Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Somewhere in the vast mind of a sleeping mage, five men sat in very different chairs around a circular table. An ethereal cloth seemed to melt off the table like a sheet of fog. There were four stone walls surrounding the men and no doors or windows. The only light in the room came from the ethereal cloth on the table and it was more than enough for the five men to see each other.

"This is a stupid idea." A dark brown hair, brown eyed Balthazar grumbled from his leather chair with a high back at the large round table. The light from the ethereal cloth seemed to shine like fire from a fireplace on this one. His shoulders were a little broader and his muscles a little larger than the sleeping mage's muscles truly were. He wore a loose fitting, dirty shirt that revealed enough skin to show he didn't have any of the scars across his body that the sleeping mage had acquired over a long career of combat.

"I think it's pretty cool, farmer-Balth." A similar looking Balthazar said. He had the same dark hair and eyes but his eyes seemed comprised like a puzzle, the witchmark of an Attuner. He wasn't as muscular either and wore a long, comfortable robe... and no shoes. He was sitting on what amounted to a really nice rocking chair and slowly teetering back and forth. The cloth cast a pale light on him.

"It can't be stupid, in some way it's your idea too, farmer." The third Balthazar said. His hair was bleached white but his eyes were dark brown. Like the sleeping mage, his skin had a warm glow and every once in a while little sparks danced between his fingers. He was dressed in all black and sat on a throne of earth that seemed to have risen from the floor. Every few trills his eyes would seem to glow a little and a soft smoke would begin to emit but it would fade before becoming too notable each time. The cloth cast a bright, fire-like glow on him.

"It could still be stupid, he'd just be calling himself stupid as well." The fourth Balthazar, with dark brown hair and the most notable mutations, said. His eyes glowed bright blue and it seemed as if his face around them had cracked with etheric energy. Similar cracks spider-webbed up his arms to his elbows and he impatiently drummed his fingers on the desk. He wore a white shirt and dark brown pants with comfortable boots for walking. He was the only one who was not sitting, but instead was standing at the table and leaning against it, eager to get on with things.

"Everyone shut up!" The final Balthazar said. He appeared exactly as the sleeping mage was and sitting in a wooden chair with a pale glow cast on him. He'd governed these four into existence so that he could debate his plan for the season. He never took mid-trial naps but he just couldn't figure out what he was going to do. He had so many things pulling him so many ways and he needed to really debate what to do... but with who? Devin had his biases and he wasn't sure what Yeva and Darius were up to. He couldn't voice any thoughts to the Elements he worked with because if they knew what he meant to apply for... well word might get out and that would be disastrous. "It doesn't matter what you think of our methods, we did this so we could discuss the seasons ahead."

"We know, we know." The utterly human Balthazar said. "You want to be Militant and you don't think you should tell the council."

"I haven't been one of them for long. It wouldn't-" Balthazar asked the others who from this point forward will be referred to by the magic they represent (Defiance, Rupture, Attunement, and Human).

"Promotions through the Elements are by merit, not by tenure." Defiance advised from his chair. Balthazar cast a glance towards him and focused his question towards that Balthazar.

"And what have I done to merit that reward?"

"What has Rand done? In the time you've been an Element it seems as if you've been the one made to handle all that ails Scalvoris." Rupture chimed in. Balthazar gave him a curious look for Rupture explained what he meant. "Did Rand Broson discover who was abusing the women at Nellie's brothel? Did he go to investigate the elemental wolves plaguing Havadr? Did he find not only one, but two killers of children?"

"Where was Rand when Faldrass needed help? In Scalvoris. Where were you? In Faldrass, nearly giving your life to save and island you'd never set foot on before. What kind of man do think the Elements need leading them? Someone like Rand who sits around and gives orders? Or someone like you who will actually lead." Human insisted. Balthazar's brow furrowed in thought and silence came over the room.

"I actually think you shouldn't do it." Attunement finally said from his comfortable position. All eyes turned to him, including the eyes of the real Balthazar who seemed almost offended. Attunement held up his hands in surrender to explain what he meant. "You are a good detective, but you're barely a competent leader. On your own you can solve almost any case presented to you, but does that make you fit to tell others what to do? Not all Elements have the abilities you have. Not all of them could use your methods to solve cases-"

"Does that not make him more fit for the role?" Defiance asked. "He knows the failing of the Elements. He knows what they must improve and as Militant he will be in the position to make those changes."

"He will also have to participate in the council meetings. Balthazar is many things, but a student of politics is not one of them."

"Good. We don't need more politics. We need action-"

"But you aren't a leader. You go and if others follow, then so be it. How can you know for sure that your actions will change things for the better?" And once again a silence overtook the room. Balthazar looked to the other voices for someone to answer but no one spoke up. This was a question he needed to answer himself.

"I can't be sure. I know that now." Balthazar said. As he spoke, his duplicates began to fade form existence. Human faded first. "But I know that something must change. I may become Militant and things may get worse- Faldrass proved how quickly a bad thing could spiral... but at least as Militant I'll be there to fix it. I won't have to follow the orders of men and women I know are wrong anymore." Balthazar could see the reforms in his mind's eye now and they appeared before him on the far wall as Rupture faded away.

Uniforms for each branch. Real uniforms. Not simply a cloak and a badge. Armor. Armor they could wear with pride. Armor that distinguished them. But made of what? Leather? Leather could work. It would keep them mobile and more protected than an ugly cloak. You could put symbols for each branch on the armor to indicate what branch they fell into... maybe even use a little color for that... But what if it wasn't leather? What metal would be fitting for the Elements? What metal did Scalvoris have enough access to? It would take a lot of resources to forge new armor for the Elements... but it would give them something to look forward to during their training trials.

Flame Troopers wearing a uniform would have been counterproductive in some cases but they needed some way to identify themselves... in Yaralon citizens had a mark placed on them upon completion of the Run that identified them as citizens. Other citizens could sense that mark within the city... perhaps Balthazar could find something similar for the Elements. Some way that they'd know each other and could identify each other that could not been taken from them... but what? He could go back to Yaralon and search for the secret of their mark but he knew he'd have little luck with them... so he decided he would go elsewhere. He'd search far and wide for ways to improve the Elements, and then he'd return to lead them... one way or another.

And as that decision became clear in Balthazar's mind, Attunement disappeared. Balthazar was left alone at the table with his decision made. And so the first meeting of the Council of Balthazar's came to a close.