text: n the correct locations. They even managed to restore one of the Emperor's big black statues.
  
  Just looking at all this stuff makes you feel like you're back where you should be. When you close your eyes you can almost imagine that you are where you WANT to be. If only things had been different, you wouldn't have to be starting all over again...
  
  "We tried to make it look like what we thought it looked like in the past and based on writings we found." You hear Jennifer's voice say and you open your eyes to see her stand to the right of you.
  "You did a good job, almost feels like home. That big ass black statue wasn't in the throne room though. In fact the Emperor never even used the throne room when I knew him." You say.
  "Yeah, but we did have any place else to put it. I think its impressive looking where we did put it though. Should draw in a lot of people. So did you come here to revisit old memories?"
  "Not at first, but this is was a nice distraction."
  "Glad to hear it, well I'll leave you to your thoughts." Jennifer says and begins to leave.
  "No, stay here with me, I came here to see you in first place. Besides, no point in reliving past glories when I don't have anyone to share said glories with." You say and grab her hand.
  
  Jennifer's reaction is a positive one in that she doesn't let go and moves closer to you.
  
  "So since you've got the time, how about you tell me about some of those old glories?" Jennifer asks.
  
  You gladly do so.
  
  You talk with Jennifer for hours until it starts getting late at which point you say you have to get back to your mission in Quala. Jennifer understands and wishes you luck on it.
  
  "If you're going wish me luck, how about you do it with a kiss?" you ask which takes Jennifer by surprise.
  "That's certainly new. What brought this on?"
  "I thought you liked me. You do don't you?"
  "Of course, I'm sure I was pretty obvious about it."
  "Well why ask why? I'm fond of you as well. I like your company and you're the only person I've ever considered my friend since I got dug up. You're independent, you're physically attractive and you listen to all my stories. What's not to like?" You say which causes a small chuckle from Jennifer.
  "Okay...we'll talk more about this later, but for right now, here's that kiss."
  
  Jennifer moves in to kiss you and the pair of you embrace.
  
  After your minor amorous interlude, you take your leave of the museum. You briefly wonder if pursuing a relationship with Jennifer is a good idea, but what's done is done and you'll just have to figure it out. Once again, another problem for another day you suppose.
  
  Just as you get out of the gates of Dalt, two guards approach you. They're not military or domestic security, they look like private guards, probably those of a senator.
  
  "You the Eternal?" one of them asks.
  "Yes." You answer.
  "Senator Batalimus wants to see you. If you would accompany us to his home please, it's just a few miles west of this city."
  
  Well this is an interesting turn of events, though perhaps not entirely unexpected. If you had to guess, Batalimus either plans to have you killed when you arrive to meet him or he's going to try to convince you to be on his side. You doubt he has the means to do either.
  
  You don't know if you should even bother entertaining him at all, but then you think if he does try to kill you, then you'll have eliminated the need to kill him later. Hell, even if he doesn't try to kill you, maybe you should just do it anyway.
  
  You agree to follow the guards and eventually you reach Batalimus' estate. His home isn't much bigger than Quintus' home, though there are a lot more trees and gardens on his grounds. As you expect there are a lot of guards patrolling about. When you step through the front door you feel like you've stepped into a barracks rather than a senator's mansion due to all the guards standing around.
  
  Soon an older balding man dressed in a purple robe comes down the grandiose staircase. It's Batalimus.
  
  "Ah the Eternal, at last we meet face to face." Batalimus says.
  "Yes, I'm surprised that you didn't confiscate my weapons though." You answer.
  "Whatever for? We all know you can just incinerate or fry everyone in the room with the snap of your fingers. It's not like you actually need a sword or even a pistol. You're a walking weapon without such things."
  "So? Why risk bringing me here then?"
  "Because I have nothing to lose. Your associate, Quintus seems quite determined to have me killed. Granted he always has harbored ill feelings, but now that the little reprobate has the advantage his confidence has reached an all time high. I suppose the fool has to have his fun though given the family he has. In any case I figure its only a matter of time before he sends you to do the deed and while I could increase my security even further, I quite frankly doubt if it would stop the likes of you. At best you might get mad."
  
  You have to appreciate someone who knows exactly where they stand.
  
  "So...you brought me here to kill you?"
  "Hah, I hope not, but I suppose that is a strong possibility. No, what I'd like to do is try to convince you to perhaps not kill the republic because that is what you and Quintus are striving to do, though I believe I actually have a shot with getting through to you. You aren't saddled with any emotions of hatred towards me. To you, I'm just another potential obstacle in your goals. If I have to be killed then you will, but if it isn't necessary you won't."
  
  Well it looks like Batalimus has opted to try to get you on his side, just like you thought he might. He is over estimating your willingness to kill him though. True you don't have any hatred for the man and quite honestly you probably already respect him more than Quintus within the short time you've met him, but you've been known to kill folks even if you believe that they will be potential obstacles in the future.
  
  Still, killing Batalimus right now isn't exactly part of the plan, so you'll most likely just leave unless he tries to stop you. Then again you did come all this way so there is no harm in hearing him out.
  
  > Stay
  "Okay, I'll listen to your pleas, but I doubt that you will be able to convince me of anything." You remark.
  "You seem so certain." Batalimus says.
  "Of course I am. For one I am not some scared citizen or greedy senator that can be bribed or frightened into submission. I am not an ignorant peasant either that can be merely swayed by lies."
  "Never thought you were."
  "Second and more importantly, I was not impressed with your republic when I was first dug up and I continue to be unimpressed with it now. It is an inefficient form of government that allows too much power to the people and it doesn't even do that right, considering all the corruption."
  "Oh I wouldn't say that. Within the last few years the people have been making demands for more security and defense and Quintus has been delivering appeasement to them. It would seem that you've managed make the system work for you." Batalimus says.
  "And don't you think that's proof that your system is broken? If YOU were the ruler of this country you wouldn't be in the situation you are now. You'd be able to have Quintus executed along with everyone that didn't fall in line."
  "You may be right."
  "Of course I'm right, because the masses are by and large weak-willed fools that actually desire a strong hand to rule them and do the thinking for them. Honestly I don't know how your system lasted as long as it did."
  "Because it worked or at least it did before you came around."
  "So...you're going to blame me for your system's weaknesses? Seems to me it should've been strong enough to weather the presence of one man."
  
  Batalimus begins laughing.
  
  "One man? Yes. It's done that for quite some time. Do you think Quintus is the ONLY one who has ever wanted to bring back the so called good old days? His kind has always existed in some form or another since the infancy of the republic. Sometimes there were even whole groups of his type. The difference is, there was never any incentive for the rest of the population to actually listen to them before. There was never a living god on their side defending everyone from vicious foreign attacks like those of the orcs, let alone scaring the hell out of everyone by his mere presence."
  "I'm not a god."
  "For all intents and purposes you might as well be. The rumors alone are enough to cause most to think you are, but even without such rumors, the facts are still enough to impress what you would call the masses. Quintus isn't the only one who has access to old Empire history at the Mol Museum. You were the right hand man of a supposedly near omnipotent emperor, you survived the cataclysm that destroyed the old empire, you're certainly the most skilled warrior that anyone has ever seen and you command the use of magic, which is an incredibly rare thing nowadays. Other than the few exceptional svelk in Lenay, wizards just don't exist anymore let alone any of your power. I doubt with even all the magic trinkets Quintus has dug up, he'll be able to protect himself when you finally decide to kill him."
  
  Granted you haven't given that possibility much serious thought, Batalimus is probably right about that outcome.
  
  "While all this is very interesting, you've still failed to make your case and you're beginning to waste my time." You say.
  "Yes, forgive me. I'm used to droning on in the senate, I forget that someone like you would rather get right to the point. Right then, here it is, the Republic is better in the long term for the people than your Empire."
  
  You're silent.
  
  "I certainly hope that isn't your only argument Batalimus."
  "No, but it should be the only one that matters. Even if you succeed in all your endeavors, you have to know that this revived Empire isn't going to last. At best it'll last a century after your own death and given that you're constantly walking in its shadow who knows how quick that might come."
  "Choose your next words carefully, one could perceive that as a threat."
  "A threat? No. Poorly worded, I'll agree. Mainly because I doubt you'll actually die violently despite your particular lifestyle. I'd almost be willing to wager that you'll die an old man in your sleep. A great irony I suppose. Anyway, the point still remains, you have to know that your Empire will not last long after your death, it didn't even last long during your life."
  "It only fell because of..." you nearly say because of your actions, but you stop yourself.
  "Because of what?" Batalimus asks.
  "Because of the cataclysm. It would've still been standing today if that hadn't been the case."
  "You're guessing. Even if the cataclysm hadn't occurred it would've been something else. Despite the fact that you belonged to a repressive system, I do know that in your way you served the concept of the greater good. You believe that you're actually helping the people by keeping them in line. And maybe you even are to a certain extent, but it's at the cost of liberty and freedom and that is an anathema to me. I'm watching all of what was built being slowly destroyed before my eyes. We as a people came out from the chaos of cataclysm and eventually found a better way to live. One that didn't submit to the whims of a single ruler or is at the mercy of a tyrant. No, it wasn't a perfect system, but we were always working to fix the problems for the people and they were happy. I don't see any joy when I look at people nowadays; all I see is fear, paranoia and suspicion. Can't you see that all you're doing is throwing the people to a backwards age and ultimately it will do nobody any good?"
  "Good thing I'm not trying to please you then and I'd argue that I've already fixed a few of the major problems with the recent changes. For one, crime is down and you're no longer a potential doormat if anyone stronger should suddenly appear. Even the pirate attacks are much lower now." You answer.
  "Yes, military strength the backbone of all proper dictators. Let me guess, after this place is completely under your thumb your next step will be to send it forth and conquer land right? How are you going to do that for the Qualan Badlands? You going to force thousands of people to settle on inhospitable land where it's near impossible to farm? And how do your orc friends figure into all this? I know that you probably have some sort of conspiracy going on with them, because they never attacked us like they have been recently. You going to somehow force the Nalin citizens with their newfound xenophobia to live with them or are you going to just commit genocide on the orcs and chalk them up to expendable losses? Then what after? You going to waste countless lives conquering the six cities of Arat? The Usksha Emirates? The Redcap Kingdom? Where is it going to end? Tell me, what do you personally hope to gain by re-establishing an empire? A need for familiarity? A simple power grab? Is it all because of an outdated sense of duty? Whatever the reason, none of them are really good ones for what you're doing. Your time was the PAST and you can't recapture what you lost. Your Empire as you knew it is long dead because all things eventually end. All of this, what you're doing is proof that you just can't accept that fact."
  
  You've heard enough.
  
  "Funny that you said that Bata, because I'd say that it's the opposite."
  "What?"
  "You. Your republic is dying and this desperate attempt to try to convince me to not continue my actions is proof that YOU can't accept that all things eventually end."
  "I know somewhere within you that you can see my side of this! I mean I won't deny that your presence hasn't been positive for the country in some ways. You could still have a place here in the Republic. You have so much power. Power that could be used to help people in a positive way! Wouldn't you rather be known as a loved hero rather than a figure of fear?" Batalimus exclaims.
  "I've known several heroes in the past. Some of them fellow Eternals and all of them were figures of fear. Look, I've already pointed out the weakness of your inferior system and you've failed to convince me otherwise. Doesn't matter if I do or don't see your side of things. Whatever motivations you think I'm doing this for don't matter. I'm fairly certain whatever other arguments you may have aren't going to convince me either, so this has just been a waste of both of our time."
  
  It takes a moment for Batalimus to gather his thoughts.
  
  "I had hoped and perhaps naively thought that you were a reasonable man, but I was wrong. Apparently I did bring you here to kill me. Maybe not in the physical sense, but I see now that there will be no stopping what is to come. It's a bitter thing seeing what you love the most die before your eyes."
  "Join the club Bata. And I'm not talking about the Empire." You answer and take that as your cue to leave.
  
  You half expect Batalimus to have his guards attack you in some last attempt to save his republic, but he just sits there impotently in defeat.
  
  And that's exactly why his republic is dying. Nobody cares enough about it to fight for it. This man is probably the only one left who does care and he used words as his weapons. Better that he should've tried to have you assassinated as soon as you walked in the door.
  
  But this isn't your problem, your problems are elsewhere and after you leave Batalimus' home, you head back to the Qualan Badlands.
  
  A few days later while at your patrol camp, you receive a letter from a messenger. At first you think it's from Quintus with another request to help him with some task that is too difficult for him, but you're surprised when you find out it's from Batalimus.
  
  Eternal,
  
  By the time you read this, I will be dead. I want to thank you for I believe our little talk finally gave me the courage to just end it all. The funny thing is I had the idea to have Quintus assassinated before I spoke with you thinking that even if I couldn't kill you, I would at least have taken away your partner on the public relations side of things, making the transition from republic to empire a little more difficult for you. Perhaps you would've even gotten so frustrated that you would've left.
  
  Then I realized I can't save the republic by destroying it or my ideals. And it wouldn't have stopped you anyway. The days of the republic are indeed numbered and I'd rather remember it as it was rather than continuing to see its own death throes. It is my time that has passed. Your time is now.
  
  Still, I can't help being an idealist. Perhaps if your Empire can live again, then perhaps one day so will my republic. I can have faith in that as I pass on to the other world.
  
  Good luck Eternal in your pursuit of war and conquest, though I should like to think that maybe my words still got through to you a little bit. That maybe you will realize that the people are important and not just resources to be used on a battlefield or wherever else. That a government can exist that doesn't require repressive domestic methods or the subjugation of foreign lands.
  
  But then as I said, I am an idealist.
  
  Batalimus Ventis
  
  After reading the letter you toss it in the fire. One of the soldiers asks you if it's another order from Quintus.
  
  "No, just news that another obstacle is no longer an issue." You remark.
  
  A few days pass and you have been thinking about Batalimus' words a lot more since there isn't much going on in the way of action in camp. While he ended up agreeing with you that the republic is coming to an end no matter what, you're still struggling with the idea that what is going to replace it, since it won't truly be the Empire as you knew it. Ol' Batty was right even you did change his mind. Your time is STILL the past.
  
  You've had five years to get "used" to the changes and while you have and are even thriving, you're never going to feel comfortable. Even if you kill Quintus and seize power and everything goes well with that, you still have to go through the process of reconquering everything again. Something you really shouldn't have to do.
  
  You should've had a your "birthright" over five hundred years ago. Now you feel like you're having to play catch up for a much lesser prize. Most of the old lands are indeed ruined to a degree that you can't imagine anyone wanting to live there even if you did conquer it. Pushing people into doing so is libel to cause a revolt at worst or just flat out attrition at best...ugh...shit you don't want to even ponder yet.
  
  And what's the alternative? Not killing Quintus and serving as his loyal right hand goon? Continuing to watch that fool take ALL the credit for stuff you will no doubt have a hand in? No, you did that already and at least with the Emperor you didn't have to put up with any sort of dysfunctional family every time you visited him.
  
  You think back to when you spent time in the museum with Jennifer talking about that past. That's still the happiest you've been since you woke up. You even wonder if you shouldn't just abandon all these desires and ambitions. What has it really gotten you in the scheme of things? You made the big gamble the first time and it didn't work out maybe that was a sign.
  
  You wonder if you shouldn't just settle down with Jennifer and try to live a normal life.
  
  > dismiss such thoughts
  This is silly, here you are with the Empire so close to resurrection and you're sitting here wondering if it's all worth it. Of course it's worth it! It's what your whole life has been about and it doesn't matter what time period it is.
  
  Whether you're ruling it, or someone else is, it doesn't matter. The Empire must live on. If you just give up now, then what was the point of any of it? And as for Jennifer, you probably should just put an end to that disaster waiting to happen as soon as you can.
  
  She's a nice girl and everything, but she's not Alison and she never will be. Not to mention with you by her side she's likely to wind up dead just like Alison. You have no doubt that you'll eventually acquire some powerful enemies looking to take advantage of any possible weakness you might have.
  
  You return to your duties without another thought.
  
  After about a couple of weeks of your regular rounds in Quala, you decide its time to go visit Trog about your arrangement and how it needs to be altered. With Batalimus' suicide, Quintus' larger influence and the army now stronger than it ever has been, you don't really need orcs as a terror distraction anymore, especially if you want to incorporate them into this new Empire one day. Of course that plan may still fail, but your current deal is a deal and you and Trog have dealt straight with each other so far.
  
  You travel the Flogger tribe's territory and just like last time, Trog was already expecting your visit.
  
  "So once again the Eternal visits Trog. Is our arrangement going as planned?"
  "Yes, but that's why I'm here. We've gotten what we need from the war. You no longer have to play any role in it, that is stirring up the other orc tribes."
  "Trog see. Very well we did have an agreement and the Floggers have benefitted greatly from this arrangement, so it is done for now. However, Trog cannot promise that other minor tribes will not still attack. Can only promise that Floggers will no longer play any part in such attacks."
  "That's fine, probably for the best that we still get a few attacks. Well that was all I had to say, I'll see you around..."
  
  You're about to leave, but Trog speaks up.
  
  "Are you not also here about your people that went up to explore Rask?" Trog asks.
  "No. What people?"
  "Trog surprised that you did not know. Two weeks ago a group came here attempting to seek passage through Flogger territory. They were lead by a woman with black hair. Trog assumed you knew about this because the woman certainly knew enough about our arrangement to attempt such a thing in the first place."
  "Wait, was this woman's name Jennifer Mol?"
  "Trog believe that it was. Said she was trying to explore Rask for some warrior's guild or something. Even Trog not sure if it exists, just heard the rumors at times."
  "So did you let her through?"
  "No. She refused to pay the toll which was to leave a couple of her people here for good will."
  "So she went back home then."
  "No. She said she'd go around, but then she attempted to sneak through our territory at a weakly guarded area during the night instead."
  
  You almost don't want to hear what is going to come next.
  
  "Trog see that this woman is someone important to you? If it helps, Floggers did not kill her. She managed to hide and escape before we could. Floggers did however capture and kill some of her crew though. Floggers cannot just have people coming through territory without permission. Cannot show weakness. Trog hopes you understand this. Trog even had guards that were supposed to be watching that area killed for their lack of attention."
  
  Strangely enough you do understand. You can't really be angry at Trog and the rest of his tribe for being territorial. It was actually pretty civilized of them to offer a toll option in the first place. Really you can't believe Jennifer would be so foolhardy to attempt something like this, but then she has been braving the dangers of Quala long before you even showed up, so maybe this isn't too out of character for her, especially when she's got her mind set on an expedition.
  
  "So...do you know where she went?"
  "North, past Flogger territory. That was two weeks ago though, Trog doubts that she still alive. Rask is very harsh, even more than Quala, also the dreaded wendigo live there. She has not tried to sneak back through Flogger territory and Flogger's would know because we've increased the guards since her break through."
  
  Part of you almost wants to go try to find her; despite the fact you just recently believed that the two of you shouldn't attempts any sort of relationship. Now you start to wonder if you could've prevented all this if you HAD gone to see her two weeks ago. You resist the urge though. For one thing, it's been two weeks. Any way of tracking her is going to be poor at best given all the snowstorms Rask endures. Second, her group isn't the most battle ready. They're going to mostly consist of scholar types that can't fight worth shit. While she probably took a few soldiers with her, even they're going to be fucked when they encounter something like a wendigo or even a giant.
  
  She's dead and that's it. Just eliminates the need for you to worry about one more decision. It doesn't put you in the best of moods though.
  
  It's that mood that has you return to Nalin and the capital where you see Quintus.
  
  "Good, I'm glad you're back, we need to..." Quintus begins to say when you come through the front door of his house and then he notices the fresh blood on your sword and his guards nowhere to be seen. His eyes widen when you raise your hand up to cast a lightning bolt to his face.
  
  You find however that the spell fails to work on him and one of his rings glows brightly.
  
  "I figured one of those rings protected you from magic. Pity, I was trying to give you a quick and less painful death." You say and advance upon him with your sword in hand.
  "No! What're you doing?! We're on the same side! We were going to revive the Empire!" Quintus exclaims backing up on the stairway and attempts to rub one of his rings. You aren't exactly sure what he's attempting to do, but you're not going to let him do it.
  
  You making a lunging rush at him and he nearly disappears before you, but you've already stuck him like a pig. His brief attempt at invisibility fades as his dying face stares at you.
  
  "Wh...why? I...helped...I...was going...to be...emperor..."
  "Plans change." you say and throw Quintus over the stair railing where his body falls to the floor in a bloody heap.
  
  Afterwards you take care of Quintus' family. As dysfunctional as they all are, the last thing you need is for any of them to attempt revenge for whatever reason.
  
  The day after, you gather as many soldiers as you can, march into the senate and officially dissolve it in a very violent way. Every senator is killed and the floors of the senate hall run red with blood that day. Most beg for mercy, but you're not in a mercy-giving mood.
  
  A few days later and it's official. You make your announcement that the Republic is dead and that the Empire now lives again. The general public doesn't know quite what to make of everything. You're sure that there will be some sort of misguided rebellion, but with the military behind you're confident that you won't have too much trouble.
  
  Year 542
  
  You're so damn tired you don't even know when the last time you had any proper sleep. It's just been one rebellion after another and ongoing strife. You haven't even had thoughts of expansion mainly because you've been attempting to maintain order on what you do have.
  
  You have attempted to recreate a secret police in a similar style of the Emperor's Eyes, but efforts haven't proved too successful mainly because you're too busy using the military to keep direct order.
  
  It isn't that the people don't fear you, it's that they hate you more than they fear. Even after you've destroyed entire towns that have dared defy you, you still get pockets of resistance running off into the wilderness to cause ongoing problems.
  
  Your methods in the beginning months were probably too harsh in retrospect, but your mind wasn't in the best place then due to Jennifer's death, which you took a little harder than you imagined you would. Killing everyone in the senate certainly didn't help as perhaps some of those experienced fools might've still been useful in swaying public opinion and dealing with the more mundane issues of running the government. Combine this with the fact that the idea of things like "liberty" still lingered within the people, your brutal actions only proved to them what happens when a single tyrant takes power. Instead of cowing them into submission, you ended up lighting a fire of freedom that you still haven't put out yet and at this point you wonder if you ever will.
  
  Even portions of your military have turned against you, if not outright treason then desertion. Some have fled to find work within the six cities of Arat or even joined up with the pirate groups in Delerg.
  
  Between the steady attrition of loyal soldiers, the ongoing defiance of the people, external threats like the Flogger tribe hearing of your struggles and taking advantage of your lightly defended outposts in Quala (And certainly have no intention of joining your Empire now) you are pushed to the brink and beyond.
  
  You decide if the fools won't submit to your rule, you'll burn the whole damn thing down. You unleash a terrible force of magic the likes most have never seen. You begin destroying entire cities and farmland. It gets to the point where even the most loyal won't even follow you into destroying their homeland.
  
  Your reign of terror eventually comes to an end through a combined effort of the citizens of Nalin. Even your powerful magic can't stop an entire nation out for your blood and near the end you're exhausted and half crazed from bloodlust anyway.
  
  "Bah, I don't need magic to do my work!" are your last words before you slaughter a few dozen men and women and are shot with several bullets and stabbed repeatedly by a mob.
  
  You might've still went down in history as reminder to the people of Nalin of why they should value freedom and never submit to a totalitarian state...
  
  But then the Flogger tribe rampaged through the decimated nation, which had practically depleted all of its resources in its war against you. The orcs leave no evidence of an Empire or a Republic ever having existed.