Zaerie

The Rivers Royal Gifts

Issued and averred by

Her Majesty

Atstana de

Regne Petrère

104

With the war looming overhead, canon and trebuchet fire streaking through the sky, the recently married Queen fought nonetheless. The war had been on her doorstep now, the Covenant attacking the traitors of Stassion from her own home soil. The Petrans stood at the edge of their territory, looking out at a keep that they used to rule. And now they would turn it to ash.

She had refused to step back, to stay home despite her state- though her own Mothers fate did not escape her thoughts. Princess Winifred, Catherine I’s mother, had died for Catherine and her twin, Marcus. Catherine could only hope that it wouldn’t be repeated during war. As the Petrans returned to Vallagne, victorious, Catherine Knighted her squires and then felt the consequences of her actions. Too early, did the Queen go into labour, and the fear she felt was far stronger than during any of the battles she had faced thus far.

The Queen and Prince of Abrana are pleased to announce the birth of their first two children, a girl and a boy both small but healthy. They wish to make clear that the succession of the Commonwealth is selective, and that neither child is to be named heir at the moment - the Archduchy of Vallagne shall remain as Prince Marcus Antonius, the Queen’s brother. The royal family is happy to introduce to the citizens of the Petra, and those of the Covenant;

Her Highness, Princess Rowena Ivanna, Countess of Clermont @carebear

His Highness, Prince Aurelius Arnaud, Count of the Phoenixspire @Kaii

Her Majesty, Catherine I, By the Grace of GOD, Queen of the Commonwealth of the Petra, Marquise de Val d’Estenou, Countess of Temesch and Moere, Baroness of Garmont, Valfleur, Vallagne-en-Petra, Brasca, and of the Phoenixspire, Protector of the Meadows, Defender of Liberty

His Highness, August Alcaeus of the Petra, Prince of Abrana, Baron of Wittenbach, Prince-Consort of the Petra

THE PRINCE OF ABRANA

Issued and averred by

Her Majesty

Atstana de

Regne Petrère

103

It is an unfortunate thing that Queens-Regnant are a relatively new phenomenon within humanity. Precedents for how to appropriately elevate our spouses are few and far between, and the first ever male consort of the Petra attempted to set the poorest precedent of all, that the husband of a Sovereign could lay claim to his wife’s titles. My grandmother, Renilde I, squashed this precedent through her victory in the Petran Civil War. She remarried to my grandfather some years later, Prince Marius, who never sought to claim such again but was not given any specific title beyond Prince-Consort.

Today however, following my marriage to August Alcaeus Wittenbach, I have decided upon the proper titleage that I would like to give my spouse, a title that I hope to be carried on by the spouses of future Sovereigns of the Commonwealth. This is an honour that I would like to give to my husband, who I trust beyond any doubt will only cherish the opportunity to stand beside me and unconditionally support me in my role as Queen.

Therefore, I hereby create for my husband the title of The Principality of Abrana, to be held titularly by the spouse of the Monarch of the Petra, whether male or female. This newly created title, having not been used before in any mention of history that I could find, holds no bearing on the succession or power of the Petran crown, and never shall. It shall not be hereditary, a title to be granted by the Monarch to their spouse until their reign is over.

Alongside this, August shall also be granted his familial title of the Barony of Wittenbach as the only remaining son known to be living of the previous Baron. Upon August’s passing, the Barony of Wittenbach shall return to the Crown until a rightful heir to the Wittenbach title presents themselves.

Without further ado, I presented to my people, the Petrans, His Highness, August Alcaeus, Prince of Abrana, Baron of Wittenbach, and the Prince-Consort of the Commonwealth of the Petra, the man that shall stand beside my throne until GOD tears us apart. Long may he support the Commonwealth and its interests, but never again shall a husband usurp his wife.

Her Majesty, Catherine I, By the Grace of GOD, Queen of the Commonwealth of the Petra, Marquise de Val d’Estenou, Countess of Temesch and Moere, Baroness of Garmont, Valfleur, Vallagne-en-Petra, Brasca, and of the Phoenixspire, Protector of the Meadows, Defender of Liberty

Catherine I of the Petra would don a smirk as she began to lay out her armor once again. She would flatten the map on the table of the plans of attacking from the Petran mountains. She narrowed her brows as she looked at the marker of Stassion on the map, "They took a man for a hand,"

"So I shall take a nation for a man."

"For Ghorm."

Queen Catherine I, who had directed the majority of her people into the tunnels had shouted, "Come, Sigismund! You can make it too!" But she saw his intent in his eyes, the brave mans determination to make a stand to distract the raiders while she and her people got to safety. And she would not forget the name of the man this night or any other, as they slept underground where his battle cry was but an echo in their imaginations.

Perhaps she had one more man to Knight,

Sir Sigismund, The Defiant

Kirsa Temesch, "The Hat-Maker", smiled to herself as her sewing was appreciated. "I hope he likes the hat and puts it to good use. I'm proud of that thing." She'd bob her head as she hummed and thought of the day, and all the amazing sights she saw from the back of the horse on her way to Veletz.

Queen Catherine I would pen a public letter to Davide as seen below;

"To Mister Davide, candidate of the Garmont Elections,

A new lawbook and Constitution has been drafted and is set to be voted upon at the next Garmont Assembly. It is one larger code to aid in easier accessibility for the common Petran, though will be voted upon in three sections; The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Petra, The Civil Codex, and the Lex Pettres. Voted upon in three sections to allow the Garmont the best voice on the matters of its contents. This will be in the hands of the Garmont Assembly within the year, and properly redefine the place of the Knights, and the Garmont itself, and many more things in Petran society as much of our current systems and government isn't even in our very outdated Lawbook. I had intended for this to be shown to the Garmont three years ago, at my Coronation, but alas, war gets in the way.

As for the Republic, we are working towards a new ideal of the Knightly Republic, where the knights table - once properly up and running again, will have a much larger say in the Petran government and the running of the Nation, even intending to eventually go as far as them selecting my own Chancellor should it progress that quickly under my reign.

We have much to do, Mister Davide, and I am glad to see a Petran man interested in the betterment of our Commonwealth. I hope that some of this information puts your mind at rest knowing that many of the steps you expect us to take have already been put into motion and are nearly at the ready.

Signed,

Catherine I"

Catherine I points at the paper, "Hey look! It's my clothes!"

Queen Catherine I sat by the fire in the square of Vallagne, slowly sharpening her blade as she listened to the song that her new knight had written. Some battles were won, and others lost. The Petrans would remember it all, their sorrow and their glee, through the songs and poems of Sir Marius, "The Wordsmith". 

– LETTERS PATENT –

– for the BARONY of RAONÒIR –

Issued and averred by

Her Majesty

Atstana de

Regne Petrère

100

BY THE ORDER OF HER MAJESTY, CATHERINE I,

Our loyal subjects, Atticus and Wilford Reinhold, are hereby elevated to the position of Barons of Raonòir for their and their families continued service to the Commonwealth of the Petra. Those of Raonòir have worked diligently for the Commonwealth, and are hereby recognized for their efforts.

The two have continued to diligently work for the betterment and survival of the Commonwealth, thrusting themselves and their family into everything that they are capable of assisting in. They are Knights, they are scholars, they are mages, they are medics, they are Petrans. This family has grown since they were welcomed into Petra, and it continues to. We look forwards to the promising future of the two new Barons, and the family that they are building.

With this elevation, Atticus and Wilford Reinhold, in representation of their family, shall take upon them the responsibilities and expectations of a Peer of the Commonwealth of the Petra. They and their family are to uphold and lift up the Commonwealth and their fellow citizens. To respect the sanctity of the laws of the Commonwealth, and be part of leading it into a bright and stable future.

Her Majesty, Catherine I, By the Grace of GOD, Queen of the Commonwealth of the Petra, Marquise de Val d’Estenou, Countess of Temesch and Moere, Baroness of Garmont, Valfleur, Vallagne-en-Petra, Brasca, and of the Phoenixspire, Protector of the Meadows, Defender of Liberty

– LETTERS PATENT –

– for the COUNTY of MAEHR’NOR –

Issued and averred by

Her Majesty

Atstana de

Regne Petrère

100

BY THE ORDER OF HER MAJESTY, CATHERINE I,

Our loyal subject, Sir Xavier Adiler, is hereby elevated to the position of Count of Maehr'nor for their and their families continued service to the Commonwealth of the Petra. Those of Maehr'nor have worked diligently for the Commonwealth, and are hereby recognized for their efforts.

Throughout my entire reign Xavier, Ponce, and their kin worked for and with the Commonwealth and its best interests. Answering the calls of war, through both manpower and assisting in the gathering of supplies, the Adiler family has stepped up to aid the land that they call home, and it does not go unnoticed. It is with great hope that we look to the new County within the Commonwealth, so that they might build a home among themselves for other elves that believe that they too might call our river nation home. For peace, prosperity, safety and welcomeness. You have a home here, Adilers, for as long as you wish it.

With this elevation, Sir Xavier Adiler, in representation of their family, shall take upon them the responsibilities and expectations of a Peer of the Commonwealth of the Petra. They and their family are to uphold and lift up the Commonwealth and their fellow citizens. To respect the sanctity of the laws of the Commonwealth, and be part of leading it into a bright and stable future.

Her Majesty, Catherine I, By the Grace of GOD, Queen of the Commonwealth of the Petra, Marquise de Val d’Estenou, Countess of Temesch and Moere, Baroness of Garmont, Valfleur, Vallagne-en-Petra, Brasca, and of the Phoenixspire, Protector of the Meadows, Defender of Liberty

– A NEW CHANCELLERY –

Issued and averred by

Her Majesty

 Atstana de

 Regne Petrère

 100

Since before the abdication of Queen Renilde I, Lord Konstantin of Bingleburg has served as the loyal and hardworking chancellor of the Commonwealth. He has upheld his duties diligently as my Regent through my own short reign, and has been a staple of change and resilience through this unprecedented time of alteration within the Commonwealth. However, I must admit that I know that this was something that Konstantin never actually wished to do. Out of loyalty as my Fathers friend, out of duty as my Godfather, Konstantin allowed myself and the Commonwealth to hold years of his life.

Now that the Regency has come to an end, and the majority of the Petra stabilized outside of the current war we have found ourselves thrust into, it is time to release Konstantin back to his own devices. He and myself have both agreed to pass on the Chancellery, and he may focus on his own ambitions. Therefore, I hereby announce the new Lady Chancellor, Thérèse von Theonus, who has stood as the Vice Chancellor for years.

May the Commonwealth continue to thrive on the banks of the Petra, with a new Chancellor to help guide the people and the government.

Her Royal Majesty, Catherine I, by the grace of GOD, Queen of the Commonwealth of the Petra, Marquise de Val d’Estenou, Countess of Temesch and Moere, Baroness of Garmont, Valfleur, Vallagne-en-Petra, Brasca, and of the Phoenixspire, Protector of the Meadows, Defender of Liberty

MC Name:

         Zaerie

Character's Name:

         Catherine I, Catherine Arabella of the Petra

Character's Age:

         17

Character's Race:

         Human, Heartlander

What magic(s) will you be learning?

         House magic

Teacher's MC Name:

         Destructokeith

Teacher's RP Name:

         Artel von Theonus

Do you have a magic(s) you are dropping due to this app? If so, link it:

         No

Do you agree to keep Story updated on the status of your magic app?:

         Yes

Are you aware that if this magic is shelved, it will be unavailable to use?

         Yes

— THE MEMOIRS OF

 QUEEN CATHERINE I

OF THE PETRA —

– BLOOD ON SMALL HANDS –

These memoirs are a private record and are currently unpublished.

5-10

I wish that I could say that I had a long, fun, and care-free childhood. Nothing would be further from the truth. In reality, it always felt like my skirts were stained with blood as I walked a path of death and horror. If only I could say that if I had been larger, the pool of it wouldn’t have felt that deep, but that too would be lying. The list of those that have died around me or because of me is a long one.

You would expect that a girl of less than ten would’ve been considered off-limits from the harsh realities of the world, but you would be disappointed. Perhaps it all happened to prepare me for the rest of my life, perhaps the world knew who I must become, and that I needed to be stronger than I was. Perhaps I needed to be shown the horrors of both the darkness, and of humanity itself so that I might make the correct choices to uphold the good that remained within it. I’m torn, still, if I should blame myself or not. Most would, and do, tell me that it’s not my fault, but how can you help but jump to the conclusion?

Perhaps the reason I chose red for many of my cloaks and dresses was because I thought the invisible blood on my hands might blend in among the threads. After all, my Grandmother said it herself when I, a six year old, had the arsonist executed. “You have sinned, you must go to confession, you must repent.” How did I sin? I was later told that I hadn’t, that it had been justice not sin. What is the difference? Where is the line? Can an act be both justice and sin? When does the scale tip? Does justice outweigh sin or does sin outweigh all? I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but I’ve decided that I’ll just assume it’s better to repent for everything. Because if nothing else, at least I will never commit the sin of never apologizing to God for my actions.

Men had captured him, Flint, the arsonist. Came to me to tell me of an attic of flesh and teeth. Me, a girl of six. No one else was around, you see. No one else could handle it. At first all he did was deny. No, he didn’t burn the town hall. No, that wasn’t human flesh in his attic, he knew nothing about it. No, he did not burn those two children alive. No, no, no- then who? But it had been him, for when I began to speak of finding people to run a trial, so that I didn’t have to do this- he forced it on me anyways.

Suddenly, it’d be too much hassle, a trial, in front of all those people, perhaps lying in front of so many scared him, perhaps he couldn’t handle lying to an adult, only a child such as myself. It seemed mostly that he found it a waste of time. “I confess, I did it. I burnt the town hall, the dog within, the children within. I am guilty and I confess.” And suddenly, a much larger task was on my shoulders. It is one thing to beg adults to run a trial, to put the burden to someone older, to someone that could handle it. It was on me. They looked to me.

And so I ordered his death.

The execution was really a turning point for my life. I think that is when people around me began to notice what was happening - the burdens on tiny shoulders. My Uncle Alberic specifically noticed. The growing monster that stalked around the Commonwealth with the face of an innocent little girl; who maybe if allowed to continue on would’ve lost the understanding of the value of a descendants life. I was not allowed to turn into that monster, however. I owe that to Alberic. He began to visit far more regularly, pushing my Grandmother to allow me a childhood and to be taught more properly. Between him and Rhosyn, I became a person with sympathy and empathy and sometimes, far too much of both. Not that I’d have a normal childhood anyways, but at least I didn’t execute anyone else for six more years.

Unfortunately, Alberic’s influence couldn’t solve the harshness of the world, only the harshness of myself. When the dead men grabbed me, my empathetic heart didn’t save me. Nowadays all I usually remember are chained wrists, a dark water filled cave, the Deadmen’s faces above me, and being chained to a tree set ablaze. They had grabbed me from the road outside of Marignan. A small girl grasping a wooden flute and a doll that I believed to be my mothers spirit looking over me. They stunk like death and rotting flesh, they reeked of despair, outrage, and a horrible fate coming. Surrounded, they chained my small, small wrists together, and I still wonder where they found shackles that size, and who makes items built to hold small, scared, and sniffling Princesses.

The Theonus family had noticed, by then, that I had been surrounded, and the Dead men began to tug on the chains. Dragging me off down the road, towards the riverbank, still clutching my beloved doll and flute. They tossed me into a rowboat, and we drifted from below the star covered sky into a musky cave. From there, I was again hauled up onto a rock, where their leader and second taunted me while the others intercepted the Theonus’ rowboat fleet coming to my rescue. While they battled in the water, I was cut and cursed. A scar that still shows on my forehead stays with me from that night, though I no longer try to hide it.

As the Theonus drew nearer and the Dead men’s chanting subsided, deprived of enough time to properly sacrifice me, the second in command seized my chains and my Petrine Knight doll- ripping the doll in two and wrapping the other end of the chain around one of the cave’s trees. I was secured to the spot, unable to move far from that anchor tree as he began to light it ablaze. They left, then, fleeing as all I was able to stare at was the growing flames that I was unable to run from despite the river that surrounded me, unable to reach it. Returning to Vallagne and being saved from that blaze and cavern is a blur.

The curse is a separate memory, with its two long years of pain. A childhood of curses, prophecies, weights upon my shoulders and the ebb and flow of a river that cared not for my age. I suppose one day I should thank Deadmund for that lesson in resilience, it seems that I needed the practice for later.

Thank you, Alberic, for helping me cure that curse.

I suppose it was lucky that the next few years were mostly calm in comparison, if you can call attending diplomatic meetings and being told of my Grandmother being threatened by Veletz ‘calm’. It wasn’t a kidnapping or executions, so in comparison it was. It seemed that all of the harshness of my early youth prepared me for the harshness that would be my early reign, it was clear to even me then that my Grandmother, the mighty Queen Renilde I, ‘The Lioness’, was getting tired. It felt quite like I just simply was not growing fast enough for the tiredness seeping into her bones. A small girl racing to grow up so that she might be strong enough to uphold a battered and scattered people. I wouldn’t grow up fast enough, and it was impossible to wait longer. And so, we stopped waiting.

So I became the ten year old Queen.

Queen Catherine I, having just finished her coronation before GOD in the burnt Church of Vallagne, would read the letter with a soft grin. "Aye, I think it would do us well to have guidance from within. I fear for too long we've gone unnoticed or left behind, abandoned and forgotten by many clergy or simply dismissed as a dysfunctional state." She would set the letter down with a bit more warmth in her heart, "Thank you, Your Grace, for speaking up for our Petran flock."

– BEGINNING to REBUILD the

 KNIGHTLY REPUBLIC –

Issued and averred by

Her Majesty

Atstana de

Regne Petrère

99

Long has it been since Petra has been a true knightly republic, its institutions slowly fading away out of necessity and lack of upkeep. The Commonwealth has grown and changed with the tides or wars, decay, and change, and now it once again goes through another metamorphosis. It is by the will of the Queen, Catherine I, that upon the dissolution of the Regency, that the Commonwealth begins to work towards the rebuilding of a version of a Knightly Republic.

Catherine intends to build a state of amalgamations between different versions of the past Commonwealth, and her own new visions. With such, the Round Table shall hereby be reformed now that more Knights of the Petrine Laurel have been made. They shall now become the founders of a new stone in the history of the Petran river, and the people that live on its banks.

Therefore, to begin this rebuilding and change, four large changes shall be implemented.

The Sovereign Order of the Petrine Laurel shall be split into two Chapters. The Chapter of Brooks, being knights of a more symbolic and stately nature - those that legislate, write, and create; and the Chapter of Rapids, the more commonly seen Knights of chivalry and quests, that raise their sword and charge into battle for the protection and honour of the Commonwealth.

The Round Table shall be remade, being an advisory body to the Crown and the River Council, and above the Garmont Assembly. With this, Knights will no longer have an automatic seat on the Garmont. The Round Table shall have two main purposes, to advise the Crown on stately duties, and confirm treaties and other edicts that the Crown and River Council create, and to run the Sovereign Order as a Council with a voted-in Commander instead of one unquestionable leader.

Seven of the highest knights shall be granted governorship over the different regions of the Crownland, to protect and represent. They shall be the communication point between the vassals that inhabit the area, and the River Council and guard. They shall be responsible for ensuring that darkspawn, monsters, and other threats from Iblees are purged from the land, or to gather groups to aid in their defeat.

These Seven Governorships shall be as follows;

The Seat of Val De Lagne, the Capital Region. This is to be held by the current Knight Commander.

The Seat of Nortrebanc, the region around Hohkmat. This is to be held by a knight with connection to the Mages of Hohkmat.

The Seat of the Mardonlands, the Eastern region around the river cave.

The Seat of Mount Catrinne, the region surrounding the Memory tree and its mountain.

The Seat of Solland, the area directly South of the Capital and Mount Catrinne.

The Seat of Renilcia, the Southernmost region bordering the Capital of Numendil.

The Seat of Seviel, the South-Eastern corner of the Petran claim, into the Birch forest.

The Seat of Seviel and Renilcia are to remain in abeyance until the regions are properly settled by the crown of the Petra.

Finally, the Knights of the Petrine Laurel shall be granted the right to try and condemn criminals should it be required. They must follow the caught-in-the-act laws that the officers of the City Watch are held to, where they can only bypass trial should the criminal have committed the crime without a doubt. Otherwise, a trial must be scheduled and held.

Her Majesty, Catherine I, Queen of the Commonwealth of the Petra, Marquise de Val d’Estenou, Countess of Temesch and Moere, Baroness of Garmont, Valfleur, Vallagne-en-Petra, Artois, and of the Phoenixspire, Protector of the Meadows, Protector of Dogs, Maker of Maps

Mayor Sir Aimo “The Eccentric, Tongue Taker” of Astor, Knight Commander of the Petrine Laurel

Issued on

 13th of Horen’s Calling, 83 BA

 Atstana de Regne Petrère 95

ARTICLE I

The Kingdom of Balian and the Commonwealth of Petra, or henceforth ‘the signatories’, recognise each other’s sovereignty and the rule of their domains, and their respective monarchs. 

ARTICLE II

The signatories pledge to each other to adhere to principles of peace between each other, they shall not wage war upon one another, nor shall they raise arms against one another, or try to bring harm to the integrity of one another’s realms.

 ARTICLE III

The signatories pledge to themselves to a defensive alliance between their States, and shall not incite conflict between each other. They furthermore agree that an attack on one signatory shall be treated as an attack on both. 

ARTICLE IV

The signatories agree to engage in military companionship, hosting joint trainings and expeditions along with mock scrimmages in order to bolster international engagement from either nation’s people. 

ARTICLE V

The signatories agree to criminal extradition between each nation; should a citizen of either side commit a crime in the other nation, an agreement of transportation and extradition will be enforced in order to honor the agreement of full nonaggression. 

ARTICLE V

This treaty shall be in effect for a period of ten years, after which the realms shall convene once again for renegotiation.

Signed,

HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, Adrian I, by the Grace of GOD, King of Balian, Viscount of Pompourelia, Eflen and Anatis, Baron of Brucca,Valens, Malenos, Goza and Ciavola, Lord of Portoregne, Atrus and Monterosa, Warden of La Costa Rubinissima, Prince of the Holy Orenian Empire, Protector of the Heartlanders and the South, etcetera.

Her Majesty, Catherine I, Queen of the Commonwealth of the Petra, Marquise de Val d’Estenou, Countess of Temesch and Moere, Baroness of Garmont, Valfleur, Vallagne-en-Petra, Artois, and of the Phoenixspire, Protector of the Meadows, Protector of Dogs, Maker of two Maps

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, Elena Casimira Novellen-de Lyons, Countess of Rosemoor, Baroness of Enderoca,  Amiratus of the Kingdom of Balian, Lady Seneschal of the Crown and Chief Minister of the Royal Duana.

His Excellency, John Augustus Galbraith, Baron of Cascanova, Patriarch of Galbraith, Ward to the King, Royal Legate, Secretary of the Foreign Office.

His Excellency, Sir Konstantin “the Dauntless” von Theonus, Knight of the Petrine Laurel, Guardian of the Commonwealth, Hero of Faubourg