As the moon continued its ascent into the clear night sky, its silvery rays shined across the ancient stones of Castle Nyland, bathing them in an ethereal light. Alone, staring forward, her hands behind her back, Duchess Serena Nyland traverses the corridors of her silent ancestral home. Each step echoed with the weight of her responsibilities, the weight of memories past, with the whispers of bygone days lingering on the air like the scent of roses.
Her path leads into the Great Hall, where once was decorated with the cerulean blue of House Nyland, banners flowing regally from the ceilings, the seal of the house adorning the exquisite tablecloth. Staring into this now cold place, filled with faded tapestries, tarnished suits of armor standing guard eternally, silently, she closes her eyes. Her heart is filled with the echoes of her youth, the sound of her father's booming laughter while her brothers engaged in their usual playful banter.
Eyes opening, the heaviness returns to her heart as does the deafening silence. She turns and continues her journey, each footstep echoing like a dirge. With a gentle push, the glass doors swing open leading to the Castle's courtyard. Once, the roses bloomed here with riotous colors, the Nyland Cobalt Roses were the most exquisite, her mother took special care to ensure they blossomed and prospered. "They are not just the symbol of our house but something much more important, the symbol of our people and their beauty." her mother would say, the words echoing now through her mind and her heart.
She closed her eyes once more, allowing herself to be swept away in another tide of memory. She saw her father, tall and proud, his Mithral sword gleaming in the sunlight as he rode out to meet the invading forces in battle. She saw her brothers, brave and valiant, their normally smiling and laugh-filled faces set in determination as they followed in their father's footsteps. She can hear the clanking of her armor as she rode behind them, knowing that once they met the Earthbreaker's forces, everything would forever change.
Amidst the chaos and confusion of battle, tragedy struck with merciless force. Her father, her brothers, their lives snuffed out in an instant. Her entire purpose and fate changed in the matter of a blink of an eye. Standing and staring out, her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, a swell of emotion rising within her. Was it grief? Yes, but also a fierce determination to honor the memory of her fallen kin and continue to bear her House's duty.
She recalled the day she had been named as Duchess of House Nyland. The weight of the Circlet, now like an anvil atop her head. How could something made of so little weigh so heavily, and cause so much anxiety? She had to do everything in her power to keep from shaking apart during the ceremony, to ensure she did not forget the words of her oath. She vowed to protect her people with her life, to uphold her family's honor. The once lively Castle with the smiles of servants, the whispers of courtiers, the respectful nods of the Household Guards, turned to ash. In her eyes, the fires of "The Fall of House Nyland". The day the Bloodbinder turned a most majestic city, filled with kind and hardy folk to rubble is burned into her mind like a white hot brand. The scars of that day will forever linger, but she will never let them define her.
Her journey continued, leading her into the Audience Chamber, where she had taken countless petitioners, where she had once sat on the floor with her wooden knights, hearing her father's booming yet compassionate voice as he decided the fates of those throughout the Duchy. It was here, she fought through the final stretch to retake her lands. The day she and that band of heroes retook Nyland Castle from the clutches of the Bloodbinder. The memory etched in her mind like a shard of glass. The castle was shrouded in darkness and despair, Serena fought tooth and nail, her sword flashing in the firelight as she battled against impossible odds.
Serena never faltered, she couldn't allow herself to. How could the tale of such a house end with the silent whimper of her death throes? It couldn't. Unwavering determination guided her hand, her heart, her blade. Flanked by the most foolishly brave adventurers, the same who safeguarded her during the Bloodbinder's ambush, the same who protected her as she was forced into hiding, to have to hide the House name she was so proud to hold. The clash with the Bloodbinder started and ended here. Her hand gently runs across the armrest of the Nyland Throne. The wizards claimed that it would be rebuilt and none could tell the difference but she could, she could see each sliver of wood that was fabricated, the cushions were not the same her father sat and leaned on. It was through the will of fate itself that this 'new' throne would cement itself into House Nyland history.
After the Bloodbinder was slain, the grand conspiracy unearthed, Kasimir had entered a time of true uncertainty. The Kingdom itself teetered on the brink of chaos and collapse. The former Lord Regent, Arthur Makalos...that name...that accursed name. A name she recalled decades of praising as a champion of the kingdom, of the countless Grand Council Meetings in which she deferred to the Lord Regent, believing that he was a bastion of truth and law, that he would safeguard the Kingdom as he promised to Brun and Celestine. Through the band of adventurers and Serena's efforts, his mask fell, his allegiance to the Scarlet King laid bare for all to see.
The people cried out for a leader who could weather this storm, someone to turn back the corruption Makalos allowed and guided into the veins of the Kingdom. Unanimously, the Great Houses had an answer for their pleas, an unwavering and indomitable spirit, shining like a beacon of hope in the darkest and most dreadful of nights, Serena Nyland. With her backing, she ascended to the position of Lady Regent. Her every decision has been guided by a steadfast commitment to justice and honor. In constant uncertainty and danger, she has continued to stand firm.
And so, under the watchful gaze of the stars and the silent stones of Nyland Castle, Duchess Serena Nyland swore a second oath, assuming her rightful place as Lady Regent of the Kingdom of Kasimir. In her hands rested the fate of many, of the realm itself.
As she reached the end of her journey through the castle, Serena found herself once more standing atop the battlements, gazing out across the Duchy. The moon continued to cast its gentle, silvery light upon the land, illuminating the slowly healing scars that mar its surface. With a solemn nod, Serena turned away from the edge, her gaze steady and unwavering.
