[PK] The End of a Dragon

[Chronics 482]

 

 

I can still hear the servants moving about, whispering outside the door again. They think im asleep- or already gone.

I used to walk these halls with command in my step. Duke, Count, Baron… titles seem to feel like dust now.

I can still feel the shape of her hand in my own, Laurelie. My wife, My Dragon, I never found her, I merely had the letters you left behind smudged by rain or tears, maybe both

Mother never forgave me, I never asked her to again. Maybe I should have.

It's strange what comes back in these moments. Not glory, not victory, just the scent of my old home, the smell of the flowers around Sunholdt, the way my Mother used to call me dearest before she learned to hate what I’d become.

I often still wonder how my children will do without me. I suppose I turned out alright, still I hate to leave them in such a dire time. Peter will do well, I'm sure of it, he has already made me so proud.

 

The coughing has stopped. That should scare me. But it doesn't, it just means the fight is nearly over.

 

My chest doesn't rise like it used to. Each breath is a guest overstaying its welcome.

 

Still… I wish I’d seen her one last time. Told Mother I was sorry once more, to make sure she knew I still loved her.

Maybe in whatever comes next.

 

Maybe-
───────────────────────────────
Upon the Death of Achillius d'Arkent a letter was released to his eldest son and Heir Peter d'Arkent
 

Spoiler

 

Peter, if you are reading this, that means only one thing, your time has come to lead our House. All of my titles, holdings, etc, shall go to you. With all my belongings, you are to divvy up whatever each of your siblings wants within reason. I know you will do well, my precious boy. You were born for greatness, to be a Dragon, spread your wings, and take flight.

 

 

 

[Cheese 8899]

Esfir was in a meeting. She was bored, of course, and just as irritated with the dealings of business. A courier awaited a moment, and when she saw them, a sigh of relief was exhaled. Another appointment to free her from the current holdings. When her current meeting was dismissed, the servant was beckoned over. With shaking hands, they offered the Emeritus Duchess the news.

 

She read it once. It didn't make sense. She read it again. What? A third time. Achillius's name. Achillius Artemisio d'Arkent. That was the name Esfir gave him, her eldest son. But what else was this? Sick? Dead? That couldn't be. That wasn't right.

 

"What...-- is the meaning of this?" Esfir rasped. Her hands shook. Her voice trembled. Tears were brimming. Her head snapped to the unfortunate courier who delievered the news, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN MY SON IS DEAD?!"

 

Achillius was just a boy. He wasn't sick, he wasn't old. He was just a child, round and energetic, who looked like his father. He was the heir to Salia, the heir to something just as great as the d'Arkent dynasty Esfir had built for him. He was-

 

-Gone.

Achillius had left his position on the Duana. He had left Sunholdt, and Salia. He had left Lotharia. He had left his health and youth in the past

He left Esfir.

 

The wail echoed out through the halls of Lotharia; the wails of a mother who had been robbed of her son; the wails of a Duchess robbed of her prodigy and successor; the sobs of Esfir, who had been robbed of her Achillius.

 

If only she hadn't shouted at him that day. If only she hadn't let him leave.

If only she hadn't left.

 

But now, he was dead. Words were unspoken, wounds never remedied. Achillius Artemisio d'Arkent had departed, and Esfir Artemisia d'Arkent, left behind, could never make right the hereditary rift between parent and child.

 

Spoiler

Thank you for having played Achillius, Chronics. It was a joy to have you in the family and we all wish you luck in whatever you do next!!!

 

[JudgeTrudy 610]

Whenever the news broke to Lukas von Theonus of the distant lord's passing, he would say a prayer for the d'Arkent family. He had only met the man once, at a feast three years prior, but he had exuded an energy of power and dedication to his family. It had been obvious at the gathering in Vissingren, that the d'Arkents valued familial bond, and Lukas respected that, at the absolute least. The young nobleman would do his best to make sure his father was made aware of this news, and so maybe some words of condolences on behalf of Haus von Theonus before the departure from Aevos, if ever possible, could be sent to the d'Arkent family.

 

Spoiler

Really did only get to meet this guy once, but he seemed real neat!

Also @MrGarden, you have been mentioned in this reply!

 

[The Vulgate Cycle 578]

The news had taken Arthur by surprise. The last time they had spoken, he seemed healthy, he seemed okay. So, he was just left baffled for a while, pacing the deck of one of his ships. A barrage of questions bombarded his mind- did he get sick? did some darkspawn get him? regret? something he missed? So many people had died in his life. But this was the first time it had ever been one of his family. 

 

The Marsyr still remembered the first time he met Achillius, in Sunholdt. He had convinced Tereza to take a chance and face her family for the first time in years. And it had gone poorly. So... so poorly. He remembered having to throw Achillius on his own butt. Though now, after all this time, that bad memory had become something of a funny hiccup in their relationship. And now he was gone and the pain of that felt like a knife digging into his gut.

 

Arthur gathered his strength to tell his wife and got ready to send a letter to Peter, he would make the same promise to him that he had made to Achillius and all the rest.

Edited September 16, 2025 by The Vulgate Cycle

[Itz_Cookie 1974]

      No matter how hard she tried Karla von Theonus had never found peace, or much comfort within the walls of Vohenheim. Despair had always managed to claw its way past the towering, stone walls she hid behind. She hadn't known Achillius well, or much at all besides a few fleeting interactions; but she knew his son. Peter d'Arkent had been her closest friend, and the death of parent was no easy one to grieve.
      Knelt beneath the moonlight, at the tomes that held past members of the Theonus household, Karla prayed for the d'Arkent family; for the man who had passed, for his children, and for the man who was now to shoulder the weight of newfound duty. 


 

Spoiler

Only had a few interactions, but hopefully hb will be at Karla and Peter's wedding in spirit (peacefully heh...) 

 

[xDisarray 553]

Ser Aurellius Greye found himself bringing his and his families belongings onto a ship, sweating as the hot desert sun beamed down on him. He paused a moment, taking a break as he instructed his son to take over.

 

In the meantime, a citizen within Lotharia approached Aurellius, “Achillius has passed? Do net joke with me…” A parchment was passed to him, his eyes widened in horror as he read each word on the page. 
 

Another friend, gone - just like that.

 

Aurellius didn’t quarrel with Achillius when he left Lotharia, he held no grudge or no ill feelings towards the man he considered a friend. 

 

All those memories in Balian of the two, leading side by side in the Regiment, fighting alongside each other and also sharing friendly memories. 
 

Why must Aurellius be the last one standing? He wonders when it will finally be his turn, so he may join his friends, wherever they may be…

 

“Rest well, friend.“

[Spellblades 754]

The now ghostly Warrin Kolbeck heard the news from a citizen in Lotharia, remembering his time in the Regiment, the man did not cry for his former commander. He wished him well up there in the skies, lamenting that he could not join him when his time came again, knowing he was destined for a lower place. "Rest, you deserve it, friend." He did one last regimental salute before vanishing to find another person on his list.