A Kingmaker and a son retorts, a revelation on Darius Kallis.

Quote:"People of Aphros, common and noble, of Astra and Umbra. I implore you to listen."


"For as long as I remember, Darius Kallis was a man of integrity and hard work, yet with the coming of the Trial, he began to think himself the next Oracle - and in his drunken stupor for power, more often than not he finds himself dabbling with the powers he can neither understand nor handle."

"He sees an enemy everywhere, even when his dearest, his closest attempt to redeem him from the path of falsehoods that he's taken. The man has strayed from the Path, and all I've done is attempt to steer him back on the right direction - much like Sozha did, for she warned him that should he continue, he will inevitably destroy himself and fall."

"When I've seen him ignore the encroaching threats on our borders as our neighbours readied themselves for escalation, my heart ached. When I've seen him try to push everyone away from the decision making and usurp the power, I grew suspicious."

"And when I heard personally from him about accepting a bribe from Faeborne, behind everyone's back, taking coin for himself to turn a blind eye to the attacks of the Greathive and their never-ending expansion, I was heartbroken. I could not bear the fact that the blood and lives of people in Aphros matter to him less than the coin, and so we confronted each other."

"But I ask you, O people of Aphros."

"Have I not proved my sacrifice by upholding our interest at every turn? Have I not bled for you and fended against the savage insects? My interests are the interests of Aphros, my homeland."

"If bleeding for your people is a sin, then I am the greatest sinner. If bringing corruption to the light is a crime, then condemn me as a criminal."

"Until someone wears the crown, I will leave such judgment in the hands of the people."


"But to you, Darius - you may cower behind the soulless sheets of paper, I will always present myself before Aphros whenever there is such demand. We are not the same."

Despite the supposed order by Darius Kallis to apprehend Solomon Equisol, he's still seen wandering around Aphros freely; the young Equisol does not fear the usurper's order, for he wears no crown. No attempts to hide are made.

A trial on trial

Such a public statement was apparently quite expected, a response readied immediately. Darius Kallis takes to a public stand to issue his own direct statement.

Quote:"Cute.

To everyone that's begun worshipping a child, I fear for what Aphros is becoming.

One single crime, or any decision I've made on behalf of Aphros without proper representatives including nobility and the military. 

I'm waiting, Solomon. So is all of Aphros.

I on the other hand have witnesses to Sozha's threat, directly to nobility. Also her ordering of a young woman quite incapable of disobeying her superiors to leave my side when she was simply out doing errands with me.

Curious how I gave her the choice of whom to listen to, while your sycophant forced her.

Curious how she now says she's taken an oath after I left you, to one she can no longer disobey. You're no different to the betrayer Athelios fought, to protect our ability to choose.

Despite all this? The trial is the trial, even the notice states all possess the potential to challenge it. 

Aphros knows what I have done, all foreign negotiations handled by me, yet not a single time have I overexerted authority. 

I have proof. You have nothing.

Why not settle this the simple way? A trial before the trial. You can attempt to prove any crimes or overextension of authority you have against me. I prove your follower's threats, perhaps expose whatever else you get up to, hm?

The rest of nobility leaders, and our lovely knight commanders can decide.

You're right, Solomon. We are not the same. I taught you the words you speak, yet you never learned how to back them up."