Narthok

We will see what happens now that Haense can't larp as the underdog and actually has to wear the big boy pants for the first time in its history. Vassalization as a super power is usually as easy as rply walking up to one of these fledgling states and saying 'you will vassalize or we will annex you'. I very much enjoy the current rules environment. Though I do think the propensity to seek total death and annihilation is probably a cultural issue, but one that is unlikely to be resolved. People refuse to discuss terms AT ALL and just demand complete destruction of a particular group. This has never worked in the past and on some occasions it has been actively admin shielded (Telanir shielding Haense after they wrote that giant cope essay). I don't really think there is a solution to how bad people are at diplomacy. Take the legacy of Norland for example. Wiped in Athera atleast three times. Wiped in Vailor twice. Wiped in Axios, Wiped in Atlas. The current iteration has survived since Almaris but has gotten punked several times in wars. The point here being that fullwiping a people isn't really possible and is also not really desireable. People need to learn to lose (I have done this many times, pking at inopportune moments for the sake of the story, those of you who whine about not pking because of the 'stability' of your nations are pathetic by the way) but people also need to learn to win. A lot of Hay is made about good faith and collaborative roleplay. But I keep seeing NLs just blatantly combat log and get clipped doing it, and get essentially no punishment. We talk about collaborative roleplay but so many people seem to be motivated by OOC seethe hence ---> we need to make the other side as miserable as possible. Again this is not really something you can fix from the staff side. Good faith actually means something imo. It means not min-maxing and taking every opportunity for advantage when it will make the collaborative experience miserable. If you ask the various Covenant people I have rped with during this conflict you will find that I generally try to be respectful to the people I am rping with oocly. I have had many compelling rp interactions with Aaun, Haense, Hyspia which were oocly courteous. A big problem with this goofy discord culture is that most interactions with other nations is just people seething and whining in looc about how they're not going to pk or about how they 'need to go'. So we just post these giant dunk posts on the forums and only interact with each other serverside with lightning raids which are generally intended to grief the enjoyment of the opposing faction. These obviously being the result of feeling like there is no other way to achieve rp aims combined with spite at bad faith behaviour (combat logging, talking about not pking ever etc). We will see how things go. In general it has been very surprising how little in person / serverside diplomacy has occurred this war. Whenever diplomacy does occur its just a 'we are going to do some genocide' posting. Feels a bit like when people chud out in Eu4 multiplayer game. It is a shame that raids are more of a 'I intend to ruin your server experience' rather than an opportunity for interesting rp. I have enjoyed the raids that I have gone on, said raids usually end in the release of whoever we captured etc after interesting enemy to enemy discussion / rp. I am literally a nation leader. I will personally take my army and go wipe out some of these dead nations the second the Humandoku Jidai is over and Mio stops being a ***** and declares himself the new Shogun

Agree with yoppl. it is laughably easy to drum up activity if you put the barest effort into making semi decent narrative rp.

I agree with what is said here. I also don't think there should be any rule changes. I think that change needs to come from the playerside rather than rule changes. The only thing that should be done more by staff is actually checking the signatures because right now people spam them. First time I've laughed out loud reading the forums in a long time. I hope you don't get punished for this. The forums are so much more fun when people can actually say what they think. I think the 'nations should only be inheirited' line is a bit silly tbh. I have personally made multiple nations. Whenever Norland has died I have had to revive it essentially from scratch. Morsgrad was something I had to build entirely from scratch after the previous Norlanders burnt the entire nation down in their 50th iteration of the same idiot diplomatic policy. It is from Morsgrad that the modern Rurics trace the origins of the 'Kingdom of Norland' title. Arichsdorf and other settlements are the same. I do not think the problem here is being able to make settlements. It is more that nations are too spineless to actually annex random sleeper nations. Half the reason we can't do this is because essentially every nation is semi permanently guaranteed by the major super powers. This is a solveable problem without any rule changes. Haense is easily strong enough to vassalize essentially every polity and make a new Empire. Haense could wipe out or vassalize any of these piastdoms they wanted to without even a war. Send a single diplomat or post demands on the forums. All of these tearpers will fold immediately.

Manfred von Arichsdorf, a direct descendant of the storied Godric, and a Marcherlord of some reknown in his own time would come across the writings of the Heartland cleric. Being well versed in the scholarship of his ancestor and the discourse of the age he would frown, putting pen to paper and composing a response. The blood of the prophet has been much thinned in these modern days. Many claim the blood of the prophet yet lack the characteristic zeal that once exemplified the line of northern kings. Herein I shall speak to the mind of my predecessors the Edvardssons, the nation builders of scholars of the Rurukid. The author has pointed to the writings of Godric. Any serious historian will agree that he is the most significant of the modern Rurics. However, the nuance of Godric's reign are often missed by Canonist Scholars. Prior to the outbreak of the Rubern war it was widely established that the Duke of Morsgrad was actively seeking integration into the Imperium. This can be observed through his participation in the punitive campaign against the Orcs. If anything it was his strong public denunciation of the toe-sucking incident that likely sparked hostilities. Even prior to the era of Godric the settlements of Nordengrad under Thoromir II or Dunharrow under Alvar are both seen to be interested in the universal human project whilst still aspiring to maintain their particularities in regards to culture and ethnos. Even my own polity, nestled as it was in the beating heart of an Oren beset by a coalition of Haense and Dwarves fought desperately for the preservation of the grand Imperial project. Though at the time it had become clear that the humans of the heartlands had lost the stomach for Imperium by that point. The ignoble squabbling that occurred after our loss truly shamed the entirety of humanity. If I was to give an account of what we desired, it would be the following. It is desirable that the entirety of humanity and its adjacent be unified under a single authority within a single supra-national polity. Unified humanity with decentralized political authority is the best solution to the question of human political organization. It is clear that excessive centralization in the model of Renatus, while extremely strong, suffers from two issues. First, the degree to which it is sustainable over the long term should the leadership lag is questionable. The iron fist ages and tires, and then as the author pointed out the legitimacy behind said fist becomes a matter of debate. Secondly, the withering of culture that occurs under these hyper-centralized regimes. When humanity are permanently on a war footing there is little in the way of law or culture that blooms. The best of Humanity's Emperors have been those that have understood the wide variety of humans and have been able to forge individual compacts and agreements with each unique people. There cannot be a universal solution to particular problems. Each must be coaxed into imperium according to their own set of circumstances and needs. Unfortunately, as was noted by my ancestor. The age of heroes is long over. We shall see if this new King of Haense has the spine to exceed the status quo of his predecessors and seize Imperium for himself. But as things stand the innumerable petty kings who squabble and preen brings shame to all of us. Let there be an Emperor once more. A humanity long united, must divide, a humanity long divided, must unit.

Summons for the Shamans of the Spirit Lodge The Dreams of the Rex have been plagued by strange voices and confusing imagery. The Hordespeaker calls on the services of the Seers, the Shamans, the Spirit-talkers to help him make sense of the augurs. By the word of the Hordespeaker, the Shamans of the Horde and the Spirit Lodge are requested for the following. In light of the ill omens that seem so numerous in the stars, the dreams, and the augurs of the Fate-readers, it is clear that a spiritual journey is necessary. The Horde, led by the Spirit Lodge shall travel to the Stone Talon amongst the desert sands. The highest mountain in the Hordelands. There, where the veil between mortal and spiritual wears thin, the Horde shall walk with the spirits and seek guidance [I would like to conduct an Orcish pilgrimage event to the highest mountain in the desert and do a mass spirit walk or a seance of some kind. I leave the specifics up to the knowledge of the Shamans. As a result of the rp in Grommash’s life and the Horde widely I think this is a good time to confer with the spirits.

Summons for the Vassals of the Horde By the word of the Hordespeaker, the Tribes, the Villages, and the Families who owe swords and meat to the Horde are to present themselves at the Third Klamor of the New Horde. The Chieftains and Headmen of the Tribes and Villages will give account to the Rex of the following. 1) Failure to pay tax 2) Failure to provide the base number of soldiers as agreed to in the First Klamor. As a result taxes on all vassals who have failed to meet the base number of soldiers shall be doubled. 3) Failure of duties as a vassal or protectorate of the Horde. Failure to properly lead the families under their leadership Failure to inform the Rex and engage with the Horde 4) Potential abandonment of the lands granted 5) How do you plan to change your ways and satisfy the demands of the Rex. Should no representative be sent or the answers given be unsatisfactory then you and your families will be removed from the land by force by order of the Rex.

Summons for the Third Klamor The Tribes, the Clans and the Lodges of the Urukhim are summoned by the word of the Hordespeaker to a Klamor of the Horde. The Horde will hear and the Horde will speak. The Klamor will occur at the village fire of Orcgrimmar beneath the gaze of the Rex Rock. Friends and Enemies of the Horde are welcome to send observers. Foreigners may not speak during the Klamor unless they are invited to speak by the Rex, a Goth, or a Lodgemaster. The Horde will Speak of 1) The future of the Horde in the Huwagh of the Midlands. The Urukhim of the Horde have an interest in removing the invading Hysmen and Numen from the sands of the desert. The Horde will discuss if this is possible, and if continuing in the war is desireable. 2) The future of clans in the Horde. Many of the Wargoths and Chieftains of the Horde have been extremely neglectful of their duties. This has resulted in more junior Urukhim or Clanless Urukhim taking up duties. Do Wargoths still deserve their positions of power and respect in the Horde if they are not going to help the Horde. Should clans perhaps take a back seat to the Horde lodges? a) Horde Lodges are being slowly established by various industrious Urukhim to pursue specific purposes. The Warforge has grown out of many Urukhm coming together to create quality weapons, armour, and totems for all members of the Horde. The fledgling Huntlodge and Gobtown Alchemy Union have also begun to show muc promise. Should the horde acknowledge the importance of Lodgemasters? 3) Orcgrimmar Fighting Championship. The Horde intends to invite every nation in Aevos to the upcoming Orcgrimmar Fighting Championship. Nation leaders will be given special VIP seats. All attendants will be able to place bets on the fights. All OFC guests will be guaranteed safety under traditional guest right by the word of Grommash. What are the thoughts of the Horde on this. 4) On the future of the Spirit Lodge in the Horde. Now that the Spirit Lodge has been established under the leadership of Motsham Madoc’Lur and Grothzark’Dom it is now time to discuss the future direction of the Spirit Lodge. Will the Spirit Lodge begin teaching Nuruks the traditions of Shamanism. Will the Spirit Lodge begin organizing proper Buurz hunts? 5) With the Stasmen and the Staslands falling prey to the flesh tide of the Covenant, how is the Horde to prepare itself. More fortifications must be conducted incase the flesh tide turns its gaze south to the native lands of the Urukhim. The Rukahai require construction volunteers and material donations from the Horde. 6) Vassals. Do we need them? Every vassal of the Horde has failed to pay its taxes and to provide troops. What is to be done about this? 7) Report from Rukagoth Minto’lur regarding the state of the Horde vault and the ability of the Horde to continue to wage war. 8) Report from Yazgurtaan Azfrai’lur regarding the state of the Horde treasury and the Horde tax system. 9) Report from the Targoth and Warbosses regarding the state of the Krughai. Recent training, patrols, raids. Plans for future raids. 10) Public petitions for the Rex

difficult to organically conquer tbh, the diplo networks are pretty extensive

i think the issue is that people are to a degree unwilling to give up pro / autonomy etc. It would be nice if there was some kind of supra-national polity people could belong to. Perhaps an.. empire..

The Warsong The word exploded in masonry and hot iron as another cannonball buried itself in the walls of the Stassion fortress. Grommash rubbed an arm across his face before returning his attention to the flame spitting contraption before him. The dust and sweat had congealed so heavily as to form a gritty paste across his entire body. Yet still the Orcish Chieftain laboured on. Another explosion. Another rain of stone and dust. Another explosion. Curses and screams, the siege was going poorly. Peering over the parapet Grommash could see the innumerable squirming figures of the army of eight. They swarmed over their massive earthen fortress like ants. Too many. Always too many. Gritting his teeth he cast an eye to his surroundings, many of the cannons had already been reduced to piles of twisted steel and burning flesh. Warriors of the Horde littered the forward earthwork. It seemed that the Urukhim always somehow found themselves in the vanguard. Through the fire and the smoke Grommash could make out the Cavalry of the alliance swinging wide across the hillside. Banners snapping cleanly in air yet untainted by the black pollution of Cannon fire, nor the screams of the wounded and the dying. An almost ephemeral beauty seemed to possess the column of shining cavalry as they advanced upon the enemy. Even in this charnel house of death perhaps beauty could still be found. Yet the brief scene was soon shattered as the Alliance cavalry met with the covenant outriders. Too far to hear, yet even from the walls the horror of the charge could be seen. Hearing screams behind him, the young Hordespeaker tore his eyes from the far away battle, One of his warriors had become trapped between the barrel of one of the massive forward siege cannons. Grunting, he’d move his massive frame to investigate. The warrior while battered and bloody did not seem crippled nor mortally wounded. The eyes of the two met, each knowing the mind of the other perfectly, having no need to exchange something so primitive as mere words. Life in the desert was brutal and hard. If a member of the tribe became crippled during war or the hunt, perhaps it was better for them to die. Better a death in the field than a life of ignominy, another mouth to burden the horde, a mouth that could not feed itself. The warrior's death was not written in the stars, not here, not now. The two exchanged anod before the young Rex braced himself, assisting the trapped warrior in shifting the massive steel barrel to allow the warrior below to wriggle free. More explosions. More dust. And… the tramping of feet. Once more Grommash peered from his position amidst the earthworks. Before him nothing but an obscuring storm of smoke and dust. Yet still he could hear the tramping of boots. The human tide was coming. Muttering a prayer to the Orcfather Grommash would pull his warhorn from his belt, raising it to his lips and from it issuing a deep but clear tone. The humans within the keep would have no knowledge of the horn's meaning. The humans without, astride their great destriers were perhaps too far to hear. yet the children of Krug would know the meaning of the horn well. It signaled the dyingtime. Some knew it as the warsong, others as the deathcaller. For when its mournful cry was sounded, the death and blood were surely etched in the stars. Eerie silence fell over the ramparts, there were almost no humans in the ramparts, those there were took their queues from the Urukhim comrades. Warriors made their peace with their warbrothers and their totems. Many closed their eyes, breathing deeply as they wrestled with the rising furor of the beast nestled deep in the heart of every child of Krug. To fall to the bloodcurse of the Urukhim was a great shame. To lose oneself to the rage and become as an animal was antithetical to the way of Krug. And so, as silence pervaded the ramparts, interrupted only by the crackling of fire and the tramping of human boots. Voices in the smoke; Commands, issued in the strange foreign tongues of the humans. The serenity was shattered. Innumerable screaming humans fell upon the ramparts. They were met with weapons as long as they were tall, arrows as long as their forearms and as thick as their fingers. Those who fell, choking on their own blood, bodies cloven in twain, throats gifted with the kiss of the arrow shaft, were quickly replaced by more. As the first of his warriors began to fall, the great Bull Uruks of the Horde surrounded and impaled with spears, the Chieftain called the retreat. His warriors were slow at first, many half consumed by the blood rage, yet they came nonetheless, soon clearing the forward earthworks. For a moment Grommash felt pride. When he had first become Rex the Horde had been a wild and wounded thing. There had been no discipline, little honour, none who would die for the greater good of the Horde. Even as he retreated Grommash saw the fire in the eyes of his warriors. An venerable warrior looked back, even as his massive frame was impaled by the hated spears and arrows of the humans. There was not regret in his eyes, only a surety, a grim satisfaction. Offering a nod and a fatalistic smile to the Hordespeaker, the warrior opened his massive fanged jaw impossibly wide, gouging out the throat of one of his interlocutors before the final lifeblood ebbed from his massive body. The warriors of the Horde fought a slow and grinding retreat through the shattered remnant of the human fortress. Grommash hated human fortresses. Walls thinner than a single stride. Endlessly mazes of squat tunnels. A horrible place to die. Floor by floor they retreated, each passing minute diminishing the number of warriors who yet stood with Rex of all Urukhim. Finally there was nowhere left to run. A mere handful of warriors remained. It was only a matter of time until the resting humans below brought ladders and fresh troops to the fore. Before the flood resumed its inexorable march. Far in the distance Grommash could see the swirling formations of alliance cavalry decimating the cavalry of the covenant. He could not understand. Almost the entire army had abandoned the fortress. Had abandoned the Orcs… How could they possibly hold off a force outnumbering them almost ten to one? The Warchief shook his head, bringing his horn to his lips once more he blew the mournful tone of the deathcaller. If the death of his people was written in the stars, then his journey to his ancestors in the Stargush’stroh would be announced in the finest way he knew how. By hornsong, and by the death of his enemies. The clack of wood on stone broke the brief lull in the fighting. They were coming. Grommash smiled, the fatalistic death mask of the Orcish warrior. He had earned his death. Smashing his massive boomhammer against the flat edge of his axe, he illuminated the roof of the castle in sparks, igniting the hammer that had been held by so many before him. He had earned his death. Opening his mouth impossibly wise he unleashed a blood curdling warcry before he’d charge towards the humans clambering up the ladders. If the tonguedance was the language of the human, then let the children of Orcfather be known by the wardance. Abandoning all pretense of safety, Grommash threw himself into the melee, the almost eight foot tall Orcish youth still entering his physical prime. His massive footsteps beat the drumbeat of war, each foot shifting and stamping as battle demanded. His twin weapons, the massive Rimesteel waraxe and his Boomhammer Dagalur echoing the beat of his footsteps. Thump, BOOM. Thump BOOM. First the axe would sink home, followed by the brutal finality of his hammer. Death was coming for the Rex, he would meet it gladly. Before him stood a human clad in finery and colour. One of their chieftains or Keshig perhaps.. Another soul to announce his arrival. The two met, weapons flashing as they met again and again. Yet without realizing it, Grommash had come to the edge of the castle roof, his foot slipping on the loose stones. As he fell the warrior’s blade pierced through his stomach. Falling. Noise. Darkness. The voices raged. COWARD. FAILURE. TOO STUPID TO EVEN DIE. The voices of the warsong, the whispers. More real now than ever before. Was this barren place the Stargush’Stroh? This field of blackened stone and magma? The world erupted in fire. Pain. Anguish. Sorrow. He had failed. So many warriors had died at his command. He clung to ‘the path’ but what had that brought him. Failure? Who was he to deny the gift of the Urukhim. To look down on the gift given to the children of the greatest of the descendants. He must drink.. Drink deeply. No longer would his insults against the gift be tolerated. He must drink and become what he was always destined to be. To drink of the gift was not to become an animal, it was not to become ‘less’. It was to become so much more. To shed the pathetic chains of ‘honour’ and ‘morality’. To drink of the gift was to become was the Urukhim were always destined to be. Conquerors. A hand emerged from the roaring flames. Grommash had never seen a hand so perfect in his entire life. It shimmered beautifully, belonging to every race, yet no race simultaneously. In its dexterous fingers was held a beautiful goblet of the purest crystal. Within the goblet swirled.. Grommash could not tell. Blood? Fire? Liquid Gold? Everything and nothing. “Drink” the sonorous voice demanded. Extending a hand forward the Rex gingerly took the cup from the shining hand. Cautiously he would raise it to his lips. The world shook. The melodic voice screamed “NO, NO, NOT NOW, HE WAS ALMOST MINE” Silence. The fire faded. Grommash was overcome with indescribable feeling. The love of a father. Safety. Pride. Sorrow. Disapointment. Rage. "My son" boomed a voice that dwarfed the strong and infantilized the old "Go" The young Hordespeaker awoke amongst his furs. His small spartan chambers dim, the torches extinguished and the windows covered with yet more furs. His stomach skillfully bandaged. He did not understand what he had seen. What was real, what was dream The lines seemed to blur more and more with each passing day. His dreams becoming more vivid, the warsong growing louder, yet never before had he heard the whispering so clearly.. Weakly the Warchief pulled himself from his furs, leaning heavily on the walls and pillars of his chamber he would limp to the entrance. Emerging from the furs he would come face to face with one of his great armoured keshig standing stoically on guard, battered and bandaged, but whole. “Summon the lodge” the Rex commanded, his voice a hoarse whisper “There is much to discuss”

Grommash hustles to see his friend Grothzark

Orcish Forestry Effort Grommash would stand proudly over the lush forests of the midlands, the trees oddly whispering. Before him the legions of the Orcish Rukahai would labour mightily, their massive lumber axes biting deeply into the flesh of the forests. Every minute or so the once proud patriarchs of the glades would fall, Orcish carpenters taking to the trunks with saw and chisel to form the great lengths of wood into appropriately formed beams. As the beams were formed they would be raised by massive Ologs, the towering warriors carrying the beams to great wagons pulled by Orcish Warbeasts. The lumber would be pulled over the hills towards the freshly built fortifications at Stassion. Truly the Orcs were doing their part.

Grommash performs a traditional Orcish war dance

Play an Orc / half-orc, orcs are in the middle of an rp renaissance rn and its a relatively unique experience all things considered. Orc nation is a confederation of orcish families who all cooperate for the greater good so its generally easy to find a family to join / child char to play. https://discord.gg/s7QmTkVh You can pop in the discord and ask questions if you'd like

Notice of Poisoning Cowards have attempted to kill Grommash with poison and sneakways. Horde Healers and Shamans have saved the Rex, but he is still on the edge of death. The constitution of the Hordespeaker remains fragile and he is still subject to the restrictions imposed upon him by Horde healers. Those seeking an audience or diplomacy with the Rex will have to visit him as he recovers as he will be unable to travel for the foreseeable future. All letters henceforth will be checked by members of the Keshig to ensure they have not been coated with poison or other cowardly materials. Foreigners visiting the Hordelands are asked to surrender themselves to search by members of the Keshig or the Krughai to ensure they are not carrying poisons. The identity of the assassin is unknown. It is believed that a foreigner poisoned the drink of the Rex while he was at the tavern. The Horde strongly condemns the use of poisons as a cowardly means of war fighting. Be vigilant. Krug has saved our Rex. [The document would lack the characteristic Red Hand of the Hordespeaker, it would instead be written in the elegant slanted font of one of the Rex’s Goblin attendants] [In order to respect the RP of the assassin and prevent Meta the name of the assassin will not be disclosed to anyone inside or outside of the Horde. I would like to encourage this kind of RP / Espionage / IRP diplo etc] Screenshots of RP & PK Roll

Grommash nodes sagely, sure that his mask will certainly conceal his identity

Lartin Muther, young priest frowns as he'd waddle to the nearest Cathedral, he had 99 theses and a pontiff ain't one

Grommash would wonder who is mewling as he'd return home from the 50th victorious totally unanswered raid, another covenant nation leader dragged in tow. "Have you tried not losing" he'd mutter as the leader who he had captured on at least three separate occasions 'mewled' behind him

Grommash would frown before marching off to speak to the Velemen about this behaviour towards a friend of the Horde

Grommash would nod his head, proud of the Akaal's choice

[specifics somewhat discussed in discord, rp discussion must also take place]