The Homunculus Flunks the Touring Test (ibid)

[ergo sum]

The Long Squeeze.

The Bishop sat in his carriage a gold goblet in his hand filled with the new sparkling wine Friar Perignon had mistakenly created. His two companions were enjoying their beverage and smoking Cohiba La Habana, Cuba. The carriage was parked on the edge of the Cliff of No Return overlooking the Castle and the Manor below. Smoke drifted in the air.

In the Castle the mood remained jubilant with jesters, jugulars, acrobats and clowns performing all day long. A contest was held to see who could scale the castle walls the fastest. Much sport was made of the loser Basher Tribe. Those unfortunate enough to have been captured during the warfare were now held in bondage in the dungeon where they were treated to the most heinous tortures. Anyone found trying to break the bonds was threatened with death.

Early in the day the Palace Players tried to provide entertainment with a rendition of Beckett’s “Waiting For Godot.” The crowd would have no part of that however and demanded something with a lot more action. During the afternoon they returned with a second drama about the Prince and the Black Knight. Roars went up for the Prince and his every word was treated as gospel. “It is true so true” they heckled. While the Black Knight was jeered, spit upon and various vegetable matter was tossed at his every appearance. No one could stop it. The ending was seen by most to have been totally unacceptable. And the Players were once more accused of being worthless scoundrels.

After the players were removed and the markets closed up shop the Legions of Conversion turned angry once more with the rumors emanating from the dark Castle of the Slovenian Knight. Death threats were heard among the legions and a plan was put forth to gather up a posse and sever his head from his shoulders. What only a few moments ago was hailed as the total victory now took on the guise of resentment. Profits lost on profits not taken drove them practically insane with rage. Many who had put down the sword now took it back up with a call to arms.