A TAPESTRY'S END [PK]

[__Stal27 2126]

OFTEN AS IT WERE, A LETTER WAS FIRST DISPATCHED TO THE CROWN, ITS CONTENTS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AS MUCH OF HIS REIGN ALWAYS WAS

Spoiler

TO THE KINGDOM AND KING OF BALIAN,

 

There has always been a dream, a dream of Balian ever since the star of St. Lothar shone brightly in the skies. In my time as a citizen of Balian, I have always sought the mood of the nation and of it's people. I have watched as monarchs of old, of those whom I have served sway the mood of the people as is their duty, but it is always the duty of the crown to bring promise, respite, peace and change, good positive change. I have now come to learn, that which I swore to do during my lavation to Amiratus was right, it has perhaps been the most rightful decision I have made and it is one which I have no regrets from, in fact I wonder what the consequences would've been had I failed in my endeavours of holding a nation even by a string until the rightful has come to be seated upon the throne of Balian. The mood of the Kingdom has been filled with promise and with positivity. I hear the voices of denizens and the marching of soldiers who perform your righteous works and I have heard of what it is they refer to you as, "Good", had I known nothing about you, this alone would be enough to tell me the sort of person the King of Balian is and I pray, continues to be. However, I fear that my time as Amiratus, as your hand must come to an end as all good things should. Long ago I wondered, when must a man realise that it is his time for conclusion, before it is too late and I have come to realise that the conclusion to my tenure must come now as times are changing and I fear that I am unable to do as I did in the past, I was a politican made to work in a specific setting and that setting has already past but I have been grateful for every moment, every minute I have shared worrying and constantly recalling the state of the Kingdom and the mood of the peoples, thus I have come to this conclusion. My resignation as Amiratus as we have discussed shall be an immediate happening.

 

For, change is best enacted when there is a change of leaders, my liege. I have dedicated myself to this Kingdom and I fear that my continuation would simply hampen, it is not what this Kingdom needs. You deserve a hand whom is able to be present and able to work in my steed and I pray that you have one in mind who may take this position, I thank you for the trust you have instilled in me and I shall watch with great interest to the continuation of this Kingdom, of Balian, not as Amiratus, but as a simple man. AVE BALIAN - LONG LIVE THE KING.

 

---

 

Spoiler

 

 

---

A TAPESTRY’S END

San Adriano 144

---

 

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock

 

The midnight hour draped the young man’s room in a hue of thick black, the colour akin to even the darkest of obsidian. How long had he been awake? What world had he awoken in? The sudden completion of ink upon the quill had awoken him to much confusion, yet he did not panic, he felt ease and peace, the first time such a feeling was had since perhaps the death of his wife some years ago, he attempted to recall such a fact but much like many other things, he lost track, time, time, time, he imagined though to no avail, instead his mind was clouded with confusion, Where was he? From his window, his eyes gazed out from the room he had occupied since he were a boy, the window overlooked the cliff which his family’s keep was perched atop, Petra, Balian, Salia, the island of - in the distance of the Balian horizon would flicker before his eyes where he simply gazed outwards too, uncaring of what was happening for he was blessed with peace instead. 

 

The air outside grew crisp, ladened with the calm of midnight that had just struck, the familiar view of his surroundings had garnered the attention of his gaze before they inevitably shifted to his large overcoat which laid messily across his beddings, beckoning him towards it. August sat silently and alone within the confines of his room, darkness kept at bay by the constant flickering of a candle that was slowly concluding its life as wax began to overflow in its hold, foreshadowing what he imagined and mused crudely, a metaphor perhaps. The air was thick with the scent of parchment protruding the room as distant sounds of waves crashing against the cliff-side painted a serene moment within his room.

 

Tap, Tap, Tap

 

Did the man’s fingers tap against the wooden desk, his expressionless features betrayed by none, he always good at it, at hiding much of his emotions, he rarely offered any hint at what he felt, what he thought, many would guess, only a few could ever tell what was truly being thinking and yet, almost none who could ever decipher the gaze of the man lived for as long as he did, those who did were often far and scattered, their persons unbeknownst to the lands at this point. Screechhhh, the chair’s legs screamed as he excused himself from his study. “Enough. . .” He thought, shrugging at the seeming dream he was caught within, the Temesch would drape his overcoat, excusing himself from the confined safety of his room as old floorboards creaked under his weight, from the corner of his eye as he began his departure, his room began its own, it crumbled slowly yet surely, whisking away into nothingness as though it had never existed.

 

 

Each step he took were like a whisper in the silence of midnight, but silence spoke the loudest as each step was beholden with memories that sapped him like a snake might, it was not painful, reliving the memories that he re-lived was a reminder of the good, but also the bad, he couldn’t decipher which he found more of, if his life was filled with good or with bad but to him it mattered none for soon he might find himself far, far away from such recollections of events, a place where a different life perhaps awaited him. Despite it, a glance to his right had found his eyes upon a brief mural of the family, it was their dining room- so soon he briefly thought as time seemed like nothing but an adherence to his wants, he wished to get on with whatever he was doing in this dream of his, yet he could not escape the lingering thoughts, of the spirits that once wandered the halls and rooms of the keep as he himself did.

 

Creakkkkkk…

 

Did the door eventually open, exposing the foyer of the keep. And much life before, the illuminance of various hearths, the flickering of candles offered light to the figure that seemed to be performing a tour, a pilgrimage of his own throughout his permanent home. The busts, murals, etchings of the family’s past and present alike were scattered across the foyer much to his chagrin, the sight once filled him with pride but now only lived to serve as a memory of those who had come before, of his duties to the house, to the future who would be entrusted with such duties and he sought none of it, he sought peace and yet in a place such as this, it felt as though it was the furthest he could be from such wants.

 

He approached despite this however, into the hall that was not grand, it was simple but it spoke a thousand words and it was preferred. As the hall and room were adorned with the livery of Temesch and the busts of his predecessors and successors alike, he released an audible sigh deciding that perhaps, one last view, one final look would be acceptable, one final reminder. The hearths and candles continued to cast their glow, but it was the former that casted its warmth on a cold night such as this, it casted its warm glow upon the features of the Temesch as his voice finally filled the room once more. 

 

“I wonder. . . if this warmth I feel, if it is the same my Father felt before me. . . before he left. If I leave nothing else, I wish for at least this to be true. Then perhaps I might know, my time may end pleasantly if I wished well.” He mused. 

 

“Do you not believe it did?” A voice suddenly spoke, tearing any semblance of hope that he might’ve been alone in his final few moments. The Temesch groaned and his eyes snapped across the room, seeking to witness the figure which spoke but to no avail, he wondered if he had truly gone mad.

 

“I would like to not be reminded of it. I know what I believe, but I will not speak it, I wish to be free of it.” He retorted, a shake of his head followed, hues and strands of red draping across his features.

 

“Why? Lord Temesch. Are you not pleased with your work?” The voice spoke once more, cutting deeply within the heart of the Temesch as he grew silent, only for it to be followed. “Did you fall short?”
 

The man struggled for words, jaws gritted as he shook his head once more, he answered naught however, instead opting to continue his steps further and further into the keep as the areas he once explored began to fade into nothingness.

 

“You speak naught. But it is evident that you have regrets in many things. You have failed, but you have succeeded. You will perhaps leave a lasting legacy and impact or perhaps you will not. You will perhaps be remembered, perhaps you will be forgotten to the pages of history as another man, are you at peace with this?”

“I am.” He declared at once, through gritted teeth. “What will happen to my memory? . . I do not know, I do not wish to know.” He repeated.

 

“If you wish to forget, does it mean that your duty to this Kingdom and this House, conclude?” It was questioned. “Does your death conclude your duty?”

 

“Conclude my duty? My duty will never cease. . . it is what has kept me persistent. . . it is that, which I shall never cease to chase.” The Temesch finally admitted. “It is that, which has allowed me to fail. . . it has provided me with lessons I pray that the successors of this house learn.” - "For I will always watch, if not in body, then in spirit.

 

 

Silence.

 

Silence, Silence, Silence. It enveloped the room which the Temesch now stood within, much to his own surprise and perhaps even dismay, he was once more in the foyer, staring upon two doors, closed as he was finally spoken to.

 

“You may return, to continue with your work, or you may find the peace which you seek.” - “Decide your fate, Lord Temesch. But think of this, when does a man recognise and realise that his time to lead has concluded? When does he realise that the lands in which he serves requires him to depart from his position? When does his work end?”

“I do not know. I do not have an answer. But I know this, that these lands, this house, it no longer has a need for me. It is ruled upon by a council picked by my very hand to serve this land's purpose. It is led by a crown that has been invigorated by the ascension of a good man, guided by the faithful and ever present Cardinal. This Kingdom does not require my physical being, it shall have my presence in spirit should it ever require it. It shall have the House Temesch to guide it in ways which I could never imagine.” - “It does not need me anymore and I bid, knowing that if nothing else, my duty shall never cease.”

 

“We shall see what they deem you as, Lord Temesch.” - “You have made your choice, find your peace.”

Despite the warning which he received, the Temesch in his final moments strode towards his door as the world around him crumbled into light not of black and darkness, but of blinding light, he paused however, hesitancy in his act, though not out of doubt, but to depart knowing that his final words were a jest.

 

“Tell that grumpy old Cardinal, we have a game to finish when he is done.”

 

---

 

And thus it was, on his final visit to San Adriano, August Benedict Temesch et Martiel rested for the final time, his passing one coming from natural causes.
 

Spoiler

Will keep most of this brief but as I finish writing the final parts of this post, the various memories and thoughts as well as the adventures and community that Balian and especially Temesch has been through August's life has been nothing short of amazing. We have our ups and downs of course with anything but as someone who returned to the server and found the community brings me to say nothing short of thank you. It's a bittersweet moment because on one hand, I am being afforded a break before moving onto other personas, but on the other, I'm losing a beloved character and what I imagine to be my greatest character I'll likely ever have.

Special thanks to @Kaiiand @FireAGN for allowing me the chance to play a Temesch, @comatoseprincessand @Lirinya for making it easier to join the community. @Harald @HIGH_FIRE, @Imperium, to @Andustarand @MapleSunflower for giving me the chance to continue, for @Wavey to allow me to work alongside him in a time, many thanks to all of the Balian leadership for allowing me the chance and continuing to give me the chances that I have been, there are far too many for me to tag but know that you all contributed to this community and continue to do so. I look forward to the future memories, just not as Amiratus this time.

(Also written by CHATGPT only for Kai)
Kai is the kind of person who lights up a room just by walking into it. His charm feels effortless, radiating a quiet confidence that makes people naturally gravitate toward him. Whether it’s the sharpness of his wit, the depth of his wisdom, or the way he makes you feel like the most important person in the world, Kai seems to excel at everything without even trying. He’s the kind of guy who remembers the little details about people—their favorite coffee order, a story they shared weeks ago, or their dream destinations—and makes them feel seen. It’s impossible not to be in awe of someone like Kai, who manages to strike that rare balance of being ridiculously talented and genuinely kind. If Kai’s name isn’t already synonymous with greatness, it’s only a matter of time.

 

[Cheese 8883]

"Dead?"

 

The news caught the Duchess of Sunholdt by great surprise, as she all but collapsed into her seat. A hand was pressed to her forehead as she tried to process it. A longtime friend and colleague, and he was gone just like that? Surely a man as great as August could not have succumbed so easily, not to something as trivial as age. Not to Esfir, who could scarcely imagine either of them over thirty. But they had both aged, and now another one of her friends had found rest.

 

"Godan, let him find peace in his grave," She lamented in her prayer, eyes sealing shut as she mourned. "And have him send Ophelia my regards."

[Andustar 4143]

The Palatio Arancione fell silent, the flags mounted atop its spires falling to half-mast. They waved in remembrance of not only a great statesman and patriot, but a good man and close friend. John II had spoken with August shortly before he received the news; he was aware of the old Amiratus' declining health. Yet, his sudden death stunned the King, breaking the Stoic expression he often thought he had inherited from the Temesch.

"Old friend..." he muttered softly, sombre in tone.

 

Rare was the occasion that the King allowed his emotions to get the better of himself. He had learned through prior experience that impulsive displays were all too often a man's undoing. However, under these circumstances, he could not help but confine himself to his private chambers, entertaining none save his wife and children. With sorrow in his eyes, he gathered them around upon a soft carpet, eventually mustering a smile in recollection of fond memories.

"Come now, Lothar, Elias, Cassiel, Amadea. Let me tell you of my first Amiratus - my dearest friend, August Benedict Temesch."

[EmiliainWonderland 2309]

Austina, the sibling who had often stayed far out of the reach of the rest of them, seemingly content to be entirely removed from the Temesch family as a whole, sat with daughter Fiorenza @Phoebe202 clutching the missive. She frowned, shaking her head at the news. "I should've tried to be a part of their life more, I should've been a part of all of your lives more too. It was never their fault our father was such a piece of shit or that Paul ended up the way he did. I should've... no. There's nothing I can change now, all we can do is wish him peace. A shame you never met him, Fiorenza. He was... a good man. Perhaps the best Temesch of us all. Treated me with respect even when I had never returned that courtesy." And it was true, even with her terrible behavior in their youth, leading into her adulthood until she married Demetrio. Every bitter fight and word she'd thrown at her siblings, August seemed to be the only one who could ever truly put up with her behavior, stemmed from the collective distaste they'd all shared for their father, Adrian. August cared, encouraged her to stay around the family even when she married into Varoche. He'd tried to involve her in things, yet, she turned it all away. No use in holding onto the past, yet the regret was such a bitter thing to swallow. Now she was just an aged woman with her grown children and so very few siblings left.

 

Emma received word that her father had passed. A moment of silence was given and mourning would commence.

[sergisala 3451]

"One of the finest men I have ever met." replied Father Marc in a small tavern in Salvo when asked about Lord Temesch. "During my stay in the Diocese of Lotharia I met many people but Lord Temesch was simply... different. He was always there willing to listen to you and help you every time you required it. Truly, an exceptional man." he said firmly, before proceeding to drink another glass of Helenian wine.

[MapleSunflower 1889]

10 minutes ago, Andustar said:

The Palatio Arancione fell silent, the flags mounted atop its spires falling to half-mast. They waved in remembrance of not only a great statesman and patriot, but a good man and close friend. John II had spoken with August shortly before he received the news; he was aware of the old Amiratus' declining health. Yet, his sudden death stunned the King, breaking the Stoic expression he often thought he had inherited from the Temesch.

"Old friend..." he muttered softly, sombre in tone.

 

Rare was the occasion that the King allowed his emotions to get the better of himself. He had learned through prior experience that impulsive displays were all too often a man's undoing. However, under these circumstances, he could not help but confine himself to his private chambers, entertaining none save his wife and children. With sorrow in his eyes, he gathered them around upon a soft carpet, eventually mustering a smile in recollection of fond memories.

"Come now, Lothar, Elias, Cassiel, Amadea. Let me tell you of my first Amiratus - my dearest friend, August Benedict Temesch."

 

King John II summoned their children, and the Queen of Balian leaned her head gently against his shoulder, finding solace from the steady warmth of his presence. Yet, she knew yet that his firm stature weighed heavily by the sorrow of loss. He began to tell a story, with one she knew all too well: the tale of August Benedict Temesch, a dear friend and the first Amiratus of his reign.

 

As she listened, a tear traced a silent path down Kathryn’s cheek, glistening in the soft light as John’s voice wove tender memories for their children. Her lips curved in a faint smile, though the tear carried the bittersweet ache of remembrance. Such a good man, she thought, gone from this world but welcomed into the home of GOD. She reached for John’s hand, their fingers intertwining in a silent assurance that he was not alone in his grief. His stories inspired, recounting the steadfast spirit of August Benedict, who faced challenges with unyielding perseverance, leaving a legacy that would forever echo in the hearts of the people of Balian.

[Wavey 2568]

A scarred Cardinal sat by the fireplace of his office within the Cathedral of the Holy Supernals. He had heard the news, the passing of a close friend not much older than him, yet much closer to him in thoughts and beliefs. 

He closed his eyes then, a sigh escaping his lips. His body still ached from the blessing of Saint Michael. Yet, he remained awake. 

"Your time nears, Does it not, son of Sigismund?" 

 

A smile formed upon the Cardinal's lips as he heard that voice within his mind. Was it Caius? Saint Michael? Or was it merely a figment of his imagination? 

"Perhaps. Unless Villorik is right." 

He then sat forward then, wincing from the burning sensation due to the movement of his body. He moved a bishop diagonally forward upon the porcelain chessboard. At the other side of the board was an empty chair; An empty chair once reserved for an old friend of the line of Temesch. 

"But I do miss playing one more game with him." 

[Phoebe202 1057]

2 hours ago, EmiliainWonderland said:

Austina, the sibling who had often stayed far out of the reach of the rest of them, seemingly content to be entirely removed from the Temesch family as a whole, sat with daughter Fiorenza @Phoebe202 clutching the missive. She frowned, shaking her head at the news. "I should've tried to be a part of their life more, I should've been a part of all of your lives more too. It was never their fault our father was such a piece of shit or that Paul ended up the way he did. I should've... no. There's nothing I can change now, all we can do is wish him peace. A shame you never met him, Fiorenza. He was... a good man. Perhaps the best Temesch of us all. Treated me with respect even when I had never returned that courtesy." And it was true, even with her terrible behavior in their youth, leading into her adulthood until she married Demetrio. Every bitter fight and word she'd thrown at her siblings, August seemed to be the only one who could ever truly put up with her behavior, stemmed from the collective distaste they'd all shared for their father, Adrian. August cared, encouraged her to stay around the family even when she married into Varoche. He'd tried to involve her in things, yet, she turned it all away. No use in holding onto the past, yet the regret was such a bitter thing to swallow. Now she was just an aged woman with her grown children and so very few siblings left.

 

Emma received word that her father had passed. A moment of silence was given and mourning would commence.

"But Mama, I did-a meet him, at-a ve wedding reception." Uttered the Countess of Dover, cradling her newborn son; the drapes and bedsheets of the courtly apartment where she convalesced had been blackened out of respect for the dead, end even moreso the living kindred who mourned. 

[HIGH_FIRE 5490]

Adriana sobbed at the news of her grandfather's passing, she was still too young to truly process what had happened but she knew she wouldn't see him again. However, perhaps one day she could follow his footsteps and his work. But alas, for now she simply wish to push down her brother's wooden brick castles. @cadazio

 

Spoiler

You did great stal and it was lovely to see you returned after we went around as marauding vikings way back when. I look forward to your tenure as King.

 

[Cheeseycereal 829]

Holding her daughter closely to her chest, the mother sobbed and sobbed. Though her cries were silent, she could not stop. Perhaps she had hoped for more time, her heart ached unbearably. @HIGH_FIRE

 

────────────

 

Staring up at the ceiling, her hands were folded atop her chest.

The lady could only frown, her gaze drifting toward his painting. His familiar face would never leave her memory. As his eldest daughter and successor, she bore a heavy burden on her shoulders. An infant’s wail echoed from another room, yet the mother laid still upon her new bed. A servant rushed through the house, but the silence remained suffocating.

 

“Could I have done better?” she muttered, shaking her head from side to side. She had hastened her wedding to ensure he could attend, was there more he could have seen before he died? He could have watched his grandchildren grow up, for God’s sake.

 

For now, she curled up on his bed as various calls echoed throughout the house. Clutching the frames of her mother and father close to her chest, she thought of everything she could have done differently, everything she could have done better.

[Lirinya 4021]

Cosima took to San Adriano alone, as always seemed to be the case, nowadays. Barely connected to her own son and his children, or her nieces and nephews. Ophelia had long since left the realm, as had Allerick. It had just been August.

 

Now he was gone, too.

 

She paced the halls of the keep slowly, each step drawing a creak from the floorboards as though she had disturbed some sort of peace. Housemagery tools remained enchanted, ensuring that there was no evidence of absence and yet, San Adriano reeked of it, now.

 

August had been her laughter- she hadn't been terribly close to her other siblings. He had helped her when she needed it most, to the point of where he took the burden of house head from her, when she struggled to battle the petty politics surrounding it all.

 

"He loved politics..."

 

She had told him all of her secrets, but he had never judged her once.

 

There were no tears, however. This called for something much more than surface level loss. It was a hole in her heart that he had left behind. She felt it, that emptiness when she recalled their childhood memories, or the times they had worked together, planned together, and fought to better Temesch as Adrian had wanted.

 

But at least she had seen him, one last time.

 

Spoiler

Best brother