Eryane

A youthful image had emerged from wherever Analiesa had gone to, with her small arms opened wide as ever in waiting for the warm embrace of her mother. Elizaveta was not the fragile child she had been many years ago upon her deathbed, or during any bouts of sickness prior. Her cheeks were full of color and life, filled out without the hallowness of perpetual ailment. There was nothing to say and nothing that could be said, as all of her words were engulfed in her long-awaited desire to reunite with her mother once again. 

As she had clutched her daughter with such tightness, long withheld - and long-awaited - tears streamed down against Anastasia's cheeks. She embraced her daughter with all the might a mother could, and did not let go with fear that it should be the last time again - for without her children, she would always be a troubled soul.

A curious Ruthern took a glance at the cultural document, reading over it with interest at the place she had rarely seen - perhaps it was time for her to visit. 

With a few dips of her pen into the jar of ink, Elizaveta began scribing a letter to her childhood friend, now the Viscount - a visit to Venzia had been long overdue. 

IGN: Eryane

IC NAME: Elizaveta Iryna vas Ruthern 

AGE (What division are you competing in?): 13, young teen 

SUPERVISOR: N/A

Elizaveta smiled over her sister's beautifully written letter to the good children of Hoonse (and her drawings, too). She'd prepare a letter of her own to write directly to her sister, the retired Queen of Hoonse having much advice to give. 

i love chenn +1

o7

From Druzstra, huddled away in her chambers, Elizaveta woke in the night from her cold sweats. At her side were several unread papers, including information on Hoonse which she had missed in the saint's days she had been ill. Seeing her friends lead Hoonse so well, she smiled, and hastily fell back asleep.

this is very based but pls move me closer to my homelands of haense & holy orenian empire..

5 hours ago, GamblersPalm said:

I see a lot of you kids on here talking about 'I had someone try to groom me when I was 13' or 'Someone approached me for ERP  and  it made me uncomfortable', and it makes me want to slap the **** out of your parents for not at least paying attention to what your child is doing, and who they're interacting with. Seriously, did no one teach you about stranger danger? If someone genuinely, truly tries making a move on you either in RP or IRL, SAY SOMETHING. Tell a mod or an admin of the situation. Ffs, it's quite literally their job to protect you folks, and they'll take care of the situation quickly. 

To be completely honest with you, when someone who is a pedophile approaches you as a child, it doesn't start with "Do you want to ERP?" No one really asks that, and it's usually a friendship that is exploited and used to isolate the individual. That is almost always the goal. If not that, then it starts with FTB and then grows into them asking to "continue things on discord." Additionally, once a minor does something explicit with an adult, they might feel embarrassed/shameful of being manipulated (which is often the case I've seen as well), don't have enough evidence, or don't even realize what happened to them until several months later. I will say that I have seen cases where staff have thrown off evidence or handled investigations extremely poorly as well, and it has caused players to either have distrust or believe that there's not much help - especially when the person is popular on the server. 

I'm on the line of outright ban and reworking, as when I see this my main concern is the best way to stop predators on this server (which may, in all truth, be an outright ban although I'm unsure): 

A big step, going off of @Zaerie's early comment, would be clarifying what the line is before sexual FTB. Having this be absolutely clear to everyone as to what is "too far" for the lead-up RP may bring more awareness as to what is too much, if it is not clear already. Most people don't fully read the rules, as much as they promise that they did in their whitelist applications and whatnot, and perhaps having a thread listing the rules of sexual FTB, where is the line drawn, etc. alongside that anonymous email that @itdontmattalisted and other ways of reaching out for help or how to help friends/community members in that situation (as sometimes they don't want to help themselves and it can be very hard to get out of that situation, esp. when you feel isolated or if they have sensitive information about you). 

I hesitate to say ban it outright because @itdontmattais ultimately right. This isn't using minors and other victims as bait, rather the situation can be caught and handled by these "out of breath" emotes or AFK'ing after an FTB for too long when it does happen. Banning it entirely has the potential to entirely backfire & lead to further isolation of victims. When these people get to DMs through - for example - Discord, it is harder to catch pedophiles/groomers/etc as many victims rarely come out about their experience because they are scared, embarrassed, or are being manipulated to believe they are in an okay situation. 

Would it be possible to have a community discussion to brainstorm ideas to prevent this, in a voice chat? I would really like to think of better ways to improve this for the current and future preteens/teens on this server to protect them (as I am sure most other members of this community do).

tl;dr

1. We should clarify the line of where sexual FTB should be drawn

2. Read itdontmatta's post above, it's very insightful

3. Can we have a community discussion through VC to brainstorm ideas to prevent grooming and sexual harassment on the server? (I find VCs are easier to brainstorm and bounce ideas off one another)

THE KINGDOM RETURNS 

KRUSAE ZWY KOONGZEM

Issued by the

KINGDOM OF HOONSETI-ROOSKA

On this 14th day of Tov and Yermey of 462 E.S.

VA BIRODEO HERZENAV AG EDLERVIK, 

After years of being away for a very, very, very long time, the Kingdom of Hoonseti-Ruska returns. There will be a lot of sleepovers, dances, quests, and much more. Because it has been so long, there are new positions and new people in them. If you also want to be in the Aulic Council of Hoonse or want to be a noble of Hoonse speak with Her Majesty Elizaveta I, the Lady Palatine Alyona Godunov, or any of the Aulic Council of Hoonse. We would also like to say that we support all Fort-Fort activities and declare Fort-Fort always to be protected by the Kingdom of Hoonse. We will be the strongest kingdom forever! 

AULIC COUNCIL OF HOONSE

Her Excellency, Alyona Godunov, the Lady Palatine 

Lord Malcolm Gant, the Deputy-Palatine

His Excellency, Anatoliy Godunov, the Lord Marshal 

His Excellency, Carolus Colborn, the Royal Advisor 

His Excellency, Brendell Colborn, the Aulic Treasurer

His Excellency, Michael Haverlock, Royal Justiciar

Her Excellency, Julietta Haverlock, Grand Lady

Her Excellency, Dame Via Weiss, the Knight Paramount

Her Ladyship, Dame Ailsa Baruch, the Knight Oracle

Vacancies: 

Aulic Envoy

KNIGHTS OF HOONSETI-ROOSKA & THE ORDER OF THE BEES 

Her Excellency, Dame Via Weiss, the Knight Paramount

His Lordship, Brendell Colborn, Meyster Knight 

Her Ladyship, Dame Ailsa Baruch, the Knight Oracle

NOBILITY OF HOONSE

His Grace, Viktor Ruthern, Duke of Vidoos 

His Grace, Alasdair Baruch, Duke of Whalewyck

His Grace, George Barclay, Duke of Roonmar

His Lordship, Carolus Colborn, Viscount of Coolboar
Her Ladyship, Alyona Godunov, Baroness of Vooskaya

This message has been sponsored by Zvaervauld Lilac Honey™

IV JOVEO MAAN 

Her Majesty, Elizaveta I, Koenas of Hoonseti-Rooska

Her Excellency, Alyona Rhetta Godunov
Lady Palatine of Hoonseti-Rooska, Baroness of Vooskaya, The Sparrow


His Excellency, Malcolm Gant
Deputy-Palatine of Hoonseti-Rooska, The Cow

Lord Marshal, Anatoily Godunov

His Excellency, Carolus Ivan Colborn

 Royal Advisor of Hoonseti-Rooska, Viscount of Coolboar

Her Excellency, Via Weiss, Knight Paramount of Hoonesti-Rooska

Her Excellency, Julietta Laurelai Haverlock

Grand Lady of Hoonseti-Rooska

His Grace, Alasdair Lorchan Baruch, 

Duke of Whalewyck, Prince of the Selkies, The Fish Boy, Panda-Whisperer, The Quiet One

Her Ladyship, Ailsa Cairstine Baruch, Knight Oracle of Hoonseti-Rooska

Ailsa Cairstine Baruch

His Lordship, Brendell Åsbjörn Aleksey Colborn, Meyster Knight of Hoonseti-Rooska

Brendell A. A. Colborn

His Excellency, Michael Thomas Haverlock
Lord Justicar of Hoonseti-Rooska

On 1/28/2023 at 6:11 AM, Esterlen said:

Most voters in the real world tend to care about kitchen-table issues above everything else - am I getting a raise, what are my taxes like, what is my healthcare situation, how is inflation affecting the cost of living, etcetera - but these dilemmas are almost totally irrelevant in the context of Minecraft RP.

I was going to post something myself, but this sums it up on why democracies just won't work on LotC on a large scale (beyond local groups, or things along the lines of this). Different problems 

what's your biggest takeaway from playing on here? 

"These rich folk think it's any of our business to be dragged into their divorce affair! I just want to enjoy some damn tea in the tavern again." Matilda of Moere wasn't quite sure who she was talking to, as she more so grumbled to herself.

"God be with this child, but it's her father's fault for deciding to manipulate the people to act out brutally in his own lust for power. Her father's fault that his own people lay dead, dividing the homeland... How else would it have ended after attempting to overthrow the duchess? That she willing bends the knee to her consort?" She scoffed, and continued on trying to find the best bargain for quality bread. 

Curiously, Arabella raises up the missive with a brow lofted in curiosity. She reached for another document in her small home- albeit it was one much older than the one in front of her. "Hm," was all she could say, although couldn't help but recognize the similarity between the two. Nevertheless, she remained comfortable in her home in Branhavn. "I have faith in these leaders to make the right decisions about the matter, for what is best for the people and the nation."

@PerfectlyPeachy

"Mamej!" A child's voice rang throughout the grey halls of the Ruthern keep. She was barely able to even finish reading when she was awakened with a sudden burst of excitement that incited her to seek out her mother as soon as she possibly could manage. Hastily, Elizaveta dashed up a set of stone stairs that echoed with each hurried footstep. She held a parchment in the air, holding it out for her mother to take and look at. "May I go? I promise to attend all my ballet lessons, and every other lesson, and everything else. All of it."

11 hours ago, PerfectlyPeachy said:

"They simply love to hate us." Analiesa uttered to her daughter and heiress, Elizaveta. "The weak shall always fear the strong."

 

@Eryane

Closely did Elizaveta listen to the words of her mother, even if she was quite young. All of this she took in for her future, and for what was to come for the House of Ruthern. "The weak shall always fear the strong," she repeated under her breath. 

"Mamej, are they scared of us?" asked the small Ruthern child, Elizaveta, after she had overheard her mother reading the missive. @PerfectlyPeachy

After returning home from the neighboring kingdom, Elizaveta walked the bustling streets of Branhavn and listened in on all the buzz around her. The moment she was lost within the gathered people, she clung to her mother and father again without looking away from what she observed in the small town. She gripped her small rapier that hung at her side, for even she had been warned of what may come. @PerfectlyPeachy@Demavend

Many years ago in her youth, a red (yet pinkish) haired girl sat by a roaring fire within the crystal and glamour of Castle Stassion. The first snow of the winter began to trickle down from the sky, although the snowflakes would certainly not stick. These realities certainly were of no bother to young Arabella of Carolustadt at the time, who listened carefully to the stories told by a collection of Orenian courtiers who too were fascinated by the beautiful snowstorm - yet spoke of another place where it was always this colorful and beautiful, with a vibrant culture unmatched in much of humankind. These ladies spoke of Haense, their travels there, and the sights of the red city of Karosgrad with its ambitious new king and imperial wife, Karl III and Amadea of Susa. The year was 1875. 

Six years later, the flames were not contained within a fireplace of that same castle. A roaring fire reached far above the castle walls, taking anything and all with it that it could. Her first home had been dissolved - the empire - through external and internal divisions and turmoil. And now her second, destroyed. The lands of Haense were all that remained in her mind, and the story-like place that she remembered hearing about time and time again. 

The realities of the Orenian ladies' descriptions were true - that is, regarding King Karl III. When she entered the Haeseni palace with only a patched-up bag on her back and feet blistered and bloodied from endless days of walking, she nearly fell to the floor from her exhaustion. Yet seeing a man who clearly distinguished himself as the king by his attire, she managed to upkeep some strength to present herself. She spent the evening in the feast hall, discussing her hopes to settle in Haense and finally be at rest with a stable home.

She would not see him again, until her days as a Petran Ambassador to Haense in her brief service in foreign diplomacy and the Petran government after the fall of the Acre. He had not changed besides his age and perhaps grey hair, which she no doubt expected from years of leadership. His ambition did not waver, nor did his clear vision for his country or aspirations to continuously work amidst what Arabella saw as a perpetually growing golden age for Haense as a world hegemon. 

In Branhavn, in the Duchy of Vidaus, an aging imperial lady lit a candle at her window sill. She lived out a life of stability now, a life of relative happiness, where she knew that her sovereign would look after her well-being and those around her. Although Karl would undoubtedly be remembered in history for his ambitious, relentless behavior - she would remember him for his kindness and passion towards his people. 

Deep within the lands of the Ruthern duchy of Vidaus, Elizaveta walked the quieted halls of her home that had fallen into mourning as soon as the news had spread. Her lips were puffy and her eyes were red from hours of long sobbing at the grandmother - and Queen - she hardly had known. 

Shakily, Arabella of Carolustadt settled the pages down on the wooden desk before her. Even with as many inhales as she attempted, little could be done to calm her. Although not Novellen by name, yet by blood as the daughter of Princess Victoria of Oren, her family's history haunted her as a strong force that once brought forth challenging dreams and ambitions which came into reality as - in many ways - the opposite.