MapleSunflower

Lady Emeline fiddled with the strings of her guitar whilst humming the tune now published for the realm to enjoy. She sat in the window of her room shared with her husband, Marcus, who slumbered heavily. Midnight air created a crisp chill, the wind rustling her chocolate brown locks and fluttering pastel pink petals crowned upon her head.

This song had become one of her favorites thus far almost like it was her child. As her fingers picked notes here and there, her eyes shut to enjoy the enveloping emotions a good melody gave her as her mind wandered to the tale told. She thought of her own love and perhaps she, in her mind, was a bit like this Esmerelda.

Slay +1

Name: Olenna Katerina Rademacher
Age: 34 (at the time of the pageant)
Gender: Female
Place of residency within Aaun: Horen 1 (the rademacher estate)
Are you in good standing with the Aaunic government?: I'd hope so (I work for them)

This set of unpublished poetry struck familiar to a certain blind transcriber, the pen reading aloud to her the words of the late Kortrevich. With a perked brow, Olenna Katerina Rademacher turned to face the wall at her right lined with volumes of texts and tomes. Taking a length of shelf to itself, the entire collection of transcribed works of Sir Borris Iver Kortrevich stood there, long since published, displayed, and sold in Aaun. The blonde hummed as she set aside the collection only recently published. "Good to know I'm ahead of the industry..." Her visage veiled by a white cloth bowed low in brief prayer. "GOD bless Ser Borris upon his death anniversary."

((i can’t make a spoiler bc on mobile, will edit later. Just wanted to say that I don’t usually post on things like this… it straight up looks like God came out of the sky and put a cardboard box on top of Stassion. It’s just straight up bad faith. I was present while Stassion was building their fort. It’s their own fault for not IRPly and OOCly considering their defenses in preparation for this. This shouldn’t be allowed. 
 

i hope that moderation and admin will thoroughly consider this and resolve it. Nothing in any warclaim I’ve ever seen in my 3 years of being here had genuinely looked so (to be frank) shit before. I have heard arguments that compromises and this and that have changed in the fights recently, but this is on an ENTIRELY different level. Absolutely abysmal, absurd, and rather disappointing build.))

A  U N I O N  O F   S K U L L  A N D  P E O N Y

Lady Olenna Katerina Haverlock & Ser Wulfram Heimrad Rademacher von Hexenwald

Wulfram and Olenna in the gardens of Whitespire's Chapel. SA 163

The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming peonies and the gentle rustle of leaves overhead created a soothing melody. Linked by intertwining fingers, the couple strolled along the dirt path, laughing amid their joyous conversation. An ethereal glow illuminated the Chapel gardens they paced through hand-in-hand.

To the denizens of Aaun, Ser Wulfram Rademacher and Lady Olenna Haverlock cordially invite you to partake in celebrating our taking sacred vows of union. This union will see its fruition in a few month's time. Within the Whitespire Chapel, the Holy Matrimony will take place, inviting the friends, family and denizens to witness. 

There shall be a reception held in the Rademacher estate following the ceremony. 

Special Invitations are sent to:

HRM, John Alexander and his esteemed pedigree

        HRM, Amelya

        HRH, Charles

        HRH, John

        HRH, Josephina

His Lordship, Robert Matyas Haverlock, and his esteemed pedigree

His Lordship, Fernand de Lewes, and his esteemed pedigree

His Lordship, Emilio Varoche, and his esteemed pedigree
His Highness, Johannes von Alstreim, and his esteemed pedigree

HRM, Sybille of Balian and her esteemed pedigree

        HRM, Ezren

        HRH, Xander
TRH, Johan and Gwenyth Vuiller and their esteemed pedigree

Alberic du Lac

Ser Hodrick Morne

Ser Malcom MacKenna

Adalfriede Rademacher
 

Emeline Barclay's brow raised as a Veletzian ballad sung by some strange fellow on a city corner fell upon her ears. The young noble bard scoffed as she turned her nose the other way! "What rubbish! This means WAR" The teen marched home to begin scheming up some new songs! 

"Mom, Can we get Templarism/Paladinism?"

"No, we have Templarism/Paladinism at home"

The Templarism/Paladinism at home:

Sitting in the quiet of her chamber, the blind girl's attentive servant began to read a message to her, translating the handwritten words into a world of sound and emotion. With each sentence, the missive's content evoked a mixture of surprise and disbelief. The girl's brows furrow as the servant finished reading. "It is truly quite funny to me how we only asked they be tested by us. Yet, they refused so we advised them to arrange for their children to be moved away for the time being, in places they could learn to be good, honorable squires and wards. Once again, we were met with anger and offense. Their home burning is not our fault but by sheer coincidence. It was my friends and I who put out those fires and yet we weren't even thanked." The Haverlock curator released a breath as she simply sat back in her her comfy chair. "If they had only followed our initial request, perhaps they could have spared themselves from all this mess." 

Darkness was the price to pay.

Names, descriptions, locations.

They rang off the blindfolded Haverlock's tongue with lightning speed as her words graced every corner of Aevos. Her sight was taken from her and from them she'd take their very lives. The author could no longer write, but the very power of night shivered when she spoke.

She'd burn their village with words of fire.

LETS GOOOO!!!! I loved this book, man. I’m so happy to hear there’ll be a second. It’s sad to see you go. We hadn’t ever met I think, but I do wish the very best during your deployment. Sending much love to you and your family. 

People live, People die.

Such was familiar to the aged Orenian soldier. It was the first lesson a medic learned. 

Now she was older and wiser and the years had caught up with her. It was impossible to sleep in her last years and she often found herself sitting at her window staring out over the lands of Stassion. The mountains towered high into the night sky and a cool breeze would stir through the window she peered from. Primrose drew a breath of crisp midnight air before resting her head against the back of her chair. Her fingers mindlessly pinched the fabric of the blanket draped over her lap, rubbing it between the pads of her digits comfortingly. 

She shared lives with many. Many had died.

Her children, lovers, friends, comrades...

Each plagued the old woman with a silent vigil held within the elder's mind each night.

Tonight was Borris Kortrevich. 

She had saved the boy and watched him grow. The collection of poetry had been tucked into her shelves and even with the burning of her home, pieces had been torn out and tucked into a notebook. The withered book sat on her bedside table, the bindings barely holding on by the threads. Each night since she had moved to Stassion, she'd read the notebook and the remnants of poetry.

Over and over and over. The beautifully scribed words played through her mind in a harrowing emptiness. 

There were things she regretted. Always was and always will be. 

One of those was not seeing her son in his final days. Had she not faked her death, could she have seen him? Why had she not trusted him enough to reveal her secret to him? Could she not stomach admitting her faults to someone who looked up to her? It made her sick. 

Dull chocolate eyes stared at the waning crescent that pierced through the night with its white light. Even as Borris' life ended and her own waned, her love never diminished. A shaky breath was drawn as Primrose whispered past her wrinkled lips.

"I'm sorry," Her voice wavered weakly with age, "I'll be home soon, my son. Thank you for waiting for me..."

The past years were difficult for Olenna. From Otto, to the tsunami, and to the loss of her library... The quiet girl could no longer bottle the pain she felt. A sorrowful scream was heard from deep within the woods of Petra. With tears in her blue-green eyes, the little Haverlock tilted her chin to view the cloudy skies above. "Why?!" She cried, her voice raw from the emotions that burst from her. Birds fluttered out from the spruce trees, startled by the girl's weeping. Everything she carried within her satchel was tossed, the bugcatcher's jar completely shattering into billions of pieces upon impact with the tree trunk. Finally, her tear-stained cheeks lifted to the Seven Skies above as a weak whisper rasped from her throat, "I didn't even get to say goodbye..."

+1

Really nice guy and he's always willing to help people. 

The holly-crowned child sat on the saddle of Thalgrim’s steed, driving her miles upon miles to their patient in need. She clung onto him as to not fall off the horse as the road became rougher and steeper - as it always was upon the Urguan mountains of Almaris. Those verdant hues so full of life sparkle with excitement and in wonder looked to the man who guarded her. Thalgrim of Clan Goldhand. 
 

The same human woman sat in the dark woods, the blue-grey tartan shawl draped around her shoulders kept her warm amidst the chill of night. Her hands worked at the healing craft, skillfully grinding the herbs into a refined paste to be used for her next patient. Whispers of a prayer were muttered under her breath - light as the snowflake and gentle as the condensation that swirled from her lips. Her features were illuminated by the golden glow of the campfire: Forest eyes reflected the dancing light as the faint wrinkles around her eyes crease with the faint smile upon her older visage. The fond memory formed so many decades ago was still sharp in her mind. 

The medic’s gaze lifts to the clearing through the trees above that revealed a might abundance of stars. Softly, her prayer ends as the lid was screwed onto the jar containing the medicinal paste. 

“Anbella, Yemekar… guide me.”

Writ of Abdication

Issued by

THE COUNT OF JEROVITZ

On this 5th Msitza ag dargund of 467 E.S.

VA VE EDLERVIK,

It has been sixteen years since I first inherited the County of Jerovitz from my father, Nikolai. Throughout my tenure, however, I dedicated most of my time to my family, as much of my tenure has been spent battling a series of illnesses. This has been kept a secret from everyone but my wife, as she has been in charge of uplifting our House through her work as the Grand Lady of Haense. 

Regarding my firstborn daughter and heir, Ileana, she has shown great prowess in comital affairs from the very beginning of her heirship. Though she is not yet of age, I know that my wife, Viorica, will guide her until she reaches her 18th name day and shall henceforth lead as the regent of House Kortrevich, considering my illness had thus become too severe to succinctly continue my tenure as the Count of Jerovitz. Such abdication may even cure these illnesses that plague me. 

Thus, I proclaim that all of my titles - Count of Jerovitz, Viscount of Krusev and Baron of Koravia are to be abdicated to my firstborn child and heir, Ileana Stefaniya Kortrevich.

LONG MAY SHE REIGN.

WITH DUTY COMES HONOR, 

His Lordship,  Matviy Artem Rahoul Kortrevich 

Her Excellency, Viorica Irena Kortrevich, Grand Lady of Hanseti-Ruska,

Countess-Regent of Jerovitz, Viscountess-Regent of Krusev, Baroness-Regent of Koravia

The red figure stood over the young golden-haired child who laid in the cradle of oak roots that dug into the earth. Her lids had shut as sleep came over her, the bright green eyes sealed away to rest. The man's hand rests on her shoulder and red mists flow through his touch into her fair skin. 

A sharp inhale was drawn in by the youth as a chill shivered through her small frame. Her eyes open, and she looked up at the walls of Helena that tower over her. "Papa, Papa!" A girl's voice cries, to which young  Laurelai Holly Komnenos turns to look down at the girl. Her dark hair and green eyes are unfamiliar to her, but the child knew her. There was no control over Laurelai's body as the large arms strongly lift the girl. Suddenly, a man's voice. A familiar gruffness to his tone. "My sunshine!"

Blood. The cobblestone pathways ran rivers of crimson between the crevice of stone, and bodies lay within the street. The ear-splitting ringing of steel upon steel cries out while blades meet. She sees too, that hers meets that of a ghastly red daemon in front of her. Those who have not yet died writhe in the scarlet pools, their red uniforms during a darker, near-black color. 

A blade impales the woman, her jaw held open as shock overtakes her. Yet, no sound would come. Green eyes lose their light and she crumbles to the ground. Translucent snow-white hands begin to take on the same color as the blood that seeps into the dark-haired woman's dress; Red. 
 

"E L I Z A!"

The woman shot up from her bed with a deep gasp for air, hands running through the front of the peanut-hued curls. Her chest rises and falls quickly, a panicked pant the only sound in the chilly night. Finally, she begins to steady and her hands eased out from the locks. It was the nightmare that haunted her on the occasion. Laurelai's green eyes shift to the ISA sword mounted on the wall of the room. There were still unanswered questions.

How did Atlas die? What happened to Eliza? How was she related to Eliza? Why couldn't she find any records of Eliza or Atlas? 

Laurelai laid back, her curls haloing her head upon the pillow. Staring at the ceiling, her hands clasp over her stomach as she thinks. Hours pass and the Komnenos remained restless yet still. The morning sunshine beamed through the windows and illuminated the bedroom; The bright rays shining upon Laurelai's warm cheeks. Sitting up slowly and swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Laurelai brushed aside the blankets and lifted herself to begin her day. 

The mother of de Lyons stared at the river Petra, the cloak wrapped around her weak figure. Blue eyes that had once been so full of life had iced over. In front of her stood her son, the blond who looked so much like her late husband, the man killed at the hands those not even of Petran blood or spirit. Her grip upon the nine-year-old's shoulder tightens as she drew a sharp breath through her nostrils. They watched the sunrise, the golden hues of morning light shining upon Petra.  

Juliana looked to her son, lifting her hand as she signs to the hopeful luminescence. 

For as long as the sun shines upon the Commonwealth, we shall not be oppressed. 

The de Lyons mother wandered the dark Castle Moere, the torches burnt out long after the battle's end. Dried blood caked the walls. Juliana knelt at the corner, where blood left no sight of the floor and walls behind. A trembling gloved hand reached forth, pressing the pads of her fingertips onto the crimson stains. Her head bows low, brunette locks shielding her visage like a willow's vines draped from above. 

"Arthur..." she exhales, tremor on her soft words. Tears began to streak down her olive cheeks, leaving puddles of droplets to mix with her husband's blood.

Once again, Juliana was left alone, now to care for their children. The very children she had stayed home to care for instead of fulfill her duty to Petra. 

If she had gone, would she have saved her husband? Or would she have left their son and daughter to be orphaned de Lyons?

The answer, of either, she could not answer. 

The first person she had ever spoken a word to was gone. 

And with his death, a piece of her died too.

The Silent Lamb was reduced, once more, to silence. 

"Poor Albert. A cheater never realizes how their selfish deeds affect their children." Juliana tuts, the clicking of her tongue echoing in the Sons of Petra meeting hall. "Good canonist... mea arse! Even Harald would roll in his grave at seeing that!"

Juliana hums, tilting her head at this. A frown tugs at her lips and she looked to the gates of the keep of Petra. "Couldn't be me." The Petran woman chuckles, leaning over to kiss her husband Arthur's ( @Andustar) cheek before ruffling the young Robyn de Lyon's ( @SmartScout) blond hair. "DEATH TO THE FALSE ARCHDUCHESS!"  joins the once-Silent-Lamb, in the cries of the True Petran's warcry.

The Count of Kortrevich, Matviy Artem Rahoul,  took the crown of flowers gifted by his son, Fabian ( @critter ) allowing the young blond to place ot upon his head. “Spathiba, mea boy!” He grinned brightly, ruffling his locks with a gloved hand. “Vy make eam pwoud.” 

ANNOUNCEMENT from the HEAD OF HOUSE VERNHART
THE DISOWNMENT OF HARALD LEON VERNHART

This formal statement is made regarding a man child that has learned nothing over the years despite the pressing of now late parents and support of his siblings. After numerous actions against house and crown, including but not limited to, insulting the King of Haense during a Royal court, attacking citizens of Haense while unprovoked, and assaulting the late Grand Duke John I of Balian, House Vernhart under our father, Iulius Vernhart, saw it fit to disown him for the first time.

After many years of estrangement and exhile, this son apologized and reconciled for his sins, swearing himself to Godan of his sincerity. A second chance was given, and he was welcomed into House Vernhart again. We were led to believe that our brother had changed, seeking forgiveness from Godan through his actions and words, particularly in his joining of the Canonist faith as a priest.

And yet, it brings great sorrow that we must once again disown Harald Leon Vernhart for his abhorrent sins. Actions against house, family, and crown, including but not limited to, insulting the children of his wife, mistreatment of his wife and her children, withholding information of the previous disownment and his past, and attempting to deceit his wife to steal the title of nobility granted to her by King Charles I of Aaun, lead us to believe he is undeserving to return to House Vernhart.

Harold Leon Vernhart and all his children shall be barred from carrying the name Vernhart. Therefore, all connections and history to the Vernhart or Vuiller name shall hence forth be broken. He is barred from inheriting the head of house title as well as any titles given to the Vernhart name. 

To Harald Leon, 

Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us. 

May you be free of the guidance of your namesake, Saint Harald Vuiller, the protector of Vernharts and Vuillers. 

SIGNED,

 Juliana Rosemarie Vernhart de Lyons

Head of House Vernhart

A  D E V O T E D   U N I O N  O F  S O L D I E R S

Holy Matrimony of

Arthur de Lyons and Juliana Rosemarie Vernhart

To the friends, family, and citizens of the Commonwealth of Petra,

Arthur de Lyons and Juliana Rosemarie Vernhart cordially invite you to our ever so devoted union. The union will see its fruition in a month’s time within the Chapel of Saint Emma of Woldzimir in Valfleur. Father Harald Leon Vernhart, the bride's brother,  shall officiate this union of holy matrimony. The friends, family and citizens of Petra are welcome to bear witness to our union.

Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, the bride and groom will hold a reception within the city's tavern. We hope for the appearance of all friends, family, and citizens of Petra will join us in celebration. 

Invitations are sent to:

HER GRACE, The Arch-Duchess Renilde I

HIS GRACE, The Arch-Duke Constantine 'Constanz' I

HIS HIGHEST EXCELLENCY, The Chancellor, Louis Valencour d'Azor

The Sons of Petra

Lambert

Wings and Aviana von Draco and their esteemed pedigree

Artriev Colborn and his esteemed pedigree

Jakob Vernhart

Johanna Vernhart

The citizens in the Commonwealth of Petra