_Elrith_

"How low must men be to scorn the last of the light which yet endures? This I cannot tell, for never I have known such abasement of spirit." She loathed the sentiments of these lesser men; hearts that carried in them the darkness of many long winters - these old guard - was iron not meant to sharpen iron? "Even after four centuries, I have not learned what to do against such reckless hate, and what could even be done to balm the staunch hate in men's heart? Where, then, are the days when Nordling and Haenseti quaffed from single horn, their laughter echoing beneath one sky-banner? How long has it been since Highlander raised shield beside brother of other tongue? Has the memory of such fellowship slipped into shadow, so swift that all trace is lost? Must frost claim all? Must fire ever fade?" - "Who cast the first stone?" The High Keeper had been ruminating over these matters for many days and months; coming to terms with what would be most honorable for these lost and forsaken people. "A candle loses nothing by lighting another - therefore will I give light unto them, even as their forefathers withheld such from me."

It is like, very strange how right and wrong you are simultaneously, mainly because you just failed to read and understand the topic itself; nitpicked a single sentence. >pontiff states >canon men are killing elves and clipping ears >cry >numendil >adunia church gang hear of this >it stops >? You missed the entire narrative explaining that these Realms(Númendil in this case) are safe for non-humans and non-canonists to roam around in without worry. I will not go into the nuance of how real Owynism is in reality, an extreme ideology that is not practiced to its fullest extent by most of its participants. Hardcore Owynists kill elves daily, so relatively speaking, Númendil is relaxed.

If we don't exaggerate, there are currently(or will be) four primary human realms within the next month or so: The Kingdom of Burgundy, the High Kingdom of Norland, the Apostolic Kingdom of Númendil, & The Koyo-Kuni Shogunate. One of these realms is explicitly not Canonist, already dropping this arbitrary 90% to 75%. Only one of these realms(Burgundy) is extremely Canonist in nature, with the other two being Canonist(Númendil & Koyo-Kuni) but much more relaxed than the formerly mentioned. I cannot say for certain, as I do not have much relation with the players of Koyo-Kuni, but Númendil is most certainly welcoming when it comes to their relations with different races. Thus, this metric now at least falls to 50%. I wouldn't even say Burgundy or Koyo-Kuni persecute other races either, considering both accommodate for a variety of vassals & players. This feels downright disingenuous & you likely are an outlier. Though, I think it would be great if Burgundy was a realm openly hostile to other races. It would add an interesting dynamic to the server that is currently non-existent. It feels like you haven't made a real attempt to explore a lot of the server's different realms & cultures, nor even communicate with many of its players. I will not speak for how other groups may act, but surely they cannot all be as hostile & impossible to work with as stated. If you want to talk more personably & not through the forums, you can always message me Discord.

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LEDNNAAAAA!!!!!!!

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"Haakon-King is an Edvardsson..." the High Keeper reads the missive with disappointment.

"Ty wowj for evicting those animals for me" - High Keeper

you're a cool fellow

Inn Norvikingr BLOOD FOR COIN Issued by High Keeper Ellenore av Eiriksdóttir, on the 15th of EDVARDSAWND, IAÁ 550, AGE OF DRAGONSFYRE Article I, in Agreement with the Tar of Numendil, the Kingdom of Norland hereby allows for warriors operating in Norlandic borders to operate as Norvikingr for the Kingdom of Numendil. This act shall last for ten years. Article II, Norvikingr from the Kingdom of Norland are to have, at minimum, their primary costs of military operations in aid to Numendil supplied. Armaments are to be brought by the Norvikingr; however, equipment must be provided to those in need if there is imminent danger. Upon military triumphs of any degree the Norvikingr significantly contributed, they are entitled to call for a meeting to discuss their share of the spoils or compensation. This may include prisoners of war. Article III, the Norvikingr shall be given an outpost by Numendil, which they may operate out of indefinitely, & a tax-free animal housing for their own supply. The post shall be forfeited for use in any conflict that directly opposes the allies of Numendil. Norvikingr are also to be given necessary keys to aid in the defenses of Numendil’s cities. This will include side doors, royal doors, and anything else as needed. Article IV, the Norvikingr shall be given access to Numendil’s mining facilities to produce their own equipment during any active conflict. The use of Numendil mines during war shall be in concert with any organized mining operations so as not to cause detriment to another’s stockpiles. Additionally, a company operating out of Norland shall supply Numendil with several shipments of salt on a yearly basis. AND SO IT SHALL BE, BY THE WILL OF THE FATHER, Master of the Order of the First Flame, High Keeper of the Red Faith & the Flame Imperishable, Ellenore av Eiriksdóttir Jarl of Vjardengrad & the Lowmarch, Blood of the Herald & Lord of the Ashwood Throne, High Chieftain of the House of Ruric & King of Norland, Haakon av Edvardsson Ruric His Pious Majesty, Anorhil Carandir, by the Grace of GOD, King and Protector of the Adunians, Seneschal of the True Faith, Chief of the Númenedain and the Tribe of Harren, Master of the Sharadûn, Templar Justiciar of Saint Michael the Archangel, Knight of the Realm The Warpath

The High Keeper takes note of the appropriately written titles within the Nevaehli invitation. She will make effort to attend.

Inn Rauðr Ráðsnjallr THE RED COUNCIL Issued by High Keeper Ellenore Eiriksdóttir, on the 4th of EDVARDSAWND, IAÁ 550, AGE OF DRAGONFYRE PREAMBLE Long before the Kingdom of Norland had become, the Narvaukiaan peoples still gathered in forms of moot & sting to speak amongst one another the ongoings of their days. Their tribal communes & villages of meager size only produced councils of ‘elders,’ their oldest & most wise of men who had learned much in their day & now acted as fonts of knowledge. Of course, these elders most often advised the Chieftain of their clan, & helped guide the youth toward paths already well-known & traveled. Thus, the customs of council had been long established within our culture, & long did it continue after. The centuries following the establishment of the Kingdom would be tumultuous, but they would also be times of cultural mingling with Southron races. From this, the Narvaukiaan peoples learned the ways of Southlanders, how they conducted their levies, how they organized their men, how they chose their council. Kings of Norland would eventually begin to hand-pick leaders amongst their kin to assemble many advisors carefully; this would result in the first of the King’s Council, the Ashen Council, & later the Small Council of Nordengrad. Such would become a common trend amongst every iteration of the Kingdom, as it was seen wise to delegate specific duties to talented individuals who could excel in one area of interest. The Interregnum has been a period of long rule by the Court of the High Hearth - rule by the High Keeper of the Red Faith & the Master of the Order of the First Flame. An Ashen Council, a King’s Council, it mattered not what its name was, but it served a great purpose of divying out realms of authority to those most competent of the Hirdsmen. Now, as the borders of this Kingdom become secured by the strength of Purifiers & Levies, & Kingsmoot draws near, it becomes evermore necessary to solidify the positions of our most righteous Council. Inn Rauðr Ráðsnjallr, The Red Council, it shall be known. Such shall serve as the ultimate governance authority of the Kingdom of Norland. Through it, all affairs of the state shall be done, & its body shall be composed of those chosen from the Eldrhird. Only the most faithful & worthy will be raised as Councilor. It requires a demonstration of loyalty, strength, & capability, for leadership is not a gift nor right - it is earned. AND SO IT SHALL BE, BY THE WILL OF OUR ALLFATHER, Her Eminence, Ellenore Eiriksdóttir, Master of the Order of the First Flame, High Keeper of the Red Faith & the Flame Imperishable CONTENTS THE RED COUNCIL THE ELDRHIRD & RURIKSTING THE RED COUNCIL The highest body within the Eldrhird. A council of the most esteemed men & women of the Kingdom, the authority each holds respective to the title they bear. Each man amongst the Red Council is chosen for their worth to the Kingdom - faith in the Allfather & loyalty to the Rurikkid. They are not merely advisors but executors, tasked with the great & glorious purpose of conducting the will of the King & the High Keeper; each is bound by oath to uphold the Ruric line & the Faith. Those who sit at the top of Inn Rauðr Ráðsnjallr are the King of Norland & the High Keeper of the Red Faith, who both guide the Kingdom toward prosperity in adherence to Allfather’s Tenets. Both are elected to their positions by independent councils, the King by Kingsmoot & the High Keeper by Hearthsmoot. Through both the King & the High Keeper, the ultimate decisions of the Realm will come to pass, decisions carefully considered & guidance asked by their Red Council. The Hand of the King is the primary advisor to the King, a personal assistant who undertakes any responsibility they are called to perform. They are the most trusted hand, & as such, are called upon for any duty. In the King’s temporary absence, his Hand may act as his speaker should the King permit him such honorable duty. They will act if he has acted, & speak as if he has spoken, & for this reason should appear when the King may not. Their typical responsibilities include: the King’s sword hand, presenting with him during moots & stings, handling diplomatic meetings, & sending letters to foreign leaders. The Lord Purifier is the warmaster of the Red Council, leading the forces of the Purifiers & rallying the Host of the Eldrhird. The Lord Purifier ensures the realm’s borders are secure & manages all forms of combative preparation for the Kingdom. They are charged with training & recruiting new blood into the Purifiers, ensuring the safety of the Realm’s subjects, & managing the administrative duties of the Order of the First Flame. The Lord Purifier is also charged with managing Sanctioned Sorcerers, ensuring they conduct themselves within the boundaries of the Red Law. Should war be upon the Kingdom, the Lord Purifier is charged with drafting marching orders & battle plans, urgently bringing them to the attention of the Red Council. The Master of Gold is the proprietor of Norlandic trade & the Kingdom’s manager of economic burdens. The Master of Gold is charged with organizing the funds of the treasury, collecting taxes from the city & its vassals, & assisting those seeking housing within the land. They are to appoint Senseschals & Stewards to aid in these duties. When titles & lands are appointed unto new vassals, the Mater of Gold is expected to determine the appropriate tithes & tributes that must be delivered. The Master of Revelry organizes recreational events & festivals. Often, many are appointed to serve the Master of Revelry to aid in various tasks, such as Skálds, Huntsmen & Keepers. The Master of Revelry is charged with ensuring that the taverns, festival grounds, & all attractions are maintained to a high standard. That the morale of the Norlandic peoples is always held in high regard, & that tourneys are called to enable wanton acts of violence & aggression, all in good fun. The Thegn of Væringjar is the leader of the VÆRINGJAR, the highest honor given to Purifiers for their martial prowess. There are only six Værgingjar & only one Thegn among them. The Thegn is personally selected by the Lord Purifer & the King, to act as the King’s personal Huskarls. Their role is to work closely with both the Lord Purifier & the King to ensure the security of the Rurikkid & the Ashwood Throne at all times. THE ELDRHIRD & RURIKSTING Where the Red Council is composed of the most capable & trusted advisors of the Kingdom, the Eldrhird is composed of the Realm’s many Jarls, Hesirs, Lairds, & other esteemed positions of leadership. The Hird acts as the voice of the subjects, & allows the lords to speak the minds of their peoples to the Red Council, ensuring that the King & the High Keeper are kept knowledgeable of the Kingdom’s ongoings & potential problems. When the Eldrhird is called to mustre, it is known as the Ruriksting, when all lords of the Realm rally to host themselves before the Ashwood Throne. It is when the peoples of the Kingdom of Norland may petition the Red Council & hear their pleas; this is also the most appropriate time for the Master of Gold to collect tribute from the vassal-lords, to ensure the maintenance of the Realm. Let the halls of the Ruriksting resound with weighty deliberations, honorable arguments, & the resolute decisions that shape the very course of the Kingdom of Norland. AND SO IT SHALL BE, BY THE WILL OF OUR ALLFATHER, Her Eminence, Ellenore Eiriksdóttir, Master of the Order of the First Flame, High Keeper of the Red Faith & the Flame Imperishable His Royal Majesty, Haakon Edvardsson av Ruric, King of Norland, High Chieftain of the House of Ruric, Jarl of Vjardengrad & the Lowmarch, Blood of the Herald & Lord of the Ashwood Throne, Protector of the Highlanders. Prince of the Dreadlands Scribed By, Ægir Edvardsson av Ruric, Lord Purifier of the Order of the First Flame

The Kingdom of Norland supports this endeavor. +1

"The world grows restless," the High Keeper ruminated upon what had transpired.

Blood for the Blood God, skulls for the Skull Throne.

The High Keeper ponders this event within the relatively safe confines of the Hearth Temple. She watches as the Southron Kingdoms plot & scheme amongst one another, meeting in secrecy to sign treaties & reigniting long-dead friendships.

The High Keeper mulls over the events of the Southlands in silence by crackling Hearthfire.

"It is a blessing to have such scholarly Nordlings amongst our tribe," the High Keeper smiles the sun's smile.

Rauðr-Konungr THE KINGSMOOT OF THE RURIKKID Issued by High Keeper Ellenore av Eiriksdóttir, on the 11th of DONOVANSHARÐHUGAÐR, IAÁ 547, AGE OF DRAGONSFYRE His Light wakes the stars from sleep, for dawn reclaims what the Dark would keep I, the High Keeper of our Faith, write this with most solemn heart & the heaviest of hands - within the vaulted halls of the Arinnhölla. I have held this position within our most sacred Hearth for nearly two centuries, & I cannot say that all I have done has been to the greatest benefit of our nation. In the passing of Balon-King, I stepped forth to rule as High Regent of the House of Ruric, Regent of the Ashwood Throne. I wore no crown, sat upon no throne, held no scepter. Only did I claim & hold titles, but words, of our Kingdom. It was thusly dubbed The Interregnum by some; a time period like no other, where the High Keeper held authority so predominately auspicious, it attracted both ire & ridicule by the masses. Though righteousness has often been the declared justification for the High Hearth’s rule over the Kingdom, much animosity remains towards those who claim themselves the Allfather’s Chosen. This all came to a front in the wake of the Kingsmoot of 547 IAÁ, a tradition so infamous & longly engrained in our people, that the very mention of it summons trepidation. It had been nearly a century since a Kingsmoot was held; and the High Keeper’s rule has lasted nearly seventy-six years. A display most dark & sinister was subjected upon those who attended, upon commonfolk & Rurikkid alike. A harrowing revelation. An act so blasphemous & profound beyond even the most fevered imaginings of the mortal mind; we envisioned things none but that fell being dared prophecy, and in the gloom of its raving, there was taken from men that which ought to have remained eternally in lightless obscurity, gifting that which time itself wished never shown. Hopelessness. Yet in the darkness of such terrible desecration, there was an ember within each of us - a light, dim & fleeting - a small thing, capable of great things, yet with such terrible frailty. Look about the Arinnhölla I said, & see all the gathered wicks, all the fleeting lights. In harmonious unison, they were, illuminating black-stone & shimmering off columns gilded in gold. As a whole, it is beautiful, much like the Kingdom & all its souls. Yet, such dark sorcery was cast upon our kind, snuffing out flame, casting away light. Such machinations came to pass, & the workings of Maleficarum had reached their culmination. They were successful in driving our great people apart. Now, those who leave throw both insult & injury upon their own kin. They speak of the Norns as foreign to the nation, but their Chief is a descendant of the line of Edvard, Conan-thegn, & they hold tradition & faith in the Allfather. That I care not for the Nordling people, but they so willingly wish to cast out their own kin for vanity. Haakon & Isleífr both attend to affairs outside the Realm, treating with the Southron in their ambitions & diplomacy, engaging in tourneys & social events, but I should forsake them & their efforts. They speak of ‘lordly’ titles as if they are some sort of anathema but forget that our people have held onto such names for Lord-Purifier, High-Lord of the Ashguard, ‘Laird’, a word of older tongue, itself means ‘Lord’. Those who depart themselves held titles of great import, they were bastions of the Nation! They speak of ‘dark sorcery’ within our lands, yet it was not but two years time ago where I myself fought in melee against a creature of dark-stone, & succumbed to grievous injury upon my chest. So far in their own self-absorption that they cast away the achievements of Lord Ægir, a righteous son of Edvard, in his workings to successfully raise up the Purifiers to glory, where others have failed to raise up arms. In this final writ I speak to Váli, son of Odin, son of Vane, descendant of Frey, of the House of Ruric. Your ambition for the throne was one most noble & deserved, it is by the right of your blood. You are of a line of men like no other, & your humility shows. Yet, when the hour came to a close, when the dark forces of the world which attempted to undermine our great Kingdom, you faltered. You broke under the weight of dark magics, & you stormed out of the Hearth Temple in a rage that the Kingsmoot would be postponed - that you would not be made King immediately. You witnessed a display so grand & illusionary, one which challenged the very beliefs of our Kingdom & our Faith, & could not understand the weight of what happened. Váli Freysson Ruric, you are invested one last opportunity. You called the Kingsmoot with your right as Ruric, & it is yet to be concluded. In three years time the Sons of Thoromir shall come together once more to elect a King to sit upon the Ashwood Throne. Bring no further shame upon your forefathers, Freysson. AND SO IT SHALL BE, BY THE WILL OF OUR ALLFATHER, High Regent of the House of Ruric, Regent of the Ashwood Throne, Master of the Order of the First Flame, High Keeper of the Red Faith & the Flame Imperishable, Ellenore av Eiriksdóttir Scion of the Sons of Edvard, Lord Purifier of the Order of the First Flame, Ægir av Edvardsson Ruric