Death of Lance Corvus (Dark Age)
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The death of the American Empire’s second Emperor, Lance Corvus, was the final nail in the Imperial coffin after weeks of monumental instability brought on by an unprecedented succession crisis. The crisis occurred as a result of the assassination of William Aborshine, the American Empire’s first Emperor. His five sons, among them his firstborn son, Michael, viscously competed for the Imperial throne, threatening to plunge the Empire into a devastating civil war. The competition ended on December 10, 2023, when Grand Marshall Corvus assassinated the siblings and was then sworn in as Emperor by the Imperial Governing Council, whom he had formed a secret pact with.
Unfortunately for Corvus, his actions only destabilized the Empire further and the populace quickly came to reject him as nothing but a usurper. To make matters even worse for the former Grand Marshall, Michael Aborshine survived the attempt on his life. After jumping through an interdimensional rift during his escape from the Marshall’s Palace, Michael unintentionally released an incredibly malevolent entity back into the world after thousands of years of imprisonment. Corvus would die on December 19, 2023, from the actions of both the Imperial Intelligence and Enforcement Bureau and the aforementioned entity.
Prelude
IIEB “New Leadership”/Transcript
December 10, 2023. The Director of the Imperial Intelligence and Enforcement Bureau makes his way back to his office, mentally noting how earlier that night, he had received a message from Grand Marshall Lance Corvus. Lance had done it: the Aborshines were dead, and now he was ready to be sworn in as the new Emperor by the Imperial Governing Council. The Director didn’t really have any personal opinion of Corvus, despite lending the IIEB’s aid to him in the weeks leading up to this night. He’ll either do his job well as the Council’s figurehead, or he’ll be the very reason the Empire collapses.
Suddenly, the lights of the IIEB’s headquarters flicker and wink out, and the Director feels a horrible sensation. He feels… strange. As if he just lost a part of himself. He and two guards that had been flanking him look around in confusion. He hears the lights come back on, but the hallway they’re inside is still inexplicably bathed in shadow. The three of them sprint to the Director’s office as other IIEB agents, also feeling the strange sensation. attempt to figure out what’s going on.
By the time they reach the office, the hallways of the building begin to brighten, with the shadows gradually retreating. The Director, his guards, and several agents enter the darkened office. Once everyone is inside, it brightens and everyone turns their attention to a figure standing in the middle of the room. The figure is wearing jet-black robes and his face is covered in shadow (with the exception of two reddish/organish eyes). Suddenly, the shadows retreat and the Director sees the elongated grin of… Michael Aborshine? It speaks and everyone instantly catches on to the fact that this being is not Micheal, despite possessing his face…
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███: “Do not fret, Director. I have news! I have a truth to share with you all.”
Being in the presence of this entity makes the strange sensation even stronger. The Director attempts to appear as calm and collected as possible.
IIEB Director: “I… I… t-this area is off-limits to all non-government personnel. This is IIEB headquarters! Unauthorized entry into an IIEB facility is punishable by execution. Do you even know who you’re dealing with?”
███: “I have waited a long time to walk within this domain and at last I have arrived. I know things beyond your mind’s comprehension. I know that the age of your Empire is close to its end. Your domain is entering a new age, Director, an age where you are no longer needed. This force will persist. It will do nicely… but it is in need of new leadership. Open your mind to the truth, Director…”
IIEB Director: “Kill him!”
The guards and agents draw their weapons and open fire on the figure. However, the bullets have no effect whatsoever. It merely keeps grinning.
IIEB Director: “What?! H-How… did you…? What are you?”
Lucifer: “My name is Lucifer.”
Before the Director or anyone else in the room can comprehend what had been said, Lucifer quickly outstretches an arm and causes everyone to feel the sensation of burning alive. As they collapse to the floor, screaming in pain, Lucifer “melts” their internal organs, killing them. The commotion and screams attract the attention of over a dozen other IIEB agents, who rush to see what is going on. Upon entering the room, they find the corpses and see Lucifer hovering slightly off the floor. The Devil speaks again:
Lucifer: “Do not fret, rejoice! I am your new leader. I am your true leader. There is much to be done… Corvus is next. We will see to his removal.”
Death of Lance Corvus/Transcript
December 19, 2023, 11:00 AM.
Emperor Lance Corvus is panicking, looking down on the streets of Imperial Center from his personal quarters. The sounds of people rioting, skirmishes between armed opponents, and other violent acts can be heard. Never has the Empire’s capital city been in such a state. Never has the Empire as a whole been so close to collapse. General Vallo, a close ally and confidant of Corvus, has just finished disarming a bomb that had been discovered within his Imperial Palace quarters. Deep down, Corvus knows exactly who planted the bomb, but is too prideful to admit that the entire situation is lost. His allies in the Governing Council have gone silent, the Empire’s civilian population view him as nothing more than a usurper, whole divisions of the Imperial Army refuse to follow his orders, and now the IIEB is moving to kill him.
Corvus momentarily allows himself to be overcome by the panic. A million different scenarios run through his head, all of them involving his assassination or exile in various shapes and forms. But then after receiving some encouragement from General Vallo, Corvus’ pride swells once more. Maybe things weren’t lost after all: He’ll gather up any and all forces loyal to him. He’ll strike first. He’ll destroy the Governing Council and make them pay for forsaking him. He’ll bring the angered civilians to heel. The IIEB will be brought to heel, no matter how powerful they’d became. Through massive shows of strength, he’ll reign in the Empire and show everyone why he deserves to rule. Surely this will work, right?
Then Corvus hears something that shatters his hopes: General Vallo reports that there have been multiple reported sightings of Michael Aborshine over the last few days. Somehow, Michael had escaped and survived his trip through the rift. He is the Empire’s sole remaining legitimate heir. If he emerges now and presses his claim to the throne, nearly all of the Empire will side with him. Corvus continues looking out the windows of his quarters. However, before he can plot his next move, Corvus notices something unquestionably strange: it was a cloudy day, and the clouds just turned jet-black.
Corvus then notices the city quickly being overtaken by a pitch-black mist. It doesn’t take long for the mist to reach the Palace, and soon all Corvus can see out the window is darkness. He doesn’t move.The civilians below scream in both fear and confusion. The sounds of battle stop and everything is brought to a standstill. Suddenly, the Emperor’s quarters are plunged into darkness. Corvus hears glass shattering and General Vallo screaming, an unseen force shoving him out the window.
After a few moments, the lights come on, though noticeably dimmer than before. Corvus knows it: someone is behind him. A presence that feels so… wrong. True, unbridled malevolence. It’s at this moment that Corvus feels the last remnants of his hope disintegrate. Corvus turns around and sees an intimidating figure standing in the middle of the room. He sees its face. He sees Michael’s face, but he knows it isn’t him. It grins and proceeds to speak, degrading Corvus. It destroys any lingering pride he may have had left.
Lucifer: “Your incompetence will be your legacy, false Emperor. There is no return for you. There is no return for the Empire that has forsaken you. This domain has entered into a new age.”
The bomb, the same bomb that Vallo had disarmed earlier, is rearmed and detonated. Corvus is enveloped in a fiery explosion and dies instantaneously. His quarters are destroyed and another explosion occurs within the Palace’s lower floors. Simultaneously, the shadows that had consumed Imperial Center retreat. Thousands of people look up to see the Imperial Palace rocked by two massive explosions. An eerie silence falls over the people before chaos sets in again, now with the knowledge that Corvus, who had not been seen leaving the Palace in days, was dead.
Unbeknownst to the raging crowds, the figure hovers high above them all, watching the chaos unfold below. To him it was beautiful. The very first phase of his grand plan has been completed. He smiles. He knows it, they all know it: the American Empire is doomed.
Aftermath
TBA