sarahbarah

The Queen of Haense lays on the floor, nearly comatose from the amount of Carrion she had consumed.

AND NOBODY CHARGED All at once, time seemed to last forever yet pass in a blink. Queen Amaya - the White Flame of Haense, known as the Queen of the People to others - raised her blade just in time to parry a Veletzian spearpoint from her throat. She was only dimly aware of the vibrations that jolted her arm, just as the pain in her thigh from when she had fallen from her steed - Ember; she merely grit her teeth as adrenaline drove her sword up to swat aside the spear’s second pass. All around her, the battle raged in that timeless purgatory as dying screams and triumphant yells rang out. She could distinguish between the yells little more than she could make out her allies in the melee since she had been dismounted. No, she told herself as she raised her dented shield. No distractions. Her jaw tightened as she stared down the Veletzian spearman advance towards her, burgundy cloak whipping around his dirt-splattered daemonsteel mail. Under the faceguard of his helm, Amaya could see the gleam of intent in his eyes. He knows who I am. He … The spear shone in the southern sun as the Veletzian closed the distance. He’s coming to kill me - isn't he? In those fleeting moments. Amaya waited for the knot of fear in her stomach to form, but it never came, and it was not a cold sweat that beaded her forehead, but the sweat of exertion. The spearman blinked in surprise when Amaya pressed off her heels, and swiped her blade at his throat. Her foe fended off her strikes with ease, but the surprise in his eyes did not subside. He’s not the first to try, she reminded herself as she pressed her attack, and, with a bash of her shield, sent the Veletzian stumbling back. As the Veletzian brushed mud off his breastplate, she readied her shield once more. Even were she not out of breath and injured from when she fell from Ember, she knew she would have been no match for one of the elite reavers of Veletz, but she did not care. She would not yield to them. Nobody came. Where is your King? You are left to die. Those words - the words of her tormentors - rang in her head as she clutched her shield, and watched the Veletzian brandish his spear once more. Despite her best efforts, her breath quickened and her mind began to race. It took her a moment to realise the metallic chattering she heard as her own sword quivering in her grip, and her wide eyes flashed back to the opposing Veletzian spearman. He said nothing as the battle raged on all around them, but she still heard those heckles in her head. Nobody came. Nobody will come. She watched the spearman advance at a slow pace, confident in his supremacy, and with his spear ready to strike. Nobody came to save you. Nobody will come now. Nobody. She released a heavy breath as the spearman grew closer, bringing with him her certain death. If this is the end … she thought to herself as time seemed to ebb even slower. ... I tried my hardest. The sound of battle seemed to fade, replaced only by the clank of the Veletzian’s mail as he stepped forward. I fought with all I had. She had given her soul to this fight, from when she had fought in the streets of Valdev, when she had been captured, and when she had almost been executed. She had been afraid, then. But she was not afraid now. No - she would yield to their fear no longer. And so, from every fibre of her being, she drew every last vestige of strength - every last ounce her body had left to give - and she roared as she charged out to meet her foe. . . . But she never reached him. It was only when she felt warm, fresh blood on her face that she became aware of her surroundings once more. She had not seen the horse charging through the sprawling melee, nor had she noticed the pink-cloaked rider hurtling towards the Veletzian spearman. She only saw the moment where the rider plunged her lance into the spearman like a bolt of steel lighting, pinning him to the ground in a spray of blood and shattered daemonsteel. “Majesty!” Came the hoarse yell of Dame Rosalind atop her steed as she jerked her lance free from the Veletzian’s corpse. “Are you-” Amaya, however, never heard what followed. For while Dame Rosalind’s lips moved under her faceplate, her words were drowned out by a sudden all-encompassing rumble that rose up from behind her. As she turned to gauge the source of that deafening noise, she saw it. She saw ‘nobody’. The ‘nobody’ that her enemy had decried. Fifteen-thousand of them, their lances levelled, let out a primal bellow as their horses thundered against the bloodsoaked earth. They parted around Amaya like a flood, and their clamour even muted the panicked cries of the Veletzians as they were trampled under the hooves and lances of fifteen-thousand nobodies. Amaya sagged to her knees, and she felt warm tears of relief mingle with the blood on her face. Above the ceaseless tide of horsemen, she saw the blue-black banners of Hyspia, the maiden of Petra, the gleaming flags of Hohkmat, the burning Ashtree of Norland, the regal purple of Balian, the hammers of Urguan, the dragons of Aaun, the four-pointed star of Numendil, and the golden crow of Haense, streaming in defiant unison against the clear skies over Hippo’s Gorge. Her shoulders shook as she laughed and wept simultaneously as fifteen-thousand ‘nobodies’ charged, and slaughtered their foe to a man.

The Queen of the People, Amaya of Venzia, bows her head in prayer as she clutches a golden rosary betwixt her digits.

There the Queen sat atop her steed, a fire burning in her heart - as per her moniker, the White Flame. No longer did she fear. There was naught else to seek, only retribution; for her people and for her allies.

The Queen weeps into a handkerchief, overjoyed!

((On mobile but you made Eric blush LOL- merry christmas to you man, you have talent))

The Queen returned, safe and sound - with a surplus of Tuvmas sweaters she had knitted during her time in captivity. "Well, Timmy, I suppose you deserve a raise," she remarked to the Royal Fisherman - grateful for her friend's intervention.

The Queen whips up another batch of cocoa for Jerry - adding a plentiful helping of marshmallows and a Tuvmas present under the tree.

Amaya set aside the letter Veronica had written to her, gazing down at the river that encompassed Valdev's perimeter. Indeed, it was her life that Veronica wished to save, and the Queen cursed herself for her inability to swing faster during the fight, to save her comrade in turn. Still, there was naught to be done - for the war was not yet won. "I will fight, Veronica. For you, I will not rest - not yet." Someone was going to pay.

The Queen received the Cardinal's letter, scanning it with solemn eyes. It was true - the man did frighten her, for she knew he was capable of more than any mortal should be. Alas, he could rest with the other angels now. She folded the parchment and stowed it away for safe-keeping, eyes darting to the holy poleaxe he had gifted her thereafter. Amaya grabbed ahold of it, knowing the war was not over just yet.

NOVEMBER 2023 Another month passes and thus, the time for the monthly Player Appreciation post is nigh! This time, I’d like to highlight another awesome player who works extremely hard and contributes so much to Haense. Please join me in congratulating the player nominated for November 2023 :) @CyyanTea ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── “She's come into Haense after a long time and is loving it! She's engaging everywhere she can in RP and is doing a lot to try and get the courts active. She's open to talking & communicating etc.” - @Frostdrop1 “Cyan is an absolute GEM. Dhe’s always so active in the community and really tries to make it a welcoming space for everyone. She never fails to make me smile when i’m talking with her, and there could not be a more competent person to have taken over as chamberlain for me. I love you bestie, I still keep your autographed steak with me. <3” - @Cheese1sgrater “I love and adore you, Cyan. You work so hard and help me in any way you can, and have come through for me on multiple occasions. You are dependable, kind, and ambitious, and you manage to brighten up every space you enter, both IRP and OOC. Truly, you are someone I appreciate and admire, and I am extremely grateful to have met you. Don’t ever change! - @sarahbarah ”Cyan, I have not seen someone so kind, so driven, and so dedicated to their friends as you are. You are the pinnacle of what our community can offer not only in your roleplay but in how you carry yourself with friendliness and diligence to our community. Just as you are in Weiss - I couldn't imagine Haense without you. Thank you for being a friend not only to myself but to all who you have interacted with.” - @SethWolf913 “CyyanTea has always been a breath of inspiration when the going gets tough. From the ideas she contributes to the dedication she shows in making sure everything is running smoothly within our Queen's Court. It was a sight to see her work and put so much of her time into this wonderful little roleplay community, despite all she deals with in her life. It is that constant work that she has done that I feel she is so greatly deserving of this appreciation, for it inspires me to work even harder. Thank you for all you've done, Cyyan. And thank you for not only being a driving force for so many, but to me as well. You are one of the few individuals I can confidently say: you made me glad I stayed in LoTC this time around. “ - @ClatterCake

"This is our peace. We finish the fight." Amaya of Venzia wiped the blood off of her pink cape, donning it for battle once more.

Amaya Milena offers Banjo a cup of hot cocoa as he enters the tavern - it was, of course, the Queen's famous recipe!

Queen Amaya opts to frame the piece in her office, beaming.

"This is our peace." Bruised from the battle, Queen Amaya continued to sharpen her blade. The fire in her eyes never faded.

"The time is nigh! Strike fear!" The Queen of Haense cried, lofting a freshly polished sword. From that day on, she donned her pink cape, knowing well that it would be stained red by the end of the war.

Queen Amaya of Haense gazed upon the cosmos, hoping that Aleksandr would be able to explore the stars above, just as he promised to all those years ago. To see the moon rise above the clouds, to perhaps hold the stars in his very hands. One day, there would be peace. One day, they would have time. Time to explore the skies. Time to spend at the dinner table, in the ballroom, or anywhere else but the battlefield. But, today was not that day. Today, they had to fight. For their people and their Kingdom - for the peace of Man.

The Queen could not help but smile, brushing her fingers over the neatly written parchment. Brimming with pride, she sets off to pen the column’s author.

Queen Amaya of Venzia brandished her pink cape, returning to Valdev’s open gates with her sword sheathed. “I am home. Summon the courtiers — we will celebrate this victory.”

The Queen dried her tears, sniffling as she surveyed the ornate invitation with a proud smile. “My boy is all grown up. Where has the time gone?” She sighed wistfully. pressing the invitation to her heart as she set off to aid Nataliya with the fitting of her wedding gown.

“They will pay.” Queen Amaya uttered naught else as she sharpened her old sword.

Queen Amaya of Haense receives the parchment from a courier, and a coy - albeit proud smile crosses her lips. “We ought to play another board game soon, young Catherine. This time, I reckon you’ll be quite good at chess.”

Blearily, Queen Amaya rose from her slumber. She had slept beneath the stars in a humble tent that night; searching aimlessly for answers - perhaps from God himself - on the matter of this storm. The dream, albeit not the answer she desired, ignited a fire within. And so, she softly uttered a vow: ”I will protect them.”

On her holy pilgrimage, Queen Amaya receives a copy of the Golden Bull from her most loyal messenger bird. ”Godani bless the Pontiff,” she murmured. “We shall rally at his call.”

Amaya weeps as she hears her not-children-children are soon to be married!