Valdoria, Kingslayers
General Summary
3/18/25
ACT 1:
The session began with two letters being sent to the three most esteemed noble houses: House Veridis, known for their will and wealth, house Caeruleus, known for their cunning and capability, and house Falwyn, known for their achievement and ambition. One letter served as an invitation to a royal banquet hosted by King Aewyn, the Gilded Tyrant, to honor the appointment of Darian Falwyn as captain of the Kingsguard. The second served as a call to action, a call to commit regicide. Cendres and Enzio of house Veridis received the second letter, along with Cian of house Caeruleus, as well as Varek of house Falwyn. The three houses, normally at each other's throats, had to put aside their grudges in order to save the realm from the Golden Hand of Valdoria. The noble houses made their way to the King’s banquet as the sun began to set for the golden hour. Upon arriving at the banquet, Varek took in the mass of people. Major houses, minor houses, even wealthy merchants. Varek’s father, Seraphis, excused himself to the restroom as a butler seized the moment to discreetly hand Varek a card, telling him to read it in private. As Varek made his way to the secluded garden, Cendres guided his son, Enzio, to earn his approval by speaking to Cian of house Caeruleus. Enzio found a seat at Cian’s near-empty table, apart from Cian himself sitting there. Enzio began to press Cian on the death of his brother, Gaius Veridis. Cian promised him that he was not involved in his death, but Enzio left unsatisfied with his answer. Finding a quiet place in the garden, Varek read the card given to him, reading that he was to gather the three other noblemen in order to put their assassination plot into motion. He did just that, as the four nobles found themselves alone in the gardens, discussing who should take the throne once King Aewyn, old and heirless, mysteriously died. Enzio put himself up for nomination as his father Cendres backed him, but the other two noblemen obviously did not come to a unanimous agreement. Deciding to determine who should rule after the king’s death later, the four nobles began to make their way back into the party.
ACT 2:
Re-entering the party, the nobles were surprised by the silence of the halls. Everyone seemed focused on the king’s advisor lingering on the stairs as he made the announcement that the banquet was ready, and for the major houses to enter, followed by the minor houses and then the nobles. The three houses entered the banquet room first, as they began to scan the room. Enzio noticed that next to the King’s chair in the center of the room was another chair, which seemed surprising considering that the second chair usually belonged to the Queen, who had died years ago. Wondering about its purpose, that question was soon answered as King Aewyn entered the room, silencing everyone. He took a seat as he began to read a speech, detailing how many many years ago he had been unfaithful to his wife and how a boy was born from the union. He introduced the crowd to his bastard son and heir, Prince Aedyn Aurelian. Everyone remained silent in shock before they all began to speak at once. The four noblemen tried to get a better understanding of the bastard prince as they eyed him curiously. A thorough examination revealed that he appeared sure of himself, and that he showed a craving for the new-found power that came from being the King’s heir. A boy who 30 seconds ago was a nobody, was suddenly being bowed to by the most prominent figure from the three noble houses. A few hours later, the banquet concluded as the King announced for everyone to make their way to the throne room so that he could inaugurate Darian as captain of the Kingsguard. The major houses were allowed to watch closely as Darian made his oath to the King and crown, while the lesser ones were made to watch farther away behind a line of Kingsguard. With the reason for the banquet concluded, the after-party began.
ACT 3:
The after-party began with a surprisingly small number of nobles leaving, it seemed many had their priorities set upon staying for it. With still such a large crowd, the four nobles struggled to find an opportunity to end the King. Panic began to set in as the night drew to its completion. Just then, they came up with an idea. Cian would set a fire with one of Enzio’s potions while Cendres distracted the nobles by giving a rousing speech. The hope was that the fire would cause the king to be rushed to safety along with the major nobles while the lesser ones were left to fend for themselves. This is exactly what happened as the Kingsguard rushed the King and three houses to safety inside the throne room. With no witnesses other than the King and his royal guard, the four nobles sprang into action. Cendres began by doffing his armor, rushing to a kingsguard as he swiftly put him near death. Initiative was rolled as Cian found himself going first, taking the opportunity to do a sizeable amount of damage to King Aewyn. Combat ensued as in the chaos two assassins revealed themselves from the shadows as one put a poisoned arrow directly into the king’s neck, killing him on the spot. With the king dead, Darian turned his attention from protecting him, into avenging him. He lunged for his brother as their swords clashed. Varek spewed some vile words towards his brother, as his brother looked unphased. The kingsguard began to surround Cendres as his son, wanting to protect his father, unleashed a wall of fire that engulfed the guards, killing many at once. Cendres was able to push past the pain of the wall as Enzio threw another potion, creating a second wall of fire that hit both himself and many kingsguard, finishing off the few that had already been caught in the flames of the first one. Feeling the heat against his flesh, Enzio knew that he had to move. He tried to run from the wall, but from the flames, Serpahis Falwyn delivered a devastating blow, knocking him to the floor. Cendres looked in horror as his last son fell to the ground. Blood began to spill from Enzio’s mouth as he asked his father if he made him proud. Cendres affirmed that he had indeed made him a proud father, and he watched his last son be taken from him. Seraphis came to a realization of what he had actually done, looking to Cendres in disbelief as he accepted he had taken his son from him. Seraphis betrayed all he knew to make it up to Cendres as he attacked the Kingsguard he had sworn his own son to moments before. Seraphis’ change of heart didn’t last long as an arrow pierced it, pumping poison directly into his system. Seraphis died as Cendres let out a reckless rage, killing the remaining kingsguard surrounding him. Disengaging from the duel with his brother, Darian made quick work of the assassins as the three remaining noblemen slayed the remaining kingsguard. With Darian as the last obstacle left, Varek continued their duel as Darian delivered four devastating attacks to his brother. Darian pierced into his brother’s chest, shoulder, thigh, and finally heart as Varek slumped to the ground. Varek told his brother how he had always looked up to him, and asked him forgiveness as he died to his own brother’s blade. Realizing what he had done, Darian surrendered to Cian and Cendres, commenting he didn’t want to spill any more blood in the halls of their fallen king. Cian and Cendres accepted his surrender, realizing they had to escape the throne room and that fighting him would make that task impossible. Cendres took his son into his arms as he and Cian exited the throne room, looking up in disbelief as they saw Aedyn giving a speech to the lesser nobles. He spoke of how Valdoria had been ruled by weak men for too long, and that their new empire must be purchased with the blood of the three houses. His speech also revealed that he had been the one who orchestrated the king’s demise, and that the three noble houses fell directly into his plans. The noble crowd turned their attention to Cian and Cendres, as they began to close in. Trusting his worst enemy, Cendres gave Cian Enzio’s body as he stayed to buy him time, fighting off the crowd of nobles. Cian ran for his life faster than he knew he could, becoming the last member of the three houses left alive.
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