Saint Riesling, the southern jewel of Honesta, is an anarchist city-state for which has attracted all manner of people from across Wildfall. Founded as a freeport and haven for traders and smugglers alike, Riesling flourished into a glowing port enwrapped by erected palaces and the monolithic Jungle Spires to their east. Those looking to escape prosecution fled to Riesling in mass, making it the infamous, deadly and gorgeous sanctuary it is now known for.
However, in a world filled with political disagreements, no true freedom can last long without someone there to stand and protect it. An Ancient Red Dragon rumored to be older than the Split itself offered themselves to serve as the cities triumphant guard and savior, striking a deal with the founders of Saint Riesling at its inception. The terms of such a agreement have long since been forgotten and many long years have passed since then. Now in the year 1123 PS, Riesling still stands prideful as an icon of debauchery and self expression, resting at the feet of the almost enchanting Lillian Bay; or at least that was the case... it seemed a new conspiracy has been festering beneath its golden sands, one involving its previously celebrated, brutal, protector.
A Coup brewed. Kaemen, the cities protector, and a collection of the most dissatisfied Primus Pura (Rieslings economic elite) schemed a forceful take over of the city, utilizing their personal militaries, better known as Dune Oasi's, as pawns to maneuver civilians into a more agreeable position. Their goal? to utilizes the otherwise wasted potential of free peoples, and establish a new political players on the worlds stage by establishing Kaemen as Riesling's newly introduced Emperor, not just its protector. What followed was the bloodiest weeks in Contemporary Riesling history, being brought finally to an end by the public execution of its draconic figurehead by his very own Son and Daughter.
This is. The Riesling Coup.
Kaemen, The Shaking Dune.
Rumored ancient, Kaemen has stood proud at the foot Riesling for decades, walking amongst its people and celebrated both as its elegantly destructive protector and impossible to read Politian. For years, his life remained elusive, appearing only in a blaze of fire to eradicate those that wish to do Riesling harm, sundering ships in the bay and devouring intruding dignitaries whole. For Kaemen, this satisfied him for a time, the veneer of pride and celebration he got for such an action was enough to satiate his hunger for power. But he realized soon that what he craved was not that of power, wealth or fear as all of those wither with time; Instead he wanted legacy, a social hoard that would never fade with time. And so, he entered into a secret affair with a Winemaker, Theadora Trisdove, harboring a child with her that he believed could act as his heir. Due to his lack of presence in the relationship, the child grew up raised exclusively by his mother. And when Kaemen returned years later to "collect," he was disgusted by the man that boy had become, leaving Theadora and her child destitute and without name in the dunes outside Riesling. In the years the followed, he ignored this "failed attempt at producing a prince," entering into countless affairs that each failed to produce any other heir; Or at least that was until he met another member of the Primus Pura that seemed to share in his want to create a legacy for Riesling... The singer and songwriter, June Siren.
The upper crust life of the Primus Pura cannot be compared to the lives of those that live in the midst of Riesling proper. Born to the palace-bound family of the Marchessis', June soon felt as though the stuffy world they lived in suffocated her potential. Leading her to running away from her parents palace and living amongst the majority of the city at a very young age. Without money or support, she turned to pit fighting, a beloved pastime of Riesling to make any sort of life for herself; suffering every possible form of abuse in the process by Rieslings criminal world. The aggressors suffering no consequence given the cities lack of any governance or laws. She began to see the freedom of Riesling to be arguably more suffocating than that of her old home, the people using the freedom to justify their devolution into horrific behaviors. As time grew and June adjusted to her life on the streets, news flashed through the city. The Marchessis' had been suffering some disease, which had left them bed ridden; and shortly thereafter, all dead. June, being the sole rightful heir to their families fortune took the opportunity to flee the streets of Riesling and return back to a place of luxury, inheriting the family's Cerulean palace and endless collection of resources. With a cushion behind her she fell into her artistic loves, and began to master musical skills, preferring string instruments, particularly guitar and violin, over much else. She brought her spry fighting movements into the performances, adding a layer of enchanting flow to incredibly skillful music. June took the stage name "The Siren" and not long later changed it to "Mrs. June Siren" attempting to distance herself from the Marchessi name. She used her popularity to her advantage, getting close to other Primus Pura inorder to ask favors and gain particular influence, though she never learned to fully trust them, instead building collection of blackmail incase they ever turned against her. This is what drew Kaemen to her... she mistrusted the Riesling that grew comfortable in their freedoms, to the point she was willing to take them all away if that meant the debauchery would stop. Kaemen and June entered into a affair, that soon created a child together. Delilah Marchessi, raised from then on to be a Princess to a empire yet to be.
Xereve Bolin and Ambrose Baron
Two of the more powerful members of the Primus Pura, willing to offer any economic or militaristic aid to the mounting conspiracy. Xereve Bolin, owner of the Emeraldian Shipping Company was happy to install restrictive shipping and import laws if that meant their company would become then a monopoly over the new Empire. Ambrose Baron, privateer and lord of multiple Armadas over the Tabaxi Isles and Lillian Bay was offered the position of Master of Commerce, able to introduce taxation laws and the corrupt seizing of shipments coming into Riesling at a moments notice, further bolstering his growing influence and coffers. While they were surely not the only members of the Primus Pura to aid in the Coup, they were one of the only to do so willingly; many of the others had their hand forced via the blackmail June leveraged over their heads.
In a city of lawlessness, every company, every merchant, every smuggler needs a middle man, able to keep the consequences real if a deal goes wrong. The Lawrencias' have served as such a middle man for centuries, being one of the original Riesling families. Since the inception of Riesling, the Lawrencias have been documenting all information moving in and through the cities, anarchist archivists of the shady deals through the cities. A nation will always have its dissenters, but that will only grow if the true history of said nation is revealed, and so the Lawrencia family was asked to join peacefully into their cause; as if not, their palace would surely burn. Amir, the figurehead of the family at this time, agreed to the deal. The Lawrencias would burn and destroy any record of Kaemen's shortfalls and/or past dealings, as well as Junes blackmail. Cleaning the record of what would surely be a bloody rise of an Empire.
This is however, only one side of the Coup... In time we will look to the opposition. Those that were targeted by the Conspirators as they were the only ones willing to stand in their way.
stormborns
2087
kaledo-art
discoholicmusic
snowghoul
vaporwave
titsay
yousharknotpass
andulkaphoto
