Publius

“Swift was the troubadour Timeo de la Baltas, akin to a loosed bolt destined to be retrieved without its head...” Imperial vandals gaze upon Ves, anxious to loot it prior to its burning, c. 1711 Upon the often treacherous roads to Ves rode in a gallant yet winded youth, reporting more notable treachery in Helena. Recounting that all who attended to bring justice to the leader of raiders against Ves, one Prince Yury, were slain. Amongst those that assembled as this was declared was a local troubadour, who whence hearing they rode for Reza, so too then rode to Reza to defend his brothers in arms. Opium perhaps had a role to play in his failure to reason: Of this rider, one could infer that the Imperial host had probably made it just as far as he had, if not further towards Reza for the pause he gave the Adrian citizens. Whatever to blame on what had ensued though, Timeo was seized upon the fork in the road that lead between Haense and Adria, having stumbled into the back of Imperial lines. Halted by a d’Anpalais man, the exploits of the travelling musician had the undesirable affect in this instance to make him easily identifiable. Salivating at the opportunity to take the life of another prominent Vessian man, those who seen him were quick to level accusations and insults at him. Calamity broke out in the Imperial lines as they stopped their march and turned to consume another. ”Interbreeder! Rebel! Provocateur!” Already in a mood that lacked any inclinations towards mercy, it took only an idle accusation by a man near Antonius to demand the execution – Ser Vitus cut through the crowd and through Timeo’s neck as he offered one last verse. It went unsung, though. Confidently he went, dying in a futile attempt to reinforce Reza. Finding his final rest with assurance that His Majesty and Grace Marius, the most powerful man in the Empire, would be indomitable in protecting their peoples, and seeking retribution for the slaughter of his subjects at court. Alas, there was mercy in having been slain trying to protect Haense, for irony of Marius’ betrayal would surely cause him to die of heartbreak – or in one of the slaughters he allowed of his people to appease the Emperor. His Majesty Marius, having allowed Imperials to slay whatever subjects necessary in the streets of Reza, then immediately gave his blessing for the razing of all Adrian lands. For this cowardice, treachery and compliance, he would forever be known to Heartlanders as Marius ‘the Meek’. Wherever his spirit may have gone, its gaze would never drift Adria – avoiding the grief it would cause to his eternal rest.

As news of this spreads, Timeo’s corpse continues still to rot in the crux of the road between both Reza and Ves.

Timeo de la Baltas receives this missive in good spirits, then sending in return a minstrel courier to announce he would attend!

Timeo de la Baltas notes the centralization and qualitative reforms of the Haense military as Adria’s own growing, considering writing a missive on the subject!

community team has lowered its standards in a bid to appeal more directly to the players as they try getting them involved with their rp communities – someone gonna prove me wrong?

Eagerly noting the goal, Timeo sends word Haense-way of his interest.

Becoming a bookworm after marrying, Timeo de la Baltas could not help but note that oversized garments were unwieldy in the warmth of the Heartlands. He saught the master of thermal tailoring, Josef Alimar. Along came this letter by way of a Vessian courier, trained by the bard himself in songs of Haense to plead for a payment plan or negotiation in song! Of him, he plead this: ”Oh so you who toil to live on a fine art, Would seek then not to remain apart, In needing these minae so quickly?” [I will PM you, have an idea of an event with this and a serious order to put some detail into friendo]

Timeo de la Baltas is implored to refuse his scheduled visit to Helena after this issue, hearing that even the citizens are suspect in these issues. Consulting his manager, he would be warned of innumerable concerns about safety and pay – what simpletons!

Timeo, though disturbed by the missive, remains thankful for at least a response. Rubbing his neck, he would worry for his future.

[!] Now whence one steps into taverns across the Empire, they may hear new tunes played about the Haensetian folk penned by Timeo de la Baltas. One who would catch these in writing would find each published in thanks and memory of the late King Robert. [!] Drunken Haensetian tavern goers sing quickly along to a fiddler’s tune! Crowsmoot of 1701 Bloodlines running akin to veins into the heart of Barbanov Majesty, Beating proudly throughout the body comprised of all Carriondom’s feudal limbs, Beautiful is the sight that Ludovar’s present smile upon, Bellicose become Kovachev’s towards pains in the neck of these fair house heads, Bold Vladovic backing brethren in all martial matters, But from Markev now flows Brethren back to Belvitz, Beseeching fate bring misfortune to the brash Curon Bear! Emotional Haensetian patriots sing along to something far more forlorn. Robert’s Destination Sojourning as folks hear the reigns hit the wood, Asunder came the fortunate passengers from their seats, Beholding fair Robert only days after their most perilous journey. Sights like such bring a tear to each eye, From the left it draws one that will be lent for mourning, Of the right one is pumped from the heart in joy and pride. Peaceful looks a man when he takes reclines one last time, Without arduous duties giving to crease one’s face in duress, Or it was simply the nature of the man to bring peace when beheld. Should the heights he raise his Kingdom to be any example, To young Marius many may look now and see a Titan take the throne, Reaping now a golden age that ‘Regal’ Robert had sewn.

[!] Across the lands of the Empire of Man, one may find a minstrel or missive bearing what happens to be an open address to Emperor Antonius. Penned by Timeo de la Baltas, one may hear the following in a singsong voice or read comfortably on a quiet night. [!] A dull looking Illatian hurdy-gurdy player you may have heard this from! On Adrian Apprehension Lo to your Holy Imperial Majesty and your court, Forever and a day it seems since a fruitful discussion has been drawn from my compatriots on any matter of Imperial Administration. Currently I reside amongst many people becoming disaffected here in Ves, people I struggle to assuage with on the concerns of recent developments most heinous. Of my countrymen, many are impatient and distrustful of the Imperial intentions and dealings. Recently, we observed a man who, by your own father was stripped dishonourably of his Knighthood and hand, be made the Grand Knight of our Empire. Curious one may be about this choice, but of an Adrian, curiosity is replaced by paranoia and accompanied by outrage, as he had his banishment for drawing against our own Duke overturned to assure him this position. Whilst I try to assure the people this is not a conspiracy, Duke Paul has informed me that he had neither been notified, or consented to this sentence being overturned. Whence news broke that Adria would be the only major vassal with an unrecognized Knighthood order, many forsook the institution as a sham and your decision as, if not egregiously ignorant and arbitrary, a plain provocation. Furthermore, the issue which we have raised several times now - that of no Adrians being recognized as nobles aside from our Duke - has now cultivated not a culture of content peasants, but freemen and merchants that feel less and less obligated to adhere or participate in any Imperial bureaucracy. This is further exacerbated by our lack of representation in parliament, which I pleaded with you at a feast to amend; our best educated and most acclaimed citizens are not vassals, and see no opportunity in serving anything but our own city and business’ therein. Disinterested and perhaps hungry, you deferred us to your Archchancellor at the time, Count Edward Morris. Accepting this I went to him, only to be deferred back to you, and then to a man who conjures perhaps the same amount of paranoia within Adria as Ser Darius Ault’s ascension; Wilhelm Devereux. Of Edward, one could at least note great manners and a genuine diplomatic interest. Such an erudite fellow he is that he would even bring spare paper, pens, and servants to cater to occasions where declarations or affirmations needed drawn - but in Wilhelm Devereux, we have a man who has antagonized us on Arcas. Sending his son to scour our city and shame us during our time of need, we do not trust that this man has let rest the issues that had arisen with the late Ratibor’s Gentleman’s War. Worse yet was his warmongering, as he tried to claim with great insistence that amongst us were Reivers and rebels, whence on my own wedding day I had to drive them from my celebratory feast. On this whole fiasco, why could you not simply heed our requests, why did you not even allow those you referred us to the power to even give us the representation we sought? Upon many of these issues I wished to touch at my wedding, but you seemed to ignore the date I had sent upon my invitation over a year ago. Amongst Adrians it was well attended, which was unfortunate, as we then seen little to no representation then in court. It is not that I am bitter about this, but it makes necessary now that I address you in such a manner sooner than later, as we Adrians yearn to understand if you are being counseled to aggress and disdain us, or if these had been simple and honest misunderstandings. Thankfully, your brother Romulus has assured us there is no evil’s planned against Adria within the palace halls, but also reports no longer being privy himself. Of me this makes a worried man; Adria has not one man that is privy, nor know of a man in privy they can rely on to represent us fairly. Open conversation swirls even around our palace about how Adrian enemies are being promoted so that our interests might be more easily trounced. Insecurity grows now as uncertainty rules every aspect of our relationship with the Empire. Once upon a time, the Lord of Love’s patient musings and optimistic interpretations were not just welcome, but widely held as the most reasonable interpretation of the issues of the day. Often now, I am dismissed as being ignorant to the truth, so from you I seek an honest address so I may see if they were right. With current Curonian aggression against Haensetian lands, undoubtedly, you may have other pressing concerns. Of this all, I humbly beseech your assurance that I am not committed to a fool’s errand as I plead you finally address Adrian apprehension and marginalization. Signed, His Excellency the Lord Chamberlain of Adria, Camerlengo of Hibou Plongeant Theatre, Lord of Love, Majordomo of Auvergne and Count-Consort of Aldenburg, Timeo de la Baltas. His Eminence the Lord Chancellor of Adria, Bishop of Villavia, Lecturer of Art History and Ancient Orenian Philosophy at the Basarabian Institute for Philosophical and Liberal Arts, Keeper of the Duma Dice, Boris Olgierd Gilbert Dario Alexandre Numirya Carrion. Ba Ma PhD. His Excellency the Seneschal of Adria, Alfred of Ves. Lord Marshal Khroll of Nottingham and Ves Court Archivist and Scrivener of Adria, Johann Strauss. Lord d’Montelliano and first Mayor of Ves, Demetrio Cicero d’Montelliano y Kavietsby Painter and Court Dandy, Jaspar LeMon (xoxo)

Timeo de la Baltas would be far less welcome to this news than he was of Darius’ ascension to the helm of Knighthood in all the realm; for in this, the Adrian Order of St. Catherines Garter was not even given permission to exist. Feeling the honour of all of Adria was at stake, he would move to have the Duke denounce these disrespects. “They spit on our faces!” Raged the newly wed man, “I shall salivate for days, drain my sinus’ into my mouth, and return fire for this outrage!”

Timeo de la Baltas is disheartened to hear that the order is now headed by a man stripped of his Knighthood for dishonour, fresh from a banishment that was unrelated. Over this, he pondered on the old tales of Chivalry that young Auvergne men were raised listening to...

Whence Timeo de la Baltas hears of this, he did not simply mourn. Recalling a poem he wrote during the Crow’s Moot, he would smile fondly upon the days of unity within Carriondom. Though of course the Carrion’s gave beginnings to each line, he had always thought of the Barbanov’s as simply the most majestic – both in stature and in title. Thinking long on it, he decided to find said old poem, hopeful to perform it in Reza, as to not just to simply recall the King, but celebrate him. ”May he be remembered as Robert ‘the Regal’.” Said the man with dignity to friend’s who asked what he thought on the development.

Timeo de la Baltas would return to his town after the fray, blood fleshly staining the bricks in the square. As any good Auvergne man would, he coped with the situation by getting a drink at the tavern which had luckily been spared!