✦ capulet

The Capulets flew a banner of white and gold ever since they ruled Verona, and they wore the colours proudly, shoulders sparkling with jewels worth more gold than anyone could count and their chins in the air with arrogant pride. The royal house had good reason to, after all.

For as long as anyone knew the history of Verona, the conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honour of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters, musicians and strange animals in a show of victory, for together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot or rode the horse. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.

But glory would prevail for as long as a capulet donned the golden sovereign, Verona would prosper.

However, success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. The Capulets grew comfortable in their kingdom. They became one of the most powerful houses in the world, and who would dare challenge their rule? But, after centuries have passed, storm-wrought clouds have risen on the horizon, and with them, they bring ill omen.