Chronicle - The Kidnapping of Mistress Avaria

[Ria]

First month, sixteenth day
Year Five of the Recent Awakenings

The Kidnapping of Mistress Avaria


To the Denizenry of Her Majesty's Castle Marrach;

In accordance to the will of the Lord Chamberlain, and in upholding the duties charged to me as an Assistant Chronicler, I hereby submit an account of kidnapping of Mistress Avaria, the Royal Archivist.

In the early morning hours of the fifteenth of the first month, Mistress Avaria was imprisoned against her will by denizens of Castle Marrach. The two denizens, identified as sera Namida and ser Howe, were apparently acting on the behalf of ser Ansuz.

According to Mistress Avaria, sera Namida had lured her down to the Outer Bailey library by sending her a letter, revealing that she had a new dream she wished to discuss. Apparently not unusual, Mistress Avaria agreed to meet sera Namida in the library. Upon entering the library, ser Howe closed and locked the door.

“I move[d] away from the door, because I [was] slightly wary of Howe at this point,” related the Mistress. She then asked sera Namida about the dream she had written about, so that she could leave. According to the Mistress, Namida told her that she “saw two armies on a field of battle: one led by an unknown captain, fearful to look upon in the same way Alo is; and the second, a blending of dark and light forces, led by Gareth.”

Ser Gareth, Mistress Avaria’s husband, vanished some months back in a Rememberer’s ritual.

Sera Namida stated that the dream had convinced her that she must take steps to make sure the blended army was victorious. At this time, she nodded to ser Howe, who attempted to grab the Mistress by the waist. “I was ready for a move from Howe,” revealed Mistress Avaria, “and was able to elude him for a short while. Until he took hold of my by the throat.”

While Mistress Avaria struggled with ser Howe, sera Namida pressed an ether-soaked handkerchief against Mistress Avaria’s nose and mouth, rendering the Mistress unconscious.

Mistress Avaria said she woke some time later, bound hand and foot. She listened to the two speak for some time, pretending to be unconscious. Eventually, sera Namida slapped the Mistress across the face to waken her. Sera Namida, according to the Mistress, was amused by Mistress Avaria’s lucidity and allowed her to ask some questions.

Mistress Avaria said she was told that ser Ansuz was attempting to bring ser Gareth back from wherever the ritual the Rememberer’s had held had sent him. She was being held as “leverage” against the Rememberers, to force them to hold a ritual which would achieve their goal.

“Namida told me she expected I would live to see the end of it,” related Mistress Avaria. “If the Rememberers did not cooperate, … they would have to take additional steps. At that point, Howe asked me which hand I wrote with.” The Mistress related what ser Howe said next. “He told me he didn’t want to take fingers from that hand, if he could avoid it.” Again came the handkerchief and unconsciousness.

Mistress Avaria stated that when she woke, she was in a trunk in the library. The Mistress, who is claustrophobic, was terrified. She was in the trunk “about a day and a half,” she said. During her imprisonment, ser Howe returned several times to take her from the trunk and give her food and water.

During one of these interludes, ser Howe dictated a letter to Mistress Avaria for the Rememberers. If there was no meeting to arrange their demands, said the Mistress, ser Howe dictated that they would begin to release the Mistress piece by piece, starting with her fingers. As with all the other times he had taken her from the trunk, ser Howe again drugged Mistress Avaria and placed her within, locking the lid.

Some time later, the Mistress heard the door open again. “This time claws were scrabbling across the floor,” she said. “Then I heard Johnathan’s voice, directing Elmer to find me. I heard him [Elmer] barking just beyond the trunk.” We “communicated briefly by him asking me questions and me striking the sides of the trunk in response. Then he told Elmer to stay and quickly went out again.”

The Mistress related, with some relief, “The next thing I knew, Johnathan and Janwin were helping me out of the trunk. Janwin had a master key, and had brought a crowbar just in case.” Ser Howe and sera Evayne Harper (the leader of the Rememberers) then entered. Apparently sera Evayne had refused to cooperate until the Mistress was released. The Mistress’ dagger, rings and pin were returned to her.


This chronicle will be subject to changes and corrections, as I humbly ask that the readers indicate to me through their discretion any falsehood I may have mistakenly communicated.

In service to Her Majesty Queen Vivienne, the Lord Chamberlain, the Chronicler's Office, and the Denizenry of our Gracious Queen's Realm;

Ser Darcy
Assistant Chronicler


**Note: There is a Chronicle detailing the rest of these events pending.