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The Liam Solo
Sep. 14th, 2023 12:06 pmWhen last we left them, Liam and Ulda Bordis had arrived in the town of Elecado, in the Kingdom of Lionscliff. There, they had found the home of Liam's old tutor, Master Zersis, who has become Elecado's school master. Invited in by the old man, they discovered a body inside the house.
Master Zersis was pretty blase about the corpse. He explained that a while back he accrued a debt with the Ebon Daggers, a guild of respectable assassins. They offered him a way to pay off his debt: they would send 9 apprentice assassins after him (as their Final Exam). If Master Zersis survived all 9 assassination attempts, his debt would be forgiven. The assassin he had killed earlier was the seventh.
After Liam and Ulda Bordis absorb this information, they settle into the small parlor, while Master Zersis disposes of the body. He stuffs it in a barrel in his back garden and tells them it will probably be gone before sunrise tomorrow; the Ebon Daggers are very good about cleaning up their messes.
Liam eventually explains why he's there, recounting his recent experiences with his family. Master Zersis tells him that he's taking the Diviner priest's words, "Shed your family's blood" too literally. Liam doesn't need to kill his father; he just needs to formally disavow his connection to them. This is a solution that is rarely used in Lionscliff, as it has consequences: Liam could never use his family name again, he could neve contact any of his kin, and if he returned to Lionscliff, he would be executed. (They take family very seriously in Lionscliff.) All Liam has to do is make his way to the Regent's Court, avoiding the agents of his enemies, and make a public statement disavowing his relationship and all rights, responsibilities and duties to the Family Merrik.
Liam admits that leaving Lionscliff would not be difficult for him, as he always thought that he would return to Mistgate and continue his life there.
* * * * *
So, Liam now has options. He can solve his problem by killing his father or by disowning his family. He'd prefer the former, but could probably live with the later. He also made a very telling statement that he was trying to be good, which is NOT being like his parents.
Interesting thing I just noticed; Lionscliff is a slave kingdom, but so far we haven't seen any slaves. I should probably adress that.
Master Zersis was pretty blase about the corpse. He explained that a while back he accrued a debt with the Ebon Daggers, a guild of respectable assassins. They offered him a way to pay off his debt: they would send 9 apprentice assassins after him (as their Final Exam). If Master Zersis survived all 9 assassination attempts, his debt would be forgiven. The assassin he had killed earlier was the seventh.
After Liam and Ulda Bordis absorb this information, they settle into the small parlor, while Master Zersis disposes of the body. He stuffs it in a barrel in his back garden and tells them it will probably be gone before sunrise tomorrow; the Ebon Daggers are very good about cleaning up their messes.
Liam eventually explains why he's there, recounting his recent experiences with his family. Master Zersis tells him that he's taking the Diviner priest's words, "Shed your family's blood" too literally. Liam doesn't need to kill his father; he just needs to formally disavow his connection to them. This is a solution that is rarely used in Lionscliff, as it has consequences: Liam could never use his family name again, he could neve contact any of his kin, and if he returned to Lionscliff, he would be executed. (They take family very seriously in Lionscliff.) All Liam has to do is make his way to the Regent's Court, avoiding the agents of his enemies, and make a public statement disavowing his relationship and all rights, responsibilities and duties to the Family Merrik.
Liam admits that leaving Lionscliff would not be difficult for him, as he always thought that he would return to Mistgate and continue his life there.
* * * * *
So, Liam now has options. He can solve his problem by killing his father or by disowning his family. He'd prefer the former, but could probably live with the later. He also made a very telling statement that he was trying to be good, which is NOT being like his parents.
Interesting thing I just noticed; Lionscliff is a slave kingdom, but so far we haven't seen any slaves. I should probably adress that.
