LADY TRUTHFUL | Soured Plans

[LADY TRUTHFUL 277]

Spoiler

ALL IN CHARACTER LETTERS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE INBOX OF THIS ACCOUNT.

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Much love, the Lady Truthful team.
 

TRANSCRIPT:

 

Hail dear Readers,
Might you be finished washing the blood out of your betrothed's tabards? I carry no weapon of war, but my quill carries a lethal sharpness that will land a particularly malignant blow. Battles full of gore and ash have ended momentarily in our Empire, though be forewarned, it should be a war full of gossip and hearsay that will truly frighten you. I bring plenty of such, as always, that will fuel the temptations in order to begin our crusades. I do apologize for my late publishing, though I am sure we are all in mourning due to the late Emperor’s recent passing. With the end of the war, the universe brought forth the end to his soul. It is the beginning of a new era, one that I shall unravel for all courtiers to partake in. Ready up your swords and ensigns, this author is prepared to go for blood.

 

OF SOUR STOCK

Many believe that it is a battlefield where blood is shed the most, but it is rather noble keeps where unfortunate fates lie to rest in eternal slumber. As of recent, the House of Helvets has faced much misfortune. Be it Avaline the Witch or Leonardo the Imperial Traitor, the family seems to produce nothing but show ponies of sour stock. This would spread even into those marrying themselves into the family, such as the Baroness Regent Susanna Helvets, who sports that of a tartish attitude.

 

While this author sends her condolences to this grieving mother for the loss of her child, the state of her disposition certainly did nothing to help that of her sickly child. The illness that overtook the young Helvets was said to ‘originate from foreign livestock’, though I’d gather this ailment perhaps originated from something further up on the family tree. With the young heir dead, the future of their house falls into the hands of the young Dorothea Magdalena Helvets. Perhaps Susanna ought to be kinder to her daughter, so that she does not fall to the same fate as her elder brother. Mothers with tendencies to treat their children poorly seem to be a theme within our Imperium.

 

LADIES-IN-WAIT

Alongside negligent mothers, the unmarried women who advance in age seem desperate to finally tie the knot in our Imperium. It has come to this author’s attention that a certain Margery of Ves, lady-in-waiting to our dear Empress Valentina, is a desperate one indeed. It seems she is going as far as to send a letter to Her Imperial Majesty to request aid for her help in her pursuit of a husband. Akin to that of an untrained archer, it seems that her hunt for game is still going poorly.

 

Would it be brave of this author to assume women have taken a similar route in seeking our beloved empress’ help? Her Majesty might seem to be a considerable matchmaker, but wasting her time with such frivolous demands only solicits a yawn from this author’s mouth. True scandalous romance has escaped our modern culture in the Empire of Man, leaving only old doddering maidens to strive towards easy methods of navigating the marriage market. I certainly wouldn’t go to Empress Valentina for courtship guidance, but do as you will, courtiers of our beloved Imperium.
 

GOING OUT WITH A BANG

Our Imperium is blessed to have many social events for those young and old to gather amongst themselves, those often taking place in the imperial place. After such a long time at war, perhaps it might’ve been nice to have a moment of peace and security! However, the Salvians had different plans in mind for the evening spent at the explosive Victor’s Promenade Ball, hosted by the people’s princess, Eirene of Myrine. Children frolicked along the dancefloor and the couples began their waltz, an eve to remember. All was well until a glass bottle was tossed towards the middle of the ballroom, aiming straight for Prince Hannibal and his prancing posse of courtiers! Regardless of pedigree, adults drew their weapons and sought out a march with steel and blood.

 

All was somber for a short while, that is until the late Emperor Hadrian’s funeral and the feast following after. With the clash of a potion aiming for the Imperial family, it was none other than the very same party of Salvian bandits that attacked once again! This author wonders how something so horrid could happen twice in only two saint’s days—if not for perhaps a spy amongst our court? Keep your friends close, though your enemies closer, the darkness is prepared to strike at any given moment. It takes trusting the wrong ally for everything to turn over on itself.

 

Try to not shake from paranoia, my dear readers, the quiver in your palms will only get worse. If your hands continue to tremble, how else will you hold this pamphlet still in order to keep reading? Nevertheless, my quill continues to write—however ghastly and crude the Imperium may think of my scribing. We shall meet again, my dearest readers. Perhaps under better circumstances than these? Try not to find yourself hidden in a darkened alley, for I or perhaps even the Salvians could be lying in wait to devour you whole. Of course, this author’s penned ink will come to terrify you more than any simple blast potion.

Ave Hadrian I, Ave Imperium.

Fare thee well,
Lady Truthful
 

 

Spoiler

 

[Kabaffahp 566]

Lady Theodora Devereux, who was born a Helvets, held her youngest close beside her as she read over the paper with an exasperated sigh. The memories of the last hurtful words shared with her eldest sister stayed burned in the back of her mind, as did the last letters between her, Avaline, and Leonardo, which gathered dust in the back of her vanity. "I did not expect this to be spoken of again after so many years"

[sarahbarah 7105]

A young courtier perused the publishing with a dour, bandaged expression. Thrice had she been mentioned by name in these pamphlets. Her brow quirked at that newly acquired epithet - the people's princess - and huffed out a dry, weary laugh. Thereafter, Eirene tucked away the pamphlet from prying eyes, folding it into the worn pages of some book she'd read many times before. 

[MunaZaldrizoti 8037]

The tartish Baroness of Owynsburg would find herself in great distress...

 

If only she partook in such lowly and conniving gossip. Alas for that author, the Lady Helvets oft kept to her ledgers and letters and the business now pressed upon her by the illness of her father. In her mourning, none would dare to even speak of such a publication in her presence.

 

That evening, in the privacy of Montfort Manor, she read to her only daughter the tale of Lureline. With hope, the darkness of Foltest's death would pass with time...or distraction.

[kuerbis 3802]

Valentiná opened and closed her mouth open receiving the first paper that didn't necessarily paint her in a bad light. That Empresses eyes came to a slight squint, her mind appears to rattle. For minutes, she remained in her silence, which might just put her ladies-in-waiting ill at ease. Upon turning to them, her jaw tensed, eyeing each and every one of them with some slight amount of suspicion. Was this letter misplaced by her or had someone taken it? 

...

...

...

 

"How did they get my mail?"

@milkyi@Cheese@Phoebe202@ydegirl

[garentoft 9265]

"Oh. Hey Dory, they mentioned you," said Duncan to his cousin, Dorothea, showing her the missive. @Divinational

[Suxals 529]

A man with a prominent jaw folded the parchment In two as he moved on to more important matters. "There are few things as hilarious as the squabbles of petty nobles, I hope they never find you, Lady Truthful."

[MrMojoMordor 2413]

17 hours ago, LADY TRUTHFUL said:

OF SOUR STOCK

Many believe that it is a battlefield where blood is shed the most, but it is rather noble keeps where unfortunate fates lie to rest in eternal slumber. As of recent, the House of Helvets has faced much misfortune. Be it Avaline the Witch or Leonardo the Imperial Traitor, the family seems to produce nothing but show ponies of sour stock. This would spread even into those marrying themselves into the family, such as the Baroness Regent Susanna Helvets, who sports that of a tartish attitude.

The Squire, Witold-Leszek HELVETS Jagellion is not big on gossip yet he burrows his brow.

 

First his uncles and cousins from his more royal lineage marry Voidal Constructions & work with darkspawn. Now the distant non-Petran relatives of the Helvets side find trouble continuously.

 

The boy worries - is his family lineage cursed or something?

[BurberLord123 375]

The Salvian would write out a manifesto, along with an accompanying poster, locking it in a tube and sending it by bird to Lady Truthful. 

The Triad Colors of Salvo were put onto the paper, by means of a wax seal . . .

[ydegirl 2357]

Margery excused herself from the presence of Valentina, eyes swelling up with boiling tears that stained her face in the halls. It was not a demand -- simply a request, a plea, perhaps. Later in the day, in the confines of her home, Margery stared at her face - she wasn't that old yet? Right? Twenty-six is still young for a woman of common birth -- is it not? Had she been lied to?

 

A woman's words, one of the noble stock she so desperately desired to be a part of as a kid, rang through her ears: Marriage is not everything.

 

But family is, Margery countered, throwing a quilt over the warped mirror.