A Traitor for Good?

[lordraleigh]

Prelude

   Midnight, the azure sun stopped emitting light and darkness was casted over many alleys, homes and streets of the bustling city of Hydlaa. Most of lawful establishments were closed, except for Kada's Tavern, while the underground market of illegal goods, knowledges and informations ran protected by the night across the less safe regions. Spies, traitors, corrupt officers and politicians, illegal poisons dealers, a whole network operating in small isolated zones of dirty businesses. In the middle of this pandemonium of crooks, an average height blonde short haired ylian around forty years old with deep blue eyes, dressed in a very formal black attire, whose name was Raoll Asamino, was trying to sell his merchandise, the secrets that he supposedly knew about a recently founded lawful idealistic political movement known the Republican Movement.

   With a plaque pinned above and near it with a yellowish star-shaped symbol, The door of the official Yliakum law enforcement agency Hydlaa division was standing at his front in a mercilessly intimidating and resistant appearance, as if it was challenging outlaws to attempt breaking it down, and then with a sparkle of courage and cynicism Raoll knocked it to be promptly replied by a stern and grave male voice, typical from military crew around the levels:

   __State your business with the law citizen!

   Raoll, not even a minimally scared from the tone of voice coming from inside, quickly answered in a very different tone, that would be better described as polite and aristocratic:

   __Greetings good sir! Here is Raoll Asamino, in service of justice, I would like to talk to your superior.

   __What do you wish to address, mister Asamino?__Replied the unknown man on the other side of the door with a stern but more polite tone.

   The gentleman outside decided to answer in a very serious tone, as the subaltern inside was recognizing his face and name when he slightly opened the door still locked by a chain:

   __A private matter with your superior, noble servant of the law.

   The muscular and tall ynnwn, with bright red eyes like rubies and with a fiery red but methodically trimmed hair, wearing the proper uniform, allowed the now shady looking lawyer to enter inside, and escorted him through hallways, corridors and doors until reaching the office of the chief officer of Hydlaa Division, where he instructed Raoll to sat down in a coach near a wooden desk, and he accepted it, ending up looking over across it to face an equally sitting down a tall ylian in the beginning of senility, probably already having something near fifty birthdays, with his short grey hair perfectly combed and his amber eyes brighting into deep interest as Raoll promptly dismiss the formalities for a change and tells him:

   __I have critical information about that investigation on a supposedly existing underground revolutionary organization.

   The officer's eyes open widely and he asks in surprise, and with hope it is not another ruse, in a tone of voice that surprisingly is not stern, but soft but still clearly masculine:

   __Would this involve that so called 'Republican Movement' and that old troublemaker called Annera Klorn?

   Raoll shakes his own head in denial and changes the subject to demonstrate his obvious financial interests on the matter:

   __Sir, I think you comprehend that to have access to the information I have, I am assuming many risks and dangers, and that I am not willing to give it away without any kind of economic motivation.

   The officer suddenly changes his facial expression to a long lasting frown and suddenly gives a laughter, then gives his hostile and unfriendly answer:

   __I would expect it from someone like you mister Asamino! Always the trias first... but I will not pay you a reward for something that may be falsified information, so either give me proof of what you claim to have, or be gone!

   Disappointed, Raoll leaves the building escorted by the ynnwn and sighs, thinking about what would happen if his friend Annera Klorn manages to grab political power, as in his paranoid and distrustful mind, it is certain that even if it may sound treason or an immoral act, he is actually helping the world by evicting that such thing happens and that she becomes another wretched crook and tyrant, with her original ideals corrupted and distorted by the seduction of power, as in his ideas, limiting the change to a single nation, like in the case of the planned concept of the Eljar Republic, and creating a government to change things is utterly wrong and will ultimately lead to something equal or worse than the existing rule of the Octarchs. The final consequence of his betrayal still was unknown, but eventually, it would either bring the Movement to its demise, or make it stronger.

[lordraleigh]

Chapter I: The Action

   Infinite shades of grey, the line between the concepts of good and evil being very blurred, points of view that many turns their heads to, like Annera, when she would finally discover that Raoll betrayed her and the whole organization, doing by himself a very lucky break in against the room where large archives of confidential documents were stored.

   A shady man, a building ahead of him, and a single copper key on his hand, that slowly entered inside the lock, turning gently to avoid making noise and leading the traitor inside where he sprinted from the main room with discreetly decorated stone walls, several lined desks filled with papers, to the corridors behind it, where on the row of doors to the right there was the locked door to the now empty cellars of the Ministry of Information. One of his customers, thanks to him, a lockpick in Raoll's hand was in desperation, failing multiple times on the goal it was built for. Losing his patience, he started to kick the door furiously, it would be a matter of time before someone called the guards because of hearing noises. Three attempts failed, tired and exhausted he remembered of something he kept inside the building, upstairs in the Ministry of Culture room, his sturdy but soft sounding violin. After going up through the stairs in the other side of the corridor, he went ahead on the to floor to reach the usually empty Ministry of Culture room, where the walls, highly decorated in red and brown colors and shapes, would always impress, but he did not waste any time looking at them, but instead went straight to grab his violin, and returned to the locked door that was standing intact as a way to challenge him.

   With several violent strikes, the door holding thieves and spies has, against all odds, fallen, and Raoll went downstairs to the windowless, but excessively lightened by candles, cellar where the Ministry of Information operates, and stole a very impressive document, that seemed to be more important than all the others on his thoughts, as the fact the document was written in a complicated code of numbers could be a clue to the critical information stored inside it. But a new problem arose as Raoll had no knowledge of numeric ciphers for writing, and to make things more complicated, he always had difficulties with mathematic. That was a problem for later, as now the most important thing was to hide, to run away.

   Knowledge in largeness like crops in a farm, Jayose's library was about to receive another customer, interested in books about breaking numeric ciphers, something that is always bought very discreetly by those that need such expertise. The man quickly browsed the library, and decided to pay to one of the clerks instead directly paying Jayose, and has hidden a book titled "Coding messages through numeric cyphers" inside his suit, leaving this known commercial and knowledge establishment after it.

   Numbers, scientists claim they existed even before words, for some they are the basis of everything, but for Raoll, they were a obstacle to be surpassed with some help, but who in the seven levels would know something about numbers? The answer was straight ahead, a professional that needs to make accounting of many values, like a tax collector, like Darphen Wrestele in Hydlaa.

   Annera was opening the building of her organization, and became surprised when she entered in the corridor and saw the door to the secret archives smashed open, as panic grew, and the urge to discover who did it came. She checked every corner, every detail, the document that was stolen, and found something this spy or thief left as a track, a piece of formal cloth, dyed in black. Raoll, her best friend? She could not accept such thing, there must be another explanation to the fact he disappeared for a week now. He fought a whole decade for the ideal of liberty, why would he betray everything after all? The questions raised, but she did not let a feeling of friendship blind her from the truth. Recovered from the shock, with disappointment and anger, she knew what was necessary to do, while the first steps to find Raoll were being done, a agreement with Darphen was made, but Raoll ran away before he could handle Darphen the document, as one of the many he hired as onlookers warned him about Annera and other members searching for him in Hydlaa. To Ojaveda he left, after the long trip and tiresome, he promptly payed a large amount of trias to a family hide him in their house, where he stayed in avoiding attention for many days, all he could do is to hire someone innocent and trustworthy enough as an intermediary to deliver this document to the tax collector in Hydlaa.

[lordraleigh]

Chapter II: Shrouded into Blackness

   The daylight was announcing the opening of the lawful economy, and Annera, after a long day investigating and tracking Raoll steps, was in the Plaza speaking to someone she knew for some time, a possibility of retrieving this document.

   __Long time no see Lady! I did try to talk to you a couple of times, but you were busy.

   __I am in if your are still looking for people.

   __The protocols are being changed, so I fear that it will not be possible to invite you now.

   __You look like you want to ask me a question Annera.

   __A private question Kelora.

   What was this question is something that will not be known, but a plan to retrieve the document was devised, and Kelora would be very important to such accomplishment. The words passed as a drops of water about the plan, she would offer herself to deliver the document for Raoll and act as a simpleton, but instead of giving it to the tax collector, she would give it to Annera or to the founding member of the Legion, Jangeol. She explained to Kelora:

   __He hired someone to try decrypting the content of this document.

   __How can I help? I do not know Raoll at all.

   __He must entrust you, then he will give you a large amount of trias for you to keep the document he stole from the Republican Movement and deliver it to Darphen.

   __What, why would he do that....I am pretty sure he does not know me either.

   __He is desperate, I think he is hiding in Ojaveda, and he must have hired someone to watch the members of the Movement from afar or something alike as I went twice to Ojaveda and did not find him.

   __I guess I can do that, and tell you if I find him...but I do not think he will trust me with anything worth getting killed for, I am not sure I would anyway.

   __I will leave Kelora, so whoever he may have hired as an onlooker will inform him wrongly that the coast is clear, good luck, and if he gives you money, keep it.

   __All right, if he trusts me enough to give me the document, I will just bring it right to you I guess.

   __Or to Jangeol, Kelora.

   But Kelora decided it would be better to attempt it later, not a problem as Raoll did not find anyone trustworthy or fool enough to deliver the document to the man he hired to break its cipher. And after a day has passed, Kelora was ready for the assignment. And whe she saw Annera, said to here:

   __Greetings Annera, I was on my way to Oja...I have not been there yet.

   __I am glad you will help, you have no idea on how this is important to me, I spent my whole life for it. Also I need a break from the bustle and am going to make a picnic, but lack company.

   __It is kind of late in the night for a picnic, but if you want to talk that is fine.

   __I am pretty hungry too. Perhaps we should go to the road to Ojaveda so it would have an utilitarian reason as well.

   They sat down in the grass, a red towel and several tasty dishes being eaten. It was a good time for both, but unfortunately the last time Annera saw Kelora alive. As soon as they finished the picnic, Annera said:

   __I guess now it is time for you Kelora, to prove yourself by bringing me that document Raoll stole, I wish you good luck, and remember, try to act like a simpleton, it will certainly make Raoll trusts you more.

   After that, both left towards opposing paths, one back to Hydlaa to remain working for her visions and dreams, other to Ojaveda to meet her ultimate fate, death in the hands of the ruthless but idealistic Raoll himself or perhaps of a hired assassin. Kelora was never seen again, her body was never found, a sad fate for one that had so much potential to grow.

[lordraleigh]

Chapter III: Revelation

   Failure, why does always something goes wrong? Is it inevitable? It was expected. Another plan, everything seems to point that Raoll will arrive in Hydlaa himself, specially after he had to kill someone to hide his location. Maps are clear, the carved passageway inside the spire in the rough middle of the road between Ojaveda and Hydlaa is a perfect spot, the plan was prepared, everything would work now, Annera hoped. Jangeol, a man of tan skin which appearance clearly denotes his experience in war, and Arunis, an enkidukai that was learning the art of the so called tactical independence, were asked by Annera to participate. The plan was simple, to set up an ambush in the stone passageway, waiting for Raoll.

   Foolishness would be to use the main road, Raoll knew that, and was trekking through the hills and using alternative, longer but less predictable paths to reach the passageway. With his wits, he spotted the ambush against him first, so the advantage of surprise was promptly lost. Thinking about the best path to go, he started running as he knew he would not manage to sneak past them, he passed the passageway, Arunis was left behind trying in desperation to grab him, while the lawyer knew he should make him lose his track as soon as possible as he was nearing exhaustion. But for the luck of Annera and her comrades, he slipped and felt on the ground, too exhausted to get up and continue running, failure he thought, now it was a matter of time before the chimera he helped to create would show itself without masks, he was thinking about the irony, about the way it would become another power-hungry organization to oppress the people while using the mask of defending liberty, but perhaps he was wrong, how can one judge before it happens?

   Arunis lifted him by his shoulders, and Raoll said honestly:

   __I followed my conscience

   __Conscience? What were you trying to do? Escape from the Legion? __ Arunis replied.

   __Arunis, do you think Annera will remain loyal to her beliefs of freedom, once she becomes powerful? __ Raoll said in a serious tone, remembering his bad predictions about the organization he betrayed.

   __How do you know she won't? __ Arunis asked.

   Then the other man came, and looked at Raoll with hostility:

   __Ah, so you must be the one__ He said.

   Raoll answered Arunis about why he thinks that Annera will become corrupted by power:

   __Because I know human nature enough, no one resists the temptation of power. Once she gets into power, she will be not a president, but a dictator or worse.

   With anger and disappointment in his usually polite tone of voice, Raoll ranted:

   __She betrayed the ideals she fought for her whole life! We were fighting to abolish the state before! Now she wants her own government!

   __Maybe she realized fighting was not everything you would need. __ Arunis answered shaking his head and was accompanied by Jangeol:

   __The elimination of the state will come one day, just not today.

   Therefore, remembering what was the priority, Jangeol changed his tone of voice:

   __Alright, enough chatter, where is the document?

   The enkidukai searched Raoll's pockets but found nothing of importance besides several obsolete writings, and then Raoll said, caring little about the menacing tone of Jangeol:

   __Question one: why would someone that defends freedom make a law of death and create an organization that resembles a secret law enforcement agency?

   __I do not dabble in such things, I am a soldier, not a politician... now where is the document?__ Jangeol replied.

   __The document about her true intentions?__ said Jangeol as if the threats were fully empty for him.

   Then the burly man cracked his knuckles while Arunis asked again in a threatening voice:

   __Where is it?!

   Raoll ignored the question and let an ironic phrase away from him:

   __I am being oppressed by an organization that supposedly stands for freedom.

   __You are not being oppressed, but theft is not something we stand for.__ Jangeol said loudly.

   And then Raoll opened his suit and handed the document to them, while saying:

   __Here is the truth Jangeol, I think it would be wise from you to decypher this document yourself before handling it to her.

   Jangeol just took the document away, Raoll ran then, but was caught by an entangle spell, and started being questioned again for the reasons behind his betrayal, his answer was even more clear now, as his cynical view of the world regarding politics demonstrated. The risk was over, it was done.

[lordraleigh]

Epilogue

   Betrayal against the betrayer, what kind of irony stands besides it. Perhaps Raoll failed to fight against windmills and enemies that do not exist, but the answer was pure and honest, he did what he think that was right:   

   __Annera betrayed the ideals we fought for years ago, to create another form of state, that delights in giving the people the delusion that they are free, while oppressing any adversaries. I thought for hours, and concluded that the outcome of this new Movement will be a dictatorship. The Ministry of Information will hunt dissidents, the Legion will be an invasion army instead of a freedom force, the talk of Freedom will be nothing but rhetoric.

   __The Legion will not be an army of invasion so long as I am around__ Jangeol replied.

   __You can think as much as you want, but you cannot preview the future. Let the time speak__Arunis added to what the other man said.

   __No one can resist the temptation of power__Raoll replied again.

   __"No one" includes you too Raoll. __ Arunis said.

   The lawyer defended himself, and said in a seemingly honest tone:

   __I do not look for power in any form.

   Jangeol suddenly reminded something and launched a strike against the seemingly blatant lie Raoll just said:

   __What would you be trying to sell the document to the government for then?

   __To bring this Movement to demise before it becomes another Dark Empire, and because I always conciliate what is right with what makes money, Annera said herself that she would prefer to see the Movement betrayed if it became corrupted, I antecipated it.__ Raoll explained.

   __Yet you have no proof that it is corrupted.

   __Then maybe you should re-think about your concept of corruption itself.

   The voices of Jangeol and Arunis replied, while the man kept holding his ground:

   __Yet it is a matter of time before it becomes corrupted.

   __Which we will deal with when the time comes__Jangeol answered.

   __Well there are many ways to bypass a law that predicts death against corrupts, specially when the corrupt one is who created the law.__Raoll claimed.

   Jangeol predictably grumbled about what the lawyer was saying:

   __Have you any proof what so ever of this? As all I see is speculation.

   __This document may be the proof. What would she hide even from the members? It is sad when a great friend goes away from her ideals. Why would she create a personal cypher for her documents? What is Annera hiding from us?__ The man replied in sadness.

   __She likes privacy? - Right.. if your truth is in the document, decypher it for us?__ The enkidukai said.

   While the document was handed to Arunis, he finally ended his words hoping to come out alive:

   __I am not an expert in ciphers. That is why I did this, I told you everything already, now may I leave? I wish to go away from politics, forever. Or am I a wretched corrupt deserving of death? Well, perhaps banishment from the Movement is enough as I will never dare to join it again anyway.

   __If it was for me... no one would die, Raoll, sometimes things are not as easy though__ Arunis replied.

   __Well the law says ostracism, also known as banishment, for less severe cases. And I did it because I think it was the right thing to do, not because of greed or ambition__ Raoll said in his defense.

   __Banishment.. you have already been banned from the organization. Arunis added.

   The last important words from Raoll echoed in humbleness:

   __I admit, I have failed and the sentence is done already.

   __I do not doubt about your reasons, I doubt about your ideas. There's no final truth, everything changes__ added the enkidukai with certainty in his voice.

   The last word of Raoll came to Arunis as an empty warning, but still was listened to:

   __I ask one favor, watch Annera, soon you will find the truth.

   A threat was finished, Raoll simply left away, but as Arunis said, his fate was death. In his memory Annera wrote a letter to honor him in the rooms of the organization, so he would be remembered not by his betrayal, but for a whole decade of struggle for the cause of freedom. But what about the predictions of Raoll? Madness and paranoia? Or perhaps is power really something that will corrupt even the purest of the idealists? The answer to this question remains unknown as the tale ends.

[ Now that it's over, some notes:
1) The change of style in the end to focus more on dialogues was on purpose
2) It adds to an In game roleplay event and does not reflect fully its happenings
3) If found as proper, it may be moved to the "In-game Roleplay Events", but it has many differences and includes some creative work over the roleplayed event as well.
4) It will be the way the now called "Black Sun Progressist Union" important roleplay events will be informed
For last, it is open for evaluation now, and for preferably constructive criticism, comments are welcome ]