AndrewTech

This is so great Toni, really! Excited to see what comes out of this. 🙂

Celestine Herbert applauds the work of her best friend Tanith, sniffling out of happiness as she takes a moment to wipe a tear away from her eye. “My dream... Between you and Caspia, it’s finally coming true!”

A RESPONSE TO THE SILVER STATE 25th of Sun’s Smile, 1786 To the Sohaer of Haelunor, Eredael Rhenaer: As a lifetime scholar myself, I am pleased on a most personal level to see this invite extended for men and women of learning across the Empire to attend the lectures being held at the Eternal College of the Silver State. The Eternal Library in and of itself is a marvel to be admired, and it is truly an honor for our citizens to be bestowed the opportunity to delve into its magnificent collection. We do indeed find your proposal to be amicable. However, on behalf of Her Imperial Majesty, we would instead wish to invite yourself, the Maheral, and any other pertinent members of the Silver Council to the Novellen Palace for a state visit in order to further engage in these discussions. It seems only just that we return the same hospitality which you have exhibited toward us. On behalf of the Stahl-Elendil Ministry, we look forward to speaking about the prospect of a stronger relationship between our two countries. Signed, HER IMPERIAL EXCELLENCY, Celestine Herbert, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

Sir Konrad Stafyr KM gives the children of Haense a big, charismatic thumbs up from the Seven Skies! --------------------- Aleksandr var Ruthern, Count of Metterden, crosses his arms and grins in delight. “I’m proud of you, Alric m’boy! Good lad!”

To Hell and Back Again A Publication on the NGS’s Explorations of the Nether 20th of Tobias’ Bounty, 1785 I.) Introduction -- C. E. Herbert An Artist’s Rendition of the Nether (c. 1778) For over five hundred years, the realm of the Great Deceiver has remained beyond the reach of mages, scholars, and scientists alike. Since the days of ancient Aegis, access to the Nether has all but alluded the descendant races. Recently, however, we have gained access to this long lost plane through the use of portals that were seemingly built by a long forgotten team of explorers who dared to blaze unknown trails. For the past decade, our Society has been venturing into this realm in order to study, document, and preserve the many wonders which lie within. One might ask why it is that we, the men and women of the NGS, have dared to delve into the outer realm of Iblees not once, or even twice, but a half dozen times over the course of this decade? Well, the answer is a simple one. To push new boundaries, and to trailblaze new frontiers in order to document them for future generations to come. And in doing so, we have acquired an unfathomable amount of knowledge on a new realm which has struck terror into the hearts of all for nearly half a millennium. To tread these lands is no small feat. It is, in the author’s own humble opinion, the pinnacle of explorative endeavors. Unfortunately, our many expeditions into the Nether have been far from safe. Several of our Exploration Corps have suffered horrible burns, have had to cope with near death experiences within this most dangerous plane of existence, and have even lost limbs to the many creatures and environmental hazards which lurk within the realm of the undying. Sometimes, when one attempts to push the frontier, the frontier pushes back. Although we have been fortunate enough to avoid incurring any deaths during our explorations of this realm, our Society would advise against delving into this unknown plane without first accumulating years of experience as we have in traveling into places such as these. It is for this reason that the NGS has elected not to publish the location of the portal which we have used in order to travel into the Nether, so as to keep the curious who are not yet ready to planeswalk from harming themselves. Thus, while there are several portals into this realm which can be found all over Arcas, we shall not be describing where they are for these reasons. II.) Environment - C. E. Herbert The Expansive Magma Oceans of the Nether (c. 1777) In order to understand the nature of the Nether, once must first understand the inhospitable environment that characterizes the realm of the Deceiver. The Nether itself is an uninhabitable hellscape, characterized throughout by islands and cliffsides made up of a strange volcanic rock, surrounded by an ocean of magma as far as the eye can see. However, despite the makeup of this hellish landscape, perhaps the most hospitable thing about this realm is the total lack of breathable atmosphere. In order to travel into the Nether, our expedition had to rely on a series of oxygen orbs which Devoid of all forms of greenery, breathable air, and water, it is hard to imagine how life could exist in such a place. And yet, life has still somehow managed to find a way. For as inhospitable as this realm is, life does indeed exist, although in a very different way than it does in our own realm. The creatures here are of a darker nature, ranging from the fire slugs made of magma and silicon that lurk within the molten oceans of realm to the bone chilling ghasts that loom over the skies of the Nether. The vegetation of the Nether is very sparse, yet despite this barren volcanic environment, flora still continues to exist. It is hard to fathom how these plants grow in the absence of water and sunlight, yet still they do. It never ceases to amaze me how enduring life is, and how it can find ways to survive in even the least favorable of conditions. We observed and collected samples from two primary specimens, including one from a single type of tree and another form of fungi that we recovered during our travels. “Sintel Pods” - Named after the explorer who first discovered these gaseous fruits in the Nether, these objects grow strange, deformed trees that are scattered throughout the Nether. They can also be found hanging from vines and foliage that lines the many volcanic cliffs of the realm, often a danger to those attempting to make their way across the narrow paths within the realm. When broken, these incredibly fragile pods tend to coat one’s clothing with a gaseous, flammable substance that is easily ignited by higher temperatures. One of the members of my expedition, Tanith of the Westerlands, was unfortunate enough to make this discovery first. Thankfully however, we were able to douse her with water before suffering any permanent injury. ** ** ** ** ** ** ** “Smokeshrooms” - These fungi can be found growing in the volcanic rock of the Nether, aptly named by the realm’s first explorers for their ability to produce a thick, smoke like substance that can obscure one’s vision for a small amount of time. Although the gas that they emit is not toxic in nature, it can have the effect of attracting unwanted creatures such as ghasts to the scene of the discharge. While in the Nether, we were able to use these plants as smokescreens and distractions during our travels. We were also able to retrieve a sample of one of these strange fungi for our museum, which we intend to put on display in a new exhibition on the Nether in the coming days. III.) Creatures - Tanith Vursur An Artist’s Rendition of a Ghast (c. 1779) When one enters the Nether for the first time, they will find themselves in a strange library erected by an unknown personage. This library contains great detail regarding the creatures one might find in the Nether. However, nothing beats lived experience -- and I find these books severely understate the danger posed by the fauna of the Red Realm. During our expeditions, we had the misfortune of encountering two common Nether creatures - the Lava Slugs and the Ghasts. In this section, I shall provide both the detail of our experience mixed with the advice given in the Nether Library's books. LAVA SLUGS The first thing one notices when they enter the Nether proper are the vast lava lakes throughout the realm. Some of these lakes rival the size of our earthly oceans. While no mortal creature from our realm can survive the searing temperature of molten rock, several Nether beings have evolved to call these massive bodies of lava their home. Foremost among them is the Lava Slug (also called Fire Slugs or Magma Slugs). These creatures appear to be made of molten lava and can blend perfectly with their surroundings. Their forms appear to be at least partially liquid and can take the shape of any container that is roughly their same size. The infant fire slugs are fairly small - reaching about knee-height on an average-sized human - but the adults can grow to the proportions of a carriage. Despite their impressive size, they're able to squeeze through nearly any opening. Their malleability suggests that Lava Slugs have no interior skeletal system. Their bodies have the consistency of gelatin - or perhaps partially cooled lava. Their glowing eyes protrude from their bodies on two sinuous eye stalks that seem to be able to extend and retract at will. Heat radiates off the bodies of lava slugs. Just being in close proximity to one of them is enough to burn the skin. Touching a lava slug would result in severe burns. When fighting the lava slug, take care not to let it get too close. Lava slugs are typically quite slow moving, but they are capable of great speeds if pursuing their prey. Lava slugs can also leap great distances. They tend to ambush prey by leaping out of the lava unexpectedly and clamping themselves around the bodies of their prey. My husband, Icroth, had the misfortune of a lava slug bite. We were attempting to cross a gap over a lake of lava. One of the infant slugs leapt up and wrapped its mouth around Icroth's leg. When we managed to blast the slug off Icroth, we found that his leg was encased in rapidly cooling lava. The lava slug's heat all but burned Icroth's flesh off, rendering his leg useless and forcing us to amputate. A bite from a lava slug will necessitate a hasty amputation of any of the affected area. Being fully enveloped inside a lava slug would no doubt result in instant death. However, Lava Slugs are also at their weakest during their leap. While in mid-air, their bodies revert to a mostly liquid state. When fighting a lava slug, it's advised to wait until it leaps before you strike. A well-placed blow while the slug is in mid-air can cause it to lose shape and shrink to a more manageable size. But be mindful - a successful blow against the lava slug will result in a rain of its molten magma 'blood'. The blood is boiling hot and will cause severe burns if touched. If you plan to fight a Lava Slug, we suggest using water or ice magic - as that seemed to result in the greatest damage to the beast. Conventional weapons are useless against the lava slug, as its body is hot enough to melt metal. Magic is going to be your most useful tool. Water and ice magic can temporarily harden the lava slug's body into rock - immobilizing it and rendering it weak to crushing blows from a hammer or mace. When the lava slug is killed, its magma-like blood can be harvested and used as a fire retardant when applied to clothing or weapons. Any explorer in the Nether is advised to harvest as much magma cream as possible. We recommend trying to harvest from juveniles, as they're more easily dispatched than adults. However, be forewarned that harming juvenile lava slugs might earn the ire of its parent. GHASTS While in the Nether, the NGS exploration team also had the misfortune of encountering a Ghast. Ghasts are large, bulbous, balloon-like creatures capable of wingless flight. Whether this is through some sort of magic or whether they're powered by gas, we cannot determine for sure. Ghasts can reach the size of a small house or larger. It's unknown how they navigate the often tight corridors of the Nether, but we suspect that - like the Lava Slugs - they lack an interior skeleton and can thus squeeze through small openings. Their skin is moist, pale, and slug-like. Dangling beneath their oblong bodies are a myriad of writhing tentacles. We're not sure if these tentacles have grasping power, but it's advised you don't get close enough to the ghast to find out. They have large, moon-like faces that often eeriely resemble a human's and they let out bizarre, wailing cries that sound similar to an oversized baby's. Ghasts are capable of spewing toxic fireballs. If one spots you, your best option is to run and seek shelter as soon as possible. Their fiery attacks have a range of several miles and they're able to adeptly navigate the Nether despite their large size. They can fly surprisingly swift when motivated by prey and they're very determined hunters. However, very tight spaces might provide some refuge from the ghast. Their toxic fire seemingly cannot penetrate through rock, so ducking into a nearby cave might provide some protection from the ghast. It seems that ghasts cannot 'land' - they're forced to remain suspended in mid-air - so staying close to the ground near cover might help. Ghasts also seemingly have poor eyesight and don't appear to be very intelligent. A smoke bomb might provide enough temporary cover to escape the ghast's pursuit. Ghasts are attracted by smoke and light. During our exploration, we managed to draw a ghast's attention when we botched a Smokeshroom harvest, creating a large plume of smoke. I cannot attest to how good their hearing is, but I would suggest not making any loud noises. The best way to avoid ghasts is to keep low to the ground, move quickly, and stay under cover. In a pinch, thrown piercing weapons such as javelins might be your best bet against the ghast. However, our team never managed to successfully down one, so take this with a grain of salt. HOGMEN The NGS Team has not yet managed to encounter a tribe of Hogmen in the Nether. However, the books in the Nether library offer some information about the creatures and their behavior. The Hogmen are the residents of the Nether that most resemble us descendants, though we can assume they lack a descendant soul. They resemble half-rotted pigs that walk upright like men. They appear to be social creatures, as they typically gather into small tribes numbering at a dozen. Remarkably, despite their horrific appearance, the hogmen are noted to be very passive and avoid bothering exploration teams. They are only aggressive if antagonized. Interestingly, they operate as a sort of hive-mind. If one Hogman is captured or injured, the other members of his tribe immediately know who hurt him and where the injured individual is. They will descend violently as a pack on any person who attempts to hurt a member of their group. Hogmen do not appear to eat or to reproduce. The books in the Nether library are perplexed as to their purpose in the Nether's ecosystem. The Hogmen patrol in small groups, wielding swords made from some sort of gold alloy. This writer hypothesizes that the Hogmen might serve as a sort of rudimentary guard force or security detail. Someone or something is providing them with armor and armaments and they have just enough intelligence to retaliate if threatened. There are no other pig-like entities in the Nether that resemble them; the Hogmen being the only creatures that even slightly look anything from our world, with all the other Nether creatures being far more alien in their biology and appearance. We hypothesize that the Hogmen were created by some unknown force, rather than being a naturally occurring species in the Nether. So we advised extra caution around the Hogmen. Just because they are passive doesn't mean they don't pose their own sort of unknown danger. BLAZES The NGS exploration team has, as of this writing, not encountered any blazes within the Nether. However, the books in the Nether library suggest they are among the most dangerous inhabitants of the Nether. Their unique, alien biology makes them uniquely suited to their environment. Blazes have bony, golden heads that somewhat resemble a skull with two glowing embers for eyes. They float airborne unaided by any wings or other obvious modes of aviation. Their incandescent, burning, gas-like bodies are surrounded with a spiral of blazing pillars. They burn so incredibly hot that they can melt any nearby stone into molten lava with alarming quickness. Blazes are most likely to dwell near ruins. The books in the library suggest that they're meant to act as sentries. Their ability to fly gives them a superior vantage point for viewing oncoming enemies and their glowing eyes are able to pierce through the thick, red fog that's present throughout the Nether. Blazes are capable of summoning and throwing fireballs, though they lack the long range firing capabilities of the ghast. The books note that they are somewhat fragile and easily dispatched in close combat, provided that one can take the heat. The blazes typically travel in packs of two or three in order to provide cover for one another, which suggests they operate with a certain strategy and intelligence. Water magic used over a great distance might be effective in combating the blazes. DARKSHREDS Once more, I must write this with the caveat that the NGS exploration team did not have the fortune - or perhaps the misfortune - of encountering a Darkshred personally. However, we were able to glean some knowledge of the Darkshreds based on books recovered from within the Nether Library. Though lava slugs, ghasts, and blazes all present unique dangers, none of them come close to the threat posed by the Darkshreds. Darkshreds appear to be composed of pure darkness and possess the ability to phase in and out of existence at will. They appear only within the deepest, darkest depths of the traversable Outer Nether. If you stick to the area around the portal, you will likely manage to avoid their ire. Darkshreds do not physically attack their targets, but rather assault their minds. Victims of a Darkshred assault may suddenly forget where and who they are. They might begin to hear malignant voices telling them to hurt their friends. They might see shapes and shadows where none exist. At the worst, the victim might begin to lose their senses and succumb to blindness. The books of the Nether library suggest that Darkshreds come from the Inner Nether and very rarely venture to the outer edges. However, they also say they've lost several researchers to the Darkshreds' thrall - meaning that a singular encounter might result in the death of an entire exploration party. ELDER UNDEAD As a very long-lived elf, I've had the misfortune of encountering the Undead before. I lived during the Aegean Undead Crisis, where several portals to the Inner Nether opened on the mortal plane. The creatures that emerged from those portals defy description. I remember horrible masses of rotten flesh clad in black robes. They wielded lightning and fire, hurtling it down from on high as they directed legions of minor zombies. They enthralled several descendants to their curse, turning even the monarchs of Aegis to their dark cause. The books in the Nether Library suggest that these Undead - the ones who first invaded Aegis - still reside within the Nether. Hundreds of years have passed since their assault on Aegis and now... they're bored, restless, and hunting for entertainment among the lava-filled corridors of the Red Realm. Elder Undead have a keen intellect capable of rational, coherent thought. They have full personalities and one cannot predict their behavior based upon a single encounter. While some appear interested in conversing with humans, others are completely feral and only wish to devour any mortal flesh they encounter. The presence of an Elder Undead has a negative impact on mortal minds akin to the effect of the Darkshreds, quickly rendering sensible people into gibbering, maddened wrecks. However, if you're able to find a friendly Undead willing to talk, they can be invaluable sources of information not only on the Nether, but on deep Aegean history. Elder Undead are able to detect descendant races at a distance. The only thing capable of concealing our "scent" is the necter of a plant called a 'Mloop.' We in the NGS Exploration Corps did not encounter a Mloop or an Elder Undead during our delve into the Nether, so we cannot describe what they look like - other than that Mloops are known to be potently odiferous. (Or 'very stinky' in layman's terms.) IV.) Structures & Ruins - C. E. Herbert The Ruins of a Fortress in the Nether (c. 1781) Although we have yet to venture into the many ruined castles which are scattered throughout the Nether, our Society has seen ample evidence of ruins and the existence of fortifications within this realm. These menacing structures loom over the landscape of the Deceiver's realm, imbuing all who look upon them with a sense of absolute dread. As of the date of this publication, the Northern Geographical Society has yet to gain entrance into one of these fortresses, although we hope to do so in the future. It is our hypothesis that many more dreaded creatures may reside within this superstructure, and should we dare to tread into it, we shall have to do so with extreme caution. It is also worth mentioning that we have caught sight of several assorted pillars. Although we have been unable to discern their exact purpose, I personally suspect that they might serve as waypoints for hogmen patrols that roam the Nether’s vast landscape. Despite our failure to encounter a pack of hogmen as of yet, we have nonetheless read about these wandering tribes and hope to make first contact with this species during future explorations of the realm. Unfortunately, there is still much that we do not know about these structures. Were they once the remnants of a great underworld civilization that existed on this morbid plane? Or are they simply abandoned military structures, meant to house the armies of the undead that our ancestors fought so many years ago that are now but a shadow of their former selves? These are but a couple of a hundred different questions that have been raised by the existence of these structures, and we hope to be able to answer them as time goes on. V.) Conclusion - Tanith Vursur The Nethergate and the Ruins Observed by the NGS (c. 1776) The deeper you go within the Nether, the more strange, alien, and bizarre it becomes. Should you ever pass through the swirling, dark portal, you'll encounter oceans of lava that extend endlessly in all directions; pillars of rock that stretch in the red fog far beyond human - and even elven - sight; and gigantic fungus taller than the spires of even Oren's highest cathedrals. It is a place of untold and unexpected dangers where even the most innocuous things can pose a deadly threat to descendant lives. What we've written here is only a tiny sliver of what you might encounter should you dare to delve into the Great Deciever's realm. There are a thousand sights we were unable to witness for ourselves - limited as we were by heat, dehydration, deadly beasts, and throbbing, persistent headaches. What we did manage to uncover, however, were sights and spectacles beyond imagining... and there are still yet more mysteries to reveal. With hope, the NGS will continue to probe the Nether in the future. The Nether represents a final frontier, one last great secret to unravel. As is our duty, we'll push forward with all our might and bring the light of knowledge to even the darkest of places. AUTHORED BY: Celestine E. Herbert, President of the Northern Geographical Society Tanith Vursur, Curator of the NGS Museum of Imperial History

@MinaGobbler [!] Although the Northern Geographical Society does not pen a direct response to the Kratoist Reply, President Herbert makes a mental note to bring this before the Circle in order to hold a debate on this intriguing philosophical matter! An Update on the Lyons Award: Due to several gifted contestants penning requests for an extension to submit their studies, the submissions process shall remain open until the 31th of Godfrey’s Triumph, 1787. The finalists shall be asked to present themselves before the Awards Board on the 18th of Snow’s Maiden, 1787. We thank you for reading this notice. Deadline for Submissions: 31th of Godfrey’s Triumph, 1787 ((Friday, Sept. 25h at 11:59 PM EST)) Interviews & Awards Ceremony: 18th of Snow’s Maiden, 1787 ((Sunday, Sept. 27th at 4:00 PM EST))

Celestine Herbert beams with pride at her apprentice’s scholarly acumen. “Finally, someone who I can pass the trade onto, at long last!” The middle aged woman remarks of the fledgling anthropologist , grinning as she moves to show this new NGS study to the rest of their Society!

The Hammerhead Cafe & Haeseni Eatery NEW REZA, KINGDOM OF HAENSE “The finest, most traditional Haeseni cuisine in all the land!” The House of Ruthern is pleased to announce the grand opening of the Hammerhead Cafe & Haeseni Eatery, a fine gourmet restaurant and shop that specializes in the selling and serving of traditional Haeseni cuisine! Our establishment can be found just to the right of Town Hall in the city of New Reza. We sell traditional, fine Haeseni delicacies to both citizens and travelers afar that are consistent with the customs of the Haeseni people and their culinary practices. Alternatively, instead of taking your food one the go, one can choose to dine in and be served by our fine chefs and employees! Ruben var Ruthern, the proprietor of this fine establishment, is also a renowned chef who has been cooking traditional cuisine for the royal family of Hanseti-Ruska for several decades. We take great pride in the cultural accuracy of our dishes and in the way that they are prepared, and a dinner at the Hammerhead Cafe is certain to be a lovely treat for that special someone! WHERE: Immediately right of Town Hall! WHEN: The opening of this establishment is effective immediately! WHAT: Serving the finest traditional cuisine in the entire kingdom! Sincerely, Ruben var Ruthern, Director of the Hammerhead Cafe Aleksandr var Ruthern, TRH Count of Metterden

A STATEMENT ON THE HAELUN’OR TRAVEL BAN 9th of Sun’s Smile, 1784 The Imperial Ministry offers its deepest sympathies to the people of Haelun’or, and it is with great sorrow that news of the imposition of a travel ban to the imperial capital of Helena is received. The Stahl-Elendil Ministry wholeheartedly condemns the murder in question. The Holy Orenian Empire prides itself in its legal systems and justice. The Ministry of Justice has already begun preliminary investigations into the alleged murder. We ask that the Silver Council of Haelun’or provide us with any information they may have about the victim and the criminal, in order for the Imperial Constabulary to conduct a swift and thorough investigation. Furthermore, the safety of individuals, whether they be foreign visitors or Imperial subjects within the Holy Orenian Empire is of the utmost importance to the Imperial Ministry. The Ministry stands for justice and peace throughout the realm. For many decades we have maintained peace and friendship with the Silver State. With the intention of upholding the good graces between our two countries, we request that the Silver Council consider lifting its travel ban while we continue to collaborate to achieve justice. Signed, HIS IMPERIAL EXCELLENCY, Jonah Stahl-Elendil, Imperial Archchancellor HER IMPERIAL EXCELLENCY, Celestine Herbert, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

[!] Unfortunately, it would seem as though the newspapers got a few words of the treaty wrong. A re-released version is printed in the morning version of the Helena Herald. @VIROS

TREATY OF OWYNSBURG, 1783 16th of the Deep Cold, 1783 Pursuant to His Excellency the Archchancellor’s desire to mend past long standing grievances between the Holy Orenian Empire and the Kingdom of Norland, the Archchancellor, the Foreign Secretary, and the Secretary of the Interior have sought detente with His Royal Majesty, King Halvar Edvardsson of Norland, in the form of a summit. The Stahl-Elendil Ministry and the Crown of Norland thus agree to the following terms in the hope of mending many decades’ worth of misunderstandings between our peoples. We do this in the spirit of resetting relations and in the spirit of forging a better relationship between our two countries. ARTICLE I - The Holy Orenian Empire recognizes the Kingdom of Norland’s right to self determination and guarantees its continued independence as a sovereign state. ARTICLE II - Both signatories agree to the cessation of sending state sponsored conversion groups into each other’s sovereign territories, either of the Canonist faith or of the Red Faith. ARTICLE III - The Holy Orenian Empire guarantees protection under its laws to all Norlandic subjects, including the inneliable human rights to life, property, and due process within the borders of the Orenian state. There will be no persecution of the Norlandic followers of the Red Faith, as per the right to personal worship within the state’s borders, as defined within the Orenian Revised Code. ARTICLE IV - The Kingdom of Norland guarantees protection under its laws to all Orenian subjects, including the inneliable human rights to life, property, and due process within the borders of the Norlandic state. There will be no persecution of the Orenian followers of the Canonist faith within the state’s borders. ARTICLE V - The Holy Orenian Empire seeks reconciliation and to make amends regarding the following: The desecration of Alfred Kursin’s corpse by the Hounds of St. John The outlawing of Norlandic literature The propagation of false stereotypes regarding the spirit and demeanor of the Norlandic people ARTICLE VI - The Holy Orenian Empire recognizes the line of His Royal Majesty, King Halvar Edvardsson, as the only Ruric bloodline with a legitimate claim to the Crown of Norland. ARTICLE VII - In turn, the Kingdom of Norland once again reaffirms recognition of the sovereignty of the Emperor and his line over all of his dominions as per the Treaty of Novellen. ARTICLE VIII - Both signatories agree to rescind any existing bans on the literature of their respective countries, in the interest of eliminating academic censorship and promoting a free exchange of knowledge across state borders. ARTICLE IX - The Stahl-Elendil Ministry agrees to return the severed head of Alfred Kursin to the Kingdom of Norland so that it might be given a proper burial and finally be put to rest. ARTICLE X - The Holy Orenian Empire and the Kingdom of Norland agree to cease all aggressive actions against one another, entering into a pact of non-aggression for the foreseeable future. ARTICLE XI - The Holy Orenian Empire and the Kingdom of Norland agree to normalize diplomatic relations. Future grievances held by either signatory after the signing of this document are to be addressed through peaceful diplomatic channels. Signed, HIS IMPERIAL EXCELLENCY, Jonah Stahl-Elendil, Imperial Archchancellor HIS IMPERIAL EXCELLENCY, Padraig O’Rourke, Secretary of State for the Interior HER IMPERIAL EXCELLENCY, Celestine Herbert, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, Halvar Edvardsson Ruric, King of Norland

The Northern Geographical Society Presents... AN INITIATIVE TO REWARD THE ACADEMICALLY & ADVENTUROUSLY INCLINED To All Writers, Historians, Scholars, Naturalists, & Scientists: The Northern Geographical Society is, at long last, pleased to announce that in order to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 1785, we shall be hosting a contest of intelligence, wit, and spirit to commemorate the occasion! Thus, we shall be seeking to present the highest honour that our Society can bestow, the Lyons Award for Academic & Explorative Excellence, to an individual whom we deem to embody the same traits which we so treasure. This award shall be given to someone outside of the membership of our governing board who has exemplified all of the following traits: An Adventurous Spirit Superb Writing & Research Capabilities Years of Experience in the Field of Exploration Exemplary Knowledge in a Scientific or Historical Field We shall be accepting applications from scholars both within the Holy Orenian Empire and from every country in the world beyond its borders. Applicants must be in good legal standing and demonstrate adaptivity in all of the above areas. The President of the Northern Geographical Society and our three Museum Curators shall be presiding over the selection board from this award. The NGS Awards Board shall include, Celestine Herbert - Founder and President of the Northern Geographical Society Otto Wittenbach - Vice President of the Northern Geographical Society & Curator of the NGS Museum of Hanseti-Ruska Tanith Vursur - Curator of the NGS Museum of Imperial History Edward Napier - Curator of the NGS Museum of Adunian Heritage & Kaedreni History After all submissions have been considered, the Awards Board shall invite the top three contestants to attend a special meeting of the Northern Geographical Society’s Circle! There, they may be asked to give a speech about their philosophies and achievements before the Awards Board, and might be asked questions about their career before it. Thereafter, the Circle members in attendance will cast a private ballot in order to decide who will receive the Lyons Award. Our winning contestant shall be granted a sum of 2500 minas along with the Lyons Award, which in itself is a golden cup which has been forged from solid gold! He or she may even be offered an invitation to join the Society’s Circle as one of our peers and a full member of our organization. The other two contestants shall be given monetary grants and medals as consolation prizes, with the second place contestant receiving an award of 1000 minas and a silver medal, and the third place contestant receiving 500 minas and a bronze medal. Contestant Application Deadline for Submissions: 31th of Sigismund’s End, 1784 ((Tuesday, Sept. 8th at 11:59 PM EST)) Interviews & Awards Ceremony: 18th of Owyn’s Flame, 1785 ((Thursday, Sept. 10th at 4:30 PM EST)) Deadline for Submissions: 31th of Godfrey’s Triumph, 1787 ((Friday, Sept. 25th at 11:59 PM EST)) Interviews & Awards Ceremony: 18th of Snow’s Maiden, 1787 ((Sunday, Sept. 27th at 4:00 PM EST)) As a forewarning, all contestants will need to submit an academic work that they have published within the last twenty-five years within their application in order to be eligible to receive the Lyons Award. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMof2gPg1PVVpyJoN0Q7rjheKU67ti14M7SFhvQOjyFm_pdA/viewform?usp=sf_link We look forward to seeing your submissions!

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs PRIMUS NON NOCERE “First, not to Harm” ABOUT the MINISTRY Mission Statement An Imperial Envoy Offering Humanitarian Assistance to the Sultanate of Al-Faiz, c. 1782 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, known in the technical shorthand as simply the Foreign Office, is the administrative department charged with carrying out foreign policy, maintaining international relations, upholding the Empire’s diplomatic image, and protecting Imperial interests across the world. The head of the department is the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, commonly abbreviated to “Foreign Secretary”, is one of the Ministers of the Crown who sits upon the Council of State. As to the Ministry itself, it is tasked with the development and execution of the foreign policies held by the Stahl-Elendil Ministry. Hosting the finest ambassadors, envoys, and attaches from across the Holy Orenian Empire, this organ of the Imperial Government is also charged with the negotiation of treaties, the forging of non-violent solutions to international quandaries, and with ensuring the safety of Orenian citizens abroad. The Stahl-Elendil Ministry has taken it upon itself to expand the operations of the department with the planned implementation of a new professional framework and bureaucracy in order to satisfy the diplomatic needs of the Holy Orenian Empire. Imperial Foreign Secretaries 1st Secretary John de Vitus 1732 – 1733 2nd Secretary Marcus de Rubrum 1733 – 1735 3rd Secretary John Huss 1735 – 1737 4th Secretary Jahan Basrid 1737 – 1758 5th Secretary Godfrey Briarwood 1758 – 1783 6th Secretary Celestine Herbert 1783 – Present STRUCTURE of the MINISTRY The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs The 6th Secretary of Foreign Affairs Celestine Herbert apt. 28th of Godfrey’s Triumph, 1783 The Foreign Secretary heads the entire Foreign Office and its constituent departments. He, or she, is a diplomat of the Holy Orenian Empire appointed by the Archchancellor on the basis of merit. The Foreign Secretary holds administrative purview over the entire Foreign Office and it is her duty to organize it in such a way as to uphold the tenets of the Office and carry out its functions. As the head of the Foreign Office, the purpose of the foreign secretary is to perform all of the tasks as outlined by the tenets of the Council of State. While this approach has been attempted with various ministers throughout Imperial history, this approach is not taken in contemporary times. The Foreign Secretary holds a managerial position within the department as a whole with obligations pertaining primarily to oversight. However, the Foreign Secretary does hold the penultimate say on decisions pertaining to foreign policy, bar the Emperor and it is her responsibility that the Foreign Office maintains diplomatic relations that are in line with the Imperial Crown. If a directive is not given from the Imperial Crown, then the foreign minister often plans out the direction of foreign policy for the benefit of the Crown and its dependents. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs The 5th Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs Isabel de Falstaff apt. 16th of Tobias’ Bounty, 1761 The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, also known as the Foreign Under-Secretary is the second in command of the Foreign Office. In the case of the Foreign Secretary’s incapacitation from being able to perform her duties, the Under-Secretary performs the duties of the Secretary in her stead until a suitable candidate is chosen. The Foreign Under-Secretary is selected from amongst the candidates under employ by the Foreign Office that are capable to carry out the responsibilities of the Office by the Foreign Secretary. The Foreign Under-Secretary manages the day-to-day affairs of the Foreign Office on behalf of the Foreign Secretary. He also acts as head of His Imperial Majesty’s Diplomatic Service placing him in charge of personnel within the Diplomatic Corps of the Empire. Thus, the Foreign Under-Secretary’s duties involve the management of all personnel within the service as well as ensuring that the Diplomatic Corps is well educated on matters of Imperial Foreign Policy and how to carry out their role. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS The duty to ensure the continuing good relations of the Holy Orenian Empire with the foreign nations of the continent. The duty to report on the relationships which the Empire maintains with the states of the world. The duty to provide for the welfare of Orenian subjects who should travel abroad, negotiating peacefully with foreign states for their continued safety, and making such incidents known to the Council of State as should be known. The duty to ensure the loyalty and stability of the Empire’s foreign holdings in a manner consistent with the Emperor’s peace. The duty to sustain the contentedness of foreign subjects and vassals, measuring their welfare against that of the state, and to never prejudice them to costly and weakening rebellion. The duty to inform the Crown and the Cabinet of the customs of their subjects so they may better administer them. The duty to organize meetings with foreign dignitaries, and to periodically travel to foreign lands in the Emperor’s name, acting as his favored ambassador and negotiator. The duty to negotiate and establish treaties on behalf of the Holy Orenian Empire, as the Emperor’s peace may demand. The power to act as the Crown’s representative in all foreign holdings, governing their affairs in his name, and assuring the welfare of its subjects. The power to establish such institutions of state as they may be necessary in the Empire’s foreign holdings, creating bureaus, councils, and court of laws for their continued loyalty. The power to staff his office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in such a way as to provide assistance in his duties. THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS His Imperial Majesty’s Diplomatic Service, often called by the shorthand; the Diplomatic Corps is the assembly of all the ambassadors, diplomats, and their attaches under employ by the Foreign Office in the service of a diplomatic mission. The Diplomatic Corps constitutes the majority of the personnel under the employ of the Foreign Office. Those employed by the Diplomatic Corps are deployed in various nations abroad and also in offices throughout the Empire to facilitate communication between the Empire and the nations that it holds diplomatic communication with. Those employed by the Diplomatic Corps are afforded certain benefits and privileges that all civilized nations adhere to. These privileges are to be upheld with any nation or power that the Holy Orenian Empire holds official diplomatic ties. For a nation to break the privileges bestowed unto diplomats shall be considered as hostile to our Holy Orenian Empire and diplomatic ties shall be severed until the situation is resolved and civility is restored. Diplomatic Immunity The diplomat shall not be persecuted or prosecuted while on a diplomatic mission. The diplomat shall not be harmed while on a diplomatic mission. The diplomat shall not be detained while on a diplomatic mission. The host nation at any time can declare a member of the diplomatic staff a persona non grata and revoke their diplomatic immunity given a reasonable amount of time to remove themselves from the host nation. Actions not covered under diplomatic immunity are those outside of the diplomat’s official functions. The family members of those on a diplomatic mission shall enjoy the same protections. Right of Safe Passage Diplomats moving throughout foreign nations in which official diplomatic relations are established are to ensure the safe passage of all diplomatic persons. Dangers on the roads are to be dealt with in a timely manner by each host nation with established diplomatic relations, those being brigands, marauders, and wildlife. Diplomatic Inviolability of Premises The premises of a diplomatic mission, such as an embassy, are inviolable and must not be entered by the host country except by permission of the head of the diplomatic mission. Furthermore, the host country must protect the mission from intrusion or damage. The host country must never search the premises, nor seize its documents or property. Inviolability of Documents The archives and documents of a diplomatic mission are inviolable. The receiving country shall not seize or open such documents. The host country must permit and protect free communication between the diplomats of the mission and their home country without fear of the host nation’s Intelligence Services. Diplomatic Mission: Letters of Credence The cornerstone of modern Imperial diplomacy is the diplomatic mission, invented by the Second Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Marcus de Rubrum. As ordained by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, a diplomatic mission is defined as a congregation of state officials located within a state that is foreign to them with official duties to represent the originating state in matters of state. These missions have varying levels of importance, scope, and duration depending on the context of the mission. Most notably, a diplomatic mission refers to the resident mission or the main office of a state’s diplomatic representatives to another country, usually an embassy. A mission is always head by a diplomat who is granted a letter of credence by the Foreign Minister. This letter of credence grants the diplomat their official diplomatic credentials to act on behalf of the Empire. The letters of credence must be shown to the ruler of the foreign power in order to formally begin their mission and to allow the foreign ruler to validate the diplomatic credentials. Diplomatic Rank: Duties & Responsibilities of a Diplomat The diplomatic rank is the standardized system of professional and social ranks used within the Imperial Diplomatic Corps and within the world of foreign diplomacy. The rank of a diplomat is determined upon the size and scope of the diplomatic mission they are entrusted with. A diplomat not currently serving in an official capacity within a diplomatic mission is not granted the privilege of a diplomatic rank, and thus is to be referred to as merely a diplomat. The prestige and longevity of a foreign nation also determines the size and scope of a diplomatic mission which the Empire determines to send. The diplomatic ranking schema, as established in 1736, is as follows: Ambassador In modern diplomacy, the ambassadorial position is the most coveted and highest ranking of the diplomats charged with the undertaking of a diplomatic mission. An ambassador is given their letter of credence from their sovereign and is treated as the personal representative of the sovereign as well as his government. An ambassador’s diplomatic mission is defined as an embassy, which must be located within the Capital of the host nation. Envoy The rank of Envoy is short for Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, who also holds the charge of a diplomatic mission. The envoy heads a diplomatic mission on a smaller scale than that of an ambassador and may serve in a temporary or permanent posting within the host country. While the envoy holds plenipotentiary powers, i.e full authority to represent one’s home government, an envoy does not represent their country’s head of state. Attache The rank of attaché is that of a diplomat which assists the head of a mission in the fulfillment of the duties charged by the mission. The rank of attaché makes up the majority of the Diplomatic Corps as it includes all the diplomats attached to a mission who are not granted a charge of their own. They are granted authority which is passed down to them by the head of a diplomatic mission when it is necessary for them to represent their home nation. Courier A diplomatic courier is an official who transports official diplomatic documents, instructions, or correspondence between foreign countries. Diplomatic couriers are afforded all diplomatic privileges and protections while performing their duties and any documents that they carry are protected under the Inviolability of Documents clause. Diplomatic couriers are used most often in modern diplomacy to initiate diplomatic correspondences and facilitate communication either between the Foreign Office and its respective diplomatic missions or between the Foreign Office and foreign nations without a sustained diplomatic mission. Joining the Foreign Office The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Holy Orenian Empire is searching for patriotic civil servants to enroll in the His Imperial Majesty’s Diplomatic Service. The Foreign Office is looking for capable or aspiring statesmen, negotiators, and scribes to serve. Whether experienced or a novice, the Foreign Office has posts available for all. The Foreign Office is requesting that the candidates that present themselves to be of good standing in the view of the Imperial Judiciary and all Foreign Judiciaries. Travel is expected of all statesmen, negotiators, and diplomats. Temporary residence within a foreign power may be required depending on the posting. Diplomatic immunity and writ of safe passage are bestowed to all public servants acting on behalf of the Foreign Office by the Holy Orenian Empire and its protectorates. Please send a bird to Her Excellency, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if interested in applying for a position in the ministry: [[Please DM the above application to AndrewTech#1007 over Discord.]]

[!] A reply is penned to Mr. Halcourt @Lyonharted™ and delivered to his desk via a courier. It reads as follows: [!]

The Crown v. Ludovar 26th of Horen’s Calling, 1783 At the Request of the Defense, the Following Plea Deal Has Been Agreed Upon: I.) The defendant will issue compensation to the royal government of Haense in order to compensate the publicly funded medical system for treating Sigmar Baruch MHC’s injuries. A.) This payment shall be in the form of a sum of 5000 marks, payable to the treasury of Haense. II.) Stefan Ludovar shall issue a formal apology in public to Sigmar Baruch MHC with the presiding judge, Lord Metterden, in attendance. A.) This public apology shall be issued at the next sitting of the Haeseni royal court, a prominent social gathering that is held within the defendant’s community. B.) Should the apology be insincere, the presiding judge shall reserve the right to issue an additional fine of 5000 marks to the defendant. III.) In lieu of a prison sentence, the defendant will remain exiled from the borders of the Holy Orenian Empire for a period of twenty-five annum following the issuance of his public apology. More specifically, he shall serve out the duration of sentence on the island of Josefsburg. Signed: Justice Aleksandr var Ruthern, TRH Count of Metterden Sir Wilhelm Vyronov KM, Lord Justicar of Hanseti-Ruska Lord Stefan Otto Ludovar of House Ludovar

The Right Hon. Count of Metterden, Justice of the Central Circuit Court, shall be picking up this case from where Justice Wittenbach left off. It is requested that letters be submitted to his office in order to schedule a date for a court appearance and continue the trial’s proceedings. ((AndrewTech#1007))

A BALL FOR WINTER’S END 1782 | 335 TO THE ENTIRETY OF THE REALM It is with great jubilation that the House of Ruthern hereby celebrates the birth of an heir - Lord Maric Lyov Ruthern - and his twin, Alric Joren Ruthern. The House of Ruthern has long taken pride in its abundance of sired fraternal couplings, among these being Queen Adelaide and Lady Aleksandra, Queen Elizaveta and Duke Dmitri, and Count Viktor and Lord Tuvya of Metterden. Therefore, in order to commemorate this occasion, all kinsmen, relatives, and friends of the Count and his lady-bride, Countess Keldra of the Voliks, are encouraged to attend these most joyful festivities. GOD BLESS THE HOUSE OF RUTHERN [[OOC: Sunday, August the 23rd - 4:30 EST Metterden Castle, North of New Reza]] IV JOVEO MAAN TRH Count of Metterden Aleksander var Ruthern TRH Countess of Metterden Keldra Ruthern Lady Elisabeth Carrion vas Ruthern Mistress of the Carrion Estate

@Ivorey I’m gonna have to say 11! It’s gotta be a HUGE snow fort, no doubt built to scale so that lil Alex can pursue all of her many imaginative fantasies! In all seriousness though, the poor girl died too soon. She had so much potential as a character and I think that it’s truly a travesty that road bandits decided to gack her so early on in her life... I think of all the deaths during the war, Alex and Milena’s both happening within the span of a couple of months were the most tragic and left the longest lasting impression upon Andrik since his family meant the world over to him. Despite the abrupt end however, the memories we had during that time were fun! Just wish they had lasted a bit longer, RIP. @Urara Probably the first Nether expedition. Either that or the smaller resource gathering escapade that just Tanith, Chirr, and Celestine went on, but I’m going to lean toward that first expedition because it involved us going into the unknown without having any sort of an inkling of what might lie beyond. No doubt, there’ll be more adventures to come, bigger and better ones as we proceed into Almaris! Can’t wait to see what they are, or how the many Society members and amazing characters within will end up developing in the process. 🙂

@Emenzi Sorry Mr. Swede... 😞 im too pure for that sort of thing!! It would corrupt my soul and ruin my innocence.... Hi @Lionbileti! 🙂 @TH3GHOSTWAFFL3 1.) Oh, I have many... Many many many, so it’d be unfair to pick any one character! And I’ve been a part of a number of other RP communities too, so there’s other characters y’all wouldn’t even be familiar with. Some honorable mentions, however, might include the following in no particular order whatsoever: -Saul VonSchlichten, Gestahl VonSchlichten, & Ezo Karasuga @Ezo Karasuga -Chirr Sintel @Rayna Star -Terrence May @Piov -Tanith of the Westerlands @Urara -Maya Alimar @Eryane -Thomas Raleigh @Herylion -Nienna Calm @hex37 -Jonas Walkingsnake @walkingsnake There’s others that I’m fond of as well of course, but these are some of the top ones that I’ve really loved over the years. 2.) MYSEL- Just kidding! Probably @Emenzi, in most likelihood. Gave me a chance to prove myself and show that I could achieve my longtime dream, and all in all he was just a great guy to work around OOCly. Never took anything personally. He was a good boss and a good friend full of boundless energy, and I have a ton of respect for the guy. 3.) Winston Churchill. I’ve studied him intensely, ready many biographies written about both his early and later lives, and I’m quite fond of him. Never surrendered in the face of insurmountable odds and pressure within his own cabinet to throw in the towel. Gotta have respect for such a guy. @Urara Omg...... I can’t pick favorites Urara!! I’m physically incapable of it!!! (Gotta say tho that water magic is hella useful in the Nether... And those journal entries make life so much more interesting!) @axelu Oh Axelu... That was such a stressful ordeal, wasn’t it? Gosh it was awful from an OOC perspective, probably the worst moment of my kingship, but I’m so glad we were able to overcome our differences and retain our friendship. Because I honestly did like Milena, and I had fun RPing with her on both Konrad and Andrik. Also, I play the saxophone and the piano, but haven’t touched either in years. 😞 GET OFF MY LAWN @SilkieSilky. @King of Cartography AGAIN, I CANNOT PLAY FAVORITES! Ugh... Between you and Urara y’all will be the death of me......... @Aedephon Someday, when I stop doing leadership stuff in sort sort of IRP organization, perhaps I’ll return to doing FRP! I miss those days man... Never forget the Anglo-Iberian Alliance! 🙂

FIRST

@MunaZaldrizoti Hmm... Good question. My top three favorite personas would probably be some of my more recent ones since my return to the server. Namely, I would say that they would go in the order of: 1.) Sir Konrad Stafyr / Dr. Mandru VonSchlichten [They tie, deal with it] 2.) King Andrik IV 3.) C. E. Herbert I’ll explain why, starting with the first two. ============================================== Dr. Mandru VonSchlichten I’ll always have a special place for in my heart for this guy right here, meant to be a throwaway char for medical RP yet somehow evolving into much more. Just as you never forget your first love, you never, ever forget your first real character. And Mandru was mine, a bumbling doctor who somehow found himself under the employment of the great Saul VonSchlichten. After the collapse of the original VonSchlichtenCo, he discovered his true heritage as a lost VonSchlichten, learned magic, became a Proconsul of the Gallmorian Republic, and then spent the remainder of his life fighting dark beings in order to atone for the loss of the rest of his family and friends. He was incredibly successful and it was really hard to let him go for a long, long time. I’ll still always treasure the memories that I made as him. Sir Konrad Stafyr Contrary to popular belief, Konrad was my first Stafyr character that I ever had. Although I had been a notable family friend of the Stafyrs for multiple generations and a number of IRL years, I had never actually played one. But my word, it was worth the wait... I never sought to advance as far as I did on this character, as like Mandru, Konrad was originally designed as a throwaway character to use for warclaims during the War of the Two Emperors. Yet through the power of RP, he ended up slaying a direwolf, becoming a knight of Haense, and eventually being named as the Lord Speaker of a certain prototype institution known as the Duma all through role-play. From there, he became Palatine, then a popular and successful senator who was beloved by everyone, and finally the President of the Commons before his eventual retirement and subsequent death a couple of weeks ago. Konrad was loved by pretty much everyone I spoke to while I played him, and like Mandru, he was extremely hard to let go of. He had a great family, a grand reputation, and led a very successful life in both Haense and the greater Empire. I advanced further in LotC politics on him than I had ever thought imaginable, and my success with that character is what eventually gave me my shot to serve as the Haense NL. King Andrik IV While I must admit that I played Andrik during an incredibly stressful time in both the history of the Haense community and in my own personal life, he represented soooooooooooo much to me. For nearly 8 years, I had dreamt of becoming a human monarch, but had never thought this achievement to have been possible. However, my good friend Emenzi took notice of how much time and effort I had put into reviving that community, and he decided to offer me the chance to play his son. At first, I declined the offer. It was a hard semester of college and I didn’t want to put playing Andrik above my academics. But I eventually changed my mind and decided to take the character, knowing that it would be incredibly difficult to forgive myself if I declined and that I might never have another opportunity at playing a king within humanity. My biggest regret about Andrik is that he came to the throne at a very turbulent time, with both the Rubern War raging and the community having a lot of internal squabbles within. But I’m proud of his legacy in that he managed to mend the vast majority of those divides before I was forced to PK him early in order to pursue an internship IRL. While only crazy people become kings and my time as King of Haense was stressful, I’m glad I did it, and the way that I’m told he touched so many characters within Haense really warms my heart. C. E. Herbert Celestine is a character who I’ve been particularly fond of thus far. In all honesty, she’s great, a total badass who never gives in and has an unshakable determination to spread knowledge of both history and culture across the Empire and (hopefully someday) greater Arcas as well. It’s hard to say where she’ll be going from here, but I can confidently say that the establishment of the Northern Geographical Society has been my favorite thing to do since I was part of RHcrow’s VonSchlichtenCo. I’m really proud of what Cellie’s been able to accomplish and am looking forward to what which is still to come! ============================================== And as to my favorite roleplay moments of all time: 1.) The Invasion of Von Hill – Waaaaay back in Anthos, the ET at the time decided to surprise VonSchlichtenCo with an event. While we were focusing on some of our whacky engineering experience deep within the mountains of Old Hanseti, Saul accidentally unleashed a horde of endermen from another dimension! The engineers had to fight off the creatures within VonSchlichtenCo security devices until the Teutonic Order could arrive to take command of the situation and save the day. The facility was sorta laid out like Black Mesa, and years later I would come to realize that the whole thing was pretty much just a spoof of Half Life 1! Damn that event was great, and that along with those first days I had with the VonSchlichtens at their facility in Kalos remain some of my fondest IRP memories. 2.) Ser Konrad Slays the Direwolf – So when Konrad was first becoming a knight, Dibley / Cracker volunteered to run an event for his final knighthood trial during the War of the Two Emperors. It involved he, his brother Artos, and a privateer known by the name of Thomas Raleigh venturing into the forests north of Ves in order to track down and kill a beast which had kidnapped two young children and their mother. Konrad ended up fighting off packs of wolves, setting up traps in front of a large pack lair, saving the two children from said lair, facing down a dark mage, and of course killing a badass direwolf in the end. I still maintain that aside from RHcrow’s home-brew events and the Invasion of Von Hill mentioned above, this remains one of my favorite events that the ST has run to date. Thanks for the memory, Dib. 3.) Mandru’s First Days at VonSchlichtenCo – You cannot force dynamic roleplay like this into existence. I was pugsied by a noob, saved by a bunch of German engineers, and hired as a chief medical officer at the greatest engineering facility in the known world all over the course of a day. It’s hard to describe what they were like. Absolute brilliance would be the closest approximation. @Ezo Karasuga (RHcrow) helped to foster my roleplaying techniques as a newer player myself and really entranced me with what LotC was, and could be, if only we kept to RP instead of OOC toxicity, shenanigans, and hatred. I could go further into what those days were like, but I’ll save that for when I answer Han’s question! @LATTE NO. (yes I ate some delicious pizza ty for asking dashing <3) @Hanrahan Ahhh... Good question, Han old pal. I’ll answer your question in two parts: 1.) The Inspiration for the VonSchlichtens The VonSchlichtens actually existed for over a decade before LotC since the early 90’s in a series of Dungeons and Dragons campaigns run by their founder, a career dungeon master. They were ported over by @Ezo Karasuga (RHcrow) onto the server when he first joined during early Aegis. They are a family of mages historically, usually dark but sometimes also good. However, after magic became severely restricted and the VonSchlichtens were unable to continue having access to the arcane, RHcrow switched over to gearing the family toward engineering and inventing instead. Turns out, they were far more successful at that than all that magic stuff. Still though, they continue to maintain both brands, and I fully intend to bring a VonSchlichten back someday. Maybe even next map...? Who knows! In any case, a VonSchlichten has to struggle constantly against the draw of Good vs. Evil, Right vs. Wrong. He quests for power and glory but he also cares for others around him, and for the general march of progress for all mankind. The greatest travesty for the VonSchlichtens is that just as they’re on the verge of advancing that progress, it’s usually destroyed by forces of regression or by their own foolhardy ambition. Great unique family with decades of lore behind them, 10/10 will never stop playing. 2.) Mandru’s Misadventures See the above at Muna’s question. Von Hill and my first few days at the company were honestly my most treasured memories of LotC that I have ever had. Wouldn’t change them for anything. I could spend all night talking about Mandru and the things that he did, but I’ll just let this journal do so in my stead: Most of this took place in Kalos, where I started to play Mandru, as well as early Anthos. As a forewarning, I wrote it back when I was a noob so... Please don’t judge. Sadly, Mandru never existed in Asulon. Only his short lived twin brother Rathian did! Anyway, please enjoy. Shut up @erik0821, you show off... Should’ve let the Endermen probe you like they wanted to back on Von Hill! 😠 Hmm... Good question @yandeer. Ur just a little bit too slow I suppose! 😉 Perhaps someday, you shall stumble upon a dashing single male of mine and shall have your chance at one of my world famous wholesome, low conflict RP relationships! Gotta happen sometime, amirite?? @UnBaed 1.) It was great! Ran a successful event that involved about 14-15 people that was very much appreciated and loved by the participants. Also got to watch several Star Trek episodes and stroll around campus. Life ain’t bad right now... Just hope the COVID will go away soon enough. 2.) Blue. I like most shades of blue, but especially royal blue. I love that color. 3.) Oh dear... Please, please don’t make me play favorites! (I love all of my prized royal triplet princesses equally, but among equals, I think Alexandria is probably my personal favorite as she’s so much like her dad. <3) 4.) I would like to see the NGS become an international organization, expand beyond the Empire and establish museums with autonomous curators in all of the server’s major nations. Urguan, Haelun’or, Krugmar, Norland, and Aegrothond would all be ideal to one day see the NGS keep up museums in. As well, I’d like to do a lot more with exploration RP and create adventures for the entire organization and the server at large rather than just our existing friend group. The NGS project is ambitious, but I’m greatly looking forward to how Celestine and her friend’s adventures one day pan out!

Hello there! My name’s AndrewTech. Some of you may have seen me on the server over the course of the last 8 years, mainly in communities within humanity but also within other groups as well. This is my 600th post, and I am exactly one week away from my 8th anniversary of being a part of the LotC community. That’s really why I'm making this in all honesty, just to commemorate these last 8 years and this 600th post as a sort of landmark. But, as an added bonus, do feel free to ask me any questions you might have about my characters or my experiences on LotC if you wish. As I’m a more private sort of person, I can’t promise you that I’ll answer anything that you ask of me, but you never know! So yeah, feel free to ask away. Also, please no toxicity and/or hateful comments. Should be a given but I figured that I should throw that out there in any case.

Every time I say something around Tanith IRP, I can’t help but to smirk a bit because I know I’m helping to add to this wonderful diary. Can’t wait for Vol. 3!