bickando

There's only one right answer anyone that disagrees with me is cringe anyone that disagrees with me is edgy anyone that disagrees with me is an ST shill that works at mcdonalds but technically yes this is up for debate BTW whoever tattled on me to Josh-#### and then to The60th that my description was getting rid of your "very important" slice of life rp logs you're cringe and part of the problem, it's not like you're just going to do the exact same rp tomorrow and the day after for the next 4 years or anything Also BTW there's more ST than all other staff teams combined and somehow they needed more just to vote on things

Amelya van Aert is mostly relieved her friend the King was willing to take in her deadbeat dad and put him to work. Seeing him talking to himself the third time that week in """Rivigrenz""" had been worrying.

"this guy did not read the contract," said amelya as she read of the oathbreaker. "calling himself 'elector of hohengarten' while committing treason. embarrassing!"

((u shouldnt ask for knighthood on the forums find one in rp !))

A Full and Faithful Account of those Recent Events of Whitespire Recalled by Amelya van Aert, Maid of Honour to the Queen-Mother 12 ARR "The Battle that Never Was" To those interested in the truth of the last month's events in Whitespire, My name is Amelya van Aert - I am a daughter of Middelan, of the first Captain-General of Veletz, Johanes. This year marked my fourteenth nameday, my third in the Clementine Court, and my second personally attending the Queen-Mother of Aaun. As a witness to the entirety of the day’s events, I have been requested to recount what occurred, without omission or deception. The day began as it nearly always does; the preparation of Her Majesty the Queen-Mother for the morning meal, prepared by the royal household’s chefs. For this one it was puffy lemon pasties and tea. The pasty size has declined since I first arrived. I was told the changing of the Chamberlain meant they couldn’t replace any servants for a while. I think maybe they're getting poorer. Veletz never has that problem. Mostly because Aunt Saskia forces me to help make my own meals so I can always choose how much I get. I like Aaunish food more. Don’t tell her I said that. The event of the day was to be a meeting of the Council of Alba, but before that a Privy Council meeting. As the Queen-Mother servesd on the Regency, she left me to my own devices while she went upstairs to the council chambers. I went to play in the throne room. Frankly the ladies here are a little boring. Not as boring as my sister. She’s horrible. But not as fun as Auntie Willie. The throne room has more banners, though, and it’s fun to think about all those other places. Anyways, I was sitting in the throne room when Uncle Gaspard and the rest of the family showed up. I thought they were here to visit me, but then one of the Aaunish people came to get them and I was brought along. I hate how many stairs Whitespire has, but it looks very nice from outside. That’s ironic because nobody inside of it ever sees what it looks like from outside. We went upstairs, and then they accused the Queen-Mother of meeting with the Haeseni without telling anyone! Haense, you see, is very bad. Aunt Saskia told me so. Even my mamej is evil, she said. Because of that, it’s not good to meet with Haense without telling everyone else, or they’ll think you might be evil too. But apparently Aaun doesn't think they're as bad as we think they are. So they put her under house arrest and removed her from the Regency while they investigate what she actually did. I was allowed to keep attending to her, and they had two masked Aaunish guards take all of our things. I think they were called Mustaches, and related to the O-word. I’m not even allowed to write it anymore because of the Ferryboat Association, whoever they are. The man guard stole my firemaking tools, the painting my friend Philip in Petra gave me, and a whole bunch of my papers and letters I was holding for the Queen-Mother. I was supposed to visit Philip in Petra but I forgot where Halcourt is. Anyways, while I was in the room with her, she wrote down a letter for me to give to her daughter. It told her to stay in Valdev, and warn someone called Merryweather. The Queen-Mother was crying while she wrote it. I thought maybe she would want a drink so I tried to go downstairs to get her tea. Then, the man tried to steal that letter too! I didn’t want to give it up, so I screamed, and Uncle Gaspard rescued me! Veletz really has the greatest chivalry in the world. Petra used to know about chivalry, but then my friend made a list, and Petra only had one boring old knight! And I heard that one knight was a traitor or something too! Anyways, I gave Uncle Gaspard the letter, and he read it, showed it to the man that brought us up earlier, then gave it back to me. Then the man mentioned something about his wife. If his wife was the Princess of Merryweather, she was the one the letter told to run away. I think marriage is a joke. The Queen of the Petra married a bad man and had to kill him to be happy! Or something like that. I forget the moral of that story, but I think it has to do with men being evil. Or maybe it's that women are evil. I'll have to ask Aunt Saskia to remind me. Anyways, they put out an arrest warrant, and there were a few questions about where they were allowed to be arrested. King Edmund said only in our lands, or maybe only in neutral lands. He had to be pretty specific because somebody mentioned a bag. I remember this because I was trying to find the Mustache guy so I could get my letters back, but the sheriff wouldn't let me back up into the Queen-Mother's room, so I had to listen to the king's speech instead. Then they sent everyone home. Uncle Gaspard took me back to Veletz and said I wouldn’t be sent back to Aaun, because “Palace women are vipers”. He didn’t actually say that, Aunt Saskia said that while she was scolding me, but I thought it was important to include that. We got back to the castle, and Uncle Gaspard went to get food from the kitchens. He likes penny loaves and whiskey and boar, because he calls them “real food”. I don’t really get the difference, but as we were walking up to the castle I saw a few riders go the other way. Maybe a day later one came back and called for a rally because of the Haense army! So Uncle Gaspard called up the Legion of Burgundy and everyone got ready. Even the Mustache guys showed up, but they wouldn’t return my stuff. They said they kept it “for investigating” or something. I know they lied because they just wanted to keep it. We thought maybe there would be a field battle. But then Haense never showed up. Boring. I am addressing this letter especially to; The court of Aaun, who for the most part was not present, My father, Johanes, so that when he gets back from his boat trip he doesn't punish me, @Nectorist The nameless masked Mustachion who still has my things, My Uncle Gaspard, to please let me go back to Aaun once in a while, @M1919 Aunt Saskia, who should be lecturing Snoresmee, not me, @JoanOfArc King Edmund, my friend who helped me raise money for a clock when nobody else would, @Caranthir_ Snoresmee, whom I so despise, and who owes me so much, @Levicourpos Grandpapej, to explain why I stole the rowboat back to the mainland (sorry), @Dymase Mother Oksana, who has been so kind to me in the convent, but from whom I must now beg release, @milkyi and the High Pontiff, so that he can rightly know any blame in this very dire situation, and perhaps so that he might tell Mother Oksana to let me go home now. @Nolan_ GOD Preserve, Amelya van Aert P.S. - Mamej, if you're reading this, please let me out of the convent. Mother Oksana keeps talking to me in Raevir.

Tiuthwyn smiles upon reading of the Visaj Talonnii's histories.

tiuthwyn prepares to board the nevaehlen-iv class blockade runner and retrieve the important death tower documents

One-eyed Amelya is glad to be able to visit freely Aaun and train with (pummel) @ncarr .

"noice" cummilingus potte smiled showing off his crooked, gap-tooth mouth.

because legally VIP perks can only be these kinds of cosmetic things anyways (not allowed to give you an advantage) this is the first time in 5 years there's been an actually possible idea for a non-aether vip perk the server still needs money to operate just put it at iron vip lol .

A Topic for Debate; Are there various levels of Purity? BLESSED CITIZENS; We are all agreed that there are, at the least, three levels of purity; those that cannot be pure, the Valah, Uruk, Bortu, our cousins in the 'ame and 'ker and all their mixed oem'ii; those that can be pure, but are not, as is the case of the mali'ata and maliata'fenn; and our general populace, the mali'thill. Yet, at the same time, we acknowledge the existence of a Most Blessed even among the 'aheralan; the Maheral, who at any given time exists on a rung of this ladder above the common 'thill of elcihi. We acknowledge too the existence of our Malauriran, those that were Maheral in the past and have since given the role to the more active youth - and by their ability to elect a Maheral where it is not passed down by sole decision, we acknowledge their still-elevated position on this 'ladder of purity'. My question, then, lliran, is this - Are there other levels to this ladder among the general mali'thill of elcihi? Would we, for example, consider the Okariran for their dedication to our motherland, to our progress and our health, as more pure than the rest? Would those of elcihi that have left the sanctity of our walls, and are instead cloistered in research alone in the wilds, be more or less pure than a current resident? Would the Okarir'hiylun, when one exists, be above even the others? And would then the Sohaer, who toils diligently even beyond that, not be more pure than them all by this same metric of acknowledgement of value and work, of dedication to our mutual progression? If so, what might we consider each 'rung' of this more specific ladder, each level of this pyramid? It is my personal opinion that there are these varying levels, and that in fact by being Sohaer, or Okariran, they are at the very least temporarily "more pure" than the average citizen, for their mind is active in the general affairs of our State and thusly more in tune with the ideals of progress and health; however, it has been a century since I have been Okarir'maehr, and of course opinions on these matters tend to change with time. Should any like to respond, please do leave a note attached to this; I will reply in kind. maehr'sae hiylun'ehya, Tiuthwyn Visaj [!] This is posted to the general notice board of Tahn'miar, where any might reply. [!]

Real Paul breaks the fourth wall. i wrote this lal, get fked and historically revised on kid

Zerlina Morovar happily stamps the house's coat of arms at the bottom of each release.

Ehrhaurulniy Almanach de Morovar I Morovar The Morovar Almanac D l u m v e E h r 472 ES 1919 IS | 123 SA J e r o v i t z a g K o r t r e v i c h NOD MOROVAR LEKONSKIR-BODR Karosgrad, Kusospeg nᵒ. 4 erar Zerlina Morovar TABLE RULE LAND CENSUS WEATHER HOUSEHOLD FIGURES OF NOTE GENEALOGIE ARMORIAL DEDICATION CIRCUMSTANCES OF RULE Jerovitz has been the primary holding of House Kortrevich [alt. Haes Kortrevich var Korstadt] since 378 E.S., granted by the crown to Jan Otto in VE HERZENZ EDYKT I 378 ES. Celebrating in 6 years its 100th anniversary of rule over the region, the house is well-entrenched in the eastern reaches of the Kingdom. Originally a house famed for its martial ability, Kortrevich has for the past three generations been better known for statesmen and scholars. Of living memory, however, its fairer members are its primary contributors. Its previous patriarch, Matviy Artem, served as is tradition in the forty-fourth Royal Duma but is known for little else. Its current matriarch, Ileana Stefaniya, has recently come of age and taken to direct control of the region from regency. As of the publication of this article, only two other members of the house are to be committed to memory; HE Viorica Irena, who has since 459 E.S. served as Grand Lady, and Lord Fabian Otto, manager of the family post Ve Kortrevich Samyzek Pozska [Comm. The Kortrevich Bull Post]. LAND AND PEOPLES Jerovitz is surrounded by a sparse evergreen forest, although in its immediate presence trees sprouted originally from imported Norlandic Vatragandrvogg are far more prominent. The keep rests at the apex of a tall hill, with seven outer towers and two sub-towers, three of which were crowned by onion domes and the rest in the rural style, as well as four flat turrets. Battlements ring three-quarters of the keep, two-layered when facing the south and east, though those on the south are far more prominent and on the east more stout by comparison. Flower-stands could be seen upon the second layer; the author must therefore presume the second layer to be largely decorational and to show the house’s wealth rather than for defensive purposes. The flat turrets seem also to have been converted to recreational use; an arbor filled the widest one. The black-and-red banners of Kortrevich hang from its walls, though those of the kingdom did not appear to fly above its onion-domes. Over-all it has the appearance of a military fortification that has been civilianized, reflecting the reputation of its occupants. A small village sits on the outskirts of the castle. It consists of the 450’s style of architecture, and has a windmill for the grain and potatoes that make up the majority of its yearly harvests. Strangely, no path leads to the mill. Twin statues mark the village’s entrance. Yearly tithes of seven sticks of eel and twenty bushels support its chapel. Nearly the entirety of the populace is Haeseni. No other noteworthy settlements exist in the county’s territories. When taking the highway from Karosgrad into the Attenlund, the overgrown remnants of a thatched-roof hut serve as the signal to turn left off the main road. Likewise, from the county the highway leading south-southwest leads eventually to Karosgrad, whilst the road east drives to the footpaths into the Staalmarch and the northern wastes. CENSUS DENEHR Form. Ehr | Jerovitzko Osobaz 472 ES | 407 471 ES | 464 470 ES | 459 469 ES | 506 468 ES | 480 467 ES | 576 466 ES | 560 465 ES | 558 464 ES | 545 463 ES | 531 462 ES | 530 WEATHER Unusually early spring seen in 468 ES. Few other weather patterns of note. For the coming year 473, late blooms and long autumn expected. Late but heavy winter. Grains, vine-plants and gourds recommended. HOUSEHOLD Form. Jeazik Maan, Herzenlund Gencikmaan va Papej ag Mamej Wszyr Comm. Primary TRH Ileana, VI. Komitas i Jerovitz, VIII. Vikomitas i Krusev, X. Bossiras Koravia b. 453 vas Matviy, V. Komit i Jerovitz ag Viorica vas Ruthern HE Viorica Irena vas Ruthern, XXII Haucherzenas b. 425 vas Mikhail, VIII. Herzen i Vidaus ag Sorina vas Lukavar LADY Fenika Ophelia b. 453 vas Matviy, V. Komit i Jerovitz ag Viorica vas Ruthern LORD Fabian Otto b. 453 var Matviy, V. Komit i Jerovitz ag Viorica vas Ruthern LORD Virgil Samuil b. 455 var Matviy, V. Komit i Jerovitz ag Viorica vas Ruthern LORD Sergei Nikolai b. 455 var Matviy, V. Komit i Jerovitz ag Viorica vas Ruthern LADY Karlotta Josefina b. 457 vas Matviy, V. Komit i Jerovitz ag Viorica vas Ruthern Indere Comm. Auxiliary LADY Inessa Louise b. 424 vas Nikolai, IV. Komit i Jerovitz ag Esmée vas Oxensternia LADY Yankova b. 450 vas Ernst var Barclay ag Inessa Louise T.H. Aleksandr b. 451 var Ernst var Barclay ag Inessa Louise Mr. Borris Iver, VKML b. 405 var Lothar ag Juliya vas Ludovar Ms. Minerva Alexis b. 426 vas Borris Iver ag Eileen vas Baruch Mr. Hamish Markus b. 426 var Borris Iver ag Eileen vas Baruch Ms. Eirika Nikolette b. 428 vas Borris Iver ag Eileen vas Baruch OTHER FIGURES OF NOTE Form. Maan Gencikmaan va Maan Seno Comm. Historical Ser Rodrik Kortrevich Knight-Paramount of Haense. Remembered first as ‘the Loyal’, then as ‘the Turncloak’, betrayer of the Crown in the War of Two Emperors. Slew and was slain by Ser Nikolaus Kortrevich in a duel of honor. Ser Nikolaus Kortrevich Knight-Paramount of Haense. Remembered as ‘the Strong’. Slew and was slain by Ser Rodrik Kortrevich in a duel of honor. v. Primrose Kortrevich Dame of the Marian Retinue. Slain in battle in the Atheran continent. Venerated in Quartus Aurea Bulla Providentia for her sacrifice. GENEALOGIE HAES VIKOMITAS Form. Gencikmaanehr. Maan, Herzenlund 231. Otto, I. Bossir i Koravia 272. Markus, I. Margravir i Korstadt, II. Bossir i Koravia 295. Viktor, II. Margravir i Korstadt, I. Vikomit i Krusev, III. Bossir i Koravia 334. Rickard, II. Vikomit i Krusev, IV. Bossir i Koravia is. Emma of Jerovitz, Koenas i Edaleo ag Kusoraev* 351. Jan, I. Komit i Jerovitz, III. Vikomit i Krusev, V. Bossir i Koravia is. Vladrik, II. Komit i Jerovitz, IV. Vikomit i Krusev, VI. Bossir i Koravia is. Aldrik, III. Komit i Jerovitz, V. Vikomit i Krusev, VII. Bossir i Koravia 387. Nikolai, IV. Komit i Jerovitz, VI. Vikomit i Krusev, VIII. Bossir i Koravia is. Esfir of Jerovitz, Koenas i Edaleo ag Kusoraev* 421. Matviy, V. Komit i Jerovitz, VII. Vikomit i Krusev, IX. Bossir Koravia 453. Ileana, VI. Komitas i Jerovitz, VIII. Vikomitas i Krusev, X. Bossiras Koravia * = Consort ARMORIAL Form. Haes ludr Osoba Maano Khan i Junen Lekonsk Duyv i Junen Haes Kortrevich, Ovesyhag Party per bend sinister Rot and Arany, 1st a demi-bull rampant Denlichte; 2nd dres bends Denlichte. Ve Kortrevich Samyzek Pozska Rot, a bull’s head Denlichte. Haes Kortrevich var Koravia Rot, a dove Arany on a bull’s head Denlichte. Dedication Georg, druz ve Godano Laujisk, Koeng i Edaleo ag Kusoraev; Va Birodeo Herzenav ag Edlervik: PREVJA! Epia Zerlina Morovar, Lekonskas iv Karosgrad, jeazik aseretem; 1. That she is in possession of the right to print and sell the Ehrharulniy i Morovar [Morovar Almanac], fealty of which was first established under Franz Leopold, I. Bossir Ghaestenwald, and which has by will extended to his progeny; and which has persisted as a legal entity separate from the Barony of Ghaestenwald, willfully relinquished by TRH Wilhelm Otto 451ES; and which has after the requisitioning of the utensils and characters suitable for the printing of this almanac been reconstituted by parties holding all applicable allowances for the use of said name and properties. 2. That all other parties are for the period of thirty years beginning 472ES and ending 502ES prohibited from the printing or sale of any quality or condition whatsoever of the Morovar Almanac, and no more extract from its information, without the express written permission of the aforementioned Epia Zerlina Morovar and her associates, under penalty of prosecution by the full measure as described in the Haurul Caezk. 3. In the event that the association between Epia Zerlina Morovar and the shareholders of Morovar Lekonskir-Bodr should come to an end, either by the death of the former or the dissolution otherwise of the latter, or by any other cause, the business of the Morovar Almanac cannot be divided; that in such a case it be continued by their successors until the end of the present concession. 4. That this almanac has been created with the assent and its final contents approved by the Crown of Hanseti-Ruska, and that in its creation no information has been disclosed that may in their disclosure be described as treasonous or otherwise destabilizing as written in the Haurul Caezk; and that similar almanacs may and indeed shall be created for the other feudatories of the Kingdom in a similar vein and similarly predisclosed to the Crown. Kimmitsk Karosgrad, iv Morrivi Prikaz, 3rd Tov ag Yermey 472 ES. Morovar Lekonskir-Bodr i Komynem @gusano Mr. Aleksandr Kortrevich, PREVJA! Epia Zerlina Morovar would like to convey her utmost gratitude for the services you rendered during her time in Jerovitz and would like to formally invite you to luncheon on behalf of Morovar Lekonskir-Bodr. For any further requests for land surveys and almanacs, or otherwise literary pursuits, you may find our offices at Kusospeg nᵒ. 4 in Karosgrad. Morovar Lekonskir-Bodr i Komynem @Silurian “Privesk statry Sangkruv”

"deserved" says paul salvian of the petra from the seven skies

The first Archduke, Paul Salvian of the Petra, smiles from high heaven knowing the culinary knowledge of Petra - and, especially, his favorite dish Paulanier - is secured in the writings of Luis Martin.

BURNING THE CANDLE FROM BOTH ENDS or; THE EDICT OF 1893 On the 9th of Sun’s Smile, 1893. . . By the UNITY OF MIND of the GOVERNMENT in PETRA, serving always CHIVALRY, LIBERTY and JUSTICE, we the PEOPLE do present these REFORMS to OUR COMMONWEALTH, delivered at MOUNT GARMONT CONCERNING BETTERMENT to the instated systems of the COMMONWEALTH. TABLE OF CONTENTS; I. PREAMBLE II. THE POWERS THAT BE III. SUCCESSION IV. THE ROUND TABLE V. ELECTION VI. ON KNIGHTHOOD AND NOBILITY I. PREAMBLE The Commonwealth is founded upon the eternal mission to create and preserve liberty for its citizenry. Our motto is simple: chivalry, liberty, fraternity. In pursuing these noble goals, we evolve and change our systems to find the best arrangement. Above all, we are a Republic. We have shaped and evolved our systems across a few eras, but have found that our people are confused about this fact - especially considering our recent lack of elections. Therefore, we do find it fit to once again and this time finally reform our government. Further, our nobility remains vestigial, but nevertheless critical. With that being said, they play a critical role as arbiters of justice, in a way ensuring the good and wholesome conduct of government. Accordingly we do evolve our systems of nobility as well. Namely, we do lift our Regent to a more obvious title of esteemed, enlightened authority, that our citizenry and allies may clearly understand our systems of government more. Finally, we empower our new constitutional monarch to help lead our nation in a duality with the elected Prime Minister. II. THE POWERS THAT BE The greatest recognition of Our State is thus; that the Regent of Our Commonwealth is not sufficiently empowered to conduct their duties as previously laid out. The Grandmaster and the Chancellor before him have been able to claim for themselves unlimited power without true checks, to the point of postponement and eventual stopping of all elections. Knowing the proclivity for the collapse of all such institutions in the face of demagogues given such powers, We have decided to end said Regency. Knowing our ruler to be the enlightened protector of democracy and chivalry, and knowing Our State’s place among the powers of this continent; we do so create the Archduchy of the Petra, which shall be established as the ruler of Our Commonwealth; greater than any Duke that previously or in future may reign, but not claiming for themselves the mantle of King. In light of this, the Knights of the Round do grant this title to Paul Salvian of the House Novellen of Temesch and Moere, Regent of the Commonwealth - he shall be the first of his name to reign over Our Sovereignty, as Archduke Paul Salvian of the Commonwealth of the Petra. It shall be his prerogative and duty to call for the election of the Commonwealth’s Prime Minister (who shall also be the Grandmaster) every four years at maximum; and, upon the completion of voting, to count said votes, thus deciding the new Prime Minister via election. The Archduke then may invite the Prime Minister-Elect to form a government in His name. If the Archduke declines said elected Prime Minister, he may then call for a re-election in which that knight shall no longer be able to run. In keeping with our chivalric traditions, only sworn knights of the Sovereign Order of the Petrine Laurel shall be able to run for Prime Minister, or for the position of Knight-Paramount. III. SUCCESSION SUBSECTION I: The succession of the title Archduke of the Commonwealth of the Petra, henceforth referred to as the Archduke, shall be subject to an official Line of Succession. To be eligible for succession, the following three requirements must be met; One must be of the blood of Paul Salvian of the House of the Petra. One must carry his family name and similarly be considered of the House of the Petra. One must be a sworn knight of the Sovereign Order of the Petrine Laurel. SUBSECTION II: Furthermore, the Line of Succession shall be determined by the reigning Archduke or Archduchess from among the suitable candidates, and does not necessarily include all those that fill the above requirements. One may be entered into the Line of Succession as a squire or ward as well; but to inherit, they must be so recognized as a Ser or Dame. At the time of the promulgation of this missive, the Line of Succession is as follows; Renilde Helena, firstborn daughter and first child of Paul Salvian, squire of Ser Thomas of Balamena Alexander Salvian, first son and fourth child of Paul Salvian, ward of the Countess Mardon IV. THE ROUND TABLE The government to be formed by the Grandmaster is to include at minimum a Knight-Paramount, a Treasurer, a Marshal, a Privy Seal, and a Magistrate. Given the recent issues in requiring knighthood to enter into the Knights of the Round and the Senate before it, We have agreed that the requirement of knighthood shall be reduced to certain positions within Our new Round Table. Of these aforementioned positions, it is mandatory that the Prime Minister and Knight-Paramount are sworn members of the Sovereign Order of the Petrine Laurel. In order to uphold peaceable transitions between government, we also decree that it is not necessarily mandatory that the Knight-Paramount be elected by the people or their peers, instead being chosen by Our declaration. V. ELECTION At the apex of importance to our Commonwealth is the will of the citizenry. Herewith, we instate these ameliorations to our elections and appointments. SUBSECTION I: Following this edict until the terms are otherwise dissolved, or reformed once more, elections shall occur on a basis of every four years or less, declared and administered by the reigning Archduke. Although the participants of our government have no requirement of knight or damehood, a candidate for the role of Prime Minister and Knight-Paramount must already be a knight or dame, held by no shackles of term limits lest they be dissolved and removed by His Grace the Archduke. Elections shall go on for three Saints Days in order to ensure that the citizenry is wholly able to vote. The next shall begin this very year. VI. ON KNIGHTHOOD AND NOBILITY Although we stand with pride for our haven for the chivalrous, the validity of manifold members of the Petrine Order is to be questioned. Many have received ceremonies without so much as lifting a digit to uphold the values we swear by: facing no trials or tribulations. On this account, all knighthoods shall be reconsidered and evaluated in the next year by Ser Thomas of Balamena, the Knight Paramount. A full list shall be released in the future, detailing those which remain in the circles of the Petrine Order and honoring their just chivalry and actions. The nobility of the Old Régime, unshackled thanks to the above reforms, may now enter into wardship, squireship, and after that knighthood; additionally, they shall be guaranteed hereditary estates within Our lands, to be modeled as a castle, fortification, or fortified home otherwise with enough houses or huts beside for three small banner families. Knighting ceremonies shall continue to be the duty of the Old Régime, as well as the protection of their lands in the name of the Commonwealth and the Sovereign Order of the Petrine Laurel. Petra, Flowing Water! Ave! Ave! O SAINTE RÈGNE PETRÉRE HIS GRACE, Paul Salvian of the Petra Archduke of the Petra, Count of Temesch and Moere HIS EXCELLENCY, Ser Bernard of Brasca Grandmaster of the Commonwealth of the Petra HER EXCELLENCY, Dame Irene ‘Dragonsbane’ of Mardon Vicemaster of the Commonwealth of the Petra Ser Thomas of Balamena Knight-Paramount of the Commonwealth of the Petra Ser Cliement-Tielo of Artois Treasurer of the Commonwealth of the Petra Dame Catherine 'The Phoenix' of Furnestock Privy Seal of the Commonwealth of the Petra Ser Pavel ‘the Unspoken’ of Ivanovich Marshal of the Commonwealth of the Petra Ser Charles of Temesch Procurator of the Commonwealth of the Petra

Paul Salvian smiles as he signs the treaty!

A Layman’s Handbook to Noufeille Petra Formatted for Ease of Use Third Edition Written by Stefan de Arany-Bocsa Originally an evolution of the greater Auvergnat-Savoyard language group (combined, perhaps, with devolved elements of Church Flexio, and originally itself an evolution of Auvergnat), hundreds of years of linguistic shift towards Common have left the now-called Noufeille Petra language a unique combination of the two, if somewhat flawed in its lack of an established lexicon. The following handbook, commissioned by Paul Temesch et Moere, is intended to assist in the proliferation of virtuous language and influence while reducing linguistic Auvergnat-Revivalist tendencies in the modern era’s peoples. SECTION ONE Common Words SECTION TWO Common Phrases SECTION THREE Ranks & Jobs COMMON WORDS Greetings Hello - Freyde Goodbye - Freydes’Sol! - lit. Tomorrow’s Greetings! Thank you - Myrcei! You’re Welcome - Tu Nol! - lit. To Nothing My Name is - Moine nomen [Name] Responses Yes - Oui Maybe (probably yes) - Mey’oui Maybe (probably no) - Mey’nol No/Nothing/None - Nol |example: Nol more food Subjects I/Me - Iyl | example: Iyl have a headache My - Moine | example: Moine child You - Jir | example: Jir are stupid Your(s) - Jirs | example: Jirs to take She/Her - Strey | example: Strey is a Weiylle Her’s - Streys | example: Streys dozen basket of eggs He/Him - Strist | example: Strist got sad from reading the book His - Strists | example: Strists problem Food Bread - Bis Meat - Char Wine - Vin COMMON PHRASES Simple Phrase “Ducy nol Geyse” | You’re Wrong/They’re not the same/We’re not on the same page - literal ‘Geese are not Ducks’ “Tun Ofer?” | Is it ready yet?/Are we done here?/Hurry Up! - literal ‘Is the Cask Open?’ “Comment Jirs Atirfeur?” How is your day? “To Jir Matrère, Weiylleu mie.” To your mother, whales are small. PATRIOTIC PHRASE “O SAINTE RÈGNE PETRÉRE/O Sainte Règne Petrére!” - A call for heavenly intervention - literal ‘Oh Saint of the Fatherland!’, in reference to Saint Emma, patron saint of the Commonwealth RANK/JOB Commoner Job Bartender/Tavernkeep - Bracinist Soldier/Levyman - Garde Farmer - Ferist Merchant - Golist Military Rank Archer - Bérsyrist Swordsman - Brocherist Marshal - Maresc Noble Rank Sir - Ser Dame - Dame Nobleman - Burse Noblewoman - Burde Ruler - Règnist

THE DRAGONPACT 18th S.E. 1892 IC WE the representatives by right of GOD and Man of the Kingdom of Aaun and the Commonwealth of the Petra, do hereby agree; ARTICLE I: ON SOVEREIGNTY The Commonwealth of the Petra and the Kingdom of Aaun, also referred to as “the signatories” hereby pledge to mutually recognize each other's status as fully autonomous states. Both signatories recognize each other's right to fully rule and govern their territories as they see fit and shall not interfere with each other's internal affairs. This is inclusive of recognition of the heads of state; as of the signing of this treaty, the sovereign of the Commonwealth is defined as Paul Salvian of the House Temesch et Moere, and the sovereign of the Kingdom is defined as Charles I of the House of Alstion. ARTICLE II: ON MUTUAL DEFENSE I. The signatories hereby pledge to assist each other in matters of national defense; an attack on either party by a third party shall be considered an attack against both. II. Any disputes between the two shall first be resolved through peaceful means and dialogue by way of official channels. III. That whenever the territorial integrity of either nation is threatened in any way, shape, or form, the two shall come together to discuss preemptive measures. IV. That neither signatory shall aggress upon the other in any way. ARTICLE III: TRADE I. That those merchants affiliated with the Commonwealth of the Petra be allowed free and ready access to cross the border into the Kingdom whilst trading their wares without undue taxes or harassment. II. That those merchants affiliated with the Kingdom of Aaun be allowed free and ready access to cross the border into the Commonwealth whilst trading their wares without undue taxes or harassment. ARTICLE IV: DIPLOMATIC TIES To ensure free and open communications are maintained between the signatories, embassies shall be made available in each of their capitals. Diplomats are guaranteed safety and immunity from persecution, to be tried according to the laws of their respective homelands. Should any diplomat cause issue or violate the laws of the other signatory, they are to be immediately extradited and face trial as though such crimes were committed in their own. ARTICLE V: DURATION The signatories mutually agree that this pact shall be in effect for twelve years, or until the death of the first sovereign between the two signatories; when this occurs, the signatories shall then immediately meet to decide upon renewal of the pact. One year from the natural expiration of this pact (eleven years from its signing), the signatories agree to meet to decide upon the renewal of the pact. ARTICLE VI: RECOGNITION OF BLOOD The signatories mutually agree to allow marriage between their nobilities so long as the locally required approvals are gathered by each member of the couples in question. By extension, such marriages shall not be considered morganatic within either nation. ARTICLE VII: EXTRADITION Should a citizen of either signatory be found to have acted in breach of local law whilst in the other’s territories, and should that citizen flee to their homeland; they shall be extradited to the signatory in which they committed the crime, and tried according to the local laws therein. HIS EXCELLENCY, Paul Salvian, Regent of the Commonwealth, Count of Temesch and Moere HIS HIGHNESS, Charles Leopold Sovereign of the Aaunic Kingdom Prince of Alstion

THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE HOLY ORENIAN EMPIRE: Volume VIII; The Turmoil Written by Justinian Nafis, heir to the County of Susa and Adolphus Gloriana, Earl of Suffolk, Prince of Sutica The Turmoil “He is surrounded by enemies on all sides, has presided over the greatest exodus the Empire has thus seen, and now scrapes at the heels of the Pontiff. I almost feel pity for him.” - Prince Olivier I of Savoy on Emperor Philip II The reign of Emperor Philip II is much-maligned by nearly all scholars and other individuals who lived through the period. His reign was one marked by a total dysfunction and stagnation of the instruments of Imperial governance, leading to a degradation of the Empire as a whole. While some minor reforms were attempted, they were ultimately too little, and too poorly-executed, to stem the tide of the Empire’s decline. However, in more recent years, some historians have questioned whether this dark period for the Empire could truly be laid at the feet of its most infamous figure, or if it was the result of natural processes beyond any one man’s control. Born the second son to Empress Anne and Emperor Joseph in 1759, it was not expected that Philip Augustus would eventually inherit the throne. Instead of being tutored in matters of statecraft, politics, and diplomacy, as his elder brother, John Charles, was, the young Philip Augustus instead focused on matters of warfare, theology, and law. He was a dutiful pupil and excelled in the latter two subjects, while remaining competent in the first. From the age of sixteen he served in the ISA, eventually rising to the rank of captain and serving with distinction in the Inferi War, but primarily kept the company of priests and other men and women of the clergy. It was rumored that he too would eventually don the habit, but in 1783 he was wed to Judith Alice Helvets, his first cousin and the daughter of the Duke of Helvets. The match, purely once of political convenience, sparked little joy. It was said that on the day of his wedding, Prince Philip found more interest in his new title, the Duchy of Crestfall, than his bride. Their marriage was tumultuous, and after bearing their final child, Helen Antonia, in 1796, the Duchess of Crestfall slipped into madness and was not seen again. Although foul play on her husband’s part is occasionally suggested, the truth of the matter cannot be known. Upon his ascension to the throne, one of the few advantages the new Emperor Philip II had were his children. The now-Princess Imperial, Josephine Augusta, had served as Minister of Civil Affairs for several decades and was regarded as the most competent of the Emperor’s children. Although none dared to speak it, many believed that she, rather than her siblings, or even her father, ought to be the one atop the throne. Her sisters were the adventurous Anne Caroline, who had herself risen to become an ISA lieutenant, and the beautiful Helen Antonia, who enjoyed immense popularity among the courtiers and citizenry of Providence (Helen's murder at the height of her renown in 1830 and the widely-followed investigation thereafter propelled her to a near-mythical status, coining the term 'the pretty princess' among the populace). Philip’s two sons, the Crown Prince, Philip Aurelian, Count of Renzfeld, and Robert Francis, Count of Temesch, were both well-liked and affable, though the former was typically absent from both public life and government affairs, and the latter was thought to be mad. However, as a whole, the Crestfall family was seen as an intelligent, loyal group who would prove to be fine leaders during their father’s reign, and whom many hoped would be better ones after it. The reasons for Philip II’s great unpopularity are plenty. Although well-respected by the clergy, Philip Augustus had never been a charismatic, nor amiable, individual. A furious temper gripped him, though it was rarely put on display publicly, and while not a dolt, it was well-understood that the Duke of Crestfall had neither the training nor the aptitude for the Imperial throne. Scandalous rumors surrounded Philip II throughout his life, possibly, and ironically, stemming from his many efforts to display his piety and devotion to God. While none were proven until after his death, that did not stop them from being widely-believed. Finally, and perhaps most infamously, he had censured his sister, Elizabeth Anne, when she had tried to present the Rosemoor Bill before the House of Lords in 1831 (and in the eyes of many had caused the beloved princess’ death). It was this past action above all else that brought to the forefront Philip II’s greatest and most persistent challenge that would dominate his reign: Savoy. Having been re-founded in the twilight of Emperor John VIII’s reign, the Principality of Savoy was on the rise, enjoying steady immigration from all over the human realms, though mainly from the Empire. Having earned the ire of almost all of the Imperial Court due to his staunch opposition to the Rosemoor Bill, the new Emperor soon found himself losing many courtiers, ladies, and young men in want of ladies. Furthermore, the departure of his grandson, the highly-regarded Philip Amadeus, Duke of Furnestock, only a year earlier, made others doubt the future of the Empire. Although Princess Imperial Josephine was a bright spot, Anne Caroline was far more of an adventurer than a stateswoman, the idolized Helen Antonia was dead, Crown Prince Philip Aurelian was rarely seen, and the disturbed Robert Francis had joined the Duke of Furnestock in his voyage east. While not a dire state of affairs, the future looked far brighter in Savoy, where the energetic Prince Olivier I and his youthful entourage seemed to be soaring. With his realm quickly losing its primacy on the world stage, the Emperor knew that he had to make immediate moves to consolidate his position. He began in 1837 by conferring new titles upon his remaining children, in the hopes of cementing the Crestfall line and bringing status to them among those courtiers that yet remained. Josephine Augusta was made the Duchess of Crestfall, the Emperor’s own title. Anne Caroline was made Duchess of Auvergne. Finally, Philip Aurelian received the Duchy of Adria, a title that had been held by the Novellens since Emperor Joseph II - but it was here that the Emperor’s authority was challenged. Famously (or infamously), the Duchy of Adria has historically been an elected title, although there are a number of instances where it has been inherited, conferred, and stripped at will by the reigning monarch of the day. Ever since Joseph II had been elected Duke of Adria in 1748, the tradition of election had been dropped, and the title was passed down as any other. There had always been a few minor noblemen of Adrian heritage that had petitioned for the resumption of ducal elections, though they had been too minor of a faction to be taken seriously. Now, however, with the ascension of a much-reviled Emperor, these factions took the opportunity to contest the conferral of the title onto Philip Aurelian. Led by Franz Nikolai Tuvyic, Count of Dobrov and grandson of the former Archchancellor Franz Nikolai de Sarkozy, a collection of lords in the Grenz argued that the transfer of the Duchy of Adria was illegal, and required an election (which they proceeded to organize and host). The Empire did not recognize the election’s legitimacy, and Philip Aurelian issued an official rebuke of the practice entirely, but it proceeded regardless. Franz Tuvyic was named Duke of Adria by a duma of Grenzi lords, and he and his followers proceeded to cross the northern border into Haeseni lands. Over the years, lords and ladies from across the Grenz, and even from Haense itself, would travel to the abode of Franz Tuvyic to pay homage to the ‘Duke of Adria’, but no serious conflict would emerge from this and eventually his claim was forgotten entirely. However, this act of defiance showed a vulnerability in Emperor Philip’s reign that was not present with his predecessors. The Emperor’s next move to consolidate power came later in 1837 with the formal abolition of the Imperial Diet and the banning of political parties. Although the Diet had been a decaying institution for some time, and had served little practical purpose during the latter half of Emperor John VIII’s reign, it was an old and cherished institution and was representative of the Petrine Empire as a whole. Political parties had sunk in popularity since their inception during the early days of the Imperial Diet, but they too had historically been prominent organizations in driving political participation. Along with the newly-appointed Archchancellor Drasus DeNurem, the son of the famed hero of the Rubern War, Alren DeNurem, the Emperor made a sweeping appeal to the people of Oren, promising that without a Diet to impede him, the reforms that the nation needed could begin with earnest. He finally signed the Rosemoor Bill into law, and although it was met with some gratitude from the remaining ladies of the court of the Augustine Palace, most regarded it as a cynical move done too late. 1838 continued to be an eventful year, with Crown Prince Philip Aurelian choosing to finally remarry after four years of being a widower. In 1834, his wife, the extravagant, vain, yet remarkably well-liked Lady Amadea Ulyssa of Pompourelia, perished early due to poor health. As the Empire had not seen an Empress since Anne, and had not seen an Empress-consort since Lorena of Cascadia, it was deemed of vital importance that Philip Aurelian ascend to the throne with a consort. Natural leaders of courtly functions and the cultural and social apparatus of the Empire, consorts, while rarely given overt political power, still played an important function in strengthening an Emperor’s rule. The Duke of Adria, already having five children with grandchildren on the way, had no need to marry young in order to produce further heirs. Thus, he chose to wed Princess Charlotte of Aldersberg, herself the widow of the late Sigismund, Count of Dobrov. Having been one of the few remaining prominent members of the Imperial court, and having two young daughters of her own, the well-regarded, sensible Princess Charlotte was seen as both a fitting match for the Duke of Adria and a suitable candidate for a future consort. The wedding between the two was well-attended and not inexpensive, but, given how both were now middle-aged, far from extravagant. To end the eventful year of 1838, and to provide another thorn in Emperor Philip’s side, was the sudden abdication of King Heinrik II of Haense, and the ascension of his far more popular, and capable, son, Sigismund Karl. During a feast, an accident occured (the nature is unknown) that revealed King Heinrik to be a member of the Azdrazi, a cult of dragon-worshippers who have sacrificed their pious mortality for the trappings of immortality promised by a false God. In fear and shame, the much-maligned King of Haense fled his kingdom, not to be seen again save for the occasional rumor from passing merchants and lonely farmers. The now-King Sigismund III, admired by countrymen and foreigners alike, was met with praise and applause upon ascending to the throne. His father’s twenty-one years of misrule had weakened Haense and given an opening for the Empire to assert their strength under Emperor John VIII, but now that he was gone, the kingdom could make a recovery. Unlike his counterpart in Emperor Philip II, King Sigismund III had both the competence and political means to achieve reform within Haense and restore it to the strength it had enjoyed before. Soon, Karosgrad became a popular destination for Orenian emigres from the Grenz and Arentania, just as San Luciano had been the location of choice for those leaving the Petra and capital. The rise of Haense further threatened the Empire’s position, and soon talks of an alliance were being made between Haense, Urguan, and Savoy, with other, smaller, states eager to join. Knowing that war could come were he not to receive allies, the Emperor soon ordered Archchancellor DeNurem to see who could be brought back into the fold of the Empire. One natural ally of the Emperor was the incumbent High Pontiff, Everard IV, who had ascended to the Pontifical throne in 1835. Reviled by Savoy, he proved to be a natural counterbalance to the rising principality and would often mediate when disagreement arose between the two states. In return, Emperor Philip would make constant displays of his piety, and ordered the construction of churches, wayshrines, and abbeys. One occasion involved the Emperor calling for court, only to direct his small audience down to the basilica, where he publicly underwent confession. Some, especially those within the Emperor’s inner circle, took to dubbing him ‘the Pious’ for his charitable actions and deference to the Church, while others, more cynical of either his motives or those of the High Pontiff, took to calling him ‘Priestlover’. The Emperor’s other forays into foreign affairs were met with far less success. In 1841, Philip II invited the mercenary captain Gaspard van Aert, a descendent of the House of Vilac, to settle on Orenian lands in the western reaches of the Oltremont. With a large, well-disciplined band of loyal followers, Gaspard fielded perhaps the highest-quality soldiers to be found on Almaris, and would eventually prove to be an invaluable ally. The Emperor, knowing the potential he had, wished to secure his vassalage in order to protect his western flank, for the dwindling ISA no longer had the strength to man its garrisons there. Van Aert agreed, and was granted the County of Middelan. However, the military talents of Van Aert and his soldiers would go unrealized by the Empire, and after a decade, Count Gaspard, despairing at the further decline of Oren, would turncoat and join Urguan in exchange for lands and titles. Men of the Blackvale Company under Gaspard van Aert scouting around the Oltremont, date unknown The second debacle came in 1844, when the Emperor attempted to curry the favor of the high elves of Haelun’or. Already a weakened power, it puzzled many as to why the Imperial Crown would seek ties to such a despised state. It puzzled them even more when the Emperor spent a substantial portion of the treasury’s funds on ‘elven books’ that never materialized, leading some to speculate that such a purchase was either a bribe, or was for elven erotica. Little came of the venture, save a pact of non-aggression, and many believed that the Empire’s full isolation on the world stage was now cemented. Were it not for the actions of the Foreign Secretary, Elizabeth Wittenbach, who managed to keep diplomatic channels open and convince the other nations of the world that war against Oren was against their interests, it is likely that the Empire would have been overwhelming and eventually forced into war far earlier. Another blow was dealt to the Empire in 1845, when official word of the Duke of Furnestock’s death came. Since his departure from the Empire nine years early, infrequent correspondence from Philip and Anastasia had revealed that they had conquered a small archipelago, which they ruled in the name of the Empire from their capital city of Ulyssa. Over the years, an agreement was reached to establish trade between Ulyssa and Providence and to have any children born to the Furnestock couple sent back to the mainland upon reaching the age of five. With more regular contact now established between the mainland and Ulyssa, there was some hope among the population of Oren that the Duke and Duchess of Furnestock would return. However, it seemed that it was not to be, as, at the young age of thirty, Philip Amadeus, the Duke of Furnestock, was announced to be deceased. The Duke’s body was returned to the Empire in an enclosed casket. His funeral, which drew a sizable crowd, was presided over by the Emperor himself, who was said to either have been weeping or cackling with glee- the sources disagree. It is well-attested that when the Duke of Furnestock’s young daughter of six, Princess Catherine Anastasia, gave the final speech of the day, with tears staining her cheeks, many in the audience regarded her words to be more sincere and better-crafted than those of the Emperor. Rumors, perhaps spawning from this supposed display of nonchalance, or deriving from previous accusations levied against Philip II, soon circulated after the funeral that either the Duke’s death was either arranged or faked by the Emperor himself in the hopes of cementing his rule. Unknown to the people of the Empire at the time, and much less Emperor Philip II himself, the Duke of Furnestock’s death had indeed been faked, but at his own will. Although his exact motivations for doing so are unknown- Philip Amadeus, upon his return to Almaris, would say that he wished to fully remove himself from the Imperial succession, while others close to him believed that his intentions to return to the Empire were laid from the start, and he simply wished to undermine his grandfather’s reign- he would seemingly return from the grave three years later. That matter, though, shall be covered later. The internal tensions within Philip II’s Council of State also reflected the deterioration in the Empire as a whole. Although Drasus DeNurem was a firm and serious man, just like his father, he was no Alren DeNurem. Too combative for his own good, without the successes to justify it, he and the Emperor frequently argued bitterly, and at times, as is rumored, worked actively to undermine the other. The nature of many of these arguments are either unknown or controversial. For instance, there are disagreements in the sources as to whether it was Archchancellor DeNurem or the Emperor himself who aimed to stifle any talks of reform. Additionally, after Philip II’s death, it was revealed by his own granddaughter, Moliana, the Countess of Dobrov, that he attempted to gain her hand in marriage. While little more than a rumor clouded by furtive whispers at the time, some allege that Archchancellor DeNurem mocked the Emperor for this, although it is doubtful. What is known is that in the winter of 1845, tired of DeNurem’s constant opposition to his wishes, the Emperor had him sacked and replaced with his own daughter, the Princess Imperial Josephine. To the now-Archchancellor Josephine Augusta, it was evident that serious change would need to come within the Empire lest it be fully surpassed by Savoy and Haense. It was agreed upon by all of the council that the first step would have to be the construction of a new capital. Although Providence was grand and ambitious, the city was poorly-designed, far too large, and had become the scorn of most of Almaris. Pouring over architectural models of the former Imperial capital of Helena, Archchancellor Josephine hired a team of architects, led by an elven woman named Lhoris and the Baroness of Rosius, Louise Halcourt, to design what would become the new capital of a changed Empire. Receiving a Pontifical dispensation, the new capital would be renamed to the City of St. James after the Emperor’s friend and object of admiration: High Pontiff James II. Unbeknownst to much of his council, however; the Emperor had ideas of his own to revitalize the Empire. Jealous of his brother’s triumph over Norland, his father’s triumph over Sedan, his mother’s triumph over the inferi, and his grandfather’s triumph over the A.I.S, Philip II sought to find a war of his own to win. Ignoring the disastrous state of the ISA, the lack of will among his populace for war, and the ongoing plans to construct a new capital, the Emperor set his sights on Urguan, and began fomenting a plan for how to spark a war against them. The cause for war came on the 14th of the Sun’s Smile, 1848, when it was reported that Duncan Vuiller, a member of the ISA and son of the Baron of Vuillermoz, one of the last nobles in the Empire with some power and the overlord of a sizable village, had attacked and killed a member of the dwarven Ireheart clan while hunting in the mountains of Arentania. Although Duncan Vuiller denied these charges, the Underking of the Urguani Horde, Ulfric Frostbeard, believed otherwise. He demanded that the Vuiller soldier be handed to Urguan to pay for his crimes, which Emperor Philip refused. He could not be more delighted about the events unfolding. It was evident to all that soon King Ulfric would declare war, so the Emperor gave the order for mobilization. This immediately backfired, exposing the weaknesses of the Empire that had been masked for so long. Although Emperor Philip had seen extensive service in his youth, that was decades earlier. Now he was nearing ninety, confined to a wheelchair, and suffering from the same ill-judgment that had plagued his life. His son and heir, the Duke of Adria, possessed virtually no military experience himself, and was absent when the call to arms came - indeed the Crestfall family as a whole had been split by rumors and internal strife, leaving only the Princess Imperial to stand at her father's side. The vaunted veterans of the war against Norland had since died or retired, leaving behind a dwindled, green soldiery core in the ISA. Urguan, on the other hand, had hired the services of Gaspard van Aert and the feared Blackvale Company as well as the Ferrymen mercenaries, bolstering their own legions. To make matters worse, they sent diplomats down to Savoy, hoping to form an alliance in the hopes of crushing the Empire. A panic set in the general populace of Oren, as many feared that the coming war would go disastrously. It was at this time that the Duke and Duchess of Furnestock made their triumphant return, though the beginnings of such were far more muted and cautious. It is well-known by now that, for whatever reason it may have been. Philip Amadeus had feigned his death three years earlier. Although his intentions seem to have been to remain away from the succession of the Imperial throne, that did not stop the flow of letters and information from Almaris from reaching Ulyssa. Although the dates are unclear, it is known that in 1847 the Duchess of Furnestock herself ventured back to the mainland to meet with old friends and evaluate the state of the Empire. The condition it was in shocked her to the core, and many nobles, soldiers, and courtiers within Oren urged her to return to try and salvage the situation. Returning home with this news, Anastasia was able to convince her husband to abandon his plans of distancing himself from the Empire (or, alternatively, brought him news that the situation in Oren was ripe for them to hatch their scheme). A year later, in 1848, the two set sail to the Principality of Savoy, where they knew they would be able to find support in Prince Olivier, who had been Philip Amadeus’s childhood tutor and a strong friend of the man. They arrived in San Luciano that fall, where they proceeded to meet with local dignitaries, nobles, and eventually the prince himself. Disguised, as to not have word of his return immediately spread, the Duke of Furnestock convinced the Prince of Savoy to reject Urguan’s offer of an alliance and join him in his bid to claim the Empire. On the 1st of the Sun’s Smile, 1849, Philip Amadeus and Anastasia Victoria’s return to Almaris was announced before the court of Savoy, upon which a great band of mercenaries, courtiers, and former Orenians swore themselves to the Duke and Duchess. Prince Olivier also pledged his sword to them, though for the moment they did not make their bid for the Imperial throne directly. The city of San Luciano, c. 1845 Back in Providence, the events of the past few months had swept the nation in a frenzy. A great fire had swept across the city, leaving much of it in ruin, but allowing Archchancellor Josephine to begin overseeing construction for the new capital. Mere weeks later, word of Philip Amadeus’s return had reached the Empire, sparking furious discussion. Many believed that he and Anastasia would return to the Empire, take charge of the war effort, and lead them to victory. The Emperor and much of his inner circle took a more cynical view. Why had the Duke of Furnestock faked his death? Why had he chosen to land at San Luciano instead of Providence? While Emperor Philip eventually decided to release a missive confirming his grandson’s return, and officially invited them to return to Oren, he also engaged in a secret correspondence with Philip Amadeus in order to ascertain his true motives. A week later, further chaos erupted. After rejecting an ultimatum from Urguan, the Empire now found itself at war. Although the ISA under the command of the capable General Erik Ruthern was able to defeat a small Urguani raiding party at Ephesius on the 17th of the Sun’s Smile, it was still believed by all that the war was a lost cost. A later battle at the bridge leading to the city, now fully rebuilt and renamed as St. James, ended far more disastrously for the ISA as one of their large patrols was cut down by a force half their size. Much of the Empire, now in panic, sent frantics letters to the Duke and Duchess of Furnestock back in San Luciano, begging them to return and salvage the situation. Philip and Anastasia, though desiring to return home, bided their time. On the 22nd of Owny’s Flame, wishing to first secure their children so that they could not be used against them, Anastasia, with the aid of a few sympathetic staff, snuck into the royal apartments in St. James and took her children from their rooms without raising alarm or suspicion. She sent them back to Savoy with a few servants, choosing to stay behind in the capital to gather support there. Meanwhile, back in San Luciano, Philip Amadeus announced that he was raising a mercenary company in order to support the Empire in their war against Urguan. While, on the surface, this appeared to be a most magnamious action, recently-uncovered correspondence reveals that the Duke of Furnestock had already offered to raise a mercenary company for his grandfather, which was privately rejected. With this move, he forced the Emperor to publicly rebuke this offer of aid, further stoking tensions and leading many in the Empire to believe that he had gone mad. By this point, it was evident that war was to come between the two Philips. Although he still had yet to officially declare for the Empire, most believed that the Duke of Furnestock’s aim was either to seize the throne himself or depose his grandfather and name himself regent for his father, the Duke of Adria. Whatever was truly the initial intent of Philip Amadeus, the path he eventually took was decided on the 17th of Godfrey’s Triumph, 1849, when, in one of the more controversial incidents in the entirety of the Petrine Empire, Philip Aurelian, the Duke of Adria, died. During his time as the Crown Prince of the Empire, Philip Aurelian’s reputation was twofold- a characterization that has survived through decades of revisionism and counter-revisionism. On one hand, he was an affable, reasonable man of good humor. He avoided many of the controversies of his father, and was even said to have privately opposed him, though these rumors cannot be confirmed. He was well-liked by those who knew him, and had a number of well-positioned friends at court, and it was believed that the Empire under him would be better than under his father. On the other hand, he was seen by others, especially those more distant, as being lazy and inattentive towards his duties. He held no official position in the government, nor in the ISA, and at the outbreak of the war with Urguan, it was whispered that he was more preoccupied with visiting his mistress than taking charge of the war effort. Although he was something of an obscure figure for most of his father’s reign, the announcement of his death on the evening of the 17th of Godfrey’s Triumph, 1849, sent shockwaves throughout Oren. Three central narratives attempt to explain the sudden death of the Duke of Adria, although all three have their shortcomings. The first, and the official one told by the Empire, is that the Duke of Adria suffered from a heart attack and was found dead in his chambers. While many were quick to circulate this tale, both from Emperor Philip II’s circle and from the Duke of Furnestock’s, many began to question this. The timing of Philip Aurelian’s death, a number of eyewitness sources claiming foul play was involved, and official investigation logs from the Ministry of Justice all point towards assassination being the cause, of which two theories remain the most prominent. The second theory, and perhaps the most popular-believed one within the heartlands, is that it was the Duke of Adria’s mistress, Mary Casimira Carrington, the former Governess of the Palace and the mother of one of his children, that killed him. After having been sacked from her position in 1847 by the Emperor, it is well-attested that Mary Carrington had gone mad and became a recluse in her estate in Redenford. However, mere days before her murder of the Imperial heir, she requested that he come meet with her during one of her visits into the capital, which he did. Accounts from this point on differ, with some attesting that Mary herself killed the prince with a concealed dagger, while others say that she had hired a man from Sedan (now a vassal state of the Underking of Urguan) to do the deed. However, this narrative is muddied by the fact that the Duke of Adria was allegedly spotted walking around St. James mere days after his supposed assassination, although this could be explained by some delusion or paranoia that had set over the populace as their Empire erupted into chaos. The final theory, promoted by High Pontiff Everard VI and discussed in depth in the propagandized Philippian Chronicles more recently published by one Henry Penton, follows closely with the second theory, but also asserts that Anastasia, and possibly Philip Amadeus as well, had ordered Mary Carrington to carry out the assassination. The basis of this accusation rests in a letter that was supposedly given to the High Pontiff by an Azdrazi. While Mary Carrington’s connection to Anastasia Ruthern is well-documented, and the latter was in St. James at this time, this theory is plagued by a lack of evidence beyond this letter, the contents of which have yet to be divulged and have the potential to be forgery. Regardless, this was perhaps the most impactful of the three theories, as it gave Everard VI the grounds to excommunicate Philip and Anastasia for a second time during their reign (the consequences of that decision shall be explored in our next volume). Philip Aurelian, the Duke of Adria, c. 1843 In the immediate aftermath of the Duke of Adria’s death, Emperor Philip II ordered the arrest of his granddaughter, the Duchess of Furnestock, who had been found gathering support from disaffected city burghers within St. James. However, while the Duchess was detained for a short time, the ISA soldiers eventually decided to go against their Emperor’s orders; they released Anastasia and escorted her back to San Luciano, where they would join her and her husband’s growing retinue. When she arrived, she found that word of her father-in-law’s death had reached Savoy already, and with it a number of nobles and other citizens of the Empire, ready to pledge themselves to her husband. Indeed, Philip Amadeus had not been idle during his wife’s time in San Luciano. A popular, well-connected man by all accounts, the Duke of Furnestock had been drawing supporters from the Empire to his side to supplement his small retinue in Savoy. All but one of the brigades in the ISA had flipped, including the Fourth Brigade- the Emperor’s own bodyguard. The Houses of de Rosius, Sarkozy, Carrington, Pruvia, O’Rourke, Basrid, d’Azor, and others, all either led by or containing old friends of Philip and Anastasia, had ventured to Savoy in order to pledge themselves to the man they hoped to be the savior of the Empire. Even foriegn dignitaries from Urguan, Fenn, Haelun’or, and Elvenesse gathered in San Luciano to oversee the events, preparing to throw their recognition behind the rising prince. The fateful day came on the 11th of Tobias’s Bounty, 1849. Before the court of Savoy, itself bearing far more onlookers from outside the principality than within it, Philip Amadeus, the Duke of Furnestock, proclaimed his intention to seize the throne of the Holy Orenian Empire. To great applause, and further pledges of fealty (including from the Prince of Savoy himself), he was declared Emperor Philip III. The Emperor-claimant then issued the famous document, The Mandate of Heaven, announcing his claim to the Imperial throne and the formal deposition of his grandfather. In order to enforce this decree with words, the Emperor-claimant, his wife, and the Prince of Savoy, set sail from San Luciano with the intent of landing in the Lower Petra in order to march on St. James. It is around this time that one of the more famous legends of the ‘Aster Revolution’ was born, giving rise to both the name of Philip Amadeus’s taking of the Imperial throne and the popular name for the period during which he reigned. It is said that, as Philip and Anastasia prepared to set sail from San Luciano with their army, they were gifted cloaks formed from aster flowers by a collection of burghers from the city. Other accounts say they were given small circlets of aster flowers made by children. The truth, however, is that even before Philip Amadeus announced his claim for the Empire, he and Anastasia consulted a local seer, who gave them both an aster flower to serve as a talisman of luck. This matters little for the wider legend, as soon the image of the aster became popularly associated with the couple’s march against their grandfather and the later reforms they brought about during their reign. Word traveled quickly, and within days Emperor Philip II had received word that his grandson was marching upon the capital with an army of ten-thousand, perhaps even more. With Savoyards, Orenians, and mercenaries in his ranks, it was evident that whatever the Empire could muster would not be enough, and Emperor Philip’s ever-narrowing inner circle continued to advise him to either reach a settlement with the Duke of Furnestock, abdicate and flee, or prepare St. James for a siege. However, the Emperor, with senility and madness seeping in, did not act. Believing that the Empire still stood behind him, and that his grandchildren had little support, he ordered General Ruthern to send a force to arrest the potential usurper. While some allege that the Count of Kositz had sympathies towards Philip and Anastasia, given how the latter was also his granddaughter, these rumors are false. A loyal man, Erik Ruthern desired to keep his ISA free of political schemes. Thus, his inaction in stopping the advancing Aster Revolution can be attributed to two factors. The first is that he simply had no force left to combat them with. Nearly all of the ISA had defected by this point, and what scant few forces remained were in St. James under the command of Major Erik Othaman. Indeed, it was for this precise reason that General Ruthern was away from the events of the Aster Revolution, as by this time he was desperately trying to raise forces in the Grenz in order to help and stop the Urguani horde, which by now had occupied some of the abandoned fortifications in the outer edges of the Oltremont. By the 15th of Tobias’s Bounty, Philip and Anastasia’s army had landed in the Lower Petra, near the old manor of the de Falstaff family. From here, they resumed their march to St. James, their ranks swelling from local aristocrats, peasants, and soldiers wishing to join them. By now, nearly the entirety of the Imperial peerage had sworn themselves to the two, and Haelun’or had officially recognized them as the rightful sovereigns of the Empire. A day later, with their army within a few days of the Imperial capital, it was here that Philip II, much like Emperor Antonius nearly a century and a half before him, disappeared. Thankfully, unlike with Antonius, it is universally-agreed that here Emperor Philip II died. The landing of Philip and Anastasia’s army in the Lower Petra, c. 1849 The most popular narrative is the one told by Prince Olivier of Savoy himself mere days after the event. In it, he himself claims to have snuck into the city in the middle of the night ahead of his army. Hiding under a bridge that crossed one of the city’s vital canals, the Prince of Savoy waited for the next morning. He correctly predicted that, with defeat on the horizon, the Emperor’s inner circle would force his evacuation. As the infirm Philip II was wheelchair-bound, he would have to be pushed over this bridge along the road leading to the stables. After eight hours of waiting, the sun rose, and indeed the Emperor was pushed along the bridge by a few of his attendants. It was here, Olivier Renault claimed, that he leapt atop the bridge, grabbed the Emperor’s wheelchair, and pushed him into the canal, where he drowned. Unfortunately for the humorous tastes of those who enjoy sailor’s tales and the like, the Prince of Savoy was nowhere near St. James at this time. He could not have been, as he was still encamped with Philip and Anastasia, making plans for a potential siege of St. James with the former. Instead, it is far more likely that, in the panic gripping the capital due to Philip Amadeus’s advance, the Emperor was simply trampled or accidentally pushed into the canals as swarms of citizens tried to flee the city. Some offer alternative theories that his daughter, the Archchancellor Josephine, orchestrated her father’s death to try and claim the throne herself, but these have absolutely no scholarly credibility. The primary reason behind discrediting any notions of foul play on the part of Josephine Augusta is her own unfortunate death merely a day later. Now in charge of the remnants of an Empire in ruin, and exerting little control beyond the walls of the Imperial palace itself, the Archchancellor gave the official order to evacuate the capital as the vanguard elements of the army of the Aster Revolution could be seen from the city walls. It was around this time that, as the Princess Imperial boarded her own carriage in an attempt to flee St. James, an accident occurred, resulting in her untimely death. It was later said that as she left, she ordered the city garrison to surrender the city to her nephew; however, this could simply be propaganda crafted by Emperor Philip III to cement his legitimate rule, as it is also attested that before she tried to make her escape, the Archchancellor set fire to the Imperial archives. While no specific details are known, the general circumstances of her death are, fortunately, undisputed. One day after his aunt’s death, and two days after his grandfather’s, Philip Amadeus reached the main bridge over the River Petra that led into Providence on the waning hours of the night of the 17th of Tobias’s Bounty. With an army of at least thirteen-thousand (though some estimates put it higher), the now-Emperor Philip III was greeted by the last remaining force to oppose him- a group of one-thousand five-hundred ISA soldiers led by Major Erik Othaman, the only soldiers to not defect to his cause. Wishing for an easy capitulation of the city, and fearing the message it would send were he to kill his legal subjects, the new Emperor took to negotiating with Major Othaman for the better part of an hour. Eventually, Othaman and his small force was allowed to garrison Fort Linnord, situated near the capital. Although they planned to form a small, independent state there, these notions were quickly quashed as, upon his return, General Ruthern ordered their return to the ISA and fealty to their new Emperor. As midnight came and went, and dawn soon emerged, Emperor Philip III and Empress Anastasia advanced into St. James at the head of their army. Although many of the citizens of the capital had fled, upon seeing that no bloodshed was to be had, they quickly began to stream back in. A great crowd of over twenty-thousand cheered for the young Emperor and Empress as they made their procession through the capital, either genuinely thankful they had deposed their despised grandfather, or perhaps intimidated by the strong army accompanying them. Shouts of Philip ‘the Great’ rang through the air as the jovial, young Imperial couple embraced their warm reception with an equally-spirited demeanor. The two marched to the Basilica of the Argentate Star, where they were met by High Pontiff Everard VI, who, after much discussion, agreed to hold an immediate coronation. Despite no plans having been made, the coronation of Emperor Philip III was one of the greatest-attended in history, and was generally well-received. On the 19th of Tobias’s Bounty, 1849, he was officially crowned as Emperor Philip III. At the Emperor’s insistence, the High Pontiff also crowned Anastasia, though for now she was to remain simply Empress-consort (something that would soon change, though it shall be covered in our next volume). After the coronation ceremony, the pair proceeded to the courtroom of the Imperial palace, where they met with a great number of lords, ladies, citizens, foreign dignitaries, and the like, who had come to swear themselves to the throne, inquire about what was to happen, or simply speak their mind for a moment. All who gathered were attended to, and it was evident that, beyond the lingering doubts and questions in the air, hope shined through in the Imperial populace. Within a year, the actions taken by Philip and Anastasia would cause some to affirm this faith, while others would begin to question it. The reign of Emperor Philip II is widely-regarded as one of the worst, most disastrous periods in the history of Oren as a whole. Presiding over a weakened, declining state, what little changes he made were either too poorly-executed or too unambitious to bring about the rejuvenation the Empire so desperately needed. Whether this was the result of the Emperor’s own person, and the ire he drew from virtually every faction and demographic to be found in Oren, or whether this was a natural degradation of the Petrine systems and a withdrawal of talent, is up for debate. No matter the interpretation, Philip II’s conduct during his rule is almost universally-regarded as abysmal. Having inherited an Empire that was the preeminent power in the world, albeit one reduced somewhat and in need of reform, Philip II’s reign ended with a disastrous attempt at war coupled with his nation’s isolation from the world stage. Ironically, while Philip II’s forays into re-centralizing some of the Crown’s power ended poorly, they were far better-utilized by his successor. The abolition of the Imperial Diet, dissolution of political parties, and resumption of the Crown’s role in issuing legislation provided a groundwork for a more effective means of governance. Had the Emperor been more competent in his handling of these regained authorities, or had his ministers been more encouraged to use them. Instead, this opportunity to take drastic, but necessary, measures were squandered, and the Empire became susceptible to a revolution by young, more ambitious men and women promising to do great things with the power Philip II had but ill-used. Some of these promises would come to pass, others would entirely fail, but it was merely the hope of change that brought a nation to overthrow an Emperor who could not, or would not, provide it. Vale, Philip II ‘Priestlover’ 18th of Harren’s Folly, 1759-16th of Tobias' Bounty, 1849 (r. 12th of Owyn’s Flame, 1837-16th of Tobias' Bounty, 1849) O Ágioi Kristoff, Jude kai Pius. Dóste mas gnósi ópos sas ékane o Theós. Poté min afísoume na doúme to skotádi, allá as doúme móno to fos tis sofías kai tis alítheias. O Theós na se evlogeí. The co-rule of Emperor Philip III and Empress Anastasia, the Michaelite Schism, and the Eastfleet War, shall be covered in our next volume of The Decline and Fall of the Holy Orenian Empire.

TO DISPEL RUMORS OF FOUL PLAY 9 S.S. 1892 IC To the Lords of the Eastern Almarisian Treaty Organization, All, and One, The Commonwealth of the Petra is a nation of knights and noblesse; we are in chief men and women of Honor. An attack taking place on foreign soil, and furthermore in the House of GOD - this is antithetical to our beliefs, to our credos. As such, we have no choice but to denounce those such actions that occurred earlier this Saint’s Day. We clarify now that those Petrans that may have been in Balian at the time of such an attack were there as part of an ongoing mission to improve Our relations abroad (and that indeed We have sent attendees as far as Celia’nor for their Coronation just this year), and took no part in any of the crimes against GOD and Man that we have been informed of. Any harm that may have come to those good citizens of Balian, inflicted by those that may bear Commonwealth colors - We ask that the good King sends us a formal list, that they may receive punishment equal to that which they would have received as if inflicted upon Our own. We hope that this gesture of faith be made known publicly, that we may be held to our high standard of Honor and not be taken for sinners nor suffer for another’s actions. Petra, Flowing Water! Ave! Ave! Glory be to GOD Most High, HIS EXCELLENCY, Paul Salvian, Regent of the Commonwealth, Count of Temesch and Moere