Chronics

From a place in the Sky Achillius would murmur, "Coup's never go well, may GOD help them"

I can still hear the servants moving about, whispering outside the door again. They think im asleep- or already gone. I used to walk these halls with command in my step. Duke, Count, Baron… titles seem to feel like dust now. I can still feel the shape of her hand in my own, Laurelie. My wife, My Dragon, I never found her, I merely had the letters you left behind smudged by rain or tears, maybe both Mother never forgave me, I never asked her to again. Maybe I should have. It's strange what comes back in these moments. Not glory, not victory, just the scent of my old home, the smell of the flowers around Sunholdt, the way my Mother used to call me dearest before she learned to hate what I’d become. I often still wonder how my children will do without me. I suppose I turned out alright, still I hate to leave them in such a dire time. Peter will do well, I'm sure of it, he has already made me so proud. The coughing has stopped. That should scare me. But it doesn't, it just means the fight is nearly over. My chest doesn't rise like it used to. Each breath is a guest overstaying its welcome. Still… I wish I’d seen her one last time. Told Mother I was sorry once more, to make sure she knew I still loved her. Maybe in whatever comes next. Maybe- ─────────────────────────────── Upon the Death of Achillius d'Arkent a letter was released to his eldest son and Heir Peter d'Arkent

QUETI TEMPUS ✦ NO TIME TO REST ISSUED BY THE ˳˙⋆ ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻────────────────────── ⋆˙˳ AFTER MUCH PRAYER AND DELIBERATION, our house has chosen to take up a new path in the realm. House of Arkent will soon depart from the Grand Duchy of Lotharia to make way for the Kingdom of Numendil. I ACHILLIUS D’ARKENT RELINQUISH OUR title, the County of Salia, returning the holdings that come with it to the Grand Duchy of Lotharia, These honors, which have been held by our family for generations, we now surrender willingly, that the Crown may grant them to those whose service and presence shall strengthen them. WE, HOWEVER, WILL RETAIN OUR Barony of Selm, which we shall carry with us as the foundation upon which we build anew in Numendil. Though we go forth to a new land, we leave behind no ill will. May Lotharia and its people flourish and endure in the years to come. We take this step with gratitude for the decades spent among the people of Lotharia, and with hope for what lies ahead in Numendil. May both Kingdoms prosper, and may peace endure for us all. ˳˙⋆ ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻────────────────────── ⋆˙˳ His Grace, ACHILLIUS ARTEMISIO D’ARKENT, Baron of Selm, Patriarch of House d’Arkent

QUETI TEMPUS ✦ NO TIME TO REST ISSUED BY THE ˳˙⋆ ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻────────────────────── ⋆˙˳ IT IS WITH HEAVY HEARTS that House d’Arkent must post this missive, but necessary. Our beloved Duchess-Consort and House Matriarch, LAURELIE OF AQUILAE, has gone missing. Her Grace had set out on a pilgrimage some years ago to strengthen her relationship with the Lord, but years after her faithful departure, we have heard no word from her. Given the lack of knowledge of her whereabouts and the time since her last appearance, the House d’Arkent must bring closure not only to ourselves, but also to the Duchess’s maiden House of Vuiller, and presume her to be deceased. LAURELIE WAS A GOOD WOMAN who was both dutiful to her people and loving to her family and friends. Not only did she serve as Sunholdt’s Duchess for nine years, but she also skillfully served as the former Kingdom of Balian’s court Arch-Magus and head clinician. WE PRAY FOR THE SOUL of Laurelie, whether it has been returned to GOD’S embrace in the Skies, or is still upon the earth waiting to return to us. May her legacy be cherished by her surviving loved ones. ˳˙⋆ ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻────────────────────── ⋆˙˳ His Grace, ACHILLIUS ARTEMISIO D’ARKENT, Duke of Sunholdt, Count of Salia, Baron of Selm, Lord of El Palau del Sol, Patriarch of House d’Arkent Her Royal Excellency, ESFIR ARTEMISIA D’ARKENT, Emeritus Duchess of Sunholdt, Elder of House d’Arkent, Amiratus of Lotharia, Lady Seneschal of the Crown, and High Councilor of Vilahn His Lordship, PETER MARIUS D’ARKENT, Heir to the Duchy of Sunholdt Her Ladyship, BERYL AUGUSTINA D'ARKENT Lady of the Lake

Full Name of Man - Branimar Vanir Date of Birth of Man - 2000 Name of Woman - Lorelei Enswerp Date of Birth of Woman - 1999 Location of Ceremony - Baronet of Rethel Date of Ceremony (Year) - 2031 Name of Clergyman who performed ceremony - Father Thomas

The Virtue of Restoration A depiction of Thomas visiting the sick "So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not judge your own virtue, be it great or small, for all fall short of Me." Virtue 7:8 During the aftermath of war, the faithful are called not to lay judgement or vengeance but to be grounded in charity, patience, and humility, for the Canticles of the Lord GOD tell us that all virtue flows from his word, we are all children of the Holiest GOD, the most merciful, and loving. War breaks and burdens the flesh and spirit. Yet scripture does not abandon the tried and tested to silence or condemnation. Rather, through the Scroll of Virtue, the Lord GOD shows up how to extend mercy and help those affected by war through their trials and tribulations. “Though the spring flower withers and the fruit of the tree falls to the ground, My Word lasts into the eve of the world, and the fruit of virtue cannot rot” Virtue 1:2 GOD binds the faithful not to divine reckoning, but to divine ethics, to give care towards those marked by conflict. The redemption of the broken is not a political act, rather it's a spiritual labor rooted in the virtues of charity, patience and humility. “before the mountain, the ant and the aurochs are equally small” Virtue 7:7 No station exempts a soul from suffering, nor exalts it above the need for grace and compassion. King and peasant bleed alike, and so must the compassion be offered alike without measure of status nor origin. The spared must not be seen as tainted or inferior rather, they are neighbors, fellow men in a land under the shadow of sin. Humility demands that we see our own weakness in their pain. We restore not from a place of superiority not solidarity. A depiction of Father Gavin and Thomas helping those in need “And you shall discover strength of heart as you work the forge and the plow.” Virtue 4:7 The Canticle of Diligence, tells us that we are called to serve those in need as a sacred labor that draws us closer to the Lord GOD. When we extend our hands to those in need, we engage in the holy works that embody diving virtue. This service is not merely charity giving from abundance but rather a spiritual discipline. Our service must be grounded in humility, acknowledging that in easing another's burden, we participate in the divine labor that fortifies the spirit within us all. It is clear to us, given the above, that to be virtuous is the way forth, as such I extend service as a sacrament. In this act of service, I honor the Lord GOD who created the planes and rendered the Seven Skies. My hands become instruments of GOD’s compassion when they lift the fallen, feed the hungry and shelter the exposed. For in serving the least among us, I serve the Most High Himself.

Achillius would read over this missive a few tears coming into his eyes all the memory's of his dear friend running through his mind "Rest easy good friend"

QUETI TEMPUS ✦ NO TIME TO REST ISSUED BY THE ON THE 16th OF PETER’S GLORY, 160 B.A. ˳˙⋆ ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻────────────────────── ⋆˙˳ “AND YOU SHALL DISCOVER STRENGTH OF HEART AS YOU WORK THE FORGE AND THE PLOW.” Scroll of Virtue 4:7 A depiction of the Duchess praying over her House HOUSE D’ARKENT HAS LONG STOOD with the Kingdom of Balian; we have held our oaths of fealty for well over a century and a half. However, ROGER DE ROUEN has proposed to House d’Arkent that we defect from our oaths and join under the Druscans banner, retaining a status as Barons among their men. Let it be known that whatever belief led you to think that House d’Arkent would abandon its allegiance and honor for cowardice is beyond my comprehension. Perhaps you mistake us for a House that trades honor for the likes of convenience? Allow me, ACHILLIUS D’ARKENT, to make this clear. We plan to stand with Balian today, tomorrow, and until the very end. We were given options to leave; we chose to stay. We will never trade our dignity and our legacy for the hopes of survival. Should our city fall, House d’Arkent will be there, swords drawn, banners flown, and heads held high. ˳˙⋆ ────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻──────────── ⋆˙˳ FROM THE DUCHESS-EMERITUS, Stop asking us to join you. This is the fourth time. We know you are desperate to have us join you, but I am bored of watching my kin repeat themselves. ˳˙⋆ ────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻──────────── ⋆˙˳ His Excellency, ACHILLIUS ARTEMISIO D’ARKENT, Duke of Sunholdt, Count of Salia, Baron of Selm, Lord of El Palau del Sol, Patriarch of House d’Arkent, Constable of Balian, Strategos of the Regiment of St. Lothar Her Grace, LAURELIE CELINE OF AQUILIAE, Duchess-Consort of Sunholdt, Countess-Consort of Salia, Baroness-Consort of Selm, Lady of El Palau del Sol, Matriarch of House d’Arkent, Arch-Magus of La Cort de la Taronja, Medico Anziano of the Clinical Society of St. Julia Her Royal Excellency, ESFIR ARTEMISIA D’ARKENT, Duchess-Emeritus of Sunholdt, Elder of House d’Arkent, Amiratus of Balian, Lady Seneschal of the Crown, and Chief Minister of the Royal Duana His Lordship, PETER MARIUS D’ARKENT Heir to Sunholdt Her Ladyship, BERYL AUGUSTINA D’ARKENT Lady of the Lake

Achillius would stand inside the walls of Portoregne as he pondered what to do next.

Achillius would stand idle inside the walls of Portoregne as he spoke to all of his children saying "We are dragons and we will persevere"

The Heir of d'Arkent stood upon the walls of Portoregne after the battle of Sunholdt watching as smoke covered the sky.

QUETI TEMPUS ✦ NO TIME TO REST ˳˙⋆ ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻────────────────────── ⋆˙˳ ISSUED BY THE ON THE 14th OF Godfrey’s Triumph, 149 B.A. ˳˙⋆ ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻────────────────────── ⋆˙˳ Depiction of Peter and Beryl THE HOUSE OF ARKENT PROUDLY announces that His Excellency Achillius Artemisio, Heir to Sunholdt and Salia, along with his wife Lady Laurelie Celine of Aquilae have safely welcomed twins - a boy and girl respectively. PETER VI MARIUS D’ARKENT BERYL AUGSTINA D’ARKENT EACH TWIN’S NAME CARRIES deep meaning in their kin. The grand-heir Peter was named after the Second Duke of Sunholdt, PETER BALDWIN, who carried the titles of General of the Imperial State Army and Knight Commander of The Order of the Lion during his lifetime. Beryl was bestowed a familial middle name, which belonged to Achillius’s paternal great-great grandmother, AUGUSTINA THEROSIA, Princess of Balian & Countess-Consort of Salia. DUE TO THE TUMULTUOUS labor of the new mother, she has chosen to remain within the walls of Sunholdt to tend to the infant twins and heal. The babes are of pristine health and seem to grow more curious as each day passes. They shall be baptized in El Palau Del Sol once LADY LAURELIE has had time to recover. The momentous occasion shall be set at a later date. ˳˙⋆ ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻────────────────────── ⋆˙˳ His Excellency, ACHILLIUS ARTEMISIO D’ARKENT, Heir to Sunholdt and Salia, Constable of Balian, Strategos of the Regiment Her Ladyship, LAURELIE CELINE D’ARKENT Arch-Magus of La Cort de la Taronja, Medico Anziano of Balian, Ambassador to Celia’nor

T H E R E G I M E N T O F S A I N T L O T H A R Scribed by: Achillius d’Arkent Soldiers of the Regiment rallying in the defence of the Kingdom’s fairgrounds. The hour was late as the Balianese soldiers reported to the fairground for routine training. The soldiers had spent their hours practicing their swordsmanship and archery, improving their abilities in combat. Soon their refined abilities would be put to the test as it was there that they were surrounded by a Darkspawn incursion. Five darkspawn appeared, unsheathing their weapons and making their motions in preparation of a fight. In a display of valor and unwavering determination the Regiment soldiers took up arms against the invaders, ending the skirmish with swift precision. Shortly after, the Regiment soldiers would go back to Balian to spread news of their victory. In Hoc Signo Vinces. A depiction of a Balianese Soldier tracking darkspawn through the southern jungles. Signed His Excellency, ACHILLIUS ARTEMISIO D’ARKENT, CONSTABLE OF BALIAN, STRATEGOS OF THE REGIMENT

QUETI TEMPUS ✦ NO TIME TO REST ˳˙⋆ ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻────────────────────── ⋆˙˳ ISSUED BY THE ON THE 13th OF SIGISMUND’S END, 145 B.A. ˳˙⋆ ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻────────────────────── ⋆˙˳ Depiction of Achillius and Laurelie THE HOUSE OF ARKENT WISHES to announce, with great joy, the forthcoming union of His Excellency ACHILLIUS D’ARKENT, Heir to the esteemed Duchy of Sunholdt, and Her Ladyship LAURELIE VUILLER, daughter of the noble HOUSE VUILLER. This union between Balian’s two noble duchies marks the beginning of a new chapter in both families' legacies. THE CEREMONY IS TO BE HELD at Basilica la Sorella and will be officiated by CARDINAL IVAN. A reception will soon follow at The Ballroom of El Palau Del Sol, in The Duchy of Sunholdt, where there will be dancing and feasting aplenty. ˳˙⋆ ────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻──────────── ⋆˙˳ I. INVITATIONS ──────•༺ ✧ ༻•────── HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, JOHN II, King of Balian, and his royal pedigree HIS GRACE, MARCEL VUILLER, Duke of Aquilae, and his noble pedigree THE MOST HONORABLE, AUGUSTA TEMESCH ET MARTIEL, Countess of San Adriano, and her noble pedigree THE MOST HONORABLE, HEINRIK VAR RUTHERN, Count of Marsana, and his noble pedigree THE RIGHT HONORABLE, COLETTE DE LYONS, Viscountess of Enderoca, and her noble pedigree THE HONORABLE, CALLIOPE NOVELLEN-TUVIA, Baroness of Tuvia, and her noble pedigree THE HONORABLE, PALOMA GALBRAITH, Baroness of Cascanova, and her noble pedigree The Soldiers and Officers of His Majesty's Regiment of Saint Lothar HER ROYAL MAJESTY, KATHRYN OF RHEN, Queen-Consort of Balian THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES, THE PRINCES & PRINCESS-ROYAL OF BALIAN THEIR SERENE HIGHNESSES, XIOMARA I & JULIAN I, Sovereigns of Hyspia, and their royal pedigree HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, VALENCIA BELEN, Princess-Royal of Hyspia, and her royal pedigree THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES, EDWARD & CECILY ALSTION, Duke & Duchess of Alba, and their royal pedigree HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, COSIMA VICTORIA, Princess of Ravenmire, and her royal pedigree THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESS, THORIN & ISABEL ROSTOVA, Prince and Princess of Ravenmire, and their royal pedigree HIS GRACE, SIGMUND LUDOVAR, Duke of Kvasz, and his noble pedigree THE MOST HONORABLE, FRIEDRICH VON AUGUSTEN, Margrave of Schwyz, and his noble pedigree THE RIGHT HONORABLE, ERIK & EMMA KORTREVICH, Count & Countess of Jerovitz, and their noble pedigree THE RIGHT HONORABLE, GEORGE ALDERSBERG, Earl of Dover, and his noble pedigree THE RIGHT HONORABLE, LORELEI ALSTION-ENSWERP, Countess of Enswerp, and her noble pedigree THE RIGHT HONORABLE, KARL WEISS, Viscount of Novkursain, and his noble pedigree THE HONORABLE, SYMON STAFYR, Viscount of Falkenstein, and his noble pedigree THE HONORABLE, ADELINA VAN LEUVEN, Baroness of Furentaliz, and her noble pedigree THE NOBLE, ILYA IVANOVICH, Patriarch of House Ivanovich, and his noble pedigree HER GRACE, JOSEFINA BISHOP GELIMAR REVEREND MOTHER STEFANIYA LADY MANON ASHFORD DE FALSTAFF, and the residents of Deguise LADY PHILIPPA VON REUSS LORD JARAD MAH’NEL TEREZA BARROW SER ARTHUR UTHYRIEN ELIJAH LYNN EDVARD KERVALLEN GWYN KAGURA LLORA SOLTÉE JEAN-CLEMENT D'AUSSERE ˳˙⋆ ──────────────────────༺⠀✧⠀༻────────────────────── ⋆˙˳ Her Excellency, ESFIR ARTEMISIA D’ARKENT, Duchess of Sunholdt, Countess of Salia, Lady of El Palau del Sol, Matriarch of House d’Arkent, Palatiodora of Balian His Excellency, ACHILLIUS ARTEMISIO D’ARKENT, Heir to Sunholdt and Salia, Constable of Balian His Excellency, MARCEL ELIO HARALD VUILLER, Duke of Aquilae, Cavalier of the Royal Order of St. Michael, Royal Sentinel of Balian, Royal Legate of Balian, Her Ladyship, LAURELIE CELINE VUILLER, Arch-Magus of La Cort de la Taronja

Achillius would return back to his bedchamber after the court and being to weep tears of joy over their accension.