What are half-dozen executions between friends? But we’ll get to that.
Dystopia Rising New York’s March event, “Hunger and Frost,” began with the undead. An endless horde of shamblers and bursters stumbled through Requiem, first attacking a group of returning survivors making their way through town and then pouring through the streets into the Great Hall. Perhaps they were drawn to the upcoming Pallor Mortis ritual, as a Graverobber prepared to take four individuals and their anchors through the Gravemind to reclaim their lost infection. The town came together Friday night to defend the morgue as they did, and though the fight lasted for over an hour, none fell to the masses of shambling dead that night. The town went to bed Friday, mostly satisfied that their town was secure.
There was, however, one problem that most did not know: Essex Anastasia, the High Lord Executioner, had been conspicuously absent Friday night. It wasn’t until Saturday morning that rumors swirled about the reasons for this; unconfirmed reports suggested he had been kidnapped by Lupa, leader of the mysterious Nostras. She and her followers have been linked to the mysterious signals found throughout the woods over the last few months, and some whisper they were behind at least one nighttime raid, or even what happened at the Hot Zone. While these rumors remain unconfirmed, one thing seems likely: that the Nostras have returned to the Fold, looking to reclaim something they lost.
Despite this looming threat, the High Lord Executioner returned Saturday and joined with the Families of the Fold to address the immediate problem at hand: the suffering of the Bathory Sempers. Several years ago, when they first emerged from the sealed research facility at the Falls, they had struck a deal to be supported by Anton Anastasia. Unfortunately, Anton did not keep the rest of the Fold informed on the specifics of the deal, and when he disappeared after last Honor’s Fall, the Bathory found themselves in dire need of both supplies and infrastructure. The Heads of the 13 Families met with their leader, Liz Bathory, and agreed to renew the shipments and provide assistance, but the Bathory have already begun to feel the effects. This includes the presence of Ravagers, frightening killers who have succumbed to a permanent blood lust, and who took the life of at least one denizen of the Fold this past weekend. While the Bathory received a large shipment at the end of the gathering, one can expect them to require further support; which will likely mean some sort of taxation.
Finally, the trade ended not with death at the hands of zed or raiders, or even starvation or cold, but in the form of execution. Earlier in the day, a group of Final Knights performed a consecration ritual outside, a violation of the Treaty of the Fold, and were spotted by numerous members of the town, including at least one Family Head. In response, the High Lord Executioner ordered a half-dozen of them to stand before him and answer for their crimes. While two of the offenders were spared by offering a Memento in exchange for their lives, shortly after midnight, the remaining four were executed by Essex Anastasia as punishment for breaking one of the few laws Requiem has.
An execution that divided the town. The burden of taxes and support. The threat of the Nostras. All these weigh upon Requiem as winter breaks… and some remember the violence that last Spring brought.
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