I have previously mentioned, the rise and fall of Bree's power within, how they struggle over one another to hold claim to its proverbial throne's and how easily Bree would swallow them to make way for the new. During the time after Thalion, others had done so in true Bree-land tradition, I gave no disturbance to them. I had wondered since, about how i could influence such powers, about the kind of force they offer, Avasa previously was underhanded, Thalion was made of Soldiers, today it is knights, but the period after the Thalions saw a mixture, no real defined power over the rest and if anyone had actually gained a lead over the others, it was for mere days or weeks.
I had always been able to pull a house down from its lead, destruction had become an art mastered along ago, but a new growing sensation from within my own self had begun to warm itself to the creation of things. The arguments within my mind at this point, beyond control, the voices are no longer one but many, spanning in so many directions if i did not occupy myself during this time I was sure to be torn apart by madness. Before they had only spoken of the destruction of things, now it was all matters, somehow the view of politics had crept its way forward. My older, more hidden memories of the admiration of common folk had come forth within dreams. The quality of times gone by had arisen in thought when I was alone. My reaction to these was that i must no longer be true to my older, now out fashioned ways. I had to look for alternative ways to keep my mind at rest. The destruction of leaders was no longer satisfying to the clearest voice but i was to create my own group to grow into Bree's powers.
I had recalled Laiani by this point, her heart had been sunk by many events and she was no longer the girl that only did good deed, with this i had influenced her to recruit under my name. She did so well. She brought to this new sanctuary i created a number of names and they thought Laiani to lead while I lead her from behind curtains, after all, I had considered my own image to be to grim to present as a lead for others. For a short time, this group, this Shadows Sanctuary as we called it, did blossom, it grew and had it continued to do so, it would have be a contender to the Bree-land power. Yet the voices grew further unsatisfied, I no longer understood what their desires were, i could not for i had no answers left to give and there was no longer argue to have, the madness had struck over me and i was now unfit to lead this group and so i fled.
The group disbanded without me to give guidance but it was not concerned, I had ridden as far as Forochel and kept hidden under the frozen wasteland. I needed to be away from Bree's view, i had to learn to translate these mumblings within my skull or i was doomed to fall.
After weeks i found the voice familiar, it was but my own under different tones and attitudes. I had wanted or been so many things before in the past that each version of me had manifested inside my mind and began to fight for overall control, the most powerful of instincts always the loudest. The most quiet and subtle voice, i had gained focus on was that of myself if i had never been taken from Bree as a child, this man of a silver tongue, knowledgeable of the world, caring and soft, he wore the apron of a smith and surrounded himself with his faceless family, this man was who i would look towards when the rest shouted in the court i had imagined for myself in order to house the voices better.
My current self, always in chains as if a traitor knelt before a king, begging for forgiveness. The king within this court, he who demanded the most, he who sought utter control, that silenced the voices at the raise of his hand. The darkness i had found years ago, the one i came to for my plots, now musters itself for lead.
The vision that followed this man, the ultimate evil that lurked inside me, was that who stood over burning corpses proudly, behind him i could see the remains of what was once the Prancing Pony Inn, now no more than burning wood. As my vision would pull away, all of Bree could be seen in similar dismay, rotting corpse laid the roads with faces i had known up until this point. I would beg for the vision to stop there but further back i would pan, Bree-land itself a blackened tome, the dead littered is grounds, tree's half fallen and cast to fire. His kingdom, only that of death in order to quench his lust for blood.
The lords of this court, made up of further versions sharing my face and voice, an Assassin, a Spy, an Advisor, a Politician, a taxman. One dressed as if Rohirrim, another of Angmarim rags, one hundred different men stood before me casting judgement and all i could do was be on my knees, facing the floor in pure agony, willing the strength to silence them all but i had none. I had heard of such madness before, a doubtful mind, one who questioned every move he made until the day it seeps over the edge and forces him to withdraw. This i had hoped to be my blight for at least I can plan an exit from my entrapment. I had to know each in vision of myself and over throw the king. A game within my mind now cursed me. So I played along, the story is obvious and the outcome was I took that king by the throat and cast him aside, I sat in his throne and closed my eyes to revel in my personal victory, and opened them to find howling winds and a snow covered tent.
The Lossoth, had brought me back to health, or I had keyed together all pieces of a puzzle laid forth by my own mad imagining but a peace had come forth. I was once again of sound mind, but not without the warnings I had been given. I knew not how long I was in taken by this madness. I know not exactly what triggered it. I do however know its warning, I was prepared to return to Bree once again.
