Death of the Engine | Dissolution of a Duchy

[Hush 112]

 

Death of the Engine | Dissolution of a Duchy

 

 

The finding of such a thing within the city had been a shock. With being the ruler came the keys to passages and hidden rooms, secret caves under the roads, abandoned ruins beneath the city, hidden secrets in the former churches, and access to a massive engine deep inside the walls of the guard room. 

 

The giant thing, whatever it was, hummed as if it were alive with energy, magic flowing through it like it was thinking and making memories and plans. It was a monolith of creation, pipes and wires running in and out of the engine’s body, connecting to who knows where to do who knows what purpose. 

 

The axe was gripped heavily in their hand, made of wood more ancient than themselves, with a blade that had killed much greater things than this machine. 

 

With one single swing, the axe was raised before being brought down and silencing the humming roaring thing, a massive flash of light bursting forward as if it had been the lifeblood before the echo of gates falling and securing to the ground echoed throughout the city, barring it forever from those that would seek it dirtied.

 

 

The duchess walked through the palace of Anatis as the moon remained in the sky, the walls once echoing with laughter and the mumbles of human business now dormant and silent as they housed the city's final citizen. Gone were the children who once ran through the streets, the guards that would patrol the city, the nobles that once filled the royal court, and the many individuals that made up the city with so many names. Anatis had been lively once. Full of joy and life and happiness. But the betrayal changed much, and scared too many for them to continue to thrive.

 

Celia'dant made her way through the endless hallways before finally stopping to look at the window, the moon beaming down and filling the space she occupied briefly as if it were a sacred space, the border of light keeping her safe from whatever awaited her. She allowed a deep exhale to escape her as she thought of all the work she had not been able to finish. Of all the homes not furnished, of all the festivals not held, all the jousts not celebrated, and the markets left empty. But she knew this was for the best. 

 

Betrayal had scarred the land badly. Caused those within to leave or flee to other lands. She should have done the same; she knew so, and yet part of her had almost succeeded in bringing about a new age. The same part of her that she would be leaving behind in the city, so it could rest with its ghosts.

 

"Haelun!" A voice came, the last child of the city, the daughter of the duchess, ran down the hall towards her mother, her sack of belongings in one hand, while the other grabbed her mother's and tugged. "Maln said Uncle is here to help." The girl said as she pulled her mother's hand, her eyes focused on her mother's, a woman who had done so much to make her happy despite the decline of constance in her life in the past few years. And yet Mira'lean knew it was not out of Malice. The two loved each other. And even after everything, they would stand firm.

 

"Is he now?" Celia'dant asked, managing a smile as she looked at her daughter with light golden eyes that saw through the unlit darkness with ease. "Let's go see him then..." They walked together, then, hand in hand, their spares carrying, in one, books kept from old silver libraries and the other fiddling with small golden earrings her people looked down upon. 

 

They finally made it to the court, the duchess giving her throne of 6 years a gentle caress across the armrest where she had sat all but once to knight one of her old citizens, a human whom she still considered her greatest friend. The pair walked down the steps and through the grand hall, passing giant portraits of humans, both men and women, who had ruled before her. The gardens were quiet and still asleep, frogs and songbirds hidden away in their mud and nests without fear of being destroyed.  

 

All was quiet, all was calm. 

 

 

“And she graces us with her presence, joy! I am unworthy!" Lorandil opened his arms in approach, then lifting his wife and swinging her in a circle, eliciting a laugh from his Mayilun. They had married in this city, a far cry from the silver halls and grand ballroom they had originally planned to join in. "Should you not be displayed amongst your kin? A fallen star, blessed to my sight, but so far from home…" He smiled, unable to hide his mirth as Celia'dant pressed her lips to his cheek for a gentle kiss. 

 

"Hush now, none of that." The woman said as she went into the house and to some large crates still being filled. Many of these were stocked full with books, a fine joy of both man and woman. Some held carefully wrapped paintings and others held artifacts and tchotchkes from Celia'dant's life, starting from when she was a newborn babe to now at her full one-hundred-and-three years.

 

"Have Ignotus and Hymnal finished packing yet?" She called only for a loud thud to sound in one of the many floors below, a grunt of pain signaling her that her cousin had likely tripped. "Clearly not."

 

"I'm okay!" A strained voice came as yet another High Elf appeared from the lift to the basement, holding far too many weapons for the pair of men that lived in the lower floors. "Ignotus is working on grabbing his herbs."

 

Celia'dant smiled and moved forward through the house, checking to see what else needed to be packed. In the bathroom she wrapped towels around bottles of perfume and containers of soap while curtains were folded neatly and placed in smaller boxes.

 

In Mira's room, now empty aside from the layout of the room, Celia'dant walked to the back where a second child's bed was. Here, Celia'dant had meticulously planned a room for her second child. Soft yellow blankets and little toys. All for a boy she had planned to have until the war had become too much.

 

Mira walked in and grabbed the last of her books, a knowing look in her eyes as she watched her mother before leaving her to her silence.

 

Upstairs, in the bedroom, Lorandil was busy with packing as well, wrapping up small personal items and storing his jeweler tools in his bag when he heard the creak of the lift and turned to his wife.

 

“I have nearly finished. I left your things be." He said, receiving but a nod as his gorgeous Mayilun walked around and to her side of the bed, picking up her spear, carved from a dark blue wood with a crescent-shaped swefle making up the end like the moon. A short silence followed, betraying that he’d halted in his stride. A glance would have noticed his sunken posture, head bowed to the lift. “I am sorry. What for, I do not know, but I know it is my fault.”

 

No other words were shared. They both knew of her sadness. The grief of failure, the knowledge that future endeavors would not be as forgiving or as in their favor as things once were, it all weighed so heavily she should have been crushed. Long had they suffered, their silver lineage void after the catalyst that was the Silver Massacre in Idunia. 

 

Yet they were stronger now, learned and ready for whatever else they may face. Their family would rise however many times it took ‘til peace was theirs at last.

 

 

As they all finally left, the family of high elves to their new home, the newly risen sun stretched just above the walls of the now empty city. The rays of light stretched through the streets and paths and any windows left open. 

 

As the family walked down the road, a single ray seemed to focus on Celia'dant as she took up the back of the small pale caravan, warming her blonde and white curls and the tips of her long ears. It was not harsh, but it was not gentle either, like a guiding hand pushing her forward as if to say her work was over now.

 

When the group was about to round the corner of the road, Celia'dant had stopped, standing still and looking back at the tall orange and white towers with their blue tops, the sun now illuminating her front, light bouncing off as if she were a reflective sheen. She felt a presence behind her and turned to see her cousin standing so near, his expression somber and tired, usually off-white hands slightly pink from the stress of carrying heavy boxes. 

 

They shared the silence and waited longer till the sun was above the city. It looked beautiful, reminding her of when she had first arrived in the city, leaving Cerulia to be with her family that always seemed to be one city ahead of her.

 

"You were wonderful, lari’maronn." Hymnal said, smiling as the city almost seemed to glow, remembering the massive tree grown into the foundation of her home there. "They couldn't have asked for better."

 

She had given everything to lead the city. Risked her alliances, lost friends, being threatened and sword point and much more simply because of where she lived and the crimes she had never committed. "I suppose it's best this way." She said, finally turning to walk towards where her husband and daughter were waiting as Hymnal nodded and, in a rare moment of connection, placed his hand on her shoulder.

 

"Rest now, Celia'dant. You've done well.”

 

 

It is on this day, 11th of Malin's Welcome of 276 that I, Celia’dant Ana’halrae, Duchess of Anatis, officially write into record the dissolution of Anatis in its entirety for the sake of the protection of the citizens. I order all homes to be evacuated, all shops emptied and closed, and all remaining villagers to leave their farms and the vassal in its entirety.

 

Go with grace and be safe, wherever you may end up, in this era of conflict and new experiences. And know that I am thankful to have been the one to wish you well.

 

 

Respectfully penned, 

Celia'dant Ana'halrae, Duchess of Anatis,

The Pale Lady, White Star of the South, The Last Ruler of the Anatis
 

 

Spoiler

 

Hello! It’s with a heavy heart that I’ve decided to shut down Anatis. I made this decision after seeing everything happening around us and decided it would be best to dissolve the city. It’s unfortunate because of the war that a lot of Southern vassals and communities have died out and many more have had their roleplay severely altered. 

 

Anatis was, for what it’s worth, an incredible experience and remains to this day one of my favorite vassals I’ve ever gotten the privilege of living in. I’m grateful to those who welcomed me into the city and the memories I got to make alongside so many incredible players. It’s unfortunate how things ended, especially with how shitty of a hand I was dealt which meant I wasn’t able to do nearly half of what I had initially been planning. 

 

The city was “given” to me after a lot transpired very quickly. Titles were given and taken, the city changed around too fast, a lot happened behind the scenes that caused a lot of drama, and yet somehow we survived for a little longer than anyone could have expected. 

 

I’m grateful for the opportunity given to me to be a leader. I got to host some events, I did some cool rp, made some awesome friends, and I got stabbed a few times. In the end I’m so happy to be leaving the city like this rather than putting it in a state where people are forcibly driven out.

 

When it comes to why I’m actually stepping down is part of another reason. Early in 2026 I got diagnosed with a series of medical issues of the cardiac variety. This caused a lot of stress on me physically and with the warclaim stuff I no longer felt as if I could faithfully lead the city, especially after the in-city drama that led to us essentially only having 3 citizens left, all of which I hold very dear to my heart. I was very stressed out and this led to me having to deal with a number of surgeries, tons of medication, and far too many examinations. But I’m happy to say that after my next surgery I’ll be in the clear and should live the rest of my life with a relatively healthy heart. 

 

Is this a surrender? No. My one goal was to either leave with the city or go down fighting, and this is a more graceful exit than I could have hoped for. I’m happy that I got to end on a high note and I’m happy that this gave me so much experience and has inspired me to do more once I’m back from my surgery. 

 

Again, thank you to everyone who helped me, many of you stepped down very soon after the whole drama and yet your support behind the scenes kept me more motivated than you can imagine. I hope those who stuck by me aren’t disparaged by my leaving or stepping down and get to experience their own stories in LotC with just as much enthusiasm. 

 

Thank you all for reading, take care, and be kind to one another.

 

- Orchaedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 13 by Hush

[Yeetboy0206 1574]

Maddock Tam gathered his family and took them to move out. The dream was broken. The man would never be the same again.

The only real home he ever had...was now taken from him. All he had left was his wife and children, and he'd be DAMNED if they were taken too.

[Navigator 4260]

"May it rot."

Nafis drawled. What was this bittersweet feeling? The Greyes had robbed him of vengeance by moving into the Empire. Now this Elf had robbed him of reclamation via dissolution. The aspiring Inquisitor bit back further comments, returning to his task. 

[Cheese 8880]

A young Baroness spared the courier who delivered the missive to her a glare. "Why do you keep bringing these to me? I do not care what they do with their miserable, desperate lives." - "Whatever they choose to replace it with will fall just as quickly."

 

Anastasia scoffed as she meandered down the halls of Cascanova, recalling the short-lived legacies that overshadowed what should have been hers. Lotharia, Perduan, Beleth, Anatis. "If only they had listened to Pa and Grandmother when they told them so."

[Onion 246]

Onion awoke. Her body aching from resting on a cold stony ground. Her movements echoed in her cavernous dungeon. A small candle sat upon a small table and lit up the space around her beyond the light only darkness... she looked at the table and saw a missive placed there. 

"Oh- Maybe Ser Rots alot checked my mail for me. " Her chains extended far enough for her to reach the missive. She then scanned it.

"Oh dear... My poor Marzi...I hope Ser Duncan is taking good care of her. You tried Celia'dant that's all that matters. "

Her stomach growled. "I wonder if it's its lunch time ...." 

 

 

[Spellblades 749]

Memories flashed through Aelyn's mind upon receiving the missive; the blood most of all clouded his mind. He grew up in Lotharia when he was younger. It was a haven away from the torment he constantly faced in the Empire. When he was told of the original coup, he followed out of sure obligation. In Truth he never wished harm upon those of the ruling house.

"What's this?" Aelyn said as a bird landed on his shoulder, handing him the missive that ended it all.

"May everyone involved find peace under GOD's Light,"  The Elendari muttered, turning to prayer.

[Ambitious 71]

 Daevos read over the missive as he pursed his lips "Rest in peace" He said to himself thinking of the great times he had in Perduran with the people he loved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

[M3ster0fpuppets2 38]

As Marzipan lifted their belongings into a small backpack. Marzi thought back to their time in Anatis, 

how much fun it had been over the years... And how fast it fell. For the first time they moved there Marzi felt true sadness, not the fear type... The sadness of losing something that felt more than just a home.

 

Hopping on the back of their steed, Marzi looked at Anatis’s gates for the final time, lifting their right hand and saluting it as best as they knew how to before kicking the side of the horse.

 

 
“Thank you Anatis for the experience” they chirped, riding off to who knows where. But they will never forget this place. Not in a million years. but now they must focus on other things.

 

 

 

Oocly: Thank you so much for the great time I had in Anatis, the community was great and I love how much effort everyone put into it. It saddens me it fell so quickly and it never got to rise again but Marzi and I enjoyed it while it lasted!

Now Ima focus on Marzi’s redemption arc in finding Onion :D 

 

 

Edited March 13 by M3ster0fpuppets2

[Inkthorn 1433]

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