Lucienne di Manalio

Knight Lucienne Michelette Cazimi di Manalio (also known as Lucienne di Manalio) was a Knight of the Dawn Father, known for being the Hand of the Master to Emperor Egide Cassona Bordonery della Vicechia, the first Emperor of Ayos, and for her role in the Northern Expansion. She kept meticulous records of her activities in her personal diaries, which were recovered in Briev some years after her disappearance.

## History

Lucienne di Manalio's early life is mainly mystery. It is believed that she was born in Sipolla, in the city or region of Manalio, before emigrating at some point to Ayos, likely after she joined the Knights of the Dawn Father and as part of the organisation's role in the Northern Expansion. Her middle names, *Michelette* and *Cazimi*, are common Sipollese surnames and provide minimal information about her family; also, in her diaries, she spoke only of her life in Ayos, and not of her parents or any siblings.

After her arrival in Ayos, she travelled with the Knights of the Dawn Father to the territory of Albaro, one of the four territories which made up modern-day Briev. The Emperor of Albaro, Meizard Chauv, hired the Knights, led by Grand Master Amand Gradonni Aefor di Blandauve, to bulk up his territory's army. During the conflict, Lucienne formed a close friendship with Egide della Vicechia, who was, at that time, the Hand of the Master to Amand di Blandauve. When Emperor Chauv conquered two other territories and claimed himself Emperor of the entire country, Lucienne and the Knights were sent to the then-unconquered Sunri to expand Chauv's territories.

Amand di Blandauve was killed only two weeks into the Northern Expansion, after which Egide della Vicechia became Grand Master, and Lucienne his self-appointed Hand of the Master. In her role as Hand of the Master, Lucienne ensured Egide's survival in Sunri and helped lead his forces. According to sources from the time, Lucienne was well-liked compared to Egide, and was noted for her strict devotion to Pelor, to the Knight's code, and to their mission in Sunri.

### Luaine Druid Council

The most notable turning point in the Northern Expansion was the executions of the Luaine Druid Council. After a year of vicious guerilla fighting between the Knights, Emperor Chauv's army, and the native population of Sunri, the Knights were able to push their conquered territories west to the Luaine Valley. This fertile land was home to the second-largest elven clan, *Teg ó Luaine*, and was considered the centre of elven life in Sunri. The Luaine Druid Council was made up of elven elders from all clans, who had come together to resist colonisation.

Recognising that brute force would not result in them gaining the Luaine Valley, Egide della Vicechia formulated a plan to eliminate the Druid Council from the inside: Lucienne and several other Knights would be 'captured' by the enemy, and, using the new technology of rune magic, would activate hidden weapons and slay the Druid Council while the remaining Knights launched a distracting attack on the elven forces. Lucienne greatly opposed this plan:

> To slay this people's elders, and in such a cowardly fashion, while their backs are turned in prayer for the safety of their kinsmen ... There is no greater betrayal of the oath we swore. But no matter my hesitation, as Egide has made his decision, and not even Pelor himself could change that man's mind once it is set. I am my Master's Hand, I must follow his word lest the entire order crumble and our bones lie in this soil forever. All I can do is beg my god for his forgiveness.
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Despite her protestations, Lucienne followed Egide's orders and was captured by the elves. While their forces were distracted, Lucienne and her fellow Knights killed all members of the Luaine Druid Council. The elven clans scattered in the wake of the killings, with clan *Teg ó Wych* retreating to the well-defended Silvan Forest, significantly decreasing the size of the elven forces. Emperor Chauv sent more armed forces into Sunri following this, and secured the territory two months later.

### Advisor to Emperor Egide Bordonery

Three days after Sunri was integrated into Ayos, Emperor Chauv was assassinated in Avellin, and Egide della Vicechia declared himself Emperor of all of Ayos, styling his name as Emperor Egide Bordonery. Lucienne was his most trusted advisor for several years, overseeing his army, and efforts to suppress elven resistance and annex the Silvan Forest. Lucienne's diaries at the time reveal a fading faith in the Knights and in Egide; his marriage broke the oath he swore as a Knight, and many other Knights were abandoning their oaths and taking up lives in Egide's court. Her diaries also express lingering guilt over the Northern Expansion. Also, despite her strict faith, rumours circulated at the time that Lucienne and Egide were lovers. None of these rumours were ever proven true, and were often actively discounted by her diaries.

### Disappearance

Three years into Egide's reign as Emperor, Lucienne disappeared. Nothing was known of her whereabouts until thirty years later, when her diaries were recovered, hidden in a cellar in a small coastal town, Scanga, in Briev. They reveal her growing resentment of Egide and her position in his government, and her struggle with her faith. It is believed she travelled from Sunri to Scanga, where she broke her oath by sleeping with a man, then abandoned her belongings and boarded a ship to an unknown destination.

## Diary Excerpts

> If my experience is the standard of intercourse for most individuals, it baffles my mind as to why some Knights struggled with celibacy. I would be content to never be touched by a man again, lest I be reminded of Fernao.
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