To Kill A Moral Man

Morally Wicked

"My lord" the royal knight tilted his head in recognition with a soft smile as Patron entered the royal hall.

"You know there's no need for that, Roman" Patton laughed and spread his arms to hug the elegant knight.

"It's a courtesy to address the members of the court using their title" Roman grinned, returning the blond man's hug.

"Yet, you never seem to do it for me" a quiet, sly voice said from behind Roman with a smirk.

"Kiddo!" Patton turned from Roman to greet the sorcerer before him. He wore a deep purple cloak with a few patches to fix the places he accidentally burned while training on his spells and potions.

"Hey Pat" Virgil smiled back and indicated towards the brown and polished table to Roman and Patton, who followed along.

"Where are Thomas and Logan?" Patton inquired as they sat down.

"In Logan's lab, I assume" Roman answered with the wave of his hand, "Logan believes he might have found a way to track down the Snake Man that's been causing so much trouble in the kingdom" he scowled at the mention of the Snake Man.

Patton nodded as Roman and Virgil fell into easy conversation.

The way the Snake Man, as they currently call him, had been able to twist and manipulate so many people by promising them a better, wealthier, future than they have now, only to betray them and leave them for dead was truly worrisome. As a lord of a part of the land under Thomas's ruling, Patton had seen firsthand of the atrocities the Snake Man had performed. From burning houses and fields of those who opposed him to leaving on the roads the dead bodies of those who once trusted him, he had no limit.
Worst than that, there were now reports of him gathering an army with his cult followers, which is why Thomas had gathered them all here today at his castle.

"I apologize for our tardiness" Logan walked into the hall, wearing his usual long, dark-blue coat for these meetings.
Thomas stood along side him, wearing his crown and a fine red cape that matched Roman's sash.

"Your Majesty" the three stood up to face Thomas, bowing their heads in a greeting.
Thomas beamed in return, happy to see them all together again, waving his hand as if to indicate that such formalities are unnecessary.

"Hello Logan" Patton smiled at him as well, to Logan's nods of recognition and quiet smile.

"Patton, you've arrived!" Thomas stepped to hug his childhood friend and trusted advisor.

Logan cleared his throat to get the two's attention, "I'd like to begin".

"Of course" Thomas took Patton by the hand to the large, round table and sat at his seat, taking off his crown.

"I believe we all know why we're here" Logan spread a map on the table.

"To take down that evil snake man!" Roman exclaimed, raising his fists to the air.

"Yes, very good" Logan brushed Roman's loud comment aside. "I believe I've found a way to locate him using this map that I found in Thomas's 'vault of magical possessions', as he calls it" Logan shot a look to Thomas who only shrugged his shoulders at the criticism of the mundane name.

"What other items are there in the vault? I've been meaning to look through it again for some time now" Roman interjected, "maybe we'll find other items that can help us defeat that Snake Man".

"I can't possibly list them all but at the top of my head.." Logan tried to remember, "there are a few cauldrons, some potion bottles, a coin that's labeled as "cursed! Do not touch" that Virgil, you might want to look into, a lot of books and- um" he coughed, "the book of reality".