BuilderBagel 825 Share Posted March 26 THE REINMAREN DUTY Art depicting an instance of Reinmaren commerce. DIE REINMAREN-PFLICHT | THE REINMAREN DUTY Issued by Leon II, Prince in Reinmar In the year of our Lord 1969 Medieval II Total War Music "The Widow" ÖHNE UND TÖCHTER VON REINMAR, THE REINMAREN HAVE ALWAYS ANSWERED TO CALLS AND POWERS HIGHER THAN THEMSELVES. From the lowly burgher to the high chief, every Reinmaren has a duty to serve. This text shall provide context to our system of hierarchy and how our ancestors fulfilled their obligations. In contemporary society, the Reinmaren hierarchy has come to include outlanders who fall under the burgher class. During the times of Theoderic and Gelimar, one would seldom find an outlander in a Reinmaren holdfast, which was typically only inhabited by a chieftain and his sworn men. A Reinmaren man accredited his successes to the gods of the forests, mountains, and rivers. He owed his loyalty to his clan and family. He was compelled to break bread with his brothers, and make sacrifices to his forefathers. THE WARRIOR The warrior made up the base of Reinmaren society. He was duty-bound to offer his spear to his chieftain’s warband during times of war, and to till the land his chieftain allowed him during times of peace. A warrior was owed land, a share of the spoils from battle, and a place at his chieftain’s assembly. What he did not eat or sacrifice would go to his chief. THE REEVE The reeve stood above the warrior and was typically the most senior member of a chief’s holding. He was expected to collect taxes on behalf of his chief, and was entrusted with ensuring that loot was shared amongst the chief’s men, from which he was entitled to the greatest number of horses. He was pledged to gather the spears of the Reinmaren during times of war and act as their commander. Reeves were owed a place at the chieftain’s table and rights to appropriate his villagers’ horses and livestock if necessary. THE HIRDMAN The hirdman was the most trusted companion of a chieftain. He was appointed to the protection of his chieftain, the master of the hird, and offered him counsel. The hirdman was sent to ensure tasks were completed according to the chief’s will, an embodiment of his hand. A chief would refer to his hirdmen as brothers, extending to them the same privileges as his own kin. While his lord lived, the warrior owed him loyalty unto death. If his lord were killed, the warrior had to avenge him or die in the attempt. When a chieftain broke bread, the first portions would be reserved for him. A hirdsman was entitled to the first pick of the spoils of war, the right to wear a torc and ornaments befitting a noble warrior, and the privilege of carrying a chieftain’s body and possessions to his funeral pyre after death. A heroic warrior brought up in the fellowship of the hird would show a reckless disregard for his life, sacrificing all for the wellbeing of chieftain and tribe. Whether he was doomed or not, courage was best, for the brave man could win glory among men, while the coward might die before his time. This is the spirit which inspired the code of the Hird. THE CHIEFTAIN The chieftain was the head of his clan. Some were bound to serve a high chief or another chief as a tributary whilst others answered to none but the gods themselves. He was expected to protect his people from harm, lead his tribe in sacrifices, and galvanize his assembly. As chief, he was compelled not only to act justly, but also to ensure that his hirdsmen, reeves, and warriors were free of corruption. His sacred duty was to defend the mountains, forests, and rivers his clan inhabited, safeguarding the lands where their ancestors rested. The chieftain enjoyed a multitude of privileges and maintained the right to command every man within his lands, for their farms were his farms, their animals were his animals, and their spears were his spears. The lord in turn had the duty of being generous to his warriors. He himself had to be a formidable warrior to draw capable men to his side, and a figure of noble and generous character to maintain those men within his service. This system of obligation and duty ensured cohesion in every clan. The Reinmaren stood as one, from tribesmen to chieftain, every member of a tribe contributed to its success. We continue these practices in a way to this day, for duty and hierarchy ensures the stability of our great tribe. WER RASTET, DER ROSTET HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, LEON, Prince in Reinmar and of Minitz, Count of Neu Brandthof, Viscount of Tucay, Baron of Boriënwald, Lord of Durres, Chieftain of the Reinmaren, Warden of the Franklands and Ferdenwald HER LADYSHIP, FREDERICA, Baroness of Sigradz, Seneschal of the Heather Court 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazedpudding 2124 Share Posted March 26 Frederica Barclay snapped her best quill writing all the copies. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow2k 501 Share Posted March 26 Father Gregor turned his head away from the missive and closed his eyes- feeling a sudden burst of melancholy after he read over the positions he lived his entire life around in Minitz. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadOne 3422 Share Posted March 26 Adelmar von Kanunsberg, reading from his humble hovel rises a warhorn for the penmanship of Leon and Frederica, appreciating the historical works. "Such is the duty of every sworn son of our tribe. May the Kanun smite them thus, should he betray his Schwur." 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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