Andustar

Albéric sighed as he heard the news of the Vuiller's passing, murmuring a prayer within the chapel that evening. "Farewell, Father Ledicort. May you find deserved respite within the Seven Skies."

"There are some wounds that time does not mend. Some things that are best left unsaid..." Albéric mused as he heard of Vesta's departure. The one-armed hedge knight sat in the undergrowth, adding more wood to his campfire. "Farewell, Vesta of Vilachia. I hope you find the peace you long sought in distant lands."

THE AFFLICTION OF ACRE Circa. 14th of Malin’s Welcome, 1923. FOREWORD Citizens of the heartlands, nobles and commoners alike. I write to you bearing a warning of rising darkness in the East, within the borders of the former Barony of Acre. It is a disease that has been allowed to fester amidst the political intrigues and war, seeded by a common enemy that seeks to render all of us low, no matter what nation or creed we align ourselves with. A few months ago, a group of like-minded companions from Barrowton and I received whispers of strange developments in Acre, to which we responded by venturing there ourselves. We found the land repopulated with refugees from Adria, intent on escaping the violence of the most recent civil war. Yet, the village had been devastated by a recent murder, and our company soon discovered evidence of a conspiracy. THE AFFLICTION One amongst the villagers was a contact of the Mori’quessir and had taken to fostering a monstrous arachnid with a sinister goal in mind. The monster in question seemed to be the mother of a much greater brood, producing spiderlings that seemed capable of infesting the village near enough in its entirety, right under the noses of its dwellers. But still, it was worse than that, for these spiderlings could also infest the bodies of the recently deceased and wear their skins like camouflage. We believe the afflicted initially found their bodies infiltrated by the parasites whilst asleep or otherwise distracted. They then proceeded to kill their host by consuming and hollowing out the insides, including the muscles, bones and vital organs. However, this did not appear to significantly alter the afflicted’s mannerisms, for they seemed to continue with their everyday activities, implying that the swarm within could emulate, to some degree, the behaviours of the one whose identity they have assumed. Examples ranged from an elderly wood miller to a six-year-old child. Additionally, the lack of internals did not appear to hamper the afflicted, with the swarm within seemingly capable of replicating the functions of both bone and muscle. Any signs of necrosis were also absent, indicating that the swarm can preserve their shell for a lengthy period of time. Yet, the facade was not flawless. Friends and family of the afflicted noted a tendency towards anti-social behaviour and reclusiveness. Furthermore, once they became aware of us getting closer to the truth, the afflicted became feral and resorted to violent attacks upon all the unaffected in their immediate surroundings, whether they were strangers or family. The writings we uncovered of the Mori’quessir associate also suggested that the afflicted were compelled to spread the parasites to new hosts, thus multiplying their numbers. However, given how quickly the condition spread throughout the village, we can assume it is a rapid process and have reason to believe the intention is to soon spread beyond the borders of Acre to the rest of the heartlands. RECOMMENDATIONS The afflicted are difficult at first glance to distinguish from their otherwise healthy counterparts, which brings me to my recommendations and probable methods for countering them. Due to being comprised of skin and little else, they are highly susceptible to damage, with breaches to the skin barrier appearing to compromise their functionality. With this in mind, a medical examination of one suspected to carry the parasites, similar to that carried out upon suspected darkspawn and vampires, may prove a successful method of revealing them. However, such an act may ultimately trigger a hostile reaction. The best method we have found to combat these monsters is fire. Setting them alight will destroy the skin barrier and thus the cohesiveness of the parasites. Grievous injuries inflicted by cutting weapons may also prove effective in compromising their ability to manoeuvre. To prevent the spread of the afflicted from beyond Acre, and in order to prevent the development of further Mori’quessir incursions in the East, I call upon all nations to establish an effective quarantine of the land and monitor the activity within its borders. This is not a time in which we, the denizens of Almaris, can afford to stand divided. We must put aside our petty differences to combat the greater evil that threatens us all, as we have many times before, or risk annihilation and all we have built falling to ruin. SIGNED, Albéric du Lac

The Knight-Errant received the news of Laetitia's parting with a heavy heart. Having known her since the earliest days of his adolescence, Albéric remembered the woman as a kind and selfless figure, always keen to make people happy. She would be terribly missed... "Farewell, dear friend. Give my regards to my father and may peace be with you."

How are you doing today?

Awesome work as always, Sander!

Albéric du Lac smiled as word of his commission's completion reached his ears. "I look forward to seeing Garedyn's work firsthand!"

Albéric's heart was heavy with grief as he received the news of the King's passing. "May your find peace in the Seven Skies, uncle. Give my regards to my father."

Albéric du Lac acknowledged the High Pontiff's death with a solemn prayer at the roadside, knelt before a saintly shrine. "May you find safe passage unto the Seven Skies, Your Holliness."

"As if there was any doubt. One can hope the witless wyrms will be put to the sword in due course," stated Albéric du Lac upon reading the missive.

"Another betrayal, orchestrated by my aunt no less..." Albéric du Lac lamented as he read the missive, hand trembling with restrained anger. "Worse still, Charlotte sought to indulge in kinslaying. Why must my family continue to disgrace themselves?!"

Albéric du Lac read the missive with intrigue. "At last, the wider realm acknowledges the threat. Best they know the whole truth of what to expect..." He saddled his steed, preparing for the ride to Karosgrad.

Albert of the Lake. A young knight-errant making his way across the continent.

Please answer this question. Had these screenshots been available at the time you were discussing Charlemagne's appeal, would he have still been unbanned, or would you have prioritised the safety of this community? Frankly, I believe the lifting of his ban was a woeful mistake that sets a terrible precedent. It almost feels like the administration is hesitant to re-ban him due to not wanting to appear indecisive.

Albert Salvian, the eldest son of the Petra - now Knight of the Realm, pondered long and hard on what could have been had reason prevailed. The memories flooded back. One day he had taken himself to his parents' study, glossing over a book detailing the expressive works of heartland poets. The next thing he knew, the palace had erupted with wrathful cries as numerous soldiers took up arms. Soon after, he was brought before his father, Constanz, whose gaze fell upon his son with what could only be described as doubt. “How can you be sure that the boy is yours…?” A faceless advisor muttered in a less than discrete voice. Anxious amongst the crowd and beset with a stammer, the eldest son could only look on as events fell out of his control. The stability Albert so desperately craved he found in caring for his younger siblings, the crisis demanding he stepped up for their sake, even if that meant taking a beating from a duo of opportunistic bandits. The boy also took it upon himself to write a public missive, desperate to prove that he was indeed his father’s son and in opposition to his mother’s contracting of foreign mercenaries. A year of war dragged on and the boy’s innocence crumbled. Good men and women died upon the fields of Moere, and soon he bore witness to the death of Constanz himself, slain in single combat by the Haeseni Prince. All while his mother looked on, cheering as her new lover’s blade pierced the Duke’s heart. The sight had scarred itself into Albert’s memory. Now another civil war plagued the heartlands, the fires of ambition consuming the lives of the innocent. “Has the world not had its fill of chaos?” The young knight asked aloud. Yet, there was no answer, only silence.

"Quite the mess you've gotten yourself into, cousin..." Albert stated, frowning as he read the missive. "Still - 'stoned to death'...? That sounds rather excessive."

Albert Salvian was perturbed, for the beast he had bore witness to all those years ago had at last freed itself from its bonds. "Such a terror cannot be allowed to roam free across the realm. I will ride to Amaethea; they shall have my sword and lance in these trying times."

Albert Salvian looked proudly upon his younger brother's project. "You never fail to impress me, Arnaud. I look forward to the release of more decks in the future."

Albert Salvian smiled in witnessing the council's most recent work. "A wide variety of professions for prospective settlers. Let's hope people take full advantage of these opportunities!"

The activity system is an RP strangler that kills communities. Recently my own group was faced with the dilemma of either vassalise under a nation or be essentially made a non-entity going into the next map. We climbed out of a civil war with a decently sized playerbase and unique culture, bearing every intention of rebuilding. Yet, we were informed that due to the nature of activity checks and so forth we would be unable to acquire land come the transition. With that knowledge on hand, many people ultimately went on hiatus, disheartened that they could not rebuild independently without the administration breathing down their necks. To me it looks like instead of wanting to promote a unique and enjoyable experience the administration are more concerned with a numbers game, propping up only the largest nations to encourage player retention via RP quantity. But there is a problem with this model in that inevitably people seek to branch out and develop their own projects of quality, often times starting off small in their efforts. As we have already established they are punished for this ingenuity. How can you expect a flower to bloom if it is immediately trampled the moment it sprouts from the soil?

A grin of excitment took shape upon Albert's face, the young squire at work ensuring that his equipment was in good condition for the tourney.

A NEW BEGINNING Circa. 14th Malin's Welcome, 1912. To the people of Corbenic, Since the death of our late Archduke Constanz, there has been much confusion in regards to our future as a people, exiled to the wilderness from a country we once held so dear. All of us, young and old, have endured trials and tribulations that many of us thought were consigned to the histories. Much was lost, and so we have been forced to wander for years as refugees and vagrants in foreign lands. But alas, with every ending comes a new beginning. In Corbenic we stand, and though there is still much for us to do, we now possess a foothold in which we can rebuild. Our reformed Council and the newly formed Committee of Representatives shall work tirelessly to ensure that this opportunity does not go to waste. To ensure that our cherished traditions of chivalry persevere and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Council of Corbenic Reformed from the Commonwealth’s apparatus and composed of members of the former government, the Round Table shall henceforth operate as the Council of Corbenic. The council members sit as equals from one to another, with no one having more say than the next. As of now, the specific purview in which these council members operate shall be subject to change in the foreseeable future. Her Ladyship, Evangeline Daphne de Rosius-Malenos @PrettyCuteAnna Her Ladyship, Clementine Amadea Huntshill Green @Blah_26 His Lordship, Sir Gregory ‘Wings’ von Hahn @MikhaiI Her Ladyship, Aviana von Hahn @AnonymousAlexa His Lordship, Artiev Colborn @Sander Advisors to Corbenic: His Lordship, Sir Louis Valencour d’Azor @Da_Emperors Committee of Representatives The lower governing body of Corbenic is the Committee of Representatives. Established in wake of the Petran exodus, the Committee is composed of individuals drawn from the common populace, recognised for their leadership qualities and ability to raise morale in periods of strife. In addition to organising seasonal festivities and cultural gatherings, the Representatives act as liaisons between the everyday citizens of Corbenic and the Council, presenting proposals on domestic policy and the wishes of the populace. Her Ladyship, Eryane Rhodon de Rosius @EmiliainWonderland Her Ladyship, Laetitia “Lottie” Henrietta Rhodon de Rosius et Abbassia @Majesticpasta His Lordship, Sir Darryl Burnham @ChaoticRoller SIGNED, The Council of Corbenic The Committee of Representatives