libertyybelle

Ipera begins to pluck her vegetables from her garden, placing them neatly in a box to be sold at the market!

BIG DAY FOR THE WHIMSY PEOPLE

Crow Scouts In every wood and wild place, the black-feathered crow watches from above. It sees the courage of the small, the kindness of the quiet, and the strength that grows in silence. And so was born the Order of the Crow Scouts, a fellowship for those who might be young and smaller than our older kin but are certainly not lesser than. ⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆ “To face your fears, and never let them rule you.” Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the choice to act despite it. A Crow Scout must learn to stand tall, to speak truth when silence is easier, and to rise even when the task before them seems too great. Whether defending a frightened friend, venturing into the unknown woods with an adult, or attempting a skill once failed, the brave do not flee from challenge, but meet it with courage. A brave scout: Volunteers when others shrink back. Tries again, even after falling. Defends those who cannot defend themselves. The Black Feather badge is awarded to those who act with such courage, even in small, quiet ways. “To let your heart be soft, even when the path is hard.” Kindness is the strength to be gentle. A Crow Scout is taught that true power lies not in might, but in mercy. One who listens, who lends a hand. The ones who share their heart and more in a world that struggles to promote empathy. The crow sees not only warriors, but peacemakers and friends. A kind scout: Comforts a friend in tears. Shares what they have, even when they have little. Speaks kindly of others and to others. The Golden Feather badge is granted to those who uplift, soothe, and serve with compassion. “To never give up, and try again.” Resilience is the will to endure, the strength to rise again. The road of life is long and oft steep, and the Crow Scout learns to persist through hardship. Whether enduring bitter cold, mastering a difficult craft, or striving to mend what is broken, they do not turn aside from the path. They learn that scars are not shameful, but proof of perseverance. A resilient scout: Does not give up when tasks grow hard. Learns from mistakes instead of hiding from them. Faces sorrow, yet continues forward with hope. The Silver Feather, rare and deeply honored, is given to those who endure where others would yield. Examples of tasks: The Trial of Thorns and Timber (Bravery Task) Upon the forest’s edge or green field, scouts shall face a crafted course of woodland perils: climbing over logs, crossing balance beams, crawling through woven branches. With courage and cheer, they shall complete the trial to earn the Black Feather of Bravery, proving their mettle before the crow. The Hands of Hearth and Heart (Kindness Task) Scouts shall craft tokens of goodwill — simple gifts, letters, or charms — and deliver them unto the aged, the ailing, or the weary-hearted within the tribes. Through gentleness and thought, they shall earn the Golden Feather of Kindness. For children ages five to thirteen winters. For any inquiries about how to join, please write to; The Lady Ipera Nikulara Barbanov-Bihar

ᛒᛟᚢᚾᛞ ᛒᛁ ᛒᛚᛟᛟᛞ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛒᛟᚾᛞ Bound by Blood and Bond The old Nornish Goddess Sól, Mother of Sun, Matrimony, and Love ᛏᛟ ᚾᛟᚱᛚᚨᚾᛞᛁᚲ ᛞᛖᚾᛁᛉᛖᚾᛊ, It is the wish and beckoning of the Nornish elders and our Haakon-King that we create a new tradition and celebration. Familial ties are the most paramount gift that the beyond has gifted us, and it is in Sol’s honor that we extend such festivities to the denizens of Norland and those who wish to make merry. It is our intent to have a two-month-long festivity in which one month we honor our ancestors and our past, and within the next month we look to the horizons for new bonds to create and the current familial ties we serve. During this, many affairs shall take place that intend to serve the purpose. FIRST MONTH; ᚲᛁᚾᛞᚱᛖᛞ ᚠᛖᛊᛏ - Kindred Feast Within the first month, atop Solgaard's hill, the warmth of their gracious meadhall will provide the ambience that is always required for a grand feast. Food beyond your eyes will be placed atop the tables, and drinks will be endlessly poured. Eat up to your eyes in honor of your ancestral connections. Dancing, of course, will take place after drinking the endless mirth of mead. ᛒᚢᚱᚾᛁᛜ ᛟᚠ ᚦᛖ ᛚᛖᛏᛏᛖᚱᛊ - Burning of Letters Directly after the feast, whilst the merriment is still high, we shall write letters to any ancestors you wish. Once such letters have been concluded, they shall be burned in a pyre, and the ashes shall be blown into the wind to be scattered to the skies. Only the eyes of familial ties shall see the words written upon the page. SECOND MONTH; ᚱᚨᚲᛁᛜ ᛟᚠ ᛗᚢᛚᛖᛊ - Racing of Mules Lastly, ladies will mount upon mules and race from Solgaard to Norland, dawning a favor from their suitors. Whether it be necklaces or tapestries, their suitors shall gift them before the race to offer their interest in the lady racing or the lady they wish to win. Then, upon the count, the ladies will race down the winding path to the front gates of Norland. First to cross the aurum lining will be the victor, and will be gifted a jewelled necklace. ᛗᚨᚲᛁᛜ ᛟᚠ ᚾᛖᚹ ᛒᛟᚾᛞᛊ - Making of New Bonds The month following will begin the chance to make new bonds, and perhaps find someone to start your own family with. A matchmaking event for all will take place in the Norlandic capital, and cats will be provided as a gift to your interested prospects. Such an event will be offered to every denizen, but the Norn elders have advised that the KING HAAKON will be taking offers as well, and they are very interested in finding the King a proper wife. Once a cat is offered to your prospect, you will have time to sit and speak with the interested candidate for a moment. For any inquiries about such an event, please write to; The Lady Ipera Nikulara Barbanov-Bihar Or The Nornish Elder Ljúfvina

Ipera looked to Isleifr, nodding. "What did poor Louis even do! Surely niething that bad, poor man."

The princess Ipera sat within the tavern, mourning those friends who hadn’t joined the Haeseni trek to the fellow Highlandic lands. Though for the first time in a long time, with the raising of Karoslund, she felt a swell of pride in her chest. Finally, just for a moment, she allowed herself to hope again.

this might be controversial, but as a prominent figure in haense when it fell, ive really enjoyed my roleplay since it happened regardless. of course it is sad, and i will always be a haense player, but i get to experience something new. im not 100% thrilled about the ooc aspects but for something i was so afraid of, it certainly was not bad. i was also a steady orenian player for years before it fell, and i was devastated as well but ended up loving haense just as much if not more. lotc is about change, nothing stays the same. oren was around for just as long if not longer than haense and that also was destroyed. it happens. nothing is immune to the cycle just like irl. if you are genuinely getting bothered by things that are happening, thats always a sign for me its time for me to take a hiatus. part of the fun of lotc is being apart of a bigger narrative that you are not always going to control and thats okay. sometimes its okay to be done for a few months and then come back - i personally am always better when i do.

The former princess, Ipera, looked onto this missive with a grim expression. “Though it saddens me our people are torn apart, ea pray that the Colborns find peace in their land regardless. Good luck, Acelia.”

The exiled Haeseni princess looked unto the paper with weary eyes, though a slight smile did embrace her lips. Deeply she appreciated the warmth the Norlanders gave her and her people, and in such dark times - it was the little hope she needed.

Months before the conclusion of what was the war that swallowed Haense, it was the moon Princess who stood atop the Kastell Lesanov and prayed. Her barely audible words sank into the night as she basked in the light from her beloved Nikul. She prayed for Haense and her family. She prayed that peace could be found in her time and that the angel who once spoke words of encouragement would once again find her. Alas, such an angel didn’t arrive, and her prayers went unanswered. It was upon her ride to Norland that she began to doubt her mission. To shepherd the Haeseni to the Norlandic borders was to shepherd them to Pagans and to the child Ipera who still lingered behind a now much older one, that was the worst thing she could do. Though of little choice, she beckoned her Marian Retinue and rode on to the colder parts. From then on out, her life was made in blinks. A blink and there Ipera was. Bidding Haakon a plead of survival, and to her surprise, she was met with a warmth she had not expected. Pagans, to her, were stories of evil men who ransacked villages and killed innocent women and children. Yet these men in front of her, bleeding of Norn, were anything but. The Norlandic King spoke unto her, as she offered gold and assets, that he could not be bought with things he could pillage. So she gave him all she could think to give in the moment. It was then as the Princess took off her circlet and knelt before Haakon in a manner of offering him her pride, he knelt along with her. His hand unto her shoulder, he spoke, “Then do what you must, and continue to be the Hope-Bearer for your Kingdom.” Another blink and she stood on the dias, listening as the Haeseni denizens cried out toward their King. Concerned and scared, she realized perhaps it was not something she could offer. Perhaps what the angel had spoken unto her, this mission she had been given was to be of little result. She would have to disappoint her, she would have to disappoint God. A blink. There he was, St. Raguel taking hold of Nadya and Joren - sweeping them away into a puff of smoke - her hope was lost and as Philippa beckoned her to stand, she simply could not. Everything was moving too fast and slipping from her grasp; Ipera could hardly keep up. A blur and time passed, and upon entering Lemon Hill, she felt little of God’s presence. She heard the men in the room debate how they would carve her home and what pieces would go where. It was then she lost her belief. And as the Norns helped the Princess bury her books deep within the confines of Solgaard, she began to question if such a God existed. How could he have turned his back to his creations? Surely, if there was a merciful God, he had been long dead. Each night in the Inn within Norland, she wept. Quiet enough as to not wake her children. Each night, she no longer prayed but mourned her lost home. She mourned the fact that Devana, Ulyana, and Anastasia would never know the beauty of the Kareninas. She mourned that her children, Isaak and Juliya, would never grow up knowing the vastness of Morteksvan’s halls or where their ancestors occupied. She mourned the woman who died alongside Haense.

Issued by the ROYAL COURT OF HANSETI-RUSKA c. 4THth OF GRONNA AND DROBA, 575 E.S. AUDITIONS FOR VE NIKUL PRINZEN VA BIRODEO HERZENAV AG ELDERVIK, It is with great pleasure, during these trying times, that the Princess Ipera wishes to finally display her play VE NIKUL PRINZEN. Though before such play can be experienced by the public, it is her wish to fill the scenes with people who share her passion with the arts and storytelling. So in those wishes, the Princess is opening casting calls for those wanting to participate in the first ever showing of VE NIKUL PRINZEN. A fictional story of a Moon Prince who wishes to enlight humanity against his Father’s wishes. Characters Available: Nikul – The noble and just son of Asseran, god of the Moon. Nikul is the champion of mankind, determined to free mortals from his father’s oppressive rule. Asseran – The proud and wrathful Sun God, ruler of the Celestial Realm. His fiery dominion over the heavens and earth reflects his relentless power and authority. Father to Nikul. Sindhor – The compassionate Earth Goddess and wife of Asseran. Protector of nature and its creatures, she offers wisdom and mercy in the face of divine conflict. Mother to Nikul. Morrig – A fierce and beautiful water nymph who serves as the general of Nikul’s armies. She is cunning, powerful, and unyielding in battle. Olwoki – The Clouds, divine messengers of the gods. They drift between realms, carrying secrets and omens from the heavens to the earth. Man – The mortals of the realm, struggling under Asseran’s rule. They strive for freedom, torn between fear of the gods and hope for liberation. DLUM VE EDLERVIK AG VE BIRODAL, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, Ipera Nikurala, Duchess-consort of Akovia, Lady Regent of the Duchy of Vidaus, Deputy Royal Curator, Lady Chamberlain of Asserala Court

The Princess Ipera sat in the Haeseni museum, reading the history books that laid in a tall pile aside her. ”Must history repeat itself? Must God’s flock die?” she lamented to no one in particular.

Of Alliance and Friendship Issued By THE LADY REGENT OF HOUSE RUTHERN & BARONESS OF FURENTALIZ 14th of Msitza ag Dargrund, 574 ES Let it be known that the noble Houses of Ruthern and Leuven, having long endured strife and discord, do now seek to mend the wounds of the past and forge a future built upon honor. In recognition of our shared duty to our kin and GOD we do hereby enter into this sacred pact of goodwill. ARTICLE I: Reconciliation of Past Transgressions. Both Houses acknowledge the grievances that have marred our history. With solemn hearts, we declare that the past shall no longer dictate our future, and we pledge to put aside past grievances, embracing reconciliation and the misdeeds that occurred prior to the Lady Regent. ARTICLE II: Amicable Resolutions. Future generations of Ruthern and Leuven shall honor this sentiment, ensuring that our children not inherit the slander of name, but the strength of unity. This alliance shall stand as an enduring testament to our commitment to peace. Should disputes arise, they shall be resolved through diplomacy rather than the sword. Iv Joveo Maan, Her Royal Highness, Prinzenas Ipera Nikurala, Duchess-consort of Akovia, Lady Regent of the Duchy of Vidaus, Deputy Royal Curator, Lady Chamberlain of Asserala Court The Honorable, Adelina Claire van Leuven Baroness of Furentaliz, Matriarch van Leuven, Surgeon General of The Hospital of St. Amyas

Issued by the ROSEN BANNER OF HANSETI-RUSKA c. 9th OF TOV AND YERMEY, 576 E.S. VA BIRODEO HERZENAV AG EDLERVIK, With the announcement of the forthcoming war, it is the will of Queen Nadya of Novkursain to extend her full efforts to the military initiative, ensuring that every Haeseni stands prepared for the trials ahead. This time of strife calls upon us to stand resolute in the face of those who would see us erased from the annals of history, and to rise with unabated strength in defense of our kingdom and our people. Now, as war looms once more, the Rosen Banner must rise again. The threat upon our very spirit is imminent, but never once have we faltered. Our steel remains sharp and our will unbroken. Let those who stand against us know: we are a people forged in hardship, bound by duty, and strengthened by the hearts of our ancestors. No force shall temper our resolve, and no darkness shall dim our light. Let the Royal Court not remain idle, but take up their charge in whatever form duty demands–be it in the smithy, the infirmary, or upon the battlefield itself. To those who bear the Rosen Banner, know this: your service is invaluable, your efforts shall not go unsung, and your temperament will be the strength upon which Hanseti-Ruska endures. Let all heed the call, for the Rosen Banner flies again. The Rosen Banner’s roots start in the Sinner’s War, also known as the War of the Wigs. As King Sigismund III served as a commander in the Tripartite Accord, his wife and queen, Queen Emma of Jerovitz, commandeered the Royal Court to join their fellow Haeseni and allies upon the battlefield.[1][2] They did not bear the name Rosen Banner yet, but laid the foundations of militarizing the Haeseni courts in wartime and enlisting the skills and labor of women of all social status in the kingdom.[2] The militarization of the Royal Court became a tradition and symbol of unwavering loyalty for many queens and courtiers, following immediately into the Successor’s War as well.[2][3] It wasn’t until the First Aevos Coalition War that the Rosen Banner secured its name and notability. Amidst the Grand Covenant, Bl. Queen Amaya of Venzia stood as the general of the Rosen Banner.[2] Her most leal servants and lieutenants were Dame Rosalind Valkonen and Miss Ronja Kort.[2] With the skills of those three, honed through the command of Bl. Queen Amaya, they made a formidable auxiliary out of the many ladies of Haense and court courtiers. The Rosen Banner, despite its recognition as a unique entity in the Grand Covenant for its rose-colored armor and women combatants, served with great versatility amidst the battlefield. They faced many foes and manners of defeating them, from blade to cannon and trebuchet. In these battles and sieges, enemies of the Rosen Banner sought to mock them for their efforts. The ridicule was short-lived for the Rosen Banner as they fiercely contested the battlefields with their comrades and allies.[2] In the Sieges of Breakwater and Brasca specifically, the Rosen Banner assisted in the artillery forces against both keeps. The cry of, “the maidens are shelling Veletz!” came to fruition as the offensive forces came to light.[2] In the Battles of Westmark and Hippo’s Gorge, Dame and Lieutenant Rosalind Valkonen became a noteworthy figure of the Rosen Banner, not only for her appearance on the battlefields, but for slaying a Veletzian champion in the Battle of Hippo’s Gorge.[2] The Rosen Banner went into dormancy after the First Aevos Coalition War ended. Now, though, it rears its head again to partake in the War of the Crown and the Crozier, also known as the Second Aevos Coalition War, at the behest of Queen Nadya of Novkursain. Already, observers have spotted rosen cloaks of the banner amidst the throes of raids and battles, including the Battles of Nueva Vida, Lesanov and Kretzen. [1] THE BLACK BANNER, Author unnoted, year unnoted. [2] THE GRAND COVENANT: ROLL OF BANNERS, Author unnoted, year unnoted. [3] THE BLACK BANNER: THE SUCCESSORS’ WAR. Author unnoted, year unnoted. GLORY TO THE ROSEN BANNER, GLORY TO ITS VENERABLE DEAD HER ROYAL MAJESTY, Nadya of Novkursain, Queen-consort of Hanseti and Ruska, Princess-consort of Bihar, Dules, Lahy, Muldav, Slesvik, Solvesborg, and Ulgaard, Duchess-consort of Carnatia and Vanaheim, Margravine-consort of Rothswald and Vasiland, Countess-consort of Alban, Alimar, Baranya, Karikhov, Karovia, Kaunas, Kavat, Markev, Siegrad, Torun, Toruv, and Valdev, Baroness-consort of Buck, Esenstadt, Kralta, Krepost, and Rytsburg, Lady of the Westfolk, Protector and Lady of the Highlanders, etcetera. HER LADYSHIP, Ipera vas Ruthern, Lady-Regent of House Ruthern, Lady Chamberlain of the Asserala Court, Deputy Royal Curator of Hanseti-Ruska