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Journals & Backgrounds / Re: Manon's Journal
« Last post by Fiverine on April 04, 2024, 10:31:47 pm »Today was my formal presentation back to the family. We did the ceremony before breakfast. It wasn't bad so much as creepy and strange. These aren't quite the people I left behind those years ago. I immediately caused a problem by refusing to wear the body-crushing armour and surcoat I'd been provided with. The armourer and tailor both had to improvise. I was quite happy with the result but my father's dropped jaw when I entered the hall indicated he was not. I bowed, as is expected. Even after my absence I'm still quite adept at going through these motions without feeling a thing.
Father hugged me with a manic intensity that frightened me. He welcomed me back, then spluttered into loud outrage about my weight and "disgraceful" custom livery. Mother's hug was stiff, but warm. I could tell the poor woman actually was glad to have me back. Valentin was the happiest to see me, however. He began rattling off everything he'd learned in numismatics while I was away, at least until father barked at him to shut up. The twins just watched the whole scene without saying a word. Merely nodding at my greeting, they both perched in their chairs with their arms folded. To me they looked like a pair of praying mantises waiting to strike. The only words I heard them speak was a quiet argument between them about who has slain the most ogres this week. Father continued to grumble about my appearance and twitch nervously throughout breakfast.
Then mother took over and and updated me on the situation. House Sadardiel was indeed the only remaining noble estate at Lake Vyctoria. The increasing frequency and intensity of ogre raids drove everyone else away. With no other holdings my parents have agreed to stay here to the bitter end. Many of our retainers have been killed or wounded over the years of my absence, including a few of my cousins. But the heaviest blow was the recent loss of Nael. He was leading the defence against an ogre raid and became separated from his lifeguard. He was overpowered and subdued. Rather than continue the battle, the ogres then unusually withdrew with their prize. Father is convinced that Nael is still alive and that any day we will receive a ransom demand. Mother did not disagree but I could tell from her grief-lined face she suspects he is dead. Ogres generally carry people away only to eat them later so she is probably right.
Though I've barely arrived, I was then given weighty tasks. Using the skills that Druon taught me I am to investigate a labyrinth near our estate. Some of our plantation workers disappeared in there recently and I am expected to venture there and learn of their fate. I was given no information about what I might face and the retainers are refusing to go in there. Unless I get some other help I will be delving in there alone. Assuming I don't die "or just make a complete arse of things like you usually do" as father put it, they want me to join the search for Nael.
Meanwhile I must make some plans of my own. This place is going to the dogs and I need to do something. The most we are likely to find of Nael will be his marrow-sucked bones, and who knows what dangers await me in this labyrinth the retainers are so deathly afraid of? I fear father will completely lose his mind if Nael is confirmed dead. Yanis or Anais are going to be made heir eventually, and I don't want to be around for that. Mother is going to work herself to death. But I'm bound by law and honour to my oaths to my family and this land, however I feel about that. There aren't any nearby noble families left with a witless son I could marry myself off to. If I just walk out I lose all the privileges that come with our title and I am certainly not giving those up. Will finding Nael fix all this? What if that is not possible?
I'm going patrolling for ogres with father, the twins and some retainers tonight. After breakfast, mother quietly warned me to watch my back saying "Leon loses his wits and discipline at the sight of an ogre now, and your brother and sister care only for their headhunting." If I am going to do anything fun or constructive around here I will need people at my side I can trust. Nael used to have his own personal retinue, and I can understand why right now. Odd too that mother called father "Leon" rather than "your father" when she spoke with me today. I'd forgotten that the servants used to gossip that she'd had an affair before I was born. Was she making a reference to that, or am I reading too much into this I wonder?
Father hugged me with a manic intensity that frightened me. He welcomed me back, then spluttered into loud outrage about my weight and "disgraceful" custom livery. Mother's hug was stiff, but warm. I could tell the poor woman actually was glad to have me back. Valentin was the happiest to see me, however. He began rattling off everything he'd learned in numismatics while I was away, at least until father barked at him to shut up. The twins just watched the whole scene without saying a word. Merely nodding at my greeting, they both perched in their chairs with their arms folded. To me they looked like a pair of praying mantises waiting to strike. The only words I heard them speak was a quiet argument between them about who has slain the most ogres this week. Father continued to grumble about my appearance and twitch nervously throughout breakfast.
Then mother took over and and updated me on the situation. House Sadardiel was indeed the only remaining noble estate at Lake Vyctoria. The increasing frequency and intensity of ogre raids drove everyone else away. With no other holdings my parents have agreed to stay here to the bitter end. Many of our retainers have been killed or wounded over the years of my absence, including a few of my cousins. But the heaviest blow was the recent loss of Nael. He was leading the defence against an ogre raid and became separated from his lifeguard. He was overpowered and subdued. Rather than continue the battle, the ogres then unusually withdrew with their prize. Father is convinced that Nael is still alive and that any day we will receive a ransom demand. Mother did not disagree but I could tell from her grief-lined face she suspects he is dead. Ogres generally carry people away only to eat them later so she is probably right.
Though I've barely arrived, I was then given weighty tasks. Using the skills that Druon taught me I am to investigate a labyrinth near our estate. Some of our plantation workers disappeared in there recently and I am expected to venture there and learn of their fate. I was given no information about what I might face and the retainers are refusing to go in there. Unless I get some other help I will be delving in there alone. Assuming I don't die "or just make a complete arse of things like you usually do" as father put it, they want me to join the search for Nael.
Meanwhile I must make some plans of my own. This place is going to the dogs and I need to do something. The most we are likely to find of Nael will be his marrow-sucked bones, and who knows what dangers await me in this labyrinth the retainers are so deathly afraid of? I fear father will completely lose his mind if Nael is confirmed dead. Yanis or Anais are going to be made heir eventually, and I don't want to be around for that. Mother is going to work herself to death. But I'm bound by law and honour to my oaths to my family and this land, however I feel about that. There aren't any nearby noble families left with a witless son I could marry myself off to. If I just walk out I lose all the privileges that come with our title and I am certainly not giving those up. Will finding Nael fix all this? What if that is not possible?
I'm going patrolling for ogres with father, the twins and some retainers tonight. After breakfast, mother quietly warned me to watch my back saying "Leon loses his wits and discipline at the sight of an ogre now, and your brother and sister care only for their headhunting." If I am going to do anything fun or constructive around here I will need people at my side I can trust. Nael used to have his own personal retinue, and I can understand why right now. Odd too that mother called father "Leon" rather than "your father" when she spoke with me today. I'd forgotten that the servants used to gossip that she'd had an affair before I was born. Was she making a reference to that, or am I reading too much into this I wonder?