Divided Loyalties

[LithiumSedai 5750]

Spoiler

 

 

((What a Difference a Light Makes, Norman Rockwell)) 

 

[!] A private letter written in Aesterwalder Waldenian and addressed to Heinrich Franz von Alstreim, located by a goblin courier after a few Saint's Days' delay, was slipped underneath the door of the young man's quarters in Merryweather Castle.

((Please do not metagame and RP the contents of this letter unless they are shared by the recipient.))

 

@Fireheart

 

 

---

 

Henry, my son,

 

The day of my eleventh birthday was when I first stepped upon the shores of Almaris, disembarking from our Lorelei to marvel at the sight of what today is San Luciano. The inner workings of fate which were made familiar to me soon taught me that it was no mere coincidence that I shared my day of birth, the day of my arrival, with the birthday of my late great-uncle. What I knew of him made it evident to me, in time, that we were very much alike in feeling out of place in this realm. 

 

He was born in a world of knightly chivalry, honor and loyalty, yet also a time of brutal simplicity, and as these values faded through his life in the inevitable, complex march of progress, he fought bitterly throughout the decades to see such familiarity restored at any price. I, on the other hand, was raised isolated from the modern world in Fausten, and tales and vivid illustrations of this bygone age of heroes and knights kept me company and captivated my attention. 

 

I had already been robbed of the presence of my poor brother, whose saintly guidance once I outgrew the age of his eternal innocence gave me little relief, and within years of my arrival I was mercilessly thrust into a foreign world which clashed greatly with what I had believed of it. Beset by usurpers of legacies, whose lingering influence tore at those very few who kept me afloat and hopeful: my sister, your mother, my friends and electors, my worldview was ultimately staked on the pursuit of restoring an old bind of loyalty which I had secretly shared with my great-uncle. That torch raised high, which illuminates his marble likeness before our Castle, fueled the eternal flame of this belief.

 

You will know which banner I will raise upon this Saint’s Eve, hours after our talk, and where I will have met my demise along with my comrades when you find this letter. I am sorry that I could not look you in the eye and be earnest with you before we parted. I do not regret that I will have died for my Emperor: I once said that the least a man can hope for is to choose how to meet his death. God will judge my divided loyalties, understand in His all-knowing gaze why I made this decision, and, I hope, still find me worthy of joining those I had lost in His halls. 

 

I will understand if you disagree and spurn my decision, as is your right now that you are a man of your own. Though many will infer it, you alone will truly know where I had gone, and what you wish to think of it is a choice that now falls upon you entirely. Hate me in your grief and distress, if you will, and choose to harbor no illusions that my death was worthy and heroic; but know that I loved you and your siblings, and that I believed my sacrifice would free you from being forced to follow in my step. Our past should for you be no more than one of those heroic tales: spend your future going forward. You are more worthy of our charge, the Alstreim name, than I would have ever been.

 

Your loving father,

 

 

---

 

Spoiler

 

I have always been a proponent of RP consequences and rolling with the punches. Though generally there is no obligation to PK to a warclaim death, I've only thought it fair to myself and both the casualties of the Nauzican Brigade and those few Orenians who treated with me in this war in good faith to follow up on Ulrich's secret gamble with an appropriate result. I thought this resolution more important than a "proper" PK post - I would prefer the knowledge of the details to be kept IRP. I won't lie that, while this has still been a somewhat difficult decision, it has also lifted some pressure off me in regards to my upcoming job hunt and apartment search.

 

To everyone who's RPed with Ulrich, namely his family and his Waldenian electors - thank you for the RP. I'll be sticking around in a lessened, though still some capacity.

 

 

 

[seannie 7443]

Maxim gave his brother-in-arms one last toothy grin before he moved forth towards the breaches of Haverlock, the last he ever saw of the Alstreim before he, himself, was also slain amidst the flurries of combat. His soul carried away by the wind - like the rest of those lucky few of the Nauzica.

[Ramon 5186]

Tylos II lit a candle for the fallen at Haverlock in private, oblivious to the fact that the Lord Alstreim had been among them. He wondered when he would see the man whom he had come to respect deeply in life again.

[ratlordmagic 1484]

(Red Waldenian Knight, what the ****? 😭)

[Fireheart 2777]

 

 

 

The pounding and galloping of a horse's hoofs could be heard off in the distance as the young Alstreim returned to his beloved home. The eerily quiet nature of his home put a puzzling question into his mind. Where were all the helpers and servants in the yard? Where was the laughter and joy from the halls of the castle that usually welcomed him home? His approach up the steps was late due to his duties of the day. The hour of day being something he tried to convince himself the cause and reason for such silence. He went through his normal routine, something his father entrenched into his mind: cleaning himself off, caring and maintenance to his weapons and armor that he wore with pride, and a couple of mellow pets to the old family cat.

 

He knew, even though he tried to convince himself otherwise, something was off as soon as he returned to his chambers. A note, with his father's stamp, addressed to him on the floor of his room. Heinrich froze in confusion and shock, his mind racing with a thousand questions of what it could possibly mean. Did his father seek him to be wedded? Did his father aspire for him to seek a greater meaning or greatness in life? Or did he simply forget to tend to a daily task and this was some kind of sick and cruel punishment? Only more questions rushed through the young mortal's head as he grasped the letter and broke the seal to study it's contents.

 

He would scan it over and as his eyes laid deeper and deeper into the letter, so too would his mind and mood grow more and more bitter and sour. By the end of it tears had smeared over his father's signature, muddying it. Laying his eyes on this only worsened the emotions running through his mind as he dropped the letter and fell to the floor. Defeated the Alstreim would focus on the portrait of his late mother on the wall in his room. His mind eating at itself in pain so badly wanting to ask her what to do next and knowing he could not. He would close his eyes as he would spend a long sleepless night on the floor trying to block out the pain that gripped his heart.

[__Stal27 2126]

Weeks after the battle, A young Eugen would remain within his room of Reinmar as he pondered about the events of that day, the lives that had been lost and the families left to wonder if their loved ones would ever return, the boy quickly dismissed his thoughts, instead he would observe another moment of silence like he had done so previously for those who never returned.

[Tigergiri 3073]

Nikita sat watching the carnage and the very being of her home being ripped up by the ones she loved. She would visit Catherine every few days with a sort of cordial greeting, though it was never the same as having her family around—a chance to finally see her sisters. Yes, was warm and grateful, but... Adminst her ponders a new figure, apprehensive about his graying hair, but the shone the forever fearless red that rages in the fires every time she watches the sun set and rise on the descendants. A smile graced her lips. "You took your sweet time, but I could have waited longer." Her voice was soft as she greeted him. "I believe there are a few people you should meet."

 

 

Spoiler

It was such a joy to have a family with you- from planning events to pestering people about getting the house built!  Ulrich was such a great character!!  I hope we roleplay soon

 

[Olox_ 4318]

Borys sighs heavily as found out, sadness filled his mind "Goodbye Ulrich. I will miss you dearly." The Count said with a shook of his head before going back to the construction site 

[Frymark 3100]

The Prince of Sutica dismissed the Herald who had brought him the news with a wave of his hand. Johann let out a deep sigh as he contemplated there silently while sitting on the bench of his room. "Auf Wiedersehen, bruder." was all the Waldenian muttered while staring to the dancing flames of the fireplace.

 

[argonian 14254]

A knight of the Argent Sun welcomes his leader to the Skies.