3 Years ago,
In the capital of the Isrule Empire, Ysenar, on a fresh autumn morning.
Scribe: "Please, Prince, we need to finish the documents pertaining to..."
Prince: "Out with you, this instant. Bother me again, and your head will roll. I said it has to wait."
A disgruntled scribe leaves the chambers of the prince, the Duke of Entover. His face, as if chiselled from the finest granite, rests on his hand. Certainly, he seems to be thinking. Something occupies his mind, fiercely so.
He moves, elegantly, to open a window. Stale air, he thinks, hinders one's thought process.
A knock on his chambers' doors distracts the prince.
?: "Your Majesty, I have brought you tea to replenish yourself."
Prince: "You may enter."
The door opened to present a rather tall, beautiful woman. She wore the finest dress a maid could wear, looking beautiful, despite being a mere servant.
The prince's eyes, though, trailed off. Something.. that this maid possessed, it was something he didn't.
She was a member of the fox-kin race, of course. The maid had a fluffy tail and ears one would only assume belong to a fox. In essence, she was beast-kin. Creatures, well, humanoids, that were ever so slightly different from human, but seemed to.. still be different from ordinary humans.
That is, according to imperial scholars. The prince, however, did not subscribe to such a view. He thought of the beast-kin as no different than his own father, the very emperor of the Isrule Empire.
Though.. he also thought the emperor acted weird, especially recently. His father, unusually active now, used to be rather lethargic and ignorant of other countries, even races. He preferred the bare minimum - keep his empire alive and prospering, protect it, and then some.
The prince, called Alian, thanked the maid. In turn, she softly smiled at him before leaving and mumbling about some words.
Maid: "Your Majesty.. I'm really grateful to serve you. I shall excuse myself."
And then the prince as alone in his chambers, pondering the situation at hand...
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The Grand Meeting of Nobles in the Emerald Palace of Isrule.
Tenson in the room was palpable, as the meeting of nobles and the royal family convened in the ornate meeting hall. With the emperor's seat empty, only his biological son, Duke Alian d'Isrule, attended. In secret, the young prince has suspected the High Chancellor, himself a close friend of the late emperor, to be controlling Isrule behind the scenes. As a staunch human superiorist, it would be no surprise to see him advocating for the empire to expand into the Great Forest, teeming with races entirely non-human, but little less than dirt to them.
Mostly symbolic, the emperor's presence seemed to be.. conflicting, in these trying times. His absence, even, loomed large like a sword of damocles over the grand table, stretching seat to seat from noble to noble.
Broadly speaking, there were two factions: the royalists - on which side the High Chancellor was on, human superiorists - and the aristocrats, largely aligned with the prince, notable for his fondness of non-humans. Prince Alian saw no difference between humans and beast-kin, for example, disregarding class.
But, with the emperor not present, the highest position in the empire, save for the prince, was the governing High Chancellor, Pintius. He stood there, beside the emperor's empty seat, with a commanding voice echoing through the meeting hall, reading aloud a proposal he drafted for a royal decree that should ensure support for the Great Forest's invasion.
Sure, Alain thought, the resources and slaves would bring great wealth to the empire - but he could not help but shake the feeling there was something.. religious behind this. The amount of effort Pintius put into his recent undertakings.. it was concerning. This wasn't just a grab for wealth and power, the prince pondered. Meanwhile, the entire hall was in disarray at the preposterous thought of issuing a royal decree for this situation. Such a decree is no laughing matter, someone interrupted, but he was shot down by the High Chancellor, who then continued his reading.
Not only has it detailed this and that, but the enslavement of all tribes that they could find amounted to...
Prince Alian: "I object, High Chancellor. This is nothing more than savagery for ill-gotten wealth. The Isrule Empire has never needed to stoop so low as to enslave, kill, and steal from forest-dwelling folk. Whatever the reason may be, this is preposterous."
Alian's words hung heavy in the air, eliciting murmurs, nods, approval and disapproval from various sides. The royalist nobles heavily disagreed, wearing their disdain for non-humans and demons rather brazenly open, feeling smug and self-satisfied at the High Chancellor taking their side.
High Chancellor Pintius: "I shall repeat myself, so that even the rambunctious prince shall hear. By a very order of His Majesty, the Emperor of Isrule, the Great Forest of Salinus shall become part of our domain, its denizens subdued, and it shall be cleared of all its treasures, so that the Empire can bask in glory and wealth. All resources therein will be claimed by the crown and distributed among the royal family and nobles. Furthermore, the entire forest is fit for colonization efforts, which will grow the influence of the Isrule Empire drastically."
Alian seemed to disagree, seated at the side of the table, not far off from the High Chancellor. Of course, he did not share the royalists' sentiment, still standing from his earlier interjection. The hall fell silent, all eyes turned to him, while he fixed his gaze on Pintius.
Prince Alian: "This decree is an affront to everything the empire claims to stand for. You would desecrate the Great Forest, enslave its inhabitants, and invite chaos to our borders? I cannot, and will not, support this. No, I would rather secede with the entire aristocratic faction, anyone thereof who would support me, and announce a rebellion to the throne."
He paused, before he threw his fist in the air.
Prince Alian: "This tyranny and puppetry of the High Chancellor can not go on any longer."
Gasps echoed through the chamber. A nobleman, flushed with anger, rose to his feet.
Nobleman: "You dare defy His Majesty? This is treason! Not even a son of the emperor would escape this unscathed!"
Alian’s hand moved instinctively to the hilt of his sword, his voice calm but steely. "It is not treason to speak the truth. My father—our emperor—has been unwell for years. Yet suddenly, he issues decrees that serve only to sow discord. Who truly speaks for the crown, I wonder? The High Chancellor, who claims to be his friend for years and years? I doubt this, sincerely."
The High Chancellor’s face darkened. "You overstep, Your Grace. The emperor’s will is absolute. How could I dare interpret His Majesty's will differently than what he intended? You seem to forget I have been the Chancellor for an entire 10 years, Prince Alian."
Alian took a step forward, his eyes burning with determination. "If that is true, then let my actions speak for my convictions. I renounce my position as prince and will not be party to this atrocity. The Dukedom of Entover formally secedes from the Empire of Isrule with all its vassals and supporters. I will be taking my leave."
The room erupted into chaos. Nobles shouted over one another, and guards moved to block the exits. Alian turned sharply to Namina, who had been standing silently by his side.
Prince Alian: "We leave. Now. Out of the way, guards. Or should I remind you of the very definition of a knight?"
Guards, standing in front of the door, moved aside out of fear. The prince had been a force to be reckoned with, swordsmanship on the level of an Ascendant to boot, even being able to use Advanced tier magic with ease. A mere guard, of the advanced or master tier in the sword, poses little threat to him. So they scattered, the nobles in chaos, with some following Alian, seemingly his supporters in the entire ordeal.
Though only a handful at most, they seemed the most loyal, and so he trusted them. Luckily, some of them had adjacent domains to his Dukedom, which means he didn't need to go to war with the entirety of Isrule for their lands. As it stood, a sizable chunk of the empire split off.. along with the person most probable to inherit the throne.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
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Not soon after Alian and his supporters, few and far inbetween, had left the meeting hall onto the streets of the capital, chaos erupted. Feeling the Emerald Palace, which housed the royal family's quarters, was easy enough - it wouldn't take long for the High Chancellor to send a platoon of knights to arrest them, though. His Maid, Namina, seemed to be anxious.
Alian: "Namina, don't be so anxious. We just need to get to the stables safely, the rest will be child's play."
Namina: "I understand, my lord.. but I cannot shake this feeling of unease. What do you plan to do after arriving at the Dukedom? Prepare for immediate war?"
Alian: "We stall and make haste to Silvale, perhaps Queen Asria might help us. If not her, then may the Great Gods have mercy on us all."
She simply nodded, taking his words in. The maid, resourceful and quick thinking, navigated the labyrinth of a city to confuse any pursuers as much as possible.
Namina: "Your Grace, this way! The stables are just ahead."
Their small party of a few mounted horses swiftly and galloped through the city gates, the shouts elite knights and guards fading behind them. Alian’s jaw tightened as he glanced back at the city that had been his home and yet pristine a prison.
Prince Alian: "To Entover. We must prepare and stall their efforts. Use the chaos and head to your domains, I shall immediately beg the Queen of Silvale for her support."
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Mere weeks later, at the border of the Silvale Queendom, snowy weather.
A long trek behind Alian and Namina, the Great Forest of Salinus laid bare as land unconquered for centuries. Its trees, the folk, inhabitants, where sentinels of something much more ancient than the forest let on.
Legend has it that the first human King, Ynar, took to a sword to slay the Mother of Dragons, Livine, in this very forest.
Deep below, mines and caves stretched out forever and ever, caves as large as they could get, housing what humans would only assume to be dragons and their families.
It wasn't common knowledge, but the dragons weren't as hierarchical as humans or other races - rather, they seemed to be much more familial, with their "queen" being the Mother of all Dragons, Queen Livine. Thousands upon thousands of years piled on her old shoulders, until she was slain by the first human hero, who then took it upon himself to be emperor until his death, sparking a revolution - one that turned humans from mere victims of nature, to the ruling species on all continents, save for the demon continent.
Namina, a fox-kin herself, could smell the forest still from this long a distance. Alian dismounted his horse, his gaze sweeping over the borderlands where his domain met the lands of Silvale. Inhabitants of the Salinus Forest lived, typically, much deeper within, rightfully fearing human aggression and their wrath. Namina interrupted the prince's thought process.
Namina: "Do you think the queen will hear you out, Your Grace? Wasn't she rather impartial to these matters, my liege?"
Prince Alian: "She must. Her promise to grant refuge to non-humans is our only hope. But it will not come without a price... I shall bear the burden when it comes."
The two approached the Silvale border checkpoint, their arrival announced to the guards. A diplomatic envoy escorted them to the capital, the journey through the queendom’s lush lands a stark contrast to the tension they had left behind.
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Weeks Later, The Border of the Silvale Queendom.
The Great Forest of Salinus stretched before them, its ancient trees standing as silent sentinels. Alian dismounted his horse, his gaze sweeping over the borderlands where his domain met the queendom of Silvale. The forest’s non-human inhabitants had taken refuge deeper within, fearing the empire’s aggression.
Namina: "Do you think the queen will hear you out, Your Grace?"
Prince Alian: "She must. Her decree to grant refuge to non-humans is our only hope. But this will not come without a price."
Both of them approached the Silvale border, unguarded by anything but nature. It was expressed there would be a diplomatic envoy to escort them to the capital - one which his eyes spied from a fair distance away. After talking and ensuring there would be no confrontation, Alian took upon himself - with his trusted maid - to journey through the lush lands of Silvale, juxtaposed against the tension they had left behind when they left Isrule.
Alian's hope would be to get Silvale on his side. A queendom otherwise known for being neutral and impartial, the Queen decided to take a stance - albeit passive - in this matter, angering her southern neighbour and an ally to the crown of Isrule, the Holy Kingdom of Rans. They were staunch supporters of human superiority, against demon-kind, and anything that wasn't pure-bred human.
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The Royal Palace of Silvale, Audience Chamber of the Queen. Golden Knights on either side, a man is seen taking a knee to greet the Queen.
Queen Asria sat gracefully upon her throne, her serene demeanor masking a keen intellect. Alian bowed deeply before her, his fox-kin companion respectfully at his side, grovelling before the queen as well. The queen’s advisors watched silently, their expressions wary, yet curious.
Queen Asria: "Rise, Prince Alian of Isrule. Or should I call you Duke Alian, of Entover? What brings you to my court?"
Alian: "Your Majesty, I take it word of... the Isrule chaos and secession spread quickly. But yes, I am no longer a prince of Isrule, but the ruler of Entover."
Queen Asria: "I have eyes and ears everywhere, young Alian. Fret not, I know you are not here to declare war. But what do you wish to request of me, I wonder?"
Alian straightened, meeting her gaze with unwavering resolve. "Your Majesty, I come seeking aid. The empire has declared war on the Great Forest and its people. I have renounced my ties to the crown and offer my domain as a vassal state to Silvale in exchange for your protection. No... I offer a sixth of Isrule as a vassal state to Silvale, in return for your support."
The room buzzed with whispered deliberations. Asria raised a hand, silencing her court.
Queen Asria: "You understand the gravity of your request? To accept would mean spitting in the very face of Isrule, surely inviting their wrath. I would not doubt it, they would take it as a declaration of war."
Prince Alian: "I do. But I also believe that Silvale stands for justice and equality, Your Majesty. Together, we can protect the forest and its people from those who seek to destroy them. No.. I cannot tolerate said bloodshed any longer. Whether you accept this request or not, I will be fighting until the end."
Queen Asria: "Is your true goal.. perhaps, to become emperor after ousting the High Chancellor? I can tell from your eyes a keen spirit, a goal. Very well.. the details will be discussed later. For now, I shall lend you aid, unofficially. In return, you will owe me a favour, one I will call in when the time comes. One more thing, I shall add: I cannot take the entirety of your supporters' domains as a vassal, but the Dukedom will be no problem. See to it that the other domains are protected by yourself."
Alian nodded solemnly. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am grateful for your consideration."
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Later that evening, as Alian walked through the palace gardens, his thoughts were heavy with the weight of his decision. Namina walked a few paces behind, her eyes scanning their surroundings.
Namina: "Your Grace, was this the right decision? I wouldn't know of any way to do it differently.. but how do you prevent your supporters from being waged war on?"
Alian: "I sent them letters. They are to pretend. Only following me to subdue me.. and returning once I was out of reach. This is the safest for them and their domains, I fear."
The duke's gaze fell upon a mature, elegant lady, strolling through the garden. He heard of her before. She was a Baroness, newly appointed by the Queen herself, and an elf to boot.
Namina: "Are you curious about Lady Reina?"
Alian: "You know of her? Tell me what you know, Namina."
Namina: "In fact, I had the chance to talk to her. Well.. she approached me, asking about my heritage, since I'm a fox-kin. The only part I let her know was me being from the Ruben Plains far, far north.. and she lost interest."
Alian: "I see.. Let's go to the chambers, for now. We need to prepare."
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3 Years later, the present. In the audience hall of the Silvale Royal Palace.
Duke Alian was present, as a vassal of Silvale, for festivities. Apparently, someone was to receive a medal from the Queen herself. Needless to say, Alian was curious about whoever would receive a medal. From far away, he could only see two elven girls, rather young, kneeling before the queen.
Queen Asria: "Daughter of Reina of Soriam, the Baroness of Runn - Fia. You shall be awarded a medal for your service to the people. Not only have you valiantly helped protect innocent lives from a cruel terrorist, but you took care of the Isrule Skirmish, threatening the integrity of our Queendom. Your bravery is commendable. As such, I will not only reward you with this royal medal, but you may request from me anything - as long as it is in my power. Be it revenge, wealth, or personnel. Even land."
Fia: "I humbly accept the honor of bearing this medal, Your Majesty. Regarding the request.. I am afraid, my Queen, I have nothing to wish for. The times I saved fellow people, I did it because I believe in helping others in need. Rather than me.. please allocate funds to the orphanage, positioning guards there, to prevent the disaster from happening again."
The girl, Alian noticed, began stuttering once she arrived at her last words. But she was certainly a curious soul - he had only heard bits and pieces of the Isrule Skirmish, which had been the talk of the town for days. A platoon of knights from Isrule attempted to skirmish the border of Silvale.
With a few dozen squads of knights, exhausted from their fights with other monsters, they were bound to be defeated by the skirmishing knights. However, it was said they were slaughtered to bits and pieces, by a single duo of elves - a knight and a mage. Certainly, Alian believed, they should be incredibly strong for their age.
Queen Asria: "Very well, you have served us well. I will see to it that the orphanage will be guarded. Since your mother is a close attendant of mine, though, I would feel sad just letting you go like this. Instead, I shall grant you land. The details will be discussed later. Now to your servant.."
Standing next to Fia, a timid elven girl knelt. She seemed rather muscular and distinguished. The knight, the duke had deduced.
Queen Asria: "As the servant of Fia, you - Erica - have made considerable contributions to the orphanage disaster and the skirmish. For your power and effort, I shall grant you the title of knight. Be proud of your achievements, Dame Erica, and continue to serve not only Silvale, but Fia."
Erica, the knight she referred to, nodded with a fist on her chest. Alian was rather impressed by the formalities.
After the award ceremony was over, there was no trace of Erica and Fia - a shame, Alian thought, as he wished to meet them.