ARCHITECUS

On the Private Military Organization Bill of 1773, the Crown does grant assent. On the Lex Criminalis Reform Bill of 1773, the crown will grant assent pending omission of all references to and provisions for indentured servitude.

Dissolution of the 16th Imperial Diet 9th of the Sun’s Smile, 1774 His Imperial Majesty does see fit to dissolve the sixteenth Imperial Diet, running from 1769 through 1774 subsequent to the elections of 1769. With this dissolution, His Imperial Majesty commands the members of the sixteenth Imperial Diet to return home to their constituents until such time as the assembly is summoned to sit again. Signed and Issued, Peter III, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Prince of Malinor, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Lorraine and Roden, Baron of Sedan, Vitzburg and Sedai, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

The Emperor feels a grim closure on the wind. His lone eye leaks tears.

A new chapter in the story of Axios is out, stay up to date here.

AMENDMENTS TO THE EDICT OF REFORM, 1773 To Our Beloved Subjects, Upon the recommendations of Presidents May and Stafyr, the Crown has deemed fit to reform the constitution of the House of Commons, making adjustments to the total number of seats as well as the electoral process. Delivered at Novellen, 15th of Harren’s Folly, 1773. AMENDMENTS TO SECTION I: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS The House of Commons shall be comprised of twelve seats to be competed for in national elections when summoned by the Crown. Imperial subjects will cast ballots for exactly three candidates of their choosing, after which seats will be allocated based on the percentage of the overall vote each candidate receives. Prior to national elections, the Ministry of Civil Affairs shall accept applications for candidacy within a period lasting no less than three months. Any Imperial subject over the age of thirty and registered with the Imperial census shall be permitted to apply to said candidacy, and if reviewed and approved they shall appear as candidates on the ballot. Any subject, regardless of age, who has served in the Commons prior to the promulgation of this amendment is eligible for candidacy. Legal recognition of the current political factions, the Josephites and the Everardines, shall exist independently from the electoral process. Recognition of a candidate’s affiliation with said factions will not be provided on the ballot. Necessarily, Members of the House of Commons will henceforth be allowed to sit independently of either faction while on the bench. Any part of the Edict of Reform not explicitly amended by this amendment edict shall be construed as remaining in effect.

On the Legal Procedure Bill of 1772, the Crown grants assent. On the Evictions Bill of 1772, the Crown grants assent. On the Voter Protection Bill of 1772, the Crown withholds assent pending fundamental changes to Section I. Any subject of the Empire shall be allowed free discourse sparing sedition, blasphemy; etcetera. However, it is powers and privileges afforded by government offices municipal, provincial, or Imperial that must forbidden leverage in political action.

THE INVESTITURE OF THE COUNT OF LEUVEN 14th of the Sun’s Smile, 1772 With the welcome news that all resistance had been defeated or naturally withered in the occupied Leuven region, the settlements of the Holy Orenian Empire erupted into a celebratory mood the likes of which had not been seen since the end of that great war over a decade past. From Helena to Johnstown, from Reza to Owynsburg, and even within the glade of Tor Eldar and the far-flung freeholds of the Northeast, common people, aristocrats and nonhumans alike toasted the occasion in jubilation. The Great Deceiver’s mistress, Helen Stiborovich, had passed from this world in a whimper, and with that the last vestiges of rebellion and foreign incursion in the Empire. Years ago, the late Count of Leuven, Conrad de Falstaff, had picked the wrong side in one of the bloodiest civil wars humanity had ever seen. By supporting the failed rebel Joseph of Marna, he had lost his lands, which were promptly partitioned from the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska into the rump state of Rubern, a notorious hive of bandits and reprobates. That was the War of Two Emperors, and over the fifty years since the den of scoundrels had changed hands nearly ten score. From Rhenyari emigres, to dissident Haeseni, to neo-Savoyards, and finally to slovenly Stiborovich herself, all had endeavoured to secure a foothold there - yet always had their fields run fallow. Stubbornly, however, and with the relentless spite the region would come to be known for, none acceded to requests for peace or reassimilation from the Empire that surrounded them. It was in the Basilica of the Final Revelation that this wicked cycle would be put to an end. Armande de Falstaff, the successor to a father he had never known, knelt staidly before the rostrum. Resplendent in a full-bottomed white periwig and immaculate knee-breeches, the heir to Leuven paid homage before his sovereign, Peter the Third. Their predecessors had known each other. After all, it was against His Imperial Majesty’s father the old Count had taken up arms in the first place. “I swear,” began the rebel’s son, the lost baby that had now grown to his middle ages, “On my faith and family, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Imperial Majesty Peter the Third and his lawful heirs and successors without deceit. So help me GOD.” The hoary old ruler inspected Armande with his single grey eye, outstretching a hand bedecked in frilled sleeves for him to kiss. After he had done that, the bewigged monarch hovered his ceremonial sword over either of the now peer’s shoulders. From behind Armande came his twin sons Albert and Lysander, who ritualistically invested him with the ermine robes traditional to the comital rank, draping the fur over their father’s shoulders. It was a good showing from a pair of ten year olds. “Rise, then, Armande de Falstaff, as Count of Leuven restored,” ordered the Holy Orenian Emperor. Armande de Falstaff, invested in traditional garb as Count of Leuven in 1772. An accompanying document would be issued following the investiture, gazetted throughout the Empire to give notice of the rite. IMPERIAL LETTERS FOR THE COUNTY OF LEUVEN, 1772 TO OUR BELOVED SUBJECTS, It has pleased the Imperial Throne to reward the service of Our leal subject, Armande de Falstaff, with official verification of their tenure in fealty to the Holy Orenian Empire. Accordingly, with this grace of God and the counsel of Our court, we do invest Armande de Falstaff as the Count of Leuven, a role they as peers of the Holy Orenian Empire shall hold in trust to Our throne for the duration of their loyal service. They are enjoined to maintain the law of Our realm, to abide peacefully by Our rule, and to rise to Our defense when necessary. In return, as a sign of Our August graciousness, we do privilege their head to collect rents on their estates and holdings, to join His Imperial Majesty’s court, and to conduct themself with a noble grace befitting their rank. HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY Peter III, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Prince of Malinor, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Lorraine and Roden, Baron of Sedan, Vitzburg, and Sedai, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

Enforcement of the Leuven Doctrine, 1772 14th of Tobias’ Bounty TO THE WORLD WITH OUR GOD AS WITNESS, On this day, the rebel leader occupying Oren’s Leuven region has posthumously declared its fortifications and surrounding lands to be subsidiary of Norland. Any attempts by the stated party to settle, occupy, entrench, etcetera the Leuven region can be perceived only as an invasion of the Empire’s sovereign territory. To cite the Leuven Doctrine of 1769, the following actions are inherently acts of war: The establishment of treaties diplomatic, martial, or economic with local governments or peoples constituent of, subsidiary of, or rebelling from the Holy Orenian Empire will be considered overt acts of aggression against the Imperial State. The diplomatic recognition of independence of local governments or peoples constituent of, subsidiary of, or rebelling from the Holy Orenian Empire will be considered overt acts of aggression against the Imperial State. The assistance of any kind towards groups and peoples invading, occupying, or laying claim to Imperial land will be considered an overt act of aggression against the Imperial State. To King Caedric of the Nordlings, it has fallen upon you to end this conflict of decades. Honor the Empire’s doctrine, and you will be honored in turn. We have known only hostilities for the breadth of two generations; this is the crucial moment where We may strike mutual accord. May God Grant You Wisdom, Peter III, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Prince of Malinor, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Lorraine and Roden, Baron of Sedan, Vitzburg, and Sedai, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

A Cry for Help from Sutica; The Alstreim Question 12th of Godfrey’s Triumph, 1772 The Sutican council’s letter to Novellen detailing its decision and appeal to the Holy Orenian Empire. TO THE CITY OF SUTICA, Following the legitimate Sutican government’s reponse to our private and polite concerns, Mister Corwin Alstreim has illegally sacked these justice-minded statesmen and replaced each with his sycophants in an act of objective tyranny. We wish for all subjects of the Orenian Crown and residents of the City of Sutica to understand the trouble at hand, and to endeavor through dutiful action and educated discussion, reach this civil and peaceful solution. Even given his historied efforts to topple the Holy Orenian Empire as a soldier and commander, Mister Corwin Alstreim, by Our august graciousness, was given amnesty to find peace and repentance wherever his heart would lead him. The man’s heart, however, remains fixated on the destruction of the Orenian state and the violent death of the Imperial monarch’s relations. Not but a week after Mister Corwin Alstreim’s assumption of office in Sutica, a package arrived by post, addressed to the Lord Selm, John d’Arkent, from Mister Alstreim’s office. Contained was a collection of effigies meant to threaten violence against the Orenian people and land, demonstrating a continued commitment to his cause predicating on war against the Empire and murder of Our subjects. Mister Corwin Alstreim, once a commander of the now defunct A.I.S. coalition purposed to destroy the Holy Orenian Empire, his membership and intent revealed by Mister Alstreim’s former colleague Ri’Haskir, evidently maintains this lost cause by his words and actions. Profoundly more troubling is the disappearance and murder of both Lady Henrietta Alstion and Master Peter Amadeus, noble relations by blood to the Imperial monarch. This woman of prestige, wife of the Count Pompourelia and mother of young Peter Amadeus, went missing in the City of Sutica a number of years ago. According to a close friend of Peter, the young man set off on a personally important quest in Sutica just prior to his identical disappearance: to find answers for his dead mother. Following this second vanishment, the Crown’s foreign secretary visited Sutica to receive an explanation. The captain of the guard in Sutica spoke openly of the matter pertaining to Henrietta Alstion, revealing she was “mercy-killed” by Corwin and his personal soldiers. Given that the Lady Pompourelia’s physician’s records showed her to have no concerning problems, We can determine, corroborated by Mister Corwin Alstreim’s past membership and current behavior, that this was a demonstration of the A.I.S. coalition’s evil justification of murder: that those born in or faithful to Oren must be killed. Soon after, a mentor to the disappeared Peter Amadeus ventured to Sutica to engage in her own inquiries. Happening upon Mister Corwin Alstreim in person, she was told with a laugh that the young nobleman may have died, but it did not matter to Mister Alstreim - and by the foreign secretary’s return, Mister Alstreim had admitted additionally to this murder. We can only hope that it matters to the people of the City of Sutica, however, for it is evident by his own boasting that Corwin Alstreim, with his demonstrated intent to murder and destroy Orenian people and land, is responsible for these deaths, and intends to abuse the haven of Sutica to perpetrate cold blooded violence in the future. To prevent his further murders of Orenian subjects, most explicitly the Imperial monarch’s blood relations, and to prevent his oppression and exploitation of Sutica’s people in violence against the world, We ask for the surrender of Mister Corwin Alstreim and his personal soldiers to Imperial authorities. For the sake of Sutica and Oren both, do oblige, lest he must be taken by force. May God Grant You Wisdom, Peter III, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Prince of Malinor, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Lorraine and Roden, Baron of Sedan, Vitzburg, and Sedai, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

The Leuven Doctrine 30th of Sigismund’s End, 1769 TO OUR EMPIRE AND PEOPLES OF THE WORLD ALIKE, The understanding of constituent parts of the Holy Orenian Empire to be politically or diplomatically separate has troubled the integrity of Our country for some time. Let it be known that any foreign country or people engaging in diplomatic contact, economic or military agreement, or independent diplomatic recognition with any constituent or subsidiary component of the Empire shall be determined as interfering in Our internal affairs, and is therefore explicitly aggressive towards the Holy Orenian Empire. Hostilities towards the Empire will be responded to in methods We see fit. Chief among these troubles today comes from the rebel stronghold of Rubern, which occupies the Orenian region traditionally known as Leuven. Once permitted to remain nominally autonomous by terms of a treaty, Rubern’s storied and flagrant violations have lawfully returned the region to direct property of an Imperial subject, and therefore indisputable territory of the Holy Orenian Empire. In its key position on the Leuven plain, the Rubern has facilitated or continues to facilitate these ninety-nine listed atrocities throughout or preceding the duration of the ongoing conflict: The formation of a hostile coalition against the Holy Orenian Empire. The violation of treaties on which Rubern’s autonomy was permitted. The breaking of alliances and diplomatic agreements with the Holy Orenian Empire. The continued invasion against the Holy Orenian Empire, through which Rubern persists in its attempts to seize the city of New Reza. The operation of open cages and “death camps”, in which a great number of souls were tortured, humiliated, and allowed to die from exposure or violent mutilation. The abduction and attempted murder of the Empress-Consort, wife to the Emperor. The abduction and attempted murder of a five year old Princess Imperial, daughter to the Emperor The abduction and murder of an eight year old Barbanov Princess, daughter to the King of Haense. The abduction and murder of the Lord Regent of Haense. The attempted murder of Ester Devereux. The abduction and murder of the twelve year old daughter of the Sohaer of Haelun’or. The murder of Joseph Nicephore, peaceful secretary of the Imperial Treasury. The abduction, threatened murder, and ransom of the ten year old Frida Gant. The abduction, threatened murder, and ransom of the young Edyth. The abduction, threatened murder, and ransom of the young Liest Fischer. The abduction, threatened murder, and ransom of the thirteen year old Morana Vilchyc. The abduction, threatened murder, and ransom of the eleven year old Clementine. The abduction, threatened murder, and ransom of the eleven year old Louisa Pruvia. The abduction, threatened murder, and ransom of the young Aurira. The abduction of many more young children. The murder, attempted or otherwise, of many more young children. The ransom of many more young children. The abduction of many more innocent subjects. The murder, attempted or otherwise, of many more innocent subjects. The ransom of many more innocent subjects. The abduction of many more unaligned individuals. The murder, attempted or otherwise, of many more unaligned individuals. The ransom of many more unaligned individuals. The banditry of innocent subjects and unaligned travellers through the region. The ransom of innocent subjects and unaligned travellers through the region. The torture of innocent subjects and unaligned travellers through the region. The murder of innocent subjects and unaligned travellers through the region. The abduction of innocent subjects and unaligned travellers through the region. The demonstration of unchivalrous conduct towards Orenian soldiers defending their homes. The murder of Orenian soldiers defending their homes. The torture of Orenian soldiers defending their homes. The raiding of undisputed territory irrelevant to Rubern’s stated terms of invasion. The harboring and protection of foreign militaries involved in indiscriminate banditry. The harboring and protection of foreign militaries involved in indiscriminate ransom. The harboring and protection of foreign militaries involved in indiscriminate torture. The harboring and protection of foreign militaries involved in indiscriminate murder. The harboring and protection of foreign militaries involved in indiscriminate abduction. The harboring and protection of foreign militaries demonstrating unchivalrous conduct towards Orenian soldiers defending their homes. The harboring and protection of foreign militaries murdering Orenian soldiers defending their homes. The harboring and protection of foreign militaries torturing Orenian soldiers defending their homes. The harboring and protection of foreign militaries raiding undisputed territory irrelevant to the stated terms of invasion. The harboring and protection of thieves carrying stolen military armaments. The harboring and protection of highwaymen and other outlaws. The harboring and protection of Aeldinic invaders. The harboring and protection of ancient families owing fealty to the Holy Orenian Emperor. The refusal to engage in diplomacy with the Holy Orenian Empire. The refusal to discuss valid terms of peace. The unlawful claimancy to titles belonging to the Holy Orenian Emperor. The unlawful claimancy to titles belonging to the King of Hanseti-Ruska. The unlawful claimancy to titles belonging to the King of Kaedrin. The unlawful claimancy to titles belonging to the King of Curon. The denial to recognize titles belonging to the Holy Orenian Emperor. The denial to recognize titles belonging to the King of Hanseti-Ruska. The seduction of adventurers and defectors through unlawful promises of titles belonging to the Holy Orenian Emperor. The seduction of adventurers and defectors through unlawful promises of titles belonging to the King of Hanseti-Ruska. The seduction of adventurers and defectors through unlawful promises of titles belonging to the King of Kaedrin. The seduction of adventurers and defectors through unlawful promises of titles belonging to the King of Curon. The encouragement towards the Duke Suffolk in rebelling against the Emperor. The direct aiding of the Duke Suffolk in rebelling against the Emperor. The encouragement towards the King of Curon in rebelling against the Emperor. The direct aiding of the King of Curon in rebelling against the Emperor. The encouragement of general insurrection and rebellion against the Emperor. The direct aiding of general insurrection and rebellion against the Emperor. The personal incitement of rebellion and destruction of the Empire upon the death of Alexander II. The encouragement of foreign invasion against the Empire. The direct aiding of foreign invasion against the Empire. The encouragement of acts of terror against the Empire. The direct aiding of acts of terror against the Empire. The participation in acts of terror against the Empire. The encouragement of defection from the Empire. The direct aiding of defection from the Empire. The encouragement of violent action against lawful elections. The participation in violent action against lawful elections. The encouragement of destruction of the Imperial State in favour of a federation meant to divide Humanity and subject the world to a continued period of violence and terror. The creation of wicked propaganda against the Holy Orenian Emperor. The creation of wicked propaganda against the Imperial Government. The creation of wicked propaganda against the King of Hanseti-Ruska. The dissemination of wicked propaganda against the Holy Orenian Emperor. The dissemination of wicked propaganda against the Imperial Government. The dissemination of wicked propaganda against the King of Hanseti-Ruska. The interference in and manipulation of Orenian affairs purposed to weaken the state. The encouragement of heresy purposed to weaken the Church and State alike. The encouragement of heathenry purposed to weaken the Church and State alike. The Ruberni presence at the first great foreign incursion near New Reza. The continued Ruberni presence in subsequent incursions preceding their declaration of war. The explicit breaking of oaths with the Holy Orenian Emperor. The unlawful possession of numerous stolen arms, goods, and currency belonging to Imperial subjects. The participation in vandalism of Orenian infrastructure. The participation in sabotage of Orenian infrastructure. The attempted infiltration of Novellen, and planned assassinations and abductions within. The unlawful occupation of land belonging to an Imperial subject, the King of Haense. The construction of hostile fortifications against the Holy Orenian Empire. The unrepentant state of anathema in which the Ruberni occupation is declared by the High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon. The continued efforts in soiling and undermining the good spirit of Humanity and all the world over. Many more of Rubern’s wicked aggressions against the Holy Orenian Empire could be listed, but a monumental, yet digestible count of ninety-nine has been selected to represent the horrible, bloody grief the Ruberni occupiers and invaders have brought upon Oren and the world. With this given, We pray the world understand the evil and demented spirit these rebels and invaders have demonstrated through the last half-century to today. For Rubern, a nominally new government proclaiming peace without halting its aggressions against the Empire, let alone assuming responsibility, cannot be absolved of its sins or yet forgiven for its crimes. To conclude, We summarize our diplomatic stance on actions which support rebellious and aggressive polities such as Rubern: The establishment of treaties diplomatic, martial, or economic with local governments or peoples constituent of, subsidiary of, or rebelling from the Holy Orenian Empire will be considered overt acts of aggression against the Imperial State. The diplomatic recognition of independence of local governments or peoples constituent of, subsidiary of, or rebelling from the Holy Orenian Empire will be considered overt acts of aggression against the Imperial State. The assistance of any kind towards groups and peoples invading, occupying, or laying claim to Imperial land will be considered an overt act of aggression against the Imperial State. For Peace in Our Time, Peter III, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Prince of Malinor, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Lorraine and Roden, Baron of Sedan, Vitzburg and Sedai, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

agreed but nations need to be able to produce/mint Minas by some means be it thru nodes or an activity system etc

The Imperial Crown takes the advice of the House of Lords on the matters of the Prince Bishopric and the Barony of Merentel.

To the Non-Partisan Courts Bill of 1765, We give assent. To the Establishment of the Ministry of Education Bill of 1767, We withhold assent unconditionally. Firstly, several passed acts from the Diet concerning education have yet to have their terms satisfied. Secondly, this bill proposes to change the composition of the Council of State, the structure of which derives from the Imperial Crown’s Edict of Establishment which must only be modified with the gravest consideration. To the Fixed-Penalty Bill of 1768, We give assent with the completed modifications of vocabulary.

Dissolution of the 15th Imperial Diet 4th of Horen’s Calling, 1769 His Imperial Majesty does see fit to dissolve the fifteenth Imperial Diet, running from 1765 through 1769 subsequent to the elections of 1765. With this dissolution, His Imperial Majesty commands the members of the fifteenth Imperial Diet of both houses to return home to their constituents until such time as the assembly is summoned to sit again. Signed and Issued, Peter III, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Prince of Malinor, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Lorraine and Roden, Baron of Sedan, Vitzburg and Sedai, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

We Bid the Sun Come Home 8th of Sun’s Smile, 1768 TO THE RUBERNI BANDITS AND THEIR UNFORTUNATE GUESTS OF THE HOUR, The stray Principality of Rubern is yet to surrender, and yet to answer for Her numbered crimes against all Oren. To those who cast their lot here, mind that you align with these terrible woes against Us. The murder of various innocents, such as the young Barbanov princess. The continued aggression against the Empire. The supply, housing, and martial support of bandits and violent vagabonds. The alignment with foreign hordes in invasion against the Empire. The usurpation of land belonging within the Empire by law. We bid you, ancient de Bars, make not the mistake of the unfortunate many who flee from the Empire to find a beggar’s fortune in this bandit den. Present yourself in amiable surrender before your rightful Sovereign, lest you find yourself enemy of all the world. May God lend us Wisdom, Peter III, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Salvus, Seventis, and Kaedrin, Prince of Malinor, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Lorraine and Roden, Baron of Sedan, Vitzburg and Sedai, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

ive got blizzards in my bathtub ive got vomit on my floor ive got popov in my vomit smell it as i leave my door ive got 3 cans of 4loko just to go and see ur face (rp)

The Crown grants immediate assent to the 1767 Infractions Bill passed by the House of Commons. The 1767 Education Bill will receive further review, and will likely require amendment before assent can be granted.

Nation Name: Oren What tile do you intend to expand to: Tile 55 How do you intend to use the tile to bolster your nation’s roleplay?: Building travel routes through the heart of the Empire to connect its expanses, as well as providing much needed homes for families and land for agriculture. People in this region would easily be able to share roleplay with the rest of the Empire given its central location. Are you aware of the activity requirements necessary to attain a new tile?: Yes. This will raise my nation’s total requirement to 12%. Are there any settlements or lairs in the tile you wish to expand into?: No, it is a CT tile.

A Tragedy, Then a Comedy: Flight of the Nordlings 20th of Horen’s Calling, 1765 Tragedy had struck the capital, one young subject of the Empire mistakenly killing another with a stone in a childhood scuffle gone too far. Residents of Helena looked on in black mourning as the frail daughter of two Orenian heroes lost her mortal fight before it had even begun. This grieving would not be respected by the Nordlings, however, with the scent of blood in the air - in particular the blood of children, for which these barbarians demonstrated a violent taste with the remorseless execution of a little Barbanov princess and the Sohaer’s young daughter - a warband was cobbled together by Chieftain Cedric. Nordling raiders and the she-Rex’s followers emerged from the woods near the Imperial capital, advancing with arms and armor in an unsteady battle march for the gates. The violent invaders were halted by a brave, but heavily outnumbered, bridge garrison as the Empire’s couriers sped out to deliver news of the Chieftain’s war party. Intimidated from encroaching any farther on the Emperor’s own home, the invading men began to shout loud demands for recompensence both living and dead: weregild, the Nordling word for justified extortion. With their wild cries falling only on disciplined ears, General de Nurem eventually joined the front with a division of professional soldiers and a number of patriots from around the Empire ready to defend their jewel. By the time General de Nurem had met the Chieftain in the shadow of Furnival Gate, the couriers reached their destinations at King Sigismund’s palace, the Emperor’s entourage in Northland, and the “Kennel” of the questionably legal Hounds of Blessed John. These Hounds raced off with their characteristic speed for Helena with the Emperor’s response entrusted to them; the noble sons of Haense assembled in a deliberate march behind. Blessed John’s fighters blocked the invading warband’s escape as General de Nurem read the Emperor’s command: disarm the Nordlings. The demand rang clear, but only grumbling is returned by the Nordling raiders while the Orcs begin to question their own involvement here, marching aggressively against the Empire they had sought to find at least impassivity from. Not yet obeyed, General de Nurem orders his troopers to brandish their weapons, and the command is executed immediately, a single flash of steel dazzling the opposing warband as each Imperial soldier drew their saber in unison. This impressive display of Orenian cohesion shocked the invaders, who had already begun to unconsciously huddle together and declare their innocence. Like the start of a rainstorm, weapons began to fall to the ground - first by a wise Orc who understood the Nordling ruse he was pulled into, then another, then en masse as the Nordlings realized themselves alone. In the total surrender of their weaponry, the Chieftain and his fighting men had been symbolically castrated by order of the Emperor miles away. Disarmed, Cedric pleaded to treat with the Imperials, which the Harrenite dandy Edward Napier politely obliged. Leaving his cowed men and the grumbling Orcs he had tricked, the Chieftain joined General de Nurem, Foreign Secretary Briarwood, and the aforementioned Mister Napier in a nearby gazebo. Talks began, and the Chieftain began to haggle for the living son and deceased daughter of a grieving Orenian knight. At his flank was one of the pagan Keepers - more outspoken than he, who claimed the children their own. As the Imperial dignitaries began to discern the identity of his attache and thoroughly expose his lackluster platform, the Chieftain began to shift in his seat. At this time, the Haeseni soldiers arrived, led by the young King Sigismund himself, a striking image upon his barded steed, with the impressively large Prince Nikolas at his side, and the honorable Count Reinmar, Erwin Barclay. Golden eagles and noble blacks fluttering in the wind, the Chief of the Nordlings could think only of his tribe’s failure to eradicate the Haeseni wholesale as his disgraced father had once promised: every single man, woman, and child put to fire and sword. The young monarch talked down to the shaken Chieftain, easily coercing the defeated pretender to relinquish his claim as “King of the Highlanders”. The Chieftain's simple ego, supported by the waving of dull axes and the proclamation of titles too grand for his tribe, had been utterly shattered. The Emperor had taken away the Nordling’s pretensions of manhood, and the King had taken away the Chief’s pretensions of royalty all in the span of an hour. Cedric was forced to face the truth of his impotence in the face of civilized men. As if to give the Chieftain a shameful respite, the General turned away to smoke, the Secretary walked off for a word, and the Harrenite closed his eyes for a sip of tea. In this perfect moment, Cedric leaped and ran as a startled hare, leaving what remained of his fighting men behind. Helena reds, Haeseni blacks, and Nordling furs alike watched the Chieftain flee into the woods, all parties too shocked to properly react. Eventually, what remained of the Nordlings begrudgingly jogged after their cowardly leader, leaving the men of Oren at peace once more. The diplomatic farce at an end, the Foreign Office then penned a plain missive to the halls of Morsgrad.

Extending an overhaul to magic that allows an option of weaker, faster spells to keep pace with swords and missile weapons would go a long way in these balance fears as well (even though handguns would change nothing in the current rp meta).

Challenge: describe what LotC’s “theme” is and explain how it unquestionably excludes what is depicted in these images.

He’s well on in his years, try not to take him so seriously. He’s probably already forgotten that he came to Oren a few months ago because Fenn died due to incestuous ooc stagnation.

Firearms have existed simultaneously alongside bows in the same settings within both fantasy and reality. One example of a fictional world employing this in a balanced manner is Warhammer Fantasy. Many players on LotC have taken inspiration from this setting where gunpowder weaponry is deployed with and against bows, crossbows, magic, and monsters. One historical example is eastern Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries, where Russians, Poles, Turks, and many more saw bullets and arrows on the same field. Haense, which has a deep history tracing from old Raevir lore including cossacks, could find direct inspiration from these real settings.