Norland

Javier is no longer king, he stepped down long ago and handed it to Jevan

The Kingdom of Norland has not banished the Faith from continuing their practice. Our Kingdom will not have the Red Faith representing Norland as its religion.

Javier Ruric, landing upon the isle of the Krag _____________________________________________________________________________________ It was a cold, yet sunny day. The Ash Tree basked in the glory of a bright sun. Many people walked in and out of the town square, past the Ash Tree. It was a quiet morning. Few people spoke, and those that did, did so in relative ease. The great horn atop the front gate could be heard throughout the kingdom. All eyes turned to the road, as the twin iron gates were lifted. Through them rode in two rows the honor guard, each holding aloft the banners of the red and black. Javier marched back to the Norlandic capital of Vjorhelm, after having gathered many Norlandic Militias to aid Norland in a war. He dismounts, and walks to the throne room, his armor as black as the void, many furs covered the surface of his armor, his appearance grizzled, and skin aging, He then stops. He looked at the man upon his throne, it was his son, Jevan Ruric, with the Jarls and Knights of Norland devising battle plans on how to hold the Krag. Javier walked up to where his son sat. “For once you are doing something without my instructions, my reign has come to an end” Javier set the crown upon the edge of a nearby mantle. The flames beneath it seemed to crackle in a nervous blaze. The Gold of the crown seemed to reflect the eyes of dozen men, who watched the crown be removed. The crown had been removed for all to see, and in that moment, the fate of Norland rested upon that mantel. Javier looked at his son, pride within him. He nodded to the gathering, before turning on his heel and heading upstairs. Perhaps this was the beginning of the end for Javier the Undefeated, he who had carried Norland out of it’s dark days on the brink of destruction. A moment passed and Jevan stood, walking to the fireplace where the crown rested. He took it in his hands, and then placed it upon his head. There was no cheer. There was no battle cry. The room was silent, for they all knew this was not yet the coronation. They all knew what trials were yet to come. Jevan looked on at those who had gathered before him this day. He took a deep breath, and slowly ascended the stairs to the throne once again. Jevan took his seat, and spoke his first words under the crown. “Shall we begin?”

I, Jevan Ruric, High Prince of the Kingdom of Norland and heir to the Thorn Crown hereby release this communique, as the first action of what shall be the beginning of a better Norland. __________________________________________________________________________________________ It has come to my attention, the ever increasing threat of the Red Faith. The faith that follows the All Father. In recent months Arthas Ruric, and his zealot supporters, have begun traveling the Isles, in the hopes of converting the people to the Red Faith. On it’s own, this is innocent enough, as this was the actions of an individual not sanctioned by the Crown. However, it has come to my attention that this process of finding potential converts has become more and more violent. This shall not be tolerated. Norland has forever stood in stark opposition to the Orenian Empire, founded on the principles of freedom, and tolerance. We shall not become what we sought to destroy. Arthas Ruric has spearheaded this assault on the peoples of the world. No individual should ever fear for their lives based upon their faith, or lack thereof. This contest of civilization against barbarism ends here. Arthas has condoned the use of violence, even in the lands of our allies. The rolling hills of Santegia, the grand halls of the Frostbeards, the deep woods of the Warhawkes, have all endured the threats of Arthas Ruric. He is a disgrace to the royal name. I, Jevan Ruric, hereby remove the Red Faith as the official religion of the Kingdom of Norland. Never again will Norland tolerate hatred founded in religion. Norland will from this day, until it’s last, be a free religious state. The temples of the All Father shall be torn down, stone by stone. In their place, the Kingdom of Norland shall create a singular temple, one of blank stone, where any religion can be practiced. We take great inspiration in this regard from the Kingdom of Santegia, who have always been a beacon of free exercise in this world. All citizens of Norland, and all those who enter our lands shall be able to privately practice their faith, however, any attempt to force another to join a certain religion is henceforth banned. To do so is punishable by death. Additionally, Arthas Ruric, and all those who claim to be a high priest of the All Father are from this day forth stripped of their power and title from within the Kingdom of Norland. The “codes” of Norland, are henceforth declared illegitimate. Norland, with the help of it’s people, and the Ashen Council, will create a new set of codes, codes that represent our people today. The number of citizens who actually believe in the All Father, are very few, and therefore we shall never again create laws based on the wishes of the All Father. I declare that Arthas’s attempt to deny my birthright to be beyond his power, and therefore a illegitimate action. Finally, the title Keeper of the Flame, which was written into the original document on the function of the Ashen Council, will no longer be a titled position on the council. No religion will be represented by the council. To our Allies, I Jevan Ruric, alongside Ser Avalon Silversteed, Ser Edward, Jory Ash, Jorvik Ash, and the people of Norland, humbly apologize to our allies, who have stood with us for so long. In our great allied victory against Oren, we the people of Norland have become arrogant, basking in a glory that is far from ours alone. Oren was destroyed not by Norland. It was destroyed by an idea. An idea that perhaps there is something more than tyranny, than oppression. In our efforts to destroy the monster, we have begun to look like the monster.