DISASTER IN PROVIDENCE

[bickando 3967]

DISASTER IN PROVIDENCE

SPECIAL EDITION OF THE LEUVEN TIMES

 

ZANN CULTIST ATTACK ON THE AUGUSTINE PALACE

 

A servant's frantic rendition of the chaos.

 

It was a quiet night in Providence when the group descended; dark beings dressed in bronze and crimson came first in twos, then as many to the courtyard of the heart of the Empire - the Augustine Palace. The servants took them for more of the recently-arrived Elven diaspora that had become so enamored with Imperial culture; their purpose, however, was far, far more nefarious. These people, whom the heroic Orenian defenders would later find out call themselves the 'Paladins of Zann', were no lovers of life and light - but instead evildoers and necromancers hell-bent on destroying Oren.

 

As the nobility of the Empire returned to their chambers, they were awoken by deafening noise - and the shaking of the Palace to its very foundations. The cultists had called down upon the Empire a meteor half the size of the Bastille, and indeed that meteor glanced off that mighty protective structure as it screeched towards the throne room, obliterating it truly and fully. It was by pure miracle of chance that the meteor did not strike the bedchambers of the Emperor himself; and it was by pure malice that it was called down originally.

 

From its rubble, the long-deceased Princess Juliette emerged, a shambling mess of flesh and bone; but a reflection of her prior self before disappearing from the Empire so many years ago. The cultists took the necrotically-revived princess and fled the city, leaving a single one of their evil flock to take the fall - an elf captured by Major Darkwood in the chaos.

 

Those present as witness to the chaos;

Major Darkwood, whose heroism led to the capture of one of the Zannic cultists;

George Kovachev, whom assessed the damages;

Lord Leuven, leader of the emergency repair efforts;

HIH Wilhelmina Beatrix, the Duchess of Helena

HIH Anne Caroline

HIH Henrietta Maria, the Countess of Aldersberg

 

LET THERE BE NO MISTAKE;

Those that profess themselves the Paladins of Zann have this day, 21st of Sigismund's End, 1805, attempted to assassinate HIM Joseph II, the members of the House of Novellen and the assorted nobility and bureaucratic class of the Empire, and action must be taken across the land against this scourge of Man.

 

Their ringleaders, a bronze-masked, lich-like being, and a red-haired Wood Elf male wearing bronze and a white shawl. Among the most defining traits of the criminals, a proclivity towards incredibly dated bronze chestpieces and blood-red cloth.

 

The esteemed leaders of our nation are called to action to make the perpetrators answer for their crimes.

 

His Imperial Excellency, the Archchancellor @Nectorist

His Imperial Excellency, the Vice Chancellor @Da_Emperors

His Excellency, Chief of War @Cobbler

His Excellency, the Director of the Secret Service @Old Man Boiendl

[Esterlen 4499]

"For too long have we tolerated these dangerous extremists in this country, Leuven, too long," chortles George Kovachev, waving a fat finger as a warning, "His Imperial Majesty's life has been threatened by the Cult of Zann, and for what eldritch purpose we know not!"

 

The Surveyor-General takes a bite out of his ham hock and washes it down with a finger of brandy, nodding pensively to Albert.

[Areon 947]

A tall, Golden-Clad elf sits by a fire, surrounded by old friends, his normally grumpy tone marred with exhilarated joy as his gruesome mask shimmered by the fire's light, the pained image of a dying elf masking over his own features, like it normally does. His stoic expression is broken, uncharacteristically, into a chuckle as another individual remarks, "Well, if a comet hit that awful palace it's a good tiding regardless."

[kuerbis 3802]

Anne Caroline shivered briefly upon remembering those horrid events - how the comet crashed into the Imperial Palace's throneroom. Her expression scrunched up as she grasped onto a nearby pillow whilst laying in her bed. This night, the princess was unable to sleep well - and the next, and the one after that. As such, she began preparing herself for the incoming trial, ready to explain what *truly* had happened that night...

[KBR 2046]

It was a slow night in the tavern of Southbridge, a group of belligerent rangers singing far too loud as a lone stranger sat hunched before an empty pint, silent and brooding. Suddenly the sounds of a galloping horse echoed throughout the camp "There's been an attempt on the life of our Emperor! The zannites have summoned a meteor down upon the palace!" the hooded ranger cried aloud, the men in the tavern quickly falling silent at the news. The lone man stood, his formerly hunched figure seemingly growing in size before the men, he thudded out of the tavern and straight down the road towards Providence. 

 

Sometime later the gargantuan figure of Sir Octavian Vimmark, once commandant of The Imperial State Army thudded into the city, a plume of smoke escaping from his helmet as the man marched forth muttering something along the lines of "Fuckin paladins." before lifting his visor to spit on the ground.

 

 

 

[Jokinghills 825]

Such a attack on the palace , and to the throne room itself! What intolerable arrogance did they show when they strode through the wreckage and refused to comply! Action must be taken against these so called cultists, they are a threat to us all. Their dangerous magic and worship will only lead to ruin. Velhrun Darkwood would exclaim after the incident.

[Valannor 6405]

Stalking the streets of Providence, a baleful spirit of malevolent intent would chortle at the news, its hound-like form bounding through the Wastes with great mirth, powerful legs coiled and wound as springs to propel it forth. With wolven grin stretched across motionless maw, that 'geist, that garish Hound, would utter thus, likely unheard by most, though uttered henceforth in most rapturous fashion; 

 

"The wrath of the Gods has been visited upon those most sinful, and in most sapphire splendor! Oh, yes, terrible the wrath of the Divine is, they now see... O' woe betide those draped in cross and cloth, for it is now that their faith is shaken to its core by the fires of armageddon! It is this day that another once dead roams this pale realm, and of most holy persuasion... A curious thing, a most curious thing..." It would prattle on for a great deal of time, caught in the throes of the smorgasbord of mental malignancies which afflicted it so. As the sun crested over the horizon, heralding sky of pink and orange hue, such ramblings would recede from the darkness whence they came, though the influence of the 'geist would linger evermore...

[Zhikarta 4064]

"What a surprise mister Carrion, you were absolutely right on them!" A Dark Elf politician spoke to his now trusted ally in the House, Father Dima.

 

@JoanOfArc

[Ryloth 4321]

The herald reviewed the public document with mild confusion as it was placed upon his desk. A meteor, called upon by Xannite paladins? He'd never heard of something such as that, but the possibilities were endless it seemed. "Hopefully," He ponders, "Oren now understands why we of the Titan sought to destroy them in Arcas." He draws a quill and dips it through an ebon well, before writing a length of words for some other folk, but still he didn't quite trust that the tale of a meteor were exactly accurate. Paladins couldn't summon that .. could they?

 

In any circumstance, it appeared Father Dima were right! If only they had passed his law only two days prior, they might have barred them at the gates .. @JoanOfArc 

[Taketheshot 3834]

Phillip Rohde in his burlap shirt leans across the table in the Providence Tavern grumbling to the group seated across from him. "Its always the fockin magic men, ALWAYS." He shakes his head before returning to his drink.

[TheNunnery 1853]

“Fake Paladins?! Time to call my brother to hunt down these imposters or at least know of this strange event.” Alyssa Seregon said with a shocked but confused voice tone while writing up a small message with her copy of the article to her brother. The Seregon would finish the message and then sent the message to her brother by her crow flying the message and copy of the article over to him with both papers scrolled up and tied to it’s talons.

“Hopefully the people of providence do not become fearful of Paladins, because of these imposters.”  The Mali’aheral said to herself when she would be preparing tea, while she would be preparing her tea she would also be reading her water evocation book, eating some cookies, and grapes as well in the mean time.

 

@Cypher_nicus

 

[Werew0lf 24180]

As the skies cleared, the craggy mountains fell short by gnashing magma that spurred from its apex; the canopy of trees smouldered by burgeon flames. From his draped garbs, the young Aldric del Riviere continued to roam in his solitude, a gout of smoke parting from his visor. “Paladins! I hate paladins! I hate them as much as I hate elves!” He wailed in distraught, serpentine gaze juddered - talons clutching the parchment through his sifted gauntlets.

 

“I must hurry! I hate paladins!” The man lurched onwards, incomprehensible mutters of the same phrase susurrated under his breath, one hand soothing over a cumbersome sack of charcoal.

 

[Burnsider 4566]

Holy Sir Nicolas raced through Providence towards the palace, recalling a conversation he had just the other day. 

 

"What is the difference between a Holy Knight and a Paladin?" he had been asked. And his answer had been strangely prophetic, but now he could add more to it. 

 

"This. This is the difference."

[Proddy 2415]

Taking a meandering stroll through the Palace Augustine and coming upon the cursed spot where the meteor had struck through the wall, Robert Foltest Helvets brushes his lips with his fingers in concern. "This spectacle must of.... blown the court away." he remarks in a rare moment of dry, cynical humour - talking to nobody in particular, simply wanting to alleviate the frank direness of the situation. Shaking his head with concern, he steps away. Returning quickly to his somewhat safer lodgings in Trissingham.

[Farryn 860]

"...this definitely cannot be the work of the Paladins of Xan - there is no way they would step that low," Athanas murmured after hearing the news in his new home. The high  elf placing down the newspaper onto his desk and rubbed his chin. "Yet, Zann - Xan. No doubt the Descendants who despise the latter will take this as a chance to hunt down the Paladins of Xan, an excuse per say. Surely those with bright minds know that this may be the cultists attempting to shift the blame onto the Paladins of Xan or have people think they are responsible... no matter, I should discuss this matter with Elder Grungron. It seems now may be a good time to see action,"