When the Emperor conquered the 12 cities, he had the 5 great generals at his beck and call. With the Emperor's disappearance, his generals followed suit and left as well. No longer able to maintain their authority, the empire was reduced to a city state. Using their remaining wealth and power, they started to integrate children from villages that didn't have loyalties to the other cities. This allowed them a new, constant flow of talent into their ranks.
Arkham's village was not well off but they also did not suffer from any significant calamities. The villagers lead mundane, unchanging lives relatively close to the capital. On the day the Augustan emissaries came, the chosen youths had their destinies altered.
"My son, I know you'll do great things in the capital! Make sure you visit from time to time." Arkham's mother cried as she hugged her only son. "Use your time wisely!"
"I'm proud of you, son. Remember to do your best!" Arkham's father nodded as he agreed with his wife. "Just know that we will always be here for you!"
"I know, mother and father. I will make you proud!" Arkham affirmed with a smile as he left their home to follow the rest of the chosen.
The last exchange between Arkham and his parents echoed in his mind as he stood by the great river that cut into the capital. He was thrown out with nothing and was still processing all that happened.
"Damn it! What's wrong with them!? I deserve it as much as they do!" Arkham cursed as he kicked a rock into the river. "I can't go back like this!"
As Arkham was wondering how he was going to get out of this situation, he heard the sound of something crashing into the ground next to him. When he looked at the thrown object, it turned out to be a pouch of what sounded like coins.
"Hey Arkham! Here's some compensation." A young man laughed as he waved at Arkham from the top of a staircase. "That was a great show after all."
"Phineas!?" Arkham asked in confusion as he quickly picked up the pouch. It wasn't wise to leave money on the ground in Augusta. "Why!?"
"Sorry! You got the short straw, Arkham. They got too close to the truth and we needed a scapegoat." Phineas shrugged with a smirk on his face. "You're lucky I have some kindness at the bottom of my heart!"
"It was you? You framed me!?" Arkham shouted angrily, as he started to feel the coins dig into his hand. "I never liked you, you ass kissing bastard!"
"Woah, woah! This was just business and plus, it was Edwin who threw your name in." Phineas explained as he crossed his arms. "You know for two people from the same village, you're not as capable as he is."
"Why are you telling me all this?" Arkham frowned as he started to approach the stairs slowly.
"You're done Arkham! You can't stay here in Augusta! And if you somehow come back, we'll be distinguished scholars by that time! You can't win against us!" Phineas laughed as he took one step backwards up the stairs. "You just didn't know how to play the game, you think running your head into the wall would get you anywhere? This place is about connections not ability, not to say that you were even close to us in that!"
CLANG CLANG CLANG
Arkham threw the pouch of coins back at Phineas but he was too quick and it hit the stairs instead. As a result, the coins all flew everywhere and caused many back alley dwellers to come clawing for the coins.
"Mine!"
"Precious!"
"Coin!"
Arkham ignored the mayhem happening at his feet and grabbed only enough coins for his journey. If he had it his way, he wouldn't use any of it but he needed something to be on his way. Having too big of a pouch would also draw unnecessary attention.
The great river, Vita, ran from the far north of the continent into Augusta where it then divided into three smaller rivers, Primus, Cordus and Tertius. It was more accurate to say that the capital was built where the river split for easy transport across the eastern side of the continent.
Arkham was planning to take a ship and bide his time in a new city. It took him a bit of asking around the river side until finally he got what he was looking for. It was a simple merchant ship that also had room for travelers as well.
"Are you going to Iunia?" Arkham asked the man sitting on the deck next to the ship.
"Of course, that's the only city near the Primus river!"
Arkham paid the man and made his way on board. When the appointed time came, Arkham watched the city go by as the boat left the dock. Even after 200 years, it was still the greatest city on the continent. Even if Arkham made it big in the other cities, none of that would come close to overcome the shame that Augusta had bestowed upon him.
The amount of trade and diverse people in the city was staggering, control of the river and her children had astounding benefits. But all of this was on the surface, hidden out of sight was the forces that held tightly onto past imperial power. Arkham would need to challenge these forces to overturn his predicament.
"I have to start somewhere." Arkham sighed as he looked down at the river's blue water.
But a sudden shout from the riverside soon drew his attention.
"Hey! Dumping into the river is a heavy crime!" A guard shouted as he nodded to his comrades to surround the perpetrator. "To the dungeon with you!"
"Sir, please! I only accidentally dropped the bucket in!" A man in rags cried apologetically as he slowly backed up. "I won't do it again honest!"
"You accidentally dropped shit into the Great River!?"
"What makes you say that it was shit, good sir?" The man nervously smiled as he shrugged. "It was beef stew or at least it was once."
"We can tell from that monstrous odor! Where's your identification!? Give it at once!"
"It's right here, sir!" The man said as he reached behind his ripped pants. "Here is the only way to identify me!"
The next thing the guards knew, the man had flung his excrement at them. He then suddenly dashed away, trying to make for the sewers.
"Ahahahahaha! You'll never catch me!"
With that, the crazy man disappeared back into his home, leaving the guards dumbfounded. Arkham chuckled a little at the scene he had just witnessed.
"I won't miss this nonsense in Iunia. Phineas! Edwin! Just you wait! I'll make sure you guys give that plague spreading coot some nice company!"