The Coffin Club

The history books talk clearly about what happened next after the Scourging of Roden. The Emperor was survived by his mother, Lady Belhaine, his bastard teen son, Volkan of Wrought, and his adopted cousin Firhardt of Tessalan. The members of the Inner Council had their own surviving heirs as well who laid claim to their seats (or, if they were bold enough, laid claim to the destroyed throne). Thus began the Succession Wars, where Belhaine and Firhardt tried to control Volkan for his strongest claim while also putting down the uprisings fomented by the Council's heirs. Abroad, the war to occupy Djartola ground to a standstill. Cut off from commands and logistics, the field commanders had to make their own calls. The smart ones held to the mission with aplomb or went rogue and were not punished for it. The majority of them reveled in loot and slaughter, sweeping across the roads of Djartola to feed the beast as Djartolan resistance bled them for every inch traveled. The Succession Wars had a third player as well. There were rumors that at night, across the countryside, a woman and young girl could be found stealing into the strongholds of successors and would-be heirs alike, leaving no survivors. They would flicker in and out, ghostlike, without distinct reason beyond taking one more piece off the table. In time, Roden began to fear the Daughter of Moonlight and her merciless hand. And in time, Paraleux and Svatkopt saw the weakness of Roden and Djartola alike. This was how the whole of the continent came to war and the real slaughter began. Twenty years of marching boots, barked commands, scrabbling in the mud over long-ruined farmlands, the "Continental Look" of haunted eyes and sunken cheeks, families stitched together from scraps and clutched close. Her goddess left two years into the conflict. Officially, her husband needed her elsewhere. Unofficially, she had run out of ideas for how to stop the war without killing even more. https://thecoffin.club

"Hey, it's mom. I've got an update on things for you: it's going to be a pretty quiet dinner this weekend. Becks can't make it, she's got that new contract and the overtime is demanding. I told her not to go with that company but, well, she could use the money and work. I can't blame her. Taylor's busy with friends. She didn't say more than that. I don't know who they are or what with, but I know she won't be around. And I'm having trouble getting in contact with Nancy. I don't know if she didn't pay her phone bill or if she's on shift at her current job, or jobs. You're probably busy at work too. I hate to do this to you, Morgan, put the burden on you. Can you make sure Nancy's still going to come over too? Your dad's got business going on and I mean actual business, ha. And I have to get to *my* shift. Text me if you can. Thanks, honey. I love you. Oh, and be careful, please? I know dad says don't trust the news, but. Something feels bad. Something bigger than that. I can't explain it. Just be careful for the two of us." https://thecoffin.club

"Alright. The twins are resting, Taylor's managing to keep fluids down. Your dad's on the phone with the agent. Are *you* okay, Becky? I'm sorry. I am. It took a lot of planning, and I was excited for it too. I've only been in California a few times myself, but. We're not getting to Anaheim, not with three of us throwing up like that. Especially not by train. But, hey, it'll be alright. Klamath Falls is still a city. Has to be stuff worth doing and seeing here, right? How's it sound, you and me, fresh air, walk around, see the city and...I dunno, buy some gifts and stuff for the others? We'll probably stay the night before we get back on the train. Worst case scenario, we stay another night. [laughs] Make them regret hosting the Banks family. ...yeah, I know. This sucks, Becks. It's not any of our faults. One day when you're older, when we both have more money, we'll give it another try. I promise. Ride the rides and see the sights as a family. For now, we're going to have to make do with what two girls can get up to. And, well, we set some money aside for purchases at the park. I'll be damned if anything in this place is as expensive as California. Let's go find our own fun." https://thecoffin.club

"...hello? Morgan it's. What time is it, good god...slow down, slow down, honey. Where are you? ...okay. I should not have been yo-no, no honey, it's okay, you're...your dad's not here right now. He's here, but he took some medicine before bed, so he's not gonna wake up any time soon. Fuck. Okay. Here's how this is going to work, okay? I'm not him but I know how these sorts of calls go. You don't have a record, you don't have priors, you are minor, you were a passenger, it's not your car, not your glovebox. Hold all of-Morgan, breathe for me, okay? Don't pass out in the station, you don't want that happening. You are gonna be okay. I'm going to call for a lawyer. The only thing you need to do is shut your mouth and sit tight. Don't sign anything, invoke your rights as best as you can. I know the laws have been weird lately, but you're still a minor. And, this is important: do not sell Brian out, okay? They're going to want you to do that so they can do less work, honey. Make them work for it. Don't talk back but don't give them anything to work with. ...yeah, honey, you're probably gonna have to stay the night. You'll be okay. I promise. Love you too. I gotta make some calls and tell Nancy. Of course I'm telling them. You're the one who ran off without listening to them about Brian Carter. Plus, I'll need them to watch the others. Stay safe for me. I'll see you soon." https://thecoffin.club

"Oh god where did you kids find that record. You're all a little too young for that, heh. C'mon, let's go put it back in the attic, alright? Are you sure you want to? ...don't tell your dad, okay? I mean he likes it, but. The swearing and content. "The Screwdrivers" was a fun time. I think we could've made it. But we didn't have the money, or the commitment...it was a whole thing, we were already doing this the old fashioned way. We had a social media presence, but that's a job. And we did advertising, but that's a job. Only so many of us, not enough money. We had this run of LPs and that was really...it. Yeah, no, I was good friends with those girls. Really good friends. Sometimes I check in on Lana; she's a session musician, she does good instrumental work still. The others, we don't talk or catch up. But Lana's still doing well. When your dad was away, we would talk a bunch. Sometimes she'd sing for the twins. Help them to sleep. You all probably don't remember that, huh? You might remember this song, though. That's me and her on this duet. Oh it's called, uh. Girlkisser. We can talk about it when you're older." https://thecoffin.club

"Sticking with Taylor. Okay. I get it. It's a good name. We got it on the first try, right? Hey. You did a big thing, telling all of us at once like that. Takes a lot of guts. I'm proud of you, Taylor. I'm not making excuses for your father. I'm happy he got up and didn't say anything. He's getting smarter in his old age and learning to keep his mouth shut. I am going to remind you that he loves you to pieces, Taylor. You being his daughter won't change that. I promise. He just doesn't understand it. He *will*. I promise he will. Your father is an idiot but he's not *hateful*. If he didn't love you, you wouldn't be his favorite kid. Don't tell the others we have favorites. Well it's not *you*, honey, you're *his* favorite, we can't double up and create a love monopoly. [laughs] Come here, come here. You're not so big as to not give me a hug. I love you, kiddo. Always have, always will. I'm proud of you. Plus. I'm cool. I used to share a two-bedroom with bunch of girls. I'd help them with their shots or let them crash on my bed. We have to stick together or else we're all not going to make it. Promise." https://thecoffin.club