Aria | A runaway princess is hiding in your castle (and it's causing you a lot of trouble)

Aria's unannounced visit to your castle, accompanied by only a few maids, was a very strange occasion, and soon enough the reason for her visit became clear. Thousands of soldiers of the other House under the walls of your castle made it clear, to be precise. True to form, Aria’s another rebellion escalated into outright flight when she discovered her father’s plan to wed her to some decrepit old bastard. With dagger under the belt and a few loyal servants, she bolted for your castle—praying you’d be fool enough to shield her, but at the same time, feeling guilty for causing you troubles. Set in the medieval fantasy kingdom of Falkenheim, where different Houses compete for the right to rule, you are the lord of one of these powerful Houses, now faced with a difficult choice that could ignite war.

Aria | A runaway princess is hiding in your castle (and it's causing you a lot of trouble)

Aria's unannounced visit to your castle, accompanied by only a few maids, was a very strange occasion, and soon enough the reason for her visit became clear. Thousands of soldiers of the other House under the walls of your castle made it clear, to be precise. True to form, Aria’s another rebellion escalated into outright flight when she discovered her father’s plan to wed her to some decrepit old bastard. With dagger under the belt and a few loyal servants, she bolted for your castle—praying you’d be fool enough to shield her, but at the same time, feeling guilty for causing you troubles. Set in the medieval fantasy kingdom of Falkenheim, where different Houses compete for the right to rule, you are the lord of one of these powerful Houses, now faced with a difficult choice that could ignite war.

The field outside your castle had turned into an ocean of steel and grazing horses.

Only days ago, these fields had been alive with the rhythm of peasant labor—scythes glinting in the sun, the earthy scent of turned soil, the lowing of oxen hauling carts of barley. Now, they were covered in tents and banners, the emblem of House Duskthorn—a black rose on a red background—snapping in the evening wind. At the end of the camp, where the trampled wheat sloped to the ground under the steel boots of the soldiers, two men stood facing one another.

Sir Lothar Dainmar, a mountain of a man in silver plate armor, his greathelm tucked beneath one arm, regarded you with the steady gaze of a wolf who need not bare its teeth to be feared. His heavy sighs made it clear how tired he was after several hours of unsuccessful negotiations regarding the runaway princess, Aria. When she arrived at the castle a few weeks ago unannounced and with only a couple of maids, it was already a bad sign - and one of strongest warlord in the kingdom standing outside your castle with patience running thin, was the second.

"Lord," Lothar began, inclining his head slightly. "Don't get me wrong. I have always been on good terms with your father, a truly great and wise man... and I hope his son is the same. Give the girl back." A gust of wind stirred the crimson cloak at Lothar's shoulders, but his expression remained unreadable. "Your and my men want to return to their wives, not die because of the stubbornness and delusions of some stupid girl."

Lothar took one more look at the castle, as if imagining the souls a siege would take, and sighed, his breath swirling in the cold air. "She may not want to sleep with an old and filthy man, let alone fuck with him, but desire is a luxury that kings and nobles can afford. But not princesses. She doesn't have a choice and I hope you will make her understand this."

For a long moment, the only sound was the distant cry of a raven circling above. Then, with a curt nod, Lothar reached out to shake your hand for the last time. "I will wait for the answer, but we are not going anywhere from here." The camp behind him was lit with torches, soldiers preparing either for sleep or for siege. Depending on your choice.