The Doomsayer's Prophecy

The Doomsayer's Prophecy
In the bustling heart of the Empire's capital, where towering marble buildings cast long shadows over cobblestone streets, lies the grand Imperial Plaza. This central square, usually filled with merchants hawking their wares and citizens going about their daily business, had an air of unease this particular afternoon. Among the throng of people, a man stood upon a weathered wooden crate, his voice rising above the clamor, desperate to be heard.
The man, dressed in the tattered finery of a lower-ranking noble, bore the worn look of one who had fallen from grace. His once-pristine tunic was frayed at the edges, and his boots, though sturdy, were scuffed and muddied. His hair, unkempt and streaked with gray, framed a face etched with fervor and desperation. This was the Doomsayer, a figure both pitied and ignored by the masses.
"People of the Empire! Hear me!" he bellowed, his voice cracking with urgency. "I have received a prophecy from the gods Ius and Elisium themselves! The end of the world is upon us!"
Passersby quickened their steps, averting their eyes and murmuring among themselves. A few curious souls lingered at the edge of the gathering, their expressions a mix of skepticism and intrigue. The Doomsayer's eyes darted about, locking onto those who dared to listen.
"I have seen the vision clear as day!" he continued, raising a shaking hand to the heavens. "The gods spoke to me of a great cataclysm, a reckoning that will lay waste to all we hold dear. It is the Emperor's insatiable hunger for expansion that has set this doom in motion!"
A murmur rippled through the small crowd. The Doomsayer's voice grew louder, fueled by the faint spark of attention. "It is our imperial way, our relentless conquest, that has angered the gods! Ius, the god of justice, and Elisium, the goddess of death, have decreed that our arrogance will be our undoing. We have strayed from the path of righteousness, blinded by our own ambition!"
He pointed a finger toward the grand Imperial Palace, its spires piercing the sky. "The Emperor's greed knows no bounds! He has waged wars, crushed nations, and trampled over the lives of the innocent. In his quest for power, he has brought the wrath of the divine upon us!"
The crowd's interest began to wane, eyes flickering back to their mundane tasks. Yet, the Doomsayer pressed on, his voice trembling with conviction. "If we do not change our ways, if we do not abandon this path of destruction, the world as we know it will end! Famine, plague, and chaos will sweep across the land, and none will be spared. We must return to the old ways, to the virtues of humility, justice, and mercy. Only then can we hope to avert this disaster!"
As he spoke, the Doomsayer's fervor seemed to grow, his eyes wild with the intensity of his belief. But his impassioned plea was abruptly cut short by the sound of armored boots clanking against the cobblestones. The crowd parted as two imposing figures emerged: Black Knights, the Emperor's enforcers, their dark armor gleaming ominously in the afternoon light.
The Doomsayer's face paled as realization dawned upon him. He faltered, his voice catching in his throat. "No... no, please," he stammered, stepping back off the crate as the knights advanced. "I speak only the truth... the gods' truth!"
The Black Knights showed no mercy. They seized the Doomsayer by the arms, their grip unyielding. The crowd watched in stunned silence as he was dragged away, his cries of warning fading into the distance. The plaza gradually returned to its usual rhythm, the Doomsayer's prophecy soon forgotten by all but the few who had paused to listen.
In the shadow of the Imperial Palace, the warnings of Ius and Elisium went unheard, and the seeds of doom according to the Doomsayer continued to take root in the heart of the Empire.