And Night Did Fall

The long investigations into who assassinated Crown Prince Fabian have, at last, come to a head. On the 19th Stars, the news is released: the murderer was none other than former Consul of Estraude, Akiela Fakhri.

Held by the Song-Lu Peacekeepers since her mysterious disappearance over a year ago, she finally confessed to the assassination - a deliberate move she made in order to end the peace talks that could have allowed dark elves into the Kingdom.

Disbelief and outrage sweep Alva. Anger quickly turns into violence. Across the Empire, the small and already ostracised populations of wood elves are attacked indiscriminately by furious patriots. Calls come for the Koben government to cease all friendly contact with Estraude. In a move that seems to echo these sentiments, Koben disregards consulting Estraude and publicly executes Akiela the very next day.

The Kingdom, although mostly in shock, does not escape unscathed: on the 21st Stars, the Day of Prayer, packed Estran churches in Miras and Amedra are set ablaze by alchemical explosives. The royal military swiftly finds and captures the pocket of Koben expatriates responsible, but the damage is done. What should have been a time of year for celebration is instead one of bitterness and bloodshed all over Alva.