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 Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:13 pm
 BackgroundFaustus was born from the spiteful womb of his mother Annika who didn’t love him, and raised by his father Aldrecht the Bloodrage who doubted his prowess when he fell ill in young age. He was nearly completely bedridden for a year and nobody thought that he would be salvageable. But on his sixth birthday when his father showed him that he had acquired a horse just for young Faustus, he was told that he could not keep it unless he rose from his bed and mounted the beast. The boy did that and from then on has tried hard to never again fall into the clutches of violent illness. Though his body still has signs from the way the sickness ravaged his body. He then was given into travel. His father decided that such a thin boy couldn’t be of much help in war, so send him off to serve as a ward(hostage) to make alliances with various Germanic tribes. It was here that the young man obtained his interest in things that would hardly be considered Christian. He found the idea of the old religions quickly being forgotten. To Wodan, Teiwaz, and many other gods did he witness both sacrifice and offerings. Though he does not worship such gods, his interest in the ideas of the occult grew as he found it was not harbored in his land but all religions spoke of great power through secret means. It was during his time a Ward that he was married. His wife was a wild tribeswomen from a peoples not yet to be driven into Christianity. Having sent many men away with their might with spear and sword for trying to alter their worldviews. Though they are now non-existent due to their actions against the church the Terubi forced Faustus into marriage with Reinhilde. He has since come to love her fiercely but his followers have come to fear he may be too influenced by her ways. After the marriage his father forced him home, furious that such a union occurred without his consent, having already married off his sister to a useless station in Rome. The circumstances of Aldrecht’s death have been questioned for time and time again. Annika the duchess had apparently been rather weak of the heart and passed away at a young age. Aldrecht, while saddened by her passing did not seem to be sickened by it. Nevertheless but a few short weeks later, he passed on quietly. Not much was said about the whole affair. Several doctors were called one afternoon, all left bearings sad news, that the king had died of natural causes. Though some people thought to point fingers at the son. The accusations died away right when it seemed like the masses were going to rise. Now Faustus rules with a firm grip, his wife and daughter at his side. He treats his people fairly well. While he rules with a strong hand, he has not let his power go to his head. Still, rumors circulate that horrible things happen deep within the bowels of his castle at night. Unspeakable unknown things that cause screams and moans to echo down the stone hallways and into the night. Though, this could simply be hearsay.
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Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:29 pm
Major Players
Name: Faustus of House Alderkind
Appearance: The Duke is a tall, mildly gaunt man that hints to some sort of sickness in early life. His hair is thick and dark brown, falling to his shoulders in wavy strands. He has a thin long nose, but otherwise a rather handsome face. He stands with very good posture and is usually clothed rather extravagantly. His hands are long, his fingers are thin. His flesh is a mildly tan color, as he spends much time relaxing in the sun.
Possible Nicknames: The Questionable
Title(s): Duke of Swabia
Year Of Birth: Year 879 (32 years old)
Gender: Male
Personality: He is a respectable, intellectual man. The duke always tries to be courteous to his fellow man. He is never afraid to stand up for his own view but at the same time knows when to quit the field. His interests are what have given his title. Rumors circulate about his darker nature behind closed doors.
Name: Reinhilde of House Alderkind
Appearance: She is short but has very nice proportions. Her hair is a deep red and her eyes are green as the grass. She has full red lips and a rather flawless complexion. She was held in high esteem for her beauty and battle prowess with her peoples.
Possible Nicknames: The Defiant
Title(s): Duchess of Swabia
Year Of Birth: 881 (30 years old)
Gender: Female
Personality: She is not used to the royal life, but over the years has learned it very well. She still sometimes speaks out of turn, and is fierce with anyone who dares disagree with her, hence her nickname. Though she is not educated in the ways of the world she is wise beyond her years considering her tribal upbringing.
Name: Ariane of House Alderkind
Appearance: The girl is small and slender and promises to be a beautiful woman one day. She has a auburn hair color and her eyes are between her mother and fathers, a blue-green color.
Possible Nicknames: N/A
Title(s): Heir-apparent of the Duke of Swabia
Year Of Birth: 901 (10 years old)
Gender: Female
Personality: She is quiet and very mindful of her father, she looks up to her mother's ferocity. She attends most political matters with her parents, as it is believed that Faustus is impotent and will not conceive a son. She is intelligent. But is still a young girl.
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Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:31 pm
The Lesser Folk
Coming Soon!
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:04 pm
Faustus frowned at his wife. And shook his head.
“You were not there wife. I know what your tribe believed, but in case you haven’t realized they have all died for their ways. You and our daughter are the last of their blood. Such chaos would surely reign blood across all the duchies.”
His wife nodded, her red ringlets of hair shaking around her flawless face. Then smiled her beautiful smile and responded.
“My people died for their ways. It is true. But that is more of a compliment then anything. To conform to ways you do not believe in makes you a slave to them. You should have challenged the man to a fight to the death and taken off his head. “
Faustus simply shook his head. His wife stepped forward and embraced his thin form, resting her head on his chest.
“You could have beaten him my husband. Nobody in the courts have seen you fight. Nobody knows that you had to best me in combat before you could take my hand. You chose a life with me over death by my father’s hand. The man is arrogant, but is also a selfish viper that the world could do without. Surely he would underestimate you.”
Faustus was not sure he could best Guntram in battle. He was a skilled fighter, driven by all the doubt his parents had for him to become better and better. He wanted to prove to the world that he was not weak. He did very well with a blade. Nevertheless it was impossible to gauge a man’s battle prowess unless you actually meet him in combat. He agreed with his wife’s idea that the world would do better without Guntram. Nevertheless he still didn’t think that violence in this would have been the answer.
“I did what I thought was necessary. I do not want people to die over this. I have little support in the courts over matters of which I had no control.”
She looked up to him.
“You did. You could have just died.”
He scowled down at her. Looking deep into her green eyes. Finding his face soften by the pure beauty of her. Realizing that no matter what, she would always have that savage part of her. He was sure that something of it also dwells within his daughter. He smiled.
“What can I say wife? Die, or obtain the most beautiful savage in all the lands? The latter sounds much more intriguing. No matter what the squabbling fools say. By God no matter what happens from this point I hold no regrets.”
Reinhilde shied away at the mention of God. She was slowly learning, but completely changing your beliefs about the cosmos, morals, and rituals was a difficult thing. To her it all seemed to make the world seem much more difficult than it needed to be, and much darker. Nevertheless she understood that it could bring the hammer of the church upon the both of them if she did not make an extreme effort.
“What are your plans now my husband?” she asked.
“Think. No decision should be made easily.”
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Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:09 pm
Faustus was sitting with his daughter discussing with her the importance of not letting other people know what you are thinking. How one can never know when someone is going to be secretly working against you and knowing what you think would put you at a disadvantage. So, at least in public, one should hide their emotions. Stay strong, and sometimes it is okay to bend rather than break, so that later you can swing back and crush the opposition. People did not fear him. But that would make them all underestimate him as well. It was then that there was a knock on the door so Faustus sent his daughter out. Smiling as he watched her go. She looked so much like her mother, and yet so more civilized. She was only ten, but he knew that with the wisdom and beauty she had already acquired she would makes someone a great wife someday.
Helmut, Faustus’s favorite courtier came into the chamber as his daughter left. His face was pale and slick with sweat. The Duke automatically knew that something was wrong and rose. “What is it? What has you so distraught?”
“It’s your cousin Erland sire. He has been murdered!”
Rage rushed into Faustus even quicker than the shock. Erland was a first cousin of his. Always a promising young lad and if Faustus had died when he was younger it would have been Erland in his seat more like than not. He was a strong, levelheaded man, one who was a natural at horsemanship and combat. He also knew that the man was good at putting away vast amounts of wine, but he recently had stopped that habit so Faustus doubted that contributed to the crime. He lived in a large estate, but it was heavily guarded, the knowledge of how he could have possibly been murdered was out of the dukes reach.
“How?’ he asked morosely.
“We are not sure exactly sire. He was found in his chambers this very morning when one of his servants went to go check on him when he did not make an appearance for breakfast. His throat was cut, and there were countless stab wounds to his chest. It was apparently a very gruesome sight.”
“My God!” Faustus whispered.
“That is not all sire, they found this placed on his corpse.”
Helmut produced a black raven’s feather from his satchel and Faustus’s rage doubled. A thousand curses ran through his head. All of them pointing towards the object of his constant annoyance. Guntram. If he didn’t know better, he wouldn’t waste any time in rounding up the troops to march onward to Saxony to stick the man’s head on a pike or die trying. But Faustus was no fool. Instead, he decided to write a letter to all the other dukes, and the newly appointed king.
My Lords,
A tragedy has occurred recently for the house of Alderkind. My cousin Erland was found murdered in his residence. The most disconcerting piece of information about the occurrence is that there was a black raven’s feather placed upon the corpse. I am not going to point any fingers in this. I am going to play the trusting Duke and assume that it is someone trying to stir up turmoil for unknown reasons. If anyone has any information leading to the capture of the man responsible for the death of a member of the Alderkind family, it would be greatly appreciated. I do not mean to let this act to go unpunished. I have sent this to all who would need to know this information. Thank you for your time, and watch your backs. There may be knifes in the shadows for us all.
Faustus of House Alderkind
Duke of Swabia.
He sealed the letters and handed them to Helmut. Then began preparations to go see his cousins body and prepare for a funeral.
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 4:24 pm
A letter has arrived.
To the Lords of the Lands and my Friends,
I understand that a Tragedy has occurred for the house of Alderkind, and there is much that seems to be unsaid in what has happened. In a weeks time I will be holding a meeting between all the parties necessary for the talks of what has happened, I invite you all to my home and look forwards to seeing you all once again.
King Radulf.
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