Raised in the grey and rain

louise lombard . cis female . she/her . wasn’t that amelira ghita walking the palace grounds ? it’s nice to see the lady of wenchinka out and about on such a fine day as this. i’ve heard from the court spies that they notoriously stubborn, whilst also managing to be quite confident. the fifty five year old is eager to find out who exactly is behind the killings from what’s being said at court. i heard that they themselves are vrajiit ( darkness empowerment ). it’s funny, whenever i think of them, i think of  mud covered boots, a cool dark night and a sword crossed with shield. great to see the hoyden around, isn’t it ?

If Elise hadn’t known better, she would’ve easily overseen the Lady of Wenchinka. Her appearance wasn’t grand, yet elegant. Though it faded amongst the lavish gowns of some of the guests. It was more the way she carried herself that caught Elise’s eye. She very clearly was a woman in power and like a moth drown to light, she stopped nearby. She hadn’t had the chance to speak with her yet and frankly, Elise didn’t know what to say. All she knew was that most nobles knew more about the stenches spreading through their country than those below them. “Isn’t it bad luck? As if we’re taunting death.” Elise stated casually, as if they had a conversation all along. “Although, it’s all just a matter of time anyway, isn’t it? Something gets us either way.” Glancing to the side, there was a calm and polite smile on her lips. “Though I’d prefer it wouldn’t occur tonight.”

“I suppose, if you are superstitious and believe in those things, it could seem like that, yes”  Amelira commented with a shrug, she didn’t believe in those kinds of things. Fate, superstitions, they didn’t mean anything to her. She had seen far scarier things in her time. “Correct. Though like you, I’d prefer it didn’t happen tonight.” to her, at least. She could think of a few people she wouldn’t mind finding themselves on the wrong end of someone's sword or knife, maybe even poison to spice things up a little. 

“How have you found the night so far? Enjoyable I hope?”

“OUR KINGDOM WILL ALWAYS BE AT WAR,” he says, frowning. “OUR GIFTED FEW ARE DESIRED BY ALL WHO KNOW OF THEM. WE MUST ALWAYS KEEP THEM SAFE.”

he had never been a man for peace. it didn’t suit him. “BESIDES. MY MOTHER ALWAYS USED TO TELL ME TO BE AWARE OF WAR. IT IS INEVITABLE, AND IT IS ALWAYS AROUND THE CORNER.”

“Have you ever seen war?” Amelira questioned, turning to face him “Don’t I know it. I have lived most of my life doing so”

“They certainly do.” Sarisa said as she stood next to her mother.

“A single person not dying… well, I’ll drink to that too mother. Though I do not think that will last long.” She said, whispering the last part.

Sarisa sipped her wine and gazed at her.

“Forgive me, mother. I do not know why I am so uneasy tonight. I should be dancing in the arms of a handsome lord… yet I cannot bring myself to partake… at least not yet.” She said as she sipped her wine a bit more.

“Have you any fun stories of when you were younger? Did you attend balls such as this?” She asked to lighten up a bit.

“Nor do I” Amelira whispered back, this many people in one place with the backgrounds they were from, in her mind it was inevitable that someone would die.

“You will settle in I’m sure, give it some time, this is rather new to you I’m sure” Amelia had done this more time than she could be bothered counting, she couldn’t recalled if her daughter had attended an event of this grandeur.

“I attended a few. Even less when my powers developed, your grandparents were......concerned. Once I joined the kings army and gifted were no longer feared I attended many and with attending so many comes some interesting stories. ” 

gwen was being pushed outside of her comfort zone, the entire week had been a curve ball into her life and she wasn’t too sure how to handle it. so the scholar went with the flow as best she could, which also meant dressing in her nicest gown, a beautiful shade of blue, and attending the ball. but the scholar only pushed herself so far out of her comfort zone, and she found herself lingering by the outskirts. “they certainly seem to have pulled out every stop.” gwen responded, taking note of the lady next to her. “hopefully that doesn’t change.” her voice had a bit of worry, but she tried to keep her spirits light.

Amelira let out a light chuckle, they most certainly did pull out all the stops. She hadn’t remembered seeing this room so full of people since the death of the queen. Her younger self would have been delighted to see all the people and the room the way it was but her older self, the one who had been to hell and back many a times saw it as a waste, a waste resources and time. There were better things she could be doing right now but she played the game to the best of her ability. “Well, i think if we’ve gone this far without anyone dying surely we could last one more evening?” she questioned with a smile, before turning her head and scanning the crowd, “It seems everyone is enjoying themselves so we might be in luck. Are you enjoying yourself?” 

‘Certainly,’ came Orishana’s answer. Yet their tone lacked the certainty it always held and the sharpness that rivaled their blades. Next to Amelira, Orishana stood clad in ashen white and muted golden colors, and their thick braids rested heavily upon their shoulders. Trasnavda spared no expense, that’s for sure, and tonight, the princess will be handed off to some stranger. 

Orishana had never cared for politics, her mind failed to grasp the silver linings behind all these pomp and circumstance, but they rather thought that there was none, other than a power play and a reason to bring together all the highborn to discuss a more serious matter. 

At least, that was what they’d like to believe, refusing to acknowledge even in their mind that the king would be so foolish to throw a useless celebrations and festivities in the face of such tragedy. 

‘Right,’ came their comment, belatedly, as they took a sip from their silver goblet. ‘It does render us quite useless, is it not, Ma’am? I mean, you,’ they corrected themselves promptly, they had taken a leave from their post, after all, and hadn’t formaly returned to the ranks.

Orishana wondered if it’s still available for them, if they could wear the badge again with pride and honor like they had once before. To be part of the king’s army again, once more. Then, raising their goblet to Amelira, they offered a smile, ‘Well, here’s to miracles and no one dying tonight.’

“I suppose it does” Amelira commented with a shrug, her attention turning back to the crowd of people. Her eyes scanned over them and she let out a soft hum. Most would think this room would be the safest in the entire kingdom at this moment but Amelira knew better. Attacks could come from anywhere at any time by anyone. They might have escape conflict so far but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t see it soon. “Presences is everything, many from the King’s army, former included, are here, openly and visible. It would be a deterrent but I’m sure someone in here is stupid enough to try” 

elena was grinning, spinning in circles around the marble floors with abandon and treating herself to every treat to cross her path upon a gold plated tray. so often, the assassin thought of her old life, of wenchinka, of the struggles she’d faced upon those streets in the pouring rain. how far she had come, warm and tipsy in the middle of a grand ball. when the dancing became too much, however, elena made her way to the sidelines, grabbing a cup of wine on her way and sipping happily from the golden goblet. “truly, they do! they should do it more often.” she replied happily, her eyes trailing over amelira, the lady of her home region. “hopefully it stays that way.”

.

“Perhaps, although I imagine there would be few who would grow sick of it” She’d be on that list. She wasn’t a fan of parties and events, in her youth maybe when everything was still exciting and new. Now everything felt the same and she’d much prefer to be doing other things, almost anything else. 

“It would mean less work for me, so I too would prefer it stays that way. “

House Ghita Wardens of  Wenchinka

A proud family despite where they come from. They are strong willed and family oriented. They show little care or devotion for the region but share the Wenchinka hatred of the crown.

The Ghita’s live in a weather worn castle close to the border ,its common for peasants to gather outside to protest their lack of care or devotion to the region.

          The only certainty in this kingdom is that the people of Wenchinka despise the crown. She was sure the Ghita matriarch knew as much. A drink in hand, Lenka joined her at the corner of the room. Both dressed in their finest garments - a cream gown, embroidered with gold and grey, with a bare back for the assassin - they were more alike than different in that moment. 

          “It certainly does know how to raise ones spirits,” Lenka nodded. Her gloved hand brought the drink to her ruby lips. She wondered, sometimes, if the woman was one of the people - of those that wished to see the downfall of the crown. “I wonder if it might last, this miracle you speak of. Or am I foolish for hoping so?” she tilted her head.

          “It’s worth a toast, either way.”

“Something tells me this is more for the Kings benefit than everyone else” Amelira muttered in reply, so many loyal servants around him, including more gifted than Amelira bothered to count. It was naive to think he wouldn’t be feeling incredibly safe.

Amelira let out a soft chuckle, “Unlikely,” it was only a matter of time before someone cracked. Someone was bound to lose their temper or get a little too courageous and make someone pay for an old debt. It was inevitable in her eyes. She raise her glass to the woman next to her to toast and took another sip.

“DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH,” richar notes, tone rather miserly. he has a drink in one hand and a little snack in the other. he’s not sure what it is. but it tastes… muttony. 

“LUCK IS NOT OFTEN ON OUR SIDE. AND IN WAR, ALL SORTS OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN.”

.

“I wasn’t aware we were at war; is the king forgetting to keep his commanders informed?” Amelira questioned with a small smirk, “You have you heard whispers?”

It was clear no expense was spared, every single person was dressed to the nines, the room covered in the colours of the nobility. Amelira wore a gold and red doublet with matching pants, all custom made just for this occasion. She stood in the corner of the room, watching closely, smiling at others as they enjoyed the festive. 

“If they haven’t proven anything this week, it’s that the crown certainly knows how to throw a celebration” Amelira commented to the person next to her, not bothering to turn to see who they were. She took a sip of her drink and chuckled lightly. “A whole week with everyone here and not a single person died, I’ll drink to that miracle” 

susanna thompson . cis female . she/her . wasn’t that amelira ghita walking the palace grounds ? it’s nice to see the lady of wenchinka out and about on such a fine day as this. i’ve heard from the court spies that they notoriously stubborn, whilst also managing to be quite confident. the sixty year old is eager to find out who exactly is behind the killings from what’s being said at court. i heard that they themselves are vrajiit (darkness manipulation). it’s funny, whenever i think of them, i think of mud covered boots, a rainy afternoon and a sword crossed with a shield. great to see the hoyden around, isn’t it ?

(REPOST WITH NEW AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION)

Warborn Task #1

Lady Amelira’s outfit to the ball.