Prologue Rats 03

Each chapter will have a prologue that is between 5 - 8 pages. This is the third for Rats in the Cellar. I'll post links to and through it all later.

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"In Milady Maladyne the greater share of the Harbinger's emblems were concentrated. And while the evil defining this, our Age, is not a barbarian horde, yet it has fallen to those of inherited power and glory to meet that evil and struggle against it. Milady Maladyne Mitesceru, chosen from birth for appointment to the Seat of Judgment as Magistrate of Dernhem, honed and expanded her Foresight to face what assails her lands and people. Her simple, powerful vision heralded a land united by faith and freed from darkness by the Harbinger once more. Word of her directives spread from the Southern Provinces to the northern reaches of the River Varde, and the faith of those devoted to the Lady of Light and Blade grew in anticipation of another Glorious Victory.

"But within the chambers of Dernhem’s Hall of Judgment there was discord, for not all perceived the Harbinger’s power as the answer to the evils of the day. In the face of those who opposed her vision, Milady Maladyne abandoned her post as Magistrate of Dernhem and withdrew from the seat of political power. This sacrifice was seen by many as abandonment, and in the political upheaval that followed, Dernhem’s lands and prosperity became vulnerable to the growing evil, while the Lady Maladyne sequestered herself in her work, drawing together all of the tokens of Karea’s power possessed by her line and working in secret to realize her vision, supported by those closest to her and by those who loved her."



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Those who have read and viewed most of the chapters of Demon's Due that follow may guess the identity of the writer, and a few might guess the importance of what is being written as well as what is pictured here. I'll continue to post the pages as they are completed. For those who are interested, a simple comparison with other versions of "The Vision of Maladyne Mitesceru" that have appeared in this storyline might yield some interesting insights about it all. The other one is here: faile35.deviantart.com/art/Coi… . Of particular note are the Alacriax Sword symbols (think of them as elaborate rosaries) regimented in the lower left as the basis for the shields and weapons above, the outline of the Iron Wagon (its actual purpose and function will be suggested on the next page), the light of the sun that banishes the darkness gripping the land (to Maladyne's left), the orderly runes (meaning will be suggested in the future as well), and the nicely regimented women joining hands in their faith and purpose.

Oh, and one more thing: This drawing within a drawing made use of a new stock model for the character of Maladyne Mitesceru. There have been several of these in the past, but given how long it has taken me to get to the point in the storyline where Maladyne will take a more personal, visible role, things haven't worked out. Chalk it up to my slowness in producing these things, as always, but for now, expect to see more of the new Maladyne stock model in the near future. And, as always, be the first to guess his/her identity (it isn't me this time, folks! ), and I'll put some of your work in the featured portion of the Demon's Due Plus journal entry.

Enjoy!