The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Episode 4 and final chapter of the Artonian saga

I remember the fire and smoke. The burning of the castle and the imperial army storming our walls. The great golden banners with black lions in fire. I remember fleeing the castle, my home. The flight east to Mortumbia across the sea. Ten knights joined me. The sons of other lords and knights fallen in battle. We had lost everything. No people where left to join us. No hope to reclaim our homeland. The flame of the north, Costan II Bloodfire took everything I had. My father was killed by him and we lost everything. It has been 50 years but I remember like it was yesterday. I have lived my life with the intent to survive and work for the survival of house Blackstone. I am James VI Blackstone, last king of Artonia and head of my house. I married to an eastern Princess from Mortumbia and we had six sons. All of them had daughters that married and had died by now. My wife is dead as well.

I have heard news from the west in Artonia. After his conquest of Artonia, Costan II the flame of the north ruled for 20 years with an iron fist until he got captured by Artonian rebels while hunting. They took vengeance and burned him alive, quite ironic actually. There where three heirs: Costan the foul, Brindic the strong and Theobald the cripple. Costan became Emperor as Costan III however he was an evil and horrible man and his brothers desired the throne. Each declared themselves emperor. Costan rules the north,Brindic the southwest and Theobald the southeast and the smallest region. The next thirty years the civil war raged across the continent. Thousands died and the war ruined the great Northern Empire. Last year Theobald proposed peace and then poisoned his brothers in a meeting for peace. Theobald the Cripple was now sole emperor however the empire was ruined and his armies had crumbled. And Theobald was hated for his wicked nature. In Artonia the nobility had sworn allegiance to the empire after the conquest but now they desired vengeance.

I still could not believe it. The day had come when I would return. Old I may be now but return I did.

I met 10 knights who returned with me. two where old like me the others where the children of the others. The journey now was better and faster. The winds where at our side today. I was never a warrior and I still was not however I had become cunning. I learned cunning. After a long journey we came ashore near Artorius castle, the old capital. The castle had been rebuild from the ruins. A army of forty thousand sat outside the walls with the golden banner with a black lion on it. It was the first time in fifty years I saw that flag. It brought a tear to my eye. My arrival was met with great rejoice from the army. They where led by houses who once served house Blackstone and me. The imperial garrison at the castle looked scared. I walked to the gates of my former home and called for a meeting with their commander. He was an old and hard goat though still younger then me. The commander eagerly joined my army for becoming a lord.

Then I saw the most amazing thing I had ever seen. The golden banners with the black lions where raised above the castle. All great lords and leaders where present when I entered the throne room and took a seat on the ancient throne of Artoria. The moment brought tears to my eyes. I had returned.

The next moment I send a decree across Artoria that all imperials wishing to join us would be pardoned and allowed to serve us. In a month all of Artoria had been reclaimed. Lucky for me was that nobody liked Theobald the cripple. He was a a bad leader but a cunning bastard. Now the next affair came. Emperor Theobald had arrived to retake Artoria with an army sixty thousand strong. While The empire was in decline their armies despite having been reduced still were the feared conquering army of the Flame of the north.

At the borders we met. My heart was struggling. Too much action for my old heart yet I pushed on anyway. Before us stood the feared heaviliy armed forces of the Northern Empire lead by Emperor Theobald the cripple himself. He was no real cripple in truth but everyone called him that anyway due to that he crippled someone once and rumors about that thought he was crippled instead of the victim. Our army led them into a trap. Theobald was a intelligent man but a poor general. We broke a nearby dam and all the water swallowed the entire imperial army whole. Theobald nearly drowned but we fished him and the survivors out of the water. I personally in front of everyone beheaded him like his father beheaded mine. Then I collapsed.

I awakend in the royal chambers in Artorius Castle, a priest was standing next to me. I was dying. I already had known back in the east but I fought onward anyway to reclaim the throne but it was too much for my heart. I needed an heir. I sent a decree across the whole world for people to come to me and answer a question.

The question was simple: What does strength mean to you?
Many came and all gave answers simular to: strength is the key to power.
The last gave a good answer: Strength is what you use to make your dreams reality.
Her name was Alitia Twinbow and she was the only person who visited who also was a descendant of mine. She was the last relative of mine still alive. Just 15 years old and my great granddaughter at that. Her mother was a bastard of my eldest son. And so I named her my heir and successor.

I gave her the crown and smiled. The young girl was very bold but sweet. She reminded me of my grandfather the Saviour king. Then I closed my eyes to rest. I am so tired. Finally I can rest. And deserved it I have. The Northern empire had fallen. I heard that the north is divided in petty kingdoms warring among themselves. Alitia I Twinbow, she will be the first queen of a new dynasty but for me and house Blackstone it is time to pass in to the history books.
Now I can feel the strength leaving me and I feel so very cold. And then I saw my wife and my brother and father and grandfather, all proud of me.