in Her Holy name.

Gry, daughter of Emperor Gustaph and his consort, Petrina, wasn't born to rule. As the younger sister of Crown Prince Iva, she could have grown up to pursue any path of life she desired, but the Lady wanted it differently. The Lady took. The Lady led.

When Gry was 10 years old, her parents were assassinated in a gruesome terrorist attack that left her only sixteen-year-old brother in charge of the country. For a while this appeared to be a relatively smooth take-over, but then six years later, when she herself was sixteen, her brother caught the much feared chest disease and died suddenly, only 22 years old. This meant that young Gry, who had been preparing for a year to join the Summer Convent, had to abandon those plans and embark on the throne.

Now the last of the royal line left, her advisors were eager to marry her off to secure an heir, but at this Gry put her foot down. She would rule and she would carry the burden of her passed down obligations, but she had been meant to live as a nun and as one such in spirit she would lead the country. She refused to marry. Neither did she pursue romances otherwise. Gry became an empress of the church, she built cathedrals and convents, she strenghtened all religious institutions of the nation - and thereby the magic that belonged to the clergy.

Neighbouring and enemy nations feared Solland was gearing up for war.

Marriage seemed more and more pressing to ensure peace, but even at an age of thirty years Gry continued to refuse. If the surrounding political landscape desired war, it was the Lady's will. If it would be the end of her lineage, well, if you asked her, that end had already been divined.

As such her reign would mark the end; after her only the Lady would govern.

Solland, a large inland state (think Germany in size) with no coastline, but what they lack in term of naval power, they possess in strong, divinely-given magic. Throughout its long history, only a few large wars have been waged and always with the empire as victor, leading to a few territorial take-overs. Recently, however, peace has reigned for more than a century and the way its neighbouring countries are rearming is a new development. Uncalled for.

The whole continent of which Solland is part falls under the monotheistic belief system called The Lady's Grace with the people worshipping the unnamed goddess, the Lady, a Maiden-Mother-Matron deity. Also Solland ascribes to this religion and harbours one of the most intricate national churches in the known world. This has only been strenghtened since Gry was made empress fourteen years ago. Internationally and at home, she is called Gry the Pious.

The magic of Solland's church is singular, no other nation possesses something similar, which makes Solland's citizens feel especially chosen by the Lady. It is generally benign magic, magic that divines, heals and soothes, but some schools of it can create illness and cause sudden death which is what scares their neighbours. It is also not inherent. No one in Solland is born with magic, but those who swear themselves to the national church and to the Lady can be taught. Still, that divine bond must be in place - if a non-initiated and a clergy member both spoke the same sacred words, only the clergy member would see an effect.

Vibe: 19th century Europe, especially the Habsburg Empire...

[ More to come. ]