A Final Death [PK]

[Javert 9628]

A Final Death

 

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Louis Owyn Haverlock, circa 1930

 

 

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It was cold that day at the Tower of Horen. Louis felt the winds blowing through his hair as he gazed down at the streets of Whitespire below him. He could count thousands of raiders - Veletzians, Orcs, Ferrymen. Far too many for the six-man company that protected King John and the High Pontiff. Cardinal Odo and Lord Aleksander decided to take the risk to jump towards the water, yet Louis was never able to see if they made it or not. As for the rest of them, King John ordered they stand down to prevent further bloodshed.

 

Stripped of his weapons and armor, King John along with Louis, Boon, Father Mikhael, and the High Pontiff were bound and dragged from the tower and through the streets of Whitespire. Several agonizing hours later, and the captives finally arrived in the city of Winburgh. The old Sedanian Prince held his head up high and, despite the circumstances, kept himself calm as they entered the room to meet with Sir Gaspard.

 

Hours passed as King John, Rex Grommash, and Sir Gaspard in vain negotiated with one another. Both cited broken oaths, that their own sides had the moral high ground, et cetera. When Sir Gaspard demanded that King John face him in a duel, Louis instinctively offered himself instead. Sir Gaspard refused, and yet an Orc offered a duel to Louis instead. When Louis politely declined, stating he only wished to duel if it meant defending his King, the Orc known as Kho’Gorkil labeled him a Coward. Louis retorted, making a remark that Kho’Gorkil’s mother was a Coward. The Orc, enraged, demanded a duel from the 83 year old man. Louis, with little other option, accepted and was given his armor and weaponry back by the Orcish Rex Grommash.

 

The Orcish warband stepped into the courtyard accompanied by Louis. Kho’Gorkil, armored in his own daemonsteel, asked if Louis was ready. Louis gave a nod and the clanging of daemonsteel began. The duel was short yet vicious, with Kho’Gorkil and Louis exchanging blow after blow upon each other. Just when Louis was on the verge of defeat, the Sedanian lurched forward and struck Kho’Gorkil’s chest. The blow knocked the wind out of the Orc, and Louis stood victoriously over the defeated yet alive Orc.

 

Yet, this duel was not satisfactory to the warriors of Krugmar. Another Orc, who’s name is difficult to remember, stepped forth and demanded to duel the wounded and tired Haverlock next. Louis, knowing he would not make it out of Winburgh alive if he refused, raised his blade and prepared for combat once more.

 

What followed was a rather swift affair, with Louis’ assailant taking advantage of Louis’ weakness due to his wounds and his age. Blow upon blow fell on Louis’ armor until he could no longer stand. In his final moments, Louis thought of those he had lost yet was soon to see again. He thought of Godfrey, his eldest son. Olenna, his wife. Ser Leopold, his son, for whom he had returned to avenge. Though he would not live to see his vengeance, he knew he would at last see him and those he cared for again. Then, before Louis could speak, he felt the Orcish blade slicing through his neck. The world went black.

 

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Letters are dispersed across Aevos, particularly those to whom Louis held a connection with.

 

To my Grandchildren,

Spoiler

I am sorry that it came to an end like this. I had hoped to see you all become adults, but I am certain you will all grow to be proud Haverlocks. I am already so proud of all of you already. Firstly, I distribute my armor and my spare suits of armor to Robert, Francis, and Henry respectively. Secondly, I give my Amethyst eye to Olenna. Third, I leave what remained of my wealth to Daniel, Margot, and Louis Arturo respectively. Be better people than I was. I am certain we shall meet again one day, and I am certain I will be proud of the people you become.

 

To Julius, Julietta, Therese, and Owyn,

Spoiler

The four of you likely did not know I was still alive. This is for the better, I wanted to ensure each of you could move on with your lives after I was gone, hence why I did not reveal myself to you four before I perished. Though I would have liked to, I feel it was better not to do so. I missed you all sorely, and I am certain when the time comes I will have the chance to explain it all. I will likely write a private letter to each of you individually before I pass from this world, so be sure to read it when it comes to you. I love you, Julius, Julietta, and Owyn. I am sorry that I was not the best of Fathers.

 

To Emmeline,

Spoiler

I am sorry that I have had to leave this world so early. I wish I had survived so I could help you through the difficulties you currently experience. I ask only this of you; take care of your children. They have the potential to be great men on the inside and out, and I have faith you can do that. Bear patience with Robert, he is merely a child who has not yet found his way in this world. After all, I was once a Father. I understand how such things work, and I assure you with time you both will come to realize how valuable you are to each other. Farewell, Emma.

 

To King John,

Spoiler

Forgive me my liege, for I have failed you. I am sorry that I allowed my feelings to get the better of me. I wish that I could remain by your side to serve you loyally through the difficulties that Aaun is going through. I assure you that my family, the Haverlocks, shall not abandon their oaths.

 

[TaytoTot 1587]

Thérèse reads over the letter, tears in her eyes. "Papa. . ." She uttered. Louis was not her biological father, but he was a good man to her, and her husband. She let out a sigh then, raking her hair back and thinking about the moment the two had together within the walls of Vissingren. "I will see you in the skies."

[Jentos 9422]

Doubtless, his ancestors will be proud. Thought Jagobert. He had watched as the old man felled the first of his Uruk opponents, leaning weakly on his sword before another orc stepped  forward. He recognized the wide gaze of the man then; the sight of death, pale and unescapable. 

 

Whitespire only received a headless body, in the end. 

[comatoseprincess 507]

Emmeline held the letter in her hands, her eyes focused on the words as she tried to see through the tears, "Farewell, friend." She whispered out, folding the letter and leaning back to stare up at the ceiling. Once more the woman was left alone in this world.

[EmiliainWonderland 2311]

"No, say it's not true! Grandpa!" Daniel hadn't known his grandfather all that well, but he'd still felt like the loss just as if he had known him. So much of his family was passing away and he was hardly an adult now himself. 

[Kitomine 902]

Julietta read the letter within her lab, grimacing before crumpling it up and tossing it into the trash. She didn’t feel sorry for the father that abandoned her, faked his death. Only bitter resentment. 

[Franczhiz 4437]

"Soon enough, we will avenge our brothers and sisters who we have lost in the GOD forsaken lands of Veletz. We will utterly destroy Winburgh with all the might of our trebuchets and cannons, and the anathema shall cower before the war-cries of our mighty legion of the Grand Covenant. And to traitors who defect to aid them instead, I pray to GOD that I shall be the first to them with my own sword; those who are likewise responsible for the capture and murder of the innocent. The only home that these traitors and anathema will know is the Void." Edmund Amadeus stated, having been released from capture by Veletz and immediately prayed for its soon to be downfall.

[Rig 17581]

Grisha puffed one of his cigarettes - a gift from his friend Daija. "That Haverlock fellow was truly a King Amongst Men for his bravery." The Ferryman touted to his compatriot Vyllaenen. "If only the King of Aaun and his peers behaved with similar dignity and venerable honor. Alas, instead they commend themselves for the loss of good men such as he, and hide behind their stone buttresses to allow their friends to suffer. It is up to Acaelan to forgive them now."

 

(Just want to say I commend your behavior in and out-of-character for the extent of that role-play. It's never easy to be put in that situation and you had every opportunity to badmouth us or make an unnecessary gripe out of it. I respect your commitment to continuity and hope to pay it forward in future encounters, even if other people have not necessarily given us that same courtesy. Actions like yours remind me that there are some real role-players on here who still care about their characters and world building, and not their own prestige or ego. Thanks for the great times Ragnar and I hope to see you on another character!)

[alienescence 1415]

Robert Haverlock grieved the death of his grandfather, though tried distracting himself by tending to his writing practices.

 

[NLThomas 1225]

Julius reads the letter send to him. The only thing he could really do was letting out a long exhausted sigh. Somewhere deep down he knew he was still around but it didn't matter now, for he was truly gone this time around. And so he carries on. Another family member gone, as many others had fallen.