Summoning Lost Love
Near the end of summer and the start of early autumn, a young lady of the city of Orleans had been waiting, waiting for the return of her love, a young sergeant-at-arms to return. He had been sent with his noble's forces to fight in the Saxon Wars and hadn't returned in months. No word had reached her as to his fate, and her heart ached.
Attending the local court, that even at that time, was controlled by the dreaded de Rais family she heard a rumour. Now this rumour is still all the rage of this court and even in the Emperor Charlemagne's court. According to the people present the Countess Gabrielle de Rais was newly installed as the leader of the court, and had done so at the expense of others. Using dark magic she had the then dominant de Orleans family representative murdered. This was done so she didn't have any real competition to the chair of the court and allowed her to maneuver most of the others in her favour.
The rumour stated that Gabrielle had in part seduced her way to the top, and it didn't matter who the person was. Most put this down to the distaste of the local population with the de Rais having a notorious reputation for powerplays, aggressive tactics, and above all ambitions, the money & the muscle to to anything they wanted.
With all the talk, the young lady wanted to find out anything she could about her love, the sergeant. When asking around the different nobles present, it came to the attention of Gabrielle herself. The Countess made a public statement on her first day that she will aid the young lady in finding out what was going on.
All avenues, at least legally were explored by the Countess, at least anyone could tell. When nothing appeared, she made a few discrete back room deals to find out, and still to no avail. Eventually the Countess summoned the lady and said that nothing was forthcoming, but in private said there was one last thing they could try. Just the two of them, and a little bit of magic and they may find out once and for all. So, after a few tutorials by the Countess the lady was ready to try this with her leading a special magical ritual.
They travelled into the mountains a couple of days later, with a small group of mercenaries & some gear. The two had picked aplace hight enough up for a good view of the countryside and far away from everyone. Setting up a circle of tallow candles they started the ritual while the sun was just rising. Knowing that all they could do was take in some water during the day they carried it out till the sun started to dip in the sky.
At last the time came when the Countess took a drop of the lady's blood and burned i in a candle saying the final line of the spell. At this point the young lady felt a jolt and standing in front of her in the circle was the form of her love. Shockingly, he appeared scarred, battered and bleeding while an unseen blade struck him in his chest killing him. To her horror, the lady realised her one true love had been killed in battle but far worse was to come.
After this, she felt something else.... Hatred. She hated him, for going to war, and for dying as he did. And unbeknownst to her, Gabrielle had tricked her. She felt the same love for Gabrielle, and all the while Gabrielle had known about his death, and had managed to set up an assault against a well-defended Saxon position to remove him. This was in part due to him having de Orlean's blood in his veins. And the lady had de Sade blood, and having seduced the young lady with magic, Gabrielle had her under her sway.
A few weeks later and after the lady had become part of Gabrielle's retinue, she disappeared. No body was found though many think she took her own life after all that happened. Though, for some, they woulkd swear that the lady is still under Gabrielle's clutches, deep in her family's dungeon. One as rumoured as being as cruel as the Countess, this would not be outside the realm of possibility....
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