The Murder Ballad of Matilda Henbelle
The Murder Ballad of Ralhaz is a legend within the Matter of Rhudd which takes place in the late 730s. It features several mythological and historical figures from the nth Kat Goddei and the surrounding geopolitical conflicts, particularly between the Gannwyll Gwydd of Rhudd and the Heno armies of Ankou.
The legend follows the Flint Priest Kalv Henbelle and his adopted daughter, the Orpiment Illusionist Mallt. One fateful autumn afternoon, Kalv is summoned as next-of-kin for a deceased Clockmaker in the nothern citadel of Ralhaz, a post-industrial town run by outlaws. Mallt, who has a history with Ralhaz's tyrannical leader, Lambscress, fears for his safety and joins him. With winter setting in, a famine hangs over the North and the vermin who rule it fight amongst themselves, Kalv and Mallt unravel political conspiracies and devastating family secrets which threaten to tear the entirety of Rhudd apart.
Composite of Murder Ballad's major and supporting characters.
Summary
It is the closing days of autumn in Rhudd, and both the Northern and Southern territories are facing impending famine and political unrest. Mallt Henbelle, a trained illusionist and thief, returns to her village empty handed after failing to rob an Earlen's carriage - only to discover a seemingly unrelated death has divided her family.
Mallt (standing left) with her siblings Hrothwaite, Agnus, Sarhild, and Leiba
Queen Herleva of Ghealas has died, and her closest relative is Mallt's adoptive father, the humble village Sin-Eater Kalv Henbelle. With her siblings ushered off to live with the royal family, Kalv states his intentions to travel to Ralhaz for the upcoming Winter festival Modranwice with his live-in physician, Wendy. Mallt insists on accompanying them despite Kalv's initial protests to stay in the village.
During an overnight stop in Hedgenettle Forest, Mallt goes foraging and stumbles upon the Resurrectionist Primrose working on a Double Walker. He immediately attacks Mallt, but Wendy intervenes and neutralizes him. Wendy informs Mallt that Kalv is actually travelling to Ralhaz because he was named next of kin for a recently deceased colleague, and is legally required to take on their debts. Mallt surprises Wendy by stating she recognized Primrose - he is married to an old friend of hers named Lambscress. When their party is received in Ralhaz, they discover Lambscress overtook the previous Earlen and has been governing for some time. Though Lambscress is cordial to the Henbelles, Mallt is wary of her intentions.
Reinard 'Primrose' Loiren, holding Kola's skull and hair
Kalv is disturbed to discover that most of the Clockmakers have deserted Ralhaz, and further horrified when records indicate his next-of-kin was Kola Henbelle, Kalv's long-lost son from his first marriage. Despite Kalv's passionate queries, Kola's former colleagues are unhelpful, claiming that Kola faked his death to get out of debt. He is soon marked as suspicious by the Blaecheort, Lambscress' private warband.
Detail from a painting of Yarrow and Lambscress, early 700s.
In the neighbouring territory of Fithere Mire, the Earlen Yarrow and her consort Dando are barely surviving the blight upon their mostly barren wetlands. Burdened by wintering foreign troops for the Kat Goddei preliminaries, tensions hit a breaking point when Queen Armelle of Ankou and Tribal Chieftess Nerium show up with their armies. Despite sanctions against them, both bully their way into legally competing by exploiting the personal conflicts between Lambscress, Dando, and Yarrow. However, due to animosity between Armelle and Dando, the former leaves Fithermire and seeks an alliance with Lambscress.
Depiction of Kalv upon his arrival to Ralhaz.
Kalv is saved by Ramiro, one of the few remaining Clockmakers, during an altercation with the Blaecheort. He is initially helpful, pointing Kalv to a Clockmaker commune in the border city of Godsbone. Kalv befriends the leader, a Solanine Bishop named Yuli, focused on learning more about Kola's life. Yuli attempts to radicalize Kalv against Lambseare and Ralhaz, but is thwarted by Kalv's frequent concern for his children. Eventually, Ramiro and Yuli are forced to blackmail Kalv and Wendy into staying.
After a failed robbery with the Never Brothers causes multiple deaths among the Blaecheort, Mallt is jailed and set to face Lambseare for punishment. To Mallt's surprise, Lambseare easily forgives and even hires her to help with Modrawicce festivities. It is then she is introduced to Armelle, who is taken with Mallt's illusions and often keeps her company to distract from her worries over Kalv and Wendy's welfare.
Painting of Queen Armelle c. 737
(Initial draft - Godsbone II) Mallt struggles with Lambscress and Armelle's cutthroat personalities and reaches out to a dark but familiar entity for guidance. (Initial draft - Ralhaz IV) Yuli coerces Kalv to break his oath with Lambscress, to great physical detriment, while Wendy tears through Yuli's allies to try and get Kalfr away safely. (Initial draft - Godsbone III) Wendy and Kalv piece the unfolding conspiracy together before their identities are revealed, but are cornered and separated by an injured Yuli in the forest. (Initial draft - Alveus) Mallt is given vital information by survivors before being targeted by Ramiro in the baths, in which Armelle saves her life by killing him. (Initial draft - Old Graves II) *** Unwritten hypothetical scenes *** Kalv escapes to find Wendy, where he meets those who are funding the terror plot, one of whom is his former father-in-law Properjohn, and a Resurrectionist who offers to feed Properjohn to Wendy and revive her if Kalfr does the killing and blessing. Lambscress turns Ramiro into an Aliruna before offering the same to Mallt, who turns her down before the ritual goes awry and she witnesses the Grey Death reenacted. Part 3 : Modrawicce festivities start with a ceremony in Ralhaz and Kalv successfully kills Lambscress but the town burns and the Korrigan go on a violent hunt toward Fithermire in its wake. Mallt interrupts a call Kalv has with their family to say her goodbyes which causes what feels like a permanent rift in their father-daughter relationship, before Armelle takes her forcefully to Fithermire. Kalv meets Old Nick, who collects Lambscress' head and tells Kalv he will ensure the survival of Mallt if he can successfully retrieve Kola's double walker, who is a member of the Blaecheort created by Primrose and attending the court in Fithermire. Armelle reveals she is utilizing Rock Oil magic to turn the organic matter in Fithere Mire into a place her armies can properly winter, which means it will not be habitable for humans - making Mallt choose whether she lives as a monster or dies as a human, effectively. Mallt engages in a final chase with Rigani, becoming fatally wounded and resurrected by the Korrigan when she manages to have the Never Brothers bring her reinforcements.
First Edition of The Murder Ballad, featuring Mallt Henbelle
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