sophiaa 778 Share Posted October 20, 2019 A Duchess’ Lament === It was a crisp and cold evening when the Duchess of Morsgrad decided to venture once more into the depths of her city. Accompanied by the First Steward and Lady in Waiting Marilena, the Duchess Eleanor’s intentions were solely on business associated with the city’s upkeep. As they found their way into the city square, however, the air shifted and sent a brisk chill down Eleanor’s spine. Three figures, named the All-Slayers, masked and hooded, stood within their path. Held at the point of their captor’s blade and moving without protest, the ducal entourage was made to close the gates as they were hustled into their own keep. The three hooded assailants made quick work of the Duchess and her party, chaining them to the Duke’s own Ashwood Throne by their necks. Threatened with receiving brands, the Duchess whispered to her Lady, warning her that the pain wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be, as she herself had been branded once before. The shrieks of the two woman, as they were both branded on their arms, soon rang out through the Throne Hall, the scent of cooking flesh wafting towards the rescue party’s hiding spots. Eleanor, tugged forward by the chains around her neck, screamed for her husband, desperate for help. The masked figures threatened the assembly of captives, stating that they wouldn’t hesitate to spill the blood of the Duchess if any other than the Duke of Morsgrad himself entered. The rescuing party, who had climbed around the mountain’s face, remained hidden on the opposite sides of the pillars of the grand windows behind the Throne. It was soon after this transpired that the party of rescuers decided to rush, led by Alaric, Lyanna, Septimus and the Duchess’ guard Draconius, arriving armed to the teeth to free her Grace and her Lady. The First All-Slayer who had stood by the Duchess was attacked from the side, stabbed through the middle by Chadmyr, a cowering Marilena shielding her eyes from the horror of the wound. The siblings of the Duke made a swift attempt at rescuing Duchess Eleanor herself, but found trouble with the heavy chains that bound her to the Throne. The All-Slayer lifted his blade once more, gazing down at the helpless woman. “Please! No!” The Duchess wept, with a hand raised in attempt to shield herself from what was to come, “My baby!” The Duchess was attacked in the moments after the failed attempt of escape, slashed deeply by the All-Slayer’s vicious blade. The long swathe carved into Eleanor’s skin was difficult to see, and her blood stained the red regal garments a deeper shade. Her safety became even more paramount as it registered to her subjects that she was months into her pregnancy, midsection now noticeably swollen. Her fearsome assailant was killed a moment later at the hands of Draconius, Alaric, and an arrow to the head delivered by one brave woman named Rosie. However, in an act of what can only be explained as true and wicked witchcraft, the slain figure’s mutilated head combusted, sending destructive shrapnel erratically flying in all directions. To the dismay of one of the sorcerer’s partners in murder, one of the pieces of wayward bodily gore is what ended its own life. Such distraction gave the party enough time to rescue the ailing and wounded Duchess, alongside Marilena. On their way to escape, the last of the All-Slayers, was overwhelmed and killed. The most courageous of these defeats was ushered in by the Duke’s own young sister, Lyanna, who ended the creature with a dagger plunged into its neck. It’s body was discarded over the ledge behind the throne, sending metal, bone and blood outward in all directions halfway through its free-fall. A panicked rush of injured men and women to the clinic caught the attention of countless citizens, the Duchess’ blood staining the freshly fallen snow as she was carried by Alaric and Thora, along with that of the other wounded parties. Chaos reigned all around the small room in which Duchess Eleanor lay, fighting for her life, but in that room all was calm, akin to the eye of a storm. Draconius, injured in his own right, and Alaric worked together in order to quickly stitch and bandage the Duchess’ wound. It was only after a tense period of uncertainty and the use of steady hands that Her Grace’s severe back wound was stemmed from its bleeding. With the flurry of activity slowing, she lay on the bed and rested, under the close, vigilant watch of her loyal protector. Though the events of the evening went unexplained and heavily questioned, the Duchess, her subjects and entourage would prepare for any follow-up incursion. An assault with such lethal intent rarely would occur without reason, and perhaps with some effort they might discover what that reason was, and uproot the source to prevent it from happening again. The following day a funeral was held for the Councilman Kekzo who fell defending the Duchess, his loyal merchants and citizens alike mourning the loss. Spoiler A big thank you to Joel and Matt for helping to write this, and to Lumii for the pictures ❤️ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rukio 8924 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Ratcliffe arrives late to the party, very hungover and mildly tired. The threat long dead by the time they arrive! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Askuzai 505 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Chadmyr had helped a lot of the reinforcements get inside the palace with his water buck- I mean ROPE! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaltAlt 606 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Alaric would raise a mug for his new friend who had scaled the mountain with him before the rest had roped in a few minutes later, yet remained unnamed. ”Yer a brave man Septimus, glad te ‘ave someone as dependable as ye with us” Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterblessing 1800 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Marilena lay in the clinic bed, recovering from the events prior. Her digits trailed across her numbed arm, feeling the charred skin which would taint her body as a frown tugged upon her lips.. Although she was glad to have made it out alive, there was a feeling of chagrin which welled up inside of her. Hopefully the townspeople would understand the cowardice she had displayed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quantumatics 549 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Septimus lead the charge, alongside Alaric, the two were the first to infiltrate the palace and retaliate against the attackers. “It’s been a pleasure Alaric, you show much potential!” he says, lifting up his glass in celebration of their victory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARCHITECUS 4788 Share Posted October 20, 2019 The Emperor hears of his cousin’s harrowing brush with death. “Terrifying...” Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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