The End of the Grand Deceiver

[Cepheid 4304]

The End of the Grand Deceiver 

“She died--this was the way she died;
And when her breath was done,
Took up her simple wardrobe
And started for the sun.
Her little figure at the gate
The angels must have spied,
Since I could never find her
Upon the mortal side.”

 

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk

 

Caestella Aureon seemed to disappear from the Empire of Man without a trace, like a whisper in the wind the elven day before her trial in Irrinor regarding the Voidal Taint that plagued her. The duo of Friedrich Carrington and Ryan Swint set out to find the elfess in her abode in Talons Grotto. Though, the human pair seemed to have arrived too late however. 

 

They stumbled into the hallway of the building, smoke could be seen lingering from under the door. The smell of burnt birch and spruce flooded their senses. 

 

“Oh no….” Friedrich, side by side with his fellow, would approach the door. They took caution, noticing the door’s state of the lock being broken. The one-eyed man whispered out, attempting to be hopeful. “The lock is broken, maybe it’s not too late.”

 

The duo cautiously opened the door, their swords drawn, instantly being hit with the smell of a charred corpse. They walked into the home which once smelled of warm chocolate cookies and incense and had an atmosphere of comfort, to the home reduced to char and rubble. As the room was cleared by them, searching for a body, they made their way to the bedroom in which a body was finally found.

 

 A once beautiful ‘aheral woman, turned to nothing more than a crispy corpse. Her staff which she would take to the grave was sprawled on the bed. Upon further inspection it was found that there were multiple stab wounds in the body, most likely from a sword. It turned out the fire was a foul attempt at a cover up, the woman had many enemies after all. The magi finally took up the philosophy of having to risk it all before being birthed anew.  The poor ‘aheral murdered and so it seemed that this was the end to the reign of Caestella Aureon. The woman had outrun death for too long, all the lies, all the deception, all the conflict, it ended for her that night. She seemed to finally be at peace with her life, from beginning to everything in between, she was at peace. 

[Kaelan 1918]

Lyemar Aureon would breathe a soft sigh that would drain his lungs of breath as he set down the note he had received. A bird had appeared in during the daily commotion with a letter addressed to him which he would withdraw to his home with. The High Prince had expected some immediate thought to come to mind, however none would rise to fill the void that was present in his mind which caused him to stare blankly down to the letter he held.

 

Several moments would pass and at last in a smooth motion he would fold the letter once more and set it aside. “Even in death, may you be blessed with the warmth of the Mother’s merciful embrace, Sister.” he would say in a soft voice, offering one last prayer to his seed sister. 

[CanadianKiwiFlight 1901]

 

An elf takes a deep hit of a cigarette.. his eye flickering inbetween the breaths of smog. He thinks about Caestella as he overlooks the wooden charred abode. 

 

"Who was that woman I saw?" He questions.. looking down towards the corpse on the bedsheets. The blonde locks flayed out against the mattress as the man seems to simply hum along.

 

"Hrmm... oh well." He says- taking the match he had used to light his cigarette moments prior- and walking out of the bloody room. Throwing the match behind him as moments later the room seems to like ablaze. Smog beginning to bellow throughout the Talons Grotto

 

"The woman is dead- that's all that matters. I wonder if her soul has gone to where it wished to reach..? Though, I doubt it. There is only one final destination for people like us."

[Criala 729]

Leilani Aureon would have taken the note to read it after Lyemar had set it aside. A quiet gasp would come from her, a hand lifting to press to her mouth. The High Princess would be in shock, what she'd just read taking several moments to process.

 

"I'm so sorry, Sister." 

 

It would be the only thing that came out, the words quiet. A glance would be sent to her husband, a slow and shaky sigh escaping from her. A silent prayer would soon follow for her seed sister.

[Yaldabaoth 746]

In some far off and decrepit dungeon in forgotten no-wheres, a wild eyed figure reads the missive. It’s clammy digits smear the once crisply pristine parchment with a noxious stench of mold and rancid bog. When it has completed deciphering the text, an expression of peculiar animosity becomes present across it’s addled visage, as it’s form staggers from the hovel.

[Ankan 2875]

It had been no special day. The work in Lareh’thilln had been conducted as usual and the Citizenry was spread around the Blessed Bastion, seeking evening leisure, or a quiet spot to do additional studies.

 

Dimaethor had retreated to the Manor, and with plentiful of wine and grapes he welcomed the end of this day by making some note on the daily progress in his journal. Suddenly, without any particular reason, he lifted his head, looking over to Iaria.

 

“Whatever happened to that Caestella-person?”

 

He asked, idly tapping the side of the quill against the border of the hardcover book in his hand. He let the question linger in the room, which would probably had confused the Maheral.

 

“She was, by nature, a murderer, a ***** and an ‘ata. But do you believe she decided to depart from the teachings of Larihei and take refuge in various havens of degeneracy around the realm just because we denied her appeal for divorce? I’m certain you are aware of the rumours of all the Mali’aheral she pursued and bedded. Did you hear what she did with the corrupted in the Sillumiran cell after we had him detained?.....”

[ronin_champloo 5951]

”The past is not always something that one can easily escape. Their claws upon your body, bringing you onto an unrighteous end.”

 

A solemn ‘Aheral would mutter. Fingers grasping harshly upon chains that bound him as his grey orbs scan upon the note. His form, sat upon the privacy of his own home, would rest. – Weary and resolute in his posture. Slowly, he would rise and move towards the exit. His hand grasping a clothed pole-arm, digits around the wrappings before he would set off.

 

”You die remembered, Caestella. – Know that your passing is not in vain. For now, I wish you have found peace.”

[exanimated 1363]

The small kha would give a small smile as he reads, his digits slowly placed under his chin “Caestella wawz Packo’z bezt furend, zhe weell be meessed.”

[pkdon 2133]

“Ding-dong the witch is dead. Finally.” The ‘aheral would utter from the skies, a look of satisfaction appearing upon his face.

[lemonke 6014]

Alimar was sitting in a chair in his room when the news reached his ear, his violet gaze was tearful and pale as he  it shifted to see the environment outside the window, only a few words escaped from his whitish lips: "Cousin ... " he commented weakly as if the vital energy was extinguished  within  his voice, he slowly shook his head and with resentments he stood there thinking

[Knox 1029]

“Seems old shadows haunt me ne longer, for what its worth. I never actually despised the women, I was merely carrying out my duty. I hope she finds peace in death.” Kaelan Aldin said to his ‘aheral brothers. “well then. Theres a few more names to cross off the list. Form up and move out.”

[Venomous_Pup 2978]

Keerla simply frowns upon hearing this news, wondering what to do with the information that she’d been cursed with no one to guide her. Once again, someone who had the ability to help them vanished, though thankfully she took comfort in not being alone.

 

An exhausted Mali’Aheral picks themselves off the floor, dried tears stained to their face, as they’d make their way towards their journal, readying herself to write down the events that had transpired upon hearing the news, reading the old entries bringing tears to her face once again. Entry Sixteen since she started keeping the journal was when Mia had recently wrote about Caestella and now she’d be in Entry Eighteen as she begun to pen it. She’d have to write it a few times over, the shivering returned to her hands, as she’d lean her head against the wall, looking off distantly as the tears were welling.

She recalled how desperate the lari once was when Daerine was in danger from Haelun’or, and as result she did everything she could to free the child from that place. She remembered guiding Caestella from Irrnior to her Farm after being outlawed by Haelun’or. She let out a roar as rage filled her once more, before promptly falling back to the floor, looking at the broken mirror, seeing her form. Hair ruffled, tired eyes, awfully pale face, and ruined makeup. She remembered what Rhael had said about them. But all she could really see in this mirror, was nothing but a frightened child.

 

She pushed it away, not caring if she’d cut herself or not. She’d simply cuddle herself as she whimpered on the floor “Oh.. Anya.. Daerine.. Rhael.. Please don’t go.. I’ve been so distant but I’m still driven by fear like a mouse of what would happen..” Loneliness gripped the woman, leaving her unable to speak anymore. She’d awaken the next day, letting out a huff as she’d take comfort in the fact that she could still fulfill the promise she gave to woman since they last spoke. It would be the only way to honour Caestella. Fate had willed it so.

[DahStalker 3692]

 It was with great care Caestella had once untangled her ginger locks, each strand gently teased apart by loving hands, brush light against the youths scalp. It was the heart-shaped lips which lulled her to rest in the warmth provided through cradled limbs, secured taut so she might not fumble free nor feel vacant from any ounce of love shred. It was the graceful beauty which left the girl star-struck and envious as to how one could retain such fierce morals yet startling features as well. It was the ‘thill shamed ‘aheral which placed herself in the role of parentage and Mother when the feeble girl needed it most, It was her who raised her to be closed to oneself yet opened to opportunities, and it was her who taught her to not hate those in Haelun’or but rather only remain disgruntled at their culture. It was her death which brought the elfess into an aching cesspool of resentment and anguish.

 

Vaeri sat and pondered for hours as to how one could be crude as to orphan an elfess and deprive her future of that much needed Mother. How could one do so? Perhaps it was an old friend turned sour? Or there was the possibility that it was a stoic and cold ‘aheral that tried to follow our the ‘duty’ of their forsaken ways. There was much time to debate internally on the span of possible reasons as she were given such vague detail on her Mother’s death; grief already begun to settle. The denial was short yet gruesome, the anger bustling and still festering deep in her core, next came the sorrow, and lastly the acceptance. All the daughter could question as tears stain her countenance was ‘Why?’
 

  

[Gustando 1990]

A certain old friend, Elnirith, upon hearing such atrocious news lowered his head – frown present on his face. 
His lifeless, unorganic eyes glimpsed up in the sky –  the high elven man bidding his old friend farewell in a short prayer.

[JEEGK 1367]

Tucked away deep in Helena, a man tinkered about in a forge. With a strange feeling wafting over him, he took the moment to think back on his past with individuals galore, specifically being reminded of a heist to release a high elven woman. It took him a moment before smiling and shaking his head, finding himself standing on the docks at his backdoor, staring across the river, ”I hope all is peaceful.” his shoulders relaxed for a moment before returning back to his duties within his shop.