Altiak

Guy de Bar smiles from the heavens.

The landing of the Savoyards on the coast of eastern Arcas, 1768. 

THE SUN RISES FROM THE EAST

The final rowboat from The Drowned Son landed near the shores of eastern Arcas. Stepping out of the creaky, uncomfortable rowboat, Lucien de Bar thanked his good fortune, fancying that the voyage would be the final venture out to sea for him. He looked to the small crowd of supporters that had gathered around him, a motley band that made him feel more than slightly uncomfortable. He was grateful for their faith in both he and God, but the long journey from Aeldin to these new lands seemed like it would be without end. Perhaps deep down Lucien wished for it to be that way, for on the boat he fraternized with commoners and insiders alike; now, he was their leader and such camaraderie was beneath him.

The weight of history bore heavy on Lucien’s shoulders, but he had not set out without realizing what was going to be expected of him and how he would be perceived. Ulmsbottom, and by extension Torelli, had been the home of the Savoyards for generations now. Those who remembered the proud days of Guy de Bar and Olivier de Savoie had long passed; what remained now laid only in fragmented memories, dusty old tomes, and songs sung by tavern bards. Having been liberated of their ancient rivalries in Oren and given the chance to start anew on a new continent, the Savoyards had grown accustomed to Aeldin and began to talk and muse of other things besides the past. Soon, only those most devoted to the name Savoy cared about its glorious yet troubled history.
 

Lucien de Bar was one such man. As the nephew of the Duke of Torelli, a man who was not short of children, his chances of ruling were slim. Although he was by no means disliked by his kinsmen, he was often overlooked and left to his own devices throughout much of his childhood. To substitute his lack of a proper upbringing, Lucien buried himself in the vast library that the Dukes of Torelli had maintained for decades. An unabashed romantic, he frequently opined for a time that had long been lost -- a time when the name de Bar never rang hollow, a time when the Savoyards dominated the political state of affairs in Oren. However, as grand as his dreams were, Lucien seemingly had no means by which to challenge the status quo, and thus wallowed in the misery of being powerless to change fate. 

But time and fortune would soon prove kind to Lucien. He met others who, like him, wished for a return to the days of old. They knew that such a future could not be found with the current Duke Torelli, so they set their sights to a land beyond. Whispers about a continent called Arcas had reached Ulmsbottom some time ago, but the many content souls who resided there had no interest in this foreign land. Lucien and his fellows, however, were far from content, and soon began to plan a voyage to Arcas to stake their claim. As expected, most scoffed at the proposal, calling it foolish and fanciful; they had heard many a self-proclaimed Savoyard, drunken and raving, proclaim such things in beer halls and feasts. However, over the course of the next six months, a small following of people, mostly urban paupers and disenfranchised farmers, decided that, even if for vastly different reasons than Lucien and his comrades, their lives in Torelli were not likely to improve and a journey to a new land could afford them better ones. 

The Duke of Torelli was saddened to see his nephew leave, but he made no attempt to prevent him or his followers from departing. His holdings were vast and those departing were few. In truth, such an emigration came as a relief to a ruler who had long had to grapple with the overpopulation that followed the arrival of an influx of Savoyard exiles. Always known to be a kind man, the Duke Torelli even gave his nephew two ships from his personal fleet to use for his voyage. The first was a sturdy, if aged, fluyt: The Drowned Son. The second was an even more ancient carrack: The Rubble. Even if their wear and tear from years of service casted a great deal of doubt on their ability to sail the length of a great ocean, Lucien and his followers knew that there were no alternatives. Thus, on a clear, crisp morning late into the month of Horen’s Welcome, the last of the Savoyards said their final goodbyes, boarded the two ships, and set sail for Arcas.

Lord Lucien de Bar and his company taking their first steps on Arcas, 1768.

“I must count my blessings for having not gotten seasick, at the very least. That was what I was most afraid of. Besides the awful storm we weathered a fortweek ago, it was smooth sailing,” remarked Antony, Lucien’s younger brother. He was, much like his older sibling, a romantic at heart and one who longed for the revival of Savoy as greatly as anyone else. Despite his young age, he had been instrumental in helping Lucien lead the Savoyards inland over the past few days. They now made camp atop a hill overlooking a large river, grateful for being on solid land. 

“I must admit that I had counted on the element of surprise before making landfall,” confessed a pensive Lucien. “We’ve made contact with the inhabitants of this land much sooner than I imagined.” He sighed, redirecting his drifting gaze towards the map of the continent he had been able to purchase from a passing trader. He knew little of what to make of it, and less of what to do with this newfound information. 

“Cast away your trepidation, brother. The sun will soon set, and I doubt there’s anyone in our camps with an ounce of strength. Get some rest and I’ll take first watch tonight.” Antony intoned, an earnest look in his eyes. 

Lucien considered the offer for a moment, but waved him aside and slumped in his seat. Without the energy to muster a response, the young lord sat there idly, his only movement being the occasional blink. For what seemed like an eternity the two brothers sat in total silence, nearly falling asleep. Suddenly, a ruffling at the flaps of the tent jolted the two boys awake. In entered Nicholas, a good friend of Lucien who had been asked to scout around the area. His mud-caked face was dripping with  sweat and his clothes were matted with dirt, brush, and the other marks of the wilds. The man handed a dampened letter, sealed with an unfamiliar sigil, to Lucien. “Some fancy-looking fellow handed this to us. He said that they had spotted our ships some time ago and that their town is but a short ways from here,” he explained, panting.

“Thank you, Nicholas,” muttered Lucien, excusing his friend with a curt nod. Although he had little interest in the letter, being too tired to care, the young lord found it prudent to at least skim over its contents. Breaking the seal, Lucien pulled out the letter and began to read.

“Dear Lord de Bar,

Your arrival on Arcas has not gone unnoticed. It has been centuries since my family has last seen the flags of your people displayed, but do not mistake my curiosity for ignorance of your history. I do not know your intentions, but from how you are spoken of in our official records, it would seem that you are not a people to be taken lightly nor one to be trusted. That being said, I know that men may not necessarily be the product of their ancestors, and that as time continues its unceasing march forward the rivalries and hatred of old loosen their grasp on new generations. I invite you to come to my lands so that I may meet with you and your people. Perhaps a long-awaited reconciliation is finally in order.

Best regards,

Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Rubern, Helene Stiboricz”

Lucien continued to stare at the letter for some time, trying to recall any mention of ‘Rubern’ or ‘Stiboricz’ from his studies back home. Although he could not remember such names, the prospect of finding answers to such unknowns excited him. Old rivalries had been burned to a crisp long ago, it seemed, and his people would soon find themselves surrounded by unfriendly, potentially hostile, neighbors if he did not act soon. This ‘Rubern’ was a complete mystery to him, as was its princess, but it was a hope that he knew he would find nowhere else. 

Home was back on Aeldin, home was back on Vailor, home was anywhere else but this wilderness. Lucien thought, suddenly becoming overwhelmed at the realization of his precarious situation. He was but a vulnerable young man with a childish dream he never imagined would be fulfilled, yet somehow he found himself the leader among a small group of those who shared and believed in his vision. Their lives were in his hands now, and if keeping them safe meant venturing to this foreign ‘Rubern’, unaware of their intentions, then so be it.

Lord Lucien de Bar looked to his younger brother, who had been watching him read the letter with an intense glare this entire time. He was still a child, but this journey had begun to turn him into a man. If there was one person Lucien knew he could rely on to aid him and support him, to shoulder the burden of fulfilling a dream shared by many, it was his brother.

“Antony, notify all those in the camp that they are to be ready to depart by midday tomorrow. I do not know what this ‘Helene Stiboricz' intends, but she seemed cordial and pleasant enough in her letter,” he said suddenly, offering a mirthful smile as he spotted the land of Rubern on his map.

 “Perhaps we have finally found home.”

Lord Lucien de Bar and his followers departing from Torelli, 1767

:) 

+1

I am looking for someone to play my wife's girlfriend 

10 minutes ago, Jonificus said:

The ghost of Ser Caspar de Gueux shakes his head at his people's foolishness.

Ser Caspar's long-deceased liege lord sighs heavily, chiming in "-Sad!" 

I believe that there should be a Great War on LoTC.

Street thug RP?

An envoy from Aeldin arrives at the Conclave, bearing a letter with the seal of the Gradic patrician family. Upon being unraveled, the parchment would reveal Maurice Gradic's support for Gotthold's candidacy.

crazy guy  here =D

preach my ****** PREACH

"Disconcerting," Maurice Gradic would intone alongside his brothers-in-faith.

THE NEED FOR CHURCH SOVEREIGNTY

 
 

I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid thee, My faithful, this: Thou shalt not judge the sufficiency of thy Virtue, be it great or small, for all magnitudes fall short of Me.

I have had much time to interpret the last High Pontiff’s ‘revelations’, and I too have seen the light. I have read the words of his proclamations, and by the virtue of GOD I have surmised that the failing of these revelations is vast and of a great magnitude. Already, his first revelation - that of a Vicar of GOD who spits on the synod by appointing a successor of his own choosing - been righteously repealed. Already has the Emperor, whom Daniel III declared equal in stature to GOD almighty, found it prudent to rip up throw this revelation to the wind! So too has this new High Pontiff, by naming an elf to his synod, cast aside the third. Surely then, we must call into question the validity of this former Pontiff’s final, second ‘revelation.’

Our former, failed shepherd - who himself acted more like the wolf we were to be protected against - drafted his second revelation on the basis of his own heritage. In doing so, he lambasted our true mission. It is often a precarious affair when the representative of the Creator meddles in secular matters. Such matters need to be resolved with care and patience, with the virtues our heavenly father teaches. Daniel III’s actions shunted these virtues, subjecting himself, and the rest of us by proxy, to the whims of a secular ruler. He has forced the sin that stains his conscience upon us as well!

Since time immemorial our Faith, no matter the form it has taken, has strived to remain separate from the conflict of kingdoms, to remain separate from the affairs of politics. When the High Pontiff Owyn put these matters above those of the Church, he shattered the Faith of many, and the reputation of our beloved Church. His actions, selfish, greedy, and nepotistic as they were, cost us much. Even in times of immense strife - when in Athera the Heartland states remained fractured and disunited - the Church remained neutral until the Faith itself was threatened by schismatics who hoped to destroy its very body. Only then did the Church involve itself.

Daniel III, who swore to abandon his familial ties and his fealty upon ascension to this blessed place, has traded the sovereignty of our Church, the neutrality that has allowed our survival and our strength, simply so that his brother can rule over us! This blatant nepotism does not cease there, either. In earlier years, the High Pontiff saw fit to have his son, who he empowered with various positions in our own Church (simply for his relations, and through no merits of his own), granted a Viscounty. This Viscount, who was also named Lord Vicar despite his youth, is a flagrant display of how far Daniel III went in the destruction of our impartiality.

I ask you, clergymen, how can we allow this to go unquestioned? When GOD is paramount and above all others, how can his representatives upon Vailor - his Vicar - be chained and restrained to a secular ruler? No matter the heritage of his blood, how can we allow ourselves to place the Church of the Lord beneath a layman. A pious and zealous ruler he may be, but to expect homage from a Vicar of GOD is unacceptable.

Let us, as we cast aside the first, false, revelation, also destroy this one and restore the sanctity of our Church. Let us raise up our Church again, beholden only to GOD. We shall not place any man above the Lord.

And I am the Lord God without peer, and My greatness is the only greatness,  and My eternity is the only eternity.

Maurice Gradic

Acolyte

cool, original, unique; never been done before

16 hours ago, BrandNewKitten said:

All my ladies, Margery, Cersei, Sansa, Khaleesi and Lady Ironborn! I love them all. They are dominating this season and I hope it continues! 

 

 

 

same here bro
#feminism #womanpower #wearenotmen #cuckoldry

Heff, yeah. +1

white rose golden age + peter chivay declaring himself king of kaedrin
raevir duma + 1st battle of mt. augustus

schism war + running amyas and leuvaarden

duke's war

gambino organized crime in new felsen

59 minutes ago, erik0821 said:

He refuses to host Eu4 -1

Yea.. should get to that.

58 minutes ago, Lunar said:

banned player alted on numerous accounts... but a good man +1

Mhm.

54 minutes ago, Stevie said:

Hunwald laTerre Michael [REDACTED] is a very capable and longtime member of the community. I am confident that he can be an effective Global Moderator. He is, like he said, very passionate, and has stuck with LOTC longer than most people have. He cares for the server and definitely wants to see it improved, and I'm glad he took the leap to take a more direct role in the server.

 

 

 

 

 

Right, exactly.

53 minutes ago, DanDan420 said:

Good man, spoke to him on skype. He would very dedicated to his role if given the chance to be a GM. 

Love him like a brother.

 

 

Don't even know him to be honest, I just wanted to be nice

 

+1

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah. That's nice and true.

53 minutes ago, Fordo said:

I want to see this yung thug rise up 

 

Started from permabanned infamous player and now he could be a fantastic GM. this is the lotc dream right here

 

+1 

 

 

 

 

 

Same and you've got it right; that is the dream right there.

53 minutes ago, Free The Hobbits said:

Seems like a really wholesome, dedicated man. 

Yep!

45 minutes ago, LukyLucaz said:

Great man! Was a **** moderator on Talanor!

 

You guys can have him, have fun.

 

+1

 

 

 

 

Don't know anything about that.

41 minutes ago, Harrrison said:

Very smart man who likes to joke around with his friends - shouldn't be professionally judged the way he is when he's just playing around with his friends. Also not afraid to logically put his point out there, despite how some might look down on him for it.

 

I think he could be a good GM with maybe a bit of polishing.

 

 

 

 

Smart. Fun.

40 minutes ago, Heff said:

Good values, scolded me and banned me for decadence on many occasions... but overall worthy of the title of global moderator. Firmly rooted in the community and its wants, needs, etc. He would be far from a detached, stoic GM, and much more open than most in interacting with the community, as well as in receiving their sometimes harsh feedback. +1

 

 

 

 

You know it, brother!

39 minutes ago, Cracker said:

  

 

Not signed in

 

Not signed in

 

Not signed in

A picture says a thousand words, or however the saying goes.

27 minutes ago, TheMostGinger said:

Hunwald is very good with RP, very mature, and handles situations well! I would be very happy to see him as a GM! +1

 

 

 

You know it, brother(?)!

I'll give him a +1.

I support. +1

in the 2nd clip where dunamis is fighting near the caliphate they end up losing the skirmish

therefore, i do not sign. they are mortal men and they bleed like we do.

the dream is dead

Let players make and develop their own storylines. While black and white, textbook definitions of villains are easy to hate, they just get boring. Characters with shades of grey are much more interesting to interact with.