Topic: The Ruinous Prince (18+)

Ruinous One

Date: 2009-08-21 14:39 EST
Ruinous Prince that is what Kanaas was marked as by the Gypsies of his old Home. And rightly so named he was for he brought sorrow and ruin whereever he did tread upon the ground. Both with no Soul and of Gypsy Blood, cursed with Gyspy Sight and a Dark spirit. Father was a rich Noble of the Land, Mother a servent Girl her blood was Half-Gypsy. Forced each night into the bed of the Nobleman, because of her beauty. Ravaged and beaten while in the Man's bed.

Knowing the signs after three months, the young girl just turned 18, the Half-Gypsy, Illiana, fled from her cruel master. And he and his men pursued her and the unborn baby growing in her womb. For you see the Nobleman, Ludwig Von Kanaas had two sons and a wife. The birth of a bastard child of Gypsy blood would ruin him. But escaped she did with child in her belly, to another land called Dementlieu. Here Illiana upon founding a Convent of the Goddess Ezra, stayed in hiding.

Six months after she arrived, Illiana had a son, upon a dark and stormy night, the Moon dark an Ill omen indeed. But little Simon was such a lovely and adorable baby nothing was thought of it. The Mother died in childbirth and Simon grew up, at first he was a good boy. That is until he started to torture and kill small animals, by the age of six. By age Ten he was playing mean tricks on the other children at the Covent's orphange. Though they would make fun of his Gypsy Blood, this would make him more infuriated.

The last straw was when he was twelve, and killed a little girl, aged only nine, she had stolen as a playful game Simon's mother's cameo brooch. Bashed little Talia's head in with a rock, blood spattred on the Cameo. The Women of the Convent saw Simon, rock in hand standing over Talia's cooling body, bleeding from her head. As they approached he fled, Fate it seemed was kind to him, for Simon found his way back to his father's Homeland, neighboring Lamordia.

On the streets of Ludendoft, Lamordia's capital, Simon became a begger and a thief. Getting in with a small gang of other street urchins, and bullying them by age thirteen. He became leader of the Shadow Rats as they were called, known for stealing from wealthy people on both street and in home. Breaking legs and accidents caused by the older boys. All this changed when in a few years, now sixteen Simon and his gang of thirty were contacted by none other then Simon's own father, Ludwig. He wanted Simon's gang to help him deal with a few of the other Nobles. In order to gang more power and land. Paid a hefty sum of gold, Simon and his gang over the next six months arranged for "accidents" and missing people.

Blackmail too was used in this deadly game played, but never did anyone suspect Simon, his boys now in their teens and all loyal to Simon. Nor did anyone suspect Ludwig, but the thing was, Simon and his boys kept tabes on Simon. For you see there was one other item Simon had, his mother stole a small portrait of Ludwig before Simon was born. Her way of revenge, for the Child to punish the Father for his Sins. And in time, Simon would collect on his Father's debt. For now, Simon would bide his time and watch and wait. Plotting against his own father and half brothers, to take what was rightfully his Birthright.

Ruinous One

Date: 2009-08-22 02:35 EST
A lesson well learned in those days, that Simon would use here on this new World. How to survive by any means needed and take what you can, when you can. Bid your time and seize on the weakness and greed of others. Thats what Simon did to take the Birthright he was denied him. First he worked on his older Half-Brother, Jakob, a fool of a young man. A Rake and Knave, that Gambled and slept with Brothel women. He acted as friend to Jakob, going to the Brothels and Gaming Dens. With help from his Shadow Rats, who had influence with said Dens of Vice, a plan was put in place. Simply to make Jakob look like a Murderer and make sure that he would be caught.

So one night, it was arranged, the poor Victim, put in place with a small payment in gold. Elisa was her name, only just eighteen winters of age, a new girl off of the streets. A blonde with hazel eyes, perfect for Jakob, she would be the bait. After making sure Jakob was well drunk and some small prodding from Simon, Jakob eyed the girl. All in place did it fall, Jakob who was known for being forceful and mean to the Girls, went up the stairs with Elisa. With a gesture from Simon two of his best Shadow Rats went to set the stage. Jakob drunk and drugged, curtosy of a Girl that was involved with the Rats, started to have his way with Elisa. The ruffing arround, the screams and a thud.

What did happen was that Jakob fell to the ground, after the drugs and drink took effect. The Girl was set upon by Simon's two assassins and killed, her gut cut open deep, blood and gore scattred about. This to make Jakob seem like a true beast. Then out the window the Assassins went, the City Guard showed up, finding a bloody knife in Jakob's hand. He was also covered in Blood, and with the scratches on his face and arms, all pointed to him. Despite who Jakob's father was, and even with the bribes Ludwig made. It was all for not, the Judge and the Jury did find Jakob guilty, and for his horrific crime he was hung at the Gallows. Three days later Jakob, Noble's son died a Commoner's Death.

Ludwig's reputation was shaken, but not ruined, not yet. Just as Simon wanted, he wanted the old man to suffer first. With Jakob's death, Simon ingratiated himself to the ailing Ludwig. So distraught was Ludwig, he made Simon a close confident, and named the young Simon, now only 17 years of age in his Estate. The other son, the oldest, Johann was away at the time, at University in Dementlieu. When the news reached him, Johann, came home to find Simon at his Father's side. Though not happy about this, Johann being the oldest and to his knowledge last son of Ludwig Von Kanaas, had to accept it.

This is what Simon had hoped for, and the fool Johann would be the next to fall. Then at last, Ludwig would then know the truth, that Simon was also his son, and would make the Father pay for all of what he did to Simon's Mother.

Ruinous One

Date: 2009-08-23 14:00 EST
Over the course of the next few months, Simon put his next plan into action, how to deal with Johann. The Eldest brother was not much Gambling or sleeping arround, he did however have a lover, a young woman named Rebecca D'Monene' who was the daughter of a Wealthy Silver Merchant out of a Land named Invidia. Rebecca, who was twenty, a lovely and bright girl with long, deep red hair and hazel eyes completly loved Johann. And he did her, they even slept together, as Rebecca wanted to save herself for marriage. Upon hearing about Johann's brother, Jakob, Rebecca came straight away from the University, she and Johann attended.

The young lady of fine upbringing was welcomed by Ludwig as a daughter, the scheming Simon found a weakness for his older Half-Brother. Though he pretended too be all kind and gracious, Simon was watched at all times by Johann and men he hired. What Johann did not know was that this same men where Simon's own gang. The Shadow Rats really grew into a Powerhouse of a Gang, now a full blown Secret Society of Assassins, Thieves and Spies. Renamed the Shadow Dagger Order, it absorbed or crushed other Thief and Assassin guilds. It had grown to a membership of some 200 or more loyal followers to a man not yet 18. And in a place like Ludendorf, it was easy to keep tabs and control things.

Simon's men hired by Johann watched Rebecca and Johann, all the while feeding Johann false information. Finding Simon to be too dangerous and seemingly poisoning his Father's ear with venom words, Johann arranged to have Simon kidnapped and killed. But this was not to happen, no Simon had other plans, though he found Johann's own cruel heart to be kindred. No, he wanted to make Ludwig suffer, and so Simon would. Through his men, Simon learned that Rebecca was going home to see her family in Invidia for a few days. Arranging some of his Men at the border, Rebecca's coach was attacked by what seemed to be Highwaymen. These men who were Shadow Daggers kidnapped Rebecca and left a ransom note. The Coachman was left to live to deliver the message, making it seem like the Highwaymen were infact loyal followers of a former lord that Ludwig had crushed.

The ransom called for Fifteen hundred Gold Marks to be paid within a week's time. And for added effect, Rebecca's engagement ring was with the note and it was bloodied. Johann demanded that he form a search party to find these Kidnappers, Ludwig refused stating that it would be just best to pay the ransom. Father and Son argued, Simon watched, and knew full well where Rebecca was. He took it upon himself to further add insult to injury and would head to where Rebecca was. At first to torture her saying that Johann was not going to pay the ransom. Withing two nights he had her believing this, and then he twisted her into thinking Johann did not love her. By the fourth night and still no payment made, Johann using other men, Simon's men looked for Rebecca.

They lead Johann on a wild goose chase, far from the house in Ludendorf. Rebecca was infact only a few miles from the Von Kanaas Estate. By the fifth night, poor Rebecca was so distraught and tortured mentally that Simon had sex with her, promising all the while he would take better care of her. By dawn of the Sixth day, Rebecca believed Simon. Johann desperate giave into his Father's demands and met the Kidnappers. Next into play came a Doppleganger that took on the visage of Rebecca, who that night promptly spurned Johann. The Doppleganger as Rebecca said she did not love Johann and blamed him for her nearly dying.

So heartbroken of this convincing act Johann bursted out of the Manor and ran straight for the cliffs overlooking the Sea of Sorrows. Simon had arranged for Rebecca to be released, she still had feelings for Johann. But Simon had other plans, he would break both of the Lovers. The real Rebecca calling out to Johann, saw him on the Cliffs. Thinking she came back to torment him more Johann jumped, his body crashing onto the sharp rocks below. Rebecca went mad with horror, screaming her head off, watching Johann fall to his Death. Ludwig, with Simon and some of the House guard, all Simon's men found her. Rebecca was taken inside and she was just raving, her mind broken. Ludwig too was broken up inside, and withdrew even deeper. Poor Rebecca a Lunatic was taken to an Insane Asylum in her own homeland of Invidia.

After that incident, and Johann's burial in the Family Masouleum next to his young brother Jakob, Ludwig had no choice but to make Simon an heir. Making it official, Simon was adopted a full month before his 18th Birthday. And named a Von Kanaas, Simon now had one last obsticle, his ailing and broken Father. He would bid his time until the day of his 18th Birthday. Putting all the pieces in place, all the staff were in time replaced with people loyal to Simon. And had into to where the outside would thought that Ludwig would snap anyday.

Ruinous One

Date: 2009-08-23 14:38 EST
A full month had past since the Death of Johann, and Rebecca's break that sent her to an Asylum. Ludwig now nearly 60 years of age, and worn down with the loss of his sons. A once proud and great man, now brought to a low state, and all by the hand of his last Son. Simon upon his birthday, now 18, was poised to take over the Family Estate. Loyal men placed throughout Ludendorf, assured those in power in the Government were bribed and blackmailed. The Shadow Daggers had a strong grip on the capital of Ludendorf. Most didn't even know that 18 year old Simon Von Kanaas was the leader of this large Criminal organization.

Thats how Simon wanted it to be, for only a few of his most loyal men would know that Simon was the ShadowLord, the Leader of the Shadow Daggers. And that said leader was about to pull off his biggest plan yet, take control of one of Lamordia's oldest and still fairly prominent Noble Families. It was going to be easy too, Ludwig was broken in heart and mind, now to brake the old man's spirit and drive him over the edge. And with all the staff, men and women being Shadow Daggers or in with them, they would provide excellent witness testimony. On a winter night, with a storm howling, wind and snow blowing past Ludwig's study window. A fire burning in the Hearth, deep in mad thought, drunk with Brandy. Muttering away in the darkness of his study, Simon at long last confronted his dear Father.

"Hello Father.." Simon said trying to keep the bile down, but he had a wicked gleam in his eye. Ludwig looking up, not smiling, but gently he said to Simon.."Hello my son, thankyou for staying here and keeping me company through these hard times. I love you Simon dearly." Now if Ludwig had shown love to Simon's Mother, eighteen years ago, this might have caused Simon to love and embrace his Father. But no that is not what was to be. Simon smirked and brought out the old tiny portrait of Ludwig, that was stolen by Simon's mother Illiana, years ago.

The old man looked with a strange look at Simon then spoke.."Where did you get that my son' I thought it lost years ago." Then Simon with a dark and cruel voice responded.."Why Father, do you not see I have the same eyes as you and nose, though I have the hair and complextion of my mother." He then tossed onto the study desk a gold ring, Illiana's old Gypsy Family ring, given from Mother to Daughter. Ludwig then took a deep and long look and started to gasp for breath out of fear and disbelief.

"You, you are the bastard child of Illiana! I thought her and you dead in her womb. You monster, you abomin..!" Before he could finish, Simon grabbed his Father by the neck and slammed the old man into the wall, rasing Ludwig off the ground. And a wicked grin he gave, his seemingly glowed in the Firelight from the Hearth."Why yes father I am an Abomination, A monster, I learned well these past years. And you helped me, thankyou Father." Ludwig trying to speak, but could not, Simon just crushed the life out of Ludwig. The old man whimpered and cried, but all for not, with a crushing snap, blood trickled out of Ludwig's mouth.

Simon tossed the lifeless corpse of Ludwig to the ground like a Ragdoll. He got one of his trusted men and the two setup the room with a rope that had a noose in it. Slung from a low rafter beam in the study, Simon and his aide put Ludwig into the noose and hoisted him up. A chair kicked to the side to make it all look like Ludwig had commited suicide. Another one of Simon's men got the Town guard to the House, while Simon made his way to the Black Ox Tavern. The Tavern was a Shadow Dagger front, and most of the regulars were in with that Criminal Society.

When the Guards came to the Tavern, after being told to by kitchen staff that gave the false statement that Lord Ludwig was found by a Maid, hanging in his study, to go there to find Simon. The consumate actor Simon gave a very good performance and with the solid allaby that he was here at the Tavern all night. After a few days of investigation which was carefully watched by the Shadow Dagger spies in the Town Watch, the case was ruled a Suicide. And within a week's time, Simon was given full control of the Von Kanaas Estate. Baron Von Kanaas as he was now called put on a face of a fair and better Nobleman, then the Von Kanaases before him.

Though all the while, Simon ruled with a dark hand behind the Shadows. In time he would gain a great deal of hidden power in Ludendorf. He sought to rule Lamordia, even if it was behind the Throne of the Ruling Noble Houses.