AndrewTech

Ever since his death earlier that Saint’s Day, Sir Konrad had been peacefully relaxing next to a lake in the Seven Skies. He had always wanted to learn how to fish, but the catches weren’t very good in either Lake Milena or Lake Helena, and thus he had never learned to do so. “Ah, at long last!” The Almannir grinned, stepping into an etherial rowboat and grabbing hold of a pair of oars. “Should be easy enough to learn how to fish before Old Terrence gets up here, and then I’ll show him just how good I-“ And suddenly, in the distance, he saw a bespectacled waving at him from the lake’s banks. “...-Oh. That was quick,” Sir Konrad sighs softly, smiling faintly as he waves back to the figure beyond. ”Hey Terrence! Ready to go fishing, old friend?”

A Falcon Must Fly 13th of Sun’s Smile, 1779 | 17th of Wzuvar and Byvca, 332 ES From the castle of Ostrov, just west of the city of Reza, an old man gazed out at the distant Almannir Highlands over the ramparts with a sigh. Sitting in a velvet armchair, Sir Konrad Stafyr KM found himself thinking about the past rather than about the future. It was strange, he thought to himself, as he gazed out at the sloping hills in the distance. For the vast majority of his life, he had always looked to the horizon for guidance, and still he did so. But today, he thought about the past rather than the future. He thought about the long road that he had taken to get here, the many twists and turns that his life had taken, and just what a tremendous journey it had been. He would have been perfectly content to have ascended to the position of Lord Speaker of the Royal Duma, for what was all that he had ever wanted. He pioneered parliamentary institutions in an era before the existence of an Imperial legislature, established precedents and procedures that would be used for decades into the future, and turned a dying fad into a body without which modern Haeseni politics could not exist. Yet for some reason, a great many people had chosen to place their faith in him. Lerald Vyronov, Terrence May, Andrik III… And so, he had been given the great honour of being called upon to form a Government in the name of the King. Those were the happiest days of my life, Konrad thought to himself as he took a sip of black from a nearby mug. As King Andrik’s Chancellor and Palatine, he had helped to lead the kingdom into the Haeseni Renaissance. Konrad distinctly remembered the excitement around the construction of New Reza, despite the colder, stoney feel reflected in the designs. But despite the stoic feeling of the new Highlander city, it was a roaring economic success. He remembered the night of the birth of Andrik IV, the only night that his good friend Andrik III had ever praised him. And he remembered how he searched for Andrik’s queen and that very same child with his most beloved squire, Ser Alaric Hanethor of Nenzing, eventually culminating in his recovery as the direct result of such. And he remembered the horrors of the Great Fire of Reza, in which the old city was burnt to the ground. He had been in command of the Haeseni armies on that day, and he had directed the soldiers to fight like hell, standing alongside them as they safeguarded the citizens of Reza within those halls. It was one of his proudest moments. Positioned on the banks of Lake Milena, New Reza had proven to be at least four times as prosperous as the city of Old Reza. As Haeseni continued to grow, and as the roaring kingdom continued to recover in the days before the Rubern War, he remembered the glory of those days. The days before the war… The days before that first skirmish at Rubern, after which he had decided to resign to make way for new leadership. He had gone into retirement during most of the reign of Andrik IV, unable to face the horrors of war again as he had in his youth during the War of the Two Emperors. Konrad knew that deep down, despite being a military knight, he had never been a soldier. His greatest strength always did lie in the power of the quill rather than of the blade. Eventually, he did resume his career however, this time as an Imperial Senator. He would serve in the Diet for well over twenty years, with his career culminating in his ascension to the Presidency of the Commons, a most prestigious position held by his good friend Terrence May twice before. That is, until he could no longer endure the burden of such… Recovering from his recent heart attack late at night in the Hospital of Helena, the elder statesman sighed as he continued to read from a book on the Collapse of the Fifth Empire. What a tragedy… He thought to himself, for the fall of the Fifth Empire was a reminder of how all good things must come to an end. Time was a foe against which no man could prevail, and Konrad knew this ever so well. There wasn’t a man or an institution in Arcas that could stand fully against the wrath of it, although he liked to think that some of the ones that he was more fond of were His daughter, the Countess of Leuven, had comforted him throughout the night before returning to her duties as the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs. Gray Galbraith, one of his favorite clerks in the House of Commons, had also come by to keep him company after the incident that had transpired at Varoche Hall. So too had his great niece, young Irene Ruthern, come to offer her best wishes to him and to express her great admiration for his work. While Isabel’s presence had done much to comfort him throughout the ordeal, the appearance of these two young people at his bedside had clearly touched his soul. It was the younger generation, made up of men like Gray and of women like Irene, who were the future of the world. He was pleased that he had been able to leave an impression upon them, as his mentor Georg had upon him so many years ago. There was nothing quite like mentoring the next generation, and it had been one of the old knight’s favorite past times throughout the years. Suddenly, a young nurse rounded the corner, a clipboard in her hands. “Sir Konrad… Doctor Napier told me to speak to you, before your nephew comes to discharge you from the hospital tomorrow.” “Eh?” The old man replied in a quiet manner, lowering his book as he glanced over to the woman. “Ah… Very well then, lass. Do go on.” “Sir Stafyr-” The woman paused for a moment, clearly lost for words as she dipped her head in a respectful manner. “-Doctor Napier told me to inform you that this heart attack of yours… You very nearly didn’t make it through.” “I am quite well aware,” The old man replied with a chuckle, glancing down at his book. “I suppose that I might have become rather stressed with the representatives, madam. I’m afraid that it is very hard to encourage them to show up to the Commons to fulfill their elected duties. No matter how hard I try, they never seem to-” “-Sir,” The nurse interrupted the old man with a sigh. “If you have another heart attack like this again, you will almost certainly not survive. Your medical history seems to show that you have had one like this before, correct?” “Aye… My young daughter gave me quite the scare a decade or so ago, but I haven’t had any problems since,” Konrad nodded along in affirmation. “Yes, that is quite normal, Sir Stafyr. Sometimes, issues such as these lie dormant for many years, often resurfacing later in life,” The young nurse replied faintly. “Such as now, either triggered by a rush of adrenaline or a severe reaction to stress. I’m afraid that it could happen again at any time, Sir Stafyr, and I’m afraid that nobody can predict when that might be.” Sighing, the old statesman lowered his book. “Then pray tell, what would you have me do, lass? What would the doctors have me do?” “You need rest, sir…” She replied faintly. “And lots of it, in an environment with fresh, open air. The excitement and stresses of the Diet are many, and I’m afraid that such a reaction could be triggered again at any given time.” “Hmph…” The old man grunted. “...How convenient, I was in the process of planning my retirement anyway. Thank you, lass. I’ll take this ‘advice’ to heart.” And so, Konrad was now here, retired from the Diet and from government service for the first time in nearly sixty years. As time continued to pass, the once strong Almannir found that his physical state had begun to slowly deteriorate. Ever since his last heart attack, he had simply not been his old self. He knew now that the end was coming, and had thus endeavoured to set his affairs in order over the last few years. A feeling of worthlessness had overcome him ever since the death of his most beloved friend, Wilheim Barclay. With his passing, all of his old friends had now since passed onto the Seven Skies. He knew not why God had chosen to grant him such a long life, for Stafyr males were notorious for dying young. Even Saint Godwein had died during his sixties. In fact, according to the Chronicles of the Almannir, Konrad was indeed by far the oldest known male in Stafyr history. The bicentennial of Haense had transpired just a few months back, yet save for a few old souls such as Otto Kortrevich, who had recently passed onto the Seven Skies as well, there was hardly among them that Konrad had recognized. He had socialized with Andrik’s son Rupert for the occasion’s duration, a Haeseni prince with whom he had forged a strong relationship over the years. What was odd was that much of this younger generation had never known what it was like to have endured an offensive war against Haense or the Empire, a reality which had brought a smile to Konrad’s face. The festivities were glorious and the celebrations magnificent, and he was glad that he had been in attendance. The last public event that he had attended had been just two months prior, when he managed to find the energy to hobble into the Basilica of the Fifty Virgins to witness the wedding of his final prodigy, Sir Konstantin Wick, to Andrik’s granddaughter, the Princess Alexandria. He made sure to offer the seemingly nervous Palatine and Regent of the kingdom a soft smile of encouragement and a thumbs up, which seemed to calm him down enough to finish the deed. These thoughts drifted through Konrad’s mind as he rose to his feet. This was to be a very special day, for he had been asked by the current Lord Speaker of the Duma to preside over the body during his absence. As a former Speaker himself of both the Duma and the Commons, Sir Osvald had reached out to him to preside over the chamber during his absence. And so, affixing the ancient direwolf aegis that he had sworn never to remove in public to his shoulders, he set off toward the Royal Duma hall. Perhaps this was just the thing that he needed to uplift his spirits? The Ekaterinburg Palace was just as Konrad remembered it. Although Queen Viktoria had taken to greatly beautifying the place under the reign of King Sigismund II, the palace itself had not changed much over the last forty years. As Konrad stepped into the Duma Hall, he could not help but to smile as he passed by his portrait in the cloakroom. “Was I really that young once?” He murmured aloud to himself, hesitating but for a moment as he continued toward the doors of the Royal Duma. The old statesman paused one final time as he hobbled forth with his cane, standing before the Horologium Haeseticus. He smiled faintly as he gazed upon the old clock, which had been in the cloakroom since before he was a child. And then, he stepped forth into the chamber. The session was an uneventful one, in which a pair of bills were discussed. One was a very controversial bill, advocating for the removal of the Ferro Freehold, and the other a bill listing out clear protocols for declaring a state of emergency. Sir Konrad moderated the session in the same expert manner that he was accustomed to, and when he wasn’t doing so, he focused on folding sheets of parchment up into origami birds. It was an artform that he had learned during his first period of retirement, one that he had learned in Helena that had helped him to relieve stress during legislative sessions. Today, he was working on creating a falcon, a symbol of the House of Stafyr that had been used for generations. As the session came to a close, he found himself grinning from ear to ear. It felt so good to be back here, in the place where he belonged. The representatives admired him so. Here, he was loved, he was a larger than life figure, even though he knew that he most assuredly wasn’t. As the session came to a close, Konrad knew that he had to say something. This might be the last time that he ever sat in the Royal Duma, the body that he so loved, the place where he belonged. And so, he cleared his throat and asked the Haeseni lords to remain for just a few moments longer. “I will make this brief… Well over fifty years ago, Georg Stanimar and I took to crafting this magnificcnet body, a grand experiment in both democracy and parliamentary procedure. His Majesty’s Royal Duma is the oldest and longest lasting legislature in all of humanity. But, it is not Stanimar and I whom we owe the resolution and strength of this institution to. It is all of you. Your Houses, which have attended this Duma for so many years… The bills which have carefully crafted, despite having other obligations to this kingdom. A Duma is not one man, it is not one woman. It is made up of a kingdom or, more accurately, it is the kingdom’s voice. And I have ever so grateful to Sir Osvald for allowing me to chair this sitting of the Royal Duma today. It has made an old man quite happy-” Suddenly, he felt a familiar pain in his chest. His heart had frozen up, his pulse growing sporadic as it missed several of it’s normal beats. Sir Konrad slumped forward in his chair, his eyes bulging as the pain swept over him. And in that moment, he saw a vision. A vision of all his old friends. King Andrik III, Georg Stanimar, Ulric and Lerald Vyronov, Otto Sigmar, Wilheim Barclay… ...And family as well. Leopold, Erich, and Alaric Stafyr. His brother, Artos, and his cousin Ser Gerard. But before all of them all was the splitting image of Saint Godwein, a figure who had lived nearly three hundred years before that he had prayed to for success very regularly. And Saint Godwein smiled. So did the others. Even Andrik offered Konrad a hearty grin. “-It- It has been an honor to serve this kingdom in such a way… Once m-more…” Sir Konrad murmured as his eyes began to close. The lords were now surrounding the elder statesmen. One of them was desperately attempting to restart his heart, the others trying to fan him off and force him back into consciousness. Isabel, who had been obsesrving from the stands, rushed over to him and desperately called out his name. An all too familiar scene, exactly that which had transpired just a few years before at Varoche Hall. But it was to no avail. His pulse continued to fade away until, at long last, it was gone. Sir Konrad Stafyr, who had never proposed a bill that failed to gain a majority of votes or asset, a man who pioneered the institution of the Royal Duma and set in place many of Haense’s public services and bureaucratic apparatuses, a former Speaker, Palatine, and President, and a knight of the Imperial Order of Merit and of the Royal Orders of the Lily and Crow, was dead. RIP Sir Konrad “Wolfsbane” Stafyr KM (1701 - 1779) [!] Letters are distributed to a number of individuals… [!]

The Heart of the Tapestry An Ethnographic Study of the Imperial Crownlands 13th of Sigismund’s End, 1778 I.) Introduction The Entertainment District of the City of Helena (c. 1772) It has been my honour to have traveled to a variety of different lands throughout the years, from Haense to Kaedrin, and from Krugmar to Haelun’or. I have always found the exploration and documentation of different cultures to be quite exciting, and I will of course continue to travel across these realms for as long as I draw breath. However, there is one part of Arcas that I have never formally studied before, and this is because the rules of my trade have bound me from doing so. Although I was born in the city of Reza and am an ethnic Haeseni, I spent much of my early life in the city of Helena while at boarding school. I was witness to the daily activities of the city, the bustling streets as the economy began to recover at the end of the Rubern War. I was given a scientific education, having been taking classes to be certified as a doctor within the borders of the Holy Orenian Empire, and spent much of my time in the Imperial Library during my youth. I have since emigrated to the northernmost province of the Empire, and today I am proud to call myself a Haeseni citizen. It is there that I have lived for the last twenty years, where I planted the first seeds that would come to grow into the Northern Geographical Society, and where I would come to discover my Karovic heritage. But, Helena is where my journey started, and I have never forgotten that which this province has done for me. It is an unspoken rule within the field of anthropology that one should never study the culture in which they were raised, and it is this principle which has deterred me from publishing an ethnography on the province of Helena for the past several decades. However, with the coming of the 400th anniversary of the Holy Orenian Empire, it seems only proper to examine the great melting pot that is the Imperial Crownlands in further depth from a cultural and historical perspective. Thus, I have taken it upon myself to draft a written ethnography which shall document the traditions, culture, and history of the Imperial Crownlands in a similar manner that I have done for both the Kingdom of Haense and the Commonwealth of Kaedrin. It is therefore my hope that my study shall help to document the story of Helena and preserve knowledge of this incredible city for all time. II.) Historical Background A Helenian Pub, Often Frequented by the Working Class (c. 1767) While this study is meant to primarily serve as an ethnographic analysis of life within the Imperial Crownlands, I feel that it is important to take into account the long and complicated history of Helena due to the extraordinary impact that such has had on the people who live within it. The history of the imperial capital is one that was wrought with destruction, strife, and unending struggle during its early days. During the War of the Two Emperors, the city was the site of the Siege of Helena, arguably one of the most devastating conflicts in modern history. It has witnessed several imperial interregnums, with the Crown of the Empire having transitioned numerous times between the dynasties of Horen, Cascadia, de Joannes, and Helane. The city itself has arguably been rebuilt more times than any other in the history of mankind, with not a building remaining from the settlement’s original layout under its Pertinaxi rulers. In the aftermath of the conclusion of the War of the Two Emperors, the sudden abdication of the insane Emperor John VII was the first of these modern interregnums, and two similar crises would follow in the decades thereafter with the deaths of Emperor Alexander II and of the Lord Protector Adrian de Sarkozy respectively. Shortly after the 400th anniversary of the birth of the prophet Sigismund, I was afforded the opportunity to interview one of the city’s few consistent inhabitants who has been present since the beginning of the Alexandrian Era. Simon Basrid is best known for his service as the Imperial Archchancellor, the leader of the Basrid Ministry and the second most powerful man in the Holy Orenian Empire. Much of my interview revolved around the city’s evolution over the past fifty years. As such, I have included a full transcription of the occasion in order to better illustrate the city’s historical background through the eyes of the Head of Government of the Holy Orenian Empire. As a disclaimer, any and all interviews and quotes published within this report are those of the individuals within them, and are not necessarily indicative of the beliefs held by either myself or by the Northern Geographical Society. Celestine: “To begin with, for how many years have you resided in this city sir?” Simon Basrid: “Ever since the Coronation of Alexander II. I entered this city for the first time during his reign.” Celestine: “I see. And could you perhaps describe to me what this city was like, under the reign of Emperor Alexander and before?” Simon Basrid: “Some damned horror, ma’am. The bloody pox swept the streets. You could still find the bodies of the War of the Two Emperors littered throughout this country. As labourers hauled stone and demolished old rickety homes, you’d find a carcass of a Josephite soldier, a Pertinaxi watchman… Abysmal. Economically, it was the poorest of the great cities of the realm. And the people were hard. Bitter. Cynical of the world around them - certain indifference in their character.” Celestine: “Could you perhaps describe the process by which Helena evolved into the thriving metropolis that it is today? I mean, it has been nearly fifty years since the reign of Emperor Alexander, has it not been?” Simon Basrid: “That it has. The trick, I think, is the innovative spirit of this city. After the Pertinaxi noble clans emigrated to the lands north in Norland, in protest to Alexander’s ascension, there was this great sort of infrastructure, location, and vacuum of authority in the Crownlands. Daniel VI, that Holy Father who raised Alexander II, is in some ways a father to all emigres that began rebuilding this city. I am a disciple of his tradition, his chamberlain, that became the monarch’s chamberlain with his ascension. Vesnian families like Haas and Drumm, Rhenyari emigres such as myself, Harrenites returning from Illyria and abroad… All came together and began to build under the banner of Alexander II.” Celestine: “Could you describe the succession crisis that followed Alexander II’s untimely death, and what the city was like throughout the reign of the Lord Protector?” Simon Basrid: “Yes, I’ll manage that. In short, the anarchies imposed by Alexander’s demise and the Lord Protectorate bred a new sort of sentiment in Helena. Strikingly unique. It is one of the only places in the world that has survived the transition of multiple bloodlines. From Pertinaxi, to Cascadian, to de Joannes, to the Lord Protector and our modern Helane. Helena endures. And even as a capital city, it was the only one in the chronicle of man to suffer siege and survive. It endures once more. The great experiment there comes from the fact that despite these anarchies, the same bureaucracies kept this country churning… The country sunk into war, the NAFTA crisis - great plagues of state, that only became to become undone with the decisiveness of his successor, our standing monarch, who married the culture and refinement of Alexander II’s era with the martial vigor of the Lord Protector, to give us some peace. The emigres of this country bring so much influence to this experiment of a city. Under the Lord Protector, there was a tangible rebuild though. The young emperor did not quite have the mandate to command the necessary infrastructure reforms. The new Helena was born under the red city of one-thousand fires.” Celestine: “‘The red city of one-thousand fires’? Might you care to elaborate on that, your Excellency?” Simon Basrid: “There is no city in the chronicle of man that has known so much turmoil, war, and passion. It has come out stronger for it. When I was younger, just beginning my ministry, there would be a Chevolek fire every other morning in the city. The sort of arsonists and madcomes come in a newly established city suffering from great neglect and the price of war. And of course, the siege, arguably the greatest loss of life in imperial history, a capital nearly razed, the Josephites reaching to the inner palace, sacking everything in their path. I was not there for that conflict.” Celestine: “Could you tell me exactly when Helena became the prosperous metropolis that it is today? It was sometime during the Rubern War, was it not?” Simon Basrid: “Yes. There is a precise decade you could point to. A great economic miracle in the 1740s. Architects of economic transformation such as Peter de Sarkozy, the standing treasurer, the Carrington family, the prominent burghers of the era, and the DeNurem ascendency all empowered a renaissance. Those economic and military policies fostered wealth, order, and community that were all decisive in the war. Many who rebuked Oren in the past settled in the city and found a new life with powerful institutions to inspire patriotism.” Celestine: “And after the onset of this ‘economic miracle’ and the military victories of Sir Tiberius Barrow, would you say that Helena began to truly recover?” Simon Basrid: “I would say that the Battle of Hangman’s Bridge, by General Barrow, the economic miracle, and General Sabri’s dary rescue of the Empress were the turning points in the war. Proving to the Nordlings that we were superior in matters military, economic, and covert proved to **** the tide of the conflict, which compounded the health of this great city and its culture.” Celestine: “Speaking of, having lived in Helena since the reign of Emperor Alexander, might you be able to tell me about the various ethnic groups that live within the city? The Harrenites, the Rhenyari, denizens from other provinces of the Empire?” Simon Basrid: “There were quite a few. Vesnian burghers, Adrians under the mantle of the Lord Protector, Rhenyari, Harrenite, Kaedreni… A capital needs to be a cosmopolitan sort of place, and Helena’s history has only reinforced that. Until Peter III, it’s leaders were fickle with short tempers and shorter reigns. As a result, it was always the people who maintained the vigor of the province. The sort of culture of a despot or a strong man has thoroughly eroded. Vesnian burgers and Rhenyari made up the first wave of emigration. Figures like the Holy Father Daniel, myself, Jan Haas, Cardinal Sinjun… Of course, the Emperor himself, raised in Ves, young Alexander. My brother, Cyrus Basrid, whip of the Senate. Then came the Adrians under the Lord Protector, which gave us the de Sarkozys, and by proxy the Novellens. Lotharginian influence of Leumont, the de Reuyters, the first ISA Field Marshal was Leonard de Ruyter after all, and that was the time that the feudalist order really came into question. Every monarch of the city was seen as an abject failure. It was easy for men such as myself to begin creating institutions such as the ISA, Armas and the Senate and so forth. To begin accommodating for these rulers who failed in their divine duty. Under the Lord Protector you truly see the tone of the city shift as well as with its architecture.” This part of my interview with Mister Basrid provided me with great insight into just how much pride Helena’s citizens have in how far they have come since the reign of Alexander II, and into the changing social attitudes which have enveloped the province over the past half century. While Helena had been in the process of slowly recovering under the reigns of the Lord Protector and the current Emperor before the outbreak of the Rubern War, it would almost seem as though the conflict had the adverse effect of energizing the Empire’s economy, rather than sending it into a state of deterioration as is normally the case during a war of such magnitude. I myself am puzzled by how this came about, but I suppose that such is a question for the economists rather than for a humble anthropologist such as myself. In any case, Basrid seemed to point to the great economic revival of Helena during the Rubern War as the turning point for the city during our interview. This is a synopsis with which I would tend to concur, and it is my belief that an understanding of the turbulent history and living conditions within the province are key to examining the culture of the Helenian people. III.) Culture & Values Three Helenian Aristocrats at a Tea Party (c. 1777) An in-depth examination of Helenian culture has proved to have been a momentous challenge, and it is hard to even know where to begin in my attempt to explain it to the public through the publication of this study. The imperial city is a thriving multicultural metropolis by almost every measure. While there is almost certainly a universal culture within the Imperial Crownlands that can clearly be defined as “Helenian”, there are a sizable number of distinguishable ethnic groups with their own identities that reside within its borders. Vesnians, Adrians, Rhenyari, Harrenites, Lotharginians, Ilatians, and endless other cultural groups within humanity can all be found residing within the borders of province. While I could go into immense detail about the specifics regarding all of these different ethnic groups that reside within the imperial city, I shall refrain from doing so in order to focus on the culture within the Province of Helena itself. Perhaps in the future, I might have an opportunity to study some of these different ethnic groups in further depth. However, for the time being, a brief nod to some of these different ethnic groups will have to suffice. VESNIANS: Refugees who fled the Old Republic of Ves for Helena following the re-establishment of the Commonwealth of Kaedrin have played a tremendous role in the development of the province. Many of the same republican ideals held by the inhabitants of Old Ves have since been adopted into the Helenian mainstream, in no small part due to the influences of figures such as the Emperor Alexander, High Pontiff Daniel IV, and His Imperial Majesty Peter III. ADRIANS: During the reign of the Lord Protector, much of the population of the Duchy of Adria was relocated to the imperial capital with the intent of infusing fresh talent into the workforce and sparking an economic boom. While the physical Duchy itself would remain and there would be an attempt to revive the settlement under the Lord Protector’s son some years later, it would never recover from the migration and was eventually dissolved. Today, there are few cultural Adrians within the city’s walls, as most have since assimilated following their move to the imperial capital several generations ago. RHENYARI: The influential Basrid family is one of the most noteworthy examples of the Rhenyari presence within the Province of Helena. They have had a significant impact on the development of the province, with figures such as Simon and Jahan Basrid serving within the Imperial Cabinet and others such as Cyrus Basrid dominating both local and parliamentary politics in the region. One could spend years studying this most astonishing, exotic culture, but for the sake of brevity I will simply describe it as being a mixture of the Highlander and Farfolk peoples. HARRENITES: While the Commonwealth of Kaedrin has become known as a bastion of the Harrenite within the Empire in recent years, there are still a very fair few influential Harrenites who reside within the imperial province. Also having been known as “Adunians” in the days of old, these sons of Harren have made significant strides in the fields of science, politics, finance, and in the arts alike. LOTHARGINIANS: Although families such as the Leumonts and the de Reuyters have declined in terms of their influence in recent years, their contributions to Helenian society cannot be dismissed. One can still find the occasional Lotharginian wandering around the imperial city, although they do not exert influence upon Helenian society in the same way that they did in the days before the Rubern War. I once made the mistake of comparing the nature of Helena to that of a “melting pot” in the presence of a colleague of mine whilst dining at a local tavern. He chastised me for doing such however, instead suggesting that Helena’s nature was more along the lines of that of a fine stew. A stew has many ingredients, each of which has a role to play in the creation of a dish. Every woman knows this, although I have personally always been rather incompetent when it has come to my own culinary skills. When an ingredient is successfully added to the stew, the taste of the brew can become stronger. Although not every ingredient may have the effect of strengthening the stew, a perfect recipe can prove to be far stronger, far more exotic, and have far more success at bringing enjoyment to the diner than a simple broth otherwise might. It is my belief that, in many ways, Helena is similar to a fine stew that has been refined through trial and error throughout the years. But because Helena is so much like a fine stew, it is incredibly difficult to derive a “cultural anchor” from Helenian society as I have done in the cases of other cultures in the past. Regardless, I believe that after much observation and thought, I have identified the cultural anchor of Helenian society. The virtues of discipline and dignity seem to serve as the anchor of the culture, and I daresay that most Helenians admire nothing more than to see these two traits in a person. There are several unique traits within Helenian society which I have examined during my study of the province. I will do my best to methodically list them out and explore why they have developed within Helenian society the way they have. 1.) The Rule of Law Perhaps because of the most striking characteristics of Helenian society is the anomaly of due process under the law, in which a trial by jury must be held before a judgement is rendered. A presumption of innocence is held to be true unless a defendant is proven to be guilty, a tenet of legal procedure which has traditionally been far from universal. There is a clear distinction between the civilian and military authorities within the Holy Orenian Empire, due in no small part to Helenian influence within the Empire’s legal system. While the 1st Regiment of the Imperial State Army plays a substantial role in the policing of the province, imperial investigators and the Ministry of Justice always seem to take precedence over the local military authorities when it comes to the arbitration of dealing with domestic crime. The ISA is able to detain suspected criminals, yet is unable to try them for their crimes. In many societies, the military alone serves as the prosecution, judge, and jury in the arbitration of crime, and thus the Orenian legal philosophy of due process that has risen from the republican ideals of old Ves is worth drawing attention to. 2.) Fashion & Etiquette Although I myself am a baseborn woman of a humble disposition, many of the higher class inhabitants of the province of Helena are great admirers of both fashion and courtly etiquette. Government officials that hail from the Imperial Crownlands are famous for wearing powdered wigs, a fad which has taken off since the city’s revival. Prominent noblewomen often endeavour to adorn their faces with various forms of makeup and other cosmetics in order to keep up appearances. Regarding the practice of wearing powdered wigs within Helenian society, I believe that it is worth noting that the practice was originally one that was adopted from the Kaedreni. It is said that the first officials to wear wigs were Sir Frederick Armas and Richard de Reden, who popularized the practice while serving as officials within the Imperial Government in Helena. Such is seen by the Helenians as a sign of wealth and prestige, symbolizing the immortality of the Empire. Supposedly, while humans tend to go bald, wigs are eternal. Thus, while humans die, service to the Empire ensures one’s immortality. Or at least, that’s what I’ve been told during my studies. The fashion style embodied by the frilly dresses, the knee-high breeches, the tricorn hats, and the long waistcoats that most Helenians tend to sport is one that is quite different from that of the rest of Arcas, although it has started to spread into other cultural circles across the Empire in recent years. For instance, these Helenian styles have thus become quite popular in the Commonwealth of Kaedrin, although the more traditional nature and the colder climates of the Kingdom of Haense have made the Haeseni far less willing to adopt these fashions. Of course, the working class cannot afford to be quite as pompous in the upkeep of their appearances, which has led to the evolution of distinct visual differences between the socioeconomic classes within Helena. You can tell what walk of life a man comes from merely by looking at his shoes, or by what sort of coat or hat that he sports. One’s outward appearance can mean everything in Helenian society and is not something to be taken lightly, as one’s clothing can be seen to be a status symbol of sorts. These divides between the urban working class, the burghers, and the and the Helenian aristocracy have come to the political forefront in recent years, and are a matter which I shall endeavour to examine in a more in-depth manner. 3,) Class Divisions While the magnificent ‘stew’ might apply to the city of Helena in the cultural sense, the obvious divisions between the classes are very obvious within Helenian society, both socially and politically. In previous ages, possessing a background as a rural peasant was the norm unless one was either a clergyman or a member of the Empire’s nobility. However, the social landscape of the Imperial Crownlands has changed dramatically since the reign of Emperor Alexander. The rise of an industrious urban working class, a flourishing burgher class, and an expanded aristocracy have led to the creation of new social strata that have often found themselves at odds with one another, both politically and socially. Issues regarding concept of class are commonplace during Imperial election cycles within the province of Helena, and both the Josephite and Everadine factions have strived to build political coalitions around the notion of either working in favor of the “common man” or preserving ancient aristocratic privileges within the nobility. Of course, while new social strata have been created within the Imperial Crownlands, they have also become a lot easier to transcend. For instance, the Carringtons rose from rags to riches, managing to become one of the province’s most influential families in less than a decade. Through industry and competency, a commoner can easily ascend to the highest echelons of government regardless of his birth. These are social characteristics that have previously been unseen within humanity, and the rise of the meritocracy has served to have changed the nature of power and those who hold it over the years. From an anthropological standpoint, I would predict there to be yet more changes to come with the onset of industrialization and the continued socioeconomic evolution of Helenian society. The Helenian culture is also characterized by an extraordinary sense of appreciation for majesty and grandeur. Be it the lavish balls, the public boxing matches, or the extravagant casino games that are often held within the walls of Helena, the inhabitants of the province clearly have an appreciation for the finer things in life. Of course, while many if not all of these events are open to the common man for him to attend at his leisure, the people still continue to live in very different worlds. For instance, a Helenian family in a countryside manner probably leads a very different life than that of one that lives in the poor house. The “culture” of Helena may not appear to be as clear cut as it might seem. The family that you are born into and the success that you have in life are both key to how one comes to view the world, and the differences between these different worlds are more numerous than the stars themselves. IV.) Government & Politics A Sitting of the Imperial House of Commons at Varoche Hall (c. 1770) As the city of Helena is the capital of the Holy Orenian Empire, many of the functions of the Imperial Government tend to transpire within its walls. The Imperial Diet meets in Varoche Hall, and the Council of State either in the Novellen Palace or within departmental buildings located across the city. However, I believe that it is worth noting that the Province of Helena is NOT SYNONYMOUS WITH THE INSTITUTION OF THE EMPIRE. The Holy Orenian Empire is quite vast in nature, comprising three imperial provinces with their own autonomous governments and two outlying territories directly controlled by the Imperial Crown. An institution that greatly supersedes Helena proper, I have gone through great lengths to distinguish the greater Empire from its crownlands. The Province of Helena, which I have also colloquially referred to as the Imperial Crownlands throughout my study, serves as both the Emperor’s seat and the seat of the Imperial Government within the Empire’s heartlands. It is the denizens of the centre of the Empire which I have endeavoured to study through the undertaking of this ethnography, and I will once again make it clear that Helena and the Empire are not the same thing. With that being said however, one cannot examine the city of Helena proper without also examining the greater Imperial Government that operates within. Thus, I shall include a brief examination of it for the sake of better understanding the city as a whole. The Emperor - The Head of State of the Holy Orenian Empire. Although the imperial monarchy has become more symbolic in nature in recent years, the Emperor still continues to hold absolute power over his dominions, appointing the Imperial Archchancellor and Council of State ministers at his leisure. The Archchancellor - Often referred to as the Head of Government of the Holy Orenian Empire, the Archchancellor is the right hand of the Emperor and is responsible for handling the administrative affairs of the Empire on a daily basis. He also chairs the Council of State. The Vice Chancellor - The right hand of the Archchancellor, the Vice Chancellor helps the Archchancellor to manage the various affairs of state as a sort of lieutenant. He also tends to fulfill a number of ceremonial duties and assist other members of the Council of State whenever possible. The Council of State - The Ministers of State perform various governmental functions within the borders of the Empire, handling a variety of different state matters on behalf of the Crown. Secretary of the Interior - The Secretary of the Interior handles all of the direct imperial holdings on behalf of the Crown, tending to the various domestic affairs within imperial lands and other home matters. Secretary of Foreign Affairs - Representing the Holy Orenian Empire in negotiations abroad, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is the chief imperial diplomat and the overseer of all foreign attaches and embassies. Secretary of the Treasury - Leader of the Empire’s financial institutions, the Secretary of the Treasury is responsible for balancing the budget and allocating resources to the various organs of the Imperial Government. He is also in charge of collecting imperial taxes and maintaining the treasury proper. Secretary of War - In charge of overseeing the Imperial State Army and the rest of the Empire’s armed forces, the Secretary of War handles the logistics of warfare and acts as the civilian leader of the military. Solicitor General - The Solicitor General oversees the legal apparatuses of the Empire, and sees to the prosecution of cases within the Orenian judicial system. Secretary of Intelligence - The role of the Secretary of Intelligence is a matter which is still not quite clear to the general public. He tends to operate in the shadows, performing tasks on behalf of the Imperial Government that are not quite privy to the public eye. Secretary of Civil Affairs - The Secretary of Civil Affairs is in charge of the upkeep of all educational institutions within the Holy Orenian Empire, including publicly owned museums, universities, schools, and libraries. He also maintains records regarding the peerage of the Empire, amongst other formal government records. Lord Lieutenants of the Empire - Enforcers of imperial law in the provinces, the Lord Lieutenants of the Empire also sit on the council of state to advise the Archchancellor matters regarding their respective provinces. The Imperial Diet - The legislature of the Empire, the Imperial Diet consists of two chambers, the elected House of Commons and the hereditary House of Lords. House of Commons - This elected body of representatives, known as Members of the House of Commons, or MHCs for short, legislate for the Empire through the drafting and presentation of legislation. It is led by the President of the Commons, who is elected after the election of each Diet by a majority of his peers. House of Lords - A hereditary body of peers, seven Imperial Grandees from across the Empire are selected by the Emperor at the beginning of each Diet to sit in the chamber. It reviews petitions requesting imperial nobility from the Emperor and advises the House of Commons on matters relating to the nobility. The Lord Speaker is elected by a majority of the peers serving within it. The Supreme Court - When an issue of constitutionality arises within the Imperial Government or an appeal is made regarding a case decided in the lower circuit courts, the Supreme Court rules on the matter and enshrines its decisions in the common law as legal precedent. It is led by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. As to the government of the imperial capital proper, the Mayor of Helena is the elected leader of the city who presides over all matters of local governance within the city’s walls. The candidates for Mayor are chosen by the Livery Board of Helena, an alliance of professional guilds that help to ensure fair trading practices within the city. The Mayor is also the chairman of the Mayoral Council, which consists of the Municipal Commissioners appointed by the Mayor. These commissioners act as a sort of cabinet to the Mayor, overseeing specific portfolios within the local government at his behest. The Commissioner of Equality: Provides support and assistance for the minorities of the capital city such as the older people, disabled people, orphaned children, the poor, and non-humans, in order to ensure they have the same opportunities as the rest of the citizens and that they are not subject to any kind of discrimination. The Commissioner of Sanitation: Manages the sewers, canals, waterworks of the capital city and also manages garbage collection, recycling collection, street cleaning, snow removal, and firefighting in the capital city. The Commissioner of Mailing: Manages the postal system of the Imperial City of Helena, collecting and delivering letters and packages throughout the capital city. The Commissioner of Immigration: Provides support and information for newcomers that decide to move to the Imperial City of Helena, ensuring they are well-integrated into the Orenian society and aids them in getting a house and a job in the capital city by putting them in touch with the Imperial Clerkship and the Employment Secretariat if necessary. The Commissioner of Urban Planning: Manages all the construction, demolition, and upkeep of buildings in the Imperial City of Helena, under the authorization of an Imperial Architect. In addition, he ensures that roadways and other aspects of transit or transportation, such as railway or subway stations, are well-organized, providing for the easy flow of people and goods throughout the capital city. The Commissioner of Culture: Promotes the culture and customs of the Imperial City of Helena and frequently organizes cultural activities in the capital city. He also manages youth groups and organizes meetings and activities for young people, in order to promote Orenian patriotism and literacy across the capital city. The Commissioner of Commerce: Oversees and provides support to all the Livery Companies and businesses of the Imperial City of Helena, encouraging the creation of new businesses in the capital city. He is tasked with keeping an updated Registry of the Livery Members of each of the Livery Companies of Helena. He also holds the duty and the right to receive, review and resolve membership submissions of independent companies that wish to become Livery Members of a Livery Company. The Commissioner of Elections: Independently organizes the internal election of each of the Livery Companies of Helena, ensuring transparency and efficiency in the election of each Livery Master using the Registry of Livery Members kept by the Commissioner of Commerce. He also ensures that the Committee of Livery Members of each Livery Company of Helena convenes at least once every two years as long as at least one Livery Member requests it and holds the power to call a meeting of a Committee of Livery Members and to temporarily act as its Chairman whenever their Livery Master is absent or acting in contempt of his Livery Members. As previously mentioned, the Livery Board of Helena wields considerable influence in the operations of the imperial city and therefore the province. Each Livery Company within the board focuses on representing a select group of professionals within the city, thus seeking to ensure that fair trade is maintained and that the interests of the group are adequately presented. The Honourable Company of Mercers: General Merchants. The Honourable Company of Vintners, Brewers, and Innholders: Tavern Keeps, winemakers, beermakers, distillers, service workers, and hospitality. The Honourable Company of Ironmongers, Blacksmiths, and Founders: Blacksmiths, iron traders, and foundries. The Honourable Company of Grocers and Cooks: Foodstuffs merchants, bakers, restaurants, and chiefs. The Honourable Company of Tylers, Bricklayers, and Paviors: Architects, masons, construction workers, and manufacturers of building materials. The Honourable Company of Publicans: Clerks, stewards, tax collectors, and coin minters. The Honourable Company of Barbers and Surgeons: Haircutters, surgeons, medics, and general practitioners. The Honourable Company of Scriveners: Scribes, writers, lawyers, historians, postmen, and notaries public. The Honourable Company of Publicans: Clerks, stewards, tax collectors, and coin minters. The Honourable Company of Drapers and Haberdashers: Wool, cloth, silk, and velvet traders, clothes, dyers, and jewelers. The Honourable Company of Thespians and Revelers: Actors, playwrights, athletes, bookkeepers, entertainers, and monster hunters. These Livery Companies have the effect of providing for trade guilds that both represent and protect the interests of their members. They also tend to have the adverse effect of constricting entrance into the market. However, my own opinion on the nature and the effects of these Livery Companies is not at issue. What is important is the fact that they are an essential part of governance within the Imperial Crownlands, and the power of these guilds is worth keeping in mind when considering such. V.) The Greater Province A Girl Sitting Beneath a Tree in the Helenian Countryside (c. 1772) It is quite easy to forget that the Province of Helena consists of more than just the imperial capital. Although the gargantuan size of the city of Helena consumes much of the province, there are a number of smaller holdings throughout the countryside that are worth drawing attention to briefly. I will once again allow the words of the Imperial Archchancellor to paint a picture of the surrounding province: “The city is so great a metropolis that it takes up a fair deal of the province. But outlying regions such as Harlingen, and the Lake Helena itself provide some biodiversity and change in culture. The Pale most notably, a settlement divides for the imperial elf to have a home... Where Malin may inherit the earth, and we inherit the stars - that sort of vision. Elves have always been a part of the Empire even to the days of Godfrey with figures such as Uthor Silverblade and Lion DeNurem. I am proud to have been the one to consecrate that into settlement. Aside from that Harlingen outside of Helena serves as a mainstay for army veterans, village communities for their hard service. As well as the Lake Helena, which provides a great deal of life for fishers along with Selm and Provins. Provins being north of Harlingen, home to Marble Hall - my nephew’s estate, the Viscount Pruvia, and Selm, as you must know, the main retreat for Helena’s distinguished, managed by the Lord Selm.” I draw attention to the diversity of the province beyond the city of Helena because these parts of the province are often forgotten in favour of the grandiose city which covers the overwhelming majority of the land. These holdings are important parts of the Imperial Crownlands as well, although none of these places besides the Pale of Settlement are actually dedicated towns. As the attention that my Society requires of me has rendered me unable to visit many of these holdings, I do hope to one day have the opportunity to visit some of them in a more informal manner at a later date. However, as most of these places save for the Pale are held by families that tend to commute to Helena quite often, an in-depth study of these holdings is not necessary to understand the greater culture of the province. VI.) Conclusion A Traditional Thatched Cottage in the Far South (c. 1772) While I must admit that I at first had some apprehension regarding this study, I am glad that I have made my initial decision to do away with the unspoken rule of anthropology that prevented me from examining this most fascinating society! It is my hope that this study of the Imperial Crownlands will prove to be educational for peoples across the Empire and the greater continent of Arcas, that it might help to put the culture of the Empire’s capital into a greater context for those who might otherwise be unaware of the unique incracies within it. I would like to conclude my ethnographic study of the Province of Helena by once again citing Mister Basrid, this time by quoting a public correspondence between himself and former Imperial Senator Urrigon Drumm in 1733. “If the cities of Oren were women personified, by all accounts Felsen would be the lovely barmaid, gregarious, earthy, and kind, easy to laugh with and love. Her tantrums and fits of anarchy, all said and done, lacked the gravitas of anything more than a tavern brawl. Johannesburg, in stark contrast, would the magnanimous queen in her regalia, dignified and proud. She would bear a long neck adorned with jewels from every province of the known world, and act so vain as to turn to ice before letting a man beneath her station lay a hand upon her. But neither would be as fierce as our dear Helena. For the blood of two-hundred thousand suitors crashed against her walls, and she only beamed prouder than ever, laughing at their fancy...” Helena is indeed a very special city, one which has endured endless conflict and strife throughout the years. While the deep class continue to remain within Helenian society and the city does have its fair share of crime, this great metropolis has been carefully and lovingly brewed into a splendid stew indeed. With the completion of this ethnography, my anthropological studies have at long last succeeded in circumnavigating the Holy Orenian Empire! This is an achievement of which I am very proud, and I would highly recommend that my readers also take a gander at my earlier ethnographies on the Kingdom of Haense and the Commonwealth of Kaedrin if they are interested in learning more about the Empire’s diverse cultures, although I must warn that they are extremely outdated and may not be entirely accurate in the present day. And although they do not concern the Empire in particular, I would also highly recommend my ethnographic study of the Rexdom of Krugmar and my overview of the Lost Continent of Athera to my readers as well, should they be interested in such. Having now studied the entirety of Oren, I now set my sights upon visiting other lands abroad, for it is in my nature to continue exploring cultures with which I am unfamiliar, so that I might document their traditions and values for all time. For although my circumnavigation of the Empire has been completed, there are always new frontiers to explore, and it is my hope that by enlightening the peoples of Arcas as to our great heritages and the rich cultures of their neighbors which characterize this great continent, we might come to better understand one another. I look forward to continuing to draft these ethnographies, and will no doubt be releasing more of them in the upcoming future. -Authored by Celestine E. Herbert, President of the Northern Geographical Society

@ibraheemc2000 ”Dear Mr. Ibn Hamza, Your offer is most graciously appreciated. I must admit, it is a bit surprising to be receiving an offer of help from a fine group of people who live so far away. I shall keep your offer in mind, and perhaps in due course we might be able to meet to discuss this matter in greater detail at my residence in Owynsburg. Sincerely, Amelia Mortimer” [[Add AndrewTech#1007 to Discord]] @Cooliomafia “Dear Mr. Durion, I must say, your offer of assistance is quite enticing. You sell yourself rather well with the written word, and I am quite flattered that you and your friends would decide my case to be of worth. I would be honored to travel to Belcourt Manor in order to discuss this matter further, if only you would provide me a map to the place so that I might travel there to meet with you and your men. Sincerely, Amelia Mortimer” [[Add AndrewTech#1007 to Discord]] @Sweet Plants “Dear Ms. Gretel, While I cannot in good conscience allow you to undertake this task alone on my behalf, as doing so might pose a significant to your health, I must admit that I am in desperate need of counsel. And perhaps if there is another group which might have need of a noble Spearmaiden such as yourself, you might be able to assist them and therefore myself in our endeavour. Either way however, I would very much like to meet with you in order to solicit your advice. While I am willing to travel to Siramenor in order to meet you, might you be amicable to the notion of possibly meeting at my residence in Owynsburg? Please write back so that we may coordinate further. Sincerely, Amelia Mortimer” [[Add AndrewTech#1007 to Discord]] @Latte “Dear Ms. Ashigawa, I am intrigued by your offer of assistance. Those within your group seem to come from noble pedigrees, and the presence of a paladin and a mage in your party no doubt gives it great credence. I have recently been contacted by a Spearmaiden who might be willing to join your group as well. We shall speak more of this matter in person. Sincerely, Amelia Mortimer” [[Add AndrewTech#1007 to Discord]] @Braehn Elendil An'Hiraeth “Dear Mr. Asa, Your offer is music to my ears, and your reputation in dealing with the supernatural would seem to be impeccable at first glance. I am very interested in learning more, and would be pleased to speak about the matter further over a cup of tea in the Owynsburg Cafe. Sincerely, Amelia Mortimer” [[Add AndrewTech#1007 to Discord]] @Carson ((I’ll be sure to reply in PMs then!)) [!] An update is posted beneath the letters spread across Areas by Amelia: [!] ”The bravery and courage of the peoples of Arcas is absolutely heartwarming, and I believe that I’ve an ample number of groups who are willing and able to assist me with my situation. I am sure that their services will be more than adequate, although I shall issue another update to this request should such not be the case. -Amelia Mortimer”

The Greatest Honour An Ethnographic Study of the Rexdom of Krugmar 5th of Sigismund’s End, 1777 I.) Introduction A Traditional Orcish Town on the Steppes (c. 1763) It is to my great shame that I am not as free to travel as I once was in my earlier years of life, having become the President of a successful society with three separate museums across the Empire with the obligations that such entails. However, over the past decade or so, I have done my best to set aside a few months here and there to travel abroad and visit the Rexdom of Krugmar, a land which I first became interested in many years ago during an investigation of the Dwarven-Orcish War. Although I only stayed in Krugmar for a single day in order to perform my interviews, I had become quite fascinated in this culture of which I knew so little. Later, I would return to the Rexdom in order to obtain a number of cultural artifacts to put on display for the international wing of the Northern Geographical Society’s flagship museum in New Reza. A good friend of mine, their Dominus and Lorekeeper Fiil’Yar, was happy to oblige, loaning me with a number of artifacts to put on display there. In the aftermath of such, I had an intriguing encounter with a shaman who taught me much about Orcish culture and the spirits in which they believe. In the aftermath of this revelation of the many complexities within Orcish society, I would continue to visit my friend Fiil sporadically throughout the years. Our relationship has since become a lovely one, and I do consider her to be one of my better friends. She has helped to guide me through the wonderful world of the Orcs, as have many of the rest of Krug’s kin whom I have met during my excursions abroad. Without Fiil, the writing of this ethnography meant to educate the peoples of the Empire and of the greater continent of Arcas as to the complex culture of the Orcs would be an impossibility. It is to her therefore that I dedicate this scholarly work, and I thank her once again for the assistance and guidance that she has rendered to me throughout the years. II.) Culture & Traditions An Orcish Shaman Facilitating a Spirit Journey (c. 1770) Those who live beyond the borders of Krugmar often make the mistake of assuming that the more tribalistic nature of the children of Krug is reminiscent of an “uncultured” or “bloodthirsty” society. The reality of the matter, however, is that nothing could be further from the truth. It is my belief, as an anthropologist, that every culture has an “anchor” in which it unwaveringly grounds itself. I uncovered this revelation during my previous works on the Haeseni and Kaedreni peoples during my youth, and I have sought to apply this concept to my examination of cultures beyond the Empire as well. The anchor of Orcish culture was not difficult to ascertain during my interactions with the people of Krugmar. I would say that above all else, the Orcs hold in the highest esteem the virtues of honour and merit, which to them go together hand-in-hand. I have come to learn that despite their proud nature, the people of Krugmar also place great value upon the virtue of humility. For instance, while introducing myself to a group of Orcs, I was entirely unaware at first that one of the Orcs to which I was speaking was actually the Rex at the time! But their rexes wear no crowns or ornaments, for their strength is all they need in order to be respected. In fact, one of the previous rexes even refused to sit on their throne throughout their entire reign! My friend told me that many rexes were partial to “the rush of feeling humble” when strangers do not know that they are Krugmar’s leader. Any singular grunt can become the Rex, if only he proves himself in battle, in strength, and in spirit. The shamans of the Orcs are a guiding influence in the realm of Krugmar, the spiritual leaders of the Orcish people. Indeed, spirit worship is still a religion practiced by many in Arcas, including by some splinter factions of mali’ker across the continent. Spirits such as Luara make up a sort of “pantheon” that they appeal to in order to satisfy their daily needs, each having domain over a different aspect of the universe. While I was only able to make the acquaintance of a young shaman of Luara during my time in Krugmar, the pantheon itself is quite intriguing, and further study into it would no doubt be a beneficial endeavour. One of the most cherished tales in their rich literature tradition is that of the Siege of San’Jezal. A tale which has inspired many young Orcs to learn how to read, it is an epic which describes the defense of the oldest Orcish city against the Undead. Standing alongside the other races of ancient Aegis, it is a tale which revolves around the overcoming of insurmountable odds in order to claim victory from the jaws of defeat. It is a prime example of the sort of honour which the Orcs so cherish, one that amplifies the best aspects of the Orcish culture and gives pride to their people. Indeed, Orcish literature as a whole is actually very rich, contrary to the popular stereotypes associated with the Orcs as being purely a warrior culture. The truth of the matter is that the Orcs have a rich literary tradition, one filled with both oral and written works that have been meticulously preserved by the Yar Clan in the rexdom’s grand hall of records. An Orcish Warband in the Deserts of Krugmar (c. 1732) Many aspects of Orcish culture are alien to those who live within the Empire. From the very attire worn by the Orcs to the way in which children are raised, almost everything about the inhabitants of Krugmar might be considered an unfamiliarity. An Orc’s life revolves around preparing for battle, and readying himself for the next fight that he may be forced to wage. As children, Orcs are often tested in many different ways as “kubs” to prepare them for adulthood. Scars and mutilations are taken with pride, and the steady accumulation of strength is a sign of great renown for an Orc. But an Orc’s life is not entirely characterized by hardships. At night, the children of the tribe will often gather around the campfire and be taught its histories by their elders. The Orcish code of honor revolves around traditionalism and respect, often a ***-for-tat process. All Orcs speak in a dialect of Common that is simply known as the “Blah”, and to not speak it is to dishonor oneself as a whitewashed member of the tribe. While orcs often mate seasonally for the purpose of procreation, they also have “lifemates”, to which they are bound for the entirety of their lives. A mate is usually attracted through the wooing of a suitor via impressing them in some way, shape, or form, usually by a feat of strength although an exhibition of wisdom may also be taken to heart. Thus, most of Orcish society is semi-polyamerous in nature. Due to their tropical environment and thickened skin possessed by their race, Orcish clothing is very lax. Oftentimes, Orcs choose to flaunt their bare chests in order to show off their muscles. Loincloths and knee breeches are often the prime choices of attire in Orcish culture, in addition to primitively made bone armor that protects them from the bites and slashes of wild beasts. One of the most important aspects of Orcish culture however is the practice of shamanism, or the reverence and worship of the spirits. The inhabitants of Krugmar have been known to have practiced spirit worship since the beginning of recorded history. There is a spirit for every aspect of daily life, and thus, an orc devotes his adoration to the spirit which suits him best. While our general knowledge of the specific spirits is limited, worldly shamans that commune with them through the practice of rituals and sacrifice are highly respected in the orcish culture. III.) Government & Politics A Group of Orcs Riding Upon a Herd of Warmounts (c. 1763) The governance of the Orcish clans is sadly something that is not widely understood by most of the poeples of Arcas. However, in order to understand the Orcish people as a whole, one must first be able to understand how it is that they conduct their own internal affairs. While some might find the governmental system of the Orcs to be very alien in nature, one must not forget that it was not but a century or two ago that the lords of mankind acted in much the same way. The feudal system was not so different from the clans of Krugmar in nature, with intervassal conflicts being commonplace in the days before the dawn of the modern Empire. To understand the way of the Orcs, one must first come to realize that Orcish society is highly centralized and reliant upon the various clans within it. Every clan has its own speciality, its own area of expertise to allow the war nation to run. various clans within their society are geared toward handling a variety of different aspects in everyday life. Each typically holds sway over it’s own domain, usually a building or a parcel of land pertaining to their function within the war nation. For instance, one might have a library, another a stretch of road that they patrol, others a fort, some a village, etcetera. Examples of clans that have been assigned certain specialities include the following: Clan Gorkil - A warrior clan of Uruks, members of this clan focus on honing their strength through the art of strategy and through the disciplined study of the martial arts. These Orcs are dedicated to the art of war, focusing on master over both the blade and how to use it. Clan Yar - The Yar clan is widely considered to be the clan of spirituality, wisdom, and knowledge. My good friend, Fiil’Yar, is the lorekeeper of Krugmar and a member of this clan. According to her, they are one of the oldest, most well established clans within the war nation. They are in charge of keeping records within Krugmar and undergo upkeep on the war nation’s library. Clan Lur - A clan of the Orcs which has taken great care to master the art of tracking and hunting, a trade that is seen to be of the utmost importance within Krugmar. Without hunting, new mounts cannot be obtained with which to wage war, nor can the families of those within the war nation be fed. The many dangerous beasts which roam the deserts and steppes of Krugmar must also be kept at bay, thus the need for skilled hunters. Clan Raguk - Members of this clan are devoted to the art of military industrialization, manufacturing arms and armour for the war nation. They also focus on honing the art of military strategy as well through the use of new tools and tactics. Clan Shrogo - A clan of goblins which is widely known for specializing in shamanism and in the art of engineering, characterized by their moon-kissed skin and their devotion to the lunar spirit Luara. While the Rex tends to hold absolute power over Krugmar, the Wargoths hold a certain degree of collective power over the country. These are the heads of the Orcish clans, the patriarch or matriarch that leads each of these individual clans. They are allowed almost complete autonomy out of respect for their positions, although the Rex does have the right to step in and give orders at any time should the need arise. Like in the traditional feudal systems of mankind, the Wargoths are the absolute heads of the families. However, unlike in the human feudal system, these positions are determined on the basis of merit through the challenging of the previous leaders who were in power. Heredity is something that is greatly frowned upon by the Orcs, and thus strength and competency are held in the utmost regard. Administrative positions on the Rex’s council are also assigned on the basis of merit, although a challenge can be issued and a position holder replaced should someone prove themselves to be more capable than they. Some of these council positions include the following: Dominus - The right hand of the Rex, the position of Dominus is akin to that of a Lord Palatine or an Imperial Archchancellor in their society. They ensure that the Rex’s laws and decrees are followed through with and that the “Codes of Krug” are upheld. They also manage housing, events, and the local governance of settlements. My friend Fiil has held this position for nearly forty years, something that is almost unheard of in Orcish society! Targoth - Much like a marshal in nature, he tends to Krugmar’s army and the affairs of military supply and strategy. The Targoth’s word is law in the Codes of Krug, for every member of Orcish society is automatically enrolled in the military at all times, and disobeying his orders in a vital moment could lead to the tragic loss of life. It is worth noting that when an Orc seeks to challenge another for the position of Targoth, he himself will form a warband to meet the standing Targoth’s own in a series of mock skirmishes in order to prove who is the superior battlefield commander rather than the superior fighter. Yazgurtan - An accomplished architect, the Yazgurtan usually manages construction as well as the movement of labour. Many Yars have held this position, according to my friend Fiil, although this is apparently not necessarily always the case. Motsham - The Motsham is in charge of ensuring that the Orcish population is well educated in the matters of spirituality and advises the Rex on those matters as well. Despite possessing natural lifespans of nearly four hundred years in length, generations of Orcs tend to go by very quickly due to the brutal nature of their lifestyle. As such, constant education on spiritual matters is a necessity for the people of Krugmar. It is a position that is decided upon more democratically than the others, and it has almost always been held by a shaman. Snaggagoth - He is responsible for overseeing Krugmar’s population of slaves, ensuring that they are not abused in a cruel manner, and assigning them to perform fair labour. If it is decided that they are to be released, then he is to ensure that slaves are to be released unharmed. He also decides when a slave is ready to be fully integrated into the war nation as a “brother” or “sister”, an honorary orc in their own right. Lorekeeper - A lower ranking position on the Rex’s council, he is responsible for maintaining the library and providing knowledge on general matters to the people of Krugmar. They are only allowed to attend Rex's council if they are invited to do so. Grubgoth - A lower council position that is often left unfilled, this council member oversees the production of food during times of war. This can be extremely important to the war nation as Orcish grunts burn through rations extremely quickly and entire armies are liable to perish without an adequate supply network. However, during times of peace, they are responsible for obtaining food and alcohol for Orcish taverns within the war nation, a somewhat less prestigious task that causes the position to often go unfilled for extended periods and lead to shortages upon the dawn of war. Fiil lamented the underappreciation of the position of Grubgoth to me and said that she wished the position would remain filled more permanently. Huntsgoth - This position is normally left unfilled, but is considered to be a great honor within Orcish society. When they are given responsibility, it is usually to bond the community together through leading great conquests against forces such as the undead and basilisks. Throughout my study of Krugmar, I found the Orichs system to be quite intriguing. It was almost reminiscent of feudalistic governance within the realms of humanity some centuries ago, and an observation of the clans of Krugmar might very well help in providing for a greater understanding of humanity, and indeed all the peoples of Arcas. IV.) Personal Observations A Traditional Orcish “Blargh”, or Nomadic Tent-Hut (c. 1768) I have made many observations on Orcish culture throughout my many years of visitation. While they have been made over the course of a very long period of time, I do hope that I will be able to offer a bit of insight into their culture for the peoples of the Empire and of greater Arcas. It might be proper for me to begin by explaining the subraces of the Orcish species, as some might otherwise not be aware of the race’s diversity otherwise. There are three primary subdivisions within the Orcish race, which include the following: URUKS: With members of this subrace standing between 6-8 feet tall, they are a fearsome sight to behold. The most common of the Orcish subraces, the typical uruk is characterized by a pair of tusks that protrude from his mouth. Uruk skin tones may range across the color spectrum, from a blackened hue to green, dark blue, and even reddish tints. GOBLINS: The goblins of Krugmar are rumored to be the result of interbreeding between uruks and elves long ago. Standing at 4-6 feet in stature, they are smaller than their uruk kin. However, they have a talent at designing mechanical devices and trinkets, exhibiting a greater-than-average degree of heightened intelligence and technological capability. They are both cunning and clever, often using subterfuge rather than raw strength to achieve their ends. OLOGS: Last but not least, the Ologs comprise the third of the Orcish subraces. Standing at a colossal 10-12 feet tall, they are said to almost always be hungry. They tend to vocalize their thoughts, although they possess only very limited vocabularies. They take pride in their physical abilities, and are often used to bear the burden of Krugmar’s heavy labor. Most of the Orcs with which I interacted with either goblins or uruks, although Fiil’Yar herself was an outsider who had been adopted into Krugmar as a young child. After the Vesnian coup and the installation of Adrian Helvets as the King of Kaedrin, she was brought into their fold and was lovingly raised as one of their own. Contrary to popular belief, the Orcs are perfectly hospitable to travelers so long as they offer up a bit of something as tribute to them. For instance, I would give them either ingots to craft plows with or written works to add to their library during my visits. During my first visit, I came to Krugmar with the intention of publishing an overview on the Orcish-Dwarven War from the viewpoint of an observer from a then neutral nation. I was fortunate enough to be able to speak to Fiil’Yar, a member of their ruling council and the lorekeeper of Krugmar’s library. I became quite interested in the culture of the Orcs in the aftermath of my interview with Fiil. While I had also spoken to a council member of the Kingdom of Urguan several Saint’s Days previous, and indeed do continue to hope to travel to the realm of the dwarves one day once the ongoing war comes to a conclusion, there was something about that which Fiil had told me that really resonated. Thus, I continued to return even after my business in Krugmar had come to its conclusion. During my second visit to Krugmar, Fiil assisted me in my search for relevant cultural objects that I might put on display in the Orcish exhibit at the Northern Geographical Society’s museum in New Reza. I also requested from her some basic information about her people for that same display. Again, she was quite hospitable and more than willing to help me in my doing so. Upon my third visit to Krugmar, I recall having a late night conversation with Fiil about the structure of Orcish society. That is where she explained the functions of the various clans to me, and where I learned about the epic of the Siege of San’Jezal. It is also where I announced my intention to her to undertake a study on the Orcish culture for the benefit of others beyond their lands, and where we discussed the more communal nature of the war nation and the relationships between the various clans therein. On my fourth visit, I had the great honor of being able to meet then-Rex Akrukil’Lur and then-snaggagoth Snawt’Ox. While neither are presently in power anymore, I learned much about Orcish society from these two leaders of Krugmar. I learned about the humble nature of the Rexes that I previously mentioned, as well as a little bit about Orcish honor and the institution of slavery in the war nation. While I am of course tremendously opposed to the practice of slavery in all forms as both a longtime Josephite and a woman of liberal beliefs, the institution is critical to understanding the Orcish culture. And thus, I spoke to both Fiil and the Snaggagoth at the time regarding the practice. Apparently, most outsiders who enter the lands of Krugmar during times of peace and refuse to pay the tribute are merely turned away. Mostly are not taken as “slaves” unwillingly, from what I was told by various Orcs during my time in the war nation. Indeed, many troubled souls with nowhere else to turn actually seek to abandon their former lives for the chance to possibly become an honorary orc! Of course, some are unwillingly taken as slaves, although Snawt claimed that the “honorable” way of doing so was to take them as prisoners during combat. This is apparently not something adhered to widely however. Fiil herself believed that the rights of slaves should be respected under Orcish law in exchange for their service, and they should be treated as well as the work that they do. Another glimpse into the very merit based society of the Orcs, as ghastly as the institution of slavery may seem to many of the other peoples of Arcas. V.) Conclusion A Lush Valley Deep Within the Orcish Desert (c. 1770) The observations that I have made in this study have been done over the course of a decade, and while some might disagree on that which I have written about, that which is found within this ethnography is what I have gathered over the course of my many sporadic sojourns into Krugmar. Although the Orcish culture is clearly different from those of the Empire, it nonetheless embodies a rich and ancient way of living that has long since been forgotten. No doubt, our own ancestors likely lived nomadic, tribal lifestyles many thousands of years ago. Even in the present day, the Scyflings of Haense continue to embody such behaviorisms, as well as some factions within the mali’ker and even tribes of wild elves who live deep within the woods. Differences between cultures are not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, such differences can be reminiscent of the vast diversity of life in our wonderful world. It is my belief that every civilization should have the right to self determination as well as to pursue the virtues of life, liberty, and personal contentment. Through sharing my humble observations of these different peoples with the world at large, I hope to help make it a better place in some small way. Even now in the midst of a raging war, soldiers from across the realms of Arcas gather in Krugmar as they did in the narrative of the Siege of San’Jezal to combat the Inferi menace. Being able to come together like this gives me hope for a peaceful future that is characterized by tolerance and cooperation, rather than one filled with constant bloodshed. I wish to conclude this study of the Orcish people by once again drawing the attention of my readers to the cultural anchor that grounds Krugmar, that of the virtues of honour and merit. It is my belief that through hard work, grit, and determination, anyone can achieve their dreams in any culture or civilization. I look forward to uncovering the other “cultural anchors” throughout the descendant civilizations as I continue my studies on the peoples of Arcas, and I smile at the thought of continuing to trailblaze new frontiers, learn about other cultures, and spread the knowledge of this continent’s various peoples to readers throughout. For that, I believe, is the Greatest Honour that an explorer can have. -Authored by Celestine E. Herbert, President of the Northern Geographical Society

A Plea for Help [!] Within the major cities of the Empire, including Helena, Reza, and Owynsburg, as well as in taverns across Arcas, adventurers might be able to spot a certain notice penned to boards and posts throughout the land... [!] To Whom It May Concern: I would first like to thank you for taking the time to read this letter. My name is Amelia Mortimer, a young barrister who lives and works in the town of Owynsburg. I write to you today in search of some assistance regarding a very dire matter... Quite recently, my father passed onto the Seven Skies. As his only daughter and the sole surviving member of our family, I was left as the heiress to the Riverspire Manor and the Mortimer estate, our family manor house on the frontier. It does not lie within the borders of any nation, situated many miles south of the furthest Imperial outpost. My family was once quite wealthy and used to run a lush vineyard in our lands when I was a child, although it fell into disrepair some years ago after the ruination of our family business. Some time ago, I attempted to visit my father’s estate in the hope of once again fixing it up. Unfortunately however, I was forced to vacate the manor after a single night. An unlivable mess, the manor is quite desolate… Throughout my night there, I was tormented by the most horrendous of sounds. Worse yet, I found a number of things missing from my trunk upon my decision to depart in the morning. Something is still lurking within Riverspire Manor, and I need a group that is much more adept at dealing with these sorts of things than I to investigate. It is my own personal belief that the manor is either infested, haunted, or perhaps some mixture of the two. Therefore, I require the assistance of an enterprising group of adventurers to help make this manor inhabitable once again for the sake of both my family’s legacy and for personal closure as to the matter of my abandoned childhood home. While I cannot pay much, I would be more than willing to pay what I can and offer any group of adventurers that might be willing to assist me a few old and valuable trinkets that cannot be found anywhere else. I may also be able to offer a few things from within the manor, in return for assisting me in the reclamation of my ancestral family home. A group of six or so would be ideal for the job, any more would likely be overkill I fear. Mind you though, I will not hire just anyone for this task. I will only select a group based on who I think will be able to get the job done the best, and I will pay a group on the basis of their success in dealing with whatever pests might lie within Riverspire Manor. Groups who wish to undertake this task should pen a letter to my home in Owynsburg at their soonest possible convenience, including their pitch for being allowed to take on this job and their credentials to be able to do so. Once again, thank you for considering my request. I look forward to meeting with interested parties in the near future. Sincerely, Amelia Mortimer OOC (Please Read)

Blue Women's Coat - 5500 Blue High Elven - 1600 AndrewTech#1007

Women’s Blue Coat – 5k

Blue Women’s Coat – 1500 Blue High Elven – 1000 AndrewTech#1007

VOTES FROM THE 17th OF HARREN’S FOLLY, 1774 Cast by the House of Commons on that Date THE PRIVATE MILITARY ORGANIZATION ACT 17th of Harren’s Folly, 1774 AYE Konrad Stafyr Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov Conrad Barclay Farooq Grey Franz Sarkozy Abram Stalistena Edward Napier UNDECIDED Amadeus d’Aryn Oisin O’Rourke Sigmar Baruch Jonah Stahl-Elendil Winston Rothesay Lajos Sander Karoly Karl Amador Ayes: 8 Nays: 0 Undecided: 6 LEX CRIMINALIS REFORM ACT 17th of Harren’s Folly, 1774 AYE Konrad Stafyr Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov Conrad Barclay Farooq Grey Franz Sarkozy Abram Stalistena Edward Napier UNDECIDED Amadeus d’Aryn Oisin O’Rourke Sigmar Baruch Jonah Stahl-Elendil Winston Rothesay Lajos Sander Karoly Karl Amador Ayes: 8 Nays: 0 Undecided: 6

HOUSE OF COMMONS SESSION TRANSCRIPT 20th of Horen’s Calling, 1774 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “ORDER! This final sitting of the Sixteenth Imperial House of Commons is called to session! The chair calls upon the Leader of the House or his representative to set the day's agenda.” Sir Konstantin: “Pending his arrival, I, ah, will fill that role. Ahem. Today, we have a bill relating to Treasury Taxation Revisions, Sutican sanctions, and a report of the Interior Committee.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Very well then. The matter of the Treasury Taxation Revisions shall be discussed first. Time for an opening statement shall be allotted to whomever is presenting the bill, and then the floor shall be open for debate. The chair recognizes Mister Galbraith.” George Galbraith: “I'll keep this concise, so we can move to debate. Good evening, everyone. Today we'll start off with the Treasury Taxation Revision, which was passed down to the House of Commons after being created by the Treasury. Overall, it establishes a land, and peerage based tax that was created after months of surveying land, and a framework to that has been created appropriately.” Sir Konstantin: “Mr. President, if I may?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Are you done with your opening remarks, Mister Galbraith?” George Galbraith nods in the affirmative. Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Then yes, the chair recognizes Mister Wick, after which the floor shall be open for ten minutes of unmoderated debate.” Sir Konstantin: “Thank you. Friends, while I appreciate the Treasury may need to adjust its methodology, my concerns with this taxation bill are considerable and many. I will now pass around my notes on why this Bill should be sent back to the Treasury for immediate amendments before we can properly consider it. Peruse at your leisure, and please speak up if you disagree. My main concerns are encompassed in the fact that the Treasury has foregone the obvious opportunity to instal a provincial levy, instead undertaking a highly unsustainable model. Furthermore, there is very little for economic diversity across our Empire. It treats a rich Helenan merchant with fertile lands here in the Heartlands the same as a man of Baruch, manning the lands of Valwyck against the Scyfling invaders. Lands which are insuitable for both industry and agriculture. I explain this much better in my notes, so I'll let you read now in silence.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The floor is now open for ten minutes of unmoderated debate, as well as for any potential questions for both Mister Wick and Mister Galbraith.” Abram: “So vy would have our treasury instead levy taxes against our Koeng in Haense and on Kaedrin, and have them find funds from within? What of those peers holding territory in crownlands, and northern and eastern territories?” Sir Konstantin: “Those within the Crownlands ought to be taxed as proposed. As for northern and eastern territories, I'm less familiar with them and the work involved. If feasible, it might be appropriate for the Treasury to handle those directly or work with the local authorities to manage such.” Abram: “Ya could see reason to have single tax levied on Koeng of Haense, as he maintains traditional vassal contracts. But to have Pale and Kaedrin and every territory manage their own taxes as well makes little sense… Why should our empire have three or four taxation systems, instead of one, or, one and half.” Sir Konstantin: “I approached them merely from the view of efficiency. To tax all these lands every Saint's week by a single office based in Helena seemed highly unfeasible to me. In my view, I thought it made more sense for, say, Kaedrin to collect taxes internally, and pay a single provincial tax to the Treasury.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “I give my thanks to the Honourable Member for his revisionary critiques of the bill before the House today. But will he agree with me that this present bill seems ill-fitting and makes no attempt to repeal the already existing taxation system of provincial governments? I'm sure the President shall agree, the Acts of the Senate still stand in our present day.” Abram: “Ya hate to make agreeing with this powdered-wig wearing, effeminate man. But da, this bill does need work. However something must be done to reform our taxation system before we dissolve.” George Galbraith: “First, I'd like to thank Sir Konstantin for bringing such reforms to our eyes. I'd like to address the issues of efficiency first.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “I am glad that the Honourable Gentleman takes such a liking to my personage, but I do protest that he should at least have introduced himself to me before such flattery.” George Galbraith: “I agree with Abram's statement, in that establishing another provincial autonomous system within said governments may in fact lead to a less efficient system. It would be much easier to streamline the process if all the taxes were handled by the Treasury. In regards to the Tax Office, ideally we'd like for each section of it to be split corresponding to the regions in Oren, similar to how the Interior does it with their several departments. I believe such a system would streamline the process easier, instead of having to set up roughly 2-3 more systems for just one system.” Sir Konstantin: “In an ideal world, but my point was founded in that the Treasurer alone cannot hope to handle so many lands in one Saint's Weeks, each of which warrant different rates. It is, in principle, an argument of simple delegation. The provinces collect from lands within, and pay to the Treasury, instead of leaving the Treasury to collect from every land across the entire Empire individually. Such is unsustainable.” George Galbraith: “Isn't that what the sections of the Imperial Tax Offices are for?” Sir Konstantin: “Mind you, now, I'm not proposing an entirely different tax system for each province.” Abram: “Grey, this taxation office am to be within Treasury, da? Surely vyr ministry would simply hire more staff to make handling of such?” George Galbraith: “That is precisely correct. This is not handled by singularly the Treasurer himself. It would be handled by regional Imperial Tax Officers, who work with the Lord Lieutenants.” Sir Konstantin: “I'm merely proposing that provincial governments collect at a rate agreed with the Treasury, and pay a provincial tax.” Abram: “So Kaedrin and Haense then?” Sir Konstantin nods in the affirmative. George Galbraith: “The outlying lands there aye, alongside the outlying lands in Helena.” Abram: “Niet Pale then?” George Galbraith: “If there exists landowners in their outlying lands with architecture there, then yes.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Honourable Members, in listening to this debate I have pondered to myself whether there is a justifiable reason for taxation. I have concluded that, without adequate representation, the system of tax that we are voting on today and indeed as a principle seems poorly equipped to the economic realities of our constituent nations. The boom of Helena is not shared around our Empire, and so I find it profound that one would justify to themselves and to the nation the need for an equal taxing system prescribed by this here bill.” Sir Konstantin: “Hear hear! If you'll refer to my notes, honourable friends, you'll see I made a point regarding economic disparity.” Sir Sigmar Baruch: “Hear hear.” Sir Konstantin: “That the Treasury regards all lands as economically equal is simply …. Wrong.” Abram: “d'Aryn, have vy niet been reading reports of our budget? Peers have niet paid zhenya in generation, how can vy say that nieh tax at all am proper? Da, there needs to be better appraisal method, but to say that taxation as whole am improper am madness.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “There shall be another ten minute extension in the time allotted for this unmoderated debate.” George Galbraith: “I am open to revisions in the implementation of the tax, but to say the fact that any sort of taxation is wrong, is simply incorrect.” Abram: “Grey am correct, to say such am as detached from reality as d'Aryn's wig am from his head!” Amadeus d'Aryn: “In a moral sense, the implementation of taxation without instituting elections which provide direct representatives to constituencies is, I believe, wrong.” George Galbraith: “In regards to an earlier point of already taxing outlying lands, I'm not aware of any system doing that, for example, in outlying lands of Helena that gold estates doesn't exist.” Sir Sigmar Baruch: “Whether it is righ' or wrong is a matter o' opinion, nevertheless this bill 'as many problems, the majority o' which Sir Konstantin 'as pointed out.” Abram: “That am dobrey intresting belief vy have there, and vyr belief am wrong and bad.” He says, standing and leaning on the desk, “So vy would have our empire's treasury crumble because our Emperor's reforms to electoral process am niet to vyr liking?” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Would the people of Johnstown, with their slender voting base, feel represented enough in this House to consent to the taxation of their people? I believe we know the answer.” Abram: “Keep my town's name out of vyr mouth.” George Galbraith: “I'd like to get to the heart of this bill if I may.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Order! Cordality, you two. Cordality.” George Galbraith: “The point of this bill was to encourage more industrial activity, alongside agricultural activity, instead of landowners simply using their land for building large keeps and castles.” Abram: “We can niet get to heart of bill when this zhenya-raskal am saying we can niet have any form of taxation at all!” Sir Sigmar Baruch: “Our treasury is nie' crumblin, yer actin' a fool. The Empire 'as sustained an' it will continue to Sustain, maybe we shouldn' spend as much as we do if there be a problem, the provincial taxation already exists an' this does nothin' to rid o' it.” Sir Konstantin: “In response to Mr. Galbraith, I'll ask this House to note my comments on tax relief and economic disparity.” Sir Sigmar Baruch: “This does nothin' but go aroun' the provinces an' taxes their vassals directly, tha' is where the problem lies in my eyes, an' I will nie' support it.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Mr. President, here we see on full display the hypocrisy of this man who claims to believe in freedom of the individual from interference from above. This here Honourable Gentleman is justifying to us a system of unfair taxation to his own people. I do not know how many times he leaves Helena, but the Empire as a whole looks nothing like this prospering city.” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “Hear hear!” George Galbraith: “There exists no taxation system for outlying lands outside cities, we are in fact trying to establish one now.” Sir Konstantin: “Of course, but this current Bill is, I think most of us believe, insufficient.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Ordinary hardworking Orenians, stripped of their liberties by a Josephite who whispers in their ear platitudes about their rights against interference. Have the sides switched, or am I mishearing?” Sir Konstantin: “I suggest the Treasury take my notes and the remarks made here today and revise their Bill.” Abram: “Vy say ya niet make leaving of Helena?! D'Aryn, how often do vy even leave vyr bed?! How many sessions have vy attended here again, as leader of vyr party?” George Galbraith: “Sir Konstantin, if you could expand on your point of economic disparity?” Sir Konstantin: “Of course. As the honourable Mr. D'Aryn has observed, not all lands in the Empire are Helena. Not every landowner is a Heartlander merchant with fertile lands and a demand for industry.” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “Speak in the common tongue, Mister Abram! We can barely understand you!” George Galbraith: “Gentlemen, let's not make this personal.” Abram Stalistena stands, moving out from behind his desk to the middle of the chamber, and staring Winston in the face. Sir Konstantin: “Take the honourable Mr. Baruch. His familial lands of Valwyck have borne the brunt of the Scyfling incursion into northern Haense.” Abram: “What was that Winston? Ya could nieh hear vy.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Such a response only highlights to the House this Honourable Members loss of the reality of the lives of ordinary Orenians, whose pockets have been drained by decades of war. The people of the shire; the people of the farmlands; the people of the village and the people of the keep have had too much interference from this here party than they can reasonably bear. Enough, I say. Enough!” Sir Konstantin: “His lands are a key defensive bastion on our Empire's northern border. It is remote, and built atop cliffs bordering vasy snowy tundra. The land is not suitable for farming, and there exists no demand for industry.” George Galbraith: “No demand for industry?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Gentlemen… Lay off the personal insults, on both sides.” Sir Konstantin: “Why should the honourable Mr. Baruch's family have to pay over 5000 per Saint's Month when their lands are simply not as well-situated as Helena, but of equal import?” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “Have you come to threaten me, mister? Aggression in the house is an ejectable offense.” George Galbraith: “How is it not suitable for industrial progress for the Empire?” Abram Stalistena: “Yam niet going to threaten vy, ya just wished vy to repeat whatever garbage vy said to ya.” George Galbraith: “Mr. Stalistena, please.” Sir Konstantin: “Because it is remote, as I have said. There are not a great number of labourers to hand, like a Heartland settlement, and materials are much harder to transport and obtain.” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “I simply stated that we can hardly understand what you say, for you speak with a broken tongue.” Sir Konstantin: “Why should we punish the good Mr. Baruch for defending our Empire?” Sir Sigmar Baruch: “Hear hear.” Abram Stalistena: “Ya speak in official minority language of our Empire, as enshrined in law. And vy speak in base insults against ya and my ancestors.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Vy petty threats am niet something this bench cares for, I do not care for it and the Orenian people shan't care for it any longer.” Oisin O'Rourke: “Mister President, if I may?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The floor is still open for unmoderated debate, Mister O'Rourke, so yes.” Oisin O'Rourke: “It is clear to me that the Members of the House are set forth in their opinions and thoughts on this bill, and we are going in circles. I motion to end the debate and move directly to voting on this bill.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Seconded!” Sir Konstantin: “Sec - oh, uhm ,yes, very good.” Abram Stalistena: “Ya have nieh made threatening of anyone.” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “Nonsense. Seat yourself and stop behaving like a hog, sir.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Is there a sec- Very well then, we shall move onto a vote on the bill at hand.” Abram Stalistena: “Mister President, this man has insulted ya and my folk and our tounge, ya would have him apologise before our House before continuing.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Mr. President, please could you instruct the Honourable Member to leave the vicinity of our benches.” Sir Sigmar Baruch: “By GOD stop bein' so soft, we've alo' o' things to get to, please lets move along.” Farooq Gray: “You two ought to duel, settle this like men.” Abram Stalistena: “Ya like way this one thinks!” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Unless the Honourable Member has given up his thirst and hunger for legislating tyranny, I suggest he return back to his seat where he can exercise his vote given to him by the Orenian people.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Mister Rothesay, Mister Stalistena, the two of you will both apologize to each other. Then, you shall take your seat again Stalistena. We are gentlemen and parliamentarians, and I will not tolerate this sort of behavior in my House. Move past your quarrel and settle it outside of these halls.” Angelika Bykov: “Hear, hear!” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “Apologise for what part precisely, Mister President?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “For calling Stalistena a hog, amongst other things. And Stalistena must apologize to you in turn. Now, please make haste. We have a question that we are to vote on momentarily.” Abram Stalistena: “Vy heard our president and vyr colleague Farooq, Winston, outside?, Unless vy would wish to niet settle this like men.” Sir Konstantin: “ …. Can we vote first, Abram?” Angelika Bykov: “For being blatantly racist! There is nie need for such in this honorable body!” Sir Sigmar Baruch: “There be barbarians a' the Empire's edge an' we squabble like dogs, absolutely ridiculous.” Farooq Gray: “Let them engage in fisticuffs…” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “Mister President, he persists to challenge me even as you demand I make an apology. Surely he should make an apology first?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “I care not for semantics. Now shake hands, and let that be a mutual apology to be given at the same time. Then be seated, and let us continue the day's business. Should you wish to settle your quarrel outside of these halls, then so be it, but I will not tolerate it here.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Show some professionalism and return to your seat before you set upon yourself the ire of both a gentleman and a Cardinal.” Abram Stalistena: “Ya have nieh intention to apologise, but will sit and proceed to vote, on condition that Winston settles this as Farooq suggests after our session.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “I very much doubt Mr. Rothesay's care for your vote.” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “Do tell me, mister Abram - do you have military experience?” Abram Stalistena: “Fifteen years in Brotherhood of Saint Karl, fought at battle fo Boomhill, before ya made losing of leg in service of my folk. And ya will still duel vy with single leg.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Dammit to hell- Just be seated already!” Sir Konstantin: “Gentlemen. Can we proceed to a vote and settle your differences afterwards?” Sir Sigmar Baruch: “Mister Presiden', if the men continue to halt the progress o' this session, will ye remove 'em. We've business to get to an' Ah do nie' 'ave the time for petty games tha' Abram is playin' at.” Abram Stalistena: “So do vy agree, Rothesay?” George Galbraith: “Can we move on? I'd like to settle this professionally?” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “Well… I could't fight a man with one leg. That certainly wouldn't be fair.” He decides to take his seat. Abram Stalistena: “That man am more cowardly than any ya fought with in my life.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The next of you two to speak ill of or insult one another will be evicted. Now be seated, and let us vote. THE ROLL SHALL NOW BE CALLED!” IMPERIAL TAXATION BILL 20h of Horen’s Calling, 1774 NAY Amaedeus d’Aryn Konrad Stafyr Farooq Gray Oisin O’Rourke Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov Winston Rothesay Franz Sarkozy Sigmar Joren Baruch ABSTAIN Abram Stalistena George Galbraith UNDECIDED Jonah Stahl-Elendil Lajos Sander Karoly Conrad Barclay Karl Amador Ayes: 0 Nays: 9 Abstain: 2 Undecided: 4 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The nays are nine and the ayes are none, with two absetensions. The treasury's proposal has failed. I would recommend that recommendations be made by this body as to how to proceed at a later date.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Mr. President, I would like to table an urgent resolution to the House considering this shall likely be the last sitting of this diet.” George Galbraith: “Can we go in order of submissions?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The chair recognizes the Minority Leader. Then, we shall continue with the rest of the day's business.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “I say this due to the limitations on my time here presently. I highly doubt the controversiality of this resolution, which is why I believe this should only be given a small time for brief debate.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Mister d'Aryn, I would have highly preferred you to have submitted this twenty four Saint's Hours before the beginning of this sitting.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Of course, Mr. President, although this issue has been brought back to my attention very recently. Free and fair elections are important, and I hope the whole House will agree on this statement.” Abram Stalistena: “Mister President, can ya make commenting on this?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Hmph. I shall alot a small amount of time for debate on the matter Five minutes, unmoderated debate. Unfortunately, I never specified the twenty four hour rule as applying to 'resolutions'. However, if it is believed that the proposed resolution has not had adequate enough time to be reviewed, then a motion to table it may be made. Unless that is done however, the resolution shall be considered.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Thank you, Mr. President. We cannot allow ourselves to be degraded into a body which would sooner see its seats allocated by sortition. I believe before campaigning officially starts we should set this resolution out clearly to the Orenian people.” Abram Stalistena: “This resolution seems uncontroversial and dobrey to ya, and in lack of assent given to our Voter Protection Act ya would support this resolution. Further, unless there am any serious concerns with it, ya would be dobrey happy to move to vote by aclimation on this resolution.” Angelika Bykov: “Seconded.” George Galbraith: “I second that. I don't see any serious problems, so I'd like to move to voting as well.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The motion has been heard and seconded.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Mr. President, one comment before voting begins.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “And aye, we shall now have a verbal vote on this- Yes, Mister d'Aryn?” Amadeus d'Aryn: “As this matter transcends politicking, I wish to understand the willingness of those present to sign this resolution alongside my benches. I shall gladly add your names should you agree to it.” Franz Nikolai: “I thank you for the offer, Mr. D'Aryn, and I'd gladly take you up on it.” Angelika Bykov: “Very well then. I motion to a vote.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The previous question shall now be heard, and a verbal vote shall be taken. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.” URGENT RESOLUTION ON ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS 20th of Horen’s Calling, 1774 AYE Amaedeus d’Aryn Konrad Stafyr Farooq Gray Oisin O’Rourke Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov Winston Rothesay Franz Sarkozy Sigmar Joren Baruch Abram Stalistena George Galbraith UNDECIDED Jonah Stahl-Elendil Lajos Sander Karoly Conrad Barclay Karl Amador Ayes: 11 Nays: 0 Abstain: 0 Undecided: 4 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The ayes are eleven and the nays are none. This resolution has passed. The chair now calls upon the Leader of the House to present the next bill of the day.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “I thank the House.” George Galbraith: “Thank you, Mr. President. Aye, and the next resolution we'd like to propose would be the Sutica sanction resolution. If I may, I'd like to first clarify something? For any future questions in debate.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Very well then. The chair calls upon the author of the resolution to put it forth to the floor. And you may, before such transpires, or during opening remarks if you intend to give them.” George Galbraith: “I'd just like to clarify that the former Sutican sanctions bill has been revised into the format of a resolution instead. We recognize that the military department and foreign affairs do have their separate strategy, in their structured manner This is why the resolution was made, simply to voice the support of the House for militaristic sanctions at the discretion of the war department. Such an action would show a unified effort across our government.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The floor is now open for ten minutes of unmoderated debate on the resolution, as well as to questions for the author. And if there are none, then a motion may be heard to move to a vote.” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “I have no qualms with such a resolution… only a simple request. I would propose in honour of the young gentleman who was murdered by the former King of Sutica - and I shall invoke his name for the house to hear, Peter Amadeus de Sarkozy of Pompourelia. That we commemorate his memory, and hereby name this resolution 'The Amadeus Resolution'.” George Galbraith: “How do you propose we also honor his mother, and the others who were terrorized by the tyrant?” Abram Stalistena: “Nieh use wasting time on this.” George Galbraith: “But of course- I am inclined for such a change. If it is fine by the House.” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “That is simple… That he is brought to justice. I do therefore agree with this resolution vehemently, and will add my own signature to it if it would please. And I would encourage my fellow Everardines to commit to the same.” Farooq Gray: “I strongly object to this resolution. The Edict of Reform is quite clear, stating that this house has no involvement in the military, or in the realm of diplomacy and foreign affairs.” George Galbraith: “Where in the resolution does it say that we forcefully authorize the war department? We are just voicing our approval for such an action to be named- to honor those who have been terrorized. And restore peace and order.” Farooq Gray: “It quite clearly states support for such action, when this house ought to not comment on these matters that are not in our purview.” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “Mister Gray… I find myself in agreement with the Josephite bench for once. Nowhere in the resolution does it mean to manipulate or trifle in the affairs of the Foreign Ministry nor the endeavours of the War Department. A missive of support is not the same as direct interference.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “My Honourable Friend is correct in his commemoration of the tragic death of the young boy and his mother, although I disagree with the penultimate article.” Farooq Gray: “You also quite clearly state that these sanctions are only to be lifted ‘once the Sutican leadership complies to the demands of the empire.’ We as a house have no power to create or authorize sanctions.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “All the House should know that I am the Cardinal Sutica. I know the population well, and I know that many are good individuals with an interest for Canonism. I cannot support a resolution which will punish the population for the acts of their ruler.” George Galbraith: “Again, we do not create nor authorize a sanction. We simply voice support for the war department to do so.” Farooq Gray: “I will wholeheartedly be voting nay on this resolution.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “The penultimate article is not only not diplomatic, it will also cause a 'rallying around the flay' of the population, further turning the populace against our Holy Empire by threatening their very freedom of movement and livelihoods. Our future generations will bear the scars of an act which single handedly made the state of Sutica and its people despise humanity.” George Galbraith: “If I may, I'd like to propose a friendly amendment as specified by Mr. Gray, in that the last clause be cut out. I think it would prove less aggressive.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Make that the last two articles and you shall have my vote.” Farooq Gray: “I shall repeat the Edict of Reform, which states: The Imperial Diet’s functions and legislation, as a whole, are prohibited from interaction with the following matters of state. “It seems like this bill is attempting to interact with both the military and foreign affairs. I shall be voting nay.” George Galbraith: “To specify the friendly amendment, I mean to cut out that part.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “I beg to appeal to the pious virtues of this House. His Holiness and I have made it our mission to systematically convert and bring the people of Sutica closer to the flock. As our Holy Empire is a representation of the virtues of the Scroll I fear what will come from turning the population entirely against us. By all means, condemn the King of Sutica and his government, but do not punish the people.” Abram Stalistena: “d'Aryn, what portion of the Sutican population would vy describe as Cannonist?” Oisin O'Rourke: “The ORC states that we may write on Foreign relations with the Crown's approval. Should this body pass this writing, the Crown would need to approve it regardless, despite it only showing support. Regardless, its a useless gesture in the end. If you want to show support for intervention, do it in your own name.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “The King himself is a Canonist faithful, although I would note that our conversion efforts have been at play for no more than a decade. It takes time, understanding, and patience to bring such a varied demographic to the flock. All of which will be crushed if the penultimate article remains. Thusly, I beg humbly for it to be removed to stop the Honourable Member who introduced it from inadvertently insulting His Holiness' pious efforts.” Winston Leonard Rothesay: “He's no true Canonist, to murder a boy and his mother before him in such a dastardly fashion… He is a devil in human skin.” Abram Stalistena: “To say that conflict with Sutica am unpious because there am faithful among them would make nearly any war we have fought in our lifetimes amoral.” Farooq Gray: “We ought to move this along so we may make the casino event.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Agreed. Is there a motion to vote on this resolution?” George Galbraith: “I propose moving directly to voting.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Conflict with Sutica is not unpious, but sanctioning objectively free peoples will make them despise us. I guarantee it.” Angelika Bykov: “Seconded.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The motion has been heard and seconded. We shall now move to a verbal vote on the resolution at hand. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.” THE AMADEUS RESOLUTION 20th of Horen’s Calling, 1774 AYE Konrad Stafyr Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov Winston Rothesay Franz Sarkozy Abram Stalistena George Galbraith NAY Farooq Grey Conrad Barclay Amadeus d’Aryn Oisin O’Rourke ABSTAIN Sigmar Baruch UNDECIDED Jonah Stahl-Elendil Lajos Sander Karoly Karl Amador Ayes: 7 Nays: 4 Abstain: 1 Undecided: 3 Farooq Gray: “Shame on you lot for attempting to violate the Edict of Reform.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The chair now calls upon the Chairman of the Interior Committee to present a previously mentioned report of his before his chamber.” Sir Konstantin: “Thank you. Earlier today, the Interior Committee acted on a complaint from a former employee of the Ministry of the Interior - one 'Vilren'. The complainant alleges he was dismissed on improper grounds. Ms. Bykov happened to be present for the incident in question. I'll now circulate a transcript of the alleged incident based on eye-witness accounts. Ms. Bykov may chime in if she wishes, before I report on Secretary Galbraith's responses to these allegations. As you'll note, the Secretary fired the complainant for 'bothering him while re-decorating a building'. I posed this transcript to Secretary Galbraith. Who, in turn, claimed that the complainant had bothered him on three occassions by commenting that his building design was …. Ah, unpleasant. Ms. Bykov, can you verify that the complainant bothered the Secretary on three occassions? The Secretary indeed used the words 'harassment'.” Angelika Bykov: “I was not present for the entirety of the occasion, though da, he was clearly bothered. And he pulled me aside after the event, informing me of the apparet 'harassment'.” Sir Konstantin: “Unless this House disagrees, I don't propose to move to impeachment, though I certainly find the Secretary's conduct to be questionable on this occassion. With the blessing of this House, I thought to forward our findings to the Archchancellor as advisory, pending objections here.” Franz Nikolai: “We could censure him alongside forwarding our findings.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “A verbal vote shall be heard on this measure. Those in favor of forwarding this report to the Archchancellor, please signify by saying aye. Those opposed, please signify by saying nay.” REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY GALBRAITH 20th of Horen’s Calling, 1774 AYE Konrad Stafyr Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov Conrad Barclay Winston Rothesay Franz Sarkozy Abram Stalistena Sigmar Baruch NAY Farooq Grey UNDECIDED Amadeus d’Aryn Oisin O’Rourke George Galbraith Jonah Stahl-Elendil Lajos Sander Karoly Karl Amador Ayes: 8 Nays: 1 Abstain: 0 Undecided: 6 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The ayes are eight and the nays are one. The report shall be forwarded to the Archchancellor, although no punitive action shall or can be taken by this body. The report is merely that, a report. Is there any further business that this House wishes to discuss before we adjourn?” Abram Stalistena: “Mister President.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The chair recognizes Mister Stalistena.” Abram Stalistena: “Ya have single resolution to present this house with, prior to our dismissal. Ya have had few copies written up while we have spoken over last hour, though they may be rough drafts in truth.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Is this a joke?!” Sir Konstantin: “Oh boy.” Sir Sigmar Baruch: “Fook this Ah'm leavin', wha' a great session lads, see ye nex' year, Ah vote Nay, an' ye should be a shamed o' yerself for shamin' this body wit' tha' resolution.” Abram Stalistena: “Ya believe this resolution am clear statement of facts, known plainly to all present here. Though of course mister Rothesay could easily make this resolution untrue by his actions in next few minutes, on which occasion ya would happily withdraw this.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “In accordance with the decorum of the old Senate and the rules of this body, which hold our members to a higher standard than these childish antics, I refuse to allow this motion to be put to the floor. I'm sorry, Mister Stalistena, but these antics are above our great body.” Abram Stalistena: “Alright! My apologies then, ya simply wished mister Rothesay's nature to be known to all plainly.” Farooq Gray: “Just duel each other already.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “This sitting of the House of Commons is adjourned. Good day, gentlemen.”

“...And so you did, Ari. And so you did.” A man’s voice would softly reply to her own. As Arianne’s eyes fluttered open, she would find herself sitting beneath the very same tree, yet the environment around her was rather different. Her wounds were gone, for one thing, and the temperature outside was very pleasant, more akin to the southern Haeseni borderlands or to the Kaedreni heartlands where she was raised. Before her lay the Wickwald, as beautiful and as wildly untamed as she remembered it. But the world seemed to be brighter and more carefree, something that had eluded over the course of her life. And standing before her was none other than Andrik Petyr, the late King of Hanseti-Ruska. A pack was strapped to his back, one that was filled with jars, spades, and other such tools reminiscent of a botanist’s trade. “I owe you a great debt, Arianne of Kaedrin,” The dead king would sigh, moving to take a seat next to her. Amazingly, the stutter that had been with him for the entirety of his life was absent. “You- Died, to save my daughter, just as you had taken an oath to do. I always did used to think that you had the true heart of a knight...” Pausing for a moment as he forces a soft smile, Andrik adds, “...GOD Ari, I don’t know what my family did to deserve your loyalty, but I am ever so glad that we met so many years ago. You have done much good for my family over the course of your life, always holding true to those words engraved in slayersteel that I presented to you when we were but children.” The raven haired man would avert his gaze, hanging his head a bit in a shameful sort of manner. ”I- Am sorry, that I never lived up to my own promises to you in life. I know that we had this very same discussion on my deathbed, but I still maintain that it is unfair to you that I never did so. But there is one promise that I can finally keep to you right now.” Forcing a faint smile, Andrik continues. “When we were children, we always used to fantasize together about exploring the world... Going as far as Urguan, Sutica, the grand forests of the Elven lands. But the war left me unable to fulfill that promise to you. Now, I would like to be able to keep it.” Extending a hand to the princess-turned-ranger with a brighter, more legitimate smile, he says, “I’m sure that the others won’t mind if we go out exploring the afterlife together for a bit. What say you, young bat?”

HOUSE OF COMMONS SESSION TRANSCRIPT 24th of Tobias’ Bounty, 1772 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “ORDER! The chair calls this sitting of the most august Imperial House of Commons to order. The Leader of the House is called upon to lay out the day's agenda for the chamber. Or his representative, seeing as he is not currently present.” Konstantin: “That esteemed duty falls to me today, it seems. Our agenda today is sparse, which is just as well, given that we have several bills coming next week. The Interior Committee has conducted the hearing of the prospective Secretary of the Interior. I'll circulate the transcript once again now, before I invite any questions. Peruse at your leisure. Might as well make a day of it ….” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Very well, Mister Wick.” He patiently waits for the member to pass around his notes. “The floor is now open for any questions that might be had until a motion to move to a vote is heard.” Konstantin: “Not all at once...” Farooq Gray: “Aye, a question.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The chair recognizes Mister Gray.” Farooq Gray: “From these notes, the committee did not vote whether to to recommend My. Galbraith or not. What is your view of him, as someone who was at this hearing.” Konstantin: “I am personally hesitant. While Mr. Galbraith seemed quite knowledgable an experienced with his department, there was some concern on the matter of the Undersecretary.” Farooq Gray: “You are hesitant on appointing him merely because of his choice of Undersecretary?” Konstantin: “At the Committee's advice, Mr. Galbraith agreed to terminate the employment of one Renly Galbraith as Undersecretary, whom the Committee harboured doubts about regarding his lack of experience and his familial relation.” Konstantin: “And no, MR. Gray. I expressed some modicum of concern over the candidate's reluctance to understand the importance of having an Undersecretary, citing that he was not sure he needed one.” Farooq Gray: “I see, if I may, how do you plan to vote Mr. Wick?” Konstantin: “My concern stemming from the fact that if something untoward, God forbid, were to happen to Mr. Galbraith, the Ministry would be left headless. Needless to say, this is something we must avoid.” Konstantin: “My concerns, from the appointment of the Undersecretary in question to the candidate's understanding of the importance of having a functioning Undersecretary, are minor in the grand scheme of things.” Konstantin: “Thusly, unless any other member present has input, I think to vote yes.” Farooq Gray: “I have no further questions then.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The floor is once again open for questioning.” Konstantin: “If there's no other questions, I propose we proceed to the vote.” Farooq Gray: “Seconded.” Konstantin: “That concludes the business from our side of the wall, Mr. President.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The motion has been heard and seconded. We shall now move to a conformational vote on the nominee. The stenographer shall now call the roll.” SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR: EDWARD GALBRAITH 24th of Tobias’ Bounty, 1772 AYE Jonah Stahl Elendil Konrad Stafyr Farooq Gray Franz Sarkozy Abram Stalistena Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov ABSTAIN Juan de Lyons NAY Sigmar Joren Baruch UNDECIDED Amadeus d’Aryn Oisin O’Rourke Winston Rothesay Lajos Karoly Karl Amador Ayes: 7 Nays: 1 Abstain: 1 Undecided: 5 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The ayes are seven and the nays are none. Voting shall continue for the next twenty four Saint's Hours on the matter before it is closed and the result announced.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “The nays are one.” Sigmar Baruch: “Is tha' all then?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “…And the nays are one. Apologies, I suppose that I'm not as /young/ as I used to be.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Does the Leader of the House have any further business to bring before this chamber?” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “Well Mister President, we do have the proposed revisions to the Marriage Law to look over. Though, considering the ruckus outside and the low attendance, it might be in our best interest to reconsider our meeting times for this day.” Konstantin: “On the foot of that, might I suggest the House addresses repeated abentees? I am unfamiliar with the powers of the President in this regard, but surely there can be some … encouragement?” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “Konstantin raises a fair issue.” Angelika Bykov: “Agreed. After all, there is nie point of this honorable body if we continue to lack attendees.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The powers of the President are many, but I'm afraid that precedent dictates that I may only suspend members who have acted in bad standing. I cannot censor them when they have failed to even show up, and I cannot force them to come. We shall have five minutes of unmoderated debate on this matter. The chair recognizes Mister Gray.” Konstantin: “I would make the observation that it is bad standing to neglect their duties in this House.” Farooq Gray: “Aye, this house has little in the way of rules, nothing guiding us. We ought to come together and create a set of rules for how the House operates.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “We will need to amend the standing orders then.” Konstantin: “Hear hear. It's … unfortunate that it's required, but I'm of a mind with Mr. Gray.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “What we have agreed on in the past, works very well. The committees, despite some lower turn out from the opposition, are working.” Abram: “Ya have wished too, to make amend of our orders on quorum rules as well.” Konstantin: “It is not the Committees I am concerned with, but rather these Sittings.” Farooq Gray: “Aye, we need far more expansive standing rules, otherwise this House will continue to be ineffective.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “It is the President's duty to affirm, tweak, and interpret the rules of this body. However… If the factions are willing to enter into a committee and present a rules package before my bench, I would be more than willing to entertain such a movement. If the initiative is taken to draft a proposal and present it to my office, I shall consider the extension to the standing orders.” Konstantin: “If I might be blunt, can I ask why the Everardines have had a… Questionable turnout? I ask out of genuine care for this House.” Farooq Gray: “You would do best asking Amadeus, Mr. Wick.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “How can we ask him when he doesn't even have office hours? I've tried meeting with him for two years now. I've cornered him after sittings. Nothing.” Konstantin: “As Amadeus isn't here, I pose the question to you, Mr. Gray, and you, Mr. Baruch. I don't want a party answer, but a personal one.” Farooq Gray: “I am not the keeper of these men, Mr. Wick.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Perhaps we should return our attention to the matter at hand, gentlemen?” Abram: “But vyr party am, and vy am here to represent vyr party and vyr voters.” Konstantin: “You cannot hazard an educated guess?” Farooq Gray: “My focus is on the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Wick. Not tracking down the men of my party. You ought to speak with Mr. D'Aryn if you wish for an answer.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “Well, Mister Gray, someone very well oughta track them down, because it seems you do not have a party.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “Mister Baruch, what say you?” Angelika Bykov: “Well, their failure to attend suggests that they have lost interest in the Commons. Would you agree with this, Mr. Grey? Mr. Baruch?” Sigmar Baruch: “Wha' say me abou' my colleagues inability to show? Ah believe ye should recall las' session when none o' ye did anythin' but sit on yer arses, lets nie' point fingers an' instead move on.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “Excuse me? Sit on our asses?”” Farooq Gray: “I am not a mindreader, Ms. Bykov.” Abram: “What? We did loads last session.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Order! This discussion is getting out of hand on both sides.” Sigmar Baruch: “Da, tha's wha' a said.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “We have been the only ones to introduce bills. The only person on your bench to go to committee hearings is Mister Gray.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Time for unmoderated debate has elapsed. Any further speaking shall require my recognition. Now…. If the honorable members wish to present an expansion of the rules to my office, then please do get together to draft a proposal and send it my way and I shall treat such as an amendment to the standing orders.” Konstantin: “If I may, Mr. President?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The chair recognizes Mister Wick.” Konstantin: “Thank you. I believe this should be a bipartisan effort, for obvious reasons.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Indeed, both factions must agree on the proposal before it is sent to the Office of the President. Such is the procedure when it comes to amending the standing orders.” Konstantin: “So, I would invite those on the Everardine bench to come together with us to draft these new rules. I propose we elect a member of both parties to lead the initiative.” Farooq Gray: “If I may, I am in agreement with Mr. Wick.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Splendid. Then do elect your representatives and have them present their proposal to me. I myself am willing to help oversee and faciliate this process, if need be. Is there anything else, Mister Wick?” Konstantin: “Ahm… Ah, no, Mr. President.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Right… Has the Leader of the House any further business to present before this chamber? If not, then I would suggest the members move to adjourn this sitting of the Commons for the evening.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “It is, in my view, better that we resume this at the next sitting. With… Better attendance. We will be presenting several pieces of legislation, as well as reviewing the treasury bills. And hopefully, other things. I invite the Everadine bench to bring something of their own, if possible.” Juan de Ponce de Lyons: “Hear hear.” Angelika Bykov: “Hear, hear.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The chair concurs. This sitting of Commons is thusly adjourned.”

HOUSE OF COMMONS SESSION TRANSCRIPT 18th of Horen’s Calling, 1772 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “As quorum has been met and a respectable number of members from both factions are now present, the chair calls this sitting of the Sixteenth Imperial House of Commons to ORDER! The chair calls upon the representative of the Leader of the House to lay the day's agenda before this chamber.” Abram: “Thank vy, mister President. Today this chamber has two bills to consider, one by Juan Salinas Ruiz Villalpandos de Ponce de Lyons, this Bill of Matrimonial Consent. And another on subject of Evictions, written by Konstantin Wick. Additionally, we have several confirmations today.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Very well then, Mister Stalistena. The chair now recognizes the author of the Bill of Matrimonial Consent to give his opening remarks on this piece of legislation.” Juan de Ponce de Lyons: “It is illegal to force two people to marry. My bill does not change this in the Orc, it merely clarifies the position. It is not possible for minors to marry, the church law forbids this and the ORC states that marriages must be conducted by priests who are required to follow this law. My bill does not change this, it merely clarifies it. But what my bill does change, is to drop the requirement that common women need the permission of their patriarchs in order to wed. It is an artifact of a medieval time that we no longer need. I yield the remainder of my time to the chair.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Thank you, Mister de Lyons. With that, the floor is now open for ten minutes of unmoderated debate. As a reminder, this means that members may debate, discuss, and ask questions regarding the bill during the duration of the unmoderated debate. However, abuse of this privilege will lead the chair to return to moderated recognition.” Farooq Gray: “I've a question for the writer of this bill.” Abram: “Point of inquiry, mister President? Just before we begin….” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The point of inquiry shall be heard.” Abram: “Can amendments to our standing orders be presented without one day's notice, since them am amendments? Or am it too late since that bill am already passed. Ya only wish to do this, considering the current state of attendance at some committees due to... Civil unrest.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “…I would prefer that the twenty-four hour rule remain in place, Mister Stalistena. However, depending on the nature of the rule and the reason behind the proposed change, I would be willing to discuss such following the conclusion of this sitting. And with that, the floor is now formally open to unmoderated debate.” Abram: “Of course, thank vy mister president.” Sir John: “Sir Konrad!” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Ah, Sir John! Good to hear your voice, although I must ask you to remain quiet for the duration of the sitting. Such is precedent, I'm afraid.” Farooq Gray: “What was the reasoning behind this bill? What moved you to write it and present it to us?” Juan de Ponce de Lyons: “A few years ago, there was a little bit of an uproar over the marriage law, someone posted an open letter and half the crowd thought it was not illegal to force a woman to marry. This bill seeks to clarify this.” Farooq Gray: “I see, and why do you think a woman should be allowed to wed without her father's permission?” Juan de Ponce de Lyons: “A common man is allowed to marry without his father's permission. Are we not all equal before the law?” Abram: “Do our Canonist laws derived from our Holy Scrolls niet say that matrimonial consent am required? We am simply bringing our secular laws in line with our religious. “Surely all vy pious men can agree with this, da?” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Mr. President in my capacity as Chancellor to His Holiness I would like to be given the permission to respond.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “You may respond, of course. The nature of the apparatus of unmoderated debate allows for members to respond without the chair's recognition,” He nods once. Amadeus d'Aryn: “Honourable Members, I have studied this legislation in its current full form and I find it incompatible and judge it to renege on the Canonist principles of this here House and this here Holy Empire. Not only is there a strong legal argument to be made about this entirely new formation of 'legal patriarchs' a term not seen in Orenian history and an entirely new layer of the law. The term legal patriarch is not new señor Amadeus it was written in the ORC marriage section already.” Abram: “All marriages require the consent of the man and the legal patriarch of the woman participating in matrimony. It am right there, section 301.0313.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Is it so? Provisions in Orenian law are regarded to be the father, or direct male kin, to a lady. This here bill would seek to create an entirely new class of people as heads of families who will be adjudicated to determine who gives permission to marry. I will give way slightly on that point, seeing as you have quoted it from memory, but the point remains entirely valid. In any case, that terminology seems to be entirely out of modernity and fashion, and in itself should be revised.” Juan de Ponce de Lyons: “You would have it amended to the Father of the woman then?” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Father, yes, oldest brother. It can be any of these. But creating a new definition of what is a patriarch could give way to some distant kin having say over these ladies marriages.” Abram: “We literally just went over this, legal patriarch am established and old term. We am creating nieh anything in using it here.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “To which I have responded the term should be done away with and likely was an oversight or an archaic invention, just as I determine this here passage to be.” Konstantin: “We are in no position to 'do away' with the text of the Oren Revised Code without a formal amendment, Mr. D'Aryn. As such, it is inappropriate to dismiss any wording as 'accidental' while it is still present in the law, and operate per its provisions.” Abram: “Juan,” he says, looking to his left, “Would we accept d'Aryn's friendly amendment that he surely has ready for us? Vy do have this amendment ready, da? Since this am vyr only complaint.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “A friendly amendment shall be accepted by the chair, if one is proposed.” Abram: “We change 'patriarch' to 'older male relative where one exists', does this please vy?” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Again, I believe you miss my fundamental point. It is that an older distant male relative should not be given power over a lady of Oren to decide on her marriage.” Juan de Ponce de Lyons: “You wish to drop 301.0313 Entirely?” Sir John: “What irresponsibility from the legislature to strike law over your own misunderstanding of it!” He shouts from the stands, throwing his hands in the air, furious. Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Order! Only MHCs are allowed to speak during debate. Please continue.” Sir Sigmar Baruch: “This bill is ridiculous 'n useless. Creatin' legislation jus' to create it is jus' as bad as nie' 'ave laws at all, the existin' law is perfectly fine an' does nie' need to be changed.” Abram: “Come on now, give us something. Vy complain about words 'legal patriarch', so let us fix this. Would vy like us to define this term which we did niet create, or should we strike it and make replace with 'oldest living male relative where one exists?’” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “Mister President.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Honourable Members, as I was saying, I would be pleased if the amended wording said 'eldest direct male kin', to negate the possibility intervention from a distant relative.” Juan de Ponce de Lyons: “I have no objections to this.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “If such is adopted in the form of a friendly amendment, then the chair shall allow it.” Abram: “Ya think this works,” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “As well, we are currently in unmoderated debate, Mister Elendil. You may speak. However, unmoderated debate shall soon come to a close, and the rules of moderation shall be restored momentarily.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “Ah, well seeing as we are adopting the amendment, I do hope that this is the last of it. If there are no objections, I would like to vote.” Farooq Gray: “I take great concern that we have a turned a bill that ought to be about ending forced marriages into this bill that allows a woman to marry without her father's permission.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “Cultural norms do not always make binding law, Mister Gray. Now, I move to vote. Do I have a second?” Angelika Bykov: “I second.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The motion has been heard and seconded. We shall now move to a vote on this bill. The clerk shall call the roll.” [During the roll call vote:] Franz Nikolai: “WAIT!” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “A correction.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “…The voting roll has not yet been closed. Does the honorable member wish to change his vote?” Franz Nikolai: “I said the wrong word there, I meant aye, not nay, I mixed up the words, I swear.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Ah… Well, the clerk shall change the member's vote accordingly then. Please continue, Mister Grey.” Farooq Gray: “I must object, Mr. Nikolai had already cast his vote.” Amadeus d’Aryn: “Mr. President, such a display flies in the face of the House's seriousness to legislate - if members can change their vote after pressure from the party is exerted.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “Voting has not ended. And we didn't pressure him, he's half asleep.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Your objection is heard, but the voting process was not yet closed. Senatorial precedent has allowed for members to change their votes before procedural closing. Thus, I shall allow the member to do this.” Abram: “Vy wasting all our time with vyr amendment, and then niet voting for that bill am flying in face of vyr seriousness to legislate.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “ORDER! Mister Stalistena, watch your tongue. Please remain respectful. And that goes for the lot of you too, quarreling during the voting process! This bill has passed.” MATRIMONIAL CONSENT ACT 18th of Horen’s Calling, 1772 AYE Jonah Stahl Elendil Konrad Stafyr Franz Sarkozy Oisin O’Rourke Abram Stalistena Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov Juan de Lyons NAY Amadeus d’Aryn Farooq Gray Sigmar Joren Baruch UNDECIDED Karl Amador Winston Rothesay Lajos Karoly Ayes: 8 Nays: 3 Undecided: 3 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Is the chairman of the judicial committee prepared to give a statement on his committee's nominations before this House?” Franz Nikolai: “Well… if no one's going to make a move, I suppose I'll give my nominations.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The chair recognizes Mister Sarkozic.” Franz Nikolai: “Over the course of the past Saint's Week, the Justice Committee held hearings for three individuals nominated for several positions, which I will list: Farooq Grey for Solicitor-General, Sir Wilhelm Vyronov for Supreme Court Justice, and Joseph Adler for circuit court justice.” Franz Nikolai: “The committee found that each of the men answered well and honestly, and thus we have moved to recommend them for confirmation before our general sitting. Allow me to distribute the transcripts of the meetings as well.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Please do so. Unless there is any objection, we shall proceed to a verbal vote on each of the nominees. Mister Grey, please record the results.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “We shall first consider the nomination of Farooq Grey to the position of Solicitor-General. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.” SOLICITOR-GENERAL: FAROOQ GRAY 18th of Horen’s Calling, 1772 AYE Jonah Stahl Elendil Amadeus d’Aryn Konrad Stafyr Farooq Gray Franz Sarkozy Oisin O’Rourke Abram Stalistena Sigmar Joren Baruch Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov Juan de Lyons UNDECIDED Karl Amador Winston Rothesay Lajos Karoly Ayes: 11 Nays: 0 Undecided: 3 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The nominee has been confirmed. Next, the nomination of Sir Wilhelm Vyronov to the Supreme Court of the Holy Orenian Empire. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.” IMPERIAL SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: WILHELM VYRONOV 18th of Horen’s Calling, 1772 AYE Jonah Stahl Elendil Amadeus d’Aryn Konrad Stafyr Farooq Gray Franz Sarkozy Oisin O’Rourke Abram Stalistena Sigmar Joren Baruch Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov Juan de Lyons UNDECIDED Karl Amador Winston Rothesay Lajos Karoly Ayes: 11 Nays: 0 Undecided: 3 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The nominee to the Supreme Court has been confirmed. And finally, the matter of Joseph Adler for the Central Circuit Court. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.” IMPERIAL CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE: JOSEPH ADLER 18th of Horen’s Calling, 1772 AYE Jonah Stahl Elendil Amadeus d’Aryn Konrad Stafyr Farooq Gray Franz Sarkozy Oisin O’Rourke Abram Stalistena Sigmar Joren Baruch Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov Juan de Lyons ABSTAIN Karl Amador UNDECIDED Winston Rothesay Lajos Karoly Ayes: 11 Nays: 0 Abstain: 1 Undecided: 2 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Does the Leader of the House have any more business to put to the floor for this legislative sitting?” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Mr President if I may give a short business statement to the house?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “You may… If it is relative to the upcoming business of this chamber.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “Aye, we do. After the Minority leader says his piece.” Amadeus d'Aryn: “Mr. President, in addition to my other various duties I to the Holy Mother Church and the Imperial State I have found my time unevenly divided. I am a patriot to my country through and through, but it is with great regret that I must inform the House of intentions to tender my resignation as the Chancellor of Employment Opportunities. It is an office uniquely established by the Imperial Diet, so I felt the need to announce this stepping back. Furthermore… Some may already be very aware, but I sadly announce the death of Siguine var Ruthern. Therefore, we shall be sending his replacement to the President forthwith. Thank you.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “…Aye, very well Mister d'Aryn. I too wish to formally offer my condolences to the Ruthern family. Siguine and I were friends, and I know that he died in the line of duty fighting for both King and Emperor.” [Jonah Stahl-Elendil rises to his feet, approaching the lectern. He waits for his moment to speak.] Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The chair recognizes Mister Elendil.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “We join you in your mourning for Mister Var Ruthern. We solemnly, and humbly, welcome his successor. Do we wish to proceed with the business?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “…If you wish, Mister Elendil, although I believe that we are all growing weary.” Jonah Stahl-Elendil: “Mister Wick, I leave it to you.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “As the Leader has yielded his time, the chair calls upon the author of the bill to give his opening address.” Konstantin: “Ahem, ehr, yes. This is the Eviction Bill. It gives city administrations a sturdy legal framework for evictions.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The floor is now open to unmoderated debate, for ten Saint's Minutes.” Farooq Gray: “I've two questions, Mr. Wick.” Konstantin: “Please, go ahead.” Farooq Gray: “Actually, I've only one. Under part two of Unlawful Evictions, Is this meant to be an or statement? Or do you believe they ought to get their property back plus a large sum of marks?” Abram: “That would be Article IV, 1.A-b, da?” Farooq Gray: “Correct.” Konstantin: “Just so, Mr. Gray. The idea was that if a profitable commercial premise was evicted and the property cannot be returned, they should be fairly compensated for that amount.” Farooq Gray: “Could we make a small amendment to clarify it is an or statement then? I would not a court to wrongly order the property returned along with the payment of marks?” Konstantin: “Of course, that is what I intended. You'll pardon it's accidental omittance. I shall correct that now…” Abram: “Article IV, 2a could have a single word 'or' added to it, da? Would this suffice?” Farooq Gray: “Very good then, I do think allowing us to evict for illegal activity is a wise choice, this bill has my support.” Konstantin: “Thank you, Mr. Gray, and for spotting that error.” Abram: “Does our honourable opposition have any other notes on this bill?” Konstantin: “Are there any other questions?” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Is there a motion to move to a vote on this bill?” Konstantin: “There is, Mr. President.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Is there a second?” Franz Nikolai: “I second it.” Abram: “Ya second.” Karl Amador: “I second.” Sir Konrad Stafyr: “The clerk shall now call the roll.” THE EVICTIONS ACT 18th of Horen’s Calling, 1772 AYE Jonah Stahl Elendil Amadeus d’Aryn Konrad Stafyr Farooq Gray Franz Sarkozy Oisin O’Rourke Abram Stalistena Sigmar Joren Baruch Konstantin Wick Angelika Bykov Juan de Lyons Karl Amador UNDECIDED Winston Rothesay Lajos Karoly Ayes: 12 Nays: 0 Undecided: 2 Sir Konrad Stafyr: “Splendid. And with that, this sitting of the House of Commons is now adjourned.” [The President raps his gavel against the bench and dismisses the Commons for the day.]