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Description
The Lady Hast Committed a Sin

In some place, far away, there was a castle. It had a central keep, as well as two other towers. These constructions , made from light gray stone, were surrounded by a sturdy wall. The wall was meant for defense, and it had served well in the past, and would continue to do so for many years, something the numerous scars from failed sieges bore witness of. Of course, not even the sturdiest walls can protect from dangers on the inside.

But right now, there is peace, so there is no use for the wall, except to hang colorful banners from. There is peace, and the local Baron, the lord of the castle, is hosting a ball. Drifting out from the central keep is a slow dance tune. The evening is drawing to a close, the musicians, the few available, are weary. The fine folks are retreating to their quarters for the night. Of course, they have no idea about what is to come.

A man is walking up a winding flight of stairs, a content smile on his lips, a content smile on his face. He has all the reason in the world to smile this way, but it will soon be wiped from his face. But let’s not hasten events. The reason he is smiling is that he is the lord of the castle, the Baron, and the midwinter ball has been a great success, despite the baroness withdrawing early, due to a headache.

In his happiness, he is oblivious to the sounds coming from her ladyships room, but that is probably because his drunk. Very drunk. Humming lightly on a merry tune played earlier, he opens the door to his wife’s room.

The smile is wiped from the poor mans face. There are several things in the room which might have had that effect on him. It might have been eight naked bodies, three women and the rest men, doing stuff he thought only demons would do.

Or it might have been the small statue put up in the middle of the room. About a foot high, it was shaped as a man-goat, with entwined horns. He could not see the horns, though, as a girl was sitting atop it, showing why it was shaped that way.

But it was probably the three persons entwined on the bed. It should not have been too big a surprise that the only woman was the baroness, but the effect must have been rather unsettling for the poor man. He stood there, on the threshold, for a few moments, before taking a shocked step back.

Just then, his looked up, as he for the third time tried to scream for the guards. “No! Wait!” She said just as the scream flew from the barons mouth. The sound of running feet , shod in iron, quickly resounded throughout the castle. Or at least, parts of it. The guards had been feasting as well, and were not quite steady on their feet. Who would attack in the middle of winter anyway?

A naked man charged the king. What he hoped to achieve is unknown, because he ran into a lowered spear. Which went straight through him.

All people naked people in the room had some clothes thrown at them, before they were chained and led down to the castle dungeons. Their “idol” was smashed against a wall.

Of course, unheated stone dungeons are rather uncomfortable in the middle of winter. Especially if your clothes, um… accidentally… were torn on the way down, as was the case with two of the women. They had a little help from the guards, though. Just a little, mind.

Three of the prisoners had been sent into a communal cell, when a guard humorously pointed out that then, they could keep each other warm.

They were dragged out and put into separate cells. Cold cells.

Two weeks went by. The baron, torn with grief, was even colder and more distant than usual. People actually started missing his old self, though he hadn’t been that nice a man in the first place.

The prisoners had it worse, naturally. No one cared about them, so they were fed irregularly, and thin clothes did not agree with cold dungeon. One man died after about a week. No one missed him. The ladies might have had it better than the men though, because the guards, especially the young ones, would occasionally come in and warm them, whether they wanted it or not. But the baroness they left alone, though she miraculously got some thicker clothing. Couldn’t have her die too early.

After two weeks, when the guests had left, they had planned to stay longer, but the mood of the castle made them change their plans and find excuses to leave, the prisoners were led outside , baroness up front.

A gallows had been erected in the center of the castle courtyard. Seven noses hung from the thick wooden beams. Under each noose, a foot high wooden block was placed. The four women and three surviving men were placed under a noose each. As the ropes were placed around their necks, the baronesses head was placed on a wooden block in the center of the courtyard.

She was to be beheaded. Nobility has some advantages, right?

At the dukes half-hearted, and very cold command, the executioner kicked away the wooden blocks, ignoring desperate cries for mercy, until seven bodies were dangling. The sinners wriggled in their loops for quite some time, until becoming still, one by one.

Tears of fear were running down the baroness face. Tears were running down the barons face as well, but his were of a different character. Ignoring his wife’s pleads for mercy, he brought his hand down in a chopping motion.

Despite his resolution to watch, he turned away as the axe fell, but still heard the wet thud of a head hitting wood.

Description
The Lady Hast Committed a Sin

In some place, far away, there was a castle. It had a central keep, as well as two other towers. These constructions , made from light gray stone, were surrounded by a sturdy wall. The wall was meant for defense, and it had served well in the past, and would continue to do so for many years, something the numerous scars from failed sieges bore witness of. Of course, not even the sturdiest walls can protect from dangers on the inside.

But right now, there is peace, so there is no use for the wall, except to hang colorful banners from. There is peace, and the local Baron, the lord of the castle, is hosting a ball. Drifting out from the central keep is a slow dance tune. The evening is drawing to a close, the musicians, the few available, are weary. The fine folks are retreating to their quarters for the night. Of course, they have no idea about what is to come.

A man is walking up a winding flight of stairs, a content smile on his lips, a content smile on his face. He has all the reason in the world to smile this way, but it will soon be wiped from his face. But let’s not hasten events. The reason he is smiling is that he is the lord of the castle, the Baron, and the midwinter ball has been a great success, despite the baroness withdrawing early, due to a headache.

In his happiness, he is oblivious to the sounds coming from her ladyships room, but that is probably because his drunk. Very drunk. Humming lightly on a merry tune played earlier, he opens the door to his wife’s room.

The smile is wiped from the poor mans face. There are several things in the room which might have had that effect on him. It might have been eight naked bodies, three women and the rest men, doing stuff he thought only demons would do.

Or it might have been the small statue put up in the middle of the room. About a foot high, it was shaped as a man-goat, with entwined horns. He could not see the horns, though, as a girl was sitting atop it, showing why it was shaped that way.

But it was probably the three persons entwined on the bed. It should not have been too big a surprise that the only woman was the baroness, but the effect must have been rather unsettling for the poor man. He stood there, on the threshold, for a few moments, before taking a shocked step back.

Just then, his looked up, as he for the third time tried to scream for the guards. “No! Wait!” She said just as the scream flew from the barons mouth. The sound of running feet , shod in iron, quickly resounded throughout the castle. Or at least, parts of it. The guards had been feasting as well, and were not quite steady on their feet. Who would attack in the middle of winter anyway?

A naked man charged the king. What he hoped to achieve is unknown, because he ran into a lowered spear. Which went straight through him.

All people naked people in the room had some clothes thrown at them, before they were chained and led down to the castle dungeons. Their “idol” was smashed against a wall.

Of course, unheated stone dungeons are rather uncomfortable in the middle of winter. Especially if your clothes, um… accidentally… were torn on the way down, as was the case with two of the women. They had a little help from the guards, though. Just a little, mind.

Three of the prisoners had been sent into a communal cell, when a guard humorously pointed out that then, they could keep each other warm.

They were dragged out and put into separate cells. Cold cells.

Two weeks went by. The baron, torn with grief, was even colder and more distant than usual. People actually started missing his old self, though he hadn’t been that nice a man in the first place.

The prisoners had it worse, naturally. No one cared about them, so they were fed irregularly, and thin clothes did not agree with cold dungeon. One man died after about a week. No one missed him. The ladies might have had it better than the men though, because the guards, especially the young ones, would occasionally come in and warm them, whether they wanted it or not. But the baroness they left alone, though she miraculously got some thicker clothing. Couldn’t have her die too early.

After two weeks, when the guests had left, they had planned to stay longer, but the mood of the castle made them change their plans and find excuses to leave, the prisoners were led outside , baroness up front.

A gallows had been erected in the center of the castle courtyard. Seven noses hung from the thick wooden beams. Under each noose, a foot high wooden block was placed. The four women and three surviving men were placed under a noose each. As the ropes were placed around their necks, the baronesses head was placed on a wooden block in the center of the courtyard.

She was to be beheaded. Nobility has some advantages, right?

At the dukes half-hearted, and very cold command, the executioner kicked away the wooden blocks, ignoring desperate cries for mercy, until seven bodies were dangling. The sinners wriggled in their loops for quite some time, until becoming still, one by one.

Tears of fear were running down the baroness face. Tears were running down the barons face as well, but his were of a different character. Ignoring his wife’s pleads for mercy, he brought his hand down in a chopping motion.

Despite his resolution to watch, he turned away as the axe fell, but still heard the wet thud of a head hitting wood.