You struggle for your life!
4
You twist your body to get rid of Bjern, but he quickly counters and raises his knife at you. Fortunately you manage to dodge the blow and then wrestle with him for the knife.
"WOMAN! I WILL MAKE METHIANT GREAT AGAIN! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND!?"
"You're mad, Bjern! Please calm down!"
You two fight for the knife and Bjern at one moment unceremoniously slams you against nearby tree. You repay him by elbowing his gonads and then his face. Then he grabs you by the throat for a brief moment, but fails to deliver a stab with the knife as you twist your body again. You hear little Rinilda sobbing in terror somewhere to your right.
In the heat of battle, you finally grab hold of the blade and strike; the knife sinks deep under Bjern's jaw. To your terror and disbelief, your beloved Emperor falls to the ground, gurgling on his blood and clawing on the blade. The darkness masks the color of blood that slowly paints Bjern's neck and shirt red.
Soon, the guards and palace staff catches up with the scene...
1172 AD, Midwinter
"The Council gathers today to elect the new Emperor or Empress of Methiant." The Advisor sits down at the pedestal and looks at gathered nobles, officers, officials and dignitaries.
"What happened to the book found under Emperor's robes?" The royal scholar stands up.
"It was a book of some heretical, mystical worship or some such. Such a piece of vile literature could find no resting place other than a fireplace. It has been destroyed." The Advisor nods.
"We must also comment on Empress' deed. She fought bravely and dealt with Emperor Bjern, who seemingly fell into madness. Who knows what could become of us and Methiant if she failed in her noble combat." The Advisor lifts the cast iron ball and slams it three times against the pedestal.
"Now we decide. Do we honor Emperor Bjern's default choice of his daughter Rinilda, with her mother as Empress-Regent, or do we elect someone else? Remember, everyone with dynastic ties-" The Advisor glares at murmuring, scheming, borderlands-dwelling noblemen. "-is viable for the throne."
The council decides to...
A) Go with default choice and choose Rinilda as future Empress of Methiant, with her mother Ruberta as Empress-Regent.
B Make Empress-Consort Ruberta a true Empress of her own right.
C) Appoint Princess Eiri as Empress of Methiant.
D) Appoint Prince Hein as Emperor of Methiant.
E) Choose Princess Graine as future Empress of Methiant, with her mother Bjeda as Empress-Regent.
F) Choose Prince Deathan as future Emperor of Methiant, with his mother Bjeda as Empress-Regent.
G) Appoint Llewyn, son of King Erik of Cydwyl and Lady Alissa of Methiant as Emperor.
H) Appoint Tollin, son of King Erik of Cydwyl and Lady Alissa of Methiant as Emperor.
I) Choose Aron, son of King Erik of Cydwyl, as future Emperor, with his mother Alissa of Methiant as Empress-Regent.
J) Appoint Lady Alissa, daughter of Harthaen and Tulla, as Empress.
Otherwise, the court can look outside Methiant and invite...
L) King Estjald of Cydwyl, son of Eirika and King Cidric of Cydwyl, to become Emperor of Methiant.
M) Princess Odiana of Cydwyl, daughter of Eirika and King Cidric of Cydwyl, to become Empress of Methiant.
N) Prince Cyl of Cydwyl, son of Eirika and King Cidric of Cydwyl, to become Emperor of Methiant.