The Roaring Lion

## Introduction

A beautiful summer evening in Zenkar was one of the most comfortable and beautiful experiences a human in Adonatus could experience. The marketplace smelled of wares from bakers, brewers and various different cooks making food and sweets. It is no longer loud and packed with people as the townspeople are heading home and to the many different taverns and brothels throughout Zenkar to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. On this night however, in the year of 13 a.Z the young prince, Santiago, barely 10 years of age would know what it is like being nobility in this age of treachery and schemes. When the inhabitants of the city had fallen asleep and the guards were struggling to keep their eyes keen, a few men in black shrouds climb up a tree next to the keep and make a daring jump to Santiago's window. They muffle the child's mouth and put a sack over his head as they swiftly make their way out. Arturo I, a merciful and experienced man for his age is enraged and anxious worrying for his son. He would do one of his most ambitious and clever tricks in his career to retrieve his son and heir back home, for a great sacrifice.

## The Investigation

Suffete Arturo I sends for his trusted advisors as well as his elite guard to speak on what to do and how to find who the perpetrator of this act is. The Advisors are told to stay with Arturo in order to keep him calm and discuss further plans. The Phoenix guard is only called on by Arturo to do his bidding when something is serious so when it became apparent that they were looking for something the people started getting nervous, knowing the temperament of the good suffete. After a week of no answer the city is put on lockdown and shortly after the guards get in contact with a hooded man in a tavern, instead of pulling him out and dragging him to the keep scaring the townsfolk further Arturo speaks through his guards to the man. After being promised the gratitude of the state as well as land he unveils himself, showing a man with blue face paint that the guards does not recognize, the man explains that he is from the newly conquered province of Haltica. He explains that the people are desperate and refuse to be under the Kartagan boot, knowing that they have no chance against Kartaga through the sword they have decided to kidnap the young prince Santiago, to force Arturo to release the province and grant them independence. The guards look at eachother nervously, fearing the Suffete's reaction when he hears of the news. When the guards come to the keep Arturo is waiting anxiously for an answer and he hears of the news, and what the Halticans have done, he bursts into a rage, throwing his goblet of wine across the room and punch a stone pillar so hard his fist is imprinted into it, after conquering these lands the gods have once more proven that we lead and these Halticans serve. He walks over to the window and looks out to the midsea gathering his thoughts when the soothing sounds of the voice of his wife Chimeg goes to speak some sense into him and encourage him to be rational, "They have our son" he calms down and sits down next to his advisors and phoenix guard commander, they begin making their plans to retrieve the prince.

## Contact with the rebels

After careful planning and thinking they agree on that they cannot do much until they know what these Halticans want, and if Santiago is still alive. A Karteese scout is sent riding south carrying a white flag as a sign that Kartaga desires to speak. The scout was accepted by the Halticans who does not wish for immedieate escalation, they know of the situation and that they need to play all their cards right in order to survive this. Two options are given to the scout, "pull out your warriors and leave Haltica for good, Santiago will also stay in Haltica as an equal for all time. Or your troops stay, and we will kill Santiago". The Halticans hand over the dagger that Amiral Cortez once gave to Santiago as a birthday gift to show that Santiago is in fact in Haltica.