hope it is for you as well.”
Gwensin Pollenflight, “I guild master of the Adventurer's Guild and councilor of Adventures have come not only to return the power granted by the treaty, but to swear myself, my guild and unexpectedly the whole of the Adventurer's Guild as voted by the commune of masters. We seek the freedom and respect that Lord Sterling embodies. While our profession is not of one to craft but to fight, we always respect the craftsman for like them we respect effort of the individuals. Know that we are able and ready for the greatest adventurer. The guild declares unanimously to swear to bring this freedom to all.”
Nex Torba, “Respect, fairness, and coin are the core tenets of the Merchant's Association. For us we show our respect with the coin we provide. Only a fool knows no respect for those who build our city, for those that provide, and for those that defend. I am humbled that I get to fulfill the oath that my seat asks of me, for this is more than a city to me and to many like me it is our home. I here by relinquish the power entrusted to me by the treaty.”
Jeol, “As men of the cloth, the temples only loyalty was to you, Lord Sterling. I return the power that was only yours to begin with. And as the high priest, I swear the temple will guild the soul of the city. We swear to heal not only the soul but the mind and the body. We hope that you will once again Forge us anew.”
As I was about to approach the podium, a swirl of black mist formed in front of me. Those that stood behind me leaped out of their seats. The mist coalesced into a man kneeling before me. Dressed to impress and pale as a ghost, his head never looking up.
The mystery man spoke, “I Nodin, head of clan Perpetual Watch first clan of the Shadow Vampires, have come to swear the loyalty of all clans, in honor of the bloodmother's oath. Our only request is to free our bloodmnother from the vile pretender gods of the Parathion of Rules, Deliliah Shadowborn.”
This was not in the script.
