Ironsides Family/Bowie/Chapter One
Contents
Demon of Dwilight, Chapter One: From Fissoa to Exile
Sojourn in Madina
"Outcast of Madina"
Service to D'Hara
"Pariah of D'Hara"
After escaping from Fissoa and dodging through Madina, Black Bowie landed in D'Hara. By the mercy of Queen Katayanna, they made a contract for his service in exchange for passage to his desired location. As contracted, he served in the Queen's Dragon Guard against Shadovar until the fall of Port Nebel.
Upon witnessing an impressive ritual performance, Black Bowie was captivated by the D'Haran religion, The Way of the Dragons. In order to retain some commonality between the D'Haran's and the people of his future realm, he decided to adopt the faith and take it to them.
When the Grand Duke of Fissoa realized there was unfinished business between Black Bowie and he, he wrote a letter to the Dragon Queen asking for recompense from the fugitive. Here is the correspondence between the Grand Duke and Black Bowie.
Soon after that matter fizzled, Lord Bowie's routine of harassing new nobles got him into trouble. This time he spoke against the up and coming General and was challenged to a duel by the General's devoted knight, Asriel Octavius. Accepting without hesitation, Bowie assumed he would have a victory on his hands. The tide of righteousness crashed down on him as he was defeated in the duel to surrender.
During Black Bowie's stay in D'Hara he opened a feud against Sir Cenarious Stormrage which was very venomous and writhing in public, though at times humorous. It is chronicled here:
Nearing the end of the feud with General Cenarious, Black Bowie made the rash act of inviting the Grand Duke of Fissoa to come and kill him in a duel to the death in Paisly. He said it was his way of apologizing to the D'Harans, and to rightfully allow the Fissoans to have their Great Reckoning. While Black Bowie waited for the reply of the Grand Duke, he decided to indulge in the short life he had left. Perhaps this is at the suggestion of the demon, perhaps it was his idea, in any case, the splendor is recorded here:
- The Debauchery of Port Raviel: First Evening.
- The Debauchery of Port Raviel: Second Evening - Undead Siege.
- The Debauchery of Port Raviel: The Morning After - Near Duel with Abbot Nosferatus.
It was never made public, but the Grand Duke of Fissoa refused Black Bowie's invitation to kill him.
Delegate to the Northern Cause
The North of Dwilight experienced the War of Seccession (also known as the War of Independance). D'Hara made an allegiance with the Raivan Empire and Springdale. To solidify this allegiance and aid in the defence of the Raivan Empire, a few D'Haran nobles were sent on a military expedition to the north. Black Bowie was one of these nobles.
During the journey to Mimer, Black Bowie befriended Lord Mathias Ridder and Sir Kratos Wolff. They met in Mathias' room on the boat and drank their fair share of rum. Kratos was quieter, but he visited a few times. This was when Bowie first met Kratos, his future sidekick who would participate in all of his schemes since.
When Black Bowie arrived, the arrangement was not entirely as he was led to believe. The Raivans were non-combatants in the War of Seccession. Additionally, the delegation dissolved. Some continued to Springdale, some returned to D'Hara, a few stayed in the Empire. Black Bowie, figuring a new plan of his own, decided to stay in the Raivan Empire. This decision was not ultimate, but only he knew what he was truly up to.
"Badmouther of the Raivanlands"
Black Bowie received a startling letter which caused his immediate departure from the Raivanlands. This letter has caused him to end his Delegation to the North and return to D'Hara.
Return to D'Hara
Upon discovering that he has an estranged baby daughter in Port Raviel, Black Bowie returned to D'Hara to settle this matter.
Visited in the night by a magnificent Dragon, Black Bowie received the Mandate of Sallowtown. The Dragon Sallow charged him with a mission to elevate the living status of the Sallowsian people by bringing it under the realm of D'Hara.
After the Dragon Sallow gave Black Bowie the mandate to be the living successor of Prince Sallow, Black Bowie studied the customs and pagan practises of the Sallowsian people, then combined it with his faith in the Way of the Dragons and produced the regional variation Way of the Arexi Dragon.
Dragon Rebellion in D'Hara
Black Bowie was a rebel against the Dragon Queen Katayanna, and he announced a unique grievance against the Queen. The letter he wrote for the realm which allied him to the future King is edited and paraphrased here.
On the 9th of March, the same day as the Royal Wedding of the King and the Duchess, Black Bowie was appointed the Count of Qubel. From that point on, he adopted the new moniker 'The Dark Count,' in replacement of his old 'Black.' This was also the day when the Dark Count's baby daughter Selena was formally adopted into the D'Haran royal family.
"Temple Builder of Qubel"
On the 11th of March in the Spring of the Fifth Year, the Dark Count Bowie, incarnate of the Dragon Sallow, performed the first ancestral offering in the D'Haran islands after completing the Temple of Sallow in Qubel. The ritual is recorded here.
The people of Qubel idolized their noble superiors after they heard the tale of the Dark Count and his knight Sir Grotek Gurnisson fighting together against the Monster Scourge.
After the Black Lions rid Qubel of the Monster Scourge, the Dark Count and Dame Sorsha McDowell travelled together to Port Nebel. She was on her way to a private meeting, and he was on his way to the capital. It was a unique ride, and both parties grew personally from the encounter.
When the Dark Count arrived in Port Nebel, he immediately turned around to return to Qubel and engage Duke Hexic Jeckyl in a duel to surrender. A duel he magnificently won.
As soon as that duel finished, the Dark Count immediately turned around to return to Port Nebel and engage Duke Mathias Ridder in another duel to surrender. A duel he grossly loss.
The Dark Count proudly holds these duels as a personal record, duelling two Dukes in a span of roughly two days. He travelled back and fourth from Port Nebel to Qubel to meet these challenges. On the 23rd of March, in the Summer of the Sixth Year of Dwilight, he duelled Duke Hexic in Qubel, then on the 25th of March he duelled Duke Mathias in Port Nebel. Truly a sign of his unceasing energy, he is a force not to be reckoned with.
When the Dark Count recovered from his defeat, he was invited to spend an evening at Dame Sorsha's estate in Port Nebel. The event was first an occasion for growing friendship, then a sudden debacle, and then it concluded in gaiety. Certainly an evening which brought all the guests, invited or not, together.
- A visit with Dame Sorsha
- The visit with Dame Sorsha Strikes Back!
- The visit with Dame Sorsha, Return of Civility
An argument broke out between Marquis Rathan and his liege Duke Mathias leading to a duel. The duel took place in the Sallowsian-styled ring in Qubel on 18 April 6th YD, hosted by the Dark Count Bowie. The Dark Count was accompanied by Dame Sorsha in the viewing box overlooking the ring.
After the Duke defeated the Marquis, the Dark Count threw a feast at his estate to celebrate the noble combat. Many fine nobles attended including the two opponents. Nobles such as Dame Sorsha, Sir Kratos, Sir Lycan, and Duke Hexic had met joy and society in the Count’s estate. The occasion is recorded here:
"Champion of the Duchess of Diamonds"
As the Crusade was commencing, an issue arose between Marquis Rathan and the Prophet Tenebrioun Kiri-Jolith. This led to a heated exchange and argument between the Marquis and the Confessor Duchess Kisharianda Onyxien. The Marquis used very strong language and offended the Confessor who fined him 50 gold (after reducing the penalty from 150 gold) and worse still there was a cause for duel. Since in D'Hara it is illegal to have one of higher station be challenged by one of lower station, thereby the Marquis would not be able to challenge the Confessor, a Champion was sought to stand in the Duchess' place. The Dark Count was selected by the Confessor to be her Champion for all dueling matters. He rejoiced at her request and accepted, thereby acquiring his new title, Champion of the Duchess of Diamonds. The duel between Marquis Rathan and the Dark Count is at the moment postponed until the Crusade is complete.
Crusade for Sallowtown
The Prince of Sallowtown
On the blessed day of 25 April 6 YD, Dame Sorsha McDowell's birthday, the Demon of Dwilight launched his Crusade for Sallowtown. After months of preparation, saving, recruiting and preaching, the Crusaders left Qubel Lighthouse to bring civilization and peace to the suffering people of Sallowtown. The Dark Count made an offering to the ancestors on the dock of Qubel Lighthouse to acquire their protection and blessings.
After the takeover succeeded, the Dark Count fulfilled his mandate to the Great Dragon Sallow and performed the ancient ritual, the Feeding of the Pit. He was immediately recognized as the incarnate of their Prince Sallow.
On the 30th of April 6 YD, in a private arrangement, Prince Bowie dueled Marquis Rathan and surrendered in defeat. A second duel between these two occurred the day after, on the 1st of May, for the honour of Duchess Kisharianda. This fight, the Prince defeated the Marquis.
During this string of duels, Prince Bowie announced a Festival dedicated to the Prophet Tenebrioun for his great works in the city of Sallowtown. A bust of the Prophet was revealed to the crowd in the Temple of the Great Dragon. During this festival the Prince became "acquainted" with the daughter of one of the chiefs of the city tribes. Their union was discovered, as she was expected to wait for a husband, and the city went into an uproar of protest. It was the first test for the Crusaders on the frontier.
The Prince in Exile
It was discovered that the tribal princess Bowie had relations with during the Festival of the Prophet was impregnated by him - the Sallowsians were not pleased. In response, on the 13th of May 6 YD, they overthrew the Prince and tossed him into the Qubel Channel.
