A CALL FOR DEMOTION

[beetle 2730]

 

 

 

Issued By

THE VISCOUNTESS OF VENZIA

On this 9th of Jula ag Piov of 460 E.S.

 

---

 

O' GUD, VOR HJELP I GYNE ERE,

 

In recent months, the House of Ruthern has released several deplorable missives, claiming to speak for the entirety of Hanseti-Ruska as they sought to conquer and subjugate the Kingdom of Norland. They have attempted to bypass the legitimate channels of our Nation by which all law-abiding citizens pursue when they seek change. Such behavior will not stand.

 

Only years ago, in the recent memory of a select few, “The Enoffment of the Hyspians” was processed through His Majesty’s Royal Duma, to attain the approval of each Haeseni vassal and the nation’s populace - represented by the term's elected officials - to the terms of the Aulic Envoy and Viceroy’s treaty. Similarly, around this time, a non-aggression treaty with the Kingdom of Norland was presented to the Royal Duma; a public avenue of legislature. A great many objections opposed the prospective treaty, and the Nation came close to seeking war with our Northern neighbor. Nevertheless, the Royal Duma came to the conclusion that war with our Northern brethren would be unnecessary and it did not occur. Each of these exemplar decisions came about by the legislative branch's debate and reasonable discourse.

 

Perhaps the House of Ruthern believed themselves above our legitimate routes of discursive action. Perhaps it was the Lord Speaker - Baron Felix Weiss - who discouraged them from pursuing a lawful war through the Royal Duma, specifically in his non-Ruthern origin unlike past Lord Speaker Maric Baruch née Ruthern who they were unafraid of. Perhaps they thought not to follow the respectable, and honourable example of their forefathers by expressing their opinions before the masses. Or perhaps the House of Ruthern’s greed has come back to bite it once again; they gnaw at the Crown’s gown for more land and power, they disgrace their more honourable forefathers, and they embarrass our Crown whose opinion, counsel, and permission they disrespect so obtusely as to disregard any notion of sharing their intentions with anyone who might be affected by them.

 

Furthermore, the House of Ruthern has capitalized on a moment of least resistance from the Crown while King Georg I and Lord Palatine Iosif Basrid are simultaneously unavailable. This leaves only the Queen-Consort, regent Prince Marius Audemar and the infantile Grand Prince to preside over this occurrence. What cowardice a House must hold to await a time in which they suspect the Crown and populace to be the least resistant to their plots. Any soldier of the BSK would agree that one does not kick their opponent while they are down, and yet the House of Ruthern’s honour has been so shredded that it disregards this ancient tenet to feed its lust for power.

 

Even further still, the House of Ruthern, wielding the position of the Duke Aleksandar var Ruthern as Grand Peer, attempted to intimidate the Comital House of Kortrevich; alleging the Queen-Consort’s own family unworthy of their peerage and status and going so far in this affront as to imply that, were it not for the Queen-Consort’s grace, they would march upon Jerovitz and siege the very County from which she hails. In addition, Duke Aleksandr met with Duke Wilheim Barclay for the due process of the Noble Audit. What should have been a standard meeting for the discussion of the Duchy of Reinmar devolved into argument, including the Grand Peer himself questioning the loyalty of House Barclay. A high-caliber insult, one highly stained by personal bias, directed at a most honourable House whose residents have not once faltered in their allegiance to the Crown. Henceforth, no excuses claiming that the House of Ruthern’s intentions are to unite its countrymen or kin will suffice, for such threats having been even uttered should discredit them.

 

These decisions on the part of the House of Ruthern, the remainder of Hanseti-Ruska cannot abide by. Your actions have been reprehensible. For many years, generations even, you have scorned your brothers in both arms and quill and we have watched, but this is a step too far. This message comes not from personal opinions or distaste; the House of Colborn would expect to be treated in an identical manner should we have committed these same sins. How can your peers and the Crown possibly trust you henceforth; when you threaten undue abuse of your power against a kinsman, when you hold the Queen of a foreign nation captive, offer ultimatums to foreign powers, and demand to meet them in the field of battle without prior discussion among your Sovereign and allies?

 

The House of Ruthern quotes the final wish of the late King Karl III as their justification to wage this false war, in conjunction with their claim to hold the blessing of Pontiff Pontian IV. The topic of conquering the Kingdom of Norland has been brought to the Royal Duma’s attention already during His late Majesty’s reign, yet has been denied. Who are they to deny the will of the people, and neglect any will of the Crown? They are a volatile House, one that cannot be trusted.

 

---

 

It is for this aggregation of misdeeds that, spearheaded by the Vicomital House of Colborn, the peers of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska call upon the authority of the Crown - or the malefactors’ own shame - to demote the Ducal House of Ruthern for their offenses against the nation and the Crown; they have sabotaged its reputation, abused the Office of the Aulic Envoy’s efforts to retain neutrality, and they have attempted to bypass the will of the Crown by working behind its back. If not a demotion, the Peers of the Realm demand sanctions to satisfy the grievous injustices served to them. Furthermore, the Kingdom’s faith in Duke Aleksandr var Ruthern to serve dutifully and impartially as the Grand Peer has been called into serious question. Such grievous actions cannot be overlooked, and the Peers of the realm appeal to the Grace of Godan and the Crown for Justice.

 

---

 

SKRALI VOR GUD,

Viscountess of Venzia, Baroness of Bethlenen, Rose of Colborn, Protector of Scyflings

 

His Princely Grace, Wilheim Konstanz Barclay, Prince of Sutica, Duke of Reinmar, Count of Freimark and Kretzen, Baron of Madvon, Freising, and Sigradz, Lord of Wilheburg, Erwinsburg, Freiburg, Neuberg and Rozenfeld, Chief of the Reinmaren

 

His Highness, Cesar I de Pelear, Viceroy of Hyspia, Baron of Arenisca, Lord of Niseep, Gereon’s Hold, and Ciudad de Plata, Defender of Hyspian Culture 

Cesar de Pelear

 

The Right Honourable, Emma Henrietta Ludovar, Countess of Otistadt, Viscountess of Sezwesk, Baroness of Juliksburg,

Lady of Ricksburg

 

The Right Honourable, Matviy Artem Rahoul Kortrevich, Count of Jerovitz,

Viscount of Krusev, Baron of Koravia

 

His Lordship, Aurik Bishop, Baron of Ostervik, Baron-Consort of Gascony, BSK Master At Arms, Patriarch of Bishop

[Crevel 4727]

The Haeseni-born Acolyte Petyr the Housemage Farmhand looks upon the missive. He'd peer at the vast signatures of influential vassals disgruntled by House Ruthern's actions. While he agrees with the missive, he knows that regardless of what the Crown decides to do, there will be tensions among the vassals for years to come. Petyr hopes that this debacle will end without bloodshed at the very least. He utters a prayer in his home before going to read the Lives of the Saints, Volume III.

 

Spoiler

 

 

[ronin_champloo 5951]

"Fack the Rutherns, they took my wagon." Gamagoro muttered with a twitching frown, opting not to read any further past the first mention of the house.

[HIGH_FIRE 4110]

Francisco de Pelear would rock his new born in his arms gently with a sigh as he reads the missive "Too long has nothing been done against the Rutherns as they invade foreign lands" he speaks as he nods his head in agreement with the post

[Kaladin Stormblessed 614]

Baldrum Colborn would nod to the missive, reading it thoroughly. "The BSK follows the Crown and the Crown only. The Rutherns are nejt eligible to war foreign nations on a whim, without seeking approval from the Crown, let alone while His Majesty is away."  he said firmly "And I will nejt even comment about the rest of their wrongdoings."

[ReveredOwl 5314]

"How many of those houses who signed this disgraceful missive deserve demoting themselves due to the fact their families contribute very little or consists of one of two people? Pagan sympathisers, just as evil and foul as the azdrazi sympathisers!" exclaimed Arold.

[TaytoTot 1133]

A Waldenian woman read over the missive, eyes slanting as everything got worse and worse. “Zhe Ruzherns have messed witt zhe citizens uff Haense too much. Zhis ist zhe final strav.” She declared, looking over to her husband.

@Deets

[CopOwl 1668]

Lady Justiciar Adele Ludovar raises a brow as one of her clerks forwards the missive, bearing her daughter's signature, to her desk. "Oh mea..." She murmurs with widened eyes.

[Kitomine 775]

5 minutes ago, HIGH_FIRE said:

Francisco de Pelear would rock his new born in his arms gently with a sigh as he reads the missive "Too long has nothing been done against the Rutherns as they invade foreign lands" he speaks as he nods his head in agreement with the post

Amity returns to her husbands side, sitting down next to him to read the missive herself. “Hm si. I question what the hell is going through his head to think he can do such things and get away unscathed.” She nodded her head alongside her husband, now turning her focus to her baby. 

[ContestedSnow 776]

Emeric, loyal to the House in question, had his attention caught by the words demotion and 'Ruthern' together. After a lengthy amount of time reading his way through the small-text of the missive, and finally turning his amber gaze over the signatures, he frowned and set the paper down. His mood was soured.

Edited January 17, 2023 by ContestedSnow

[Herod 802]

“Many years ago, none of these houses objected when the Barclays fought a war on their own to claim some southron throne down in Sutica and now they whine when a religious war is called?” Asked the Bastard of Druzstra to his cousin, the Grand Inquisitor.

 

@Proddy

[DearConnorMurphy 189]

36 minutes ago, CopOwl said:

Lady Justiciar Adele Ludovar raises a brow as one of her clerks forwards the missive, bearing her daughter's signature, to her desk. "Oh mea..." She murmurs with widened eyes.

The daughter in question, Emma Ludovar, sat happily at the breakfast table with her husband and son when the missive arrived at the gates of Ricksburg. "We shall see what happens next." She said, glancing down at it with a soft smile before handing it to her husband. 

[MissToni 3487]

Katerina hurried off to deliver the news to His Holiness the pontiff

 

"News from Haense regarding the situation of House Ruthern, vyr Holiness!" @Balthasar

[Xarkly 12581]

Vanhart sighed as he watched the flames dance in the hearth.

 

He may not have been born Reinmaren, but he knew well the mistakes of King Henrik. 

 

"You'll know better, Georg," he mumbled as the logs cracked. "Lead, and do not be led."

[GoodGuyMatt 7060]

A slowly graying Leon read the missive from within his castle's walls in Minitz. He chuckled then, somewhat amused "My my..." he said, turning to his son and heir "Watch them bring up King Georg's conquest of Sutica..." he commented, making to give his blood a history lesson "Who, by the way, was not of the Haeseni Barclay line, and carried his campaign under his own banner. He rallied the canonist Sutican vassals himself. This is why we are not the same" he concluded then, making to set the parchment aside. @MadOne