Gabriel follows the duke along with 'Michael' into the private chamber. He was clearly disturbed by the room but hoped it was because it was special chamber for privacy than any indication of duke's hidden nature. When duke asked what the matter for he asked for this private audience and he replied; "Duke Wolfwood, you may very well aware that king founded protectors when old king died and he disbanded the old royal guard. I was part of royal guard then but only fresh recruit so I was not long part of it, I signed up to be part of king's army then as I did desire serve the king at least that capacity.<br/><br/>However protectors started target all royal guard members, harass and drive them away. Reason was most because the royal guard would had interfered, and some did so already, with the abuse of power the protectors performed in name of the king.<br/><br/>So far true expect one part; they did not do it in name of the king expect by their own names and ambitions. King did order perform task, he did create them to be strong military force which would make sure no one would cheat on him or ridicule his authority. But the king did not order protectors perform massacre in Winehill nor rape women and slay women's husbands. He asked only bring the tax money. Protectors did not tell what they did to the king, at most best paint their story look prettier than it was the whole affair and king trusted on their word.<br/><br/>This is one of the many examples where protectors had acted without king being aware what kind of weapon he had created to serve his will, and only now he has realized he in truth had no power to control it begin with. It's primarily because of protectors actions which had agitated the people and driven some of the subjects, including your son and daughter, to rebellion led by rebel leader C who had succeed to kidnap king's half-sister. Only very recently I was told the full story by the king how his half-sister came to be, I was completely unaware of her existence until rebellion began seriously roll around. So far as make direct attack on the castle.<br/><br/>However to protect the king I made a cunning plan to protect him from any enemy of the crown; part of that plan I split up protectors around the kingdom to throw off the rebels from the tracks about king's whereabouts. Either way king realized what mistake creation of protectors had been and he has desire disband them and put them on justice regarding abuse of their power. Now splitted off from each other they could be easy target but there are several complications which hinders my efforts;<br/><br/>Firstly a day after I broke up protectors I found Shadecliff mansion like a butcher house, someone had broke in and slain everyone but I did not find Maria Shadecliff nor her maid and leaving behind a mask of shadow knight, a mask which your daughter identified was not mask of shadow knights and she was not aware what reason I asked her about nature of the mask. I had doubted the rebels motive behind the attack because before all this chaos began I had caught lord Shadecliff as being rebel and your daughter confirmed that Maria was not part of her father's doings and specifically her father had agreed to help rebels if they keep his daughter out from the rebellion affairs.<br/><br/>I know one female protector called Satel had eye on Maria Shadecliff, harassing her and trying force her to marry her despite it's against all laws and customs regarding marriage of the nobility. To quote Steel, one protectors,<em>she is power hungry whore</em>and she looks to be the type ready do anything for more power. So I suspect she may be behind the kidnapping by using some hirelings of hers as some weaselly fellow sneaked up into dungeon and used charm spell walk in to harass your daughter while Satel also accompanied him.<br/><br/>So, if we start hunt protectors or anyway indicate they are disbanded and now seeked outlaws, it means Maria Shadecliff's life is on stake.<br/><br/>Secondly the rebel attack on castle had crippling effect on king's army, I had started recruit program but I cannot trust any fresh recruits as they may have infiltrators from rebels so best they can do is guard city walls or do other unimportant duties until we are further sure about invindual level about the soldiers. Anyways even if I would lead soldiers against protectors I do not have manpower bring them down as each veteran protector can count ten or twenty regular soldiers in direct combat. So I lack good soldiers to help bring them to justice and I cannot be in ten places at once.<br/><br/>I know you have got reasons to being cold towards the king and I do not blame you for it, but king has not been a tyrant by his choice but he had been just painted as one by actions of underlings which were not watched by king nor anyone. He has realized his mistake and learned harsh lesson from this, he wants make things right but he needs your help duke Wolfwood, also needing help of all former royal guard knights if they have any desire to help the kingdom before it boils down to chaotic civil war. King is even ready to apologize the knights personally from mistake he made and ask for their forgivness. It would be up to them then decide do they take again the role as protectors of the crown and the kingdom and their first task being helping bring down protectors.<br/><br/>After that is done, we can focus to undo the rebellion if they do not back off from their actions even after the criminals had been punished."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Diplomacy</div><div class="spoiler_body">OOC: Diplomacy for get duke Wolfwood's aid with tale in above, not yet reveal the king is listening and witnessing this. But if agreed Gabriel likely reveals where king is hiding and he is ready to make apology to his knights to win them to his side.<br/><br/><strong>Diplomacy:28</strong><br/>At 2011-12-08 15:27:00, Zaer Darkwail (uid: 14) rolls: 1d20a+10 Result: 28 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=33639)<br/></div></div>