GMRO

MC Name: PrinceOfTheRhine RP Name: Thorgrim Ireheart Discord: GMRO#6495 Timezone (EST, GMT, etc.): GMT

THE RUTHERN MARRIAGE OF 352 In accordance with the betrothal arranged between TRH Count of Metterden, Maric II, and the Lady Anabela Vilac, the pair shall be wed in holy matrimony under the eyes of GOD as of 352 ES. The wedding is to occur in the Basilica of Saint Henrik, within the royal city of Karosgrad. Attendance is thus public to all of Hanseti-Ruska and its allies, with special invitations pertaining to the following outside of the families of both the bride and groom; His Royal Majesty, Josef I, King of Hanseti-Ruska Her Royal Majesty, Isabel of Valwyck, Queen consort of Hanseti-Ruska and all other members of the House of Barbanov, and those of His Majesty’s Aulic Council His Grace, Manfred Barclay, Duke of Reinmar Her Grace, Isabella Barclay, Duchess consort of Reinmar and all other members of the House of Barclay His Grace, Matyas Baruch, Duke of Valwyck Her Grace, Charlotte Baruch, Duchess consort of Valwyck and all other members of the House of Baruch The Most Honorable, Fiske Vanir, Margrave of Vasiland Her Royal Highness, Princess Juliya Vanir, Margravine consort of Vasiland and all other members of the House of Vanir The Right Honorable, Kazimar Ludovar, Count of Otistadt The Right Honorable, Anastasya Ludovar, Countess consort of Otistadt and all other members of the House of Ludovar The Most Honorable, Rickard Kortrevich, Viscount of Krusev The Most Honorable, Erika Kortrevich, Viscountess-Consort of Krusev and all other members of the House of Kortrevich Her Ladyship, Sosina Amador, Baroness of Monstadt and all other members of the House of Amador His Lordship, Stefan Vyronov, Baron of Astfield Her Ladyship, Adaline Vyronov, Baroness consort of Astfield and all other members of the House of Vyronov The Honorable, Lorenzo d’Amato The Honorable, Lizaveta Orlov and all other members of the House of d’Amato The Honorable, Charles d’Arkent, Governor of the Augustine Palace and any of his family and friends The Honorable, Anna Pruvia-Provins, Secretary to the Governor of the Augustine Palace and any of her family and friends

Boris var Ruthern made a sign of Lorraine upon hearing the news of the death of his friend and mentor. He'd mutter to himself as he glanced up to the skies above. "Ivan, spasiba for all vyr work. Vy were a strange man at times, and at other times a hard one. Vy had a good heart nevertheless, and always wanted others to not suffer the same horror that you did with Georg. I hope you two find peace once again as a family."

Maric var Ruthern beams a smile as he glances over the piece. "It is dobry to know our history so that it can niet come to pass again. This poetry is excellent!"

Maric var Ruthern cheers in elated joy upon hearing of the alliance, standing ready in his copper armour. "When we move to the iron age, this will be a truly strong alliance."

do not know me but i want to know i am

Boris var Ruthern nods approvingly of his friends essay. "I did niet know Alfred had such a mind for putting beauty into words!"

me

THE DUKE OF VIDAUS, MARSHAL OF HANSETI-RUSKA Or, A STUDY ON THE LIFE OF RHYS VAR RUTHERN BY MARIC L. RUTHERN & ALRIC S. RUTHERN, & IRENA C. RUTHERN OUTLINE I. Preface II. History III. Author’s Note I. PREFACE Amongst many of the historical figures that have shaped Haeseni history and culture stands Rhys var Ruthern, a patriot of his people and family; and a valiant lord marshal under King Sigmar I. He served in the restoration and ultimate growth of the Haeseni military through diligence and fraternity among soldiers in the early to mid 1600s, and brought his family into relevance after facing the brink of destruction. II. HISTORY Rhys Vladrick var Ruthern (15th of Malin’s Welcome, 1621 – 4th of Sun’s Smile, 1704) was the eldest son to the Count of Metterden, Vladrick Arik var Ruthern, and his wife the consort of Metterden, Margret Rykov. Following his birth were no other sons, but instead two sisters; Caterina and Tatiana vas Ruthern. Thus, as the only and eldest son of the family, and no female inheritage in the 1600s, Rhys was with no doubt the heir to his father's land and titles. Solemnity defined the very nature of his father, who remained cold and distant in Rhys’s childhood. It is believed that his father was abusive towards Rhys in his youth as well, and rarely else around other than when his anger had consumed his person. In spite of the lack of a paternal figure, his mother raised and cared for him and his sisters. The siblings –close in age– assisted in raising each other as well, to manage through what they lacked. His mother struggled to keep an eye on the three children oftentimes, which led to Rhys’s ability to venture about Alban in a curious manner. His mother would later encourage the inquisitive behavior, in hope for him to find friends throughout the Haeseni city. To her hope and his fortune, Rhys acquired a most dire acquaintance to his life at twelve, Rickard Kovachev; but it did not seem so in their beginnings. The first encounter spiralled into a fight with both of the boys claiming their victory. Although they managed a friendship thereafter, the two ultimately would harbor an instinctive competitive nature about one another whilst aiming to outdo the other in almost every aspect they could. Thus, Rhys pushed himself for a better education in Haeseni history and cultural values, including that of militaristic strategies and swordsmanship. His vigorous practicing consumed his childhood when not caring for his aging mother, or young sisters. In 1643, Rhys’s father was declared dead amidst the long voyage to the new continent of Atlas. Upon the news, it was clear that there was no sign of mourning for his father who had long since been casted out of his care and worry. Their relationship was severed from the years of alleged abuse and neglect. His death did, however, lead to Rhys becoming the eleventh Count of Metterden, and he too inherited the title Baron of Rostig. His father not only paid little heed to Rhys, but to the entirety of House Ruthern. The house was in shambles and considerably nearing extinction. The stress laid upon him was transformed into an utter attentiveness to rebuild his family and their name. As immediate as the voyage ended, Rhys tossed aside all ideals of a marriage by love and instead searched for a noble marriage befitting his house. He arranged a meeting for himself with the Lord Vanir, patriarch of the house, to seek out a marriage within such a family. The daughter of a house with much prestige and history –old in its name similar to that of House Ruthern– was that of Angelika of Vasiland, or Angelika Karolina Vanir, whom he married in 1645. The following two years proved well for the house as it began its gradual incline from the ashes the previous count had turmoiled it into. In 1646, the twins Aildred and Helena were bestowed unto him and his marriage was undoubtedly secured with Lady Angelika as a result thereof. The growing family only owned a small manor with little wealth or prestige in the royal city at the time, but it had been more than they had ever previously had in many years. Rhys would be bestowed a second son, Joren, to which he celebrated with much joviality at the birth of. It was at the same time he had another son, Dorian Barrow, to a woman of a name unknown. Rhys brought the child home upon its birth, much to the dismay of Angelika. Rarely were the two ever seen together thereafter his adultery. He joined the army upon his arrival into the new lands and –with gradual incline– reached the rank of sergeant by the mid 1650s. He and his wife kept a relative distance but Rhys would still have a third son nonetheless; Josef. Most prominently, Rhys served in the Czena Conflict against Renatus and the consistent ongoing raids to occur. The Czena Confederation collapsed after a series of defeats and the death of the Haeseni King, Otto III, as a plague swept across the land. His consort, Ingrid of Ulgaard, and heir Prince Otto-Josef, would too succumb to the Great Plague in the following months. Many were forced into exile from their homes as a measurement of safety from the plague, including the Ruthern family. Out of the grief and loss that the kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska endured, Rhys created a small colony in the countryside away from the plague-ridden and destroyed lands of Haense. He did so with many of his fellow soldiers, but most notably with that of a man named Wulffrey. The colony was short-lived in its existence as he wished to return to the royal city as soon as it was declared safe for the citizenry and nobility alike to return. Upon his arrival back into considerable normalcy and the city itself, Rhys swore loyalty to the late Otto III’s only remaining son, the new king Karl II in 1655. Rhys conducted himself in politics after his newfound enjoyment within it, along with the managing of other governmental activities he found a liking in after his brief running of a colony. His rise in the political atmosphere led to his dealing and signing of the Greyguard Pact with House Baruch to end a feud (which had begun long before Rhys’s own birth, when his grandfather –Lord Erik var Ruthern– attempted to kill Lord Marius Baruch). Two years consisted of peace for the kingdom until worries of a potential war against the Northern Atlas Alliance (NAA) sweeped over the public and into the governmental perspective at the beginning of 1657. Several months following the first outbreak of rumor, the United Southern Alliance (USA) was formed in preparation for war which was soon declared in the year. The Atlas Coalition War was an opportunity for Rhys to continue his rise in the military and governmental affairs as he served his country. He participated actively in the first major skirmishes at the start of the war, and the rest of the battles thereafter. By 1660, there had already been significant losses for the Haeseni people and their allies, but Rhys supported those who were persistent in the continuation of the war. In 1661, Rhys acquired land of his own on the frontier of Haense and right before the land reached that of the Kingdom of Renatus. The kingdom was still at war and the odds seemed ever against their favor. He built Helmholtz, but it was not a home of beauty and comfort. Due to its closeness to the Renatians and their relentless attacks upon the kingdom, Helmholtz (although it was their residence) was built more akin to that of a fortress. Considerably, the keep itself was remarked as ugly but highly useful for which it was needed. Additionally to its fortress-like appearance, the Black Company was formed in Helmholtz. To note, its first captain would be Godfric Black, a bastard of House Colborn. Haense, by the end of 1663, was left alone against the NAA as the Silver State of Haelun’or retreated from the war. Their other ally, the Kingdom of Norland, had its capital city sieged and sacked in the year prior during the Siege of Ruriksgrad. Rhys had been vocal of his disliking to those who left Haense to stand on its own against the NAA. He had seen and led many soldiers to their deaths throughout the course of the war, with the unfortunate repetitive defeats. However, the NAA never managed to cross the Czena River despite the Haeseni loss. The war came to a conclusion with the disbandment of the NAA, seeing the Southern nations no longer a threat and, with such, leaving Haense in defeat. The king had seldom been around for the people as he led the armies and other battles against those who wished to attack the Haeseni lands. His absence did not stop Rhys from attempting to pursue a marriage for his firstborn daughter, Helena, and King Karl II. Troubles continued within his family after his bastard, Dorian, would attempt to take Rhys’s life in 1665. Before the plot could be enacted, Rhys was told of the schemes and, in a swift and most brutal manner, executed Dorian by breaking each bone possible within the boy’s body with a hammer until his death. Once dead, the boy was hung as a symbol to those who opposed Rhys and any others involved in the plot. Negotiations went through to a courtship to see if his daughter was befitting to become queen, but all such talk was halted in 1666 with the death of Karl II. Rhys removed himself slightly from the politics as it all spiraled into a succession crisis. His family suffered significant losses with the death of his wife, Lady Angelika, upon the birth of his fourth trueborn son Uhtred. Uhtred would die not long after his birth, only surviving several days before his passing. The mourning period was short-lived as the Second Atlas Coalition War, or Staunton Uprising broke the nation into a state of war with the transfer of lands from the House of Burgundar to the House of Staunton under Tobias II. The Lord Palatine, Prince Franz Jakob, would become king at the end of the crisis. At his side and as his consort was Rhys’s sister, Tatiana of Metterden, who he had not seen since his early childhood. She had hardened severely and changed from the gentle sister he knew before; instead a consort greatly aware of her political influence as she had ultimately been the one to encourage Franz to take the throne. For the prestige of his family, seeing as his sister would become the Queen of Haense, Rhys held a support –along with many others in the military– for Franz’s claim. His other sister, Caterina, married into the royal house of Barbanov too with the marriage between her and Prince Robert Sigsimund. The marriage proved to be childless by the time of Franz’s execution as per order of the Renatian King, Aurelius I, after his capture amidst his coronation. He had only been king for a few months. While focused primarily on the military rather than the ongoing whirlwind of politics, Rhys –in 1668– led the Black Company into the Southern Frozen Wastes on a scouting mission after reports of strange activity. The issue of the Vaeyl on Atlas began as soon as traces of the White Vaeyl had been found in the wastelands. An uneasy alliance was thus formed, however, to help the White Vaeyl tackle the golems in Thandvar, to reclaim the land. Alongside the tasks regarding the Vaeyl, Rhys pursued a quest to retrieve the long-lost Ruthern Hammer upon hearing rumors of a shipwreck off of the coast of Atlas. He gathered a small party of Rutherns, members of the Black Company, and others who wished to join him. Months of journey led to the discovery of the wreck as it proved to not only be rumor. Their finding of the wreck was met with immediate danger as a kraken resided extremely near the wreckage, guarding its prized chattel. Several died –to no heed of Rhys or his ambitions to find the lost ancestral item– before the kraken would fall. It had been an exhaustive fight, but one the Count Metterden endured nonetheless. He traversed further into the ruining ship to find the long-lost hammer and swiftly returned it to his homeland at the start of the year 1669. The family name became that of rumor as it was said that Tatiana of Metterden and the newly-elected palatine, Karl of Rothswood, were having an affair as they –for a brief time period– held onto power while Haense dropped to another succession crisis. The crown fell into the exiled Prince Sigmar, who would return in 1669 and retain the throne fully in 1670. In the days after the official crowning of the new King Sigmar I, Rhys was promoted from Lieutenant to Lord Marshal of the entire army. With the elevation of Sigmar to kingship, Rhys remained a close ally and advisor to Sigmar as his uncle, gaining favorable support from the royal. Rhys’s sister, Caterina, was his mother and the wife of Robert Sigismund Bihar. Aildred Ruthern, Rhys’ son and heir, died of food poisoning in 1670 after the short-lived victory for Rhys and his new title of Lord Marshal of Hanseti-Ruska. Rhys isolated himself from his family upon the death of his son, and instead of caring for his children– focused on his newfound work ahead of him. As Lord Marshal, Rhys allowed for little error and even smaller tolerance for cliques to arise. It had been on several occasions that a few members of the army, led by an officer, were meeting on certain nights in the tavern. During training, Rhys had enacted a harsh and rigorous training to which the soldiers wished to be free and protect themselves of. Their once-union formulated into a scheme of treason against House Barbanov and insulting them continuously throughout the night. One soldier betrayed the group as an informant to Rhys, and every other soldier within was lashed while the leader was executed publicly. By the end of 1670, his second born daughter and bastard, Anneliese, was born. Many young of House Ruthern were left under the care of Rhys. He grew akin to his father in ignorance of their existence, on occasion showing his love that he did hear deep within his person. Of his grandchildren brought to his tutelage, the twins Elizaveta and Demetrius grew into his favor. The two were particularly close with the royal children of Sigmar I and his wife, Sophia of Castor. Both favored either of the most well-known of the royal offspring, Prince Robert and Princess Theodosiya. A notable relationship developed between both Robert and Elizaveta, and Demetrius and Theodosiya. It had thus been introduced to Rhys of the potentiality of his grandchild, Elizaveta, becoming the Queen consort to Robert, the crown prince. TThe Duchy of Vidaus was granted to Rhys in 1672 as a sign of gratitude and recognition of his relentless work in upbringing the Haeseni armies to where they now stood, with a strong foundation of fraternity and unity. The first iteration of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl, 1679, was formed under Rhys’ leadership as the Lord Marshal. He combined all the Haeseni forces into one unified army, after a many persuasive conversations with the Haeseni lords who still held levies of their own. He managed to do so, and any individual levies were merged with the centralized army. Considering in the year prior, 1678, King Sigmar swore himself and the kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska under the Kingdom of Renatus (later Empire of Man, under Aurelius I); yet, Rhys still was able to form a proper centralized army without imperial influence. Ever since the establishment of a centralized army, it has continued to be similar to such (but only under different names) as of 1793. The threat of the Vaeyl grew in prominence from its once quieted period of time. For many years nothing occurred from the Southern Wastelands that was of note to the army. Throughout 1680, unrest was seen in the once silent areas of the land. Scouting missions were enacted, and to no delay was the army traveling out for months to search the land in spite of Rhys’s son, Josef, dying. In 1681, King Sigmar I died of his fatal wounds after his return from a hunting trip. One of the largest coronations occurred as Robert I was crowned. He knew of his granddaughter’s interest in the new king, and swiftly urged her into the position of consort. All scouting missions and the like seized as the first engagement between the Brotherhood and the Vaeyl erupted at the Siege of Nekristadt. There had been minimal skirmishes and small battles, all which ultimately led to the siege. Imperial reinforcements came to aid, but with the forces of the Brotherhood combined rather than separated into individual levies, the soldiers drove back the Vaeyl Knights and their army. At the conclusion of the year, the aging Rhys stepped down as the Duke of Vidaus in place of his grandson, Demetrius. Such did not stop him from his duties as Lord Marshal, however, as he withheld the role and focused entirely there. All occurred within 1682, including the marriage of his granddaughter, Elizaveta of Vidaus, to Robert I. Rhys remained out of politics and slowed in his military tactics. The Brotherhood still remained unified over the next few years but faltered a hinge. Not until 1687 did Rhys rejoin the political atmosphere as the Party Leader of the Commons Civic Party (CCP) in the empire. He gained a slight more influence in 1688 as Demetrius was made Lord Palatine to King Robert I. However, the two regarded each other in a rather distanced relationship which would remain relatively the same throughout his tenure as palatine. It was during this time that his daughter, Lady Anneliese, was married to the Viscount of Grauspin, Sergei Stafyr. A year later Rhys served as the Imperial Parliamentary Prefect for Markev until 1694. Before his end as Prefect, Rhys led the combined forces of the Empire of Man against the Vaeyl, and their fortress of last hope. The Vaeyl suffered one of the greatest losses in the war with the loss of the fortress after a lengthy battle that was drawn out over the span of several days. The fortress was taken in the name of the empire, and the Vaeyl further retreated their cause. Around the end of the Vaeyl Wars, Rhys named his successor in leading the army to be Henrik Kovachev after his many years of service and fine leadership he performed. His final years were spent connecting once more with a family he cut off numerous ties with as he dove all his efforts into lordship and being Lord Marshal. He visited Elizaveta and her children, saw Demetrius and his wife Amalie of Antioch; and in 1702, attended the wedding of his great granddaughter, Aleksandra Ruthern, Baroness of Antioch, and her newlywed husband Prince Josef Barbanov. Together, the pair went on to form the House Alimar and be elevated to Grand Prince and Princess of Muldav in a joint leadership. Atlas was consumed by a blizzard, created by the Vaeyl, as an attempt to drive the descendants from the land. Markev was covered in snow for days on end, although the occurrence of the Crow’s Moot occurred before the Vaeyl could reclaim their lands and cause the settlers to leave. Rhys voted in favor of the marriage of Prince Marius and Lady Valera in a Barbanov-Carrion union at the Crow’s Moot of 1704, such a meeting which had not taken place for many years but was called to action by Ratibor, Duke of Adria. The people were forced to break through the ice wall in the far south and travel to a new land as the magically manipulated weather worsened. Rhys var Ruthern was lost during the chaos with his body never being found. It was presumed the Vaeyl killed him for his notoriety against them. He outlived all his children, dying at the age of eighty three. III. AUTHOR’S NOTE I thank my aunt, Lady Irena Ruthern, who has helped considerably in this work with her vast array of knowledge upon Haeseni history and taught me many lessons now on the subject matter. It is important for the nobility of Haense that we adapt to the changing times of a world without levies and a growing centralized state, similar to our ancestors who adapted when Haense faced successive threats to our way of life. This can only be done through learning and a willingness to find a new path, and too in finding the importance of unity amongst the people of Hanseti-Ruska.

someone would say they were alt’ing for you just to see you go down never trust a minecrafter

w h at a m I ?

Welcome to the server!

Discord: GMRO#6495Skin(s) and bid(s) (Label clearly with the skin name and list seperately if multiple): Hungarian Brown: 1.2k Musketman: 1k

Silence filled the mind of Boris Ruthern’s as the death of Bjornolf reached him while sharpening his at Metterden. A frown formed upon his face as a wave of gloom washed over him. He leaned the axe against the wall, putting a hand to his head in thought. The silence was soon replaced with the sound of memories coalescing of his effective mentor. Their first meeting of asking Bjornolf to be his squire. Being given the axe he now fought with as a gift by Bjornolf. Learning each method of swinging against a tree. The final time he saw Bjornolf who had welcomed into the tavern with such good spirits, before walking out to his final mission. The man who had inspired him to use an axe was gone. He picked up his own axe, slinging the weapon over his shoulder. “May he rest well and those who did this face retribution in kind.”

Application Fo rmat MC Name: GMRO IC Name: Brandon Age: 25 Race: Human Minor Backstory: A man without house nor home, Brandon has traveled aimlessly around looking for jobs. At first attempting to join the original school of the stag, he received no reply and so thought it to be dead. He then moved onto joining the Staunton guard, finding little friends or anything else of interest, he left, continuing to move about up until this point.

(Removed)

Application Format MC Name: GMRO IC Name: Brandon Age: 23 Race: Highlander Minor Backstory: A son to farmers, Brandon had thought to live a calm life tending to grain, however the local lord had chose the wrong side in a civil war, the Ducal coalition. By the end of the war, he had nothing left; his father's land burnt and salted, his father lay with it and his mother taken by some soldier looking for a prize. the After order was restored by the Crown, Brandon traveled to the capital, overcome with grief, he drank with the money he had left, trying to forget the faces of those he had once lived with. After running out of coin, he found himself homeless and in need of a job. He felt the need to help others, though also wanting to leave the life of having to be under the politics and fight in wars, he found this with the marked men.