Broken Mask

The Black Jester eventually finds his way back to Silvayne Manor and summons the Trionfi. However, he knows now that whatever happened was not to his brother’s plan. There are few Trionfi in that remained at the Manor. Most were awaiting the call from the Lord of Faces. The Trionfi that made it out of the Ruined Keep inform Donofrey that his brother never came back. With no word after two weeks, he believes Malkum to be dead. Donofrey feels an undetermined sense of relief and knows now that the Trionfi are his. The resources of his brother are his. Donofrey will attack Selene outright and take the throne of Veiland not for power and not to start a war. He will do this in an effort to reach Aletheia, in the hopes that she will see his passion and devotion for her. Donofrey summons all remaining Trionfi to the Manor and moves forward with the production of weaponry for the coming battle.

Over the next two and a half months, preparations are made for the coming battle with Selene. Little by little Trionfi begin to arrive at the manor from around the country, including Meridian and Istoria. The Lord of Faces had appealed to certain people’s xenophobia toward the Emerald King which was why there were Trionfi scattered around the kingdoms. This was coupled by the fact that most Trionfi were previously knights of Meridian called Axis Cruciger that did not wish to serve a foreign lord. Donofrey cared not for such things but did require the Trionfi’s service.

The Black Jester required the development of more weapons and sent the Trionfi to find smiths and craftsmen to create the weaponry. Some joined the Trionfi, but those that did not were abducted and coerced through threat of force. It was then that Donofrey found learned of an inventor named Owen Mithose. Mithose was once involved in the development of a new type of rapid fire Ballista. The design would not work at the time but Donofrey was confident that Mithose could make it work. Donofrey sent the Trionfi to bring the inventor to him. Owen Mithose was the father of the Lunar Guardian, Michael Mithose. The inventor was well known around Ophelia and Donofrey threatened Owen with the safety of his two daughters. The Jester did not know them, but knew that the Trionfi could locate them if he asked. Donofrey would require Owen to rework the design as well as head the development of the other large scale weaponry at the Manor. Mithose had no choice but to work for Donofrey, though neither he nor Donofrey knew that Owen’s daughter began to search for their missing father.

After the incident with Aletheia, the Black Jester was becoming increasingly manic over his diamond affliction as well and sought the help of clerics in Ophelia. There were none who could help him, but he learned from Owen Mithose that there was a priest near Selene that was considered the father of Champions. Father Basildes was involved with the creation of the term and concept of the High Champion and why Champions in general are not feared. Donofrey believed that this priest could keep his diamond affliction from spreading. He sends the Trionfi to find the priest.

WANING CRESCENT

Several months pass and the Black Jester continues amassing Trionfi mercenaries and weapons to take Selene. One night, the Black Jester brings Owen Mithose into the library of Silvayne Manor to discuss their current progress. Owen is not confident that they will be finished with preparations before the Winter. Donofrey is convinced that the inventor is sabotaging their progress. He is becoming paranoid and increasingly unhinged because of his affliction. Owen assures him that they are working around the clock. The Jester threatens Owen with the safety of his daughters who had last been seen in Selene attending the Lunar Guardian’ funeral procession. Owen abides to work harder.

Donofrey believes him, as he has come to the realization that it may be the men themselves who are hindering progress. He fears that their confidence in their cause has wavered. It is true that with news of the death of the Lord of Faces, the full force of loyal Trionfi has decreased somewhat. It is clear that some of the Trionfi from outside of Veiland have no intention of heeding the call to assemble at Silvayne Manor. This includes a rogue Trionfi Champion that is now going by the moniker of the Warlock and is terrorizing the countryside.

Although Donofrey does not inspire the same loyalty that his brother had, he still has a significant force gathering at Silvayne Manor and the surrounding area. Regardless of the strength of his mercenary force, Donofrey is confident that they can take Selene. Their High Champion is gone and they have no protector. The Trionfi have been sowing discourse throughout the kingdom by spreading the word that the Lunar Guardian was killed. There is also word that nearly a quarter of the Crescent Shield has gone south for unknown reasons. Donofrey is confident that he can take Selene. However, the idea of taking over Selene is actually something that he only claims so that his men will follow him. But that is not his true motive.

The Black Jester knows that he can take the city himself if he wanted. No sword can pierce him. Only Aletheia is capable of harming him. Donofrey desires her acceptance of him above all else. The Black Jester intends to be with Aletheia but in his mind she must choose him. He cannot take Selene himself if he wishes for her to see who he is. He must show her what he is capable of. He must be able to inspire and command. He must show her that he is capable of being Selene’s Champion. The Black Jester will move to take Selene and take the city by force if need be. Only then will be deserving of Aletheia in her eyes. Only then will she want him as he wants her. The Black Jester does not realize that in that moment, Aletheia was watching him from above the library.

The princess and the Mithose sisters had come to Silvayne Manor. Only minutes prior had they rescued the priest Basildes from a Trionfi duo that had just brought him to the Manor. They now found themselves in a dangerous situation with Trionfi lurking about the Manor and the Black Jester alive and in command.

WAXING CRESCENT

Aletheia and Basildes watch as Donofrey is telling Owen that he is growing tired of his excuses. The Black Jester begins to talk about the production of weapons that Owen has been overseeing but Owen pleads that the time frame is impossible. Donofrey reminds Owen that he has delivered so much where the other scholars had failed. He was able to modify the ballistas as he was instructed so he has faith in his skills and simply needs him to work faster in building the larger weapons. Owen pleads that even Gilkum had let him rest but Donofrey cuts him short telling him to be careful and not to mention him again.

Aletheia whispers to Basildes about the situation, that she knows the Jester and his role in her kidnapping almost a month ago. She states that him being alive makes their current situation even more dangerous than it already was.

Below them, there is silence as Donofrey looks at his hand. His first to fingers are completely diamon. He asks Francis if he has ever felt true pain. He turns and faces Francis. He then details how difficult and tiring it was to claw his way out of the Ruined Keep. He then places his hand around Francis' neck gingerly. A guard enters and apologizes for interrupting. Donofrey lets go of his neck and asks the soldier if the Trionfi have returned with the priest. The soldier then states that he came to tell Donofrey that there is a cart and horses at the front of the manner but the two members did not check in when they returned. Aletheia and Basildes look at each other.

Donofrey is silent but he turns back to Francis. He relents and taps his face as he states that Francis can rest for now but will continue in the morning. He states that they will move on Selene before Winter. Francis complies in exhaustion and Donofrey tells the guard to take him back to the stables for now. Aletheia and Basildes watch as Donofrey leaves towards the entrance of the Manor.

Aletheia anxiously states that they have to warn Selene. Not only is it unprepared for an attack but the Black Jester is extremely dangerous. Basildes tells her that he can send a message if they can return to the Monos Cathedral. He suggests that they need to find her friends and leave now. Aletheia agrees and the two follow the guard that took Francis Firenne. They head outside and over a bridge that leads to the balcony of the stables.

The Trionfi mercenary opens the door to the stables and finds Morgana and Susanna freeing the other captives. He draws his sword and Susanna picks up her spear but Aletheia comes up from behind and knocks him out. There is a short reunion as Francis hugs his daughters. Morgana is glad Aletheia and Basildes are alright and Susanna urges them all to hurry. They still need to escape.

Basildes helps some of the injured captives and asks if they were all kidnapped. Francis looks down as he explains that he is the only one left of the abducted scholars. One of the others prisoners states that they are residents of the Manor who had served Velu of Charis. Aletheia asks where Velu is and they explain that a man named Malkum Greve had assumed his identity to overtake the Manor. After that he began to assemble the weapons with the group called the Trionfi. He had killed the real Velu before he and the Jester left over two months ago. Only the Jester returned and has begun assembling the full force of the Trionfi.

Morgana says it looks like they are preparing for an attack and shows her the courtyard through the window where she sees artillery and ballista loaded onto carts. Aletheia tells them the Trionfi intend to attack Selene as soon as the remaining Trionfi arrive. They intend to do so before Winter. Susanna says that they better leave now before more soldiers come. The stables are locked so they must head back the way they came. Susanna takes point ahead of them and they all leave the stables.

They begin to head back down the bridge as two soldiers come through the doors. Immediately Susanna attacks and takes down one with her spear. The other draws his sword and retaliates but Susanna forces him back and holds him against the wall. She calls out to her friends to move past and Basildes leads them over the bridge and into a hallway. He opens a door to the balcony and the courtyard below where the horse and cart sit next the manor.

Basildes jumps down to the cart and helps the other seven do the same. Morgana, Francis and Aletheia move past Susanna as she continues to fights the mercenary. He attacks her and she rolls back, sending him flying out the window to the courtyard below.

Francis and Morgana makes it to the balcony and jumps down to the cart. Aletheia follows when the door near her bursts open and knocks her back. Three Trionfi stand between them and the balcony. The one in front is the same one that Aletheia knocked out earlier. Susanna gets in front of her and they retreat back to the bridge.The three guards block their way and unsheathe their weapons. Morgana sees them from below and frantically shouts that she needs to help them but Francis protests.

Susanna and Aletheia are cut off in the hallway as the Trionfi approach. The two women begin to move back when Susanna sees something from the window, making her eyes widen. She grabs Aletheia and wrenches her to the floor as fast as she can. Just then, large steel bolts shatter the windows and pierce the wood, splintering the bridge. A sound like deafening thunder is heard as the bolts tear through the bridge and break it in half. Morgana and the others look on in horror as the metal bolts clang away from the splintering wood. The volley of arrows stops and the structure collapses, dropping Susanna and Aletheia into the cobblestone below. Several struts of the arched bridge fall into the door of the stables, bashing it open.

Morgana tells Basildes to take the cart and wait for them at the entrance to the manor. She tells Francis to go with them and he says to hell with that, he will go with her. Basildes asks her what she will do and she is silent as she looks back toward the broken doorway to the stables.

Beneath the Veil

Aletheia and Susanna recover and pick themselves up from the fall. Dust swirls about and there is debris and splintered wood strewn about. Susanna holds her arm and Aletheia sees that it is bleeding, but she has to stop herself from touching her skin. Susanna looks up to see what happened.

Donofrey had been firing the metal arrows from one of the ballista on the field. He seems impressed as he gets off of the Ballista and begins praising the machine aloud. He claims Francis has outdone himself and addresses the Trionfi, who have begun to gather on the deck in front of him. He tells them that this ballista is Firenne's design, the Polybolos. The three other Trionfi that were in the collapsed hallway, had picked themselves up and address Lord Donofrey. One soldier is shaken and asks if Donofrey meant to fire on them.

Donofrey says that of course he didn't. He feigns concern and asks them if they are alright as he walks up the steps to the deck. Before any of them can answer he immediately tells them to bring him the meddling little mice that have been sneaking around manor. Susanna helps Aletheia up and they move away from the debris as the dust settles. Aletheia's hood is caught in the rubble and rips off as she stands. Donofrey sees this and shouts at everyone to stop. He seems agitated and tells them that this is the Princess of Selene. He then asks if Aletheia is alright, truly concerned with her wellbeing. He asks his men why they didn't tell him the Princess of Veiland had come. He begins to move toward Aletheia.

Susanna holds her spear up and commands him to stay away. Donofrey apologizes and claims that he does not want to harm the Princess. He addresses her directly, citing how happy he is to see her. Donofrey says that he wanted to thank her first hand when he takes Selene but he is glad to do it now. Aletheia is confused and asks what he has to thank her for. The Jester claims that she has seen the face under his mask. She touched him and it meant something. She has opened his eyes and set him free.  Aletheia looks disturbed and tells him that he is mad. Donefrey stops walking and stands in front of her. He then tells her that he is only madly in love with her.

Susanna has had enough and lunges forward with her spear. Aletheia yells for her to stop but the spear hits, stabbing Donofrey in the chest. He doesn't move and the spear tip didn't pierce him. Susanna is shocked that the strike did nothing. Donofrey flings his fist and hits Susanna once in the stomach and once across the face. She falls back, badly hurt and Aletheia runs to her. She pleads for him to let Susanna go.

Donofrey pulls off his glove and looks at his diamond hand. He says that he loves her and states that she made him feel something that he has never felt before. He hasn't been the same since. He says it pierced his heart like an arrow.

At this, a Trionfi calls out and Donofrey turns as a metal bolt hits Donofrey in the chest. The force sends him flying into the Manor through a window. The other Trionfi dive out of the way as more arrows begin to fly past, smashing through the windows and walls of the manor. Francis was the one who had moved to the Polybolos and begun firing at the Manor. Morgana rides up with two horses. Aletheia helps Susanna get on the horse before mounting the other. Another volley of metal flys above them, sending the Trionfi to the ground and taking shelter back in the Manor.

The girls ride off toward the steps to the deck to see Francis has tied a rope around the crank of the Polybolos. The other end of the rope is tied to the horn of the saddle of a horse. Francis slaps the butt of the horse, sending it away, and pulling the crank. Francis mounts another horse as rope pulls the crank, continuing to fire on the Trionfi. The group then jumps the wreckage of the bridge and continues to the front of the Manor. As they ride away from Silvayne Manor, Aletheia looks back to see Donofrey coming out from the front door, breathing heavily. He stands there watching and sees the horses running off into the distance as the sun is rises.

Fallen Selene

After Alethea and the sisters escape with the prisoners, Donfrey and the Trionfi reassemble and take stock of the damage. The Polybolos attack laid waste to the Manor but few were injured. It was an effective demonstration of the power of the Polybolos. Donofrey is now without Francis Firenne and effectively can make no more weaponry for the coming battle. The Black Jester decides that he can delay the attack no longer and commands The Trionfi to make the necessary preparations. They will attack Selene with their current force.

Donofrey feels even stronger for Aletheia but now knows that he will have to take Selene by force for her to be with him, but he worries now that would cause a wedge between them. However, if he were to use Selene as a bargaining chip, perhaps she would be with him if it meant the safety of her people. Donofrey’s derangement is almost complete as he no longer feels that she will be him of her own choice. He will have to take her.

END OF WANING CRESCENT ARC

• See Malkum Greve