2013 Game Preview

"Are the preparations almost ready? Her birthday is less than a week away," Terrance asked as he sat down in the chair. The tall slender man with the pleasant smile put an apron over him and applied warm cream to his face.
"My Lord Regent, every single request you have made in regards to Brianna's birthday has been carried out, checked and triple checked. Each of her uncles and their families will be attending to see her crowned.
"ALL of her uncles, Barker? Terrance raises an eye at his valet  who only chuckled as he reached for an onyx box.
"Oh I certainly hope not, my Lord. Forgive me I have misspoke. Cigam will not be attending, of course."
Terrance sighed; it had only been four years since his adoptive mother and father had disappeared. If his uncles or the old general, Gorien, knew where they were; they have never shared. Still they made sure that the throne was ready for them. Negus had stopped it's quest for power when his father took over the throne, ending hundreds of years of war. A few years later Gorien had found Terrance, just a young boy in the woods, and the still new king and queen adopted him. Even after his sister was born, he was never treated as anything less than their own son.
Still when it came time to announce an heir, Terrance's younger sister was selected. There was no end to the questioning that caused. Some people said it was because only a true-blooded beryl should rule... others simply stated that the crown had typically passed from Mother to Daughter, Drakin and his four brothers being the first male Beryls born in hundreds of years. Still others simply think that the young princess was more loved by her father.
When Barker opened the small onyx box, Terrance's mind stopped wandering. Barker was his father's last gift to him. A talented servant, a fierce protector, with a dreadful secret. The pale thin fingers of Barker reached into the dark onyx box, and took out a simple looking razor out from it. Terrance's eyes focused on the blade as it was opened.
"Since this is such an important event, " Barker started, "and you have to look your best, do you want..."
"No Barker, no just YOUR talents will do." Terrance cut him off tilting back his head.
Barker just nodded and smiled as he brought the razor up to the Lord Regent's neck. "Very good, sir."

The first year of Queen Malachite Beryl, the third day of The Raven Queen

My allies had brought my body back to my home village, giving me a funeral very respect worthy. Beck, the one my Queen spared during the battle that slayed me, has become devoted to my Queen. I'm glad to see my Queen's mercy not wasted. While they were traveling back however, tragedy has been taken place in Negus capital.

Beryl has begun an aggressive campaign against it's neighboring kingdoms. Daily the souls of guards, advisers, and royalty enter my Queen's domain; courtesy of the Shaokin assassins that stayed with her.

The world of the living should not hold so much interest to me, truly while I was alive it didn't mean nearly as much to me. It is... a distraction from my duties in my Queen's court. Yet I am not the only one distracted. There are old and powerful souls here that have served my queen for centuries longer then I have, and they too are looking back upon the mortal plane. It does feel like there is a storm coming and this is just the begining.

The first year of Queen Malachite Beryl, the twenty forth day of Corellon.

My living allies, they do not understand. This was no accident, no rage brought on by her first "shadow shift" as the Shaokin call it. This was matricide. My queen whispers to me, tells me that the fallen lady shall not leave the land of the living. That she remains to watch over her daughter. Ever the loving mother despite what was done to her. Normally my queen would not be so interested in this, but she senses how much more death this will lead too. Although her kingdom will swell with subjects, she seems distraught over it; as much as she gets distraught over anything. Still it is not my place to guess the motives of my queen, she has given me a place to serve her. What more could one of her faithful ask for?

-Fermata, humble servant of the Raven Queen.

The fifteenth year of Lady Garnet Beryl, the twenty third day of Corellon.

Today is the day that I died.

-Fermata, humble servant of the Raven Queen.