“House Velora”

“I have decided, House Aldori bequeaths this city and its outlying regions to House Velora. The spirits will tell us what this land seeks to hide”

Outrage erupts in the throne room amongst houses Guldrun and Throka as was expected by Wendara, though it didn’t make it any less irksome.

“You’re making a mistake, Wendara, whatever secrets you hope to find with the spirits, they pale in comparison to the fruits my work would have provided” says Maruna her jagged fingernails digging into the frame of her litter, making hideous gouges in the wood.

“When the humans come to retake this city; and make no mistake, they will, I hope all these ghostly secrets will make up for the army that’s still buried out in the fields” Says Skorva, through gritted teeth, her voice bordering on the murderous as the marks along her body start to burn a dim red.

“I have made my decision and it is final, should either of you wish to expand your territory, you may conquer some land of your own” Wendara reply’s, her words cold and exacting, silencing the others.

It’s only now Elida deigns to speak, having allowed the others to vent their frustrations. “I thank you for your faith in me, Sibling, together we shall delve into the mired secrets this city and this land hold”

Wendara rises from her seat at the throne of the now defunct warden of this once resplendent city, sparing one last glance at out the grand windows of the throne room, looking upon her work, a new necropolis held tightly in the grip of ****.

“I leave for Drell, should any of you have need of me, you shall find me there” announces Wendara, making her way to the large doors of the throne room, passing her siblings as she marches in precise step with proud posture.

It had been a long campaign, marshaling forces and marching on the city, though expedited by the nature of her power, still takes a great deal of time.

Even though most desires have long since abandoned the lich queen, she still feels the longing for home as strongly as any mortal she wishes to once more look upon her realm and feel the familiar spirits of her subjects within her grasp.

An undead deprived of their masters influence for overly long begins to grow restless and defiant, some even developing rudimentary personalities, in particular, personalities that may run contrary to the wishes of their master, something Wendara cannot abide.

Walking down the steps of the keep, Wendara reaches out, spiritual tendrils winding through the streets of the city tugging at the souls of the dead, pulling the lich queens retinue from their wandering the unfamiliar streets of Satastaren, directing them back to the gates of the city.

Though faint Wendara can feel a handful of different responses due to the connection she’s established with these undead, some wish to stay, some wish to return home but it matters not, they are her subjects so they can do naught but obey, grouping up and flowing through the streets like water flowing through the many channels of a river ultimately ending in a single location, the city gates that lay open even now.

Waiting not far from the mighty gates of the city is the lich queens skeletal steed, a proud creature that stands so still one might think it merely a statue until it comes into contact with its creator.

Wendara mounts the creature, hooves clacking against the old cobbles as the march home begins, leaving the once proud city of Satastaren to its fate at the hands of her sister.

The land around Satastaren looks so different to how it had the night previous, the veil of night having lifted, casting light upon the frost covered hills of the region.

Snow collects on the beams of half constructed siege engines, the wood rotted and weathered, time and the elements having taken their due and then some. Light sparkles and bounces off of weapons and armor of every make and age, a testament to the thousands of would be conquers that have met their end beyond the cities great walls.

No doubt the cities new warden would find something strangely beautiful about this places story, all these men and women, having failed to conquer the unassailable city only to be risen from their haphazard graves all these years later and succeed, the thing they feared most was the key to their victory.

But now, this place and its ghosts were of no concern to Wendara, she had her own demesne to tend to, her own realm to scrutinize, her statement had been made, all she had to do was wait for the world to hear it, and then? Then she would be one step closer to her goal.