The Traitor of Plyton

Lord Egen Soratova, former State Governor of Plyton, went down in history for turning traitor to the Empire which placed him in power and igniting a rebellion within his territory, all in service to his own hubris.   Fifty years ago, Governor Soratova formed a plan to inspire the people of Plyton to rebel against the Keizon Empire. His ultimate goal was to turn Plyton into an independent state, in which he would hold the highest authority. While he successfully manipulated the people into desiring independence and acting on it, the result did not meet his deluded expectations. Plyton rebelled, and continues to fight back against the Empire to this day; however, the Governor’s hope of successfully overthrowing the Empire’s forces were shattered when he was executed for treason.   Within the Keizon Empire’s establishment, his story serves as an example and a reminder to other State Governors to keep their ambitions in check and never let their loyalty to the Empire be turned. Because of the high office he held prior to his treason, the execution method was a rare one: rather than a hanging, which is more typical, Soratova was publicly burned to death.   Soratova’s behaviour at his execution was cowardly and selfish; right until the end he grovelled and pleaded for his life, trying to sell out the rebels in exchange, shocking his supporters present. This is how the story is told through official channels within the Empire. Within Plyton, opinion is divided whether Soratova was the self-serving fool which the Empire claims he is, or whether he was a martyr willing to stand up to oppression to free the country he had found himself responsible for. Given the Empire’s liberal use of propaganda to control the masses and suppression of any alternative narrative, this conclusion is a plausible one, but does not tally with eye-witness accounts of his execution. For those who believe the latter, Soratova has become a revered historical figure and symbol of resistance in the face of oppression.