Bella Ciao

[Nectorist 12869]

Bella Ciao

 

An auspicious occasion, it ought to have been. The Cathedral of Tahu’Lareh filled with citizens and visitors alike, eager to bear witness our wedding. Stood I there at the podium, my solitary self lacking beside me a dear friend and companion who was to become my wife. I knew whispers and words of affection were false, my dear, for none could so despise themselves so much as to hold an ounce of love for a cripple. But as we affirmed ourselves of our friendship, I believed that there was an ounce of… something. What it was I know not, but it suggested to me that there was a future with us, one that would bring about a better Fennic state than the one my father left behind. I shall not go so far as to suggest any sort of devotion in heart and spirit, but perhaps a semblance of fondness that would allow us to become trusting, capable friends.

 

Woe is me for being the dreamer that I am! When I first received the notice of your witchery from Lothric Vihael, my heart did so ache at the thought that one of my truest friends and confidantes could be so cruel as to deceive me. I convinced myself that the letter was a lie, I repeated the vows I was to say over and over in my head, as to remind myself of who you were- a loyal councilor and ally. I hoped that, by confronting you, this facade could be dropped and you would laugh before suddenly disproving the missive I had been given. However, I saw how your face dropped, how your eyes betrayed your tongue, and how your assurances rang hollow in my ears. You had confirmed my fears before your witchery had even began.

 

Though I was then a man broken in spirit and body, I still have the blood of my greater ancestors running through my veins. Even more resolute than my devotion to you was my deeper, rooted duty to my people. If it was your intent to deceive me, and overrun my city with your dark allies, then I would waste no time in thwarting your plans. Mistaken as you were to have assumed me a beaten man, even more severe to your cause was the folly that was allowing me to live! You had revealed your dark ways to me as we parted, thus allowing me the reason and the time to contact the Assembly of Xan. Though they had been outcasted years ago, for what crimes I know and care not of, I am not one to deny help when it is a true course for me to take. Even as I stood alone in the cathedral, my wrecked consciousness missing your presence even still, the paladins’ watchful eye spotted you when I could not.

 

What a great torrent it was that you casted, I must say. Fearful was I for my guards and paladins, for even though I knew you were a practitioner of the dark arts I had not the time nor the means to determine your capabilities. While the blizzard you created sliced at those who dared step foot outside the cathedral, your accomplices were quickly apprehended and slain by my men and the paladins alike. It was a mistake to leave them alone, but I do imagine your more primal senses- the ones that you tried so desperately to hide- played your hand for you. Victory was assured when paladin and Ivae’fenn together rushed the tower you had holed yourself up in- there is no defeating men wrought from ice and hardship.

 

I myself am no warrior, but even if I were, I doubt I would have ventured into that tower with the others. Although you betrayed me, although you shed you guise to reveal your demonic self, although you attempted to slay myself and the good inhabitants of my city, I still held a place in my heart for, if not you, the person that I knew as my friend and wife-to-be. When the ashes of your body was brought down for me to see, my knees went weak at the sight of my dear friend, Maeve Zinerith, so ingloriously carried in the arms of a common soldier. What drove you to turn against me? What loss was it that led you to become the way you were, and could I not have filled that void? I may have been able to help you- restore you to a better state- but you never allowed me that chance. And thus as I looked upon your barren ashes, I whispered a final goodbye to the woman I thought I knew.

 

The wretchedness that overcame you sought to destroy me, my people, and the princedom I govern. No matter the pity I feel for you, I still cannot help but laugh at the corruptions that failed to achieve the domination they desired. The forces of darkness underestimated me, and they paid the price for their foolishness. You, Maeve- no, I dare not speak that name, for the creature that attacked us on that fateful night was not the Maeve I knew- believed that magic was your token to victory, that through the use of the foul sorcery that plagues our world you could achieve power. In truth, as horrific as your powers were, every man, woman, and child that stood in that cathedral had faced worse. The Fennic people have seen genocide and turmoil, war and famine, we are a people who are no strangers to enemies both inside and outside our walls. The paladins themselves have fought beasts and wizards I know not about, but the legends and songs in their name speak of greater conquests than the ones they faced that day.

 

I hope that your demise will prove a lesson to all of the petty evils which seek to trifle with that which is just and pure. So long as those who are good stand together in the face of darkness, you and your kind will never know the taste of victory. I henceforth implore every conspirator of the wicked to leave the life which they have chosen, to forget the powers which they falsely believe will bring them satisfaction. There is no joy in embarking on a path which only seeks to destroy and consume, for one cannot love when all they know is pain, and one cannot live when all they know is death. It is much to my sorrow that you, my dearest Maeve, my treasured friend and betrothed, proved this to me. It will forever haunt me to know that when I looked into your eyes for the very last time, I saw a hunger in them- one that was, and would forever be, unsated. 

 

I have had the last laugh. Farewell, poisoned love,

Aldred

 

 

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CI3lhyNKfo 

 

[Holyland 3650]

The old father raised a gauntlet, brushing over his blade, and a blood-spattered missive. Smoke fogged from the censer that laid at his side, pine cleansing what it could of his accursed air.

 

“The cold invader has been vanquished.”

 

He laid the letter aside, saving it for a rainy day, humming an age old tune.

 

 

[MunaZaldrizoti 8037]

“This a shame...the cripple thought I cared for him...” The woman once known as Maeve Zinerith would remark bitterly, though her arrogance had been significantly weakened after the events of that evening.

[sophiaa 778]

A tanned elfess who often still wanders the streets of the Fennic city sang along softly, snickering to herself between sentences. “Una mattina, mi sono svegliato, oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao!”

 

((Wasn’t gonna comment, but this is quite literally my favorite song))

[Deer__ 1558]

An Azdrazi who caught wind of the letter muttered something spiteful about the cold before commenting largely to herself.
 

“Someone call themselves a dragon again, I dare ‘em.”

[Keening 1264]

 

A notably tired Mali’aheral was resting in his study when he had begun reading over the document. By the time he had finished peering over its pages, he had already risen and wandered halfway across the chamber. He sought out a copy of the very same missive that had successfully unveiled the imminent threat of warlocks and frost-witches within Fenn’s very own walls.

 

He placed down the compilation of leather-bound parchments and began penning out an updated variant; though, this time, he wiped the slate clean and began to log only the identities of relevant creatures and dark mages.

 

“I had expected to slay more than a halfling warlock cowering beside the cathedral. Perhaps its finally time to venture towards the lairs of these beings and beat them back before they’ve another chance to regain their footing,”  he said to nobody in particular.

[lemonke 6014]

6 hours ago, Keening said:

 

A notably tired Mali’aheral was resting in his study when he had begun reading over the document. By the time he had finished peering over its pages, he had already risen and wandered halfway across the chamber. He sought out a copy of the very same missive that had successfully unveiled the imminent threat of warlocks and frost-witches within Fenn’s very own walls.

 

He placed down the compilation of leather-bound parchments and began penning out an updated variant; though, this time, he wiped the slate clean and began to log only the identities of relevant creatures and dark mages.

 

“I had expected to slay more than a halfling warlock cowering beside the cathedral. Perhaps its finally time to venture towards the lairs of these beings and beat them back before they’ve another chance to regain their footing,”  he said to nobody in particular.

"well my friend, next time kill even your horned wife." an innocent non halfling warlock mumbled to the former shade 

[Kaelan 1918]

Lyemar Aureon sighs softly at the prospect that his dear friend and ally might not be able to find love again!