Kess Grinne and Lord Tula
This week, we look at the last pair of founders who would see the Princess Wars from start to end, the Arcadian founders; Kess Grinne and Lord Tula. The most prominent non-human founders in the early days of the war, they would go on to found the [Arcadian Domain] after [The Schism].
Kess Grinne
Kess Grinne would be considered a 'cyborg' in [The-Eunarchy], a class of non-human born out of the Eunarch's countless experiments to replicate menne magick. More mechanical parts than human, Lady Grinne would mix magick and [Olden Science] to produce the [Mechanical Horrors], a hallmark of Grinne technology.
Early Life
Very little is known about the 'Mother of Arcadia''s early life, except she first appears in O.E 788, demanding the death of Viscount-Eternal Sunset. She would wreak havoc among the eastern continental coast, reducing villages to flaming rubble, but the Lord of Afterlives would not engage her in open battle, only repeatedly sending small contingents of mummies to crash against her crude amalgamation of constructs. She would never come close to crossing the bone-bridge of Bylon with her own power.
Kess herself would not be able to answer why she was carrying out her destruction against Bylon, except that the day she 'broke out of her test tube' she had a sworn hatred for the undead.
Likely connected to the nameless faction near Silveryn Mountains, her self-claimed homeplace mentions a 'manor along the mouth where mountains meet rivers', matching the terrain of north-east of Silveryn. It would also make sense why she is programmed this way, as Lord Sunset would have been responsible for the collapse of the factions her creator was most likely aligned with.
Grinne's Malicious Logic
"Its not a war crime if you win!!!" - Kess Grinne
Kess Grinne would be defined by her malicious streak, her actions causing pause even in the Founding Starlight, who noted that even though the Starlight Cavalry would commit many atrocities themselves, they would never revel in the same sort of child-like glee that Grinne took in destroying her enemies.
Early on, Kess would be most closely aligned with Morganna, who always finds a creative outlet for the cyborg's destructive tendencies. The two also share a commonality in using psychological tactics to demoralize enemies, united in their belief that 'anything is justified' if it was to wipe out The-Eunarchy. Her disregard for human life would land her in trouble after she collapses [North Fabrique] at a horrific human cost, resulting in her being recalled from the frontline for the [Grinne Show-Trials]. Such is her infamy that "to pull off a Grinne" is today a Vespana meme for doing something terrible and getting away with all of it.
Later, Kess would align herself with the non-humans of Vespana territory. Most non-humans were unwilling victims of experiments by The-Eunarchy, turning them into human-animal hybrids with varying degrees of affliction. Perhaps Grinne saw some commonality with them, unable to find a place in either the Olden Empire nor Vespana. Finding unlikely allies in The First and Lord Tula, the three would work together to better the lives of those who have suffered by The-Eunarchy's hands.
Her position would soften as the war went on due to The First's influence. At the end of the war, it would be Kess who reminds The First to keep her promise of helping the non-humans of the New Continent. Distraught by a string of tragedies wrought by the non-humans even after the war ended, The First would order the banishment of non-humans from New Coimbra, setting the stage for [The Schism]. Miraculously prevailing over The First in a [Duel for the Throne] that lasted for three days and nights, Kess leads the non-humans to safety and founds the [Floating City of Arcadia].
Meeting the Founding Trine
Kess would make contact with the Founding Trine shortly after Lord Sunset agrees to implicitly support them. He assigns Grinne's elimination as the second task to fulfill a contract with the Afterlife. Morganna, having different ideas, devises a plan to capture her alive, using the borrowed troop of mummies as bait and having Satella drop into Grinne's [Mechanical Horror], then pull her from the mangled mess of cables that attach her to it.
Morganna would be able to convince Kess to join the Trine's cause, though the exact words she used are lost to history. It is likely that Morganna leveraged their common connection to the unnamed Silveryn faction. Most interestingly, Lord Sunset did not oppose this new union. Nor did Kess maintain her hostility towards the undead after meeting with Morganna. She would have very little contact with Lord Sunset, preferring to work with his [Aspects] far more than the Lord of Afterlife himself.
Last Word
'You ever think the old man planned all of this?' - Kess Grinne
Kess Grinne would play a pivotal role in the late war, replacing Morganna as Grand-Commander after she perishes defending Bylon Clocktower. Defending the capital of New Coimbra alone and against all odds, she holds out just long enough until the result of [Sanity's Deep] upturns the battlefield. Despite being seen as a traitor at the time, [The Schism] solidifies the tradition of seats being passed down through a duel, and only a duel, bringing The First's vision for Vespana to life. For that, her statue still stands today at the center of Arcadia, hailed as a hero by the numerous descendants of the non-humans she saved at the end of the war.
Lord Tula
The other non-human within the founder's ranks, Lord Tula would not reach prominence until after the [Grinne Show Trials]. If the Eternal-Viscount Sunset was crucial for handling war logistics, Lord Tula would be of equal importance for handling civil affairs, managing the immensely difficult task of food supplies for the continent's people.
Early Life
Born in the Black Land to a merchant family, the young Tula would be [Mark'd] [1] by his wolf-like features, complete with black fur, animal ears and golden eyes. Unlike many other Mark'd children in the Black Land, he would grow up relatively unscathed from slavery, helping his family run a steamed bun shop in the shadows of the Brother Viscount's keep. There, the young Tula would have undoubtedly encountered the many abuses of [The-Eunarchy], the Eunarchs openly cavorting the streets with slaves on chains and leashes. Much like the Viscount Sunset, Tula learnt to hide his disgust at this practice, and silently bided his time.
Unlike some of the founders, Lord Tula was well-written and educated, often recording life in the Red and Black Lands through stories and letters. Most famous are his scathing commentary on the [Ludicrum Decrees], where at one point the paranoid Brother Viscount banned 'death' to forestall the Viscount Sunset.
Despite his large stature and foreboding looks, it seemed that he was well-liked on the streets and would frequently give other non-human children rides on his shoulders. One account remembers Lord Tula singing down the street with six cubs on his shoulders, three on each side.
Service Under the Brother Viscount
Eventually he would come to lead the street of merchants surrounding his family business, dubbed the "Seventh Street Merchants". This would catch the attention of the Brother Viscount, who presses him into his service and forces him to fund the Red Land's growing tribute to [The-Eunarchy].
It is only through many trickeries of contracts that he would fulfill this obligation, including a trade agreement with the Eternal-Viscount. A great feat, especially when trade between the Red and Black lands was made difficult by the undead's unwillingness to trade with the living. Having successfully accomplished what no other living being was able to do, the Brother Viscount elevates Tula to the empty position of royal advisor, placing Tula at his side with no true authority.
"You see!! The moon!! It is mocking me---!!! Do something about this, Tula!!!!!" - The Brother Viscount in [[Blood Red Buns]]
Despite elevating his to the status of advisor, the Brother Viscount and his Eunarchs would frequently demean and belittle the wolfish advisor's words, frequently mocking his non-human status. After [Moonfall], the Brother Viscount would become increasingly unhinged and isolated, convinced that Lord Sunset and the Sorceress of the Beginning were hiding behind every curtain and vase jar, waiting to pounce on his moment of weakness.
One account had Tula recall the Brother Viscount repeatedly tearing down and remodeling his court room inside higher and higher tower rooms, such that the keep became a haphazard collection of towers which protruded upon each other in the clouds. Lord Tula would continue to serve the Brother Viscount, albeit with chagrin, putting more focus on his merchantry than court affairs.
Contact with Lord Sunset
At one point, the now Lord Tula would make contact with the Eternal-Viscount Sunset, something that was explicitly forbidden by the Brother Viscount. The two would secretly exchange messages by the form of the Eternal-Viscount temporarily taking over the body of freshly slaughtered livestock to talk with Lord Tula. The Lord Sunset would be impressed by the person who 'got one over him', as would Lord Tula by the Sunset's many stories about life outside [East Fabrique], another subject forbidden by the Brother Viscount. Their relationship would not continue for long, for the Eunarchs at the Brother Viscount's court looked to eliminate the Eternal-Viscount who was covertly covering for the Founding Trine's rebellion.
Blasphemy Against the Dead
"You have all gone insane! The dead keep to themselves, what more could you all want?!"
"Exactly! Someone is living peacefully, NOT under OUR Eunachy!"
- Lord Tula and the Eunarchs at the Brother Viscount’s Court
On the [Day of Mourning], the Viscount Sunset would make a then traditional trip into the desert valleys of the Red Land to pay respects to his deceased former comrades. Having noticed this pattern of taking a light guard on this specific day for many years, the Eunarchs took the chance to surround the valley, stealing Oración's sarcophagus from her temple. Lord Sunset's tiny entourage seemingly trapped in the valley temples, the Eunarchs would perform all manner of blasphemy on Oración's corpse to lure Lord Sunset out of the valley and wipe out the Sunset influence once and for all.
Lord Tula most certainly knew about The Eunarchy's hubris, as he would have had to provision the weapons the Eunarchs used for their troops. Morality not allowing him to aid this wicked scheme, he vehemently opposes the plan, only to be denounced by the Eunarchs at court and laughed at for his supposed cowardice. He would hurriedly send a message to the Viscount Sunset through animal entrails, but to no response.
Reunion In Argyle
"The skies ran red, and the sun grew spokes, dark, long and thin. " - Lord Tula
Lord Tula, sensing looming disaster, would quietly warn the streets under him to 'shut their doors and not come out for any reason'. Then he would go up to the Brother Viscount's tower court to convince him to come out and meet with the Viscount Sunset. Refusing, the Brother Viscount huddles in his tower, convinced that the undead cannot reach him, and so long as he waited here through the night, they would not be able to pierce the city walls.
Lord Tula would be present with the Brother Viscount in [Reunion In Argyle]. When Valerie, Morganna and Lord Sunset come crashing through the tower's windows, the two men instantly recognized each other, despite having never seen each other's face even once. This might have contributed to Tula's lack of a proper resistance, faking his being taken down quickly by Valerie's amateurish sword skills.
After Morganna assassinates the Brother Viscount, Lord Tula would come into service of Valerie as a record-keeper, having obtained Valerie's word that the streets would be untouched by the strife that would follow.
Last Word
Lord Tula and The First became fast friends, both good-natured people in an era full of villains and schemers. He would always believe in The First's Valeriist ideals --- that those with good hearts will prevail in the end. In her time of need, Lord Tula would repay The First by raising a vast army of volunteers to break the siege of Shirohime.
Sadly, Lord Tula's legacy is stained by [The Schism], choosing to become an Arcadian lord alongside Kess Grinne. His statue stands today below the [Tower of Wolfe], laughing heartily with an apple outstretched in his hand.
[1] As part of [Constitutional Slavery], parents would have to receive a [Mark] as a sign of their non-human status, which would also be passed down to their children by blood.
