[img]http://wallpapers.wallhaven.cc/wallpapers/full/wallhaven-30561.jpg[/img]


[i]05/06/1200, Imperial Capital, City of the Phoenix[/i]

Vicereine Deana Swiftwave had finally arrived in the capital, her ship being guided towards a dock slip. She was tired, and worn out from the journey, looking forward to conducting her business that she had in mind, and then presenting herself to the Regency, and awaiting the beginning of the voting sessions. She watched the birds flying high in the sky above her, smiling at them. How nice it must be, to be so completely free, nothing to worry about. The seagulls were her favorite, no matter what anyone thought. They circled and danced on the winds, riding the invisible air currents to and fro, only worrying about where they'd next find more food. She sighed, sitting down softly in her chair that was upon the command deck of the ship. Lee Swiftwave guided the ship, an expert helmsman of Kammeth only knew how many voyages. It was nice to have her brother here, in this city so far from home, so far from everything that she knew. Deana looked at the expanding walls of the City of the Phoenix, and could only feel so small and powerless.

The river's current was thankfully not very strong, and allowed for Vicereine Deana to enjoy the view thus far. Still, she had so much to do, so many things to take care of, and yet, none could be done until she was actually within the capital, within it's expansive walls and safely within her own apartments. The wind tugged on her hair, as the ship gently bumped up against the docks, creaking and groaning to a halt. So... this was it, she was finally here. As she stood up, she was greeted by something, or rather, people, that she did not expect to see. The Inquisitors were waiting on the docks, shining brightly under their banners, "guardians and protectors" of the faith. There was only one obvious reason for them to be here, to have been waiting so patiently for the Oceanglass to arrive. They were here for Deana and Lee Swiftwave... the bastards were not going to let her even participate within the elections, let alone step foot as a free woman upon the lands of mainland Ethica.

The crew looked to her, and to Lee, for guidance. They could fight, and perhaps even win, but that would only draw negative attention to the Swiftwave family, and to Kawachian South Ethica. These Vaelie... they were not normal, perhaps even without a drop of empathy and kindness. The male and female Inquisitors nodded their heads, and their retinue boarded the ship. Deana could do little in the way of resisting them, it would only make it far worse for her, so much worse. She held out her hands, ready to be bound and led away as a prisoner. She spoke in a soft tone, looking at her crew, and to her brother Lee.

"Do not bother fighting them... there is nothing we can do. Lee... I love you, if I don't see you again... your brother was a great man, and I hope for all of us to be together on the other side. Eternity begins and ends with the ocean’s tides." She smiled to her brother, and then to her crew, nodding to them all, before being led away in chains. Lee too was arrested, disarmed, and then led away as well.

Lee Swiftwave looked to the crew, and spoke to them as well, repeating the Swiftwave family motto, "Eternity begins and ends with the ocean’s tides." He and his sister in law were now prisoners, and unspeakable things surely awaited them. The Vaelie were beyond reproach, and as the words of commoners went, without hearts or souls, just mindless drones for their masters. Soon, the world went dark, as a bag was placed over his head, the sun snuffed out, and being roughly shoved into an awaiting carriage. Time would reveal what was going to happen to Lee and Daena Swiftwave.


[center][img]http://pre10.deviantart.net/c8d3/th/pre/f/2014/168/0/2/fantasy_castle_by_jbrown67-d7mu200.jpg[/img][/center]
[i]05/07/1200, Kawachian South Ethica, City of Point Break[/i]

The dispatch attendant had woken Ryan Swiftwave up late into the evening. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, rising up from his bed. He blinked away the bleariness, trying to figure out what the storming seas was going on. It was late, very late indeed, and whatever it was that required him to be awake, it was no doubt urgent, or something from his mother. Either way, he shrugged his coat on, getting up from bed to walk into his study. The dispatch attendant was awaiting him already, along with the Minister of Trade, Admiral Eekoh Lansin, and the Minister of Defense, Lord Darrius Greenmane. The all stood as Ryan entered the room, looking at him with grave concern. Whatever it was, something bad had happened, something big enough to unsettling both Lansin and Greenmane. 

"What is it? Why are all of you acting like you've seen a Leviathan? What is the meaning of this?" Ryan asked in a commanding tone, looking around his study at all three men. They were all hesitant to speak, all fearful of what they needed to tell Ryan. He walked across the room, his feet sounding so much louder than they actually were, to grab the letter clutched in the hands of the dispatch attendant. He looked at the seal, and instantly recognized it as the crest of his mother's ship, the Oceanglass. His heart sank, fearful of what the letter could say... what it held within. He looked up at his Ministers, looking at them with a steely gaze. They knew... they both knew what the letter said, and that was why they were so fearful, so apprehensive.

Ryan sank into his chair, letting the letter fall to the desktop. He let his eyes gaze at the seal, gazing at it for a long while, before he finally regained control over his own arms and hands. His fingers felt cold and ungainly, as he unfolded the letter. He read it, once, twice, three times, before looking up, looking at the Ministers, and fully understanding why they were here, why they had not spoken aloud to Ryan. He looked back down at the letter, it painfully short, written hastily to relay information, to let Ryan Swiftwave prepare for the coming storm. 

"Your mother and uncle have been taken by the Inquisition. They will be coming for you Viceroy Swiftwave. We'll wait for their release, no matter how long it takes. Eternity begins and ends with the ocean’s tides. Signed, Captain Orik."

Ryan Swiftwave looked up, rising from his chair, and walking over to a window, looking down onto the crashing waves of the ocean. The Inquisition, they would be coming, they would come in force, with fire and sword, to Kawachia. The old Emperor was dead, and without him, there was no-one to hold the leash of these murderous monsters who would stop it nothing in their divine mission. They were coming, and they had his mother and uncle, the only other two remaining Swiftwaves. Eternity begins and ends with the ocean’s tides, and with the changing tides came both triumph and defeat. He clenched his right hand about the letter, the hate for the Vaelie growing ever darker and greater with each passing moment. 

The Inquisition had struck first, showing their hand, and it was Ryan's turn now... to show them, and their masters what came of their folly.