Hierophant1

I, the Hierophant, sat in my great chair and listened with half an ear to the other Zenith speaking in the great council chamber of the Solar Deliberative. Something about unrest in the southeastern province of Quo-Sil. My mind was not on the matter, and to be honest the sound of the other Zenith's voice was begining to annoy me. I idly regarded the burnished top of the golden scepter in my hand, seeing my own noble reflection in it.

A strong face, unlined of scar or age. My head shaven bare and my eyes not blue or brown or green but gold like my God. Clad in robes of wondrous blues and golds, threaded with symbols in Orichalcum I was clearly the man of increadible presence and power. People who saw me tended to be drawn under my sway unless they were of the strongest mental strength themselves. Still the other priest gabbered on.

There was protocol to be followed though and so I sat there in my high seat listening to it. Finally the man was finished and the hall went quiet. I realized they were all waiting for me to speak. I let them wait, for I was the Grand Heirophant and ruler of all of Creation itself. No man was greater than I. Then I spoke, my words a proclamation of what would happen and the world changed to his will.

"This region has proven rebelious time and time again. Their discontent at our rule shows us disrespect. It shows Heaven disrespect. It shows them to be our enemies. The enemies of the Deliberative are the enemies of all of Creation! The capital of that provice will be executed. Every man, woman, child, animal and plant within it destroyed and slain. Seyras shall lead a force to see it done."

The chamber stirred and there were mutterings all around. One of the younger of them stepped up and waited until all were silent. I motioned for him to speak.

"My great Lord, is such an action necessary? Surely there is some other way than killing all in the city? 15 million people call that fair city home."

Ah such is the foolish views of youth. Mercy does not end rebellions. Nor does it stop them from occuring. Only the proper touch of power does.

"Noble Garith, rebellion against us will never succeed. Their dissention is the action of men who have known nothing but lazy lives of indulgence. They can not ever be made happy because they have never learned to appreciate what they had. They will learn of the fragility and beauty of life. How each moment should be spent enjoying it, not complaining."

I smiled to him and saw him nod to aquisience to my will. I had ruled this world for century after century. There was nowhere our might was not known and bowed to, nowhere we were not worshiped as we deserved. I struck the base of my scepter on the floor and rose up, all of them standing with me. In one voice we offered our praise to our god, our god who knew that his Chosen had everything well in hand and had no need to interfere. We were wise enough not to need his voice now.

They all filed out and left me alone. Pulling on a cord beside me a red haired woman in long grey robes with starmetal thread along the cuffs and hem entered. She stopped at the edge of my dais and bowed low.

"Mandara, most skilled of all my viziers, there is a rebellion in the land."

Her voice was cold and I wondered what it would take to warm such a woman into a fire.

"This choice you have made will not make that people love you or greatest of Lords."

"But will it stop the rebellion?"

"It will most assuredly, my great Lord. They will be as you said, they will be thankful for not being destroyed as well. They will offer the tribute faithfully and not trouble my Lord's work again with their petty demands and rebellions."

I smiled then, and leaned back into my seat. I didn't care about people there or their rebellion. It was just something that needed to be handled. I had lived for a long time. Done and seen much. Of late though I was bored with my place. I wanted other things. I had earned it surely. I wanted things to be silent and quiet so I might enjoy my games.

My only surviving circlemate from the Great War, Swaying Willow had invented a complex and wonderful new game. It had hundreds of variables and each game turn lasted a year. Each day one could gain or lose points depending on a thousand different things. It had taken him a decade to design the game and my fellow solars had been enjoying it for a good 30 years now. But I...I had to guide the world.

I motioned to her and she departed, my eyes on her back as she went. There were few I could not read, could not see the motives in their hearts. She was one of them. If I could not read her, then neither could my enemies. I knew I had them, men of my power couldn't help but earn the envy and misguided anger of others.

Seyras entered the chamber, Mandara stopping and bowing low to him as he strode by, ignoring her. He was my right hand in the world. The fist of the Deliberative. His eyes spoke of his life, they were the eyes of a man who had seen more people die than he had seen alive. His loyalty to me was without question. He would rip out his own wife's beating heart and feast on it if I commanded him to.

"Quo-Sil is rebellious. To make an example what happens when you become an enemy of Creation the capitol city must be destroyed. Every living thing in it wiped off the map." I paused and smiled. "When you are done with it I want it to be indistinguishable from a normal pasture. Revyn has been telling me we need to increase cattle production. Give the land to her once your done."

He didn't speak, for which I was grateful. Other people's words were just wasted expulsions of air. I had a plan for everything. I didn't need to hear their concerns or their opinions. He just nodded, struck his fist to his heart and left. I stood and walked to retire to my own chambers, thinking of the next gala in Meru's blessed halls.