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Ephraim Black is the son of Haevin, and Naena Black making him a member of House Black. Ephraim has two siblings in the form of Billy, and Vander Black, of which his brother Billy is the Patriarch of House Black and the leader of the entire house ideologically, while his brother Vander was a brave but rash man that died along with his heir apparent during the Fall of Tree Hill. Ephraim Black is married to Melina Black who was formally Melina Ubine of House Ubine and through her he has three children in the form of Lola, Colin, and Brendin of which Lola was a bright and beautiful young girl that died suddenly while engaged to Kyle Eustern of House Eustern, and Brendin died following a bout of sickness that wracked his entire body to its core, and his son Colin is a brave warrior that is quiet and reserved in a way that many point to his similarities to Lucas Scott.

Ephraim Black during his youth would be kidnapped from his home by Delion Restivion of whom would take him to a cave where he would be tortured for days but something inside himself enjoyed the pain and he never screamed out, and thus survived the torture eventually becoming a member of the Order of the Three Sins, and being released into the wilds where he would make his way home to Forks joined by Delion Restivion who would accompany him back to Forks.

History

Early History

Order of the Three Sins

Main Article : Order of the Three Sins

Ephraim Black during his youth would be kidnapped from his home by Delion Restivion of whom would take him to a cave where he would be tortured for days but something inside himself enjoyed the pain and he never screamed out, and thus survived the torture eventually becoming a member of the Order of the Three Sins, and being released into the wilds where he would make his way home to Forks joined by Delion Restivion who would accompany him back to Forks.

Melina Ubine

See Also : Melina Ubine

The Evil of Ephraim Black

Main Article : Forks Tragedy of 5121

See Also : Pitch Black

The Farm
Why not just kill yourself Ephraim. You are a monster, and somewhere deep within your soul you must understand your being alive is the greatest of sins.
Rebecca Black Large
Lyle Crakehall had changed everything I thought I knew. I now saw my life before me, and thought to myself how beautiful everything truly was. As I held Ashley's hand as we followed the boys into the fields I knew that this was going to be just another amazing day.
Rebecca Black

Rebecca Black was born so much different then the person that she has become, but after a youth filled with happiness she would have a moment of horrifying fear that would shock her to her core. As a young girl she had been spending all her time at the House Black estates following her return from Highgarden, and thus when two of her best friends in the form of Axia Yernese, and Sentia Velius decided they wanted to go out riding she was all for it. She and her friends alongside three of their other friends in the form of Marcus, and Decius Tanica the twin brothers of House Tanica, and Quintis Censius of whom Rebecca had a crush on, and together they would travel to one of the House Black owned farms which she had been to with her father once before, and once there they would enter the farm and planned to eat with the farmers there. When she entered the house she knew something was wrong immediatly upon entering the house, but her friends dismissed her and kept going in. When they entered they walked around the house and found noone inside she wanted to leave immediatly but her friends wanted to check the barn for a replacement saddle. Rebecca by this point was watching her friends laughing and having a fun time, but she was beyond scared, and every part of her didn't want to go into that barn, but it would be Quintis Censius that would hold her hand and convinse her to go into the farm, and change all of their lives.

The body has a feeling that it lets off when it knows its in danger, and my body was practically shaking with fear as we walked towards that barn. There are times though when the fear of social damage overrides all other thoughts and leads us to a path of disaster.
Rebecca Black
She reluctantly followed them into the barn holding the hand of Quintis tighter then she thought possible, and once they entered they saw bodies strewn on the floor, and this led to them trying to run out, but when they did they saw the barn door shut in front of them, and from the shadows her uncle Ephraim Black stepped out. At first it was Rebecca that tried to talk to her uncle, but despite her words he just stood there, and without warning he begin laughing, and at his laughter it was Sentia that tried to run out of the barn but Ephraim knocked her down. Ephraim proceeded to taunt the group about how they were all going to die, and at this Quintis charged at him with his sword but Ephraim would slash him across the face knocking him to the ground right in front of them beginning a fight as the girls tried to escape while the twins tried to fight back but were mere children to the strength of Ephraim.
Rebecca Black Gif

Rebecca Black was forced to deal with days of torture and then after attempting to let people know the truth she failed and was blackmailed by Ephraim Black and forced to keep the truth of what had happened a secret.

As Ephraim fought off the twins it was Ephraim who would begin to laugh hysterically as he went about killing them all one at a time in the most brutal ways imaginable. Rebecca and Axia attempted to get the barn door open but Ephraim had blocked it with a lock that they could not pry open and then realizing there was no escape they picked up weapons from the barn and tried to fight him off. She wondered at this moment if he even knew that she was his niece, but as he walked from child to child killing she realized quickly that this man was a monster that had past beyond thought or consequence. As Ephraim restrained Axia against a post, his eyes found Rebecca and moving towards Rebecca who was the last one outside of Axia he waited for her to scream because thats what he wanted, but he became annoyed when she refused to scream for him.
Rebecca Black1
I understood then and there that he needed his victim to scream. He would hurt me, damage me, but unless I screamed there wasn't a chance in hell he killed me. Atleast that's what I said to myself.
Rebecca Black

Ephraim and Rebecca would have a verbal confrontation as he chased her around the barn, and during this she attempted to understand why he would do all this, and when his answers proved to her that this man was gone, and very clearly capable of killing her she relented and allowed him to catch her. Ephraim would proceed to ritually torture her for three days hoping to elicit some kind of response from her, but she refused to give in, and after two days he would take the only other survivor in Axia and left the barn leaving Rebecca tied up trying to escape, but hours later he returned and the torture continued. For another day he continued his torture but despite the horrible pain she endured she kept her strength and at the end of three days as the search parties for the children entered the area, he was forced to release her, and forced her to clean up the mess he had made. He laughed the most crazy laugh she had ever heard as she cleaned herself up, and had a last look at her friends before she would never likely be able to even talk about them again. As she prepared to leave he made sure to threaten her that if she told anyone that he would kill her family, and threatening her as well about keeping to the story that he told. She thus left and decided to keep the secret so that noone from her family would ever feel the pain of what she had felt, but walking out of the barn Ephraim would take knock her out and put her on his horse where he would ride towards the cliffs of Forks. Believing she was to die she wanted to scream but instead Ephraim pulled a body submerged under the water and she let out a cry realizing it was Axia and he had drowned her. Taking Axia's body, and her Ephraim rode towards the nearest search party of which was led by Lord Mirco Censius, and Lord Gineto Tanica and told them that he had found her at the side of the nearbye cliffs and had been there when Quintis had lost himself to madness and pushed the other children into the water before jumping in himself. Horrified by this story the others would go to the cliff where they would find no traces as obviously they had not jumped into the water so there would be nothing to find, but since the waters were so deep and the river long the story was believed and the city of Forks would mourn the loss of so many young nobles.

The Evil of Ephraim Black

Rebecca Black Cover Amazing
I'm sorry Lyle. I can't do this anymore. I'm not who I was. I don't think I ever will be again.
Rebecca Black

Returning home she would be put into her bed by her mother while the search parties continued to try and find anwsers, and alone in her room she was confronted by Ephraim Black who discussed with her his goals moving forward. Ephraim Black would tell her that they were now playing a game and the game was simple. She would try and kill him and he would try and ruin her life. Ephraim agreed that he would not harm Lyle Crakehall if she ended things with him, and then he told her that he would give her time to get herself back on her feet, but once this time was over the game would begin, and he would start it violently. Following her conversation with Ephraim Black she knew in her heart she couldn't say a word about what had truly happened and forced to keep it a secret the happy go lucky girl was gone, and her family barely recognized the girl that was left behind. She would live in fear of her uncle for months that he would kill her, and in this fear she would seclude herself within the Dragonoph Temple of Forks becoming increasingly fanatical during this time as she attempted to find an escape for what had happened to her. After months within the Forks Temple she was convinced by the Dragonoph Priests Konstantin Lemberger, and Madlene Ueberroth that what she believed her uncle had done was nothing more then her mind's attempt to find anwsers to what had happened. Thus over the months inside the Dragonoph Temple her betrothal was ended with Lyle and she begin to truly believe that her belief that Ephraim Black had killed her friends was nothing more then a dilusion, and as this improved her mental state she would finally agree with her father about the idea of her remarrying with her father finding a suitor in the young Kyle Eustern of House Eustern. While Rebecca Black was trying to put herself back together at the Dragonoph Temple it was Ephraim Black that was manipulating his niece Cellia Black into becoming his servant, and it would be this move that became a point of major importance as she would become his main source of information inside House Black.

The True Cost of Lying
Why not just kill yourself Ephraim. You are a monster, and somewhere deep within your soul you must understand your being alive is the greatest of sins.

Playing Games

Rebecca Black Cover Amazing2
Did you think that all of this would come free? Did you think you could steal from me and there would be no cost? There is always a move, and counter move in life, and the only thing I'm sorry about is that you moved against me first
Cellia Black
Following the return of Rebecca from the Dragonoph Temple it was Rebecca's father William that finally arranged a betrothal with Kyle Eustern of whom was a kind young man and someone who thanks to her rebuilding emotions Rebecca came to believe would be a good husband since Lyle was already married. The two would spend hours riding together outside the city and as Kyle showed her how much he wanted to be a good husband to her she fell in love with the idea of him, and feeling hopeful for the first time in months she returned home where she talked with her mother about things telling her she was sorry for everything she had put the family through and the two would patch themselves up due to this conversation. The next day Kyle would come to stay at the House Black estate for the months that would come before their marriage and to get to better know his future wife, and thus following this Rebecca became officially betrothed to Kyle Eustern of House Eustern, and so everything was starting to look up for her as she had now completely come to believe the lie that Ephraim Black was not involved in the killings and it was nothing more then an accident. Two Months into Kyle staying with them at the estate, and a month before their wedding it was Ephraim Black that returned to the estate in order to get information from Cellia, and speaking with his mole at first she was reluctant to tell him that Rebecca was happy again, but she was tricked into turning on Rebecca when Ephraim lied and told her that he had spied Rebecca and Lyle sleeping together. Cellia would following this lie tell Ephraim that Rebecca had found happiness with Kyle and they were living as a family of sorts in the estate house they shared with his son Tobin Black, and at this information it was Ephraim that decided her time was up and the game was on.
Rebecca Black Gif1

Rebecca Black had rebuilt herself as best she could, but with the return of Ephraim Black and betrayal of Cellia Black her time of happiness was over.

During the two months of Kyle living with them at the estate it had been Kyle and Rebecca who had come to spend all day together riding and then at night they would come back and spend time where he was staying talking with Lola, and Tobin and the three became quite close. Ephraim waited until they had returned from riding and sneaking inside the Estate as he didn't want anyone to know that he had returned to Forks from the east where everyone believed he was, and entering the estate he watched as Kyle and Rebecca kissed goodnight and as Kyle went downstairs to his room he blocked Rebecca from leaving and sat her down. Rebecca in this moment was torn between believing her created lie that Ephraim was innocent and seeing the truth right in front of her, but she was not going to be asked to fight these two as Ephraim would go and get Kyle bringing him into the room and then explaining to Rebecca that the game was now on. Realizing that Ephraim was going to kill Kyle she got in front of a shocked and confused Kyle trying to protect him but Ephraim knocked her down and then brutally murdered Kyle smashing him into pieces with a mace.
I kept my word to you. I gave you time to rebuild youself. Now its time to start playing the game. Lets knock down some of those bricks you've built for yourself.
Ephraim Black

As Ephraim explained to Rebecca that she needed to now start playing they were both shocked when the young Lola walked into the room and called for her papa in the form of Ephraim Black and in this moment Rebecca realized again the depths of madness of Ephraim when he murdered his own daughter leaving her body beside Kyle. Lola had let out a scream which brought Tobin to the room and without a word Ephraim murdered another of his children bashing Tobin's head into the ground, and leaving Rebecca unable to move in horror. Waking up the next morning Rebecca Black would wake up and hope to Glaurung that everything for the previous night was just a terrible dream, but as she lay in bed silently for a few minutes she jolted up to the sounds of her mother screaming out. Going to her mothers screaming she would find that it was not a dream when she entered the house and saw the slain bodies of Lola, Tobin, and Kyle still left in the same spot as she remembered from the previous day. At the sounds of the screaming her father, and brother alongside several guards of House Black would come running and seeing what she saw they would go into the house to find the murdered members of House Black and Kyle Eutruce inside. 

Continued Madness
Cellia Black Cover Amazing
I told him. You want to know why there dead Rebecca. They are dead because my husband loves you more then he loves me and that just isn't fair. Why the hell should you get everything you want? I took something from you, and I am not sorry for one second that I told Ephraim.
Cellia Black

Following this the family would have little time to absorb this devastating moment as only a week later Tobin died after becoming overcome with a horribly violent fever and died days later. Following this Colin was the lone survivor of his family other then his father as his mother died in her sleep without any apparent cause of death. Rebecca first attempted to poison Ephraim but Ephraim discovered the plot and to punish her he placed the poison in food that was then given to Rebecca's horse killing the horse. Following her failure to poison Ephraim she would try to kill him in his sleep, but sneaking into his room with a dagger he just laughed at her as she proved unable to do the act. Ephraim would not confront her on any of these attempts by her despite clearly knowing what she had tried to do and in this way Rebecca Black begin to feel increasingly isolated, and depressed, and it was in this state that she would found by her true love Lyle Crakehall. Lyle Crakehall of whom still loved her and he was able to over time slowly drag her out of her depression, and the begin seeing each other more and more. Cellia Black would understand the feelings that her husband Lyle had for Rebecca and seeing the two getting closer she would threaten Rebecca to stay away from her husband, but Rebecca was the more important noble and thus rejected this threat from Cellia saying she would be close to whoever she wanted. As Rebecca Black and Lyle Crakehall continued to rebuild their relationship while Cellia Black watched on from afar it would be Rebecca that finally completely opened up to Lyle about what had changed in her. Revealing to Lyle everything that had happened at the farm and all the threats she had been given by Ephraim ever since Lyle would kiss her following this revelation and the two would make love, but neither knew that this entire time they were being watched by Cellia Black of whom watched the two make love and overwhelmed with anger she would begin to plot her revenge on her cousin Rebecca.

White Knife Marriage

Main Article : The Wedding of Miley Black and Winfred Manderly

White Knife Marriage
Secure the white knife for the Kingdom. Go there and create another friend where once there was nothing. Do it for the Valley.
Miley Black Large
I was unmarried, and I knew that my age was going to mean that it was only a matter of time. My mother had always told me the only thing to pray for was that your husband would be kind, because you were never going to get to choose yourself.
Miley Black[src]

Following the coronotation of William Lovie III. the tournament of Nortburg was held to celebrate this occasion, and during this many foreign kingdoms sent people to represent them and try to regrow relations with Lucerne as most relations were on life support under the rule of Bill Lovie. One of these groups was House Manderly of the White Knife, and they would send many members including Wylis Manderly and his wife and daughter, as well as Marlon Manderly the uncle of Wylis. Wendal, Winfred, and Wynafryd Manderly also traveled to Lucerne in order to help arrange the marriage contract between House Manderly and the Kingdom of Lucerne, and during this time Wendal would take part in the tournament of Nortburg where he listed quite well. After the tournament ended Wylis would come to speak with William Lovie III. and the two would discuss marriage options between the houses, and on the advise of Charlie Swan William's father in law it was decided that Miley Black would be married to Winfred Manderly the only son of Marlon Manderly. Miley would be recalled as quickly as possible to Nortburg where she met with Wylis, and Marlon and was seen to be exceptionally beautiful and smart and thus Marlon immediatly accepted the arrangement, and it was decided to happen shortly after. It was agreed between Wylis, and William that following the marriage the two groups would begin arrangements to bring the Manderlys into the sphere of Lucerne, and away from the growing threats of Bolten, and the Iron Islands.

Miley Black getting married far away was the perfect excuse that I needed to escape the death that I saw everywhere I looked in Tree Hill. They could seemingly rebuild every fallen brick, and bring in hundreds of new people, but all I saw was death and pain.
Lucas Scott

Once the Manderlys returned to White Knife the wedding was already being planned, and it takes longer then expected after Ironborn raid several ships filled with wedding supplies purchased from Pontus. When the wedding is finally planned Miley Black and basically her entire family alongside many nobles of Forks travel to the White Knife for the wedding. Lucas Scott travels northward and alongside Morrigan joins the fleet going to White Knife and acts as the sort of commander of the defence of the fleet despite be uneeded due to the high strength of the fleet. On the trip to the White Knife Lucas Scott grows to be friends with Miley Black and the two share stories of their youth with Lucas withholding much of the true darkness that he went through. One night Morrigan finally confronts him on why he has lied so many times to Miley, and he breaks down revealing that he is trying to make himself believe it wasn't as bad as he knows it was, and the two share a kiss before making love in his room beneath deck.

House Manderly1
One of the first things that dies when your in the kind of hopeless situation we were in Tree Hill is the ability to understand human interaction. You long to be be treated kindly because for so long you were sad, but the sad truth is that strangers don't usually make the best crutches to stand on.
Lucas Scott

Arriving at the White Knife Lucas Scott was shown around the land by Wylis Manderly and his wife of whom held hands the entire time they walked Lucas around White Harbor. Lucas would remain with Wylis after his wife had to leave to wake up their youngest of whom needed milk, and the two would discuss the situation in White Knife, and Wylis was completely open as Lucas had a letter from William saying that Lucas was to be fully trusted with sensitive information for he was a loyal servent. Wylis discussed with him how the Boltens had begun sending word to White Harbor stating that the White Knife was deemed a part of the larger plans for Bolten, and that if they did not join with the Boltens then other steps would be taken to have them join. Lucas questioned whether they could hold off the Boltens, and Wylis told him that it was going to be difficult for the Boltens as the Manderlys had a large fleet which would make crossing very difficult, but if they were able to land they had significantly larger ground forces and in that case White Knife would fall. The two would be interrupted when a messenger told Wylis that Domeric Bolten and his cousin had arrived in White Harbor with several other nobles, and wished to attend the wedding. Domeric Bolten would demand food be given to him so that he was under the guest right while he remained in White Harbor, and an honorable man Wyman Manderly would give him this while also allowing Domeric, Jordin, and Cerwynn Bolten to attend the wedding itself. Before the wedding itself Domeric was able to convince Wylis Manderly the heir of White Knife to allow him to see Wyman and Domeric finally speaking to the Lord of White Harbor would attempt to convinse him to move away from the Lucernian direction he was going, and at first the Lord of House Manderly planned on lying and saying he was still thinking, but as Domeric seemed to be such an honest man Lord Manderly would be honest with Domeric as well revealing that after the wedding the negotiations would begin in order to merge White Knife with Lucerne. Apologizing to Domeric, he would tell him to enjoy the wedding but there was nothing he could do to change anything as Wyman knew that Ramsey had killed his sister and couldn`t accept this, nor could he accept aligning himself with the goverment of the Kingdom of Bolten, and with this Domeric left the room completely discouraged that he had failed so completely.

The Wedding went by without a hitch, but the presence of Domeric, and Jordin Bolton was something that opened my eyes to what awaited us in the not so far future.
Lucas Scott

Following the confrontation of sorts between Domeric, and Wyman Manderly the Lord of White Knife would command the wedding to move forward, and without any further discussions the wedding would move forward. The wedding went by without a hitch as Miley Black, and Winfred Manderly became man in wife in a marriage that most saw seemed to already have found love between the two, and Lucas would make a point to meet fully with Domeric Bolten following the end of the wedding ceremony. With the ceremony Domeric would once again speak with Lord Manderly of whom this time refused to even speak with him sending instead his brother Marlon Manderly to tell Domeric that he was happy he came but it was time for the Boltens to leave White Knife. Following this Lucas would be alerted to Domeric being in the main hall with Jordin and Cerwynn by Egbert Elric, and Julessa Bearmant and he leaves the docks to find Domeric waiting outside the hall for him. The two leave the wedding and speak of many things, and Lucas is shocked at genuinly nice Domeric appears to be, and Domeric tells him a story of Bolten, and despite how well the two get along the conversation takes a dark turn when Domeric is forced to threaten Lucas with the knowledge that if Lucerne interferes anymore in the White Knife that he will be forced to intervene himself. Lucas knows that Domeric is a capable young man and knowingly takes this threat as more then just a hollow gesture knowing that Domeric will do this despite his gentle nature. Following their conversation Lucas receives a raven and it instructs him to return to Lucerne where he is to meet with his uncle Kieth in Highgarden, and he is to do this with all possible haste.

End of Darkness
Look at the world father. You were born into this land. You grew up here. These people swore their lives to you. How could you have done all of this? Look at everything you have done. You destroyed a city. Killed hundreds of good men out of fear. Is this how you want to be remembered father. Is this the world you want to leave behind? I know you were a good person once. Don't end it all here. Don't do this. For me father. For everything I supposedly mean to you. Don't do this.

"Lord Scott, Domeric Bolten has returned from speaking with Lord Manderly and hes in the main hall with his cousin and a girl."

"Take me to him Lady Bearmant."

"There he is Lucas." He was leaning against a pillar when I first saw him. He was smaller then I would have thought standing no more then six feet in hight. His armor was an impressive thing to see though, if you looked past the sigil of a flayed man which adorned it. I felt a presense behind me and turned around to see Egbert Elric pat me on the shoulder, and then followed in behind him was Julessa Bearmant of whom still shocked me by her size even now after having been around her for weeks.

"Captain Turntell says the ship will be ready in the morning Lucas."

"Thats excellent news."

"He's leaving Lucas." I turned immediately knowing Julessa was talking about Domeric. I didn't have to say anything, they both knew I had to speak to him and without a word I moved towards the door following behind Domeric and two other men of which one I knew to be his cousin, while the other girl was said to also be a member of his family but as to who she was I did not know.

Invasion of Yerness

Main Article : Invasion of Westbridge

Invasion of Yerness
Charlie I need you to take your forces and take the island. If we do not hold the island all manner of things could come to pass. Maybe the Empire decides to send a fleet. Maybe its the Valerians, or Tevinter, but the thing to remember is that if we hold that island no one is sending any fleets at us.
Options for Attack Details
A They could use the Lucernian Fleet and land on top of the actual Fortress of Yerness from the south. This was a very risky option as the fortress was heavily guarded from this angle, and if they were spotted they would have no means of laying siege as they would simply be wiped out.
B They could go up the eastern side of the Rhine River and then use hundreds of small boats to ferry their troops to the island itself. This option would allow for them to put the fortress under siege, as the only means of stopping an attacker from landing on the eastern side was the small Castle Menmont controlled by House Menmonet. This castle was under construction after a brief civil war in the house had heavily damaged it.
Northeast of Westbridge lay the port of Yerness which guarded the northern approach down the Rhine, and if held by Malfoy loyalists would make it far more difficult to appraoch the city.
Hedrik Clegane III.

For the Invasion of Westbridge to be a success the Lucernian army had to do something about the threat of the large island northeast of Westbridge which was anchored in the massive fortress of Yerness. Yerness Island was basically a massive port on the south of the island which contained the vast majority of the Westbridge fleet, and then four large castles at the north, west, east, and center of the island with the most powerful being the center fortress called Castle Yernede. Controlling Yerness would also mean the difference between an easy boat ride for reinforcements in the case that the battle drug on for days or longer, so it became clear that Yerness could not be ignored and needed to be taken. The difficult task of taking Yerness fell upon House Swan, alongside its vassals in House Clegane, House Yerness, and House Black along with many of their sworn houses. In order to actually take the fortresses their were several options of which are shown in the table. In the end Option B was chosen by House Swan, and they along with the rest of the army traveled north to Lorderon where they took boats as far north as possible before travelling on foot to the eastern bank of the Rhine.

Castle Menmont

Castle Menmont2
Infighting had destroyed the castle over the years, and yet when we attacked them they resisted more bitterly then should have been seen by a defeated foe fighting for nothing but ruins.
Hedrik Clegane III.

The broken Castle Menmont was of vital importance to the defense of Yerness as a whole but the calls for resources to rebuild the castle from Westrbridge had met with nothing and thus they had to do it all themselves and for this reason the rebuilding, and repairs were drastically behind schedule. House Clegane led by Mathew, and his brother Hedrik led the initial boats across the waters and they quickly eliminated the sentries that watched the water for anyone coming across. With the sentries eliminated the other houses landed on the banks of the castle except for House Black of whom landed farther north and would be taking control of the small village of Downden as the base of operations for their siege of Yerness.

Taking the Castle

Battle of Yerness Stage 1
Charging inside that castle was a horrifying moment because I knew better then most the consequences of what happened if we didn't take this castle, and by extension the island in time for the main attack.
Hedrik Clegane III.

Matthew, and Hedrik Clegane led their forces into the depths of the castle, as they planned to move from within while the forces led by Charlie, and his nephew Brody Swan would lead House Swan, alongside House Yernese in a breakthrough of the castle itself. With the sentries down the castle had minimal defenses that late at night, and thus the forces broke through all over the place with minimal casualties, but House Swan ran into a problem when Jordin Menmont barred the front gate of the keep and thus blocked them into the courtyard which they now had near complete control over. Without siege weapons they attempted to find other ways in but basically waited for House Clegane to complete their side of things. Matthew and Hedrik moved with their small force inside the castle completed unaware to House Menmont who as Hedrik moved into the throne room was preparing to send Ravens away to warn the rest of the island. A struggle broke out between the remaining guards and the overwhelming forces of House Clegane who was now inside their walls. Hedrik Clegane watched as Vormin Menmont slew two men by himself and made his way over to the old fighter. Vormin Menmont was a well known fighter, and looking at him was looking at a large man covered completely in armor leaving little weaknesses open to an enemy. As the two fought Vormin found himself a true match but as they continued to fight the rest of House Menmont surrendered around them after members of House Clegane unbarred the gate and allowed in the rest of House Clegane, and House Swan. Even with his house surrendering around him Vormin continued to fight and despite Hedrik`s offer to stand down Vormin refused, and thus after a few more minutes of fighting Hedrik slew Vormin through a slash across the neck which was the only place not covered by armor.With this House Menmont surrendered and Castle Menmont along with House Menmont were not under Lucernian authority.

He was a bear of a man, and his fighting skill would have proven invaluable in the fighting that Lucerne was going to be dealing with. Instead he chose the honor of death resisting. What a fool.
Hedrik Clegane III.

Hedrik Clegane watched as Vormin Menmont slew two men by himself and made his way over to the old fighter. Vormin Menmont was a well known fighter, and looking at him was looking at a large man covered completely in armor leaving little weakenesses open to an enemy. As the two fought Vormin found himself a true match but as they continued to fight the rest of House Menmont surrendered around them after members of House Clegane unbarred the gate and allowed in the rest of House Clegane, and House Swan. Even with his house surrending around him Vormin continued to fight and despite Hedrik`s offer to stand down Vormin refused, and thus after a few more minutes of fighting Hedrik slew Vormin through a slash across the neck which was the only place not covered by armor.With this House Menmont surrendered and Castle Menmont along with House Menmont were not under Lucernian authority.

Taking Dowden

When House Black arrived with their near five hundred men on the outskirts of Downden they moved quickly into the village and took the entire village under their control. With the village under their control they sent word to Castle Menmont that the next stage was ready to begin. Everything went according to plan in Downden up until the point where Aldo Yernese the Patriarch of the House who was an old man fell down a hill and died upon hitting the bottom. For House Yernese this could have thrown the entire operation into disaster but instead Volker Yernese quickly gathered the troops together along with their sworn houses and made sure they all knew everything was fine, and that he would lead the house effectively. With Volker Yernese now in command of the house he quickly set about burrying his father on the hill he had died on, and then he begin preparing his force to move south and meet with House Clegane for the attack on Castle Yernede.

Movement

Battle of Yerness Stage 2
I was half worried after it proved so difficult taking the ruined castle at Menmont. If that was the ruins of this island, what would happen when we reached the bristling defenses of the south, and center.
Hedrik Clegane III.

With Castle Menmont taken the forces of House Swan moved completely unhindered towards their next goals. House Black moved with its sworn houses towards Castle Irinsi where they waited for a small fleet to arrive before they would hit the castle during the next night. House Mangles broke off from House Black and moved between Castle Yerness, and Castle Yernede and from here they would attempt to stop anyone from making it towards Castle Yerness. House Clegane moved towards Castle Yernede and through the day they spent the day surrounding the Castle from all sides, and constructing siege machines, and defences for their archers. Archers were placed throughout to stop any Ravens that attempted to get away. While this was going on House Swan made a coast line boat ride towards the port of Yerness where they prepared to take the Port from the front where it had no business being suprised in. While House Swan moved in this direction ten ships from the Lucernian Navy moved towards the port and prepared to make sure no boats were able to sail away.

Taking the Port

Port of Yerness
The Port of Yerness was the resistence on the island of Yerness. The moment that port went down every single defender on the island understood their island had fallen.
Charlie Swan

With basically every settlement in the entire island of Yerness under the control of the forces of House Swan they would prepare for one of the final attacks when House Swan ambushed the port of Yerness from the front, and a major seaborne attack as well. The entire attack waited until night had come, and by this point the defenders still had no idea that anyone was taking the island from them and because of this they were unaware for such large numbers to attack them. The Lucernian Navy would make their way into the port using no lights on the boats to conceal their movements and once they were inside the port they dislodged the forces of House Crakehall, House Hawick and House Dogget of whom quickly took control of the port area, and House Crakehall led by Jonas Crakehall would take control of the keep from which a great massacre of the defenders in the keep would awaken the town to the attackers.

Capturing the Gate
House Crakehall1

House Crakehall was forced to fight a desperate fight over control of the gates into the port

House Dogget's supreme failure to silently take control of the keep led to my forces being bogged down in a fight we didn't want to be involved into.
Jonas Crakehall

After the massacre at the keep and the raising of the alarm House Dogget was forced to deal with a growing number of defenders of whom were making a stubborn defence of the central and southern gate to such an extent that the attack on the central gate was so fierce that they were forced to pull back. Once they had pulled back a small force led by Garon Dandrill would hold the central gate defenders in place while the remainder of House Dogget moved against the southern gate. The southern gate was already hard pressed to defend themselves, and with this influx of attackers they were pushed out of the gatehouse or killed. House Dogget was able to gain control of the southern gate, and from here the forces of House Swan would swarm into the town, and with the control of the keep the entrance, and the waters the defenders surrendered all across the port.

Crisis in Darkhaven

Main Article : Crisis in Darkhaven

Crisis in Darkhaven
You are all being lied to by this girl. She is a murderer. She killed her friends, and now she has a taste for lying. She got away with it once, do not allow this monster of a girl to trick you into believing her.
Ephraim Black Large
When you looked at Ephraim Black he gave you the illusion that he was human. Everything about him looked the part, but beneath that cool exterior beats a heart that has nothing but hate, and evil. He is human in skin and bones alone.
Leana Darkmore

It would be Ephraim Black working under the commands of the Order of the Three Sins who would use the Battle of Castle Stragnarax to fufill the orders of his leader in the Lord of Gluttony. Using the battle he would be now able to move forward with their plot to take control of Darkhaven following his successful killing of Harbard Darkmore during the Battle of Castle Stragnarax, of whom he killed by stabbing him in the shoulder and then holding him down for nearly an hour while the Lord of House Darkmore bled out, and then during the night he would drag him to the walls which made it appear he had died to the Orcs. House Darkmore following the death of Harbert Darkmore would have a succession crisis due to the fact that Harbert had died without any male heirs and his sister had only one daughter in Abigail Darkmore who had already been married to Robin Highport leaving her as not a real option. Realizing this the lords of Darkmore were preparing to make Amantha Darkmore the lady of House Darkmore when Ephraim Black arrived at Darkmore with the idea of a better male candidate in the form of Colin Black of whom was the son of Melina Darkmore and thus a cousin to the lord of House Darkmore. Shocked about the turn of events Leana petitioned against the change as Amantha was the closest blood relative, and Colin Black had never visited, or knew anything of the land he would inherit. Ephraim arrived in Duskenvale with Cellia Black and begin making plans with the nobles there, and found many willing to listen to him as there were many who didn't want to be ruled by a young girl, and during this time Cellia Black used her considerable beauty to convinse several of the nobles of Duskhaven. Colin Black who was at this point still in Forks would be met by his cousin Rebecca Black of whom told him about the reality of his father's plan and that his father planned to remove the Darkmore girls as they were nothing but a threat to Colin and needed to be removed if Ephraim was to rule through Colin. Colin didn't want to believe what Rebecca said, but would agree to travel to Duskenvale with Rebecca Black of whom together with Colin's friend Eric Weinbrum, and his wife Vanessa Black the group would meet Lyle Crakehall and a small troop of House Crakehall on the road and then made there way to Duskenvale. Thus arriving at Duskenvale with his friend, wife, Lyle Crakehall, and Rebecca Black he would be met by his father of whom was furious that he had come to Duskenvale and was going to command his son to return to Forks when he would be interupted by Rebecca Black and Lyle Crakehall of whom took Colin Black and left him with his cousin Amantha. During this time spent time with his cousin Amantha Darkmore of whom he liked very much he came to learn about the reality of what his father was doing and how much it would ruin Amantha, and hearing this he would leave her to find her father of whom he was able to find through the assistence of Rebecca Black. Finding his father in the tower of Darkmore his plan to talk to his father would change dramatically when he overheard his father discussing how he was going to murder the Darkmore girls once he had control so that they wouldn't trouble him anymore, and how after he married Colin off to some girl he would then murder Colin and finally finish what he truly wanted for someone he called the Lord of Gluttony. Overhearing this Colin knew that Rebecca wasn't lying at all and went to his cousin of whom he found kissing Lyle Crakehall and telling her what he had heard the group would go to Amantha and leaving Eric Weinbrum behind with her to protect her with a few Crakehall men the group would leave for Hillsbrad to meet with the Arch Duke of the region in the form of House Greymane.

Deciding Fates

Leana Darkmore Cover

Leana Darkmore being related to House Darkwood would bring yet another loyalist to Darkhaven in order to resist the forces of Ephraim Black.

When you looked at Ephraim Black he gave you the illusion that he was human. Everything about him looked the part, but beneath that cool exterior beats a heart that has nothing but hate, and evil. He is human in skin and bones alone.
Leana Darkmore

Rebecca Black, Lyle Crakehall, Vanessa Black, and Colin Black would arrive in Hillsbrad and were given an audience with the new Lord of House Greymane in the form of Liam Greymane. Laying out the situation with Liam they were very open about what was going on, and while Liam was reluctant to believe the true extent of how nefarious Ephraim was being in Duskhaven he would agree to travel to Duskhaven in several weeks and he would decide the lordship of Duskhaven himself. Rebecca and the group returned to Duskhaven to find that several of the prominent lords of the province had arrived in Duskhaven including Jon Lowport of whom brought with him his wife, son, and daughter, while Edric Fordale arrived as the new lord of House Fordale accompanied by his sister, and wife, and finally Robin Highport arrived with his wife and sister, but Rebecca would quickly find that each of these lords had their own agendas. The arrival of House Darkwood would incense tensions as Kieth Darkwood, and his brother Derek Darkwood would bring significant forces in order to protect their niece Leana Darkmore, and upon their arrival blood was nearly spilled between Derek Darkwood, and Ephraim upon learning his plotting.

When you looked at Ephraim Black he gave you the illusion that he was human. Everything about him looked the part, but beneath that cool exterior beats a heart that has nothing but hate, and evil. He is human in skin and bones alone.
Leana Darkmore
Noble Family Leadership Role in the Crisis
House Lowport Jon Lowport House Lowport would send significant forces to Duskhaven in order to protect the remaining Darkmore's after the death fo the Patriarch, and they were extremely agressive towards Ephraim Black and his attempt to take control from the Darkmore's.
House Highport Robin Highport
House Fordale Edric Fordale
House Darkwood Kieth Darkwood House Darkwood would send significant forces in order to protect blood member of the family in the form of Leana Darkmore of whom was the niece of Kieth, and Derek Darkwood.

With the arrival of the Arch Duke only a week away the meeting in Duskhaven would be increased when Orival Crane arrived with two of his brothers and a sister on the request of his friend Jon Lowport II.

The Arch Duke Arrives

Family Members

Relationships

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