#they forsook society's standards to live in harmony with nature

[shroudkeeper]

I love seeing Rivi with her maidens c: What’s the story behind them, if you don’t mind me asking?

@sugarsagecat also asked: Oh please, oh please I must know more about Rivienne's companions in the latest screenshots!

Thank you for asking and I hope the holidays are kind to you!

Honestly, when I first took photos of them, I didn't consider an actual storyline attached to the ladies. However, the more I thought about it, the more it fleshed itself out in headcanons as to why Rivienne would be accompanied by maidens. There is a bit to the background as to how this came to be, I hope you do not mind --

It would date back to when Rivienne rushed past the walls of Castrum Oriens; she was rumored, among their ranks, to be a force that struck down the garrison that would set themselves before her vicious path. Within these fortified walls, conscripts were forced to fight, becoming fodder for her starved blade. These people were once of the Shroud, they were shackled and then trained to die for the Empire. However, they were met with mercy and not steel. They were met with the perfume of blood and iron, and from the bloody lips of the woman that stormed the compound, instructions to flee were given, to seek liberation and unbind themselves from this oppressive situation.

And so they did.

A few never returned and found it easier to go where no one knew their names and history; the ones that tried found that no one awaited their return, thus they felt ostracized in Gridania's society. Their choices were limited, and with very little to their name, they turned to the woods, finding that facing the elements would fare better than being shunned by the denizens. Banditry became the way of life, that was until betrayal and greed among members dissolved their group. Diminished in numbers, some of them scattered, others decided to venture deeper into the forest, finding solace in solitude. It was these women who used what knowledge they acquired from these last years to fend for themselves under the thick canopies of the Black Shroud.

Many years had passed since freedom was granted to them, and though there were hardships faced since then, they had not forgotten the scent of blood-soaked flowers. The same scent was picked up by the winds on a chance evening traveling near the Guardian Tree. It was there that they first caught the glint of something under speckled sunlight filtering through the treetops. The gilded armor, the dishevel of golden curls, the sword that drank the blood of the tyrants that captured them. It was impaled into the earth, and against the lush grass, gathered at the foundation of the gnarled roots, was she seated, bound by them, cushioned by flowers that bloomed in her self-induced slumber.

The weariness of constant battle had not only affected her physically, but mentally she had grown tired of this world.

She would not awaken with any of their rousings, her skin was cool to the touch yet she drew breath. They cared for her in that dormant state, but considering how the archaic rhizomes curled around her limbs they had all assumed that she had become part of it. Yet they did not stray far from where she rested.

It was not long until rumors reached the ears of bandits of the fallen warrior who was adorned in gold, and they sought to rip it free from it - for what did a dead woman have need of such. The women, who had been caring for her, took arms when hearing of the intrusion, but with what little they had, they were outnumbered and ill-equipped against them.

When the fight arrived at dawn break and the women stood their ground, their prayers were whispered and they readied themselves to be received into the lifestream..

.. but such was not the end of their tale that day.

From behind them, the wind ferried the scent of flowers and the earth released its fury as Rivienne stood and addressed them as filth, blaming them for interrupting her slumber. Before they could retaliate, she beckoned the ground with a few words to part under the feet of their assailants. Stunned, they women who would be her protectors, watched in astonishment as the world shifted, and into the heavens rang the screams released as the maw of the earth swallowed the bandits. Though the spell took much out of her, they were rescued..

─ once again.

The Greenwrath, they assumed her to be, made into flesh and blood. They believed it was fate to find her, to protect her as she had done for them. No protest would come from Rivienne, who owed them for caring for her in turn. They were warrior women wanting somewhere to belong and Rivienne offered a home, and a blade, that would keep them safe.