text: [Themes: grimdark fantasy, villain protagonist, serious]
  
  You and Brenda might have a bit more on your mind now, but this is much more important.
  
  "Brenda, I know emotions are running high right now, but I think we need to go meet Edgar. We can talk more about this later." You say.
  "Yes. Yes, of course. We need to get back to business. I'll be okay. This was silly anyway. Need to focus." Brenda says standing back up and wiping her eyes.
  
  You and Brenda ride off to Fort Glory. The ride there is done with minimal talking, but that's sort of to be expected. The thing is you never seriously thought about Brenda in that way until she just brought it up today. Sure you always knew you had that bond from both of you being Eternals and the fact that you've served together for so long. You may have even had the occasional sexual thought about her, but like you said to her, you always figured she would've carried a torch for Roldan. You would've just been a substitute at best.
  
  Now you're having scenarios in your head about the two of you being together in a closer way and you really shouldn't be thinking about that at this moment. Maybe she's right in a way maybe if you did have something together it would cause you to lose your edge. It's certainly clouding your judgment right now and you're not even together.
  
  When you get to Fort Glory you're told that Edgar is waiting for you in your meeting room. When you ask how he seems, the soldiers say he's been stand offish, but not overly hostile. About what you expected.
  
  When you and Brenda reach the meeting room, you ask her if she's ready, and she remarks that she is. The door opens and you both step in and see Edgar sitting in a chair with a big grin on his face. He stands up and addresses the both of you.
  
  "Well it's about time! I've missed the both of you! Come here!" he says jovially with his arms out walking towards you.
  
  "Uh... yeah, hey Edgar. Good to see you too." Brenda says when he gives her a big hug.
  
  Looks like it's going to be a day of surprises...
  
  Edgar stops hugging Brenda and then looks at you. You stand a little back from him as you don't want to be hugged, but Edgar doesn't try it.
  
  "Oh don't worry, I know you're the serious minded Bane of Rask! Bane of Nalin too now I hear! Heh, but how are you?"
  "I'm fine Edgar." You say.
  "Good, good. I just have to say it's really great seeing the both of you again! I mean you two are like my brother and sister! No, you ARE my brother and sister!"
  
  The last time you heard this sort of sibling talk before was from Kane and if you weren't wary before, you certainly are now.
  
  "Edgar, I'm glad you seem to be in a good mood and all, but I sent envoys to contact you several times in the past and none of them ever returned. We always assumed you had them killed and were angry at us." Brenda says.
  "You did? When was the last one?"
  "Mmm, last one was about six years ago I believe. After that, I saw no need to waste lives."
  "Aw! You should've kept sending them! I don't know if you're aware of just how much anarchy and infighting I've had to put up with! Those envoys probably got killed by the new Eternals and nobody ever told me about it! Hell, they might've even gotten killed by run of the mill bandits, it was pretty lawless back in the early days! Shit, if I had known you guys weren't pissed at ME, I would've made this trek sooner!"
  "Wait, so you weren't mad at us?"
  "Mad at you guys? What the hell for?! Oh you mean seceding from the Empire? Well I have to say I was more shocked than angry about that. I mean YOU especially." Edgar says pointing at you. "But in time I heard about what you two were doing down here and I respected what the pair of you were attempting to do."
  
  You and Brenda look at each other, wondering what Edgar THINKS you both were trying to do.
  
  "Oh? And what was that exactly?" Brenda asks.
  "You saw that the Empire was a lost cause, but you were trying to uphold a portion of it, though this patch of territory. I've heard about your great success in keeping order and how you've even added more land to your nation. Only an Eternal could do something like that and that's why both of you were successful!"
  
  Edgar isn't far off, at least from your perspective. Though he probably has a more idealistic vision of it than the reality, which was this; you didn't know where else to go and over time Nalin was transformed into a "mini Empire" because you didn't know any other way. Brenda's reasons are probably based on simple emotional attachment.
  
  "Well, we were doing the best we could under the circumstances, but you forged a whole new nation, so you've been successful too Edgar." Brenda says.
  "Ah yes, but it wasn't easy! There were many times I almost wanted to give up and come join you two! But I knew I couldn't do that, I had a vision that I had to make work! A nation run by Eternals and I'm proud to say it's all finally coming together and I think it's finally time for us, to reunite like we were meant to!"
  
  You and Brenda look at each other again.
  
  "Edgar, I don't think it's quite as simple as all that. We're going to have to discuss this, all of it." Brenda remarks and the three of you sit down to do just that.
  
  Edgar starts off by saying that while he respects what you've done, he doesn't think that you're going about things the right way and that you're still thinking like "The Empire" and clinging to the old way of doing things. He points out that within his new regime he's pushed for advances in weapon technology like the Felkan Kingdom has and managed to even "acquire" such gunpowder based weapons. He's also managed to get a few mages to help in getting the Eternal process started again.
  
  When you bring up your experience with the new Eternals, Edgar reassures you that they don't have the discipline issues at all anymore. He says he's manages to instill the pride of being an Eternal into them and they've shaped up enough to no longer behave like the bloodthirsty children you knew them to be. He also says the next generation of Eternals are almost ready to prove their worth now as well and says he has made sure that their training was stricter and more in line with how you were trained.
  
  "Don't you see I'm creating a new nation like the Empire, but how it should've been run! A nation run by us Eternals! Only we are able to efficiently run things. The lessers can either wisely listen to us, or be crushed underfoot."
  "That sounds very nice Edgar, but what is our place in this new nation?" you ask.
  "Well, you'd be helping of course! I mean we would be ruling as...uh...a council! Yes! A council of three! The Eternal Council!"
  "A council huh? Don't you think that might ruin your standing with the new eternals who you've probably conditioned to listen to a single strong leader?" you ask.
  "And they'll still listen to me, because if they don't they'll get executed!"
  "So...you'd actually be in charge then."
  "Well yes. I mean no. I mean...fuck, why are you fighting me on this!? I just want us to all work together again like we should've been doing a long time ago!" Edgar says in an exasperated tone. He's actually getting upset. You're not really being a dick on purpose, but you have a lot of reservations about this plan Edgar has, even if he has genuine good intentions.
  
  Brenda has been fairly silent for a while, but she suddenly stands up and says to Edgar that she needs to speak to you outside. He says okay, but is obviously troubled by how this is going.
  
  Brenda and you leave and after dismissing the soldiers standing outside, you're standing in an empty corridor.
  
  "I think we should join Edgar." Brenda says.
  "What? Just like that? You'd be giving up control of your own nation. Don't you have some concerns?"
  "Not really. I think you heard me say not too long ago, that I never wanted it. And you heard him, it sounds like Edgar's done a good job so far and just wants our help."
  "And I'm not sure if I want to. I know he claims to have those second generation Eternals under control, but I just don't trust them. And now he's saying there's a whole new batch to deal with."
  "I'm sure we can handle it, that's probably why he wants us to help. Besides, we'd be with others of our kind at least; don't you wish for that sometimes? To not constantly be alone?"
  "Maybe my experiences are different, but not particularly. Besides, you're not alone. You've got me."
  
  There is an uncomfortable silence with that statement. The unresolved issue between the pair of you has reared its ugly head again.
  
  "I know, but I still have conflicting feelings about you and if we don't join Edgar he's going to declare war on us. Can we truly have any sort of meaningful relationship then? Would you become less focused with me on the back of your mind? If we join Edgar, the pressure to constantly run things would be off of us. We would have time to explore the potential for a deeper relationship. Look, I know your feelings on the new Eternals, but I don't think it's just that. You're in charge here at least in the military aspect of things, which quite frankly is the only thing that does matter to you. You don't want to give that up and I understand, but I think you need to look at the bigger picture here."
  
  > Don't join Edgar
  Brenda's argument that you don't want to give up a lot of your autonomy is correct in many ways. Perhaps you are a little stuck in the past as well. You still remember having to save Edgar's life on more than one occasion. The idea of him telling you what to do is something that just doesn't sit right with you, even if you have put away your differences with him a long time ago. His council idea, while a valiant attempt is doomed to failure. Ultimately there can only be one real leader and while you don't mind following Brenda, you are not going to follow Edgar. The moment you disagree with him on something major it's going to get ugly again.
  
  "Brenda I understand that you're officially in charge of Nalin so ultimately it is your decision, but call it pride or even a hunch, but I feel that joining with Edgar would only lead to bad things occurring. What we control now is stable and with minimal chaos, maybe it isn't the Empire or even the Eternal Dominion, but it is ours. If Edgar declares war on us for not joining, then so be it. At least that tells us where we always stood with him in the first place. And as for us, well if there is anything at all between us, then that relationship won't be effected whether we're at war with Edgar or not, so you shouldn't even let that cloud your judgment on this matter."
  "And what if I decided that we should join with the Eternal Dominion? Would you leave?" Brenda asks.
  "Honestly I don't know what I'd do...(sigh) I suppose I'd support your decision even though I didn't agree with it. Where that would leave us as far as a relationship is concerned, well as I said before, if there is anything genuine and meant to be there, then it'll survive it. Wouldn't change my feelings for you."
  
  Brenda smiles at your remark. The first you've seen her do so all day. She then approaches and kisses you and you embrace her. You then both remember you've got Edgar waiting for an answer.
  
  You and Brenda return to the room where Edgar looks a bit on edge. You decide to let Brenda break the news to him.
  
  "Edgar, I'm sorry, but we both feel that Nalin should remain independent of the Eternal Dominion at this time."
  "But...but you've seen everything I've done! I've done all this for us! Eternals! Don't you see that?!" Edgar says in an aspirated tone.
  "We...know you did and we appreciate it, but I think our path is different from yours." Brenda says and then looks at you. Edgar notices this and tries a different tactic.
  "Oh wait. You two are together now? Well that's great! I mean I wasn't aware of it, but that's great! You weren't worried I was going to try anything did you? Ha ha, I've got tons of concubines! I wouldn't dream of coming between you two! Heh, so if that was your only concern, you can join me and..."
  "No Edgar, it's not that. We're just happy with the way things are, but thank you all the same." Brenda says.
  
  And here it comes. Edgar's face changes to red and he begins breathing heavier.
  
  "HAPPY? How the fuck can you two be so damn happy living in such mediocrity?! You're fucking Eternals! We're supposed to be ruling the fucking world! You two are no better than that traitor Warrick!"
  "Warrick?" you and Brenda ask in unison.
  "Yeah, he joined the Felkan Kingdom didn't you know? He joined a former enemy of the Empire! Of course you two probably haven't been keeping up on events since you've been playing grab ass with each other for the past fifteen years! By the Emperor's dead cock, you didn't wait long for Roldan to be dead did you?"
  
  This remark causes Brenda's calm demeanor to shift entirely and she stands up and draws her weapon.
  
  "You say one more fucking thing about my dead husband, and I'll send you back to the Eternal Dominion in fucking pieces!"
  
  Edgar draws his own weapon, but was a little surprised by her response. It's all you can do to hold Brenda back.
  
  "Alright, I think..." you start to say before Edgar cuts you off.
  
  "And you! What the fuck happened to you? You were supposed to be the BEST of us! You were the one that was the leader! Now look at you! You're following Brenda because she's spread her legs for you? Where the hell are your balls? You know when we were young I disliked you a lot, but I always respected you. After our escape from Fort Defiance I liked you as well as respected you. Now? I can't say I feel either."
  "Okay Edgar..."
  "Out of all of us YOU were the one that was supposed to prevent the Empire from falling! What did you do? You ran away! You know what I did? I stayed until the bitter end picking up the pieces! I saw the fucking capital in flames! I tried so hard to prevent it...I tried...and you didn't help me, (sob) none of you did..."
  
  At this point Edgar collapses back in his seat sobbing and going on about how he failed. His motivations for everything he's done are a little clearer now. Even after the verbal abuse he laid down on Brenda, she sees now he probably didn't mean any of it.
  
  After all these years, Edgar is still like a teenager trying to prove himself by over compensating. You actually feel sorry for him. You can only imagine the internal torment he's been going through all these years since the Empire fell. Justifications, rationalizations, outright blocking out reality, he's probably done it all.
  
  You sit down next to Edgar and pat him on the back.
  
  "Edgar. There was nothing any of us could've done. It was a doomed mission to begin with. You did your best and that's all anyone could've done. Even an Eternal."
  
  Edgar tries to compose himself while you give your pep talk.
  
  "You've accomplished much and you should be proud of your achievements on their own merits, not as compensation for perceived failings. This is your path and your destiny. Brenda and I, we have our own path."
  "Okay...okay..." Edgar sniffles.
  
  Before he leaves he apologizes to Brenda and says he has no intention on invading Nalin, but he still hopes that one day you'll reconsider in joining him
  
  "It's possible. Perhaps one day our paths will reunite." You answer.
  "I hope that day will be soon, goodbye my Eternal brother." Has says extending his hand.
  "Goodbye Edgar." You reply and shake his hand.
  
  After Edgar leaves the fort you sit down and run your hands over your face and taking a deep breath from all the emotional baggage you had to put up with today.
  
  "It's been an overly emotionally day for you today I imagine." Brenda says.
  "You're not joking. I guess I am an emotionless golem compared to the rest of you."
  "Oh I wouldn't say that. You handled everything very well, for a golem."
  "Heh. Well anyway that's one less thing to worry about."
  "You don't think we shouldn't still be concerned about him? I mean I know he said he wouldn't invade, but there's always the possibility of a sneak attack."
  "Edgar's a lot of things, but he not a backstabber. At least he wouldn't be for us. If he ever does decide to do it, I promise you, it'll be announced in a very dramatic fashion weeks in advance."
  "Yes, I suppose you're right. Odd news about Warrick though, thought he was dead."
  "Yeah, that was just one of the many surprises today. But I guess that was his path and how he dealt with the fall. It's all in the past now anyway, I'm not going to judge him."
  "Well enough about them, I think we've got us to discuss."
  
  You and Brenda retire to your quarters at Fort Glory. After an hour or so of talking, you both decide that it's time to take it to the more physical side of things. The night of passion you spend with Brenda is just one of many in the years to come.
  
  > Continue
  Year 55
  
  You and Brenda now rule the nation of Nalin as a married couple. There has been some issue on what your official titles are now. The simplest choices would be emperor and empress or king and queen. Eventually Brenda settled for imperatrix, which would officially make you imperator, though you still go by general for the most part.
  
  In any case life has been good. You don't even mind that things have been slow since you conquered all those tribals in the east. You've been taking a slightly more active role in running the nation from an administrative point of view, but sometimes you still long for the day of a good battle. When that day comes you've also tried to keep up on the changing times of changing warfare. While the days of close combat are far from over, if the Eternal Dominion is starting to slowly incorporate firearms into their ranks, then you better do likewise if only to maintain a show of strength.
  
  The ED isn't hostile though and you maintain a good trading relationship with them. Edgar still hopes you're going to join him one day, especially since you know he's got designs on going to war with the Felkan Kingdom (You gave him some friendly advice to not bother with invading Rask).
  
  He'd probably like you to at least be involved in a joint military operation with him, but you think he's over extending himself and the Felkan Kingdom is no pushover. It's not exactly like you're near the Felkan Kingdom as far as location is concerned either. All you'd be doing is having soldiers die in a war that doesn't even directly benefit your nation.
  
  That being said, Nalin hasn't sided with the Felkan Kingdom either in any way. Again, due to your location, you've had minimal contact with them. Brenda thought about allying with them in the past, but that was never seriously considered (Good thing too). Somehow though you imagine you're going to get dragged into this saber rattling between the Eternal Dominion and the Felkan Kingdom.
  
  Funny how that feeling turns out to be true.
  
  Late one night you and Brenda are awakened from your sleep. Some envoy from the Felkan Kingdom has sudden decided to show up in the middle of the night. Demanding to see the pair of you and claiming it's very urgent. You and Brenda don't get much sleep as it is, so you're inclined to tell your soldiers to just shoot him and go back to bed, but you've got a good idea of who it is.
  
  "You really think it's him?" Brenda ask.
  "You really think it isn't? It was only a matter of time. Ugh, I guess we better get this over with."
  
  You shout at the guard behind the door to hold the envoy in the meeting room and keep a close eye on him until you and Brenda get there. After grumbling and getting dress you and Brenda head to the meeting room where you see a familiar face. He's missing an eye, all of his hair and his face has a few more winkles and scars on it now, but you still recognize him.
  
  "Warrick, you better have a damn good reason for waking us up in the middle of the night." You say.
  "...you aren't surprised it's me?"
  "Not really, I actually thought you'd show up sooner, and how the hell did you manage to join the Felkan Kingdom anyway?"
  "It's a long story...but well anyway, I'm glad to see you both. I was surprised to hear about your marriage. Didn't think that..."
  "Warrick, I'm tired as well. It's not easy running a nation and I've been doing it even longer than my husband has, so get to the damn point of the visit or let this wait until tomorrow." Brenda demands rubbing one of her eyes.
  
  Warrick looks a little hurt by your remarks, but he gets on with it.
  
  "Very well, to business. The Felkan Kingdom wants an alliance with you."
  "Yeah sort of figured that. Anything else?" you ask.
  "Erm, no, but..."
  "Okay then, the answer is no. We can talk more about old times tomorrow, if you want. Good night." Brenda says starting to turn around to go back to bed.
  "Hey wait! No? Just like that?! You don't even want to consider the benefits?" Warrick asks.
  "What benefits? If we ally with the Felkan Kingdom, all it's going to do is piss off the Eternal Dominion who we have a good relationship with diplomatically and tradewise. What is the Felkan Kingdom going to offer?" Brenda replies.
  "How the fact that we're more likely to leave you alone after the war with the Eternal Dominion is over?"
  "Warrick...Warrick...you should know threats aren't going to sway us." You remark.
  "What?! NO! I meant, argh look. What I'm saying is if the unfortunate should happen and the Eternal Dominion wins don't you think that they'll try to invade you next?"
  "I suppose it's possible yes."
  "Whereas if the Felkan Kingdom wins, we have no intention on even expanding our borders."
  "Probably true, but that still doesn't help us during the war. A war that is really between you and the ED."
  "I can't believe I'm trying to convince YOU of all people to go to war. I would've thought you would've jumped at this chance!" Warrick says in a raised tone.
  "Things change Warrick, and just because I'm not jumping through your hoops doesn't mean I've lost a taste for battle. But I'm thinking on a grander scale now. Going to war with the Eternal Dominion doesn't do us or Nalin any good. It's just going to result in dead soldiers at best. We've found that our continued expansion eastward is much better in building up the country. Maximum gain with minimum losses." You say.
  
  Warrick paces a bit and sputters. He obviously thought this was going to go better.
  
  "So that's it then huh? You just take Edgar's side over mine. I thought you didn't like him anyway."
  "Warrick, it's not about taking sides. If you haven't noticed we're not exactly allied with the ED either. We trade with them and are on friendly terms, but that's out of convenience more than anything. Trust me, Edgar's been trying to get us to join for years. I don't know what you're even worried about, the Eternal Dominion is formidable I'm sure, but the Felkan Kingdom survived a war with the Empire. I'm guessing you should be able to handle the ED."
  "I don't know if we can." He calmly states.
  
  There's a moment of silence where you weren't expecting him to say such a thing so blatantly like that.
  
  "Look, I didn't want to say anything. The Felkan Kingdom is what I serve now and I serve it to the best of my abilities as I did the Empire. To do anything less would be a failure as an Eternal on my part."
  "But?"
  "But I see the weaknesses that we have and I can't ignore them. It's not public knowledge to anyone outside the kingdom, but we're also suffering a large gnoll invasion from the west. It caught us completely by surprise. The Felkan Kingdom is a mighty nation, but right now it's straining its resources just to stay alive. A war with the ED...and we all know it's coming, could break us. The funny thing is I feel like I'm in the Empire all over again. You know during the bad times."
  "I think they were ALL bad times Warrick. We just made the best of them." Brenda says.
  "Perhaps. (sigh) I guess I can't convince you ally with us, I mean you've got a good thing going on here and you shouldn't wreck it. I'm glad. Glad that some of us are doing well. But couldn't you at least break off your trade routes? I mean that would at least cause Edgar's attention to be diverted. He might suspect you're up to something and not attack the Felkan Kingdom. At least not right away. It might be enough time for us to put up a better defense."
  "Yeah and he might also attack us instead." Brenda remarks.
  "I don't think he will, because then he has to divert his own soldiers and resources and then he'll be worried that we will attack. He can't fight a two front war, even Edgar's smart enough not to risk that. And that's if he dares fighting you in the first place."
  "That's a big if, there Warrick." You say.
  
  You and Brenda tell Warrick you'll both discuss this in a little more detail outside. He says he understands and will await your decision.
  
  You and Brenda don't have too much to talk about really, since it's basically coming down to helping out a former comrade in arms and starting a possible war with another one or avoiding the situation entirely. Brenda is for staying neutral; oddly you're actually of two minds of this.
  
  > stay neutral
  As much as you might like to help Warrick out, you just really aren't in a position to do so on any meaningful level. Breaking your trade routes with the Eternal Dominion is just foolish. You tell Brenda you'll break the news this time.
  
  You both enter the room where Warrick awaits your answer.
  
  "Sorry Warrick, while we do understand your troubles, we can't help you. What you're asking for is too much and we see no benefit for us or Nalin in general."
  
  Warrick's face doesn't drop and he doesn't get any angrier, All in all, he takes your response a lot better than Edgar did.
  
  "Very well. I shall tell my superiors that you are not interested in any sort of alliance with us. I hope that one day this may change. I suppose I will also take my leave now, sorry to have bothered the both of you, but it was still good to see you again." He says and leaves immediately.
  
  You and Brenda remark on he was probably more disappointed than he let on, but what's done is done and you've all made your choices now. The pair of you go back to bed and try to get some sleep.
  
  Year 56
  
  "We've got to do something about this epidemic. If this keeps up we're not going to have a population left to rule over!" Brenda says.
  "Well so far the problem has hit the eastern territory of Nalin yet. We've scoured the land for healers, medics and a few hedge wizards and they're doing all they can, but this thing is really bad in a few of the towns. I've quarantined all of the major areas where this plague is taking place, but understandably a lot the soldiers aren't exactly keen on their duties there mainly because they don't want to get sick either. The only ones who aren't kicking up much of a fuss about it are soldiers with families in those towns." You reply.
  "(Sigh) Shit. I've talked to all of the advisors and nobody has a clue where, who and why this thing might've started. You got any ideas?"
  "Unfortunately the only one I can think of just a hunch, and I'd rather not believe it. I think Warrick, or at least the Felkan Kingdom had something to do with it. For all we know they could've had saboteurs in here for years planning this."
  "If it was them, I hope Edgar rips them a new asshole now that he's at war with them."
  "Be that as it may, I'm still hoping that wasn't the case, not because I don't want to believe a former friend could do this to us, but more because it doesn't reflect well on my duties to protect the nation. I mean if the Felkan Kingdom had saboteurs here, how was it that I didn't see it until now?"
  "You can't start doubting yourself, we need to focus on the problem at hand first."
  "You're right of course. Well as I see it, if we really want to stop the plague, we need to kill everyone in the quarantined areas, then cleanse everything with fire."
  "Wait, hold on. There's no other way? Can't we just have more medics and healers transferred to those places?"
  "I don't see what good that would do. From the reports a lot of these people are practically dead or dying as it is. It doesn't do any good for them to linger and possibly get others sick. Better to just kill them now and save the medics to observe the places that only have a few sick people."
  "You do realize that something like this is not going to be popular right? I mean are the soldiers even going to be willing to do such a thing?"
  "Well we try pretty hard to keep up the old ways of Empire indoctrination, I don't think we should have major problems, though I suppose those with families might protest (Sigh) I guess we'll have to take care of them as well."
  "This isn't sounding like a great idea. Maybe we should just keep the quarantine and let them all slowly die off. We could always say we're looking for a cure, and whether one comes or not, the problem will take care of itself." Brenda suggests.
  "The problem with that plan is we're diverting soldiers from more important duties and continuing to risk lives that can still be useful to Nalin." You say.
  
  You and Brenda weigh the pros and cons of your limited choices.
  
  > kill everyone in the quarantine
  Ultimately, when in doubt killing everyone has worked for you on several occasions in the past, no reason to change tactic now. Brenda really doesn't think this is such a good idea, but you convince her that if there is going to be problems you might as well get them over with quickly.
  
  First thing you do is get every remaining "old guard" officer that's still serving since the days of the Empire and have them put in charge of this operation. You know they won't even question this command coming from you. Then you tell them to go through their personnel rosters to see who is going to be up for this grim task. You personally suggest to include all of those elves you made into orphans years ago. While they may all be good indoctrinated soldiers now, you think they wouldn't hesitate at a chance to kill some humans and would be good candidates for this job. Besides, elves seem to be more resistant to the plague anyway.
  
  Three entire towns are put to the sword, gun and torch until there is nothing left, but burned corpses and hollowed out buildings. In keeping with non-humans being seemingly less affected by the plague, you have kobolds remove the bodies and clean out what they can. They're more than happy to do this as they get the chance to loot some stuff for their own impoverished reservation you've set aside for them.
  
  This action causes an outcry, which hasn't been seen in a long time. Not even when conscription was implemented were things this bad. As predicted you have to execute several soldiers who took up arms against you during the cleansing. Many Nalin citizens aren't happy with the fact that you've implemented several non-humans in helping with this massacre as well. Indeed some begin calling you their inhuman "Eternal overlords."
  
  As far as the plague goes, you did successfully wipe it out from being an ongoing danger. Medics, healers and the like are able to focus their attentions on the places where it's less of a problem and eventually it is gone completely.
  
  The repercussions of this action are that you now have a split nation. Eastern Nalin is still prosperous as the plague barely even reached the area. You also still have all of your supporters mainly from there who appreciate the fact that you stopped the plague from spreading. Western Nalin however is a mess and pockets of lawlessness begin to appear. You naturally take steps in trying to curb this problem by being more oppressive...
  
  Year 60
  
  "You want to move the capital?"
  "I don't see why not. It's obvious that eastern Nalin is where the prosperity is, I don't see why us as rulers shouldn't be living there instead." Brenda remarks.
  "I do. By having the seat of power here, we still maintain control over this area and are displaying a show of dominance. If we go running to the east, it looks like we're effectively abandoning the area and that's going to make the less desirable elements here even more motivated to pursue whatever lawlessness they want. We need to maintain control."
  "Well what if I don't? Ever since the plague hit, it's been a downward spiral for western Nalin. We've tried and tried to get it back to what it once was, but throwing soldiers at the problem is just a bandage. It didn't help that you had soldiers shaking down people looking for other possible Felkan Kingdom saboteurs."
  "I had to be sure to make sure something like the plague didn't happen again!"
  "Look, I know you don't like losing control of anything and we've had arguments about how the plague was handled to begin with, but we are in a spot now that we need to make a serious change in things if we want to avoid getting overthrown by mobs and our heads on pikes in the future."
  "Oh come on, like that's going to happen."
  "I said in the future, not immediately. And don't be so sure of yourself, you're not twenty anymore you know."
  "I know that!"
  "Do you? Because sometime I wonder. I love you and you're still a great warrior and you're probably still better than most men half your age, but you can't go around thinking you're invincible anymore. There are guns now you know, someone could just assassinate you from a few feet away and not even engage you in combat. The days of the Empire are over, you have to realize that."
  "I know that too, Brenda."
  "And that's why you're frustrating to deal with sometimes, because you DO know it, yet sometimes you completely lapse into the mindset of the good old days."
  "So what the hell are you proposing? That we just relinquish complete control of the western Emp...Nalin? That we run and hide to the east, because it's easier?"
  "Let me put this into terms you can understand. Eastern Nalin is healthy, thriving even. Western Nalin is very sick and slowly dying. It can't be cured, so what's the best way to deal with it? Cut it off and focus on the more important area that is still of use."
  
  Brenda's analogy to your idea of how you handled the plague makes sense even if you don't want to admit it. Brenda's right about a lot of things, you aren't young anymore. You haven't been for a long time and even though you aren't even on the frontlines of any fighting anymore you find yourself getting tired and weary of the constant conflict that Nalin has been suffering from the past few years.
  
  You've tried to halt the ravages of time to the best of your abilities, but ultimately even as an Eternal, you're not immune to such things. You begin to wonder if the past few years were more about you wanting to relive your "youth" a bit rather than seeking out possible traitors, saboteurs, and other dissidents.
  
  You could insist on staying and Brenda would probably go along grudgingly, but she's also right. You're just going to become even more hated by the citizens in this area and it only takes one dumb ass peasant with a with a gun or even a bomb, to kill you. Maybe at one point you wouldn't have even cared if that had happened, but you've had a long and enjoyable life with Brenda for several years now. A relationship you never even dreamed of before it happened.
  
  You see now that want to live as long as possible with her as your older years advance, because ultimately she is the only other one you have in your life and the only other one that is going to understand you.
  
  "Okay Brenda. Let's cut off the sick limb." You say.
  
  Brenda is happy you see reason and her plan is set in motion.
  
  Over the next few months, the Nalin government is relocated to one of the bigger central towns in the eastern territory, Adlen. The town soon swells to become a city with the influx of people. Military is pulled out of the west next. A few soldiers desert and don't follow in this exodus, but you just let it go. If they don't want to be here, then it's better off that they aren't. Most merchants and businesses are the next to follow.
  
  After these major transfers, western Nalin is declared no longer under protection and an independent territory. This causes some debate on if eastern Nalin is still "Nalin" since technically it was never part of the territory originally. After some discussion eastern Nalin is renamed the nation Naleen. Most of the eastern citizens have oddly developed an accent in which they've been pronouncing "Nalin" like that anyway for years.
  
  As for Nalin, the people that still dwell there are either happy about it or too poor to move. You figure the biggest winners will be the kobolds, at least until the Eternal Dominion sends in forces to take the land, assuming they have the time and manpower. You've heard they're doing well against the Felkan Kingdom, but things could always change.
  
  In any event none of it is your concern anymore. Still, you hope that this really is the last time you have to make a big move like this again, you don't know if you want to bother with a third time.
  
  > Continue
  Year 70
  
  It's a calm night and you stand outside on the balcony of your palace and look down at the city of Adlen. Brenda comes out to join you.
  
  "It's good when everything is going well isn't it?" Brenda asks.
  "It's definitely going better for us now. Certainly going better than it is for Prime Eternal Edgar too."
  "Always thought that was a ridiculous title. I don't understand how he's at a stalemate with the Felkan Kingdom, he was doing so well against them for the longest time."
  "I figured he's eventually over extend himself, though he's also had a few personal set backs like several assassination attempts for one. From his last letter he doesn't sound like he's doing too well healthwise. He says the last two times he's been stabbed, the assassin's knife was coated with a heavy duty poison. The bolt that went into his back was too. If he wasn't an Eternal he'd probably be dead by now."
  "Well that's better than Warrick."
  "Yeah, but from that letter Edgar sent, he said Warrick died at the battle of Yaquan six years ago. Regardless of his loyalties, he died like how an Eternal is supposed to die. Edgar will be lucky if he dies from a successful assassination, because it's sounding like the poison build up in his system might get him first. He's sick and weak. It's a shame really, I remember him being so hale and hearty at one time. If I were him I'd probably give up the ruling nonsense, join his soldiers in the next battle and die in one last blaze of glory."
  "Is that how you wish to die? You want to go out in one last blaze of glory?" Brenda asks.
  "Eh, sometimes I still think about it, but not really seriously. I guess I've finally grown past it." You laugh.
  "Didn't think that would happen actually."
  "Well, if Naleen starts suffering an unstoppable rebellion I guess I still got a shot at it. I'll meet the unwashed mobs with sword in hand."
  "Heh, well if that happens I guess I'll join you, because I'm too old to be moving the capital again."
  
  You both smile and hold each other side by side still looking out at the city. Yes, life is good when things are running well.
  
  Year 75
  
  You, Brenda and your elite guards step into Edgar's palace, and it's every bit as impressive as you thought it would be. Lots of statues, symbols of war, etc. Certainly a lot of bigger than your humble palace, but then Edgar always was one for overcompensation. You all are taken through the palace to see Edgar, along the way you and Brenda continue to take in some of the sights.
  
  "Isn't weird that all those years we served the Empire that this the first time we've ever stepped foot into this place?" Brenda says.
  "Yeah, Edgar must've spent a fortune rebuilding it."
  "Did he ever actually meet the emperor?"
  "No he never did. He said he assumed that he either fled or burned up in the fire, by the time he got to the palace. For all we know, maybe there never was an emperor."
  "Just one of life's mysteries I guess."
  
  Eventually you reach the royal bedroom. An older woman is sitting on a chair outside sobbing. She looks regal. You wonder if this is "Eva" that he's referred to a couple times in his letters. She's not exactly his queen since she's human, but you know she is definitely his companion. Another older muscular man with a stern expression is standing nearby pacing. When you arrive, he frowns even more.
  
  "Oh so you two decided to come after all. A pity." He says.
  "And who the hell are you exactly?" you ask.
  "Hmm, not surprised a deserter like you doesn't remember me. My name is Rissok and I served under you during the Empire riots. I saw you kill my friend in cold blood. A true Eternal who served with honor!"
  
  "Oooooh now I remember. You and your other buddy were looting houses while Felding was attempting to rape a woman. Yeah, real honor there." You say.
  "Don't mock me! You are only here because the Prime allows it! If it were up to me, I would have you labeled as a traitor and have you killed!"
  
  At this point your guards take up a defensive stance and Rissok's do likewise.
  
  "Well if you're going to make a move, better do it quick." You say.
  "Stop it! Stop it please! My Edgar is dying! Can't we have one moment without murder and killing?" the woman sobs.
  
  At this point Rissok storms off without another word, the guards stick around and tell you that you and Brenda may enter at any time, but your own guards must stay outside. Before you do, Brenda addresses the woman.
  
  "We apologize, we did not mean to cause you distress. Are you Lady Eva by any chance?"
  "(sniff) Yes. Yes I am."
  "Edgar's spoken highly of you in his letters." Brenda says which causes a slight smile on her face.
  "I know that he's better than me in everyway being an Eternal, yet he shows such compassion and sweetness by making me, a non-eternal, his only companion. I don't know what I ever did to deserve such an honor, but I will always be grateful for it."
  
  Brenda asks her if she wants to come in too, but she says she has already said her goodbyes and that he wants to see you both alone when you arrive. Having no other questions, you both enter the bedroom.
  
  When you see Edgar, he's lying in his bed and looking completely unwell. He's pale and his face has a gaunt looking appearance. You can't even believe this is the same man you fought along side at Fort Defiance.
  
  "Edgar?" you ask just to make sure.
  "(wheeze) ah...you both came...I knew you would. (cough cough) There isn't much time...I trust you've read my letter?"
  "Yes."
  "Well then you know that when my death comes, anarchy will ensue."
  "Don't you have a successor?"
  "I don't know if you've noticed, but I imagine Brenda has and that's we can't have children."
  
  You look at Brenda and she nods and mentions she learned that with Roldan when they were together. It's never been a topic you've brought up, but you always had your suspicions. Edgar continues his speech.
  
  "We Eternals seem to be sterile or barren. I've had people try to look into this problem, but they haven't come up with anything yet. It would seem what makes us superior, takes away our ability to reproduce. Maybe it's nature balancing itself out, so that we don't take over the world like so many of our younger eternals seem to want to do. Anyway (cough cough) I've drawn up official forms for the only two I think could be proper successors..."
  
  You already know where Edgar is going with this.
  
  "Oh no...don't say that's why you dragged us out here...Edgar they aren't going to listen to us! We aren't even ED citizens!"
  "This is rather unrealistic Edgar." Brenda adds.
  
  "That doesn't matter! You're still Eternals! (wheeze cough) They'll listen more likely than you believe, why do you think I always spoke so highly of you two? The younger ones will most likely follow without question, your major opposition will probably be the second generation...but there aren't too many of them left, you could easily purge them all if you had to. Please...I tried to build something here...(cough) but I can't go on any longer. The only people who can guide the Eternal Dominion into something worthier are you two. I'm asking not just as a dying man or friend ...but as a (cough cough) a fellow Eternal..."
  
  You and Brenda look at each other and you both know your answer. Edgar's trying to guilt you into this mess, but it's just not going to work. This plan of his is doomed to fail and you know it. Every high ranking Eternal is probably going to be vying for power. And you and Brenda have your own nation, your own lives, and you've told Edgar this before, but it's time to tell him one last time.
  
  "Edgar, we're not accepting this position. First of all it's not realistic despite what you want to believe and I think deep down you know that. Second of all, these are your final moments Edgar. Don't worry about what you accomplished and if it'll last. Just be proud of it now and spend your last moments with your wife or whatever you consider her. That's who you need to be concerned about."
  
  Edgar hacks and coughs up blood and spits it into a nearby bucket and struggles to breathe, but manages to answer you.
  
  "Very well...you've made your point. And you're probably right. You usually were. (wheeze) Bring my...my wife in. I do wish to spend the last moments with her...and farewell...my Eternal siblings."
  "Farewell Edgar." You say with a nod. Brenda says goodbye as well before you both leave.
  
  You step outside and tell Eva that Edgar wants to spend his remaining time left with her. She seems happy with this idea though of course still upset. She runs in and you, Brenda and the rest of your group are escorted out and back to the carriage that brought you here.
  
  When you finally get back to Naleen, you and Brenda are both glad to be home, though you both talk for quite awhile about this recent event and how it's odd to think that you both are going to be the only original Eternals left soon.
  
  A couple days later you get the news that Edgar has died and that the new leadership of the Eternal Dominion as of now is uncertain. Fortunately you don't really have to worry about it. Naleen is strong enough and far enough away that any sort of chaotic attack from the new ruler is very unlikely. You suspect that most of the fighting will be within the ED itself, or pushing ahead against the Felkan Kingdom.
  
  In the meantime you wonder about your own legacy and if you'll be remembered on any meaningful level. Brenda isn't really concerned about it; she figures you'll both be in the history books as the first rulers of Naleen if nothing else. That sounds fine, but you wonder if that would necessarily be the case, after all you never met the emperor, you don't even know his name or really anything about him except what you were taught as a child and that was most definitely all propaganda. You know even less about his predecessors. History may very well remember the Empire, but information on its rulers is either going to be sketchy or non-existent in another century. Edgar will probably be forgotten in even less time.
  
  You get the idea that a solid written record is in order.
  
  "Since when are you a writer?" Brenda asks.
  "I'm not, but maybe we can work on this together, I mean you are part of this too."
  "Well that's certainly true. Okay, so how did you want to go about this?"
  
  > create a book painting you in a positive light
  While you toy with the idea of creating a book telling the complete truth, but decide it would probably be better to just do one as a partial propaganda piece. People have enough excuses to complain about you, no need to add more sticks to the fire.
  
  "Sounds like that might be for the best. So are you going to still start from the beginning?" Brenda asks.
  "Well I'll briefly touch upon some of my time serving the Empire, but I'll mostly deal with when Nalin broke away from it and beyond. Obviously I'll focus on the most memorable parts, not the times where I just sat around reading skirmish reports."
  "Still going to take a while you realize."
  "I know it's not going to be in one night, but I feel like a lasting record of us should exist. I mean after we're gone, who's to say that we won't be forgotten soon after? I mean I understand what Edgar was trying to do, but sadly I don't think he's going to be remembered in the scheme of things. I don't think the Eternal Dominion is even going to survive too much longer now that he's dead."
  "Hmm, you might be right about that. So you don't mind that the book might be excessively biased?"
  "Brenda, ALL history is biased in favor of its victors. Why should we be any different? Besides, I'm sure people will make up more than enough lies about us to make up for it when we're gone."
  "Heh, you're probably right about that too. Okay then, let's get started, I want to make sure I'm in a good portion of this history as well." Brenda says with a smile.
  
  You and Brenda immediately get to work on your project. You and her take turns doing the writing for the most part, but the pressures of ruling sometimes get in the way, so it takes longer than it probably would have if you both didn't have other responsibilities.
  
  Your ambitious project takes more than a few years to complete, but when it is finally finished you definitely feel a sense of accomplishment. It may not be conquering an enemy or territory or anything like that, but if this goes the way you want, you will have achieved much more than simple victory. You will have achieved a kind of immortality.
  
  The huge tome immediately copied several times when it is complete. The great thing about being a ruler is you've got underlings that can do this. You make sure to keep the original writing for yourself. The first copies go out to a few Naleen schools, libraries and other places of higher learning where you decree that it is to become required reading. (Another great thing about being in charge!)
  
  In time there probably isn't a single citizen that hasn't at least heard of the book, if not read it. There are a few criticisms about the book from intellectual types claiming that it is little more than the usual propaganda, but such people don't voice such opinions for very long or they quickly shut up about them. For the most part though, the book brainwashes the masses enough that you at least never have to worry about any possible uprisings again.
  
  Year 101
  
  "Brenda...did you say that our book Eternal Vigilance has reached lands outside Naleen?" you ask.
  "Yes, I have been told as much, but from what I've heard it isn't popular like it is here. It's been dismissed as little more than the fat musings of tyrants...that would be us."
  "Ah, I suppose everyone's a critic. Well I guess we at least we'll probably be remembered by our subjects, for however long that lasts."
  "You shouldn't worry about such things right now, it's not important."
  "I know Brenda. I suppose it was just a last foolish attempt to keep the Empire alive. I know it sounds odd, but even though the Empire fell long ago, I still felt like it existed in a small form as long as we original Eternals lived. Silly I suppose."
  "No, it was just something that you believed in. No sillier than any of the gods that people worship."
  "Hrm. The gods. We never were a religious bunch were we? I wonder after I die if I'll meet any of the gods if they even exist."
  
  Brenda gets a bit quiet at that last statement, you don't mean to upset her, but you've got to be realistic at this stage.
  
  "Brenda, I love you." You say.
  "And I love you." She says back and squeezes your hand.
  
  For a moment the two of you are just silent for a while. You're were getting tired anyway, but the both of you don't really need to speak to communicate. You know each other better than any two people could. You've been through a lot together and this is will be your final journey with her.
  
  As you begin to get sleepy, you surprise Brenda by making a small chuckle.
  
  "What's so funny?" she asks.
  "Captain Gruz...he said I would outlive everyone. I'm glad to have proved him wrong." You say and give Brenda a smile. She manages to smile back through the tears.
  
  Life is slipping away now. This your final battle against an opponent who has stalked you for over a century.
  
  "For the Empire..." you whisper as your last battle cry and finally succumb to eternal sleep.
  
  Your funeral is a big deal. All of Naleen comes out for it, and there is a lot military marching, saluting, and all of that. Various officials give several speeches in your honor about your deeds and accomplishments. Brenda says a few words, but your death has been an emotional drain on her and she saves her strength to get through the day.
  
  You're ultimately placed in a fancy tomb with nice statues of you and Brenda in your "warrior prime" just inside the doorway of it.
  
  A couple months later Brenda joins you in death and she is placed in the same tomb by your side where upon it is sealed, shutting the pair of you in darkness forever.
  
  Your place in history is remembered best in the nation of Naleen, but as time goes on as time always does, you are remembered less fondly. Eventually there comes a day when the latest rulers have your books burned altogether as to establish their own cult of personality. Your book never reached many other far off lands and if it did, it wasn't wide spread to cause any significant impact.
  
  The nation of Naleen goes through various changes of government systems as decades pass by and you and Brenda ultimately become just "names" of past rulers and not much more than that.
  
  Ultimately when it too ceases to be (Conquered by the great kobold/usksha alliance three hundred years later) you are forgotten altogether. Though the kobolds and usksha still stay far away from the graveyard ruins of your tomb, fearing it to be cursed and believing that disturbance will cause the vengeful spirits of the Eternals to rise up.