At What Cost

[cherrybud 423]

At What Cost

A depiction of the young Lady Ekaterina Ruthern within the halls of her home, Kositz.

 

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Spoiler

[!] 

 

 

 

A Child of the Empire, Daughter of a Duke, Niece of an Empress. Lady Ekaterina Maria Ruthern had grown up surrounded by war, but none quite like this. The events that had  found themselves unfolding in 1868 would change the girl's life forever, for the consequences of a civil war are not for the light-hearted. Leaving each Orenian with their own story to tell, though none would be quite like the young Rutherns perspective.

 

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Ekaterina had been playing with her friends in the courtyard when the events began to unfold. It wasn’t long before the group found everyone around them rushing to the square, a crowd forming at the capital gates as chants and cheers for the falsely claimed king grew louder and louder. The girl's expression morphed into that of confusion, as she tried her best to figure out what was happening.

 

“Eja miss, what is going on?” She queried, not receiving any form of answer, she tried again. Tugging lightly on the bottom of her dress in a childlike manner, with hopes to gain the woman's attention. 

“Excuse me-” Though nothing was said in response, once again.

The young girl being pushed  amidst the crowd, struggling to find any way out as she was squeezed and barged. Until alas-

“Make way for the King, Frederick I” came the cheers from the front, their voices carrying through the crowd until the words died out. A passageway being formed through the crowd, as the girl witnessed her cousin Frederick ride through the streets, allowing nothing to come in his way as he proceeded to the throne room.

 

After watching the peers of the empire plead fealty to the petty king, after having been convinced by nothing more than empty promises and lies of land that would soon be dissolved, Ekaterina could not stand around much longer, soon finding herself being forced to leave the capital, taking refuge in the city of Karosgrad with her father. The girl did not know of her mothers or brother's safety, nor did she know if her friends had made it out of the capital either. However these worries would be the least of her concerns as the girl had done nothing wrong thus far, yet still continued to be victim to the costs of the civil war.

 

Ekaterina had watched her father part from Haense, anxiously awaiting his return as she paced the unfamiliar streets of Karosgrad that had allowed them refuge. Though she wished the dreaded moment had not arrived when she received the letter, opening it only to hear of her fathers passing. The young Ruthern stood motionless, rereading the letter over and over refusing to believe its contents.

“Ave Imperium'' 

Her fathers last words. The only words she was able to speak, those of anger and fear, until finally the poor girl wept for her father.

 

Eventually, the girl received word of the imperialists taking refuge within Fort Imperium, from the Viscountess Diana. Little optimism filled the girl's thoughts as she carefully set out on her journey. Her only thoughts of being reunited with her family and friends that she had so dearly missed. However, this was not to be. Ekaterina entered the fortress that she would now call home from that day forth, only to feel an overwhelming sense of loneliness as she struggled to recognise any familiar faces within the crowd. It soon became clear that the fortress was not a pleasant place for a child. Whilst it did offer ultimate protection, the walls echoed with that of warfare, cannons being dragged and loaded, yells claiming the sightings of new enemies and the terror and uncertainty within women and children’s voices. But this was all too common for the consequences of a civil war.

 

The young Ruthern missed her home dearly, quite expected for anyone, nevermind a child the age of seven. No child should have to experience what she did, though here she was, finding herself growing lost in the consequences of a civil war. For what happened next, the girl could not believe. Not only had the royalists slaughtered her father, but now they stood in front of the girl's home, setting alight to its walls and everything within. Upon being told, the child's expression turned into that of shock, her features freezing as her home was spoken of.

“T-they burned down kositz?”

Not able to piece together much more than a sentence as she turned to denial. 

“Nie, nie… They can’t of.” 

This was the place where the Ruthern had grown up, so many happy memories, now being burned with that of the building. For all she could think of now was the anger that had built up. The anger she felt towards the royalists who had stripped her of almost everything. Had she not already suffered and lost enough? Apparently not, clearly the royalists had little to no care for the children of the empire.

 

It was after all of these events had unfolded that the Lady Ekaterina Maria Ruthern found herself with a true reason to fight. Despite being only a child, she had already witnessed so much destruction and loss, she refused to sit back and helplessly watch as it continued. Her father had taught the girl to fight, though little did she know the skills she’d aquired would be necessary throughout the next few years. For the poor girl had not only been a key witness to the consequences, but from all the pain and anger she had built up, the young Ruthern now pledged to help in any way she could to put the true emperor, Peter IV on the throne. Her father, Ivan var Ruthern the Duke of Reutov, had died for the cause and she would now do everything in her power to fight for it too.

 

One God, One Emperor, One Empire

 

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[Apotolofo 2205]

A young girl sat holding her bow, hands tightly wrapped around its handle. "I.... have had... enough." She whispers, turning to look at her friend. A deep sadness lingered in her eyes, far too dark for such a young child... "This... how is this home? What kind of home puts my life in danger?" 

Spoiler

@Aidan_CoG