Lorina Carrion: The Complete Biography

[Urahra 5777]

 

 

 

Written & Researched

by

Yuliya Styrne

 

Published & Supported

by

The Northern Geographical Society

 

 

 

‘Little Chetka’

 

‘The Baby Crow’

 

‘The Sister of Vekaro’

 

‘The Devil’s Wh o re’

 

Lorina Carrion went by many names throughout her life - not all of them kind. She remains, to this day, one of the most controversial female figures in human history. Her story is dramatic and compelling, rife with political intrigue and relentless tragedy. 

 

At the end of the narrative, we’re left with one final question - who was this woman? 

 

A dutiful daughter who put her loyalty to her family above all others? Or a cunning manipulator who exploited her heritage for her own gain? 

 

A helpless pawn of tragedy and circumstance? Or a schemer who played the victim to earn sympathy and popularity?

 

An architect who innovated new styles and designs in church-building? Or a layabout who took advantage of others’ hard work?

 

A kind-hearted nun who endeavored to spread her faith and educate the ignorant? Or a duplicitous trollop who reneged on her vows and tainted the reputation of the church?

 

A saint or a sinner? 

 

A Madonna or a wh o re? 

 

Opinions remain divided - and that dichotomy is precisely what makes her such a captivating figure of study. When it comes to Lorina Carrion, there are no easy answers. Who she was in her heart of hearts remains a matter of mystery - with answers known only to GOD and the woman herself. However, with careful analysis and study, we can begin to untangle the veils of rumor and artifice to discover the truth behind this intensely divisive historical figure. 

 

By the end of this publication, we’ll endeavor to answer the ‘why’ of Lorina Carrion. Who was she? What did she believe? Why did she do what she did? Most importantly, what led her to making the fateful decision that ended her life and destroyed her reputation for centuries?

SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION

 

The best primary source about Lorina’s life has - and always will be - her diary. It will be the text from which we draw most of the information for this essay. Lorina began writing at age five, recording the events of her life and observations on the world around her, and continued writing well into adulthood. She wrote four volumes totaling 140 entries. Her diary tells the complete story of her life from early childhood up until mere days before her death. Normally, any historian would rejoice over such a complete and richly detailed record. Unfortunately, modern Lorina scholars now believe that large chunks of her diary - including full entries - are complete and total fabrications. 

 

What reason would Lorina have to lie in her own private journal? The reasons are myriad and complex. Lorina wrote with a keen awareness that her diary might be read someday. She drafted her entries as if they’re meant to be viewed by an audience. Lorina wrote this way because of the uncountable threats made against her life. She was often the target of assassination attempts. If any of her enemies succeeded in killing her, they might take possession of the diary (which she carried on her person at all times). Lorina did not want sensitive information falling into the wrong hands, so she purposefully obscured or omitted the truth in several of her entries. Modern Lorina scholars believe that most, if not all, of the fabricated entries center around her illicit relationship with Duke Jason Evans Bracchus. She took great pains to protect both her and her lover’s reputation in her writing.

 

For the purposes of this essay, we will assume that all entries in Volumes One through Three are largely truthful. Most of the information contained in Volumes One through Three is verifiably accurate and consistent with other accounts of the time period. Lorina occasionally makes mistakes or inaccurate assumptions, but she does not appear to be intentionally concealing the truth. Volume Four covers Lorina’s life in the Duchy of Vanaheim -  the time in which she began her affair with Duke Jason Evans Bracchus. We can surmise that this volume contains the greatest number of willful and calculated falsehoods. Modern scholars and historians assume that most of the entries in Volume Four are at least partial falsehood or contain calculated omissions. Even so, we can still use them as a window into Lorina’s psychology at the time of writing. Regardless of their truthfulness, they still provide valuable insight into what she was thinking and how she felt. We’ll be comparing what Lorina wrote versus what historians believe actually occurred - and examining why she felt the need to lie.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Portrait of Yuliya Styrne, age 35

Painted in 1778 after winning the Wailer Society's Nikischurwe award

 

My name is Yuliya Styrne and I consider myself the foremost scholar in Arcas on the subject of Lorina Carrion. For years, I’ve collected historical documents and memorabilia associated with the Reformed Kingdom and the Carrion Vochna. Lorina Carrion features in several of my plays, most notably the Crow’s Daughter Trilogy. 

 

I cannot claim that my interest in Lorina is purely academic, however. In truth, she’s my far distant ancestor. My family traces its origins back to the star-crossed love affair between Lorina Carrion and Duke Jason Evans Bracchus. She’s not only my ancestor, but also my muse. For this reason, I feel a need to rehabilitate her image and rescue her from the trash heap of history. 

 

It’s my philosophy that no historical figure is purely good or purely evil. The human drama unfolds in shades of grey. To achieve a complete understanding of history, we must keep in mind that people are often both good and bad in varying degrees - and that their actions often make much greater sense in context. 

 

Did Lorina do something awful? Yes, she did. But once we uncover the reasons why - and the unique psychology that lead to her making her decision - we can begin to understand her choices and perhaps even sympathize with them. We’re forced to ask ourselves - what would we do in her situation? And would our choices be ultimately any different from hers?

 

NAMES OF IMPORTANCE

 

House Carrion-Tuvic

Descendants of the Exalted Propher Sigismund Carrion and his mistress Lorin Chivay. The Imperial line of House Carrion.

 

Lorina Carrion-Bracchus (Sister Lorina of Vekaro) - The youngest daughter of Emperor Tobias I and his Empress-consort Mary of Carpathia. She committed herself to the Church of the Canon as a nun and later founded the Order of St. Julia. Her life ended in controversy when she broke her vows and eloped with her lover, Jason.

 

Jason "Jace" Evans Carrion-Bracchus - Jason was a peasant farmer who found himself unexpectedly drafted into the Schism War. He rose to prominence as a soldier in Andrik Vydra's 2nd Regiment. His loyalty and valor in battle earned him the title of Baron - later promoted to Count and Duke. He was adopted into the Bracchus family as the brother of Publius Bracchus. He later married Lorina matrilineally and hyphenated his name as Jason Evans Carrion-Bracchus.

 

Tuvya "Rosebud" Carrion (Holy Oren Emperor Tobias I) - Holy Oren Emperor and Lorina's father. His reign invited controversy because Tuvya was very friendly with the peasantry and scorned the company of his fellow nobles. He openly embraced his Raevir heritage to the ire of his Heartlander subjects. He abdicated the throne after his son, Yakov, fell to the sway of dark magic. He returned many years later, insane. Lorina cared for him in his twilight years up until his death.

 

Aleksandr Carrion (Holy Oren Emperor Alexander I "the Unready") - Lorina's older brother. Yakov's twin. Aleksandr inherited the throne unexpectedly after Tuvya abdicated. His first act as Emperor was to dissolve the Empire. He lost the Siege of Petrus and was subsequently forced into exile and hiding.

 

Yakov "The Accursed" Carrion - Lorina's older brother. Aleksandr's twin. He made a pact with the Undead to help stop Ser Maric Varodyr's rebellion. The magic corrupted Yakov and drove him insane, causing him to attack his own father. After attempting to kill Tuvya, he fled Oren.

 

House Barbanov

The descendants of Holy Oren Emperor Alexander I (Aleksandr Carrion). The founders of Haense.

 

Karl Barbanov  - The son of Aleksandr Carrion. Lorina's nephew. Duke of Haense. Later canonized as St. Karl for his valor in fighting the giant worms that destroyed Athera.

 

Siguine Barbanov - The son of Karl and the Duke of Haense. He allied with Hugues Sarkozic and created the Ducal Coalition, supporting Hugues' rebellion against King Olivier de Savoie.

House Vanir

A clan of seafarers. Vassals and devoted family friends of House Carrion-Tuvic.

 

Vasili Vanir - The Duke of Vanaheim. He began as a vassal under Aleksandr Carrion, but rose to the rank of Duke following the Schism War. He ruled Oren briefly as Lord Regent following King Andrik Vydra's death. Vasili served as a guardian and beloved father figure to Lorina.

 

Arik Vanir - Vasili's brother and vassal. Arik served as a guardian and tutor for Lorina, teaching her how to fish, ride horses, and shoot a bow and arrow. He coined her famous nickname "The Baby Crow" or "Little Crow".

The Mardonic League

Loyal followers of Maric "The Storm King" Varodyr of Renatus. They mounted a rebellion against Emperor Tobias I and succeeded in dissolving the Empire. They found against the Canonist League in the Schism War and lost.

 

Christopher Blackwell - Lorina's first husband. He served as a squire under Ser Maric and was later promoted to the rank of knight. He kidnapped Lorina during the rebellion and forced her to marry him. He killed himself following the Schism War.

 

Maric "The Storm King" Varodyr - Ser Maric served Emperor Tuvya as his Grand Knight. He later mounted a rebellion against Tuvya, aided by Undead Magic. He reigned briefly as the King of Renatus from his fortress Kaer Angren. 

The Savoyards

Loyal followers of King Olivier de Savoie. They fought against the Ducal Coalition in the Dukes' War and won.

 

Olivier de Savoie - The Duke of Savoie and later the King of Oren.

 

Gereon de Savoie - Olivier de Savoie's younger brother. A prince of Oren. He briefly courted Lorina during her residence at Owynswood. 

 

Guy de Bar - Served as Lord Chancellor under King Olivier de Savoie. He held Jason captive at his fortress, Peremont, during the Dukes' War. Later, after Olivier's death, he became King of Oren - only to be assassinated a mere 3 years into his reign.

 

Publius Bracchus - Lord Steward of Oren and a Savoyard loyalist. A close personal friend of Jason. They served together in the 2nd Regiment. Following the mass migration to Vailor, Publius adopted Jason into his family. He later served as Archchancellor under Emperor John I.

House Montfort

Descendants of Exalted Prophet Sigismund Carrion and his wife Helaine de Sarkozy. Sometimes called the 'Sarkozic' line.

 

Victor de Montfort (Viktor Carrion) - The son of Ostromir Carrion. Lorina's cousin. Victor ruled as Count of Owynswood. He invited Lorina and her ailing, elderly father to live with him in his keep. Lorina later took custody of his children after Victor ventured abroad to find a cure for his sickly wife.

 

Helena de Montfort (Helena Chivay) - Victor's wife and Lorina's cousin-in-law. Mother of Hugues, Lilianne, Francis, Adelina, and Eric. Fell into a coma following her youngest child's birth, which required Lorina to step in and care for her children.

 

Hugues "Hugh/Hugo" Sarkozic (Hugh the Headless, Hugues de Monfort) - Lorina's second cousin. The son of Victor de Montfort and Helena Chivay. Count of Owynswood and later Duke of Adria. Hugues founded the Ducal Coalition and entered into open rebellion against the Crown, igniting the Dukes' War. Died via decapitation by an assassin.

 

Lilianne "Lilya" Vladov (Lilianne de Montfort) - Lorina's second cousin. The twin sister of Hugues. The daughter of Victor de Montfort and Helena Chivay. Wife of Kazimir Vladov and Countess of Barrowyck.

 

Francis "Franz" Sarkozic (Francis de Montfort) - Lorina's second cousin. The younger brother of Hugues. The son of Victor de Montfort and Helena Chivay. Following Hugues' assassination, Francis signed the terms of surrender to Savoie, ending the Dukes' War

The Church of the Canon

Loyal devotees of the Canon and leaders of the Faith.

 

High Pontiff Daniel I (Siguine Barrow) - The bastard son of Ostromir Carrion and Lorina's cousin. Called "The Reader" and widely regarded as one of the greatest High Pontiffs in history. Daniel I served as a surrogate father-figure for Lorina, raising her from age five to age 12. He remained a beloved mentor and advisor throughout her life. His unexpected death pushed Lorina into joining the clergy, since it was his last wish for her to do so. Later canonized as St. Daniel I.

 

High Pontiff Sixtus III (Father Theodosius) - Daniel I's protege. Elected High Pontiff following his death. Lorina disapproved of him due to rumors of sexual misconduct. He largely ignored and neglected Lorina, swamped as he was by other controversy. Killed by an assassin for suspected Adrian sympathies. Detractors feared that he would crown Hugues king of Oren.

 

High Pontiff Daniel II (Bishop Cordal of Herendul) - Elected High Pontiff following the assassination of Sixtus III. He created the Order of St. Julia along with Lorina.

 

High Pontiff Lucien III (Bishop Edmond de Montfort) - Elected High Pontiff following the death of Daniel II at the end of the Dukes' War. He was the son of Paul Montfort and Lorina's second cousin. When Lorina reneged on her nun vows, he sent his inquisitors to hunt her down.

 

Miguel Cortes - A Savinian Inquisitor who pursued Lorina and Jason when they fled abroad to Urugan. He captured her and returned her to Felsen, where he tortured her and Jason on orders from Lucien III. Later canonized as St. Michael of Cordoba for his success in hunting Lorina down.

 

 

A portrait of Tuvya "Rosebud" Carrion (Emperor Tobias I), age 62

Painted by the elf Ryder Hightower in 1470, gifted to Lorina by Victor de Montfort.

 

Lorina Tuvanova Carrion was born in 1458 as the final and youngest child of Tuvya “Rosebud” Carrion and Mary Therving of Carpathia. She came into this world shortly after the famed Siege of Mt. Augustus, which ushered in the reign of Emperor Peter I. Lorina’s birth, unfortunately, took a toll on her mother Mary. By that point, Mary had borne Tuvya a total of eight children. The repeated pregnancies proved stressful on her body and, as a result, she grew ill.

 

Unable to care for Lorina with a sickly wife, Tuvya gave custody of his youngest daughter to an abbey where she was raised until age five. At five years, she returned to Oren where Tuvya placed her in the care of her illegitimate cousin Siguine Barrow, who lived in the Raevir city of Vekaro. Siguine was not much more than a youth himself at the time and studying to become a priest. Scholars of the Canonist tradition will know that Siguine Barrow went on to become High Pontiff Daniel I, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest High Pontiffs in human history. Despite his relative inexperience raising children, Siguine happily took young Lorina under his wing. He cared for her from age five until age twelve - and he would remain one of the most significant, beloved, and pivotal relationships of her life. Lorina often confided her feelings in Siguine and sought his advice throughout her life, viewing him as a surrogate parental figure.

 

When Siguine finally took his vows and joined the priesthood, he sent Lorina to live with her elder brothers Aleksandr and Yakov in the duchy of Karovia. Aleksandr and Yakov were Tuvya’s second-youngest children, a pair of twins born one year prior to Lorina. The three young Carrions were the wards of Baron Vasili Vanir and his family. The Vanirs had long served as House Carrion’s vassals, allies, and family friends. Vasili and his brother Arik became beloved guardians and father-figures for Lorina. She wrote that Arik taught her how to fish, ride horses, and shoot a bow and arrow. Arik and Vasili maintained a close, parental relationship with Lorina throughout her life, with Arik bestowing the affectionate nicknames “Baby Crow” and “Little Crow” upon her.

 

By this time, Lorina’s father Tuvya had ascended to the throne of Oren as Emperor Tobias I. Despite the fact that Lorina was an Imperial Princess, she was not raised like one. Tuvya intentionally kept Lorina separated from the Imperial Court at Petrus, hoping to shield her innocence and protect her from the gambits of the nobility. He often referred to her as his favorite child, calling her his “Little Chetka” as a term of endearment. ('Chetka' being a Raevir nonsense word Tuvya invented.) Lorina liked living in the countryside, but often lamented her provincial manners and lack of courtly etiquette. In her early diaries, Lorina describes herself as “[a] country bumpkin girl who eats mushrooms”, a “dirty country girl”, and “not a fine lady at all.” Unfortunately, the squabbles of the nobility would end up affecting Lorina and her brothers in spite of their father’s attempts to protect them.

 

 

 

Emperor Tuvya’s Grand Knight was an individual named Ser Maric Varodyr. House Varodyr had deep ties to the Heartlander Great Houses of Horen, Savoie, and Chivay - which perhaps indicated that it was only a matter of time until he rebelled against his Raevir masters. Among Maric’s squires was one Christopher Blackwell, the second son of a minor Orenian noble house. Christopher was a frequent visitor to Karovia and often interacted with Lorina. The two became fast friends despite a fairly significant difference in age - Christopher’s seventeen to Lorina’s twelve.

 

While Lorina’s diary paints Christopher in a largely positive light - describing him as “quiet but nice” and calling him “her best friend” - it’s now thought that Christopher was a manipulative snake taking advantage of her youth and relative innocence to further his own position in society. Christopher heaped gifts on Lorina, including trophies from his kills (a “cockatrice talon”), jewelry (a “beautiful blue stone”), and toys (“a big box of paints” and “a teddy bear with fluffy white fur”). He also spent inordinate amounts of time with her - enough to make Lorina’s relatives uncomfortable. Looking through modern eyes, we can recognize his behavior as blatantly predatory and grooming. Lorina’s naivete prevented her from identifying Christopher for what he was, though. It was only much later in life that she recognized his actions as suspect - wondering in one entry “Did Christopher ever really love me at all?”

 

Christopher frequently lied to Lorina. Early in her diary, Lorina describes Christopher’s grief over his unwilling engagement to a ugly older woman. However, the truth of the situation was much different. In actuality, Christopher derailed his elder brother Nicholaus’s engagement to a female relative of House Fournier. He did this intentionally to prevent his brother from producing a male heir. Christopher then courted the Fournier woman himself and secured an engagement. He also told Lorina that his brother “died suddenly” when, in fact, Christopher directly caused his own brother’s death. Christopher desired control of House Blackwell for himself and levied false accusations against his brother. He stacked the courtroom against Nicholaus, which led to his untimely execution and Christopher’s ascent to lordship. 

 

After the engagement to Lady Fournier fell through, the sly and manipulative Christopher began to pursue Lorina in earnest - no doubt sensing a golden opportunity to secure his power by exploiting the young princess. Lorina’s relatives endeavored to keep Christopher away from her, but they were unsuccessful. Lorina did not understand her relatives’ wariness toward Christopher and believed their anger toward him to be baseless bullying, writing: 

 

 

Everyone in Karovia bullies [Christopher] for spending too much time with me. They think he is a pervert who does evil things to me. They are WRONG!!! Christopher is a good boy who would never hurt me!

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 2, Entry 10

 

 

 

Fearing that Lorina intended to run away with Christopher when she came of age, High Pontiff Daniel I and Aleksandr made her promise never to elope.

 

Ironically, perhaps, Lorina did not elope with Christopher. Rather, he kidnapped her. Emperor Tobias I’s reign ended in violence when his Grand Knight, Maric, rebelled against him in the year 1480. Lorina’s older brother, Yakov, fell prey to Undead sorcery and assaulted Emperor Tuvya with magic. Tuvya survived the attack, but abdicated his position shortly after so he could chase down his wayward son - leaving his son Aleksandr to inherit the throne. Aleksandr thus became Emperor Alexander I. He did everything in his power to quell the Mardonic rebellion, starting by dissolving the Empire into the separate kingdoms of Oren, Renatus, Aesterwald, and Akovia.

 

Unbeknownst to Lorina and the other Carrions, Christopher sided with Maric and acted as a double agent reporting on the Carrions’ movements. In 1483, Aleksandr lost the captial city of Petrus in a siege. Christopher took advantage of the confusion and kidnapped Lorina, taking her to Kaer Angren - King Maric’s stronghold. At Kaer Angren, Lorina was presented with a choice. She could either marry Christopher or face execution. Fearing for her life and believing that her entire family had been slaughtered, Lorina married Christopher at sword point. Many believed that Lorina died during the siege on Petrus and thus made no attempt to rescue her.

 

Lorina describes her marriage to Christopher as “not entirely unhappy” but “very strained.” They lived together in a manor in the county of Owynswood, just over the mountain from Kaer Angren. She writes that Christopher “kept [her] very secluded” and “did not allow her to leave [Owynswood].” As a spouse, he was “short-tempered”, “neglected me [Lorina] often” and “did not perform his duties as a husband.”  According to historical genealogical records, they did not produce any children despite being married for eight years. It’s possible that Christopher regarded Lorina only as a political tool and was furious that his investment in her did not pay off in the ways he’d hoped. 
 

 

 

A portrait of Lorina, age 33, during her residence in Petrus

Painted in 1488 by the elf Ryder Hightower

 

Lorina spent the entirety of the Schism War (1483-1491) sequestered in the Blackwell Manor at Owynswood. Her diary indicates that she was completely unaware of the political strife outside of their valley. In 1491, with the defeat of King Magic and the conclusion of the Schism War, Christopher Blackwell hung himself from the rafters of their manor house. His suicide note read simply “My ambitions were never realized.” Shortly after his death, Christopher’s fellow Knights of the Red Dragon - Gawain Briarwood, Josef Mendel, and Ser Allister VI - attempted to bury Lorina alive in a grave alongside her husband. Their intention was to permanently end the Carrion Imperial Line and prevent a renaissance of the Carrion Vochna.

 

Against all odds, Lorina managed to escape from her early grave. In a remarkable display of fortitude and resilience, she dug her way through six feet of earth and rubble barehanded while actively suffocating. Lorina was routinely described as small, weak, and little - born somewhat prematurely due to her mother’s illness - so for her to have achieved this feat is nothing short of miraculous. The incident left Lorina scarred both mentally and physically. Clawing her way out of the grave mangled her hands, leaving her fingers permanently twisted and disfigured. Worse than the physical trauma were the lasting nightmares, chronic anxiety, depression, and paranoia that arose from her experience.

 

Lorina fled from Owynswood and made her way to Petrus - where the Raevir Monarch Andrik Vydra had just recently captured the throne. Impoverished and stripped of her former titles, Lorina made ends meet by selling off old Carrion relics and taking up odd jobs such as fishing and sewing. She lived in a modest, one-room city apartment by herself. It was here that she met Jason “Jace” Evans, a 2nd Regiment Soldier who lived next door to her. Jason Evans was a veteran of the Schism War and a loyal follower of Andrik Vydra. The two enjoyed a friendly acquaintanceship, but Lorina seemingly did not pay him a great deal of attention.

 

With the Carrion Vochna long gone, Lorina hoped to slip quietly into irrelevance. She expresses a fervent desire to lead a “normal life.”  However, the enemies of House Carrion feared that her survival would eventually bring about a Carrion resurgence. While living in Petrus, Lorina endured no less than five different attempts on her life. The repeated assassination attempts against an impoverished peasant woman eventually drew the attention of the Crown. For her safety, King Andrik offered to let her live in the palace (though she declined and instead took up residence in the 2nd Regiment barracks). Lorina and Andrik developed an amiable rapport - with Andrik escorting her personally at his War Games and calling her a “true friend.”

 

Lorina’s time in Petrus was not merely centered around avoiding enemies. She also developed a wide circle of friends. She reconnected with several of her relatives, including her cousin Victor de Montfort, her brother-in-law Otto Rovin, her nephew Karl Barbanov, and her cousin High Pontiff Daniel I. Her motley crew of companions included the Petrusian Warden Erik Berhal, the Paladin Licia Horen, Peter Horen the half-elven bastard, Viktoriya Vladov the Raevir shieldmaiden, and a flower seller by the name of Tess. 

 

It was during her residence in Petrus that Lorina first decided to pursue the path of the clergy. She began her training under High Pontiff Daniel I. Unfortunately, Lorina would be forced to delay her dream of becoming a nun when her father, Tuvya, suddenly reappeared from abroad. He had succeeded in killing Yakov, but went mad in the process. Somehow, he’d made it home to Petrus in spite of his madness. Lorina decided to sacrifice her ambitions and instead spend her time caring for her father in his final years. Yet she could not hope to nurse him back to health in her small one-room apartment. Luckily, her cousin Victor had recently been appointed Count of Owynswood. He invited Lorina and her father to come live with him in his manor. Lorina felt some wariness about returning to Owynswood - the home she once shared with her neglectful husband - but realized she had little choice if she wanted to properly care for her father.
 

 

Shortly after Lorina and her father moved to Owynswood, in the year 1498,  the High Elves of Haelun’or assassinated King Andrik Vydra by dropping him into a pit of acid. The murder threw Oren immediately into disarray. Vasili Vanir, now a duke, stepped up as Lord Regent of Oren in the interim. Eventually, the Privy Council opted to make Duke Olivier de Savoie the new king.

 

While this political drama unfolded, Lorina faced increased pressure from her family to marry and continue the Imperial Carrion line. Her cousin Victor heavily encouraged her to seek a husband. Lorina’s elder brother, former Emperor Boris I, told her that it was her duty as the last fertile Carrion woman to reproduce. Lorina felt deeply conflicted between her desire to become a nun and her duty to support her family. In one entry, she wrote:

 

 

 

While I live under Viktor's roof, I must abide by Viktor's rules. What if Viktor asks me to set aside my dreams permanently and submit to a political marriage for the good of the family? I am not selfish enough to deny such a request. If it is for the good of House Carrion, I will gladly perform any duty. But I owe a duty to God as well! Which one am I supposed to pick? God or family?

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 3, Entry 20

 

 

 

She expressed some sadness about leaving the prospects of love and motherhood behind --

 

 

 

I will never marry again. I will never have another husband or give birth to a child of my own. [...] It is my destiny to join the clergy. As soon as Papa passes from this world, I will commit myself to God. Yet I cannot help but wonder at the things I am leaving behind. Romantic love, motherhood, growing old surrounded by family - I am saying ‘dravo’ [Raevir word for ‘goodbye’] to all those things. I do not regret it - not at all- but at the same time, I still cannot help but feel a little sad.

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 3, Entry 33

 

 

 

In a later entry, she found a way to rationalize the two opposing desires - choosing to believe that she was unmarriageable and therefore didn’t need to worry --

 

 

I doubt any high-ranking nobles would desire me for a wife. My virtue was stolen by Christopher. I am growing older by the second. I am not particularly beautiful and my scars make me even uglier. Niet nobleman would want me! I could marry a commoner, maybe, but why would I want to marry someone beneath me? I was a princess once. To marry beneath me - that would shame House Carrion and the Imperial Line of Tuvya! If I cannot make a good marriage - a marriage that empowers my family - then I do not want to marry at all! Instead, I will happily join the clergy as I planned. My destiny awaits in the church.

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 3, Entry 28

 

 

 

Lorina’s assumptions about her marriageability proved to be wrong. During her residence at Owynswood, Lorina received several marriage and courtship offers. Her longtime friend Peter Horen professed love to her. She received a proposal from Ilum Letholdus - the grandson of the infamous bandit lord Drelik Letholdus. Ostromir “the Black Bear” Vladov also pursued her romantically in spite of their age difference (Lorina was significantly older) and blood relation. Many of her suitors were attracted to her due to her august bloodline rather than any specific desire for Lorina herself. Lorina rejected every single offer, telling her suitors that she did not want to remarry until after her father had died. 

 

Some suitors enjoyed greater success than others. Lorina’s favorite offer came from Gereon de Savoie, the brother of King Olivier. He and Lorina carried on a courtship for roughly a year while she lived in Owynswood. She writes glowingly about him in her diary, describing him as “polite”, “pleasant”, “chivalrous”, “exceedingly friendly", and “the picture of grace” - leaving little doubt that she was enamored with the handsome and charming Savoyard prince. However, she was reluctant to accept his marriage proposal without the consent of her family.

 

Cultural and political tensions had begun to rise between the Duchies of Adria (ruled by Duke Franz Vladov, Victor’s liege lord) and Savoie. Victor subsequently ordered Lorina to reject Gereon’s marriage offer - which Lorina did, though not without regret. Gereon took the rejection poorly and cut off all association with Lorina afterward. He would later go on to court several other Raevir women, including Lorina’s niece. Historians now theorize that Gereon had no special attachment to Lorina. King Olivier likely ordered him to marry a Raevir woman in hopes of calming the tension and securing a familial alliance with Adria. Of all the eligible Raevir women, Lorina was simply the most favorable target.

 

After Lorina’s failed courtship with Gereon, her luck took a turn for the worse. Helena, Victor’s wife, took gravely ill. She collapsed unconscious in bed. No matter what treatments the doctors administered, they could not wake her from her slumber. Victor decided to venture abroad in search of a cure. He left his five children - Hugues, Francis, Lilianne, Adelina, and Eric - in Lorina’s custody. Lorina oversaw the care, keeping, and education of the children while their parents were incapacitated. She acted as a nurse for both Helena and her greatly-aged father Tuvya. Lorina struggled to maintain the family by herself. The Montfort children all had a wild, rebellious streak owing to their Chivay blood. Both Hugues and Adelina ran away to Savoie before their fifteenth birthdays. Despite Lorina’s entreaties, neither of them would return home.

 

Lorina sought refuge from her bleak family situation in her faith. She wrote -

 

 

 

I realized while courting Gereon that I was never meant to be a wife and mother. My heart has always rested within the bosom of the church.

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 3, Entry 55

 

 

 

Desperate to find a sliver of peace and stability, she once again resumed her training to become a nun. Her mentor, High Pontiff Daniel I, issued her one final task to prove her worth. He instructed her to build a church. 
 

 

 

Lorina initially found herself at a loss for where to build her church. A large building such as a church required a sizable plot of land. Her first instinct was to rebuild the old cobblestone cathedral in Petrus. Residents of the city frequently complained of its ugliness. Lorina leveraged her connections to gain an audience with King Olivier, where she requested permission to tear down the church and build it anew. King Olivier gave his consent and offered To open the kingdom’s coffers to support the project. Lorina advertised a church-building contest with a grand prize of 12,000 minas. Sadly, no one entered the contest and Lorina’s plans to rebuild the Petrus Cathedral fell through.

 

She found an alternative in the Duchy of Vanhall. Vanhall occupied the same lands as Karovia, Lorina’s childhood home. Over the years, it had changed hands and names multiple times. Following the Schism War, the lands were given to Duke Vasili Vanir and his family. Vasili tore down the old village of Karovia and sought to replace it with a town of his own design. He chose Jason Evans, his longtime friend and fellow Schism War veteran, to oversee the construction of the town. If Jason succeeded in building the village, he’d be granted the title of Baron. Lorina remembered Jason from her residence in Petrus, where they were next-door neighbors. The two decided to collaborate. Lorina would design a chapel for the newly-incorporated town of Vanhall and Jason would build it for her.

 

Lorina’s friendship with Jason swiftly developed past professional collaboration. Lorina fell unexpectedly and deeply in love with Jason. She described him rapturously in her diary as “gracious”, “kindly”, “honest and brave", “sweet-tempered”, “full of integrity”, “a gentleman”, “a paragon of virtue”, “a wonderful friend”, and “a true prince among men.” Now that Tuvya had passed on and Helena had recovered from her illness, Lorina had a great deal more free time. She began spending the lion’s share of that time in Vanhall with Jason. Lorina took a room at the Vanhall village inn - ostensibly to oversee construction of her church, but actually to live closer to Jason. Her descriptions of their courtship paint a tender and emotional portrait:

 

 

Jace and I would sit and talk for hours and hours. I could be honest with him. I opened up my feelings. Jace listened to me so kindly. Every word out of his mouth was soft and comforting. He spoke so sweetly and tenderly. Somewhere along the way, I ended up falling in love with him. His kind words and sweet eyes enchanted me entirely. His kisses were breathtaking. [...] I truly believed that he and I would be married.

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 4, Entry 1

 

 

 

Lorina found herself conflicted about their relationship, though. She stood right on the cusp of joining the clergy and feared Daniel I’s disappointment if she changed her mind.

 

 

 

I could not help but feel overcome with guilt, though! [...] How would Siguine feel if I changed my mind now? Siguine was never a great proponent of marriage. He said he found it needlessly distracting. He always discouraged me from seeking a husband. I could only imagine - he would be so deeply disappointed if he found out [about my relationship with Jason]!

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 4, Entry 1

 

 

 

In addition, Jason promised to marry Lorina matrilineally. If they wed, he would change his name and become Jason Carrion. Their children would be Carrions and usher in the long-promised restoration of the Carrion Vochna. Lorina still faced pressure from her relatives to have children. She once again found herself torn between her duty to family and her duty to the Almighty. She wrote:

 

 

 

I had reached a fork in the road. On one hand, I could become a nun and devote my life to God, just as I had been planning. On the other hand, I could marry Jace, the man I loved, and ensure House Carrion's survival.

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 4, Entry 1

 

 

 

Conflicted and in need of advice, Lorina turned to her beloved cousin and mentor Daniel I. Predictably, Daniel I discouraged her from marrying. He described marriage as a “shackle” and disparaged Jace as a “low-ranking man who might not keep his fortunes.” He told her that she must absolutely become a nun. Lorina couldn’t bear disappointing her cousin, but simultaneously she did not want to give up her relationship with Jason. She pleaded with Daniel, asking him for a way she could please everyone. 

 

 

 

I begged Siguine - "Isn't there a middle road? Isn't there a solution that can make everyone happy?"

 

He smiled at me. "Oh, sweet Lorina. You have suffered so much grief, yet you still worry about everyone else. Unfortunately, you cannot appease all."

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 4, Entry 1

 

 

 

Those words would be the High Pontiff’s last. Lorina moved to embrace him, only to have Daniel I suddenly die in her arms. The Pontiff was greatly aged and slowly going blind. His poor health caught up to him at precisely the wrong moment. He died having expressed one final wish - for Lorina to take the veil and become a nun. Lorina could not, in good conscience, deny his last request. Mere moments after Daniel I’s death and burial, Father Branaford swore Lorina into the clergy. She reluctantly took her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience - ending her love affair with Jason. On that day in 1512, at age 54, she became known as Sister Lorina of Vekaro.

 

 

A painting of Lorina's church, The Chapel of St. Siegmund, in Port Vydrik

Painted in 1514 by the wandering artist Shiloh

 

Shortly after Lorina took her vows, a plague of giant worms descended on Athera. The underground monstrosities wreaked havoc on the landscape, causing massive earthquakes and tidal waves. It became clear to all the Descendant races that they could not remain in Athera. The Vanirs and their vassals, including Jason, packed their things and set sail for a new home. Lorina boarded the Vanir ship alongside Vasili, Arik, and Jason. After several weeks at sea, they made land in the north of Vailor, where they established the Duchy of Vanaheim. Vasili made Jason Count of Vanholm and gave him dominion over the seaside town of Port Vydrik. Publius Bracchus - a close friend of Jason’s and the Savoyard Lord Steward - had also recently adopted him into the Bracchus family, elevating him past his commoner status. Jace would henceforth be known as Jason Evans Bracchus.
 

Jace swiftly rebuilt Lorina’s church and constructed his manor house right across the street from her. Lorina served as the only rector for the entire county of Vanholm, preaching from the church she built and advising the new Count on religious matters. Lorina wrote that she was “the only clergyperson for hundreds of miles.”

 

In public, it appeared as though Lorina had ended her liaison with Jason. Her diary entries deny any further romantic connection, relegating Jason to the status of “friend” and occasionally “brother”. Despite their status as ex-lovers, she and Jason maintained a close, intimate friendship. Lorina describes long hours spent alone with him, talking and praying: 

 

 

Jace and I like to have long talks together when he has a break from construction. [...] I enjoy every moment of conversation with him. [...] We pray together. [...] Jace has been my saving grace. My true brother in Faith and discourse. Without him, it would be a tragic, awful, lonely life.

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 4, Entry 8

 

 

 

Historians suspect Lorina and Jason continued their relationship in secret, away from prying eyes. This evidence for this is manifold. For one, Lorina opted to remain in Vanaheim rather than settling in Adria or in the Holy Lands. One would think that, if she truly wanted to avoid temptation, she would have moved to a different part of the country away from her ex-suitor. Her closest family members - Victor, Hugues, Lilianne, and others - had settled much further south in the new Duchies of Adria and Haense. If her diary is to be believed, Lorina never considered leaving the north to join them. She never mentions moving once. Lorina characterized Vanholm as “very isolated”, “empty”, and “quiet” - in other words, the perfect place to conceal a secret affair.

 

Lorina also describes lengthy private tutoring sessions where she instructed Jason on matters of faith. Historians now think that these lessons were a cover for their illicit romantic encounters.

 

 

I sat [Jason] down and started reading St. Owyn's epistles. Jace listened with rapt attention. "After thirty years as an Oren citizen," he said, "this is the first time I've heard the holy words." We talked for a long time after that. I summarized the Scroll of Gospel for him. I told him all about Horen, Julia, Godwin, Harren, and Joren - and, of course, Owyn. He had heard the names before but never understood their significance until now. He thanked me profusely for educating him, even if just a tiny bit.

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 4, Entry 12

 

 

 

However, it is likely that Lorina genuinely instructed him too. Lorina had a well-documented passion for combating religious ignorance. She held regular ‘Scroll Study’ classes where she invited the masses to read and discuss the Holy Scrolls with her. Lorina wrote that she first conceived of her ‘Scroll Study’ classes while tutoring Jason - which possibly indicates she truly did teach and advise him on matters of faith.

 

During this period, Lorina also began to grow disillusioned with the church dogma and organizational structure. Sixtus III had become the High Pontiff in the wake of Daniel I’s death. Several nobles - including Publius Bracchus and Ser Drake Lancefeld - requested Lorina to officiate their weddings. Lorina sent multiple letters to Sixtus III asking him for dispensation to perform the sacrament, only for him to ignore her. Sixtus III eventually sent a response two years later denying her request. He also assigned a priest - one Father Jarlath - to oversee Lorina’s church without her consent. Lorina heavily disapproved of Sixtus III due to the rumors of his sexual indiscretions (admittedly, very hypocritical of her). She also critiqued Father Edmond of Montfort - a member of the Synod, the ruling body of the church, and Lorina's cousin - for his habit of appearing drunk in public. Lorina saw the church as lax and complacent. She believed that the church neglected to teach the text of the Holy Scrolls and let the populace languish in ignorance. 

 

While isolated in Vanholm, Lorina began to develop an alternate interpretation of the Holy Scrolls - choosing to reject the violence and wrath described in the Scrolls and instead adopt a philosophy of love. She wrote of her particular reverence for St. Julia, whom she interpreted as a paragon of nonviolent resistance.

 

 

 

I find myself drawn most to the character of St. Julia, Horen's chosen wife, companion, and advisor. [...] The Scroll of Gospel is so violent and bloody. It tells of Horen, walking the land with his three brothers, and eradicating every heretic that stands in their way. [...] Betwixt all of this violence is sweet, tender Julia. Julia - who is forged from love. Julia, who shelters her sons in the holy tabernacle. Julia, who bravely walks the camp alone in search of Iblees. Wonderful, blessed Julia - who cast Iblees out with nothing but the strength of her love and the force of her will. Julia - who never shed a single drop of blood. [...] Julia, did you ever feel like you failed? [...] Did you wish [your sons] walked in your footsteps - learning to love instead of learning to hate? [...] Can we not love in the name of God too? I always believed God is a being made of love. [...] Julia, let us search for a God of Love instead of a God of Wrath. I am reaching out to you, Julia. Will you take my hand?

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 4, Entry 11

 

 

 

 

 

In truth, I am beginning to grow disillusioned with the Church as a whole. My own personal beliefs and opinions niet longer line up perfectly with the ideals of Canonism.  [...] Where is the discussion of morality? Where is the talk of love and peace? I believe in a Creator who loves everyone and offers them a chance to redeem themselves in His eyes if they repent and make right their wrongs. I do not believe in a violent Creator who heaps punishment onto sinners. [...] I have begun to develop my own philosophy as of late. This world is so senseless, chaotic, violent, and cruel. There is niet sense or reason or justice in it. I think - the only thing that prevents man from dissolving into an orgy of violence is love. The love we feel for our country, our family, our fellow men. [...] I am getting tired of a church that condones war and violence and mutilation. I am getting tired of a church that murders heretics instead of trying to convert them. I am tired of a church that hates and excludes. But most of all, I am tired of a church that prizes the words and actions of mortal men above the Word of God. I want to live out the rest of my life in peace and love. I want to preach peace and love and gentleness and forgiveness. [...] Perhaps I can preach a different doctrine here - a new doctrine - and not be punished for it.

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 4, Entry 8

 

 

 

Historians believe that this was, at least partially, an attempt to justify her secret affair with Jason. By breaking with the Canonist Church doctrine and pursuing her own interpretations of scripture, she could rationalize the violation of her vows without feeling guilt. This theory explains the extreme anger she expressed upon Sixtus III assigning  Father Jarlath to her church. 

 

 

 

Until now, I have enjoyed a time of unprecedented freedom in my preaching. [...] I handled all matters of faith on my own. And I liked it that way. I did not have to answer to anyone. I had the freedom to teach and preach what I thought was good and relevant. When we stepped on the boat to Vailor [...] I thought I would remain the sole authority on matters of Faith and that I would be the spiritual pillar of the community. Jace Bracchus actually told me these things - in his own words. [...] And now Sixtus sends his crony to lord over the church I built with my own raw, bleeding hands? [...] It feels like there is a stranger invading my house! [...] How could [Father Jarlath] come into my house - the only place I felt safe, at home - and just TAKE OVER? [...] How could Sixtus just take it away from me!? [...] I want my church back!

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 4, Entry 9

 

 

 

Lorina was, undoubtedly, aware of the role of nuns within the Canonist Church. They are not ordained ministers themselves, but rather work as assistants to the parish priest. Because of Vanholm's isolation, she was able to act as the de-facto minister for the county. She could preach whatever she liked, unquestioned, and become a religious schism of one. Father Jarlath represented a looming threat to her justifications and rationalizations.  

 

Luckily for Lorina, Father Jarlath only visited Vanholm once or twice during his tenure as the county's minister. He, like most other priests, preferred to remain in the Holy Lands further south. The Canonist Church seemed to forget about Lorina’s presence in the north. Bishop Cordal of Herendul (later known as High Pontiff Daniel II) expressed surprise upon meeting her in Vanholm several years later, stating that he did not even realize the church had nuns in its employ.

 

Lorina was able to maintain her peace and solitude far removed from the rest of the church. She and Jason continued to work closely together. The Count treated Lorina as his most trusted advisor. While Jason received a few marriage offers, he declined every single one. Lorina served as the unofficial Countess of Vanholm, fulfilling all duties one might normally expect of the Count’s wife. She acted as a liaison to the people, hearing their concerns and relaying them to Jason. She also organized events in the county and advised on matters of construction and maintenance. If the Vanirs and the people of Vanholm knew about the couple’s secret affair, they likely turned a blind eye for the sake of friendship and stability. 

 

However, that stability was about to be destroyed.
 

 

A portrait of Count Jason Evans Bracchus, age 62

Painted in 1514 by the wandering artist Shiloh

 

Meanwhile - Lorina’s second cousin, Hugues Sarkozic, had risen to power in the south. He sat upon the throne of Adria as its Duke. When he was fifteen years old, he ran away from Adria to join Savoie, rejecting his Raevir heritage. As an adult, he returned to stand as a champion of the Raevir people. While Lorina lived in peace and quiet in the north, tensions between the Heartlander Savoyards and the Raevir Adrians had begun to boil over in the south. The Savoyards crossed the line when they failed to prosecute the culprits behind the bloody Massacre of Wett in 1516. Two years later, in 1518, Hugues Sarkozic formed the Ducal Coalition together with Siguine Barbanov, Lorina’s great nephew, who ruled the Duchy of Haense. They declared open rebellion against the Crown and ignited war with the Duchy of Savoie.

 

Duke Vasili Vanir - and the Duchy of Vanaheim as a whole - at first opted to remain neutral in the conflict. As the Count of Vanholm, Jace honored his liege lord’s commitment to impartiality. As a result, war refugees from both sides flooded into Vanaheim. Lorina wasted no time converting her church into a shelter for these refugees. For her part, Lorina was furious with Hugues for igniting war. She was an outspoken critic of the conflict. After having lived through Maric’s rebellion, she had developed a strong distaste for martial combat.

 

 

 

All of these soldiers - who wish to tear Mother Orenia in half, who wish to slay their own former brothers in arms - are fools. The Holy Scroll of Gospel outlines the true consequences of civil war. Civil war is nothing short of fratricide on a grander scale. And the Creator condemns kinslaying above all other sins. [...] By my soul, I would never raise a violent hand against my own kinsman. [...] This is nothing more than family slaying family. And it is a most black and terrible sin.

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 4, Entry 16

 

 

 

Lorina decided that it was her duty as a clergyperson to remain neutral in worldly affairs. Despite her avowed neutrality, though, she still faced multiple assassination attempts from the enemies of Adria. The Knights of St. Amyas, a group of Savoyard loyalists, captured Lorina and attempted to burn her alive. Luckily, she escaped. She was also stabbed in the stomach by a Waldenian priest while visiting the capital of Felsen. Regardless, Lorina would not be swayed. She tried to dissuade Vasili from joining either side. 
 

The Savoyards opted not to respect Vanaheim’s neutrality, though. They began kidnapping and torturing members of House Vanir, using their hostages as leverage to get Vanaheim to join Savoie. In response, Duke Vasili sought aid from Adria. Shortly after Vanaheim pledged their loyalty to Adria, Savoyard soldiers stormed Jason’s manor in Port Vydrik and kidnapped him. 

 

For the next three years, the Savoyards kept Jason imprisoned at Peremont - the fortress of Guy de Bar, the Savoyard Lord High Chancellor. They intended to trade Jace for Clement de Sola, a captive held on the side of Adria. While in captivity, Jason sent several letters back to Lorina. He asked her to look after the county in his absence, officially appointing Lorina as the temporary regent of Vanholm. Lorina petitioned Guy de Bar and Publius Bracchus (who remained loyal to Savoie) to allow her to visit Jason. She ventured to Peremont twice over the course of the war. 

 

During Jason’s captivity, Lorina hosted the funeral of Sixtus III (who had been murdered by an assassin) in her church. Bishop Cordal of Herendul oversaw the funerary rites. He had come to Port Vydrik seeking a safe and neutral place to hold the ceremony. It surprised him to see a nun maintaining the church, as there were no records of Lorina’s existence among the archives in the Holy Lands. Bishop Cordal was so impressed by Lorina’s piety and strong will that he asked her to collaborate with him on creating a proper order of nuns. Together, Bishop Cordal and Sister Lorina drafted a mission statement for the Order of St. Julia, to be published alongside his first Golden Bull. Lorina swiftly began recruiting nuns and drafting architectural plans for an abbey. At the same time, Lorina began pressuring Hugues to exchange his prisoner Clement de Sola for Jason.

 

The war ended before a prisoner exchange could take place. In 1519, Hugues fell victim to an assassin, who famously severed his head (earning him the moniker ‘Hugh the Headless’). Siguine Barbanov stepped up to lead the Ducal Coalition in Hugues’ place. The war culminated in 1521 with a final siege on Barrowyck, the stronghold of House Vladov. The night before the Siege of Barrowyck, Lorina claims to have experienced a terrifying vision. A ghostly soldier clad in Adrian colors entered her church. He wailed that Barrowyck had fallen and that the Savoyards had slain everyone. The soldier removed his helmet to reveal a horribly mutilated face. Lorina relayed the news of her vision to Lilianne, her second cousin and Hugues' sister. She begged them to flee with their family, but Lilianne refused to believe her. In the end, Barrowyck fell just as Lorina’s vision predicted. The Adrian loss at Barrowyck spelled the end of the war. The Savoyard forces slaughtered Adria’s nobles en masse, including most of Lorina’s remaining family. The war reached its final conclusion in 1521 when Francis Sarkozic, Hugues' brother and Lorina's second cousin, signed the terms of surrender.
 

 

 

The end of the war had a silver lining for Lorina. Jason was, at last, freed from captivity. He returned home to Vanholm unharmed. Publius paid his brother’s ransom and ensured that his life would be spared. Because Jason spent the entire war captive behind enemy lines and remained committed to neutrality, he never harmed a single Savoyard. Guy de Bar, the former Lord Chancellor, assumed the throne of Oren after King Olivier’s death in 1523. With Vasili dead, Guy de Bar named Jason Duke of Vanaheim.

 

Toward the end of the fourth volume, Lorina wrote an entry describing a bargain she made with Jason. In the entry, Lorina writes that Jason revealed the existence of his bastard son - Andrik - to her and begged her to care for the child. 

 

 

 

The hatch led down to an underground bunker. There, in the dark, I heard a soft cry. Jace led me to a makeshift cradle in the corner. There, swaddled amidst the pillows, was a tiny newborn infant. Two brown eyes squinted at me from beneath puffy, pink eyelids. A tuft of black hair covered the babe's forehead. I looked at the baby, then up at Jace. The resemblance was immediate and uncanny. "His name is Andrik," Jace said softly. "He's my son."

 

I stared at Jace. "Your son?" I asked. "But you've never married."

 

Jace nodded. His cheeks burned with unspoken shame. "During my captivity, I met a woman - a servant at the De Bar fortress. She was kind to me and..." He halted in the midst of his sentence, as if too mortified to continue. "I need you to care for him."

-The Diary of Lorina Carrion: Volume 4, Entry 29

 

 

 

This entry is now thought to be a complete fabrication. Andrik was not a bastard birthed by some nameless servant girl. Rather, he was the biological son of Lorina and Jason. Historians theorize that Jason and Lorina conceived their son during Guy’s brief reign. Both of them were growing old (Lorina age 65 and Jason age 71), which made their odds of pregnancy slim. However, by a miracle, they were able to bear two children despite their advanced ages.  Vanholm was depopulated in the wake of the war. Jason and Lorina were the only remaining nobles in the county - aside from the Staunton family who lived across the river. Under those circumstances, it would have been trivial for Lorina to conceal her pregnancy. Lorina often cared for orphans, so she easily slipped her biological child in amongst their number. With the war over, Lorina and Jason planned to quietly rebuild Vanaheim and raise their son together.

 

Unfortunately, peace would not last. A year later, in 1526, Guy de Bar was assassinated by a coalition of clergymen and Horen sympathizers in an incident known as the Polycarp Plot. The plot to murder King de Bar was endorsed and, in fact, spearheaded by High Pontiff Lucien III (also known as Edmond de Montfort, Lorina’s second cousin).  Guy de Bar's death ushered in the Horen Restoration and the reign of Emperor John I. Upon hearing the news, Jason feared the worst. Guy de Bar had spared his life as a favor to Publius. However, there was no guarantee that the new Emperor would be so lenient. Jason had heard whispers on the wind that the Emperor intended to remove him from power - possibly murdering him in the process - and transfer his titles to the Staunton family. Percival Staunton ruled the county adjacent to Vanholm - and had long envied Jason's titles. The Stauntons had aided in the Polycarp Plot and were thus due for a reward from the new Emperor. Panicked, Jason realized he had no option but to flee abroad if he wanted to live.

 

Not wanting to leave the mother of his child behind, Jason asked Lorina to elope with him. He feared that Lorina might also face execution by the new regime. Emperor John I's claim to the throne hinged on his combination of Horen and Carrion blood. He was, in fact, Lorina's great-nephew. Her sister Siegmunda was his grandmother. Lorina's Imperial heritage might have presented a contest to his claim on the throne, so it seemed likely Emperor John I would have executed her to consolidate power. Lorina agreed to leave without hesitation. For her part, Lorina was livid that the Church had participated in a regicide. Her family had been deposed in a similar coup many years prior and the Polycarp Plot brought back a rush of horrible memories. She considered the Church of the Canon's participation in the Polycarp Plot unforgivable. After being mistreated, ignored, neglected, and brushed aside by the Church for years, Lorina felt that the Polycarp Plot was the final straw. So, together, the two lovers fled to Urugan with their son. They birthed their second child - a girl named Svala Carrion-Bracchus - while on the run.

 

News of Lorina’s elopement quickly spread across Oren. Emperor John I took Lorina’s disavowal of the Church as a personal affront, referring to her in letters as ‘The Devil’s Wh o re’. The Church of the Canon dispatched its inquisitors to hunt down the outlaw nun and her lover. Initially, they thought she fled abroad to the Caliphate. According to legend, however, the vision of a white lion directed Inquisitor Miguel Cortes (later canonized as St. Michael of Cordoba) to Urugan where he found the couple in hiding. 

 

Miguel captured Lorina and Jason, forcefully returning them to Felsen where they faced torture and interrogation at the command of Lucien III. Lucien III accused Lorina of abandoning Adria and supporting the Savoyards, which she stalwartly denied.

 

Records are ambiguous about Lorina and Jason’s ultimate fate. Some records suggest that they were tortured to death by the Inquisition. Other accounts claim that the Church released them post-interrogation, injured but still alive. One slightly happier theory is that Lorina and Jason ultimately fled across the sea to Aeldin, where they lived out the rest of their lives in peace, love, and anonymity. Regardless of what happened, Lorina disappeared from Vailor in the year 1527 (age 69) and was never seen again.

 

A complicated and divisive figure like Lorina Carrion leaves behind a mixed legacy. On the one hand, she was famed throughout Athera and Vailor for her boundless kindness, generosity, and humility. She was a multi-talented woman who exhibited great skill in writing, art, and architecture. Lorina designed and built two churches and an abbey with no formal architectural training. She was entirely self-taught, which attests to her keen mathematical mind and sense of aesthetic. Lorina also proved her mettle as an educator. An accomplished Church scholar, she made it her mission to combat religious ignorance and democratize the knowledge found in the Holy Scrolls. She did not want men to fight and die for scripture they had never read. Lorina also cared for and educated many orphans throughout Oren. She made waves as an early anti-war activist who promoted peace, brotherly love, and acceptance over unnecessary bloodshed. 

 

Along with High Pontiff Daniel II, Lorina also founded the Church of the Canon’s first proper order of nuns - the Order of St. Julia. Nunneries existed before Lorina, but she formalized and codified their structure and united the disorganized nuns under a single banner. Later orders of nuns (such as the Order of Blessed Catherine) would take inspiration from Mother Lorina in structuring their religious organization.

 

On the other hand, Lorina committed a bevy of sins - especially in her later life. She flagrantly and unabashedly broke her vows, lying to both the Church hierarchy and her parish in the process. Lorina frequently overstepped her boundaries by preaching and teaching unorthodox and even heretical doctrine. In addition, she justified her sins by twisting and reinterpreting the Holy Scrolls to suit her own needs.
 

Rumors flew in the wake of her disappearance. Emperor John I and the Church of the Canon condemned her as a wh o re. Many believed her to be a witch who laid with demons. Her positive accomplishments were forgotten amid a tide of baseless rumor and slander.

 

Lorina was, like most people, complicated and flawed. Her flaws, mistakes, and missteps are what makes me story so compelling, even centuries later. In the end, her motivation boils down to a  simple desire for love. The desire for love is a deeply human one - something which I believe we can all relate to. Everyone wants to be loved, to be with the people they love. When you understand that motivation, many of Lorina’s actions become sympathetic. Not correct nor moral, but sympathetic if nothing else.

 

CITATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

[Urahra 5777]

((Fixed some errors, added some stuff, added nice pictures :>))