Death is so common that for the most part regardless of the individual their death leaves but the smallest ripple in the pond of eternity. In almost all cases of death only a modest amount of people will grieve their due course and move on.

The death that is slowly unfolding is not such a death and the wake that it will cause will be a tidelwave upon history. Ruderick II last of his line King of Fugia, Lord of all the lands and guardian of the people lay dying in his chambers. Although prayer vigils were being conducted and numerous sacrifices to the Gods were being made all clerical attempts to stop his doom were utterly failing.

Two men were in a companionway making their way to the chambers. Dressed identically in simple robs the shorter one was distinguished only by a silver chain that hung around his neck and seemed to radiate different colours as they walked. It was this man who spoke. “He is but twenty and five” said his voice cracking with both age and exhaustion.   “The summer flux usually only kills the young or old. This has the markings of ill doom”.

Lawrence looked at his companion and was impressed that his friend could still stand after all that they had gone through in the last few days. Lawrence himself felt bone but had the luck of being several years younger than his compatriot but it did not stop him from letting out an exasperated sigh of his own. “I do not disagree Thomas, but I now worry for more than The King’s life”.

Before he could speak further Thomas cut him off curtly “Gods do not speak of it!”

At this time they both heard another bout of screaming from the top tower where the King was being tended. Although they were too far away to be hit by the stench that always accompanied another bought of pain they instinctively covered their noses. Lawrence took the opportunity to speak. “Sire, you are the King’s head chamberlain, and I am your lieutenant, our duty is not just to the King but to the Crown and whatever we may wish, the fact is that the King will be dead sooner rather than later.” Lawrence’s voice rose as he forcefully enunciated his next words. “We must prepare” this eyes shining in the hallway. “The King is heirless, he is the last of his house and there are countless people of power who can rightfully claim lineage to the throne. If we move swiftly and annotate a successor before the King’s death it would hold sway and ease the burden.”

Thomas barely looked at Lawrence and Lawrence was not sure he had even heard the words that he had just spoken or if he did he choice to ignore them as he answered quickly. “I will go to the abbey and pray for our young King’s life. Surely the Gods will not turn their eyes away from their dutiful servant”. With that Thomas abruptly turned away from Lawrence and walked down the hallway. Shadows of the end of the day were creeping into the castle and the lanterns had not been alighted so it was if Thomas disappeared into the darkness leaving Lawrence alone and worried before he thought to himself.

“I think that the Gods will be sitting this one out”. Then he corrected himself “or worse are planning on watching our plight for amusement”. Lawrence then began the ascent to the royal chambers and hoped he could do at least something to ease the King’s passing.

Soon enough Lawrence could not stop the news of the death of the king makings it’s way out of the chamber and travelled swiftly through the realm. It was met with both shock and deep thought.

One of the first of importance to hear of it was strangely not even of Fugia but individuals at the court of Emperor Rius IV of Torok across the Bassin Straight. Rius IV sat at a large table. A tall man in his early forties his beard had just started to have it’s first grey hairs upon it. Dressed in simple courtier clothing the only thing that made him stand out from the others was the deference the men around the table gave him. The assembled minors barons were currently deep into discussion about trade and travel taxes that were effecting some of the smaller barons more than others. Although Rius was himself deeply involved in the discussion making a few points known and guiding the discussion to a compromise he looked up with happy surprise at the interruption of his Chief Chamberlain Vikins. Vikins came into the chamber and formally bowed and waited to be noticed. Although it was quite unusual protocol Rius had known Vikins from his childhood whom had been in the employ of his late father. He realized that he would only have been disturbed for something important.

“Chief Chamberlain” Rius calming voice raised several tones and suddenly the room’s barons fell quickly silent. “What brings you to the counsel?”

“Sire” Vikins clipped nasally speech which was his defining feature seemed to have gone up at least an octave which peaked Rius’s curiosity even more. His suspicion was immediately confirmed when Vikins continued. “A trader from Fugia has just arrived sire and brings important news, the King across the straight Ruderick has died suddenly”.

The silence from the Barons became even more pronounced. Fugia and Torok had been on and off again rivals for centuries. Ruderick and for that matter most of the men assembled herein were even distant relatives of Rius, all descendents from the same royal line seven generations ago with Subjugator Augustus who conquered all of Fugia. It was his first son who had taken up the dynasty that had ruled Fugia until Ruderick. The Subjugator though had several children and Rius’s maternal ancestor was one of them and whom had been married to the Emperor of Torok.

All these thoughts and more flowed thru the assembled Lords who seemed to be waiting for Rius to speak. Instead he sat back and looked around the room. He always found it a useful tactic. Most people could not abide quiet and would fill in the void and would always tell much in the process.

“Sire, this is great news” It was Baron Ivus who broke the silence. Rius glanced at him. Like the others present Ivus was distant cousin of Rius. His family had branched out with his title coming as the fourth son of their collective ancestor. His line had fallen on some issues over the years and was one of the Barons most vocal at the table against the unjust routing taxes upon his land and behind hemmed in by other more powerful families.. The family lands had actually been reduced over the centuries with dowaries and the occasional deal that allowed the family to remain solvent. Now many people Rius himself (although behind his back of course) referred to him as Baron Few Acres.

“Ruderick had no heirs to the throne” Ivus continued, his youthful voice nearly cracking as though he was now twenty and two years old he still had the look and sound of a boy rather than a man and his reedy voice and a distinctly bad attempt at a moustache did little to help it. “This is a grand opportunity! Ruderick had no heirs to the throne and the Crown of all Fugia is claimable by the descendents of Augustus. You are by far the most powerful and legitimate heir to that throne!”

Rius looked around at the assembled men and took their visage. Most of them were nodding their heads in one way or another. Only a few of the older men, scarred from wars and battles seemed to be holding back at all, but even they could see the opportunity presenting itself. Rius looked not unkindly at Ivus and smiled at him before speaking. ““That might be true Cousin, I have a legitimate claim on the throne, but I know one thing very well, if I were to step foot on Fugia the bickering noblemen would unite as swiftly as possible to fight a “foreign King”. He paused for a moment and made it appear as if he had just thought of it before speaking. “But if a man who yes, was of foreign birth but had an equal claim were to come, well that man may truly could do anything now wouldn’t he Ivus”.

Ivus eyes burned with intensity as he spoke. “Yes that man truly could do anything sire, and he would be forever grateful to the man who aided him.”

---

Willas Reda heard a rap at the door and awoke and made sure that he was alone, it had been a interesting night to say the least with not one but two lovers vying for his attention. He had finally settled on Klause, as he always had a thing for men with moustaches. He called out to the door and it was opened by his wife Arianna who stepped through and shut the door behind her. She looked around inquisitively and Willas shook his head in the negative. Although their marriage had been arranged he caried for her and enjoyed her sharp wit and company. Shortly after the nuptials they reached a good understanding of each other and not wanting to embarrass her or cause the Reda name to be dragged in to the mud made his private parties with friends  very very discreet.

 

“I hope you enjoyed last night, It will be a long day to be sure and I hope your rested”. Arianna was actually quite lovely looking if you enjoyed that sort of thing Willas thought. She was dressed in a Cartesian dress of flowing royal purple and although she had sharp somewhat severe features they actually were well defined and highlighted by her raven dark hair. The door soon opened again and a serving boy with a tray of food entered and set down a tray. He thank the lad and gazed after his retreating behind before the boy closed the door. Speaking with some dry humour in her voice she continued to speak. “Close your mouth Willas and stop drooling, I know for a fact that boy has not seen his sixteenth winter yet.”.

Willas smiled at Arianna ruefully and raised his eyebrows, “Well, I can wait”.

Arianna sat down with the grace imbued over years residing at courts and gracefully spread her dress. “Your brother is expected at any moment, so you need to eat quickly and get changed”.

“What would I do without you Arianna?”

“Fuck to many boys and girls and be thrown in the deepest dungeons the clergy can find is my best guess”.

“Quite, but what is going on, all the page said was to come back to the Duchy as fast as possible”.

Arianna bit her lip and looked almost to tell something but her years of court service did her well. “Something has happened, something big, but your brother needs to tell you himself and that my dear husband is his prevue as our lord is it not”.

Willas sat up and leaned over to Arianna and brushed her hair back and gave her a tender kiss that tickled in all the right ways for Arianna. “I am your husband and you are very beautiful how much time do we have.”

Arianna liked the touch of her husband. He was very caring when he wanted to be but right now he was late and said so. “Maybe tonight, if you feel like it, you do occasionally get in the mood for me and we have yet to have a child. Your brother would be so happy”.

Gaa, okay, okay I’m moving and with that he got out of bed stark naked and began to dress to see his brother.

It was a short few minutes later when he entered a large chamber with a roaring fire. Although it was not that cold he understood why as only a brother could. Horis third of his name sat near the fire putting warmth into his bones. It was only known to very very select few that Horis was easily effected by the cold ever since childhood when he and a hunting party had gotten lost in a freak snowstorm and barely survived while losing three toes in the process.

“Sire”, Willas spoke and Horis looked and smiled at his brother.

“shut up brother and give me a hug, your probably warm enough getting out of bed”. With that his brother came over with a small almost imperceptible limp from the right foot which had lost the toes. “Now I am sure you are most curious as to why I had you come here as fast as possible.

“I have to admit it crossed my mind, I was about as far away and out of all my friends ears for to long, I must admit I am not up to date as normal.

“Well, I doubt even your network of “friends” would now all the details of what I am about to tell you. The King has died.”

“You’re fucking joking?” was all Willas could say, he had cultivated many a friend throughout the entire land and beyond and counted several among those close to the King. The last time he had talked to two of them they had both independently commented on the King’s strength and vitality.

Horis looked at his brother for another moment and broke the silence. I’m not joking and what do you think”.

Willas responded quickly and decisively. “His death will not be the last and however he died will be nothing in comparison to those lining up to die for the throne. Please don’t tell me you are considering something rash brother”.

Horis smiled and walked back to the fire picking up a poker and stiring the fire and warming his hands. “I am by far the most eligible of any other descendent of the subjugator. There is strong reasoning that if I raise my banner I could stop bloodshed as people coalesce around me”.

“You know horis, when you say it like that it almost makes sense. Almost. I know why you have told me this and you know of all my friends. I can say with good certainty that yes some would follow you, but many, no most would not”. Horis appeared to start to want to talk but Wallis bulled on” No, I am not being argumentative, I am stating what you already know but don’t want to admit. Horis your people like you, but beyond the border of this Duchy your name holds no true sway. You are simply another of the Grand Dukes”. He sat down beside his brother and continued. “What do you want brother, because if you want more land or power that’s pretty easy. Stay completely neutral and when someone is clearly winning side with them and they’ll give you more lands. Aiding someone earlier gives more benefits but of course that doesn’t means you’ll win of course and that could be disastrous”.

His brother stared at the fire for a few more minutes before finally speaking. “We are strong here in the Duchy, so I cannot feel but restless. I ask you why cannot our family rule the entire land”? Would that not be for the best of all”?

“Luckily unlike you my brother I don’t have designs beyond my humble station, but realistically I will say that I don’t think any of the people that you say this would be best for would give a tinkers ass who is the King as long as they are not being pressed into service and their taxes don’t go thru the roof to support a war”.

His brother continued to poke at the fire and reached for another log to put it on adjusting it so that air could get under it and feed the flame. “You brother are the only person who can speak to me like that and I appreciate it. At present I do not disagree with you that we should be cautious but I still want you to get a hold of all your friends and find out as much as you can on everything.

Wallis smiled his best crooked smile “That goes without saying and I’m going to need some fresh revenue as I’m going to be making a lot of friends in short order to gain as much information as I can. Also I’ll get on my way to some of our own bannermen to let them know that you are resolute and strong in your determination”.

Horis looked slightly perplexed. “What exactly does that mean”.

It means you’re their Grand Duke.