Before You Go
Ash 2
Elizana was preparing to make her trip to Branderbren. She was going from her childhood home, to her widow home. Not that she really made any claim to her widowed home. Count Aldur had made it clear that she would always be welcome there but there was something about it that made her enjoy her time here in Ludren better.
She was a Celamyrsa who had married the creepy old man, and had tried to bear him a son, but for reasons she had explained to her father, that hadn’t come about. She was now free to do as she choose. She had wanted to slip into a life as an Archaeologist, and maybe if he pursed her would listen to Aldur’s offer but kind of step away from all of this.
No the country was verging on civil war and the laid back Elizana felt that she couldn’t just walk away. Her parents had done their best and despite her efforts they had managed to instill a sense of loyalty and even love for the people of their county. While her father was the Count, he had always refered to it as theirs. It was one of the things that she had found different while in the east. There the struggle for power was almost individually based instead familia based.
Elizana had just finished packing her bags when she heard a knock at her cottage door. She looked up and paused for a moment before she moved to open the door. She was surprised to find her brother standing on the other side of the door. Her twin smiled at her and then said. “Let’s go for a walk before you go.”
Elizana laughed and said. “Oh course. I am sorry you can’t come. I know how much you enjoy the springs.” She grinned mischievously and said. “I will stay in them extra long just for you.”
Her brother groaned in response but the two linked arms and began to walk towards the family gardens. The Celamyrsa had always striven to be closer to the people of there county, and so each of there estates traditionally had public gardens where anyone could enjoy walks and the beauty of nature. It was another way that the Ludren reminded everyone of their position location just beyond the edge of the ever frost. That being said there were gardens just for the family member and the two twins now quietly made there way in that direction. Elizana rested her head on her brethren’s shoulder already missing him.
The young woman was not surprised though as they walked in the gardens to find her parents already walking arm in arm among the roses. Despite her mother’s rigidness Elizana could sense the tenderness and love between her parents in a verity of subtle ways, including the fact that they were walking among the roses. Soon the two groups came together and fell into step with each other.
“I have to go and visit the Duke.” Their father finally said.
“What will you tell him?” Vincent asked.
“We will support the liberation from the Kindred’s grasp.” There father said softly, not from sadness but just so his words would carry past the ears of his immediate family.
“The real question is are we going to do more then support?” Elizana asked and saw a nod of approval from her mother.
“Yes we are.” Her father said in response.
“How?” Vincent asked.
“We have the food stores, which while the Hollows don’t need food the common person does.” He looked around. “We can make sure that our allies have the food they need if this conflict starts turning into a stand off.”
“We also are on the boarder so have large quantities of hollows, and the loyalty of our Argents.” Their mother said.
“In addition, we have a population capable of defending themselves.” Vincent pointed out. “The people here know that the enemy is just around the corner.”
The conversation continued as various points were brought up for and their father nodded with some and made yeahs or nays on other points as they were being brought. The House of Celamyrsa had many benefits, and one of its best was the distance from the East End and the Kindred. They just didn’t like going that far and with out the everfrost it really made them uncomfortable. There was also the stability of the family and the county.
“This is all great and we will of course support the Duke, but the real question is what are we going to get out of it to make it worth our while to take these extra steps.”Elizana asked. She knew her father had thought about this question, but she really wanted to hear what his actual answers were.
“Good Elizana.” Her father said, “Ultimately we do want to become a duchy, but that has been ours and our peoples goal for a long time now, but I feel that this will help push towards that.”
“But only the king can do that.” Elizana pointed out. She was still holding on to Vincents arm as the family moved around a fountain, that was charming and pleasant with its bubbling and splashing. It also made it hard to hear them from far away.
“Yes.” Her mother said and gave them a look. Her daughters’ question had brought them to one of those conversations that were to be held under utmost secrecy. The kings hadn’t shown an interest in making the a duchy but the Alderset had, but they would have to be king to do it. So it was that the family didn’t put all of there hopes in that one basket.
“You never know what will happen.” Her father said. “Events like this has been know the shake things up a lot.”
“But what are we hoping to get out of this on a more pragmatic side.” Elizana asked still trying to drive home her point. Her brother smiled at her and the Count nodded in approval.
“We want to be involved in the decisions being made by the councils and not just some servant who sits and waits to be summoned.” Her father said, “We want to make Skaven a military center or an important city in the kingdom.”
“So we want the powerful and influence of our house to grow.” Elizana said with a smile. That was something she could understand.
“Finally” Her mother said fondly, and the family then departed the apparently random family meeting over. Elizana held tightly to her brother’s arm a bit nervous about what they were planning on doing. The young woman was very much aware that they had a lot to give, but it was dangerous, but really that was what would make a house great or not. If they were willing to step forward.
“Are you prepared to praise our family name in east.” Her brother asked in a whisper.
“Yes I am.” She said simply. She understood that she needed to make sure that the other parties in the picture were also aware of her family and their support. Alderset might just play the advantages they could bring as his own doing, but Elizana did have an in in Brandt, being a dowager countess, something that she didn’t care being reminded of since she wasn’t all that old. She would though hint and mention their name and what they count contribute. She still personally was hoping to bring more of the mages to Skaven and try to build protections against the Kindred.
Soon the twins separated and Elizana once again returned to finishing packing her luggage. There was much for the family to do in the coming season, and despite their worries and there fears they were committed to doing it. While Elizana was in Brandt and her father was dealing with the Duke that left their to balance there resources and Vincent to work with the Ardent and lesser members of the house to keep both of there loyalties. Elizana took a seat as she thought about all of this. She then took a deep breath and straightened up. She was a Celamyrsa and they had been her since before the kings had arisen. She stood up and throwing on her cloak walked out the door of her cottage towards the main house. A servant would pick up her luggage and bring it to the station where both she and it would get on the next transport east. There was glint in her eyes as her resolve settled over her. This time she wouldn’t come to Branderbren as a lost young innocent woman. No this times she would come with a plan.
Besides Aldur was rather cute and it was time to remind him of how much he liked her.
She was a Celamyrsa who had married the creepy old man, and had tried to bear him a son, but for reasons she had explained to her father, that hadn’t come about. She was now free to do as she choose. She had wanted to slip into a life as an Archaeologist, and maybe if he pursed her would listen to Aldur’s offer but kind of step away from all of this.
No the country was verging on civil war and the laid back Elizana felt that she couldn’t just walk away. Her parents had done their best and despite her efforts they had managed to instill a sense of loyalty and even love for the people of their county. While her father was the Count, he had always refered to it as theirs. It was one of the things that she had found different while in the east. There the struggle for power was almost individually based instead familia based.
Elizana had just finished packing her bags when she heard a knock at her cottage door. She looked up and paused for a moment before she moved to open the door. She was surprised to find her brother standing on the other side of the door. Her twin smiled at her and then said. “Let’s go for a walk before you go.”
Elizana laughed and said. “Oh course. I am sorry you can’t come. I know how much you enjoy the springs.” She grinned mischievously and said. “I will stay in them extra long just for you.”
Her brother groaned in response but the two linked arms and began to walk towards the family gardens. The Celamyrsa had always striven to be closer to the people of there county, and so each of there estates traditionally had public gardens where anyone could enjoy walks and the beauty of nature. It was another way that the Ludren reminded everyone of their position location just beyond the edge of the ever frost. That being said there were gardens just for the family member and the two twins now quietly made there way in that direction. Elizana rested her head on her brethren’s shoulder already missing him.
The young woman was not surprised though as they walked in the gardens to find her parents already walking arm in arm among the roses. Despite her mother’s rigidness Elizana could sense the tenderness and love between her parents in a verity of subtle ways, including the fact that they were walking among the roses. Soon the two groups came together and fell into step with each other.
“I have to go and visit the Duke.” Their father finally said.
“What will you tell him?” Vincent asked.
“We will support the liberation from the Kindred’s grasp.” There father said softly, not from sadness but just so his words would carry past the ears of his immediate family.
“The real question is are we going to do more then support?” Elizana asked and saw a nod of approval from her mother.
“Yes we are.” Her father said in response.
“How?” Vincent asked.
“We have the food stores, which while the Hollows don’t need food the common person does.” He looked around. “We can make sure that our allies have the food they need if this conflict starts turning into a stand off.”
“We also are on the boarder so have large quantities of hollows, and the loyalty of our Argents.” Their mother said.
“In addition, we have a population capable of defending themselves.” Vincent pointed out. “The people here know that the enemy is just around the corner.”
The conversation continued as various points were brought up for and their father nodded with some and made yeahs or nays on other points as they were being brought. The House of Celamyrsa had many benefits, and one of its best was the distance from the East End and the Kindred. They just didn’t like going that far and with out the everfrost it really made them uncomfortable. There was also the stability of the family and the county.
“This is all great and we will of course support the Duke, but the real question is what are we going to get out of it to make it worth our while to take these extra steps.”Elizana asked. She knew her father had thought about this question, but she really wanted to hear what his actual answers were.
“Good Elizana.” Her father said, “Ultimately we do want to become a duchy, but that has been ours and our peoples goal for a long time now, but I feel that this will help push towards that.”
“But only the king can do that.” Elizana pointed out. She was still holding on to Vincents arm as the family moved around a fountain, that was charming and pleasant with its bubbling and splashing. It also made it hard to hear them from far away.
“Yes.” Her mother said and gave them a look. Her daughters’ question had brought them to one of those conversations that were to be held under utmost secrecy. The kings hadn’t shown an interest in making the a duchy but the Alderset had, but they would have to be king to do it. So it was that the family didn’t put all of there hopes in that one basket.
“You never know what will happen.” Her father said. “Events like this has been know the shake things up a lot.”
“But what are we hoping to get out of this on a more pragmatic side.” Elizana asked still trying to drive home her point. Her brother smiled at her and the Count nodded in approval.
“We want to be involved in the decisions being made by the councils and not just some servant who sits and waits to be summoned.” Her father said, “We want to make Skaven a military center or an important city in the kingdom.”
“So we want the powerful and influence of our house to grow.” Elizana said with a smile. That was something she could understand.
“Finally” Her mother said fondly, and the family then departed the apparently random family meeting over. Elizana held tightly to her brother’s arm a bit nervous about what they were planning on doing. The young woman was very much aware that they had a lot to give, but it was dangerous, but really that was what would make a house great or not. If they were willing to step forward.
“Are you prepared to praise our family name in east.” Her brother asked in a whisper.
“Yes I am.” She said simply. She understood that she needed to make sure that the other parties in the picture were also aware of her family and their support. Alderset might just play the advantages they could bring as his own doing, but Elizana did have an in in Brandt, being a dowager countess, something that she didn’t care being reminded of since she wasn’t all that old. She would though hint and mention their name and what they count contribute. She still personally was hoping to bring more of the mages to Skaven and try to build protections against the Kindred.
Soon the twins separated and Elizana once again returned to finishing packing her luggage. There was much for the family to do in the coming season, and despite their worries and there fears they were committed to doing it. While Elizana was in Brandt and her father was dealing with the Duke that left their to balance there resources and Vincent to work with the Ardent and lesser members of the house to keep both of there loyalties. Elizana took a seat as she thought about all of this. She then took a deep breath and straightened up. She was a Celamyrsa and they had been her since before the kings had arisen. She stood up and throwing on her cloak walked out the door of her cottage towards the main house. A servant would pick up her luggage and bring it to the station where both she and it would get on the next transport east. There was glint in her eyes as her resolve settled over her. This time she wouldn’t come to Branderbren as a lost young innocent woman. No this times she would come with a plan.
Besides Aldur was rather cute and it was time to remind him of how much he liked her.
