#ascalon settlement

OOC information We will begin this event in Ascalon Settlement and guide the NPC children into Lion's Arch for the close-by portal and into the city. If you have an orphan character you want joining in, just let us know. Other than that, all are welcome for this escort event. 4 pm PST / 7 pm EST / Nov 4th

The flyer was distributed all over Salma district. In addition a letter directly from the Ministry and sent from the Office of Salma would make its way directly into every residence inside the district.

To Lord Bastian Reitzer and members of House Reitzer,

I hope this letter finds you and yours well after all that you have been through over the past few months. I apologize for such a delay in writing after the funeral of your son and brother, but I still wished to reach out. Even after a few months, the pain of losing a loved one does not dull but know that you have not only allies among your fellow nobles and Blade, but friends as well.

These are strange times we are living in now; the war our families have fought for so many centuries has finally come to an end. That does not mean that our dedication to not only our nation, but to one another will end, and that is why I am writing this letter. Should there be anything that your family needs, I offer the assistance, support, and friendship of House LaCoria.

At any time myself, or my mother can be reached at our respective residences: My mother at the LaCoria Estate in the Salma District, and I at the Jardin-Valdis Estate in Ascalon Settlement.

Until we write or speak again, may the gods bless your family and keep them safe.

Sincerely, Lady Alexandria LaCoria-Jardin, Magister of the Durmand Priory and Lady of House LaCoria.

Warning: Minor Living World Season 3, Chapter 6: One Path Ends, spoilers.

Drumming her fingers on the large stone worktable, her gaze was drawn to the beam of cyan light shining through the vial sitting at the edge. Her workshop was a quiet place normally, but it seemed more so now. Glancing towards the grandfather clock near the door, a heavy sigh escaped her lips as she realized that Adriwyn and Mirex had probably already departed for Ebonhawke.

Doubt plagued her, not about staying in Ascalon Settlement, she knew that it was still a safe place to be. It was the timing of her decision to put her foot down, to make Mirex realize that she couldn’t just order her fiancée around and expect her to obey blindly. That was the source of their tension, Mirex’s seeming belief that Alexandria was made of brittle glass that would shatter at the merest touch.

You did the right thing; she needs to know that you aren’t helpless.

It also hurt more than she could admit that Mirex’s doubted her ability to keep them all safe if the need arose. Too many times it was pointed out that her legs were a handicap, but that had nothing to do with her magic. There’s always someone more powerful, that was the most important lesson for anyone to learn, but Alexandria had rarely stumbled across anyone that could overpower her.

“Thankfully I still have some of this,” lifting the vial, she held it up between her thumb and index finger and stared at it. There were only three doses left of the tonic made to allow her to function for days without sleep. Whitney was gone, and Evienne would likely refuse to make her more even if she were able. Two doses had been sent to a lab in Rata Sum for study and hopefully for reproduction. Depending on how long Mirex and Adriwyn were gone, she’d be unable to sleep.

Then focus on the matter at hand.

All of the excitement she had been feeling about finishing her workshop was gone now that all but the bookcase had been moved in. Looking around, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of loss at the sight of the beautiful workspace. Having vacated their lab at the Priory only to then have the Pact pull the rug out from under them was almost too much. Hopefully Naxxa would be able to find them a suitable replacement in Rata Sum.

There was no way she would conduct the riskier experiments in her new home, not only for the safety of the ones she loved, but because they would need more space. Small stacks of books were piled up on the worktables, waiting for the arrival of a bookcase and preventing her from working. It seemed that no matter what she did, events kept creeping up to keep her from getting back to her research and it was hard to worry that even with the space, she might never actually manage it.

“Aunt Alexandria?” The calm, quiet voice inquiring from the doorway pulled Alexandria from her contemplation and brooding. Dressed in plain beige cloth, and dark leathers, the six year old girl stared at her from the doorway with wide, brilliant blue eyes.

“Hello Nicole, you can come in.” Stifling a laugh as the serious little six year old bowed before entering, she gestured for her to take a seat on one of the stools around the worktable. “How are you enjoying Ascalon Settlement dear? I imagine it must be quite the change from the Priory.”

“It is, the people around here are different.” Folding her hands in her lap, the daughter of Whitney Delacroix and Adrien Agnor took in the sights of the room. Maybe it was because it was the most familiar thing for the little girl who had been raised within the halls of the Priory that made her so comfortable in the workshop.

Alexandria watched silently, studying Nicole. Her serious expression was proof that she was her mother’s daughter; rarely did Whitney ever smile, sometimes taking life a bit too seriously. Her sandy hair was streaked with dark red, a trait inherited from her father along with those blue eyes. “They are used to having to work farms, and rebuild their walls from time to time. Unlike those of us at the Priory who spend most of our time studying. But that’s the joy of the world dear, there are so many different types of people out there.”

“I think I would like to meet different people,” completely serious, the girl nodded once to reinforce her statement.

“When you’re a little bit older, I’ll introduce you to some. How about that?”

“I would appreciate that Aunt Alexandria.”

Knocking on the door to the downstairs guest room, Alexandria took a deep breath as she waited for permission to enter the room. Hearing a grunt and growl telling her to come in, she entered, her eyes settling on the large white, orange striped Charr who was almost done packing up the few belongings that he had brought along.

“Etherbane,” trying not to sound too authoritative, she knew that being nice during this conversation would get her nowhere. Holding out the airship pass in her hand, icy blue eyes fixed on the Charr as he took it.

“What’s this lass? What in the name of the Khan-Ur is a Chicken Pusher?” His chuckle rumbled from deep in his chest as his own deep blue eyes met his longtime colleagues.

“The Chicken Pusher is a terribly named airship. However, it will take you out to an outpost known as Olivia’s Refuge. From there, you can catch the chopper with pilot Skyrend out to the Noesis outpost in Auric Basin.” Only the knowledge that he would never lay a hand on her kept Alexandria from flinching at the angry growl.

“Fer the last time Lil Pyromancer, I ain’t goin anywhere near that place!” Dropping the pass on the floor, he turned angrily to finish packing his gear.

“Dammit Etherbane, stop being such a damned silly kitten!” Matching his irritation, she stepped around so that he could see her again, and to avoid the powerful swishing tail that threatened to knock her over. “You’re the only person left that I can think of that might be able to help Ruo. I can’t even get through to her anymore!”

“I ain’t gonna do it lass. Last time I thought we lost the Centurion, she came back to us different than when she left. Even in Orr I could tell somethin wasn’t right, lil things were different that made her not herself. Then you tell me ya found her wanderin the Brand fer a year? Ya might have found her body, but my Centurion? Sorry lass, I’m startin to think she died there in those catacombs with them ghosts.”

“So you’re just going to sit back and ignore the fact that she’s dying?”

“What?” Snapping straight up, he stared down at the pale Ascalonian who was glaring at him with tears in her eyes.

“You heard me Etherbane, she’s dying. Her condition has gotten a lot worse.” Etherbane opened to his mouth to ask a question, only to be cut off. “Yes, why do you think I always had my team work so closely with us? We’re trying to figure out how to stabilize her magic, but right now we’d be happy just to slow down the advancement.”

Dereliction had gradually afflicted the home that once stood as the proud bastion within Ascalon Settlement. The Volundirs’ dwelling was one teeming with zealous warriors and sound strategists, a place where good folk could rely upon finding a stalwart heart to aid them in times of need.

Multiple generations prospered through countless times of strife and anguish where blue banners billowed as brave and as bold as their bannermen.

“Until now.” Thought Elijah as the dull patter of his heavy footfall caressed the very walls of those barren halls.

Once-proud guards stood now no better than wetnurses to the feeble and frail occupants of the home that saw itself built on gallantry and heroism. No longer did dust-capped ornaments and antiques glisten under the dazzling sheen of proud knights’ pauldrons. It was now they were sanctuary to the pests and vermin that ran rampart, undisturbed and unbothered by the idle patter of taskless servants and tutors with no students.

Until now.

Plumes of ashen neglect billowed against The Black Wolf’s breath, dispersing into the aether and hovering in wait until carelessness once more afforded their return. It would not, he vowed to himself. Not so long as he drew breath.