Demavend

VE EDYKT I LAHY THE EDICT OF LAHY KRUSAE ZWY KONGZEM Issued by the LORD PALATINE On this 10th day of Wzuvar ag Byvca of 525 E.S. VA BIRODEO HERZENAV AG ELDERVIK, THE ROYAL DUMA STANDS AT THE HEART OF HAESENI GOVERNANCE. It is the pillar by which both noble peers and common streltsy are rightly and justly empowered. In times long past, the Royal Duma has sat kings upon the dual-throne, set course both for war and peace alike, and put the realm to rights when it has faltered. No more shall it sit in slow decline, confined to the whims of languid lords and absent aldermen. It is my hope that The Royal Duma shall, through such following reforms, return to the forefront of Highland politick, for as many laboured efforts as it might require. Jura i Kongzem, Chapter IX of the Haurul Caezk shall now read: JURA I KONGZEM LAW OF THE KINGDOM Ch. IX. “The Royal Duma” (Ve Royal Duma) IX.I. The Royal Duma shall sit as representatives of the Haeseni people by the grace of the Crown to advise on matters of law and action, and the Speaker shall oversee the assembly to ensure its sittings are peaceful and productive. IX.II. The Speaker shall be recommended to the Crown through a vote in the Royal Duma, of which those eligible for recommendation are: i. Every Haeseni Lord of landed title, ii. The Royal Aldermen. IX.III. The Royal Duma shall consist of two assemblies: i. The Upper Assembly. ii. The Lower Assembly, whose number shall not exceed half the seats of the Upper Assembly. IX.IV. Upon the Royal Duma shall sit: i. Every Haeseni Lord of landed title or their appointed representative, of which shall be a member of their family, who shall sit upon the Upper Assembly. ii. The Royal Aldermen, who shall sit upon the Lower Assembly. iii. The Grand Maer, who shall sit upon the Lower Assembly. iv. The Palatine, only as an arbitrator if a vote is tied. IX.V. The Grand Maer shall be elected to the Royal Duma through public elections held every six years, in which any Haeseni adult may run. The Maer shall be responsible for, and entitled to: i. Collect tax on behalf of the Treasurer. ii. Manage the Royal Capital’s tavern, or employ someone to do so. iii. Maintain the appearance of the Crownlands and Capital, and aid the Crown with improvements to infrastructure. iv. Hold festivities within the Crownlands and Capital, and liaise with the Royal Court. v. Publish Writs of Banishment and direct soldiers of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl if their commands are not contrary to that of the Officers, the Aulic Council, or the Crown. vi. Reside within the Maer’s Chamber of the Royal Duma Hall for the duration of their term. IX.VI. The Royal Aldermen shall be nominated to the Royal Duma by way of Royal Decree or majority vote in the Duma, and may remain in office until their forfeiture or removal, in which any Haeseni adult may run if they do not currently sit upon the Duma. IX.VII. On the first sitting of every session following an election cycle, there shall be elected from among the members of the Royal Duma: i. The Lord Handler, who shall aid in all apparent duties of the Speaker, stands responsible for marking attendance and voting tallies, and assumes the role as overseer of the Royal Duma in absence of the Speaker. ii. By Crown decree in time of need; the Lord Auditor, who shall upon their own volition seek to root out idleness and corruption amongst such high office as the Aulic Government and Noble Peerage. IX.VIII. As representatives of all Haeseni people, the Royal Duma shall: i. Petition the Crown to sign bills passed by three-fourths majority vote into law, ii. Advise the Crown by three-fourths majority vote, iii. Introduce or remove members of the Lower Assembly by three-fourths majority vote, iv. Establish and mandate both civil and martial infrastructural works, v. Create organised political institutions within the Royal Duma, vi. Receive petitions from the citizenry, vii. Mandate national holidays, viii. Elect Haeseni citizens to the Royal Orders of Merit. ix. Summon and investigate members of the Aulic Government and Noble Peerage, x. Ensure the regulation of law and domestic policies of the Royal State, xi. Ratify international treaties. IX.IX. The Royal Duma shall sit once called by the Speaker, and those who neglect to attend regularly shall have their privilege suspended by the Crown. IX.X. A sitting of the Royal Duma that lacks at least half of its members and the Black Bulava shall be unlawful. GODANI JEST WIELKI, HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, Ivan VIII, by the Grace of Godan, King of Hanseti and Ruska, Grand Hetman of the Army, Hochmeister of the Order of the Crow, Prince of Bihar, Dules, Lahy, Muldav, Slesvik, Solvesborg, and Ulgaard, Duke of Carnatia, and Vanaheim, Margrave of Korstadt, Rothswald, and Vasiland, Count of Alban, Alimar, Baranya, Graiswald, Karikhov, Karovia, Kaunas, Kavat, Kovachgrad, Markev, Nenzing, Siegrad, Torun, Toruv, Valdev, and Werdenburg, Viscount of Varna, Baron of Astfield, Buck, Esenstadt, Kraken’s Watch, Kralta, Krepost, Lorentz, and Rytsburg, Lord of the Westfolk, Protector and Lord of the Highlanders, etcetera. HER ROYAL MAJESTY, Nataliya of Ghaestenwald, Queen-Consort of Hanseti and Ruska, Grand Hetman of the Army, Hochmeister of the Order of the Crow, Princess-Consort of Bihar, Dules, Lahy, Muldav, Solvesborg, Slesvik and Ulgaard, Duchess-Consort of Carnatia and Vanaheim, Margravine-Consort of Korstadt, Rothswald, and Vasiland, Countess-Consort of Alban, Alimar, Baranya, Graiswald, Karikhov, Karovia, Kaunas, Kavat, Kovachgrad, Kvasz, Markev, Nenzing, Torun, Toruv, Valdev, and Werdenburg, Viscountess-Consort of Varna, Baroness-Consort of Esenstadt, Kraken’s Watch, Kralta, Krepost, Lorentz, Rytsburg, and Astfield, Lady of the Westfolk, Protector and Lady of the Highlanders, etcetera. His Excellency, Ivo Radovanic, Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska

WRIT OF AULIC APPOINTMENT: LORD TREASURER OF THE REALM KRUSAE ZWY KONGZEM Issued by the CROWN On this 12th day of Tov ag Yermey of 524 E.S. VA BIRODEO HERZENAV AG ELDERVIK, ALL THINGS DEMAND COIN. Holdfasts must be built, and swords must be forged. Distant lands wait to be unified with the Kingdom of Sigismund. And so, the time has come for new eyes to look upon the ledgers of the realm. We thank the former Treasurer, Lord Isaak of Ludovar, for his many years of loyal service. Under his watch this Kingdom has remained flush with gold and Her people have toiled in glory. In his place, we appoint the Komit i Malkovya, Mikhail of House Colborn (@Kaladin Stormblessed), to the position of Lord Treasurer to wield the Silver Bulava. He is a man with a talent for finding coin and material, proven over his lengthy tenure in the Office of the Stewardry. We pray he may see the people will be fed, the brothers armed, and the treasury filled. GODANI JEST WIELKI, HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, Ivan VIII, by the Grace of Godan, King of Hanseti and Ruska, Grand Hetman of the Army, Hochmeister of the Order of the Crow, Prince of Bihar, Dules, Lahy, Muldav, Slesvik, Solvesborg, and Ulgaard, Duke of Carnatia, and Vanaheim, Margrave of Korstadt, Rothswald, and Vasiland, Count of Alban, Alimar, Baranya, Graiswald, Karikhov, Karovia, Kaunas, Kavat, Kovachgrad, Markev, Nenzing, Siegrad, Torun, Toruv, Valdev, and Werdenburg, Viscount of Varna, Baron of Astfield, Buck, Esenstadt, Kraken’s Watch, Kralta, Krepost, Lorentz, and Rytsburg, Lord of the Westfolk, Protector and Lord of the Highlanders, etcetera. HER ROYAL MAJESTY, Nataliya of Ghaestenwald, Queen-Consort of Hanseti and Ruska, Grand Hetman of the Army, Hochmeister of the Order of the Crow, Princess-Consort of Bihar, Dules, Lahy, Muldav, Solvesborg, Slesvik and Ulgaard, Duchess-Consort of Carnatia and Vanaheim, Margravine-Consort of Korstadt, Rothswald, and Vasiland, Countess-Consort of Alban, Alimar, Baranya, Graiswald, Karikhov, Karovia, Kaunas, Kavat, Kovachgrad, Kvasz, Markev, Nenzing, Torun, Toruv, Valdev, and Werdenburg, Viscountess-Consort of Varna, Baroness-Consort of Esenstadt, Kraken’s Watch, Kralta, Krepost, Lorentz, Rytsburg, and Astfield, Lady of the Westfolk, Protector and Lady of the Highlanders, etcetera.

The bastard of Barbanov scowled over at the Ruthern Heiress as she pressed his quill to parchment. Under great stress, he scrawled his name along the bottom.

One embittered infant raged against the bounds of his wooden cot. A cruelly ignoble beginning for he of such venerable lineage. He had littered his nursery room with the remnants of wooden soldiers and trolls, even sent a cup of honeyed milk soaring to shatter against the painted visage of Karl 'The Lion'. Yet, the nursemaids would not come, occupied only with the witch and her expectant heir. The clothen toy queen was all that remained to him. And so, with a cry, he wrapped a hand taut around her crown and tore the little head from its stitches.

I am currently a Haenseman 😑, but Haense at the moment is a particularly egregious example of why it is so much more compelling to reach for independence than vassalage. There are few true examples of real vassals on the server, most seem to occupy the equivalent to gentry estates in the real word - that is to say they exist for no deeper purpose than to act as item storage and a place to hold the traditional bi-monthly family dinner. They are given little freedom, power or trust and yes this is really the only part of the issue that relies entirely on the playerbase to solve. The few decent and recent examples of functioning vassals such as Adria and Stassion causing such strife has only compounded the push towards absolute tedious centralization. Clearly absolute freedom of conquest and vassalage is the ideal, but it's simply not a reasonable expectation within the current server climate. There will always be groups of players that are unwilling to collaborate. And, as much as people express how easy it would be to simply conquest or threaten these smaller nation states into submission, lotc war is a gruelling process even between smaller nations that only a few very invested leaders are ever going to be willing to undertake it. Attempting to conquer Norland as a Haeseni vassal was both entirely unsupported by the server rules and easily the most unenjoyable experience I've ever had on here. Of the 20 Nls that the rules actually support, only half at most actually have the means for conquest and I'd imagine half again have the thick skin and the deep investment in their nation to warrant wading through the horribly boring discord plots and justifications that it requires. (Though it's definitely something I would like to see more of.) In an ideal world the community would regulate themselves and the bounds for every conflict would be happily agreed upon beforehand but it's not just a feasible hope for any time in the near future. I also don't think it's terribly hard to find roleplay either, if you're willing to be the one to kick it off - but these tiny micro states spread over the map certainly don't make it any easier. Seems a bit of a no-brainer just to make realm applications a bit more stringent in the first place for all the reasons @Xarkly stated. Obviously it's not going to be an overnight fix but is certainly a step in the right direction.

sucks for either side being camped at all. Though it's something I've personally had fun with, during war-time road banditry very rarely serves to create anything more than arguments and dull ransom roleplay while inconveniencing a majority of the server base. it's already disproportionately punishing to newer players who aren't aware of all the odd ruling loopholes and conventions. Allowing it at ss pillars is an absurd moderation decision that I'm surprised had stood at all for more than one instance

The loss had come, as he had known it would. Though, the Lord Ruthern's grief did not abate. It was not a sharp pain, but some aching emptiness that seemed at once to envelop him. He had always been strong for them, why then had none the grit to do as he did? Raising a hand to his temple, the Duke of Vidaus fell into his seat with a slow sigh, reaching again for the tinctures that filled the floor of his desk drawer. His had always been a lonely path, but now 'twas all that lay before him. The cold breeze through the rafters reached him, then. And in it's biting chill, she was at his side once more.

Aleksandr var Ruthern ran a hand through greying hair. He was not sure his knees should bend again so easy without breaking, but never did a thing worth grasping come without cost.

The Duke of Vidaus carried with him a great air of indignation. He had long grown accustomed to the quietude, hidden from the cries of his maddening wife in the confines of his study - and the realm was better off, he knew. Georg had not ever been made to wear the crown, as those around him had. The realm was better off, as was his aged friend. Though, Aleksandr could not help from being drawn to the memories of his youth. It was not a sadness, but a mournful sort of longing for what was, and might have been. The two had made fine foes in the lists, and fine company stood side to side in arms. He was sure, such days would never come again, and that was a pain all too familiar.

Issued by the HOUSE OF RUTHERN On the 10th day of Joma ag Umund of 460 E.S. SANGKRUV I RUTHER, Such a proclamation as put forward by the Viscountess of Venzia may prove shocking to some, though to the House of Ruthern it comes as no great surprise. I have not once claimed to act in Norland carrying the banner of Hanseti-Ruska or under any authority but mine own, and the will of our late King - nor against the word of His Majesty or His Holiness in their infinite wisdom. That such a laughable claim, and one so easily proven false, is peddled by half of the Haeseni Peerage goes some way to explain the willful ignorance of their own noble failings. On Norland, I will comment only sparingly, for there are few of those accusations mustered that are even loosely grounded in reality. Much of Almaris has seen their blatant disregard for diplomacy in treating both with myself and with The Crown. That a war in the North was denied by either His Late Majesty or The Royal Duma is again a claim that has no basis in truth, for it was solely the Lady Adele Ludovar who spoke out against outright conquest. It was under threat of such that King Odin at last bowed to the terms put to Norland by the Haeseni Crown, in which they surrendered much land in the lower Grenz, ceded the title of Protector of the Highlands to Haense and promised the construction of a holy church upon their lands. It was by that same King’s own will that the treaty be dissolved upon the passing of The Crown, that they be dissolved of any link to Hanseti-Ruska and that their failure to abide by the terms of the previous agreement then turn to refusal of them. None can deny in good faith that the plight of the Norlanders was not wrought by their own hand. And on the rest, I was not the first to put forward the notion that the Haeseni Peerage chokes under its own indolence, nor am I the sole figure in the realm to share such an opinion. That such an assault on my house and character should come not long before the eve of the completion of the noble audit, in which the state and capability of the nobility is like to be called into question, should require no greater in-depth explanation. House Colborn are of late so absent in the realm beyond the efforts of Ser Maric Colborn in the treasury, to whom I hold no ill will. They are of course also only one of two houses not to make any effort to arrange such a meeting so as to discuss the state of their House, perhaps so as to avoid further scrutiny entirely should their demands to The Crown be actioned. Yet, the Lady Colborn herself still finds time herself to engage in such unsanctioned diplomacy with the realm of Norland as she does herself accuse me of, witnessed by many. The House of Barclay, it must be said - does provide ample service to The Realm, if by its scions and not the Duke Reinmar himself. Whom, it seems would sooner seek the disruption of those other families in service to the realm than work for the advancement of his own. It is not the first the Lord Barclay has beseeched The Crown to demote the House of Ruthern rather than answer any such imagined insult through his own means. He too implored me privately in that very same meeting to support his request to see the Houses of Godunov and Von Draco demoted so that the realm might combat the ‘inflated number of Noble houses.’ Such is a broad view I share with the Lord Barclay, though question why he sees fit only to name those not aligned with him and yet maintain a far greater presence than those whose signatures his own sits above. In regard to the Hyspian’s involvement I must admit to being surprised, for I have always thought the Lord de Pelear to be a man of honour. Though, I know well they maintain some inexplicable friendships in the North. Let it be known that I hold no ill will, and remind the Lord de Pelear that it was mine own appeals in the Duma as a youth that even saw them be allowed to sit upon it, and enjoy proper involvement in Haeseni affairs. On Houses Ludovar and Kortrevich there is truly little that need be said. For the first has been dwindling for decades now, and the latter sees a swifter decline than any house in recent memory. The Lady Ludovar herself has been bedridden for a great many years now, so one must take her involvement in any such schemes to be rather a miracle. Matviy Kortrevich, of course - is entirely ineffectual. How any man speaks of honour in his shoes displays a truly astounding lack of awareness. Elopement, fantastical tales and great insults made to Holy Men do naught to give credence to his claims. As has the man thrice refused challenges to duel for such. It is true, that the grace of Her Majesty is all that has safeguarded Lord Kortrevich from greater strife, and does too mask his blatant inadequacy. As for House Bishop, neither its Lord nor his successor have made any significant contribution to the realm since their ennoblement. It has long been mine own counsel that the seat pass to Ser Atilan Bishop, whom while a man with which I often disagree - has at least attempted to emulate some effort in maintaining his family’s status. Let it be clear that this ‘call’ is naught more than an attempt to distract from the long-standing ineffectuality of the Peerage. Whom, most sit now with no great ambition but to sit and enjoy their expanded privilege and freedoms, of which some they hold only through the efforts of House Ruthern and the grace of our late King in legislating for expanded rights and duties. Like cockroaches, they come swarming from cracks in the woodwork to levy complaint. Yet, when called upon to stand in defence of the realm against Inferi, or in service to the Duma and other noble institutions - make no such grand appearances. That such families of long standing nobility can in good conscience accuse myself and The House of Ruthern of what is tantamount to High Treason, one of the few remaining noble houses who maintain any active interest in the betterment of the realm is truly staggering. As written by the late Palatine Johanna Barclay on the expectations of Ducal vassals that ‘They act independently and succinctly for the Kingdom, not needing to be told to take action.’ That the Peerage takes issue with such yet in the same breath make such demands of The Crown, while content to sit in languid mediocrity is a truly damning indictment of the state of affairs. One must only hope the people of Hanseti-Ruska capable enough to see through such vapid accusations and personal affronts to the truth of the matter, and to the sorry state of those who claim to be their betters. DRUZ GJERNZ AG GRYVNZ, His Grace, Aleksandr var Ruthern, Duke of Vidaus, Viscount of Greyspine, Count of Metterden, Baron of Rostig, Lord of Druzstra and Protector of the South Her Serene Highness, Analiesa of Karosgrad, Princess Royal of Hanseti-Ruska, Duchess of Karosgrad, Duchess-Consort of Vidaus, Viscountess-Consort of Greyspine, Countess-Consort of Metterden, Baroness-Consort of Rostig, Lady of Druzstra and Protector of the South His Excellency, Otto Baruch-Gant, Deputy Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska, Lord Regent and Steward of the Duchy of Valwyck, Baron of Gant Her Grace, Roslin Baruch, Duchess of Valwyck, Countess of Ayr, Viscountess of Voron, Laval, and Riveryn His Highness, Loran von Draco, Prince of Mardale, Marcher Lord of Eichenwalde His Excellency, Lord Sviatoslav Jaroslavich Godunov, Lord Marshal of the Brotherhood of St. Karl, Baron of Verskaya His Excellency, Lord Felix Weiss, Baron of Zvaervauld, Lord Speaker of His Majesty's Duma and Royal Captain of His Majesty's Brotherhood Firr, Branimar Kvazyev, Chief of Kvazyev

AND MOURNING OF THEIR SOULS Issued by the DUCHY OF VIDAUS On the 7th day of Jula ag Piov of 460 E.S. SANGKRUV I RUTHER, It has been many years since the Viscomital couple of Greyspine excused themselves from Haeseni society, abdicating their titles and abandoning the lands of their birth. It was not until the past year that both Lord Mikhail and Lady Margrait found themselves once more within Haense, a quiet return to meet their grandchildren and pay their respects for the deceased monarchs. It is presumed on their departing carriage that they were killed by their coachmen or bandits as their corpses were found mangled off the road near the Rimeveld. Viscount Mikhail, formerly Duke, had few friends among his kinsmen and no shortage of enemies. He made little effort to hide his distaste for the way in which the Haensemen carried themselves and the manner in which they were ruled. In life, he took great pride in his efforts to resist what he perceived as injustice and cultural weakness. His early efforts were focused largely in the Royal Duma, where he proposed many bills to further the powers of his fellow peers, most of which are now Haeseni law. Lord Mikhail soon grew to despise the institution, for it proved ineffective in producing true change. Having lost interest in the Royal Duma and Karosgrad, he focused the remainder of his reign on improving his holdings in Vidaus. Under his watch, the village of Branhavn was raised by the designs of his wife, son, and the other Rutherns of Druzstra. The castle itself was renovated heavily, and the Duke invested large sums of minae into a hereditary fund for his successors. Once satisfied that his holdings were in order, the Duke accepted an invitation by Her Majesty to head her Council. Lord Mikhail quickly grew ill after settling into his new role, and was seldom seen publicly. It was, however, by his suggestion that the Council be dissolved and merged with that of the King, and that the Crown set aside lands for the creation of a royal preserve. This has materialised in the Queenswood. As for the Viscountess, Margrait differed greatly from her husband. Her kin and companions considered her passionate by every definition of the word. She carried herself with great care, and minded the same to those of her blood. The former Duchess acted as a mediator for Lord Mikhail in these aspects, whether it was in his duels, feuds with the nobility, or the investigation of the children he sired whom she treated as her own. Management of the household often fell into Lady Margrait’s domain as the Duke worked within the capital for long stretches of time. Her daily work often consisted of writing many of the missives from the Duchy or House of Ruthern, as well as revising the work of her husband. One of her significant projects was expanding upon trials for the Rutherns, be they bastard or trueborn, which were based upon their ancient history and previous customs. It had ultimately been implemented toward the end of her reign as Duchess, encouraging the youth to begin them upon their sixteenth namedays. For all of her efforts, especially with the administration of Branhavn, assistance in constructing such, and assistance renovating the castle itself, Lady Margrait had been named the Duchess of Vidaus in her own right. IN MEMORIAM 403 - 459 E.S. Mikhail Tuvya Ruthern | Margrait Floireans Baruch Grand Lord to Her Royal Majesty Amadea of Susa, Duke of Vidaus | Duchess of Vidaus A ceremony of their deaths shall be held within the Duchy of Vidaus come the cessation of Northern hostilities. Those who wish to mourn their deaths are invited to come, and their bodies shall be laid to rest within the crypts of Druzstra. The date of the impending funeral will be later disclosed. GOD BLESS THEIR SOULS. DRUZ GJERNZ AG GRYVNZ, His Excellency, Aleksandr var Ruthern, Grand Peer of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke of Vidaus, Count of Metterden, Viscount of Greyspine, Baron of Rostig, Lord of Druzstra and Protector of the South Her Serene Highness, Analiesa Josefina Ruthern, Princess Royal of Hanseti-Ruska, Duchess of Karosgrad, Duchess-Consort of Vidaus, Countess-Consort of Metterden, Viscountess-Consort of Greyspine, Baroness-Consort of Rostig, Lady of Druzstva and Protector of the South

THE BURNING TREE IN ASHES Issued by the HOUSE OF RUTHERN On the 12th day of Wzuvar and Byvca of 460 E.S SANGKRUV I RUTHER, The Kingdom of Norland has for too long sat upon our borders and flaunted their heretical nature, hanging good Canonist men and women from the flaming tree they hold in such prestigious reverence. Never again shall this kingdom be contaminated with the godless creatures that roam it. It was the final wish of my father-in-law, King Karl III, that my wife and I rectify this most grievous offence to our kingdom and Canonism. He has bestowed upon me his iron fist in order to bring the holy word of God to this nation of heathens, and such is what I shall do. I have offered diplomacy and I have shown my fair hand, but such is a favour that must not be offered twice. You have scorned my attempt at good-will, and now leave me with no choice but the sword. Our Pontiff does now give this excursion his blessing. He shares the wish of many of God’s faithful to see it underneath a good king. A strong king. A Canonist Ruler. You have been offered chances time and time again to join the fold of your Canonist brethren, and yet you have shirked it off on every occasion. You are a nation now that remains a small blight upon the holy tapestry of Canonism and man. Your nation stands abandoned, empty for all but the crows. Now let it be that we shall rid this stain once and for all. We offer the final chance of conversion to the Canonist Faith under the House of Ruthern and Hanseti-Ruska, or damnation hereafter. GOD BLESS NORLAND AND THE HOUSE OF RUTHERN DRUZ GJERNZ AG GRYVNZ, His Grace, Aleksandr var Ruthern, Duke of Vidaus, Count of Metterden, Baron of Rostig, Lord of Druzstra and Protector of the South Her Serene Highness, Analiesa Josefina Ruthern, Princess Royal of Hanseti-Ruska, Duchess of Karosgrad, Duchess-Consort of Vidaus, Countess-Consort of Metterden, Baroness-Consort of Rostig, Lady of Druzstva and Protector of the South

Nursing a weary headache, The Duke of Vidaus wrapped both hands tight around his cup. He should have to escape for a while and be free of his wife's wailing, for The Queen had dealt him one last wound by leaving no reprieve in their misery.

The Duke of Vidaus sat over his desk in austere silence. The death of the King he had spent so much of his youth in conflict with ought not irk him so, though he had found an odd comfort in his late reconciliation with the Crown. Aleksandr var Ruthern's mind was drawn to a conversation he had with the Prince Georg, and to the image of his own father when last he had seen the man, some decade passed now. "What is a man, but half his father?" Time would tell, he supposed - But he would not sit idly by. With a sigh, the old bronze crown spun steady between his fingers before he grasped it tightly and rose to his feet, setting off after the Princess Royal.

Issued by the DUCHY OF VIDAUS On the 7th day of Joma and Umund of 451 E.S. SANGKRUV I RUTHER, The House of Ruthern has historically been a devoted vassal to the kingdom of Haense and the House of Barbanov, and with my ascension to the mantle of Duke it is my wish to reaffirm those devotions more now than ever, and prove that our loyalty is above all the rest. With my betrothal to the Princess Royal accepted by Their Royal Majesties, it is my desire that our two houses be joined in both matrimony and great friendship, and so I offer this modest donation to the Brotherhood of Saint Karl in their name and in defence of the kingdom. HOUSE RUTHERN DOES DONATE THE FOLLOWING, > Ten sets of Ferrum Chainmail. > Ten Ferrum Longswords. > Ten Ferrum Warhammers. > Ten Ferrum Spears. > Ten Ferrum Pikes. > Ten Ferrum Lances. > Three bundles of Golden Carrots. Such will be delivered to the Lord Marshal upon his next availability. Krusae zwy Kongzem. DRUZ GJERNZ AG GRYVNZ, His Grace, Aleksandr var Ruthern, Duke of Vidaus, Count of Metterden, Baron of Rostig, Lord of Druzstra and Protector of the South

FOR THE REALM AND FOR RUTHERN Issued by the HOUSE OF RUTHERN On the 5th day of Tov ag Yermy of 448 E.S. SANGKRUV I RUTHER, It is the will of the Duke of Vidaus that his beloved twin sisters, the young women Viorica Irena and Yetta Roza Barrow be raised to join the House of Ruthern in full. In doing so, and with the assent of the crown under His Majesty Karl III - The Duke of Vidaus does hereby acknowledge Viorica and Yetta as the trueborn issue of his own sire Lord Mikhail var Ruthern, Viscount of Greyspine and the late Lady Sorina Lorelei Luceafaru, former Baroness of Richtenburg. In doing so, he does see fit to cleanse them both of the stain of bastardy and in light of both women’s leal service to the House of Ruthern and the realm, does confer upon them the vas Ruthern name. It is his hope that together they shall continue to serve with utmost distinction to bring further honour to their family name. GOD BLESS THE HOUSE OF RUTHERN DRUZ GJERNZ AG GRYVNZ, His Grace, Aleksandr var Ruthern, Duke of Vidaus, Count of Metterden, Baron of Rostig, Lord of Druzstra and Protector of the South HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, Karl III by the Grace of Godan, King of Hanseti and Ruska, Grand Hetman of the Army, Prince of Bihar, Dules, Lahy, Muldav, Solvesborg, Slesvik and Ulgaard, Duke of Carnatia and Vanaheim, Margrave of Korstadt, Rothswald and Vasiland, Count of Alban, Alimar, Baranya, Graiswald, Karikhov, Karovia, Kaunas, Kavat, Kovachgrad, Kvasz, Markev, Nenzing, Torun, and Toruv, Viscount of Varna, Baron of Esenstadt, Kraken’s Watch, Kralta, Krepost, Lorentz, Rytsburg, Thurant and Astfield, Lord of the Westfolk, Protector of the Highlanders, etcetera.

OF 441 E.S. Issued by the DUCHY OF VIDAUS On the 5th day of Joma and Umund of 440 E.S. SANGKRUV I RUTHER, It is with great exaltation that the Duchy of Vidaus does celebrate the most successful grand opening of its new settlement, the village of Branhavn. To mark this successful venture, the House of Ruthern is pleased to announce a day of jovial festivities, and invites all men and women of Canondom to assemble in the village for a day. I. THE MARKET ROW Branhavn prides itself on our market strip at the entry to our village, and as such it only seems right that during the opening festival we allow our new tenants to peddle their wares. Residents of Branhavn and visitors alike may request one of our stalls for the evening, with a flat fee of ten minae. II. A FEAT OF STRENGTH House Ruthern is known for its military pursuits, and what better way to pay homage to our ancestry than a bout of boxing in the Black Company’s courtyard? These matches shall be overseen by His Lordship, Aleksandr var Ruthern, and the overall champion of the evening will be gifted with a hefty coinpurse of fifty minae. III. A DANCE IN THE SQUARE There is no better way to celebrate the construction of our new village, than to christen the square with a dance! Following the natural conclusion of all other festivities, we shall end the evening with a ball under the open sky, with only the best of bards to entertain our guests in the realm of music. GOD BLESS BRANHAVN DRUZ GJERNZ AG GRYVNZ, His Excellency, Mikhail var Ruthern, Grand Lord of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke of Vidaus, Count of Metterden, Viscount of Greyspine, Baron of Rostig, Lord of Druzstra and Protector of the South Her Grace, Margrait Ruthern, Duchess of Vidaus, Countess of Metterden, Viscountess of Greyspine, Baroness of Rostig and Lady of Druzstra His Lordship, Aleksandr var Ruthern, Heir to the Duchy of Vidaus

Maric Baruch sat back in his study; though jubilant at the news of a Haeseni victory he mourned the fact that his brief evening nap had eclipsed the chance to fight.

The Royal Duma Reforms of 428 E.S. KRUSAE ZWY KONGZEM Issued by the Office of the Lord Speaker On this 12th of MALIN’S WELCOME of 428 ES VA BIRODEO E HERZENAV, Following the ascension of His Majesty Karl III and the induction of Maric Baruch as Lord speaker; Several significant and long discussed changes are to be made to the Royal Duma so that it might better serve its function. As a legislative body, the Royal Duma must be eminently capable of managing effective and representative discussion as well as holding the authority to bring its elected members to account. In order to better serve this purpose, the Office of the Lord Speaker does hereby enact the following reforms: On Changes to Process I. Sessions of the Royal Duma shall no longer take place per annum, henceforth only to be held upon summons by The Lord Speaker, or in their absence the elected Lord Handler. II. A Military Tribune shall be elected every term from among those oathed members of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl. This elected member shall be selected by due process established by the Office of the Lord Marshal and shall sit upon the Duma as a representative of the military order. III. The sitting terms of elected Aldermen, the Grand Maer and the Military Tribune shall be adjusted from six years to six sittings. IV. A seat offered to a Peer in the Royal Duma may only be represented by a recognised member of that family. In turn, the offices of the Palatine and Grand Maer may be solely represented by a member of said office. V. Both legislative and advisory bills put through the Royal Duma shall henceforth require a two-thirds majority to pass. VI. On such an occasion where the Lord Speaker, or in their absence the elected Lord Handler deem it worthwhile, members of the Duma may be called upon to cast their vote in secret. On Changes to Proposal I. All prospective bills must first be proposed for assent from the Office of the Lord Speaker, or in their absence the elected Lord Handler before being put forward for discussion in the Royal Duma. II. A petition put forward to the Office of the Lord Speaker, or in their absence the elected Lord Handler by an established citizen of Hanseti-Ruska; with a minimum of five signatories may be put forward for discussion in the Royal Duma. In such an event, the primary signatory shall first be summoned to present the petition. In their absence, the following signatories shall be called upon in descending order. III. Major diplomatic agreements shall henceforth be put forward by the Office of the Lord Envoy for deliberation in the Royal Duma. These shall include but not be limited to: Declarations of War, the creation of lasting Alliances and Trade Agreements, Agreements of Peace, and Non-Agression. On Changes to Authority I. Those summoned before the Royal Duma by the Royal Inquisitor who do not appear without formerly offering reasonable explanation for their absence shall henceforth be subject to an immediate vote of confidence in absentia. Of which, the results shall be put forward to the crown without delay. IV JOVEO MAN His Royal Majesty KARL III by the Grace of Godan, King of Hanseti and Ruska, Grand Hetman of the Army, Prince of Bihar, Dules, Lahy, Muldav, Solvesborg, Slesvik and Ulgaard, Duke of Carnatia and Vanaheim, Margrave of Korstadt, Rothswald and Vasiland, Count of Alban, Alimar, Baranya, Graiswald, Karikhov, Karovia, Kaunas, Kavat, Kovachgrad, Kvasz, Markev, Nenzing, Torun, and Toruv, Viscount of Varna, Baron of Esenstadt, Kraken’s Watch, Kralta, Krepost, Lorentz, Rytsburg, Thurant, Venzia and Astfield, Lord of the Westfolk, Fidei Defensor, Protector of the Highlanders, etcetera. His Excellency, Maric var Ruthern-Baruch, Lord Speaker of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke-Consort of Valwyck, Count-Consort of Ayr, Baron-Consort of Gant, Laval and Riveryn.

A PROMISE FULFILLED c. 422 A depiction of festivities on Lake Voron. To the court of Hanseti-Ruska and honourable invitees named below, As the Haeseni wedding season proceeds in full swing, Lord Maric var Ruthern and Lady Isabel Baruch are pleased to announce to those of Hanseti-Ruska and their companions that a date has been decided upon for their impending nuptials. With their union, a pledge between the ducal houses of Ruthern and Baruch will be near satisfaction. I. CEREMONY To take place in the month of Gronna ag Droba of 423 ES within the Basilica of St. Heinrik, the heiress and her betrothed shall be united in matrimony beneath God’s watchful eyes. An invitation is extended to all citizens of the Dual-Kingdom as witnesses of their union, where attendees after shall make their way to the lands of Valwyck for further revelry. II. A GRAND CELEBRATION Once within the holding, a customary feast will be held on the shores of Lake Voron alongside traditionally Ayrian festivities to mark the Baruch half of a promise. A drunken brawl shall be encouraged for the brawniest in attendance, followed by a period of relaxation on the waters where hopeful couples are encouraged to fish together for the same affection our wedded lovers share; though a purse of minae shall of course be offered to those who return with the finest catch. Children and youthful spirits may have their faces painted, and will have a selection of Ayrian goods to purchase during their stay in remembrance of the occasion. FORMAL INVITATIONS ARE SENT TO THE FOLLOWING: His Royal Majesty, Sigismund III, King of Hanseti-Ruska and his noble pedigree His Princely Grace, Johann Barclay, Duke of Reinmar and his noble pedigree Their Graces, Eirik Baruch and Anastasya Isabel, Duke and Duchess of Valwyck and their noble pedigree His Grace, Rhys var Ruthern, Duke of Vidaus and his noble pedigree His Lordship, Johann Ludovar, Count of Otistadt and his noble pedigree The Right Honourable, Aldrik Kortrevich, Viscount of Krusev and his noble pedigree The Honourable, Sorina Luceafâru, Baroness of Richtenburg and her noble pedigree The Honourable, Aleksandr Amador, Baron of Mondstadt and his noble pedigree His Royal Highness, Otto Morovar, Baron of Ghaestenwald and his noble pedigree Her Serene Highness, Renata Ashford de Savoie, Princess of Savoy and her noble pedigree His Royal Highness, Lucien Ashford de Savoie, Count of Peremont Her Serene Highness, Miven Caerme'onn, Matriarch of the Vale of Nevaehlen PERSONAL INVITATIONS ARE SENT TO THE FOLLOWING: His Lordship, Matyas Barbanov-Bihar Her Ladyship, Amadea d’Arkent ‘The Vanguard,’ Ser Grigory Vryonov and Mister Lukas Vyronov The Hexer, Angelika of Vidaus SIGNED, His Excellency, Rhys var Ruthern, Lord Speaker of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke of Vidaus, Viscount of Greyspine, Baron of Rostig, Lord of Druzstra His Excellency, Eirik Matyas Baruch, Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke of Valwyck, Count of Ayr, Baron of Gant, Laval, and Riveryn, Lord of Jorenstadt, Guardian of the Hanseti Coast The Honourable, Isabel Alexandra Baruch, Viscountess of Voron His Lordship, Maric var Ruthern

[!] A letter is addressed to Markus Morovor, written in crayon and fairly rough handwriting. Dear the traytur Markus Morovor and the tyrannous rule of Sergey Barbov. Vy may have captured our soldier Konztanz but now we have vyr fat little Prinzenas. AND we defeeted two of vyr most loyal Bishop soldiers and made them cry. If vy ever want to see vyr Prinzenas again vy will release Konstanz Barclay UNHARMED at ONCE at Vidoos and vy will tell vyr traytorous Koeng to meet with us at our capital in Vidoos to discuss terms of vyr SURRENDER SOON. If vy do niet respond SOON Koeng Mikhail will make her eet flies like a real FROG. - Maric var Ruthern, Lord Palatine of Hoonseti-Rooska.