The Final Breath of a Crow

[Emenzi 1069]

 

 

In a deep Arcasian forest somewhere near Curon, the moon was high in the sky and the silence of the woods was broken by the crackle of a fireplace. A camp had been set, Haeseni banners placed around the tents whilst armed men with spears stood guard around. In the centre of the camp, one tent was guarded by two Marian Knights and inside laid the King himself, tucked down in his bed with heavy furs around him.

 

Next to the King stood Ser Thomas Raleigh and Ser Gerard Stafyr, two of the men that raised him after his father died whilst the King was only 9. Perhaps the two most trusted men throughout his entire life.

 

“BLACK!” The King coughed out. His appearance pale and from his head sweat was running. Ser Gerard quickly poured a cup of Carrion Black to the King and held it out for him with a grunt. The King barely strong enough to grab the cup on his own took a few sips of it before letting it slide down onto the floor before he leaned over to the side and coughed out heavy strains of blood.. “Seems Kings doesn’t bleed blue after all,” Ser Thomas said with a sarcastic tone as he looked over the weakened fat man who laid on the bed in front of him. His stomach covered in bandages but they all knew it was too late.

 

Earlier that day the skirmishing party that had been fighting on the front since the first year of the war had been out hunting for the camp, Andrik himself leading the hunt. Drunkenly staggering through the woods the King had spotted a boar, and after he threw his spear, the boar had charged straight at him. He was thrashed by the animal straight in the gut before drawing his dagger and repeatedly stabbing the creature until it finally died. Now it was being roasted over a fire outside whilst the King slowly faded into the afterlife inside. At least something good has come out of it, Andrik couldn't help to think to himself. The men wouldn't go hungry tonight.

 

Andrik let out a strained chuckle before he glanced over the scrolled up letters that had been written and sealed throughout the day, grunting in pain he’d try to adjust himself in bed as he spoke “I... I always did think I’ be dyin’ with a sword in hand,” He’d close his eyes for a brief moment as he took some deep breaths. “At leas’.. I am not dyin’ in some shite stinkin’ city but out ere’ in nature. Where I always belonged...”

 

The two knights on his bedside nodded as they saw the boy they had raised to become a man, a warrior, and finally a King slowly fade away in front of them. As on cue, Andrik looked up at the pair with a strained but for the brutish man a soft smile. “Ye ***** thought ye’ were gonna die before me did ye?” he’d say before grimacing some as he closed his eyes “Nay ye bas.. Bastards..” he’d say as a priest entered the tent, ushered in by the Marian Knights. The priest quickly dismissed Gerard and Thomas. After about an hour the priest came out and exclaimed that which they all knew would come. “The King is dead! Long live the King!” The soldiers, all who had fought for the last seven years with Andrik in the Ruberni war lowered their heads and solemnly prayed. Before the procession began towards Reza, to place the King in the tombs where he belonged.

 

The letters Andrik had written was taken by Ser Gerard and Ser Thomas and distributed personally to those they had been addressed to. Ensuring that they came to the right individuals.

 

 

 

To my firstborn son, Andrik Petyr

 

You were always your mother’s son. Ever since the heathen conflicts when you were a one-year-old child she would always hold you close. But you are a Crow. Crows fight. Crows kill. Crows bleed. Crows die. Do me proud and fight, and bleed, perhaps one day you’ll have the honour of dying for your country as any true Haenseman should want. Just make sure you kill more of our enemies before you do.

 

I know you and your brother will always hate me, perhaps that will motivate you two to be better than me. Rule well. Don’t **** it up.

 

To my second-born son, Otto Rupert

 

You’re an angry little boy. Use that anger to learn how to fight. Listen to your namesake Otto Sigmar and become the warrior that I envisioned on the day you were born. I do not regret not seeing you be raised, as I was never going to be a good father to you. You do not have to make me proud as you do not have any reason to look up to me, all you should is to serve your brother well. He needs you far more then you two ever needed me.

 

 

To my daughter, Antonia Frederika

 

You were always a light in the Prikaz growing up. I was always proud of you and seeing you grow and play. Wherever you are my little Crow. Know that papej will always remain forever watching in the afterlife with pride.

 

Your father,

 

To my remaining brothers and sister

 

I never did care much for family, family was always a burden to me. My family was those that I fought and bled with on the fields. My brothers were those that carried the blades of the Brotherhood and my sisters those that tended to our wounds. But as a dying man, I can’t help to think back to when I was a young King and you princes and princesses were running around. 

 

I miss those days.

And finally, one note was pinned up on the main square of the city of Reza, for all the public to see and in the holdings of all Haeseni vassal lords.

 

My people, my countrymen, my brothers and sisters.

 

Mourn you Kings passing, you shall not. Celebrate instead the life I lived, drink my friends in the tavern until the streets run dry. Bathe in the lake until the sun rises. Hunt in the woods and feast together on the squares. I was never a good King but I wish to think I served as a good soldier in our ranks and led our men true in battle, that I was always good to have a pint in the tavern with the common folk without people being afraid of my presence and I pray that I always had your respect. We are nothing without respect, honour, brotherhood, and laughter.

 

Follow my son as you had followed me, he may not be me but he is my blood and he deserves the same chance that I was given to lead this nation on the right course. 

I will see you all in the afterlife where we will drink, feast and enjoy ourselves once more. Lords, ladies, knights, soldiers, butchers, cobblers, farmers, beggars. Whoever you are. You were my brother or sister. You sons of whores!

 

We come as Crows.

 

AND DO NOT DARE KAKAW.
 

One last time,

Your King, Andrew III of Hanseti-Ruska. 
 

 

[Axelu 4333]

Milena was only a girl when she had met Andrik for the first time; and he, a boy. Yet, they were brought together by duty and a love for their country.

 

They had not been close in her final years, and perhaps they did not love each other, but they collectively put Haense as their paramount concern. 

 

”It seems, even when a crow falls, darling Andrew, it rises valiantly once more,” the Queen quipped to him, interlocking their forearms as they had so many times prior.

 

”Our little ones have grown so, haven’t they? It’s rather endearing to revel in their successes.”

[Imperium 3495]

Marius welcomes his favorite son into the seven skies, “You did good kid, you did good.” 

[Piov 2643]

Senator Terrence May reacts with grief while hearing the news in Helena, “May my king rest in peace where he can drink all the Carrion Black that he so desires in the company of those he loved so dearly. I will forever thank him for his trust in me to serve Haense and represent our kingdom in the Crownlands.” 

[Drew2_dude 2636]

Hearing the News, Sigmar gathers his children around, “ The Greatest King of Haense has breathed his last breath...the only one to give this family a chance, to give his people a fair chance... Long Live the King...”

[MadOne 4945]

“Guess old man got what’s coming to him.” Wilheim would say with a small grunt, as he himself was suffering from a similar ailment, sighing in a nostalgic fashion. “I have seen two kings in my lifetime, perhaps ye will see more.” Wilheim said twards Erwin.

[ApplePieKathy 561]

Vesna the Older Carrion welcomes King Andrik into the Seven Skies!

 

[CaptainZenny 150]

Markus Kortrevich received the news from his study in Fort Korstadt and immediately began packing for an extended stay in the capital. As he did so he muttered ”Rest well my Koeng, one of the best any man could’ve served.” 

[SerFinnick 445]

“The King is Dead. Long Live the King.” Says Alexander from Varoche Hall.  

[Bisscy 64]

“Long live the King” Roderick would say as he and others raised a mug of Black high into the night sky.

[koanda 620]

Ester stands with a smile as she welcomes the King to the comfort of the Seven, a mug of Black at the ready for his arrival.  ”It’s been quite some time, old friend. Long have you lived, and blessed are those who mourn your loss.”

[Sheczar 378]

Upon hearing the news Edward Suffolk would shed a single tear from his remaining eye and utter these words to the messanger "A strong and an honourable man he was. He will be remembered fondly by friend and foe alike; shame that he was taken so young, may he rest in peace".

[MikoMonster 1396]

“Rest well, King Andrik” an aging Marian Knight comments from the dimly lit Crows’ Hearth. “I’m proud to have served you for so many years, may your son’s rule move mountains.” Dame Primrose smiles as she sips from her mug of Carrion Black.

[Legoboy7984 3155]

Ser Robert Vyronov hears of the news before he’d let out a sigh.

“May he live in peace with his father, mother, wife, and daughter in the seven skies then. Long live King Andrew IV.”

 

---

 

Ser Henrik Ludovar sees King Andrik as he arrived in the seven skies.

”Ah, after all them years of calling me old now you look like an old man now. Welcome, may we drink and talk with our fellow Hansetian brothers and sisters.”

 

 

[erictafoya 3282]

“You shoulda used the tactics I taught you as a boy Young Andrik!” Erik says in the blazing fires of hell “ Ah well... at least you did good as a King. I’m proud to have watched you become the man I knew you’d become!”