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Prisoners of War - Familias

Noble Beast

Journeyman
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Selene was running out of time; a once thought dead villager, DL, has returned to HearthFire Village; Anne from that retched monastery, Empath Abbey, had sanctioned the building of the Thorn Temple; and it was becoming increasing difficult to motivate Dru, that embarrassing Hobo, to continue the BlackRock experiments. She rehearsed her lines, mumbling softly: I have to play this right. Use the method and catch her quickly, before her monkish duties take her away from you. Selene ceased her rehearsal & handed the small piece of BlackRock to Dru, who in turn lowered the beautifully smooth, mystic stone into the steaming cup of Green Tea. Selene's hair began to rise and she could hear a high pitched ringing in her ears. She signaled to Katrina who had been waiting for the gibberish-ambush. Stay strong, Roman Matriarch, the good of the family is primary, psychically and physically.

Claudia dismounted from her Charger of the Fallen with difficulty, some the pecks of the those Giant Turkeys were not fully healed. As usual Cole-Kat was waiting for her. "Mama! Mama!" Katrina Cole excitedly screamed. " I've been helpin grandma & uncle Dru all day! Cook! Cook! Cook! Can I, PLEEEEASE, ask Councillor Ta'lin to take me to Shame Dungeon?! I really wanna see it!"

Claudia sighed before responding. "What did I tell you about your punishment?" She could smell the acrid metallic odor of the BlackRock and her head began to wobble. She shook her head to clear away the dizziness. Katrina was now pouting but Claudia continued. "You can not lie about your age. It is dangerous. Furthermore, your body is nothing that you earned; it is a gift of nature. Just because the fae-blood gives you the appearance of a twelve-year-old, you are eight!"

"Alright, mama." Katrina relented and scurried off, grateful that she played a small role in this scheme. After this fight I'm goin to Lord Dar's Castle. She willed the tears away. Don't cry in front of grandma! Yer actin like a little baby!

Selene was ready standing behind Claudia. She stated the codename and then proceeded with the phrase and the strike. "Whats wrong, pretty girl?" Claudia turned quickly to face her mother, only to receive a sharp slap across her face. The force of the blow sent Claudia to the ground. Alright, Selene thought, Let us see if Caligula's Conditioning Code still works. Lady Cleopatra Selene carried Claudia's body into the kitchen and propped her up in a chair with Dru and Vanessa flaking the unconscious form. All that we have built relies on this one scene. Play it well, Selene.
 

Noble Beast

Journeyman
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Power: poison or sword?

Selene placed the BlackRock-steeped Tea in front of her drowsy daughter, hoping that the Conditioning Code could still ensnare Claudia's psyche.

"First and foremost," Selene began. " I don't care who you think you are out there..." Lady Selene gestured to the orchard, watching intently to see if Claudia would look or stay focused on the words being spoken; this was a conditioning test.

Claudia stared blankly at the swirling steam coming from the goblet in front of her.

Good. She is under its influence. "...within these walls you are only my daughter. Nothing more." Selene paused for dramatic effect. Now for the emotional strike. Keep it simple, old gal. Put Claudia into mourning! "Aino Nystad is dead." She continued sternly. "And the man that you knew as Nicholas the Old is dead; the animated husk that he is now is not the same man who first met you!"

Claudia nodded.

"If war is to come; we must choose a side. Neutrality has devastated our Village for over a decade. We can not support HearthFire or our allies without our BlackRock revenue." Selene took a long breath, waiting.

Claudia nodded.

The programming is set. Selene relaxed. " My mother once told me that in times of war, there are two tactics to choose from: poison or the sword. I would never strike you down but I will drug you!" Lady Cleopatra Selene cackled as she placed the now-cooled goblet into Claudia's hands and snapped her fingers in the code-breaking rhythm.

Claudia shook her head and blinked, then she drank.

Selene cackled again. And so it begins.
 

Noble Beast

Journeyman
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
A Fly in the Ointment

Katrina Cole sat at village campfire; the gold & blue HearthFire Banner flapped rhythmically in the soft breeze. Trina often came to the center of the Malasian Isle for solace; family law states that only one member of the household is permitted to leave the Village to insure that the entire Laudae Bloodline can not be extinguished easily. She pined for younger years when Shadow Kass of the Wolf Woods would tell tales of her adventures; Trina missed the unity of The Pack of her past.

Katrina was determined to provide a safeguard for her mother. Her grandmother, Selene, was busy with Uncle Dru; they were constantly creating new delectable foods to mask their BlackRock. Trina was grateful that their Bitter-Sweet BlackBerry Pie had failed before the Fall Fair at Skara Brae. She was also grateful that Uba had refused to join in on the Claudia reconditioning scheme. With her characteristic determination, Trina strode into the house and went to her mother's room, bypassing the commotion in the kitchen. Emerion and Vendethiel, retainers from Katrina's father, pretended not to notice their princess.

For days, Claudia had been in bed, sick and drugged up. Trina slowly slid into the bed and cuddled up to her mother's drug-imbued body. She allowed the tears to fall while she hugged her mother's frame. "Mama. I love you." Trina rarely spoke those words. She was a child of action and she demonstrated her affection by making deliveries, escorting customers to the village, and gifting pets, among other deeds. "You are the best of us. And I'm not gunna let grandma take that away from you!" Now was the time for her to act. She began to chant her own code-phrase to condition her mother. She hoped that this would, when the time was needed, break her grandmother's hold over her mother's mind.

Claudia whimpered and mumbled something inaudible.

"Katrina," Selene stated coldly. " I am suspending your punishment. Find Councillor Ta'lin BirdSong and enjoy yourself in Dungeon Shame." There was no need for pretense so Selene did not even attempt a smile.

Trina glared at her grandmother before leaving Claudia's side. Selene was holding a tray with the BlackRock liquid and the hallow rod that she would jam into Claudia's arm to keep her sick and compliant to the conditioning. With unusual defiance, Trina stomped out of the room. Before she could cross the threshold, she winced in pain as she felt Selene's talons dig into her arm; she did not cry out.

"Listen, girl." Selene said, tightening her grip to draw blood. "I don't care how you conduct yourself within this house, but it will serve you well to remember to keep our Public Image impeccable." She pulled the fae-child closer. "Am I understood?"

Trina jerked her arm out of Selene's grip. Selene gasped at the surprise of Katrina's strength.

"Yes, mam." Trina stated flatly.

I need to pay more attention to that girl; she could be my undoing.
Selene thought as she watched Katrina stride defiantly down the stairs. It breaks my heart, but like a good Roman Matriarch, I will endure the current pain to reap the rewards of enduring prosperity. She looked down at her instruments of manipulation on the Tray of Travesty and sighed. It is the Product not the Process that matters: results not the means. Resigned to do her duty, Selene approached the bed.
 
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