The Tower

 55555's:

The day was bright, the cheery weather belied the desperation of this hour.  From all sides the red armies marched, encircling the tower in a seething mass of red, ragged pennants rising over the hoard. The Generals sat in a circle on the peak of the Tower, they faced outwards, lining the ramparts, watching in all direction, their faces troubled but not afraid. A single man sat in the center of the ring. They gave him reports and suggestions for action, but truly the situation was a simple one. The garrison of the Tower was strong, as it always had been, but these enemies outnumbered it by a vast margin. The General in the center did not respond to their information an advice, though he obviously heard all. He rose, the others quickly stumbled to their feet, some almost to old too stand, all worn by time and war. He spoke, "Fathers, Brothers, Sons, today is a fell day. But as this may bring great disaster it may bring great honor. We must use our Secret Powers, even drain them if we must, for all mortal options are unequal to this challenge."

He looked around at the faces of the warriors with whom he had plotted and planned so many times before. At his words a light shone in their eyes, for never before had the Secret Powers been tapped, always their wit had saved them. They were eager for the coming battle, their wit was now only useful for discerning it was useless. The time had come for the ultimate battle, and it would be of a simple nature.

Kakaru's:

 http://supergoggles.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/abyss/

Velox's:

 http://midnightvoltage.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/the-tower/

Evan's:

 http://ashardofdream.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/tower-bound/

EW (AKA RENE)'s:

 http://www.bzpower.com/board/index.php?app=blog&module=display&section=blog&blogid=398&showentry=115442

Lloyd's:

 The Chantry's Tower


The Chantry Tower was the Chantry’s headquarters. It housed the largest garrison of Adepts in the entire world, and was the hub of a communication network so vast and efficient that it had news of every happening on the continent within a week. So it was no surprise that the news of the far-off nation of Akkad had attacked the local Chantry garrison would reach the Tower quickly.

Arthur Churchill, the Tower’s Steward (and thus the head of the Chantry), was not worried by this news. Part of the reason was the also-included news that the attack had been successfully repelled, but the other part was because Akkad, in the grand scheme of things, was not a very active player, nor very large. It was certainly large enough to tip the balance of power in any nation’s favor in times of political unrest or war, but the concerns of great kings upon their gilt thrones was of no concern to the Chantry. The Chantry hunted more foul beasts, though some wondered if the demons and heretics they slew were really as dangerous as the scheming men they ignored.

Regardless, Akkad’s failed strike at the Chantry’s power did not register at the highest levels of the Tower. But within the great halls of the Chantry’s libraries, three Sages met.

“The report claims that Marduk has been killed.” One said. “Do you know if this is true?”

“I know as much as you do on the matter.” Another replied. “If this is true, then the only link between us and Akkad’s rebellion will have been severed.”

“Good. I am tired of living in constant fear of discovery.” The third said.

“You need not worry, Brother.” The first said. “You are barely a party to this.”

“Barely a party is more than no party at all.” The third replied. “And I cannot be convicted of something I did not do. You know that the Trials do not lie as much as I do.”

“Regardless, we are now safe from all suspicion.” The second intervened. “Put these fears from your mind and there will be no suspicion cast upon you. The only thing that can betray us is our own words, and if we guard those carefully, the Chantry will be in control of Akkad by the end of the month, with no one the wiser.”

“I will take what you have said into account.” The third said. “Still, I cannot shake the feeling we are forgetting something.”

“That is why you are here, Brother.” The first said. “You excel at finding loopholes, errors, mistakes, and the like. If we have missed something, you will find it, I have no doubt.”

“Your trust in me is reassuring.” The third said, somewhat deadpan. “Permit me to retire, that I might re-examine our plans.”

“Of course.”

With that, one of the Sages stepped away from the other two and departed into the stacks, his feet casting phantasmal echoes across the floors. The other two turned to each other.

“Can we trust him?” The second asked. “His nerves seem to be ready to fail.”

“He believes that he will be punished should his complicity in this become evident.” The first said. “He will not tell a soul.”