tilly

"Like... So what is he saying? Is Veletz back? And for who?" Renilde was graying by the minute.

"I still don't get whose side they're on, or what exactly they're fighting for, other than to fight..." Renilde pointed to the missive and scratched her head as she sat at the war table in the citadel of Vallagne with Aurel, Rowena, and their trusted advisors.

"Perhaps even less than a day," remarked Renilde, her hands still bloodied from holding her son's disembodied head from the root of his hair.

"Dude, stop telling people..." Renilde murmured to her buddy.

"Godiva would never!" Sorrel, clad in his gilded Legionary uniform, affirmed the claims of innocence, opting not to investigate any complaints made to the Legion regarding the duo.

"Mar-CUS." Renilde said her grandson's name in two succinct syllables, impressed with the maturity he'd conducted himself with.

A Response to All Atstana de Regne Petrère 131 Lo, unto the Heartlanders! In the wake of the baseless accusations made against me by the wanton Brigade of Marna and their cretinous allies, I, Renilde Helena, Queen-Emeritus of the Petra, categorically deny any involvement in the gossip paper known as "The Gilded Quill" under the pseudonym Bel Aurum. Not a single modicum of evidence has been brought against me to prove that I am the face behind this paper, nor has a proper call to trial been issued in the court of law to discuss such matters before heads have been ordered to roll and innocent lives were taken in the lull of twilight. - I had been away on a much-needed retreat for prayer at the Aldtree, seeking solace from the tumultuous discourse that has plagued our Heartlands since the most recent Chancellor elections. My respite was meant to be a sanctuary from the ceaseless discord, yet it has been marred by tragic events that have unfolded in my absence; the brutal burning of my beloved home, the Courteis Hale schoolhouse — an institution devoted to learning and enlightenment — has not only claimed the lives of esteemed individuals but has also laid waste to the cherished gardens I spent my later years nurturing. The flames, set by these heartless brigadiers, all of which have been identified as Aaunic citizens, claimed the lives of the following cherished souls: -My beloved granddaughter, Helene-Olympe of the Petra, age 22. -Castor Heimdall Helvets of Lemon Hill, our devoted Groundskeeper, 51 years old. -François de la Tour, Lecturer on Performing Arts, a beacon of creativity, 40 years old. -Jackson Randall of Faubourg, a young pupil of the humanities, only 12 years old. -Robert Lucius of Numendil, ward to Lord Marshal Matthew Smythe and pupil of the humanities, a mere 9 years old. -Jakob Bokanowski of Chambery, Culinary Expert, whose meals brought joy to many, 61 years old. The Marnan Brigade's actions have desecrated Courteis Hale and my rare, exotic plants without a shred of evidence to support their unfounded accusations. They have acted with reckless abandon, terrorizing an elderly woman, killing her family and household members, and committing an act of violence without due process or legal justification. Their actions are an egregious violation of the principles of justice and decency, and they stand in stark contrast to the values we hold dear in our realm – or at least of that within the Petra. In the wake of this tragic loss, I cannot help but let my mind wander to the dark motivations behind the Marnan Brigade's actions. It seems no coincidence that my beloved granddaughter, Helene-Olympe, was among those killed in the blaze that nearly consumed all of Courteis Hale. Helene’s connections to Bel Aurum, and her association with the very source of the gossip that so irked the powers-that-be, made her an unfortunate yet probable target. It is chilling to think that they might have singled her out, and indeed the entire household, as part of a broader scheme to discredit myself and eliminate any ties to the truth. By slaying my poor Helene, they were tying off a loose end, seeing as she must have known the author’s true identity. By destroying our once-sanctuary with her inside, they could manipulate the narrative, falsely accusing me of being the contriving Bel Aurum: this heinous act of violence seems crafted not just to silence dissent, but to deflect suspicion in order to perpetuate their own agenda under the guise of righteousness. What is even more appalling is the apparent support of this vile and terroristic act by the current Chancellor and his family, the house of de Rosius, as well as another lesser-known Aaunic house I care little to delve up the name of. Their involvement — or at the very least, their tacit approval — of such an atrocious act seems to confirm the very accusations Bel Aurum has leveled against them. It is as though they are living up to every criticism made of them, casting aside any semblance of honor or integrity in their quest to suppress dissent. In reflecting upon the profound losses inflicted by the Brigade of Marna, I am filled with a deep sorrow for the lives and legacies that have been so cruelly stolen from us. The destruction of Courteis Hale, once a haven of learning and growth, is a blow felt by all who valued its contributions to our society. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Legionnaires who bravely intervened to extinguish the flames and prevent further devastation to the school, however, and will be donating a handsome sum to the Lord Marshal as a show of my gratitude. Their swift action stands as a testament to their dedication and valor in the face of chaos. Fervently, I hope that those responsible for these outrages will be brought to justice, and that one day, my cherished home can be restored to its former renown. As I navigate the tumultuous waves of this transgression, I pray for the forgiveness of my countrymen and seek their understanding in these dark times in which I have somehow found myself both a victim and a villain amidst. May we find the strength to rebuild and restore not only our certitude in one another, but the very spirit of truth and justice that is to be shown to every person, unconditionally. O Sainte Règne Petrére Queen-Emeritus, Renilde I of the Petra

Renilde slaps her knee. "He's been waiting his whole life to do this! I wonder which outfit he used to pen the useless document, and which one he used to drop it off at the printer!" All the way to the fireplace did Paul Moere's mother laugh as she discarded the idiocy into the flames. "Too bad he, himself, is a bastard."

The woman, too old for even her great great grandchildren to count as high as her current age, filed the missive neatly on top of a hefty pile of others of alike content spanning over the last century or so calling for her death. Renilde had survived each threat, and was not about to let another belligerent back-from-the-dead no-one break her impressive combo. “How dare he quote my father; he never even knew him.”

“I can have to… make a war?” Renilde asked, either making fun of one of the Marnan Brigadeers, or delusional herself?

“Where is his proof?” Renilde gazed upon her vandalized schoolhouse as members of the Legion pulled bodies of charred pupils from the ashes. “They have none, but the lies they’ve made up in their head to incite such chaos. Puny idiot with an even smaller brain.”

“What does this have to do with burning down an old woman’s school with innocent children still inside?” The bereft elder, Queen-Emeritus Renilde of the Petra, sat with the calculating Adalia I, cane balanced in her lap. (( I’ll have time to give a better response when I’m not away camping and trying to enjoy time with my family! ))

Sorrel smiles almost wickedly, it having been he who suggested going to Ravenmire that night to follow up on the suspicious actions of one John Valentinus alongside Bon’Ox. The two had shown respect and honor to their Haverlock hosts, and at least one of the Legionaries had left with sh*t in their trousers due to the intensity of the meeting.

"Oh, girl... He didn't wait..." Sorrel, at the side of Dame Rowena, Lord Marshal Smythe, and Legionary Bon'Ox himself, could only appear to be surprised by the disobedience his brother-at-arms had shown.

“What the f*ck is this guy saying?” Renilde reads the terribly disorganized proclamation from Enswerp, trying so very hard to decipher the point in which the bailiff wished to get across. “There is no House of Valfleur - the titles were reclaimed by the Petran crown. There is no reason to be insulting my grandchildren, both innocent of such atrocities their father committed. How is this man, one entrusted to justly uphold the law of the Heartlands, already speaking with such bias and hate toward people of the Petra? It certainly didn’t take long following his hasty appointment.” Renilde glanced to the latest issue of The Gilded Quill on her coffee table, anxiety rolling in her chest as the words of gossip began to ring true.

"They're just mad they got caught, I'd say..." Renilde read the minor decree with an eyebrow raised nearly to her hairline, looking to Adalia I as they enjoyed their morning coffee and biscuits. "Not that they were subtle in any way, shape, or form; at Helene's coming-of-age party, they were openly talking about their war-plotting against the Halflings and Vortice. Uncle Konny had to suffer speaking to them while they begged for his support, and then I heard that they went on the next day to the von Augusten party and started all over with it! Many people heard about that one, too!" Renilde took a bite from her biscuit, and threw her arms up in the air in exasperation, head shaking left to right. "Someone ought to teach them how to whisper. I was able to keep an affair under-wraps for nearly a decade before my idiot consort noticed, just by keeping my voice down, and keeping my conspiring to my letters - which was ultimately my downfall there..." Renilde reminisced the old times with a snide curl to her lip.

Tbh... As a problem player, myself, I like the ferrymen. Despite the OOC logistics of organizing a PVP rally and all that BS, they are, from my experience, a pretty RP oriented group (even if the RP is undesirable to what I want to happen...). They are a group that, if they are allied with you, can determine the outcome of a battle or a war - but they always come to collect sooner or later, which I think is a funny little caveat to their services. Its important to have antagonists where there are protagonists, otherwise the good times mean nothing if you have no bad times to overcome. However, there is something to be said about the PVP faction grindset being something that can overtake the purpose of RP in general. For instance, why RP if you will get rolled up on by 10 dudes on the road who want to PVP default you, etc (not saying that's something the Ferryguys do, just an overall example of PVP outweighing RP). That isn't desirable RP for most people on the receiving side, and can really be a turn-off in wanting to play on the server. I know there are some bandit/villainy RP'ers who will ask people in DM's beforehand if a person wouldn't mind being bandited, etc, but for the most part, its usually a pretty undesirable interaction for the victim. Perhaps try that model for a change, or allow the player some grace to soulbind/put away important items before actual villainy commences to make it a less high-stakes and bothersome interaction that leaves a bad taste in the 'loser's' mouth. Just a hot take. :)

Sorrel thought about Theodore, a man he had worked alongside for years, both in the Legion and on scholarly pieces. He reminisced on the last time he'd run for a seat on the Garmont, and had narrowly lost to the man who he'd now held in the highest regard as Deputy Speaker of the Garmont, still. He nodded, and penned the letter to the new speaker. @JudgeTrudy

Renilde prepares the transcript notes from the most recent etiquette lesson at Courteis Hale. Boy was it a disaster, but it was also very educational for her pupils, as well as for she, herself.

Gay and beautiful, I love pride

“And just what the f*ck is this?” Renilde shrilled, voice several octaves higher than was normal. She massaged her temples, rereading the missive over and over again. Was it real? Was it an old man’s manifesto? “Why do the Heartlands need more land - and to take it from our neighbors, at that? And, please tell me, who is going to pay for it since all those who are settled in these outlying lands will certainly flee west and start all over again, should this brigade somehow even manage to conquer them… And, who will even be supplying this brigade, when the once-captain could not even inspire his fellow Aaunites to participate in the Heartlandic military efforts as is?...” Several moves ahead was the old Queen; and she just couldn’t seem to get on the same page with the projected outcome of the half-baked brigade’s mission-statement.

Renilde smiles, reading her great-granddaughter's response from the bed of the River Petra, a gentle breeze rustling the page in her hands. "I still can't believe those three Aaunites were talking about it so loudly at my darling granddaughter's ball, of all places..." The old queen tsk’ed her tongue, and shook her head. “‘We will bend the Petrans to our will’,” she recited the words of one gentleman in particular, a scowl on her lips.

Renilde of the Petra suddenly thought of that one time she fought alongside Master Fatebinder and the rest of the Hohkmati sorcerers against Lanre and his cultists. The day she had been dubbed 'The Lightbringer' in the eyes of her allies in that fight by her oldest living friend, at the time, Fatebinder himself. The saw behind her lids the arm which had been severed from Lanre's body by her own sword, the Ivory Empress, that laid on the ground, limp and mechanical. Yet, the century-old woman cracked a smile, and opened her eyes, returning to the present with a vague sense of longing for all the friends she'd outlived. @Minuvas

"Av," Helene's grandmother stood over her shoulder, assuring and advising the young woman throughout the process of of creating such a detailed guide. Renilde drew upon her century of experience within the bosom of the Heartlands, and her interactions with the denizens thereby. The Petran folk, especially the riverdwellers, had always had a unique way of expressing themselves without the usage of words. She had wondered for decades whether the display had been a measure to spare the feelings of the one on the receiving end of such scathing flowers without the use of harsh words. Perhaps she should have used this language more when she was a younger woman - it may have prevented much conflict.

Written by Her Majesty, Queen-Emeritus Renilde Helena of the Petra on the 16th of Sigismund's End, Atstana de Regne Petrère, 126 ‘Lo unto the Heartlanders! As the 18th Name Day approaches of one Miss Helene-Olympe Noelle of Petra, she has seen fit to invite all of the Heartlands and beyond to join in on her chosen floral-themed festivities. It shall be a night of merriment, dancing, and folly at Courteis Hale amidst the lovely foliage Her Majesty, Renilde Helena of the Petra, has spent many years of her late life cultivating. The ball shall be themed “Life in Bloom,” and everyone in attendance is implored to wear flower-inspired garments and colors. Please keep from wearing green, as it has already been claimed by your lovely host, Miss Helene-Olympe herself! Upon arrival, the guests are encouraged to peruse the former Queen’s garden in search of a perfect flower for the occasion, and pick it either for one’s self or another guest in attendance. A guide to the interpretation of the Petran Flyeur Tongua (floral language) will be included with this invitation, written by Miss Helene herself. We do hope that the guests in attendance take it upon themselves to partake in the merriment of such a lovely gathering, and enjoy the splendor both inside and outside of Courteis Hale. Flyeur Tongua (Flower Language) Pocket Dictionary, a guide tacked onto the back of each invitation: https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/238220-a-guide-to-flyeur-tongua/ Invitations are Extended to the Following: Her Royal Majesty, Adalia I, Queen of the Petra And her royal pedigree @mothsthetic His Royal and Apostolic Majesty, Charles II, King of Aaun And his royal pedigree @Olox_@ibiou His Serene Highness Johannes von Alstreim, Prince of Merryweather And his noble pedigree @Balthasar The Most Noble Aurel von Theonus, Duke of Vohenheim And his noble pedigree @Tremerus The Right Honorable Siegmund von Reuss, Margrave of Velen And his noble pedigree @Timer The Honorable Krzysztof Jazlowiecki, Count of Warsovia And his noble pedigree @Traveller The Honorable Wilford and Atticus Reinhold, Counts of Anairgrid And their noble pedigree @Hom@mothsthetic The Honorable Friedrich von Augusten, Count of Hohengarten And his noble pedigree @DuhPuhWuh The Honorable Emilio Varoche, Count of Ves And his noble pedigree @Enlightenment The Lord Aimo Astor, Baron of Fir’steinn And his noble pedigree @ColdestPepsi The Lady Katrin Stafyr, Baroness of Feldkirch And her noble pedigree @___siren___ The Lord Louis Caspian, Baron of Rosius And his noble pedigree @rep2k@ydegirl The Lord Philip Halcourt, Baron of Artois And his noble pedigree @JustAngel69 Personal Invitations are Extended to The Following: Lady Elsie von Augusten @Frank_Dog Lord Konstantin von Augusten @FireAGN Miss Lucia @Fie Lady Isabeau-Karine Roius @ydegirl Dame Amélie Auclair @Apricette Dame Monika & Sir Konrad @TaytoTot Aurelius of the Petra @Kaii Sarah Arenin of Hohkmat @Lord_of_losers General Invitations are extended to the entirety of the Heartlander Confederation. Warmly, Her Majesty, Queen-Emeritus Renilde Helena of the Petra, Courtesan of the Paradisian Court Lady Helene-Olympe Noelle of the Petra, Courtesan of the Paradisian Court