[PK] By This Sign, You Shall Conquer

[Shmeepicus 3942]

By This Sign, You Shall Conquer

 

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The Lands of Balian prior to their Settlement

 

Art by Anu Pattern on Artstation

 

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THUNK!

 

THUNK!

 

THUNK!

 

Dust fell off the door- and Alexander glanced over at it, playing with toy soldiers in the corner. His mother, Gwyneth, passed him with a loving touch on his head. “Whom is it?”

 

“Open the door, Gwyneth.” He recognized that voice immediately, his father, John.

 

“Just give me a moment.” His mother replied as the deadbolt was unfastened- and the door quickly surged forth, “Pack your belongings, we need to leave- NOW.” John demanded, Alexander glanced about- somewhat confusedly.. he was after all a boy of four. “What’s the hurry?” His mother asked curiously. “Prince Frederick has usurped the throne of the Empire and deemed any who oppose him traitors.” He retorted quickly- an overpowering tone of anger and defiance present in his voice. 

 

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Three months had passed and they had consisted of the same gray stained walls. Every few days a soldier would shout for the gates to open- and then they would. Alexander met the Emperor during this period, as Peter stepped past him and crouched down. “How fair you, cousin? I know these times are hard- but do not worry, we have always pulled through.” His kind and soft voice offered the young boy some reassurance- but reassurance was all it was.

___

 

Another few weeks had passed- and his Father was there again, “Pack your belongings, Alexander. The Duke Ivan’s men have finished their construction of Reutov- for now we will remain there, and the Emperor intends to hold court there on the ‘morrow.” 

 

Alexander never once argued- he quickly packed his things, as he was so used to doing and trailed behind. He was never someone important, at least, he was never meant to be. Just another ‘Prince’ of Oren- despite being a few times removed. Perhaps he would have been a martial man- yet fate did not intend it.

 

A few days after the town's completion- Reutov fell, Royalists stormed the walls and took the Emperor hostage- and a large levy was rallied to rescue him and simultaneously take hold of the city of Providence. The two sides clashed- and Alexander, spared during the raid of Reutov, survived. His father was severely wounded- and would walk with a limp for the rest of his life- but they lived. The now King Frederick allowed the survivors to leave peacefully, as they boarded boats and sailed South, though their tribulations and struggles would not end there.

 

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The haunting sounds of water lapping at the hull of the ship kept Alex awake- he did not like the water. A boy now six- he simply kept to the Captain’s quarters of the ship they sailed, very rarely peeking out the windows at its port-side. The star guided them yet the storm raged ever on- first it was one ship, then two- lost to the depths of the Kahaen Sea. Yet a single star shined brighter than the rest in the sky- and John was convinced it would lead them to respite- and so, their travel continued, rations of food and fresh water low.. the ships continued onward.

 

Another few days had past- they had completely exhausted whatever rations they had brought with them- and trudged now through the red wastes of the Southern continent on Almaris. The exiled populace of what was the Empire found them exerting whatever energy they had left to climb the peak- and there they made their camp.

 

Morning came- and Alexander could feel the dryness- the young boy's lips were cracked and his mouth devoid of any moisture- as he smacked his lips and sat up from the bedroll he laid upon. The day passed and scouts returned with the unfortunate information that there was no freshwater near- not for a good dozen miles at least- and they did not have it within them to make it that far. 

 

Yet- in the dark night sky above them- the star of St. Lothar appeared to grow brighter, to some appearing in the form of a cross- and the ground trembled. Tents fell and Alexander was flung to his feet- when water began to rush forth from a fissure in the mountain side, pooling in a depression in the ground at the mountain’s roots. Balian- in this miraculous moment- was born.. and Alexander took on an entirely new role as the Grand Duchy’s heir.

 

—

 

Alexandros- Alexander’s name in the newly-written language of the Balianese, had walked out into the square to see a commotion of men from the Harvest Accord- namely men of Acre, Minitz and others- gathered around one of Balian’s peers, he saw a familiar face, Charles Alstion- and approached him.

 

“What’s happening?” He asked, prodding Charles- an old friend, close in age to Alexandros, he had also been a citizen of Balian for much of its fledgling years. “The Baroness of Acre- for some reason, wants this Galbraith. Supposedly he tried to murder her children?” The Prince of Alstion replied, Alexandros’ face scrunched up then- as he approached the armed retinue and tried to cease whatever hostilities were going on- but that was not before a large force of Haeseni and Dwarvish forces showed up and demanded the men of the Harvest Accord lay down their arms.

 

A tense standoff ensued- before finally they were ordered to drop their weapons by Aloisia herself- and that they did. King Karl III turned the prisoners over to Alexandros- as John wasn’t present and he experienced one of his first, defining moments. Many wished for him to kill Aloisia- and he thought he would, until Uhtred, one of her Knight’s, pleaded with Alexandros to spare her life. He thought heavily on it- and in the end her life was spared with all the men of the Harvest Accord being afforded the right to leave but not return to Balian.

 

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So many events followed- the formation of Aaun, the Summit in Karosgrad, the formation of the Kingdom of Balian, the death of his father, John I,  the Atrus Covenant, the Siege of Cloudbreaker, the many treaties and pacts signed in between and then, towards the end of his reign, the Adrian Rebellion and the subsequent formation of the Canonist League. Yet Alexander came down with some heinous disease- and its tendrils sprawled over him during the course of two years. Much of the Kingdom’s administration had been left up to Hadrian and Gaius- as Alexander was bedridden.

 

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Ledicort gave him his last rites- as he laid there in that bed. “I hope that God welcomes me into his realm- I did my best to maintain peace amongst the realms of men- and peace we had for many long years.” He wondered aloud, glancing over at Ledicort with a weak smile. “I’m sure he will, teur Majesty- you ruled with piety and you were just. If I have it my way- that shall be your moniker, Alexander ‘the Just’.” 

 

“The Just..” Alexander echoed the words, “yes- perhaps. I served as well as I could have- you must guide Hadrian- you may no longer be in our council- but your words still hold weight.” He offered, Ledicort simply offered a nod of his head. “Is there anything I can do for teu, before I go?” He asked, placing a hand on Alexander’s arm. “Find my children, please, I am not long for this world.”

 

The Priest left- and Alexander laid in the bed, glancing at the ceiling. His eyes felt so heavy- it was a monumental feat to resist the urge to go to sleep. He wondered- had he been a good King? Was there more that he could have done? Of course there was- his voice spoke back to him in his head. No man is perfect- and there will always be things we could have done differently- that would have perhaps had a better outcome. Yet you did the best you were able- and perhaps that is what constitutes whether a King is good or not. His final moments to be alone with his thoughts- and his mind raced wondering about what if’s or what could have been. 

 

An hour perhaps passed- and the door opened. Hadrian entered and sat down beside the bed and talked with him. They spoke of his new child on the way- his plans for the future- and his continuing studies in the art of alchemy. Then came Lydia, who couldn’t help but try to offer some solution to this unfortunate disease. As if there was one- fate was funny that way, cruel or kind- yet never both. Elena was the last, snappy as always- as she barked at a nearby guard for speaking as if Alexander was already dead. She offered the same as Lydia- futile solutions, but Alexander was already too far gone. 

 

Familiar faces came and went, Sarrin Isilioleth, Albert Novellen, Persephone, Lujain, King Georg of Haense, Gaius, Andromeda, all wishing their best and saying their goodbyes.

 

And as they all left- and he was left alone with his children, Alexander laid his head down on the pillow. His laboured breaths grew softer and softer- until he took his last one, more deep than all the others. His chest rose- fell and the room grew silent. The soldier King’s blade had been sheathed for good- peace, finally found.

 

King Alexander I, was dead.

 

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King Alexander I ‘the Just’ of Balian

 

 

1861 - 1921

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[oryP 972]

A soft smile would form upon Lujain's scarred face. "May Allah or Godan see to it that he reaches as the Canonist's would say, the seven skies. A good man, and an even greater King." Lujain would kneel before the Majlid building, setting a candle down, he would light it. "May you rest and be guided, Subhanallah." Fixating his gaze upon the horizon. "Long Live the King."

Spoiler

luv shmeep

 

 

[Mady 3037]

It was unlike any feeling she had ever felt before, the feeling of grief. Surely the Princess Royal had felt loss, yet nothing compared to the loss of a parent, especially one you are fond of. And so, as Princess Elena sat at the bedside of the now deceased King of Balian @Shmeepicus, she had to use her prodigal brain once more to understand and recognise the pain she finally felt. 
 

For now, as she released the cold hand of her dead father, the young Novellen would contemplate her next move, a trip perhaps to visit old friends. For one thing was certain, she was not prepared to deal with such an emotional occurrence as this. . .

 

Spoiler

Thank you @Shmeepicusfor giving me the opportunity to play your daughter!! It has been a pleasure so enjoy your long deserved break! 

[SapphirePool 1098]

The quiet one, that is how the youngest princess of Balian had thought of her eldest brother. Amidst the banter of her siblings as they laughed, bickered, played- he stood by watching over them. The young princess had always found it difficult to be around the eldest son. A decade older and always silent as he did his duties, she felt this unbreakable glass barrier between them. 

 

Tasked with the position of Legate, the gap grew thinner, that sheet of glass now a film of mist. Now an adult, Persephone worked closely with her brother in an administrative capacity. Yet still, she could never quiet tell what he was thinking. Constantia was easy to read, kind and open hearted. Augustina- well she always spoke her mind. Constanz, the closest in age to herself, was the easiest to get along with. She felt at ease around him. But Alex? An enigma in the eyes of the princess. 

 

It was only in their later years did Persephone feel she could truly feel close to her brother. "We are old" the now three siblings would often comment as the younger generation married and had their own children. It was a novel concept, aging. It felt only yesterday that the city they stood in was but a grand duchy, and her pater was holed up in his office with Alexander, ever mentoring him for the position he eventually would inherit.

 

On his deathbed, the old princess looked upon her ailing brother with sadness. A man of little yet meaningful words. A king of kindness and grace. A brother for whom she always felt looked out for her. 

 

[annanicole__ 1546]

Princess Augustina lowers her head as she sits alone in her room, refusing entry to anyone. "Leave me be!" The Princess gradually realizes that they are all aging and slowly passing away. 
 

Queen Andromeda stayed by her husbands side. Their time as rulers arrived sooner than they anticipated. "For here lies our future," Andromeda repeated these words as she placed her hand on her expanding stomach. "Are you ready Hadrian? Our time has now come." 
 

[Wavey 1446]

Gaius var Ruthern closed his eyes, a soft sigh escaping his lips. The Ruthern felt a feeling of hollowness as the news of Alexander's passing reached his ears. The first time the Baron of Marsana had met Alexander was with his sister at the gates of old Atrus. He was merely the age of six back then. Oh how have times passed. Now Gaius himself was a married man. Odd isn't it? To see the ones whom you have looked up to and known for all your life now slowly slip away from this world. 

"Rest in peace, Alexander...May GODAN see that you find peace in the seven skies. Your words of wisdom and rule of fair justice kept our nation together...it was an honor serving you."

[Kholibrii 978]

As the Royal Family mourns within the King's private quarters, the frame of the new Governess would slowly move through the palace, draping a black veil over the deceased King's Portrait. Serena then slowly melted to the floor beneath the king's portrait, silently crying in the foyer of the palace as she reminisced on her times with her uncle. 

[X3N0 511]

r

[Optimus420 1732]

An Ivanovich took the missive in hand while on his pilgrimage from his squire, “Wonder what will happen next.. these days grow stranger and stranger with the old departing leaving the world in the hands of the new.”

[MunaZaldrizoti 5742]

Lydia sat at her father's bedside in his final hours, listening to every mustered word and shaking breath that passed from his lips. So many wandered through his chamber, bidding him a final farewell and speaking of his legacy as King. But the princess was now reduced to the child she had been, always following at her father's heels in an effort to mimic his majesty and leadership. No longer would she hear his words of praise and comfort. No longer would she feel that she, of all her siblings, had garnered the most of his affection. Such would not matter anymore, without him present.

 

Now, as she wandered back to her own bedroom, the Novellen wondered what the world would be like without him now. She worried for her brother too, and if his reign would be as peaceful as their father's own had been. All tears shed long into that evening were saved for her pillow, stubborn to show emotion even in mourning for her beloved pater.

 

Spoiler

Thank you for playing such a great dad to Lydia and a leader for Balian. I feel so lucky that you approached me with the offer and started me on such a great, enjoyable journey back into this wild land of roleplay. Hope you'll be back soon, so we can have even more adventures! <3 @Shmeepicus

 

[EmiliainWonderland 1526]

Eryane frowned at the news somewhere far far away. 

 

"You were a great man Alexander, merci for taking care of my family for all of those years."

[Sarven 1696]

Yvian traced the lorraine across his cuirass and spoke a prayer for the fallen monarch, for it was through his courageous actions that the late Herzog Leon I was not felled at the hands of backstabbing Orcs during the times of Cloudbreaker. "May GOTT grace du, und grant safe passage to the seven skies." he'd speak candidly afterwards, a sense of sorrow and gratitude befalling him.

[Olox_ 3379]

Jan Jazloviecki, the one-eyed Count of Warsovia sighed as he recieved the news of King's death "It comes after everyone, none can stand against death. Rest in peace your Royal Majesty, you were an example of a good monarch." He then traced the Lorraine before leaving Kamieniec Keep to pray at the chapel 

[HIGH_FIRE 4118]

After administering last rites to the King of Balian as he died, Ledicort would take himself to the Basillica la Sorrella. The man would sit and pray, not just for the soul of the King, but for a man he considered a friend, and a man he worked beside for over twenty years, as his right hand. He prayed that he may find solace in the Seven Skies and that everyone who loved him may know that the good man was welcomed by God.

[AnimeWolf0080 1493]

Laurelie Vuiller - de Pelear didn't really know Alexandr well, however she knew that Balian had lost a good King. A just king... She prayed for him, his family and the kingdom she grew up in.