The Dragon's Slumber

[TrendE 1347]

 

The Dragon’s Slumber

 

[!] A painting of the Ault keep, Whiterock - c.1719

 

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A nightmare gripped Darius - mingling within a large crowd, the man peered to the front of such. Bound to a pyre, a vile, twisted, brown haired male would be claimed by flames as they danced around him - setting him alight. The man’s face was recognisable to Darius; a throwback to a past that had only been spoken of in whispers. Woken from his nightmare by his wife, Artumee, the aged Knight would remove himself from the bed and walked down the stairs to his dining hall. Sitting down, he would be handed a missive - declaring that the Empress had signed a treaty with Ves. Pondering if the man was still asleep, he would pinch himself - though to his dismay the reality started to sink in. Darius’ final war was coming to an end, a harsh reality for the man to accept.

 

Thoughts of such would run through Darius’ mind as he reread the missive multiple times; shaking his head slightly to such in disgust. Wishing that he was younger, so that he could continue killing the rats of Ves regardless of the treaty - he knew that his days were numbered. With the parchment in-hand, he would pace back up the stairs and sit at his desk - penning out a response to what the Grand Knight saw as a betrayal to his fallen men, a sour taste in his mouth.

 

Spoiler

Your Imperial Majesty,

 

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that I can no longer serve as the Grand Knight, knowing that those of the House of Horen, that I swore to protect and serve, have betrayed not only myself but also the Order of the Red Dragon by not providing the appropriate justice demanded by the actions of the Vesnian people both prior, and during, the ‘War of the Two Emperors’.

 

This morning I woke to hear that the true justice deserved through the deaths of men within the Order of the Red Dragon, including the honourable Ser Jan Ritter, had been traded for some petty vassalized land and the dissolution of a title that has not been used for many-a-year. Even if those of Ves do not accept this treaty - the mere fact that such a vile declaration had been signed by the Empress disappoints me to no end, and leaves a bitter taste in my own mouth. By not heeding my private council on the matter, I believe this to be a betrayal that can not be overlooked through the desire of duty.

 

On this day, the 5th of Owyn’s Flame, in the holy year of 1719 - I retire, without desire of approval, from my position of Grand Knight of the Imperium Renatum and Ordermaster of the Order of the Red Dragon. With my retirement noted, I in-turn recommend the honourable Ser Rodrik Kortrevich as a replacement; an appointment that I pray shall be made appropriately and in a timely manner. Furthermore, It is to note that upon my retirement at the age of sixty eight, I shall reside in the independent keep of Whiterock until the end of my days, and therefore have no need for land to be afforded to myself.

 

With this in mind, I shall conclude this letter with a final thought for you to ponder and remember in the years to come during your reign:
 
Dragons are nothing without their impenetrable scales, and destructive fire, simply greedy lizards that have been fed far too much.

~ Ser Darius Ault

(( Please DO NOT metagame this information, this is exclusively directed to @Vege & @Trinn unless shared further by them. ))

Concluding his letter to both the Emperor and Empress, he would stamp the letter with a wax seal, and pass it to his raven as to be delivered to the Imperial Palace. Dipping his quill back into the ink, he continued to pen out several other letters to his friends and comrades; which would be sent in complete privacy at a later date. Throughout this entire process, he swore to himself repeatedly that he would not allow for these acts to occur again to another member of his family - undoubtedly instilling these values into his children’s lives, and the House of Ault’s, as they continue to grow around him.
 

[!] Word of this letter being sent would undoubtedly become common knowledge to those within Helena - though the specific contents of such would not. The citizens of the Capital would simply know that the Grand Knight had willingly retired from his position, presumably due to old age.

The old man had fought his final war to the very end - though was ultimately disappointed that those he had sworn to protect had betrayed the interests of those that honourably protect them without question of duty. Finishing his letters, he’d pull out a bottle of red wine from the drawer of his desk - taking a deep sip from such as he pondered how best to spend his final years atop of Whiterock, though figured that he’d start by catching up on a good few years worth of lost sleep.

(( I plan on shelving Darius soon for another char, as he hasn’t died during what was going to be his final war to anyone other than Seannie who I caught cheating. If you would like to speak to him IRP up at Whiterock then PM me & I’ll jump back on him for it.

[libertyybelle 6187]

Nikoletta dramatically gasps

[trinn 5128]

Adeline Margaret creases her brows upon reading the given letter, and she offers an understanding dip of her head. “You have served well, as Grand Knight, Darius Ault. Bested by none, and as loyal as one can be – I am sorry that my actions have driven your resignation.” 

[helldiving 5793]

Ser Rodrik would open one of the windows in Fort Kordstadt, overlooking the fields of Helena, and then shifting his gaze to Whiterock – he’d remember the countless occasions where he fought besides The Grand Knight, times of youth when he was but a simple lad with the desire of achieving knightly deeds. Their first encounter, in the outskirts of Belvitz now more vivid than ever, as in the end – “The old man fought his final war to the very end.”  

[LithiumSedai 5750]

A Waldenian orderman known as Corwin von Alstreim, a man wielding unusual knowledge of past events that had taken place before his time, frowned deeply upon hearing the news of Ser Darius’ retirement. “One can only hope the new generation of Renatian soldiers – myself included – shall, one day, attain recognition for heroic deeds alike those of Ser Darius Ault and his Dragon Knights. Their memory shall never fade.”  

[Man of Respect 5471]

Daleka snorts two lines of drugs 

[Skyrunner 257]

Utaria Helenson-Anarion commented, "My homeland is getting less and less familiar with each passing day."

[Destroyer_Bravo 1054]

Maly pours one out for his old friend who, with his skygod powers, he saved the life of.

[Auriel_ 652]

some elf probably weeps

[Inferno_Ougi 1454]

From the Seven Skies, Hasasun Chet d'Montelliano really wants Darius to give up the ghost.