Sander

At the urging of his newfound friends, Artiev Colborn decides to throw his hat in the ring for the election!

The Clock Stopped.

The old grandfather clock in the diningroom ticket irregularly. Tock tick tock tock tick. Feodor had gotten used to it however. The clockmaker had neglected coming over to the old man's house for so long now, he didn't notice the flaw in the clock's mechanism anymore. It wasn't just the clockmaker though, nobody came to visit anymore. He understood, sure. People had their own matters to attend to, their own lives, their own business. Jobs to do, events to attend. Feodor understood that few if any would spare the time to come by the home of a relic of a previous generation, someone out of touch with the current times. He understood, but that didn't make him less saddened by the lack of visitors.

Back when he was mobile enough of body, and bright enough of spirit, he'd still spend much of his days in the library, the place where he'd worked for most of his life, where he'd built a vast collection of books and artworks he held incredibly dear. In recent years he didn't come there to do work much anymore, but it gave him a place to interact with people, the ones that visited his library, the ones who liked talking with him about literature, or who would come to him to ask questions. He couldn't do that anymore now, the short walk tired him too much and put too much strain on his joints. Not to mention the chest-pains that had become more and more prevalent in recent years took his breath away whenever Feodor exhausted himself too much.

It was cruel luck, one could suppose, that he managed to purchase a home shortly before his retirement as Aulic Envoy, where he could waste away in his elderly years. Initially he'd joyfully worked in the little garden outside the house, and hosted dinner parties in the dining room. He... didn't do that anymore either. Sometimes Feodor wondered how the days went by so fast these days, whole weeks would pass in which he felt like he didn't accomplish anythingat all. Not that he had people to host dinner parties for anymore anyways. In his old age Feodor came to regret that he never had children, never married. He had never acted on his attraction for men, but to his regret he'd never forced attraction for women either. Perhaps if he'd done so, he'd have had grandchildren who would visit.

There was at least still one person who regularly came by and would talk to him. The lady who had been Sir Feodor's housekeeper for some years now wasn't very talkative to his regret, but she allowed him to continue living in his abode even though he was no longer able to do the cleaning and washing. Yes he was quite content with her, minus the fact that she kept misplacing his things. As Feodor shakily shuffled into his bedroom to put a record into his music box, he found it wasn't on the table where he left it. He knew very well where it was though: the housekeeper had put his records upstairs on his desk as always. Normally he didn't push himself to climb the stairs of his home anymore these days, it exhausted him too much. Normally he'd just wait for the housekeeper to come by again in two days so she could grab it for him. It was a cold morning though, and Feodor wished to hear some music to warm his old heart, so up the stairs he went.

Tock tick tock tock .... Halfway up the stairs Feodor stopped. Something had changed. He stood there for a moment, shakily holding onto the railing of the stairway as he listened. The old man could barely breathe under the physical stress of having to climb the stairs, his heart skipping beats as he felt his chest pounding due to heart palpitations for what seemed like the fifth time this week. The clock had stopped, that's it! The clock... Behind him, down the stairs, in the dining room, yes... As Feodor turned about to go back down the stairs and have a look at the clock, his shaky grip on the railing slipped. For a split second Feodor felt dizzy, as if he was floating and was young again and didn't feel the strain of his joints. It was a split second before he realized he was in a free fall down the stairs. As his body hit the hardwood floor, it made only a soft thud, muffled by his thick woolen robe. 

Feodor didn't really know what he was feeling. Somehow, somewhere as if it was far away, he could sense a dull hurting, a numbing sense in his lower body perhaps? He opened his eyes as he let out a final, raspy breath, looking down the hallway along the floor, the grandfather clock in the distance. There were... black spots in his vision, but nevertheless he could see it for sure now: the clock stopped.

Sir Feodor Andrik May

*1803/356 E.S.                      +1883/436 E.S.

MC Name: Sanders_Name

Discord: Sander#0004

Image: 

Description of Image: tapestry/painting to be hung in noble/royal courts

Dimensions: 3 wide, 2 high

MC Name: Sanders_Name

Discord: Sander#0004

Image: 

Description of Image: tapestry/painting to be hung in noble/royal courts

Dimensions: 3 wide, 2 high

Artiev Colborn wonders since when the crown, not the church, dictates through what rituals people should remember the dead.

He'd beat him to it. As the funeral procession carried the body of Sigismund to the palace, the late King's old mentor looked on from the sidelines, clenching his cane for support. The old May stared forward solemnly, with baggy eyes and quivering hands. There was the body of the boy who'd once been his student, the body of a man who had once been a teen eager to discuss history, politics and art, there was the body of a child he'd seen grow into a man worth looking up to, a father who fostered a family, the body of a ruler, the body of a King, the body of a man he'd followed into battle and whom he'd soon follow again. Feodor had never married, never had kids, but there was the body of his son.

So this is an interesting question I've thought about now and then, and I believe there's multiple reasons for it. For one, it is useful to realize that the internet is very much divided between languages and the experience you may have on the Anglophone internet may be very different from your experience if you spoke, say, French. (https://labs.theguardian.com/digital-language-divide/)

This extends to minecraft servers. As a native Dutch speaker I can confirm there's plenty of Dutch-speaking servers out there that cater to the minecraft players who are less proficient in English or prefer to speak Dutch. Now the Netherlands is a country with 17 million people, and even if you include Flanders in your metric, the number of Dutch-speaking minecraft players obviously pales in comparison to the French number. This means that there's plenty of Francophone minecraft servers out there that cater specifically to the people from France, Switzerland, Wallonia, Quebec etc. etc. I don't want to advertise any other servers on Lotc's forums, but do a quick search on "serveur de jeu de rôle minecraft française" (French minecraft roleplay server) and you'll get plenty of hits.

Another important factor to combine with the availability of Francophone servers is the percentage of people that speak English (not even considering the fact that many French people who do speak English, simply refuse to.) Here's a map illustrating this factor:



As you can see, it is not only a matter of there being plenty of French minecraft servers and the French internet being quite sizeable and developed (ranking in the top 10 of languages in use on the internet by millions of users) compared to, say, Balkan languages, as you said there were a lot of Balkan people. It's also important to consider that many French people simply don't speak English that well, as for many of them there's no need to. English might be the common language or lingua franca (meaning literally french language) for much of northern Europe, explaining the high number of Dutch, Scandinavian and German LOTC'ers, but for the French... French is the common language. Same goes for Spanish people for whom Spanish is the common language and thus don't learn English.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua_franca Includes maps of Hispanosphere, Francosphere etc, where these languages are the common language)

So, to get back to the question "Where's the French players on my Anglophone server?", you could really also turn it around and ask "Where's all the English players on my Francophone server?" 



 

Character: Feodor May
Works:
 

CONTENT

-Child of Haense
-Untitled
-The Halfling
-Ballad of Khorvad
-Oren Knight's Wife Resumed
-Lament of Phaedrus
-Memory of Haense
-Flames of Reza
-The Refugee

CHILD OF HAENSE
 

I was born in Haense
I have her sons as brethren
I have her ruler as my father
I have her pride as comfort
I have drunk the waters of her culture
I have made her past my own
I keep her boldness as my companion
I lost in her defeat and live in her victory
I breathe freely only in her climate
I know her treasures and her tribulations
I see her errors in all their beauty
And I have done my best, with others
To defend her interests

UNTITLED

With the strength of a thousand daemons
The marble crest was clenched
Its razor-sharp tip soaked
With a wet darker than the void
And from that void sprung creation
Anything with meaning and without it
He who wields it unlimited in ability
Except by his twisted, vile and impure
Or noble, glorious and honest
Creativity, their will to create and
To put themselves through an effort
Sometimes small yet often great
And put a word on that paper
 

THE HALFLING
 

He lives his life
To the fullest without regret
He finds great comfort
In the simple pleasures of it
He seeks no great gains
For twisted benefit
He greets and salutes
Every friend and stranger
He cherishes dearly

That which is worth loving
He chooses silence

Where silence suffices plainly
He celebrates loudly
In the tiniest of triumphs
He chooses not for venture
For he finds value in content
And though his vessel may be small
His soul is mightier and greater

The Halfling.

BALLAD OF KHORVAD
 

In Aegis days of old Khorvad

There was no justice to be had

In Ironborn grip the land was held

And ancient tradition there was quelled

The tyrant Thorgarn there was lord

Who put the scholars to the sword

But not all would bow before his throne

Brave heroes would fight him to the bone

They gathered north at Mount Arvas

Where the Remnant of Urguan was

Formed by elder dwarven clans of old

Who'd fight for freedom rather than gold

Then lead by Simppa the exile

Forth went they to end Thorgarn's guile

Thus thirty years of war, death and strive

Were waged and marked ev'ry dwarf alive

For kinslaying Thorgarn no rest

There was during Simppa's great quest

He who put Kal'Urguan under siege

And in duel slew his horrid liege

OREN KNIGHT'S WIFE RESUMED

Down in Oren there lives a knight
Known on the field for his might
But his wife’s a treasure
And so with pleasure
She lets in others during the night

LAMENT OF PHAEDRUS

In forests, oh so dark and damp, where the old trees stand
Malin’s wind comes blowing and gives a voice unto the land

’Come hither to me oh withering wind and tell me a story please’
‘Tell me of Phaedrus Lhe’hileia, oh ancient and soft breeze.’
He was a strong and noble elf in Haelun’or of old
He saved the lives of two Sohaers, so valiant and bold
Yet the elves of Haelun’or were proud, and not of equal kind
Thus Phaedrus and his people left, for a new home they would find

‘Do now not stop oh perishing wind, draw yet another breath’
‘Please do tell more of Phaedrus before you find your death.’
He founded them a home anew with his elves of woodland kin
He built for them a fairer land, with the name of Laureh’lin
From there he fought the dark undead, with allies near and far
Yet banishment would befall to him, so away then went his star

‘Go on once more oh mouldering wind, for you have not finished yet’
‘Declare the end of Phaedrus’ tale, before to rest you’re let.’
He moved on to the sons of Krug who invited him as one

He learned their ways and magic there, but Phaedrus was not done
For a leader he was and a leader he’d be, an Elven Rex so vain
But Orcs are of the fighting kind, and so he’d end up slain.

‘Oh Phaedrus! An elf of tales, truly one of legend.’
‘But to tales you are now reduced, you found your end.’

MEMORY OF HAENSE

Looking back on Haense
I see her quiet valleys
Eating away at
Snowy peaks

A town and village
With quiet alleys
That meander like
Her clear creeks

And in this sublime,
Rugged frontier
The keeps and castles
Stand proud, free and strong

The forests and homes
These people hold dear
Joined by the wildlife
In a Northern song

The wind blows strong there
With her cold clouds of snow storms
As it cloaks and smothers the
Rays of the sun

But in all of her counties
Her people always found forms
To fight the fight and endure
With a new dawn won

FLAMES OF REZA
 

In the land of Arcas
The Emperor reigned proud
From his hold Helena
The trumpets echoed loud

He had been contested
He’d fought his pretender
He slew all the rebels
And burnt Ves’ splendor

Yet there was another
Fire that was engorged
In the flames of Reza
Freedoms desire was forged

Reza was a grand burg
Ruled by Hanseti’s King
Yet the pearl of the north
Slipped from its silver string

The war had begun there
And after it was done
The land was exhausted

And Reza had not won

We known’t how it started
The source that gave the spark
A candle, torch or oven
But the fire left a mark

For soon before they knew
The blazing heat it spread
In the flames of Reza
The old Haense it laid dead

Now the flames of Reza
Houses no longer burn
But in the northmen’s hearts
The flames they do still yearn.

THE REFUGEE

Where do the crows fly?
Where does the rider roam?
Where stand the churches and taverns?
And where will the sun rise?

Where is the Waldenian’s wisdom?
And the Savoyard’s smile?
Where is the Ruskan’s sacrifice?
And the Hanseti’s honour?

Where have the fair brides gone?
And the feathers on the wind?
Where are the chalices?
Where is the light?

When the Boar made landfall,
When the King marched north,
When the Prince passed,
When the Auspice comes?

Where now the towering walls?
Where now shields and swords?
And the men in mail who charge?
Where are the dreams?

When the ages come crashing down,
When brothers falter,
When man wakes up and finds,
That it was all borrowed?
Where then?

Full Name of Man - Josef Aleksey Ludovar
Date of Birth of Man - 1829

Name of Woman - Analiesa Vasilia vas Ruthern
Date of Birth of Woman - 1831

Location of Ceremony - Karosgrad
Date of Ceremony (Year) - 1858
Name of Clergyman who performed ceremony - Father Clemens

MAY’S FAIRY TALES:
A Collection of Haeseni Children’s and House Tales

The King Who Caught Death
 

Once upon a time there was a king, mighty and great. This king had only one enemy, and that was Death. Why did Death have to spoil his life? Why was he, such a grand king, afraid of dying?
    The king then sent for all of his wise men who on horseback and by carriage arrived at his court. “Mornin’ wise men” said the king politely “My mind is plagued by a question nobody has an answer to.”
    The youngest wise man, a vain rogue, then spoke up: “Just ask, Sire, ask away! Do you wish to know how many stars there are? Or how heavy all the sand in the great desert weighs? Perhaps you wish to know how your taxes are being evaded! Or how-” But then he was interrupted by the king, who said a bit absent-mindedly:
    “Well no… Why do we die? See, that is what keeps me busy.” Not one of the wise men had expected such a question. “For the life of me…” The youngest one quietly said. Then the oldest wise man spoke up. “Sire, some people get killed. Others die in accidents. However most by far just die from old age.”
    Grumpily, the king replied: “Yes I already knew that! But what is Death? And why am I so afraid?” Then the smartest wise man interfered. “Sire, if I may? Perhaps you, Your Highness, should learn to live with Death.”
    The king jumped up, his anger great, and he yelled: “I DEMAND an answer! What is Death?!” Then spoke a wise man with a wild fantasy, who said: 
    “Shall I tell you how I look at it? See, Death comes to get you, it touches you. So Death must exist in the flesh! We must catch him, then he’s done for! Long live Life! Gone with the grave!”
    The smartest wise man shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Ah but Death can’t be beaten! For if you touch him, then you’re a goner!” But then the king had a great idea. He said: “I know an elderly, sickly man, one who has, I believe, only an hour or so left to live.”
    “So Death will come to get him, Death is coming. We’ll build a glass cage surrounding his bed, and we’ll open the door oh so invitingly! Then once Death is inside, on its way to its prey, we quickly close the cage and call it a day!”
    And so it was decided, and on that same day, they caught Death and put him away. Sad and gloomy, he sat behind the glass, as if he was a ‘living’ museum piece. And never before had the people been so happy! Years upon years they celebrated with glee!
    But in the long run the partying started to bore them. And so they started playing dangerous games! People jumped off towers into ravines, they wrestled with lions and with wild hogs! They drank gallons upon gallons of poisoned wine and had a war here and there, just for fun.
     Indeed nobody died, no life was lost. But all the while new babies were born. It became busier and busier, the world started filling up and things got cramped. It got so bad, some people were pushed off the shores, into the sea.
    Centuries later they had no more fun to crave. Instead most people just longed for the grave. And the king thought: “All right, I am no longer scared, but everything’s so boring and I’ve reigned for so long!”
    So he called the wise men back together and shouted: “My friends what misery is this?! What do we do?!” The youngest wise man, three centuries old now, said to the king: “Please just free Death, because this won’t end well!”
    Then the smartest said: “Sure, but who will let him fly? Because whoever opens the door will be the first to die!” So the king rose from his seat, and theatrically said:
“Goodbye everyone! I’m going to be dead! My fright of Death is no longer here, instead I realize it is eternal Life I fear!”
    So he strode to the cage, mighty and great with every breath. And died in the arms of greedy old Death. “Long live Death!” Everyone called out in laughter. And so they died happily ever after.

The End.

The Wild Man
 

Long ago there lived a King in Hunsow who at his court had the best swordmaster of the realm. The swordmaster was famous all over the world for his exploits with the blade and this gave the King an idea.
    He sent out his heralds to spread his word: to the man who could defeat his swordmaster in battle, he would grant his daughter the princess in marriage! The word spread like wildfire and everyone was talking about the King’s challenge.
    Yet nobody dared to take him up on it, for they knew they could not beat the swordmaster. Nobody except a young man from Haense who was so enamored by the Princess that he did not fear the swordmaster’s blade.
    So the young Haenseman faced the swordmaster in a duel. And though his love for the princess was great, his fighting prowess was not. The swordmaster stabbed, cutted and nearly gutted him and the Haenseman surrendered.
    He knew he had lost and was severely wounded, so he left the city. Out in the woods he met an old man, who took care of the Haenseman’s wounds. The Haenseman told him of his conundrum and the great sorrow it brought him.
    After hearing his story, the old man had an idea. For he had a brother, a Wild Man who lived in the woods. And so they set out into the forest, to the Wild Man’s grove. Upon coming there, the young man stowed away in a tree as the elder called for his brother.
    The Wild Man came out of the bushes of young oak saplings as he heard his brother call him. A thunderous roar sounded through the trees as the Wild Man greeted his brother wholeheartedly and the young Haenseman was frightened so.
    For the Wild Man was no normal man indeed. He was over eight foot tall, strong as a bear and wore nothing except a loincloth made from oak leaves. He had fiery eyes, a beard long and great and his whole body was covered in hair.
    After the old man explained the story to his brother, the Haenseman came out of his hiding spot and the Wild Man looked at him with suspicion yet showed kindness. He agreed to help the stranger his brother had brought along and so they went back to the city.
    The people of Hunsow were filled with disbelief and horror as they saw the swordmaster’s next opponent. The Wild Man however had never held a blade and he knew not how to use it at all!
    The swordmaster proved a better fighter as the first strike of the duel caused a cut in the Wild Man’s thigh. But the Wild Man was far larger and far stronger. And as his wound enraged him, he tossed his sword aside, lifted the swordmaster up into the air and smote him down onto the ground.
    The swordmaster couldn’t fight anymore and the Wild Man had won the duel. But nobody was happy, the Princess sobbed and cried in agony in fact!
    She did not want to marry such a brute of the wilderness, so hairy and large! Luckily for her, the Wild Man did not see much joy in marrying the Princess either. He’d much rather go back to his grove in the woods.
    And so the Wild Man said the young Haenseman who he’d come to help would be the one to marry the Princess! Yet the King refused this proposal as the Haenseman had not defeated his swordmaster.
    But as the Wild Man pulled a whole tree out of the ground to use it as a club and threatened the King of Hunsow with it, His Majesty obliged. The Haenseman and the Princess got married, the Wild Man went back to his woods. And so they lived happily ever after.
 

The End.

The Magical Bottle

Once upon a time there was an old Waldenian farmer who lived with his wife and children. They loved each other very much, but they weren’t happy because they were very poor.
    They had suffered countless bad harvests and one by one the farmer had to sell off his livestock so he could buy food for his family. Then one day, the poor farmer was forced to sell his last cow and so he took it to the market.
    At the market nobody was willing to buy his malnourished cow until the farmer was approached by an odd little dwarf. The dwarf told the farmer that he’d like to buy the cow, but that he did not have any money to pay the poor farmer.
    What he did have was a magical bottle. “Lo! Famished tall one! I will gladly take your bovine ware, but alas I have but my magical bottle to spare!” The dwarf cried out as he showed the bottle to the farmer.
    “A magical bottle you say? But master dwarf, I have mouths to feed and bills to pay!” The farmer complained, as the bottle did not seem magical at all, but in fact rather ordinary.
    But then the dwarf showed the poor farmer what the magical bottle could do, and they immediately made the deal. As the farmer went home with the magical bottle, his wife was very mad at him.
    She complained that the farmer had wasted their last bit of wealth and squandered the opportunity of providing a few days of good meals. But the farmer told her to calm down and showed her what the bottle could do.
    He set it on the floor and pulled out its cork, then out came two tiny men with golden plates and silver forks! They set the table with this luxurious cutlery and then filled the plates with delicious food and poured cups of wine!
    After putting the little men back in the bottle, the farmer and his family enjoyed a feast like they had never seen before. Then the farmer’s wife went to wash the golden plates and the farmer sold them on the market.
    From the money he bought new cows, some sheep, beautiful clothes and better furniture so that he and his family could live comfortably! But as the farmer went back home with all of his new property, a jealous man watched him.
    Indeed this new fortune had drawn the landlord’s attention and he went to the farmhouse to inquire about his tenant’s newfound splendor. The farmer told the landlord that he’d like to buy the farmhouse from him and relinquish him of rent.
    But the landlord wanted to know where all of the money came from, and demanded the farmer let him know before making any deal. And so the farmer told his landlord about the magical bottle he had acquired.
    Alas the landlord did not act in good faith towards his tenant. He demanded the farmer would sell the magical bottle to him, or else he’d report the poor Waldenian for witchcraft. With great sorrow, the farmer obliged, selling away the source of his fortune.
    As months passed, the farmer and his family became poor again and once again the day came where the farmer had to go sell his last cow. He went to the market and to his joy he saw the dwarf there again!
    The dwarf agreed to buy the farmer’s cow for another magical bottle, and the farmer was pleased. Yet this time, as he opened the bottle at home, two big, angry men came out of it who demolished all of the farmer’s furniture and beat up his family.
    Once the cork was in the bottle again, the farmer took it to the landlord, trying to sell it to the man who had caused him such sorrow. The landlord wouldn’t buy this magical bottle without first seeing how it worked though.
    So the farmer agreed to show the magical workings of this new bottle at a great feast the rich landlord was hosting that night…
    As the feast came to its height, the farmer was summoned and he opened his new bottle. The big angry men came out of it again and began breaking the landlord’s house down and beat up his guests.
    Pleading for mercy and for the violence to stop, the greedy landlord agreed to give the farmer his old magical bottle back! And so the farmer went home, leaving the new bottle behind once the cork had been put back on.
    The landlord learned a painful lesson about greed and not to blackmail people. The farmer and his family were happy once again because they lived in great comfort and were taken good care of. And so they lived happily ever after.

The End.

The Sleeping Soldier King

Many remember or have heard of the times and troubles of King Sigismund II, Haense’s ‘Soldier King’. And many have heard the tale of how our brave soldier supposedly took his own life. Yet few seem to know the truth, as that’s not what happened!
    Indeed our brave Soldier King did not die! As King Sigismund sat alone, contemplating what he was to do after his brother’s betrayal and Haense having entered a second war, he was approached by the Aengul Michael in his moment of need.
    And the Aengul told Sigismund that he must come with him, that this struggle was not his fate. So the Aengul took the Soldier King with him and told him his destiny. 
    He was to be secured by the Aengul Michael, so that Haense, the country of GOD’s chosen people, could be saved by his return in its darkest moment, when he would once again lead it at the head of the charge.
    And so the Aengul brought him to a different land than Arcas and took him to a cavern under a mountain. Here he presented King Sigismund with two helpers who for him had prepared a large wooden throne at an engraved table. And they brought him his sword and his shield and his helmet.
    And the Aenguls told the Soldier King to rest, to sleep so he would be strong once his country would need him the most. So Sigismund sat down on his cavern throne and he yawned once, stretched his limbs and fell asleep.
    Now there he remains in that cavern in deep slumber. He’s been down there for so long his beard has grown onto the floor through the engraved table. And it shall grow much longer still before he is awakened by the Aenguls of GOD.
    In the meantime the helpers stand guard for the sleeping Soldier King. They sharpen his blade on their grindstone and polish his shield and helmet, so that once Sigismund the Soldier’s time comes to save Haense, he will be ready to jump into the heat of battle.
    And until that time comes, Crows circle the mountain, keeping an eye out over Haense, ready to tell the Aenguls of when to awaken their King. Thus the Soldier sleeps in waiting to save his people and his land in their hour of need. And when he does… 
    We’ll all live happily ever after!
 

The End.

The Language Of The Birds
 

Once upon a time there lived a young man called Ivan, who was the son of a merchant. But Ivan did not have much interest in mercantile practices. Instead, Ivan was interested in nature and one thing in particular: the language of the birds.
    As Ivan was out in the woods to hunt one day, a great storm rolled in. He saw four little ducklings about to be swamped by the storm, so he went to provide shelter for them with his leather coat.
    Once the mother duck returned to her children, she couldn’t thank Ivan enough. To Ivan’s delight, she agreed to teach him the language of the birds out of gratitude.
    Time passed since this occurrence and Ivan mastered the language of the birds. Then, as he and his parents were having dinner one night, a nightingale started to sing just outside the window.
    Ivan’s father could see that the bird’s song was distressing to Ivan, and so he insisted his son told him what the nightingale was saying in its song. With some discomfort, Ivan told his father the bird said Ivan would be a king’s son rather than that of a merchant and that his father would serve him as a servant.
    Ivan’s parents were worried about the nightingale’s prophecy and his father was especially angered by the latter half of it. Thus they decided Ivan had to be gotten rid of and they put him in a box and pushed him off into the sea.
    While Ivan was floating around at sea in the box, a fisherman found him and lifted him onto his ship, saving Ivan. On and around the fisherman’s ship there were various seagulls, and Ivan could understand what they were talking about.
They spoke of a storm that was coming and he went to warn the fisherman. He didn’t believe Ivan knew the language of the birds though, and so he ignored Ivan. Moments later the storm struck the small fishing vessel and wreaked havoc on it. 
    Needless to say, the fisherman believed Ivan could speak with the birds now and so when the seagulls warned there were pirates nearby, the fisherman decided to find the nearest port. They would dock in a great city ruled by an old King and they quickly heard of a story that was spreading through the city. 
    The King was being bothered by three crows that stuck around at his window and wouldn’t leave. His Majesty couldn’t sleep because of their persisting noise and it was driving him mad.
    Thus the King had made an offer to the public; the person who could get rid of the crows could marry his daughter and would get half of his lands. Ivan traveled to the King’s castle to talk to the crows. 
    It quickly became clear to him why the crows kept bothering the King, and so he sought out an audience with His Majesty.
    Once he was brought before the King, he explained that the crows wanted a royal decision from him: when the mother and father crow each would go their own ways, who should their young crow follow?
    The King then decided that the young crow should follow his father, and the mother crow left alone while the father crow left with his young. The King was no longer bothered by the three crows at his window and was delighted!
    He announced Ivan would get to marry his daughter and gave half of his kingdom to him as well. While Ivan got married and ascended his newfound throne, his father’s business ventures had gone poorly and he’d become a beggar.
    One day the father begged outside Ivan’s castle and Ivan took note. He recognized his father and brought him inside to give him sustenance and warm clothes. Ivan asked his father what he wanted and his father, in defeat, asked to become Ivan’s servant.
    Ivan was very pleased, because after all this time, the song of the nightingale had come true. He did not resent his parents for trying to get rid of him however, but instead forgave them and provided for them from his new position of wealth.
    And so they lived happily ever after.
 

The End.

Papej Nikirala

Once upon a time there lived a woman far away in the cold North. She had a daughter of her own, whom she loved, and a stepdaughter, who she loathed. During a particularly harsh winter, food was scarce and there wasn’t enough for all of them to eat.
    And so she decided to tell her husband to take the stepdaughter outside into the snow-covered forest and leave her there to die. Her husband obeys and leaves his daughter out in the cold woods.
    As the young girl sat down in the snow cry, clinging to her green coat, a tall bearded man emerged from the forest. He wore a long blue jacket, a hat lined with fur and big woolen gloves, all of which were slightly covered with snow and ice. He asked the crying girl what was wrong.
    She explained everything and was kind and polite to this man, who told her his name was Papej Nikirala. Papej Nikirala took pity on this sweet little girl and so he decided to give her a chest full of luxuries:
    It held beautiful blue and white clothes that were embroidered with fine threads and lined with fluffy white fur. It also contained jewelry; earrings and a necklace with ornaments shaped like snowflakes and made from diamonds so they looked like real ice.
    The girl put on the things she'd been given by Papej Nikirala and thanked him graciously. Lastly he gave her some stew so she had food and it could warm her up a little.
    After a while, her stepmother sent her father back into the woods to collect her presumably frozen corpse for a burial. But to the father’s surprise, his daughter was fine and now wearing these enchantingly beautiful clothes and jewels. He took her back home and told her stepmother that his daughter was now beautiful and happy!
    When the stepmother saw what her stepdaughter had brought back, her jaw dropped and she became jealous. She wanted her own daughter to get the same wonderful things, so she told her husband to bring her out into the woods too.
    Then, as the stepmother’s daughter was left in the cold forest, she was also greeted by Papej Nikirala. He expected this other girl to also be kind and polite, but instead he found that this daughter was rude and disrespectful to him. She insulted Papej Nikirala, demanding he gave her gifts too, so he froze her in a big block of ice.
    Later the father went back into the forest to retrieve his stepdaughter from the forest, but he found only her frozen corpse to bring home. The stepmother wept as she saw what happened to her daughter and soon the evil woman died of a broken heart.
    Thus the father and his beautiful daughter remained together in the house, but despite the losses in their family, there was a sense of peace as there was no longer arguing and strife in the home. They frequently invited Papej Nikirala over for stew during the cold months and befriended him. 
And so they lived happily ever after.
 

The End.

Written by Feodor A. May.
    

From the Office of the Aulic Envoy

THE AMBASSADORIAL REFORMS OF 410 E.S.

This writ shall lay out and officialize the changes and reforms made to the Ambassadorial system by me so far in my tenure as Aulic Envoy. It shall serve not only to formalize these changes, but so too also to pave the path to a well-organized, well-trained and well-regulated clique of diplomats for my successors as Aulic Envoy.

• I: Any ambassador of Haense shall only have one post - read: nation or other entity with which to maintain diplomatic ties - assigned to him- or herself. This serves to keep the ambassador’s attention and dedication focused to one post alone as well as to avoid matters such as a conflict of interests and the hoarding of positions, depriving others of such career opportunities.

• II: Any future ambassador of Haense must possess, at the very least, a certain degree of intellectual training in the sense that they:
  1: Hold a solid grasp on the Haeseni culture, especially the national language of Naumariav, which they ought to be able to speak with at least average proficiency; a skill that shall be tested before being eligible to become an ambassador.
  2: Possess a satisfactory degree of expertise and knowledge on the workings of both the state and society of the post they aim to be assigned to, entertaining an understanding of their post’s politics, governance and culture.

• III: Any ambassador of Haense must, for obvious and logical arguments, be at least of the mature age of 14 and have lived in the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska for a minimum of 10 years.

• IV: Any ambassador of Haense is expected to take initiative in their position and beset their work with diligence, granted they check with the Crown or Aulic Council to ensure their efforts are in line with Haeseni foreign policy.

• V: Any ambassador of Haense is expected to make diplomatic visits to their post and should it be found they are in contempt of this obligation, their status as an ambassador ought to be reconsidered.

Signed,
His Excellency the Aulic Envoy, Feodor May

A Call to Those seeking Adventure and Freedom:
The Establishment of the Haeseni Staalmarsh Company


The Haeseni Frontier.

It is part of the human spirit, specifically of that of the Highlanders, to long for the frontier. To wish to see the sights of the sublime wilderness, to breathe the air of the wild, unpolluted by smoke and stank, to live in freedom by one’s own means. That longing to leave behind the town-life, where one slaves away in dark offices and workplaces for little coin only to spend it all on paying the taxes on one’s miserable, damp apartment. For any man or woman who has that longing, who wishes to take the leap and enjoy the fruits of their labor, who wishes to become a self-made person who looks upon their efforts after a day of work and take a rest with pride in their efforts: I call you! I call you to join in the company of settlers and adventurers that is the Haeseni Staalmarsh Company.

Arms of the HSC.

The Haeseni Staalmarsh Company has been established under the governorship of Leopold Tieck and has by Royal Charter been granted the right to settle and exploit the Staalmarsh basin that forms the eastern frontier regions of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. Anyone willing to join in this company of freedom-seekers shall be welcomed to a life out on the wild frontier, where one works for their own benefit and is granted the chance to live life by their own means.
 

A map of the territory of HSC operations; the Staalmarsh swamp’s basin.
 

If this promise of a free life out in the wild, where one is joined by like-minded individuals, appeals to you: send a letter to Company Governor Leopold Tieck (Sander#0004) and head out east to the far edges of the Attenlund.

From the Office of the Aulic Envoy

JOB OFFER: HAESENI AMBASSADOR

With the recent unfortunate passing of Ambassador Odrin Aleksandr Baruch - may he rest in peace with the Lord - the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska now finds itself without an ambassador to the Kingdom of Elysium. Needless to say, the Haeseni government seeks to fill this vacant yet important position post haste now that a period of mourning for the late ambassador has been allowed to transpire. Thus the Office of the Aulic Envoy offers this job to any good Haenseman or -woman who is interested in filling this position and who meets the following requirements:
 

• It is required that applicants for the position of Haeseni Ambassador to the Kingdom of Elysium are 14 years of age or older.
• It is required that applicants for the position of Haeseni Ambassador to the Kingdom of Elysium are Haeseni citizens and have been for at least 10 years.
• It is required that applicants for the position of Haeseni Ambassador to the Kingdom of Elysium speak the Haeseni national language of New Marian. Note: Fluency not required yet proficiency shall be tested.
• It is required that applicants for the position of Haeseni Ambassador to the Kingdom of Elysium posess at the very least a basic understanding of the Elysian Kingdom, it's culture and it's government
   

Those men and women who fit the aforementioned requirements are encouraged to seek out His Excellency the Aulic Envoy, Feodor May, in order to apply for the job.

[!] Across the Canonist nations of Almaris, a poster is pinned in various public spaces:
 

"I think this might be written to that priest who said such blasphemous things about His Holiness" Father Clemens said to Father Katerina @MissToniupon reading the public letter.

ENCHIRIDION PECCATI
Handbook of Sin

"Gluttony”

I write this book out of a desire to provide a useful tool for my brethren, clergy and laity alike, to better protect themselves from the vices of sin, recognize sin in others, and be able to correctly identify sins. While my Enchiridion Peccati aims to give an as full as possible compilation of all trespasses and vices considered sins within the Church, I shall not dare claim it to be perfect or GOD’s word, merely that of one of his humble servants. The sins in the Enchiridion are divided into what I deem sins against Faith, Virtue and Morality. Within these categories they are not arranged in any way such as severity, for the severity of one’s sin is for GOD alone to judge.

Laudetur Dominus,
Father Clemens of Karosgrad

Peccat contra Fidem - Sins against Faith

The category Peccat contra Fidem includes acts that are considered sins in general targeted against the Lord GOD and the Holy Church of the Canon that exists by His Word. Thus, sins against (the) Faith. The nature of these sins is based on going against the Canticle of Faith in the Scroll of Virtue.

Blasphemy 

The sin of speaking profanely or sacrilegiously about the Canonist Faith. This sin is based on Canticle of Faith: 8, “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not blaspheme My Word, nor any thing that is holy.”
 

Heresy
The sin of holding beliefs that contradict Church doctrine. This sin is based on Canticle of Faith: 7, “And so I shall guide you in a theater of virtue, and the virtuous shall not live except by My Word.”

Apostasy
The sin of abandoning or refusing the Canonist Faith. This is not the same as heathenry, which in of itself is not a sin, but a heathen can be guilty of Apostasy. It is only when one has the choice to convert to the Canonist Faith and purposefully rejects it, or was priorly a Canonist and abandoned his faith, that this person is guilty of Apostasy.

Sacrilege
The sin of violating or misusing that which is sacred. Sacrilege is a direct insult to God and the Church, and often goes paired with sins like Blasphemy, Heresy or Iconoclasm. Like Blasphemy, it is based on Canticle of Faith: 8.

Atheism
The sin of believing there is no God. Atheism goes further than sins like Heresy or Incredulity, in that it not only rejects the true Lord, God, but religion in general. To believe such is simply foolish as it is plainly false. This sin is based on Canticle of Faith: 6, “And I have given you life: I am your father, and the father of all things.”

Incredulity
The sin of refusing to believe the Word of the Lord as truth. Those who doubt the legitimacy of the Word of the Lord and its sanctity are guilty of this sin. The sin of Incredulity is based on Canticle of Faith: 9, “I am the Lord God without peer, and My Word is the holy word, and My path is the virtuous path, and all the blessings of the Virtue shall fall before the righteous who tread it.”

Iconoclasm
The sin of destroying religious icons. Iconoclasm is a form of Sacrilege, similar to Blasphemy. Where Blasphemy is a verbal way of insulting and dishonoring God and the Church, Iconoclasm is a physical way of doing such, often with more lasting effects either in the form of damaged church property, or religious art and relics being forever destroyed and lost.

Schism
The sin of dividing the Holy Church of the Canon. By dividing the Church through a schism, one not only challenges God’s power, but seeks also to put up a peer to his vicar and representative, the High Pontiff. This goes directly against verse 3 of all the Canticles; “I am the Lord GOD without peer.”

Peccat contra Virtutem - Sins against Virtue

The category Peccat contra Virtutem includes acts that are considered sins because they are opposites of  or go against the Virtues described in the Scroll of Virtue that was bestowed upon Horen by the Lord God. If we are to live by these virtues, then that means that that which goes against them is sinful.

Greed
The sin of general insatiability and the desire for more than one needs. The sin of Greed goes against the Canticle of Charity from the Scroll of Virtue, being one of the opposites of Charity together with the sin of Avarice which is often used as a synonym for Greed. Specifically, it goes against Canticle of Charity: 10, “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of my Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not desire the wealth of this world, nor the wealth of others, but the wealth of the spirit.” Urguan and his dwarven descendants were cursed with the sin of Greed by Iblees.

Avarice
The sin of monetary insatiability and the uncontrolled desire for accruing wealth. The sin of Avarice goes against the Canticle of Charity from the Scroll of Virtue, being one of the opposites of Charity together with the sin of Greed which is often used as a synonym for Avarice. Specifically, it goes against Canticle of Charity: 10, “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of my Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not desire the wealth of this world, nor the wealth of others, but the wealth of the spirit.”

Gluttony
The sin of an insatiable appetite and the uncontrolled desire for food and drink. The sin of Gluttony goes both against the Canticle of Charity and the Canticle of Temperance from the Scroll of Virtue, specifically Canticle of Temperance: 8, “And you shall take them carefully, and shall not become a creature of worldly indulgence as the beasts of the earth.”

Lust
The sin of sexual insatiability or setting one’s heart upon a thing and longing for it. The sin of Lust goes against the Canticle of Temperance from the Scroll of Virtue, specifically against Canticle of Temperance: 8, “And you shall take them carefully, and shall not become a creature of worldly indulgence as the beasts of the earth.” and Canticle of Temperance: 9, “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not lie with your kin, nor those of other tribes, and none shall lie together but in holy union.”

Sloth
The sin of habitual disinclination to exertion, laziness and omission. The sin of Sloth goes directly against the Canticle of Diligence from the Scroll of Virtue, being the direct opposite of that virtue, and specifically against Canticle of Diligence 8: “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not be idle, nor forget your duties in favor of sloth.”

Wrath
The sin of uncontrolled anger or hatred and the desire for vengeance. The sin of Wrath goes against the Canticle of Patience from the Scroll of Virtue, specifically against Canticle of Patience 9: “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not raise a hand in wrath, nor in envy, nor in any kind of sin.” Krug and his orcish descendants were cursed with the sin of Wrath by Iblees.
 

Envy
The sin of desiring or coveting others or that which others possess. The sin of Envy goes against the Canticle of Patience from the Scroll of Virtue, specifically against Canticle of Patience 9: “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not raise a hand in wrath, nor in envy, nor in any kind of sin.” Additionally one might argue it goes against the Canticle of Fidelity.

Infidelity
The sin of general unfaithfulness and disloyalty. The sin of Infidelity goes directly against the Canticle of Fidelity from the Scroll of Virtue, being the direct opposite of that virtue, and specifically against Canticle of Fidelity: 8, “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall keep fast to your word and station, and aspire not to greatness among men, but to My glory.”

Pride
The sin of dangerously corrupt selfishness and believing oneself better than others. The sin of Pride goes against the Canticle of Humility and the Canticle of Fidelity from the Scroll of Virtue, specifically against Canticle of Humility: 8, “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall keep fast to your word and station, and aspire not to greatness among men, but to My glory.”

Vanity
The sin of excessive belief in one’s own abilities or attractiveness, narcissism. The sin of Vanity goes against the Canticle of Humility, specifically against Canticle of Humility: 8, “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall keep fast to your word and station, and aspire not to greatness among men, but to My glory.”
 

Peccat contra Mores - Sins against Morality

The category Peccat contra Mores includes acts that are considered sins against morality, either because they indirectly go against the morals set up by the virtues in the Scroll of Virtue, or because they are stated to be sinful in other parts of the Holy Scrolls.
 

Harreny
The sin of interbreeding between races. The sin of Harreny is named after one of the three sons in flesh of Horen, that being Harren. As can be read in the Scroll of Gospel, the sinful Harren wed an elven lady, even though Horen’s Virtue forbade it. Indeed the sin of Harreny goes directly against Canticle of Temperance: 9, “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not lie with your kin, nor those of other tribes, and none shall lie together but in holy union.”

Kruggery
The sin of kinslaying; the murder of one of kin. The sin of Kruggery is named after one of the four brothers descendant from the First Coupling, that being Krug. As can be read in the Scroll of Gospel, Krug, beset with Wrath, went and murdered his brother and his sister in law, the virtuous Horen and Julia. Kinslaying, or Kruggery, can be found in Book of Scattering: 18, “Thus it was that Krug the Warrior became Krug the Kinslayer, and his face and the faces of his people bore the tusks of beasts, and they were marked for their sin.”

Saulicy
The sin of spreading and encouraging sinful deeds. The sin of Saulicy is named after the man Saul, who spoke with Iblees and was tempted by the Denier’s iniquity and was sent by him upon Horen’s people to spread this sin, as can be read in the Scroll of Gospel. Saul’s sin left many of these people corrupted and unclean, making the sin of Saulicy one not to be taken lightly.

Perjury
The sin of swearing a false oath on the Lord or breaking an oath sworn on the Lord. The sin of Perjury, often also used as a legal term in secular courts, goes against Canticle of Faith: 8, “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not blaspheme My Word, nor any thing that is holy”. The Lord’s name is holy, and swearing an oath on him means breaking this oath is a sin.

Sorcery
The sin of using magic for personal power and gain and unknowingly that of Iblees. The sin of Sorcery goes against the Epistle to the Magi, from the Scroll of Spirit. Here we read in Epistle to the Magi: 5, “But you reserve your gift for your own power, and your own gain, and unknowingly, the gain of Iblees.” And further down we find in Epistle to the Magi: 13, “This is the sin of envying GOD, a desire which cannot be attained, and the deepest blasphemy.”

Necromancy
The sin of practising dark arts and magics. Those guilty of the sin of Necromancy, who practise the dark arts and magics, are similar to those guilty of the sin of Sorcery as they seek to possess powers alike to that of the Lord God through these arts and magics. We can read however in the Scroll of Spirit, specifically in Epistle to the Magi: 8 & 9, “The Lord is the Lord GOD without peer, but you seek power alike to his, and even power equal. 9 This is a selfish and impossible sin, for there is no power alike to GOD.” Furthermore, those guilty of Necromancy, Necromancers, have time and again proven to be direct servants of Iblees the Denier.

Murder
The sin of killing another person. Throughout the Holy Scrolls that form the Canon of our Church, we find instances of people who are guilty of the sin of Murder and are punished for this heinous crime, this affront to God. We are all part of God’s creation, for as we read in Canticle of Faith: 6, “And I have given you life: I am your father, and the father of all things.” By killing another person we destroy part of God’s holy work, and make ourselves guilty of the sin of Murder.

Adultery
The sin of being unfaithful to one’s partner in marriage. The sin of Adultery goes against the example set forth by the Lord through the wedding of the virtuous Horen and Julia as well as Adultery being a grave example of the sin of Lust.

Divorce
The sin of terminating a marriage without Pontifical annulment. Divorce is considered sinful as a marriage is never meant to be broken, as set forth by the Lord’s examples. Matrimony is a Holy bond that shall last for all eternity, thus the only way to terminate a marriage is to have the High Pontiff, Vicar of God, decree the matrimony to be annulled and not to have taken place in the eyes of the Lord, granted there is legitimate reason to do such. Any other means of terminating a marriage, like divorce, is therefore sinful.
 

Fornication
The sin of sexual intercourse between two unwedded people. The sin of Fornication goes against Canticle of Temperance: 9, “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not lie with your kin, nor those of other tribes, and none shall lie together but in holy union.”

Incest
The sin of sexual intercourse between two people of close kin. The sin of Incest goes directly against Canticle of Temperance: 9, “So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not lie with your kin, nor those of other tribes, and none shall lie together but in holy union.”

Sodomy
The sin of sexual deviancy; any intimacy not between man and woman. The sin of Sodomy goes against the love granted to us by the Lord God, as we read in Canticle of Temperance: 5, “And as I made for you the worldly pleasures, so too have I made the pleasures of the spirit, and the love of the husband and wife.” It states here clearly that such love pertaining to the worldly pleasures, this being carnal love, is only to take place between husband and wife: man and woman.

Theft
The sin of taking from someone else that which is not rightfully yours to take. The act of Theft stems from the sins of Greed, Avarice and Envy, thus making this act sinful.

Ingratitude
The sin of not accepting or appreciating charity or charitable deeds. By not accepting or not appreciating charity, you take from the charitable person the opportunity to enact the Virtue of Charity. Thus by the act of Ingratitude, you work against the Virtues prescribed by the Lord God, making this act sinful.

Acedia
The sin of moral sloth, carelessness and negligence of virtue, torpor. The act of Acedia is not just an example of the sin of Sloth, but also means abstaining from other Virtues, that which is morally right and what the Lord God would want us to do, making this act sinful.

Calumny
The sin of slander and spreading lies about others. The act of Calumny, the desire to speak ill of fellow sons of the Lord God, has to stem from one of the Sins against Virtue. Be it envy, pride, wrath or else, one of these sins is the core motivation for the act of Calumny, thus making this act sinful.

Simony
The sin of trafficking for money in spiritual things, roles and services. The act of Simony is a serious offense to God and Church. Not only is it a grave consequence of the sin of Avarice, it betrays that which is Holy and the pleasures of the spirit in favor of the worldly pleasures.

Usury
The sin of making immoral monetary loans that unfairly enrich the lender. The act of Usury is a direct consequence of the sin of Avarice. Instead of being charitable like the Lord God would wish us to be, we seek unfair monetary gain at the expense of our fellow descendants, thus making this act sinful.

Feodor May sighed as he heard Kaustantin had officially stepped down. He was staring at the book he tried reading, yet couldn't really focus. The Lord Palatine had told him he'd be stepping down soon, but it only really now dawned on Feodor how much he'd miss working with the man he'd known since he was little. "Must be some damn good cabbages..."

A Premise on Inquisition:
The thesis of Acolyte Clemens



“And I am the Lord GOD without peer, and My trials are the holy trials, and My cure is the virtuous cure, and all the reliefs of the Virtue are open to the righteous forbearer.”
-Scroll of Virtue 5:10

As is known to any obedient follower of the Lord GOD, we are to spend our lives in the World in virtue so that we may know His most holy graces in the Seven Skies. It befalls each of us to be the lookout that stands guard at the gates of our heart and mind and that wards off sin and evil. Yet the ordained; priests of the Church of the Canon of Horen, Owyn, Godfrey and Sigismund, are to be more than just a lookout.

They are to be the shepherds of the flock of sheep that are the sons of Horen and the children of the Lord GOD. They must be weary for the trials of sin not only within themselves but also within others, as it befalls these servants of the Lord GOD to save his faithful from the entrapments of Iblees. Thus the ordained must bring before them those suspected to have strayed into heresy but not recanted, and so too those who have sinned but not confessed. And they must show them the errors of their ways and provide for them the opportunity for salvation.

The ordained are to stand watch from the tower that is Inquisition and from there invite the saved astray upwards to the Lord’s graces, or take it upon themselves to cast those who refuse the Lord’s ways into Iblees’ Void sooner rather than later, as to prevent their sin from festering and spreading. This Inquisition is of paramount importance to be watchful of the spread of false teachings and beliefs amongst the sons of Horen and the children of the Lord GOD, and so to prevent the corruption and damnation of them all. 

“And so I shall guide you in a theater of virtue, and the virtuous shall not live except by My Word.”
-Scroll of Virtue 1:7

Haeseni Krugmas Carols

The 400 E.S. Album by Feodor May
 

Jolly Saint Krug
 

Oooh merry Krugmas Saint Krug
Krugmas comes each fifty-two years
Ooooohoooo
 

Well away out east where the sand gets hot,
There’s a tale about a Krugmas that you’ve all been taught,
And an old Uruk with your name in his book,
And he spends the whole time giving toys a good look.
 

It’s the Jolly Saint Krug
Jolly Saint Krug
It’s the Jolly Saint Krug
Jolly Saint Krug
 

Just a little old cart we call the Jolly Saint Krug,
And she might not be fast but sure can outspeed a slug,
She’s an elf blood-crimson red with a skull for a wheel,
And when Saint Krug whips the goblins man just watch her peel!
 

It’s the Jolly Saint Krug
Jolly Saint Krug
It’s the Jolly Saint Krug
Jolly Saint Krug

Go go goblin
Go go goblin, whoaa
Go go goblin
Go go goblin (he don’t miss no one)
 

And haulin’ through the sand at a dulling speed,
With half a dozen tusklings leaving Gug’ye to lead,
He’s getting really pissed ‘cause the sand really stings,
So if you don’t show him kindness he will go steal your things!
 

It’s the Jolly Saint Krug
Jolly Saint Krug
It’s the Jolly Saint Krug
Jolly Saint Krug
 

Oooh merry Krugmas Saint Krug
Krugmas comes each fifty-two years

Oooh merry Krugmas Saint Krug
Krugmas comes each fifty-two years
Ooooohoooo

Last Tuvmas
 

Last Tuvmas ea gave vy mea heart,
But that very Saint’s Day, vy gave it away,
This one, to claim mea some fun,
Ea’ll go give it to vyr sestra (sestra)
Last Tuvmas ea gave vy mea heart,
But that very Saint’s Day, vy gave it away,
This one, to claim mea some fun,
Ea’ll go give it to vyr sestra (sestra),
 

Once betrothed, vy’d cry,
Got a good dowry, but vy wanted to die,
Tell vyr papej, ea want to replace vy
Ea think vy have a sibling who’s still free?
 

“Merry Tuvmas” ea sealed it up and sent it,
A letter that said, “Ea love vy” - Ea meant it,
Now ea know what a fool ea’ve been,
But ea know vyr sestra can go fool mea again.
 

Last Tuvmas ea gave vy mea heart,
But that very Saint’s Day, vy gave it away,
This one, to claim mea some fun,
Ea’ll go give it to vyr sestra (sestra)
Last Tuvmas ea gave vy mea heart,
But that very Saint’s Day, vy gave it away,
This one, to claim mea some fun,
Ea’ll go give it to vyr sestra (sestra),
 

A crowded hall, Lords with keen eyes,
Eam hiding from vy and vyr soul of ice,
Mea Godan, thought vy weren’t someone, just an airhead,
Mea? Ea guess after tonight ea might drop dead,
 

A face of a noble with an heir to be had,
A man who is desperate and wants vy in his bed!
Oo-hoo
Now ea found a true Lady, vy’ll never fool mea again.
 

Last Tuvmas ea gave vy mea heart,
But that very Saint’s Day, vy gave it away (Vy gave it away!)
This one, to claim mea some fun,
Ea’ll go give it to vyr sestra (Sestra)
Last Tuvmas ea gave vy mea heart,
But that very Saint’s Day, vy gave it away,
This one, to claim mea some fun, (Ohhh)
Ea’ll go give it to vyr sestra (Sestra)!
 

Sealed it up and sent it…
 

Ea love vy ea meant it…
 

Vyr ses-…

To vyr sestra!
 

Krugmas Karosgrad

Krugmas Karosgrad!
Krugmas Karosgrad!
Krugmas Karosgrad!
Celebrate an orc but still praise God

Krugmas Karosgrad!
Krugmas Karosgrad!
Krugmas Karosgrad!
Celebrate an orc but still praise God
 

Ea wanna wish vy a merry Krugmas!
Ea wanna wish vy a merry Krugmas!
Ea wanna wish vy a merry Krugmas,
Even though it’s a facade!
 

Krugmas Karosgrad!
Krugmas Karosgrad!
Krugmas Karosgrad!
Celebrate an orc but still praise God

Krugmas Karosgrad!
Krugmas Karosgrad!
Krugmas Karosgrad!
Celebrate an orc but still praise God

Ea wanna wish vy a merry Krugmas!
Ea wanna wish vy a merry Krugmas!
Ea wanna wish vy a merry Krugmas,
Even though it’s a facade!
 

Oh Come All Vy Faithful
 

Oh come all vy faithful, joyful and triumphant
Oh come vy, oh come vy, to Paradisus
Come and behold him, born the father of mankind
 

Oh come let us revere him, oh come let us revere him
Oh come let us revere him, Horen our Koeng!
 

Sing choirs of Aenguls, sing in jubilation
Sing all vy citizens of the Seven Skies
Glory to Godan, glory in the highest
 

Oh come let us revere him, oh come let us revere him
Oh come let us revere him, Horen our Koeng!
 

Da, Lord we greet vy, bearer of Virtue
Horen, to vy be all glory given
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing
 

Oh come let us revere him, oh come let us revere him
Oh come let us revere him, Horen our Koeng!

Merry Krugmas Emperor

Empire’s crumbling
All around him
Vassals fighting
It’s all a blur
 

There’s no reason
Logic or understanding
Merry Krugmas Emperor!
 

Time for parties and celebrations
Has gone on for far too long
But he seems blind
Or just wants to ignore it
And so let’s sing him a Krugmas song!
 

We’re gonna flee to Haense tonight
Or else we’ll take a boat
Far southward to Savoy
And then we’ll see the light 
 

No men praying
Nor kids playing
Ev’ry one has gone away
All they wished was to have a merry Krugmas
So they didn’t want to stay
 

We’re gonna flee to Haense tonight
Or else we’ll take a boat
Far southward to Savoy
And then we’ll see the light 
 

Empire’s empty
Now it’s just him
By a campfire
Wrapped in fur
 

There’s nobody
But him left in Providence
Merry Krugmas Emperor!

Crows Coach Feodor May would face the reporters with a smile after giving Rhys 'Rebound' Ruthern a pat on the back "Da of course we win against Dragons. Is like Babushka always said; vy do niet take step back when gambling for Carrion Black, vy win." When asked about the Crows now leading the Western Conference together with the Saints, he commented: "Saints better watch out now, ea do niet think Herakles shall be such a holy man in week seven anymore."

4 hours ago, Pancakehz said:

I agree to an extent. I think some people are taking such a hard stance on this because it's giving us a reason to speak out on several things that we find disappointing at the moment. Do I think basketball on LoTC is kind of silly? Sure. Do I also dislike how ridiculous the overregulation and gatekeeping of certain types of RP disguised as moderation has taken over the server? Also yes. There is absolutely nothing happening right now and there haven't been many exciting things to occur outside of staff controlled and staff organized events. LoTC literally advertises itself as a place that allows players to create awesome characters, act out their fantasy lives or be anything/anyone they want to be but if we are being honest, it isn't at this point. 

 

 

Is it really though?

 

You go to a tavern with 2 buddies and someone insults you, do you decide to defend your honor? Nope too bad. That man is on the OOC guard list so he has guard default and you violate the law that says "obey guards always". So now he gets guard default and decides maybe his advantage is CRP. So he and his 10 friends decide to fight you in CRP. You decide that your characters natural reaction is to request your friends help. Guard enters LOOC and complains that if your friends join in that's a raid and they are on cooldown. One friend steps aside but it's now a 2v10. Wait a second that means you finally get PvP default, still a hard fight but you have a chance. Guard knows you could win or escape in PvP combat so he goes back to LOOC. "No wait, Steve here hasn't emoted yet so its only 11 people!" He then PMs or tells Steve in Discord to not emote so they can force CRP. Steve follows orders, after all he only joined a week ago so what this guy tells him must be okay right? In reality he was just given information OOCly to not get involved, going against what his character would naturally do i.e. metagming.

 

These things turn a situation that could have simply been a fist fight and lead to a feud between two random characters that could develop into something bigger. Now it's foiled and has left a bad taste in everybody's mouth. That is small scale too. There are tons of other loopholes or rule abusing/rule sharking that people use to avoid consequence. Oddly enough the same people that say they want realistic RP and dynamic RP are the same ones that go to OOC the second things don't go their way. Instead of playing their characters, they want rules to protect them from RP that they deem unworthy of their time.

 

Let's say this guy has been around in Oren for a few years now. He has joined the army and made a ton of friends on his character. He is displeased with how the Emperor is handling things and thinks he is corrupt. (just an example @BenevolentManaclesdon't be mad at me) This guy realizes he has more support than he knew and some think he would be a better leader despite not being of the Horen bloodline. His character decides a coup is the best option for him to take, The Emperor won't hear reason peacefully so he must. Nope, coups are not allowed sorry. He is frustrated and tries a different method, he tries to assassinate the Emperor. With his support, he successfully kills the Emperor but the Emperor doesn't feel like PKing because he had more he wanted to do. PKs aren't enforced so he is alive again but the entire world just watched him die? The guy is stripped of his rank and is now an outlaw. Can he attempt a coup again? No because he would need more than the raid cap allows to do it and because he has been branded a criminal it is considered a raid. His other option is to declare open rebellion and war in which his raid cap would increase. Oh he needs a nation to declare war from? He doesn't have that so he gets frustrated with how this went down and eventually puts less and less effort into the character he thought would be something cool and inevitably quits the server.

 

Again, something that could have been awesome and something enjoyable is curbed by staff and overregulation instead of moderating a situation like the title Moderator implies. Not to prevent it from happening, but to make sure it goes down in an organized way. His coup could've been the next 18 Year's War or Courland Rebellion that noobs years from now will read on the wiki as they prepare to submit their application. It is added to bios and stories that are handed down and people bond over it. Two characters become best friends because of the war they fought in together and their families go on to become nobles who are revered by heads of militaries for their skill.

 

These are all things we are missing out on and to me that is the bigger picture. It's less about basketball than it is about overregulation and the curbing of RP whether it be intentional or not. @ScreamingDingo Just my two cents for whatever it's worth to you. I want to enjoy my time when I log on. Not jump in circles around the map because the only other option is tavern RP that I don't truly enjoy. So to me, if people are resorting to playing fake basketball here, I would look at what I can shift their attention toward rather than forcefully removing it altogether. If they want to invent basketball why not help them?

 One of the better pieces of feedback commented on this post imo, I agree basically word for word. This basketball ban is just a symptom of a larger issue. The server doesn't really allow for much if anything of note to happen besides small-scale player-ran events. It's been far too long since something big and exciting happened like a warclaim or engaging world event.

9 minutes ago, ᴜɴᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢʟʏ said:

just play bb anyways what are they gonna do ban all 100 of you? that's terrible for player retention!

Preach

2 minutes ago, SoulReapingWolf said:

The only thing Joel & Staff did today was reiterate a verdict made by admins months ago saying that basketball court builds have no place in the server since they do not fit the theme LoTC RP server has been built upon. 

Maybe make it more rp-friendly instead of shutting it down if a lot of people have fun with it? I get your point (although I think LotC has a theme is a big overstatement), but while your point is valid, the solution chosen is absolutely not imo