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A NEW BOOKSTORE IS COMING TO YOUR LOCAL AREA!!! Flagship Store Opening - Located at Crown Avenue IV Karosgrad, Haense Bards & Nobles (B&N) is a multi-national publishing conglomerate formed by the merger of Penton Napier Publishing and Hieromar's Novel Hovel in 90 S.A. (439 E.S./1886 IST). This acquisition of a sizable collection of titles and ample funds has allowed the business to open its first store in record time. However, we are still looking to expand! B&N could be moving into your neighborhood and bringing you the premier titles you wish to read, including... THE SCROLL OF GOSPEL Published in 1824 IST NATURAL WEALTH Published in 1810 IST THE MORTAL CHIME Published in 1812 IST The Poor Side of Baker Street Published in 1818 IST The Philippian Chronicles Published in 1853 IST AND MANY MORE...

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By Henry Penton -| FOREWORD |- Dearest reader, I must begin by properly introducing myself. I am Henry Penton, and for over sixty years, I observed the history of Oren. I lived and experienced this history. From Joseph II to Philip III, I had been immersed, by a manner of my trade in statesmanship, in the decisions that shaped this era. Bearing witness to the triumphs of the state brings along the simultaneous, and most uninvited, observation of the mechanisms by which they were developed. This is the true story of these Emperor’s reigns, feats, and moreso their failures. This is the story of the Philippian Era. -| CHAPTER I |- || THE END OF THE PETRINE ERA || The reign of Joseph II came to an end in 1814, and with his death, the Petrine era concluded. While some scholars have mistakenly described the time after Joseph II as being continuous of the Petrine years, I posit that, following his death, there was a distinct and altered environment of Imperial politics, virtue, and life. This was partly fueled by the dissolution and further obscurity of the Josephite party and ideals, which disbanded in 1815. Moreover, the Philippian era was characterized by the increasing desperation of leaders, turmoil and violence upon succession, conflict abroad, and the deterioration of Petrine values The Pentonian Model of Orenian History Following the historical era system presented by Josephine Augusta and Simon Basrid in both volumes of the Epochs of the Empire, I have constructed the above timeline of Imperial Eras. Likewise, I divided the previously indicated Petrine era at the death of Joseph II in 1814. Although some of the reforms conducted by Joseph II were of important use to me in my work in the Imperial Treasury, notably the Edict of Revaluation from 1807, the totality of his reign following the death of Anne in 1800 was the beginning of a decline. Although in some ways held together through his political connections and the respect of the state’s bustling bureaucracy, the very tail of his reign was impotent. The Sedanite Rebellion of 1811 to 1813 is a successful accolade Joseph II retains. However, it was somewhat tarnished by the Committee of Public Safety implementation in the same year. Though composed of the leading figures from his cabinet, it was rife with the Josephites’ traditional corruption and wanton disregard for legal rights. Joseph II had many personal characteristics that would have made him a more effective ruler in different times. He was highly educated, urbane, and of paramount intellect. He directed investments into the arts, science, and agriculture, exhibiting a genuine interest in topics in which past rulers had displayed little. His Imperial Majesty had been raised in a time of great cultural upheaval within the Empire and taught by pioneering statesmen like Basrid and Armas. The Emperor was simultaneously able to relate to the masses while quietly chafing under the constraints that the new model of monarchy had entailed. But he was also fundamentally conservative and dogmatic in his belief in the systems and institutions of the last century. He always denied the need for reform; if he had not denied it, he would have rejected that the monarch had any role in bringing that reform about. Like his late wife and co-ruler, he feared interfering with his ministers, preferring to let them make their own decisions, no matter the risks. Despite all of his flaws, Joseph II remains viewed favorably by history. His docile and legalistic nature following the death of Anne I is revered for its pragmatism but disgraced by its inadequacy. To this author, he is seen as the beginning of a decline. -| CHAPTER II |- || THE LAST STABLE YEARS || HIM John VIII, Holy Orenian Emperor Circa 1835 For all his legal knowledge and government experience, much like his father, John VIII lacked the internal exertion to see through much change in an ailing Empire. From the onset of his reign, the man demonstrated a flaw in the imperial succession: three generations waiting for the throne. First was his brother, the Duke of Crestfall, who was announced as his heir presumptive by edict in 1815. Behind that was the son of the Duke of Crestfall, Philip Aurelian, the Duke of Adria. The same year as the edict Philip Amadeus, later known as the Duke of Furnestock in 1836, was born and entered the succession. From this point forward, there would be no less than three men in the line of succession, each grappling for support well before their time and being drained of good health and years by a matter of time. The year following the Edict of Renzfeld, 1816, saw Joseph II’s Archchancellor, Franz Nikolai de Sarkozy, retire to southern estates. The reigns then fell to Ledicort d’Azor. At first, it must be said that Ledicort excelled in the role. Having been a member of the House of Lords and in the Council of State, he had the requisite experience. Despite the continuous rise of political parties and movements, both legal and illegal, during the reign of John VIII, he balanced the niceties and firmness an Archchancellor must be capable of. Both John and Ledicort’s most significant achievements came from the years of 1818 to, effectively, 1821. These were the years of the Tenth Nordling War, declared by King Sven II of Norland in 1818 on the precept that his lands were assaulted by a band of Orenian noblemen going under the name of the “Sons of Horen.” There is little evidence that this happened, in truth, and the reality is that this was nothing but a guise for a war the king intended to press regardless of circumstance. John VIII Commanding at the Battle of Outer Arentania Circa 1821 This all coalesced after extended skirmishing at the Battle of Outer Arentania in 1821. There, Emperor John VIII personally commanded his armies and crushed the invasive Norlandish and Ferrymen forces. Ledicort’s crowning moment came on the battlefield as he personally led contingent brigades from the front and fought alongside the common man. He is the last Archchancellor to have done so. -| CHAPTER III |- || THE ACCEPTANCE OF INDOLENCE || The 26th Archchancellor of the Holy Orenian Empire, Ledicort d’Azor, Duke of Azor However, after the war’s conclusion in 1824, though it had all but ended at Outer Arentania three years prior, the pair fell into a lull that would last the rest of their reign and tenure. By all accounts, John was adverse to change and took after his father on the nature of the monarchy: that bringing about reform was not the monarchy’s prerogative. Instead, that task fell to Ledicort, who admittedly failed. Although Ledicort’s early years were exceptional, his latter years were cluttered with various periods of long hiatuses, failed attempts to rejuvenate the government, and constant distractions from his own familiar kin. Most notably among these was Joseph d’Azor, the firstborn son and heir of Ledicort. Appointed to the role of Minister of War during the Nordling conflict, he did little to reform the continuously degrading army. If anything, it was a sign of nepotism that haunts Ledicort’s record. As mentioned earlier, political parties were quickly stifling society around this time. Some, such as the Risorgimentists, Adrianites, and White Glovers, were passing crazes that had little impact on the broader historical portrait. However, being both social and political, the Rosemoor movement is of keen interest to those investigating this time. In fact, it was one of many factors that spurred the empire’s decline. In summary, the Rosemoorian stance was that succession laws within the empire should become absolutely cognatic, or in layman’s terms, female children should inherit on the same ground as men. As you can imagine, this flared a fiery debate between the nobility. Some, such as this author, criticized the movement for only focusing on securing these rights for noble women. As it must be noted, ordinary women were, and still are, unable to marry without the permission of the head of their household. Regardless, the Imperial Princess Elizabeth Anne was the originator of the movement and the Rosemoor Bill in the House of Lords. A contentious argument occurred in 1830 between the princess and the Duke of Crestfall, the heir to the empire and future Philip II. Philip was a known anti-Rosemoorian on the more traditional ground that women were not equal to men. Through the rules of the House of Lords, Philip sanctioned and silenced his sister, Princess Elizabeth. Although she nobly pursued other routes of expression, and the broader society was wholly discontent with Philip’s handling of the affair, she died in 1831 of grief and stress. This traumatized John VIII and permanently put him at odds with Philip, the Duke of Crestfall, as he blamed him for the death of his most beloved sister. Perhaps this could have been mended by Ledicort, but as was foreseen, the man was distracted and oft struggling to get his ministers to meet. In the years following 1831, both men lost their power and will to rule, damaging their reputations, both at the time and historically. By the time John VIII passed away in 1837 at the age of eighty, the empire was stable and wealthy from years of peace, yet entirely unmanaged and economically faltering. It should be remembered by all that despite the institutional decline concomitant to his reign, John VIII is, at the time of writing this work, the last monarch to lead Oren to victory in a war against a foreign power. His successors, with their own legacies of consistent failures, often did their utmost to avoid drawing attention to this reality. This can only be considered a dishonest and nakedly cynical attempt to improve their image. In honesty, John VIII was the last Emperor of the eighth Empire to not harm the state intentionally. He was also the last monarch to have a peaceful transfer of power upon his death. Malice was not on the agenda of this Emperor, and from this author’s many youthful nights spent sitting with the aged monarch, I can testify that he was a man beset by his life before the monarchy. Nonetheless, he never let this interfere with his duty and is only partly culpable for his inattentive nature, partially relieved due to his fifty-seven years of hard, war-torn life before ascending to the throne. Generally, the reign of John VIII was promising at first but severely suffered in its later years. Perhaps the imperial trajectory could have been diverted with more resolve from Ledicort following the Nordling War or dedication by the Emperor to change dying systems. Almost certainly, the Duke of Crestfall being made the heir to the empire drastically undercut these occurrences. This author ponders what the world could have looked like if John VIII had sired a legitimate child or legitimized his bastard son. But hopeful reflection is a game played by fools, and I am no fool. History stands that Emperor John VIII was a good man who led a stable and formidable empire yet was part of a decaying system that he and his Archchancellor did not have the will or strength to fix. -| CHAPTER IV |- || AN ERRATIC EMPEROR || || AND AN ASININE ARCHCHANCELLOR || HIM Philip II, Holy Orenian Empire Circa 1847 It is a sinister idea to name one’s son Philip. As if Our Lord had not blessed the Empire with enough foul luck, it was with these last two Emperors that the deterioration of the state, a semblance of cohesiveness, and all hope was snuffed out. Although some would argue which of the two’s reigns they preferred, it is unattainable to this author why anyone would prefer idiocy to perfidiousness. Upon the death of Emperor John VIII on his eightieth birth day, on which occasion I sang him a very catchy tune to most Orenians adopted shortly after to celebrate their name days, his brother, Philip, the Duke of Crestfall, quickly moved to coronate himself. He was in his seventy-eighth year. To his benefit, the newly-anointed Philip II was a devout man but an old dotard nonetheless. His initial edicts to reform the floundering Imperial Diet did little. The only thing that flourished during his early reign were plots, both of assassination and overthrow. From the palace, army, bureaucrats, and imperial family, the stirrings of insurrections against His Imperial Majesty were around each corner of Imperial life. Yet, it was usually Philip II’s son, the Duke of Adria, though unpopular in his own right among many classes, that made tensions subside. The 27th Archchancellor of the Holy Orenian Empire, Drasus DeNurem, Count of Mordskov However, his initial choice for Archchancellor was deplorable. Drasus DeNurem, relative of the famed General Alren DeNurem, was unknown and disliked by the vast majority of his councilors. In fact, he had not held a government posting his entire life prior to assuming the role. A white-haired maniac, although more attentive than in the final years of the preceding ministry of Ledicort d’Azor, DeNurem was also impertinent, hostile, and ill-natured to work with. In 1840 the delusional Philip II put into effect the Edict of Visgia, forcing every one of his subjects to read the Holy Scrolls in their entirety and each noble house to select a patron saint. This was, if anything, a passing trend that died with the elder Emperor. Likewise, the Society of Saint James was a rather lackluster and short-lived project of Philip II that sought to debate religious matters personal to the Emperor but not his people. The Then Heir-Apparent of the Holy Orenian Empire, HIH Philip Aurelian, Duke of Adria Philip II’s succession is also due for analysis. Since the man was older than I am now as I write this, he had not only a grandson but a great-grandson vying for the throne. Three generations of Novellens had been placed behind the decrepit despot, and, as all men do, they sought power. First in line was the aforementioned Philip Aurelian, the Duke of Adria. He was in his fifty-third year upon his father’s ascent and confined to a group of isolated supporters in the nobility. Following the Duke of Adria was Philip Amadeus, the Duke of Furnestock. He was more popular among the Imperial masses but inattentive to government matters like his father. Finally, there was Peter Augustus, also known as Peter the Greater, who was the third in line to the throne but a child, born in 1842. In essence, the very arrangement of the succession was wrought with destruction. The Duke of Adria and the Duke of Furnestock were concerned about the other’s power, and the Emperor was equally suspicious, as was his nature. If anything, this has taught students of history that successions that stretch beyond one or two generations are detrimental to the state. When the supposed body of Philip Amadeus, the Duke of Furnestock and second-in-line to the throne, was delivered to the Imperial capital in 1844, every member of the Council of State could tell that the man lying in state was an imposter. The corpse was not the appropriate height, was plump, and obviously not a man of Imperial stock. Philip II, who was by now half-blind and senile, obstinately refused to accept this. Even Rev Vuiller, the ordinarily stoic Solicitor-General, prostrated himself before the sovereign’s wheelchair, alternately flattering, pleading, cajoling, and crying in despair. It was to no avail, so let it never be said that we did not try. “That is my grandson, who lies dead,” proclaimed the trembling Emperor, and a state funeral was held. This failure to adhere to advice was foundational in the eventual conflict that was to come. Nonetheless, the Emperor was unswayed and wrongfully put aside the issue of succession. The Duke of Furnestock was dead, and that was the end of it. Or was it? -| CHAPTER V |- || WAR AND WOMEN RULE THE DAY || It was in 1845 that the Council of State rose up and forced Philip II to assign his daughter, Josephine, Princess Imperial, as the new Archchancellor. Many viewed this as desperate since a Princess Imperial assuming the highest government office was not only irregular but unheard of throughout centuries of Imperial history. Josephine was undoubtedly better than her predecessor but was pent up in her office, drafting designs for what would become New Providence. For her part, she was incredibly reluctant to take this unprecedented appointment. Though she would never get to enjoy her crowning accomplishment, her tenure was an arduous struggle most would not undertake. Between governing and corralling the erratic whims of her father, she chose the latter, and there were no competent statesmen who would have been as successful at the task. This work does not intend to speak on the tenures of the Archchancellors, as that is not its purpose, and another tome I will release soon. However, as the first female Archchancellor, Josephine personified a progressive era, though she was staunchly conservative. We can only hope that time will look favorably upon her. The 28th Archchancellor of the Holy Orenian Empire, HIH Josephine Augusta, Duchess of Crestfall A Great Writer, Leader, Architect, Conservative, and Friend. We do not know if Philip II’s nurse came up with his next stratagem for 1848. This author hopes so, as it is much more comforting to believe that this next crisis was a consequence of an enfeebled Emperor taken advantage of by his carers, than it is to believe that any occupant of the Imperial Throne could be such a brainless buffoon. At eighty-eight years old, His Imperial Majesty’s next plan to win the public’s support was to start a war with Urguan. Naturally, no one was informed of this until the war was declared in 1849. Secretly meeting Grand King Ulfric Frostbeard, the geriatric Emperor even believed he had secured “a polite war,” whereby no raids would be conducted, and prisoners returned after each clash. He was not only wrong but disastrously so. It is still seared into my memory to see the ancient man, clad in hob shackled plate, meandering aimlessly across the bridges before Providence. He screeched orders at forces long gone in pursuit of the enemy, a man moving paper armies and surrounded by staff that had to simply observe his outbursts. Shortly after the War of Lower Petra broke out and a series of brutal losses to the Urguanites, a conspiracy came to light. The reader can imagine the Council of State’s shock when it was revealed that the Duke of Furnestock was not only alive and well but had faked his death so that he could plot against his grandfather and father without scrutiny. For almost a year, the second-in-line to the throne had been amassing support amongst the aristocracy for a coup. Not a single peer had divulged this information to either the Emperor or his government, which is a fair gauge of public opinion at that time. -| CHAPTER VI |- || A REVOLUTION OF BLOOD AND LITTLE CHANGE || The Adrian Assassination, By Sara Greenhoof, Circa 1850 The Mistress and the Apparition of Anastasia Murder the Duke of Adria It was also in 1849 that these plotters commenced their conspiracy. The Duke of Furnestock, his wife, Anastasia, and the Prince of Savoy, Olivier Renault, plotted in the south to kill Philip’s father, the Duke of Adria, and then coup his grandfather. This assassination came to fruition in the early part of the year when the last bricks of New Providence were being laid. The Duke of Adria was lured into the chambers of one of his mistresses and stabbed through the heart. This particular mistress, of which the Duke kept many across the empire, was vexed by the recent imperial decision to not recognize their child as legitimate, as it was born far from the Duke’s marriage bed with his own cousin. Despite warnings from astute advisors such as myself, who had keen insight into the ongoings of the plot, Philip II existed in a state of ignorant bliss. Only after the Duke’s death did the Emperor begin to take on an even more accelerated manic state, with chaos in his empire quickly ensuing. Many of his nobles flocked to San Luciano, the capital of Savoy, to swear new fealty to the more able-bodied but perhaps no more stable-minded, self-proclaimed Philip III. Very rapidly, in the course of a matter of days, the armies of Savoy were marching across the bridges to Providence, and the Imperial State Army under Major Erik Othaman surrendered the city after a conversation with Lord Marshal Erik Ruthern, the grandfather of Anastasia and now turned sympathizer. It still haunts me to this day to hear the old Philip II, in some of his final remarks, wail about how his grandson had no support. Even as the black banners bearing the white sun of the Savoyards marched into the city, he frantically wrote orders to armies that only existed in his mind. He remarked that his grandson only had herds of voracious women and proclaimed that he would reign for another fifty years if he could talk to his grandson privately. The pitiful Emperor that was Philip II passed shortly before he could see New Providence surrender. He was found slumped over his desk in his favorite wicker wheelchair. His daughter, Josephine, on the other hand, had traveled briefly to the northern lands of Haense to offer the northmen the title of Emperor, the Imperial lands, and the crown jewels. King Sigismund III, compelled by his advisors, denied this last hope, though, and Josephine returned to the city she built mere minutes after her father’s death. In the chaos, while ordering records be destroyed to not fall into the hands of the usurper, she was run over by a carriage carrying the rotund Anne Bertha de Novellen. Anne Bertha was a distant but peculiar imperial family member trying to escape the city with her assortment of jewels, sweets, and small dogs. The Emperor was dead, and so too was the Archchancellor. At this point, the Duke of Furnestock made many promises and pledges when he entered the capital. Looking back, the simple fervor of the moment obscured the man’s significant disabilities. He had killed his father, promised the world to the empire, and was prepared to deliver none of it. And so Philip Amadeus, Duke of Furnestock, was crowned Philip III, Holy Orenian Emperor by High Pontiff Everard VI in the Basilica of the Argentine Star. The rushed ceremony was conducted after the High Pontiff, who had a knack for stumbling into situations, was compelled by the assembled mob to anoint their chosen Emperor without contemplation or the curia’s advice. The Aster Revolution was complete, and Philip III was on the throne, but this was merely the escalating point for the failure of the empire, which had by now become a glorified client state of the Savoyards. Philip II shared many characteristics of his grandson, although most would prefer not to say it aloud. Both Philip II and the future Philip III were brash men who often shied away from good counsel in favor of ill-fitted desires for godliness or glory, respectively. My Own Printing of the Aster Revolution Depicts Savoyard and Orenian Armies Marching Across the Unification Bridge in Providence, Circa 1849 To boot, some of the lesser-known stories of Philip II only further delude the remainder of the respect some have for him. When this author was Minister of the Treasury, he once set boats with over seventeen thousand golden marks and had men row them to the high elven capital. Despite protests from his councilors and any reasonable man, Philip II loaned the Silver Principality these funds and only took six elven erotic novels as collateral. To say the least, the elves did not ever repay the debt. Although this was unprovident, his spending did not stop there. During my tenure as Minister of the Treasury, Philip II spent over four thousand marks on miniature chinchillas. It is a most unpleasant memory to think of the dotard sitting amongst his flock of foreign wooly rodents while commanding the treasury to spend lavishly on soirees or procuring him a galleon, a dream of his that I was able to squander on several occasions. Likewise, Philip II lacked awareness of the taboos which he committed. In 1848 he married his granddaughter-in-law in a celibate marriage, which, while not sacreligious, was irreverent. -| CHAPTER VII |- || THE TRUTH OF THE CO-RULERS || HIM Philip III, Holy Orenian Empire Circa 1846 Of Note: Philip III did eventually abandon and condemn wigs, though he began his reign in one. Philip III came to the throne with widespread adulation. Extremely prematurely, in the first month of his reign, the Aster Revolution agents had called him ‘Philip the Great.’ Philip Parricida was a more suitable moniker, and it carried the benefit of this author’s favorite literary tool: alliteration. It must be conceded that parricide does not reasonably fall within Philip III’s twenty most dire sins if this author were to rank them. We could undoubtedly find great men in history who have killed their fathers. Philip Parricida was not one of them. To start off his reign, once the dust of the “Revolution” had settled, very little changed. The Vice Chancellor, Minuvas Melphaestus, was made acting Archchancellor. He was never appointed by Imperial Writ, Philip not wanting to be the first Emperor to proclaim an elf as de facto leader of humanity. Prince-Emeritus Olivier Renault of Savoy “One of the Worst Statesmen in Modern History” However, what was clear from the beginning was the failed promises of Prince Olivier Renault of Savoy. He promised the unification of humanity, immigration of all Savoyard populaces, and unconquerable military forces upon Philip’s ascent. The moronic move to hand over the power of Savoy to his son, then Prince Olivier Laurène, spent any control over the state of Savoy he had and destroyed any assistance he could have offered to Oren. This author can easily say that these were but words uttered by a historical loudmouth. If Olivier Renault should be remembered for one thing, it is not the unjust overthrow of an impotent monarch, but rather his utter failure in ruling the aftermath. Around the first years, the Emperor began to lose confidence in his acting Archchancellor, the Prince Minuvas Melphaestus, perhaps believing that he had too many ideas or was too elvish in demeanor. The time had come to retire him to an elven reservation known as Ebonwood and appoint a new government. Philip had a particular skill-set in mind when looking for a new Archchancellor. They expressly wanted someone incapable, much like Philip’s wife. The reason was simple: the conundrum-inducing future co-monarchs were set on ruling incompetently on their own, relieved of good advice and sound men. The monarchs conducted interviews along these constraints and eventually found their perfect man: Joseph d’Azor, the Duke of Azor. He had been a lifelong companion to the Emperor and one of his first supporters in his revolution. Notably, his father had been Archchancellor to John VIII, so this was to be the Second Azor Ministry. The 29th Archchancellor of the Holy Orenian Empire, Joseph d’Azor, Duke of Azor “A Man Who Enjoyed Eating and Having Affairs, Not Governing.” In the end, Azor did precisely as he had promised when the co-rulers had interviewed him: nothing. Bearing in mind what the monarchs had prescribed, there was no more adept candidate for this. Azor was of the background of the new nobility, whose father had bequeathed him both considerable wealth and a political legacy. Still, these resources were squandered by a man who was simultaneously indolent, slow-witted, and almost perpetually paralyzed by indecision. No policies, programs, judgments, or decisions came from the Archchancellor during these years. The good Duke spent most of his energy in his office carrying on an affair with his mistress, who he then subsequently made a minister of the Crown. This went against the advice of myself and all of any mental capacity. During the early years of the Second Azor Ministry, an obscure cousin to the Emperor from the Temeschine line, Henry Constanz de Novellen, masterminded the Michaelite, or Petty, Schism of 1849. The term ‘mastermind’ is a vast overstatement of his competencies. This pallid, twisted character appeared to have no education, skills in critical reasoning, or even any redeeming qualities, which was, in fairness to him, a broader complication in the Temesch family. For some reason, he had embedded himself deep in the counsel of Philip III. A rot that would further blemish a reign. The Petty Schism was not only poorly planned and executed but a testament to the deficiencies of Henry Constanz. It began during the coronation of Prince Olivier Laurène of Savoy and ended a little under a month after its inception. During the coronation, the Prince not only forsook the Pontiff, but the Emperor joined him, encouraged by the whispering lies of Henry the Half-Wit. While Savoyard soldiers were meant to guard the High Pontiff, Everard VI, they became enraptured with the enthronement process of the false Michael I. It was then that the Duke of Valwyck, Eirik Baruch, along with other notable Haeseni, simply ushered the aged clergyman out the front door. A pitiful ending to a petty schism. The 57th High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon HH Everard VI High Pontiff Everard VI subsequently excommunicated those involved, including Emperor Philip III, the Empress, and Prince-Emeritus Olivier Renault. As many good Canonists made up the Imperial ranks, a walk of atonement was shortly thereafter agreed to by the Emperor, Empress, and Everard. Although a disgrace to Imperial honor to be hauled through Haeseni streets under a hail of tomatoes and expletives, it pales compared to the diplomatic damage done by Henry the Half-Wit. This irrevocable action set the Empire on a collision course with Haense and the High Pontiff, who promptly joined the War in Lower Petra on the side of the Urguanites. Tangentially, the Empress, in her usual oblivious and witless state, was enthralled with the idea of wearing rags and walking in front of her people. Her surprise and sudden rage when she realized it would be done barefoot are memorable. A true testament to the clueless nature she maintained throughout her reign. In a twist of irony, the entire reason why Emperor Philip III was even seduced by the Half-Wit in the first place was that myself and Archchancellor Azor were previously engaged in diplomatic dinners that evening. Within a few minutes, the good governance this author had tried to retain, in whatever semblance it could be found amongst the rubble of the ‘revolution,’ was smashed. By listening to Henry Constanz, Philip III had started the rockslide that would bring down the Petrine Empire. Although they conducted the walk and received penance from Everard VI while simultaneously disgracing the imperial honor even more than they had done thus far, the Pontiff had ulterior motives. Before the Petty Schism had even begun, the Pontiff had secured letters in the Empress’ own hand, discussing the plans for killing Philip Amadeus, the Duke of Adria, her father-in-law. Despite being delivered to the Church by a known azdrazi, the validity of these letters is undeniable, and I can reaffirm their authenticity. May God only understand why she would have ever put pen to paper with these thoughts, but it is yet another testimony that idiocy runs in the bones of Novellens. This evidence prompted the Second Excommunication of the Empress and Emperor, just days following the lifting of the first. In essence, the Pontiff had wisely embarrassed the imperial figureheads first with a promise of atonement yet judiciously withheld evidence that was used for another excommunication. And this time, there would be no walk of penance. Both sides made sure of that. -| CHAPTER VIII |- || FURTHER CONUNDRUMS OF THE CO-RULERS || HIM Anastasia I, Holy Orenian Empress Seen here riding about the streets with her usual oblivious, inattentive, and cross-eyed expression. Following this arduous time, Philip III proclaimed his wife a co-monarch in 1853, one with equal power to the Emperor, who would rule after his death. This created several issues for the state. First, Anastasia was a Ruthern by blood and held no claim to the Novellen mantle. Second, Anastasia was incapable and arrogantly removed from all government affairs. Days would pass without her being seen in council meetings for her to return, reignite conflict, be in a perpetual state of inept confusion, and then disappear for the cycle to repeat. Philip had tried to nullify these failures by the state in the proclaiming edict that a widowed Empress Anastasia could not remarry. However, as his advisors informed him, Emperors, nor Empresses, are not bound by the edicts of previous Emperors. Therefore, a widowed Empress of Ruthern blood could remarry, have offspring with another, and then found her own dynasty by overriding the succession, as is the sole prerogative of an imperial monarch. Undoubtedly this was a mistake that future Emperors should avoid. Setting the precedent that decidedly unfit individuals ascend to the throne would only perpetuate the fall of any state. Emperor Philip knew this well, though, during these times. Instead, he took to destroying the empire on his own with a magnificent display of irresponsible promises. Around this time, the Emperor had promised his third and youngest son Frederick Charles the crown. He also simultaneously promised it to his eldest son, Peter Augustus, as was his birthright. The second imperial child, James Maximillian, was rumored to be a hunchback with vast physical deformities due to his family’s inbred nature. He was overlooked not only by his parents but by society. And at that, the stage was set for conflict between the young Peter and Frederick, both promised a crown by their father. Peter, admittedly, squandered his time in preparing for an inheritance dispute, as he unsuccessfully led many ventures during his father’s reign. Dichotomously, Frederick readied for a war against his brother from the day he had heard his father promised to uphold Peter’s succession. His entire early adulthood was squarely focused on plotting, securing, and negotiating his ascent against the rightful succession of the Imperial Throne. One could not estimate the bounds of the co-rulers’ bizarre innovations, which throughout we endeavored to warn against. Their son Frederick began to keep company with a community of foreign easterners from across the seas and had adopted their customs. These refugees from Oyashima sought to settle somewhere in the empire. In other circumstances, we would have been glad to have them. On this occasion, however, Prince Frederick entered a meeting of the Council of State wearing a floral kimono, their traditional dress, while brandishing a half-completed Imperial decree. This decree stated that Their Imperial Majesties were to surrender Oltremont and transalpine Arentania to Frederick’s rule. He was to become the independent ruler of the Oyashiman people on imperial land. It only required the monarchs’ signatures and was presented to the council as fait accompli. Philip III initially spoke words of great support for this proposal. The Empress sat in her high seat, wide awake yet simultaneously comatose. Azor slithered obesely but said nothing. Fortunately, those counselors unafflicted by premature dementia convinced the monarchs that the surrender of a third of the country to create an ethnic land for a people who owed us no allegiance amid an existential war was, in mild terms, imprudent. This was one of the rare times where the co-rulers took heed of good advice. Nonetheless, the co-rulers quickly found themselves defeated at the Siege of Southbridge in 1854. Their armies had had the chance to intercept the approaching coalition forces in the preceding months. Still, in his strategic mastery demonstrated throughout his reign by successive losses, Philip ordered all brigades to avoid contact with the enemy and hide behind the ramshackle walls of Southbridge. For four years the land of Lower Petra, just over the Petra River from Providence, was held and defiled by the coalition forces. Orenians were rooted from their homes, and many noble manors were burned. The estates of the Galbraiths, Arkents, and Darkwoods being amongst them. Of particular insult, the Urguanites installed the Goats of Sedan, a break-away Orenian rebel organization subject to the dwarven crown from the times of Joseph II, on the road to Providence in a newly constructed fortress named Haverlock. It was only in 1858 when the imperial forces were able to reconquer the land and a further two years to oust the Sedanites from their newly constructed keep. During the Siege of Haverlock, there was a rumor that Philip had determined to double his efforts in reforming the country. The bloated Archchancellor, Joseph d’Azor, was meant to retire and a successor named shortly after the inevitable victory. This never came to pass, but it still impacted the battle. The Duke of Azor took the rumors of his eventual replacement with horrible whines and proclaimed to the entire council that he would scale the walls and die fighting. The reality was a far less glorious scene. The bloated and belching Duke was lifted with cranes onto the walls, as good Orenians died protecting those assembling and operating the crane. His waddling around the city, carelessly stepping on the bodies of wounded men who screeched from the immense weight they bore, is still etched in this author’s head. The victorious Orenian forces were led out of the city by the bumbling Azor, carried on a litter, and dining on exotic meats. Manfred von Arichsdorf, Margrave of Arichsdorf Yet, at that time, there was perhaps nobody in the Empire more responsible for the victories at Lower Petra and Havelock than Manfred von Arichsdorf, who sadly, was in all other ways a completely repellant character. The other leading figures were mockeries of glory. Their Imperial Majesties were well away from the fighting in both battles. Azor was hoisted over the walls in a palanquin, too rotund from years of beer-bellied living to ascend the siege tower unaided. In contrast, the Baron of Arichsdorf, a mustachioed maniac originally from the Nordling lands, was perpetually in the thick of the melee, covered in blood from head-to-toe and surrounded by his coreligionists from Westergrenz. The Nordling’s biggest problem was that his berserker rage was never confined to the battlefield. The Bloody Baron of Arichsdorf’s feud with the Duke of Cathalon was one such example of his proclivities. The quarrel had been ignited by an issue so trivial that only the Imperial nobility would even concern themselves with it in the first place, that being the placing of a sign on a public street corner. Manfred’s anger was so great that he nearly smashed the Duke’s head with his hammer over this placard-related disagreement. Yet, he went unpunished. Several months later, the Baron of Arichsdorf once again stirred trouble by beating the Baronet of Westfall, Cesar Komnenos, for sitting on a bench the Baron claimed as his own during a public meeting of the Adriatic Court. Once again, Arichsdorf was not punished but rewarded, as Philip III enfiefed him as the Margrave of Westergrenz shortly thereafter. The reasoning provided by the Emperor was simple: the Nordling baron had settled the western lands of the Empire and increased their productivity tenfold, so retaliation against his actions could not be too harsh. In reality, the Emperor was powerless to stop the von Arichsdorfs. They were above the law, did not pay taxes, and commanded a far more effective army than the Imperial state. To only solidify this facet of Imperial doctrine, Arichsdorf’s bastard son stabbed the Baronet of Westfall a few years later during a chaotic court session. Empress Anastasia had been presiding over the affair, although as with everything she touched, she had lost all control and simply observed, totally insensate. The Emperor’s ‘just’ and ‘decisive’ response: ten lashes that were never delivered in fear of inciting rebellion from the von Arichsdorfs. It was known to all by this time that the Emperor’s ability to rule had been severely diminished. His reign was propped up by little more than Arichsdorf, Blackvale, and unsavory characters from the shadows. -| CHAPTER IX |- || THE BEGINNING OF THE END || During this time, the Empire was not quiet. Empress Anastasia caused a scandal to erupt in 1864 over the hand of her firstborn son, Peter Augustus, the Prince of Providence. Due to the Empress’s and Frederick Charles’ meddling, the betrothed of the Prince was publicly disavowed by the imperial family. To clarify, the plan had been hatched by Frederick and Anastasia because of their inherent dislike of Ioanna Elisheva of Susa. She was, admittedly, obnoxious, uncouth, and disliked by almost all imperial society. Her aloofness and arrogance in her inexperience were her downfalls. In a public court session hosted by the floundering Empress herself, Archchancellor Joseph d’Azor presented his daughter, Lucia Annunziata d’Azor, as a replacement for the Susa woman. He then announced his retirement and threw socialite and government circles into chaotic disarray. Despite appearing random, this was orchestrated by the imperial couple, their Archchancellor, high levels of government, and nobles such as Princes Frederick Charles. Ioanna was enraged and left the city shortly after, effectively disqualifying her from the Prince’s hand in the eyes of the imperial family. Nonetheless, it is often noted that Frederick claimed to be unaware of his family’s dastardly moves. However, this author can testify that he was made aware and used the situation to his advantage. Following the courtroom debacle, Prince Frederick found an ally for the eventual overthrow of his brother in Ioanna. He abused her connections and anger with her courtly disgrace to fuel his kingly ambitions. The 30th Archchancellor of the Holy Orenian Empire, Henry Penton Besides the societal impacts this messy divorce from Ioanna caused, the governmental consequences were real. Although often on the inside of state decisions, the Archchancellor's task now fell to this author, the elderly Henry Penton. Like most positions I was placed into, I was forced to assume the role. As was the case with the Vice Chancellor selection under the Second Azor Ministry, the powers that be offered the position to me and threatened to give it to someone horribly incapable if I declined. In good conscience, I could not allow the state to be corrupted by these people, so I begrudgingly took up the mantle and began my reforms, most of which were stifled by the ongoing war, peace negotiations, and my monarchs. I could not curb the rampant abuses of nobles such as the Arichsdorfs. Although I did my best to foster mutual trust between the various parties of imperial society and government, it was already in such a deteriorated state that little could be done. Without the interest of the monarchs in such affairs, which we never had, it was a futile struggle I persisted in right until the end in 1868. Admittedly, I was a poor Archchancellor. However, I hold that the position was most likely untenable for any honorable Orenian at the time. Especially with the monarchs in power and Prince Frederick's inherent want for the throne upon his parent's death, circumstances played most of the cards during my tenure. I was simply the handyman sent to sweep the streets after the disasters. Philip’s Folly, By Renaldo Mundo, Circa 1867 A Foreign Mercenary of the Tripartite Accord Looms Over A Defeated Orenian Knight Meanwhile, Philip wrongly believed in 1866 that his forces were strong enough to launch a counteroffensive into Urguanite lands, specifically through the neutral port of Eastfleet. Although his brother, John Casimir, and others on the council had urged for peace due to the decades of continuous wars draining resources and morale, the Emperor pressed on. And it was at the Battle of Eastfleet, also known to history as Philip’s Folly, that his numerically disadvantaged host was decisively crushed. This forced him into a more vulnerable position during the peace negotiations in 1867, and they would last up until days before the end of his reign. Following the battle, Philip and his Empress experienced the Marriage Crisis of 1866. In the early mornings of Sun’s Smile, the Council of State was alerted that Prince Frederick Charles was planning on marrying Princess Vivienne of Savoy. Notably, Savoy was a country that was actively at war with the Holy Orenian Empire. The entire imperial government rejected the marriage and informed the monarchs that they must cancel the wedding or issue an edict compelling the union to be morganatic, to avoid Frederick or his children any claim to the throne that would inevitably be supported by Savoy. In essence, to prevent a hostile usurpation by a Savoyard-backed Frederick. Little did we know that Philip was conspiring with his son on this matter. Instead of issuing the edict and barring his son from succession, which could have prevented inevitable bloodshed over a claim, he did the opposite. In private, the impotent imperator told Frederick to stop the marriage and wait until a later date. He did not even insist on breaking off the betrothal with a hostile foreign principality. This could only be seen as intentionally harming the state and allowing the future war we all knew would develop. With this mistake alone, Emperor Philip set the Empire on a collision course with ruin. If it were not for his multitude of failures before this, it could be overlooked. Alas, it was but one of many in the long list of Philip Parricida’s faults, the faults that would bring down an Empire. -| CHAPTER X |- || THE LITTLE KNOWN TRUTH || The Poisoned Philip, By John Gisheem, Circa 1870 The Look of a Man Who Betrayed The Empire, Then Betrayed By His Son, Frederick. Towards the end of their reign, in 1868, God's wrath abruptly caught up with the two. Philip III and Anastasia were engrossed with dangerous and vile people, against most of the advice of their councilors. Much like their predecessors, though, the two believed that their decisions were not only superior but above any supervision or comment. As many history books should distinguish, Philip III did not die of some benign disease. He was poisoned for his involvement with the very men he had entangled himself with since the beginning of the War of Lower Petra, colloquially known as the War of the Wigs among the half-men. However, the events that unfolded in the final months of Philip III's reign have also been misunderstood. While this author was tucked away in a northern room negotiating with the representatives of King Sigismund III of Haense, Philip and his apathetic Empress were plotting with these devious ones whose names are lost to history. Many speculate that their plotting concerned their youngest son, Frederick, ascending to the throne. They are woefully wrong. In fact, the Emperor had even directly expressed to many people that both of his sons were incompetent, vengeful, and greedy children of Iblees. He explicitly did not intend to name Frederick as his heir, nor did he intend to back Peter. The truth is that the co-rulers were engaged with a plot that would divide the Empire in two only a few months after the treaty with the Tripartite Coalition was signed. The eastern half, including New Providence, would be given to Willem van Aert of Blackvale, while the western remainder would be set free under Manfred von Arichsdorf. Neither of his sons would have an empire to govern over. But before this day could pass, Philip III and his lethargic co-ruler died. It was a spy amongst their midst that had given these plans to Frederick but a few days from their implementation, and upon hearing of his parents' betrayal, it was none but Frederick who sent the vial of poison with his men to end their reign. -| CHAPTER XI |- || A WAR MADE BY IDIOCY || HIH Peter “The Greater” Augustus, Prince of Providence, Duke of Petra Also Referred to as Peter IV First-in-line to the Imperial Throne When I heard the news of the Emperor’s death, I had just concluded peace talks with King Sigismund III and Karl Sigmar, the future Karl III, in Karosgrad. Although I attempted a swift return to the capital, by the time I had gotten safely to Ebonwood in the west, there were too many armed men to approach further. I spent the rest of this brief period of time working out of a mountain monastery I had sponsored for the Scriptorium of Saint Daniel of Abresi. This was before I fled to Haense under the protection of their Lord Palatine. What is seldom known by the onlookers of the time, or the historians who were not intimately affiliated with the information of the state, was that following the death of Philip III at the hands of Frederick’s lackeys, there was a private meeting that took place between Peter Augustus, Prince of Providence, and Frederick Charles, Count of Mardon. Peter offered Frederick terms of good faith during this meeting during his reign, promising not to interfere with the young Count so long as he respected the authority due to the Emperor. HIH Frederick Charles, Count of Mardon Third-in-line to the Imperial Throne “A usurper and man of low morals” Although his exact words are lost to time, Frederick informed his brother that the throne was his by the will of their parents. Although neither had left one, this mattered little in times of political disarray. In fact, what is often forgotten by both sides is that Philip III wanted neither of his sons to inherit. Instead, he had explicitly plotted alongside many in the imperial government and nobility to split the empire between Manfred von Arichsdorf and Wilem van Aert. However, Manfred had likewise been killed by Frederick’s manservants for conspiring and Wilem now suddenly flipped to support Frederick in fear for his own life and land. The plot that ultimately led to the death of the Emperor was defeated soundly by Frederick. However, rightfully, Frederick pointed out that his support had been festering in Mardon for years under their father’s reign. On the other hand, Peter had only the support of those who were traditional supporters of the crown and, more often than not, reliant on the lax nature of the state. The meeting did not ease the tensions, as was to be expected. If anything, it laid the groundwork for the sides that would divide into the Brothers’ War, which broke out in 1868. HIH James Maximillian, Count of Morton Second-in-line to the Imperial Throne; Nowadays: The Rightful Heir. “Known for his physical deformities on account of his parents incestious relations.” At the outbreak of the war, the deformed and little-known James Maximillian, Count of Morton and second-in-line to the throne, departed with great haste for the distant lands of Aeldin. He had no intention of being killed in the ensuing war and had sent letters to me indicating his location if there should ever be a need for a restored imperial claimant with rightful descent. Regardless, the war broke out, and supporters of both sides raised their banners. Most of the traditional houses of Oren had few household guards. Mercenaries were conscripted by both sides, and skirmishes quickly ensued. The roads of the empire ran with Orenian blood. The St. Ari’s Day Massacre, Circa 1869 The Loyal Imperial Forces were Routed and Butchered in the Streets Defending the Rightful Heir, Peter Augustus. However, what some could have seen as an extended war ended relatively quickly. In 1869, Peter Augustus was captured in a St. Ari’s Day celebration. Though many advisors, including myself, had explicitly warned him not to partake in the lively carousing, his enjoyment of revelry won out. Many supporters of the Imperial cause had left to tend to their land and celebrate with their own families, so the once swollen imperial forces were now depleted. Amid the celebration, Rivian and other royalist houses stormed over the walls of Reutov. They sacked the city, and the young Prince of Providence was hauled back to the capital. Prince John Casimir mustered what forces he could, but most were preoccupied and far from the fighting for the holiday. The numerically smaller force was lured into New Providence and slaughtered, the blooded remnants fleeing to boats at Henry’s Wharf and settling sail to found the Grand Duchy of Balain in the south. The uncoronated rightful successor to the Empire, Peter Augustus, was killed by an unimportant Ivanovich traitor, and his detached body was paraded around mockingly on a stake. More often forgotten is the savage and unholy abortion conducted by royalist forces shortly after the battle. Ioanna Elisheva of Susa, on the orders of Frederick, stabbed a pregnant Lucia Annunziata d’Azor in the courtroom of the Aster Hall in front of Canonist clergy. Not only did this occur, but she later published a public letter thanking Frederick for the order and claiming she had no remorse for her sin. Although I presented this to High Pontiff Tylos II, the Church never took action against this wicked debauchery, fearing that Frederick would betray the Church. Simultaneously, Laurentina van Arichsdorf, the widow of Manfred, took up the mantle of Margravine of Westfall following her husband’s death. She, against my advice to her in letters, sided with Frederick. She had done so under the pretext of independence for her people following the conclusion of the war. As I had told her many times, Frederick’s words meant little, and he would betray the promise shortly after fighting ceased. Although she did not heed my advice, my words quickly became a reality, and what semblance of autonomy enjoyed by Arichsdorf and Westfall promptly fell upon the defeat of Peter. Conclusively, the entire Brothers’ War was caused by Philip III’s reluctant and eventual devious behavior to name and support a successor during his life. In fact, the man was so set on denying the emperorship to both sons that he had promised the crown that he intended to split the empire among various factions strong enough to eradicate both of their claims. If a lesson can be extrapolated from this messy affair, it is that succession should be far more solidified by an Emperor. Of important note, those who would pose a risk to the rightful heir, be they the first-born or designated choice, must be eliminated swiftly. Letting these divides fester caused this war and the downfall of the empire. -| CHAPTER XII |- || THE RHYMING OF HISTORY || || LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE EMPIRE || The Holy Orenian Empire was my country. From my birth, I had served it with unyielding enthusiasm and dedication. The things I have seen are unmatched, as I have been involved in imperial government for over six decades. I was, in essence, intimately involved and a part of all this history. Although some may deny the history presented herein, I can assure you the validity of the contents is undoubtedly correct. Their motives to discredit this work are self-motivated in an attempt to improve their, or their ancestors’, image. Furthermore, regardless of the flaws of its rulers, the empire deserves to exist. Oren today is not the Oren that was, nor the Oren that will be. A future empire will rise, and I believe they will use my words, the lessons of this time, to avoid the tragedies that befell our people. But what are the lessons, you may ask? Well, I assert the following: The stories of Philip II and Philip III were not unalike. They had unpopular heirs, extensive lines of succession, failed to listen to the sound advice of the men they appointed, and died before their times. First, both Emperors had notoriously unpopular heirs that were inattentive to the matters of state, offensive to a vast majority of the population, and eyed by various competing siblings or sons. Therefore, future leaders must take the succession into account far more seriously than during the Philippian age. A ruler must not rule so long as to force three or four generations to wait in the wings, and furthermore, unpopular heirs must be disposed of forthwith. Second, advisors of the state must be heeded. Both of the Philips were unwilling to listen to advisors on many matters of state. When they did and incorporated it into decisions, the empire's decline was temporarily stalled. When they did not, disaster struck, and the consequences of ruling by a single man's pen became strikingly clear. Third, both attempted to reform the very incoherent and weak Imperial culture. During my time in government, I wrote no less than seven extensive drafts of reform in this matter. The reborn empire must understand that culture connects a community. While this does not solely entail the government fostering only one culture, although that could function if it is developed enough, it does mean that a failed culture produces a failed state. Fourth, the importance of martial practices must not be forgotten. In the eighth empire, especially following Lord Marshall Peter d'Arkent's death in 1814, the Imperial State Army was ineffective. Although beating the numerically inferior forces of King Sven II in the Tenth Nordling War in 1821, subsequent bouts against numerically superior coalitions were decisively lost. However, this does not mean that vassals are effective either. Vassals, as seen with the rule of Philip III, devolve into entities the monarch cannot control, break the state's control over the nation, and ultimately are used for malcontent lords to rebel. The solution to this martial deficit, as I have taken to calling it, is not one that this author can solve. It is for the future generations to figure out how to make an effective central army, as seen with the early Imperial State Army or the Imperial Legions of yore. Those institutions, when they crumbled, preceded the destruction of an empire. In some ways, the world is still dictated by a might-makes-right mentality. So, a weak army produces a weak empire. A weak empire delivers defeat. And defeats complete the descent of an empire. -| POSTSCRIPT & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |- Finally, I must give thanks to the multitude of people who have provided me the accommodations to produce my works of acerbic wit: Mariano Saturnino Ferraz shall be thanked for tending my candles during the many late nights. I must thank my wife, Nancy P. Cavelle, for her dedicated services and lifelong acquaintance. I must give unsurpassed gratitude to Eirik Baruch, the former Duke of Valwyck. I must also thank the current Duchess of Valwyck for their protection and unfettered hospitality. An old man like me could not want more gracious and kind patrons. Finally, but certainly not least, I must thank Dame Yuliya Styne for giving me the pedestal all those years ago. My success and life could have never been where it is today without you. Thank you, and may we meet in the Seven Skies soon.

Peter applauds as his engineers set out to develop the infrastructure of the barren realm. Tireless work, but work in the name of God is never for naught. “Ave Balian. God bless our labors, for it is through Him we triumph.”

Peter, his face withered from the sun’s wrath, looked up towards the sky and signed the Lorraine. “God guide us, for it is through Your Will that we have been delivered. So it will be by Your will that we triumph.” After his short prayer the man then handed a hewn rock to his fellow man beside him as their work continued. On this hill, blessed by Saint Lothar, they would find redemption for the sins of their nation.

IMPERIAL APPOINTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT, 1867 - 8th of Tobias’ Bounty, 1867 Our esteemed subjects, As Our Empire is in need of promoting competent statesmen, loyal subjects, and valiant warriors we do hereby make the following changes unto Our government. The Right Honorable, Philip Rupert Galbraith, Viscount of Rivia, shall take the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs in Our ministries. The Right Honorable, Hieran Livarai de Melphestaus, shall take the role of Colonel within the Imperial Legion and Minister of War in Our ministries. It is Our innate command that these appointees carry out their duties with bold vigor and determination to improve Our Empire. AD DEI GLORIAM, HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Philip III, Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen, Furnestock and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY, ANASTASIA I, Holy Orenian Empress, forever August, Queen of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duchess of Ves, Duchess of Helena, Novellen, Furnestock, Adria, and Lorraine, Baroness of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

EDICT OF SERICA, 1866 - 13th of Sigismund’s End, 1866 INTRODUCTION While often prestigious in name, Our peers bear little in terms of import. Throughout generations, the dedication and service of families waxes and wanes, so it is in Our Empire's best interest that these families' prestige should as well. To those who serve Us and Our Empire faithfully, many rewards shall be heaped upon you, but for those who stagnate in this drive, We cannot afford further protection of honors bestowed upon more competent and able ancestors. Therefore, it is by this decree which We instate a new arrangement to the affairs of Our peers, their successors, and Our Empire. THE SERICA SYSTEM I. Upon the death of a peer and inheritance by their heir, the title they hold shall be put before the Adriatic Court. An anonymous, non-binding vote will be taken and its results submitted to the Crown. II. A subsequent inspection by the Imperial Crown will be made to see if the title should be relegated and, if necessary, new letters issued with the decision. II. If a family wishes to improve or maintain their standing they must actively partake in some aspect of Our Empire’s government, commerce, courts, or military. Those who disregard these duties shall find themselves continuously relegated. III. Finally, abdication is a horrid affair that cannot be tolerated and blots the very essence of a noble family. Seeing such, any peer which abdicates through means other than clerical ordination shall be relegated two folds. THE TEMESCH ADDENDUM I. The legitimate issue of a peer shall retain the House of their predecessor, and be extended all the rights and obligations of noble birth. II. The legitimate issue of an heir to a peerage shall retain the House of their predecessor, and extend all the rights and obligations of noble birth. III. The legitimate issue of a non-inheriting person of noble birth, where their other parent is also non-inheriting, shall be considered of gentry status. IV. The legitimate issue of a gentry line shall be worthy of inheritance should the main line of a House go extinct. They shall be considered nobility, and be extended all the rights and obligations that entails. AD DEI GLORIAM, HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Philip III, Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen, Furnestock and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Anastasia I, Holy Orenian Empress, forever August, Queen of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duchess of Ves, Duchess of Helena, Novellen, Furnestock, Adria, and Lorraine, Baroness of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera

IMPERIAL APPOINTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT, 1866 - 11th of Sigismund’s End, 1866 Our esteemed subjects, We are deeply saddened by the passing of Her Imperial Highness, Princess Amelia, the Duchess of Vanderfall. Her Imperial Highness’ work for Our government and the Crown shall not go forgotten. A leal and diligent family member, member of the Council of State, and friend of her caliber cannot be easily replaced. Yet, as Our Empire is in need of promoting competent statesmen, loyal subjects, and valiant warriors we do hereby make the following changes unto Our government. His Grace, the Duke of Reutov, shall take the seat of Lord Privy Seal in Our chancellery while maintaining their post as Our Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Honorable, Cicero Lulianus Cato, shall take the role of Imperial Election Commissioner in Our government. It is Our innate command that these appointees carry out their duties with bold vigor and determination to improve Our Empire. AD DEI GLORIAM, HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Philip III, Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen, Furnestock and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY, ANASTASIA I, Holy Orenian Empress, forever August, Queen of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duchess of Ves, Duchess of Helena, Novellen, Furnestock, Adria, and Lorraine, Baroness of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

EDICT OF WESTMARCH, 1866 - 11th of Sigismund’s End, 1866 INTRODUCTION With reforms to the Imperial Diet, it is far overdue that the election system itself be updated as well. In order to foster transparency, the development of political parties, and election cycles it is hereby decreed, by Our writ, that a new election system and a body to oversee it shall be organized. Its duties and directive are below, as prescribed by Our ministers. ELECTORAL OVERSIGHT I. Imperial Diet Election Commission: The Imperial Election Commission (IEC), is tasked with overseeing the election of the Imperial Diet and fulfilling any necessary work for election. It shall act as a bureaucratic arm of the Imperial Diet led by the Election Commissioner, appointed by the Imperial Crown. It is charged with handling elections, registering to vote, and the formation and oversight of political parties. II. Election Commissioner: The Election Commissioner appointed by the Imperial Crown shall lead the IEC and ensure the elections are carried out. The Election Commissioner must remain absolutely neutral in all affairs. While permitted to vote, they are not allowed to campaign or show support for any candidate. Questions of the Election Commissioner’s integrity are grounds for removal from the position and further prosecution if deemed necessary. PARTICIPATION AND PARTIES I. Requirements to Run for Office: In order to run for the office of Senator one must meet these requirements: 1. Have a legal residence within the border of the Empire. 2. Filled out the Imperial Census issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. 3. Be at least twenty years of age. 4. Lived in the Empire for at least five years. 5. Registered to Vote. 6. Meet the requirements to hold office under the Edict of Reform, 1854 II. Requirements to Vote: In order to register to vote one must meet these requirements: 1. Have a legal residence within the border of the Empire. 2. Filled out the Imperial Census issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. 3. Be at least sixteen years of age. 4. Lived in the Empire for at least two years. III. Requirements to Form a Party: In order to apply for a political party it must meet these requirements: 1. All members must be citizens of the Holy Orenian Empire. 2. All members must be registered to Vote. 3. All members must have filled out the Imperial Census. 4. Must have a clear party platform. 5. Must have approval from the Imperial Crown. 6. Must have at least 5 members. ELECTORAL PROCESS I. Registration: The IEC is tasked with ensuring all citizens who meet the requirements to vote are issued Voter Cards with their information on it. Upon applying to register to vote, the Commission will issue a Voter Card which will contain their primary place of residence, full name, year of birth, and race. The Voter Card must be issued within the Saints days after they register. Each card shall be signed by the Election Commissioner and logged in for their records. II. Voting: On the day of election each voter shall make their way toward the designated polling station for that election. The Voter shall locate their candidate's ballot box they wish to vote for and place their Voter Card inside. The IEC will be tasked with collecting all Voter Cards and publicly announcing the results after they have been counted. Following the election the IEC must ensure Voter Cards are returned to their proper owners. III. General Election: General Elections shall take place following the dissolution of an Imperial Diet for the next session when it is called. Announcement for Candidacy shall open for a period of 48 saint hours. Once all Candidates who meet the requirements are approved by the IEC they will begin campaigning for several saint days leading up to the election. Poll stations will open for a period of 48 saint hours (Voting periods may be extended if deemed necessary.) Once the Poll stations are closed results shall be announced within the following Saint Day. IV. By-election: A by-election shall take place if one of the elected Senator positions are opened while the Imperial Diet is still in session. Should an elected office of Senator become open a by-election shall be hosted as soon as possible. It may be rushed and have a shorter time period for the election process if needed. The victor of a by-election shall take office once results are announced. If a by-election is unable to be held someone shall be appointed to the office. AD DEI GLORIAM, HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Philip III, Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen, Furnestock and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Anastasia I, Holy Orenian Empress, forever August, Queen of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duchess of Ves, Duchess of Helena, Novellen, Furnestock, Adria, and Lorraine, Baroness of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera

A deer grazes from a field around Providence. He looks into the camera and says "oh deer!!!"

Henry Penton showed his aide the ordinance and said, “see, progress! I knew these two were the pick. Why can’t you be more like them John?” He proceeded down the hall, further berating the young aides that he passed.

THE STATE OF THE EMPIRE, 1866 - 3rd of Godfrey’s Triumph, 1866 My fellow citizens, This past year has been eventful, so I come before you again to address the matters of state and the outlook of our Empire. Let me begin by recognizing the assembly of our government with a new diet, several new members of the chancellery, and the reinvigoration of the ministries. As we all know, the continued war against dwarven aggression grips our national attention once more. After denying over ten iterations of terms, and the cessation of meaningful talks, we have again begun the counteroffensive against the invasive half-men. We must, without reservation, devout ourselves to this cause. All should take up arms, donate supplies or marks to the effort, and recognize we fight for the preservation of the Empire. Their Imperial Majesties’ ministries have also made progress in this past year. The Ministry of Civil Affairs conducted the election, began paying its employees, and prepared for the upcoming census. The Home Office had submitted final plans for the land around Redenford. Likewise, the Imperial State Army continues its refurbishment. Most importantly, though, New Providence’s Prefecture has been heavily modified, and new, competent leaders appointed. It can also not go without noting that the Orenian Revised Code has been rewritten and replaced with the Imperial Code. Over seventy pages of bureaucratic bloat were removed from the code. I can only hope this simplification will stand as a testament to progress in favor of practicality over the superfluous extravagance that has defined our regulations, documents, and laws. The common man must be able to read whatever this government produces, and I vow to oversee that just as I have promised to communicate this government's activities in these annual addresses. I will conclude my remarks today with a brief call for collaboration among the citizens and peers of our Empire. The Ministries need intelligent, strong, and willful minds to staff them, and this government cannot succeed without you. Any contribution to the state is meaningful, but even more significant is the sharing of ideas. Even if we do not see eye to eye, I wish to hear your perspectives on our systems, government, and state. That is why, once a year, I host a forum to field questions and comments from the populace. Should you wish to request anything from the government, seek work, or ask questions, I will stand ready to answer them. I look forward to seeing you there and Oren aut Mortem! THIS WEEK’S ARCHCHANCELLOR’S FORUM - IMPERIAL DIET BUILDING, PROVIDENCE (WEDNESDAY, 5PM EST)

WE HAVE FOUND OUR PEACE - 16th of Sun’s Smile, 1865 The Holy Orenian Empire, after years of fruitless peace negotiations, issued an ultimatum to the Petty Kingdom of Urguan and their Haenseni allies. Time for that ultimatum passed, and as a result, the renewed offensive was pressed. It would appear that this Empire entered these negotiations with serious intentions to end the conflict but has been met with ignorant delaying tactics coupled with the flagrant wishes of the man in the mountain to continue this vain conflict against The Holy Orenian Empire. They, above all, knew that if they pursued this course of action, they would find themselves on the receiving end of total war. For the preservation of life, we urged that the Urguani government accept our most gracious and fair peace offering to avoid this further bloodshed - a war of reckoning spurred by the blunders of the former Tsar of Urguan and his ruling elite. They deigned to try and stuff their coffers full of ill-begotten gains, wealth, and property taken at the cost of dwarven lives. To this end, they seek no peace. Ten times we offered, and ten times we found an unwilling multitude of pagans and race-traitors. As we Men go to God when we die and join him in the Seven Skies, we could fight on for countless years if it was required of us, our sons and our sons’ sons taking our place once we join our venerable Creator above. The toil of Man knows no bounds. We shall surmount every peak and valley if it means avenging those taken too soon by the blight of your Piasts and their desecration of the conventions of war. It is entirely false that the Haenseni now clutch their pearls at imperial aggression when this is still the war they began for the total conquest of our lands. And now, in these years, the King of Haense cannot make peace without the sanction of a pagan power? How low have the Haenseni fell to in one hour worship God and the next carouse with dwarves over the death of his fellow man. Seek peace, wayward brother, or persist in your errors. Should you still wish to seek terms, we implore you to do so. We have found our peace. We are at peace in knowing that we have offered you peace and you have rebuffed all ten of our proposals. Do not ask if this is our peace, ask if this war is your doing?

Henry Penton looked befuddled as he read the paper his aides delivered to him outside his office. “We offered them a simple peace and it was them who denied it at every turn? To think they now come to the public with such profound cries of peace is not only defunct of reason but lacking what little intelligence I attributed to them. Such a shame too. They complain about a path they actively chose.” He strode off down the hall and placed the missive in the public privy paper reserve that had grown rather large with recent publications from the laughable King of Haense.

Henry Penton spoke to his aides as the document was published. “It is by their ignorance to reason that they bring war unto their lands and their people. Unwilling to admit defeat, the half-men delay and obstruct the common will for peace that exists between the nations of Almaris. May they find reason with this new offensive, as we seize what is rightfully ours.”

THE RESULTS OF THE 30TH DIET - 18th of Owyn’s Flame, 1865 INTRODUCTION Their Imperial Majesties, having seen the election of new representatives to the Imperial Diet, do hereby summon the 30th Imperial Diet to New Providence. We command unto them the immediate discussion of Our Empire, for which they are to reform and improve its existing restructures. Along with Our appointees, may you be studious in your works, diligent in your reforms, and eloquent in your words. APPOINTED BY THE CROWN His Grace, The Duke of Reutov ( @Shmeepicus ) The Right Honorable, Viscount of Valles ( @Josef_Rippelberg ) The Honorable, Baron of Ames ( @HeyitsNano ) The Honorable, Baron of Pompourelia ( @sashimichopped ) The Honorable, Senator Odessa MacPherson ( @tilly ) The Honorable, Senator Heloise Therese Halcourt d’Artois ( @Orlesian ) ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE The Honorable, Senator Chloe de Rosius ( @EmiliainWonderland ) The Honorable, Senator Sebastien Halcourt ( @KaiserJacobII ) The Honorable, Senator Edith Hope ( @Nuker ) The Honorable, Senator Cesar Komnenos ( @KamikazeReaper ) The Honorable, Senator Antonius Carolus Helane ( @Matheaww ) The Honorable, Senator Carolina de Savoie ( @valecu ) EBONWOOD ELECTEE The Honorable, Senator Luthriel of Ebonwood ( @High_On_Math ) AD DEI GLORIAM, HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Philip III, Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen, Furnestock and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Anastasia I, Holy Orenian Empress, forever August, Queen of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duchess of Ves, Duchess of Helena, Novellen, Furnestock, Adria, and Lorraine, Baroness of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera

IMPERIAL APPOINTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT, 1865 - 4th of Horen’s Calling, 1865 Our esteemed subjects, As Our Empire is in need of promoting competent statesmen, loyal subjects, and valiant warriors we do hereby make the following changes unto Our government. Her Imperial Highness, the Duchess of Westmarch, shall take the seat of Vice Chancellor in Our chancellery. Her Imperial Highness, the Countess of Vanderfall, shall take the seat of Lord Privy Seal in Our chancellery. His Grace, the Duke of Reutov, shall take the seat of Chief of Staff in Our chancellery while maintaining their post as Our Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Honorable, Guillaume Louis Pruvia, shall take the role of Acting Minister of Civil Affairs in Our ministries. It is Our innate command that these appointees carry out their duties with bold vigor and determination to improve Our Empire. AD DEI GLORIAM, HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Philip III, Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen, Furnestock and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY, ANASTASIA I, Holy Orenian Empress, forever August, Queen of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Grand Duchess of Ves, Duchess of Helena, Novellen, Furnestock, Adria, and Lorraine, Baroness of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

THE STATE OF THE EMPIRE, 1865 - 3rd of Godfrey’s Triumph, 1865 I have always believed in the brevity of these speeches and will hold myself to this standard as we progress through the details. Let me begin by saying that upon the request of Their Imperial Majesties, I have only just recently assumed this post, accompanied by many anxieties and worries. Yet, it is with a conscious mind and a hopeful heart as an Orenian that I do so. To the Orenian people, as your Archchancellor, I am equally beholden unto you and your concerns. My predecessors have often failed to communicate with you, the most critical asset in our nation. I vow unto you regular, yearly, and open forums to discuss concerns, propose changes, and respond to your letters in writing if necessary. I know that outstanding ideas and citizens are among us, just waiting for an opportunity to flourish. Though the war advances in the south and our soldiers have been victorious, we must not forget the inward necessities. We will defeat the dwarven menaces that sought to crush our spirits, destroy our homes, and ravage our Empire. There can be no doubt in our convictions for this cause and seeing it through to the end. Peace will be found, but only on terms which we as a people can accept while upholding our promises. As for Their Imperial Majesties' ministries, the chancellery will begin redirecting their efforts. The Home Office will be tasked with the restorations of the land of Redenford and Lower Petra. Similarly, Civil Affairs will expand its immigration systems once again, opening new avenues to the ministries and institutions for those who seek employment. Other various projects are underway to correct the decaying archival and legal codes, resituate the Imperial State Army with less bloat, and continue to foster transparent communication between the government and the people. Finally, the government also seeks qualified candidates to lead the city government, an institution most neglected in recent years. Those who wish to undertake the task should extend a letter. These are my objectives which I offer unto the Empire through this address, and I shall expand upon them as you, the people of this Empire, wish. We will get to work, together, bettering this nation through hard work. Though the reforms which shall progress are essential to the continuation of our success, the state of the Empire is strong and will only be stronger with your support. Signed, Archchancellor

Henry Penton sent a simple fox-faced coin to Joseph d'Azor with a letter that read, "Non est ad astra mollis e terris via, Joseph. From aide to archchancellor."

Henry Penton nodded from his desk, stating to an aide as they walked past, "we shall find a way or make one. Blackvale must have its land."

An Official Correspondence from the Chancellery - 8th of Sun’s Smile, 1859 To the Acting Deputy Mayor, Treble de Murat, The Chancellery, seeing the recent missive on the reformed city government hereby wishes to inform you of its nullity. The Amended Charter for the Free and Imperial City of New Providence, henceforth addressed as the charter, was issued under the signature and seal of Their Imperial Majesties. No Lord Mayor, let alone an acting Deputy Mayor or citizen of the Empire, holds the right to override the Imperial prerogative. The Magistrate and the entirety of the Lord Mayor’s city government will uphold the charter as passed by the city assembly and granted assent in 1850. If the acting Deputy Mayor sees it fit to persist in this fallacy and disobey these orders, further actions will be taken forthwith. However, do bear in mind that Their Imperial Majesty's government has observed the need for reform. An act of the Imperial Diet will shortly be granted assent to rectify these issues. Signed, Vice Chancellor

The Beginning of a Revival The Duke and Duchess of Sunholdt with their newborn c. 1859 By Lucian Bryant [MUSIC] A plain notice is hung outside of the de Sarkozy manor. It simply reads: The Duke and Duchess of Sunholdt are delighted to announce the birth of their son, Peter Benedict. Born on the 1st of Tobias’ Bounty, 1859. The Duchess and her child are both in exceptional health. Inside the manor Peter Augustus, the Duke of Sunholdt, sat next to his wife and drafted a letter for his newborn son. Once completed, he secured it in an envelope, pressing his signet ring deep into the golden wax, and handed it to one of his loyal attendants to store away. But, before he did this, he showed his wife, Bianca. The letter, in a scrawling font, read... Dear Peter, The extraordinary feelings that overwhelmed my senses when you were born will never leave my memory. Since I first laid eyes upon you, with the hair of an Arkent and the eyes of your mother, I felt a stirring of revival in my soul. Without doubt, you have read of my exploits from before your birth, but today, in this letter, I am swearing to rededicate myself. Although domestic affairs have never enticed my full interests, I realize, with your birth, that sacrifices must be made in this generation so the next can enjoy their youth. My father died very soon after my birth, and my grandfather was absent from my upbringing. The few relatives I did meet were cold and distant to me. However, I seek to change that for you, Peter. I will be beside you for as long as God shall maintain me upon this mortal plane, along with your mother. I wish to see New Selm filled with not only guests at soirees but the laughter of my children, the unconditional love of the family I never knew, and the belief that we have come from the edge of ruin to eminence once more. With you is my name, but also my aspirations for the future of this house and Oren. Bear it well and know you have made your father and mother proud. Signed, Your Father.

Henry Penton sat at his desk and wondered why the auditor was so fascinated with this matter and not the reinvestigation of the natural death of Philip Aurelian. He commented to an aide as they passed, “next they’ll have leal canonist Azdrazi testifying against faithful Orenians! What lows a church has sunken to fulfill the wishes of the half-men and lizards. The Canonist Church is now nothing but the Church of Yaomir and Yemekar.”