Emily Kaldwin Of Dunwall Analysis
All hail the Empress Emily Kaldwin of Dunwall, first of her name.
Daughter of the former Empress Jessamine Kaldwin, first of her name, may she rest in peace. Daughter of the Royal Protector and ex-assassin Corvo Attano.
The child empress who ascended to the throne following the assassination of her mother. The child empress who watched, helpless, as her kingdom deteriorating around her, her citizens dying of the Plague and the lords and ladies of the court content to ignore the suffering of the common people.
***
The Church fears her, for she is the first of her line that does not worship the Seven Scriptures, but they fear her father more. There are rumors that he is heretic, that he keeps whalebone charms carved with the mark of the …show more content…
“If they suspect you, they will kill you, and all of his powers cannot save you then.”
She nods. She learns to stop time, to blink across space, to speak with the rats. She learns a dozen ways to kill a man and a dozen more to make it look like a coincidence.
The mark of the Outsider on her hand burns brightly.
***
Sometimes in her dreams she thinks she hears her mother’s voice.
“Oh my dear sweet daughter. What have you become?”
“I am an Empress,” she whispers, “What I do, I do for Dunwall.”
The next day, they find the body of a Nobleman who recently gave a speech calling for nobles to stand firm in the face of the Empress’ new rationing policies. The next week, the leader of the City Guard disappears. An investigation reveals that he was planning to overthrow the Empress.
The mark burns brighter each time she solidifies her rule.
***
Dissent will not be tolerated, she reminds herself. A kingdom divided is a kingdom fallen.
A less confident, more desperate, voice in her head prays fervently, “And this kingdom will not fall.”
***
Emily the Heathen, they think. Emily the Assassin. The Empress with more blood on her hands than the entirety of her Royal Guard.
They call her Emily the Wise.
They are too afraid to call her anything
Daughter of the former Empress Jessamine Kaldwin, first of her name, may she rest in peace. Daughter of the Royal Protector and ex-assassin Corvo Attano.
The child empress who ascended to the throne following the assassination of her mother. The child empress who watched, helpless, as her kingdom deteriorating around her, her citizens dying of the Plague and the lords and ladies of the court content to ignore the suffering of the common people.
***
The Church fears her, for she is the first of her line that does not worship the Seven Scriptures, but they fear her father more. There are rumors that he is heretic, that he keeps whalebone charms carved with the mark of the …show more content…
“If they suspect you, they will kill you, and all of his powers cannot save you then.”
She nods. She learns to stop time, to blink across space, to speak with the rats. She learns a dozen ways to kill a man and a dozen more to make it look like a coincidence.
The mark of the Outsider on her hand burns brightly.
***
Sometimes in her dreams she thinks she hears her mother’s voice.
“Oh my dear sweet daughter. What have you become?”
“I am an Empress,” she whispers, “What I do, I do for Dunwall.”
The next day, they find the body of a Nobleman who recently gave a speech calling for nobles to stand firm in the face of the Empress’ new rationing policies. The next week, the leader of the City Guard disappears. An investigation reveals that he was planning to overthrow the Empress.
The mark burns brighter each time she solidifies her rule.
***
Dissent will not be tolerated, she reminds herself. A kingdom divided is a kingdom fallen.
A less confident, more desperate, voice in her head prays fervently, “And this kingdom will not fall.”
***
Emily the Heathen, they think. Emily the Assassin. The Empress with more blood on her hands than the entirety of her Royal Guard.
They call her Emily the Wise.
They are too afraid to call her anything