yopplwasupxxx 5663 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Aylwin Blaxton (Naumarian: Alvin Blakton) was a Haeseni courtier and diplomat serving the majority of the life under the service of the Amador family, as well as numerous ambassador positions. He is most notable for his ‘Memoirs of Aylwin Blaxton’, an autobiographical account of his life. His memoirs record a typically shunned part of history, revealing the complicated political scene of the Marian court and the struggles and exploits of the Haeseni émigrés during the Coalition Wars and brief occupation period. Later in his life, Aylwin settled in Pruvia and retained high positions in the principality and died shortly before the Pruvian Inheritance to King Stefan of Haense. (OOC: Full credit to @MarquisAlex who wrote all of this, posting this for easier access. Links to his originals below: https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/157760-the-memoirs-of-aylwin-blaxton-book-1/?tab=comments#comment-1492858 https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/157915-the-memoirs-of-aylwin-blaxton-book-2/ https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/158112-the-memoirs-of-aylwin-blaxton-book-3/ https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/158744-the-memoirs-of-aylwin-blaxton-book-4/ https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/158822-the-memoirs-of-aylwin-blaxton-book-5/ https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/159307-the-memoirs-of-aylwin-blaxton-book-6/ https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/161235-the-memoirs-of-aylwin-blaxton-book-7/ https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/157760-the-memoirs-of-aylwin-blaxton-book-8/ ) --- THE MEMOIRS OF AYLWIN BLAXTON WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF AYLWIN BLAXTON PUBLISHED BY HIEROMAR LUDOVAR THE ELDER, SSE --- BOOK I Spoiler CHAPTER I The soft winter snows of Haense slowly cascade from the sky as a young man exits the Church of St. Karlsburg, the silken snowflakes catching to his curly brown locks and bushy brown beard, whilst the doors of God's house squeamishly close behind him. alma mater. For three years now, Aylwin Blaxton has been studying within the strong walls of Karlburg, seat of the infant Marius I Barnabov. His education, under the tutelage of the church, has been concerned with the politics of the realms of men; the faction squabbles that attempt to convince and coerce those that hold power, the influences of the 'higher beings' to preserve the virtues of this world within the context of the saints and other-worldly beings, as well as the nature of feudalism as a conduit for maintaining and securing power. Yet for all his knowledge of the politics of the human world, for all the lessons he had learned during his Artium Baccalaureus, it would not have prepared him for the news he would receive. Father, Mother, both of them dead at the hands of bandits. Lawless raiders, who had slain the good townsfolk of Mondstadt for the riches and resources that it had to offer, before rolling back into the forests and out of the sights of the military. Such was the case of late, with rumors circulating that the young Baron Owyn Amador was taken into the House of Barbanov, for his own safety. Father was a travelling merchant of Amador, whilst his mother was a simple serf, working the lands of the Baron. It was now Aylwin's job to collect the meager hundred-minas that was left for him by his father, the rest stolen by those raiders, who now had the blood on their hands of innocents. He traveled to the keep of Barnabov and there met the Baron Amador, requesting his inheritance and a house within the walls of Mondstadt to call his own, which was duly granted to him because of the circumstances he found himself in. On the way from Karlsburg to Mondstadt, the infant Baron inquired to the education that Aylwin received under the church, to which Aylwin replied honestly and humbly. With an interest in the answer he received, the Lord Amador offered to bring this young student, who was only a decade his elder, to the courts of Kings and Nobility. How could such a possibility be refused? It could not, alia iacta est, carpe diem. This was how a recent graduate from St.Karlburg, with no wealth or high social status, was given the opportunity to meet those he had written of in his works, dei gratia. --- CHAPTER II Mondstadt was an interesting barony, with stone walls that protected the homes and municipal industries that swerved down the street, like the sea shells that could be found on the Haeseni coast. At the center of the shell that was Mondstadt, sat a large wooden manor with blue and white banners flying from the walls and windows, the Amador Manor. With a gracious greeting from the townsfolk of Mondstadt, alongside provisions and his old family home, I summoned to this manor. Inside, the old stone hearth flickered with wisps of flame dancing shadows over the wooden beams of the halls, whilst the shadowy figures stood in the court of the Baron. The first, and most obvious, was the Baron himself. Baron Owyn Amador, a child who had not yet seen his fourteenth winter in this world, yet attempted to be the Baron that the peasantry and low-borns like myself looked up to for protection. Stood opposite him were two individuals: Sandry Farsight and his young daughter, Annebelle Farsight. Sandry was a gruff individual, with a scar down the left-hand side of his face, barely missing his eye as it reached down into a small beard. He donned the tabard of House Amador, for whom he worked as the principle commander of the Amador forces. The shadow that was curled up next to him, clinging that tabard was Annebelle, a Young Highlander beauty with long strands of dark hair and large eyes that took in all that was around her. After making formal introductions, the Baron sat himself on the central throne of the Court, whilst the Farsights took up a nearby bench. It was the Lord Baron's wish that I be sent off outside the realms of this Kingdom, in search of a potential love-match for himself, to continue House Amador's noble lineage. And while I was at it, attempt to find a potential love match for Dorm Amador also, whose recent attempts failed. At this time, the Holy Orenian Empire was no longer an aspect of this Axios. Johannesburg, once the seat of Imperium for the human races of Tahn, was now a ruin. The air around it was thick with a dark blue mist, which was blisteringly cold to inhale and was said to could cause insanity or death to those who ventured too close. This capital sat in the middle of the Valley of the Emperors, past the Greyspine Mountains. Since the death of that Empire, the Realms of the Horen had undergone a mass balkanization in, where the ducal seats of the former empire transformed into the Kingdoms of Hanseti-Ruska, Courland, Lotharingia, Norland and the Westerlands. I was thus sent first to speak to the nobles of the Kingdom of Lotharingia, once the ducal realm of Lorraine-Savoy, seat of House d'Amaury. It was, thus, that I mounted the courser-horse that was granted to me with a Diplomatic writ, before speeding beyond the Valley of the Emperors to the vast savanna beyond, towards Ponce. --- CHAPTER III The mission to the Kingdom of Lotharingia had took me to see many of the surrounding fiefdoms which dotted the Lorraine-Savoy landscape. Places such as the Barony of Ponce, the County of Cleves, the Ruins of the Chancellery and Amien. All places which ignited my imagination of the glory that was the Kingdom of Lotharingia. The King of Lotharingia, John d'Amaury, had recently died. He had left his wife ruling as the regent of the Kingdom, with the help of the lords of the land, in the stead of the new heir to the Throne, Lothar d'Amaury. It was my mission to talk to the Queen-Regent Charlotte and her court, to look for potential love matches for the Lord-Baron Owyn Amador. Clutching my diplomatic writ, I arrived at Metz, the Capital of the Kingdom of Lotharingia. Riding up the steps on my horse, I travelled towards the Keep, where the knights of the holy order of St.Lother were guarding and patrolling. Presenting my writ, I was taken into the Court. I found myself stunned to find the Young heir to the throne in the court of the Kingdom, instead of his Mother or his lords. Whilst attempting to maintain a level of dignity and humility before the young King-to-Be, I present my diplomatic writ, explaining my travel in these lands. I made it a matter of professional principle to carry these diplomatic writs with me throughout any of the realms that I traveled to, as to ensure the protection of myself and any entourage, and to assure the men of the court that I was no enemy to fear. Lothar d'Amaury took well to my travel and allowed me then to seek the Lords of his realm, so that I may ask for potential love matches. With two steps back in a low bow, before turning on the heel towards the door, I thanked the King-to-be for his time and made my way to his Vassals. The first of which was the Lord-Despot of Nicaea, Constantinos Palaiologos. He was a lively fellow, with a large, bushy beard as mine. He welcomed me into his Court and stated that he did have a daughter that he wished to marry off, which I made quick work to note down. Thanking him for his time, I offered that myself and the Baron Amador arrive some time in the future to discuss the detail, to which he agreed. I made my way through the various different vassal-lands of Lotharingia to no avail of a bride, thus taking my results to Mondstadt. The Baron was pleased with the result and made haste his visit to the Despotate of Nicaea, wishing to not waste time with such a potential match. However, once we got there with our small entourage, we found the gates shut and the Despot talking with some of the men of Lotharingia. After they had concluded their business, which was not to be expected, we were permitted into the hold. The Despot Constantinos had the company of whom I believe to have been his nephew, as well as the Lord de Bar, who had been a thorn in my side concerning diplomatic affairs. He had taken to insulting the Lord Amador, but was soon on his way as the arrangements for a betrothal were finalized. I felt so alive with the results I was able to get for the Baron, so pleased... That was until the said Constantinos decided to then leave the regency council of Lotharingia and flee to Courland. Lord Amador was lenient, pleased with the result despite the now lack of a bride, a promising start to the long road ahead. --- CHAPTER IV It has been known since as long as there has been men on Tahn that would grant the ennoblement of some families over others: House Amador makes its money as merchants with the Realms of Men. The same was no different within this new regime of which I found myself in. After the sad dismissal of the Despot Constantinos Palaiologos from the Regency Council of Lotharingia, which left him seeking aid from the Kingdom of Courland, the Baron decided to take matters into his own hands with the matter of finding a bride. In the meantime, I was dispatched to the Trade Federation of Sutica, to attempt to garner friendly relations as I had done in Lotharingia. With quill, ink and parchment, I created the diplomatic writ and began to book sea-passage to the Isle of Sutica. Sutica was off the coast of the continent of Tahn and counted as a continent in it's own right, just like the Realm of Haria. Sutica had run on the basis of a meritocracy and republic, which was spearheaded by a Trade-Princess. It was my mission to talk to the Trade Princess and her ministers and ingratiate myself with them and their culture. Knowing next to nothing of the place or the people, I inquired around Mondstadt and found that the Young Annebelle Farsight had once lived in Sutica as a child. In exchange for teaching her some practice in the art of Diplomacy, I offered to allow her to tag along as my guide, an offer she took up with some fervour. It was on this travel with Annebelle that I learned a great deal about her: she was in love with the Lord Boris Ruthern, Count of Mettenden and Guardian of the Greyspine pass out of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. At first, I placed this down to some childish fantasy. A low-born daughter of a Barony's Military commander, to wed a Count? But as the details grew and grew, I sensed that there was probably a lot of truth to the tale, endeavouring to do my best for the young girl. She also happened to have been a childhood friend of the Baron for as long as she could remember, but was constantly scared of being seen with the Count, for fear that the Baron would disapprove of the match. After this long conversation on the roads and seas, we reach Sutica, where I happened to learn some of the exotic creatures that dwelled within this fine world that GOD had created for us. The Trade-Princess and her Husband, who was the acting Trade minister, received the diplomatic writ signed by Lord Amador without hesitation. A smile cracked on the lips of the Princess, as she realized the prim and proper attitude that was carried forward by myself in such transactions. I admit myself hot-under-the-collar and flustered by her response, but nonetheless attempted to treat her and her husband with the respect they deserved. I spent some time conversing with them and their subject, building the networking lanes that would no doubt prove useful in the future. It was then that the Lord Baron Owyn showed up, carrying in his hand an edict from the King of Haense. --- CHAPTER V On 14th of Malin’s Welcome, 1598, H.R.H King Marius I Barbanov made a proclamation of a 'Resolute Realm'. Within the document, he asked for the Highlander people to maintain their zealous camaraderie and commitment to the Dual-Monarchy, alongside three virtues of the state: Unity, Honour & Respect. After this, H.R.H King Marius mentioned that a set of new edicts would be coming forward to make this 'Resolute Realm' a reality. I could tell from the wording that this could only spell trouble for House Amador. The proclamation was too nicely worded and hinted at further edicts, which in turn must have meant that these edicts to come were going to be rather unpopular with some level of society, my own thoughts being on the Barony. With a word from the Baron, I set off back to Mondstadt to measure the Barony, but not before the Baron received a Royal Summons to the King's Court. Naturally, the Young Baron asked of me to attend the meeting, to help mediate what may occur. Once in St. Karlsburg, H.R.H King Marius met us inside his keep and quickly shuffled us to a meeting table, as the Queen-Mother organised a meal for our discussion. It would have appeared that the King had been seeing the Lords of the Realm and requested a one-time payment to help with the resolute realm. The Baron Amador decided to pay an amount over the request value, to which the King and Lord Maer Lucas Vanir were most pleased, deciding to dedicate a new library to the Late Baron. I did not believe this to be a true exchange for the sum offered, so then I made a counter-suggestion, with the permission of my Lord. The King and the Maer, saddened that their offer did not seem to match the wishes of the House, agreed to my counter-offer. We left thus on reasonable terms, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Once the meeting was concluded and we were back in Mondstadt, I went into the Amador Office and began to write up a small plenary of the events thus far. The Baron Amador congratulated me on my work, but then passed unto me two new documents: The Vassal Ordinance Edict of 1598 & the Interior Edict of that same year. These two documents placed together allowed me then to see the full picture; The King planned to curb the the powers of the Nobility, by halting the construction of further edifices and limiting their land to a set amount of acres. It became clear to me that, should the Minister of the Interior wish, he would cut down Mondstadt's size considerably and we would be forced to demolish all that the Kingdom did not agree too. This included, though reasonably in my mind, the unfinished keep that Owyn's father had started before he passed away. It was a troubling pair of edicts, but with help from the Wardens of Mondstadt, we began to measure out the dimensions of the Barony to date. It was my hope to converse with the Minister of the Interior, to reach some mediation between House Amador and the Crown's Edicts, which would then make us seem less like reluctant participants. --- CHAPTER VI It was at this point in my youthful-diplomatic career that I gauged the waters that I was to swim were hazardous and likely to end with some trouble down the end of the road. After reading the edicts and measuring out Mondstadt, it became obvious that come clarification of the edicts would be required, for the land that Mondstadt took up was within the limits of set out by the Dual Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. However, this would only be the case if the Interior minister did not wish to compact the Noble lands, for which he held sway now, into neatly organised boxes. Thus I arranged to meet with the Interior Minister, Diedrik Barrow, within the halls of the keep at St. Karlsburg. Diedrik Barrow was a man of short-temperament, quick lip, and ruthless agenda. Throughout his tenure as the Interior Minister for H.R.H King Marius, he had gained a reputation with the Lords of the Realm for being a man who would get his task done, no matter of the costs. At this meeting that I held with him, the initial clarification that I required of the edicts was answered in a short and sharp manner, befitting his prominence. It was his wish to have the Lords of Hanseti-Ruska allocated tidy plots of land, set within strict parameters and made measures to demolish any and all buildings that were surplus to this requirement. So then the second of the questions were thus to follow, requesting for the Minister to wait a while until such time as the Baron Amador may receive Royal Letters announcing his ascension to the title of 'Count'. For a while since these happenings of the state, the Baron Amador had been taking pains to improve his standing within the Kingdom and with the King, donating funds to a library project and being an erstwhile vassal to the Crown of the Dual Monarchy. It was hinted in various conversations that such an arrangement was due to take place. Needless to say, the Minister of the Interior did not take to this news lightly, having planned to march to Mondstadt and begin the demolition of any buildings he believed to be in breach of the Interior Edict. It was only by my persistent persuasion to stay his hand did he decide to do so, after several attempts to deflect such measures as insults to the wisdom of either H.R.H King Marius or the Interior Ministry, much to my frustration. The Minister of the Interior did eventually create an ultimatum, that he would speak to the King on this matter and he would act according to the King's wishes, after several attempts to push down his own ego to emphasise a joint-loyalty to the crown we knelt to. As I did not hear from him after this, I assumed the King took the side of Mondstadt over his Minister. It was then I received word from the Baron Amador, summoning me back to Mondstadt for a diplomatic assignment. --- CHAPTER VII Before leaving for Mondstadt, I happened upon a rather young beauty in the streets of St.Karlsburg by the name of Erin Locksey, a steward for the city and merchant. She was a polite and gentle soul, who preferred to make coin in the markets and earn an honest living, rather than deal with the political squabbles of the Lords as I had to. This acquaintance that I had made soon flourished into a decent friendship as I began to talk to her, discovering that she was betrothed to one John Van Loden, brother of the now Acting Maer Floris Van Loden, both strapping young men who attempted to set up a Labor Guild in the streets of St.Karlsburg to stimulate the economy of the city. Floris was hit by a stray rock during my conversations with this merchant family, slashing open a segment of his skin on the shoulder, which I attended to with some limited medical knowledge. Fortunately, a doctor with a jungle-like appearance soon came forward to assist Floris van Loden, as I conversed with him about my role as a Diplomat to the House Amador. He seemed to have taken a liking to me, and I to him. However, I realized that I had spent so much time in conversation with the van Loden family, that I had neglected to go attend to my Lord's aid! I therefore rushed back over to Mondstadt. The Baron Amador had summoned me to send me back on a diplomatic mission to Lotharingia, in order to purchase a small estate within the Kingdom of Lotharingia, so that it may serve as a trading outlet. His mother, one Anna Sophia Pruvia-Horen, had left home whilst Owyn was still growing up to take up the title of Pruvia-Horen from that of Amador. It was a wish of the Baron to see his mother again and feel her embrace, a sensation that he had not felt in such a long time. Such knowledge of her disappearance had been kept behind closed doors, but I was also ordered to request the now King Lothar d'Amaury to aid in the search for his own Aunt. I wasted no time in going to Metz, marching up to the castle and being permitted entry to the Court of the H.R.H King of Lotharingia, customarily bowing and taking every precaution possible to make it seem that I was not rude to the newly crowned King. After some brief pleasantries within the introduction were carried out, I passed on my diplomatic writ to H.R.H King Lothar and discussed the matter of the estate, to which he requested time to consider the proposal. He also said, though with a very gloomy demeanour, that he would aid in the disappearance of his Aunt, Anna Sophia. As this session of court was adjourned for the day, I spent some time talking to the King and his younger brother, before hearing word that the Baron's mother was indeed within the city some days later after I had left. Naturally, I traveled back to Mondstadt to inform the Baron of the news, to which he spent no time preparing his horse to travel personally to Metz. In his entourage, he decided to bring with him my own brother, Ayldan Blaxton. Ayldan had been sent to squire whilst I was sent to the church for education, however, despite being ten years my junior, I was pleased to see him return to family. The Baron also brought with him the darling Annebelle Farsight, whom I thought to now suited to enter the court of royalty. Together, we reached Metz and went to the Keep of H.R.H King Lothar, where we were swiftly permitted entry to the Court. Indeed, Anna Sophia was present in the Court and after presenting the formalities of entering the court and discussing with the King about the estate, the Baron Owyn went to talk alone with his mother and embrace her. The Fawn found his Mother, wishing there and then to potentially turn the trading estate he wished to purchase into a home where he may see his mother more often. --- CHAPTER VIII It's at this point in my memoirs that I should pay notice to the nativity I possessed of my station. Like a thunderclap that would disrupt babes from their sleep, a revelation occurred to me: Should they wish to, the enemies of House Amador could see this land purchase as a potential attempt to cede from the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, indeed to create a circumstance which could imperil any of those involved. With this foremost in my thoughts, I rushed Annebelle Farsight and Ayldan Blaxton out of the court and talked with them in a discrete manner. I made no word of a lie when I said that this arrangement should be kept a secret from anyone other than those present, since people could and would die if this information was given to a person with malicious intent. A mistake I would come to realize soon as Annebelle left the entourage. For you see, House Amador had recently been involved with a couple of insults and disagreements with the Count Boris Ruthern of Mettenden, Annebelle Farsight's betrothed. At the Tourney of Mettenden, the Lord Boris insulted myself and the House Amador, which led to us striking our banners and leaving the tourney to return home. I was thus sent out to attempt to repair relations and receive an apology from Lord Boris, since House Amador had gifted his House the wood that was necessary to create his tourney grounds in the first place. The Lord did agree to apologise for the 'alleged' insult that he had dished out only hours ago, but it did not seem to fixed the rift that I had attempted to patch, despite the Baron being pleased with the result and naming me his Chancellor. After returning to Mondstadt, an army gathered outside of the main gate, with Lord Boris Ruthern and Prince Otto Barbanov at its head. They demanded entry in the name of the King, to which the Baron Amador obliged, only for us to be arrested and taken to the Court of H.R.H King Marius. Baron Owyn Amador was accused of High Treason, with the intention of ceding from the Dual Kingdom. Indeed the very thing I had attempted to prevent. Lord Boris held within him a zealotry and desire to see House Amador brought low that day, but after the Lady Annebelle was brought forward and attested that the turn of events that I describe to you now here were true, the Princes Otto and Josef judged Lord Amador to not be guilty of High Treason. Instead, blame was laid squarely at my feet, to which I regretfully accepted on the basis of inadequate diplomacy. Oh how I blamed Lord Boris for this humiliation to myself and the House Amador, but the fault was mine. --- CHAPTER IX I suppose, back then, I should have been far more grateful to almighty GOD and his will. For it was by his will and that of the young Annebelle Farsight, the betrothed of Lord Boris Ruthern of Mettenden, that I had retained by head or any other part of my anatomy. Had it been by his will or that of the Crown-Princes of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, I would have suffered far worse than the indignity that I was to suffer for my naive actions. The Lord Baron Amador was given no choice but to strip me of my rank within his household, lest he wished me to sever me from the neck or from the knuckles. Thus, I went down into the Cellars of the Amador Manor and managed to acquire from those stores a casket of twelve wine bottles. With these bottles, I traveled out of the main hall and passed the gate, where the Lord-Baron was conversing with a stranger, of whom I knew little and cared even less. Instead, I went to a nearby tower for which I held the key to, opening the door and locking myself in. I cannot remember much of what transpired after that event... Only that I took one bottle, after another, after another. Until, finally, I had thrown myself into such a terrible rage that fragments of glass laid around me. I had spent all my energy and anger in this confined space, like a tormented animal locked in a cage, before passing out cold on the stone slabs of the floor. Wine and alcohol caked my tabard and clothing. Next I knew of it, I was feeling the heavy splashed of water against my face, jerking up out of reaction to the angry faces of Erin Lockley and the Baron Amador. They had taken pains to drag me from my tower and place me in my own bed, where they had spent a large amount of time nursing me through some chronic alcoholic's illness. The Baron Amador and Lady Lockley comforted me in my current situation, before the Lord had to leave to attend formal matters. Erin was kind to me, as if sent by the Saints of the Canonist Church to watch me through this hangover. It was then, whilst conversing over her trade in St.Karlsburg that I hit upon a clever idea. A Lottery. A lottery which would allow the winner to receive an amount of minae, whilst also saving some face from the debacle that was the trial, the source of the House's humiliation. I passed on this idea to the Lord, in time, but how was I to know the effects that would lead us out of the hands of peace and into the lands of war. --- CHAPTER X On 10th of the Amber Cold, 1599, the History of the known world came down to a singular, remarkable individual. This young man, whom I had believed to be the epitome of the statesman and diplomat, would be killed in the most horrendous fashion, by a man who would have fervently sought the end of his King's wishes, until they no longer aligned with his. It was on this bitterly cold day that H.R.H King Marius I Barbanov of St. Karlsburg and Hanseti-Ruska called together his Court of Nobles and subjects, to discuss the bitterly accepted Interior act, which the Interior Minister, Diedrik Barrow, had been ruthlessly pursuing. I was stood in a line with the Amador Wardens, near the Baron Amador, and surrounded by an uneasy amount of spectators. The King had scarcely got a word in about the Court and his intentions, firstly to knight a young warrior to his household guard and then to talk on the Resolute Realm before a gust of wind blew into the hall, making the many banners of Barbanov fly near the Princes Otto and Josef. On this coat-tails of this wind, as if by some fantasy, A resplendent gentleman stepped forward into the court, with eyes pinned onto him and a large feeling of dissatisfaction falling like a pale on all. This was the Prince Meric of House Staunton-Hearth. He had come, asking for the King Marius to consider further diplomatic correspondence towards a more amicable relation between the Haense and Courland. A prospect that saw the court fly into uproar. On this moment the Minister Barrow stood behind the Prince, attempting to shove the prince out of the way whilst he was conversing with the king. Such an act was intolerable to myself, once a diplomat too. I was one of a few in that court shouting to the King. This gentleman of another Realm has come to our land offering friendship. Friendship that should be given with like in turn, by offering the Prince Meric diplomatic immunity, until such time has he would have left the realm. My oratory in this regard had been thrown to the abuse of the court, which flew the names of the dead that had been killed at court like many different stones at a martyr, though some did support my opinion. The King scolded the Minister Barrow for his actions and indeed agreed with the Prince Meric for further correspondences. As Barrow stormed off, the Prince ingratiated the King for his wisdom, before setting out himself. It would be the last I saw of the man, who I believed to have acted in such a brave and professional manner. Moments later, when the King had gathered control of the court for what he wished to speak of, a scream echoed from the stone walls. Adrijana Kovachev, a girl of some similarity to the young Annebelle Farsight (though often of much more forceful demeanour) shouted that the Prince had been killed in the streets of Karlsburg. Murdered. Naturally, the Wardens ran out to the scene, but no body was found... instead a blood-trail left behind carried us out of the gate of the capital and into the snows by the wall. The death of Prince Meric of the House Staunton-Hearth, nephew of H.R.H King Tobias Staunton of the Kingdom of Courland, was a deep and sorrowful tragedy which was felt, not only by the people of Courland, but by the Immediate Court of King Marius I Barbanov. The air of hope that had surrounded the Prince's intentions was now quite lost. Lost to the crossbow bolt from a Haeseni rebel, who took his own interests over that of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, before being smashing the enigmatic Prince's body. It was this event, that I truly believe, that our current plight could have been resolved, as it brought together those with honest intent and sought to foster a peace that the late Prince had desired with H.R.H. King Marius. From this moment onward, Axios had been set adrift, at the mercy of History's Restless Tides. A search for Diedrik Barrow, the Interior Minister with whom I had conversed the realities of the Interior act (1598) later that year, was ordered... though to no avail. BOOK II Spoiler CHAPTER XI Prince Meric Staunton-Hearth's death had caused great uncertainty between the Kingdoms of Courland and Hanseti-Ruska, so much so that each side was suspected of already beginning to make way for the black clouds of war, by beginning to gather supplies and muster troops. In these dark hours that I too found myself, I hoped that some peaceful resolution could be found between the Houses of Staunton and Barbanov, that some means of peace could be utilized by either side, however the Missives between H.R.H King Marius I & H.R.H King Tobias seemed to only cause more distrust. With this being the case, I thought it best to sign myself up to Lord Amador's Levy, after he had been proclaimed a Count by the Royal letters of H.R.H King Marius I. I had failed at being a diplomat, much to my great shame, but in the art of war I may be able to distinguish myself somewhat. Ayldan, my dear brother, had always been the more martial of the pair of us... Nonetheless, as he had gone to protect the Lady Annebelle Farsight in Metterden, I deemed it the best course of action. I joined Count Owyn Amador's Levy and was soon promoted to the rank of Footman, after several nights of training, hunting and war games. The Count seemed pleased that I had made myself useful once more, and was willing to hear me when it came to the work on increasing the size of the Amadorian coffers, which had slowly been declining since Lord Owyn had came into his title as Baron. The Lottery would be moved to Karlsburg and I would be there to push the offer to the general populace, it was hoped that the generosity of House Amador would help Lord Owyn gain favour again since the trial, whilst potentially making a tidy profit if enough people subscribed. ---- CHAPTER XII It was during this time, whilst I was working in Karlsburg, that the strangest occurrence then happened to me. Whilst talking with my Brother, Ayldan, a stranger walked up to me. He called me 'Ser' and addressed me with an esteem that, I admit, was completely lost on me. He had said that he had come searching for me, because I was a man of distinguished nature and character, a person whom his own superior would like to meet and talk with. Of course, at first, I was naturally reluctant. But I decided to follow him, if not for my own interest in the intrigues behind me. The nameless subordinate took me on a long walk, all the way to Metz. We passed the Ruins of Johannesburg and down the savannah... speaking constantly of our views on Religion, God, Duty And War. It was clear to me that we were not exactly singing from the same hymn sheet. Regardless, he eventually took me to the Castle of Metz, where one Ser Aurelius was waiting in the throne room. The subordinate claimed to have brought me forward to join the Knights of St. Lothar as a member of the Holy Order. Now, I am a reasonable man, but I am also a devout believer in the Canonist Church in Haense. I was stunned to say the least at these bold claims, indeed I think the Grandmaster too was also stunned, as we had previously met whilst I was working as a diplomat in H.R.H King Lothar's Court. The Grandmaster was polite and eloquent, but did not persuade me to the cause, as I would feel uncomfortable joining a Holy Order of Knights whilst being in my Lord's retinue. Therefore, I respectfully declined and went on my way. ---- CHAPTER XIII Returning back to St. Karlsburg, I started up the stall to host the lottery and indeed worked hard to push the first batch of lotto-stones for the lottery, many were inclined to join into the lottery and it proved to be a phenomenal success. There were several issues that plagued the city whilst I did so, sadly. Big, bullishness men known as the Brawms, who had begun to raid the outlying city limits after they proclaimed an independence from the Haense. All during a time of political uncertainty in Tahn. Naturally, H.R.H King Marius could not take this affront to his state, this insubordination that could weaken the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska when there was potential for war with Courland. Within these raids, which the Brawms ravished over the countryside and fiefdoms of the Dual-Kingdom, it was suspected that Heartlanders and Courlanders were aiding the insurrection against the Crown. Ser Viktor of the King's Guard suspected as much many times to me whilst I was selling my Lord's wares at the stall. It was not long after this that the Gryphon and the Hounds were found fighting in the streets of St.Karlsburg. Lord Henrik Kovachev, Duke of Carnatia and Loyal servant of H.R.H King Marius I, was caught in a bitter struggle within one of the back alleys of the City. An encounter which would cost him his life and raise the tempers of all loyal Highlanders within the Kingdom. The Kovachevs called that the blood of their Duke could only be paid back by the blood of slain dogs....the corpses of the Brawms. War, at this point, had begun. ---- CHAPTER XIV Volleys of Stones flew through the air, whipping across the cloudy skies above the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, smashing into the stone parapets that lined the walls of the Keep at Houndsden. The ropes swiped over the timber which clung to the monstrous trebuchets, causing the terrible creaking of wood and the snapping of cords, with each new stone being flung to the enemy keep. As part of the Amador Levy, I was placed on such a trebuchet, with Sandry Farsight and Wulfrey working in pace with me to keep up the assault. The Lord Amador had been positioned with some of the other Lords of the Kingdom, whilst they received scouts reports and changed our targets accordingly, all behind a large wooden palisade that surrounded us all. Several waves of brave men attempted to kill the defenders inside, sending waves of arrows against them like the tidal waves smash against the coast, with many of them gaining their own distinctions in the art of war. My own Brother, Ayldan, was positioned on a trebuchet near our position. That was until we were called into a final charge which occupied Houndsden. After that battle, which I recall favourably, Ser Viktor Kovachev placed a Staunton Banner at the feet of myself and the Lord Maer Floris Van Loden. They had been supported. This was carried forward with the peasantry and stragglers of the siege committing themselves to more lawless raids, instead of retiring to some hovel to live out the rest of their lives. Nonetheless, whilst we had been dispatching of traitors, the political theater worsened. The Princess Annabel Staunton-Hearth, niece of H.R.H King Tobias and sister of the deceased Prince Meric was captured in the streets, whilst Count Boris Ruthern of Mettenden sued for peace with the Kingdom of Courland. His efforts left him cut down by men in Alexandria. H.R.H King Marius I Barbarnov sent an Ultimatum to H.R.H King Tobias of Courland, but was rejected. Houndsden was just a warm-up. Now Real War had come. ---- CHAPTER XV I find myself, on this day, within my stone house in Mondstadt. I gaze at the bed of wool and cloth, to the bookcases dotting my many diplomatic writs, and to my warm hearth. Should I have put myself forward as a candidate to halt this terrible madness which had pitted Man against Man? I, a commoner by birth, who could perhaps reach some accordance with H.R.H King Tobias on H.R.H King Marius I's whim. Should I have die, my blood split on the stones of some hall and it would matter little. I found myself questioning everything that had been leading up to this point. "What sure judgement can one make of the effects of that follow these great commotions? Who can mark, after the event, the exact point at which the bridges of diplomatic communication should crumble? At what juncture is it necessary to forego all efforts to rebuild those dialogues in favor of drawing the sword?" I concluded with myself, there and then, that the Death of the Prince Meric Staunton-Hearth was the greatest seminal tragedy that had befallen mankind since the destruction of Johannesburg. A simple event where one man, who if he shalt have lived, would have prevented this awful drama that we now saw all of us in, a play that would see many men dead... women raped... children murdered. If only then that we had prevented his death and we would not see the horrors that are to come. With such horrors came renewed raids, but this time from Courlandic troops, attacking every fiefdom within the Kingdom and the black clouds of war sprawled over the Greyspine Pass. ---- CHAPTER XVI It was in strange circumstance that I would find myself to behold one of the most regal and dignified noble women of our time. Indeed, as I was beginning to stop the sale of the Lotto-stone for the Amador Lottery, due to the wartime ahead, I was ushered by a Kovachev Soldier. Scouts had reported that a large raiding party would soon enter through the Greyspine pass and spill into the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. I was bid to play a role in securing the nearby Duchy of Carnatia, which held a most prized possession. Upon entering the Castle, the Haeseni forces were securing the keep and I was asked to aid a man named Ivanovich escort a prisoner to a more secure location. The hostage of value was blindfolded, wearing a simple garment and had her hands tied behind her back. Soldiers cajoled her and threatened her with every indescribable act, that it brings me pain in writing this down as I think back upon it. The new Duke, Sergei Kovachev, bid me to guard the hostage, as his men attempted to hold off the raiders. I did so, and within that secure location, we sat upon chairs of mahogany at a table. I was quick to make conversation with this woman, who had seemed to be the cause of so much trouble; She was demure, dignified, if not slightly confused. With wrists bound and blindfold over her eyes, we conversed at some length until the raid was over. I cannot tell you what possessed me that day, but I felt that this young girl of only twenty winters had to be protected, given her status as a high-born princess... She should not have to suffer the threats nor lewd approached of the soldiers. So protect her I did, escorting her to her cell and cutting off those ropes that held her and that fold that blinded her, where I gazed upon a Princess' flickering eyes... I told her there I would keep her safe, and in this new aura of safety, she seemed to drift into an easy sleep. After being relieved of my duty to guard her, I heard tell that two Courlandic Men infiltrated the Carnatian Keep, rescuing the Princess Annabel. It gave me a mixed feeling, where on the one hand she was a valuable asset to the Kingdom that we had now lost, but on the other hand, she was a young girl who was made to suffer for her name. Such an image still hurts me, but I shall never forget how dignified she was in handling it. I pray I see her again, hopefully in the Halls of her Uncle. ---- CHAPTER XVII Whilst I was busied by different tasks here and there across the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, the situation had transcended the political realm and had indeed turned into a 'War of Religion'. It is important to note that, whilst Heartlanders and Highlanders are Human and share a faith, their faith is split into two Churches: Canonist & 'True Faith'. As I understand it, this schism between the churches had its roots in the Duke's War and the fall of the Holy Orenian Empire, myself being a faithful Canonist of Hanseti-Ruska. The Courlandic Church of the True Faith declared a Crusade against the Canonists and Old Believers of the Church in the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, declaring those that did not follow their interpretation of the faith Heretics and Heathens, with the expectation of those condemned would kneel before their church and GOD to give up their ways. My emotions FLARED at such a condemnation in the Faith. Until now, I was a man who was wholly devoted to peace, I did not stray from that ideal until here and now. To call the Canonist Church a Heretic Religion was to place into question my own Oath of Celibacy before men & GOD. My Oath hold me to my word no tighter than the ropes that clung to the wrists of Princess Annabel Staunton-Hearth. As such, my words will carry meaning and gravitas as I speak, especially within the political sphere that I wished to work in. A Diplomat's words that are not bound by Virtue, Faith or Honour are worthless words, suitable only for the squeamish slander of soldiers. When the Pontiff Daniel IV rebuffed such an act from the Courlandic Church as an attempt to mutate and schism the faith of Men, I was jubilant. So much so that I wrote a poem to commemorate the Pontiff and his act, for he had stood up against the mindless nature of such an action and, in turn condemned their episcopal council. A Council that had worked to push the Kingdoms of Lotharingia and the Westerlands into the Fires of War with us, by domination of faith. Such actions I will not stand for, giving me my own reason to fight in this war. ---- CHAPTER XVIII I was so fired up and hot-tempered by the gall of the Episcopal Council in Courland that I deemed it necessary for me to go out into the snowy weather at Mondstadt to cool myself. How dare they! How dare they! To fragment men by political and cultural boundaries had been the norm for the Balkanization of Tahn since the end of the Holy Orenian Empire, but to split them among Religious lines was unheard of! There had not been a Crusade since the march of the Urguan some decades ago! In this tumultuous mood, a strangling soldier came limping forward, his hand over his mouth as red-hot blood trickled down into the snow. Help me. Sandry Farsight cried as he coughed up more of the stick liquid. With haste I led him into the Amador Manor and rested him on the nearby bench, his eyes filled with a fear that still makes me shudder. In his career as Commander, he had once been shot by a stray arrow, piercing under one lung... or so he told me that night. A rupture in him was causing that old wound to slowly build up blood in his breathing. He was Dying. What was I to do? There was not a Doctor for Leagues away... No way to cure him. With one hand I cupped his blood-covered cheek and uncorked a small bottle of Opiate, in the hopes that the strong drug would dull his pain and pass him sooner into the next plane. He drank and asked me to give him a Warrior's death... I obliged by... *The wording is smudged here...* He fell down onto the floor as Wulfrey entered the Hall, where he said he'd take the responsibility, so that the Lady Annebelle, already wrought with grief from the death of her betrothed would not blame me for her Father's death. With such actions having been taken, we informed the Lady Annebelle and the people of the Kingdom of the Commander's death, holding a pyre out the back gates of the County. With his body laid on the Dark Oak Timber and straw beneath to light, four men with torches, myself included, lit the pyre. I don't remember much that night... only muttering the House Words. "From Ashes, We Rise." Until the pyre's flames turned to embers, and the whistling winter winds carried Sandry's Soul to the Seven Skies. ---- CHAPTER XIX Sometime later, Wulfrey would be promoted to Commander, and I to the position of Man-at-Arms. I didn't care much for it, nor should I, since the Crown soon centralised the Army into a single fighting force. Wulfrey, with no connection with the Wardens anymore, chose to leave for the Hinterlands. Count Owyn, Adrian, Myself and Sandry's only surviving son would join the new military as a division of Amador soldiers from Mondstadt. I welcomed time away from Mondstadt, within the Van Loden Fiefdoms, conversing with Erin Lockley, Johen and Floris Van Loden. But not long after I had been given time with my thoughts, to get over the death of Sandry, whom I considered a mentor and friend, I was summoned back to Mondstadt. I was given an assignment by my Lord to travel to the Kingdom of the Westerlands, where H.R.H King Leopold Francis I Horen reigned, to find a potential betrothal match for the young Lord. I was naturally happy to take up the roll, writing up the diplomatic writ for the Count to sign before heading off. The Count added that, after, I was to travel to Metz. It was when I arrived that I met an unexpected ally, the Lady Alyssa Adelheid Amador, Count Owyn's Twin sister. She was a young women whom I had only met once before, but not to speak to each other, only to gaze under the roof of the Amador Manor. She was fair of skin and temperament when I showed her the Writ. She earnestly aided me and gained me access to the Keep, where H.R.H Queen Annebel Victoria greeted us with her Daughter-in-Law. The Queen was a splendid women, who appeared to be everything that a Queen should be. Even-tempered, firm and decisive. As I passed the diplomatic writ to her, a soldier came up and requested my arms. To prove I was not an enemy, I surrendered my axe without opposition. H.R.H Queen Annebel read the writ with her daughter-in-law before regretfully informing me that there were no eligible noble ladies available for the Count. This spurred an insult from the soldier who took my axe, which I quickly rebuffed. A mistake on my part, as soon the whole Court of the Westerlands were soon berating me. As much as I tried to apologize, I saw the Lady Alyssa fuming with this humiliation and she requested the Queen's pardon. The Queen was receptive, but requested we leave the Hall. So we did. Outside, the Lady Alyssa made no qualms of reminding me of my social status and place. Despite her eye-line having to gaze up to me, she threatened to place my head on a pike if I should ever to humiliate her in such a fashion again, which did fill me with trepidation and humiliation myself at such a botched act of diplomacy. Without much in the way of conversation, we both made our way to Metz, though I feel the acts in the court were too much for her to bare company with me. Thus, she travelled on her own, some league or so behind me. ---- CHAPTER XX That was probably the longest, most depressing march in my entire life. Travelling from Bastion in the Westerlands to Metz in Lotharingia gave me pause for thought in the actions that happened the nights prior. Had my mistakes been the result of a culture clash perhaps? I remembered distinctly that H.R.H Queen Annebel Victoria stated: “There is Honor to be Found in Humor, Ser.” I didn't really perceive or understand the meaning of these words, but it did make me come to the realization that there may have definitely been a culture clash between myself and the soldiers of the Westerlands. In this case or not, it had proven clear to me that, whilst I had attempted to defend the honour of House Amador, I had caused a significant rift. A rift that I would have to apologize for and attempt to close in the future, should the opportunity allow it. Once in Metz, I rendezvoused with Count Amador and the new King of Lotharingia, H.R.H King Philip I Owyn d'Amaury. We were greeted inside the Castle as the Mother of the Count arrived: the Princess Anna-Sophia Pruvia Horen, the woman that I had spent so long prior trying to locate and find some years before. She was admitted into the Hall where herself and the Lord conversed, until a stranger from another realm came to speak with the King. We were graciously asked to move to the Gardens, and did so. Soon after, screams and yelling came from the Gates. A familiar voice which made me shudder...The Lady Alyssa had arrived. But, no sooner was she in the arms of her mother and brother, embracing them, raiders attacked the Keep. Storming in through the front gate, they made loud demands for Gold, Minae and Weapons from H.R.H King Philip & his servant Mr.Burke. Anna-Sophia strove into action to hide her children in an upstairs room, ordering me to guard them with my life, lest I wished my manhood to be cut and shoved in my mouth as my throat was slit. Amador women... Heh... They have a way of pitting the demons against your back. Needless to say, Anna-Sophia was a woman of great beauty and intellect, but sharp-tongued and firm, like many a noble lady. Alyssa's virtues and vices shone through like a mirror onto the Princess of Pruvia. She managed to secure the safety of Mr.Burke until the raiders had been suspected of departing. I offered to search the area to confirm this, whilst the Amadors held a small assembly in that one, small room. I do not know to this day what conversations transpired in there... But whatever happened, it left Lady Alyssa with her Mother in Lotharingia, and the Lord Amador sullen and depressed for several days. Before I left, I made a heartfelt apology to the Lady Alyssa for the trouble in Bastion, which she seemed to accept. It was met with a single order from the Princess Pruvia: to watch over my Lord and Her Son. I bowed respectfully and swiftly departed. BOOK III Spoiler CHAPTER XXI The snows slowly cascaded down the sky as the wind whistled and whirled down the Greyspine mountains. Much like the mood at Mondstadt as of late, cold and uncertain, ever since we had returned from Metz. The Count Amador had shut himself in his in manor for some days now, unwilling to speak to most people, if it wasn't official business with the Kingdom or the County. Before leaving Metz on that day, H.R.H the Princess of Pruvia had bid me to protect him and watch over him, so I tried. I travelled up to the manor to find the Lord slumped in his throne, his hand idly stroking the lazy direwolf of his: Winter. His eyes gazed upon me before looking back at something intangible and distant. I asked my Lord what troubled him so, to which he replied with a lengthy and heartfelt monologue. I do not... want War. War made my Father die at the hands of the Empire. I do not want a Similar Fate. If I fall in battle, my line will end. I have yet to find a wife... to have an heir, and I fear that it has gotten to the point where it might be too late. I look around this Manor and I ask myself at night... What am I leaving this too? My family has left me all alone in this manor since I was close to 8. They... I fear they just wish to leave me to my own devices, my Sisters and my Mother. If I die on the field of Battle, I fear they will not shed a tear. If I perish, I fear everything I have done was for naught. I fear if I die, all my hard work will be undone. I fear that if I Die, I will be known as the last true Amador that died a young count and a naive boy... I failed I believe... I may have finished the Ambitions of my parents but I failed my family and my line... My heart felt heavy with my own Liege's plight, for he was right, of course. Up until this point, the Lord was unable to find a potential bride from the few noble females available, nor was he able to convince his Mother or Sister to return home to the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. However, I could no longer let him wallow in such a depressive state, especially with War close upon us. Striding over to the Count of Mondstadt, I placed my gloved hands upon his shoulders, gazing into his grey eyes as I spoke to him of our previous lessons. I urged him to listen to my words as I stated that, by no means, did these events mean he was a failure. The world we live in, it is one that is nasty, brutish and undeniably harsh. But that does not mean that we should not remain optimistic and pragmatic in the face of adversity. I would not know how true those words were. The Count of Mondstadt seemed to find some warmth in my words, however, sitting up in the chair. He decided that it would then be best to discuss his succession with me, in the unfortunate case that he should die on the battlefield, for his County and his King. At length, we discussed the several potential candidates for the County's succession. To start, we discussed whether any of his immediate family could inherit: His Mother H.R.H Anna-Sophia and his sisters, Alyssa Adelheid or Julia Katherine. There was also the Line of Markus Amador, Lord Owyn's Great Great Great Great Great Grandmother's Brother, who included his "Uncle" Dorm and his distant cousin, Jack. There was also the line of Lydia Amador, Markus Amador's sister, who had a surviving member in Christopher Amador. The Count stated simply that he would take thought to these words and write down his successor in a Will. To this day, I do not know where this will is. ---- CHAPTER XXII It was after this occasion that I would receive a strange missive that I did not expect. The messenger, dressed in the attire of some church administrator, passed over the letter with the Seal of the Canonic Church. With a raised eyebrow, I broke the seal with a small snap and rolled out the parchment, a document signed by none other than the High Pontiff, His Holiness Daniel IV! The missive in question stated that the High Pontiff had read my works and was most intrigued by the Journey that I had traveled thus far, touched by the zealous nature of my faith, which I had shown in my former chapter on the schism of Humanity's churches. Particularly where I mentioned I was willing to fight for the Canonic church. He therefore requested my presence at the Three Saints Ruskan Canonist Cathedral. Hark! The High Pontiff wanted to meet me? A Commoner? It was a rare enough occasion when a Noble has the privilege of meeting His Holiness! Without any time to lose, I got my Courser Horse and travelled to St. Karlsburg's Cathedral. I tried to calm down the excitement of such a prospect within myself, attempting to appear much more demure and humble, before I would meet the His Holiness. As I did so, I entered the city limits and found my brother, Ayldan Blaxton. He had been somewhat left in a limbo of the Army after the Count Boris Ruthern had died, meaning that he would not be welcome back in Mondstadt and was no longer required to protect the Lady Annebelle, so he spent his time now patrolling the city. I invited him to pray with me as we waited at the pews of the Cathedral. Soon enough, his Holiness entered the Cathedral, where he saw myself and my brother praying at the pews. Personally, I was praying that my heart would stop racing in my chest, whilst also praying for GOD's Wisdom in talking to his Holiness. As we knelt down before the High Pontiff, his Holiness placed his hand on our head separately, making a silent prayer to each of us before we were allowed to rise. We both answered to a Mister Blaxton soon after, which I am sure threw off His Holiness, but it was soon alleviated when he said that he had read my works. In that time, he blessed my brother and mine's weapons and was willing to answer my questions. Before we left, he passed me a small pamphlet that I keep close to this day, on how best one should live. I wished my brother and the High Pontiff well before we left, remaining as stoic as usual before heading off to Mondstadt, where nothing would prepare me for what I would see. ---- CHAPTER XXIII Blood. Broken Boards. A Break-in. Such scene invited me as I rode up to Amador manor, the doors hanging from the hinges and a scene of ransacking inside. The signs of a struggle as a smudgy red liquid caked the floorboards and a furry cadaver of a direwolf, laying scarcely warm on the white and blue carpets, motionless as the winds blew in Leofrik Farsight. As he soaked in the scene, I brushed the fur of the Count Owyn's Direwolf on last time, a lazy but loyal pup that had clearly defended their owner in a time of need. I ordered Leofrik to check up around the Manor and County for any signs of life, before finding a shovel to bury a grave near the Amador crypts, where I might be able to bury Winter. With that duty done, it became clear that the Count of Mondstadt had been kidnapped, most likely by Courlandic raiders whom we were at war with. He was most likely already on a ship to the Isle of Asul by now, if not already inside a Courlandic Cell beneath Aleksandria. As the only representative of the House available in Mondstadt, I locked down the Barony and took Leofrik to St. Karlsburg, handed him a sum of two-hundred minae and asked of him to purchase and collect materials for a rescue mission. In the meantime, I went to find Ser Viktor Kovachev. The Knight Kovachev had a reputation of defending H.R.H King Marius I Barbanov, but had now been given the rank of 'Master at Arms' in the Royal Army, therefore being one of my superiors. As I explained the situation to him, whilst he was sat on horseback from a returning patrol, another young knight stepped forward. This was Ser Markus Brawm-Lothston, a strapping gentleman with an honourable deposition, who had fought most respectfully for the Crown despite the siege of Houndsden. He had come to inform us that the Count of Mondstadt was not the only one who was missing: the Princess Vanir-nee-Barbanov, the King's Aunt, was also missing. It had now become a serious abduction that would rival the situation that the Princess Annabel Staunton-Hearth once suffered with the Kovachevs. The Royal army now had no choice but to act and create a rescue mission, but not before we received a message from a distant land... ---- CHAPTER XXIV We had received word that a oafish character named Baron Snorri, who wished to gather a band of adventurers to kill the undead which plagued his poor island barony, who had come from a fountain of blood. He got more than he bargained for! Not only did the Haeseni expeditionary force show up in numbers, but so did the Army of the Westerlands, commanded by none other than H.R.H Prince Caius Horen! This was also matched by an small cohort of the Urguan Grand Legion, led by H.R.H King Bastion Ireheart and band of Kharajyr! How else could this be topped? Why, by bringing H.H Daniel IV to bless Humanity's troops in the trial to come. The combined force that was then commanded in such separate units was staggering, with a force that I believe would have matched the stories that I heard from the Duke's War. Needless to say, the undead posed very little threat to the combined forces of Humanity, Dwarves and Kharajyr. From the fountain of blood from which they split, a giant spurred forth, hit from every angle and pushed towards the beach that the Haeseni forces held. The finishing blow was indeed ours, as the undead giant's blood congealed into bouncing balls of red slime, that would easily heat a man's weapons to the point of melting. But they proved easy to dispatch into the sea, most of them by H.H Daniel IV, who I would dub a secret warrior monk... Upon doing so, the tremors created by the fountain of blood revealed a hole in a mineshaft, which led down to a catacomb of blood runes and magical barriers. It took some time to get us through that, I tell you! As the magical forces within that room were dispelled, we were led down a weaving corridor, to a subterranean lake which housed a growing tree. The armies secured this tree from a spilling of undead zombies and skeletons, who dragged themselves from the vines and stone of the cavern walls. So much so, that they piled on top of one another and cushioned the falls of others, before turning hostile on any living being. The tree, which by some strange standard, held several trinkets that fell into the lake's waters. Soldiers picked up the spoils as the last of the undead were slain, before we took efforts to exit the caves below and back to the surface. Myself? I managed to grab an ancient Axios Coin... Probably from the forming of the First Empire.... I pocketed it and decided it would probably make a nice present. ---- CHAPTER XXV The success of the Haeseni expeditionary force emboldened the soldiers in the Army as a whole. In such time as I returned with that force did Leofrik and my brother, Ayldan, find me in St.Karlsburg. Leofrik had spent his time lying low, so that he might obtain the ropes and other materials, which we might use for the rescue attempt. As these items were taken, Ayldan protested that enough time had been wasted on the problems of 'foreign' powers, referring to the Baron Snorri. He insisted that with each passing moment, the Count of Mondstadt's life was coming closer to an executioner's axe, such fervour I had not seen in him before, could he perhaps be regretting his own decision to abandon Mondstaft for Mettenden? Meanwhile, Ser Viktor Kovachev had been spending some of his time explaining the situation to the new Lord of Mettenden, Count Arik Ruthern. Count Ruthern, far from his predecessor, had spent his time rallying the Haeseni troops into a recovery party. With the consent of his own superiors, he led the foray against Aleksandria to save the Count Amador and the Princess. I liked this Count of Mettenden more than the previous one, but we must not speak ill of the dead, so the Seven Skies give Boris rest. But as we were ready to march off, I sent a courier with a letter to the Lord Owyn's Mother and Sister in Metz, to inform them of the situation. Count Arik Ruthern instructed us to mount the walls of Aleksandria and make our way to the Castle, where we forced our entry to the Halls in our attempt to locate the Dungeons. The city was, surprisingly, thinly defended. The Courlandic soldiers shouted empty insults from the walls, but sadly their arrows did not strike true, even with the help of Dwarven allies. As the gates swung open for them to rush in, they met a hail of arrows from our troops, whilst the Count Ruthern and an accomplice found the dungeons and freed Count Amador. I believe also that the Princess was also freed, though I did not have the honour of meeting her in this transaction. On our flight from the castle was a rushed one, with the Courlandic troops at our heels. It was when we reached some of the higher reaches of the castle that a blaze of golden flame suddenly burst forth to us. Alchemist's Fire. The PAIN was horrendous, as the foul liquids consumed my right hand, searing the fabric I had for gloves so quick that it might as well have been straw. The flames whipped over my fingers with a fury, and in such a blind panic, I fell from the parapets... hitting the moat below. The current of the moat was sickening to me as I rolled around, attempting to unstrap my armour before drowning... Soon enough I found myself by the farms outside of Aleksandria. Seperated. I made my way to Haria on foot and took a ship back to Home... cradling my scorched hand beneath my arm. ---- CHAPTER XXVI Lord Owyn Amador was back home, but unfortunately, not as whole as I or the others in the Haeseni Court would have liked. As he was led out of his captivity, it became clear to us that he had lost his right-hand, which was now wrapped in a rather filthy looking bandage. His clothes were torn to pieces, tatters that clung to his body from his own sweat and heaven knows what else! His face was covered in bruises and cuts, clearly from when he was captured back at Amador Manor in Mondstadt. As he was hurried into Ottograd Castle in St.Karlsburg, Lord Owyn Amador thanked the Army and those involved for freeing him and told us of his side of the story. According to the Lord, the Princess Vanir-nee-Barbanov had come over for a visit, when Courlandic raiders attacked Mondstadt. They kidnapped the Princess before turning their attention to wrecking the Amador Manor and foully attacking his person. As he was pushed down onto the floor, one of those raiders raised their axe to sever the Lord from his hand, which they mockingly placed in his pocket as they bound him for transport. The Lord's direwolf, Winter, had attempted to intervene and rescue the Count. However, the Direwolf was put down in a grisly manner. The last the Count knew of it, he was being hurried into a Courlandic raider's hold and shipped off to Aleksandria. Whilst in his captivity, the Count of Mondstadt was apparently treated rather poorly by the soldiers at first, who mocked him and raised not a hand to help him with simple tasks. It was not until a familiar flower in the snow arrived to aid him. Yes. The Princess Annabel Staunton-Hearth, that kind and gentle girl whom I had previously watched over in her cell at Kovachev Keep. She tended to the Lord's wound and stitched him back up, gave him food and drink to nourish him and apparently gave him the honour of her company whilst in confinement. May GOD bless her kind soul, for if there was ever a person who deserved to be beatified for her deeds, it would be her. H.R.H King Tobias Staunton, whilst knowing of the Lord Amador's capture, did not seem to be all that interested in his incarceration. Indeed, it was not known by the Lord Amador what H.R.H had in store for the maimed Count of Mondstadt, but now nor did it matter. The soldiers of the Haeseni army returned to their usual routine, leaving only myself in the Hall with the Lord. In all this time, I had acquired some gloves to hide my own affliction, to deal with another time. Taking quill and parchment out to pen a letter to Metz, small footsteps soon entered the Hall, quiet and polite. As I turned my head, Lady Alyssa Adelheid Amador stood near the High Pontiff, before running to her brother. She combed his hair with her hands and embraced him softly, clearly having a moment with the brother she almost lost, as such I tried to leave. ---- CHAPTER XXVII Tried to leave. Heh. From Lady Alyssa Amador? Oh no. For her hearing was as sharp as the bird, as her head spun around to gaze upon me with a small sharp snap of her fingers. I froze. What now? I thought, fearing that I had displeased the Ladyship in some way, and now would soon face some of the harsh punishment she once threatened me with. Instead, she ordered that the Count Owyn Amador be tended to by Maids, to be given a bath and have a new suit made for him by an experienced tailor. You would not believe the sudden wave of relief I felt over my person as I heard these demands being made. quick to ensure that her orders were done, despite the Count's insistence that it was not necessary. Regardless, Lord Amador was swiftly taken home, under the watchful gaze of Ser Markus Lothston. I trusted he would help to see that Lady Alyssa's wishes were carried out, and if not he, then the maids would out of instinct. Before I left however, I heard footsteps from above in Ottograd and as I went to search for them, I discovered the body of a Castle maid, along with a note from the Crimson Cult... Crimson cult? What manner of sick and twisted hell was this? Murder. That's all it was. Cruel and sadistic murder before a trinket alter. The Guards were thus informed as a small shadow bounced over the Houses of St.Karlsburg. I am sure I will come to some meeting with these foul men again. A few days would pass, and Lord Owyn confined himself again to Amador Manor, with Ser Lothston still keeping watch. "Nasty, Brutish and Harsh" I once said... How right I was. I was given no immediate order from neither my Lord or my Commanders in the Army, so thus I spent much of my time guarding Mondstadt, until a courier arrived for me, bearing the Seal of Pruvia-Horen. A small feeling of dread coiled in my gut as I broke the seal and read the parchment. A summons by H.R.H Princess Anna-Sophia Pruvia-Horen; come to Metz immediately. Naturally, I was bound by duty to oblige this request from the Princess and made my way to Metz. Upon reaching Metz, I was swiftly permitted entry to the King's Court, which was currently in recess. Lady Alyssa and a jubilant Princess Anna-Sophia were waiting for me. My coil of fear within me turned into genuine confusion, but soon given the knowledge that the Princess had come into a recent acquisition: the Barony of Ostwick, former seat of House de Felsen and spark-point of the Imperial Rebellion against the Holy Orenian Empire. Naturally I congratulated her for the acquisition, but nonetheless confirmed that it was no longer Felsen land. I was informed to let the Count know... I was confused to say the least! Did she not know of her son? Of what had happened? Naively, I asked... The Lady Alyssa had not told her Mother... I started to back up as the Lady Alyssa recounted the tale and of Owyn's lost hand. I was queried on how long ago this was by the Princess, to which I bumbled a response and told her of Winter's Death when the fires of a dragon lit up in the Mother's eyes. ---- CHAPTER XXVIII Naturally, I did have an excuse! Answering a Missive from his Holiness, Daniel IV in the Cathedral at St.Karlsburg. But these words fell upon deaf ears as H.R.H Princess Anna-Sophia Pruvia-Horen slowly advanced towards me, an anger within her complexion that would have given even the bravest man cause for concern. I rose my palms up in a defensive manner, worried of some strike against my person. Again she repeated her query to me as I pleaded for her to know the reason of my absence. A chill descended over my spine as she came within a mere step of my person, until a lively courier entered, bearing a parchment with the Seal of House Amador. I froze once more as H.R.H read the document and penned a quick response: The Count would be arriving soon with his new betrothed. Betrothed?! Anna-Sophia's eyes glanced back to me as she smoothed her bodice. You are lucky he came in when he did... I like you sir, but I am as fierce as the dragon on my banners when it comes to my children. It was at this moment, an unfamiliar Ally came to my aid somewhat: Robert de Anjou, a former commoner who had risen to the nobility of Lotharingia. I had once met him on my first few diplomatic missions to Metz. At the time, I was explaining to the Princess of the Count's direwolf, Winter. She mused that he had owned a direwolf, likening his interest to hers and Alyssa's. Lord de Anjou, on the other hand, was not a man fooled easily. He noted the worry and stutter in my voice in front of the Ladies and came to ask why there was tension. As the situation was explained, he understood. It was at this strange moment I found myself in as a Young Man, withered by the disease that once left him bedridden, walked into the Court: H.R.H King Lothar Augustus of Lotharingia. Everyone bowed courteously, but all of us amazed. The nobility flocked around him and discussing business of state with him. In truth, I was glad for his arrival, as the limelight had shifted to give me a breather. Soon enough, Court was adjourned and the Count of Mondstadt arrived with two women: Adrijana Kovachev, his betrothed and Julia Adelheid. Both were greeted and the young couple were soon led into the Gardens by the Princess. In truth, at this juncture, I found myself overcome by the pain of my hand and fatigue of all this attention. So within that Garden in Metz, I rested beneath a tree as the Lord and Ladies talked. However, when I awoke from that slumber, I found that the Lady Kovachev and Lord Amador were ready to depart. I readied myself before being stopped by H.R.H the Princess Pruvia-Horen. She asked me what I knew of Adrijana, which I answered sincerely, being met with warning of a controlling wife. She instructed me to watch over the couple, and ensure that the Count Owyn did not become a leash puppy to a Kovachev, for he was blood of Horen and I seemed the only one trustworthy to do the task. Taking those orders, I departed with my Lord. Soon enough, the couple were married and that seemed to be that. ---- CHAPTER XXIX Lord Owyn Amador's missing right-hand had been a significant problem that needed to be tackled in the months that followed his captivity. Being his dominant hand, the Lord was restricted in his usual activities, which he found the most enjoyment in: Hunting, Sparing, even writing his own documents. Instead, he was often confined to his hall, leaving me to transcribe at his meetings and watching others use their hands. But he was an Amador, if anyone could pay for a replacement, he could. But how? Of these details, I know very little. For I spent most of my own spare time attempting to find peace in the quietness of Laurenstadt, the van Loden Lands. There, I spoke little and often with Johan's now-Wife, Erin. Erin had become increasingly concerned for the hand that I had kept constantly washed, trying to let the scorched hand of mine a chance to recover, but to no avail. Whilst on a trip into St.Karlsburg, as she had to make a delivery to one of her many merchant stalls, Erin offered to travel to some of her contacts to see if she might be able to come across a cure for my burns. An offer I, of course, accepted. The time had left my hand a leathery looking mess, which now and again excreted a terrible pustular slime that stuck to my gloves, terrible for having to peel the gloves off. I offered her minae in exchange, but she would hear none of it and bid me return to my Lord. As I did so, I noticed that the Count had an unfamiliar guest within the County of Mondstadt, a Dwarf. I did not catch this dwarf's name, nor did I really wish to, but he came across as a decent enough fellow. He had been instructed to use the mechanics that would be found in Dwarven golems to create a new hand for the Lord... Such a prospect sounded revolutionary to me. But in order to do so, the dwarf requested assistance from my person, as the procedure would likely be painful. Thus, I held onto the Count as he suffered the integration of this new golem hand to his stump, with careful knife incisions made by the dwarf. Soon enough, he was wearing a full metal gauntlet, as if he were wearing armour. I didn't take up the offer to shake the new hand. Instead, we bid the dwarf dravo and went up to the Manor, where we discussed our stories so far to the sound of me playing the piano one-handed. He reimbursed me for the funds I had injected into the cause of rescuing him and favorably praised me for the handling of the situation, though it did grieve him to see the grave of his pet. Soon enough though, he was back in his chair and administering the King's law as before. It was good to have him back. ---- CHAPTER XXX The Lord's hand may have been replaced, but mine had yet not been. I had taken it as a sign from GOD that, actually, the Alchemist's Fire that caught me on the day of the rescue was Divine Punishment. Da, Punishment. Punishment for not being there to defend my Lord when he most needed me, after I had sworn to H.R.H Princess Anna-Sophia that I would do everything in my power to keep him safe, indeed it was punishment to endure the pain day in and day out. I wandered over to the peaceful barony of Laurenstadt once more, to take in the peaceful tranquility of the van Loden lands, escaping the cares of the feudal world and it's duties. Erin had recently returned and spent her time setting up a new stall in the barony. Upon seeing me, she soon ushered me into the nearby Windmill, in which she had an extension for an office. Within that room, she had me sit down and explain in some detail that she had been able to acquire two peculiar remedies for my scorched hand. The first being some form of numbing agent, which to this day I would not be able to describe to you in any meaningful fashion. Only that it left my hand feeling as if it were detached from my body, and the only feeling from it would be the pressures that I would place upon it myself. The scent of honey waved over the office as Erin applied the treatment. According to her source, it was a cream to be used lightly. The second bottle of a strange cream seemed very similar from the first, again the strange smell of honey... except this time, I was informed by Erin that this cream had some extract of Mandragora. What that is, what it does, I can't say. All I know is that it apparently would help with the leathery-dead-skin being removed and would likely accelerate the healing process. Awesome. I would have my hand back soon, I hoped. Erin then gave me some cloth in which I may be able to bind the hand until it was healed, before offering me some Prime Rib Steak and Orange Juice. She was such a good friend, none could have done more for me that she did. And so I decided to repay her. Using my left hand to dig into my satchel, I picked out the Ancient coin I obtained from the caves beneath Snorri's Barony, presenting the collector's item to her. She seemed so happy with something so small, on the notion that it was a GIFT and not payment. She marveled at the piece as I washed my gloves in her washing basin and dried them over a small fire, finishing off the meal that she had prepared for me. Once all this was done, she showed me out of the office and told me to inform her if the treatment was not going well. I was sure that it would. She'd gone to the ends of Axios to try and make sure I would not be in pain, I trusted she found the right druid to help. GOD bless Erin like I would wish from the Princess Staunton-Hearth, indeed those women with care in their hearts for Humanity. With gloves back on, I rode back to Mondstadt, to hear the whim of my Lord. BOOK IV Spoiler CHAPTER XXXI The marriage between Lord Owyn Amador and the Lady Adrijana Kovachev, daughter of the former Duke Henry of Carnatia and sister to the reigning Duke Sergius II, had been an event that left me very anxious. By past experienced, I had rarely done well with strong-minded women, who knew their own minds and unexplained tempers. By nature, the House of Kovachev (though famous and adored by the common folk of the Dual Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska), had been a House of unbridled tempers. One would only need to look at some, like the reigning Duke or Ser Viktor Kovachev to know, they were people of such emotions. Upon my first meeting with the Lady Adrijana, I was pleasantly surprised by what I observed: a demure young lady, classed in the arts of music and poetry, with a fondness for her Husband. I had entered the Amador Manor, on that brisk and windy night, to give to the newly weds their belated wedding present: a bottle of Vodka. A modest gift from a man of modest means. As I did so, I found the Lady over by the Lord's Piano, playing a sweet tune as she hummed to herself. Despite interrupting her practice, she was welcoming and invited me over to listen to her compositions, which made me envisage the snows of the Haense. A small smile gleaned over her lips as I passed over the bottle of vodka, uncorking it without much problem and taking a generous sip, before continuing with her music. She bid me drink also, to which I pulled out another bottle, this one filled with a Lotharingian Rum. That night was spent with her working a magic on the piano, creating sweet music from the strings insides, whilst we conversed of her Husband. It was spent talking of his relationship with his Mother and Sisters, of the family as a whole. As I did so, the music turned less. . . Happy, before it soon stopped. It was then that the Lady made it clear, she'd look after Owyn. I could tell, by the fierceness in her eyes, that familiar fire that I had also saw in the Princess Anna-Sophia and Lady Alyssa. She meant what she said. From her previous talk with H.R.H Anna-Sophia, Lady Adrijana made it known to me that she did not have a high opinion of the mother, calling her a neglectful and selfish woman when they met at Metz. A lightness fluttered over me, a small smile hidden behind my thick beard, as she described the interactions between them as I slept beneath the Castle Garden's Tree. Perhaps she would be a good wife to him, if given the chance. Unfortunately, War was upon us. Soon the drums of War would sound in forests of Elba. ---- CHAPTER XXXII The rains fell over the pine trees that littered the forests of Elba, the wadis surrounding the roots being swollen with the deluge. A battlefield that was caked with mud. A man could not walk far without suddenly sinking to his knees in the stuff. It was this setting to the north-west of the Valley of the Emperors that the first few skirmishes against the Courlandic Army took place. I was stationed within the wooden camp, along with the majority of the Haeseni Army, a Man-at-Arms under the Command of Richard Allen Horen. I knew very little of the man who would come to command the majority of the Army, only his family name, but he seemed more than capable to lead us. In these first skirmishes, we managed to push the Courlandic Army back successfully. First to the ruined church, where the doors hung from the hinges and a dirt redoubt built around the entrance, providing decent cover for our archers. The wadis to the side created a thick and foul-smelling swamp that was avoided by most of the troops. Myself included. A single pine tree had fell from this scene, which created a breach in the redoubt, but nothing that could not be dealt with by the men. Soon enough, the army marched forward and held onto a nearby "Fort". "Fort" is a strong word for what it actually was. The structure that we and the Courlanders were forced to fortify in the valley, which is truly an oddity in our continent of Tahn, was the statue of a Duck. Yes, you read that right. A duck. A formidable stone statue that was layered with timber and iron, which surprising provided us and our enemies with decent cover from attacks. Unfortunately for the heretic forces of Courland, they were not able to hold onto the structure and it was soon held by the forces of the Canonist Church and their allies of the faith. Raiding parties were sent frequently to the Courlandic camp and victory seemed assured. At this point, I had received a bird in the battlefield, from my Lady. With the skirmish seen as won, I was given leave to find out what was required of me by Adrijana. Leaving the main cohort of the army and taking a horse from the camp, making way to Mondstadt. A smile crossed my lips, it seemed such an easy victory and I was hopeful the war would be won soon if the battles were to take place the same way. As I reach Mondstadt and strode to the Manor of the Amadors, I found that the Lady Adrijana had been in a bit of a flurry. She was feeling sick and had begun to feel faint, so I had her moved to her chambers, still clad in blood-and-mud soaked armour. Whilst in the bed chambers, the lady Adrijana started to complain of feeling woozy and had been sick most mornings. . . A familiar tale among prospective mothers-to-be, which I said so. A soft and fluffy pillow that had laid next to Lady Adrijana in the bed soon found itself bouncing off my dirt-ridden face and onto the floor, among with brief utterances of disbelief from the Lady. She was pregnant. Tears stream down her face, afraid of what may happen and what may be, imploring me to not tell his Lordship. I kept that promise, but on the understanding she would break the silence. It was bad luck on this occasion that the Lord Owyn then entered the Chamber! There's me, alone with the Lady, in Bloody Armour. . . What a sight it must have been. . . I was soon dismissed from the room. The Lord and Lady both conversed in the following hours and I returned home to clean my armour for the next days battle. No sooner had I placed a wet cloth to the armour, to scrub the blood and mud out, did I hear horrid word. By ambush, the Courlandic forces routed the Haeseni Army back to their camp. The day had been lost to the Banners of Green and Grey. ---- CHAPTER XXXIII The Haeseni army had retreated back to their fortified wooden palisade in the northern stretches of the forest by the time I had rejoined the cohort, the rain still continuously pouring over the forests, turning it more and more into an unforgiving wasteland. I'd thought the only foul beasts that could ever inhabit such a terrible place would now be vicious boars, savage crocodiles or even carrion birds that would wait for the corpses of men. . . Oh how I would be so wrong, for no beasts could inhabit this land, not yet. But something was in those terrible swamps, worse than all three. The army had been commanded to defend the wooden palisade that we had come to call a camp, for the Courlandic Army had been raiding the camp in the last several attempts, trying to whittle down the Haeseni forces down before we could arrange any suitable strike against them. Indeed, it was a good strategy, forcing us to defend tight quarters from arrow fire. After the third attempt at our gates, the commanders decided to create a sally against the raiding army of Courland, in hopes of breaking their ranks and pushing them back. Initially, this tactic was successful, pushing the Courlanders back to the Church, then to the Statue. The Courlandic forces were in retreat as we secured the location, but not before the routed forces suddenly turned around. At it's head, the most terrifying beast in the forests. . . A Madman, Cackling with sadistic glee over his green war-painted face, twirling a Carbanum-tipped spear. With frightening precision, he slew two men before turning to concentrate blows upon me. The spear, much swifter than my axe, found blow after blow against my shield or armor. The fool's sniggers and jibes stung just as harsh as the tip of his weapon, as strike after strike slide beneath my armour and pierced the skin. Blood dripped from me as the Courlandic forces sweeped into the grounds surrounding the statue, forcing the Haeseni forces to the crumbling church. I fled alongside them, clutching my wounds as we locked the gates behind us and fortified it. Unfortunately, GOD was not with us, and a wave of Courlandic troops washed over the dirt redoubt and into the church. Again forcing us into a humiliating defeat. Back upon my horse at the camp, I swiftly made my way back to Mondstadt, in search of a medic. ---- CHAPTER XXXIV I stumbled from my horse as I entered through the gates of Mondstadt, blood seeped like tree resin from the bark of a great oak, down my armor and tabard. Holding onto my wounds with a gloved gauntlet, I stepped towards the Amador Manor, where I may be able to find materials to clean my wounds and seal them with needle & thread. As the wind threw me into the doors, I stepped inside and pushed them shut behind me, into the view of the Lady of the Household. Lady Adrijana had been spending time reading poetry within her chair as I clambered into the hall. She looked astonished as I unclipped my armor in front of her, unveiling many stab wounds on my person, dabbing them with a cloth damped by vodka bottle from my satchel. She quickly rose from her seat and gathered a thread and needle at my best behest, taking it upon herself to seal some of the wounds. Of course, I protested. A Lady of noble birth should not have to worry about the wounds of the commoners, but she insisted nonetheless. With the more serious wounds, I made sure to clean them out, cursing the foul creature who slashed me with his spear. Outside of her view, I would take the iron from the hearth and cauterised the rest of the wounds, gritting down on a stick as I did so. Oh hell did that hurt, I tell you! She seemed oblivious of the matter, even though the smell of burnt flesh seemed prominent in the room at the time, perhaps she was trying to be polite. . . At this time, the Lord Owyn had arrive, placing himself in his throne as myself and the Lady Adrijana paid due respect. His brow had furrowed. But it did not seem to be placed upon myself being alone with the Lady, but rather on the events of the Battle. The Lady Adrijana bid me leave as she tended to her husband, to which I obliged, going off to rest off the wounds. The wounds were sore and made me honestly feel so ill that I felt like I could have ended up in the snow without much care in the world. I went to my home, passed the wooden gate to the Lumber Yard, and passed through the door. With the fire on a soft glow, my feet dragged themselves to the bed, throwing my armor to the floor and laying down to rest. Another bad day. ---- CHAPTER XXXV Recovering from my wounds, I was unable to join my comrades in the Army to the battlefield in the forests of Elba, held back by the commanding officer and my Lord. So, I was forced to stay at home. I slouched myself in my chair as I stared at the glowing embers of the fireplace, watching the embers dance over the small hearth I owned and over my person with small licks of light. I looked over the tracts and writs that I had created in the pursuit of peace and prosperity for the House Amador, gazing over the parchments of my bookcase and wondered: Was this all for nought? We were at War, but what would come at the end of that war? Rumors were abound as to H.R.H King Tobias Staunton's intentions, ranging from an outright annihilation of the Highlander Culture, to the forced conversion of all Highlanders to a false religion. How the babes would be stripped from their mothers, whilst they themselves would be forced to suffer every form of humiliation by the Courlandic soldiers. These rumours were only given more tinder when whispers of some Dwarven clans joining the Kingdom of Courland, despite a Vote within their Senate against such action. Even more concerning, the Kingdoms of Lotharingia and the Westerlands had previously declared their intent to prevent the creation of an Empire from either Courland or Haense. Which was soon re-asserted by both Kingdoms. We were alone in the world. It would seem that none were ready to come to our aid. The Uruks were busy with their own disputes, the elves wished to remain fairly passive, with the only exception of the snow elves who were rumoured to have joined the enemy. Diplomacy did not seem to have been operated by the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, not even documented attempts to prevent Courland's reach from extending too far into the Haense. The only one who seemed to be as a similar opinion as we were the Duke of Mardon, who had declared independence from the Kingdom of Courland. But even this was left with no effort to bring them into a concerted effort against Courland. I sighed as I stared into the flames, with a knock heard at the door, I waved a hand for them to enter. News was brought to me that, like the two skirmishes beforehand, the Courlandic forces had again smashed the Army of Hanseti-Ruska. Lord Owyn Amador had returned, injured. We were now losing ground to the Courlandic heretics, who would now have pushed our men back to the Greyspine Mountains to the Ruthern-held castle of Metterden, forcing us to hold our lands like a turtle who would shrug into its shell. A bird then arrived at my window, knocking on the glass for entry. I let the bird in and read the message, a request to go to the Van Loden Lands by Erin. I didn't hesitate to take a staff as a makeshift walking stick, taking a walk from Mondstadt to Laurenstadt, to see what my friend wished of me... ---- CHAPTER XXXVI I arrived at Laurenstadt with a cloak around me and holding a staff for my own balance. Though I had been doing well in my healing, without any sign of outward infection, I wasn't going to push myself. Laurenstadt seemed as peaceful as it always was. I truly loved this little piece of the Kingdom. It was a truly peaceful and tranquil setting, with the high fountain in its centre. Wooden buildings and a large mill surrounded it as the marketplace was becoming stocked with all manner of goods and wares. No doubt that it would be financed by Erin Van Loden nee Lockley. As I strode up to the Windmill, I noticed. . . Something wasn't quite right. I knocked on the door and called Erin's name. She answered shyly, making sure I was who I was before pulling me inside. It would have appeared that Courlandic Raiders were able to somehow summit the mountains during the winter and terrorised some of the common folk under House Van Loden. A young babe would be rested within Erin's arms, a boy called Willem Van Loden, hers and Johan Van Loden's first born son. I congratulated the pair and offered a small, belated wedding gift: A diamond from the mines of Mondstadt. It was on this note that the Erin passed a present to me, something she had been meaning to give me since the first skirmishes at Elba. It was a steel necklace, designed like a shield with the crest of a great tree in the middle. On the back was an inscription: To my dear friend Aylwin, may this protect you from harm - Erin. It was a touching gift, which I place around my neck and tucked under the simple linen shirt I wore that day. With our gifts being given, I gave a hug to Erin and bid her to look to her own. This war, it was a terrible thing that could separate friend from friend. Mother from child. Brother from brother. So in that moment, I asked Erin to seriously consider her life and the lives of those closest to her. If the conflict would continue on its present path, it would likely engulf her in the flames, just as surely as it could me. Erin was a resourceful individual, who had her fingers in many pies, some of her friends may have been able to offer her and her child shelter from the coming wars. I know it would have hurt Johan, and Erin too, but at least they would be safe. With a final hug, I bid her goodbye and set off back to Mondstadt, groaning in the winter snows as the aches of my wounds took hold on the walk ahead. ---- CHAPTER XXXVII No sooner had I entered the gates of Mondstadt and turned from the hewn logs of spruce did I receive word of a development in the war. An "Olive Branch" peace deal had been proposed by H.R.H King Tobias Staunton. It demanded a sum of mina, which the Amadors alone could have footed, by the Kingdom. It also demanded the fiefdoms of Metterden and Vasiland, along with the cap of the Hetman, what can be described as a Prince's Crown to the Raevir. The Duke Sergius II Kovachev was also to be handed over to the Courlanders, the Lady Amador's Brother. Prudent demands coming from the Kingdom who had already displayed a sum of power on the battlefield: Harsh terms, but potentially fairer than what would come. With the news in hand, I decided to go over to Amador Manor and discuss it with his Lordship, for there no doubt he too would have received it the same as I. As I entered the hall, indeed he was sat in his throne reading the piece of parchment which bore H.R.H King Tobias' demands from the Haense. The slip of parchment was left to hover over the the chair beside him as he seemed deep in though, until I decided to interrupt it. The Lord Owyn came to the same conclusion as I, the terms were too harsh for the Kingdom to consider a peace negotiation, even if only one true battle had been fought thus far. Shouts then descended down the wooden staircase, down into the hall. The familiar voice of her Ladyship, Adrijana. She howled for Lord Owyn's attentions, which led both him and I to walk up the stairs to the Lady's aid. As I had previously thought, she had been pregnant and was now baring child within her womb, making her rather hefty and unwieldy to motion up and down staircases alone. With a joint effort, we managed to carry her down the stairs and to the Hall, where she would have a front row to the discussion Lord Owyn and I were having. We were discussing, as we usually were, the politics of the realm. The war had covered the majority of the discussion, alongside some of the minor details of a party in Laurenstadt and the creation of more arms in the town. It was then that his Lordship looked to his wife, a form of sadness came over him, that seemed reinforced by an armoured exterior of duty. At the time, I could not discern what he would be about to say, though from the look of his eyes. . . those cold grey eyes. . . It was clear that he had designs on the Lady Adrijana and his future child. ---- CHAPTER XXXVIII There was much protesting and tears this night. For as the Lord turned to his Wife with a silentness that was unbecoming of his lordship, he soon made known his intention to move the Lady Adrijana to a move safe location: Ostwick. The Barony of Ostwick had recently been awarded to H.R.H Princess Anna-Sophia and her husband, as was discovered during our trip to Metz. Lord Owyn did as what any other prudent ruler of his times would have done; he ordered his wife to move to Ostwick for the safety of her Ladyship, the future heir and of the House. Lady Adrijana did not take kindly to this. . . Indeed she protested a great deal and cried into the shoulder of the Lord, whilst I attempted to convince her that it was the right thing to do. Should the Courlandic troops raid Mondstadt, they would likely kill her Ladyship and perform a terrible misdeed on the House, leaving us all devastated. Such events were not outside the realms of possibility, considering the recent raid on Laurenstadt. Clearly, raiders were in the area and baying for blood. The Lady Adrijana's tears moved me emotionally, every tear could have turned the Mondstadt mill three times over. But, after crying her fill, she reluctantly agreed to the Lord's wishes. He promised he would see her again soon and that he would keep up regular contact with her, whilst I waited outside to prepare suitable carriages to lead her out of Haense, as there was still time until the Staunton reach would have extended too far to prevent such an action. With a white-face bay and a chestnut strapped to the carriage, we made way to Metz. I was in fit enough condition to escort her Ladyship to the Kingdom of Lotharingia, see her safe, then return to the battles ahead. As our carriages arrived in Metz, H.R.H Princess Anna-Sophia greeted us both in the Castle of King Lothar. It was a bit of a frosty reception between the H.R.H and Her Ladyship, but she was kind enough to try and find her accommodation in either the castle or in Ostwick. Unsuited to the life in a Lotharingian Court, Lady Adrijana made her wish clear that she wanted to be in Ostwick, to which H.R.H Anna-Sophia obliged. Carriages were again set up and we were taken a short trip to the Ostwick Lands. These lands had formerly been the place of much prize in Axios, so it was pleasing to see that the Mother of my Lord was doing so well in acquiring them. After meeting the self-styled "Vagabond" of the Household, Oan of Brevis, within the throne room at Ostwick, I enlightened him on the current situation. He pitied the Lady Adrijana's position, but was nonetheless understanding. The Princess had made a fine choice for a Husband, in my own opinion. Lady Adrijana had been sped off to her Quarters by H.R.H Anna-Sophia whilst I talked with the Lord Oan, but I soon made my way up to find an argument between the pair. Try as I did, I couldn't really get them to stop arguing over the treatment of Lord Owyn. Lord Oan was far more successful in this regard, a capable man, I say. With tensions finished, I wished both Her Ladyship and her Hosts a farewell, with intention to return to the fighting. Both women persisted that I should return alive. This is war. In war, Men die. Women die. Innocents die. I told them such as I resigned myself to what most were already feeling, the fall of Haense hung on a knife's edge, and Jacque de Felsen was the Carver. ---- CHAPTER XXXIX As I returned to Mondstadt after escorting the Lady Amador safely to Mondstadt, I had heard that the Lord Owyn had gone to the Cloud Temple for a meeting with an unknown individual, most likely some small errand concerning the welfare of the County. But in his absence, I noticed that Mondstadt was a hive of activity. Blacksmiths, Leatherworkers, Woodworkers and Lumberjacks. . . Among men of many more professions were busily creating Weapons, Armour, Food and all forms of things for the war effort. Mondstadt had been turned into a Workshop of Hanseti-Ruskan production. Trees from the great spruce forest were being chopped down and brought within the County limits to turn into large ballista - a heavy missile launcher which can do considerable damage to enemy siege equipment. The ropes for them were contorted in such a fashion that three men could load a missile into the apparatus and send it flying for some measure of distance. Armour, freshly made by Annabelle Farsight, amongst others, was being smithed by Iron brought in by a miner named Roman. A wood carver named Edward Delaney was using his knife aptly to create bows and arrows for the archers in our ranks, whilst an elf was busily turning the lumber from the forests into useful timber. But the biggest surprise came from a creepy little chemist called Jon Deacon that had begun to scavenge the landscape to gather various ingredients to create potions for the war-effort; one of which was Alchemist's Fire. Bloody stuff. . . My hand was still scarred from the damage that hell could wrought, imagine what it could do to the enemy! Soon we all heard word. The King of Courland had made use of some of his Dwarven allies to gain passage through the mountains, to the southern reaches of Vasiland, in Ruska. He intended to win a quick victory by taking the castle of Vasiland, as per the demands of the Olive branch Peace deal, which he most likely intended to give to the next Crown Prince of the Raevir. No time was wasted. The supplies created in Mondstadt were moved to the border, to Serpentstone, where we would hope to keep the Courlanders back from what would most likely be a devastating siege. ---- CHAPTER XL The aforementioned siege of Vasiland and Serpentstone would actually start as several skirmishes down the Curon Coast, where small palisades had been built on both sides of the war, with a deadly no-man's land in the middle. The Army of Hanseti-Ruska spent little time at waste as it prepared a preemptive strike against the Courlandic Army. So successful was this that the Courlandic scouts were slain with little sound from our ambushes and with very little interference from rival raiding parties. Soon, we had pushed towards the palisades of their camp, but pulled back soon after to prepare our own fortifications. Hiding behind rocks and other outcrops, the Haeseni army performed various ambushes on the different Courlandic groups aiming to do us harm, but were called back. To what rhyme or reason still confuses me, but it was not my place to question the Commanders. I, therefore, took up a position next to the gate of the palisade and operated the mechanism, for fellow soldiers to dive in and out of the fortification. The tactic was similar to how fishes would catch flies on the surface of the water, leaping out on the pray before hiding back in the cover. For the most part, this too was fairly successful, until the Courlandic Horde approached. There were just so many men who were carrying arms for the King of Courland. Some Hanseti-soldiers argued, whilst hiding from the arrow-fire, that some were not Human. Dwarves, Snow Elves, even the Undead! Considering the odds we were facing, I would not have been surprised if what they saw was the truth. Nonetheless, it didn't help the present situation, as Jacque de Felsen and others in the Courlandic horde were sweeping in to slay man after man that stood before them. Soon enough, the tides of the enemy were too much for the Army too handle, breaking through the gates and streaming down the cliff-side, forcing the Army to retreat back to the safety of Serpentstone. Traditional seat of House Vanir, whom I known as Loyal Ruskan men of value who had married into the Royal Household, it felt that soon this fiefdom would end up in the hands of the Courlanders. It placed a feeling of dread in myself. Indeed in all of us. We could not hold them back much longer. Soon they would be in the mainland and we would have nothing much to defend ourselves with. The Grand Marshal of Courland seized upon this feeling of uncertainty with a clear message for the Hanseti-Ruskan lords: Lay down your arms and you will be spared. BOOK V Spoiler CHAPTER XLI As the sun rose upon the coast of Curon, a sea of grey and green flags could be seen along the roads that had been once used by traders and wayfarers, matching the dim colour of the sea that morning. The Courlandic army had taken a significant portion of the coastline, but under the cover of darkness, our men were able to lock the gates of the palisade behind their Vanguard. This gave us some time to shore up the defences of the initial fort on the border of Vasiland, rebuilding and resupplying it. The main force of the Courlandic Army had taken up positions near a large staircase that headed up into the mountains. I hear that staircase leads to a fortress of some kind, but not one that either of our parties were interested with. We then received word from our Command, we were to push the Courlanders back in an all-out charge, with the hopes that our numbers would force them back. Adorning my armour of Iron, battered from our recent incursions with the heathens, I started to prepare myself for the worst. I'd never been one for war. I left that to my brother. My brother, who I had not heard from now since the battle of Elba, with no mention of whereabouts or body. My gauntlet-covered fists picked up an Iron axe and shield, before marching out to the palisade, with the rest of the Cohort. The plan would be that we'd charge the Courlandic ranks and hopefully force them into a route, which could then culminate to an attack on their camp. Needless to say, it did not go well, as no plan ever survives first contact with the enemy. They came at us like a wave bashing against the rocks, like the tide next to us. Man after man fell beside me as I attempted to hold my ground, until an individual stepped forward wearing the heraldry of a Rising Sun stepped forward and shield-bashed me against the palisade wall. I gazed up for a moment feeling that this would be my end, as the knight rose up his sword. Smash. Another had shoulder-barged him down to the sea and defended me from another blow. Staggering up to my feet and retreating behind the palisade wall, I noted that the one who had saved me was Andrei Kovachev, Duke Sergius' brother. I never thanked him for his actions that day, and my mind wanders to where he was now. The charge against the enemy had been foiled. The enemy had not broken and were now besieging the palisade once more, soon enough they had us fleeing back to Serpentstone, burning it wooden wall to the ground after seeing their previous vanguard slain. Large Trebuchets were created from carts brought by the Courlanders, as the Haeseni troops began to mount Mondstadt Ballista onto the walls of the fortress, looking down from the parapets like make hungry eagles waiting to find their prey. A small ceasefire was made to collect the dead, for many had fallen upon the wayside of this skirmish, more than would probably have been lost throughout the entirety of the campaign. ---- CHAPTER XLII For all the hell that they had wrought upon my homeland, first from the lawless raids that had once plagued our settlements in the Dual Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska and then the countless deaths of battle, they had a ***** sense of patience. This ceasefire, I believed was a chance for the Lords of the Dual Kingdom to contemplate: to what extent are we willing to go for the Kingdom? Whilst none would say it openly, one need only have looked in the eyes of some to see that the hope was dwindling, victory against the Kingdom of Courland seemed distant. For to look into a man's eyes is to look through the hollow form that is ourselves and see the soul that is within, as if looking through the windows of a house into the warm hearth awaiting you. Many were Brave, Loyal. But only fools wouldn't be scared. In this ceasefire, Erin and Johan van Loden had finally been able to finish preparations for their wedding party, held at Laurenstadt. It was a modest get-together of some close friends, though there were some who I did not expect to have been in attendance. The first was one Fakhri Kharadeen, the Crown Prince of Haria. He was a fairly short, rather scholarly looking individual, with a limp on his left leg. He spent most of his time next to me at the banquet table, talking to Johan and Erin whilst they cradled their young toddler, Willem, to a soundless slumber. Fakhri had arrived escorted with another man, who decided it best to patrol around Laurenstadt than join the festivities. Each to their own, I suppose, for neither drank during party. I think Fakhri said his name was Khalid. . . The second, third and fourth unexpected visitors was the Lady Adrijana and her newly born twins: Henrik Ramdir Amador & Ruslan Nikita Amador. Henrik would be the Lord Owyn's heir. I was not amused to see Adrijana present at the party, and was sure to tell her so, but was told to allow the transgression to go unmarred. Lord Owyn had missed his wife dearly, and despite it not being in the Lady's best interests to be in the Kingdom, she had insisted to see her Husband, along with the twins in tow. I was admittedly annoyed, as would any other loyal man, since she was going against the Lord's wishes. But she loved him like no other woman could love an iron-handed man. Coloured party hats on our heads and the bubbly going wild as we feasted, the party was a great time, culminating into a duel for a horse or minae. Oh, this was such a terrible show up for me. . . Tipsy from too much rum and aching from too much food, I found myself having to fight against Leonhard, the van Loden guardsman. He didn't need to expend too much effort for my head to end up in the icy cold snow-mounds around Laurenstadt. An embarrassment on my part, but Leonhard faired well, considering he was just as drunk! Johan van Loden was pitted against the Lord Owyn Amador after us, which was fairly entertaining. Johan, much more the lover than the fighter, continued to try and out run Owyn. . . Only for him to fall to the Count's sparring arm. It was hilarious. Unfortunately, I lost a bet to Johan soon after, as the Lord Owyn fell to Leonhard. A job well done for four men who had drunk and eaten far too much. ---- CHAPTER XLIII After the party at Laurenstadt was over, the Lord Owyn and Lady Adrijana spent some time together within the walls of the Amador Manor. He cradled the young Ruslan within his arms, making several funny faces and puffing his cheeks, just to hear the child's soft chuckle. The Lady Adrijana was sat beside the Count, her fingers tangled in the curious Henrik's palms as he clutched and reached for her attentions, pawing at her like a kitten would to a mother cat. It was warming to see them all together, a family, under the same roof. Myself? I was sat by the piano, practising my skills with sweet and simple tunes. But I couldn't help but think of this temporary paradise we had created, how soon it would come to nothing, with the war's end coming. Soon enough, the Count of Mondstadt kissed his children and Wife goodbye another time, sending them on a carriage to Ostwick before the ceasefire would end. The flames flickered over the empty hall as the wind howled against the windows and wooden doors. The Count and myself gathered close to the fire, both attempting to get warm from the brisk night air, talking of the events that were to come. He had told me then that the night he had gone off to the Cloud Temple, he had gone to meet Jacque Staunton of the Felsen Watch, Grand Marshal of the Courlandic Army. The meeting had been supposedly brief, with the neutral ground between them there where neither would seek harm on the other lest GOD take offence. In that meeting, the Grand Marshal had pressed hard for the Count Owyn to turncoat and fight for the Courlandic forces. Naturally, his Lordship refused to do so, citing that his vows to H.R.H King Marius were worth more than his own life, but I saw something there. . . Fear. I believe, as he was telling me this story, Lord Owyn did fear for his life and how far he would have to go to maintain his honour and loyalty. Honour and Loyalty. These are the words that hold a nobleman to a king as surely as iron shackles hold a slave in captivity. It means everything to the nobility to have a sense of honour, which their superiors can then use as a way to gauge the trust and Loyalty. Sensing that the Count felt like a cornered animal, I offered a solution. If he were to send me to the Court of H.R.H King Tobias Staunton, at his Capital in Courland, I may be able to convince the King to be merciful to himself and other Lords of Haense after the war. This was, strictly speaking, Treason. H.R.H King Marius had recently produced a new Act which required the Lords to reaffirm their loyalty to the Crown and make it clear that contact with the enemy was punishable by imprisonment or death. The Count gave me a cold, hard glare. One that I had previously seen from his sister Alyssa and the Lady Adrijana. A Hanseti-Glare. He accepted to send me, but made it very clear that if it was discovered, it was myself who would be killed. With a Diplomatic writ of intent, I saddled off to Courland. ---- CHAPTER XLIV It was clearly a blessing that the ceasefire had lasted for as long as it did. Courlandic troops had held their ground on the borders of Vasiland and held fast outside Serpentstone without neither shot nor shout given. Such a pretext, I believe, allowed me to do what the Late Count Boris Ruthern could not have done. Upon a simple, nonthreatening Courser Horse, I rode for the dockyards of the Old Imperial Heartlands. There, I was able to leave my horse and procure a ship which gave me passage to Asul, where I was able to arrange transport to the Capital of Aleksandra. Along the way, I attempted to remain as incognito as possible, knowing there would likely be some Courlander who would happily remove my head from my shoulders. As I entered the boundaries of Aleksandra, a Harian man walked up to me and demanded a duel, throwing sparring sword to my feet. I protested, arguing that I had no time for this and needed to leave, but he would have none of it. With a sigh, I took up the sparring sword and managed to hold my own, until he jumped from a great height and broke my sparring sword in two. He was satisfied and left on that note. Already, Asul was beginning to look like a very strange place. . . I wandered through the markets of the city and towards the main gate, where a young women (who I suspect was an elf) was attempting to gain entry, knocking on the door and shouting. I think her name was Evelyn. . . I asked her to allow me to have a try, to which I soon followed suit and received a reply. A man by the name of Ser Rotger von Curon, wearing a tabard of the Courlandic army over simple chainmail armour, came to the door and asked us our names before the elf-looking woman quickly hurried off to see H.R.H King Tobias. I felt a little bit stunned by the speed of her, she was almost impatient to see him. I personally felt a little sick to the stomach, nervous and anxious with anticipation of the reception I'd receive. I stepped to the gate to the Courlandic Court, where I had once been loosing volleys of arrows at Courlandic guards, stood with my hands behind my back in a patient pose of politeness. H.R.H King Tobias was sat within his majestic throne, flanked by two nobles and guarded in-front by the same man who had almost killed me: Grand Marshal Jacque de Felsen. They sought to the business of the elven-looking lady as the blessed Princess Annabel Staunton-Hearth entered, to which I courteously bowed to her, she seemed well of health and nodded in reply as I was ushered forward. H.R.H King Tobias' eyes squinted as he looked down the hall to my person. I advanced down the Courlandic Court with a stride in my step, courteously bowing before them from the hip, catching the attention of Ser Rotger and the other Nobles of the King's court whilst wearing Hanseti armour. I introduced myself to the King and his court, as an envoy who had passed through the carnage of the warfare to speak to H.R.H, which I was surprisingly welcomed without much resistance. The courtiers merely murmured to each other as they noted my armour, indeed so did the King, querying of my homeland. If there were any doubt left, it was sealed away after I present the diplomatic writ to Jacque de Felsen, who passed it on to the King; Bearing the Count's Seal and my credentials as a Diplomat to the Kingdoms of Lotharingia and the Westerlands. ---- CHAPTER XLV Now, some of my readers at this moment would have thought me a dead man. . . Here I am, a Haeseni Soldier, inside the Court of the Courlanders. Ceasefire or not, they had every right then to take me captive, as a diplomat's immunity meant little in times of war. Yet this did not happen. Instead, the Princess Annabel Staunton-Hearth stepped forward, asking if I had known her after recognising my voice. The King would take the diplomatic writ from his Grand Marshal as I nodded to the Princess, as I was the one who had taken watch over her person whilst she was a captive of the Kovachevs of Carnatia, taking care of her health until her untimely escape. Murmurs from courtiers turned to silence, as many would stop to stare at me and the Princess, including the King and Ser Rotger. The Princess returned this with a grateful smile and polite nod, with her thanks on being so kind. I respectfully bowed to the King, as was expected of me. The enemy or not, the foundations of a bridge to communication were being laid, done on the back of a kind deed. Soon, I was ushered to a small garden table, surrounded by the King's most trustworthy, with H.R.H King Tobias sat at it's head. The regular hospitality that was to be also expected during such communications were also observed, with a small meal of steak and carrots being served with a goblet of wine. Such courtesy, his Majesty said, came from the lessons of his father. Seated next to the King was Jacque, followed by a late individual named Edmund, whom I assumed to be Edmund Torryn. On my side, I was separated from the King by some close confidant of his, perhaps a family member? Talks started with a warning that, should harm come to my person by loose lips, no action could be taken there-forward. Everyone seemed to acknowledge this, as I spoke about the King's nephew and niece, whom I knew loved dearly. Truly, I thought there was injustice in how they were treated, so these words were true. We then discussed my Lordships plight. He would not turncoat to Courland, which I made clear to them, was out of the loyalty that the Haeseni have for their King, H.R.H King Marius. Nonetheless, should the King be defeated honourably, I proposed that the Count be given fair trial. After-which, should he be granted clemency, he could swear the Amador banner to the man whom the King would grant the Cap of the Hetman. For, if the war were to remain in its current course, the Highlandic race would likely be annihilated. This was dismissed by the King, stating he did not wish annihilation, but moved that this was H.R.H King Marius' doing. It was his hand that put lives to the sword, which would also result in the Count's death. I implored the King to see reasoning, for such an honourable and noble man as my Lordship could easily be put to better use under the Crown Prince of the Raevir. Talks continued in this manner for some while, until the H.R.H King Tobias professed to be moved by my Lord's loyalty, offering a counter-proposal in good faith. Faith. That word stuck in me like a knife, for he was one of the True Faith. But he was willing to listen to me, so I did so unto him. His offer was simple, withdraw his banners from the field and proclaim neutrality publicly, so the Count would not be forced to strike down fellow kinsmen. If he did this, then H.R.H King Tobias swore that no harm would come to the Lord Amador's line and Both of their Houses may continue. With the talks thus being concluded, I was wished safe passage and escorted to the Gates of the Castle by his Majesty himself. Before I left, his Majesty said some words that still ring within me somewhat, which make me contemplate the nature of war. ---- CHAPTER XLVI After the talks with H.R.H King Tobias, I procured transport and headed directly to Mondstadt, hoping to pass on the message soon so that my Lord may find some peace with his Family. However, as I rode into the County, through the stone gate which separates it from the wilderness outside, I found that the Count had gone. He had been summoned to attend a war-meeting in St.Karlsburg and would not be expected for a while. Thus, I went to my house, out in the Lumberyard. Taking out a tin bath, I filled it with hot water from the kettle and some cold from the nearby well, attempting to cleanse myself somewhat of the dirt that I had picked up from my travels. With daylight fading, I fell asleep on my simple bed of linen and feathers, determined to pass the message on tomorrow. Lord Owyn Amador arrived back in Mondstadt shortly after the sunrise the following morning. I proceeded to meet him in Amador Manor and told him of the events that had occurred and the deal proposed to him by H.R.H King Tobias. A familiar grey glare came from my Lord's eyes as he watched and listened to the proposal, his iron hand picking somewhat at the wooden Throne that he sat himself on. After I had finished, he said nothing, he did nothing, he merely stared. What was going through his mind? . . . I thought. . . Was this not what he wished?. . . He congratulated me soon after on a successful diplomatic trip, but requested that I leave him alone in the hall, so that he may think. Ever the loyalist, I took my leave. But no proclamation would be made by the Lord that day. Soon enough, we were called to arms. The ceasefire had ended and troops were moving back to Serpentstone. Taking up my arms and armor with the Lordship and the rest of the Amador squad, we marched over. BOOM! went the sound of trebuchet ammunition against our walls. THWACK! went the sound of the ballista firing bolts. SMASH! went the sound broken Alchemist fires. The initial fighting was not as brutal as one would like to make them out to be. The first move made was done with a sally of Hanseti-Ruskan Knights upon the Courlandic camp, apparently to attempt some form of ambush or sabotage, that would set off some form of explosion. I never saw this come into fruition. Rather, I was placed on the ballista teams, charged with bringing down the trebuchets. Alongside Aleksandra Abrielle II Kovachev nee Ruthern and Count Owyn Amador. Our initial hits from the ballistae upon the high walls of the fortress had hit their mark, losing much of the Courlander's siege equipment. We were hopeful that a victory might actually have been on the horizon. The Courlandic forces sprayed down arrow fire on us where they could, but many missed their mark. It was only until a fatal trebuchet stone hit the North-Western corner did they begin to try and pour in. Lined up near a simple wooden shelter, Hanseti-Archers let down a volley of arrows, one after another. The arrows threw Courlander's mercenaries aback and off of the parapets to the water below, as they attempted to scale the Fortress. However, as the Courlandic horde moved forward like the ever restless waves below, they too ended up on top of the fortress. Fighting ensued with caches of Alchemist fire being dropped over Serpentstone. It was at this moment I found myself caught between the parapets, the fire and Courlandic Archers. One. Two. Three. I was falling. . . --- CHAPTER XLVII Whilst in pain from the several arrows that had pierced me, my body landed in some shallow current, which floated me to shore. The Assault on Serpentstone had succeeded and any hope for a Haense Victory was now quite lost. The Kingdom would be set adrift, as much as I was, against History's restless tides. I picked myself up off that sandy shore on Curon and, gritting my teeth some, snapped the arrows and took off my armour. Blood seeped from my wounds, but it would have seemed I was quite fortunate that Courlandic Archers were not good shots. Two arrows had hit my left shoulder, whilst another had lodged itself in my side like a skewer. I needed medical attention. There were no civil medics left in the Dual Kingdom, most had been conscripted into the Army as medics, whilst those who cowered from fear ran to the other Kingdoms. I knew of one who had treated a friend of mine before, so I attempted to find them. Walking down the coastline some, I found an empty fishing vessel, which I procured and set off in search of them. The medical professional in question was somewhat of a recluse, hiding in the swamps and forests like the druids, rather than socialise with humanity. I was fortunate that none had come to stop that small, helpless, fishing ship I used. Soon that ship took me to the aforementioned swamps and woodlands, where a familiar doctor was busy collecting herbs. Shocked at my condition, they took me into, what could be called some form of homestead. Laying me down on some surgical table, they began creating some foul pastes and bandages, soon the pliers were out. GOD be good, it hurt like hell and the paste made everything sting all the more! It was only after this was done that they began to patch me up with a needle and thread, before wrapping these bloodied wounds in a soft woollen bandage with covered my torso and left shoulder. By some miracle that this doctor performed, I was able to live to see another day, but not before exacting a toll that I go to a nearby market and collect some ingredients for them. Hardly a tall order, even if it cost me some minae, but it was done nonetheless. I headed on my way with a simple staff in hand, towards the Sky Temple. ---- CHAPTER XLVIII Some readers may now think: Why on earth would you go to the Sky Temple? The Answer is fairly simple, much like what happened between the Count Amador and the Grand Marshal de Felsen, one cannot be attacked on this neutral ground. It is anathema to all race. A sacrilege against any and all deity. Therefore, I'd be safe from any Courlander stragglers who would come across me, like a wolf would to a lamb. Staggering around the Sky Temple, I must have seemed rather useless and pathetic to the ones going on with their everyday wares at the marketplace, limping around and clutching to a simple staff. But not that long after I had finished a small tour of the temple and the marketplace did I hear a familiar voice shout my name. As I turned around, a smile crossed my lips; it was the young Amador levyman, Leofrik Farsight, the Commander Sandry Farsight's son. He greeted me and checked of my health as I enquired to his. As we did so, he told me that he had managed to survive the Assault on Serpentstone with little more than a few cuts and bruises. Young & Lucky Bastard. After working out how we both got were we did from there, we had come to the same conclusion that it would have been safer to regroup people at the Sky Temple, but whereas I had gone out in search of medical assistance, Leofrik had been helping those in Mondstadt clear out their things. H.R.H King Marius I Barbanov had signed a reluctant peace with H.R.H King Tobias I Staunton. Under the terms of the peace, the Highlanders would be free to leave without persecution, but the Dual Kingdom would be handed over to the Kingdom of Courland. It was a bitter pill to swallow. The Heretics had Won, it had felt like GOD had abandoned the Canonist faith for those of the 'True Faith'. Leofrik could sense my displeasure and offered that we go out in search of the Lord Owyn, by using a bird to send a message, with the hopes he would answer. I agreed, provided we walked over to the Lighthouse of the Sky Temple, so that the Bird may have had an easier point at which to find our Lord. Leofrik scrawled a note eagerly and aided me up to the side of the Lighthouse, where we talked at some length about the Lord Owyn, about the War and more. He soon let slip that Ser Markus Brawm-Lothston had fallen in battle; An honourable knight who had spent a great deal of time with Ser Viktor Ruthern and guarded the Count Owyn Amador after he had been rescued from Aleksandra. A small tear crossed down my cheek. Soon enough, a message returned. His Lordship was well and could be found in Ostwick. An excited Leofrik jumped to his feet and speedily ran down the cliffside towards the docks. Geez, did that boy have some speed and energy. . . I attempted to give some manner of chance, as only a wounded-but-recovering man could. ---- CHAPTER XLIX Leofrik went off with such speed, that honesty, I contemplated bridling him and hooking him up to a carriage. Much to his annoyance, Leofrik often asked me to keep up with him as we made our to Metz, where we came to a rather abrupt stop. Thank goodness, Leofrik didn't actually know the way to Ostwick from Metz and relied on me to show him the way. A much needed breather, I must say!!! Following the road outside of Metz to the former lands of Felsen, we rode around and past the bridge towards the Barony. As we approached the gates, a guardsmen requested to know why we had come. Leofrik was quick to reply that he was out to find the Lord Owyn Amador, which showed a zealous loyalty to our Lord, but received no positive reply from the guard. A little disgruntled, I asked the guard to mention my name to the Lady of the Barony, H.R.H the Princess Pruvia-Horen or her Husband. The guard seemingly went off to verify my name, but it would not be needed. As I slumped down by the gate, aching a great deal from my wounds, a familiar figure approached the gate whilst holding a small parcel and parasol. The Princess had arrived. Leofrik showed her the formalities, but I was a little too weak from the war and the travelling to do her any decent justice. I made the introductions to her of Leofrik Farsight, who upon another light actually looked like a younger version of his father, before requesting some sanctuary in her Barony. She obliged without hesitation and showed us into the Grand Hall. Soaked through by the rain, she bid us stay close to the hearth and warm up, before set wandered off into the barony. Most likely to see the Lady Adrijana, who had been keeping residence here with her and her Husband. As we stood there by the fire, warming our cold bones, we began to talk again. This time about our families and our ambitions. Lord Owyn Amador had always seen us through, but now we entered into a realm of uncertainty. Leofrik mentioned that he had married a young girl called Kateri, during a secret wedding, which his sister Annabelle was none too fond of. In fact, she had spurned him and stated she never wanted to see him. Not only that, but he only managed to get his newly wed pregnant within a very short space of time, leading him to jest that Sandry claimed his family sperm was the best in Axios. That aside, Leofrik stated that his ambition would be to set up a nice little homestead for himself and Kateri to live in, away from the troubles of war and with enough land to keep themselves fed. He then flipped the question on me, what would I like to do? What would be my ambition, now everything had happened to us. I began to ponder this too, as my eyes drifted from the warmth of the fire, up towards the ceiling above. Despite everything that had happened to us, we had been somewhat blessed with a fresh slate, to do with what we pleased. . . I replied thusly to Leofrik: "I want to do something that will surprise the world. Something grand. Wild. To Cut a Flash. To Strike Amazement. To Catch the Attention of Everyone. . ." "Like what?" "Indeed, what?. . . Will it be some Quick Action? Or a slow, silent, imperceptible move? Shall I creep? Or Shall I fly?" Leofrik didn't understand, bless him. He interpreted the words as me wanting to create a machine that would allow me to fly. Preposterous! What Balderdash and Piffle! No. I instructed him that me saying what I did was a Metaphor and used the example of himself. I posed to him, that he was as strong as stone, would that mean he would be made of stone? He looked to his hand, seemingly confused and sheepishly responding no. Indeed, No. For that was the metaphor, saying something is something that it isn't to add emphasis. He tested this out in his own theory, which proved to me correct. Smart cookie. As loyal as his father before him to Lord Owyn, but not nearly as swift and quick. May the Lord give Sandry Farsight Rest. --- CHAPTER L It was sometime after those events that I found myself in Ostwick, but with very few people around. Servants, cooks and cleaners were around the Barony, yes. . . But it seemed everyone else had gone for a walk about somewhere! So, I begun to explore this new home that I had come to adopt from my old one. I traced the footsteps I once trod back up to what was H.R.H King Tobias' Bedchamber, which was now being renovated, alongside several others in Ostwick. I also managed to discover the kitchens, a small library and a chapel. Good, a place I could pray at. Down below the main Throne room was a stairway to the Dungeons, which appeared to have an Old barracks, fighting pit and an office belonging to some Red Wizard. . . Never liked Dungeons. Claustrophobic. I took my leave of the dark place and instead went across the Courtyard and back to the Chapel, next to it was a halls of residence, which seemed to be somewhat abandoned. Not surprising, given that the Princess had only recently come into her barony. It would take time to fill these halls we people who would do her bidding, no different than how I or Leofrik would serve the Lord and Lady Amador. On the Opposite side to the Chapel was another residence, which headed up into a larger library and work space, which is where I now pen my memoirs to you. Formerly, I had written these memoirs within the Halls of Amador Manor or my own home in the Lumberyard. It felt nice to be settled enough to write again of my events. No sooner had I finished the penultimate chapter of this book, I decided to go down to the Throne room, to pray proper respects to H.R.H Princess Pruvia-Horen for allowing me into her home. However, my eyes were met, not with the sight of the Princess, but of Lady Adrijana. She was on the floor, convulsing, twitching and frothing at the mouth. A seizure had taken hold of her! Quickly, I dropped my books and went to her aid, moving her onto her side so that her saliva would not choke her, whilst attempting to prevent her from harming herself. My shouts gained the attention of Oan of Brevis, the Princess' Husband and Lord of the Barony. On our first mention of him, he fancied himself a wandering vagabond than a Lord, but he seemed noble of heart if nothing else. Once the seizure had subsided, he took great detail in making sure that she was safe and out of harm of herself. Using a clever contraption of glass and glowstone, he gazed into her eyes to check. . . something. Her Ladyship came around without much problem, stating that she had been suffering from stress some times prior to this, usually when she was anxious of Lord Owyn's whereabouts and safety. Lord Oan diagnosed her to be under-sleeping and under-eating, which didn't help her. Soon enough though, he helped her to her bedchamber with me. I noticed within these transactions, she began to refer to him as Papej and the Princess Pruvia-Horen as Mother-in-law. Perhaps relations had changed for the better whilst she had been here. I stood watch near her chamber that night. That night and some others. BOOK VI Spoiler CHAPTER LI It's been a while since I have put my quill back to the parchment of my Memoirs. Lady Adrijana's seizure had definitely set me back as I stood idly outside her bedchamber, day in and day out, watching that she did not overly exert herself or stress. Though who could blame her? We were outcasts, refugees, given shelter only on the whim of the Princess. H.R.H Princess Anna-Sophia Horen-Pruvia had a kind heart to allow the refugees from Mondstadt to remain at Ostwick, provided that we made ourselves useful, whilst we waited for word of the Lord Owyn Amador and/or any other casualties of the War. Nothing had been heard, with only a sparse few individuals making it to Ostwick. Hope wasn't high. Ayldan, my own and only brother, was M.I.A. It was then that I received word of an unthinkable event. An Exodus of the Highlandic people from the Kingdom of Haense, across the perilous sea, to the Republic of Carasca. The refugees hoped that, by doing such a deathly deed, they'd escape the horrors of a Courlandic-held Hanseti-Ruska. Within me, an uneasiness stirred. These were my people. My people. Feeling forced that they do the impossible so that they may escape persecution and death. How many would lose their lives on this Journey? How many would sacrifice themselves just to see another spared from the Courlandic yoke? But the most important question that plagued, not just my mind, but my soul; How could GOD, the Four Prophets, the Saints ignore this? I felt my heart drop. Had GOD abandoned us? If so, why? Had we been wrong? Overcome by this frozen feeling of being forsaken, alongside being moved by the desperation of my people's diaspora to Carasca, I travelled into the chapel within Ostwick. I must have spent hours within GOD's house, overcoming the quietness of the empty pews with a solemn and heartfelt Prayer. Nothing. Not a sign. Not a sound. Nothing. I proceeded to climb the steps to Ostwick's tallest tower, spending time outside, on the balcony. I continued reciting my prayer, over and over. Shouting it at times as the wind whipped against my face and the rain drenched me through. Shivering, with the raindrops hiding my zealous tears, I feared greatly for what our future would hold. It was like my faith was slipping from me, like a barrel with a leak, allowing the water to flow out like a wound. I needed a sign. ---- CHAPTER LII After spending several days in prayer, often outside the balcony of the aforementioned tower, I had practically given up hope. I spent my time either performing menial tasks around the Barony or skulking around the parapets of the walls. As I did so, I looked around the place that I was starting to make home. The sun's rays shined down upon the red roofs of the Barony, with a sound of the waterfall behind it echoing down the corridors and walls, creating a scene of some natural beauty that I found some meager comfort in, despite the dark feelings I felt. It was hard to think that this castle was once the bridgehead that would have launched the Kingdom of Courland against the Empire of Oren, a Kingdom which would later be the belligerent force in the Northern War. It was whilst I was surveying the land around Ostwick that I begun to hear a voice on the wind. A Voice that Called my Name. Was it Him? Was it Them? Constantly, it called my name. Naturally, I began to follow the voice to find the source, which gradually got louder and louder. Eventually, I found the source beneath the parapets of the principle tower of Ostwick. What? It was Leofrik Farsight. What was he wearing? He was dressed in a simple linen tunic, nothing like the Hanseti armour we once wore, nor the skins or furs we used to keep warm. He stated there and then that he had come for me; He had come to take me to a good and pleasant land beyond the sea, to Carasca. I asked him there and then that if he was one of them, one who had travelled the sea to Carasca. He had. I persisted, querying if our people had made it across the sea. They had. All of them? Yes, All of them. I looked out to the Horizon, my heart lifted. The Highlanders had made it. They were now in a safer place. The sun began to softly caress my cheek like a small child, the warmth from the summer winds building on the wallowed look of my face. I felt reassured. GOD and his own had listened. He had safely delivered them across a treacherous sea and into a place where they could be safe. I felt eager to join Leofrik, but then a familiar sense of uneasiness stirred. . . But at what price? If this had been his plan, what then was his plan for me? If I had gone, would I merely be tempting fate for the waves to take both me and the young Farsight to a watery grave? I turned to Ostwick. No, I thought, He wants me here. I told Leofrik I would not be going with him, to which he protested a great deal. But No. He wants me here. I only needed another sign to prove it, and soon enough I would have it. ---- CHAPTER LIII Some hours after Leofrik had left, I found myself in the Tower Library once more, attempting to collect my thoughts as I sat at my usual writing desk. In front of me was the memoirs you now see before you, with the quill in the ink-pot, with a very small pile of books and letters next to it. My hands rested my forehead in the palms, rocking it ever so slightly, back and forth. It did little use, so soon I was leaned back in the wooden frame of the chair and looking outside the window, to the stars outside. Perhaps then I was willing GOD to show me some sign, to validate me in my own thoughts. Am I mad? I thought. No, surely not. The sound of clicking heels could be heard behind me, approaching up the staircase, towards the library floor. As I turned around, H.R.H Princess Anna-Sophia came up the staircase. She professed that she had been concerned of my recent absence. I did not make known to her then of my own thoughts, concerning the Highlander Diaspora, nor Leofrik's arrival to Ostwick. I felt that these concerns were mine to bare. To share them with her would probably have only made H.R.H worry about her own absentee son, or even question my sanity, which I too was also debating within me. Nonetheless, after she had been somewhat assured that I had been busy tending to some minor duties, she made known her intention for seeking me that night. Having worked diligently for the Lord Owyn Amador for most of my career, gaining a reputation as a competent envoy and diplomat, she had come to offer me a position in the Barony. And not just any position; She offered me the job of Chamberlain, the most senior organisation office of administrating the Barony. This was His sign. His sign that he wanted me to stay. I felt emboldened by it, but now conflicted, I had spent a great deal of time working with the Lord Owyn and his family. GOD be Good, I had even garnered a favourable relationship with the Lady Adrijana, who needed all the support she could get at the moment. I told the Princess of these hesitations to leave the Lord Owyn's side, to which the Princess rebuffed: It would hardly be a crime of desertion to serve the Mother of my Lord, I would still be serving the family. I remained uncertain, so I begged time to consider the offer and talk to others, to which she granted me the Acting position of Chamberlain until I had decided. She then left demurely, as I stood there looking back out towards the Night sky. This is Your Will? ---- CHAPTER LIV My eyes felt heavy. My body felt weak, sometimes hot to the touch. Unbeknown to myself, I had actually driven myself ill with a terrible fever over the past few days. Tossing and turning upon my bed-sheets, unable to get comfortable, I would often go back out onto the tower balcony or even sit at my desk once more. I would eventually fall asleep at my chair or rarely manage sleep in the bed. The constant hot-flashes left me a little dizzy in my thoughts, unable to keep a straight thought for much longer than a few moments. It was during such a mood that I found myself in the Throne room of Ostwick, clothed in my normal armour, in an attempt to cool myself down. It didn't work. Lady Adrijana soon entered the Throne Room, herself looking a little haggard from lack of sleep, both from her own stress and for caring over the Children: Henrik and Ruslan Amador. In her hands, she was clasping onto a painting frame, with its back faced towards me. I rose a brow, as she walked my way with petit footsteps and passed the painting over to me. To my surprise, she had created a Portrait of myself. Apparently, during the few times that I had spent guarding her, she had taken it upon herself to paint my figure, then dress me in a peculiar Court Attire. Attire that would have suited a diplomat of House Amador. I queried, why she had made this for me? Her eyes gazed down towards the tiles of the Princess' Court, confessing that she had seen me as a family figure, away from the family that she once knew. She felt that, for all the kindness that I had given her through the Lord's relationship with her, she needed to pay back that kindness. It was a humbling moment. She then noted the strange look upon my face, after saying thank you to her, enquiring why did I then look so strange. Feeling confident that she would understand my thoughts, given the fact that she herself was also a Highlander and a Canonist Faithful, I told her of my experiences over the past week or so. She was not amused. Soon, Lord Oan arrived, giving me a similar medical check-over that had been given to Lady Adrijana once before. The pair of them soon took me down to cellars, near an open stream to cool me. It would appear that, during my prayers and nights on the tower balcony had given me hallucinations, driven by an underlying fever that I had contracted. Lady Adrijana, feeling I was now in good care and company, left me with Oan. Whom escorted me outside to cool down further by swimming in the nearby lake. It would appear, that during that time, Leofrik had come back to Ostwick. He must have said something to upset H.R.H Princess Anna-Sophia and Lady Adrijana, because neither of them looked happy as they talked to him. ---- CHAPTER LV Recovering from the fever that I had contracted, Lord Oan had set me a strict diet and bid me exercise regularly in the nearby lake, in hopes of avoiding anymore delusions. Hallucinations or not, I felt that GOD was still sending me a clear message, a message which still lingered in the back of my thoughts. I merely tamed these thoughts, attempting to gain back the reins of my life and return to some level of normality. I began to shift through my papers, and organise the Library and Barony. There was a lot to do. The entire Barony needed a serious refurbishment, with some rooms still baring the names of some former residents of Ostwick, like H.R.H King Tobias Staunton. Gosh, he had a nice room. Whilst organising this colossal task, the familiar sound of heels clicking up the steps was heard. Turning my head, I found that this time it was not the Princess, but rather Lady Adrijana. She had come to check how I was feeling, given my recent fever. Satisfied that I was making good progress recovering, we began discussing what we had left off in the Throne Room, that being that she wished me to be named as the Young Henrik and Ruslan's Godfather. An honour to be sure, but informed her that if she did, they would have a hard time without me. She seemed puzzled, until I outlined my desire to stay in Ostwick. Lady Adrijana was saddened by the news, stating that she didn't know how she would cope without me being close, so much so that she began to cry. I attempted to comfort her the best I could, but it didn't work very well, so I reluctantly said that I would follow the Lady Adrijana. She brightened up a little, explaining that she needed me close, since Owyn had been so detached from her recently. Apparently, Leofrik had come to Ostwick to indeed whisk me away to Carasca, but it was on the Lord Owyn's wish. In that same sentence, it upset Adrijana that she had only summoned me and not him, so to some extent, she was glad that I refused him. In retaliation, I stated that I was also very mad that the Lord Owyn Amador had not come to Ostwick and talk to us, comfort us that he was actually alive. I was also sour with the fact that he had left myself and Adrijana out of the loop, not providing us with plans of moving to Carasca until Leofrik was informed to collect me. Lady Adrijana shared my concerns and stated that she planned to bring them up the the Lord, but attempted to reassure me that she had conversed with him recently and he was attempting to do his best, though his best was very distant from the communication needed. She left soon on that note and left me to my work. Perhaps I would be staying with the Amadors after all, instead of just working for the Princess in Ostwick. ---- CHAPTER LVI The Death of H.H Owyn II, High Pontiff of the Canonist Church happened during the mid-summer months of Axios. H.R.H Princess Anna-Sophia Horen-Pruvia had called a meeting within the Throne Room of all those present in the Barony at the time, which had included myself, Oan, Ladies Alyssa & Adrijana and the Medic called Gael. She announced to the Court, with a letter in her hand that the High Pontiff had been struck down by a lich, aided by Courlandic troops. The news must have caused shockwaves in every corner of Axios, where the Canonists faith had still held strong, particularly here in Lorraine, the Westerlands and in the Republic of Carasca. No doubt about it. My own reactions were one of disgust, yet another diplomat had been killed in cold blood, but this was far more significant. What must the Courlandic troops be thinking, to allow themselves to work with a Lich, an Undead? Either the Church of the True Faith truly had no moral compass, or these servants of Courland and the Faith were dimmer than the candle-light I now work with. By such an action, the Church of the True Faith had made themselves out to be somewhat heretical in their own stance with the Undead, whilst also disillusioning all of Humanity. The entire situation made me physically ill. It was not made easier that H.H Owyn II was a Highlander I had known: Rory, Bishop of St. Karlsburg. There was much commotion in the Throne Room over it, to be sure, all sharing my same disgust. But my thoughts went instead, oddly, to H.R.H King Tobias Staunton. Surely, he would not have been mad enough to ordain such an attack, nor would the high priesthood (heretics as they are) I would have imagined. No, they may be heretics, but they are not stupid enough to do such a thing. This action was either done with some level of idiocy on the part of the soldiers, or a coordinated attack by rivals within to taint Courland's banner all the more. For what rhyme or reason, I can only speculate. A New High Pontiff would be anointed, apparently, in the Republic of Carasca. GOD bless the man who takes up the charge, for it seems there is a target on his back. ---- CHAPTER LVII As was expected, the outcry from the aforementioned attack on the Former High Pontiff had created a diplomatic backlash, most notably from the Duchy of Mardon. In two separate documents, the Duke of Mardon called for Vengeance. The news had spread like wildfire does to the parched forests of the south, consuming the marketplaces of Lorraine with gossip of the matter and how the other Canonists powers should strike back at Courland, for this affront to their religious values and beliefs. I found very little comfort in the words, to be honest. The Kingdom of the Westerlands had been undergoing its own turmoil with the Undead threat in the Deadlands, The Kingdom of Lorraine had fallen upon its own hard times as they attempted to rebuild and the Republic of Carasca was usually Isolationist, I saw no hope for a Coalition War. Only the Duchy of Mardon and some sparse Hanseti-Ruskan resistance to Courlandic rule remained. The way I saw it, we had lost too much. . . It was time for Pax Courlandia. I am sure the idea would be anathema to other Canonists, surrendering from the might of the Courlandic Army and their heretical faith, but constant fighting would only bring more bloodshed. H.R.H King Tobias too desired this peace, which would obviously be a peace he would be able to dominate and control, much like the Oren Empire before it. Whilst I toyed with these thoughts inside my head, sat atop the bridge between the Barony of Ostwick and the old d'Savin territories, I saw a familiar face. It was Annebelle Farsight, dressed in a rather beautiful dress. Hopping down from the side of the bridge, I went over to her as we both conversed. She had apparently moved over to the Kingdom of the Westerlands, but had also found another lover, a Colborn. She had come to Ostwick to find myself and any of her former Mondstadt friends, to inform them that there may be a Wedding at some point in the future, so we may be invited! Of course, I was happy for her and congratulated her for being able to find love again. GOD rest Lord Boris Ruthern. We talked at length over the news over the past month, to which she informed me there had been a new High Pontiff called Lucien V, a former bishop of Mardon. It became clear now that there would likely be an attack on Mardon from Courland, after the Duke had formerly declared independence from the Courlandic Yoke. On top of this, the Grand Marshal Jacque de Felsen had mysteriously gone missing in Haense whilst trying to secure the lands for the Courlandic crown, apparently during a snow-storm. Whilst the Courlanders mourned the loss, I had my suspicions that, like before, he would be back again. No body, no proof he's dead. After our long discussion, Annebelle and I said our goodbyes, with a promise to keep safe in the future. A promised sealed with a hug. ---- CHAPTER LVIII The summer suns were slowly making way for the autumnal season, with the leaves of the great oaks surrounding Ostwick becoming as orange and brown in appearance as the stone hews that built the Barony, turning the surrounding areas into a Savannah landscape that was beautified by the nearby lake. The scenery was of the utmost beauty. One could understand why the Princess would want this place for her own. It complimented her. As I was busy creating schedules for deliveries to the Barony for the food required for the upcoming feast, a woman dressed in a grass green dress stepped through the gateway. She was a brunette of petite build, pale and sickly. She came forward and asked for the Lord Oan. After inquiring who she was, she named herself as Susanne von Schlichten of Chambery. After explaining that the Lord Oan had gone on a hunt with some of his retinue, in order to stock up for the feast to come, she seemed ever so disappointed. Coughing a bit and looking less the healthy, I escorted her into the palace. She explained that she had come from Chambery, south-west of Metz, seeking the Lord Oan's medical attention. As a guest beneath the roof, from noble birth, I decided it best to give her some quarters until she was able to see the Lord Oan. I therefore escorted her to the former guest quarters of the barony, which had formerly been occupied by a woman named 'Lisette'. It was a modest room with a view over the lake and plains of Lotharingia. We talked at some length whilst I had maids set up the room to match her more appropriately. She asked very politely to prevent anyone from the Van Loden family to know of her whereabouts, as she did not want to upset Floris Van Loden. Whilst I assured her that I wouldn't, my mind began to wonder. I had not seen the Van Lodens at all. . . Not Floris, Not Johen, Not Erin. . . Erin. I missed her the most. I wondered where they were now. Evidently alive, from the Lady Susanne's claims. . . I'd have to search for them eventually. Food was brought to the Lady Susanne and I then departed for the rest of my duties. ---- CHAPTER LIX As acting-chamberlain of the Barony of Ostwick, I had to spend more and more time with the Lady Alyssa Adelheid Amador, a woman who I had only previously mentioned shortly in the memoirs. As she was growing up under her Mother's care in Lorraine, she had developed into a well-manners but stern young lady, with all the characteristics of the Princess. She was a mere inch shorter than me by now, with the Amador's cold grey eyes and a Heartlander's pale skin. She often wore a small tiara, to remind those around her of her status as the Princess' daughter, whilst wearing elegant silk dresses. Most of which were of her own making, which was impressive given her tender age. During my time in Ostwick, she was the High-Stewardess, in charge of overseeing the complete and utter refurbishment of the Barony. This meant that all the former chests and belongings of the previous soldiers of Courland. It was my job to therefore to collect all the goods around the Barony, whilst she organised rooms and began to tear them out for the new furniture to come. She had planned a great deal to change, knocking out some of the rooms to create more luxurious apartments for both guests and servants, whilst also getting rid of some of the more 'militaristic' aspects of the Barony. To all intents and purposes, she was attempting to create a palace on the Northern reaches of the Kingdom. The only militaristic buildings that she wished to maintain was enough to keep a garrison of d'Anjou levymen, to defend the palace. H.R.H Princess Anna-Sophia did not see much point in attempting to raise a levy of her own, having sworn herself to Count Robert d'Anjou of Cleves, she relied on him to provide military support. In return, the Count had requested that an ample space be provided for him and his men. It seemed like a fair enough transaction to be made, allowing the Princess and her daughter to create a courtly environment that would not be overtaken by the militarism of the other lands around Axios. I sometimes suspected why they did not simply swap lands. . . Regardless, the Lady Alyssa made known to me during this time that she was looking for a person who would be capable of defending her, as a bodyguard. I sighed a little, as thoughts of my younger brother re-entered once more. He would have been perfect for the job, were he still alive. Not a sight nor sound of him since the Battle of Elba. I believe the Lady Alyssa sensed my concern with this and comforted me somewhat, asking to keep a weather eye out. We then continued organizing the Barony. ---- CHAPTER LX As I was burning some of the empty and old chests from the front of the Barony, an elderly individual entered through the gates of Ostwick. He was dressed in blue robes and wore a blue pointed hat, which had a strange yellow stripe along the base, as well as wielding a staff or walking stick of some fashion. I had to admit though, I was a little jealous of that wondrous white beard. I'll have to grow myself one. . .I greeted him and made the usual introductions, as he did the same, beneath the warm glow of the morning sun. He stated that his name was Blundermore Wind-Raker, a Travelling Wizard who had come searching for employment in the Courts of the Nobility, having been previously refused from the Court of Courland. I was a little stunned, but was more than happy to see another person join the Barony. I invited him into the drawing room and study, near the Throne room. Taking out a notebook and quill, I began an informal interview with him, to gauge whether we was genuine or not. He claimed to be very skilled in enchantments, minor alchemy and Alternationism, wishing to settle down into more stable work. He seemed to also have a deep dislike for the Undead, noting that there were some abnormalities around the Barony, which he believed he would be able to correct, if given the opportunity. Pleased to see the eagerness in such an old man, I offered him the placement as the Princess' Court Wizard, with the added responsibility of keeping the Barony clean of the Undead risk. He accepted, provided he was paid up-front to right some previous debts. This was done. It was by small coincidence then that we walked out of the Drawing room and finished settling the Wizard into suitable accommodations that we happened upon the retinue of Lord Robert d'Anjou, who was flanked on either side by his levymen, facing H.R.H Princess Anna-Sophia. I sensed that there was some animosity between the Lord Robert and this Mr. Wind-Raker, but it seemed to abate ever so slightly as introductions were made. Lord Robert had arrived to have a meeting with the Princess, which I had previous arranged and organised, to see to some of the finer detailed of the Refurbishment effort. The Princess remarked at my competence, which made me beam a little, but it sought to raise the eyebrows of the Count, who quizzed me on my previous encounters with the Princess. The answers I gave must have satisfied him, as well as that of the meeting, for he was soon off to Cleves again. No doubt we'd see him at the feast to come! BOOK VII Spoiler CHAPTER LXI It has been a long time since I have put quill to parchment. A long time to feel safe in telling you all the true story that I am about to divulge. A lot has passed since these events, so too do I hope that I may now tell my version of events which led up to the Lotharingian Civil War, in the hopes of preserving the true nature of History. But, in order to do so, I must now take you back. Back to a time when I had just introduced my dearest friend, Blundermore, into these memoirs. By fortunate coincidence, as I had noted in my previous book, Robert de Anjou, Count of Cleves, had come to have dinner with the Princess Anna-Sophia, to discuss the upkeep of the Barony of Ostwick. During which time, the Queen had endowed praise upon me. Within the Lord Robert's Retinue was one Juliana Blackwood, a maid of fair skin and wide eyes, who served as the Lord's Servant at Cleves. There was also a member of his levy, whose name I admit I have forgotten, but who preferred to stand close to the Lord, rather than sit down at the nearby benches and enjoy the meal. Lastly, there was the Lord Robert's Son, who was rather flamboyant and rather outspoken at the dinner. So much so, the Lord Robert requested his son to make leave of the dinner, so not to spoil the serious nature of some of the talks we had. We covered a fair amount of topics that day, referring to the arrangement of a section of the Barony for the de Anjou Levy and the inclusion of several guest rooms around during the refurbishment. One might question why a de Anjou Levy was stationed at the Barony of Ostwick at all. To put it simply, the Princess Anna-Sophia was the vassal of the Lord of Cleves, in return for military protection of a Barony the size of a Dukedom. It was one of many reasons that would draw us into conflict. The meal ended amicably and the Lord Robert took his retinue back to Cleves. During which time, I had organised that the servants removed the table and begin refurbishment of the Palace interior, so to allow us to begin our large scale project to turn the Barony into a Palace fit for a Princess of Pruvia. If nothing else, this should prove to some that the road that we were about to tread was not one of complete premeditation, but rather one of gut-reaction. ---- CHAPTER LXII Before I enter that particular topic, it was also at this point that Lady Alyssa asked me to one side. She had been present just a few hours after the dinner with the de Anjous' had been concluded. She was working as the Court Architect and was responsible for the large-scale refurbishment of the Barony, most of which was to please her own designs, such as the need for a Bathhouse and a spacious dining room. I cared very little, in truth. I only wished for the completion of the refurbishment in a timely and orderly fashion. My Brother, Ayldan Blaxton, had been spending the majority of his time at the Lady Alyssa's side, as her bodyguard. However, I couldn't help but detect there was a relationship growing there. . . Plutonic or Romantic, I didn't know. Regardless, the heavens poured down a deluge that night, as the Lady Alyssa spirited me away to the nearby gatehouse. I suppose she wanted her words away from the ears of her Mother, the Princess Anna-Sophia. Though for what reason, again, I know little. Lady Alyssa, in general, always tended to vex me in her own special way. Whilst under the Gatehouse, the Lady Alyssa asked if I knew of any suitors who might wish for her hand in marriage. Admittedly, I knew very few within the Kingdom of Lotharingia who would take her hand. Not out of any malice or outward appearances on her part, but rather that the Kingdom of Lotharingia had been suffering a severe stagnation, what with the delayed reconstruction of the Capital at Metz. I told her simply that I knew not of any suitor. She replied rather briskly to keep an eye out for any potential suitors, so long as they were of Viscount status or Above. Courteously, I took note of the offer that she wished to make for others and then we went our separate paths. With that being the end of the day's rather hectic schedule. I proceeded back to the Library tower, were I had made my own residence. If I remember correctly, I had cheese and wine for dinner that night, because the dream-scape later presented me with a rather horrible nightmare. The details of which I cannot remember, only that it kept me awake for that night. Looking back, it was probably a sign of darker things to come, but back then, I only vowed to never eat cheese after the sunset. ---- CHAPTER LXIII The following day, we gained a rather unexpected entourage of people at the Barony of Ostwick. The Prince of Lotharingia, John d'Amaury, arrived with a jester called Clive. He had also brought with him a small levy with Lord Robert d'Anjou. Naturally, the Princess of Pruvia was just as shocked as I was at this rather unexpected and unannounced entrance to the Barony, to which she called everyone to enter the Throne Room. As we entered, I took a good long look at this jester alongside the Prince. I could have sworn that I had saw him before in some previous encounter, but I could not put my finger on where and when. It was the eyes, they just looked so demonic. It would have appeared, however, that the Prince of Lotharingia was there for nothing more than a social visit. Not that it was a visit that I would like to revisit in my memories. John d'Amaury was a scholarly soul, who was more obsessed with this books and papers, it would have seemed, than the welfare of his brother's subjects. Throughout the conversation between the Prince, The Princess and the Lord, The Jester taunted myself and my brother. He made jests of the Haeseni people and mocked their existence, much to the delight of the Prince of Lotharingia and my growing frustration. A frustration which was also seemingly felt by the Princess and the Lord of Cleves. The Prince of Lotharingia soon after came into the reasoning of his visit. He wished to see a list of names of those who had made the Barony of Ostwick their residence. As such, I present the Princess of Pruvia a register, detailing the people, occupations and residence within the Barony. The Prince seemed pleased enough to read it, though it came with yet more indirect insults. I do not remember the encounter favourably in the slightest. However, the Prince soon took his leave, along with his damnable Jester. Once he did so, the Lord Robert de Anjou of Cleves proceeded to climb the steps to the Princess' throne, as the Princess soon dismissed all those present, bar myself and the Lord Robert. ---- CHAPTER LXIV There was hushed tones and whispers which surrounded the Princess Anna-Sophia's ears soon after. Lord Robert de Anjou, disgusted by the display made by the Prince of Lotharingia, began to cite several issues that he had been encountering whilst under the control of the House d'Amaury. Among the top of the list was the noted absence of the King's actions in running the Kingdom, leaving it much like a withering cadaver to the prey which likely surrounded them. The peasants that had once sewn the wheat in the fields and collected their harvest were non-existent in many parts of the realm, as if a foul pestilence had carried them off into a dark abyss. The Princess of Pruvia concurred with the majority of the Lord Robert's words. She, herself, was not pleased with the current state of affairs within the realm. She had worked tirelessly back in Metz, trying her best to do with what she had. But no council was ever raised to consult the Nobles on the state of the realm, nor was any message sent, nor any word given. It would have felt like they were working for naught but a dead state, where there would be no address for any grievances, not without the potential ridicule which they had just witnessed. However, the Princess intervened in her own words, questioning what could be done about the issue. Lord Robert de Anjou suggested the means: A Coup d'etat. At this moment, I was merely listening on the conversation and offering advice to the Princess when she wished it. But the Princess and the Lord soon found themselves in a dire conflict of their own. They could not agree on what should come next. They agreed that the capital needed completing, in order to bring back a population to Metz and Lotharingia. They also agreed that there needed to be a strong, nationalistic army. However, they could not agree on who to place on the throne. For you see, Lord Robert had ambitions to crown himself King. Naturally, I protested. The House d'Anjou was a upstart house, only recently given lands and titles. Though a weak claim, the Princess' claim as a part-Horen granted her a stronger claim to the throne. Lord Robert did not take too kindly to this remark, stating that the Princess should not let her own ambition cloud her judgement, before leaving the Throne room. I say it now, he was a hypocrite, for it was his ambition that began a chain of events that became unstoppable. ---- CHAPTER LXV So, here now, we are presented with a dilemma: Two Vassals, One of the Military and One of the Mina, both laid claim to the Throne of Lotharingia. One way or another, the Young King Lothar I of Lotharingia was going to die, but by whose blade? Given the state that the realm was in, thanks in part to his salutary neglect of the Kingdom, the Princess of Pruvia was unwilling to present damning evidence to the King Lothar. She feared that doing so would incite a Civil War. One that they would likely lose, given that the Lord of Cleves held most of the active military in the Realm, since the Knights of the Kingdom seemed to be more concerned with the growing conflict between the Kingdom of Courland and the Realm of Mardon. However, nor could the Princess of Pruvia stand idly by and bend the knee again to the Lord of Cleves, as she believed that his own ambition would lead to a military state. She did not want that either. Lord Robert de Anjou clearly wanted nothing more than to sit on the Throne of the Lotharingia, but what would come after that? She did not believe that he would have been as diligent as herself in restoring the Kingdom of Lotharingia to its rightful place among the warring state of Axios. Instead, Lord Robert de Anjou would have likely sat on the throne and done the same action as that of the King Lothar I, instituted a unwritten policy of salutary neglect. There was only one course of action available to the Princess of Pruvia; She had to take action before the Lord Robert did. With that being the case, she dispatched me to the Kingdom of Courland's Capital, Aleksandria. I was to talk to the King on the matter of gaining either Military support, or to gain a blank cheque that no aggression would be taken if we were to Kill the King of Lotharingia. My actions were unfortunately stopped by the Lord Marshal of Courland, Louis de Felsen, who felt spurned that I would not divulge my secrets to himself. He refused me entry to Curonberg Castle, which left me to get creative in gaining the King's audience. I therefore met a young lad with Black hair that shone like the ink of the squid, who was named Abdel. Using him knowledge of the City, I passed Abdel a message to give to the King. Given the spry nature of his build, he was able to gain access to the keep. He must have given the message, for soon I was able to see the King. Upon entering the palace, H.R.H King Tobias Staunton greeted me warming and swiftly led me to one side, where we might discuss. I got straight to the point, King Lothar I was a sickly and stale king, but his death and replacement may have caused other kingdoms to stir. When I presented the King with the two options of military aid or military neutrality, the King responded thus. From this, the King had made clear that no military intervention within Lotharingia would take place, instead wishing a level of neutrality with what was about to transpire within the Kingdom of the d'Amaurys. With this news, I traveled back to the Barony of Ostwick and delivered the news to the Princess of Pruvia. The news was received with a lukewarmness, shadowed by a bitterness for what was to come. ---- CHAPTER LXVI The plan was set. The King of Lotharingia would come to the Barony of Ostwick, under the guise that we required royal assent before we turned the Barony of Ostwick into a palace. The Princess of Pruvia and I discussed the plan at great length, along with its subsequent contingencies. Should the King have arrived with an armed host, as we might have expected, then we would come clean about the Lord Robert de Anjou's intrigue to replace the King in a Coup d'etat. Naturally, this was not the goal that we wished for, since the King would likely slip back into a rule of salutary neglect. However, it would have given King Lothar I a chance to change his ways. To our surprise, the King did not come with an armed escort. He arrived alone, in person. As such, the formalities were given at the gatehouse and we proceeded to lead him up to a tower in the North-West Section of the Baron, as the main dining hall had been scrapped for refurbishment. Maple and Honey-covered pancakes were served up for H.R.H King Lothar I and the Princess of Pruvia, along with glasses of wine, near an ember-lit fireplace. The King seemed pleased with the hospitality of the hold, so I then presented him with quill, ink and parchment for the Royal assent of refurbishment. He saw no reason to do otherwise and signed the document without hesitation. The document was signed, the King was eating, myself behind him with a red-hot poker to build the flames of the fire. I added several logs into the flames, staring at them as I prepared to do the unthinkable. Unsheathing a simple dagger, I turned around and with a single action slit the throat of the King. The Princess of Pruvia was horrified by the seen, even though it was she and I who planned for this to happen. She knocked me out of the way, taking the dying King into her arms, cradling him as he slipped into the Seven Skies. I dusted myself off of the floor and took back the dagger. What possessed me to do this? What led me to commit Regicide? I suppose, if nothing else, it was loyalty. Loyalty to the Family. I informed the Princess that she knew it would have come to this, attempting to reason with her that the actions we had taken would prevent Lord Robert de Anjou from seizing power for himself, but only if we acted off of these events. She was shaking like a leaf. . . Even though she knew it was coming, I don't think she mentally prepared herself. I hovered over the carcass of the King, took of the King's Lotharingian Pin-Cross, before burning his body in the fireplace. Later that night, I would wait for the embers to cool, before removing the ashes and placing them in the ash-pit of the Barony. He was a good king whilst he had his country; young, sickly, he had lost his grip on power. May the Gods Grant H.R.H King Lothar I de Amaury his rest. ---- CHAPTER LXVII Soon after the King was dead, the Princess of Pruvia sent a Proclamation to the Lords of Lotharingia. In which, she styled herself as Her Royal Majesty, Anna I Sophia of House Horen-Preussens, by the Grace of GOD, Queen of Lotharingia, Princess of Pruvia, Duchess of Lorraine, Countess of Ostwick and Summerhall, Warden of the South. House Horen-Pruessen. I had to admit, it did sound good. However, the proclamation did very little to aid us within our own coup d'etat to seize the Kingdom. Likely, by this hour, the remaining member of House d'Amaury would have been wondering what had happened to their King. Now the flow of information by this proclamation had allowed them to come to their own conclusions. Indeed, with the news they had received from this Proclamation, they sent out a Missive of their own. In which they ordered the crown to have passed onto the King's younger brother, H.R.H King Philip Robert. It called on Lord Robert especially to swear fealty. Without a doubt, Civil war was now on it's way. We now found ourselves in a strange scenario come the passing of 1608. The Kingdom of Mardon and the troops that had been stationed there, in defense from the attacks of the Kingdom of Courland, now sought to aid us in our fight. H.R.H King Peter I of Mardon, himself a Horen, seemed to feel honor-bound to protect a fellow Horen. This brought a tremendous amount of unexpected military muscle to our side. Among them appeared three unlikely aids: Lord Augustus Reinhardt Von Schlichten of Chambery, A Lord of Lotharingia who sympathized with our plight. Arthur Jrent, a military man of Mardon. Ser Bruce Hornigold, the misguided knight of the Kingdom of Lotharingia. And Prince Frederick Augustus, the Queen Horen-Pruessen's brother. Their own motivations remained unclear to me, especially that of Jrent and Hornigold, who I attempted to keep an eye on. Each had offered to bring men to the upcoming war, which could have come not a moment too soon. Whilst Prince Frederick Augustus had arrived early, he had gone out again to recruit more men. This left the Privy Council and the now-Queen of Lotharingia in charge of the Barony of Ostwick, with only a skeleton force with which to defend it. Things got all the more complicated, whilst the Queen had been spending efforts to contact various factions that would support her, the Lord of Cleves arrived with an armed host. Much to our surprise, he claimed that he had come to bend the knee to the new Queen of Lotharingia, Anna-Sophia Horen-Pruessen. We were all skeptical, and bid that he bring himself in through the gates with only one bodyguard, leaving the rest of his force outside. ---- CHAPTER LXVIII The forces outside were watched by a small levy on the gatehouse as the Lord Robert de Anjou and his bodyguard were searched for weapons and armour, keeping an eye on the events, as no Lord wishing to bend the knee to you would do as the Lord Robert of Cleves had done. Regardless, the Queen Anna-Sophia took the Count at his word, so we thus proceeded towards the chapel. The reasoning we held was simple, any vow made in a throne room may be broken to that man's dishonor, however, it was another thing to break an oath of fealty to a liege before the sight of GOD. This added pressure on the Lord Robert de Anjou, as he well knew it. At either end of the Altar, The Queen Anna-Sophia and Count Robert de Anjou of Cleves made an oath of fealty, with Count Robert swearing to come to the aid of his Queen and to administer her laws in the Kingdom of Lotharingia. I, Myself, conducted the ceremony, in the absence of any priest or clergy. The Witnesses to the Oath included the Court Wizard, Blundermore Wind-Raker, and my brother, Ayldan Blaxton. Sunlight beam down from the stained-glass windows of the church, reflecting a cross upon the pair. Perhaps a divine sign of things to come or not. Regardless, the Oath was accepted by the Count of Cleves to the Queen Anna-Sophia, before the sight of GOD. However, whilst all this was happening, there was a clear tension that echoed around the Chapel. Removed from their Count, the soldiers outside were becoming more and more restless, with shouts and mutters alike resonating from them. This was matched by the actions of the bodyguard, who only seemed to grow more and more nervous as the ceremony went on. It was starting to become clear that they intended to try some action, but then, what could be done? We ourselves could not do much but bide our time until the forces of Arthur Jrent were to arrive, as we could not have held off the de Anjou levy outside the gates. Taking the Count Hostage would have been futile, as well I knew. ---- CHAPTER LXIX Moments after the ceremony was concluded, the Prince Frederick Augustus entered the chapel. He demanded that the Count be arrested for inciting rebellion amongst his men, outside the Barony's gates. This seemed somewhat expected, but what was required thereafter was space and time. The Queen knew it too. She ordered the Count of Cleves to exit through the main gates and calm his soldiers, declaring openly to them that he would side with the Queen Anna-Sophia of Lotharingia. We knew, however, that this was unlikely to be the case. Indeed, the Count shouted 'NOW!' to his troops, and a siege begun. Soldiers began to storm the gatehouse and use hatchets to break at the gate. The Gatehouse was quickly locked down, forcing the de Anjou levy to fight through the gates. Subsequent gates were additionally locked on the way towards the Keep. With her Privy Council, the Queen Anna-Sophia went to the Throne-room balcony, where we sat and waited. Waiting for the de Anjou force to storm the first and second gates. Whilst this action surrendered control of the keep, it allowed us to move along the Wall of Ostwick towards the Front gate, exiting without any resistance. Foolish of them not to leave a small guard force to defend what they had taken, but ingenious of the Queen Anna-Sophia nonetheless! Once outside, we met beyond the bridge with those of the Mardonic forces, commanded by Arthur Jrent. We laid Ostwick to siege, the de Anjou levy stuck within our own walls. Volleys of arrows fired too and fro the gatehouse and its surrounding towers. Though the superiority of numbers, Mardonic forces, with Ser Bruce Honigold at the lead, broke through the gatehouse and dispatched the traitors. Lord Robert de Anjou managed to escape capture, fleeing to the Capital of Metz. With the Victory at Ostwick, the Queen Anna-Sophia returned and thanked Ser Bruce Hornigold and Arthur Jrent for their timely intervention. Ser Bruce replied with a stirring speech to his soldiers, declaring to them that there would be more battles to come, but today, madness had its day. ---- CHAPTER LXX The writing was on the wall. The House de Anjou had sided with the House d'Amaury, much to my bemusement that Lord Robert, who had started this intrigue, should decide to then move forward to support that which he wished to replace. Clearly, he must have felt great injury that we had stolen his ambition from him, forcing him into the position where he must either stake his own claim or reinforce that of the d'Amaurys'. He would not have gone to move his own claim, as he had none. His betrayal was all-together expected, though not wished. We might have won a great victory at Ostwick, but it also came at yet another price. Soon after the battle, Ser Bruce Hornigold requested a private audience with the Queen Anna-Sophia in her throne room. It would have appeared that the Knight of Lotharingia had been conflicted about joining our side of the war and wished to know the truth about how the King died. Allow me to put this plainly, Ser Bruce Hornigold did not witness the death of H.R.H King Lothar I. He was not present and claims otherwise are false. Once he found out from the Queen, he found her cause to be unsatisfactory, attempting to attack her there and then. Unable to inflict any bodily harm onto her, and realising the danger he had placed himself in, he attempted to escape Ostwick and succeeded in doing so. His lies there after were a play from an ambitious Knight who himself wished to sit on the Throne. But, naught a few days after that incident, Mardonic men were swayed more that Ser Bruce Hornigold should be King, rather than the Queen Anna-Sophia. A Two Way Civil War turned into Three: Hornigold Loyalists, Horen Loyalists and D'Amaury Loyalists. The situation had become dire indeed. Rumours abounded that the King of Lotharingia was willing to seek peace if it placed Ser Bruce Hornigold on the throne, but the Queen Anna-Sophia would hear none of it, as she believed the Knight to be no better than the Count of Cleves. For now, there was a strange form of stalemate, with neither side seeming to be willing to attack the other. But a few days after the events at Ostwick, the Queen Anna-Sophia was walking down the path from the main gatehouse towards the keep. She was attacked by Assassins, one of which was Ser Bruce Hornigold. Her body lay bleeding on the floor of the Barony, before being placed in an ornate coffin and placed within the chapel for burial. I remember her fondly now as the 'Queen who never was' and a damn good Queen she was too. She'd have been exactly what the Kingdom needed. BOOK VIII Spoiler CHAPTER LXXI Up in the top floor of the library tower, high above the skies into the Barony of Ostwick, the Queen Anna-Sophia's Privy Council gathered in haste. The Queen's body had been given treatment to cleanse the body, before being placed in a coffin, surrounded by flowers within the chapel. We all wept for the loss of our leader. Lady Alyssa Adelheid Amador, in particular, spent several hours sat on a pew of the chapel. She stared at the ornate wooden box that housed her mother's corpse. One can only imagine the pain that a person feels when they lose a parent; a shooting pain, as if you were struck by an arrow, grazing the heart. It is little surprise that people then act on such emotions. . . Don't Get Sad, Get Mad. . . Get Even. Get Revenge. Such thoughts no doubt passed all of us who sat in the council rooms. To my right sat the Court Wizard, Blundermore Wind-Raker, along with his servant. To my left sat the Lady Alyssa, tear-trails does her cheeks, with Ayldan Blaxton sat with a sword across his lap. And across from the room was the vacant chair of the new head of the house, Ser Frederick Augustus. He has also been grief-stricken with the loss of his sister, but shown his grief by spending long periods away from the world, often going on long rides or locking himself within his chambers. I called the present members of the Council to Order as my brother stood to speak. His scared face looked around the council chamber as he stated that a man had come to the Barony, requesting that he could kill the Queen-Slayer, Ser Bruce Hornigold. The Privy Council did not take long to deliberate. Everyone wished for the false knight to be killed. However, there was an issue presented to us: who would give the order?Such decisions were usually left to the head of the household, in this case, Ser Frederick. However, in his absence, the order could not be given. Therefore, given the council's consent, I gave the order. Soon enough, we were gathered outside the gates of Metz, where one of the Mardonic Soldiers had captured Ser Bruce Hornigold. I do not lie, I taunted the man who had killed our Queen. Stating a sentence that would likely haunt me and my family for the next few generations. Many others who had joined us also jeered the false knight, calling him all manner of profanities, before he was thrown upon a simple stone off of the road. Nikolai took out his axe, before the sights of the Capital and beheaded the false knight. His head rolling off towards the lake, before being taken by another. I do not know what became of his head, but his body was left at the side of the road, as a message to the King d'Amaury. Instead, we made our way back to the Barony of Ostwick, to prepare ourselves for another likely battle. By which time, Ser Frederick had come out of his grief and called another Council meeting. --- CHAPTER LXXII Whilst I was caught within the intrigues of the Lotharingian Civil War, events were taking place outside of the Summer Kingdom. These events took place before the death of H.R.H Queen-Anna Sophia, but memory imposes upon me to mention them here. For on the wider world, there had been continual strain under the imperialistic ambitions of the Kingdom of Courland, which adds to the context of our plight. As previously mentioned, the Kingdom of Courland was at war with Mardon, which had declared itself an Independent Kingdom during the Great Northern War. After the Kingdom of Courland had brought the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska low, the imperialist minds of Courland decided to reclaim the duchy of Mardon, whose capital of Lorath sat on the edge of the Blackfen marshlands. This led to a lot of the Highlander forces and refugees to flock to Mardon. In the early months of 1606, the High Pontiff Owyn II, decided to negotiate on behalf of the refugees from the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. His heart had become heavy when he saw the Courlanders treat the remaining refugees poorly, attacking them and and other simple folk without provocation, which likened to the imperialistic actions of the Holy Orenian Empire. The High Pontiff also sought to end the hostilities of the Kingdom of Courland against the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska once before, to negotiate the peace of the Northern refugees so they wouldn't be pursued wherever they go, which ended in the High Holiness being stabbed. In his second attempt, His Holiness attempted to negotiate a continued peace with Mardon and the safety of the people there, as well as the Hanseti-Ruskan refugees who had gone there. However, this came to no avail in the presence of the Lord Chancellor Frederick Staunton, who was as firm in his own views as the High Pontiff. He stated the High Pontiff was required to convert to the True Faith, which in itself was an impossible request, then to vassalise himself and Mardon under the Staunton Banners. Naturally, this was refused. But what happened next was what caught the attention of all Axios: Courlandic soldiers worked with the Undead to Kill the High Pontiff. This news brought unparalleled shock-waves over the Churches of Axios. The first of which was a Message from Mardon. The words were merely to spread the news of the events, and reply with a preemptive strike by Arthur Jrent 'The Colossal' against the Courlandic Forces, for vengeance to be had. The second came in the form of yet another Battle in Asul, in which the Mardonic and Highlandic soldiers attempted to honour and beautify the High Pontiff as a Saint, by slaying yet more Courlandic soldiers outside the gates of Aleksandria. During such attacks and raids, a young nobleman of the de Savin family was captured, before promptly being executed by Arthur Jrent himself in front of his soldiers. However, these victories came at the loss of two prominent Hanseti-Ruskan nobles, Lord Eirik Baruch & Lord Hughs Pasquier. May GOD grant them all rest. --- CHAPTER LXXIII After the death of Ser Bruce Hornigold, outside the gates of Metz, the majority of the Council went straight back to the Council room. As we arrived, we noted that Ser Frederick Augustus was sat within his chair, with the young Victoria-Maria Horen-Pruessen either on his lap or at his side. She was a spry young thing, who up until this point, had not received any formal education. Instead, she had spent the majority of her time within the Queen Anna-Sophia's Gardens, or within the small library near the chapel. Since I had known her, she had a fascination with the Court Wizard, Blundermore. She often followed him around like a small puppy would an adult. Cute, I suppose. During the council meeting, Ser Frederick Augustus Horen-Pruessen accepted the responsibility of the head of the Household, taking the title of Serene Prince of Pruvia. He rejected the title of King of Lotharingia, citing that he had no wish to continue the war with the Kingdom of Lotharingia, which would have been his to inherit following the Queen's untimely demise. We were all a little sceptical of this change-of-heart from the Prince. However, it could be seen as somewhat expected. Despite having a firm victory at Ostwick against the d'Amaury forces, it was clear that we were losing the support of the Mardonic forces, especially after the Marshal of Mardon had called for a Ceasefire with the Kingdom of Courland. On top of this, the "Self-Deterministic Pact" Alliance members, the Kingdom of the Westerlands and the Sultanate of Haria, began to order an investigation into the assassination of the H.R.H King Lothar I d'Amaury. This Lothar Commission demanded an audience with either sides of the Lotharingian Civil War and to let their investigators look into the death of the former King of Lotharingia. Soon enough, envoys and investigators from King Caius I of the West would likely descend on Ostwick, which could have been a difficult turn of events for the new Prince. Whatever happened to these investigations, I do not know, but no mention of them was ever mentioned again. As such, the Prince made it known that soon a peace would be made, and no actions to the contrary should be taken. He was not best pleased to learn of the Order to Kill Bruce Hornigold. A slight I don't believe he has ever really forgiven me for. Another piece of the agenda in that meeting was the tutelage and education of the young Victoria-Maria. It was agreed that the young girl would learn some martial combat with a sister of the Westerlands Order of the Seraphim, whom was a friend of the Serene Prince. However, in order to teach the young girl the ways of the court and of diplomacy, I was charged with her education. I did not see it as much of a problem, but for what was to come, I failed to appreciate how difficult long distances was to one's education. Indeed, I failed in that young girl's education, as far as I was concerned. Perhaps somewhat to blame for what was to happen to her. ---- CHAPTER LXXIV On the 23rd of the Great Harvest, 1607, a Treaty was signed between the Kingdom of Courland and the Duchy of Mardon, ending the hostilities between the two sides of their own war. One might wonder why I often cite the Mardonic Independence war so closely with the Lotharingian Civil war. To those who would ask such a question, I would answer that our two wars were actually one in the same, despite their differing objectives. Despite the Duchy of Mardon wishing independence from the Kingdom of Courland, and the former Baroness of Ostwick once wishing to gain control of the Kingdom of Lotharingia, what both of these wars had was the same family name: Horen. One might call it some a "Horen-Dominance" war, where the dragons became tired of serving others and attempted to go their own way, together. What was significant about this treaty, for us few who held onto the Barony of Ostwick, was the second condition: II. The Duchy of Mardon will not intervene in the upcoming Lorraine-Savoy civil war, except in the defence of Ostwick, and are unable to advance into a conquest. This placed us into a precarious situation. We were now somewhat safe within the Barony of Ostwick, given that we would receive defensive aid from the Duchy of Mardon, but we would no longer receive their support for an offensive into the d'Amaury lands. We were now short on men, mina and resources. What then was the best thing to do in this particular situation? A White-Peace would have possibly been preferable, but bending the knee to the d'Amaury King would not have been a pleasant experience for the Prince. The same would go for a surrender, in which we would likely all lose our heads, or worse. A peace would look very strange. On the 19th of the Amber Cold, 1607, Peace was concluded with the Kingdom of Lotharingia and ourselves. Within a treaty that was authored by the Duke of Mardon, Ostwick would be ceded back to H.R.H King Odo d'Amaury, but the Blackfen Marshes and the Mountains that shielded the Barony of Ponce were taken in recompense. A region would be established that would be known as the 'Shield of Mardon', where those who had held onto the Barony of Ostwick would be allowed to travel to. In the same treaty, they made known that the Duchy of Mardon had captured a man who claimed that he was the one who killed H.R.H King Lothar I d'Amaury. You may think me callous for not speaking out against this, but if the fool were to brag of such, then a fool's death he did deserve. The Treaty left those of us in Ostwick feeling mixed feelings, having to lose the home we had made for ourselves under our Queen, but remaining in a barony that had been difficult to maintain was itself a problem. Politically, it was the best case scenario for our problem. We would be removed from the region, with our heads still on our shoulders, with a land to make our new home. A White-Peace with concessions. So, we moved our belongings and transferred the storage at the barony to a small house in the middle of Lorath, which was owned by the Serene Prince Frederick Augustus of Pruvia. No doubt that he would now be working on building this new 'Shield of Mardon'. --- CHAPTER LXXV Whilst I was busily moving out the storage from the Barony of Ostwick the the Mardonic Capital of Lorath, I had a lot of time to think about how much we had lost in this endeavour, all the people we had lost. The first of which was the Lady Adrijana Amador, who had spent a great deal of time in the Barony, in the company of the Queen Anna-Sophia and the Lord Oan of Brevis. She had grown rather attached to them in light of the Lord Owyn Amador's actions with the short-lived republic of Carasca, losing a large portion of the Amador fortune in the process. She had gone out one day during the war and was attacked by men from the County of Cleves, coming back severely injured and having to spend a great deal of time in the care of various medical professionals. Such thoughts were in my mind since the news broke that H.R.H King Tobias Staunton had died, a man whom I personally respected, even if we were drawn on different sides of the line. May GOD, not by any division of faith, grant him rest. His death had thrown his first-born son, H.R.H King Joseph I Alexander Staunton, onto the throne. I have to admit that I had never met the man, but wished him all the best in the endeavours. His wife, Queen Lisette, would likely have the hardest time. Having to attend a Coronation Of her eldest son, in the few days when her love had left this plain of existence to transcend to the skies above. These two deaths, different in many respects, placed a new-found emphasis within me. An emphasis on seeking a comfortable means to live out the rest of my own life. Throughout these memoirs, I had moved from St.Karlsburg to Mondstadt, Mondstadt to Ostwick & now Ostwick to Mardon. I am entering my fourth decade in this Axios, watching over my back for a dagger meant for me, unable to find any way to make the next few possible decades more comfortable. Only die-hard warriors dream about dying on the battlefield in glory. For people like me, we want to die of old age, surrounded by those who care about us. Who would care for me? Regardless, the Lady Adrijana Amador was transported to her Lord Husband in Lorath, with a noticeable scar from her attack. She required around-the-clock care that only the Lord Owyn could afford, and no doubt passed me that he would, for the sake of their children: Henrik, Ruslan and Diana. I spent many a day making sure that she would pull through whilst in Ostwick, it was a weight off my shoulders to know that she would be okay. ---- CHAPTER LXXVI I remember the day I arrived at Schloss Hochspitze fairly well. . . If I recall correctly, I was in the company of another man and travelled to Schloss Hochspitze together. We were met with locked doors and high walls, where a Priest named Father Cristobel wandered, reading from some of the holy scripts. As he noticed us, he came down and unlocked the gates for us, allowing us into the Grand Hall. It has always been a small irk of mine to see Castles such as these enter straight into a grand hall. . . perhaps it was my time in Lotharingia that taught me differently about the layout of some keeps and castles, with notable mentions to the Castles at Metz, Ostwick and Chambery. Father Cristobel was a kind enough soul. He gave us a small tour of the castle, which he had already explored, as well as show us some of the work he was doing. As a priest of the Church of the Canon, he was required to write theses now and then. His latest one, A Thesis on Nationalism, was an interesting read. He argued that the victories saw by religions, such as the Church of the True faith, was due to the nationalistic zealotry of their populations. This strove them to fight as hard for their beliefs as much as those of other faithful denominations and churches. I would recommend that any learned man read from Father Cristobel's scrolls. Upon finishing the tour, I happened to meet the Serene Prince Frederick. His face was shallow and as unimpressed as usual. He stated on a whim that he would be making me the Chancellor of Schloss Hochspitze, as I had proven myself during my tenure as the Chancellor for the Queen Anna-Sophia in Ostwick. He then tossed me a set of keys which allowed me access to most rooms in the Castle, bar that of his own keep and hall. Naturally, I was honoured to take up the role and started work by shifting the storage in Lorath from his house to Schloss Hochspitze. Whilst doing so, the Prince chided me on the topic of trust. I protested that I had gained the trust of the Queen Anna-Sophia before him. He merely glared back and said coldly: “I am not my sister, Blaxton.” Clearly, I would have my work cut out for me to try and impress upon the Serene Prince my loyalty to his family and that of the Amadors, likely he'd taken insult from the order to kill Ser Bruce Hornigold. Nonetheless, I believed that, if I had managed to convince a red-hot blooded woman like Queen Annasophia to trust me, I could do the same with the Serene Prince. Just as I had done since I first began upon my diplomatic career. Communications would begin with a simple good deed. The Serene Prince soon ordered me to the throne room to give me an assignment. To begin gathering various souls around Axios and bring them to Hochspitze as Soldiers and Courtiers. ---- CHAPTER LXXVII The task of building a population for Schloss Hochspitze, and thus the newly formed Principality of Pruvia, would contain both soldiers and courtiers to the Serene Prince, was no easy task. The Serene prince required people who would be able to advise him in nearly every field of expertise that was not initially his own, which in this case was the fields of mina-making, magic and knowledge. Fortunately, many of the previous Privy Council of Ostwick had also joined me in going to aid the Serene Prince Frederick. Blundermore Wind-Raker, for instance, retained his position as Court Wizard. Lady Alyssa Adelheid Amador, not wishing to join her brother, stayed on at hochspitze as its chief architect, but was given no voice on the council. During the next passing days, I wandered out into the world of Axios and attempted to recruit people where I could. The first and foremost in my thoughts, who I believed would help the Serene Prince a great deal, was the former Steward and Mayor of St.Karlsburg: Floris van Loden. He had a lot of skill in dealing with the administration of a realm, so I thrust sent him a letter, marked with only a black seal. The messenger was asked to search for the man and given a great deal of mina for his trouble. Soon enough, I had correspondence back from floris that he was interested in the job and would likely come within the next Saint's month, given preparations for travelling. Whilst waiting for Floris to arrive, I managed to gather a fair number within the walls of Schloss Hochspitze. One Juliana Blackwood, the once servant of the d'Anjous, was made a chef at Hochspitze. Her food was divine. I also met a Very elderly gentlemen by the name of Aldred, who was well versed in nearly every form on knowledge that there was to have. Although, he seemed to have some strange history with the Court Wizard, Blundermore. I have never really figured out what it was either man had against the other. But it did not seem to disrupt them from their own work. Some soldiers were also brought in to join the Serene Prince's ranks also, including one named Schofield, I believe. His sister now works as a maid within the halls. One may ask, why did I do all this work for a man who seemingly did not trust me nor like me all that much? Well, there were two simple reasons for this. The first and most obvious, was that despite our animosities, he was a member of the same family of that as the Lord Owyn. His Uncle by all accounts, so loyalty meant a lot to me in this regard. The second, and one which most will end up citing as my true reasoning, was a promise of land should my services prove to be useful to the Serene Prince. Being a landed nobleman had never really struck me as much of a prospect, on account of being celibate. However, should the line continue for my brother and his progeny, then a just reward it would be. ---- CHAPTER LXXVIII During my travels to try and recruit people to the newly formed Principality of Pruvia, I found myself within the Courlandic capital of Aleksandria. One would be mistaken if they believed that I would be stupid enough to recruit men and soldiers here, under the gaze of Courlandic soldiers and generals. Nie. I actually went over to Aleksandria to browse among the marketplace and find myself a new saddle, for my old one had become tattered and broken from the use it had seen during the Lotharingian Civil war. Whilst traversing those stalls, I happened across a familiar woman with dark hair, dressed in a farm-girl's attire and with large round eyes gazing upon me. It was Erin Locksley. Without too much time, I soon ended up being suffocated by the squeezing hug I would receive off of her. During all of the commotion with both the Great Northern War and the Lotharingian Civil war, I had not seen my dearest friend in such a long time. I oft thought that she had escaped across the sea to Carasca, or perhaps hidden herself up in the hinterlands, but never dead. Erin was too much the darling sweetheart and too attractive for the common soldier to think of killing her thoughtlessly. We embraced for what felt like a small moment, before I was led away by her into the imperial lands, towards the Dragur Library and just off the road. Erin had been spending her time in the South, in the middle of the former Imperial lands, where none had thought to either place up a castle or settlement for fear of disturbing greater nations. Here, she had built a small homestead, with a spinning mill and houses for her family, the Van Lodens. It was a pleasant place that was full of plenty and warmth. Off in the distance a small child was tending to the cows in the field and feeding the sheep as they brushed and nudged him. Erin had built herself a nice, quiet existence. What I would give to let all people have the same opportunity as she had done. To give everyone a piece of land to call their own, to farm and feed their own families. An Agrarian Society. I told Erin of such a dream, and complimented her on making it happen for herself. I don't think she understood completely where I was coming from, but she most definitely enjoyed the presence of my company again, just as I did with her. We sat in the mill and drank tea, as we had done once before in Laurenstadt. We reminisce about what happened and explained our own stories up to the point, from the moment she last saw heading for the Battle of Vasiland, to the present moment. All of which felt like a blur to me, in honesty. Instead, I merely watched her as she talked and drank in her words, I had missed her so very much and vowed to continue visiting her in the future. ---- CHAPTER LXXIX Back within the Kingdom of Lotharingia, things were not all well for the House d'Amaury. Whilst they had won a Civil war by being the last contender to be left standing, they had been stricken by more misfortune. The King Regent, Odo d'Amaury, was soon removed from power after the conflicts of Axios had subsided. This made way for the second-born son of the former King John I & Queen Charlotte of Alstion, H.R.H King Philip I Owyn d'Amaury, to succeed to the throne. He was a young adolescent who had spent a lot of time within his brother's court. I had seen him several times whilst I was there, usually playing with toys or the like. He was a young boy of some reasonable intelligence, like his brother before him, but I would argue less serious. Nonetheless, during his short tenure as King, H.R.H King Philip I did very little in his reign; only to see the end of the Lotharingian war as his generals and family huddled around him to keep him close. There are no records as such that link to any actions done on his part. However, it is by strange coincidence that we should find the same man who killed Ser Bruce Hornigold, who would then go on to kill a member of the House d'Amaury Royal family: a peasant man by the name of Nikolai Rykov. No doubt this the annals of history shall carry his name into the same list of King-slayers that I doubtless belong to, infamous for the actions he has taken against the Kingdom of Lotharingia. But to me, it is a strange poetic (even divine) justice/retribution., that the d'Amaury line should not have won the war. After the death of her second-born son, I have been told that the Queen Charlotte was left utterly indisposed, cuddling her remaining kin protectively. Whilst the former King Regent, Odo d'Amaury, took up the mantle once more. But this time, the mantle would not be of a regent, but that of a King. His action to do so was supported by the entirety of the Lotharingian Privy Council. I am told that H.R.H King Odo does not take too kindly of the responsibilities that have been placed upon him, but nonetheless thrown himself diligently into his work, particularly on the restoration of the capital at Metz and the rejuvenation of the Kingdom of Lotharingia. A Competent King, I do hope. ---- CHAPTER LXXX Whilst I had been going about the lands of Axios, recruiting people to join the Principality of Pruvia, with promises of riches and wonders for those who worked hard, the Serene Prince had decided to throw a festival at Hochspitze. The festival would be to commemorate the Saint Owyn, containing a feast with all the landed gentry in the now Kingdom of Mardon, as well as the noble courtiers who had come seeking land and glory within the new kingdom. It fell upon me as the Chancellor to arrange the feast's provisions, as well as make sure there were enough seating and entertainment available for the festivities, whilst also organising the new staff in Schloss Hochspitze. Provisions were easily sorted by my connections through Erin Locksley, who provided us with all the raw food and drink that we could possibly have needed. This was then given to Juliana Blackwood, who worked tirelessly in the kitchens, cooking up the feast. Ser Nikola was in charge of the defences during the festivities, however he would spend his night feasting with the rest. The guests themselves were all appropriately dressed for the occasion, with some coming from all corners of the Tahn. One notable favourite of mine was the Knight, Ser Viktor Kovachev, who had decided to spend the night drinking until his belly was full and his heart was content. Unfortunately, the festivities were overshadowed by three events. The first was the frosty arrival of the Lord and Lady Amador by the Serene Prince, who was unimpressed by the actions of the Lady Adrijana in the last few days of the Lotharingian civil war, which I knew not of. This frosty reception put the House Amador on their toes during the festivities, with Lord Owyn Amador contemplating leaving all together. However, seated by the good Ser Viktor, this subsided. The second was the arrival of H.R.H King Peter's company, one Lady Aloisa d'Amaury, daughter of the Prince-Bishop of Metz. A d'Amaury in the hall. Lady Alyssa remarked that we should eat pancakes that night, a remark that earned only scorn from the Serene Prince and the King. I admit, I felt uncomfortable. But the final event was surely to be the most dramatic of the feast, for the Lord Owyn Amador, insulted by some manner of words said by his sister, the Lady Alyssa Amador, decided it best to strike out at her with his metal hand. She fell to the floor crying, with my brother Ayldan being quick to pick her up and take her out of the way. Lord Amador was arrested on the spot for disturbing the King's peace during the festival, removed to Lorath to face the King's judgement come the conclusion. As I believe, the gesture was made by Lord Owyn as to assert dominance over his usually unruly sister, though it grieved me to see it done all the same. I am told he received the King's and Prince's Pardon, but Lady Alyssa carried her bruise for the next saint's month. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuliusAakerlund 1773 Share Posted March 22, 2019 “I can’t read.” Josef Eimar proclaimed gruffly. “But it looks good.” 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MunaZaldrizoti 5674 Share Posted March 22, 2019 From her hidden chambers, an ancient queen born-anew would sit at her vanity, reading over the republishing of her old chamberlain’s memoirs that had been brought to her by an old friend. She’d smile sadly, recalling her most trusted adviser and the time of her reign. “What a time that all was, my dear Mister Blaxton. Thank you for looking after my little dove.” She’d grip the parchment tightly, “My time will come again, and you will be remembered for your duty to my family.” 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarquisAlex 297 Share Posted February 15, 2023 An old Ludovar servant thumbs his spectacles as he also reveals a Three documents to accompany Hieromar the Elder's Compilations: A Marriage Certificate: Spoiler : A Death Certificate Spoiler Letters of Ennoblement: Spoiler Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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