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Conrad had made his way up to the hill too late, the medics had made it too late. He managed to get out something personal to the man, unknowing if he could have still even heard it or if it were too late. He'd have thanked him for everything if he had enough time yet he didn't. He gave some truthful, painful words and had to move on. Later he'd be told that people were sorry for his losses, they weren't just his though, they were everyone's losses, especially Ser Walton. The man had done much for not just the Order of the Crow but also the entire kingdom. He was the model knight in Conrad's eyes, a wall of morality which never truly broke, which served faithfully until unlike his morals his body broke.

First his wife and then his mentors both Ser Emil and Ser Walton. A lot of loss had recently hit Conrad, a lot was weighing down on him, as he was now a father of two by himself with the responsibility of the Paramount. Johanna's death was just another thing he had to put away, for now, to grieve over later and let out during a fight. He kept repeating to himself and anyone who mentioned talking about everything of recent. "I just need to pack it up and push it back for now."

why do we do this to ourselves?

Conrad lingered over the letter, letting out a small hum, not quite knowing what to make of it. She'd managed to last and pass on the torch which she took up despite never wanting it. This thought caused him to stop and rethink some things, if she could do it, why not?

"A Cheese what?" Conrad questioned as he looked over the Cheddar Agreement from the courtyard of the knights keep. He moved over to look over the wall and down the hill towards the neighboring Halflings. A simple huh escaped him.

"Hate Iblees, love me church, simple as." Conrad stated upon seeing the missive.

Conrad sat back in his room in the new knight keep, having a small drink after having just finished the decorations with hanging up a picture of his wife. He looked over the various publications of the day before coming to one that caught his eye in particular. From outside his room a cacophony of noise from the knight falling back out of his chair and coughing on his drink could be heard.

It had been a long time coming, the Oath of Macken. He just had to get through it and he would finally be free of the duty to his house. He’d watched his parents die, had found his sister after she’d killed herself, watched as his uncle Brandt died under his command, and so many many more. Everything weighed down on him heavily as the years went on and on, especially his damn habit of smoking which took his wife, the habit which he hoped that had it continued would take him as well, it didn’t. The only time he didn’t feel the weight of everything which he’d done was tending to the roses, at first for his sister and then for all of the fallen Barclays as the years added up. The day went on as most tourney days did in Reinmar, he made his rare occurrence out of the keep and into public, no more enjoying the events of the day as he did everything else. It was only a bit longer. The Oath approached and when it did come that day, he summoned the strength to bark out his words as he did all those years ago, the focus and energy now being on his family instead of the army. The Oath came and passed, the last bit of his will to go on being finally drained. There was one more thing though—the roses. If he died who would take care of the roses, who would take care of the memory of every family member who died? He signaled Wilheim, the future of the house, and took him to the roof. He explained what he could with the little energy he had left. It only took a minute or two before he ushered the boy off, slumping against the wall of the roof and finally letting himself slip away.

Conrad knew that his page had met her end on the trip which she'd set out on after she didn't return for a lesson like she said she would; it didn't take a genius to put two and two together. Drinks flew across the keep as one feeling, and only one feeling overtook the man, something he typically only felt at the mention of someone, anger. After he had finished throwing anything he could, glass littered the floor and he remembered a promise he'd made to his wife before they had married, one which he now knew he would have to break to try and be at peace with what had happened.

Conrad frowns upon hearing the balloon race being canceled; surely, the feast could have been cut instead.

Conrad feels immense disappointment knowing that Adele likely learned nothing from his prior conversation with her, unaware that he was most certainly right.

Conrad blinked as the girl he had teased when younger suddenly became Baroness of Juliksburg. "Huh." he intoned to himself before going back to his research.

Conrad arrived back to Reinmar, taking off his helm with enjoyment as he began to watch and listen on at his Cousin's words.

Friedrich sighed upon hearing the news of Dame Lynette's death, not having much else to do in his old age he ended up hearing relatively fast. "Another one from my time dies, I don't think I even know at this point how many are still alive. I guess I'll have reason enough to drink tonight." Conrad made himself busy as he went along his day, he had things to do. The page wouldn't hear of the Dame's death for some time as he wanted to make sure that he didn't disappoint the knight when he saw her next, though he wouldn't get the chance.

Friedrich looked at the missive given to him by one of his many family members for a few minutes, having to process what he was reading before letting out a singular "huh" before he went up to once again deal with the young Baron of Sigradz crying.

"This is an eventful last year." Friedrich said to himself pushed himself up from his chair as he read over the missive, now going to try and calm down his great grandson after the young Baron of Sigradz was forced to read the missive.

Friedrich reated his head in his hands after having read the letter. Just recently he had talked about how they had met on Arcas, how they went exploring around the continent together. Now he thought back as a sudden surge of grief hit the man after having found a bit of peace with all the death and loss that had surrounded him over the years after his retirement. He spoke to himself as his voice cracked, on the verge of braking down. "I know you are not in pain anymore, meine Frau, yet I wish I could have repaid you more for staying by me through it all."

A letter makes it's way to the office of the speaker. "Dear Lord Handler House Barclay places it's vote for Lord Handler behind Yvo Mondblume. Signed, Regent Sir Friedrich Barclay."

[!] A letter would be written from the Duchy of Reinmar and sent to the speaker's office. "To the Lord Speaker, I Apologize for the late nature of this vote but it was sent to my three year old grandson. I would like to cast my family's vote for Lord Hildebrand Mondblume for Lord Handler. Signed, Regent Sir Friedrich Barclay, KML."

Friedrich furrowed his brows as he looked over the missive and read his name. "Accusing me of dwadling and letting a threat run rampant, they were nothing more than a threat that the other aulic members dismissed. I would hardly call organizing the hunting down of the threat slowly and methodically so as the exterminate and understand more about them as our city was beset by issues of hunger and trolls letting them run rampant." He then handed it over to Cedric, concluding with the following as he got up and went back to gardening in the privacy of Reinmar. "My replacement really wishes to slander my efforts then, at least those that actually fought them with me will know the truth."

Announcement of an Abdication of a Century 10th of Wzuvar and Byvca, 378 ES I, Sir Friedrich of House Barclay KML, Duke of Reinmar, the former Lord Marshal of Hanseti-Ruska hereby formally announce my abdication as Patriarch of the House of Barclay, allowing such, along with my titles to pass down to my legal heir, Erich Erwin Barclay. I wish to thank all of my kin and friends for their aid and support throughout my time as both Marshal and the Duke of Reinmar and I hope that they can do the same for my successor. This comes with the end of a century of Barclays as proud Marshals of the Kingdom of Haenseti-Ruska. Though this century comes to the end I have full faith in my son and heir to continue the proud work that we have done for the kingdom as the Royal Treasurer. Signed, His Grace, Sir Friedrich Barclay KML, The Duke of Reinmar, Count of Kretzen, Baron of Sigradz & Freising.

Planning on how best to light half the sewers on fire without risking an explosion Friedrich spared a glance to the missive, having to check once more that it was real. Upon his own confirmation he pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a groan.

[!] A letter is addressed from Friedrich to Fionn Castaway @FionnTWG "Dear Fionn, interesting to hear that the issues plaguing the HRA have followed you there, though I am interested in just what the troll and soup demons are like there, are they more organized, are they bigger, anything would help. Also a simple request would be to keep in mind any spots that might be more defensible than not. While you may be there on your mission the task will still be there in the end to bring it under more control. Wishing you well, Friedrich."

Friedrich finally set his dead old brother in arms down on the table after fireman carrying him to the morgue from near Odistadt. He looked over the dead man as he waited for the Surgeon General to arrive. The stab wound of a claymore stuck out to him, something atypical for the weapon yet the strike landed and swiftly ended the man. Jackson's last request to find his kid stuck in Friedrich's head as mumbled to something to him as he waited. "Rest well Brother."

Friedrich Barclay simply nods his head in approval at the news, happy that the church was not to be disturbed during the war.