The Princess Lives

In the wake of the tragic Assassination of Blood, conspiracy theories began to rapidly circulate. One of these was that Whirlan's Crown Princess, Laharika, had not died during the event. Despite attempts by Dalirn to quell this rumor and dispel theories, it has spread across the country and is believed by many.

The princess will return. She will wash away the blood.

— Axiom of the White Rebellion

History

The story began as a rumor just after the Assassination. Surviving servants tasked with removing bodies from the room recorded the identities of everyone and realized that while King Rendorik and Queen Lavinia were dead, their daughter was nowhere to be found. With hope beginning to push them forward, the servants searched every body. They found no trace of the princess. Upon returning home, they passed the news to family and friends, desperate for word to spread.

by Lilliana Casper

The invaders swiftly tracked down those who started the rumor and imprisoned or executed them, but it was too late. News had already begun to spread, hope rising in its wake. If the princess hadn't been found, she might be alive. If she was alive, it meant she had escaped. If she had escaped, she could hide and grow stronger. And if she got stronger, she could retake the throne from the usurpers. All she needed was time, support, and a country ready to follow her as soon as she returned.
The Dalirn assassins tried to put an end to the tale, posting propaganda and issuing threats against anyone who spoke about the princess. To the present day, their attempts have been in vain. Hope was stronger than fear, and the Whirlans

had more than enough. The White Rebellion, which formed almost as soon as the Dalirn took over, adopted the rumor as its primary motto and driving force. They aim to find the princess and help her retake her place, overthrowing the Dalirn in the process.

In Literature

Several letters between nobles and rebellion members discuss the possible survival of the princess. A trilogy of novels was written by members of the rebellion to inspire hope in their children. However, the story still remains in secret to prevent the deaths of any more people.

In Art

The slogan "The princess will return. She will wash away the blood." has been printed on White Rebellion flyers since the rumor first began and has even been incorporated into the organization's flag.

Date of Setting

2054

Related Organizations

• Whirlan

Noble Support

Although initial support for this rumor was low among the nobility, it has grown considerably as time has passed. Dalirn's control of the country has tightened and those who initially supported the takeover because they disagreed with King Rendorik have realized their mistake. Dalirn did not come to liberate Whirlan nobles and free them from obligations, it came to rule another piece of territory and exert its influence on a greater number of people. Especially as rules restricting Gifted powers have begun to be released, more and more nobles are swaying to the White Rebellion, agreeing to support the princess when she returns.
Not all nobles have opposed this rumor, however. Several families who were close to the king and queen but were spared by the Dalirn have quietly spread the tale of Laharika's survival. Many believe that those closest to the former rulers even hid her, passing her between nobles and commoners alike to keep her safe. Cassandra Issachar, sister of King Rendorik, and her husband, Izaiah, disappeared in 2056. Members of House Issachar believe she and her husband joined the White Rebellion after they were sent away by the Dalirn.

Three people, Izaiah. Three family members. That's who I've lost to them. I won't lose you, and I won't lose her. We're doing something. We have to.

— Cassandra, Prophecy