#stormhollow

[elaianna]

Decisions

“You've made strides in the last few months, your Grace, and a good standing with many people within Kul Tiras, but things still remain of issue- I'd like to solve those problems, and in doing so remove the stress from yourself and allow you to focus on improvements rather than picking up the pieces of what has happened- what is happening."

It was far from easy. It required more time away from her children than she preferred. There were a great many labor camps that she and her husband had gone to liberate with patrols, along with sending patrols out that did not include just the two of them. There were many grievances that Elaianna had gone into the town of Stormholme to listen to in person, take notes of, and follow through with her promises. 

“You currently fight on too many fronts and far too many 'probable' fronts: the Horde that may one day reach us even here, these brineling attacks that are now a possibility after a brazen attack even here, piracy to your company and it's people, Lord Umbert, the people themselves here...too many. I plan to give you your people back without depleting you further than you've already drowned yourself."

The truth of those words weighed on Elaianna. Like anchors, they dragged her already drowning mind further down.

 "As it stands you are paying for each and every thing for them in wake of Lord Umbert, which is commendable, but not sustainable either."

Elaianna knew this. She knew she needed another solution, a way to get the people to help themselves. A way to earn their trust to help them get back on their feet without needing the financial support of the duchy. Taxes needed to be levied to the Proudmoore Admiralty, one way or another. She could only provide for so long before the duchy would crumble in on itself. 

Eidrich’s plan was as sound as it could have been, within her office. He was a good salesman, but his pitch left many questions that Elaianna knew she couldn’t afford to ask. Not yet. It only served as a reminder to her what an enigma her Personal Advisor was. He promised her much, and asked for seemingly little in the grand scheme of things. In fact, what he asked for was nothing compared to the trust of her people, and the stability of the duchy.

"I'm going to fix your problem with the people, by using the people to fix it themselves. They need a return to normalcy and a way to sustain their own lives, which for now they can not do. Families have lost their breadwinners, or are still picking up the pieces of their homes with the loss of all of their coin, jobs, and everything else they've ever known. I plan to offer them work, eventually, after they can trust you. That is the other dilemma, offering them labor would only create fear that they will be returned to labor camps. But...I have a solution."

"You echo some of my own thoughts, Mister Crone. Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. I have plenty of work I could offer people. Be it in the duchy itself, or even in the company if they desired to stray from shore. There's no shortage of openings on either front. But, as you say... I can't risk saying that. I'd cause panic, and understandably, fear. If you've a solution, believe me, I am listening with bated breath."

"I need access to your dungeons, your Grace." He paused. "- and twenty acres of land North of here along the mountainous and hill regions." Letting that sink in briefly Eidrich continued on. "Anything you offer now would be met with fear to your free people, and I can't blame them for that with how recent all of these tragedies have been. With your permission, I would extend offers to those incarcerated in the dungeons of each of your landholdings. Those with lesser crimes; theft, assault perhaps, tax evasion and the like, can be offered the ability to work through their debts in exchange for coin, which I can provide, and supervised freedom from the dungeons. I'd like to extend this invitation as well to harder criminals to a degree, removing the supervised freedom for now with the general populace but allowing their coin to be given to their families in exchange for their labor, and I can provide them more suitable living conditions than the dungeons so you'll not need to care for them there either."

Elaianna had stipulations if she were to agree to such a thing. Firstly, there would be no pirates offered such a chance. Secondly, there were certain offenses that hardened criminals committed that were unforgivable, ones that wouldn’t be offered the chance either. Among other smaller stipulations, some of which she hadn’t discussed with Eidrich yet. She had to talk to her husband first. This was not a decision she would make on her own.

"Though in earnest, I worry that this kinda' program will fall afar of it's intention." A little breath left Thomas, sour perhaps. "I know what it is t'work to remove yer' debt. A Freeman's Program ain't ever what it is intended t'be. -- An' how does Eidrich have th'coffers to back all this? Mayhap some of your paranoia has rubb't off on me."

Thomas only echoed her own paranoia. He only made her believe that maybe her paranoia wasn’t just that. That she was right to look this gifted horse in the mouth.

"I don't know. I'm nervous, I admit. What he requests for in payment for all of this, is just ownership of the twenty acres of land. I'm paranoid about relinquishing criminals to someone, who will also own the land. I know he was not happy with my decision to say no to Lord Stormsong outright... and the consequences of it. Yet, I have to hope that given his connection to Kaitlyn, he wouldn't put her in the position of trying to cross me."

Thomas produced a voluminous exhalation from his nostrils. They flared momentarily, and his rubbing paused for the duration. "Good t'hear yer' nervous as well. I don't care fer' that slake a' situation. Peculiar that -- ... " Thomas stopped himself, seeming to reorient his words, "... an odd request, if he has th'coin to finance all this endeavour. I realize ain't simple to acquire a land-holding on the Isle, but still."

"Aye. I'm of agreement with you as well on that. He's pulling a lot of coin out of... who knows where? There is more and more to him that is an enigma and it is something that does make me nervous. I would ask Kaitlyn about it, but... how do I do so without putting her in an awkward spot?" Her head shook. "The one person who may have answers to ease my worries is the one person I can not go to."

Thomas scraped a breath out his throat at that, "Why not? She's yer' personal guard, an' -- unless I ain't been made aware of somethin' -- is yer' employee. It is far within yer' rights to ask of his affairs, n' background. If he's trying to take land on the Isle than he's worth scrupulating -- he ain't from here, unless I done miss't something."

Thomas was just as weary as she was. He was not in favour of the idea at all. Not without more answers. There were other ways, surely. They had been improving the situations in Stormhollow. They had been gradually earning some of the trust back. There had to be another way than potentially risking handing both land, and men, to potentially arm a man who had not been happy with her decisions with the means for rebellion.

Before a decision was made, Elaianna needed to formulate a list of questions to ask Eidrich. If he did not answer those questions, she had to do the one thing she dreaded, and ask Kaitlyn-- which was a line she was not fond of crossing, yet Thomas had raised valid points. They were swimming in a grey area. It seemed that’s all they were ever treading in.

@eidrich-crone @thomasstalsworth @gloryofsteel @atc-wra

[elaianna]

The Hangman’s Noose - Part Two

The Company dismounted from their steeds and elbowed, shoved and pushed their way through the crowds. All except for the Admiral.The decision to push through the crowd kept the Company from running through and trampling citizens, causing casualities, but it wasn't without effect as the Rear Admiral took the lead, barging into the crowd, attempting to wade through with a shoulder here and a shove there all while yelling. "CEASE AND DESIST AT ONCE BY ORDER OF THE LORD ADMIRAL!"

A shaky breath left Elaianna's lips as she heard the cease and desist order. She'd live another day.

Dagan pulls on the harness of her hippogryph, forcing him to stop in his tracks, upon him standing in place, the Mercenary looks over to Elaianna, her frail figure, the rope around her neck. "My dear friend, what have your people done to you?" spoken barely above a whisper.

Thomas still did not drop from his saddle. Despite the clamor and the crowd, his steed was faithful. A well bred animal, it did not balk at the noise nor danger of violence. A steady -- and high -- vantage from which to aim from. His hand rest on the stock of his rifle, tendons in the wrist flexing in preparation.

Yet the words stirred protest within the crowd. The people begun to riot every which way. To make matters worse, seeing that situation just went from tense to a possible death toll, the Executioner feigned not hearing the Rear Admiral and hit the lever.

Elaianna looked to Thomas, seeing him sitting up above. This wasn't a hallucination. Relief painted her features. For a moment, she looked elated. "Thom--!" His name was cut short, as down she went, a strangled gulping sound leaving her as the air left her throat. It didn't snap. She was left swinging on the hangman's noose, choking for air with her hands bound behind her back, preventing her from attempting to loosen up the noose or hold herself aloft.

The sudden departure of his wife from solid ground gave flight to Thomas' hand. Even as she was falling, he was raising his rifle to sight in for the bundle of cordage that knotted the line of rope to her neck. Better to risk sending shrapnel and wood down from above than to take a chance at severing the single noose. Yet while his steed was a well bred sort, and not prone to startling, it was still pushed and the rider jostled, causing his aim to miss it's mark. Indeed, shrapnel and wood rained from above as the bullet hit the gallows, rather than the knotted cord.

As she fell, Karthe folded his hands behind his back to try and subtly manipulate the arcane, preparing to Arcane Blast the beam holding up the ropes. He didn't need to shove through the entirety of the crowd when he could cast magic.

As he did so, three men, Joseph, Dhargul and Daniel, came barreling through the crowds, pushing past to where Elaianna gasped and fought for air.

Daniel ran through like greased owl poop, shoving people aside as gently as possible as he moves through. Not listening to protest, attempts to stop him only meeting the shield he wielded, he finally reached Anna. Dropping his shield immediately, the Captain grabbed Elaianna by the feet, lifting her up, so that she can stand on his hands.

Joe let out a bellowing roar as he charged through the crowd, plowing through and shoving everyone aside, knocking folks down left and right without feeling sorry for once! His only focus was to stop that rope from choking her. He helped lift her up in what looked like a hug.

Elaianna was able to gasp for a breath of air as Daniel got ahold of her legs and held her up. She swayed and leaned to one side, but was able to get at least that gulp of precious air before she was struggling-- then Joe joined and held her upright. With the support of both men, she was no longer swaying so heavily to and fro like a helpless rag-doll.

Meanwhile, Dhargul had made his way through the crowd, stopping before the two men holding her up. He had his weapons brandished, offering protection to Elaianna and those that held her aloft, eyeing those that came close.

As the beam above head broke at Karthe's well placed spell, slackening the rope that held Elaianna, she crumpled down against the group holding her. She was passed out. A body could only take so much strangulation.

Dhargul wrinkled his nose as he heard the rustling behind him. "I'll beat up a path fer ye if I have to lad, just give tha word."

As Karthe's spell hits the beam, Danny, luckily, caught her, pulling her into his arms, to carry her like an infant. Anyone trying to hurt the Lady would have to get through the tall, muscled man's defenses.

Dagan, seeing that Elaianna dropped into the waiting men's arms, pushed through the crowd as Warpson did, bursting on through the other side to see a crowd surrounding to where the Lady dropped.

Despite a rough entrance, Marius was soon able to maneuver the dense crowd with practiced ease. As he made his way to the center, a small glass vial was sipped from his belt and casually dropped to the stones where it shattered. He had also lifted an old, gold scarf over his face before doing so. Every aggressor within range of the alchemical fog that emerged from the vial would start to feel... A little woozy but far more passive. However those without strong constitution might just find themselves asleep.

The passing glance of his shot left Thomas' gut curled against itself. But -- by the grace of the Company's good efforts, his wife was relieved from her hanging at the noose. Past his lips a silent prayer of thanks spilled as Captain Conaroy and Mr. Brandstone took her weight -- even Karthe's efforts entered his prayer, despite his feelings on the Graybush. By all manner, it seemed as if Marius' endeavours had worked as well. Rationale over bloodshed -- it almost felt like a first.

As members of the crowd begin to lose interest thanks to the rising mist of that alchemical potion, it gave the Rear Admiral a chance to break through and bark his orders once more whilst reaching down to yank the bell from the poor shell-shocked boy’s hands! As with all Kul Tirans the sound of a bell gradually caught the attentions of everyone. “I SAID CEASE AND DESIST! BY ORDER THE THE LORD ADMIRAL, I AM ORDERING THIS CROWD TO DISPERSE! ALL CRIMES LEVIED AGAINST THE WOMAN, ELAIANNA NESBITT-STALSWORTH ARE HEREBY REMANDED…" He continued on as more of the crowd begrudgingly calmed to listen. ”Furthermore, those responsible for her unlawful and neglectful incarceration will be taken into custody and put to trial for their crimes against a noble woman. Should any here attempt to stop the removal of her presence here, my men and our associates are hereby ordered to shoot at will. AM I UNDERSTOOD!?”

Dagan and Marius converged towards Elaianna, seeing her limp form carried by Daniel, who's main goal was to get the Lady to her husband. Who knew when the crowd would turn volatile again? "Were we too late?" Dagan asked. "Is she conscious?" asked Marius. The questions caused Joseph to frown. He truly didn't know if she was alive or dead. He didn't know if she had made it, or if she was gone.

Thomas bucked his stirrups into the haunches of his mount, ushering the beast to rake hooves through the air and thunder forward. By the clamor of the Rear Admiral's bell and Marius' handiwork, few stood in Thomas' path as he brought himself to the gallows platform. An expression of restrained relief wracked his face as he cast a glance to the unconscious form of his wife -- but he turned to address the crowd from atop his horse. "Men! Women! Lads and girls! We are not your enemy, and neither is the Duchy! A ship is guided by starlight, and you've been led astray under a fog -- will be put right soon, so heed th'words of the Admiralty an' harbour in your homes until things are settled!"

As the Admiral spoke, Captain Daniel carried Elaianna up to him, still cradling her like an infant. " 'ere ya go, lad." Not really one for conversation, he lifted her towards her husband as he finished addressing what was left of the crowd. At the urging of Conaroy, Thomas leaned down in his saddle. With his rifle falling to rest inside its scabbard, he used both arms to carefully lift his wife into his arms. There was a moment wherein he clearly had expected more weight -- surely he had lifted her before. But now, she was slighter -- smaller -- weaker. A throbbing vein amongst his forehead came to life, and stowed it's blood in his jaw.

Elaianna's head lolled to the side as she was hoisted up. The sudden change in her upright position caused her to cough, startling herself to be awake. Through half-lidded eyes she looked upwards, seeing her husband. "...Am I dead..?" her voice asked in a whisper, a hoarse rasp of what her voice often was.

There was a lacking of attention from Thomas to any but his wife. He cradled her against his chest. The gentle clatter of chainmail reminded him of how far apart they still were. No matter, his lips lightened at her voice and he shook his head, "Ain't so yet, gal. I got ya'." After his words, he blew a soft air across her face. Well -- not quite air, but a curling of pale mist. Minor, momentary, but invigorating.

Thanks to the Company, her family, and friends, she would be safe now.

@atc-wra @thomasstalsworth @calling-gull @brandstonethings @adventures-and-artifacts @marius-blackwood @eidrich-crone @gloryofsteel @themercenarycorner @karthe-surick

A huge OOC thank you to Sabine and Eidrich who were major storytellers for this entire story arch. What started out as something meant to be a small personal plot evolved with more and more people, both in and outside of the guild, wishing to become involved and help. It took a lot of work on their ends to make this something they could do so with. Thank you!

A huge thank you to my guild for also not killing me, even though you came pretty close. There was one point where it was a very real possibility. 

[elaianna]

The Boralus Summit

[ Below is Elaianna’s pre-written speech for at the Summit this evening ]

“There have been many rumors spreading throughout not just Kul TIras, but the Alliance lands as well. There have been articles posted in the Royal Courier. There have been lies fed to not just the people of Kul Tiras, but those beyond. I am here to set the record straight.

Shortly after my return to Kul Tiras, after my official coming to Stormhollow, I received a missive from the Lord Stormsong. It was a demand for me to hand over the people of Stormhollow en masse for labor camps, for shipyards. To work in the deplorable conditions that far too many have now suffered through. Following my refusal to the Lord Stormsong's 'request', one of his Lord's, Umbert Highshoal, placed me under arrest for false charges to be rid of the one thing standing between the people and, to be blunt on the subject, slavery.

For the month that I was held in dungeon, the people of Stormhollow, and other lands within Stormsong Valley, were volunteered, and-or taken away by force to these labor camps to build ships for the Lord Stormsong. After Lord Stormsong's death, the Lord Highshoal took flight and ordered execution of those who would come after him.

Fortunately, the Proudmoore Admiralty stepped in and ordered a cease and desist on those actions.

Many people have been wronged. Many Kul Tirans have been hurt, or worse. There are still camps yet to be liberated, and a Lord that has turned his back on the good people of Kul Tiras.

I believe in a Kul Tiras that is FREE. A Kul Tiras that is prosperous. A Kul Tiras that can not!-- will not!-- be intimidated! A Kul Tiras that will not sit idle to slavery!

We are doing everything in our power, but it is not up to just us! I stand here today to encourage the people of Kul Tiras, and her allies, to stand up against this tyranny! To rally together to liberate the people of Kul Tiras still under the grasp of slavery. I urge you to not just consider the outside threats to the land that the Storm's Wake speak of, but of the threat within it. The threat of those still loyal to the deceased Lord Stormsong. To the threat of those that are still running these labor camps.”

@atc-wra​ @boralusrp​

[elaianna]

The Hangman’s Noose

As the Company entered the outer edges of the Town Square it become quite obvious that the majority of the population had converged upon the area. The crowd was loud, a near thunderous roar with the various shouts and bellows lifting up. All of them were aimed toward the center. It was during that time that the Rear Admiral instructed Lady Randall to head to a safe place, lest there be two mothers on the hangman's noose.

As he had been for the entire ride -- and indeed, for the preceding weeks -- Thomas was saturated with a bitter spirit. His lips were curled, teeth tight together, and tone impassive.

In that same center stood a lifted platform that was high enough that even those in the back had little issue seeing what was put on display. And in that instance, it was the Duchess herself, neck surrounded by a noose that had yet to be tightened as the executioner was preparing to read off the final verdict and allow the prisoner a few last words, or so that was the tradition.

Elaianna stood at the gallows, her chin upright. Her expression was somber. A woman who had accepted her fate, and was using the last of the strength her body had to show resolve and accept death with dignity. The month of time on minimal rations, just enough to keep her alive, but not enough for her to -live-, showed as her dress, worn from the cells, dirt-stained and wrinkled, was loose fitting. Her body spoke of unhealthy weight loss. Of a body dwindled by her captor's.

Upon seeing Anna on the gallows, Joe jumped off his horse and hit the ground with a thud. Pain shot up his entire body when he grunted. He steadied himself against his horse. He kept himself mostly quiet throughout the whole ride here. He was too angry to say anything positive that might be helpful.

The crowd’s volume lowered a bit, becoming more a whisper of mutterings before silence finally took claim leaving only the sounds of shuffling feet, and clacking hooves of impatient horses against the cobblestoned streets.

Little expression took Thomas' face away from it's state of stoicism. There was a tautness to his form, muscles stretched firm beneath the layering of his leather and chainmail, sitting high in the saddle. Within its scabbard at his side, slung from the saddle, his rifle laid in rest. One hand came free of the reins to slide over the stock.

Captain Conaroy slides off of his mare, and drops the ends of her reins over a post, muttering for her to stay. He stood against a wall, unobtrusively sliding his shield down to his left arm, right pulling his sword from its sheath. Should he not need the weapon, they were easy enough to nonchalantly put back. However, it was always best to be prepared...

As the moment passed, Executioner Reinard held up the official verdict and a hand bell which he rung before reading to the crowd. “On this day the fifteenth of September, King’s Year 633, Elaianna Nesbitt-Stalsworth has been found guilty of treason against the rightful ruler of Stormsong Valley. The penalty is death by hanging.” He rungs= the bell in his hand to keep the crowd quiet.

“She has been found guilty of unlawful occupation of lands that rightfully belong to our lord for which the penalty is death.“ Again the death bell tolls. “She has been found guilty of conspiring against our Lord for which the penalty is death.” Ding ding.  “She has been found guilty of crimes against her own people including, denial of gainful employment for which the penalty is imprisonment. Thereby, on this day she is sentenced to hang by the neck until dead, the sentence to be carried out immediately.”

The roar of the crowd greeted the end of his words, some in protest but many crying out for justice. The executioner calmly turned and walked over to place the bell and the document into the hands of a young boy there to assist before turning to head over to Anna, intent on tightening the noose. “Do you have any final words, traitor?”

With each ring of the bell, her stomach twisted into knots. Anxiety was at an all time high, as she read the list of accusations. At the last toll of the bell, there was a slight tremble that ran down Elaianna's spine. This was it. This was the end.

Final words.

She hadn't any except for the final words that had been repeated over and over, yet no one listened. "My final words are what I've said time and time again. The only crime I have committed is attempting to protect the Kul TIran people from a man gone crazy." And apparently dead-- though this was the first she had heard of it. Being locked away from the world left one ignorant to the outter going ons. "To protect them from slavery and that I stood in the way of that slavery is why I am being removed." At first, she hadn't taken note of the additions to the crowd. When she swept her gaze over the crowd for what she thought to be her last view of this life, she took notice of the few that stood out. Was she hallucinating as she stood on the brink? There was a glimmer of hope in her eyes. One last prayer to the Tides that who she was seeing was real, tangible.

The Crowd began to rumble with signs of possible rioting as people took their stances on one side or the other. In the meantime the executioners gives the rope a final tightening.

@atc-wra @theshadowborn @thomasstalsworth @brandstonethings @calling-gull 

Stay tuned for part two!

[elaianna]

The Passage of Time

Time.

It was impossible to measure within the holdings of the dungeon-- if not for the fact Elaianna knew she got rations once every three days. Every time the guards gave her the half a ration she knew that three more days had passed. Then three more, and three more, and so on. Still, she found herself losing count of how long she had been down there. Just how long had she been parted from her family? How much longer would they be separated? Would she ever see them again?

The herbs Eidrich had had sneaked inside the dungeons had since run out, long ago. It was only a few days afterward she found herself missing the sweet taste of something other than bread and water. What bread and water she did have she found herself all too grateful to have. Her whole body felt worn. Her spirit was getting there. Even with the extra rations she received from Gregory, her body was beginning to show signs of weight loss upon her already svelte form.

For a few days she tried to keep up strength, keep up muscle, in the event she had a chance to run for it. No such chance came, and her strength gradually left her. No longer did she spend days doing push ups, stretches, nor any other exercises. Instead her days were spent pacing the cell briefly, laying down, or in the late hours when the guards were a bit more lax, or when they didn't appear to care, she'd sing softly. Just enough for her own entertainment, and the entertainment of the few cell neighbours in her block. It was just the photograph of her family she kept hidden on her person, and the thought of seeing them once more that had her hanging on still. Without them to anchor her, she was certain she’d have succumbed entirely by now.

"Sailboat of miiiine, bear me heeennnce... Cast adrift on the sea... Go wherever the tide takes meeee... Borne by the waves, gently beyond. To a place no one else has gooone.." her lilting voice carried throughout the block, soft and sung to no one in particular. The Lady had been guilty of singing such songs unbidden as she roamed corridors without seeming to realize she had given way to song, or while carrying her children. Now she did it as reminder to herself, to remember the times she had waltzed through those corridors, swaying her daughters in her arms.

Time may have held no bearing for her, but it was all the guards ever paid attention to. The hours, the ticking minutes that dragged on ceaselessly until they could return to their lives beyond these walls. That was all this prison was to them, a job, a means to coin before returning to their families, friends, homes, something quite unlike the residents of the jail's cells. Singing did little to bother those posted tonight, if anything it was something to keep their minds distracted from boredom, but it could not stop the jeering of some however.

"Heard the news yet, traitor?" Came the cheeky tone of an approaching guard to Elaianna's cell. With a few swift raps of his club to her cell bars he squinted into the darkness to get a gauge for where her body was now.

It was with the clatter of his club against the cell bars that Elaianna jolted in her cell, where she sat in the furthest most corner. She drew her knees up to her chest, leering at the guard who disturbed what small peace of mind she was able to find in song.

"You're in luck, orders just came in to have your trial bumped. All the suffering's almost over, you'll be on the block soon enough."

"My lawyer got involved then?" she asked, careful to not disclose Charles's name. She didn't wish to bring him any unnecessary trouble, while at the same time, hoping that he had found a way to intervene legally.

There was a smug nature to the man as he stared down at her. An air of superiority, or perhaps that he thought so lowly of her that she did not even deserve to be looked on as an equal. Inflated stories and half-truths helped to create that idea, but many knew it to be the case in this time, and any soldier or guard knew better than to question who was deemed a traitor or not.

"You think traitors are entitled to a 'lawyer'?" The guard questioned with a scoff. Taking hold of the bars with a wringing of his hands, the guardsman pressed his face to the steel to stare at her with hardened eyes.

"It's people like you that make me sick. Mainlanders coming here, causing trouble, threatening the peace and doing as you please without a care then when you get into trouble you throw your name around and demand 'lawyers' n' 'rights'." Spitting onto the floor the man leaned away again to shake his head. "No, you'll hang for sure, and good on them for it- I've heard tale of what you caused down there."

There it was again.

That pesky rumor. That rumor that she was a mainlander. That this wasn't her homeland. That she wasn't their people.

"I'm not a mainlander," she snapped at him. "Born and raised in Tiragarde, you uneducated barnacle-crusted cunt." If she was to hang, let it not said she had no spirit. "I haven't been here long enough to cause anything, and anyone who had half a brain to have any sense of the matter, to actually look at facts and not hearsay would see that."

There was anger on the mans face. The throbbing of a vein at his temple, the hard clench of his jaw. The first instinct to come to mind was violence, then to spit harsh words back himself, but what purpose would they serve? If the captain were to find out he'd surely find himself in hot water as they'd already been instructed not to speak with prisoners before anyway. Lowering his voice the guardsman stepped forward again to snarl at Anna.

"No Kul Tiran would do the things you've done, not to their own kind. You're the mainland whore dressed in our emerald colors come to cause trouble, and I'm damn-glad happy you'll hang for it tomorrow."

She was lying, she had to be lying. Everything they'd been shown, everything they'd been told painted it so clearly. It was her fault. She was a traitor. More mainland tricks, another verse to the daughter of the sea.

Elaianna leaned forward from where she sat, staring up at the man with a hardened steel in her gaze. She was still out of reach, but her body language spoke volumes for the volume she didn't truly possess while within a cell.

"The true traitor is the Lord that is enslaving the Kul Tiran people, and my crime is protecting those people-- or rather, attempting to. The only crime I have committed is being loyal to the Kul Tiran people, instead of a Lord gone mad and tyrannical."

The soldier had none of it. Her lies, as he saw them, they served nothing, just another mainlander spouting false words on a proud Kul Tiran.

"I'll not have you sullying the name of a good man of Kul Tiras, a real man of our people." The young man glared. This was clearly a boy of the isle still beholden to the idea that his Lords could do no wrong, that they were the truth and held his best interests. A sheep with the wool over his eyes.

"I've heard what you're responsible for, everyone in the Valley knows, and soon we'll have justice for the lives you've ruined." Clanging his baton off of the bars once more he began to step away from the cell, his intentions to return to his duties.

"--And what crime am I committed for?" she called after him. What had she done wrong, supposedly?

If the young man were honest with himself, he wasn't entirely sure of what she did. What evidence had been presented even. All that the young guardsman knew was hearsay; she'd killed innocent Kul Tirans, set her people to starve while she and her clutch indulged in extravagance, she'd made an attempt to overthrow Lord Stormsong and have his family killed...many rumors, many things said in the tongue of a friend-of-a-friend. Finally the man turned back to Elaianna with a hardened stare, one of hate, one cold and longing for her demise before he mustered something to say.

"You're a traitor. The Tides know what you've done and they will see you drown for all of your misgivings."

The Tides did know.

But for what she was deemed guilty of in this dungeon cell, for what she was to hang for, that wasn't what the Tides would drown her for.

She gritted her teeth, but let the case rest. There was no sense in arguing with someone who had no desire to see truth.

@atc-wra @eidrich-crone @thomasstalsworth @tirasiansails

[elaianna]

A Debt Denied

Elaianna’s first week back in Kul Tiras had already been busy. Between the growing rumours, both of her own lands and of Lady Jaina Proudmoore being arrested by her own mother, a cloud of worry hovered wherever the Duchess went. A requisition was placed for a number of her men and women. There were whispers of Horde not so far away at Brennadam. A thought that made her gut twist. She had brought her little girls to Kul Tiras to avoid war, and it had still managed to follow.

Stormhollow’s allegiance had been declared, changed from an allegiance to House Stormsong, despite being upon and a part of that House’s lands. Elaianna’s personal loyalties were always with the Proudmoores, but her Uncle’s, the Duke that used to run the lands, had been to a benevolent Lord Stormsong. But where was that benevolence now?

Banners and flags depicting House Stormsong’s crest were pulled down. Rather than have the duchy’s own crest fly on it’s own, the green of the Proudmoore Admiralty was hoisted up as well. Stormhollow needed allies, and she hoped that she’d find some among the nobles loyal to Proudmoore.

Then came the collector who needed dealing with. He was not greeted by the usual set of faces. Elaianna had made exception, and had gone down to the town with her husband and an entourage of guards. A statement was made not just by her denying the collector, but by doing it personally. Her people would not be forced into hard labour. Her people had the protection of their Lord and Lady, and she would defend them from anyone who tried to take them.

Thus, the collector was sent on his way to inform his Lord of the denial.

[ Alternatively titled: Elaianna shouldn’t write when she first wakes up ]

First Piece (By Eidrich) - Second Piece (by Elaianna) - Third Piece (by Sabine) - This is Piece Four

@atc-wra @thomasstalsworth @gloryofsteel @eidrich-crone 

[elaianna]

After The Execution

Elaianna’s first visit to the Stormhollow duchy was far from ideal. An execution caused her to attend far sooner than she and Thomas had been prepared for. They were still planning the voyage to take their family there, after Aberdeen was fit and strong, with no fear for what may happen to her health on the voyage. 

But life was never as it was planned.

Reinard Smythe forced Elaianna’s hand. He forced action. Swift justice had to be had. Firm justice had to be had. As a new Duchess, filling in at a duchy where she had only stepped foot as a visitor in the past while visiting her Uncle, she had to show she was strong. She had to show she wouldn’t let traitors walk over her, or her people.

Apprehension filled her. She had seen the way the crowd had started to stir, very near on the edge of a riot. She had ignored it, and continued on as if it were not a volatile situation. What else could she do?

Kevin’s words to her at the bottom of the gallows hadn’t been of any help. Implications were dangerous things, and his implication could have cost her greatly. For all she knew, it still may.

Swift steps took her back to the manor, where first she spoke to Kevin, and then to Karthe. Afterwards, Elaianna made a hasty path towards her new chambers, Kaitlyn in tow. Once at her chambers, she shut the door behind her and leaned back against it, letting out a nervous breath. 

She couldn’t admit it, but Elaianna was terrified. Her first appearance before her people as Duchess of Stormhollow was to execute a man. Her first appearance nearly had a riot break out. Her first appearance was more demanding than most, demanding a life to prove herself to these people. A life, who had a wife and four children. All of which she had decided to compensate for the loss of their husband and father, but money would never replace a life. 

Thomas, I wish you were here.

She needed her anchor. She needed someone to keep her from feeling so adrift in a land where everyone was watching her every move, judging her, calculating. A place where she had inherited her Uncle’s enemies, and she was oblivious thus far as to whom they were. A place where treading water was not enough.

@atc-wra @tirasiansails @gloryofsteel @bastard-blackstone @karthe-surick @thomasstalsworth

[elaianna]