The article had been a last second addition to the morning’s newspaper, but it dominated the headlines and was all anyone would talk about. Every copy of Leoden Times was torn off the shelves and even those who hadn’t read it, had heard about it.

Viscount Cassio de Rossi is Dead

The last heir of House Rossi met his end late last night in a tragic fire that also claimed the life of his long-time advisor Salvatore Torrini. Torrini’s low heritage and questionable moral character made him a controversial choice for a head advisor which has raised the possibility of criminal conduct. House Rossi and the police have yet to give an official statement but…

The word spread fast as wildfire and in Garuccia Nuncio Capello mourned the loss of his friend in silence. In Cassio de Rossi’s mansion the maid Emilia wept openly for her dead hero and not even the head maid Francesca could console her.

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Not all mourned.

The other noble houses sent their condolences to count Rossi who had lost his sole heir but behind closed doors celebrated their good fortunes. Soon the lions of Garuccia would be extinct and their lands up for taking. Power abhorred a vacuum. No one knew this better than the All-Seeing and All-Hearing King of Garuccia who sat back on his throne and waited to see who would be standing when the dust settled. He knew the only winner would be him in the end. When the noble houses bled each other, they were too weak to scheme against him.

But not every noble celebrated the fall of House Rossi either.

Earl Prospero de Ferro shed a tear and poured a drink in the Lionheart’s and Torrini’s memory. In Starfort Livia de Grimaldi sealed herself in her quarters to mourn in the dark while her brother feared he would never get a chance to escape the Lionheart’s shadow. In his study the head advisor of House Neri added two names to the list of lost friends.

The news travelled even across the worlds.

In the Wyrding the goblins wailed for their dead heroes and said their prayers to usher their souls into the Green Lands. In the house of Camilla the Cannibal, the immortal witch found herself pondering on mortality. In Vulcan Tower, Vincent the Curious could not wait to see what would happen next.

And in parts unknown, the fearsome Maximo the Outlaw counted his grievances in gloomy silence.

But one fact remained.

Cassio de Rossi and Salvatore Torrini were dead.