THE LOTHARIAN INTERREGNUM

[Kingdom of Balian 730]

 

THE LOTHARIAN INTERREGNUM

10th of Horen’s Calling of 126 B.A  

 

 

 

“See, the World is changed, and the promise of Virtue is fulfilled.” (Auspice, 3:5)

 

HARKEN, my brothers and sisters. Today we speak not as shepherds and flock, but as fellow citizens of a nation dear to our hearts. Not all is lost in this time of turmoil, for the kingdom's government, its dedicated souls everso committed to our eternal piety shall lead us to a brighter future in these coming days. 

 

Let us first begin with Prayer: 

 

Our LORD Most Magnificent; 

 

Our LORD Most Merciful; 

 

Our LORD Most Benevolent;

 

Deliver us from darkness; 

 

Bring us to the Light; 

 

Deliver the flock to salvation; 

 

To you, Our Serene KING most high; 

 

To you, we turn amidst this time; 

 

May you guide us in your plan; 

 

To provide us a just governance of our people;

 

Under your watchful gaze and protection; 

 

Amen.

 

Balian as a nation was formed through adversity and has survived through varied forms of strain and struggle. We have muster strength and gotten past each and every obstacle with faith in our LORD and faith in our people. Our nation is one of persistence and hard work. I have faith that we shall overcome, with GOD and St Lothar’s Star guiding our actions.

 

Thus, I, Ivan Cardinal Lotharia, shall decree the following: 

 

It has been deemed by the Holy Mother Church that Their Majesties Alexander II and Lavanya of Cresonia are unfit to sit upon the throne and shall abdicate effective immediately. They shall await their penance, which shall be delivered unto them by His Holiness. 

 

As for His Highness John Casimir, the Church has decided that he shall fulfill penance under tutelage and under the watchful eye of Cardinal Ivan until the Holy Mother Church deems him suitable for re-inheritance and his penance complete.

 

Amidst this period of Interregnum, the Kingdom of Balian shall be placed under the regency of Cardinal Ivan of Lotharia. The government and Duana shall be guided by Cardinal Ivan at the helm. Further, amidst this period, Cardinal Ivan of Lotharia shall form a selective committee to choose a suitable heir of the Novellen line of King John I to inherit the Balianese throne. Such shall be made transparent with the People of Balian. 

 

With the resignation of Kristoff var Ruthern for his implication in the crimes committed against the church, August Benedict Temesch, Count of San Adriano shall be risen to the role of Amiratus, taking upon himself the overseeing of the Duana and administration of the Kingdom of Balian alongside Cardinal Ivan. We pray that he sees the same success and strength that his predecessors to the role have garnered in their time. 

 

All current positions with the Duana shall remain in effect. Dame Gwenyth shall remain as Constable of the Regiment of Saint Lothar. Dame Viktoria shall remain as El Gran Creu of the Knights of Saint Lothar. Lord Alaric var Ruthern shall remain as Magister of the Magistrate of Balian. Wernher Vourkehardt Shall remain as Domus Ministri. 

 

To provide further spiritual guidance within the Duana, the long dormant role of Agent General of the Clergy shall be reinstated to provide the nation and leadership of Balian with religious guidance. Bishop Belisarios Tyria shall be placed into this role so that he can aid the Duana. 

 

As August Temesch has been made Amiratus, the role of Legate of Balian has been left vacant. In order to ensure the continued smooth formulations of the Balianese Government, the formal interview process shall begin soon with the Amiratus and Cardinal Ivan overseeing such and the new choice for the role. To apply, send a letter to either. The candidate must have prowess in diplomatic endeavours and be over 16 summers old.

 

Finally the role of Procurator has been left vacant, and as such an appointment must be made to the role to ensure the continued income of the nation and that all national expenses are paid without problem. For her work as Vice Procurator, Colette de Lyons has been appointed to the role temporarily so that she may oversee the financial affairs of our Kingdom until the Duana can find a permanent candidate for the position. 

 

 

ET EN DÉU CONFIEM,

 

 HIS EMINENCE, Ivan Cardinal Lotharia,

Cardinal and Archbishop of Lotharia,

Regent of Balian.

 

HIS EXCELLENCY, August Benedict Temesch,

Count of Martiel, Count of San Adriano,

Amiratus of Balian, Royal-Legate of Balian,

Militant of the Order of Saint Lothar.

 

HIS MAJESTY, Alexander II

By the Grace of GOD, King of Balian, Prince of Providence, Duke of Helena, Reutov, Sunholdt and Lorraine, Count of Pompourelia and Kositz, Viscountess of Eflen and Anatis, Baron of Renzfeld, Brucca, Valens, Malenos, Montcoure and Ciavola, Lord of Portoregne, Atrus and Monterosa, Warden of La Costa Rubinissima, Keeper of of St Lothars Hold, Protector of the Heartlanders and the South, etcetera.
 

HER MAJESTY, Lavanya of Cresonia,

Queen-Consort of Balian, Princess of Providence, Duchess-Consort of Helena, Reutov, Sunholdt and Lorraine, Countess-Consort of Pompourelia and Kositz, Vicountess-Consort of Eflen and Anatis, Baroness-Consort of Renzfeld, Brucca, Valens, Malenos, Montcoure and Ciavola, Lady of Portoregne, Atrus and Monterosa, Protector of the Heartlands and the South, etcetera.

 

HIS HIGHNESS, John Casimir Novellen,

Prince of Monterosa, Duke of Atreus.

Edited September 4, 2024 by Kingdom of Balian

[_yink_ 578]

Spoiler

:(

[ErikAzog 3575]

"A shame it's come to this." stated the Count of Salia, the Gran Don would look over the sea of Balian, swirling his glass of wine in hand. "Let us persevere and move forward." he'd state, setting his hat upon his head and heading down to the dock to sail for the Capital from Salia.

[Enlightenment 2295]

"God bless the Exalted Fleeperus!" Emilio spoke, bowing in prayer towards the direction of the most holy lemon hill.

[Olox_ 4318]

Exiled Charles II sat in his chair as the news reached him "Maybe it's not that bad here..." The once-King commented from the Island he now called home

 

Spoiler

 

My actual reaction to the current state of matters in the Canondom
 

 

[UndetectedOfficial 73]

Artyom Kasimir Sarkozic sat at his desk, alongside his eldest son as he read out loud, instead of displaying a sense of grief the male gave a simple nod, before looking to his son. "Son, the world has an odd way of telling someone they must rest, and hand their duties off to someone else. But there is nothing wrong with such, because the god above is the one whom dictates that timing." After stating such, he stood from the desk and left the room alongside his kin. 

[tasty_cheesecake 2298]

"All over a shorn sheep..." laments Mecha-Enrique

[Herod 1417]

“Another successful day in the office.” The Cardinal Druzstra comments with a tired smile on his face until he notices punished Anorhil standing like a mannequin at the corner of his office.

[TomFunks 756]

Baldric’s eye scanned across the missive, taking in a long steady breath as he pondered over the state of the Kingdom. Unsteady as it presently was, it was home to many memories both pleasant and otherwise.
 

He reminisced fondly upon the late Queen Sybille I who had held peace to be of paramount importance. “Alexander would have done well to study his mother’s reign,” he thought, taking a generous bite of a cookie his daughter had baked. He disposed of the little crumbs that clung to his gloves, shrugging. It did not matter any longer, these were worries of a man more involved and the Baron was a simple horse merchant.

[Pancho 4197]

As Cerrick read the missive, he glanced over to his long time ally, Alexander. He perked a brow, raising his cup of ponderlot tea and taking a sip before speaking. "Your reign may be over, friend. Yet, your duty still calls."

[Minuvas 3193]

"How sad and low man has come that he lacks the dignity to declare his own path of righteousness, beholden to other men to interpret for them and to press upon them a yoke which they weakly acquiesce to - a collar which they declare to all passerbys how pleased they of it, yet display all the signals of one in distress.

 

Man has placed their Church made of fallible corrupt men between him and his maker...and now the Church even stands between the people and their monarch. If only this was foreseen some centuries ago.

 

So long as there is not one among them who can stand and say NO, no to intervention in their spiritual life, no to this false authority, no to this false peace earned through absolute servitude - than man fully deserves the condition he is abiding as tributaries to an Empire of the Canonist Church" remarked the elder elf thinks to himself.

 

Having become accustomed at this point to the disappointment of his Human friends. 

[Andustar 4143]

Spoiler

 

 

---

 

Uncertainty and apprehension. Anxiety and fear. It was inevitable that these emotions would haunt the days to come. John was no stranger to fear, having walked in its shadow countless times as the sun fell across the horizon. It clung to him throughout recent events, shameful as it was. And whether people believed he was a sincere yet foolish youth or merely a pale reflection of his disgraced father, he could not deny vicious mockery undermined his family. The consequence of his own misguided actions.

 

The conclusion of the trial and the judgment that followed brought an ironic peace to the Prince. He now knew what was expected of him. All men are fallible, but it is a sign of strength to humble yourself and seek redemption. A foreign judge sought to remind him that, shortly after the proceedings. But still, a great fear lingered in his mind’s eye. A sense of dread that had perturbed him since the earliest days of his youth.  

His night terrors never eased with age. Even as he emerged as a man-grown and true, John awoke with sweat upon his brow and trembling hands. He often wondered, what was so terrifying about the same recurring dream? The tightening loneliness perhaps as he found himself stumbling amidst a sinister fog, feet unsteady against the ground of scattered rock and ash. No, absolutely not. It was what lay beyond the murk, watching him with an ever-present sense of curiosity, that truly terrified him. 

 

The dragon’s serpentine form slithered between the rocky valleys, stones trembling beneath its heavy feet. The air was dry and scorching, hotter still than the tropical south to which he was well acclimated. John often sought to pursue it, only to lose his balance as its flapping wings cracked the air like thunder. It was toying with him, never granting John the satisfaction of knowing what it wanted or why it lingered. 

 

“Coward! What’s your game?!” He bellowed in yet another failed pursuit, the beast’s silhouette fading into the fog yet again. He had tried everything from chastising it in rage, to meek attempts at diplomacy. The answer was always the same, and yet…

 

A roar echoed across the valley, “Do you fear?” John was stunned - this time was different. The dragon spoke, and it demanded an answer.

 

“Yes, I am afraid. I fear failure, not merely in fulfilling a birthright. I fear that I may abuse the faith of others. Of those who still consider me capable of something.” John paused for a moment, his heart pounding within his chest. “I fear no good may come of my endeavours. That I’ll doom them to share in my disgrace, when they believe I might yet deliver hope.” 

 

It listened intently, keen to ensure that nothing was left out. Then it replied, “You said it yourself. Fear is a powerful motivator.” Words John had uttered to Prince Anorhil barely a month ago. In the absence of fear, the spark of courage cannot exist. Courage is what propels us to conquer our mistakes and rise above them. Now more than ever, he needed to remember that.  

 

“You know what drives you. You know what is at stake. Do not sit idle in disgrace as it all crumbles away.” The dragon’s wings clapped, and the blinding clouds broke overhead. This maze-like landscape John had wandered for so long was revealed in its entirety, as was his witness. Perched upon a mountain, it looked down upon him, fire in its eyes. “Climb towards the light, or skulk in the dark. Reach the summit and take flight, or languish in the dirt. Which do you choose, young Prince?”

John pondered, “Kathryn, were you right all along? Were these dreams not an ill omen but a gift in disguise?” Perhaps the hand of fate was at work, or maybe all of this was merely an elaborate illusion conjured by a troubled mind. It did not matter, for the Prince’s answer was the same. He began the climb. 

[satin 7600]

Phillipe van Leuven reads the missive, scratches his neck, and worries.

[MapleSunflower 1889]

In the Balian cathedral, Kathryn Virosi knelt before the grand altar, her hands clasped tightly in prayer. Soft rays of light filtered through the towering stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the marble floor around her. Her eyes remained closed in quiet devotion as her lips silently prayed her hopes and fears to the sacred silence. Her heart heavy with both reverence and yearning, her cornflower blue eyes lift to the Lorraine cross crafted from gold that glimmered in the sunlight.

 

Whisps of brunette bangs tickled her visage as her fingertips brushed against them upon signing the Lorraine over her frame. She would rise then, turning upon her heel for the fields of Balian. Wheat danced in the breeze, rustling the music of the harvest to come. With scythe in hand, she could begin the long journey of her own self-imposed penance. She had sowed the seeds, waiting long for them to grow, and she shall refine it to flour and bake it to be delivered to each canonist nation - and more, if possible. The first of many of her vows. "If you must face the weather, weather it together." The Virosi uttered as gazed to the sun that shone overhead, brushing sweat from her forehead. There was no time to rest, and thus she returned to her handiwork.

 

"For He is good and all good things come through Him."

[Cheeseycereal 829]

Augusta Eliana Temesch sat carefully at the edge of her table, reading the waiver over and over again. A servant knocked twice on the Temesch's door before entering. "Lady Temesch, shall I bring your pink lemonade?" An eerie silence filled the near-empty room. The little girl could only shake her head. The servant, understanding, dismissed themselves and promptly left the room.

 

What was there to say? Gripping the parchment ever so carefully, the young teen held mixed thoughts. A feeling of melancholy settled in as she thought about her family members. Oddly, she felt both glee for her father's accomplishments and an odd frustration with the people around her. In a moment of impulsivity, the adolescent threw herself onto her bed.

"For what Cost?"