"In your darkest of days, in your blackest of nights. Whisper my name to skies and I shall grant thee that which was denied"
Velkarius's first words after ascending to godhood
Queen Malphas Dragonblood, Ruler of Vermilion, Avatar of Morugarius, and Demi-Goddess of War paced on the throne room seething with rage and fury. Her husband had a neutral look on his face and she could tell he would not speak a word today. Unless she demanded him to speak that is, then the man would talk sweet nothings to appease her fury.
"News has already spread to the lower nobility. Not only the heinous crimes against Jinn's daughter but worshipping of the terrors from beyond the stars, from his to his entire faction. The only people clean were low-level workers and the bookies that kept the balances in check..." King Jason Dragonblood Shatter-Spear spoke in a tone that could only be described as dead inside.
"I will not tolerate slander against the name of my of our son!" Malphas roared to her husband "We will march the Knights to that godsforsaken waste and kill everyone involved in the killing of Galius!" she punched the wall near her. Her fist going through the enchanted concrete like a hot knife through warm butter, the King shook his head in disappointment and said.
"The Narrative is already in place, together with Jinn we lured Galius to the north and there the new Duchess slaughtered the fiend. According to the diviners, the Royal faction will not lose face or esteem with the lower nobles and general populace, and the Gods will likely turn a blind eye to this whole affair. As long as you play along we can salvage this whole mess" Jason didn't even blink as he finished his speech. Only taking a deep breath as his wife roared in anger.
Malphas felt the entity's call that had won her wars and battles lesser men would've lost. She called forth her sword and was ready to strike at her husband who remained at his chair looking at her, or through her.
"I'll kill them! I'll kill them all! My son will be avenged damn you! damn you and Jinn and Lucrezia!" she bellowed as emotion took over. Malphas felt the tears rush back once again as she wept in wrath. Deaf and blind to the sins of her firstborn as her motherly love compelled her to do the deed herself, fly to the north and slaughter those cretins alone, for who could stop her? Nothing short of a host of Gods breaking through the mortal coil would be enough.
She snarled towards Jason and spoke "Have you no emotion?! our son! your son! was killed like a dog and all you can talk about is how to turn this around to benefit the Royals?! gods damn you, cold-hearted bastard!"
The King sighed and with the same neutral tone spoke once again "My son died years ago. The one walking around was but a puppet from the terrors you fought together with Jinn and the others in the past Malphas. This I told you when he broke those poor women so long ago and yet you turned the blind eye to it. This mess is your fault and you are lucky The All-Father didn't send one of his flock to burn the whole kingdom down for housing a cult for those blighted abominations!" a small spell of emotion struck the king but he held himself "Kill me if you must. Gods know I have shamed my name already by even letting that...thing masquerading as my son walk around for as long as I did but know this Malphas" the King rose and stood right at the tip of her blade. The steel drew blood as he spoke.
"I am a Shatter-Spear. By the blood of my ancestors, we tamed this land, fought off invaders from all sides and beyond. If you think I will let this be stone that knocks down my clan you are sorely mistaken"
A tense minute of stares followed. Malphas knew her husband well enough to know he was deadly serious about it. She cursed loudly and placed the blade down on the ground, steel ringed as the silence dragged on.
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Many times before being made King and Queen they had fought, Malphas meet Jason when they were adventuring across the world together with the rest of her party. Solid as an elemental stone and a shining beacon of pragmatism It was he who became the glue that held her band of adventurers together. Even if she was the de facto leader of them, malphas sighed as the memories from those days flooded back.
Her friends were now the Arch-Mages of her country. And Arch-Duke and Duchess too.
Her mind went back to yesterday. When Jinn and his Wive showed up at her doorstep in full plate riding their Arch-Griffins that bled righteous rage against her and her son. The beasts stomped the ground as Malphas came to greet her friends who had stopped talking with her and her husband ever since the incident with their daughter happened...
There were no words shared that day, Jinn grabbed a bag wet with blood and threw at Malphas's fee. With a push, they rode off in the skies as she realized they had brought the heads of Galius and his Friends.
Jinn had promised in tears once, he would avenge his daughter even if he had to pay with his life.
Malphas watched as her Husband left without a word. She sat down and cried once again for her dead son, the love she had for him blinding her from all of the horrible deeds the man had committed under the auspices of the eternal enemies that sought to destroy the realm and world. In this moment of weakness Malpha's vowed to herself she would avenge her son.
And the head of Lucrezia would burn in that pyre of fury and sorrow for her son.
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King Jason let his wife alone as he was sure she got the message across and wouldn't muck up his plans. The messengers he dispatched had already reported that Numerous Gods who worked under the Kingdom of Vermilion were already spreading the right narrative and due to sheer luck most of the lower and middle nobility was buying it up. It helped Lucrezia had effectively destroyed Galius's faction with a series of assassinations with the Owl and his family of Assassins.
Jason remembered the young spoilered brat princess. Making a fuss in his castle whenever her parents came to visit in the summer, to think that same womanchild would do what she had done in such a short time. Nevertheless getting the blessings of numerous gods... The kingdom's future was looking better by the minute thanks to that insane madwoman from the north.
Years of fighting against Jinn's faction. Years of losing power to Galius's growing faction as the Royal's fought tooth and nail to remain dominant, to steer the kingdom towards a better tomorrow united even if by kicking and screaming against those who would conspire against the realm. This Jason believed in all his being.
To think his firstborn son would be one of his greatest enemies was something he could barely wrap his head around. The boy he raised with love and care, taught the ways of his ancestors and their struggle to make a land that was fair and kind to all! only to see him turn against the daughter of someone Jason called a brother. Someone who more than once had risked life, limb, and godsdamned soul to save him!
Jason's parents always thought him too cold, too uncaring for his fellow men. But the bounds he forged in his adventuring days were sacrosanct and pure. Alas, his dear wife, the love of his life couldn't cast her motherly love off and they were stuck in this horrible dance.
Sophia and Valtas, ever focused on their magicks decided to remain neutral. To see Jinn's face in suffering and agony broke Jason's heart. to see Malphas's face in the same state was akin to grinding the remains to fine dust. And so Jason played his many hands and build the narrative to wash away his grave sin of turning the blind eye to his dearest of friends.
Jinn would never forgive him, or Malphas for that matter, but that was not his intention with this whole charade. The survival of the Royal Faction was his end goal and since there was no interference from Jinn and his people he could only assume the man had granted him the privilege. That or he was gearing up to take him down further with some plot or another.
Weeks went by as Malphas calmed down and grieved in silence. King Jason sat on his throne alone as a falcon delivered him a letter. The plan had worked and now both the Royals and the Arch-Duke's factions were united once again. With the caveat that Lucrezia had joined Jinn's side as his protege.
"May the Gods forgive me for my sins. And may Vermilion shine in crimson for all of eternity!" Jason spoke aloud in the empty room. His words echoed with the weight of countless dead, now and in the future.