The Deaths of Queen Taliah and Lord Kithraen

There's a lot of speculation about how Queen Taliah Calistri and her husband died last Orien. During their seasonal boat ride to meet with the sentient denizens of Lake Tianylla, a sudden and violent storm swept over the lake and capital. Once it passed, dragon riders went out in search of their ship, where they discovered the occupants had all fallen overboard and perished, including the Queen and Lord Royal.

Official Report

After an extensive investigation by the general, High Sorceress, and High Justicar, the deaths of the Queen and her companions was ruled a natural accident. Examinations of the bodies all presented signs of drowning, lightning burns, or damage easily explained by being thrown about a ship caught in a storm. The guards bodies were burned according to Etherean custom. The Queen herself was laid to rest in the royal mausoleum. But her husband Lord Kithraen's body was never recovered.

Popular Conspiracy Theories

The Council

It was no secret that Lord Kithraen rarely got along with Etherea's Council of Lords. So, when whispers started about the Queen's ship being sabotaged, a lot of people looked in the council's direction. Within a few months, the whispers had spread into a full-blown rumor that the certain members of the Council of Lords had conspired to get rid of Queen Taliah and Lord Kithraen, paving the way for their young daughter Princess Lorah Calistri, who would be much easier to manipulate.

Rogue Mages

The second most popular theory is that a group of rogue mages worked together to create the storm. However, believers of this theory can't agree on whether the goal was to kill the royal couple or simply attack the city. Despite Etherea's magical dominance, the world still hosts many mages who seek ever more power. Many believe that Etherea's enemies are simply waiting for the right moment to strike. Araniae's mages, including the High Sorceress and Archmages, have all discounted the storm as anything more than the work of nature or the gods, yet the theory persists.

Prompt 17 of Summer Camp 2020