* Restricted as distributed
The true story of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Decus IV is perhaps known only to the consciences of those responsible. SARAN has not allowed Communes on the subject. However, your understanding of what happened is as follows.
Decus IV proved impotent on his marriage to Harina, who turned to his handsomer and stronger (and more virile!) brother. When she became pregnant, Decus realised he could not be the father. Harina mocked him, revealing Leo was the father. Furious, Decus locked her up.
When the boy was born, Decus took him away and claimed he was his own. But Decus had been about the only person in the Palace who did not realise what was going on (although his advisers had tried to tell him), and he was not believed. Leo did not dare to claim to be the father, against the Emperor, but word got out.
Decus was the only man allowed access to Harina in prison, and there he forced himself upon her until he eventually managed to make her pregnant.
While he was so distracted the Empire was falling apart, but now he turned his attention back to it, engineering the overthrow of Canar. Following the Mutiny of the Army of the Western Provinces Decus returned to Valdra to see his newly-born child.
He was in Harina's cell, holding the baby in his arms, when in burst Lascer, Duke of Omec, with a Cleric of LOFIR, both followers of Leo. They had orders to Destroy Decus and the child, take Decus' Items and free Harina.
But the over-zealous Cleric not only Destroyed Decus and the child, but also the Items, including the Sword of the Emperors. Lascer was outraged at this error, and killed the Cleric on the spot in punishment.
Harina was freed to marry Leo, now Emperor.
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