Four Excerpts from Tanith's Diary Regarding The 1789 Accusations

[Urahra 5776]

IN THE YEAR 1789 OF THE FIRST AGE --

 

Tanith Vursur, an Orenian citizen of elven heritage, was kidnapped, assaulted, and left for dead in a field outside of Helena.

 

Mrs. Vursur worked as a museum curator for the Northern Geographical Society. Her duties included managing and maintaining the exhibits in their Helena museum. She lived in a flat above the museum along with her husband, the Xannic Paladin Icroth Vursur. Tanith has been a citizen of the Holy Oren Empire since its founding under Exalted Prophet Emperor Godfrey. She is over 500 years old - a living companion to the Saints and a critical first-person historical source for many events in the early years of the Empire.

 

Since moving to Helena in the year 1765, Mrs. Vursur has kept a detailed diary where she catalogues her experiences and emotions. This publication contains four entries from her diary, all concerning the brutal attack she suffered during the month of The Deep Cold in FA 1789.

 

The perpetrators of this heinous crime have still not been brought to justice, even nearly a decade later. 

 

---

 

Entry 99

The Deep Cold, 1789

 

 

Spoiler

 

I can’t sleep.

 

I’m lying in bed with the lamplight turns as bright as it can go. The city past my window looks like a great expanse of impenetrable darkness. My reflection sits uneasily on the surface of the blackness. I feel as though I’m a little boat on a great, night-shrouded sea and something evil is going to swallow me up at any moment. I’m alone.

 

Icroth is out again. He told me he’ll be away camping somewhere, trying to commune with Xan and get deeper in touch with his powers. Since the incident aboard the Queen Dawn’s Revenge, he’s been trying to make his way forward by himself - teach himself and find some way to connect with Xan in the wilderness. He told me he planned to head out toward Farrador. It’s a long journey. I’ve thought about sending him a letter via messenger bird, but there’s no way it would reach him in time. Even if it did, it would take Icroth weeks of travel to return home.

 

I’m in this by myself. And I’m scared.

 

I keep going over the events of the day in my mind, trying to piece together what happened, but there are huge holes in my memory. Hugh blank spaces like voids in my brain. It makes me furious and sick. I swore that I would write everything down. I swore I would never lose track of time again. I don’t want to slip back into a state of catatonia and forgetfulness. But I just can’t remember for the life of me what happened!

 

Maybe if I begin at the beginning, it’ll trigger something…

 

Lately, I’ve been wanting to try and restore my ears. Several hundred years ago, I laid my head down on the cutting board in my kitchen and I carved them off with a butcher knife. I don’t remember precisely what caused me to do it. An overwhelming shame and hatred for my own race that consumed me whole. Mr. Toov found me bleeding in the kitchen after I’d chopped them. He took me gingerly in his arms and healed the cuts with his magic. That moment has become one of my greatest regrets. It was more than a literal cutting of the ears. It represented a final severance with everything elven. It was my promise to forsake my elven heritage and live life as a human woman. I didn’t anticipate how my feelings might change over hundreds of years.

 

I’d heard good things about Ostromir Carrion - about how he was a miraculous surgeon who could heal scars and restore mutilated flesh. He and I have had encounters before where I gave him advice about his wife. I figured we had a friendly repartee, so I wrote to him and asked if he might be able to fix my ears. I wanted to sit down for a consultation.

 

And that’s… the last thing I remember. Handing that letter off to the courier. After that, my mind is a complete blank.

 

The next thing I knew, I woke up in a wheat field.

 

The first thing I did was vomit up everything I had in my stomach. I retched and retched until it felt like I had been squeezed dry. When I lifted my hand to wipe my mouth, I found my face covered in blood. Crimson smeared the back of my hand - fresh and wet. Suddenly, it hit me. Waves of pain radiating out from the center of my face. My fingers probed my nose and I found it broken right down the middle. Another burst of pain and nausea struck me and I retched again. Hot blood gushed from my nostrils and spilled down my chin onto my dress. Panicking, I groped the ground for my glasses but I couldn’t find them.

 

I stumbled to my feet. Every part of my body hurt. My wrists, my ankles, my knees, my legs, my torso. My eyes fell on some angry welts around my wrists. Rope burns. When I lifted my skirt, I saw the same thing around my ankles. My heart raced inside my chest. What was going on? What happened? I struggled to recall any memory, but I couldn’t. My last recollection was of earlier that day when I wrote Ostromir that letter.

 

Someone tied my arms and legs. They beat me into unconsciousness. They broke my nose. They stole my glasses. And they left me for dead in a field outside of Helena.

 

The implications filled me with an icy cold terror. I could barely see my hand in front of my face. Darkness swaddled the city. Could I possibly make it home? A bleeding woman staggering around half-blind would be easy pickings for bandits or wolves. Regardless, I pressed on, determined to find my way back to the city and alert the ISA - someone, anyone - about what had happened to me. Hours had passed since I blacked out. When I wrote Ostromir that letter, it was morning… and now the sky was completely midnight dark.

 

I eventually made it to Nauzixa Square, where I ran into a small group of women. Thank God, one of them - a young lady named Florenza - was a medic who worked at the local clinic. She took me gently by the hand and guided me to safety.

 

At the clinic, Florenza sat me down on one of the medical beds. “You said you lost your glasses?” she asked me as she examined the wounds on my face. “You have all these little cuts. I think, when you find them, they might need new lenses.”

 

The cold horror - the implication that I was assaulted and beaten - lay heavy at the core of my being. I didn’t want it to be true. “I… I think I fell and broke them…” I mumbled, trying to come up with a reason why my assault wasn’t real. “I’m so clumsy…”

 

Florenza cleaned off my face and took a pair of tweezers. She began picking miniscule shards of glass out of my skin. I grit my teeth and endured it, trying to be as good a patient as possible. While she worked, she continued asking me questions. “Where did you fall?” she asked. “I’m sorry, amica. I know it hurts. Just bear with me a little longer.”

 

“I don’t… really… know,” I muttered. “The last thing I remember, I was… I was writing a letter to someone. And then… I woke up. I was in the field and my face was all bloody… and my glasses were gone. I -- erm… I used to be… a bit of a lush, you know. I liked the drink. M-maybe I had a relapse. I don’t know…”

 

She spread blissful over my cuts, which helped a little bit. “What’s the last thing you remember?” Florenza continued to probe. “Do you recall who attacked you?”

 

“Attacked? I don’t think I was attacked!” I exclaimed - then winced in pain because of my broken nose. “I don’t… I don’t know if I was attacked. The last thing I remember is writing a letter to Ostromir Carrion… And then everything is a blank. I just… I woke up in that field. My face was all bloody. My glasses were gone. I don’t know…”

 

Florenza took hold of my wrist as she spread salve on my welts. “These are rope burns, amica,” she explained. “I don’t think this was just a simple fall. Perhaps you should go to the Ministry of Justice.” After she finished bandaging my wrists, she lifted her hands to my face. “I’m going to pop your nose back into place. It’ll hurt. I’m sorry. I promise it’ll be done soon.”

 

I grimaced and braced for the pain. With a twist of her wrist, she snapped my nose back into its proper alignment. I cried out in agony as tears came rolling down my cheeks. Florenza, bless her, patiently dabbed them away and carefully applied bandages to my nose. “It will take a few weeks to heal, amica,” she said. With that, she poured me a cup of White Willow tea from the nearby stove.

 

“I - I really shouldn’t be such a big crybaby at five hundred and fourteen years old… should I?” I sobbed as she handed me the tea.

 

Florenza smiled at me and patted my hand. “You’ve been very brave, amica.”

 

After I finished my tea, she gave me some painkillers and discharged me to go home. Thankfully, even without my glasses, I know the streets well enough to find my way. I’m safe in my flat now, but…

 

God. I can’t sleep. I’m so terrified. Every time I turn off the light, the shadows seem to come alive. The chair in the corner, with Icroth’s cape draped over it, suddenly turns into a thug crouching in the dark. More than anything, I want Icroth to be here. I miss him so badly. I just want him to put his arms around me and promise me I’ll be safe.

 

But instead, I’m by myself. I have to figure out what happened alone.

 

Was it bandits? But that doesn’t make sense. They didn’t touch my money or my possessions. When I woke up, I still had my purse. Was it a hate crime? Something spurred by the recent ‘Humanity First’ legislation proposed by the Everardines?

 

Was it Ostromir?

 

The last thing I remember is writing him that letter.

 

But… surely not, yes? He’s the Governor of the Novellen Palace. A trusted member of the Empress’s inner circle. He’s a doctor and an accomplished one at that. Surely not.

 

When I arrived home earlier, I took off my clothes and stood in front of my mirror. The sight of my beaten body shocked me. Huge, dark bruises covered my torso. An imprint on my stomach gave the impression as though someone had kicked me savagely and repeatedly. Rope burns throbbed on my wrists and ankles. Cuts and bruises on my face. A broken nose.

 

They didn’t touch my money or any of my possessions. Whoever did this, they did it out of pure malice.

 

Who?
 

 

---

 

Entry 100

Snow's Maiden, 1789

 

Spoiler

 

I woke up this morning to the sound of footsteps below me in the museum lobby. The noise drove me near to panic. Leaping out of bed, I pressed my ear to the door and strained to hear what might be going on outside. Were the thugs who beat me back to finish the job? I reached for my wand, ready to defend myself, when there came a sudden knock at my bedroom door. But then I heard a familiar voice coming through the wood.

 

“Tanith?! Tanith, are you in there?!”

 

I stowed my wand and pulled the door open as quickly as I could. There, out in the hall, stood Celestine - accompanied by Chirr, Zodd, and Lauritz Christiansen. Relief washed over Celestine’s features. “Thank God you’re alive!” she exclaimed, flinging her arms around my neck.

 

My cheeks turned dark with embarrassment. I realized I was still in my nightgown. “Celestine, please, I’m not dressed yet,” I mumbled but she only hugged me tighter. My bruises twinged painfully. “Eh… gently.. If you could…”

 

Celestine took a step back, holding me at arm’s length. “How did you manage to escape?” she asked, glancing me up and down. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. “I thought -- well, it doesn’t matter what I thought! You’re alive!”

 

“Escaped?” I repeated, my brow furrowing. “I don’t… really know what you’re talking about…”

 

Celestine thumped herself on the forehead with the heel of her hand. “By GOD! I forgot! They wiped your memories!”

 

I blanched. “They -- what?!” My gaze jumped between the faces of my friends, searching for answers. Zodd, Chirr, Lauritz, everyone - they all had the same expression. Dark eyes, heavy brows, frowning mouths. No one appeared to be joking. “They wiped my… what?!”

 

“Get dressed. Make sure you’re ready to travel,” Celestine said, letting her hands fall from my shoulders. “I’ll tell you everything upstairs once you’re packed. We’ll be waiting in the meeting room.”

 

With that, she and the others left me. At a loss for what else to do, I changed clothes and began gathering my things in a valise. I had no idea where we were going or what we were doing, so I packed sparingly. Once I was ready, I climbed the stairs up to the top floor. Celestine, Zodd, Chirr, and Lauritz sat around the meeting table talking quietly. As soon as I entered, all eyes were on me. Silence lay thick over the room.

 

“So you truly remember nothing of what happened?” Chirr asked me, breaking the uneasy quiet. Her eyes probed me for the truth. Shyly, I glanced away.

I sank into the single empty chair. “All I remember is waking up in a wheat field. My nose was broken, my glasses were gone… I had these bruises and rope burns around my wrists…”

 

Celestine laid her hands flat on the table. “Tanith…” she said, her voice low and sotto. “Your short-term memory was wiped.”

 

“You’ve said that twice now, Celestine,” I replied. “B-But I’m so confused. How is that possible? I don’t --” My face twisted in a painful grimace. “I don’t remember anything about yesterday.”

 

“It was done through an alchemical potion,” Celestine explained. “Brewed by Ostromir Carrion at the behest of Padraig O’Rourke, the Minister of the Interior. And… by proxy, the Archchancellor.”

 

I gaped at her from across the table. “You’re -- you’re telling me the government did this to me?”

 

Celestine took a deep, slow inhale and released the breath through her nose. “Apparently, you heard something that you really, really shouldn’t have,” she elaborated. “Ostromir Carrion and Padraig O’Rourke kidnapped you and took you to a… ‘black site’ of sorts. A secret place where they deal with their enemies. And there…” Celestine’s face scrunched. Her jaw clenched tightly. “They tortured you. And forced you to drink Ostromir’s memory potion for good measure.”

 

“H-How do you know all of this…?” I asked her.

 

“Napier told me,” Celestine replied. “You found him and informed him before they mind-wiped you. Ostromir even confessed to him.”

 

“Th-this is too monstrous to be real!” I cried out. “I thought -- I thought it must have been bandits or… or even a hate crime. It can’t -- It can’t be the work of the government! Can it?!”

 

“Tanith, we’ve come here to get you out of this shithole,” Celestine said, gazing at me steadily. “You’re coming back to Haense with us. We’re packing up everything in the museum and leaving today.”

 

“But what happened? What did I see? What did I hear that caused them to… to do this to me?” I gestured to the nose cast on my face. “They beat me almost to death, Celestine…! What could I have possibly heard to warrant this?”

 

Celestine shook her head. “Napier couldn’t tell me. He said it would put me in danger if I knew,” she replied. “But… God, he looked so afraid. Not just afraid, but angry. Angrier than I’ve ever seen him in my entire life.”

 

Across the table, Chirr sighed and folded her arms. “All this time, I thought Oren had changed. I guess some things never do.”

 

“What have I gotten myself into?” I exclaimed, covering my face with my hands.

 

“You’ll be safe in Haense, Tanith,” Celestine tried to reassure me. “Alexandria’s got you a room at the Ekaterinburg Palace. No assassins will be able to touch you there.”

 

“If anyone tries, I’ll rip their heads off,” Zodd grumbled.

 

“We need to move swiftly before they try to take violent action against Tanith again,” Celestine ordered. In times like this, her voice takes on this firm, authoritative tone. Truly, I can believe she’s descended from royalty. She’s a natural born leader. “I want everyone working double time. We need to get the exhibits packed up and get out of here as fast as possible.”

 

A hard lump formed in my throat. I swallowed, but it wouldn’t go away. Cold sweat prickled on my skin and goosebumps crawled up my arms. Putting my hands down on the table, I pushed myself to my feet. “Let’s hurry,” I said. On that note, the group dispersed and began packing up the exhibits. With everyone’s help, we swiftly had our artifacts stowed away and ready for travel.

 

No one stopped us as we made our way out of the city, but I could feel eyes boring into my back. Someone was watching us, I just know it. But the question was - who? Ostromir and Padraig certainly, but who else in Helena had been compromised?

 

We loaded the artifacts onto the tram. Celestine was afraid to take the road in case of bandits or government thugs. I’m happy to say we arrived safely in Haense and nothing was damaged in transit. Princess Alexandria met us at the Haensi tram station. She ordered her servants to carry our exhibits over to the flagship museum while the five of us proceeded to the Ekatetrinburg Palace. 

 

Alexandria showed me to a room situated high on the battlements. It’s near her greenhouse where she grows herbs for her botany studies. “I have a bed prepared for you in the loft,” she said as she unlocked the bedroom door and led us inside. “Ah, and you might run into a grumpy Scyfling in the greenhouse. But he’s harmless.”

 

“I don’t mind,” I said. “I’m just glad to be somewhere safe.”

 

Celestine, Chirr, Zodd, and Lauritz helped me unpack my things and get settled in my new space. As I looked around the room, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude to know these people were my true friends. I nearly began to cry. Standing amongst them, I felt so protected and safe. The NGS isn’t a guild. It’s my family. Ever since I lost my parents as a child, I’ve been searching for that unwavering bond. I tried to turn the White Rose into my family, but I could never truly be a part of them due to my eleven heritage. Here in the NGS, though, everyone is welcome. No one is required to change parts of themselves, deny parts of themselves, or cut off parts of themselves. We are who are are… and we love each other for our uniqueness.

 

God has answered every one of my prayers. When I asked for love, He sent me Icroth. When I asked for a family, He sent me the NGS.

 

“What of Icroth?” Chirr posited as we finished putting away my things. The five of us idled around the room - some standing, some sitting. Chirr stood sentry near the door with her arms folded, the picture of a bodyguard. “Has he been told about any of this?”

 

“He’s out in the Wildlands near Farrador, I think,” I replied from my little table in the corner. “He’s far away… and safe. But I need to write him a letter and tell him everything that’s happened.”

 

“Allow me,” Celestine interjected from the desk chair across from me. “You’re still suffering from memory loss. I might be able to explain it to him better.”

 

“That’s a good point,” I said. “Thank you.”

 

“As long as you’re here, Tanith,” Celestine warned me, “you have to be careful. When you leave the city, you should have a trustworthy escort. Stay in well-lit, public areas with lots of people and don’t go into anyone’s house alone. There could still be assassins lurking about, even here in Haense.”

 

“I can hardly believe any of this is happening,” I uttered, putting a hand to my head. The whole situation left me reeling. The gears in my head churned as I tried to make sense of it.

 

Celestine wavered. She let out an exasperated sigh. “Just the other day, I had such sympathy for Oren,” she said quietly. “Tanith, you’ve heard me say it a dozen times, but I truly thought of myself as the child of two worlds. Helena was my home too. But now… by God, they publicly humiliated Ted and they nearly killed you. I won’t be returning to Oren anytime soon. And neither should any of us.”

 

“I suppose we’ll be closing down the Helena branch of the museum,” I sighed.

 

“For now, yes. I’m afraid so. I can’t abide by the way out people have been treated.”

 

Alexandria, who had been fairly quiet up until this point, spoke up at last. “Was… Mr. Napier successful in meeting with the Empress?” 

 

I perked up. “He’s meeting with the Empress?”

 

“That’s his plan,” Celestine replied.

 

Lauritz wrinkled his nose. “Why’s he trying to meet with Anne?”

 

“He… believes that she’s not involved in any of this. He wants to inform her,” Celestine glanced away, her mouth flattening into a frown. “Edward’s taken his life into his own hands,” she said. “He’s determined to meet with the Empress and expose this whole thing. Personally, I think it’s a death sentence. Tanith… he might ask for your help. I want you to know you don’t have to do it. Your safety is what’s most important here. You’re secure here in Haense, within these walls, but… should you return to Helena… I can’t guarantee what will happen.”

 

My head spun with the new information heaped on me. “...Is it that serious?” I asked, looking around the room. “Is Edward really going straight to the Empress? It seems so far fetched. I’ve lived in Helena for well over a decade now and… nothing like this has ever happened to me. And I can’t -- I can’t even remember any of it! How do we know this is even real…?”

 

Celestine turned to Alexandria. “Tell her what your men overhead in the tavern, Alexandria.”

 

My eyes darted across to the Barbanov princess. Alexandria looked askance and toyed with a strand of her hair. “Ostromir admitted to wiping your mind with a potion, Miss Tanith. With what Edward told us, it adds up to a coherent narrative. There’s no conjecture here.”

 

“Straight from the horse’s mouth…” I breathed. “There’s no denying it then.”

 

“More like the donkey’s if you ask me,” Zodd quipped - and I had to admit it made me laugh. 

 

The hour had begun to grow late by then, though, and the five of us decided to break. Celestine and Alexandria remained for a while to make sure I was comfortable, bless them both. Alexandria gave me a set of keys so I could wander freely throughout the palace. Truth be told, though, I was in no mood to look around. After they left, I simply flung myself on the bed and went straight to sleep. 

 

I’m writing this in the morning, having gotten a full night’s rest for the first time in two days. In this little tower, I feel separated from the world, but protected by my wonderful and loving friends. I can’t describe how grateful I am for them. At the same time, though, I mustn’t allow myself to grow complacent. This situation isn’t over yet… and I doubt it will be for a long time.

 

I have so many letters to write. I need to write to James and inform him that we’ve vacated the museum. I need to send a letter to my husband and catch him up on what’s happened. Celestine’s planning to write too, but Icroth deserves to hear from both of us.

 

And there’s also Edward.

 

Edward heard and saw everything. If anyone can help fill in my memories, it’s him. I need to know exactly what happened - and Edward is the only person who can reveal the truth. 

 

But… he might ask me to meet the Empress with him. If what I’ve heard so far is true, this conspiracy goes all the way to the top. Even the Archchancellor is involved. If that’s the case, who’s to say the Empress isn’t compromised too? If we go back to Helena, are we walking straight into our deaths?

 

What’s more important? Keeping ourselves safe? Or exposing the evil festering just under Helena’s surface?

 

 

---

 

Entry 101

Malin's Welcome, 1789

 

Spoiler

 

A few hours ago, I sat down at a table with the Empress of Oren… and I told her everything.

 

I don’t know if she believed us. I don’t know if she took it seriously. I don’t know if anything will change because of what I did, but… if nothing else, I stood up for what’s right. The only thing left now is to wait and see what unfolds.

 

The last few days have felt like a nightmarish whirlwind. Things happening so fast, it’s hard to keep track of them. All I can do is write everything down and try to remember as much as I possibly can. Someday, someone is going to read this diary and they need to know the truth.

 

Earlier today, I wrote a letter to Edward Napier and had it delivered via courier. I’m worried I’ll never fully recover my memory of what happened that night. Lucky for me, I’ve got my friends. According to Celestine, I relayed everything to Edward. If anyone can help put my memories back together, it’s him. I invited him to the Ekaterinburg so we could sit down and talk. Haense is probably one of the few places we can speak freely about this whole incident. Helena’s full of untrustworthy eyes and ears. Edward sent me a letter back in reply and said he’d take the tram.

 

I climbed the dozen or so flights of stairs down to the ground floor of the palace. Standing there on the gate threshold, though, I hesitated. I’d been living at the Ekatetrinburg for a few days now - and I hadn’t left the palace grounds for a single moment. A part of me feared that, the second I stepped through that gate, I’d be dragged off by assassins and murdered. Irrational, yes, but I couldn’t help it. For the last several nights, dark figures have stalked me through my dreams. Flashes of violence play across my mind’s eye. I can’t tell if they’re memories or inventions of my imagination, but they feel so real.

 

Regardless, I had to push through. I steeled my nerve and took my first step off the palace grounds. With confidence in my footsteps, I walked though Reza’s streets toward the tram station.

 

When I saw Edward approaching me, my heart leapt with joy and relief. I rushed to hug him. “Edward!” I shouted out, throwing my arms around his neck. “I’m so glad to see you’re all right!”

 

He grinned, but that smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. “I wish I could say the same for you, Tanith,” he said. “Your poor nose.”

 

I smiled and tossed my hair. “It’ll heal up. I just hope it won’t be crooked,” I replied. “Come, I think there’s… a lot we need to talk about. Celestine filled me in on several things, but you’re the one with the most information.”

 

Taking Edward by the hand, I led him back to the Ekaterinburg Palace. We trekked up the winding maze of steps and corridors toward my room. Under normal circumstances, I might be annoyed by so many stairs, but - in this case - I’m glad for them. Any assassin who tries to find my bedrooms would probably get hopelessly lost. I unlocked the door and led Edward inside. “This is where I’m staying for the time being.”

 

Edward looked around. My room in the Ekaterinburg is truly fit for a princess. A softly glowing fire crackles in the hearth. Cool cross breezes filter through the windows. Lush plant life fills the room. Princess Alexandria said this room used to be one of her old hideaways, so it makes sense that she filled it with flora. “Truly an oasis,” Edward concluded before taking a seat at the little table. “Very charming… if not a little tiring to get to.”

 

I giggled. Sometimes I forget how old my human friends are. I felt a little bad for forcing Edward to climb all those stairs at his age. “Ehehe. Well, we can rest assured that we’re safe from prying ears or eyes up here.”

 

Edward chuckled. “True, true.” He tapped his fingers against the wood. “So, what did Celestine tell you?”

 

I picked at my fingernails. It’s a bad habit. One of these days, I’ll pick them down to nothing but nubs. Even so, when I’m nervous, it helps me calm and organize my thoughts. “This is… more or less what I’ve put together,” I began. “From both my own memories and what Celestine’s told me. A few Saint’s Days ago, I contacted Ostromir Carrion in regards to my ears. Getting them fixed and restored to their natural condition.”

 

Edward nodded along. “Correct.” He gave a roll of his wrist, gesturing for me to continue.

 

“Something… happened between Ostromir and me,” I went on. “I don’t remember what. I must have run away from him because somewhere in the mix, I found you and informed you of everything that happened.”

 

“I was taking a walk in the palace garden when I saw you in his office,” Edward explained. “He’s got these big windows. There you were, the center of the frame, plain as day. You looked angry. I can’t tell you what was being said. I couldn’t hear it. But I saw you storm out - and we ran into each other outside moments later. As I recall, a servant girl was there too.”

 

“Where did we go from there?” I asked him.

 

“We headed to the tavern. You sat down and told me everything. How abominably he treated you,” Edward said. “It concerned me so deeply, I wrote a letter to both the Archchancellor and the Empress about it.”

 

“But -- what did Ostromir say to me?” I probed. “I don’t remember!”

 

Edward pressed his lips together and looked away. “I would tell you if I could, but…” He sighed. “Tanith, it’s better for your safety if you don’t know. But… in summation, Ostromir asked you to do something you found immoral. And you refused him, as you ought. Other than that, it’d be unwise to say more.”

 

“After we met in the tavern, Padraig O’Rourke - the Minister of the Interior - kidnapped me. That’s what Celestine said,” I added.

 

“He approached us in the tavern and asked you to step away with him. I…” Edward grimaced. He swallowed another sigh. “Indeed. I’ll reserve comment. Go on, Tanith. What else did Celestine tell you?”

 

“They took me to a place that she called a ‘black site,’” I said. “Where they broke my nose and tortured me.”

 

“It was almost assuredly the Orlov House,” Edward elaborated. “Padraig took me there not four days prior for a private chat. It seems to be where he conducts a majority of his more shady business.”

 

 “Orlov… that’s…” My eyes widened with dawning horror and realization. “That’s the mayor’s house. The mayor of Helena.”

 

“Yes,” Edward replied, squeezing his lids shut.

 

“How many people are involved in this, Edward?”

 

“That’s the thing. I don’t know.” He shook his head. “Evidence suggests it might even include the Archchancellor. The corruption in Oren runs deep, Tanith. Deeper than I ever expected it.”

 

“After they tortured me, Ostromir fed me some sort of memory-erasing potion and then dumped me in a field,” I finished my story. “Princess Alexandria said he confessed it to you out loud in a tavern.”

 

“He did,” Edward confirmed. “The fool. After you woke up, you stumbled about until you were found by Dr. Florenza. I have your medical in-patient records, signed off by Dr. Morgryn himself. It confirms your broken nose and your other injuries as legitimate.”

 

A heavy silence lay over the room, punctuated only by the pop and snap of the hearth. The horrible implications of the situation weighed heavily on my shoulders. It wasn’t just a gang of thugs who assaulted me. It was the Minister of the Interior. It was the Mayor of Helena. It was the Governor of the Novellen. They were all in it together… and they all conspired to hurt me. More than anything, I wanted to know why. 

 

Ostromir asked me to do something immoral and I refused. But what? Why would he put such a request to me? None of it made any sense.

 

“Tanith…” Edward reached across the table and took my hand in his. “I’m so sorry.”

 

My eyes flickered up to meet his. “Why?”

 

“I told you to trust Padraig,” he said, squeezing my hand tightly. “I sent you into that mess. When Padraig approached our table, I… thought nothing of it, even though I’ve had my suspicions about him. He was my kinsman. A fellow Harrenite. Of course he wouldn’t hurt you. But then… he handed you off to Ostromir, understanding full well what that monster would do to you.”

 

“Edward, you mustn’t blame yourself,” I reassured him. “They’re pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes.”

 

“We’re going to make this right, Tanith,” Edward told me. He had a look on his face that I’d never seen before. When I think of Edward Napier, I imagine him as a gentle person. Harmless. Perhaps a little silly. But this Edward was different. This Edward was on a mission - and when he said those things, I believed him.

 

Our moment was interrupted by a knock at the door. I got up and peered through the peephole. Outside stood a courier in Haensi colors. I unlocked the door and let him inside. “Message for you, sir,” he said, handing a letter off to Edward. “From the Novellen.”

 

I peered over Edward’s shoulder and saw the letter marked with an Imperial seal. “What is that?” I asked him.

 

Edward broke the wax with his thumb and smoothly unfolded the missive. “We’re hereby invited to the Novellen Palace to meet with Her Imperial Majesty, Anne I,” he read out loud. Edward stood up, tucking the note in his breast pocket.

 

“Now?” I spluttered.

 

“Yes,” Edward replied. “Tanith, I need you there with me. It’s a risk, but if we can get Anne to understand, we have a chance to fix the problem.”

 

Celestine’s words from yesterday echoed in my head. She said that meeting the Empress was a death sentence. If I returned to Helena, she couldn’t guarantee my safety. Enemies were lurking around every corner, waiting to strike and silence me for good. Two choices lay in front of me. I could stay in the Ekaterinburg and remain safe. Or… I could go to Helena. I could sit down in front of the Empress. I could tell my story… and maybe, just maybe, make a change for the better.

“I’m going with you,” I said.

 

“Leave a note for Alexandria and Celestine,” he said. “If we don’t return, I want them to know exactly where we went and what happened to us. Tell them we plan to go straight there and head straight back. And if we don’t return post-haste, well…”

 

I did as he said and quickly scribbled out a note, which I left on the writing desk in my room. With that, the two of us hastened down the stairs and toward the palace gate.

 

Of course, who should we meet along the way but Celestine? There she was, standing in the Ekaterinburg courtyard. As it turns out, she had come to the palace to check on me. When she saw Edward and me emerge together, her face paled. “You two…” she muttered, standing in between us and the courtyard gate. “You’re heading to Helena, aren’t you?”

 

“There’s no time to waste, Cellie,” Edward asserted. “The Empress is waiting for us.”

 

“Are you an idiot, Ted?” Celestine barked, color rising once more into her cheeks. “You could get arrested just by setting foot in that city! Don’t you see this is an ambush?”

 

“But what if it’s not?” I retaliated. “Celestine, we have to try. We can’t keep this a secret forever. Who knows how many more people they might hurt in the meantime? If there’s a chance we could change things for the better - we have to take it!”

 

My words seemed to disarm her. Celestine deflated and looked away. “Promise me you’ll stay safe,” she said softly, tears seeping out beneath her lids. “Trust your instincts and… if anything seems off… run. As fast as you can. If you don’t return, I’ll tell the whole world what happened to you two.”

 

I walked over and put my hands on her shoulders. “I’ll do my best,” I said. “If this goes pear-shaped, I want you to know that, in five hundred years of life, you’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”

 

The tears filling up Celestine’s eyes spilled over and she hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, paying no mind to the painful twinge of my bruises. With that, we parted… and Edward and I took the tram over to Helena.

 

Together, we made our way into the Helena. The Carmine Hand. The Jewel of Humanity. The Ruby City of a Thousand Fires. Those names made the city sound so shining and glorious, but now I saw it for what it was. A festering den of corruption and vice. Eyes watched Edward and I as we made our way through the streets up to the palace. My heart beat patterns against my rib cage. We were either walking into salvation or into darkness - and I had no way of telling which one it was.

 

An ISA guard greeted us at the Novellen garden gate. He escorted us into the depths of the palace, to a quiet office area with a low-burning fireplace.

There, at a large table carved from a single, massive piece of quartz was Her Imperial Majesty Anne I.

 

I don’t think I’ve ever described Anne I. For a human, she measures quiet tall and stately Most of the time, she’s dressed in a smart burgundy jacket that’s well tailored to her thin frame. I call her thin, but… she has an imposing energy in spite of her rather willowy stature. Strands of grey interlace her thick, auburn curls. She keeps her hair tied nearly back in a short ponytail rather like a man. A pair of sharp, grey eyes peer out from deep-set sockets. Her high, narrow cheekbones angle down into a pointed chin. She’s pretty, but not conventionally so. Striking is the correct word. When she enters a room, all eyes are on her… and they would be regardless of whether or not she was the Empress.

 

“Mr. Napier.” She acknowledged him with a slight incline of her head. “Ms. Tanith. Please, sit.”

 

The Empress knew my name. I don’t know why, but that fact amazed me. I’d only met her once before. Nerves overcame me as I moved to the seat next to Edward. Was I really sitting at a table with the Empress? Was she really here to listen to me? Even back when I served the Chivay royal households, I never… sat down with them as an equal.

 

“Ah, I don’t think you two have been introduced properly,” Edward said, rising to his feet. “Your Majesty, this is Mrs. Tanith Vursur. Who, as you can see, was the victim of a profound physical attack on her person. The criminal parties involved were none other than Ostromir Carrion and Padraig O’Rourke, acting under the guise of a government minister.”

 

“So I see,” the Empress observed, studying the plaster cast on my face. I felt my face heat up under her steady gaze. “Please, Mrs. Vursur, if you would.”

 

Just like that, I found myself on the post. “Uh -- uhm…” I stuttered out, trying not to let my nerves falter my speech. “Y-You see… Your Imperial Majesty, I’d… I’d like to say before I begin… I genuinely don’t have much interest in politics. I don’t really want to ruin anybody or… even put anyone in jail. None of that benefits me. I’m only an elf. I’m nobody important. Before now… I didn’t have a stake in any of this.”

 

Edward grasped my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Tanith, this isn’t the old Empire. You’re not a ‘nobody’ anymore,” he reassured me. “You are a citizen who deserves better.”

 

“I… I don’t gain anything by being here or telling you this,” I continued. “All I want is to be honest and tell my truth.”

 

“Rest assured, Mrs. Vursur,” Anne I replied, “you may speak freely.”

 

“So… this is my story,” I said - and then I told her everything. Just as I’ve written it here.

 

About my ears. About how I reached out to Ostromir hoping for help. About how he put an immoral request toward me. About how I refused. About how Edward saw us through the window. About how Edward wrote to her and the Archchancellor about Ostromir’s behavior. About Padraig and how he led me off. About being tortured. About waking up in a field outside of Helena, beaten near to death and all alone without my glasses.

 

“How do you know this if your memory was wiped?” Anne pressed me when I’d finished my tale.

 

“I can’t say I recall every moment personally, Your Majesty,” I admitted. “I learned most of these things from my friends, Edward Napier and Celestine Herbert. But I’ve known both of them for decades and I would trust them with my life. They would never mislead me.” 

 

Anne turned her gaze toward Edward. “I’d like to hear how you came by these specifics, Edward. Where were you as this drama was occurring?”

 

“I remained at the Dragon’s Rest Tavern for some time after Padraig escorted Tanith away,” he informed her. “Several Saint’s minutes passed and I began to grow a bit paranoid. I decided I ought to go check on Tanith. I went to Padraig’s office, figuring she’d be there, but she was nowhere to be seen. And Padraig wouldn’t give me any information on where I might find her.”

 

“What spurred this paranoid, Mr. Napier?” Anne inquired.

 

“My brother was murdered in a very similar fashion some forty years ago. He went into the palace and never came back,” he explained. “And… I’ve had a growing suspicion toward Padraig for some time. Some four days ago, he invited me to the Orlov house where he suggested he planned to kill Adrian Helvets. The Orlovs are a Raevir family… and I found it somewhat off that he was conducting his business there. Harrenites and Raevir have not historically enjoyed close ties.”

 

Anne nodded. “Go on.”

 

“I also have it on good authority that Ostromir and Padraig are secretly kinsmen. I believe an O’Rourke man… erm… cuckolded Ostromir’s father. And that he is not actually a Carrion. These connections occurred to me as I was sitting there in the tavern and I began to worry for my friend Tanith’s safety. So, with Ostromir having ample reason to want to silence Tanith and Padraig having suspect connections, I got very paranoid indeed.”

 

“And what did you do then?” Anne asked.

 

“I gathered up some ISA soldiers and set out in search of Tanith. The first place I checked was the Orlov house, where I’d been a few days prior… only to find the windows barred and the door barricaded,” Edward continued. “I dismissed the ISA boys and returned to the tavern where I waited for roughly thirty Saint’s Minutes. That’s when Padraig, Franz Nikolai, and Ostromir returned together. They began jeering at me, making threats. Ostromir pointed at me and drew a hand across his throat. We had a small fracas and I might’ve spilled tea on Ostromir… but afterward, I quickly left the tavern to clear my head and formulate what I planned to do next. I made my way to Haense to see if I could find Celestine and some of my colleagues in the NGS.”

 

“And then?”

 

“Ostromir confronted me at the tavern in Reza,” Edward said. “He offered me a deal. He said he would kill my wife and children if I ever spoke about this incident. But, if I remained silent, he’d owe me a favor. During the conversation, he admitted to me that he tortured Tanith and forced her to drink a concoction that would wipe her memory. He also did something that shook me to my core. He pulled the letter I wrote to Archchancellor Jonah Stahl-Elendil out of his pocket and read it to me, word for word. No doubt as a means of intimidation.”

 

“So he either intercepted the letter… or Mr. Elendil gave it to him,” I murmured. “That’s the only way he could have possibly had it.”

 

Edward nodded, finishing his piece. “Tanith’s current physical state, as well as her lack of memory regarding what happened, corroborates Ostromir’s confession.”

 

The Empress leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers in front of her. Her lips pressed into a tight frown. For a long moment, she stayed quiet… and I wasn’t sure what she thought about the situation. “This is surely very serious,” she said at last. “If it is true. Given the dire risks of the situation, I will be assigning this case to our Solicitor-General. It will be a private investigation. You understand I cannot have a public case on my hands just yet, considering this involves members deeply tied with my own government.”

 

“Of course, Your Majesty. I was once a Minister myself. I know the rules of the game,” Edward replied.

 

“I only want to make sure they don’t hurt anyone else,” I added quietly. “They didn’t kill me, but… they might be doing much worse to other people. There’s no telling who all is involved in this…”

 

“Jonah is a friend of mine - or so I thought,” Edward added. “He’s a Harrenite. We Harrenites take our bonds of kinship seriously. But… he gave my letter to Ostromir. What am I supposed to make of that?”

 

In my mind, I recalled the night at the Josephite Convention where Jonah Stahl-Elendil gave me the flower from his breast and welcomed me so warmly into the party. “I don’t want to think of him as a bad person,” I said. “I don’t want to think he allowed me to be hurt like this. But even if he isn’t involved… he needs to know what kind of thugs he’d got in his party and in his ministry. And he needs to get rid of them.”

 

Anne nodded along. “Absolutely. Jonah is a good man. This may have been some sort of mistake on his part. I’ve had many long talks with His Excellency. His love for the Empire is as strong as my own. He would not turn a blind eye to your torture and assault, Mrs. Vursur. It’s not his character.”

 

I wanted to tell her that good people are often capable of very wicked things. In my lifetime, I’ve seen many good people commit heinous acts of evil. No matter how you look at it, Jonah Stahl-Elendil played a role in my torture and abused.

 

We wrapped up the meeting there. The Empress had her officers escort us out of the palace. From there, Edward and I made our way quickly back to Haense.

I’m glad it wasn’t an ambush like Celestine predicted. But at the same time, I still have my worries. Will the Solicitor-General take us seriously and investigate as thoroughly as needed? Who’s to say the Solicitor-General isn’t compromised as well? 

 

Edward and I need to be prepared just in case. Justice needs to be done, one way or another.

 

 

---

 

Entry 102

The First Seed, 1789

 

Spoiler

 

I haven’t written in a while. Whenever I open my journal and look down at the pages, I just feel paralyzed. There’s so much going on, I can hardly keep track of it. The only thing I can do is go through the events one by one in order. Everything’s been happening so fast. It’s pure madness. I lie in bed at night, staring at the ceiling, and asking myself - “Oh God, what has my life become? All I wanted to do was get my ears fixed!”

 

The first - and worst - bit of news is about Edward. He’s been arrested. I don’t know precisely what occurred, but I heard a few things through the grapevine. He confronted Padraig O’Rourke in the middle of Main Street in Helena, right outside the ISA Bastille. You’ll never guess what he did. Padraig must have made threats against Edward or his wife Gragmar, because Edward pulled a bowie knife and stabbed Padraig right in the throat! Some rumors said Ms. Gragmar was also there and that she beat the living tar out of Padraig. 

 

Of course, the ISA swarmed the two Napiers immediately and arrested them. They rushed Padraig to the medical clinic for treatment. Amazingly, he survived. I’m rather thankful he did. At least this way, Edward is only facing charges of attempted murder rather than first degree.

 

But I read Edward is possibly going to be executed. After the assault on Padraig, they slapped Edward in cuffs and put him on trial immediately where they sentenced him to death. Edward put forth a request for injunctive relief, which was granted by the Supreme Court of Oren. He has a Saint’s Week to appeal his case for re-trial.

 

When I heard about what happened, I knew what I had to do. The reason Edward confronted Padraig is simple. He was seeking justice for me. If the court knew the true reason behind Edward’s actions, I know they’d exonerate him for his crimes. Empress Anne I said that she wanted to keep the investigation into my accusations private, but… my friend’s life hangs in the balance. If Padraig is convicted of his crimes against me, then surely that would be enough to free Edward.

 

So… I did it. I went public.

 

I published an open letter in which I laid out everything that had happened to me.

 

It… made some waves to say the least. The Orenian Ministry of Justice published a response letter where they pledged to investigate my accusations thoroughly. They promised that no man, no matter how esteemed or august he may be, will escape the eyes of truth and justice. 

 

I hope they’re right.

 

As it stands, I’m still currently in Haense. I expect I will be extradited back to Oren to stand trial very soon, though. I’m certain Padraig and Ostromir are hiring lawyers and preparing their cases as we speak. I’ll need to hire a lawyer as well, I imagine. Oh, what to do? I’ve never been in a situation like this before. We didn’t have lawyers back in the 14th century. The new Orenian court system is so complicated, I have no idea where to even begin.

 

There’s a chance this could all go wrong. I might be charged with slander for what I’ve written. What happens if the court decides against me? Will they kill Edward? Will they kill me? Everything’s up in the air right now.

 

If nothing else, though, I can rest easy knowing I did the right thing. I told the truth - even if no one wants to believe it.

 

Edward wrote me a letter from prison. He believes that, between Padraig and Ostromir, Padraig is the more dangerous opponent. Their strategy in court may be to set up Ostromir as the ‘fall man.’ They’ll place the blame on Ostromir to try and diminish Padraig’s role in the crimes. Edward wants us to try and parlay with Ostromir. Ostromir might have information that will help us take down Padraig for good. But I don’t know what to do. I want them both to face justice for what they’ve done to me. All this strategy and backroom dealing… is there no way to handle our case in an upfront and honest manner? Can we achieve justice without letting one of these awful thugs off the hook?

 

What’s the next step? Who can I trust?

 

I wrote to Icroth and explained the situation to him. Naturally, he’s horrified. He believes my every word and didn’t cast a single doubt on my story. Of course not. Icroth trusts in my honesty. It’s one of the qualities he says he likes best about me. Because of the tense situation, he’s opted to stay out in the wilderness for a while longer, but he sends me his love and said he’d be in town for the upcoming NGS meeting in a few weeks.

 

 

 

---

 

OOC LINKS:

 

 

 

 

 

[Hanrahan 2983]

Edward Napier PRAYS that GOD and JUSTICE shall prevail in this case, as his friend was brutally tortured and victimized by a character of high-profile... for surely all Cititzens, as proclaimed in the Nenzing proclimation of 1715 have a right to life, liberty, and trial...

[Lhindir_ 3691]

Ostromir sighs, collecting this new evidence and contacting his lawyer. @yopplwasupxxx

[yopplwasupxxx 5946]

“Making more public posts won’t change anything. Make a summons and bring it to court or drop this charade of garnering public pity.” says Leo.

[Nectorist 12869]

10 minutes ago, Lhindir_ said:

Ostromir sighs, collecting this new evidence and contacting his lawyer. @yopplwasupxxx

Spoiler

 

[rukio 8924]

"Man, imagine being a race traitor elf who cut her ears to marry a White Rose, got made fun of, had a pity party that spanned multiple centuries, and now you cry because you didn't get your way in a human court. Just go live with the elves like you're meant to, Tanith. GOD knows you'd fit in where I never would." Wither would grumble from behind the desk at which she carved her violins, having heard of the constant complaints and drama from the elfess in recent years. With new frustration at centuries old beef, she would give up on the intricate violin for now, instead shifting her attention back to the mask she had been crafting. Woodworking knife held with a well practiced grip, she would begin to cut along the eye slit, forming it as she had done many times prior.

 

"It's karma, is what it is, for all those dark elves you stood idly by during the deaths of. For all the bloodshed you ignored to be some Rose's *****." 

Her own words perhaps striking a bit too close to home, the red eyed woman would simply sigh in defeat as one wrong move split the mask in two. She turned to old paintings, reminiscing until the next saga in this seemingly never ending drama would take place.