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THE MONARCHS OF BALIAN A Completed Study and Report of the Past, Present, and Future Monarchs of the Kingdom of Balian Written, Updated, and Edited By: Lord Casimir Marius Vilac 一 The Monarch of Balian, is the absolute ruler and authoritative figure in the Kingdom of Balian. The only authority higher than the Crown is GOD. The Monarch has the final say in all matters of state and has no equal in legal power. In order to effectively rule, the Monarch of Balian elects a Duana, originally known as the Ducal Chamber, which is a small, trusted group of individuals that carry out specific tasks in the governance of Balian. The Duana contains the Constable, Legate, Domus Ministri, Magister, Procurator, Palatiodora, and Amiratus. The Amiratus, or Chief Minister, is the King’s personal advisor and the penultimate authority within the Kingdom. The Amiratus also manages and runs the Duana. The Monarch of Balian is never seen far away from their Consort. All Queen-Consorts and Prince-Consorts thus far have been of noble lineage, hold considerable sway in matters and help run the kingdom effectively. Note that they do not have equal power to the Monarch. The current ruling family in Balian is House Novellen. Once the Imperial House in the Holy Orenian Empire, the remnants marched South after the Brother’s War and founded the Grand Duchy of Balian under King John I. House Novellen has existed since 1753, after the Union between Joseph I and Anne I, and has a strong future ahead of it. 一一一一一一一一一一 I King King John I of Balian John Casimir Novellen 1817-1900 | 21 B.A. - 33 B.A. | 1867 - 1900 @Imperium Consort: Gwenyth of Karosgrad Children: Alexander I, King of Balian, Princess Royal Constantia Irene Novellan, Princess Augustina Therosia Novellen, Countess of Salia, Prince Constantine Antonius Novellen, Archduke of Petra, Princess Persephone Maxima Novellen-Vilac John Casimir, or John I, was the first King of Balian and the only Grand Duke of the Grand Duchy of Balian. Born in 1817 in the Holy Orenian Empire under the reign of Philip II, he was the second son of Prince Philip Aurelian Novellen, the Heir Apparent of the Empire. The early years of John I were unremarkable, to say the least, and he fell into the background, as he was never meant to rule. But rule, he did. Growing up as a member of the Imperial Household, John Casimir had access to the finest education and became proficient in a multitude of fields, including Military Command, Politics, Economics, and others. However, he had a remarkable prowess for militarism, as was shown in the later years of his life. When the War of the Wigs erupted between Oren and Urguan, John served alongside his brother, Philip III, and fought in numerous battles, including the Siege of Haverlock and the Battle of Lower Petra, two major victories for the Imperials. Soon, though, the golden years of the Holy Orenian Empire came to a close after the tragic deaths of John’s brother, Philip III, and his wife. When the Brother’s War erupted between Prince Frederick Novellen and Peter IV, John sided with the Imperialists. After a decisive battle in New Providence, Peter IV is slain, and John Casimir rallies what little remains of the Imperialist forces. Facing utter defeat from the Royalists, John leads the remnants south, following the Star of Saint Lothar. Crossing oceans and wandering through deserts, John Casimir eventually landed upon a mount, which was named Monterosa. There he declared the formation of a new nation, the Grand Duchy of Balian, and the construction of a new city, Atrus. With the help of his consort, Gwenyth of Atrus, John I built up the city of Atrus and led the Orenian remnants in creating a new haven for all. Still, the new Balianese found backlash and heartache from the original inhabitants of the land: the Nashifah Confederacy. In what would become known as the War of the Ruffians, the Grand Duchy of Balian, alongside their Norlandic and Hyspian allies, fought against the Nashifah and secured their foothold in the southern deserts of Almaris. In the aftermath of the war, John continued to develop the Grand Duchy of Balian, implementing the Ducal Chamber and other changes. The Grand Duchy and its citizens flourished in the desert, and soon it would no longer be a Grand Duchy but a Kingdom. Finally, in 21 B.A, John Casimir Novellen is crowned King John I of Balian, beginning his twelve year reign as King. His Queen-Consort, however, became more absent, shying away from the public. Though the two remained loyal till the end of their days, the public rarely saw the Queen-Consort. So much so that it was assumed she perished. John I, unwavering, continued to develop the Kingdom of Balian, issuing land permits to the noble houses. Finally, in 1900, 33 B.A., John I fell ill and became bed-ridden alongside his loyal wife, Gwenyth Anaystasia. John I continued to try and govern the Kingdom alongside his Royal Chamber, but it was in vain. It was the royal couple’s time to depart. The Queen-Consort passed on, and in the very next hour, the reign of John I, First King and Grand Duke of Balian, came to an end. 一一一一一一一一一一 II King King Alexander I of Balian Alexandros Casimir Novellen 1861-1921 | 33 B.A. - 54 B.A. @Shmeepicus Consort: Yelena of Marsana Children: Adrian I, King of Balian, Prince Alexios Michael Novellen, Count of Pavano, Princess Royal Elena Casimira Novellen de Lyons, Countess of Rosemoor, Princess Lydia Antheia Novellen, Countess of Caluzzo Alexandros Casimir Novellen, more commonly known as Alexander, was the firstborn child of John I and Gwenyth of Atrus. Born in 1861 in the Holy Orenian Empire, under the reign of Philip III, his childhood was a tumultuous one, filled with wars and violence. Living through near back-to-back wars, Alexander never had the childhood a child deserves. At the age of only 7, Alexander and his father, John I, led the Imperialist remnants south to rebuild after the loss of the Brother’s War. After establishing the Grand Duchy of Balian atop Monterosa, Alexander began to adapt to his new life in the South. During his teen years, it was common to see Alexander training with the Company of Balian among its officers. While he never officially took up rank within the Balian military, it was noted that he displayed remarkable proficiency with the bow on horseback. Some may say that Alexander’s training with the Company may have saved his life on numerous occasions. Alexander continued to participate in various skirmishes and battles as the Grand Duchy of Balian maintained its foothold in the South. He fought alongside John I in the War of the Ruffians, helping to secure multiple decisive Balian victories. At a young age, Prince Alexander began to develop feelings for Yelena Lorena vas Ruthern. Yelena had grown up much like Alexander in the shadows of the Brother’s War and retreated to Balian alongside the rest of the Imperialist remnants. As the pair grew closer in the Grand Duchy, they both fell in love and were wed in 1882. Alexander continued to help with the ruling of Balian, standing in for his father when needed. When the Kingdom of Balian was formed, Alexander took on the role of heir apparent, not to a Grand Duchy but to a kingdom. A king to be. Following the death of King John I in 33 B.A., Alexandros Casimir Novellen ascended the throne as King Alexander I of Balian, thus beginning a twenty-one year reign. In many ways, Alexander’s reign was marked by peace, justice, and prosperity. After the chaos of his childhood and the chaos that befell the Orenian Empire, Alexander led the kingdom of Balian into an era of opulence. That is, until tales of a vile beast began to spread around the continent. A name that made even the strongest of knights tremble in fear. Cloudbreaker. Thus began one of the largest mobilization efforts in the history of Almaris. A war against the dead was about to be waged. As the forces of Iblees began to enact terror on the land, the soldier King led the charge against it. Alongside his Duana, Princess Lydia Antheia, and Seneschal Ledicort Vuiller, a covenant was drafted that was named The Atrus Covenant. In one of the most spectacular accomplishments of the Kingdom of Balian, for the first time in what seemed like decades, the descendants were united. From Urguan to Vortice to the Iron Horde, a united front was built with the singular goal of slaying the undead. And so, the day came. The sky above Atrus darkened, and the crackling of crimson lightning was seen throughout the desert. The Atrus Covenant stood ready to defend the city. As the siege began, that vile beast was spotted—a cruel, imposing skeleton of what once might have been a majestic being. Undead flesh hung from the wings and bones of the creature. Teeth the size of longswords lined its jaw, ready to crush a man in seconds. The drake flew towards Atrus, and the fight began. The soldier King stood with his men and even his children, organizing the effort to destroy the evil Cloudbreaker. The Atrus Covenant fought tooth and nail against the undead until, finally, victory was achieved and Atrus was saved from annihilation. King Alexander I had slain a dragon. Despite the incredible feat of killing the undead, Alexander became known for more than just fighting. After the events of the Siege of Cloudbreaker, the soldier King became no more. Instead, he began a dream. A dream that is shared by his son and heir, Hadrian. The dream of Pax Humanis. Even towards the end of Alexander’s rule, when the Adrian rebellion took place, he never wavered in his dream of peace. In the waning hours of his reign, Alexander I formed a new covenant, or a League. The Canonist League was formed, uniting much of humanity under one banner. As he grew older, Alexander came down with a terrible disease, much like his father. For two years, Alexander’s son Hadrian and Gaius var Ruthern ran the kingdom. Night befell the Palatio Monterosa in Atrus. Tales began to circulate within the palace that Alexander’s time had come. As his children and close relatives were called up to his room, it became clear what was happening. One by one, the visitors came and went, saying their goodbyes to their King. And as his chest fell still, King Alexander I, ‘the Just,’ of Balian joined his brother, mother, and father. 一一一一一一一一一一 III King King Adrian I of Balian Hadrian Casimir Novellen 28 B.A. - 89 B.A.| 54 B.A. - 89 B.A. @ErikAzog Consort: Andromeda of Ba’as Children: Princess Johanna Casimira Novellen, Princess of Monterosa, Heir Apparent to Balian, Prince Alexander Casimir Novellen, Count of Pontazuro, Sybille I Queen of Balian, Countess of Senna, Princess Eirene Daria Novellen, Countess of Caluzzo, Prince Michael Marcellus Novellen Hadrian Casimir Novellen, also known as Adrian, was the firstborn child of King Alexander I of Balian and Yelena of Marsana. Born in 1895, Hadrian Casimir Novellen lived a relatively peaceful life throughout his childhood, quite the opposite of his father. During the Siege of Cloudbreaker, he and his sister, Lydia, took up arms against the beast and the undead. As Hadrian aged, he became more interested in the arts of alchemy, taking various lessons and learning a variety of skills, becoming one of the most skilled alchemists in the Kingdom of Balian. During his teenage years, the Prince became acquainted with the newly arrived Princess Andromeda of Ba’as. A striking and elegant figure, Andromeda quickly made a name for herself within the Kingdom and on Hadrian. Approving of the match, King Alexander I of Balian announced in a missive the eventual marriage between Hadrian and Andromeda, which was scheduled for the year 1920, 27 B.A. The wedding and celebrations took place, and it was soon known that Princess Andromeda was with child. As the years changed, it became clear that King Alexander would not see another year. Hadrian and Andromeda said their goodbyes to the aging king, and King Alexander passed away. Hadrian Casimir Novellen ascended the Balianese throne as King Adrian I of Balian, beginning his thirty-five year reign. Before the coronation of Adrian I, Andromeda of Ba’as gave birth to the Heir Apparent of Balian, a spry Princess! Princess Johanna Casimira Novellen became set to inherit the throne of Balian Adrian I continued his father’s wishes, condemning the Adrian Rebellion and continuing to build relations with other nations as well as strengthening the Canonist League. However, the most defining moment of Adrian’s reign thus far is soon to come. Whispers across the continent of Almaris began to surface of a new foe, stronger and more powerful than the undead faced at the Siege of Cloudbreaker. They were soon given a name. The Mori’quessir. As the Mori Invasion began to carve its way throughout the continent, the descendants banded together once more to put an end to this seemingly impossible foe. Skirmishes and battles were fought all across Almaris as every nation faced the threat head on But it soon became apparent: The Mori would succeed. Still, the descendants fought back, even after the Fall of Alisgrad in Norland and other strongholds, until the Mori began knocking at the gates of Atrus. A sandstorm kicked up, and Atrus came under siege. The Mori surged forward, and the Balianese, led by Adrian I, fought back. For the veterans of Balian, it was reminiscent of the Siege of Cloudbreaker. But for many, it was their first taste of combat at home. As the battle waged on, the Balianese saw that it was to no avail. Where one was killed, two took their place. An evacuation order was announced, and the citizens of the Kingdom took refuge in the ruins of Savoy. That was the last stand against the Mori’quessir. The time grew near, and the descendants gave it their all. Every survivor, soldier, woman, and child fought with everything they had. But it was no use. Adrian I led his people to safety, aboard ships that carried the survivors to new, uncharted waters. After a brief stop on the island of Failor, Balian found its new home on the continent of Aevos. There, King Adrian I and Queen-Consort Andromeda of Ba’as established a new city: Portoregne. The Kingdom of Balian grew strong and prosperous in the early years of Aevos. The Royal Balianese Armada was formed. New peerages were given, and new lands were discovered and claimed. The Kingdom of Balian became a large supplier of military equipment, including the newly discovered Daemonsteel. But a joy in the hearts of all was soon taken away. Princess Johanna Casimiar Novellen, heiress of Balian, set sail on a voyage in the early hours of a fateful morning. Soon, a storm came, taking her ship with it. Adrian I sent the Marines of Balian’s Armada to find her, but it was to no avail. The only thing left of the spry princess was the wreckage of her ship. The Heiress of Balian was announced to be dead, and the title passed to Adrian’s firstborn son, Alexander Casimira, and soon after, to his daughter: Sibyl Gwenyth Novellen. As the kingdom mourned the loss of their beloved princess, the years came and went. Adrian continued to learn alchemy, delving into the art of smoggers. A decision that would ultimately be the end of him. His steadfast Amiratus, Gaius var Ruthern, retired, and in his place, Elena Casimira Novellen de Lyons became the kingdom’s next Amiratus. Adrian and his sister would lead Balian into the next era and through the darkness that loomed on the horizon. But before the continental wide conflict, a personal conflict occurred at home for the King. His Queen-Consort, Andromeda of Ba'as, sought to emancipate herself from the Kingdom of Balian, claiming that Adrian I was an “unfaithful king.” The King of Balian responded swiftly to the Queen Mother, and a divorce for the royal couple was soon ratified by the Church. Adrian stated the treasons of Andromeda, and for this, he gained the respect of his subjects. I have never seen the Queen Mother since that fateful day, but I doubt she is as beautiful as she once was. I am doubtless, though, in the wickedness of her heart. After the debacle at home, Adrian continued to lead his people, but there was no more peace for him. It became known that up north, the League of Veletz and its ally, Stassion, were causing trouble. They harbored ferrymen and bandits, highwaymen and raiders, and brought hate to this world. The Crown Princess of Balian, Sibyl Gwenyth, and a small party were traveling north. The Princess was heavily pregnant at the time with her first child but Veletz and Stassion did not care. They preyed on her and took her. In response, the Canonist nations rode out to rescue the princess under the Church’s banner. She returned home and soon gave birth to a son: Alexandros Casimir Novellen. As the child was born, so too was war. More crimes became known of the League of Veletz. They abducted children. They assassinated a King. They abducted pregnant women and preyed on the weak. The continent of Aevos could not idly sit by and let these atrocities go unanswered. Adrian I of Balian, alongside Aleksandr II of Haense, Cesar II of Hyspia, Catherine I of the Petra, and Garedyn the Emerald of Urguan, formed the Covenant of Five, better known as the Covenant. Soon to be joined by the Kingdom of Aaun, the largest army ever assembled prepared to fight. Banners were raised and steel was sharpened for the unrighteous blood of Veletz, and Stassion would stain the Heartlands. Operation Anchor began. The Siege of Breakwater was the first large-scale battle in the War against Veletz. The Covenant smashed Breakwater, leaving nothing but burnt stumps and dust from the stone walls that once stood menacingly over the Heartlands. Then Operation Overdraft occurred. Better known as the Siege of Brasca, the Covenant again smashed the walls down. To many it seemed that the war was going to be over soon, after only two years of fighting. How naive we were. Operation Ashen Sky was a field battle, near the ruins of Brasca. In fact, the shattered walls of Brasca loomed over the field that Ashen Sky would try to take. The Covenant heavily outnumbered the forces of Veletz and Stassion two to one. It was one of the largest armies ever assembled. And it was cut to shreds. Eighteen thousand men and women were cut down due to the slow Daemonsteel armour that the covenant wore. A monumental defeat for the Covenant and the League began their offensive, aiming their sights at the Kingdom of Balian. The Defense of Balian, or the Battle of Hippo’s Gorge, was a fight like no other and Adrian I of Balian did not live to see it. The years of perfecting his alchemical craft destroyed his body. The smog from his machines coated his lungs. Hadrian Casimir, my cousin and friend, passed away, surrounded by his friends and family. His father’s dream of Pax Humanis was passed on to his daughter. 一一一一一一一一一一 I Queen Queen Sybille I of Balian Sibyl Gwenyth Novellen 59 B.A - Present | 90 B.A. - Present @HIGH_FIRE Consort: Ezren of Tuvia Children: Prince Alexandros Casimir Novellen, Prince of Monterosa, Duke of Atrus, Heir Apparent of Balian, Princess Royal Ariadne Casimira, Duchess of Rosemoor, Princess Elianos Hadrian, and Princess Ophelia Johanna Born Sibyl Gwenyth Novellen, Queen Sybille I of Balian, is the third-born child of Adrian I and Andromeda of Ba’as. After the tragic passing of her sister, Johanna Casimira, and the unwillingness to take on the role of heir from her elder twin brother, Sibyl was named the Princess of Monterosa and became the Heir of Balian during the latter years of her father’s reign. Instead of following in her father’s footsteps in studying alchemy, Sibyl has become a fashion icon in Balian. Representing the vibrant culture of the Kingdom through stark contrasts of color and striking outfits, she is the very definition of Balian. The early years of Sibyl Novellen were during the peace of her father’s reign. During her childhood, she grew close to Ezren Kervallen, son of Ser Ephrem Kervallen, Viscount of Tuvia. The life of Ezren Kervallen is covered in The Consorts of the Kingdom of Balian. The two would later marry, and Ezren would become the kingdom’s first Prince-Consort. As previously mentioned, Sibyl's first pregnancy was a cataclysmic one, which became one of the reasons for the war against Veletz. Thankfully, the Princess of Monterosa survived and gave birth to her heir. The horrors of war stained the continent, and Veletz was bringing it close to home. Adrian I passed away, and Sybille I inherited a kingdom on the brink of invasion. The Battle of Hippo’s Gorge will go down in history as one of the most significant battles in all of Aevos’ history. The Covenant, limping from a heavy loss of eighteen thousand men, took the long march south to the archipelagos of Balian. There, they stood. The Covenant held firm on a small peninsula. Small fortifications dotted the landscape as cavalrymen rode in and out. The lines held firm. An elite strike force darted through the lines, targeting the higher ranking officials in the League’s armies. The order to ride out came. Once. The League reorganized. The horns blew again. Twice. The League’s line began to break. The ground thundered with the hooves of horses and Balianese hippos. A shout was heard. Thrice. The League’s line broke. Fifteen Thousand Covenant soldiers stood. The League kneeled. The League soldiers, who were not slaughtered by Covenant forces, were attacked by the beasts of the gorge. All defended their homes on this day. This was the crucible for Sybille’s reign, and she came out of the fire as pure gold. Following the defense of Balian, the Covenant executed Operation Equinox, aimed at eliminating the League’s foremost ally: Stassion. The Covenant marched north. Since the beginning of the war, the Covenant of Five has grown to eight and has been joined by Aaun, the Kingdom of Numendil, and the Kingdom of Norland. All banners helped defend Balian, and all banners marched now to Stassion. A large Covenant force amassed outside the hideous walls of Stassion. There, the Covenant massacred them. No soldier, who stood within the walls of the Anthill survived. Operation Solstice sieged the fort at Drusco. The battle was over in moments. The covenant scaled the cliffs of the river Petra, traversed across the bridge, and took the fort in mere minutes. Operation Talionis took the Northern Hinterlands of Veletz. The Covenant learned from their first field battle and slaughtered their foes. The League of Veletz was dissolved and formed into the Duchy of Adria. No matter, the Bull must die. Operation Retribution was announced, a three-pronged operation containing Operations Rising Tide, Setting Sun, and Dawn Comes. This operation never took place as peace talks began. Sybille I, along with her allies in the Covenant, issued the Winburgh Proclamation. The decade long war was over. A promise was kept to her late father that Balian would see the dawn. After a small group of rebels tried to declare independence, the Covenant officially established victory. A dream of Alexander I and Adrian I was now on the horizon. Pax Humanis. Following the decade-long war, Sybille has remained at home in Balian. The peace has been maintained, and my generation is slowly returning to the earth. Elena Casimira Novellen de Lyons, Amiratus of the Queen, was tragically killed. Her second son, Percival de Lyons, was appointed the next Amiratus. More tragedy loomed on the horizon. A fire was started in the Church of Portoregne. The Prince-Consort was one of the first to arrive. He, along with Sybille, faced a near omnipotent foe. Fire began to engulf the building. The Queen was trapped. Brave souls helped her escape the collapsing church. But Ezren stayed. The Prince-Consort was wrapped in a blinding light. His soul was given to Malchediael. The first Prince-Consort gave his life for his wife, his Queen. The pains of this time were felt by all, including myself. Ezren of Tuvia helped me find a wife, and Princess Elena was a close friend of mine. No one else will fill the hole that their deaths have left in my heart. I miss them dearly. Percival de Lyons stepped down from his position of Amiratus. His successor and current Amiratus is Kristoff var Ruthern. The Queen’s Duana has been hard at work to bring more culture and presence to the Kingdom of Balian, following the war. Sybille I recently joined her kingdom in celebrating the Balian Centennial. Yet, one of the most impactful moments of her reign occurred just recently. The Covenant that fought against the League of Veletz and the Duchy of Adria has been reformed into the Covenant of Man. The Covenant of Man is a united mankind. It is Pax Humanis. The continent of Aevos has entered a new age of peace and prosperity. Sybille I entered her reign on the brink of invasion, but her reign continues into the dawn of Pax Humanis. 一一一一一一一一一一 The Future King Prince Alexandros ‘Xander’ Casimir of Balian Alexandros Casimir Novellen 85 B.A. - Present @Harald Prince Alexandros Casimir Novellen is the first-born son of Sybille I and Ezren of Tuvia. Born at the beginning of the Covenant’s war against Veletz, he lived much of his early life sheltered inside the walls of Portoregne. Since the peace of the Winburgh Proclamation, Prince Xander has taken to exploring the wider continent of Aevos. There is still much life in the young prince and much more ahead. While I doubt that I will see his reign, I have full faith in his abilities. The high sun of Balian is still ahead of us all. 一一一一一一一一一一 SIGNED, Her Royal Majesty, Sybille I, by the Grace of GOD, Queen of Balian, Princess of Providence, Duchess of Helena, Reutov, Sunholdt and Lorraine, Countess of Pompourelia and Kositz, Viscountess of Eflen and Anatis, Baroness of Renzfield, Brucca, Valens, Malenos and Ciavola, Lady of Portoregne, Atrus and Monterosa, Warden of La Costa Rubinissima, Protector of the Heartlanders and the South, etcetera. His Excellency, CASIMIR MARIUS VILAC, Baron of Valio, Patriarch of House Vilac, Gran Don of Balian, Lord Camareiro of the Palatio Arancione

In the dead of the night, a hooded figure snuck into numerous buildings in the Vortice capital city of Talon's Port... Nothing was taken, however some choice homes would find notes placed atop spots where the council members would have no choice but to see. Once this task was finished, the hooded figure made their way to the top of the Alley Alehouse, not bothering to lock the doors of the rooftop. The figure sat upon the wedding stage, sighing and dropping their cloak, revealing a de-crowned Vivian Maelstorm, her face reddened and puffy, running mascara covering her cheeks as she withdrew a moonsteel dagger from her waist-sheathe. “....Syl always told me that elves would last hundreds of years before devolving into madness… well, I guess that wasn’t the case with me, huh?” The short ‘aheral chuckled dryly, her free hand lofting to remove a final note from her bosom. “...Maybe one day, everybody can forgive me.” Another tear fell from her real eye as she set the note gently against the ground, away from where she had planned to die. As she did such, a tinge of hurt shot through her core. The woman had lost so many in such a short amount of time… how selfish was she, to take her life at this, when so many others had suffered so much more! She grit her teeth as she sat back down upon the stage, deliberating upon her next course of action as memories flooded into her mind. Her wedding with Joakim af Orvar… How they married under the Heart Tree. The birth of Dana and Corrin af Orvar. Her short-standing marriage to Seryne, and how horribly that turned out in the two years they spent together. Her thirty something year long marriage to Eoghan O’Cathain, the wedding they had within the settlement of Talon’s Grotto, and her children- Eliott, Lilith, and Seteth… Two of which were now dead. Her marriage to Sylvain Ainzworth Majin, and their many, many children… those of whom the pair had adopted, and those of whom the pair had produced of their own blood. She choked back a sob as she remembered the pain the pair had endured together. Her sisters, Athri, Lenora, and Sana, and the love they shared… Her brothers, Gail, Ren and James, and the laughs they had... her best friend, Eugeo, and the secrets they had kept together… her many children, two in particular stuck out in her memory- they were only thirty four, how could they live with the loss of their mother? Mystralath and Belladonna were both old enough that they would remember Vivian forever more- unlike Fable, Claude and Aer, who were still mere babes and had hardly spent any time with Vivian. The red-headed monarch sobbed again as she raised the dagger, staring up to the sky in emotional agony… before plunging the blade into her chest, taking the moonsteel directly to the heart. After a few seconds, the elfess slumped down, the colour draining from her once purple eye as tears fell, her hands dropping from the hilt of the blade and down to her lap as she fell to her side, dead. Inside the note, when she were to be found, was a single paragraph, reading as follows. “To my people, to my family, to my friends… I have loved you all so dearly, but it is my time to depart now. I bid thee farewell and I hope to meet you all again in another time. You are all so important in your own ways. As of the Deep Cold of the 35th year, I wish for Athri Onfroi Belrose-Maelstorm to carry on the Monarchy of the Unified Domain of Vortice on my behalf, and to be crowned as the Heir Monarch by the Congress. Thank you all for your time. Vivian Maelstorm”