Songbird

[Simple]

I could hear the signs calling out from the bottom of the fire

I am like a torch flickering in the wind, standing atop the precipice

Lost all of myself

Rage ate me up

Endless forlornness has made me numb

I'd rather rise from here

Or should I hold on to my past?

They've burnt to ashes

Faded to grey

Returned to the earth

Yes it's meant to be

Uncertain flame of hope I found

Will you lead me back on the right track?

[Simple]

It's been so many years now, yet I recall it so vividly. The parties, the celebration, the excess, the decorum, but most of all- the stagnancy. The Elders would lead you to believe that this was not the case, yet they had lost all sense of adventure, all sense of curiosity and opportunity. There was a lack of ambition, a lack of exploration.

I was somewhat of an aberration within the court, taken and sired directly by the son of the Archduke, the then Count Falkenrath. My parents murdered, my family butchered, I was left with no option but to embark upon this new life, this new path. Imbued with the gift of Cain, given life everlasting as well as all of its benefits.

The years which followed were a haze, but I garnered quite the reputation throughout Apropriya, known as the caged 'Songbird of Falkenrath,' one of many lovers to the Count, though his primary wife. A showpiece, a marvel to behold, someone with beauty abound, an eternal rose which would never wilt. Fed blood upon a silver platter, not having to hunt or utilize magic in the slightest.

When the elders and more established nobles returned from their hunts, I played music. When the Archduke desired to make a show of strength during the Wyld Hunt, I played music. While the never-ending charade of court intrigue and politics ensued, I played my music. Any instrument, every instrument, there was naught which I didn't master throughout the years.

A rebellious spirit was sparked and fostered within the depths of envy, of passion, of an ambition which was unmatched by any else within the proud and boisterous Falkenrath family. I may have played, but I also learned- I learned how to observe, how to cue in on conversations, to subtly extract information from my surroundings.

I learned how to thrive.

A tragedy which befell Count Falkenrath, yet it did not come as a surprise to me in the slightest. It was as easy as changing travel routes, altering maps, and allowing tidbits of information to slip through the cracks within the castle. From my observations I knew the butler was a spy of a rival, and all it took was a 'mistaken' slip of the tongue in front of him to seal my beloved's fate.

In his death I found freedom. No longer bound by oath, no longer sworn to serve a family which looked to the past rather than the future. A family so prideful and full of themselves that they would keep the status quo. Yet I never quite renounced the surname, instead setting out to make an example. Leaving Apropriya to forge a path of my own, one that was meant for a true child of Cain.

I first traveled to Agartha to the far west, yet only remained a couple of years. Despite their outward exterior, there was much tension still, a conflict of both culture and religion on a daily basis. No feasible cracks to slip in, I then set sail for Sheng. It was there that I found fascination for true beauty, their fashion and youthful aesthetic resonating with me on a profound level.

Rather than remaining, I ventured further east, soon coming upon Magnolia. A reclusive nation, though I was able to blend in as a native, but only for a short while. My foreign identity was exposed and I fled back to the west, before coming across Aen and Barsburg. Nations which were locked in a fierce war, the latter of which I remained within for a bit over two decades. I heard rumors, whispers of the conflict within Esshar, and I knew it would be the grand stage for my ascent.

Esshar. A land of opportunity and ambition, locked in a war that has captivated its people for near two centuries now. Yet in that chaos I found opportunity, as my brethren had already laid the groundwork for me. It was through the efforts of Marjorie, Thane, and many others that a castle was established.

A castle that would be the seat of power for an Empire the likes of which Eternia has never seen before. Followers gathered, a Kingdom established, and a throne to sit upon. I was no longer a Songbird, even if I did retain the surname of my homeland. It is simply to prove what a true Falkenrath is, and what they could have been were they not stuck in tradition.

I am no doubt considered a traitor, a rebel, a pariah, but they are all titles I claim with honor, as I do not intend to sit and waste away with Cain's blessing. The Archduke might retain his pride and stagnation, but I own a kingdom, a soon-to-be Empire. Whatever obstacles lie in my path, I will see them snuffed out.

The Elders might call me all manner of derogatory names, send assassins, and wish for my undoing, but it all matters not-

For I am the Queen. More than they could have ever hoped to be.

A bird set free.

[Simple]

I've lived for hundreds of years, yet.. it was in that moment that I knew what death was like. It was in you that I remembered my humanity, for we shared promises, laughs, and heartbreak alike. I knew that, ultimately, you would be there for me, as this eternity was meant to belong to us and us alone.

Our last moments, my last words... did you hear them? The challenges, the disappointment, you died with doubt lingering in your heart. Not knowing how I truly felt, and instead darkness covering you with naught but a displeased expression.

While I was too weak to save you in your hour of need.. you will always be with me. In my heart, wherever I go, from this day until my last, until the end of eternity. Those who sought our demise will one day crumble to dust, illusions of grandeur abound, yet our love will always remain. It will preserve itself within my heart, for the fire still sparks.

You once told me you'd never abandon me, and I know now that it's true, since I can still feel you beside me. While my emotions have numbed, while I've become cold, there is still yet hope. I will return home.

Wherever you are, we will meet again, because I love you, and I always will. I know one thing for certain.

Blood might be delectable, but-
retribution tastes sweeter.

[Simple]

Despite the years which have passed nothing has changed within Esshar. Even if there are different faces, the fire of their will has been passed down to generations beyond. Zealotry in Osrona, nefarious proclivities in the west, and a number of disputes which have carried over from forefathers prior. 

I've learned through the hard way that snakes thrive in chaos. I can only wonder what manner of beast shall emerege from the smoke of this war-torn Esshar.

Even if I do not remain, this place will always be home in a sense. It was here that I built something which meant a lot to me, even if it did not stand the test of time. I will always remember. Be it the merchant, the beggar, the noble, the singer, the blacksmith- I might return as one.. or perhaps even try my hand at all.

I've worn other faces before, it is nothing new to me. Unassuming in posture, I've found that people are most easy to manipulate with a smile. Sheng has been enlightening in this regard in more ways than one. Wealth is fleeting, influence is shaky- what matters most in this life is survival.

Most of my enemies have given way to old age, many have died in battle, yet I persist. Like always, I need only hide in the shadows until time eventually takes even their strongest.

Immortality lasts, riches don't. But I wonder-

What will I treasure next?