“I hope you know why we’ve brought you here today” The Justicar’s armoured helm giving them a hawk-like appearance and deep voice resonating within the human’s full suit of armour. Adam looked nervously from left to right.

“We are in imperial territory! Why do you have me tied down!”

“Very well, let’s start from the beginning… Are you Adam T’Starra Brown?”

“You don’t have jurisdiction in the Eastern Protectate! You can’t do this, I have Immunity!” The Justicar slapped Adam with his hand, the sound resounded inside of the tent. Adam then spat blood into the sand still tied to his chair. Adam’s head spun as he marvelled at the stars formulating. He was still dressed in his morning robes, he last remembered sailing.

“Are you or are you not Adam T’Starra Brown?” Adam then gave a silent nod.

“The god’s require us your verbal recognition, Adam.”

“I am.” Adam stared daggers at his captors.

“You stand charged with crimes against His Majesty's Dynasty and for the unlawful acquisition of state property.” Adam’s rage grew.

“The Imperial Mandate is that Slavery is abolished you foolish idiots!”

“His Majesty no longer recognizes the Imperial Authority.”

“Is his majesty daft? The Empire will crush him!” The justicar raised his hand to slap him again but resisted.

“You Adam T’Starra Brown will be escorted by the court to you new quarters until you are to stand trial.”

“You will stand before the presiding judge and you will be provided with consultation with a Juris unless you have the means to provide for some other kind of consultation. You’ll have to use a Juris within city limits however.”

“Which city am I in?”

“Ceres,” The justicar began to untie Adam from the chair

“I wouldn’t move a muscle, little mageling my knife hand is much faster than yours,” The justicar warned, continuing to untie Adam as his mind raced for some way out.

“I also wouldn’t worry about getting the death penalty either mageling, you’ll more then likely be working off that debt.”

“You separatists disgust me!” Adam spat another wad of blood and multiple guards began to pull the wizard to his feet. “The Empire needs unity right now! There are threats everywhere!”

“The Empire little mageling is sick, like a horse that's lived far too long.”

“It doesn’t have to be this way!”

“No? How many wars has the Empire fought just trying to keep itself together mageling, how many of my brothers and sisters are going to die to ensure Imperial legacy and their polished thrones?”

“And arresting someone from rescuing people from slavery is doing just that?”

“You can plead that side of your case to the courts though I doubt it’ll be accepted.”

“And what about you sir?”

“What about me?”

“What do you stand for?!”

“The law mageling whatever that may be.”

“The Imperial law states that slavery is abhorrent.”

“Imperial law will not protect you here mageling, we justicars have sided with his majesty known to you as the Eastern Protectorate. The justicars serve their individual countries and you live in the newly freed territories of Altraran and his people’s majesty to whom I owe sovereignty to whether it is deserved or not I am bound by my oaths.”

“Ah and what are without your oaths noble knight but what good is a king who won’t keep his oath to the people.” Adam was being led outside the tent and he could hear horses. As the sunlight hit his eyes he began to see the full force of what he hadn’t at all expected. A massive skeletal army just standing to attention, there were living soldiers as well but in far fewer numbers and the far far distance beyond that he could see the Blight Keep. Embalming fluid being the most prevalent smell caught on the wind at the moment. Something of a burnt chemical smell could also smelt much more faintly beyond but seemed to be stagnant then the rest. Adam and his entourage are then marched off for the woods beyond. Adam could only feel dread as they approached the darkness.