Johann
Schmidt the prime minister of
Westphalia. He was a tall muscular man with blond hair blue eyes and
a militant stance that let you know he meant business. He was dressed
in a green military out fit with a smoldering cigarette suspended at
the end of a long black filter that had gold trim with his hands
clasped behind his back. The smoke produced from his cigarette a
cherry tainted tobacco smell that penetrated and lingered in the air.
The scowl on the prime minister's face made it apparent he was not
hearing news to his liking. The minister sibilated his disappointment
“I requested the presences of the Knight Chaplain, not some mewling
child to answer my concerns.”
Standing before
the prime minister was a regal and young Royal knight of Westphalia
fully dawned in ceremonial plate Armor. The young man tried to show
pride. “I am Sargent Alfons Hoffman of the Holly Royal order of
Westphalia knights. I was entrusted to be the voice of the
brotherhood. I was briefed on all the answers his Eminence the Knight
Chaplain would wish for you to have. Our holly brother is currently
detained with his duties and does not possess the time to play
politics with you, heir prime minister.” The young man responded.
While spoken with elegance their was just a hint of defiance in
hidden underneath his proper words.
The Prime
Minister's teeth clenched and the muscles on his face tightened
blatantly showing his dissatisfaction to the message conveyed.
Leaning forward looking down at the young man the prime minster
responded in a slow but discordant manner “I ordered your knights
to help exterminate Otto and the abominations posing as members of
your knight hood. These foul creatures our right now marching towards
our very capital with foreign soldiers from Atlantis.” The prime
minister then began to poke the chest of this knight firmly as he
continued to chastise Alfons. “Your brotherhood is sworn to protect
Westphalia from all external threats yet you and your brothers have
failed to do so even under direct command.”
Alfons
maintained his stance but his eyes narrowed revealing strong
discontent. “We are sworn to protect the interest of Westphalia and
its royal family above all things.” Alfons corrected. “Par
Wilfred Godswin has been absent from our lands and has even given up
the name of his birthright. It is true that you as the elected Prime
Minister of our great Saxon nation has been entrusted with leadership
while we wait for the return of our king, you are not and never have
been the commander of our holly order.” Even as the Prime Minister
clasped his fist in frustration ready to respond Alfons cut his off
continuing. “We have taken a vow to never fight with other loyal
members of our order. Otto Godswin Orcus came into our lands
accompanied by the royal order. By your instructions the Knight
Chaplain meat with these soldiers and found them to be loyal brothers
with their mental faculties still intact. They were still loyal to
our people and the crown. He has determined and decreed Otto as the
rightful heir to our country, a true member of the Godswin blood
line. It is therefore decided your orders where in fact treasonable
and thus ignored.”
The prime
minister smirked and took one step back. “That is quite a pity”
he whispered with a sigh. “I had hoped it would not come to this.”
With surprising and sudden speed the Prime Minster pulled out a
Mauser pistol and fired several shots into Alfons' chest. The bullet
drilled through the Knight's armor like a hot knife through butter
and exploded once they pierced his flesh. Alfons oozed out of his
chest wounds as his lifeless body fell to the floor like a rag doll.
The other men gathered in this room gasped at this rash action but
none of them spoke fearful they might be next.
Prime Minister
Johann Schmidt leered at the remaining men assembled men. “These
knights are all here by branded traitors to Westphalia! Orders are to
execute every one of them and seize all their holdings for the state!
Further any one giving them any aid will also be considered criminal
negligent and the penalty will be death!” Their were gasps of
shock. “Further I have already commanded the officers of our
defensive armies to open fire on the intruders. Orders that were
ignored. These orders are to be reissued and to include open fire on
any of the Holly Royal Knights of Westphalia. Any soldier or officer
that disobeys these orders are to be executed immediately. Our nation
is under attack and we will not negotiate with any of these intruders
no matter who they claim to be! ”
The Prime
Minster paused and once more regained his regal and calm posture. “I
know some of you feel that our people support this invader. This has
caused a question of our ability to defend our homeland.” Johann
inhaled deeply then continued. “To address this issue I have
invited my allies from Mount Wundagore to help reinforce our national
defenses. Even now they and their machines of war are entering our
great nation through Austria. My allies will here by be taking direct
command of all our nations military forces. They will further be
enforcing a curfew to protect our citizens from invaders from either
Atlantis or the Wastelands of LIAR.” As the news sunk in he
continued. “The forces in question are known as HYDRA and from this
point forth their words will be considered law by the power entrusted
to me by the people of Westphalia. Any acts to deter their progress
will be considered an act of terrorism against our state.” He
raised his clenched fist. “Let it be known we prefer order to
anarchy and strong leadership to abandonment and the random whims of
kings and gods! From this day forth let all men of Westphalia exclaim
with pride” Johhan then extended his open right hand palm down
“HAIL HYDRA!”