A Promise is a Promise

[Scherezade deWinter]

Angelique, a Serpahine

Angelique was terrified and had no objection to saying as much. Within a handful of days, not only had her entire life turned upside down, but it seemed that all she thought she knew of Endelaan had changed as well. Always having considered her acceptable to the Seraphine as a combination of good upbringing and better luck, she had not gone unaware to the fact that she was not precisely the brightest or wisest among those who were seated on that council. And yet, she could not help but feel a deep and profound shame of what had happened, of what had been allowed to happen.

An attack on the Prince and his companions, that was something she could digest. Endelaan had its people who were on the side of wrong. You always had them after your population was sufficient in size. But even though it made so much sense now in hindsight, neither she nor anyone else she had spoken to had considered the possibility of it happening, and they had all been caught with their underpants down, so to speak.

Yet the rest of it… The intrigue and plots to stir beneath the royal family, the kidnapping of their embryos, the involvement of those who sat on the Seraphine throne… They'd known. They'd always known their role was temporary, and that the fact that the King and Queen had not been around for seven centuries did not mean they would not one day return. Either them or any of the Family to take the throne. The Seraphine were temporary place-holders, never meant to be an eternal solution or a permanent ruling body in any way.

And how deep did it all run? What else had those who'd make such bold movements against the very essence of Endelaan planned? It was one thing to debate whether Endelaan should remain hidden and secret while enjoying its personal advancements or instead join the galaxy at large, but to go back? To return to the time of tribes, lack of medical technology, tiny villages and the rest of that barbaric stuff? The Endelaan culture was strong, their roots were strong, but there was a reason that roots were mostly below the ground. They nourished, they helped it grow, but the tree was not the roots, and Endelaan at presence was barely the tree's trunk in terms of what more they could accomplish, with or without the Royal Family.

And now it was the day after. The new Prince, the one named Aiden, Angelique did not know how she felt about him. He was not a child of the King and Queen, though he was part of the Royal Family and had been given direct control by Prince Brayden. If he were to attempt to claim the crown, it would be the first time the crown would move in a lateral way on the tree rather than down. Was that important? Angelique did not know.

But now was the time for questioning. The three main culprits would no doubt receive the worst of it, but she knew that the all would be.

Angelique was prepared to help in any way possible.


[member="Aiden"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

It seemed there was no end to the surprises and actions requiring attention. However, Aiden knew that there was also no need to complain. While he had certainly come here almost entirely out of curiosity, Aiden could not deny that since his arrival...something else had merged into his soul. He knew the power of the Force, yes. More importantly, he knew that there were so many undiscovered mysteries of the Force it was almost pointless to attempt to discern meaning. Furthermore, for all of his talents and training, he was still no Sorcerer. His understanding of the arcane went only deep enough to enhance his combat prowess and grant what a train Sorcerer would consider to be...slightly-more-than-basic understanding of concepts and abilities he had not cared to master.

As soon as Aiden had returned to his quarters to pack a small bag for his impending trip to Malagarr, he felt an unfamiliar presence brush against his mind. Despite what any might think, it was rather hard to seek out someone through the Force if there was absolutely zero connection. That reality coupled with the fact that Aiden did not immediately recognize the presence, suggested it was likely some relation or another. A few moments of focus confirmed the suspicion, though he still did not know whom it was or what their relationship was to him. For that reason, Aiden chose not to give a direct response in the moment. Instead, he filed the information away and would convey it to Nicklaus later.

A couple hours passed before Aiden's large form swept into the underground level containing the dungeons. Like most subterranean areas of the Forbidden Temple, it had not been altered a great deal since the time of Nessarose and Diomedes. In fact, Aiden knew it hadn't been altered much since a time well before the start of their reign. What alterations had been made appeared to be almost solely for the purpose of conforming to slightly more modern trappings.

Silver-green eyes took in the presence of the remaining Seraphine. Politely, Aiden offered all of them a nod. "Seraphine. Thank you for coming. I will endeavor not to waste any of our time." Turning to the detainees, Aiden made a simple statement, asking no questions himself. "You all know the charges. I spared the people of Endelaan from knowing about the Queen's missing children - a crime that certainly intensifies the complexity of this ongoing investigation. You may consider it a very minimal kindness for your years of service." Folding his arms over his chest, the large Sith inhaled steadily as his eyes shifted between the trio. "Your children have been offered positions in direct service to the Throne. Ceana, your sons will fight alongside the exalted ranks of the King's Own. Tusar, your daughter will have the opportunity to become a Raven."

Another pause.

"I am not here to determine your fate. My role is to direct the course of this investigation. To keep it on track. I will leave your fate and any questions to your colleagues, friends, to people that have known you far longer. Consider this, however. In the eyes of Endelaan. You are all failures, weak, and therefore disgraced. Pray that your children can wash that shame from your lineage."

Turning, Aiden faced Kimora, the ranking Seraphine, directly. "They are yours to question. Yours to sentence. I am placing my trust in you..." Shifting his gaze to regard all of the remaining Seraphine, Aiden continued. "In all of you. I must tend to a brief matter off world. If you fail Endelaan, I will know instantly. We are all of us under the microscope." Turning to retreat, Aiden made it perhaps four steps before he stopped and called over his shoulder. "Ah yes. Another family relation of mine has arrived on Endelaan. I shall return with yet another. Suffice to say, it would seem the call put out by Prince Brayden...was far deeper than even he realized." Though...it was not a terrible surprise.

In the next sixty seconds, Aiden's form was enveloped in darkness as he disappeared down the corridor. A mere thirty minutes later and his vessel was ascending towards the heavens. The entire crew compliment had changed, packing it full with ten warriors from the King's Own.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

One Day Later
New Vashti

Nicklause stood beside Arva as they watched the sentencing for two Seraphines and the Warrior Arastos carried out in explicit fashion. All three individuals were publicly disemboweled before a large throng of citizens looking to view the first ever such execution in several decades. It was not a normal affair for people to be sentenced to such an extravagant execution. The news of their guilt had not come as a huge shock to most, courtesy of the address made by one of the Princes just a day prior.

Ordinarily disembowelment alone would have resulted in death, but the Sorceresses from the Ravens and the Seraphine pooled their abilities to maintain the lives of the guilty as they were dragged through the streets of Vashti. Then, just before the sun was to set, they were hung from heavy rope attached to a large oak tree. The magical protection removed, the guilty died as what little remained of the blood in their system dripped away completely. Following being pronounced dead, Captain Nicklaus ordered the bodies and remains collected. From there they were transported and tossed into the Pit of the Forgotten, afforded no form of ceremony or marking for their death.

As if the act were not enough, their children had been forced to watch the entire display. A solemn, visceral reminder of what awaited them should they choose to follow their parents into dishonor and weakness.

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Summary:

Following an assassination attempt on a member of the royal family, several prominent figures of Endelaan society are found to be directly responsible or complicit in the action. The Seraphine Dastan manages to escape the raids and flee into hiding with a medium-sized contingent of warriors and sorceresses loyal to him.

Thread concludes one month and three weeks IC after The Devil's Lair.