A Message from the Magistrate

"It was my duty as magistrate to ensure that the settlement of New Esbec receives fair and equal elections. I am here to proudly announce that my duty has been served, and that the election results of the recent election are as follows."

Helena de Sarkozy shall be Head Clerk of New Esbec,

Edwin de Sarkozy shall be the Sheriff of New Esbec

In accordance with the Imperial Charter for New Esbec, the Magistrate of New Esbec is tasked by the Imperial Crown is tasked with a specific set of duties. It is in the Crown’s best interests to see their lands prosper, so the Magistrate is tasked with carrying such out.

In accordance with said charter, the Magistrate is charged with one of the following duties to:

IV. Administrate free and fair city elections.

Therefore, the communal government of New Esbec is pleased to announce that we are holding Elections for the positions of Head Clerk, and Sheriff. 

A prospective candidate for Head Clerk or Sheriff must meet these qualifications:

1. At least 18 years of age

2. In good legal standing 

3. Own property within New Esbec

Should a candidate meet such criterion, the following form must be filled by a prospective candidate:

1. Full Name of the Candidate:

2. Age of the Candidate:

3. Street Address of the Candidate:

4. What office Head Clerk/Sheriff office
    

Über Gilden; On Guilds

SEKTION EINE

Context

In order to facilitate the accumulation of resources for the betterment of Esbec, The Office of the Jägdmeister finds it fitting to authorize the creation of two institutions: The Laborers’ Guild, to be properly titled as The Arbeitgilde, and The Artisans’ Guild, to be properly titled as The Kunstgilde. 

SEKTION ZWEI

Structure

Each gilde is to be composed firstly of a Gildenmeister, who is to be elected among their own by the members of the gilde. Each gilde is to be composed secondly of the Gildenmitglieder, members of the gilde, both required to be residents of Esbec and workers of their respective trade, admitted by the Gildenmeister.

SEKTION DREI

Duties

The duties of the Gildenmeisteren are to be as follows: To firstly facilitate the acquisition of materials seen fit by The Office of the Jägdmeister, to secondly ensure the prosperity and activity of their respective gilde, and to thirdly administer the election of their eventual successor. The duties of the Gildenmitglieder are to be as follows: To firstly advance their skills in their respective craft under the oversight of the Gildenmeister, and to secondly fulfill orders issued by the Gildenmeister.

SEKTION VIER

Miscellany 

The first Gildenmeisteren are to be appointed by The Office of the Jägdmeister, thereafter being elected as outlined. The Gildenmeisteren are to serve for a term of three years before re-election.

A STICKY SITUATION

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A gentle snow had just started to fall that evening. Four Jägers gathered before the abandoned shack; the group charged with a simple mission. They were to investigate what laid behind the barricaded door within, and if it was deemed a nest of Danûngol, they were to clear the area of the giant arachnids.

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Auriter Yl’Asath, better known as Hans Dragovitch, led the group into the dilapidated building. Zirath R’enar, the most veteran of the Jägers in the team, then took an axe to the barricaded door. With a few swift hacks, the boards were destroyed, and the door behind them collapsed with a simple push. It revealed a dark cave within… one with walls lined with massive clumps of sticky silk.

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With a lantern in hand, Anduin Rhys Dering entered the cavern, illuminating the way for his allies. The party soon came upon a bulge of silk clinging against a stone wall, wriggling slightly, as if alive. Hans sliced the white sack open, and out came the near-corpse of a fawn… the unfortunate victim of the spiders’ most recent hunt.

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But as the group gazed upon the poor animal, Anduin caught sight of something with the corner of his eye. Dots that shimmered with the light of his lantern, betraying the presence of the large spiders shrouded within the shadows deeper within the cave. The elf issued a word of warning, and the Jägers readied themselves for combat.

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Hans and Zirath stepped forth to meet their adversary, with the latter making quick work of the creature with a blade through its head. But just as the spider was dispatched, a second descended upon Zirath, smashing the Jäger’s back down upon the stony ground.

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Anduin conjured a shield of light and charged forth, aiming to bash the creature off his companion. It was then that Ira, the enigmatic Unterjäger, stepped forth to crush the monster’s head under her heel. She moved in perfect sync with Anduin’s actions, and her foot connected with the beast just as Anduin’s shield did, ripping the Danûngol’s head from its body.

Then, the third and final spider appeared. The final foe of the night clashed briefly with the Jägers at the front, but with another well-placed strike, Ira ended the arachnid with the tip of her blade skewering it through its soft underbelly. And then, there was silence. The group waited for another enemy to face, but none came. The nest of spiders appeared to have been cleared out.

Their mission was complete.

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However, a certain curiosity regarding the cavern was noted in the aftermath of the fight. The back of the nest appeared to have been formed by a cave-in, with noxious fumes emanating from the gaps within the wall. Perhaps there was something more to this place…

But finding that out would be a task for another day.

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New Esbec. What can I describe of New Esbec when compared to the original Esbec?

Allow me to indulge.

The tavern, known as The Hunter's Haven, was still undergoing construction. Within it rested people from different walks of life, all united by a common goal -- to hunt. They spoke to one another as if they knew each other for millenia, and yet some only met each other merely ten minutes ago. I felt as one with the community, as I did with Old Esbec. Many faces I recognized -- such as the Jagdmeister Anton, the leader of the town, who everyone refers to as simply "Toni".

However, what truly made me smile were the new faces I saw, faces who I knew were unfamiliar to this town entirely, and to these lands. But I knew, deep down in my heart, that New Esbec would offer a hand for those who come to these lands in need of guidance, and even for a little adventure. These people were willing to work for Old Esbec, and so too will they begin to drive New Esbec towards new glory.

The mountains from many miles away roared to unimaginable heights. The forests were thick, and hiding within them were beasts of both known and unknown origin. Langford Lagoon, the milky turquoise body of water that this town rested on, was mirror flat and stretched all around a grassy sight of rolling hills.

The town was ever expanding. I saw the construction of all sorts of buildings -- a tavern, housing for newer residents, and an entire hunter's workshop, filled to the brim with all manner of equipment and perishables meant to counteract the beasts of these lands. 

Everything in this town was constantly moving. Nothing was stagnant. Nothing in this town ever managed to stand out.

Except for a shack.

A single, cold, abandoned shack.

The Shack

I remember that evening as clear as the dawn.

It was getting late. The townsfolk were exhausted after a long hunt against a pack of massive bears. I took a break from the chatter to get some air, and far off, I saw it. It was so small, and yet it stood out like a blood red ruby in a sea of cryptic darkness. The town already knew about this shack, and how it existed when the first immigrants of Old Esbec arrived, but nobody chose to approach it.

But I approached it. I and I only. 

The cool air bit into me like how the frozen teeth of a wight bite into flesh. All that was there myself, and the shack. And within it, a single door.

I touched my hand on it. I pushed forward.

And within the darkness, there it was.

That thing that will haunt me until the day I die.

Imperial Charter for the Municipality of New Esbec

9th of Godfrey’s Triumph, 1796

NOW THEREFORE KNOW YE that We, by virtue of our prerogative Imperial and Royal and of our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere knowledge have granted and declared and do hereby for Us, Our Heirs and Successors grant and declare as follows…

That the bearer of this writ, Anton Talhoffer, be chartered, by Imperial appointment, proprietor of the lands of New Esbec, on the western coast of Lake Esbec, itself near to the western frontier, and that this land, justly surveyed by Our Crown surveyors, be under their ownership, and that they [hereinafter called “The Proprietor”] are charged to develop a colony as well as establish, in accordance with the exact principles of this writ, a municipal government, as a matter of immediate priority to Our gracious reign.

That the term ‘ownership’, in the context of The Proprietor, be construed as private property subject to Us, Our law and Our government, and shall not be tied or associated with any such peerage, polity, governmental nor public office, nor Crown office, the holding of which shall remain separate to the duties and privileges enumerated in this document.

That The Proprietor shall hold the economic privilege of ownership and extraction with respect to any natural resources, which are already deemed present or may be otherwise discovered, in the surveyed territory.

That this charter shall officially incorporate the municipality of New Esbec, and shall enumerate the offices and principles of the municipal government therein, and that all appointments to such offices must remain strictly consistent with this writ under Our graciousness, and that the creation of any further offices outside of the purview of this writ remain strictly illegal, with any amendments to said writ occuring only by the due consent of Us, Our Heirs and Successors.

That by Our command, The Proprietor shall be discharged forthwith to establish the requisite conditions for the creation of this municipality, operating in accordance with Our Crown law, as an Imperial subject in totality, under singular jurisdiction. 

That this municipal government be composed firstly of a magistrate, who shall serve by Our Crown appointment, and who shall...

I. Be a justice of the peace.

II. Hear cases, trial, or other disputes that may arise within the municipality, in original jurisdiction.

III. Apply the supreme law of Our Crown and Counsellors within the municipality.

IV. Administrate free and fair municipal elections.

V. Administrate the collection of any national taxes, excises or tariffs on behalf of Our Treasury.

VI. Retain access to all municipal records or ledgers. 

VII. Report the fomentation of sedition, turmoil, discord, libel and acts against Our Crown or Our government. 

That this municipal government be composed secondly of a sheriff, who shall be elected from among the residents of this municipality, and who shall…

I. Arrest and detain criminal suspects reasonably accused of violations of Our law until such time as they may be tried.

II. Investigate, and bring to trial on behalf of Our Crown, cases criminal within the municipality.

III. Cooperate with Our Crown deputies and authorities on all cases and investigations, local or otherwise.

IV. Be allowed to deputize a single, non-uniformed person.

That this municipal government be composed thirdly of a clerk, who shall be elected from among the residents of this municipality, and who shall…

I. Set the rate of taxation at the municipal level.

II. Administrate the collection of municipal taxes or rents, and sale of residences and other properties.

III. Be responsible for the maintenance of the municipal ledger. 

IV. Be allowed to deputize a single, non-uniformed person.

That these three offices, in conjunction with The Proprietor [who themselves shall bear no formal office or post separate from his ownership of the private property from which the municipality derives], comprise and be referred to in corporation as the town council, who shall together serve as the municipality’s executive body, responsible for its operation, and that this executive shall not be construed as possessing the powers of a legislature [that is, a law-maker], but shall instead operate through the application of the law of Our Crown and Counsellors as well as through the delegated statutory authority We explicitly establish by the aforementioned articles of this writ. 

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

Anne I, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Empress, forever August, Queen of Renatus, Curon, Salvus and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Duchess of Adria, Novellen and Lorraine, Baroness of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

Joseph II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Adria, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

SIGNED AND WITNESSED,

Mr. Anton Talhoffer