#aqworlds

"This family used to own pockets of land here and there. They weren't in a hurry to win more. House Reignolds focused on entertaining the Noble Court with galas and balls. Petals fell like rain in Dreadhaven's toxic garden, drowning prisoners who were brought out of the dungeons to make the guests laugh. To the Drakath Dynasty's warmongers and battle mages, these Lords were little more than jesters.

During the reign of King Dethrix the first, humble House Reignolds rose to sudden prominence because its Lord defied his own motto.

The flowers in his gardens bloomed in winter, but they were already dead. Lord Reignold’s special brand of necromancy kept them beautiful."

"His King discovered his talents, and gave Reignolds the honor of becoming a Court Mage. 

Though he kissed the ground Dethrix the First walked on, everyone at court knew someone as vain and cowardly as him would despise working in the dungeons. There were even rumors of treasonous intent.

When Lord Reignolds and the rest of the Court Mages were expected to sacifice themselves in some sort of forbidden ritual, he fled for the hills. It didn't take long for Sir Valen and Lady Lynaria to find him curled up under a bush, sobbing like a child.

"When Alden Alteon took the throne, Lord Reignolds begged for mercy and convinced him that the tyrant forced him to fight at his side. His daughter, Marigold, would have been harmed if he refused."

"She's all I have left! My wife passed away during the last famine. If something were to happen to me, poor Marigold would be all alone!" claimed Lord Reignolds. It moved the kind and fatherly King.

"King Alteon graciously allowed him to remain in Greenguard, but further investigation uncovered terrible secrets.

Researching forbidden magic, kidnapping innocent people to experiment on them, and creating that Vessel... Lord Reignolds needed to answer for those crimes."

"Reignolds fled to his old summer home, with King Alteon's men were right on his heels. 

But in a mysterious turn of events, Reignolds was found dead at the very top of his tower. His daughter, Marigold, was waiting to be found in the cellar. No one knows who killed her father.

Though King Alteon took her in as a ward of the royal family, he was forced to keep her at arms distance. Letting her stray into the public eye would invite violence. The people wronged by her father were already embolded by jealous Nobles...

Marigold's childhood was lonely, but she was raised by the servants of Swordhaven. They were kind and patient, understanding that her father persecuted her for being unable to learn as quickly as other noble heirs. The common folk taught her how to study in her own way, and she became aware of their hardships."

"The territory that once belonged to House Reignolds was given to the Granvilles. Lady Marigold was allowed to keep her titles, but the Noble Court treated her harshly. 

Studying magic and agriculture, and using it to feed the common folk won their love, but she's an easy target for the frustrations of the nobility. They believe Marigold's family's history justifies their childish actions. One prank went too far, and injured her severely. The incident almost took Marigold's life, which prompted King Alteon to call upon worthy knights."

"House Reignolds original knights were disbanded for being complicit with their deceased Lord's crimes. 

Iberis, Viola, Valerian, Sumac, and Clover are newly appointed Elysian Knights who protect Lady Marigold. Three are Nobles themselves, but the other two are commoners.

They proudly wear the Datura crest and... come on a little strongly. Iberis enjoys dangling his fellow Noblemen off of balconies by their ankles. It tends to wring out truly heartfelt apologies.

Lady Marigold isn't always seen with them, fearing that she'll become as feared as her father was if Iberis and the others keep unsheathing their blades on her behalf."

"She prefers to live in Spring, and prepare the people for winter and famines.