A Malevolent Villain: 1
Feb. 22nd, 2025 09:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
allthepowersofhell posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
vivala[[IMPORTANT NOTE: Please take a look at Maleficent's opt-out / permissions post before replying. All characters who respond here run the risk of being cursed, or of being targeted by Maleficent. Basically, she is Not Safe to interact with.]]
i. The ravens go forth
In the days and weeks following the Emperor's announcements, night-black ravens fly over Esthere. It is not an unusual sight; ravens are a common beast.
And yet, these ravens are a herald of something darker. For these ravens possess an intelligence beyond the norm, and what they see will be brought back to their mistress.
The ravens fly to places of known Corsair activity; the broken-up fragments of Flotsam, the homes and businesses with suspected rebellious connections in Elysium. They fly, they watch, and they observe.
[[For this prompt, you can detail what Maleficent's ravens witness or you can link a thread that's happening elsewhere, with the permission of all players. Characters who are spied upon may face consequences at a later time]]
ii. A cruel display [warnings for public punishment]
In a public square in Elysium, a wooden platform has been constructed. It dominates the space, rising high above the heads of any crowd. And upon this platform are the pillories.
Wooden frames, with space for a person's head and arms to be placed within. Twenty in total. And in each one, the soldiers place within a beaten and ragged-looking individual.
On the platform, calmly watching them as they are secured, is a tall woman. Planestouched, with pale green green and two dark horns rising from her head.
"Gently now, gently," she says to the soldiers, as the last prisoner is placed within. "We must make sure our guests are properly awake for their sentencing."
Then the prisoners are all secure - and she turns to the growing crowd.
"People of the Empire," she says, her voice ringing through the square. "This is a day of great sorrow, for I must tell you have been betrayed. By the very men and women you see before you - your own fellow citizens.
"When the Corsairs so cruelly attacked, they chose to betray their brothers and sisters. They choose to betray their Emperor. And they fought with those who would destroy out very way of life.
"Now it is time for these...traitors!...to reveive their just sentence. But I find I am faced with a difficulty. For while I am Duchess and their punishment is my duty, it is not I who these miscreants have most grieveiously sinned against. Why, that would be you. The good people of the Empire.
"So I ask you this, noble citizens: what would be a just sentence? What do these betrayers deserve?"
And then she looks upon the crows - and waits, for their terrible suggestions to be voiced. Because it is clear from the way the soldiers begin to surround the crowd that mercy will not be tolerated.
Those in the crowd will have to make a choice. Do they remain safe, and keep their tongues silent? Or do they attempt to assist or mitigate the prisoner's suffering - and risk becoming a target themselves?
i. The ravens go forth
In the days and weeks following the Emperor's announcements, night-black ravens fly over Esthere. It is not an unusual sight; ravens are a common beast.
And yet, these ravens are a herald of something darker. For these ravens possess an intelligence beyond the norm, and what they see will be brought back to their mistress.
The ravens fly to places of known Corsair activity; the broken-up fragments of Flotsam, the homes and businesses with suspected rebellious connections in Elysium. They fly, they watch, and they observe.
[[For this prompt, you can detail what Maleficent's ravens witness or you can link a thread that's happening elsewhere, with the permission of all players. Characters who are spied upon may face consequences at a later time]]
ii. A cruel display [warnings for public punishment]
In a public square in Elysium, a wooden platform has been constructed. It dominates the space, rising high above the heads of any crowd. And upon this platform are the pillories.
Wooden frames, with space for a person's head and arms to be placed within. Twenty in total. And in each one, the soldiers place within a beaten and ragged-looking individual.
On the platform, calmly watching them as they are secured, is a tall woman. Planestouched, with pale green green and two dark horns rising from her head.
"Gently now, gently," she says to the soldiers, as the last prisoner is placed within. "We must make sure our guests are properly awake for their sentencing."
Then the prisoners are all secure - and she turns to the growing crowd.
"People of the Empire," she says, her voice ringing through the square. "This is a day of great sorrow, for I must tell you have been betrayed. By the very men and women you see before you - your own fellow citizens.
"When the Corsairs so cruelly attacked, they chose to betray their brothers and sisters. They choose to betray their Emperor. And they fought with those who would destroy out very way of life.
"Now it is time for these...traitors!...to reveive their just sentence. But I find I am faced with a difficulty. For while I am Duchess and their punishment is my duty, it is not I who these miscreants have most grieveiously sinned against. Why, that would be you. The good people of the Empire.
"So I ask you this, noble citizens: what would be a just sentence? What do these betrayers deserve?"
And then she looks upon the crows - and waits, for their terrible suggestions to be voiced. Because it is clear from the way the soldiers begin to surround the crowd that mercy will not be tolerated.
Those in the crowd will have to make a choice. Do they remain safe, and keep their tongues silent? Or do they attempt to assist or mitigate the prisoner's suffering - and risk becoming a target themselves?
no subject
Date: 2025-02-28 11:12 pm (UTC)Because of course, it is not only the lesser classes who must prove their loyalty to the Empire. The nobility must also demonstrate their devotion - if not more so.
Including the sons of Lords. Her yellow-eyed gaze turns to Thomas.
"And you've brought young Thomas with you! Why, we would all dearly appreciate hearing your thoughts."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-03 07:30 pm (UTC)"Well... Your Grace," he knew her reputation, he has seen The Duchess in action. Trying to balance between his desire to spare the captives her wrath and avoiding summoning it on his head is like a tightrope act.
Over a pit of vipers.
While someone is setting fire to the rope.
And all the time suffering from acute acrophobia.
"Outlaw them." He managed to answer in what he hoped is a lofty tone. "If... Well, if they can't understand how good it is to be under the Emperor's grace, then... then they will suffer the lack of his protections."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-08 01:57 am (UTC)But she does not reveal her sources. Just gives the Lord a knowing smile. He can ponder what else she might know.
And then she returns her terrifying gaze to Thomas.
"Why, but they are already outlaws!" She exclaims. "They became so the moment they decided to betray the Empire. They have already refused the Emperor's mercy."
And the Empire - Maleficent - clearly demands more.