Duke Herald Ebonriver's estate stood tall against the night sky, its towering spires and beautifully carved stone walls bathed in the soft glow of moonlight.
The gentle rustle of leaves and distant hoots of owls were the only sounds accompanying the quiet stillness of the night.
Inside the manor, in one of its chambers, a long table dominated the room, its polished mahogany surface gleaming under the golden light of the chandelier above.
Crimson drapes framed the tall windows, shielding the discussions within from any… curious eyes.
Seated around the table were Duke Herald Ebonriver, Lord Damarion Calder, Lady Morwen Ralford, Lord Adrian Velmont, and Grand Vizier Cedric Raine.
Alongside them sat the knight commanders who had been relieved of their positions: Jareth, known as the Thunder's Wrath; Serilda, the Blade of Frost; Dagon, the Iron Colossus; Freya, the Crimson Huntress; and, of course, Malrik, the Shadow Reaper.
