“ In the Middle Ages, and even up to the early twentieth century, most of Europe's executioners were related: the Sansons and Deiblers in France, the Pierrepoints in England, etc. The reason for this was that, it generally not being socially acceptable to, well, kill people, executioners and their children could, generally, only marry other executioners or <i>their</i> children.
The parallels with massively inbred, Hapsburg-style dynasties are obvious- imagine a rather clever but politically inept satirist noting this, and being sentenced by the latter to a meeting with the former; even worse, imagine a dynasty of deranged and deformed executioners- think Texas Chaisaw Massacre with government funding.”
“ A simple flag, faded by time and sun, tattered and worn by untold years flying from the pole of a bannerman, passing hands from officer to officer, from one generation to another. It is a humble symbol of great importance, and greater inspiration to those who see it. Soldiers become heros filled with espirit de corps, enemies loose their nerve and fire. It is not an enchanted item, but a powerful item still...”
“ Dust Elemental
https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=1594
At the corner of air and earth elemental planes resides the dust Elemental, a growing threat to Parisia. With it's powerful choking attack, this creature is a threat to the city. More and more of them are appearing in town, spawned from the many dust devils, a frequent foe of the party, they come in size from 3 HD to 20 HD. Why are there so many? Why in the city?”
