After sitting here for about an hour or so listening to the sorry state the republic is in, let alone the rest of the area that used to be part of the old Empire, you've had enough of it all.

"Stop. I've heard enough about your wretched country. I can already tell what YOU want. You want the Empire back."
"Yes! I want to resurrect the Empire!" Quintus exclaims.
"And that's a lovely thought, but sorry to tell you this, it's dead. Long buried and resigned to the trash heap of history." You remark.

This comment is definitely not what Quintus expected. Jennifer on the other hand isn't quite surprised you'd say such a thing given your own cynical remarks to her.

"But…you're here now…a symbol! A symbol of the old ways! Proof of honor! Proof of strength! Proof of power! You're an Eternal!"
"And? I obviously couldn't prevent the destruction of the Empire. Am I supposed to just resurrect it with my mere presence? Am I to just kill the entire senate and establish perhaps you as an emperor? Do you think the people would accept that?"
"Well maybe not so direct…" Quintus remarks.
"No? Because that might be the only way to get things done around here. And what makes YOU think you'd even be a good emperor? You do not even have the support of the people."
"I do have the support of my constituents! I even have a few allies in the senate!" Quintus protests.
"Well you still don't have enough for what you desire. I'd say that I'd have a better chance of being accepted as an emperor before you would just due to the fear factor and raw power, and I'd still have to be looking over my shoulder constantly before I finally got run out by a complete rebellion or I destroyed so much of Nalin in the process of maintaining order. Given what you've told me of the average citizen it sounds like they're perfectly happy with the way things are. Happy with their hedonistic freedom. Do you really think they're going to listen to a relic of a time when the strong just ruled over the weak and the weak not only accepted it as a way of life, but some were even happy about it? The sheep have been let out of their pens and do not wish to return. Do you believe your people, even those that apparently keep voting for you to represent them are ready to accept a more restrictive and harsher culture? Do you believe you can foster such an environment?"

Quintus remains silent and you throw up your hands at his inability to answer.

"Well you see my problem with your plan. You probably thought when you dug me up; you'd have a powerful tool that would be your key to reforming a parody of the old Empire. And it would be a parody, because even if you were successful, it would NEVER be like the old Empire. You can read all the lore and books you want about the old days and nothing is stopping you from holding fantasies about such days. But make no mistake those good old days aren't EVER coming back. You're about five hundred years too late. I haven't been awake one complete day yet, and even I've come to accept that hard truth…but then I've had to accept so many hard truths. This is just another one to me."

Quintus nods solemnly. The spark that was in him is gone, but you can tell he isn't completely defeated. Jennifer just tries to look away from both of you and shuffles some papers she has with her.

"You…you aren't how I expected you to be…" Quintus says.
"Nobody ever is. Another hard truth I learned a long time ago." You answer.
"Mm…well I seem to be at a loss of what to say. Which is rare considering they often complain that I never shut up in the senate."

"Look, Quintus. I won't deny that your ideals and goals aren't admirable ones. However, I had to drag you back to reality. You still have a long way to go before even bringing something resembling the Empire back. As much as it might be fun to send me to just kill the senate with a firestorm and then establish martial law across the land, it's not going to be that simple. At least not yet."
"Yes, I suppose you're right. It's just I've read about some of your deeds, scraps of parchments really and I guess when I found out you were alive and in my house I just figured all of my country's problem were solved."
"Well, they may still be eventually. Now despite what I've said, I will help you. Because personally, I'd like to see you succeed if only so I could live in a place that didn't seem so damn strange and it's not like I have anywhere else to go."
"So you are going to help bring back the Empire?"
"Well, something like it anyway. I can't promise anything, but I'll try. Now then, with me on your side, you shouldn't worry about the military side of things. I can take care of those matters when they arise, and they most certainly will. You're going to have to take the lead on the political matters obviously, but I can still advise you in this capacity. All my years of working side by side with the Emperor contributed to such skills despite being on the battlefield most of the time."

Quintus seems to have that spark of life again when you agree to help him after all. He happily asks where you should get started. Jennifer at this point is glad to also see things have worked out and says she should leave you two alone to talk more and get back to the dig site. Before she leaves Quintus calls out to thank her.

"And tell your father he has my thanks as well! If it weren't for you two, we would not be in the better position we are now. Expect a bonus in pay this week." Quintus says.
"Thank you senator. I was wondering though and I hate to ask, but it just came to me. Do you think our new friend here could come back up to the dig site when he has the time? It's just that he was buried there and it might be of great help if he could at least perhaps give us a good indication on where it might be beneficial to dig."
"Well we've got a lot to go over first, but afterwards if he wants to, I have no objections."

Doesn't take you long to agree. You briefly remark that where they were digging was near the Emperor's main chambers and you'd like to see if anything survived yourself. This new revelation causes a bit of excitement from Jennifer and Quintus wondering what other magical treasures that might be of use in the coming days of change or even some scraps of history that can enlighten them more about such glorious days.

You just wonder if you can find the remains of Semra. Call it curiosity; call it a sense of closure.

The first thing you and Quintus talk about is the military. You explain that it is of vital importance to get them to support him the most, but it's also of great importance to get them be more vicious warriors. You say you understand that battles are probably fought a little differently nowadays, but the intense training isn't necessarily just to make them expert fighters. It's also to instill discipline and hopefully a warrior's mindset. Make it so that they want to go to war, that they long for it.

Quintus says that he does already have some pull with the military. A little more than most find comfortable, but of course it's nowhere near absolute. You're glad since that cuts down on a little extra work.

You tell him to track down the most spirited and skilled warriors that are in the military and have them gather somewhere secluded just outside the northern borders of Nalin. You say you need to get started on training as soon as possible, you just hope you don't have too many wash outs (or casualties). You then say you also need to get started on an outside threat.

"What do you mean?"
"I mean you need an outside threat that genuinely scares people. Makes it so people are more supportive of a strong military. Makes it so eventually people prioritize their safety so much that they're willing to give up their freedom just to be safe. I mean I know you've been warning the senate and the people about all the scary things out there and you're right, but people don't believe it until its beating down their door with a battle axe."
"Yes, but how exactly are we going to do that?"
"Well YOU aren't going to do anything except going about your usual business. I on the other hand am going to incite one of those threats you've told me about. Obviously one of the closest ones."
"The usksha immigrants?" Quintus asks.
"Heh, well maybe in due time, but that's bit more on the…political side. Plus its not a large enough threat and the follow through of invading the desert is a logistics nightmare that we are nowhere near in a position to carry out at this time. No, I was thinking something much simpler. Something much easier to incite violence in and a lot easier to get people to fear, namely orcs."
"Oh, do you think you can do it?"
"Encouraging an orc to attack isn't a challenge at all. Herding them to all attack in a specific direction takes a little more skill, but I can do it. It'll just take a little time and we have to make a balancing act of it. Going to have to let the orcs win a few major battles in the beginning at least. It won't be pretty, but it'll also serve to purge some of the less than skilled soldiers you have around here. Some villages on the borders are going to have to burn as well."
"Villages? Are you sure?"
"The problem with the Nalinites is they've never really been under a true threat for a very long time. When the people experience the loss of a couple border villages and see the bloody aftermath, trust me they'll be begging for more protection. When they see the brutality of what an orc horde can do they'll be screaming for justice and for us to march into the Quala Badlands to wipe out every last green skin. The first steps to expansion and the first steps to resurrecting the Empire."

Quintus understands and says it sounds like a good plan. You and he talk a little more about some of the specifics before he eventually says he has a big day tomorrow of arguing against some silly law that one of his opponents is trying to have passed and needs to get some sleep. He says that you may have a bed in one of his spare rooms, as it isn't like the rest of his family is going to complain about you being here. You agree but say that you intend on heading back to the dig site like you promised Jennifer tomorrow and also to get started on that orc situation you spoke on. Quintus remarks that you can take one of his horses and says he hopes to see you within a weeks time.

The next day you ride off to your destination and you feel somewhat calmer than you did when you first woke up. You also feel like you have a worthy purpose now. You know you're going to have a big task ahead of you trying to reform the Empire, but at least it gives you something to do. Who knows, you might even be successful.

Or you might be instrumental in the downfall of yet another nation…

You picking through the past (The dig site)

You've spent the past two days with Calvin's crew, which has been fumbling about trying to dig up the rest of the Emperor's chambers. So far they haven't found much of consequence though, mostly just pieces of the Emperor's belongings that were made of stone or metal, like a bed frame or one of his many work tables. The biggest things were broken pieces of the two large statues that stood outside the door and the half destroyed door itself. Any books that have been found have mostly been destroyed over the passage of time. Between insects, small subterranean rodents and centuries of gradual decay it would seem the earth has consumed most of the important stuff. While Calvin still appreciates what has been found, he was really hoping to find a treasure trove of magical items, but you told him he wouldn't have had much luck anyway. The Emperor himself never really kept much of that around, probably because as a powerful wizard himself he didn't need to rely on such things

You on the other hand haven't found what you were looking for and that's the remains of a svelk. You and Semra were in the immediate area yet no bones have been found. But then Jacob wasn't too far from the same location and his bones haven't been found either. (You still haven't mentioned to Calvin or Jennifer about knowing the specifics about their ancestor's death.) At this point you can't do too much more lingering you need to get on with your more important assignment. You decide to make one more quick look though so you grab a shovel and start digging.

Of course you can't be left alone while doing this, Jennifer decides to come up and bother you in her usual way. You swear the girl insists on trying to hang around you whenever possible. You certainly hope she doesn't have a crush or something, because you don't really have time for such things.

"Hey, you shouldn't just be digging haphazardly like that near the support beam! One wrong dig and you could fall into a sinkhole or cause part of this excavation to collapse! You don't want to be buried alive again do you?" Jennifer says.
"I dunno, I'm still wondering if I wouldn't be better off." You remark.
"Oh you don't mean that. I thought you said you and Quintus had big plans that gave you a sense of purpose now."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I can't ponder if it's worth it or not. (Sigh) Damn it, what am I doing? I've never going to find anything. I need to just get started on that business I spoke about with Quintus."
"Wait, what ARE you looking for anyway? I've noticed you before looking through piles of dirt and overturning stones since you got here. If you told us, perhaps we could help you. I mean we do do this for a living and all."
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
"Look if it's personal, you don't need to tell me or anyone else the significance, but if we know what to look for surely it could help couldn't it? Maybe we already found it and it's in our pile of ever-growing objects.

Sensing that Jennifer isn't going to let this go you give in and tell her.

"(Sigh) I'm looking for bones."
"Bones? Well we found a bunch a few feet higher up…"
"No, the bones I'm looking for would be at least approximately in the same area that you found me. They would be elven in nature, specifically svelk, if that makes a difference."
"Dark elven? What was a dark elf doing down here near the Emperor? You know, you still haven't told us anything about how you came to be in your situation. I mean we've all been wondering if the Emperor was down here during the cataclysm, though we haven't found any trace of his remains."

Now you wish you hadn't told her.

"Look! Let's just focus on one thing at a time! Now I'm looking for svelk bones, unless you've found anything like that, then we have nothing more to discuss." You snap and start to leave.
"Okay, okay! No need to snap like that, but can you at least tell me who this svelk was? Obviously they must've been important to you or else you would not be trying to find the remains. I'm really just trying to help!"

Well that's true and you can't necessarily fault her for it.

"Alright, I'll tell you a little bit. The svelk's name was Semra and believe or not she was a top advisor to the Emperor. And since we're on the topic, yes all of us were down here when the cataclysm hit. As the palace was collapsing in on our heads, Semra was the one who put me in that little magical box you all found me in. Basically she saved my life when certain doom was imminent."

This bit of information predictably gets a big reaction out of Jennifer.

"Wow! I can't believe it. The Emperor had a svelk advisor? She must've been an outcast from her people. I thought they were only nomadic mercenaries back in those days."
"They were, but Semra was a bit more ambitious than that. Make no mistake she was no outcast. She was every bit as ruthless and treacherous as any of her people. Probably more so. She always had an angle."
"Hm, surprised the Emperor trusted such a creature, but still she saved your life. A self sacrificing svelk; never thought such a thing existed. The two of you must've been close surely? Were you friends or um…"
"No we weren't friends, and don't even suggest we had a romantic affiliation." You say before she even completes that sentence. "Our relationship was…complex. Let's just say she played a big role in who I am today and despite whatever differences I did have with her I do owe her my life."
"So, it's kind of like a paying last respects thing?"
"Something like that. I mean she was literally the last person I saw before I went into my big sleep. My last moment during the old days were with her. Guess I felt like seeing her bones would be a kind of closure, but I guess it doesn't matter anyway right?"
"No, I understand. Well, we'll keep an eye out I guess for svelk bones. So… you said the Emperor was down here too?"
"Yeah, but before you even ask. There's no point in trying to look for his remains. He disintegrated before my eyes."

Jennifer is in shock.

"He…he disintegrated?! How?!"
"Well, it was the cataclysm. Hit pretty suddenly and hard. One moment he was there, then he wasn't."

Your vague explanation isn't exactly untrue. You're just glad it seems to be sufficient for now.

"Sheesh, no wonder you didn't want to talk about it. Must've been stressful even for you. I have to tell my father about this. He'll be very interested in learning more about this mystery." Jennifer says.
"I'm sure you will. You know I'm very surprised he doesn't speak to me more often given that he's the one in charge of this expedition and his extreme interest in the history aspect."
"I would imagine he would if your personality was different. You're a bit intimidating and he still fears you a bit, so as it stands I think he believes it would be better if I spoke to you."
"Why? Does he think I am easily swayed by a pretty face?"
"Er…no…what I was going to say is that I am a little more willing to take risks like interacting with you for example. You're more likely to respect someone that's brave and thus open up to them. I love my father, but he's not exactly the bravest of men, though he has his moments."
"Hm, sounds like someone I used to know." You say thinking about Jacob, which makes you add a bit more to your story.

"Before I leave there are a few other bones you might want to look for while you're down here." You say.
"Oh? I thought it was just you and Semra."
"It was in the end, but there was another top advisor to the Emperor here that died shortly before that."
"Wait, you don't mean…"
"Yes, your ancestor Jacob. Though his remains might be a bit…crushed. A large falling stone block fell on him."

Your news once again renders Jennifer silent for a moment.

"We always did wonder what happened to him exactly. I mean it was always assumed he got killed during the cataclysm, but never knew the specifics. Well at he didn't suffer long." She remarks.
"No it was pretty quick and sudden. Just like everything else when the cataclysm hit. Still, if it's any consolation, Jacob had his own moment of bravery before his life ended. He actually saved Semra and I from getting immediately killed during that dark time."
"He did?"
"Yes. Anyway, as I said, I've got other things to do, so I'll leave you to it."

Before you leave, Jennifer thanks you for the information and hopes in time that you'll open up more information about the past. You don't make any promises, but you know you probably will eventually.

You leave the dig site and think about what you originally went there for in first place. Closure. Since you didn't really get that, you do it yourself.

"Well Semra, I don't really know why you saved me. Then again I didn't understand your twisted obsession for me either. Whether it was genuine love, svelk psychological torture, your own personal fucked up mind or a combination of the three I'll never know. And I guess now, I never will. But for what it's worth. Thank you."

After your monologue to yourself, you ride off in search of orcs to antagonize.