Lady Nancy Wellington Cortland (Duchess)

Weight: 135

Apparent Age: 50

Archetype: Hermetic Magi: Circle: Unknown

Preferred Weapon: Cutlass

Runner Song:

Bio: Well we spoke a little about Nancy during the article about the Monarch, this women deserves to have her own profile on this site. Nancy has a long and glowing history throughout the world of the shadows and she is one women you never want to cross. Nancy is the old child of the infamous noble Duke Wellington and his chamber maid Edith Masters. Nancy’s mother worked in Lord Wellington’s manor home in Bathe England and was one of many servants in that expansive home. Lord Wellington was having a secret affair with one of his domestics in that home, he was smitten by her beauty and grace. The two managed to keep their affair a secret, and even when Edith became pregnant she passed it off as just gaining weight, though she contemplated telling her Lord of her pregnancy, but when Lord Wellington had his wife beheaded for sleeping with one of the footman and he personally dealt with the offender. Edith knew that to tell Lord Wellington could end badly for her and her unborn child, since he was very anarchistic in his mentality and would never approve of the bastard baby and would probably force a miscarriage and then dismiss Edith from service rendering her unemployable.

      Edith went about business as normal and secretly carried the child to term, knowing the other domestics in the house would stay silent and Lord Wellington was rarely at his Bathe estate and preferred his home in Yorkshire. Nancy was born on a cold damp September evening in the confines of the servants quarters. She was brought into this world by the Senior Butler and the Housekeeper and was wrapped in an old burlap sack and taken off to be checked by the local doctor that lived within town. Nancy as a child was raised in a domestics life and she didn’t know any different, The senior staff helped tutor young Nancy and she was raised with all the poise and tradition of her forefathers. Eventually she was put to work in the house at a very young age and no one ever spoke of her Father fearing Lord Wellington’s wrath. As Nancy grew she would never know the feeling of being a child, she would have her youth robbed from her and the joys of her childhood replaced with a chamberpot and hard work.

      Eventually though as Nancy was becoming a women, her magical spark would ignite and thus proving that Lord Wellington was of the sixth world. Many whispered about him being an adept but no one could ever verify it, nor would they ever dare to approach the Lord of War about the subject. Nancy’s awaking was troubling to the staff below the stairs, for she was gifted and her gift was causing trouble in the house. As Nancy cast spells, without training and would summon bothersome spirits and elementals without knowing how. These troublesome antics almost brought the entire house crumbling down, when Nancy’s uncontrolled magic would cause one of Lord Wellington’s dinners to turn into a spectacle of parlour magic that would cause the Lord to look like an incompetent buffoon in front of his valued guests. As Nancy cast a reversed fashion and makeover spell without knowing how and turned the Lords white tie and tails into an skimpy cocktail dress and made his physical appearance that off a beggar. Needless to say his guests all of the aristocracy didn’t find his sudden wardrobe or appearance comical at all and made it quite clear of their disgust. Lord Wellington embarrassed and in a fit of rage demanded the offender to show themselves, and after fully disgracing himself in front of his guests he excused himself from the dinner.

       When Lord Wellington left the room the staff where in a state of horror, as they have never seen their Lord this angry before and he lost his cool in front of important guests. Nancy had already taken off back downstairs where she belonged as she was not allowed anywhere near the dining room and knew she would be punished by the Senior Butler for her disobedience but also feared the wrath of the Lord of the Manor for her mistake. That’s when one of the maids stepped forward and confessed that she had cast the magic on him, she wished to disgrace him in front of his guests and she would be resigning her post and leaving. Well that was not good enough for Lord Wellington as he grabbed the women by the arm and dragged her outside into the pouring rain torn her clothing and secured her to an old hitching post in the backyard. The rain poured down as the sky illuminated with cracks of lighting as Lord Wellington returned back into the home. His clothing soaked his hair dripping as if he just stepped out of the shower, his valet offering a towel to dry off Lord Wellington just snapped at the valet in a fit of rage, he ordered the man to fetch his topcoat, hat and his dagger. The older valet had a concerned look on his face as he could see that Lord Wellington was fit to be tied and not thinking clearly, but as a dutiful servant he did as his master requested and ran off to fetch the items requested. By this point the other servants had begun the gather lurking within the darkened halls fearful to interfere but curious enough to observe. Nancy just coward in the rear pantry hiding amongst the dry goods. The maid could be heard sobbing outside as the rain pounded down and thunder echoed through the hills.

       Within a few moments the valet returned with the requested items and helped his Lord into his topcoat and hat and handed him his jewel encrusted royal dagger. Lord Wellington still overtaken with rage stepped back outside into the pouring rain, his white bow tie fallen limp from the rain water he just looked the maid in the eyes and drew the dagger from the sheath. The maid a younger women who had just started at the Wellington house looked up at the furious Lord and was suddenly overtaken with fear. As the rain pounded down, she was exposed to all who could see and the lighting would silhouette Lord Wellington’s enraged frame. As Lord Wellington approached the soaked and terrified maid he glanced around and could see the other servants hiding curiously within the shadows. By now the maid sensing she was in grave danger was crying and apologizing for her sin, she begged for his mercy and just to be fired and released from service. She begged and pleaded with Lord Wellington to no avail as he just raised the dagger to her neck and with one single swipe of the blade he had partially severed her head. The maids cry’s suddenly stopped as they turned into gasps and gurgling sounds as her blood splashed through the air landing on Lord Wellington’s face, coat and staining his crisp white collar and tie with beads of crimson. He then just turned to his staff, blood stains on his face and his dagger dripping with fresh blood. The lighting once again silhouetted the grisly scene. He just looked coldly at his staff as the rain was washing away the blood speaking only a few words, but these words would stay with the help till their dying day “Let this be a lesson to all of you, I am your Lord and Master I control all aspects of your life including Life and Death.” He then stormed inside, when the servants went to clean the body he just told them “Leave her for the vultures and other carrion.” He then ordered his valet to follow him upstairs and told the Butler to see the guests out, dinner is over.

         Young Nancy at this point had seen the entire affair unfold from her hiding place amongst the dry goods, this event would stay with her even to today. Seeing a young women that she didn’t even know confess and sacrifice her life to spare the young girl, this sacrifice would direct Nancy’s life in the coming future. Also this is when the staff decided that they could no longer allow Nancy to go untrained and knowing that Lord Wellington would be returning to his estate in Yorkshire in the morning and wouldn’t return to Bathe for many months they knew they could find an instructor for Nancy and at least get her magical skills in check. They found an old hermit that lived alone in Bathe and was willing to train the lady for a handful of shillings, some bread and wine. During the next few months Nancy would meet with her new mentor and begin her instruction into the arts of the hermetic magi.

        Though the entire time of her training young Nancy couldn’t get the brutal scene out of her mind and decided that she was going to be better then a servant, she was going to rise to a place above the stairs and she was going to honour the young made who made the ultimate sacrifice for her to live. For Nancy, she knew she would be destined for greatness though her journey would be a long one filled with many bumps in the road. She would have to fall before she could rise and for Nancy her fall would be when her mother would fall ill and she would have to leave her employment in order to care for her ailing mother. As strong as Nancy’s magic had become, she was unable to stave off the affects of the cancer that was slowly killing her mother. Nancy was forced to sit helplessly and watch as the women she loved more then anything in the world suffered and eventually died a horribly painful death. As Edith laid helpless in the hospital, slowly drowning in her own blood she took her beloved daughters hand and told her about her father and that she was the child of Lord Wellington. Nancy just looked at her mother in shock, she couldn’t believe that her mother could ever be with a monster like that. Edith continued between coughing, Nancy patted away the blood from her lips, Edith confessed that they had an affair and Lord Wellington deep inside is a good man, he just keeps it buried deep down and imprisoned within the icy prison of his soul. She then weekly took Nancy’s hand and placed a golden star brooch encrusted in rubies, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds and in the centre was engraved his coat of arms and his monogram. She told Nancy your father gave this to me, and I am now giving it to you, I love you my daughter, go know and seek out your father, the whispers within the winds say he is going to need you now and as she finished the last words Nancy could feel as her mothers spirit would leave her body and she silently passed away her suffering was over. Though for Nancy she was left with a million unanswered questions, that would never get answered.

         This how Nancy would come t save the Lord Wellington’s life, she would be in attendance at the executions in hopes to gain a private audience with the man that proclaimed himself King of England and hopes to establish some sort of relationship with the man. Nancy still haunted by his actions many years prior, though this was her father and also it was a chance to escape the servants life and come upstairs. As Nancy stood their as the ten rebel leaders where marched onto in prisoner rags, the guillotine primed and ready to get to work. The air was electric as the crowd awaited the first beheading, as it had been generations since the last public execution and the people were drawn to it from a morbid curiosity. They all gazed upon the fanfare before them, ten sharpened pikes lined the stage and ten wicker coffins awaited the prisoners as did their pre-dug graves. Nancy couldn’t shake the haunting last words of her mother as she watched her father take the stage and begin to address the crowd. His words lost to Nancy as she just stared at her father dressed in his formal morning dress with the sun reflecting off his glasses. She dreamed of what life would be like, now being the daughter of a noble. Though she could sense something sinister in the air and that snapped her back to reality as her father would finish his commencement and turn to the priest signalling for the last rights to be performed. He then took a seat in his royal throne, raising his sceptre into the air. Once the first prisoner was secured into the guillotine Lord Wellington banged the sceptre on the ground signalling for the executioner to release the lever and so began the beheading’s of the rebel leaders and bringing an end to England as we would know it.

         Well the history books decree what accord during the executions and as well the snipers bullet that almost killed Lord Wellington, Nancy knowing that she would never be able to get close enough to save his life at the scene. She just raced to the hospital that was already prepared to accept the fallen King and this is when Nancy would enter the world of the runner and never again look back. She knew her skills and foci in the arts of healing magic where far superior to that of any doctor, though she would never be able to gain access to the royal wing of the hospital unless she was a doctor. Well Nancy found a young women that was similar in stature to herself and wielding a powerful mana bolt Nancy ended the young women’s life and stole her identity in order to gain access to the Royal wing of the hospital.

         Well we know that she became part of the emergency staff that worked tirelessly to save the fallen Kings life and would even be abducted by the infamous pirate king known as the Governor who would assault the hospital and abduct the wounded body of Lord Wellington. Well what we don’t know is what happened between Nancy and the Governor during the many weeks she spent aboard his vessel. As the history and records get very clouded during this time and I believe this is exactly what the Governor wanted. He needed England to be uncertain of their Kings life, he needed Parliament to feel they could regain control and he needed the world to both mourn and cheer for the death of the man known as the Lord of War. Well what we do know is when the Governor’s vessel would take port in Miami and the man shrouded in mystery and shadows would walk down the gang plank, this man being the Lord of War himself and he would have his own agenda for the new territory he was unleashed into and the Caribbean League would never be the same again.

         Though what would become of Nancy is an whole different story, this women would stay on board and would take a job working directly for the Governor as his chief of medicine. She would also be taken under his wing as a pupil in the mystical arts, Nancy and the Governor would sail the seven seas and she would establish herself as just another one of the boys when it came to on-board battles as well as just parting with the crew. Nancy past groomed her for a life of service and she was already well trained in the pecking order and new how to follow orders and fall in line. Though during her time aboard the Governor’s vessel she would grow weary of a life at sea. Though on night, while Nancy and the Governor sat out on his balcony overlooking the calm evening sea with then moon ascending above the horizon. They sat in silence enjoying a nice bottle of wine and smoking fine Cuban cigars, the Governor turned to Nancy and went down on one knee and proposed marriage to the young women. Nancy jumped at the prospect and said yes, and for the first time in recorded history the Governor actually embraced in a hug and the two then retired into his cabin.

         Well for Nancy the prospect of being married to a man of wealth and stature was more then she ever dreamed off and the Governor would make sure his soon to be bride would have everything she ever desired and would throw the biggest wedding of her dreams. Their wedding was held in a small coastal town in Jamaica, knowing that Lord Wellington had already conquered the island and had claimed it as his stronghold. The Governor knew that the wedding would go off without a hitch, he also knew that Lord Wellington would be there to walk Nancy down the aisle and give her away to his new found friend in marriage. So the stage was set for the grandest of affairs and everyone who was anyone was invited to the wedding and slowly the ports and airports filled with the well to do, runners and pirates. They would be married on the beach, with the song of the sea serenading them as Lord Wellington dressed in his royal finery took his estranged daughters arm, took one look at her draped in her gown and even the Lord of War began to feel a tickle in his throat and he began the fight back a tear as he couldn’t believe how much she looked like her mother and how he missed her so. Once the orchestra began, he began to walk his only daughter down the aisle, the sun was setting the guests all stood in silence and everyone’s eyes where on her for a change. Nancy a young servant girl, was now the centre of attention, and she was about to be married to the Governor a man she loved dearly. As they reached the aisle and the priest asked who gives this women to this man in marriage? Lord Wellington, chocked back another emotional moment as he declared “Her Father does, and her mother in spirit does.” he then released his hold from Nancy’s arm as the Governor took hold of Nancy and led her up the steps before the preacher. Lord Wellington then took his seat in the front row.

         The ceremony followed English tradition fitting for that of a noble and as the priest announced to the crowd “I now pronounce you man and wife’ you may kiss the bride.” ships in the harbour fired off a twenty one gun salute for their commandant. Nancy overtaken with emotion as her and her new husband embraced for the first time as husband and wife. Lord Wellington, no longer able to hold back the emotion of the day began to tear up, as he was flooded with memories. The reception was a large affair full of dancing, drinking and celebration and if just for one day everything stopped and their was peace. Nancy would be the centre of attention and many in attendance report that for just one night, it was nice to put politics aside, and celebrate something wonderful and joyful. The reception ran into the early morning hours as the guests slowly began to mill out, Lord Wellington would dance with his daughter one last time and he would kiss his daughter and then take his leave. This would be the last time she would ever see her father again, Lord Wellington would never see the smile on his grandchildren’s face and never get to feel the embrace of his grandchildren’s tiny hands as they warp around his weathered hands. But sadly for Nancy she would be forced to suffer the fate of having to bury her own children as they would be killed by soldiers of the Tir Na Nog when she would come to land.

          For Nancy after the wedding, it was back to business as normal and the life of a pirate is never done. They newly weds would be back on the high seas mere hours after the reception and back to life as normal, their would be no honeymoon for her and she would eventually grow weary of a life at sea and desire to come to land. This feeling grew strong within Nancy after she gave birth to twin boys and feared that raising them on the high seas would not allow the children to be properly socialised and prepared to enter civilised society. Nancy wanted the boys to have a life without all the violence, crime and not having a stable environment and home to grow up in. As this feeling grew, inside Nancy the Governor was able to see his bride growing distant and missing the stability of land. The Governor knew that he could never give up the lifestyle of being a pirate and he could never walk away from his mistress and never again hear here song, though he could also feel in his heart that the sea was driving his beloved away from him. The Governor brought Nancy up to his balcony and once again they sat overlooking the evening sky as the waves crashed below. The Governor poured two glasses of rum and gave Nancy one of his Cuban cigars, the two sat as a couple and just listened to the song of the sea as they enjoyed the cigars. Nancy and the Governor spoke for hours over the fate of their boys, Nancy’s desire to return to land and the fate of their marriage. They talked all through the night and into the early morning and as the sun rose over the horizon they came to the conclusion that it would be best if Nancy was to go to land, for the Governor wished his bride and children would remain on board and stay by his side, he knew raising children aboard the Crimson Bloods flag ship is no place for a child to grow. He also knew he could never walk away from his fight and he must continue to sail the seven seas, They made an accord to remain married as they both loved each other, they also agreed to get together whenever the Governor would pull into port. He also told his beloved that he would make sure she was well cared for and so where his children. The two then just sat as Nancy rested her head on his chest and he placed his arm around her and the two just fell asleep cradled in the embrace of each other.

        The next morning the Governor gave the orders to go to port and within a few days Nancy and the children where stepping off the flagship and walking down the gangplank for the last time. Nancy just turned and blew the Governor a kiss and his children waved as their father gave the orders to set sail and the as the Siren sailed off into horizon the children waved to their father, Nancy was once again alone and on her own. She held no ill will to her husband as she knew he is a pirate and the sea is his home, she was destined for a life on the land. Nancy would walk off into the sunset and into a port side motel, She was dropped off in Corpus Christi Texas and during those early days this town was not a safe place to be. Between native attacks, Aztlan invasions and the UCAS it was a very dangerous location though it was also one of the few port of calls the Governor could safely land at without fear of the law enforcement. The Governor also felt this location was a bit safer then most with her fathers forces being in port and in the harbour.

        What nobody knew was that the European Legion was also in Corpus Christi and they where on the hunt for British exiles that where using the pirate trade routes as an escape from their death squads. Once Nancy landed in town she became a target of these hunters, she got on their radar by saving Lord Wellington and her marriage to the Governor. Though for Nancy and her twin boys these assassins would strike before sundown and Nancy would loose her children to a hail of machine gun fire from the European Legion soldiers as they tried to kill Nancy. Nancy was bring her children to the local sweet shop to treat them to some fresh ice cream do to them missing their father. She left the motel and wandered down the streets that where a bustle with afternoon activity, the sun was shinning and the docks where all full as sailors began offloading the nights catch and cargo. Nancy stopped and just took a deep breath of the morning sea air, as her two boys where playing with a old toy ball the Governor had given them when they were in port in the Caribbean. Nancy got a weird sensation as she saw her boys carelessly playing as an old turn of the century white cargo van screeched around the corner. Nancy yelled for her children to take cover as she ran towards them and began casting, the side doors of the van flew open exposing three young men clad in black combat gear and wielding old M-60’s and before she could react the men began to open fire in a hail of gunfire. Nancy dove for cover as she cast a barrier spell over he children, unknowing of their fate she remained pinned down by the hail of bullets. The serenity of the morning was torn asunder as the machine guns unleashed hell from their barrels, Nancy could hear the screaming of the people on the street and total chaos had erupted. Then as suddenly as it started the van speed away, and as Nancy started to rise from her cover she saw a single red ball slowly roll down the street towards her. Nancy then saw every mothers nightmare, her two twin boys laying face down in a pool of their own blood. Their bodies riddled with bullets and all the innocence of their childhood stripped from them in an instant. Nancy broke down into an emotional panic and ran towards her children and picked up their lifeless limp bodies and began cradling both of them and broke down sobbing as she knew even her powerful healing magic couldn’t save her children.

        As she was kneeling cradling her murdered children sobbing, the people of the city just gathered around here just standing there doing nothing but just gawking. Nancy snapped begging for help, but it wasn’t till she heard the sirens of the local police department that she knew anyone would be coming to her aid or the aid of the others that had fallen in that hail of gunfire. When the police arrived they were not all that helpful to the grieving mother, as they initially treated her as a suspect and began questioning Nancy about the attack as if she was behind it. All because she spoke with a British accent, the questions kept coming from all directions as they tested her for gunpowder. After many painful minutes Nancy was cleared of being a suspect and they began to take her statement, she watched as the police placed a white sheet over the two boys. Nancy would be told to walk away, and return to her motel and not to leave town. For her leaving town was not an option as she needed to bury her boys and she needed to find a away to get a message to both the Governor and Lord Wellington about the boys being murdered.

      Nancy being distraught decided that she couldn’t return to the motel, and even though her clothing was covered in the blood of her children she needed to drown her sorrows in a bottle, she needed to be numb and just forget about the horrors of the day. That’s when she entered a local watering hole called the Harbour Cafe, this place was a simple sailors pub the company would be rough, but the rum was strong and the food was a afterthought. But as she would open the doors and enter the smoke filled bar, the scent of stale beer, gun smoke and old fish punished her senses. Nancy was lost in thought as she took a seat at the bar, an old wooden bar that had seen better days. There was an older gentlemen behind the bar, dressed in the traditional black slacks, and white dress shirt the sleeves rolled up as he was washing glasses with an old dirty bar rag. This barkeep wore the scares of war on his face and his eyes told a deeper story that no one dared to ask about. Nancy could see a pack of smokes in his shirt pocket and when the barkeep noticed her staring he asked if she needed a smoke, and what could he get her. Nancy said “I could use a smoke, and a rum please. Make it a double.” The barkeep gave her the smoke and as she placed it in her lips he brought his lighter up for her. And with a heavy southern accent he said “A gentlemen always lights a ladies smoke.” he then began preparing her drink. The Barkeep noticed her blood soaked clothing and the heavy lines in her face from the emotion. He just started to make small talk with Nancy and told her to not worry about the drink it’s on my you obviously have been through something and when your ready I am here. Nancy just looked at the old barkeep and just the look in her eyes, told the story. The barkeep just handed her another cigarette and light it for her, the two made small talk till the evening when he was getting off shift. As he was getting ready to leave, he was tying his tie and putting his worn out blazer on. He extended his hand and said “I am sorry I have been so rude, My name is Joseph Miller but my friends just call me Joe.” he paused as she took his hand and introduced herself and Nancy Cortland. Joe then “Asked, if I am not being to forward, I am heading out to grab a bite to eat, if you want to join me. You look famished.” Nancy still overtaken with grief agreed to go to the diner with Joe and as they stepped out into the cool sea town evening air. Joe placed his parka over Nancy’s shoulders and the two walked down to the diner, they just made small talk. Joe knew that she had been through something tragic and the least he could do was help keep her mind off what had just accord.

       The two entered an old timey diner that was outfitted like an old pre-war eatery. Relics of a time long gone, hung on the wall the place smelled of coffee and the evenings fresh baked pies. The staff all dressed like straight out of the 1930’s and patrons few in number but all older just enjoying the simple atmosphere and hospitality, their were a few teenagers poking fun at the old timers. Though nobody seemed to care and everyone just kept to themselves mostly. Joe took a seat at his normal booth and waited for Nancy to seat first before he slide in across from her. They ordered the evening special of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and a slice of apple pie, they sat in silence as Nancy just stared into her coffee lost in thought till the food arrived. The meal was shared in silence, Joe was just happy to have company. He was alone since his wife’s passing and he had retired from the mercenary world to take over his wife’s pub after she became ill. Joe was more then happy to be just a shoulder for Nancy and he enjoyed the company. Once the waitress brought the two slices of fresh apple pie covered in vanilla ice cream, Nancy just started to break down sobbing rose from the booth and ran out of the diner. Joe through down old bills enough to cover the bill and tip and ran out into the night to find Nancy. As Joe cleared the diners front doors Nancy was long gone. Joe just stood there, pulled his blazer a bit tighter even though it didn’t really do much to stop the bite of the evening air he then just walked down the streets back towards the Harbour Cafe where he lived in a apartment above the bar.

        Well over the course of the next few months Nancy would keep returning to the Cafe, first to return Joe’s parka and then just to make conversation with the old man. As Nancy didn’t have any friends in town and she heard on the news that the Governors flag ship the Siren was in the Mediterranean engaged in a bloody battle with Turkish Pirates. She knew that her husband was not going to be around for a very long time, she had just buried her children and had no way to reach her Father either. So Joe brought comfort to her life, as he reminded her of the Governor with his stories and his desire to just listen. The two would form a close bond of friendship and eventually Nancy would open up to Joe about the events of the first day and tell him about her children being murdered, her husband being a sailor and and her distant father. Joe just listened and eventually the two would begin to see each other socially and then romantically. Nancy never planned for this to happen but she couldn’t help how she felt and she couldn’t help feeling that she would never again see the Governor and if he was staying true while sailing all across the globe.

        Nancy and Joe would never marry but they continued to see each other through the years, eventually Nancy would become pregnant this time she was caring another man’s child. She knew the Governor would never approve and he might even try to kill Joe if he learned of the baby, Nancy also knew she was living in a town that was crawling with pirates many of whom where from the Crimson Bloods. That’s when she received a message from the Governor, he was disappointed in her actions but he didn’t fault her for them as he knew he hadn’t been around in a long while and whatever she desired to do was her choice. He would be their for her when he could, He also told her in the message that he had gotten word of the death of the children and was taking care of the situation. Nancy knew what he meant by taking care of the situation and he breathed a sigh of relief that he was not enraged but still she felt guilty. Seeing she had done to the Governor exactly what her father had done to his wife, and Joe was now the other man. The old widower, was as happy as a schoolboy at the thought of being a father. Though he knew Nancy would never marry him, he didn’t care though Joe could feel the winds of fate calling him again and he knew he would have to leave Corpus Christi.

        Joe begged Nancy to come with him to Seattle, but she told him that her place was in Corpus Christi and with that the two would go their separate ways. Though Joe pledged to be their for his child, Nancy had heard that before and was resistant to his pleas. Joe did do something that took Nancy by surprise, he signed the Harbour Cafe over to her and made her sole owner of his deceased wife’s bar. Nancy hugged Joe and thanked him, thats when the old barkeep got into his beat up old truck and drove off to the ferry to start his pilgrimage to Seattle. Joe’s brother a runner named Whisper had alerted him of trouble at the Jackal’s Lantern and trouble was a foot, Joe would leave Corpus Christi and he wouldn’t see Nancy again till she ventured into Seattle. Though the two remained in contact and he would send gifts and money for his son, Joe wouldn’t see his child as Nancy would loose another child to the war.

         Through the years Nancy’s domestic training would come in handy as she would transform the Harbour Cafe into a full fledged bar and restaurant that would cater to the less then friendly types as she didn’t care who entered her bar. Nancy’s only rule was you leave rivalries and politics at the door, and do to her connections to the Crimson Bloods and Lord Wellington she was able to enforce her will over the ruffians that would enter her bar. As the Cafe increased in popularity so did Nancy’s reputation of being a no nonsense gal, though this would also ripple through the shadow world and would eventually get back to the European Legion. The Legion knew that they couldn’t directly assault Nancy as she was well protected and highly skilled in the combat arts. They knew that they needed to catch her off guard and attack her only weakness and that being her only son, so as Nancy dropped her child off at school and returned back to the Cafe to prepare for the lunch crowd. The Legion struck, they swarmed the school clad in black combat gear and wielding AK-47’s they swarmed the hallways taking the school hostage till they found her son. Who was hiding in the coat closet, the frightened child was torn from the closet and dragged to the auditorium. Though what the Legion didn’t know was their was more then Nancy in Corpus Christie that day, so when she received the call about the hostage situation and began frantically heading to the school, she reached out to Joe in Seattle just hoping to hear a friendly voice. Joe comforted her and he just said the words that sent shivers through her, “Don’t worry Nancy, it will be taken care off.” She jut dropped the phone understanding now there was more to the simple old widower then she knew and was he no better then the Governor. Well meanwhile in the Lyndon B Johnson elementary school all hell was about to break loose as some of Joe’s closest friends where in Corpus Christi taking a well deserved vacation. These men where ruthless killers, and well known runners of the shadows that where just inching for a fight. Joe contacted his friend who is known as the Silencer explained the situation to him and that callous killer agreed to do it for free as a favour for his friend. The Silencer was taking holiday with other monsters of the shadows, namely Stamps, Gunslinger, Autopsy, Ringmaster, Medusa, Gallows and Hound these runners jumped at the chance to take on the hostage situation and rescue a child. Well I use the term rescue loosely here, these men sprung into action and drove to the school busting through the police barricade they assaulted the invaders with deadly precision and room by room they would clear it of the invaders allowing the police to follow behind. The police did a few times try to stop these known felons but there attempts where thwarted by the stone cold gaze of Medusa and the fiery warnings of the Ringmaster.

          These runners where not treating this like an operation and more like a shooting gallery, as they knew time was not on their side and they needed to move quickly to rescue the child. The problem was Nancy and Joe’s son was already dead, the European Legion soldier had sliced the child’s throat moments after he contacted Nancy. They had no intentions of letting the child live and they planned on killing both mother and child, though now the advancing runners where changing the ultimate goal and one by one the legion soldiers would fall to the team of legends. Till as fast as they arrived they had killed all the soldiers, never giving the legions forces a chance to return fire. By the time they breached the auditorium, they found the child laying dead with his throat slashed open and the legion solider laying dead next to him from a self inflicted gunshot wound. Gunslinger contacted Joe reporting that they where to late and according to Autopsy they child was dead before he even called them. Joe was furious and as well just broke down crying as his only son had just been killed and he never got a chance to meet him. Joe hung the phone up and his brother just consoled the grieving father, meanwhile the Ringmaster knew that they needed a fast escape from the school before it became flooded with police officers. He pointed his hand at the wall and unleashed a spell that tore the wall asunder, the bricks, boards, pipes all just turned to dust exposing the outside giving them their escape. Water was rushing from the destroyed pipes and the electrical wires sparked as the team of runners exited the school and vanished into the shadows as the police rushed into the auditorium guns drawn and ready.

        Meanwhile in Seattle Joe was torn apart and lost in grief, as Whisper tried to console him, he took Joe’s phone knowing he was going to have to make the painful call to Nancy. As he dialled the phone his mind raced with the thoughts that he too would never get to see his nephew, Whisper just choked back the lump in his throat as he hit send and it started to ring. Nancy quickly answered, frantically asking if he had heard anything. Whisper interjected. “Sorry Nancy, this is Steven Joe’s brother.I have no easy way to say this.” Nancy just fell silent on the other end then started muttering no, no, no not again, no….Whisper continued ” Nancy, the rescue failed. he is gone.” she could hear the sorrow in his voice as he chocked back tears to remain strong for his brother. who was crying in the background. Nancy just went cold and she said “I can’t take this any more.” and hung up the phone. Nancy just stared at her phone, as her heart broke over the death of yet another child. An innocent victim in this ruthless war, that she wanted no part of. As Nancy stood in the kitchen of the Harbour Cafe she just stared coldly out into the bar area at all the drunken sailors and dock workers, she felt all her frustration and anger begin to boil. She was lost in her thoughts, knowing that her fate and the fate of her children could be traced back to an affair all those years ago and then cemented by the marriage to the ruthless pirate king the Governor.

         She decided that her life would continue to spiral out of control, if she remained in Corpus Christi, the streets where a buzz with rumours of the war coming to them directly. She could feel the distrusting stares of the locals, that never accepted Nancy as a local and always treated her as an outsider. Nancy knew that she would have to leave, if she was ever going to have security again, she also longed for the comfort from her husband who was off fighting in some exotic land, and her closest friend was within the boarders of Seattle. Nancy was again alone and left to fend for herself and make the biggest decision of her life. She was going to pack up her things, and leave for parts unknown, she just couldn’t sit ideally by any more and just become a victim to a war she was born into. The only thing her father ever gave her, was a war that kept coming for her.

       As the days turned into weeks, Nancy would bury her and Joe’s son the young child would be laid to rest in a private ceremony on a cool rainy day buried next two his brothers. Nancy would become over taken by emotion when she would feel someone wrap their arm around her waist and pull her in tight. She would startle at first, then she saw Joe standing by her side, he was dressed in his funeral suit with a black fedora covering his white balding hair. Lines had formed in Joe’s face as he had been tearing up, and as he stood their over his only son’s open grave he reached into his pocket and as the rain fell from the heavens Joe reviled a small leather pouch he clenched the pouch in his hand as he knelled before the grave. He said a silent prayer and finished with the sign of the cross and the he tossed the pouch onto his son’s coffin. The pouch fell slowly and landed on the coffin, Joe then rose to his feet brushing off the dirt from his knees and returned to Nancy’s side. The two stood there frozen in sorrow and grief as the caretakers began filling the grave with dirt, Nancy and Joe remained standing vigilant till the coffin was no longer visible. They then walked back to the parking lot holding each other tight, once they both got to their cars. They would embrace each other with a hug, and then Joe would once again say his farewells and leave Corpus Christi for Seattle. Nancy would eventually leave Texas for parts unknown, she would place her most trusted employee in charge of the Harbour Cafe, pack up her home and board the ferry for the mainland.

       As Nancy stood on the ferry as it departed from the island, she would watch as her past would vanish slowly into the horizon till it was nothing more then a memory. She would spend the next few years travelling around the Confederacy and lending her helping hand to the aid the wounded as a healer, she had given up killing and using her magic as a weapon a long time ago and she wanted to continue to honour the women who sacrificed herself to spare her from Lord Wellington’s wrath. Nancy had begun to develop a restless spirit and couldn’t be happy in anyone location. She would also begin to hear the sweat song of the sea and miss her caress, Nancy might have hated life on the sea, but all the best moments of her life where with her husband and as the months turned to years Nancy missed him so. They would end up meeting by sheer fate when Nancy would find herself in California. Her restless soul would bring her to San Diego, and Nancy would end up sitting on the docks just spending hours gazing out into the horizon being sprayed with the calming mist of the sea. Once again she would be taken by surprise as she would feel a hand embrace her shoulder, Nancy would feel a calming presence and at first she thought it was Joe once again sneaking up on her. As she turned she was in complete amazement as it was the man she loved so dear, the man she had not seen in many years. The Governor stood before her, he was dressed in casual attire with a panama hat on. Nancy couldn’t help but notice he was now wearing a eye patch as she brought her hand to his face and caressed his scared cheek, The Governor just pulled her in tight and embraced Nancy with a long overdo hug. The two stood on the docks locked in embrace as the waves crashed below bringing the mists of the sea to them as if even the ocean was happy about their reunion.

        Nancy and the Governor would then walk for hours along the beach, discussing everything and catching up on long lost passions while the laid on  the beach. Nancy longed to be with her husband and be once again by his side, though she knew that his life was on the sea and she could not live that life not again. She couldn’t deal with all the violence and bloodshed, that he saw on a daily basis, so Nancy knew this reunion would be short lived as the sea would call once again and the Governor would sail away into the horizon. She decided that she was going to hold onto those moments for as long as she could. The Governor before he would say his goodbye’s once again, got down on his knee, scooped up a handful of sand, placing it into a small leather pouch took Nancy’s hand and placed the pouch into her awaiting palms. he would then wrap her hands around the pouch and tell her “I might not be able to be physically by your side my dear, but please take this as a memory of our time together and whenever you are sad and missing me gaze upon this pouch and I will be with you in spirit at least.” He then waved his hands over the pouch and Nancy could feel the warmth of magic come across her as the Governor looked down at his beloved “I love you Nancy, and I want what’s best for you.” He then pulled her in for a sweet embrace and passionate kiss, from the distance the Governor could hear the horns blowing from the Siren and he knew it was time to go, he released Nancy and began walking back towards his ship. Nancy stood their lost in her thoughts and clenching tightly the pouch of magical sand her husband had just given her. She was brought back to reality as the serenity of the scene was shattered by the sounds of naval guns exploding in the distance, as the docks became a buzz with activity. Nancy stood there with a smile on her face for the first time in many years as the people ran around and chaos erupted in the harbour as the Coast Guard began to engage the Siren as it left the harbour.

         Nancy once again alone, and this time she was empowered with a restored faith and restored spirit decided that she would hang her hat here in San Diego. Nancy would purchase a small coastal restaurant that was in need of a little TLC and so would begin the construction of her second bar. Nancy would name this one as well the Harbour Cafe, in tribute to her best friend and his fallen wife, this establishment would as well become another haven for the dredges of society. Nancy would once again post her rules on the Cafe doors, and watch as the Harbour Cafe would again become another staple of the seaman and sailors, through her work Nancy would once again feel again and no longer be numb. Though Nancy was given a gift from the their time together from the Governor, she was once again pregnant and caring the child of her beloved within her womb. Nancy was both happy and scared as she didn’t think she could handle the death of another child. Sadly for Nancy this child would never come to term and she would be rendered sterile after, the events that would lead to the death of her unborn child would be the eventual deeds that would drive her to Seattle and to open a third Harbour Cafe in the Pirate Cove.

        For Nancy everything was going as planned, the Harbour Cafe was blooming, she had just purchased a home on the waterfront and was getting ready to give birth. Nancy couldn’t have been happier as she would look out into the horizon and see the ships coming and going. She kept a hopeful lookout for the Siren, though she knew the Governor wouldn’t be back for a very long time if ever. On a cold autumn evening Nancy was walking along the beach, just being at piece with the song of the sea. When once again her life would turn into a nightmare and she would be thrust into a violent situation that she never wanted to be part of. As Nancy walked along the beach, she was unaware of a sinister plot that was coming for her, and this event would lead Nancy loosing the child. Nancy would never see it coming as she was nearing the parking area, at the end of her walk. A van screeched into view and as the doors flew open Nancy was suddenly surrounded by many men wearing black combat gear, though these where all wearing the flag of Aztlan and they would assault Nancy with a flurry of blows and worse. These men would as well do the unthinkable to her as they beat her within an inch of her life. Nancy would be able to take a few of them down with her magic, but her efforts wouldn’t stop her from being forced to live every women’s nightmare. Nancy would be beaten so badly that she could feel the life within her womb fade, as her body began to go into labour to push the lifeless body from her. Her attackers fled when a bystander was coming to her aid, this man began firing at the Aztlan forces and forced them to retreat back to their van, many laid dead as this dark skinned gentlemen just scooped up Nancy and with a blended British and Jamaican accent told her to “Just relax, I will get you to safety.” This man then took Nancy to a local medical clinic to receive aid.” As Nancy, was being rushed into the clinic ward by the medical staff. She overheard her savoir on the phone, as he stayed with her. He only said a few words but these words would be burned into her memory; “Monarch, confirmed Aztlan attack on your Daughter.” He then threw the staff a credit chip and left the clinic.

        Nancy would be then taken to surgery to help save her life from the injuries and free the partially still born child from her. Nancy would eventually recover from the assault and rape, but she would be forever left scarred from the attack and the death of yet another child. She would also know that her father was watching his daughter. He might not have been physically their, but he had members of his death squads watching her, this didn’t sit well with Nancy as she wondered where his men where when she was struck all those years ago and her first two boys where killed, and if it wasn’t his legacy that kept bringing this trauma into her life. Nancy would never again be able to bare children as the assault left her sterile as they would have to remove parts of her uterus to keep her alive. Nancy would walk out of the clinic a changed women and she once again, could not bear to look at the city that she called home. She just packed up her stuff, put her house on the market and placed the Harbour Cafe in capable hands and just started to drive. Nancy initially didn’t know where to go, though by the time she reached the boarder to Nevada, Nancy remembered her friend Joe and decided that she was ready now to go to Seattle to be close to her good friend, the only other man that ever treated her well. The only other man to understand her plight and would sit down with Nancy and just listen as she spoke. Joe respected Nancy and she knew that he would be able to help her through this troubling process.

      So Nancy just drove through the night, passing through check point after check point till she finally made her way into the Emerald City. Nancy exhausted from the many hours of driving would spend her first night in a road side motel, She would be serenaded by the sounds of gunfire as Seattle is a rough city, not for the timed violence and crime are a daily occurrence within the Emerald City. As she pulled the covers over herself, the reporters on the news would discuss the most recent failed shadow operation and the many that lay dead do to it. She would drift off to sleep as the explosions of anther operation sang her a sweet lullaby, Nancy would drift off to sleep dreaming about her reunion with Joe. Nancy would awake in the morning and emerge from her motel to the grey overcast sky of Seattle the air was damp from the morning mist and the air acrid with pollution from the many factories that claimed Seattle as their home. She would once again enter her sedan and head back out on to the road, the only place she could remember was the bar Joe spoke of the Jackals Lantern, so she entered the information in to her navigation system and even the computer would warn her about the danger of area and would recommend against it. Nancy would ignore the warnings and make her way through the busy streets of Seattle. Nancy would arrive at the Lantern about mid morning and she would be welcomed by the sights of burned out buildings, cars rusting on the streets and gangland graffiti. She would pull up besides the Jackals Lantern, a simple bar with no windows and a old wooden sign with a jackal holding a lantern hanging over the front door. The entire building was in disrepair and the concrete wall bore the scares of old bullet wounds, the sight of blood stained into the side walk and walls was unsettling to Nancy. As she exited her car, the air was unsettling as she could feel that she was being watched as she made her way to the bars front doors. Two local thugs emerged from the shadows, Nancy paused as she was face to face with two very large trolls. They were well over eight feet in hight, dressed in a mixture of combat gear and gang leathers, chains hung from their clothing and there horns pierced with human skulls dangling from golden rings. Nancy was taken aback as the thugs revelled large assault weapons and began cursing and threatening Nancy in a very guttural broken urban speak, that she was unfamiliar with. Nancy would try to reason with the thugs, but to no avail they where dead set on robbing or worse this poor women. As Nancy began to prepare a spell to deal with the trolls, her concentration was broken by the explosion of two blasts from a shotgun from behind the trolls. Nancy was once again covered in blood as the two thugs chests exploded and they would fall dead at her feet. As Nancy would see as the gun smoke cleared, Joe standing there in his traditional bartender attire; his waist wrapped in apron and he was holding a double barrelled combat shotgun that was still smoking. The two made eye contact and Nancy started running towards Joe, he just told her sternly “Get inside, more will be coming shortly.” and he ran to the door opening it for her and once Nancy was inside Joe followed locking the door and putting the closed sign up. He then tossed his shotgun onto the bar and embraced Nancy in a long hug, and brought her to a seat at the bar. The Jackals Lantern is a a rough bar, much like the Harbour Cafe, though this place is home to many of the cities fiercest runners and no matter what Joe does he can’t keep the décor in prime condition and after many failed attempts he has just given in and allowed the place to slowly fall apart. The floor covered in saw dust, the tables in bad repair and show signs of ware many with carvings of gangland and runner monograms. The bar was old and in poor shape, though behind the bar was walls of top shelf liquor, the place reeked of stale beer, cigarettes and body order all of this was an assault to Nancy’s senses. In the corner of the bar was another older gentlemen seated, he was dressed in business professional attire. His appearance in direct contrast to the rough surroundings, as he appeared he should be in a corporate bar instead of the Lantern. He was nursing a warm beer and eating a plate of chicken wings, as he just waved at Nancy exposing the very large handgun under his jacket. Joe and Nancy just began talking as he joked about her being covered in blood once again, and seated at his bar. Nancy just smirked, knowing he meant no offence by his remark and as the two friends reminisced and Nancy began to recall her most recent situation that drove her to Seattle. The older gentlemen approached the two and began to speak, Nancy was able to see once he got closer, that this must be one of those runners she hears so much about. His attire well groomed, but his mannerisms where all business, he had obvious cybernetics and his suit was well armoured and from a close glance it had seen some recent activity. Though even being this close to him she didn’t feel uncomfortable as the scent of his old spice would comfort her as it reminded her of both the Governor and Joe. he would extend his had and introduce himself as Steven Miller. He would also interject saying “He gives his condolences, and that he is Joe’s brother.” The three would talk about everything under the sun as the morning, turned to afternoon and eventually evening. The sounds of the angry gangers outside would eventually be silenced by the sirens of Seattle Police Department, and for the first time the Jackals Lantern would remain closed as Joe felt that Nancy needed his undivided attention. Steven would even offer to be Nancy’s guard while she was in the city. She would turn down Steven, though thanking him for the offer and after an evening spent with her closest friend she would leave the Lantern with another friend as Steven welcomed Nancy to the family even if not in marriage anyone who can bring a smile to his brothers face is a friend of his.

         Nancy would spend the next few years milling around Seattle getting to know the landscape and learning quickly where not to go. This is how she would find herself on the small island just outside of the Seattle harbour known simply as Pirates Cove. She would venture into the waters one day, she would purchase a small boat to explore the waterways in hopes to see the Siren again, though she would stumble upon a small island shrouded in fog and lost to the maps. A large building awaited, with many ships moored there, Nancy would dock her boat at the old wooden docks that where in dire need of repair. As she knew a storm was coming in and travelling back to the mainland would be dangerous, Nancy would exit her boat and step once again onto an island. As she nervously entered the old tavern that needed serious work, she would be welcomed with the warm scents of spice and cider the place might have looked dishevelled from the outside but on the inside it was warm as fires burned in the fireplaces, servants milled around serving food and drink. Nancy noticed a vast majority of the patrons where all wearing the colours of the Crimson Bloods and even those of rival clans where being ignored. Nancy just stood in the door as watching as she saw a middle aged man dressed in morning dress with the black jacket and waist coat and grey striped trousers, his white dress shirt, stiff collar and black tie made this man stand out against a sea of pirates and their attire. He approached Nancy directly, again she contemplated running but he knew she had nowhere to go. She just stood her ground once the man was within arms reach, extended his hand and introduced himself ” I am the Falconer, and I work for your husband. I was told to give you this if you ever made your way to the Pirate Cove.” he then reached under his frock coat and handed, Nancy winced and he produced a an envelope handing it over to Nancy he as well reached into his pocket and pulled out a key ring and handed it to Nancy. She suddenly felt the warmth of the pouch the Governor had given her all those years earlier begin to pulse within her bosom, where she wore it attached to a golden chain. The Falconer continued to speak, “The Governor is sorry that he couldn’t be here personally, as he wanted to be be here himself to say this. He wishes you a happy anniversary, and he trusts this place is in good hands and soon one day the Siren will be again in the docks.” Nancy just stared at the Falconer blindly nearly falling over as she was quickly scoped up by the Falconer and he took Nancy outside to see the sign hanging above the doors that just read Nancy’s Harbour Cafe, and on the sign post was her list of rules from the other Cafes. Nancy was rendered speechless and the Falconer just brought her back into the Cafe and out of the rain.

           Well as the years progressed Nancy has remained at her Cafe her in Seattle, as she feels comfortable and safe for once in her life being surrounded by pirates. She has established herself as a bar maiden you never wish to cross and this one time servant has know become a full fledge queen of the pirates and she her fathers enemies dare not to step onto Pirate Cove. Nancy cares little who comes to her Cafe but she has only one rule and thats you leave everything at the door, if this can’t be adhered to she has the offending parties dealt with swiftly. Since taking up residency at Pirate Cove, she has had many wonderful reunions with her husband and his friends though she distrusts the mainland and has never returned to Seattle. Nancy knows that in do time she will see Joe again and that her good friend is always their for her, Nancy does miss her children but understands it was the will of the universe that they would die for her to end up where she is now. Will Nancy ever again have a child is left uncertain though he now waits till the day her husband returns once again, she as well waits for the day Joe arrives to see what has become of his wife’s legacy. Joe’s departed wife started the Harbour Cafe while he was off fighting and passed on before she could see her legacy bloom into what it has become. The Harbour Cafe was started by Nancy Miller and then bequeathed to Nancy Cortland, the fates put the two together and the spirits of the departed have guided Nancy through her troubling and traumatic past. She is now the queen of the pirates, and her noble birthright has come to volition as Nancy is the ruler of the Pirate Cove. If you ever find yourself on the cove, please leave the politics and rivalries at the door and enjoy the warmth of the spice and cider of Nancy’s Harbour Cafe and if you are lucky you might even see Nancy working behind the bar and she might even be willing to regal you with a tale from the seven sea’s.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Page Written By: Shadow Writer