LOM - Queen Ephiny's Village - 25 Years BDC

[Hollywood Heidi]

Queen Ephiny's Village

Located in the Land of Mythos

Events occurring 25 years before Dark Curse

[Lady Lee-o]

25 years BDC - 2 years Before Ephiny's death

The Amazon Nation was in peril, The Romans gathered to take their lands and exterminate “the vermin” upon it. War, it was always coming and the tribal leaders could only gather and talk about what came next. Thirty-six Amazon Queens gathered to discuss their plight, sitting in the sacred circle to discuss tactics and strategy. The greatest warriors from Greece to Egypt, they came to listen and Ephiny hoped to help. The eastern tribes were watching their nation slowly die, they needed aid from the west, south and northern tribes.

Ephiny, she had taken the mantle of Queen and ruled her tribe the best she could. With the disappearance of Gabrielle, it was now her duty to lead The Telaquire tribe to victory. She listened mostly, adding her ideas when she could.

They would all look to the northern queen, Cyane, the most respected among them this day. The north was a holy ground to many sisters, Amazon's traveled from all over to visit this blessed land of their ancestors; Ephiny’s grandmother had been a northern Amazon. Many Amazons would break from the north to form their own tribes in her grandmother's time.

Slowly, Cyane stood from her chair, the room going silent as they waited for her to speak. Her words would be law and whatever she decided, she expected most would side with her.

“Sisters, I can see your struggle and It has become too much for the Eastern nation. You can not win against the Romans, their numbers are too great and ours grow fewer every day. I fear if the East continues to fight this campaign, all tribes will perish. I have prayed to Artemis and asked for guidance and strength,” Ephiny swallowed hard, she knew what was coming next and she wasn’t happy. “It is time for your tribes to return home, to the north, where you all truly belong. Back to your ancestral lands, the lands where-”

“Pup,” Ephiny looked over and saw Queen Titinari, she had been Queen longer than most. She had ruled alongside Queen Lucina; her mother’s Queen. The frail older woman stood, aided by her Regent. “-we belong here. You barely hold your title and you think to govern over us who come before?”

“Queen Titinari, the council, of course, respects your words. You being the oldest among-”

“My horse drops better manure from her arse, then you do from your filthy mouth. You will not help those Roman animals take our lands from us, my tribe will stay and fight and you can run back to safety.” Ephiny bit down on her bottom lip, keeping herself from laughing at the obviously frazzled Queen Cyane.

“Something to say, Queen Ephiny,” but not well enough-

Ephiny stood from her place in the circle, she was trying to hold back a bit of laughter still. Like Queen Titinari, she didn’t fear Cyane and found her rule mediocre. “Several things to say,” She cleared her throat and moved next to Queen Titinari, “I respect my Queen’s who come before them, Queen Titinari is right, running is not the answer. These men will not stop until we are all dead. I say we fight and die with honor and not run like cowards. These are our lands, we will proudly fight and die upon them. My ancestors might come from the northern tribes but I was born on these lands; the east is my home. I would die for my family and sisters before I let the enemy win.”

“The East will not prevail in this fight, return to your villages, pack up and come home.”

“The East is my home! I’m a warrior, my sword in my hand and I will die in battle and not as a coward. You can run from Rome but they will never be done conquering lands.” She placed her arm over her chest, “They will travel in all directions unless they are stopped, it is only a matter of time.”

“You stand against the north?”

“I stand against cowardice.” She looked to her eastern sisters and those who stood next to them. “I respect those willing to stand for what is right.”

“Are you challenging me, Queen Ephiny, for my position?” Cyane became defensive.

“Keep your position, it won’t get you far in Eternity.” She looked around and stepped to the center of the circle. “Those who are not afraid of Rome, those who wish to be honored in the next life- meet me on the eastern borders.” She turned back to Cyane, “Maybe if it were your borders in danger, you would think differently? Your eastern sisters would have helped protect you, glad to know what the North thinks of us.” Ephiny returned home, feeling angry and defeated. Her son always made her feel better, always made her feel sane. She would see his face and know that her little Centaur Prince would someday make a difference. She would need to send him away, send him to his grandfather's, a war was no place for a child.

When more and more Amazons showed up, she felt her spirit soar. Amazons from the west, south and even north had come to aid them. “You were right-” She turned to see Cyane standing there, draped in war garb and ready. “Sister's do not abandon those in need. I was wrong, we stop them here or die trying.” Ephiny clasped hands with her sister and smiled, “Forgive me.”

“All is forgiven, Queen Cyane, welcome to my home.”