Post by Leonida on Jun 27, 2022 14:48:47 GMT
Father,
Lady Kyra von Wald wrote to me again, requesting further assistance in securing her position as the successor to the Von Wald legacy.
Since we last met one month ago, Duke Albrecht has become far less certain in Johannes's right of primogeniture. However, her becoming Duchess is not yet ensured. What is more, she has revealed to me her larger ambitions.
Now that their ancestral castle is returning to the Materium, Lady Kyra has seen fit to stake a claim over a stretch of land in the forest north of the settlements. In order to do so, she needs an army to defend that claim. Unfortunately, all her men are dead. Even more unfortunately, that meant she needed Johannes — apparently a gifted necromancer, though he has semantic objections to the term — to raise her army.
She offer'd to help the Dawnlands in their war against the gith when she has her men back. This enticed the mercenaries I gather'd for this job.
Johannes refused to help Kyra under any circumstances. But he was inclined to raise the undead army for the benefit of the Dawnlands, if we agreed to slay the roving beast he once call'd Grandfather. This alone tempt'd the mercenaries into considering his proposition, honour be damn'd.
Then a third option presented itself to us. Wilhelm, the youngest, told us that they speak to the Von Wald ancestors who rest in the crypt underneath the chapel. They spoke of one Wolfgang von Wald, son of the dynasty's founder Elias, who was famed and accursed for slaying a giant wolf. Wolfgang was a fearsome warrior and, as they claim'd, a "good man". He, too, can lend his aid to the struggling Dawnlands.
Both Kyra and Johannes had been dismissive of their younger sibling for their melancholy nature. Clearly they had underestimated Wilhelm.
As duty demanded of me, I reported what we had heard to Lady Kyra. First we opined that she should try talking to her brother without rancour. Difficult as that would be (I could only sympathise). But the pain in her voice when she spoke of how he call'd her an abomination was
Leonida pauses, the tip of her pen hanging above the parchment. She isn't sure how to describe, in her own words, the emotions she had observed arise in Kyra. It was too close, much too similar...
But the pain in her voice when she spoke of how he call'd her an abomination was too raw.
Never-the-less, Lady Kyra instruct'd us to see whether there is any troth to Wilhelm's claims. Thus we met them in the family crypt. Where indeed they, along with the mercenaries, convinced Wolfgang von Wald to rise from his coffin and take up his sword once more. Wolfgang march'd into the great hall and took Albrecht's place as the house patriarch, order'd the old man to rest at last. He seem'd relieved.
Kyra and Johannes were very surprised. But not displeased. Despite Wolfgang's clear disdain for them both. Only time will tell how this will affect them, but for now it is a satisfactory outcome.
Wolfgang gifted us treasures from the castle armoury before he sent us home. He promised to join the battlefield when the gith come on the wings of their stolen Netherese city. I must confess, I would like to witness His Grace in battle.
But now onto other matters. I have heard that the halfling village south of the fort has been abandoned during evacuations. There, outside the village boundaries, we may congregate.
Glory unto eternity.
L.
She folds the parchment in neat, precise dimensions, pours hot red wax over the opening, and stamps a brass signet ring into it.
Lady Kyra von Wald wrote to me again, requesting further assistance in securing her position as the successor to the Von Wald legacy.
Since we last met one month ago, Duke Albrecht has become far less certain in Johannes's right of primogeniture. However, her becoming Duchess is not yet ensured. What is more, she has revealed to me her larger ambitions.
Now that their ancestral castle is returning to the Materium, Lady Kyra has seen fit to stake a claim over a stretch of land in the forest north of the settlements. In order to do so, she needs an army to defend that claim. Unfortunately, all her men are dead. Even more unfortunately, that meant she needed Johannes — apparently a gifted necromancer, though he has semantic objections to the term — to raise her army.
She offer'd to help the Dawnlands in their war against the gith when she has her men back. This enticed the mercenaries I gather'd for this job.
Johannes refused to help Kyra under any circumstances. But he was inclined to raise the undead army for the benefit of the Dawnlands, if we agreed to slay the roving beast he once call'd Grandfather. This alone tempt'd the mercenaries into considering his proposition, honour be damn'd.
Then a third option presented itself to us. Wilhelm, the youngest, told us that they speak to the Von Wald ancestors who rest in the crypt underneath the chapel. They spoke of one Wolfgang von Wald, son of the dynasty's founder Elias, who was famed and accursed for slaying a giant wolf. Wolfgang was a fearsome warrior and, as they claim'd, a "good man". He, too, can lend his aid to the struggling Dawnlands.
Both Kyra and Johannes had been dismissive of their younger sibling for their melancholy nature. Clearly they had underestimated Wilhelm.
As duty demanded of me, I reported what we had heard to Lady Kyra. First we opined that she should try talking to her brother without rancour. Difficult as that would be (I could only sympathise). But the pain in her voice when she spoke of how he call'd her an abomination was
Leonida pauses, the tip of her pen hanging above the parchment. She isn't sure how to describe, in her own words, the emotions she had observed arise in Kyra. It was too close, much too similar...
But the pain in her voice when she spoke of how he call'd her an abomination was too raw.
Never-the-less, Lady Kyra instruct'd us to see whether there is any troth to Wilhelm's claims. Thus we met them in the family crypt. Where indeed they, along with the mercenaries, convinced Wolfgang von Wald to rise from his coffin and take up his sword once more. Wolfgang march'd into the great hall and took Albrecht's place as the house patriarch, order'd the old man to rest at last. He seem'd relieved.
Kyra and Johannes were very surprised. But not displeased. Despite Wolfgang's clear disdain for them both. Only time will tell how this will affect them, but for now it is a satisfactory outcome.
Wolfgang gifted us treasures from the castle armoury before he sent us home. He promised to join the battlefield when the gith come on the wings of their stolen Netherese city. I must confess, I would like to witness His Grace in battle.
But now onto other matters. I have heard that the halfling village south of the fort has been abandoned during evacuations. There, outside the village boundaries, we may congregate.
Glory unto eternity.
L.
She folds the parchment in neat, precise dimensions, pours hot red wax over the opening, and stamps a brass signet ring into it.