Battle of Angrath: Aftermath

High Warlock Bloodbane had the Factors and other nobility of Grakis gathered up in Nikolai's greathall. The throne sat deliberately empty. The air was quiet, the tension palpable. He had warned them that one slip of the tongue, one word spoken out of place, even one misplaced gaze would earn them punishments they would rather die than experience. They were told to kneel upon his command, to look nowhere but down unless commanded. He had already taken from them a vial of blood each, a customary practice for those in services to the Bloody Hand. Soon, The clank of metal resounded in the greathall, and Bloodbane gave the command; all the assembled nobility, even Bloodbane himself, genuflected upon that command, not daring to look up at the armor-encased titan that entered the room. This man had no need for a herald. He was feared across Eastern Keldun, the boogeyman disobedient children from Falakia to Grakis to Lin Wa are warned about. He bore a large greatsword upon his back, the thing as tall as he, the blade with which he famously won his first victory. Not a soul dared to look up at the Bloody Hand himself as he came to accept the fealty of the remaining nobles. They gave their oath to him as Bloodbane's Claws and Warlock watched, hidden from the Bloody Hand's direct presence by hidden screens in the greathall. Bloodbane had deemed it unwise for them to be openly present, as this was a formal ceremony for the Grakesian nobles that did not require their participation. Still, they had earned the right to be in the Bloody Hand's presence.   With their oaths of fealty given, the Hand took his seat upon the throne and, for the first time since his return, took off his helmet, revealing the withered face of a very old, tired man. He spoke again, delivering commands to his High Warlock.   'My personal things have arrived from the Iron Citadel. See to it that they make it here. Inform my Factors of their new duties to me as their liege lord, and of the privileges they shall retain upon fulfilling them. Find those who escaped, and bring them before me. I will accept fealty to me in exchange for their lives. If they will not give fealty, then slay them. You have done well, Warlock. This shall make a fitting capital for us.'   With his orders given, the High Warlock rose, bowed deeply, and set about his tasks. He summoned Harken, Connor, and Ferren into Nikolai's former chambers, laid bare since to prepare for the Hand's arrival.   'You have done well, all of you. I have, for each of you, rewards for your service. Ferren, for your unwavering loyalty despite your newness to our cause, I bestow upon you the title of Lady and dominion over the villages of Willowweep and Aranmoor. If you do not wish to administer them yourself, you may appoint a Fist and Warlock to do so, as is customary.'   Bloodbane gave Ferren Nikolai's crown of thorns as a symbol of her new station and rule.   'Connor, for your guile and exuberance in carrying out my wishes, I present to you this. The Nightweaver was pleased with you and saw fit to give this to you in her name. I am led to understand that this is some sort of token of your realm.'   Connor is handed a black feather supposedly taken from the cloak of the Queen of Nightmares. Connor can smell the fear radiating from it even before Bloodbane hands it to him. As he takes it, he can hear the siren call of the Queen of Nightmares, beckoning him to her realm. As to what he's supposed to do with it...that is largely left to him.   'Harken, for your unsurpassed might and long dedication, I grant you further might, that you may continue to hunt our enemies. Within this flask is contained the distilled essence of the Castle-Crusher. You are finally ready to take it whole. It is as much a test as a reward, but I have faith in you, my first Claw.'   Harken is handed a large alabaster flask, similar to others he's been handed in the past, and told that when he is ready, to imbibe all of the contents at once.   'For now, I grant you leave to rest and see to other affairs. I shall call upon you again when the Hand is ready.'   With that, he dismisses the three unsung heroes of the Battle of Angrath.   Tirrik Blackshield led a large party through the narrow tunnels leading from the old, abandoned warehouse outside of the city. Theia the healer, Ser Eagan of the Thorn, Lord Bal the former Factor, and Karakka, now High Barma-speaker, among the decimated force of Bal's Irregulars (into which, to be sure, Tirrik Blackshield was formally adopted), as well as several other former Factors and the remnant of Angrath's Ebon Thorns - they left the city upon learning that the Bloody Hand himself would be arriving to make Angrath his new capital. Ser Eagan wanted to unite his lost brothers and re-establish their Order. Karakka wanted nothing more to do with political strife, but reluctantly agreed to join them in Middlemark, Eagan's home. The dispossessed nobility wanted to take arms against the Hand again. Tirrik just wanted to get out in one piece. Ser Mattias had taken grave wounds in the battle, and was currently being carried by one of his brothers. They spent a harrowing week in the swamps before making it to Middlemark, where the refugee band was welcomed with open arms.   It was all Theia could do to keep old Ser Mattias alive, but once they reached Middlemark, he called for her assistance directly, the first time he had done so.   'Lass, ye've done for me more good than any other in m' life. Yer Light's wasted on an old man. It's time fer me t' rest an' let that boy Eagan carry on the Thorn banner. Ye watch that boy; he's our next Knight-Commander fer sure. An' tell ol' Tirrik to pour a round fer me.'   With that, Mattias succumbed to his wounds, dying with a smile on his face. Even as she performs his last rites, she knows that he is in a better place, at the side of the Lady of Light in the High Realms. The Irregulars mourned their eldest brother the only way they knew how - by drinking themselves into a stupor in Middlemark's humble tavern.   A small horde of goblins were ambushed and dispatched by the Bloody Fingers not far from Angrath. One escaped, screaming something about a trinket he'd lost.