garentoft

"Yes."

Full Name of Man - Dracomir Rorikov Date of Birth of Man - 1808 Name of Woman - Eliana Decaden Date of Birth of Woman - 1806 Location of Ceremony - Basilica of St. Henrik, Karosgrad, Haense. Date of Ceremony (Year) - 1851 Name of Clergyman who performed ceremony - Father Ratibor

[!] The Lord Palatine sends in a letter to the Crossroads Tavern and Inn's owner. It bore the seal of House Baruch. "Hello, dear Crossroads Tavern and Inn, I have been meaning to visit your tavern and inn for a long time. I see that you have invited my King, Sigismund III, for a free dinner, and as his Lord Palatine, I would like to enquire whether I would be allowed the same courtesy? Eirik Baruch."

THE CHANCELLOR’S REPORT: ‘The Eve of War’ BAR MAAN OVARE SYR Issued by the LORD PALATINE On this 11th of Gronna and Droba, 404 E.S. VA BIRODEO HERZENAV E EDLEVRIK, INTRODUCTION As a boy, groomed for my inevitable position as Duke of Valwyck, I came to read the Chancellor’s Reports of my successors of yore, those written by the hand of Robert Sigismund, Georg Stanimar, and Terrence May. In many ways, they were a means for announcements, proclaiming different happenings of the Kingdom, appointments to positions, declarations, and the like. But I have never been much of a warrior, and perhaps not even much of a statesman, but I am a thinker, someone who yearns to reflect. That is what I intend to do with my own Chancellor’s Reports, they shall stretch beyond the realm of mere announcements, but delve into reflections upon matters at hand. My very own thoughts, which I dedicate to you, the Haeseni people. THE EVE OF WAR We stand in an uncommon situation. My father did not stand in this situation, nor did my grandfather, and I presume the same applies to many of you. You must indeed go all the way back to my great-great-grandfather, Duke Sigmar, to find my nearest ancestor who stood in this situation. We are at war. The Holy Orenian Empire, under their excommunicated Emperor, Philip Amadeus, has declared war upon our allies, the Grand Kingdom of Urguan. We act defensively to protect our allies, not even so, we heed the call of our High Pontiff, Everard VI. His Holiness did proclaim in his Poenitentia Incompleta that: “[it is considered] the duty of every Canonist to see you removed.” Not only have our allies been aggressed upon by the Emperor, but it is also our duty as the Fidei Defensor to head the call of the High Pontiff. We were left with no choice but to act. It has been one hundred and thirty-six years since the last time the world was embroiled in a conflict of this scale, when our forefathers rose their swords upon the Nenzing Proclamation, riding south in the hopes to see their people returned to justice under Emperor Joseph I. The War of the Two Emperors was a long and devastating conflict that saw our Kingdom once more subjugated by the Pertinaxi Emperors, the blood of which still courses through the veins of their current Emperors. We stood defeated in the War of the Two Emperors, but that was our last defeat. Over the last century, our country has grown, we have become independent, we have expanded our foreign diplomacy, our army is feared amongst the Nations, and our population is greater than ever before. We are not the Kingdom that lost the War of the Two Emperors, through the reigns of Josef, Henrik II, and now Sigismund III, we are a Kingdom reborn. I have read much throughout my life, and one piece that I recall fondly is the Reflections of State (or; Some Fruits of Solitude), the reflections of Emperor Joseph II. He proclaimed that the Age of Heroes be long gone, and that the Age of Men, but I beg to differ. I do not see the difference between the two ages, the Footman of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl, the merchant that travels Karosgrad, and the farmer of Lollybroch, they are not just men, but heroes in their own right. He, who protects the innocent, is a hero. He, who contributes to the growth of the Kingdom’s welfare, is a hero. He, who toils the fields to feed his family, is a hero. We must not forget that the opposing side has the same heroes as ours, and that they are not the enemy. Then you may wonder, who is the enemy? The enemy is the men who spewed rhetoric threatening the independence of our Kingdom, rhetoric of united humanity. The enemy is the men who plotted to depose High Pontiff Everard VI. The enemy is the men that conspired to murder the Duke of Adria, Philip Aurelian. It reminds me of another quote from Joseph II’s dictates: “Let you take heed, John Charles, that an Emperor is the sum of the men which he surrounds himself with.” KRUSAE ZWY KONGZEM. THE HAURUL CAEZK REFORMED Yet, we must not let the war at hand distract us from our internal prosperity, or from achieving the fruits of our labour. In truth, I think there is not a more fitting time for this to come, as we march south to defend our Kingdom from Orenian aggression. My grandfather, the former High Justiciar, Duke Matyas, had described the Haurul Caezk as: “The last great bastion of the Orenian Empire within our country. It is wholly Orenian, written by those who worked within Oren, and written by the Orenian mind. It must be done away with it, that shall be the ultimate declaration of Haeseni Independence.” But by the initiative of King Sigismund III, the Haurul Caezk came to be reviewed, and my predecessor allowed me to begin overseeing a Committee for the Review of the Haurul Caezk, under which we began the long task of reforming and reviewing every part of the Haurul Caezk, until we have come to this, our final revision of the Haurul Caezk, a rebirth for the Haeseni Legal System. With these new reforms, it is my hope that we shall bring new life to law within Haense. We are no longer burdened by the Orenian mentality that plagued our old law system, and can now move forward in building our new law with the spirit of Lady Haense guiding us forward. Let every man and woman do their part, as we grant ourselves a rejuvenated spirit of law. ZVAS ASERETEM UDERZK NAUCAEZK HALVIN VE JURA I HAENZ. CZAK DONA EAM, HERZENAS HAENZ His Excellency, Eirik Baruch, Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke of Valwyck, Count of Ayr, Viscount of Voron, Baron of Gant, Baron of Laval, Baron of Riveryn

"Big fan of the Daelish lot!" remarked the Lord Palatine!

"Please stop staring at me." remarked Eirik Baruch, "It's really unsettling and creepy."

Eirik Baruch, Lord Palatine of Haense, sends a letter to welcome the returning Barclays. He also thinks about his recent fond memories of Jurgen.

BARD BATTLE 404 TUVMAS TUNES JINGLE JAM A forty-some year old depiction of the first Bard Battle of Karosgrad. To those of the Kongzem with the nastiest rhymes and jolliest cheer, It has been forty-seven years since Koenas Isabel of Valwyck hosted the first Bard Battle in Karosgrad, a tradition previously started by Koenas Viktoria of Metterden in New Reza. Nevertheless, it is about time that this tradition be properly revived within our Kongzen, so that those of immense wit and lyrical skill may show their prowess upon the big stage once again. But, of course, the spirit of St. Tuvya flies high in our Kongzem during these Tuvmas times, and one cannot expect us to arrange such an affair as the Bard Battle without it’s fair sprinkle of Tuvmas cheer to decorate it like a muffin from mother’s oven. And so one must not only outwit their opponent with their rhymes and bars, no, they must also out holly jolly cheer their opponent! Two opponents shall face each other, but only one shall progress into the next round. How is a victor decided? Simple, majority vote by spectators! The democratic traditions of our country run thick through all our institutions, even Bard Battle! You needn’t participate under your own name, if you’re scared of getting destroyed by an opponent, simply use a stage name, and no one can laugh at you! (Unless they figure out who you are). Come one, come all, to the Old Stout Crow Pub, and participate in the Bard Battle 404: Tuvmas Tunes: Jingle Jam. [OOC:] TODAY. 15/12-21 4 PM EST / 9 PM GMT BE THERE. Czak dona eam, Herzenas Haenz, His Grace, Eirik Baruch, Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke of Valwyck, Count of Ayr, Viscount of Voron, Baron of Gant, Laval, and Riverryn. Her Royal Majesty, Emma Karenina, Queen-Consort of Hanseti-Ruska.

PALATIAL ADDRESS ON JOVENAAR AMADOR AND LUDOVAR Issued this 11th of Gronna and Droba, 403 E.S. By Lord Palatine Eirik Baruch VA BIRODEO HERZEAN AG EDLERVIK, The Royal Duma recently debated on a letter sent in by the Baron of Otistadt, seeking to address the actions of Jovenaar Isaak Amador, in which he sat in on the Royal Duma, despite provisions in the current iteration of the Haurul Caezk that prevent Jovenaar from doing so. In his defense, Jovenaar Amador laid to ground that the ongoing reforms to the Haurul Caezk holds no provision that bars him doing so. Furthermore, he justified this point by the virtue of the fact that Jovenaar Johann Ludovar had recently cast a judgement upon a criminal using the provisions outlined in the reformed Criminal Law of the Haurul Caezk. However, the Crown must reaffirm that until a bill has been passed by the Royal Duma and been assented and published by the Crown, they are not in effect. While all of the reforms to the Haurul Caezk have been passed through the Royal Duma, they have yet to be assented to and published by the Crown, and therefore are not in effect, with the current iteration of the Haurul Caezk still wholly applicable. Yet, the Crown sees fit to not address the issue any further publicly, and shall address it appropriately with the Jovenaar in question. Furthermore, the Crown sees fit to announce that it shall soon assent to and publish the full reforms to the Haurul Caezk within the year. Czak dona eam, Herzenas Haenz, His Grace, Eirik Baruch, Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke of Valwyck, Count of Ayr, Viscount of Voron, Baron of Gant, Laval, and Riverryn.

The Duke of Valwyck laughs at Leopold's embarassingly little skill when it comes to genealogy tracking, and notes that the geneaology services of the Society of Family Echo always find the shortest, not the most direct link between two people. And that if Leopold had spent more than two seconds of his time researching such, would simply have been able to click on all the Baruch patriarchs until he naturally reached St. Otto the Bald, and that all relation to St. Otto from the Alstreims would be through the females married in! Alas, he laments that these hobbyist geneaologists claim themselves to be legitimate, when they in fact simply do it for the sake of "a little trolling", as the youth called it.

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM LICHTESTADT THE BIRTH OF THE TWINS OF VALWYCK A depiction of the twins, under the watch of their mother and their older sister, by Ayrian artist Alex Ferguson, circa 403 E.S. TO THE PEOPLE OF VALWYCK AND OF HANSETI-RUSKA, Earlier this month, as the sixth lap of the Valwyck Sledding Grand Prix commenced, HRH The Duchess of Karlsburg had to depart the premises of the race. The Duchess of Valwyck, who had reached the ninth month of her ongoing pregnancy, had gone into labour, and delivered with the aid of the Ducal Court Physician, Oighrig McLaren (daughter of Snail- and Sledracer, Bruce McLaren), two twin girls. Thus is announced the birth of the twin girls of Valwyck, the elder, Saoirse Aila Baruch, and the younger, Margrait Floireans Baruch, born upon the 11th of Tov and Yermey, 403 E.S. Both children are noted to be healthy, and carry identical looks, both carrying their mother’s black hair and their father’s blue eyes. The Duke and Duchess are overjoyed to announce this news to the Kingdom, and intend to hold a baptism of the children, alongside their older sister. Furthermore, it is announced that the Valwyck Sled Grand Prix was won by Sigmar Mondblune, the Baron of Richtenburg. Sunny and Father Erhard Barclay finished second and third respectively. Czak dona eam, Herzenas Haenz, His Grace, Eirik Baruch, Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke of Valwyck, Count of Ayr, Viscount of Voron, Baron of Gant, Laval, and Riverryn. Her Royal Highness, Prinzenas Anastasya Isabel, Duchess-Consort of Valwyck, Duchess of Karlsburg, and Baroness of Antioch.

Eirik penned a letter to Anya, having recently heard of the successful birth of her children. "Dear Anya, I hope you are well, I know becoming a mother can be a troublesome ordeal, my own mother struggled much with the concept, perhaps moreso than the birth itself. I wished to congratulate you on the birth of your twin girls, what are their names? I have not yet been told, but I'll make an effort, perhaps you can tell me yourself. Perhaps they could be friends with Isabel? I've another on the way, too, I am sure they could all be friends. Sorry, tangent. I just wished to congratulate you and say that I would visit soon. Signed, Eirik."

[!] A letter is sent post-haste to the Landgrave of Alstreim, being the seal of the Duke of Valwyck. @LithiumSedai "To the Landgrave of Alstreim, Ulrich Lothar, While it surprises me much that I have to write this letter to you, I must first start by commending the initiative of a revival of Waldenian brotherhood. We, as people, have for long been divided, not only amongst ourselves, but among the many nations of the world, such is shown by the locations of those electors you've thus far invited, half of Haense, and half of Savoy. Though, it does pain me to point out that you have missed one, my own name. After all, myself and every other Baruch to ever have existed, are the descendants of St. Otto of Vanderfell, it is he that the line of Baruch is derived from. And while times may have changed and we've adapted ourselves to the people which we rule over, that changes not the blood that runs through my veins, and I would not write to you unless I was keenly interested in the betterment of the Waldenian people in the modern day, to which I wish to extend my full aid. It would please me to receive and accept your invitation to the Waldenfest of 1850." Signed, Eirik Baruch, Duke of Valwyck, Count of Ayr, Viscount of Voron, Baron of Gant, Laval, and Riveryn."

"Thoroughly deserved," mused the Lord Palatine, happy to see the Duchy of Reinmar returned to the House of Barclay.

Full Name of Man - Castiel Bishop Date of Birth of Man - 1821 Name of Woman - Locke Aylir-Hawksong Evocress Date of Birth of Woman - 1824 Location of Ceremony - Basilica of St. Henrik, Karosgrad, Haense. Date of Ceremony (Year) - 1850 Name of Clergyman who performed ceremony - Father Ratibor

PALATIAL LETTER SEEKING WARDS Issued this 10th of Joma and Umund, 402 E.S. By Lord Palatine Eirik Baruch To the youth of Haense, or those with children for which they have great ambition, I have recently been appointed as Lord Palatine of the realm, succeeding my cousin Kaustantin to the position, but I write not this missive to speak of the accomplishments of my predecessor, but rather to secure the future of my department in the long term. I was a ward for Kaustantin Baruch, just as he was a ward for Adrian Colborn, there is a cycle here that must be maintained, of duty and learning within the department. Therefore, I am seeking wards to join me and work within my department. This will be on the basis of tutoring, as well as a few classes with all of my wards. It is my hope to educate all of you to be bright, shining lights of the future of Haense, to join many different departments of the Crown, and ultimately take the steps yourselves to lead this Kingdom in the future. If you’re interested in such, or know anyone interested, please seek me out. Czak dona eam, Herzenas Haenz, His Grace, Eirik Baruch, Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke of Valwyck, Count of Ayr, Viscount of Voron, Baron of Gant, Laval, and Riveryn.

"A promising development within the Church, even withstanding the hardships of Schismatics, the High Pontiff has time to focus on the internal development of the Church and accomodating it to the changes in society." proclaimed the Duke of Valwyck, nodding his head. He was quite excited by this prospect for the Church.

Eirik read over the letter that Eleanora had left him, then he read it again, and again after that. Indeed, he seemed to read it on repeat for many hours. And he only ceased once his eyes had become so teary that he could no longer read properly. "I promise, Eleanora." He whispered quietly to himself.

STAND OUT Lichtestadt after its expansion, circa 402 E.S. “Did Ruslan ever give you any advice?” “Never.” Eirik ground to a halt as he arrived by a patch of roses, growing elegantly whilst illuminated by the eastern sunset of Haense. He knelt down by the patch, and thought back to his talk with Kaustantin those months ago, before the announcement was made to the Kingdom. It had been inevitable for a while now, he thought, ever since Kaustantin had named him as the Deputy Palatine. Yet, the thought had always been so foreign to him, he had never realised that Kaustantin would come to retire eventually. But here he was, knelt by a patch of roses, not only were he the Duke of Valwyck, but also the Lord Palatine of Haense. It was no longer just his duty to oversee his own demesne, but to oversee the entire Kingdom and be the King’s right hand. “Your tenure won’t be hard. Haense is the most dominant power in the world. Stable and calm.” “But that is why I am afraid.” Haense existed in a state of prosperity, it had for many years now. Eirik could not recall a time where the Kingdom had not prospered. During Henrik II’s reign, the Kingdom had become the dominant power in foreign affairs, despite some internal struggles here and there. And now during Sigismund’s reign those internal struggles had ceased, and the Kingdom had kept itself rooted in that spot of dominant prosperity. That was Eirik’s concern, though. He thought it unlikely that prosperity could last forever, such was the way of the world. All Kingdoms had their periods of prosperity, and those periods would often cease when you least expected them to. And while he knew ultimately that perhaps such would be no fault of his own, there was that little spark inside of him that refused to become the Lord Palatine that had ended Haeseni prosperity. “Instead of saying heavy is the head which wears the Crown, I say rotten is the person wiping the King's arse.” He had known the rot within Kaustantin for a while. He had been witness to it for years now, a man who first proclaimed himself devoted to his work, now struggling with his wife and stillbirths. Kaustantin had become a broken man, yet Eirik could not help but disagree with his sentiment. It was not his service as Lord Palatine that had broken Kaustantin. His curse did not come from God, nor did it come from his work. It emanated from himself and had no other source but in his own actions; and this was true of every man and of every punishment. Yet Eirik was determined to prove Kaustantin’s words wrong, the Lord Palatine would not become inherently rotten, Eirik would see to that. There was no rot within him, and whatever curses he may have put onto himself he had long since relinquished himself, embracing the matters of his life instead. He had broken his curse of isolation, of despair, and of misery, and instead turned them into blessings of contact, hope, and love. Or so he believed. The pillars rose around Valwyck. Grand pillars of smooth marble, standing tall, imprisoning the Duke within them. The sky darkened above, and streams of blood began to pour from each pillar, ruining their fine colour, and soaking the land. The Bear stood, and the Golden Crow landed upon his shoulder. From the depths of the bloody ocean, they began to rise. First came the Sword of God, then the Scyfling, the Great, the Dutiful… Their mangled and rotten corpses climbed each of their pillars. The ground rumbled, and the Bear was elevated, face to face with the past. “Will… ...You… ...Join… Us…?” The judges spoke in a monotonous drone, and at their conclusion the ground rumbled again, and the Bear fell into the darkness. Judgement would not yet be cast… not yet. He woke up. The sweat was streaming down his face, he pushed himself out of the bed, casting a brief glance back at Anastasya, hoping he had not disturbed her. He quickly opened away, allowing a night breeze to cool him down. They’re just dreams, he thought. But he knew well enough what that dream meant. That night, he took a walk around the premises of Lichtestadt, whilst the snow began to gently fall, slowly but surely covering all the ground around him. He made his way down to the dock, dipping his feet in the water. It felt awfully relaxed, with everything that was going on around in the world. The fall and rise of the Empire to his south, but the Duke remained calm. After all, the Sixth Duke of Valwyck was fuelled by ambition, and the thirty-second Lord Palatine of Haense would be unyielding in his goals. He would not just join them, no... He would stand out.

Eirik sighed upon hearing the news, for whilst he was afraid to admit it, Kaustantin had been a father figure and a mentor to him. Would he ever swallow his pride and tell him so?

THE VALWYCK SLED RACE A depiction of Haeseni sled racers in the Rimeveld, circa 399 E.S. An invitation to the first ever Valwyck Sledding Grand Prix From the Duke and Duchess of Valwyck With wishes of a merry Tuvmas 6th of Msitza and Dargund, 402 E.S. May your holiday be full of love, peace, and joy, The Duke and Duchess of Valwyck have, within the spirit of the Tuvmas season upon us, decided to host a grand affair in the Duchy of Valwyck, building upon Haeseni traditions of yore. From St. Karlsburg to Karosgrad, those in the snowier parts of the realm have always utilised sleds as a method of transporting themselves around. Though, this shall be no traditional day of sledding, for this shall be no one other than a race. A snowy and icy track shall be constructed, with difficult hairpin turns, amicable apexes, and straights of immense speed, upon which those who desire to do so shall be given the chance to show their prowess atop a sled. This affair shall take place in Tov and Yermey of 403 E.S., and for those who wishes not to be participate in the sled race itself, there shall be served traditional Ayrian Tuvmas drinks from the Baruch’s very own brewery, and for the romantics there’ll be a mistletoe for them to drag their partner under, as well as other cosy Tuvmas activities for old and young. Trophies shall be handed out to the top three in the sled race, which they can take home and keep as a family heirloom until the end of days. Additionally, they shall be given a prize sum of 250 mina, 150 mina, and 100 mina, respectively. His Grace, Eirik Baruch, Deputy Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke of Valwyck, Count of Ayr, Viscount of Voron, Baron of Gant, Laval, and Riveryn. Her Royal Highness, Anastasya Isabel, Duchess of Karlsburg, Duchess-Consort of Valwyck. [OOC:] We’re going to do a cosy little boat racing on ice event. It’s going to take place SUNDAY THE 12TH OF DECEMBER AT 4PM EST / 9PM GMT Sign up below to participate: Username: Name: Dog name: Sled name: Sledding prowess:

Franz Leopold, the Oracle of Maenvestiyaeo, continued to march around the table within the confines of his ruined home. There lay a body upon the table, covered in a white sheet. He had earlier removed it from the King's Office, to clean it and offer it a proper burial. He had thought then, that it the body of a random man, who somehow had placed in the King's Office as a threat. But the riders that had come upon his home had given him different news, and so he stood there, staring at a cleaned body of Philip Aurelian, pondering what the right to do was.

Eirik read the missive with curious interest, whilst the news of the return of Duke and Duchess of Furnestock struck him as a surprise, he happened to be much more interested in Ulyssa, and sought to learn more about this foreign land.