Unwillingly

I don't have any strong opinions on the subject (I do) but why do you believe that the amount of nations that have been culled is "unsustainable," even though past maps, if not for most of LOTC's existence, have consistently survived on 9-10 nations at a time? aevos having 23 nations at its peak isn't the norm you're under the impression it is, it's the outlier, so to suggest that it's unsustainable or otherwise detrimental to the server isn't accurate

T H E A N N E X A T I O N O F C E L I A ’ N O R Issued by the Grace of the Ivory Crown 13th of Harren’s Folly, year 227 S.A. ARTICLE I. The great and many Triumphs of the Holy League remain ceaseless and ever-flowing. Our victory, assured by the surrender of the Horenic Covenant, has been brought to near-completion upon the capitulation of Celia’nor. Having been exhausted and war-torn, after having questioned the legitimacy of our Princedom and the birthright of the High Prince and his progenitors, the Ibarellans of the former lands of Celian’or came to our moon-reaching city of Eldwyn to accede to our authority. In return for peace and mercy -- well-needed after the travesties of the Horenic Covenant, whose corpse they remained shackled to after the rot of death had already taken its skin -- they willfully transferred to Us of Caurost: all land, estates, and titles held by and sworn to the Princess of Celian’or. THE WAR IN STARLAND WILL BE NO MORE; VICTORY IS DECLARED, RESTITUTION IS MADE. ARTICLE II. Acknowledging the interests of and promises made to our allies in the Holy League, who spilled and shed blood by our side in our shared war against Celian’or, we will immediately seek to share the spoils of our victory in the name of giving restitution to all wronged. The Grand Kingdom of Urguan, the Kingdom of Norland, and the Sohaerate State of Haelun’or, will all be invited to Eldwyn to partition the properties and bounties of the Starland, along with any other relevant clauses pertaining to the pursuit of justice should they be inclined. JUSTICE WILL BE HAD FOR ALL THOSE WRONGED. ARTICLE III. Effective immediately, The Pravent’ir and militia forces shall be deployed to occupy the Starlands and ensure the terms of the Treaty of Eldwyn, and the forthcoming partition, are put into effect. The Crown of Caurost advises all remaining inhabitants of the Starlands to comply with the directives of the provisional governor, the Lord of Camlannen, as they bring law and stability to a region that has undergone the upheavals of war and rebellion. No harm or injury shall come to those who submit to our forces, but those who maintain a state-of-arms against the legal authority of the Starland will have their lands, properties, and lives declared forfeit. BY THE STEEL OF THE PRAVENT’IR, ORDER AND PEACE WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE STARLAND. Uell ito Maruthiran, Galahad Ílumrin High Prince of Cauróst , Prince of Malinor & Eldest Son of Húrin Nullivari-Ibarellan Galar Ithelanen, Lord of Camlannen Marywen Tudorix, Equito’ir of Cauróst Avagis af Ingesøn, Rei of the Ingesøn Tribe, Justicia’ir of Cauróst

The raucous clamor of steel graves and war delegates sound throughout the halls of the Eldertree of Caurost. One such elf, an unnamed Praeven'tir soldier, offers a hushed murmur to High Prince Galahad. "Helious has declared war on the state that has just ceded power to mine?"

is it at all unreasonable to ask that this line is elaborated on? what courses of action were taken that were found not to be RP'd for example? what's this "other information" you received? what's the exact issue with the forums posts? not trying to point the finger, I consider myself pretty impartial and I honestly don't have any strong feelings on the situation so I'm just curious. it feels incredibly vague rn given the circumstances both leading to and following celia'nor's dissolution, especially considering literally nobody (not even cnor or war leaders, if I'm wrong on this someone correct me) were given a heads up on this. as you'd imagine the lotc conspiracy theorists work hastily so it'd certainly help mitigate misinformation to have a response to this all

probably a hot take but I personally believe that some of the best RPers on the server are ones capable of dealing with what they're given in RP, even if it inconveniences them or doesn't stand to serve their personal comfort or narrative. meanwhile the people who point to things such as give and take, cooperation, fairness, etc, tend to be the ones more willing to take things into OOC and thereby comprise of the demographic this post addresses, instead of being the fair and just RPers they act like they are I fully acknowledge that there are some OOC grudges between leaders, but what people aren't acknowledging is that probably 80% of the common player on either side (give or take) doesn't care about your personal minecraft beef and grudges. they're just in it because their NL asked them to rally or they enjoy war. it's why I find some community leaders' projection of hysteria onto the rest of their players, by perpetuating that other people are out to get them, that the people they're fighting are evil goons, and the only way to deal with it is through the subversion of RP, incredibly disingenuous and misleading the culture of simply responding to RP with RP is so lost on people. you basically said what needed to be said, common gaiusmarius W

Languid, honeyed eyes drift along a papyrus manuscript, illuminated only by the amber glow of a candle nearby. They'd flit to the title after a moment of hapless skimming. CELIA'NOR IN CHAOS, CITIZENS REBEL When Galahad had learned his birthright and state had been denounced by the Horenic Covenant, it had filled him with such contempt that he went on to order retribution the next night over a table of wine and venison among his council. Over time, this contempt dwindled with the likeness of a dying flame, until it became difficult to parse anything but pity. It was like beating a dying, wounded hound who had devoured the livestock, an act so void of dignity that to proclaim triumph in such a thing almost feels like a vice itself. He could rest easy knowing Celia'nor would not survive this war, and even easier knowing he'd not be the one hollering from the eaves victory of such pitiful, pathetic ruin.

Issued by the Ivory Crown 12th of the Sun’s Smile, year 226 S.A To celebrate the most recent triumph of the Holy League in the Battle of the Cordelie Winewoods, Prince Galahad of Cauróst has announced that a celebration shall be hosted in our capital city of Eldwyn. The demands of war, taxing and serious as they may be, do not prevent us from joining together in fellowship to treat ourselves to the spoils of our victories. The unity of the Holy League is not solely confined to our place upon the battlefield, and we must spend these rare moments of peace enjoying the companionship of those we bleed beside. C U I S I N E Food, liquor, and dessert, both made in Cauróst and obtained from the baggage trains of the Horenic Covenant, left behind on the field in their hasty retreat, will be provided to all attendees at the expense of the Crown. T R E A S U R E S O F W A R Due to the surplus of metals and gems taken from the enemy camps, jewelry, weaponry, trinkets, and other gifts will be provided to attendees. M E R C A N T I L E For the duration of the festival, merchant stalls and tents may be rented by subjects from a member state of the Holy League for an upfront cost of thirty minae. R A M A S A R I A N W R E S T L I N G In a bloodless test of strength, willing competitors from across the Holy League will face one another in a tournament of Ramasarian Wrestling. This involves two people facing one another on an elevated platform, where they then brawl until one is knocked off the platform or knocked out of the fight. A prize pool of 150 mina awaits the victor. D I A M O N D H U N T After the Battle of the Cordelie Winewoods, twenty pristine diamonds were recovered from the King of Haense’s royal tent. Seeing little use for these prized diamonds, Prince Galahad will be making them the object of discovery in a scavenger hunt to take place across Eldwyn. All participants will be given five minutes to locate as many diamonds as they can throughout the local land. At the end of the period, those with the most diamonds will be awarded a prize pool of 150 minas. I N V I T A T I O N S Cardinal Enrique of Altamirano; AND all temporal subjects of the Church of the Canon Tar-Anorhil Carandir, King of the Adunians; AND all subjects of the Kingdom of Numendil Azhug’Gorkil, Hordespeaker of Krugistan; AND all subjects of the Horde of Krug Ulfar Starbreaker, Grand King of Urguan; AND all subjects of the Kingdom of Urguan Haakon Edvardsson, King of Norland; AND all subjects of the Kingdom of Norland Ugokoyama Atsuko, Shugo of Koyo-Kuni; AND all subjects of the Shugonate of Koyo-Kuni All additional members and allies of the Holy League

"There's something to be said about the irony of erecting a new sovereign from the ashes of its dwindling predecessor. I wonder if Celia'nor still holds true to its phoenix iconography after this." remarks Galahad.

There were few things that kept Galahad awake at night in the past. Affairs of the occult, however, had seized his mental as of late, leaving his thoughts oft tangled and misguided when his judgement demanded clarity the most. He didn't know this Sylvaeri very well, but he knew his friends and allies. That alone would be enough to bring some ease of mind to his rescue. But he's yet to fully grasp who, exactly, this mystery Paladin was.

I've never seen such vigor, Galahad softly laments to himself, stooped high somewhere in an ivy-laden spire within Cauróst as he sifts through paperwork, mail, and letters he neglected to read. Champagne eyes flit over the missive, lightly held by callused fingers smattered with a thin veneer of ink residue. Not in my lifetime, at least. But it's vigor long overdue for our kindred.

Issued by the Ivory Crown & Grace of the High Prince 11th of the Grand Harvest, year 224 S.A N O T I C E O F A P P O I N T M E N T It is not merely the duty of the Ivory Crown to act in servitude of the people, but the duty of the people to act in service of their homeland. As duty begets gratitude, it is through the recognition of our benevolent peoples’ acts that this gratitude is expended, thereby ensuring the prosperity of their homeland. One such individual, Sorcaril ( @Cobbler ), whose wit of mind and ferocity in heart has stood testament to what it means to be a blooded Caurosi. For his extended service, and willingness to hold the Law of Myumier to heart, it is with great pride that the Ivory Crown hereby elevates him to the seat of the crown as Royal Advisor. The crown looks forward to his endeavors. Signed, Galahad Ilumrin High Prince of Caurost

scheming eunuch @Kiiztriaor @Kaiser loathsome heir @Nectorist court jester @Demonica noble knight @Holyland

I'm curious if there's going to be any discrepancies between this as a staff-sponsored project and non-staff nation poacher DMs. I don't think DMing new player applicants is necessarily evil, and if done right can be beneficial for both the nation and noob, but there's definitely some overstepping sometimes to the point where you'll have noob wranglers messaging applicants with the specific intent of pulling them away from another nation they specifically applied for in their application like "hey that place sucks come to our epic nation instead," or you'll have humans DMing literally every applicant (even elves) with no discrimination. it's not against the rules but to me it's incredibly malicious and misleading. makes me wonder if there's a conversation to be had around the treatment/integration of new players under the purview of nations

Issued by the Ivory Crown & Grace of the High Prince 11th of the Grand Harvest, year 223 S.A NOTICE OF PARDON KHIIRAL ERWENYS To the Denizens of Cauróst, By the grace and wisdom of the Ivory Crown, the former member of the yet exiled faction “Men in Yellow” Khiiral Erwenys is hereby conditionally absolved of past transgressions and guilt of association. In a testament of his devotion to Cauróst, Erwenys shall forgo all public affiliations with the Men in Yellow and stand in service to the state through martial conscription. Citizens who bear errant ill-will upon Erwenys in light of this decree are subject to reprimand. Signed, Galahad Ilumrin High Prince of Cauróst

Issued by the Ivory Crown & Grace of the High Prince 8th of the Deep Cold, year 223 S.A THE CAURóST FISTICUFFS DUELS To the Denizens of Cauróst, In light of good tidings and prosperity among the populace, the festivity delegates of the Ivory Crown are pleased to announce the hosting of local fisticuffs duels. Held every Saint’s week, these duels shall consist of a series of unarmed combat between two participants posed against one another, in which the victors shall be eligible for reward. RULES & ELIGIBILITY I. Only Cauróst citizens may participate. Exceptions may rarely be given to certain allies, at the discretion of the Crown. Participation costs 10 minas. II. Unarmed combat. Armor of the face, chest, shoulders, arms, and hands is prohibited. The usage of magic, potions, weapons, or other non-viables shall disqualify the violator for that Saint’s week. Repeated offenses may qualify one for permanent disqualification. Offenses may be appealed through monetary fines to the state, which may be put towards the prize pool. III. Participants are timed, as not to cause extensive, lasting blood-brawls. IV. Victory is the first to yield, first unable to yield, or first to be subdued (such as grounded, immobilized, pinned, et cetera). Those interested in participating shall be selected on a first-come first-serve basis by the event host. A maximum of three duels of two participants each shall be hosted, the victor of each bout eligible for a prize of twenty mina. Should local interest prove favorable, the prize pool may be raised to upwards of one-hundred mina, and may include the future cultivation of the sport through means of competitive brackets, team-fights, betting and wagers, weapon variants, and more.

I'm gonna double down on this and encourage that rally bells are reconsidered either in rules or mechanics, primarily in how they're related to CRP lock. this isn't an NL powergrab cope either I've always believed CRP lock to be flawed since it's inception back in idk 2022 tl;dr the biggest flaw with CRP lock and rally bells (in my opinion) are that CRP lock is completely arbitrary in that the point at which it "locks" is completely determined by how fast attackers want to emote rather than the actual rules. some people take upwards of 15 minutes to emote especially if you're engaging in group CRP, making the "15 minute crp lock" timer completely meaningless because half of the time attackers deliberately coordinate strategies to either: a) stall long enough for 15 minutes to pass, or b) crowd around your rally bell, making it impossible to physically reach until 15 minutes have passed I'm open to a more thorough convo on the subject but I'm a fervent believer that CRP lock is incredibly overdue for some changes

If there was anything that made Galahad notably different from his brother, it’s that he was never taught to be as introspective. From an early age, policy and routine became second nature for him almost to a fault, while Rumil delved into academics and sciences. He recalls a particular day from his youth when his father took him to a court proceeding, and he recalled feeling such admiration for the wit of the elvish juror that he’d go on to study law and legislature at the age of just eighteen, and later find a calling among Celia’nor’s prestigious courts as a soldier and city guard. It was this emotional dissonance that his father and siblings were sometimes able to identify. Although Rumil was of a far more boisterous, unruly disposition, his studies permitted that he’d become self-actualized in a way Galahad always fell short of. Of course, when they talked about it, the point of contention was whether or not Galahad even believed he had issues at all, no matter how deep seated or superficial. It wasn’t necessarily denial, but some crude mix of emotional blindness and misguided judgment instead. When he and Rumil began drifting apart, the thought was put on the backburner, replaced instead with dreams of high-stooped spires and glimmering towers that would later become Cauróst. As years passed, the spoils of war and omens of elvish glory slowly tempered whatever familial angst that followed him to Princehood. Though quelled, they’d never be erased, permitting that his childhood shortcomings become lasting, reticent faults in adulthood. For the first time in years, these thoughts had finally resurfaced with the unforgiving force and suddenness of a warhammer. Though he had emerged victorious in his tumultuous duel with Galar, vainglory did not find a home in his heart that day, but something so, so incredibly anguished instead. It was the sort of anguish one feels for the somber memory of a loved one in spring, or vicious, self-eating hatred for oneself in winter. As with his childhood bouts with Rumil, the question remained of whether or not he’d be able to come to terms with such turmoil. Days following the duel, a sort of weariness weighed on him that he hadn’t felt since he wept in his father’s arms when he was a boy, which would soon be supplemented by outright sickness. It simply coiled in his chest at first, leaving him an anxiously ridden mess most of the day, and soon festered into notable feelings of nausea and vertigo that left him discreetly fleeing from his royal obligations while delegating the paperwork to his secretaries and council. There were times where he’d take to procuring some infusion of herbal tea to ease his condition, but his lack of familiarity to herbal medicines seldom granted him the solitude he so desperately needed in those moments. But he never understood why he felt the way he did. It started after the duel, but the rest of it was beyond him. It felt like looking through a foggy window, able to make out the silhouette of a figure behind it but not enough to pick apart the complexities or nuance of it. Maeline had entered the clinic as the physicians tended to Galar. It went without forethought at the time, but Galahad instructed her to leave in spite of the kindness she arrived with. When she brushed past him and made her way towards his cot, he had never felt such immediate vitriol simmer in his chest, and for as thankful he was that Maeline chose not to protest when he had chastised her, the other part of him dwells on what he would have said if she did. There are times where he questions if he’s merciful or powerful for withholding his judgment, but what merit to Princehood if not for such dilemmas that come with it?

Issued and agreed upon 11th of the Sun’s Smile, year 222 S.A. THE PRINCEDOM OF CAURóST and THE HOLY PONTIFICAL STATES T H E M I D L A N D B O R D E R P A C T With the signing of this treaty, the Princedom of Cauróst and the Holy Pontifical States, henceforth referred to as “the signatories,” do agree to the terms and conditions laid forth. Article I. Sovereignty The signatories shall recognize the other’s sole authority over their sovereign states. This acknowledgement grants each their right to rule their cities, vassals, and territories according to their laws and customs free of foreign influence. Article II. Non-Aggression The signatories agree to a pact of non-aggression, including but not limited to open military conflict, skirmishes, and government-sanctioned patrols, and a mutual peace between their realms. At any sign of conflict within Aevos that might include the signatories’ allies, the two signatories shall convene to ensure peace remains between the signatories’ realms. Article III. Extradition The signatories pledge to assist the other in cases of extradition at a given request as it pertains to criminals convicted of the signatories’ documented laws, as well as known and wanted figures or practitioners of the dark. Article IV. Trade The signatories shall provide a tax-exempt stall in their marketplace for a representative of their citizenry to trade their goods freely. If a stall is unavailable, one shall be built at the cost of the host's treasury. Article V. Diplomacy The signatories agree to reconvene if desired to elevate or edit the terms of this pact. This includes, but is not limited to, treaties of defense, alliance, or further trade. Furthermore, in incidents of internal schisms or disputes between the respective sovereigns, the signatories shall pursue peaceful, diplomatic means of resolution. Article VI. Duration This treaty will be effective immediately upon signing and will remain valid for a duration of ten years. At the end of this decade, both parties will meet again to renegotiate these terms. In the event that a sovereign of the signatories passes, becomes infirm, or is vassalized, both parties must meet for an emergency summit to renegotiate these terms, lest the treaty is considered null. Signed, Galahad Ilumrin High Prince of the Princedom of Cauróst The Most Righteous, His Eminence, Enrique Cardinal Du Loc-Altamirano Piñieda, Vice-Premier and Provisional Marshall-General of the Pontifical States, Commandant of the Pontifical Guard, and Lector of Owyn.

This wasn’t what we planned, Galar. Why did you do that? It was the only question dwelling in Galahad’s mind as he watched Galar lay on the clinic cot, convulsing and writhing in heart-addled pain. He doesn’t quite know what the medics have done to help, but he trusts their expertise more than he trusts himself, and can only make out vague exchanges of words and herbs in an attempt to remedy his condition. Most of it is lost on him though. Lingering just shy of the physician’s ward, the young Prince’s head would lightly rest upon the side of the door frame adjacent to Galar’s space. He can’t seem to focus his eyes, though he feels how heavily they weigh upon him. When someone asks him a question, he can only muster a stammered, fettered response in return, far from anything concentrated or coherent. A Prince of more viceful inclination would swelter with great pride in triumph of a duel, but in Galahad’s heart, something so, so guilty has found a home there instead.