Gowi

A Gilded Throne - A Shadow Looms (Closed)

I'm interested in the northern beige. :3

@Celeste

We didn't lose you, did we?

The New Frontier: A Marvel/DC One Universe RP

Blue Demon appears and a short but promised Carol post does as well. Hm...

The New Frontier: A Marvel/DC One Universe RP

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_{“God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right, even though I think it is hopeless.”
C H E S T E R N I M I T Z}

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_{B R O T H E R H O O D}

C O A S T C I T Y - U N I T E D S T A T E S

Well, this was underwhelming. But then again she was glad for it, she had gotten blasted by energy enough times today anyway.

It was a confusing sight, to see a god take off and run from a fight. But then again Thor was hardly a hero that Carol really could comprehend, at least beyond the helmet and the lightning swinging zeal. She wasn’t sure if Thor saw he was going a little overboard or if he just didn’t want to ream a teammate when she intended to get between him, his hammer, and the person that pissed off both the god and the hammer. Whatever Thor’s reasons were she was glad she didn’t have to get into another tussle with Thor about “appropriate force” because all those conversations did was give her a god-sized migraine and body pains that lasted for weeks on end.

Well that’s that, I guess.

Carol turned her head back towards the surface as she saw Flash take the magic-slinging witch down with relative ease.

He makes it look so easy.

Lowering herself to the ground, she nodded in slight approval.

“You do good work, Flash.”

Not waiting for a reply from the Scarlet Speedster she ran her left hand through her hair, pushing it back as she did so.

“I think we’re done here. We can have CCPD take care of clean-up and then head back to our normal routine. Unless you want to be bored in pearly white Metropolis. What do you think?”

There were still a lot of questions on Carol’s mind, but most of the mutants were either knocked out or had made the hell out of dodge before any sort of JLA-sponsored interrogation could take place. Which was disappointing, but then again their biggest intimidation factor had just took off after she had yelled at him… so maybe it was good that this was how things turned out.

The teleporting mutant still bothered her, who the hell was she reporting back to and who the hell was in charge with Magneto out of play for years?

Who was behind this?

The New Frontier: A Marvel/DC One Universe RP

I've had ample distractions (not an excuse) but I think I can get my wheels turning back in New Frontier-land. If Carol isn't up today I want Morden to lecture me.

EDIT: I'm passing out so I can't even get to Diana, (surprising for me but I got up real early), I will be getting to her in the morning hopefully.

With Cap. I was thinking about sitting on his next post until the whole brotherhood thing is done. Would this cause any one problems?

Going to attempt to wrap it up within a few hours. So probably not.

A Gilded Throne - A Shadow Looms (Closed)

Tamaryth

Isn't it Taramyth? Aren't realm knights called Ser formally and not Sir?

*checks*

Apparently it is so for both of them. Think this is the second time this has come up, not sure why. Anyway grammar/lore nazi aside good post all around. Looking forward to where the RP goes after first week rush.

A Gilded Throne - A Shadow Looms (Closed)

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HOUSE VALIAN

Imara Valian
Ebon Keep, Ebonheart, Xandria
_{6th of Gerna | 1200 AU}

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For Imara Valian, it was her last day in the only place she had ever known but as saddening as that concept was alone there was plenty of brightness ahead for her. Her life was about to have a new beginning and she couldn’t have been more optimistic towards the future— a feeling she had not felt in a very long time.

In only a week or so she was to be married to Benjamin Cragmore as was promised. A fact that would bring her to Erayis to prepare for her role alongside her childhood friend and now future husband. Though, it wouldn’t be for long considering Rodan’s own wedding in Tellaria in the coming months. She wondered why her father had set up the wedding dates as he did, as the costs on the coffers of the Kingdom had to be unnecessary. But then again it wasn’t really her place to speak such concerns to her father— she neither had the education or position to do so.

“Princess. You have received a raven from Stormgully.”

The voice of Ser Galwyn brought a wide smile to her lips as her eyes looked over to the knight-ranger, a protector and good friend she had known since as far back as she could remember. Galwyn was her guardian, assigned like every other member of the royal guard to her since birth to serve her with integrity, duty, and honor. He was forty-six years past his nameday now and while she wouldn’t admit it publicly; far more of a father figure than her own father had been in her entire life. When she would leave Ebonheart for Stormgully he would follow with her as was his oath; he would follow her until he fell to the sword, plague, or age.

Galwyn held out his hand, holding the still sealed parchment. Imara eagerly took it from him; the excitement boiling within her was heavy and had she not any manners she would’ve swiped it out of hands with all courtesy abandoned. She was a lady after all.

“Thank you, Ser Galwyn. You are dismissed.”

“As you nock, my lady” The brown-haired knight-ranger nodded as he walked some distance away thus giving her privacy without leaving her unguarded.

As she opened the letter she began to wonder what Benjamin’s intentions had been sending a message on her last day in Ebonheart. What did he want to tell her before she set off?

“Hm.” She mused as she began to read the now-opened parchment before her.

Dearest Imara,

Hello!

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. As I write this letter to you, Pearlpelt and Rootripper are being fitted with their saddles so that they might take me to the High Tower of the Phoenix, and my brother towards the north, though I believe he will meet with your brother towards the end of the journey. If Alexander has not left, tell him that I wish him the best of luck, and a safe return. In a surprising turn of events, my father has given me his arch elector title, and so I will unexpectedly be helping shape our great empire's future in a matter of days. You should see the fit that was thrown when he was told that a certain someone would attend. I will tell you all about it after the wedding.

With Duncan away, this wedding should be a more peaceful event than I had planned, which I am thankful for. Every detail, from the framing of portraits to the flowers in the garden is perfect. I am sure you will be speechless, which Kenten always told me was a good trait for a wife to have.

All of my jokes aside, as I will unexpectedly be travelling to, or at the High Tower of the Phoenix, please avoid sending any letters until I return, though you will likely have arrived by then. As always, the pain of missing you persists, though our approaching wedding dulls that pain quite considerably.

Yours,
Benjamin

“What an interesting turn of events. I hope the capital does not eat him alive.” She muttered as she closed the letter.

Mentions

Benjamin Cragmore

A Gilded Throne - A Shadow Looms (Closed)

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HOUSE VALIAN

Alexander IV Valian
Valian Estate, Lalrial, Imperial Heartlands
_{6th of Gerna | 1200 AU}

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The heir to the Kingdom of Xandria had only been to Lalrial twice in his lifetime thus making the imperial election his third experience with the imperial capital. His wife, Adelheid Amrothan, had remained still on the voyage from Harrow some three or four days prior. Alexander could feel it in the air, in the stillness of her movement, and how she was tiptoeing around certain topics— she was not happy with him and whilst she had not discussed Alexander’s intention to journey to the north he knew she wanted to talk about it. He had not married a coward or a mute.

“So are you going to mention your feelings about it or keep quiet until the end of days?”

Adelheid turned to look at her husband. He had finally asked, she knew that he would. Even here, he sought a confrontation, though it was not one of malice, of course. There were battles to be fought everywhere in life, and this was now her frontline. She had already foreseen the likely outcome. She let a hand reach up and brush aside a lock of her red hair - red, she reminded herself, ginger was far too rustic and provincial a term to be used outside of Dreiben, she quietly thought, resenting that erstwhile comment from some foreigner she had overheard some years ago.

“Will they change your mind in the slightest? I expect everyone hopes so, but I very much doubt that even I will ever hold so mighty a power over you, dearest Alex.” She responded, letting the half-compliment half-barb come forth. She knew it was a useless thing to say, but it was how she felt. It was truly something that would likely remain beyond her, to challenge him so when a decision was made. She was still deciding whether she liked it or would someday come to despise herself for it.

Alexander took a heavy breath as he turned to a window that overlooked the streets below. Her teeth had not dulled, that much was for sure; he was glad for that. She also wasn’t entirely wrong about his opinion regarding the issue. Alexander was rarely decided or swayed by the words of diplomats and his wife was cut from the same cloth as his brother— a cloth that hadn’t changed his mind about his quest in the courtyard at Ebonheart and he was sure it wouldn’t change his mind here in Lalrial at his house’s imperial estate. But he had no reason to cause pointless bruises between his wife and he.

“Do you know why I decided on it?” He asked blankly.

Adelheid considered the question briefly, it was not the one she had expected and it required a moment’s thought. She wondered if it mattered, or whether he wanted to at least offer the recompense of a justification, such as it was. She sighed.

“I believe no one really does, even if you have explained yourself. It is difficult to understand, particularly for anyone close to you. You remind me of Reimar in that way, but you are very different in how you choose to go about avoiding things.” She realised that wasn’t accurate, and so didn’t wait for a response.

“I’m sorry, that wasn’t fair. I don’t know if you’re avoiding anything or not. I shouldn’t judge you by another man’s character. Go on, then, tell me.” She finished, mentally chastising herself.

“The Nordheim are going unchecked.” He stated as his blue eyes looked out of the window. “The imperial garrisons in the northeast are in complete disarray to the point they are becoming ruined shambles as the men in those garrisons exponentially diminish day by day. Imperial support isn’t there and they don’t have a cohesive defensive barrier like the northwest does. People are dying to the sword as barbarians of sin move into hamlets and villages; raping, maiming, and murdering. Back home in Xandria we have problems with vilespawn and the rare occasion of piracy. They seem invisible in comparison.”

Alex frowned as he thought about it, ever since he started reading about the north in the last four or so years he began to learn vast amounts of wisdom that he really couldn’t stomach to ignore. In the minds of many he was probably perceived as a warmongering brute but he did this because the realm needed it and his talks with Lord Lastren only confirmed such beliefs. How long could a child of Kammeth allow senseless genocide. His wife, like his brother, probably believed that he didn’t need to go himself but only support the defense instead but Alexander didn’t find that ideal or honorable in the slightest. He wasn’t a man to sit behind a desk and let others endanger their lives where he was too afraid to do it himself. That kind of fear was made of dishonorable cowardice. He refused to facilitate such a trait.

“They need it. Especially if Jakinus does not get elected to the imperial throne.”

Adelheid considered what she believed to be an honest response. She understood, but understanding and accepting were not the same thing, which was something she expected was somewhat of a subtlety that Alex had a mind to overlook.

“I see. I understand your reasonings, no doubt they have served as a cause for many a man through time. Most of them are no doubt forgotten, but we owe them much. Alex, you are not someone that can simply head off to combat the threat of the Nordheim without consequence, what if the worst were to happen to your father? Would you abandon your newfound duty and return to your people when they need you, or will you find another cause to rally behind, allow your duty to fall to your siblings? To William? Have you really considered all of that which is placed upon you? Upon us?” She stopped, frustrated. “Did you even think about me when you made your decision?” She let it out, that burning question. She had nothing else to ask.

“As I told William, my father may be nearly a cripple and growing in age but he is not a dead man yet. But yes, I weighed my options and considered much. Sitting in Ebonheart drinking wine and working towards an heir would be the easy decision; but true Kings make hard decisions.”

He turned away from the window as he looked at his wife. “I did not think to go about this half-hearted. Believe me when I say this, I love my family and you especially. Consider that this conversation… this explanation is something unique to you. I told them what I was doing and that was the end— with you I tell you why.”

Adelheid met his gaze, just for a moment, before turning away. She let out a frustrated, defeated sigh. “What truly bothers me is not that you’ve decided to go North, not that you won’t listen to all those who would tell you to stay, the gods know you wouldn’t be you if you did, no, what bothers me, what hurts, is that you never came to me when you were making this decision. Instead, it’s made and like the day turns to night it cannot, will not, must not be changed. That’s what cuts deep. I can’t see this, us, working like that if we truly love each other.”

“You’re right.” He admitted, though he wasn’t particularly proud of it. He always had a hard time gauging and dealing with the emotional aspect of others even before his mother died. It was times like this where he wished he could be like William where he could make sense of others and their feelings.

“There’s no question about that.” He added after a brief pause, his admittance likely catching his wife off guard. “I have no excuse for not coming to you before I made off and told my father. There were plenty of occasions where I could have. But I did not. That is my failing.”

She turned back, letting a sympathetic smile accentuate her face. She considered what to say next, but knew it best to not overthink the matter.

“We all have our failings, though I know you, out of anyone I know, will overcome them.” She let her acknowledgement and his admittance be joined, before they became a closed chapter in their joint history.

“Your father is going to be very disappointed in me. No doubt, my father is going to be just as upset when he hears I’m going with you. And don’t even think about trying to change my mind. I won’t hear of it. Rumors are I’m taking after my husband’s stubborn side as of late.” She let a small semblance of laughter spill forth, she needed it, that ambrosia of light humor.

“It will give you a good reason to stay alive and prevent my grisly demise at the hands of the barbarian horde, at least.” She finished, adding an unnecessary softness to her voice that belied a sense that she wasn’t being too serious, though she like any knew the potential dangers the Nordheim could pose.

He smiled warmly, “In the beginning it will just seem like a colder Ebonheart, I’m sure. We’ll be honored guests of Lord Anastus Lastren in Vandaster for some time. My father’s military support won’t likely arrive until some weeks later.”

“A Valian and an Amrothan, the good Lord Lastren may very well have a heart attack.” She joked.

“I think the Cragmore will do him right in.”

“Was that.. a joke?” She responded, almost incredulous.

“A rare performance, indeed.” He chuckled. “That aside, I suppose we should enjoy Lalrial while we are here.”

“No better time than now, we may even run into my own kin. All it takes is the death of the Emperor to bring everyone together, it seems. At least for now.”

“I can relate, the last time my father and myself were here it was to bury my uncle, Alester. It is strange how the rites bring us back full circle.”

“Death has a way of motivating people, at least, for good or ill. They used to bury the Horse Lords in mounds back in Dreiben, before they decided that wasn’t quite holy enough. They once entombed some poor lord while he was still alive. I’m sure there’s some applicable homely tale in that somewhere.” She offered, searching for wisdom where there perhaps was none.

“We have a few tales like that dating back to Ancient Xanditharima, where the lords were entombed into the great trees within The Viridian Sea. Supposedly there are trees out there in the sea that are the reincarnations of my ancestors. Some say if you harvest them they bleed like any man.” Alexander recalled, sharing the particular morbid anecdote.

“Thankfully I don’t think we’ll be needing to deal with either here, just a few days where our worst concern will be which noble we offend the most.” She said, as if looking forward to the latter.

“So, let us find a noble to offend then.” He chuckled following a nod.

“Lead on, my dear. I’ll keep roomy mounds and deadwood off the shopping list for now. Probably.” She flashed him a quick smile.

Mentions

Anastus Lastren
Jakinus Valarien

A Gilded Throne - A Shadow Looms (Closed)

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HOUSE VALIAN

King Alexander III Valian
Royal Shipyard, Lalrial, Imperial Heartlands
_{6th of Gerna | 1200 AU}

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King Alexander III Valian had done a lot of thinking on the approach to the imperial capital abroad his sea vessel, The Black Arrow. Unfortunate as it may have been, the King of Xandira’s thoughts were not about the imperial election that was soon to take place but rather on his eldest son and heir to the throne of his kingdom. The scene was still fresh in the King’s mind: as the high council of Xandria debated preemptively before the King set off for the imperial capital out had marched his son like he was on a quest from Helstar himself. What he “asked” had been a colossal thing to approach him with at such an inconvenient time. It was still hard to fathom.

He could still picture it: right as his council had been debating on the affairs of the imperial election and what King Alexander III should approach the situation with fresh in mind before setting sail— his very own heir announced to him that he intended to travel to the far north in seek of lending aid to House Lastren of The Septentrion and fighting against the barbarians who dwelled within the Webwood with sword and bow in hand. A plan that he had already advertised to Lord Anastus Lastren by sending raven to Vandaster. With the support of several of the high nobility of Xandria as well as Duncan Cragmore of Erayis, it seemed like his heir had put some long thought into the prospect. Still, as brash as Alexander IV was he still generally brought up things through the proper channels and bringing it up as the council discussed the soon-to-be-held imperial election was not.

Where had he failed as a father that his son thought the only way he was going to be accepted was in such a fashion? Had his depression blinded him so much?

“You can either give me official support or I will go without it.”

His son’s words struck him pretty hard during their conversation, but in the end, he understood that this was a matter there was not many options toward. His son would get the support he needed and didn’t have to march off to the north half-cocked like King Alexander was sure Duncan Cragmore had. But he could relate to the ambition of youth and the desire to bring the bow and sword to those who threatened the realm. The Nordheim were a threat worth looking into and with the imperial neglect as of recent years strong and quick-witted soldiers were needed more than ever.

However sensical it was King Alexander was pretty sure this all had been his fault— had he spoken differently about his escapades in the far north during his younger days before he became king perhaps this wouldn’t have become a scenario in the first place. But the past was set in stone and there could be nothing to do about it in the present. He just had to hope for his son’s future.

Perhaps Adelheid Amrothan, the girl he had wed to his heir, would keep his priorities in check once they got to Vandaster or even sway his decision while they sat in the imperial capital waiting for the electoral decisions to pass before they went north. After all, it was easier to travel back with Lord Anastus than the alternative. He hoped so considering the girl had a way with her words that even his second-born and fifth-born couldn’t compete with. She would have to if she wanted to ensure their future together. But then again, his son was exceptionally stubborn when he had his eyes set on something and his plans were quite the endeavor.

If Adelheid couldn’t convince his son, he would be sure to keep in touch as to monitor the situation; he knew how dangerous the far north was. Though he was certain he was going to have a discussion with Lord Anastus once the northern lord got to the imperial capital.

“It’s going to be a long one, Caprica.” He mused as he turned back to face the imperial capital itself.

It had been five years since he had stepped foot in Lalrial. Five years since he learned that his brother had lost his life to a burglar’s knife. If losing his wife twelve years ago had not been terrible enough, he had to lose Alester as well. Since becoming King some twenty-seven or so years ago Alester had served as his representative in the Prime Estates; keeping his ear open when it came to imperial politics. He had mentored King Alexander’s third-born and in many ways he was a good friend as well as his blood. His son, Theodric, had “inherited” the title of being Xandria’s representative and ambassador in the imperial city. The King still wondered if it was the best choice or just the choice grief chose for him. Either way, he hoped Theodric had some insight on the best options to elect for the imperial throne’s successor.

King Alexander took a heavy breath as he gripped the railing, “I hope this is the last time I visit you, Lalrial.”

“Ser Elric, we are heading out to my nephew’s estate now; inform my son.”

“I’ll tell Lord Alexander right away, my lord.”

“Good.”

Mentions

Anastus Lastren
Adelheid Amrothan

A Gilded Throne - A Shadow Looms (Closed)

Should be clear for http://gildedthrone.wikidot.com/the-kingdom-of-khomeria

A Gilded Throne - A Shadow Looms (Closed)

Official Wikidot (WIP)