*Tears would not stop falling as Claudia packed the last item for the move to Vesper. The Lunite Scion & Paladin-reared Lady was broken; heart & soul*
Claudia's mother waited patiently as her daughter shook with grief; and prepared a BlackRock infused Tea to assist in easing Claudia's exhaustion.
*Claudia stilled the wracking pain & began to breathe deeply to compose her dignity but began to rock in childhood-comfort*
"Why are we always the ones to survive, mother?" Claudia asked, not turning from her eldritch daughter's sarcophagus.
"There are branches of our Family Tree & there are roots. Roots feed deep within the darkness." The ancient claudian crone intoned; waiting for the Conditioning CodeWords to take affect. When this non-mourning grandmother noticed the change in Claudia's posture, she knew that the path was open for programming. "Leave them behind.....The Emerald Sashes, HearthFire Village, Queen Dawn, Lady Aino, the Mifits of Society with the Council of Mages......your hopes & dreams for the Crumbling Continent.....all are dead due to the Bane War's savagery..... and let Trina go! You are no longer the Regent HighPriestess of the Order of the Thorn, sanctioned by the Brothers of the Rose or the Faerie Queen of HearthFire Haven. Trina is dead, your abandoned son is not."
*hearing her mother speak of the Sacrifice, Claudia sat up; breaking the encoded trance*
"Yes..." The old woman waited for the information to simmer within Claudia. "...your son is a young man now. And he believes that he is an orphan. That is unacceptable for the Ladudae Lineage, and you know it! He hops from Shard to Shard, never calling anyplace home. Your forethought to tie him to the BrotherHood was successful; he sleeps at Empath Abbey. But....."
*Claudia swallowed the knot of heartache welling in her throat*
"Is he Bane Chosen too?"
"Yes....." The Matron waited while Claudia's tears continued, along with the rocking. "But he is not dead, like Trina. You attempted to save them both and lost each one to VirtueBane, whose followers call him, the Bane of Lies. The daughter, you allowed too much freedom and the son, you have emotionally locked away. Carry no more Shame! It is done!"
The Matron waited for Claudia to grow numb, then handed her progeny the cup of tea. Claudia absently sipped while listening - detached. "You will rest & mourn in the Malas Mountains with the remainder of our people. For now, the Britannians have won occupancy of Olympus's Bones - accept that, please. When you are ready to reunite with your sacrificial lamb, Trina's Twin; I have made arrangements for you to settle in Vesper."
*tears now subsiding Claudia made eye contact with her toughest critic, eyes full of despair with a pin-light of hope, as her mother grinned*
"I have found a KnightHood as disgustingly virtuous as you are!" the crone cackled & Claudia joined her in that laughter. "There's my baby girl!" It was the old woman's turn to get teary. "After your mourning, you will claim our Noble Heritage in the non-Virtue Town of Vesper. Due to our BlackRock Trade Ties with the Assassin's Guild in Buc's Den & the Pirates.......uhm.....Merchants of Vesper, we have acquired extensive lands & titles. And remember that I was a founding member of the Ministry of Mercantiles; we have been tied to Vesper since they chose one of our own to be their first Justicar."
*Claudia nodded & returned to the comforting warmth of the tea; the darkness of her thoughts fading*
"Take these documents to Lord Bytor, Captain of the Vesperian Royal Guard. He might remember you but he certainly knows our family. The younger generations will get to know you well, I believe. The Knights of Solamnia, like us, are foreign to Britannia and have chosen to leave a legacy of honor, honesty and respect to their children. A perfect fit for you & my grandson. Better late, than never!"
*the crone cackle again*
Claudia's mother waited patiently as her daughter shook with grief; and prepared a BlackRock infused Tea to assist in easing Claudia's exhaustion.
*Claudia stilled the wracking pain & began to breathe deeply to compose her dignity but began to rock in childhood-comfort*
"Why are we always the ones to survive, mother?" Claudia asked, not turning from her eldritch daughter's sarcophagus.
"There are branches of our Family Tree & there are roots. Roots feed deep within the darkness." The ancient claudian crone intoned; waiting for the Conditioning CodeWords to take affect. When this non-mourning grandmother noticed the change in Claudia's posture, she knew that the path was open for programming. "Leave them behind.....The Emerald Sashes, HearthFire Village, Queen Dawn, Lady Aino, the Mifits of Society with the Council of Mages......your hopes & dreams for the Crumbling Continent.....all are dead due to the Bane War's savagery..... and let Trina go! You are no longer the Regent HighPriestess of the Order of the Thorn, sanctioned by the Brothers of the Rose or the Faerie Queen of HearthFire Haven. Trina is dead, your abandoned son is not."
*hearing her mother speak of the Sacrifice, Claudia sat up; breaking the encoded trance*
"Yes..." The old woman waited for the information to simmer within Claudia. "...your son is a young man now. And he believes that he is an orphan. That is unacceptable for the Ladudae Lineage, and you know it! He hops from Shard to Shard, never calling anyplace home. Your forethought to tie him to the BrotherHood was successful; he sleeps at Empath Abbey. But....."
*Claudia swallowed the knot of heartache welling in her throat*
"Is he Bane Chosen too?"
"Yes....." The Matron waited while Claudia's tears continued, along with the rocking. "But he is not dead, like Trina. You attempted to save them both and lost each one to VirtueBane, whose followers call him, the Bane of Lies. The daughter, you allowed too much freedom and the son, you have emotionally locked away. Carry no more Shame! It is done!"
The Matron waited for Claudia to grow numb, then handed her progeny the cup of tea. Claudia absently sipped while listening - detached. "You will rest & mourn in the Malas Mountains with the remainder of our people. For now, the Britannians have won occupancy of Olympus's Bones - accept that, please. When you are ready to reunite with your sacrificial lamb, Trina's Twin; I have made arrangements for you to settle in Vesper."
*tears now subsiding Claudia made eye contact with her toughest critic, eyes full of despair with a pin-light of hope, as her mother grinned*
"I have found a KnightHood as disgustingly virtuous as you are!" the crone cackled & Claudia joined her in that laughter. "There's my baby girl!" It was the old woman's turn to get teary. "After your mourning, you will claim our Noble Heritage in the non-Virtue Town of Vesper. Due to our BlackRock Trade Ties with the Assassin's Guild in Buc's Den & the Pirates.......uhm.....Merchants of Vesper, we have acquired extensive lands & titles. And remember that I was a founding member of the Ministry of Mercantiles; we have been tied to Vesper since they chose one of our own to be their first Justicar."
*Claudia nodded & returned to the comforting warmth of the tea; the darkness of her thoughts fading*
"Take these documents to Lord Bytor, Captain of the Vesperian Royal Guard. He might remember you but he certainly knows our family. The younger generations will get to know you well, I believe. The Knights of Solamnia, like us, are foreign to Britannia and have chosen to leave a legacy of honor, honesty and respect to their children. A perfect fit for you & my grandson. Better late, than never!"
*the crone cackle again*
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