Chaos: Genesis

At the break of dawn, amidst the golden rays peeking through the castle windows, a sense of gravity hung in the air as the generals assembled in the throne room of King Cambyses. With solemn expressions, Cyrus and Spero stand to the sides of the King. Soon, the shadows of Nefarious and Darius loom into the chamber, adding to the gathering of formidable figures.

King Cambyses addresses the meeting, "Gathered here today, we stand on the brink of a decision that will be a crucial step for our kingdom, this plan will change the course of our lands forever."

An air of tension wraps the room as gazes dart between each other, uncertainty knitting the brows of the attending generals. Darius shoots a quizzical look towards Nefarious, silently questioning the unfolding events. A subtle nod from the King signals the entrance of a new arrival; as the doors creak open, a man emerges - Harpagus, his demeanor respectful as he bows before the assembly.

"My liege, esteemed Prince, and honored generals... greetings," Harpagus speaks.

As the room turns to regard Spero, curiosity spreads through the ranks.

Locking eyes with the group, King Cambyses breaks the silence, "Many of you may recognize our guest, a distinguished general in service of King Astyages. He has come to lend his expertise in this matter that lies before us," the King declares.

"I have acted as a spy for your King this past decade. After Spero saved me and my men from some bandits, I approached him with an inquiry. That I would need help to overthrow the Median empire."

The room falls silent, murmurs rippling through the room. With all eyes fixed on Harpagus, Cyrus steps forward, his voice cutting through the hushed whispers, seeking to unravel the mystery that now enshrouds the loyal general.

"Why..." Cyrus demands, his brow furrowed in confusion, "...would you betray your kingdom and your king?"

Harpagus takes a heavy breath, as his eyes glint with defiance, reflecting a fire burning within him.

"Our King..." he declares, voice tinged with resolve, "...has become selfish and disillusioned with power. He has forgotten his people. There are already small factions rebelling against him. Spero has helped increase this divide. Yet, we are still far from gathering the numbers we need to face the King head-on."

Darius locks eyes with Basir. Nefarious looks at Darius with unwavering determination.

Cyrus interjects, a note of skepticism in his voice, "My grandfather has always been a troubled man. Clearly, he is not fit to rule, but why take such a risk now? Harpugus, you are closest to the King. Information wise, understandable but I sense a more personal reason."

Harpagus, the weight of his past grievances heavy upon him, bows his head briefly before straightening his back. He begins to recount the tale that severed his bond with the King, the story of betrayal and disillusionment that fueled the flames of resentment.

In a time, long past, King Astyages found himself plagued by a haunting nightmare that shook him to his core. In his vision, he saw a sudden and terrifying occurrence where water surged from his daughter, Mandane's womb, flooding the entire kingdom in its wake.

Alarmed by the ominous message hidden within this dream, the distressed king sought counsel from his Head Magi, who interpreted the vision as a dire warning of imminent disaster threatening his rule. Determined to avert this calamity, King Astyages arranged for Mandane to wed Cambyses, the ruler of the comparatively weaker city of Anshan, believing this strategic alliance would ensure the security of his reign. Yet, when rumors reached his ears of Mandane's pregnancy, a new and equally foreboding dream haunted the monarch. This time, he envisioned vines sprouting from his daughter's womb, spreading uncontrollably throughout the empire, and leaving ruin in their path.

Faced with the terrifying prospect of this second prophecy coming to fruition, the king and his Magi felt compelled to take drastic action for the sake of the kingdom's survival. Thus, they decided to separate the newborn child from his parents, informing them of the tragic news that the infant had not survived. Desperate to protect his empire, King Astyages turned to his most trusted servant and general, Harpagus, seeking a solution to the ominous threats that loomed over his dynasty.

"Take this infant into the depths of the forest, and slay it", Commanded the king. Harpagus, taken aback by the shocking and unconventional directive, hesitated before daring to voice his disbelief, "My King...surely you do not mean what you say?"

Astyages, his tone growing stern with urgency, retorted, "I will not repeat myself; do you wish for this kingdom to fall?"

"No, my King, I would never!"

"Then do as I say."

Stricken with conflicted loyalty, Harpagus finally relented to the monarch's decree, inwardly tormented by the weight of his actions. Carrying the innocent baby into the heart of the woods, he placed the child on the ground, preparing to carry out the dreadful task. As he raised his blade, memories of his son flooded Harpagus' mind - the joy of his birth, and the tender grasp of tiny fingers around his thumb. Overwhelmed by a surge of compassion, he faltered, the glinting knife slipping from his grasp to the forest floor.

Tears streaked down his weathered face as he gathered the infant in his arms, "This is madness!"

Harpagus sensed movement up ahead. As he cautiously peered through the dense foliage, a farmer passed by leading a herd of cows. Intrigued, Harpagus decided to follow the man, his mind already forming a daring plan. As they arrived at a humble farmhouse, Harpagus carefully placed a baby outside the home, then quickly retreated, throwing a rock at the door to create a diversion. To his surprise, the cowherd Mitradates and his wife, still mourning the loss of their stillborn child, discovered the abandoned baby and saw it as a gift from the gods, and deciding to raise him as their own.

Thus, Cyrus, now known as Agradates, grew up in this quaint village for ten years, unaware of his true lineage. Years passed, and Agradates found himself playing with the other village children, who playfully declared him their king. But dissent lingered in the group as one boy, envious of Agradates' newfound status, refused to acknowledge his rule. In a swift move, Agradates commanded the children to fight and imprison the rebel. Word of this incident reaches the father of this boy, a nobleman, who wasted no time informing the King of this injustice. Astyages decided to personally visit the village and meet these Agradates, only to be struck by the uncanny resemblance the boy bore to his daughter. He interrogated the cowherd, Mithridates, about the unexpected discovery of Cyrus. Enraged by what he learned; the king summoned General Harpagus to shed light on the situation. With a heavy heart, the general confessed his inability to carry out the task of eliminating Cyrus, citing his weakness. To everyone's surprise, the King spared Harpagus upon realizing that the prophecy no longer posed a threat since the children of the village had already crowned Cyrus as their king. Resolving to reunite Cyrus with his birth parents due to his royal lineage, Astyages arranged for the young prince to be transferred to his rightful heritage.

A week later, a grand banquet was held in honor of Cyrus's return, attended only by the king, his generals, and a select few nobles.

During the gathering, King Astyages stood before the assembled guests and proclaimed with delight,

"Welcome, esteemed guests! I am pleased to see you all gathered here on this momentous occasion. The noble bloodline of our kingdom thrives with the discovery of my grandson, Cyrus."

Amid joyous conversation and laughter, with the aroma of a delectable feast lingering in the air, the King of the realm steers his gaze toward Harpagus.

The King inquires, a faint, peculiar smile playing on his lips, "General Harpagus, did you enjoy your meal?"

"Indeed, my king, the meal was delightful as always."

The king gives an unnerving smirk. Satisfaction flickers in the Astyages's eyes as he remarks, "I am pleased to hear that, for this dish was specially crafted for you, my most reliable soldier."

With a mysterious grin, the King proposes, "This particular dish required an extra dash of skill. Would you like to carry the remaining portion with you, so that it does not go to waste?"

Harpagus is taken aback by the unexpected request but collects himself to respond, "Yes, of course, Your Majesty."

The King's gesture beckons a servant, who approaches with a plate covered by a lid. Placing the tray in front of Harpagus, the servant unveils the contents, revealing a horrifying sight. Harpagus can feel his heart sink into his stomach, a chill creeping through his body, leaving his mouth dry. Before him lies a ghoulish spectacle - the head of his son, surrounded by his hands and feet, arranged like a roasted pig. The guests' reactions are visceral; glasses fall, and some clench their jaws to prevent them from gagging.

Standing tall, the King declares, "Now, enjoy your seconds, and remember...that an order should always be followed."

With trembling limbs and clammy palms, Harpagus attempts to rise. He places the lid on the tray, lifting it as he bows courteously, "Yes, my king, thank you for this... meal."

Harpagus leaves. He is then hunched by a tree with a grave nearby. He is forcefully vomiting, tears flowing freely, blood adorning his knuckles from pounding the rough bark. His eyes, strained and red, reflect a turmoil of malice and fury etched onto his face.

The room envelopes in a heavy silence, the weight of sorrow and anger on the faces of those present.

Harpagus addresses the group seriously, "This is why I have sworn to rid ourselves of this monster who masquerades as our king."

Cyrus steps closer to Harpagus, "Words cannot express the depth of pain you have endured all because you showed mercy and spared my life..."

"I do not blame you, Cyrus. It was I who disobeyed, and thus, trading my son's life...but the only one to blame is Astyages."

Cambyses' voice rumbles with righteous fury, "He snatched my son from my arms, attempted to take his life, and showed utter disregard for your own son. Astyages must face the consequences of his actions!"

The room pulses with shared agreement as Nefarious steps forward, "Our plans are in motion, yet success hinges on the unity of the remaining tribes joining our cause."

"I will speak to them; I will persuade them," Cyrus pledges.

With a resolute nod from Harpagus, the group pushes forward, plotting and strategizing on their next moves to bring justice and retribution against Astyages.