A new chapter in Human history was written in the burning wreckage of automaton corpses, as an artificial mind sought to undo Humanity's accomplishments. It called itself Aro, the thinking machine likeness being discovered inside of the compound on Sunset Mounds along with the V'Oreen riches. Brave Alectronas Soldvari, the daughter of the Face of Humanity herself led the neo-tribal soldiers into battle brandishing machine weapons and V'Oreen might. Their enemy Aro breathed life into the city he helped them create, Vivellia, and turned it against them. Alectronas emerged victorious but was met with a new world, one without a terrible need for tribal tradition. Antiquity had ended, and Modernity was born.
A dense incense of iproumage plant simmered atop the golden censer that hung above Alectronas's High Throne, leaking off the side and dissipating downward. It's vanilla scent clogged the air with an enchanting vapor. Laid upon white marble tiles were immense exotic rugs, illuminated by caramel glows from candles lining the walls. Standing beside the draped windows as she pulled upon the cord to unveil the city before her, Matriarch Alectronas was dressed in a dark blue gown, silver and gold embroidery laced on the trimming of her seams. Her bell sleeves hung low as the velvet dress rippled against her figure as her lips curled a small smile. Seeing her seafoam-green eyes stare back from the festive headdress that sat upon a stand next to her, she was happy to deliver the rituals suited for today; Month of Remembrance, 1st Day.
Alectronas imagined the festivities of this particular night, for the first day in this month meant the Banquet of Antiquities was to be held in the Citadel ballroom tonight. A celebration that sees the participants come dressed in masks and attire that pay homage to older generations, reminiscent of the Antiquated spirit of life. As the dark blue curtains pulled back to reveal a faded red giant rising on the world's edge, she gripped the burnished pendant that held her mother's sigil fixed around her neck and stroked it gently with her thumb.
The dense morning fog blocked most of her view as only the nearest buildings could be made out, with the distant blinking neon lights cutting right through the haze. Aircraft raced across the spaces between the towering structures, each building dotted and traced with bright pulsating lights of rooms and lifts. Next to the window lookout was a small silver plaque mounted on the wall, with small emphasized text listed downward in columns; the Marks of the Triarch. These Marks numbered five important rules for governing the Isles and established a standard for maintaining the social contract of ruler and subject. Alectronas as of late had promised to focus more on the Fourth Mark, for she held it most dearly. The Fourth Mark spoke of taking decisive action for those who cannot themselves, for it both secures power and trust from the people one has been appointed to lead. Alectronas smiled once more, for she knew her mother would agree with fervor.
Turning and walking some distance to enter a separate study room off to the side of the court, she hovered over and tried to clasp exactly what it was she was doing late last night. It came to her once she saw the mess of unorganized papers and letters sprawled over her wooden desk. Letters bearing the Matriarchal seal, trade proposals and concerns for certain committees. Questions from companies that sold energy reserves, transportation law revisals, and much more stressing duties. To the side, an open book with neat ink print and ornate marginal artwork.
Sister's book, Alectronas thought.
Her Matriarchal sister Esthera Remellache had written a book titled The Laws of Power and How to Hold Them. Yes, Esthera was always a rather distant and ambitious woman. She had a habit of manipulating her citizens with excessive advertising and literature, an example of this being the book on Alectronas's desk.
Esthera was the ruler of the frigid northern land Chateauneige, second home of the Adradha-Gaeli. As of late, Alectronas was very worried about Esthera. The Matriarch of the North was knowingly breaking the Second Mark, a forbidding of conquest and imperial machinations. The Second Mark existed to deter any single person in power to become another Aro. The Isles were fiercely dependant on each other anyhow, a sort of three-way isolationism.
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Lightning On The Horizon
FantasyA man kills without really knowing why. A century later, he tries to unravel his wrongdoings in a world changed by the same killing all those years ago. Hunted and hated at every corner, Kayden Sepherant will come face to face with old gods and an e...
