"Man can rarely predict how situations would develop and unfold, and thus being adaptable and planning for most any eventuality is probably the best course of action to take in most cases, for even the best-laid plans, rarely survives its encounter with the harshness of reality itself." - Adalbert Chisholm, Chief of Staff for the Ptolodeccan army.

Palace of Bones, Tohrmutgent, Lichdom of Ptolodecca, second day of the first week of the fourth month, year 68 VA.

"You're getting better at this," Kestera said with some amusement in her voice. The elven woman sat across the hall from Aideen, who was slowly, carefully strumming a melody with the pick in her right hand on a ten-stringed lyre. "I still remember the days when you thought those were meant to be pulled instead of plucked, how time flies~"

"That was two years ago!" Aideen protested, though her hand never stopped playing the gentle melody. Éirynn and Mimia, who were also present in the hall, chuckled quietly at the exchange, as the former was practicing her "art" in which she refined pieces of bones into more refined shapes, which Mimia then took for a test drive to test the feasibility of the construct.

Ever since they talked openly three years ago, Aideen had relaxed herself a bit more, and did more things that had in all honesty always interested her, but just seemed much lower in importance before. Like learning more about history - a subject grandpa Aarin happily regaled her with, as he was a literal walking fountain of historical knowledge, having lived through many ages - or how to play music, a subject Kestera proved to be a deft tutor in.

Not that she slacked on her usual training much, as she still kept up the regimen daily. Surprisingly, having the thoughts that had troubled her the most lifted off her mind did wonders to her own mental state, and she found that she could concentrate better. Her weapon felt like an extension of her body by now, on the other hand, a physical training regime seemed to have stopped bearing fruit for her.

Perhaps it was a quirk of her unliving body, for although she had felt physical improvements over the years, they eventually plateaued and stagnated. Some testing with willing therian members of the Death's Hand had them tell her that she was as strong as they had ever seen anyone of her build, but that's about it. It seemed like a limit she couldn't do much about, and some discussion with a few other unliving who lived in Tohrmutgent seemed to just further confirm it, as they reported the same.

Since training for physical strength seemed like a dead end, she had focused on her control and skill instead, and it had brought improvements over the past couple of years. The rest of her family, and many of the older refugees, had also chosen to let go of their past by now, and rebuilt their lives here in Ptolodecca instead of pining for their homeland.

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Maebh actually married Clovis just summer last year, his persistent efforts finally gaining results. She had bluntly told him that she didn't know if she could reciprocate the feelings he showered her with, yet the half orc disciple of the Bone Lord didn't seem to mind.

The Bone Lord himself had officiated their wedding, like he had done for Éirynn and Mimia's. Aideen just felt pleased that her niece had hopefully found her own happiness, and hopefully some peace in her life, though she still maintained a strict training regime with her templars to this day.

Aideen had just started on another melody she was in the midst of learning when Drietven came into the hall they practiced in, bowed politely, then coughed to get their attention.

"Begging your pardon miladies, but his holiness has requested for your presence," announced the elven butler politely. "He mentioned that he has received some recent news you should hear of."

"Let's not keep grandpa waiting then," said Aideen as she jumped down from her perch and landed smoothly on her feet. As a group the four of them followed Drietven to the throne room.

When they arrived, they discovered that the Bone Lord wasn't alone, and that Myrddin, Diarmuid, Akeshia, Maeve, and Clovis were all present as well. Aideen looked questioningly at her brother, but he shook his head indicating that he didn't know what was up either.

"Ah, everyone is here, that is good," said grandpa Aarin from his throne, his voice far more serious than usual considering who was present. "We have some matters to… discuss."

"What is happening, master?" Mimia asked from where she stood next to Éirynn.

"I only received the news myself, so for more clarification you should ask straight from the source," replied the Bone Lord to his disciple. "Myrddin, if you please?"

"Yes, your holiness," said Myrddin as he stepped forward from his position beside the throne. The once mighty therian was somewhat stooped, with a good portion of his jet black fur losing their luster due to his advanced age, which was no surprise as to Aideen's guess he must be pushing the seventies, if not more. "At the beginning of last month, Antemeia made a general offensive towards Vitalica's domain."

Murmurs were voiced as the family conferred in worry over their fellow countrymen at the news. They stopped their speculations when Myrddin said more though.

"The offensive was focused as the southern end of Vitalica, and as of late last week, Antemeia had officially claimed the the territory that used to be old Vitalica as theirs, and proposed to redraw the borders there, which the current Vitalican council accepted in defeat," continued Myrddin as he gave his report to the gathered Fiachnas. "During the battles, we had noticed some anomalies, of turncoats suddenly switching sides, related to the commander of the Antemeian offensive there, one of their ascendants."

"Said ascendant was also made into the new general overseer of the old Vitalican territory, and on the prior suspicion, we investigated further on his background," he added, as the family kept their attention trained on him. "Our investigations… suggested that this ascendant, one Gallus Beragonys by name, might be the one responsible for the elven raid from year 47, as some elven refugees swore they saw his likeness talking with their warchief before. Given that he had turncoats in the current Vitalican army, it would also be a possibility for him to have orchestrated or aided the rebellion from year 61."

Silence filled the throne room as the family looked at each other and pondered at just what the revelation meant for them. A name to peg for their woes of late, for sure, one probably responsible for things they wanted someone to pay for.

"So there you have it, children," said the Bone Lord after Myrddin concluded his reports. "Now we should discuss what we are going to do about this news."