[b]Valefall, House Hawkrose Forgeworld, sometime in the past[/b]

[center][i]”When despair grips you, and all seems lost, do not weep but for a moment. When a star dies and its dust is scattered across the void it is not an end, but a beginning. For the Mother will forge from that dust something new. This is the first of what she offers her children - hope.”[/i][/center]

“For the crimes of terrorism and high treason against House Hawkrose, I hereby sentence the convicted, Lyra Qinran, to death by firing squad. The convicted shall be given a moment to say goodbye to their kin before immediate dispensation of their sentence.”

The judge’s voice echoed across the hall with the finality of something that already had been set in stone ages ago. The Ephari known as Lyra in the middle of the grand seemed to let out a small sigh but even amidst the grim situation before her she still smiled, her emerald green eyes shining as a beacon in contrast to the drabness of the environment around her.

Another Ephari came running up to her, pushing through the large crowd of peasants that had been watching the proceedings. Tears streaked down her face as she wrapped her arms tightly around Lyra.

“Please! You can't let them do this. There has to be something you can say to them-” said the Ephari trying to choke back her sobs, as Lyra gently put a finger to her lips and cut her off.

“Aurae, please, calm yourself now. You and I both know my fate was decided when I made the choice to join the resistance. This can't be fought.” spoke Lyra, in a soft and hushed tone.

“Why Lyra!? We had a life! A dream! And you threw that away to fight something you knew we couldn't resist!”

“The Houses aren't infallible, nor monoliths of unstoppable destruction. They only win if we don't fight back.”

Aurae didn't respond, only continuing to choke back tears as she gripped Lyra even tighter. Lyra responded in turn, hugging her back.

“When the time comes…don't stay here and witness my sentence. I don't want you to see that.” said Lyra, maintaining her smile with a deep look of sadness in her eyes.


“B-b-but you…you were my…”

“Your hope Aurae, I know.”

It was the words that had gone unsaid but had always been known to the two of them in the many cycles they were together. When Lyra and Aurae had first met, Aurae was at one of the lowest points in her life. Her family had either been lost to war, labor in the factories, or gunned down when they dared to demand better working conditions. Lyra had pulled Aurae out of that pit of despair and given her something to hold onto, but now the very same system that had sent her to her darkest moments was going to strip away the one thing that kept her holding on.

“Go to where we first met Aurae, and there I promise you will be something else to keep holding on to, something to hope for.” spoke Lyra, as one of the House Hawkrose soldiers approached from behind.

“Times up, traitor. Wouldn't want to keep you waiting for your sentence too long now.”

There were no words left, as Aurae could only watch as the guards dragged her love away from her. What could she even say at this point that had not already been said? The last thing she saw of Lyra was that charming, ever-warm smile that she had come to know her for. Even in her darkest hour, with her ultimate fate decided, Lyra wouldn’t let herself fall into despair.

[i]Sometime later…[/i]

Lyra wandered through smog-filled streets, packed with the masses of people traveling to and from the many factories and forges of Hawkrose, alone and in despair. There was nothing for her now - everyone she once cared for was either off world or dead. The only thing that remained was those final words Lyra had left her with. With those in mind, she silently made her way to the edge of the city.

Valefall, at one point in its long history, had been an Ephari Garden world. It was a beautiful paradise of preserved nature, where the Ephari cultivated flora and fauna from across their Empire. The ancient Ephari clans would often gather here for meetings or religious traditions, and they stood out as symbols of pride and unity. When Prydwen conquered the territory and House Hawkrose took control, they would not let such space go to waste. Once beautiful gardens and monuments were paved over in the name of mineral extraction or industry. There however, remained a few isolated spots of nature, either overlooked or hidden away from the eyes of nobles looking to exploit them for their own gain.

At the edge of the city, past the factories and cramped apartments was one of those few remaining grottos. Aurae took several deep breaths as she looked at the environment around her. A small pond was surrounded by a dazzling array of bright blue and red flowers, with deep green foliage and black-barked trees providing cover from the deep blue star that Valefall orbited. The noise of chirps and other sounds filled her ears, providing background noise to help put Aurae’s mind at ease. The sense of calm provided some comfort to Aurae, but she still found herself deep in her sorrow.

It was then that something drew Aurae’s attention. Hidden amongst the dense foliage was a soft light gleaming from a hidden crevice. It took her by surprise at first, as in all the many times she had visited this grotto with Lyra she had never noticed it. She pushed the foliage aside, and stepped on through.

Inside, she found herself surrounded by darkness, with only a few stray motes of starlight let through by cracks in the ceiling. She also recognized the scent of Mother’s rose, a favorite of Lyra, emanating from candles that still let out a few wisps of smoke. In the center was a perfectly sculpted pillar carved from white stone, with text that Aurae found difficult to read in the darkness. At its base were several tomes, bound in leather and with pages that had long since yellowed due to age, as well as a small set of lighters. Aurae picked one up, and lit the candles around the cavern, illuminating the previously dark cavern.

Aurae turned her attention towards the pillar in the center. The text proves difficult to interpret, as while the text was Ephari it was clearly some ancient dialect. After reading through it, she managed a rough translation.

[center][i] ”In our darkest moments, we are still bathed in the light of our Mother, who shall show us the way forward.”[/i][/center]

Was this really what Lyra had expected her to find? She was vaguely aware of the Mother - the ancient deity that the Ephari had once worshipped with a fervor before they had been conquered by Prydwen, but it had long since been abandoned by most in the modern age. That is when the tip of the pillar began to glow with an eerie blue light.

[i]Oh child, you come to me in sorrow. I only wish I could have intervened sooner.[/i]

A voice echoed in her mind. It wasn’t a noise, or something she could hear. It was almost like a presence, more intrinsically understood by her mind. The presence was soft, calming, drawing her into it.

“Are…you the hope that Lyra promised me?” asked Aurae, turning her attention towards the pillar.

[i]No, my child, I am afraid not. I can not give you the hope you seek, nor can anyone else.[/i]

Aurae felt herself sink once again. Was there anything left for her at this point? Why had Lyra sent her here if there was nothing for her to strive for?

[i]What I can offer you is to become hope for others, to cast off your name and become Hope itself.[/i]

The offer was alluring in a way. Aurae couldn’t regain those she lost - but just maybe, she could prevent others from losing their own loved ones, their own hope.
“Then make me your instrument, my dear Mother, and let me become a shining beacon of hope.”


[i]Then so it shall, Aurae. Cast aside your name and become my aspect - the aspect of Hope.[/i]

The blue glow disappeared from the pillar for a brief moment, before casting itself as a lightning bolt into Aurae. She felt the change near-instaneously, as her mind opened up around her. She realized what she had been granted. Rumors had always persisted among the Ephari the once ancient priests of the Mother held the power of psionics that so many other species had, but rumors they were no longer, as she now existed as the living proof of those rumors.

Her mind opened, as like a tendril it reached out to the city. She could feel the emotions of the downtrodden masses - almost like an overwhelming wave that crashed itself into her. Their fears, dreams, and hopes all entered her mind at once. Aurae let herself take it all in, and it was then she understood the task that had been laid out before her.

She was Aurae no longer, for the Mother had given her a new name and mission. She would be Hope - the first thing offered to all of the Children of the universe.

[b]Farwinter, Isolated World, Modern Day[/b]

Hope took a deep breath as she meditated on the vast icy plains of the Children’s new base. The ever-increasing pressure of House Hawkrose’s military as well as the prying eyes of Ravenshade’s spies necessitated the Children finding themselves a new base of operations. Farwinter had presented itself as a perfect location. While it was technically under the control of House Hawkrose, there was no presence upon the world, as it held no valuable resources or other incentives for House Hawkrose to occupy it. At the same time, it was still relatively close to several of House Hawkrose’s forge worlds and population centers, making it the perfect place for the Children to strike out and recruit from.

“Sister Hope? I am sorry to interrupt but we received a message from one of our safehouses on Valefall.” spoke a voice from behind her. She turned to see a human behind her.

“What would this message be, my child?” asked Hope.

“We have been contacted by The Abyss Front. They have not explicitly requested a meeting yet, but they seem interested in our cooperation. Several of our agents have already made reports of them docking at House Hawkrose worlds and establishing contact with the higher-ups of the house.”

Hope had heard of the Abyss Front before, but only in vague transmissions and news from the far west of the galaxy. Prydwen and the Abyss Front were far from each other, so she found herself surprised that they would even make the effort to come out this far. Maybe it was a sign from the Mother, an ally that had finally presented itself in the grand struggle between the Children and the many Houses of Prydwen.

“Then we shall make ourselves known to them. Reach out to Vengeance, and have him make contact with the Abyss Front on the worlds which they have docked. If we are to gain an external ally in our struggle, I would have our strength known.”

“I should not doubt your words as an aspect, but…is it wise to send Vengeance? He is not the most…diplomatic amongst the Children.”

Hope simply sighed as she shook her head at their words.

“Vengenace knows the role the Mother has granted him as much as I do. I trust him to carry out any task that he is given.”

“Then I shall carry out what you ask as if the Mother herself told me.” said the human, bowing to Hope before departing back into the snow towards the Children’s hidden fortress.

[b]Valefall, House Hawkrose Forgeworld, Modern Day[/b]

In the skies above Valefall, deals were already being struck by representatives of House Hawkrose with the newly arrived representatives of the Abyss Front. While many had at first been horrified by the strange and alien appearances of the Abyss Front, when their friendly intentions became clear no one was willing to pass up the opportunity to secure more resources. The Forges of House Hawkrose continued to expand and grow evermore to fill the increasing demands of their tithes to House Ravenshade as well as their own appetite for wealth. Each new forge necessitates new trade deals for materials to continue their growth.

On one of these stations, as an Abyss Front representative travels from the meeting halls back to their ship, they watch as a mysterious cloaked figure passes by them, only feeling the briefest of movements as they disappeared back into the crowd.  The representative felt the presence of a small note in their pocket. Contained within the note was a message.

[i]”The Children have heard your message and wish to meet. Within this message you will find encrypted coordinates to our safehouse. May the Mother guide your path, your siblings await.[/i]”

[@LustForDecay]