Joseph II

[John Ivory 4546]

Spoiler

 

 

 

Joseph II, Holy Orenian Emperor, as painted on his death bed by The Hon. Margaux Helvets. (Credits to @UnBaed)

 

REFLECTIONS ON STATE

OR;

SOME FRUITS OF SOLITUDE

 

AS DICTATED BY

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

 

WITH DEDICATION TO

HIS IMPERIAL HIGHNESS, JOHN CHARLES, THE DUKE OF HELENA.

 

AND THE POOR ORENIAN THAT WOULD BOAST HIMSELF A STATESMAN.

 

BEING A COLLECTION OF REFLECTIONS ON THE OFFICE OF STATE COLLECTED IN A REIGN OF TWENTY NINE YEARS,

AND

THE TEACHING OF EIGHTY FOUR YEARS OF LIFE.

 

SIGISMUND'S END, 1813.

 

///

 

The age of heroes which Godric of Norland wrote so fondly of whilst he terrorized the frontiers of our Empire is long extinguished. Now is the age of men. The Orenian is simple in construction. He does not need the blood of dragons to perform his duty. He needs no title of peerage to display his merit.

 

The vast multitude of men possess a common heart. There is no great ambition in them. To these men, it is the bread of the day that is their reward. The ensign takes his pension. The merchant of Providence takes his coin. A Redenford planter reaps his harvest.

 

Sir Frederick Armas was born to a merchant. Simon Basrid was of no greater birth. Did Sabari make distinction between greater or lesser when he was called to fill the trenches?

 

What is the boast of Emperors, but great folly? Our ancestors worshipped their sovereigns in the Imperial cult. The very blood of Horen was taken as sacred; if sacred, infallible. Would you take Antony I as infallible in his pronouncements?

 

Let you take heed, John Charles, that an Emperor is the sum of the men which he surrounds himself with. Your father, Joseph II, possessed a common heart; he held no greatness; it was they who reared him that were filled with the greatness of the day. It is to his councilors that he is indebted, and to benevolent Providence.

 

An Emperor reigns; he does not rule.

 

Do not speak. Such is the business of a councilor.

 

Speak not in Opinion, but Judgement; therefore speak last.

 

Make no promise. It shall be invoked unto the grave.

 

The Emperor is all things to all men. If it should be otherwise, envy; if envy, rebellion.

 

Your father made no vain boasts. He pretended to no great conquest. The constitution was upheld, and no great calamity befell the Empire.

 

THE DICTATES ARE INCOMPLETE.

 

 

VALE

JOSEPH II

(1730 – 1814)

(REGNANT 1784 – 1814)

 

12th of Sun's Smile, 1814.

 

Born first son of Adrian, Duke of Adria, in 1730; appointed Secretary of the Interior, 1750; wed Anne Augusta, Princess Imperial, 1753; nominated to the Circuit Court, 1783; ascended to the throne 1784; death of Anne I, 1800; death by natural causes, Augustine Palace, 1814.

 

THE EMPEROR IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR.

[Taketheshot 3834]

Joseph d'Azor closed his eyes as he read the missive. Looking up from his shop he watched as the bells of the Providence cathedral began to sound in news of the Emperors death. "Joseph II is gone.....and with him an era of peace, the wolves will began their clawing at the door, we will stand ready and defeat them. John will lead us to victory. Victory for our Empire..." Joseph d'Azor picked up his head as a tear streamed from his cheek musing. "The Emperor is dead, God save the Emperor..."

[VIROS 2915]

Josephine Augusta mourns the loss of her grandfather.

 

When she was young, he had been larger than life--almost a god, for his rank was so distant and untouchable. It did not help that Joseph II had many grandchildren, and when he even deigned to see them, he often struggled to remember their names. But as the princess grew older, the Emperor grew more human. He had. . . foibles. Josephine began to understand her grandfather did not forget her name because she was not important, but because he was simply forgetful. He was a man with flaws. How strange!

 

The greatest display of emotion he had shown her was at the day of her betrothal, when she had begged him not to hand her away to a man of whom she knew so little. But, as her royal grandfather said in his last testament "Make no promise. It shall be invoked unto the grave." His own words bound him, and she was duly promised to Peter Alexander. Upon learning of his death, Josephine realized that distant memory was the only time she had heard her namesake speak without the royal we. He had to said to her not "We are sorry," but "I am sorry."

 

In the end, it had all turned out as the Emperor said it would: Peter Alexander was a fine husband. The princess would never share with Peter that great romance of Anne I and Joseph II, but neither did she regret obeying her grandfather's command. Josephine Augusta, granddaughter of Joseph II, wept at his passing.

 

___

 

Amongst a crowd, James II welcomes Joseph II, his own brother, into the gates of the Seven Skies. Strewn across the ground before the monarchs are all the laurels, the crowns, the badges of office, and the fine distinctions of the men who entered that place; they would have no need of them anymore.

[BobBox 3798]

A Basrid sat inside the gloom and darkness of his office, no candle in sight. Reflecting on his childhood, he remembered fondly of the many things his Grandfather had granted him. "Five hundred meters of silks, two hundred meters of rope, and a large basket." He repeated the list to himself, then chuckling after. He missed the balloon, the days of casually talking to his grandfather. He remembered when his mother had asked him, "Anthony, Who is the wisest?" "Well mother, it is clearly grandfather, as he is so wise he cannot move without a wheelchair." He missed the time his grandfather had asked him of his feelings. How the times had changed so quickly. From casual conversations to talks about the state, it was true that he had left an imprint on Anthony that would last until he himself perished.

[helldiving 5793]

Adrian Leopold welcomes Joseph Clement upon his arrival from above.

[zuziee 4004]

Maisie d'Arkent would be sat in Sunholdt when the news was brought home. Tapping her spoon on the edge of her teacup, ringing across the empty country house. Shortly, Joseph brought the pamphlet to the women, her sky blue eyes reading over it. 

 

At first, her mind spun. Signing the Lorraine and muttering "Long live the emperor." swiftly acting to put up the black curtains within the house. "I shall have to send my sister in law my condolences as well." she'd chirp.  

[ErikAzog 3575]

Philip Aurelian mourns the loss of his Grandfather.

[Pompilidae 237]

Quote

When someone is crying, of course, the noble thing to do is to comfort them. But if someone is trying to hide their tears, it may also be noble to pretend you do not notice them.

Amidst far shores and vistas, the grieving of the masses has been well ignored. A call for grand celebration, fanfare, and a victory to those close to Her. A day of triumph, and a night of serenity. Their delight spread like plague and wildfire alike. 

[GhostSHTR 1205]

Sergei Othaman would welcome his friend to the seven skies

 

 

Alastair Hawk d'Azor would look up to his mentor, the now Emperor of the Holy Oren Empire John Charles "I shall be by your side even after our time as ward and mentor are over your imperial majesty." he'd state @KosherZombie

[Chronics 482]

Leopold would give a firm salute a single tear rolling down his cheek "It was good serving you" Would state before going off to his duties

[DahStalker 3692]

Emerentia hears about the death during the tenure of her travels with a heavy heart. It was only months ago she stood at the late Emperors beside and treated him via glasses of wine and salve for his coughing. She mourns heavily! Though due to the only recent outcoming of the young John the Eighth she fears only slightly for the future of Oren. 

[sergisala 3451]

Sir Charles Galbraith KM would be in his Office shuffling some papers when he heard the tragic news of the Emperor:

 

"One of the best Emperors to have ever existed. He will be remembered."

 

The Minister of the Crown would mutter before pacing around his office for several minutes before adding:

 

"The Emperor is Dead. Long Live the Emperor!"

[_pr0fit 3084]

"Very sad" Vane shakes his head sadly "He's gonna miss all the fun"

[garentoft 9265]

Despite the world that had torn them apart, Lauritz Christiansen nevertheless greeted a man who he considered a friend into the Seven Skies.

[Imperium 3495]

Captain Ruthern lowers his head when he heard the news, "One GOD, One Empire, One Emperor." He mutters the words he had a thousands times before. "Let his Imperial Majesty rest in peace, he's done more than most will ever know."