Imperial Investigation: The disappearance of Princess Elara

The following is a collection of documents regarding the on-going imperial investigation of the kidnapping and disappearance of @Princess Elara of Alendria .

Dispatch to the Imperial Magistrate of Alendria on the Fate of the Landons

Imperial Correspondence — Sealed Dispatch From the Office of the Chancellor @Valerius Caelum, Konigsheim To @Magistrate Jarl Gerverg, Imperial magistrate of @Alendria

Jarl Gerverg,

The matter of House Landon is concluded. King Theodor, along with his kin, was presented before His Imperial Majesty and made to renounce all claim to Alendrian sovereignty. Their words were recorded, their submission witnessed, and their lives extinguished. Such is the fate of kings who do not protect the memory of their ancient fathers.

Let it be known that the Emperor does not delight in blood. The execution of a royal house is not a gesture made lightly. It was necessity, not wrath, that guided His hand. And it was Alendria’s failure to secure its own princess that made such necessity unavoidable.

Princess Elara’s absence at the time of surrender is a stain yet unwashed. Her whereabouts remain unknown, and that ignorance is intolerable.

You are hereby instructed to exert every resource at your disposal to recover the princess, should she have returned to Alendrian soil. If she lives, she must be found. If she has perished, proof must be procured. Rumor will not suffice. The Emperor requires certainty.

Let no ambiguity remain. The empire has no patience for ghosts.

—V.C.

Deposition: Conversation Between Sir Alaric and Sir Lorenz (Post-Capture of Sphaira)

Location: Outer courtyard, Sphaira

Parties: @Sir Alaric Rochefort, @Sir Lorenz Rochefort , Squire Halbrecht (Witness)

Date: 3rd day following capture

Witness: Squire Halbrecht

Transcript:

Sir Alaric: (Reviewing report) The skirmishes outside the eastern gate were brief, but not without cost. Alendria scraped together what they could.

Squire Halbrecht: Yes, my lord. The last of the wounded have been accounted for.

Sir Alaric: Good. Ensure the magistrate receives the tally.

(Alaric’s gaze lingers on the old city walls.)

Sir Lorenz: (Approaching) By the gods, this heat is a punishment. And the dust—look at my sabatons. Caked like a peasant’s boots.

Sir Alaric: We’re not finished here.

Sir Lorenz: Let a magistrate sort it. We’re knights, Alaric. Rocheforts. We have better things to do than count corpses and broken spears.

Sir Alaric: It’s our duty.

Sir Lorenz: (Sighs) Well, I’ve learned of a new task. Just as horrid, but it might get us home quicker.

Sir Alaric: What task?

Sir Lorenz: Rumor has it some of the western battalions negotiated safe passage through goblin territory… along with other dealings with the foul creatures, only the whispers know quite what… Anyway, the goblins bear no love for the King of Alendria. They offered gold and safe return—on one condition.

Sir Alaric: What condition?

Sir Lorenz: Their goblin "King" wants Theodor of Landon's most valued possession. His daughter, the Princess Elara.

Sir Alaric: (Pauses) She’s a noble.

Sir Lorenz: I know, it’s so horrid and uncivilized. The base machinations of the those creatures is a scandal to ears of men of worth. But, it is a shame the former regent neglected his duty and failed to protect what remained of his legacy. Now she is a wretched crownless girl. Such is fate.

Sir Alaric: I’ll apply to Lord Otto and to Konigsheim for a proper resolution. This is out of order.

Sir Lorenz: ... I’d advise against it. I know on good authority her transfer was commanded by a noble of ... great value. Making noise about it would be... well... Far more trouble than than a slave girl. Your career is just beginning. And could you imagine the scene in Konigsheim if my name were scandalized in some story about my brother pitying the spawn of an utterly immoral man.

Sir Alaric: (Silent)

Sir Lorenz: Look. We ought to serve The Cause. Duty, right? Close accounts and forget about it. The world turns, Alaric. And society waits. We'll leave at dawn, deliver her, return at dusk and all this business will be done.

End of Transcript

Deposition: Witness Account of Princess Elara's Abduction

Location: Goblin Kingdom, Outer Hall
Date: Day of Transfer
Witness: Unnamed Hesan Sentry

Transcript:

The princess arrived atop a wagon, flanked by a troup of Hesan guards. Around us, goblins reveled—drunk on their own noise, their own spectacle. Their king, Grimzog, had made a parade of it. He hadn’t fought in the war, but he celebrated like a conqueror.

A knight of some consequence—red armor, tall, quiet—approached the wagon. He offered his hand to the princess. She hesitated. She appeared to grab something from the wagon. He offered his hand again and spoke to her. I couldn’t hear all the words, but I caught his tone. He said something like, "Is it your preference to present yourself to your new master unguarded?"

She looked around. The goblins were leering, laughing, clapping their claws. She took the knight's hand.

They walked slowly toward the hall. The goblins parted, still jeering. The knight kept his eyes forward.

Just before the stairs, he stopped. He said something to her—I couldn’t hear it. She looked confused. Then he pointed to a horse.

She mounted. He followed.

Then—crack. A sound like the sky splitting. The crowd gasped.

They were gone.

End of Transcript