Narrative

And with the grace of frost and ice the fighting had slowed and then stopped.  The coronation of Emperor Siegmund Siegfried the First of his name is held, and soon following in the Spring of 3363, the state funerals for both the prior Emperors, Siegmund’s father and brother, Emperors Siegbald the Third, and Siegbald the Fourth are held.  What was recovered of their bodies burned upon the golden pyre that took the body of Siegfried the hero at the start of time.

It is a bitter spring in the Imperial Eisenherz Territories, and by summer it is no more cheerful, mass cremations overseen by the Order of the Dawn as honored dead flicker to ash and stars.  Given prayers and respects for all they did during the last war.  Rumors dance in ears however, this is the new era of the Mortal Realms- The Next Era of Light.

In the Union of Kingdoms, the Witaneg Kingdoms celebrations are hosted far and wide.  Feasts, and splendor, shared wealth in even the smallest of courts.  The time of death was over, it was a memory to slip into the fog of time.  Those lost would be remembered as heroes, names carved into new bricks to be laid upon the walls that pushed against the Barrens, each name a new shield, a new hope and light to defend their homes.

Witaneg and the Kingdoms it united barely felt the war, and the members of their court that did were less scared then other parts of the world.  To them, the new era was a promise of a better future, of many great years with no fear or worry of the Ghouls and the oppressive force of Oíche (Nox).

In the heart of the Kingdom of Luminor, Ciel, the first council of the new age is held by the Church.  The King of Luminor, King Lumis  the eleventh, Severus Bellamie the First, Lord Lumis Bellmie the Third, Xavier the Third Blanc, and Mother Thea as notables stood in concert to discuss the future.  To welcome in the 8th Era of Lumin, and usher in a new era light and glory.

The World continues forward despite the Eighth Ghoul War’s scars still freshly dragged over the land.

### **Early Days of 3364**

Waning Winter of the Year 3364...

Two years have passed since the official close of the Eighth Ghoul War, rumors circulate about the scattered armies of Nox, new Braves prep arms and armor in dreams of heading to the Barrens in the early spring, of fighting and scavenging.  The Braves know the recently lost lands are rich in fortune and heirloom, and the sites of major battles littered with prizes.

Rumors trickle out of Ciel, the capital of the Kingdom of Luminor, about a new Consecrator being named to celebrate the start of the New Era of the Church, people bicker over who the noble will be, what land he will be from.  Where he calls home, what he will bring to his homeland.

King Lumis the Eleventh is under the eyes of all the Estates of Luminor, the Houses of the Imperials ready to pounce.  Stress has aged the once young king beyond his years.  The once thoughtful and contemplative king now embittered and tired.

As the winter days start to grow warmer, giving way to spring, rumors start to point to Luminor, as convoys and caravans ready to leave from Domyarsk, the Imperial Territories and the Union.  It becomes clear the first Consecrator will be named from a Luminorian, and the powers that be will come to offer arm and aid, and witness the Rites of Consecration.

Tensions hang among nations and nobility.  The Eighth Ghoul War hit the Eisenherz Imperial Territories the worst, however, no one left the war unscathed, The Kingdom of Luminor and Witaneg Kingdoms only lost a few towns to the swarms, the Imperials lost three full  provinces, part of their wall, and two Emperors.  Yet, none are willing to appear weak on the global stage.

The Imperials of the Imperial Eisenherz Territories are vested in appearing strong, confident, and in control, a new Emperor fresh on their throne, though a War Hero from the last war, untested in politics and subterfuge. The gathering is clear, a ploy by the heads of states to evaluate each other’s interests and safeguard their own.  More cannibalistically, it is a playground for nobles to take advantage of the loss of other lines of nobility, to indebt the new consecrator and soar in power and prestige.

### **A Rose by the Name Bellamie**

Spring, 3364...

 File:Bellamie, Severus ‘Sev’ III.png
In the refreshing embrace of spring, a herald's trumpet resounds, announcing the ascension of Severus Bellamie the Third to the esteemed role of Consecrator in the Kingdom of Luminor. The very mention of his name, Severus Bellamie, becomes a whispered symphony in the breeze, fluttering through Roze Wind and extending beyond. Already a modest celebrity as the apprentice of the renowned poet Salvador Singer, Severus now finds himself the focal point of town gossip and discussions. His name weaves through the cobbled streets, carried by enthusiastic town callers.

The great capital of Luminor, Ciel, beckons Severus the third, the names listed on the missive from the King’s Court include his own Grandfather’s.  Lord Severus the First.  An ominous hint to the summons.  It tells him to rally what allies he has, to bring them forth for the Vows of Consecration.

The Lyrical Lilies, a troubadour's troupe of skilled performers, headed by Salvador Singer, a long term friend of Severus and his mentor, elect to join him on this mission to Ciel.  Salvador made the joke that Severus’s vows will be the last show done by the Lilies.  The Troupe and its members stand steadfast at Severus the Third’s side as he prepares to embark into the shifting and wild territories of the Ghoul Barrens.

As rumors swarm through the city, the young tourney knight Valentin the Valiant and his partner in romance, Chloe, join Severus on the trip to Ciel.  Allies urged to band up to create a new future, to have their names in history.

As Severus readies to leave his home city of Roze Wind, friends and neighbors cheer and see him off, and he realizes the weight of the world, of the future, of hope are now crashing upon his shoulders.  Surrounded by men he trusts, he has no choice but to push forward.

### **A Coin Minted by Krepki**

Spring, 3364...

Spring means little in the land of Domoyarsk, along the jagged teeth they call home within the Greater Vetzer Principality of Domoyarsk, the winds stay bitter, the roofs coated in snow year round.  Spring means exceptionally little to them.

The most southern peak, the Krepki Principality stands on Krepki peak, even here, hard and isolated it is impossible to not hear the call of the new consecrator.  The local Chapel of Lumin readies to venture over the dangerous barrens and join their mother faith, the Church of Lumin in honoring and marching with the new Consecrator.  To offer alms and arms.

Prince Chirkash Krepki out of no altruism or good will, but a fear of appearing weak, and a fear of letting the Chapel ride to their doom funded mercenaries hired from local Braves, he bought provisions and supplies, and gave leave to the Stakanvodi and the Syrovodi families to support their kin within the Chapel by sending support.

Natasha and her brother Boris Stakanvodi headed out to Ciel along with the Chapel of Lumin, most notable, their sister Mirka, a Warden-Aspirant in the Lumin Faith.  The Krepki Principality and Greater Vetzer Principality intend to use this gesture as a testament of good will, an expression of the interconnected nature of the Mortal Realms, and a political cudgel when they can.

The merchant Natasha and those who served her seemed more than willing to endeavor on with the Consecrator for the duty of reclamation, the more savvy seeing this as a chance to control markets, to influx tight ones with new resources, or to import to the new settlement beneficially from old friends and allies.  Some advocate for settling a Brave crossing to create comfort in the storm.

Still Boris is confident that no matter what happens, the world will be a better place for it.

Among the notables are Vuksan Zoloto, Rodion Nikitin, Nonna Kise, and Fekla Koz.

### **From Home and Hive**

Spring, 3364...

 File:Mazar, Aviva “Anabla” (1341).png
In the Northern lands of the Witaneg Kingdoms is the Kingdom of Eborlan, its territory stretching from the mountains to the north sea.  Along the face of the mountain within the Eborlan territory is the territory of the Mazar family, a noble line of vayzhuk characterized by their pink-red eyes, and dark hair.  Traits uncommon among the vayzhuk.  The capital is called Fordurkh, a city that is built into the mountain sprawling upwards with large plateaus of farmland artificially built, paths and passes well planned, and home of the great Heyltir pass connecting Eborlan with the kingdoms on the other side of the mountain.

King Guaidre Comhghan, one of the kings of the Witaneg Kingdoms gave tribute and praise to the Mazar family and selected from among them the court official Aviva Mazar to head to Ciel and join the new Consecrator’s Convoy as advisor, ally, and companion.

The Mazar family rallied a lot of their blood and loyalists, sending many of Aviva’s kin with her and several allies of the group, including some support from King Guaidre Comhghan they headed out.  They were to witness, under command of Aviva Mazar the Vows of Consecration, and offer their service to Severus Bellamie the third.

It is rare for Verters of any kind to be given such honor, and yet King Guaidre Comhghan gave leave to them, blessing and wealth, promises to help, and the dutiful task to convince Bellamie to found a court as part of the union of Kingdoms.

Aviva was not just a representative of her homeland, of Witaneg, Eborlan, but also of her species the vayzhuk.  She could feel the pressure as her caravan arrived at Ciel to join the Consecrator’s Convoy.

### **An Imperial Welcome**

Spring, 3364...

In the vastness of the Imperial Eisenherz Territories the new Emperor, Siegmund the first, was under pressure to respond with strength and decisiveness towards the announcement of the Consecration.  At the Emperor’s Court, Head of Interior Finance, Augustin-Kass Adler, named Aurelien Allard the Second as the representative of the Imperial territories they should send.

The choice was clear to Minster Adler who cited the Allard’s family to the Bellamie Crest, and the rumors that a Bellamie would be named Consecrator, it means it would be an easy union of cooperation, it would show that despite the wants of the Imperial Territories, success is more important, and lastly, Adler could free himself of his son-in-law.

A group of distinguished warriors and their commander were rounded up to join Aurelien, given the task to offer their arms and experience to the new Consecrator, and serve the Mortal Realms with honor.  The chosen lord was Matheo Dorn and his men, the Karmesin Fangzahn Pack.  Once humble commoners, the Hunds of the Karmesin Pack feared nothing of the future.

Aurelien would arrive in time for the Vows of Consecration in Ciel with fanfare, and connection to other members of the Bellamie Crest, with him and ready for the journey are his kids, and wife.

### **A Petal for a Rose**

Spring, 3364...

Champ de Fleurs is a small village governed by the Pascal family just on the outskirts of Ciel, it lacks the lush luxuries and comforts of the capital for fear of making the men born, and trained there, weaker.  The air is filled with the sound of a heavy smith hammer, work being done by Manuel Castrillon Boden, named Hammer of the Pascal.  Fine blade after fine blade hanging in rows upon his walls.  Each a work of art in their own right.  Fearsome in their practicality.

His latest a sword made for ornamentation, unusual for him, but not outside of his skill, the blade had a comfort and shine to it, engravings of falling petals outlined in thin hues of purple and black down the length of the blade, the handle designed to look like a rose in bloom.  The sword could function, but would serve far better as a display piece.  A work of art to show command and grace.

Ambrose Pascal and Cyril Bellamie both arrived together, Cyril pulled from retirement for this day.  They sought out Gustave Severus Pascal, who among all the Knights of the Pascal line was tasked with bringing the blade to the Consecrator Severus Bellamie the Third.  There were no rumors or secrets this close to Ciel, it was clear who was to be named Consecrator.

Gustave Severus Pascal was given command of a group of Thorns, and a few trusted Petals of the Pascal bloodline and told to be the blade of Severus the Third, his orders are your cause and creed.  The journey from Champ de Fleurs to Ciel was short, and done within only a few days.  Lord Pascal arriving ahead of most foreign dignitaries, he joined up with the Crest to await the arrival of his new lord.

### **A Mother’s Love and Will**

Spring, 3364...

Bernadette Moulin Bellamie heard from her father-in-law the plans, the happenings, and the fate that would soon befall her son, Severus the third.  She was old, and had no viable skills for her son’s future, but she had connections, and she had hopes.  She laid pen to paper and sent out missives to the far ends of the Moulin family.

Many send simple missives and messages of well wishes and some trinkets, coins, or provisions.  However, others offer up skills and services, such as the loyalty of the seasoned Corinne Botrel and her unit from the Moulin Supply corps.

Ostric, Stefan, and Yannik all step forward as blades, and bows to serve.  She inspired the will of various men within the Falcons, and even stirred most of Severus’s siblings to head to Ciel for the ceremonial rights.

Bernadette Moulin Bellamie wished she could do more, but she had little influence left in the family she married out of, and was afraid beyond this she had nothing to offer her son.

### **Awaiting at Ciel**

Spring, 1364...

Ciel, the capital of Luminor, is busier than normal, it is roaring with tourists, visitors, spectators, and foreign powers.  Inns are sold out, camp cities circle the gates and walls as temporary housing for Braves and far off knights.  The Church of Lumin has filled their cathedral with visiting dignitaries and allies of the cloth.

The Palace of Hibou at the center of Ciel having its guest wing flooded with bodies and men.  Some offering trinkets to the Consecrator, others offering service, some nobles seeking to just offer and be rejected for age, uselessness, or any number of other reasons.  To appear brave without the risks of actually having to be.

Among the nobles waiting at Ciel for the arrival of Severus Bellamie the third is his elder sister, Lydie Leblanc Bellamie.  Somewhat spoiled, and of ill temper, Lydie has never bloomed, always playing second to another member of the family.  She wishes to extort a title out of Severus to join his group.

Another, a distant relative, Lumis Bellamie the Fifth presents an offer with conditions, urging Severus to venture deep into the treacherous Ghoul Barrens in pursuit of precious resources to get his blade, or he will refuse to join the Consecrator.

And they are but a meager fraction of what awaits Severus.

### **An Uncertain Future**

Spring, 1364...

In these pivotal moments of history, when notables and common folk alike yearn for a chance at fame and glory, while the condemned extend desperate hands in the hopes of reprieve as Redemtivists. Political powers, their machinations concealed in shadows, vie for the honor of the first Reclamation of the era, seeking to align Severus's efforts with their demesne.

Choices lay arrayed before the young lord Severus. Offers come from the prestigious Imperial Eisenherz Territories, promises of wealth.  The enigmatic Northern Kingdoms of Witaneg offering a seat at the court, the name of King and the feelings of community.  Luminor holds no promises, they hold the expectation of loyalty from one of their long standing citizens.  The cold and distant Domoyarsk promises protection and metal. Each beckoned to Severus with what they could to expand their realms, to bring their lands new opportunities of wealth, glory, and power.  Yet only Severus can know his plans, his goals, or what his allies think are best.

Ciel and the Grove d’Ciel await Severus as both a ray of hope and a pit of vipers waiting to strike. The new world, the new era was starting and the greed of men wastes no time making plots and ploys to take advantage of that.

Choices abound as officers and men from various corners of the world await Severus in Ciel. Promises of loyalty and strategic alliances are tempered with underlying political maneuvers. The Consecrator must navigate these intricate relationships, forge new alliances, and make decisions that will shape not only his destiny but the fate of the entire Kingdom of Luminor.

As Severus stands at the crossroads of alliances and expectations, the journey into the unknown promises both glory and peril, and the fate of the realm hangs in precarious balance.

## **At Ciel**

Spring, 1364...

The wind had a gentle rasp, and the breeze tugged at sleeves, city streets were overflowing with Braves, and peasants.  Posers of the new Consecrator on walls, the smell of baked goods in the air.  Ciel was packed to the brim and bursting over.  People from every walk of life wandered and congregated.

Nobles and commoners alike paid mind and service to the Church of Lumin, many offered boons to the Consecrator and the known allies as they arrived.   One of the first arrivals was the wagon train from Champ de Fleurs, Gustave Pascal, the latest sword of the Bellamie line.  A petal waiting for his rose.

He met with locals, and sent his men off, to lie in wait.  The convoy from the Union arrived, to scuffle over bread and the distinctive lack of charm of the Lord of the Moulin Estates, Guillaume Rictor Moulin.  In equal breaths he defended the names and honors of the Mazar Tribe, and insulted them due to his direct and harsh way of speaking.  The young verters, vayzhuks, ate well.

As Natasha and the warriors of the Mountains arrived, she was led to a meeting with the Emperor’s Brother, Sieghardt Siegfried, who sentenced her to working with him behind the scenes, he dispatched three verter servants and a hund to take service in the convoy as his part of the deal, and all Natasha had to do was ask Bellamie to consider looking at opening new open land trade routes between the Imperial Territories and her home in Domoyarsk.

As Severus arrived he was told some of the truth of his role, the pressure of it, the lack of public resources from the Bellamie Crest, and grappled with the rumored thirty percent failure rate.  Severus’s father and family both did their best to give advice to their kin, but it was tempered with confidence.

Before the great Palace of the Hibou family, a busy body and kin of the royal line Mathias invited himself to connect Severus with the Mazar Clan of the North, Natasha from the East, Gustave, and lastly Allard from the Imperial Territories.  Each meeting went over well enough, with offers of romance, plans and conspiracy, and Mathias either out of kindness, or a sense of respect and loyalty to the process of Consecration didn’t allow any of the information to be his cudgel.

It was not long before Cyrille Perdu met with the consecrator, showed him the Inner Grove, a sacred and special place normally forbidden to those outside of the Church of Lumin, and spoke with candor and openness of what being a consecrator met. To many of the party this openness also flooded them with doubts.  Warden Perdu, even with all of the ominous air, and some of the church’s flower language did his best to speak clearly and speak well.

When speaking of the Vows of Consecrator that must be taken before gatherings of nobles, royals, and clergy, Allard in an effort to impress his lordship recited a vow from the sixth era, the third Consecrator of it, Lumiere Hibou, to the annoyance and amazement of Warden Perdu.  With the knowledge fresh in his mind, Perdu took the next step, and introduced Sylvan.

Touch and socialization starved, Sylvan claimed the second moon as his ancestry.  He has spent his entire life confined to the Grove d’Ciel, the Hibou Palace, and the main Cathedral of Lumin within Ciel, having never so much as stepped foot outside the upper ring courtyard.  He openly confessed that only Warden Perdu was his consistent friend, he didn’t know what the Verters even were, and insulted Aviva and her kin by asking what they were and calling them things.

Perdu called him a burden, and Sylvan seemed to have no disagreements.  He was the Warden-Aspirant that Severus would take with him to tend to and cultivate the new grove.  His lack of social skills, and world awareness became clear and Natasha took him into a hug and said she would take care of the ‘kid’ until it was time for the vows.

After spending some time seeing the way the Inner Grove took in faith to create energy, the faint glow of ley lines, of the works of divinity, his curiosity was satisfied but not fully quenched.  It was a mystery beyond his skills at the time.  Moving from the Grove d’Ciel, he met the ‘Pie’ sisters, not their real names.  A Luminorian and an Imperial Grinzhuk, or Green Verter.  Apple was simple and rugged, and Cherry had a devilish keen if a bit of a slow walk.  They informed Severus they would join him on the condition he doesn’t prove harmful unduly towards the mortal realms.  With thought they spoke, and the Pie Sisters assured they were hired by another as part of an agreement made by Natasha and were willing to provide some information on the former Imperial Territories.

Seeing the need for allies, Bellamie sent Aviva and Natasha to seek out the Brave legend Vintos.  While he and Gustave sought out the Duke of Bonnet De’neige.

The Brave camp was just outside of town, it was bustling, and clearly filled with worn down and hopeful men and women, hund, human, and the occasional stray verter.  Vintos saw them, he recognized Natasha, and even confessed a few of his men spoke well of her.  He offered three terms to serve the Consecrator.

* Food
* Honesty
* And not to be thrown away.

Natasha agreed heartily, and he agreed to fight under her for the time, and even if Severus couldn’t agree to those terms.

Duke Xavier Bonheur the Tenth was blunt and rude, and fond to see Gustave again.  He was the commander of the Northern Offensive for Luminor during the Ghoul War, and proved himself a capable leader.  He made a few enemies with some nobles for not favoring them in command roles and positions, but is beloved by commoners and the hedges to a point of near political untouchability.

Gustave and Severus had the confidence pulled out of their throats and hearts when the Duke introduced them to Lumis the Eleventh, the current king of Luminor.  Simply addressed as Lumis by both Xavier and his wife Solenn, it was clear the older Duke and the younger king had history.  Lumis apologized for preventing a private meeting, and Xavier chided him for being so permissive and soft to those around him.

He asked to be treated as any other nobility by Severus, and with a weary eye, he and Gustave tended to the matter at hand.  Xavier already planned to dedicate 50 men to the convoy, but after listening to Severus and getting Gustave to vouch for him, gave 50 more of his Bountifuls. This unit would not take off the colors of the Bonheur family, unlike the original 50 wearing the Bellamie Crest colors.   Between these two efforts, Severus had secured at least one hundred and fifty fighting men for his efforts, the making of a small army.

Upon returning to the Consecration Hall, an area of the palace where the rank of Luminous King, and Consecrator are held above all, and everyone else is reduced in noble standing, Severus starts to conference with his allies.  The Pie Sisters are quick to show what information they have, highlighting points of interest between the Imperial Territories and Domoyarsk as per their employees wants.  Severus calls them out for being from the Imperial Territories and catches Cherry off guard for a moment.

The informed territories were, Castle Huxley, Neupadet, Imperial Territory of Perdita, the lost Imperial Territories of Grhzim and Holstein, and lastly far in the arctic above Domoyarsk they highlighted rumors of the lost golden ruins of Marius’s Drache.

Castle Huxley was an old Imperial Territory lost before the confederation, it stands in an ongoing and endless siege, hundreds of braves inside of its walls and the noble house Huxley overseeing the defense.  Battles continue to rage on to this day, and Braves often report seeing it and thinking about joining the fight.  Many who do never return are trapped within the siege.

Neupadet was a former capital of a princedom of Domoyarsk, the Svoboda family were the heads of it.  Lacking the finer details of the fall, Imperial histories highlight that the Svoboda’s eldest son married a daughter of the Vetzer great principality and vied to rule the entire Domoyarsk someday, making Neupadet the new capital and bastion of power in the country.  This caused several bouts of infighting, and, in an act of brutal disregard for mortal lives, the Vetzer used catapults and trebuchets they had built along the mountain to damage the northern wall of Neupadet to allow hordes and swarms of Ghouls to consume the city.  The braves and Natasha brought up the deep labyrinth that seemed to form there and the treasures within.

Imperial Territory of Perdita named after the castle Perdita was built on the coast, and using a Rune made the sea water clean and drinkable for their population.  It shows no special prominence and just sits awkwardly between the two ends of the Imperial Territories.

Territories of Grhzim and Holstein above Siegweld’s Wall were freshly lost Imperial Lands in the last Ghoul War, the famous battle of Sumt was fought in Grhzim.  They are easily settled and connected lands but offer no great boons.

Lastly was the lost land of Marius’s Drache, one of the sons of Siegfried the Undying founded a city there, it was said to radiate a power that burned ghouls to cinder.  Beyond that sisters had little to offer.  They said Domoyarsk or Drachenatem would house more information.

Tzvia Mazar was asked what she knew as she seemed more aware then her siblings, and with some thought highlighted a place in the far south she thought looked promising but couldn’t say more than that.  She highlighted ruins uncovered in the last war that resembled her homeland, Arcklan over the north sea and the ‘Communion’ statue that did something that made them prosperous. The mass grave, a territory south of Isolated Domoyarsk that is known for consistently having ghoul bodies littering it.  Braves commonly use the place to salvage ghoul corpses. Lastly she highlighted a place called the Wild Luminous Grove, a Luminous Tree that grows on its own in the center of a forest.

This information gave the convoy a lot to consider and a lot to ponder from their sources.  Natasha added notes of three Brave Crossings she knew about and commonly interacted with in her travels.

It led to a quiet and contemplative moment.  Letting Severus consider his options as head of the Convoy, as the Consecrator, and his lead advisors among them.  Natasha of Domoyarsk and her kin and braves, Aviva and the Mazars, lastly the Pascal, and the Allards both standing at beck and call.

The world was unrolled before them, and it was clear the path would not be straight forward nor easy, but would unravel before them as he and his loyal retinue pushed and strived for greatness.  His eyes at the time rest on going to the Imperial Capital, Siegstadt, and learning more of the Ghoul Lands, and the wonders within before making his land stake.  He also seeks an audience with the Union Kings, and their repositories of knowledge.

The next step before him and his retinue are the Vows of Consecration in the Inner Grove, witnessed by the Mortal Realms, and binding the fates and lives of his new companions together both politically and religiously.