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THE LIFE OF SER NIKOLAUS KORTREVICH “The Most Distinguished Man to Live” By: Otto Kortrevich “A bull doesn’t concern himself with the opinions of cattle like yourself, Rodrik.” -Nikolaus to Rodrik Kortrevich, 1750 EARLY LIFE CHILDHOOD Nikolaus; born as Nikolaus Halldor, son of my uncle Henrik and aunt Lilliana. From the young beginnings of his childhood, Nikolaus held a tenacious bond with his father more so than his mother. He took prominent appreciation in his father’s expertise in swordsmanship which would later pivot his life in the direction that would land himself years subsequently. Throughout his adolescence he became well-educated on the simple fundamentals of wielding a blade, footwork and drawing a bow & arrow. His enthusiasm was mutual with myself, who together spent a great deal of time with each other as both of our fathers were distinguished within the first order of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl; both of which held the rankings of Master-at-Arms. Training amongst the four of us was commonplace during our early adolescent years as we fervently continued to get better at what we enjoyed most. Several hardships were inevitable and that laid true during both mine and Nikolaus’ childhoods, the major known conflicts that occurred at the time were the ever continuous Vaeyl Wars and The Third Atlas Coalition War among the two of them the Siege of Nordengrad (c. 1690) would take the lives of both my father and uncle. An already stalwart bond between the two of us later strengthened following our fathers passings. After numerous years following the deaths of the renown, heroic warriors of Lukas and Henrik, both Nikolaus and I sought to continue our common interest in following the footsteps of our esteemed fathers. By the time we reached the ages of eighteen[Nikolaus] and twenty-one[Otto] we quickly enlisted ourselves into the Brotherhood of Saint Karl under the direct commandment of Lord Marshal Rhys var Ruthern. Within prompt fashion, we rose through the ranks as we became distinguished in the brotherhood and made our names known amongst our fellow brothers. [see ‘Rise Through The Ranks’] MARRIAGE Through years of training a part of the Brotherhood and defensively taking part in countless raids and skirmishes against the Red City of Markev, the thought of marriage never came across his mind for a foreseeable acquisition but that opinion would soon shift when he was introduced to Lotte. On his excursion to the Imperial capital of Carolustadt he and I made way to the capital in aspiration to register to vote for the Imperial Parliamentary Elections of 1703. Upon our arrival to the capital of The Empire of Man both myself and Nikolaus would later be introduced to Lotte Rosendale who was merely a medic pondering the streets at the time. Soon after the meeting amongst the three of us, I suggested taking the conversation to the nearby tavern at the forefront of the city. Quickly thereafter, Nikolaus and Lotte would soon become well-acquainted and as time progressed their bond grew ever closer which would ultimately lead them to marriage the following winter. The wedding had a good showing as it was open to the general populace of Haense, featuring the attendance of His Majesty, King Robert I and Her Majesty, Queen Elizaveta with the added guard battalion of the Brotherhood and the Knights of Bihar presiding which featured the presence of notable figures like; Ser Henrik Ludovar, Ser Varon Kovachev, Ser Dominic Grimm and Ser Bjolfr Nord. The marriage between the two was unlike any other but faced victim to turmoil as any other marriage does but nevertheless their bond remained lusty and strengthened every day as their family began to grow day by day. BEGINNINGS OF HOUSE KORTREVICH The House of Kortrevich: ( Common: Kortrevich, High Imperial: Kortrevinus ) The House Of Kortrevich was once divided between two families; the Haldors and the Blackwoods up until it was revealed the two families had common relatives. Following this revelation made by my uncle Elijah Haldor, the two families assumed the common surname- Kortrevich{Kortrevinus}. Ever since the family’s first establishment in the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, the ménage has played a significant role apart from the Royal Military where we once held a rather large host of men and women who too bore the colors of Black & Gold. Since the dawn of the famed legends of my father and my uncle our family has held rankings such as Master-At-Arms up through Kaptain until my generation of the family arrived and embarked on our own ventures and aspirations. The generation of my kin would be the very individuals who would continue to hold a large presence in the Royal military and seek to obtain knighthoods, political positions and direct oversight in the Royal government that resided in the Dual-Monarchy. It was only shortly after our family made our name widely known which would be rewarded by the titular enfeoffment of the Barony of Koravia by His Majesty, King Marius I, following our leal service to the crown and the insurmountable amount of due diligence in regards to leading the Kingdom’s army, Kingdom’s knightly system and help aid the Kingdom’s very function within the Duma halls. Our household itself has continued to praise the idealism of remaining committed to the crown and ever-fervent to serving the crown directly by any means necessary. [see ‘House Kortrevich’ post for more information] (*coming soon*) “I’m not questioning your honor nor your merit, Darius. I’m denying its existence outright.” -Nikolaus to Darius Ault, 1699 The Siege of Arberrang, 1691 RISE THROUGH THE RANKS When Nikolaus and I were of our adolescent years we looked to be enlisted soldiers in the Brotherhood of St. Karl in the likes of our fathers. It was only until Nikolaus reached eighteen years of age and I, twenty-one years of age where we would actually be recruited by the young Prince Marius and Lord Jakob Ludovar himself and bare the colors of Black & Gold. Our rise through the rankings was swift in fashion as our expertise with swords in hand outmatched those less skilled. Nikolaus took particular liking to being on the direct front-lines while on the contrary I took to rising through the ranks to become an enlisted officer and have oversight from the rear-lines. Our household during this period of time had a large presence in the standing military at the time which garnered us the respect of the already established nobility houses that have stood for generations. Nikolaus and I continued to rise through the ranks and receive promotions up through till I was granted the honor of being named Lord Marshal by His Majesty, King Robert I for eighteen years where at that point, Nikolaus sought to finally achieve knighthood and bring honor to the House once more. From the very beginning, where both Nikolaus and I were young children, our aspirations were common but despite this being the case we both chose different yet similar paths which would land ourselves years subsequently. KNIGHTHOOD Ever since Nikolaus was but a mere teenager his aspiration to become a Knight became well-known to that of his friends and family. Nikolaus, while fortunate to be born into a rather large common-born household wasn’t privileged to the natural-born right to squire and because of this he sought to prove himself by any means necessary. Varon Kovachev, the incumbent Paramount Knight at the time was one Nikolaus sought to personally prove his worth to yet, it was only until His Majesty, King Robert I himself placed a set of quests and adorous trials for Nikolaus to complete for him to then later be recognized years later by the populace of Haense as a Northern Knight of Hanseti-Ruska. WARS & BATTLES ★= Commanding role Third Atlas Coalition War: >Siege of Arberrang (1691) >Siege of Kal’Tarak (1692) Vaeyl Wars: >Battle of Last Hope ★ (1704) War of the Two Emperors: ( 1715 - 1721 ) >Battle of Upper Rodenburg ★ >Battle of Lower Rodenburg >Battle of Helena Fields >Siege of Helena ★ >Battle of the Rivers >Battle of Leuven >Second Battle of Leuven >Battle of Silversea >Battle of Koengswald Three-Month War: ( 1725 ) >Battle of Tal’Short >Second Battle of Tal’Short Lorrarinian Revolt: ( 1729 - 1730 ) >Siege of Guise ★ War of Orcish submission: ( 1731 - 1737 ) >Siege of Krugland Rubern War: ( 1740 - Present ) >Battle of Hangman’s Bridge >Battle of Reza “Never forget who you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to impair you.” -Nikolaus to Ulric Vyronov, 1716 The Siege of Helena, 1716 THE TROUBLES RODRIK’S BETRAYAL Upon the eruption of The War of the Two Emperors, our cousin Rodrik had his allegiances swayed in full support towards the Imperium Renatum as opposed to his sworn oath and once full-fledged support towards the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, the very Kingdom he himself swore to protect. Following this revelation to the populace of Haense, the once praised Knight Paramount was perceived entirely differently and was now sought to be an oath breaker and one not to be trusted in the slightest of means. Immediate backlash from the denizens of Reza was imminent towards our House as the once esteemed Knighted figure was in actuality part of our nobility household; the Kortrevich ménage. Several prominent figures who dealt with the backlash first hand were; myself, Nikolaus, Duncan, Erik and Martin but from other perspectives within the family, this sudden betrayal of Rodrik’s saw changes in the way some members of the family lived- Sarah, Lotte, Primrose, Emaline and Arabella took more heedful precaution when travelling within side the city and took notable wariness when obligated to travel outside the city to the noble landings of Ayr and Nenzing. Among the many challenges that occurred throughout Nikolaus’ long life, this among any other obstacle was one that would later pivot the outlook on the future of the family. ROYAL ORDER FOR THE APPREHENSION OF RODRIK Rodrik, the incumbent Knight Paramount of Haense at the time before his betrayal was one of if not King Marius’ closest confidantes which was known as Rodrik took attendance in many of the Aulic council meetings during his short-tenure. With this being said, when Rodrik’s allegiance swayed entirely to that of the Imperium Renatum it was imminent that our House would undergo an insurmountable amount of backlash as the once esteemed Knighted figure bared the names of turncoat and traitor by the denizens of Reza at the time. Nikolaus while recently being promoted as Knight Paramount following both Rodrik’s betrayal and the unfortunate death of Ser Dominic Grimm it was Nikolaus’ task as Rodrik’s cousin to carry out the charge demanded by His Majesty, ‘to return Rodrik back to Haense where he’ll receive the proper punishment for treason against the crown’. The order itself came from the words of King Marius and would finally be fulfilled thirty-years subsequently when the two estranged cousins’ crossed paths for a final time. [see ‘Fulfilling a Promise’ for continuation] TUTELAGE OF RODRIK’S CHILDREN Following Rodrik’s immediate dismissal of his own kin during The War of the Two Emperors, Rodrik’s own children were kept under captivity under his sole guardianship. His mind was severely clouded which serves as adequate reasoning for him not allowing his own wife, the mother of his two children the ability to cater to them and raise them amongst a loving family in Haense as opposed to the war-riddled city of Helena under the guardianship of solely Rodrik and his twin brother; Cassius. Each of our family members, especially Nikolaus made it their priority to eventually retrieve the children from captivity despite the ongoing war that scarred the Arcasian plains. It was only a matter of time that Rodrik would retort something in response to the many missives sent by Nikolaus and the family and soon enough upon one early morning two dragon knights arrived swiftly to the gates of Reza on horseback where the two Kortrevich children and one barbanov bastard could be seen being pulled by the trio of stallions. The escort was not in the slightest bit small as accompanied with the two dragon knights, an entire battalion of Red Knights and Ordermen from the Order of the Red Dragon surrounded the escort all the way from the imperial capital of Helena to ensure their safe arrival. Upon their arrival to Reza the children were quickly placed in front of the gates where a singular guard then shouted to the nearest guardsmen in Reza: “Call for Ser Nikolaus, these children are of Kortrevich blood and Ser Rodrik wishes for their utmost amount of safety. . . Ensure they are brought to the hands of Nikolaus.” [!] Attached to one of the children’s baskets would be a tattered parchment signed by his Imperial Excellency, Ser Rodrik Jozsef Kortrevich, "I, Rodrik of Kortrevich hereby give full tutelage of my children to my cousin Nikolaus of Kortrevich, current Knight Paramount of Haense - this message will arrive sooner or later, but I might already be gone, I've sailed, away from this realm, away from this war and away from the fray - I care for the safety of my children and I understand that even after what has happened you all do as-well, The deal is very simple, you may raise them, teach them your ways and treat them as yours, but if anything happens to them, or I hear that they're being treated ill and they do not feel safe with you, the Imperial Crown of the Kingdom of Cascadia shall retrieve them. In brief. allow them to explore, teach them of the perils, but more than anything - let them be free." “So many promises…they make you vow to uphold. Defend the sovereign. Obey the king. Preserve his confidence. Do his bidding. Your life for his. But obey your father. Love your sister. Protect the innocent. Safeguard the weak. Respect the Gods. Be law-abiding. It’s too much. No matter what you do, you’re forsaking one vow over another.” -Nikolaus to Otto Kortrevich, 1706 Lotte Kortrevich laying on her deathbed, 1729 HEARTBREAK DEATH OF LOTTE, 1729 Among the many things that Nikolaus was met with during his life, the death of his dear wife Lotte was one that struck him like no other. Their marriage had its hardships and blessings but one thing that remained true up and till the end was their mutual love for eachother and their children they brought into the world. The eternal bond between the two was recognized by their kinsmen and the extended families abroad which ultimately made her truly one that was arduous to leap over for all who knew her closely. While the tailend of their ever-fruitful relationship did encounter sour turns they remained resilient with each other for the sake of their children, even if that meant for them to live apart from each other for years at end. Both Nikolaus and Lotte had their evident flaws that I personally can list out but despite these flaws at every corner moment they sought to deal with them and overcome the many obstacles that covered their common path. By the end of Lotte’s joyous life, she remembered nought but the few names of those closest to her; Nikolaus and Primrose which saddened her to the longest ends. I myself grew a deep sense of sadness when the day arose when Lotte, a good friend of mine, my cousin’s wife, didn't recall who I was. Despite her sickness, Lotte’s passing was peaceful where she bore no physical harm but the harm of heartbreak. Her death transcended quickly through word of mouth where the likes of many who knew her tried to comprehend the reality that was in front of them. Nikolaus most of all along with his two daughters, Primrose and Emaline were in complete disbelief but ultimately came to a common understanding of what she sacrificed and accomplished throughout her simple life. Memories would be shared but the lasting impact of Nikolaus’ only love ascended to the skies that flew above further struck him down to a pitiful sense of hopelessness as the wars still raged on and saw no end in foreseeable sight. EXECUTION OF ERIK, 1725 Following the unfortunate death of Ser Ulric Vyronov, Erik would soon be held accountable for his death and brought to trial on the felony charge of Involuntary Manslaughter. After the quick guilty verdict by the Lord Justicar; Ser Gerard Stafyr would sentence Erik to death. Just following the verdict was declared to the general public, Nikolaus made an urgent plea to Andrik to be the one to carry out the sentence as he didn’t want to witness his cousin publicly executed in front of what would’ve been a large turnout of commonborn and nobleborn alike witnessing a man pay for his crimes. Andrik would graciously agree to Nikolaus’ request and soon enough moments later Erik was carried down to the cells in the guardhouse district with the assistance of Prince Otto Sigmar and Lord Lerald Vyronov. [4] (embedded link to map) where he then faced his sentence while letting out no last words before his execution. Years subsequent to Erik’s execution, Nikolaus’ initial reaction to his cousin’s beheading was demoralizing to see witness to. While Erik and Nikolaus did not retain a close bond they too were in fact cousins connected by blood which made it truly difficult for Nikolaus to overcome what he was entrusted to do. I noticed a change in his disposition also immediately as he began to remain distant towards his kin which grabbed my attention, the families attention and eventually the King’s attention which resulted in his removal as Royal Executioner after it was made abundantly clear he was in no place to be entrusted with that responsibility. The position itself remained vacant up until Lord Karl Vyronov took seating as the Royal Executioner until he himself was killed and the position remained vacant until recently, where Ser Jonathan Frostfire now stands. KNIGHTLY RECONSTRUCTION Well before Nikolaus took seating as Paramount Knight in Haense, the knightly orders were in a state of royal disarray as they all saw no clear structure and most importantly had no real basis on how exactly a man or woman achieves knighthood. Nikolaus saw immediately the condition of the knightly structure in Haense and sought to completely rework it to an adequate working condition. His first task of business was to clearly outline how one man or woman is able to be knighted. Soon after he outlined how exactly one achieves knighthood he made it well aware to King Andrik that he had avid interest in establishing a new Knightly Order within Haense that acted as a separate entity from the Marian Retinue which would take precedence as the primary Knightly Order in Haense as opposed to before having just the King’s royal guard in function. Nikolaus worked with many people to accomplish his aspirations. Among the lengthy list includes; King Robert I, King Marius II, King Andrew III, King Andrew IV, the grand knights of the deplorable Ser Darius Ault, the vile Ser Uthred Gromach and finally the righteous Ser Dominic Grimm. The many changes Nikolaus would make to the knightly structure in Haense would influence the other human nations and directly influence the construction of new ones under Nikolaus’ personal advice. [see. The Order of the Crow for more information] “THE ORDER OF THE CROW” KNIGHTLY OBLIGATIONS EDICT BOOK OF THE MARIAN RETINUE REAFFIRMATION OF OATHS "You think my life is such a valuable thing to me, that I would trade my merit for a few more years... of what exactly?" -Nikolaus to Rodrik Kortrevich, 1750 The Kortrevichbowl, 1750 FULFILLING A PROMISE Thirty years had passed since the conclusion of the War of the Two Emperors but no remorse was shown by our cousins, Rodrik and Cassius following their betrayal that would lead to the demise of hundreds. Out of all of us who sought to seek revenge for the treacherous actions Rodrik inflicted on the family and the greater Kingdom, it was Nikolaus who was tasked to apprehend the traitor and bring him either dead or alive to the Royal City of Reza on King Marius’ due directive. Decades would pass and the promise taken in my Nikolaus would be forsaken as the war neared its end where Rodrik eventually embarked away from the fray, and away from the likes of his kin. As the coward he was this was a given but nevertheless Nikolaus never sought to forsake his vow he took oh so many years ago. Many missives sent by myself, Duncan, Erik, Martin, Alexander, Sarah and even the likes of my nieces; Primrose and Emaline sent missives to Rodrik where we all plead and demanded he return to his homeland and face the countless punishments for his crimes so our family could finally seek closure. It was only till one day where Rodrik obtained a missive by Nikolaus himself which would finally lead the old-Imperial Knight to beckon his armor once more and ride north to his homeland. [see ‘Summoning a Sojourner’ for continuation] SUMMONING A SOJOURNER A handful of years had passed since the final missive was sent but eventually the arrival of Rodrik would soon stand outside the towering walls of Fort Korstadt. The host of men on either side of the wall stood still as the two estranged cousins shared few words before they would eventually sheath blades of their own and deal out justice for a final time. A period of time later would pass where the two bodies of Rodrik and Nikolaus laid; soon after the fight the garrisoned host of Brotherhood foot soldiers sallied out to motion for Rodrik’s once closest compatriots to disperse. Out of everything that I’ve experienced throughout my long life, to witness my two cousins bring each other to their pitiful end is among the many experiences I will naught forget. Nikolaus lived a fair life, one that retains more accomplishments than many well-renown field-commanders of the past. His legacy will forever live on and be remembered forevermore by the likes of our kin and our nation. Nikolaus and I shared our bountiful amounts of arguments but never did we leave a conversation without a smile on either of our faces. May Nikolaus be remembered as one of the most illustrious men to ever live. May Nikolaus be remembered for his many achievements. May Nikolaus be remembered for every vow he never forsook. My cousin, may he be remembered for the love he shared with his dear wife, Lotte and the family he raised despite his prolonged duties as the Paramount Knight for over thirty-years. My cousin, may he be remembered as one of the most honorable knights in Haense to ever bare the colors of Black and Gold. . Ave Nikolaus, Ave Haense. [see ‘Kortrevichbowl’ for more information] KORTREVICHBOWL “It's the family name that lives on. It's all that lives on. Not your honor, not your personal glory, family.” -Nikolaus to Primrose & Emaline Kortrevich, 1748 Ser Nikolaus Kortrevich “The Strong” (1680 - 1750) Knight Paramount of Haense (1716 - 1750) FULL TITLE The titles of Ser Nikolaus Kortrevich were; The Right Honorable, Ser Nikolaus Kortrevich, Knight Paramount of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, Commandant Knight of the Marian Retinue, Meyster Knight of the Order of the Crow, Royal Champion of King Andrew III. Published by the House of Kortrevich Written by Otto Kortrevich

The Stran; The Quest For The Seven Skies: An Oral Epic Recorded by Diedrik Carrion II "Now gather round small children and listen to tale passed down from my grandbub to my mother to me. This is old tale from Old Country, where Sun did hardly shine and winters were long and white..." A small rascal by the name of Alexei spoke up "Is this story of The First Strannik?!" The Old Bubovh smacked the small boy on his small head. "Quiet and listen to your Bubuhv! Make respect of your elders!" The old woman gave him the crows eye and continued on. "In country of Old Raev there was hero of folk legend. Coming from roots of humble streltsy, this man started young and ended... well you know story. Quested long and far, seeking entrance in Seven Skies. In end, he found Seven Skies and Ascended in feat of great strength, faith, and sacrifice. And he was called Stran..." Once more the small boy broke in, standing among his peers seated on the cold floor. "That's him! That's first Strannik! He's -" "I say shush small boy! Clearly my grandnephew taught you ney manners! Sit and shut mouth!" The boy sat and shut his mouth. "Alexei is right and wrong. He is first Strannik, and he is where we get name. But do not interrupt or I will give you hard beating on tucas.” The old woman settled in her seat, motioning for the children to come closer, to better hear her gravelly voice. “Many, many ages ago, when the first Raevirs lived in Raev, when they lived in sin and debauchery, when men were false, when foreign folk tread their feet on the soil of Old Country, there was revelation. See small children, then light of Godanistan was found only in the darkest cave, in the coldest forrest. Men were faithless then, with no belief in God. Before we toiled in soil for Godan, we toiled in soil for ourselves and pagan gods. Raevirfolk were not the humble and holy folk we are now. Savage, brutal, and without our creator’s grace. However, it is for this that we became a faithful folk, an obedient and humble folk, one to restore humanity to what it once is. See children, it is only those who know their people’s darkest sins that can save them from such damnation once more. It is why to this day, Raevirs have defended their faith and humanity with such fervor. But what man could do this? What man could be the first to rise from sin and damnation and provide his brat’ya example, to show them what they must do? I will tell you. A man who must discover this himself first. This children, is the Strannik. Though in those days he was simply “Stran”. His name though is hardly important. A name is only a name. What were important were his actions. And they start with a quest… [As the old crone prattles on, she tells the epic known only as The Stran. The story is a long one, and to record it in its entirety would be lengthy, and nigh impossible. The tale contains many of the old parables that the people of Old and New Raev told to one another to teach the fundamental cultural tropes and values of their society. In its essence though, The Stran tells the story of four young individuals, three knights and a fourth man, of various cultures. The first is “The Orenian”, a man from the Heartlands. This man embodied the common tropes of all Orenians. He was an idealist, a fervent zealot, and what would be considered a “chivalrous” knight. However, despite being the “ideal Orenian”, this knight is anything but ideal. He is bold but brash. He is zealous, but crude. He is honorable, but a braggart and proud. The second is “The Hansetian,” a brutal northerner. His character offers many insights into what the old Raevirs thought of their northerner cousins. He is brutal, crude, and a hedonist. The Hansetian revels in his victories, drinking from dusk to dawn to celebrate in all manner of drinking and whoring. However, he is in many ways a reflection of what the pagan Raevirs were and what they sought to leave behind. His martial ability and remarkable loyalty to Stran is something to take note of when considering their ancestors. The third is “The Salvian”. Hailing from the harvest lands of the south, he is another caricature of this people, as the first two. The Salvian is pragmatic and savvy, easily capable of seeing all sides to a problem, and being able to exploit any weakness. However, this gives an example of what skill without virtue can do to a man. He is greedy, arbitrary, and deceitful. The general mistrust that he sows about him tends to plant paranoia in his mind, undermining his goals. Finally, the last among these men is the strannik himself. Although, at this point he is simply known by the name of “Stran”. A brief note on stranniks; the word originates from the Old Raevir term for a “wanderer” specifically a warrior. Many tribeless warriors of great skills travelled from chief to chief in pagan Raev, searching for a benefactor to fight under for riches. These were in reality the first stranniks, long before Stran came about. It is believed by many that Stran lived during the massed invasions of Old Raev, where the conquests of the Heartlanders spread the Faith among the Raevirs. After the consequential adoption of the Heartlander’s feudal system, many stranniks that converted found similar service in the courts of the lord’s courts, among their retinue. The term over time became used for the sworn swords of a lord, or warriors who seeked martial service and recognition within a lord’s retinue. The practice is still ongoing to this day. Essentially, the net change was the religion of the stranniks and their masters as well as the general structure of the society. However, the strans of the Order of the Strannik are unique in several areas. This will be elaborated later. Stran himself made the fourth of the company. Hailing from a small village in the heart of Mother Raev, the story tells of a young man, hardly of age, who hears calling to him the voice of God. Hearing this voice, he is entranced. He wishes at first to hear it again, only to grovel in the richness of it. He waits many moons to hear it, but it does not come. Finally, one night when he has all but lost hope in its return, he is drawn from his hovel. Making his way to the nearby creek, under the endless night sky he spies a rock dove, a pigeon. Moving to it, the bird does not shy away. Suddenly, he is smitten by a blinding light, and hears the divine voice once more. All thoughts of pleasure and enchantment are lost as he trembles in its might. He quakes in fear, and cries out, begging for mercy. Then, the light no longer blinds him. It warms him, and he receives a vision, a divine revelation. The Light comes from Godanistan, the Raevan name for ‘Holy Creator’. He learns of his quest, to follow the Light wherever he may go and seek the Seven Skies Above. He is told that where the Faithful’s zeal burns brightest he will find three companions, also seeking salvation. Stran is baptised in the water of the stream, and vows he shall uphold his quest with all the persistence of his people. At the break of dawn, Stran takes up a staff of pine and sets off. He finds in the gravel on the road a cross of oak, by which he strings it around his neck with yak wool. Travelling to the city of Raeknik by will of God, he finds his companions, all three knights of the Creator, seeking the Seven Skies in this pagan land. After offering to join them on their quest, the knights agree after much deliberation. They then set forth, and so the The Stran begins. Stran is a model of Raevir cultural values. Coming from a world where not all Raevirs had yet converted, he gives a perfect example of what all Raevirs should strive to be. He is humble, always amongst the presence of the knights whom hold themselves with much distinction. He is faithful, always following the will of his God above other worldy temptations. He is persistent, born in the cold world of Mother Raev, where only the hardy survive. He works diligently in his village, seeking only to do his lot in life. Stran is cold though, and cynical. He is stringent with his traditions, and wary of strangers. However, though he may feel with way towards his companions in the beginning of the Stran, as the epic closes he finds brotherhood amongst them, and accepts them as his own, with loyalty and love that Raevirs bestow onto those they truly befriend and accept. While his dour demeanor, and pessimistic nature is viewed with disdain by his companions at first, written off as grim and morbid, the pious, hardworking, and persistent wanderer eventually finds his place among them, as another servant of Godan Above. The epic of The Stran, while not regarded as a holy text, is sacred among the Raevir people. Many of its parables are preached in mass, and offer many many lessons and allegories about the Raevir people, teaching their customs and ensuring that they survive throughout the ages. It offers many metaphors about their fellow men, teaching that while each man may have his vices, all are God’s sons and all are men. For example, an overarching lesson that is resolved only at the end of the epic is that of the acceptence of Stran by his companions. At first, they are leary of this pagan turned pious, and are skeptical to outright disbelieving of his faith. This however, gives way to acceptance and eventual admiration as the story wears on and ends. This has been viewed by many Raevir scholars as an allegory to the Raevirs slow integration into human culture. At first, they were treated with distrust and disdain. However, slowly the men of this world became aware that the Raevirs, despite their strange accent and architecture, were just as them and here only to save their world alongside their brothers. The literary classic and historical archive that is The Stran is a piece of literature that can hardly ever be translated or recorded in full. Many have tried, though it is often that another historian brings forth yet another parable that was once believed to be lost. While I may try as hard as I might to find them all, even I cannot fathom such an endeavor. Here I shall record all that I found, and here I hope that other scribes will pick up where I left off, to see to it that our culture and way of life never perishes from this world. God over you my bratan, may your quill hand never tire.] Following, is a vast collection of stories and excerpts from The Stran. The last leaf off the introduction to the book is signed in sloppy handwriting, perhaps a reason why so many of his works remain unpublished… Diedrik ‘Barrow’ Carrion II ((All Credit to the lost Raevir hero Komodo. Found this in my documents and thought i’d share a bit of Raevir history with you all, I hope you enjoyed this amazing piece of work.))

Regal is the countenance that overlooks the bustling Chapel of St. Sigismund. Upon the Grand Prince’s shoulders lay a coat of heavy furs, the boy’s boney shoulders drooping with a heavy weight; born both of his adorned attire and the responsibility that looms. He releases a breath -- hands twitching in anxiety -- as he focuses his view unto the entrance of the Holy Chapel. Outside awaits his duty, he must have understood in a grim maturity, a duty that peeked at him from beneath a thin veil of fragile white. The young prince turns his head away and flits his attention over the trail of expectant gazes from the crowd of Haenseti. He nods, satisfied. He nods to his father, looking on with a smile. He contemplates smiling himself, though he settles for a somber stare in a thin-lipped vacancy, his back to the Chapel doors. Indeed, satisfied. As his Lady-to-be enters the chapel, the admirative gasps and hushed praise of grateful subjects are betrayed by an ominous anxiety. He falters when the gasps turn to shrieks of horror. He turns and grips at an empty sheathe, eyes frenzied and rattled in a moment of utter confusion. There is no respite for him to take, no shuddering breath in preparation as he lay his eyes upon her bloody veil in the maws of an accursed thing. He does not see his people dart in panic. He does not hear their wails. He sees only a carnal beast reflected in his beloved’s glassy eyes; a visage that loomed so pridefully violent over his bride’s ravaged corpse, her life sapped by wretched claws sunk deep into her pale, white skin. The young Prince meets the beast’s face with a silent horror; it is unholy and savage, a mutation of a wolf touched by that of the devil, with bloodstained teeth marked by gibs of flesh. “Your Highness, behind! Behind us,” begs his marshal, shoving the young boy behind a line of armored soldiers. “Shields! Shields, up!” His voice dies in his throat as the beast brutalizes the crowd; there is no ringing of swords against metal, naught but unheeded screams and the tearing of flesh by an animal’s claws. He pushes against the soldiers (“I can fight!”, he screams), and they fall away into dust, swords and spears strewn across the ashes. He falters, again, looking down instead to the pools of blood and drifting flesh. He knows what he will see when he raises his head; he has seen its countenance before. The young prince trembles within the bath of Haenseti blood, and he feels the stench of death permeate his nostrils as he raises his head --- There is the beast, he knows. He closes his eyes. He thought it smiled at him. He was right. A hooded figure draws a sharp breath as he forces himself to awaken, his throat tight and heart thundering in adrenaline. His hair is grey and damp with sweat, but clean; he presses a finger to his teeth. There is no blood. Nonetheless, he laughs; it is sharp and cruel, and it comes from his crooked neck, but he laughs. He craved then what he could only have in memory, a blood-lust fueled by dreams. The wretch swings his legs from the bed, dragging a weathered robe from a protruding root, and he smiles. He smiled the Sun’s Smile.

i personally want 1.13 and for the devs to focus enhancing 1.13 rather than update to 1.14 with a bad chunkloading, the new blocks are cool but it doesnt replace the chunk loading, we cant move from point a to point b it takes literally too much time for travelling, maybe we can go back to 1.13 with an older save if world corruption is a concern but we cant stay in 1.14 its ruining the traveling of the map

Welcome to the ~~~FUNKY~~~ lil skin shop Costs: A head skin is 300 minas An overlay is 100 minas A body is 700 minas A full body (including overlay) is 1000 minas If you are applying for a skin, please fill out the below: Username: Discord: Skin Type (Head/Body/Full Body): Steve or Alex Model: Gender and Race: Image(s) for reference: How is your character quirky?: Type of Payment: Proof of Payment: (You can either reach out to me below or on my discord) Past work:

Portrait of Princess Karina Sofiya Alimar A portrait of the little Princess Karina at her young ages Oil in canvas, 120cm x 80cm Painted by Darius Morgrain Whisperhood, New Reza, 24th The Grand Harvest, 1740. - Come visit my workshop at New Reza, Blackstreet IV -

The Ruberlands Company est. 1738 Introduction: The Ruberlands Company is a vessel to enlist additional security to the common and noble folk alike. The Company recruits able combatants, commoner or noble the Company hires their soldiers based on merit rather than lineage. Additional benefits of joining the Company shall be the provision of armor, sword, food, shelter and a contract of employment. The Company ensures that all of its employees will reap the benefits of their work. Ranking of the Company: Kapitany - The Kapitany are the Captains of the Company are those who hold complete authority over the Zoldak. They are in charge of forming and finalizing contracts for the Company. Also Kapitany are responsible to conduct promotion ceremonies for Kutya. Hadnagy - A Hadnagy is the officer of the Company, they have shown to be reliable and able to persevere through their service. The Hadnagy is responsible for helping the Kapitany find contracts, to help Zoldak recruit and to enforce the Kapitany rulings throughout the Company. Also charged with making sure those of the Kutya rank and employees get their cut of a contract. Zoldak - A Zoldak of the Company are those who make up the core and bulk of the Company’s workers. They are charged with recruitment. Kutya - The kutya, or "dogs" in common speech are the lowest rank of enlisted combatants of the Company. Often referred to as the "Dogs of War". Application: RP Name: RP Gender: RP Age: RP Race: RP Past Experiences: OOC IGN: OOC Discord: -For more info- Fish#5175 on discord or CommissarFish in game Patu#4556 on discord or Anderssn in game

Portrait of Vladrick Barbanov Alimar His Serene Highness, Rickard Heinrik, Black prince of Rubern, Sovereign Protector of the Riverlands, Before the siege of Krugmar circa, 1737 Oil in canvas, 120cm x 80cm Painted by Darius Morgrain Whisperhood, New Reza, 6th Snow’s Maiden, 1738. - Come visit my workshop at New Reza, Blackstreet IV -

☨ ORDER OF ARJEN CROSS ☨ _____________________________________ Established 20th of The Deep Cold, 1736. History - Arjen de Sarkozy - Founding -Brunswick Tasks & Duties Hierarchy of Arjen Recruitment History Arjen de Sarkozy – Arjen de Sarkozy, was a Teutonic Crusader and a commander of the White Rose. famously known to also be a treasure hunter and an Imperial Pioneer. During the 1440’s an expedition was launched by Arjen to recover the lost relics of St. Lucien, traveling to Aeldin to accomplish said goal. After the eventual discovery and reclamation of these relics Arjen discovered that, despite their well-known documented appearance as lead as copper, they had miraculously transformed into items of solid gold - heralding another miracle. Founding – In the year 1736, a peasant that hailed from Bourdon, sailed to the shores of Arcas. His name; Daniel de Alence. at the time, Krugmar and Irrinor were at war versus the Holy Orenian Empire and its allies. Daniel, seeing his kin at risk of downfall, have begun on the slaughter of the Orcs and Wood Elves. the man becoming a renown fighter and excellent tactic master. Daniel could have been seen wearing Templar / Crusader armor, fighting in the name of GOD and Oren. as more and more weeks passed by, more people began to find interest and volunteer to fight with Daniel against heretics and orcs, thus the Order of Arjen’s Cross was founded. Brunswick – As Arjen Cross grew in power, Daniel’s men needed a place to settle on, therefore, Daniel and his men took control of the then-abandoned Beet city, making it their base. renaming it from New Alexandria to Brunswick. The Holy Orenian Empire have eyed the group for long, discussions was made with high imperial ranks, ending up with Daniel agreeing to take on the Empire Protection. Tasks & Duties The Order of Arjen's Cross consists of a highly pious group of people. Both nobility, gentry and peasantry are welcome to volunteer and devote their life to the service of GOD. Upon dedicating one's life to our Creator and his word, a list of tasks is put upon you - the main task of the Order is the purge the heretics and teach the disbelievers of GOD's word, next is to the spread the word of the Creator across the lands of Arcas. On top of these most pious duties, the Order is also in charge of protecting the citizenry of Brunswick, scouting the roads of Arcas for bandits and delivering food, as well as protecting, the faithful men of GOD. Hierarchy of Arjen Grandmaster | Daniel de Alence Acts as a leader to the Order, overseeing and making any final decisions. Templar-Advisor | Acts as the Grandmaster's right hand, advising him and leading the order in his absence. Military Branch (The Sword) Templar-Soldier This is the default, starting rank of anyone joining the Military Branch of the Templar Order of Arjen’s Cross. A Templar-Soldier is essentially a grunt, following orders dispensed by their respective Templar-Captain. This rank is broken up into various roles suitable for any military, as is listed below: Medic The surgeons and physicians of the Military branch. They are tasked with mending the wounds and conditions of their brothers-in-arms. Equipped largely with medical equipment, however a Medic is also given a sidearm (arming sword or dagger) and light armor (gambeson). Archer The ranged combatants within the Order. An archer typically is behind the infantry, basking in their protection whilst they rain down GOD’s will in the form of arrows and bolts. Or they can be conducting hit-and-run tactics on horseback or foot. Sapper A highly prized and respected position in the Order, a Sapper is responsible for the maintenance and operation of siege technology such as ballistas, trebuchets and siege towers. Recruitment the Templars of Arjen Cross are always looking to recruit more and more devoted people who would like to volunteer, enlist today! FORMAT IN-CHARACTER NAME: USERNAME: AGE: RACE:

The Fiscere are a prominent clan in Nordic culture. Well known descendents of the clan are the late Carina Rosik, the late Kenswey Fiscere, thane of Norland and the late Uther Fiscere, admiral of Nordengrad. Two descendants of the Fiscere clan have laid claim to the throne of Norland at one point. Torsten Rosik, who founded the house of Rosik and laid claim to the throne of Norland but was later replaced by his cousin king Alvar the first who was recognized by all as the rightful king of Norland. The Fiscere are a clan of fishermen, sea raiders and laborers. Renowned for their command over the old Nordengrad’s navy and their excellent fishing skill, the Fiscere are a clan of people of the sea. ( Insert Crest Here ) I’m looking for people that would want to roleplay as my brothers, who are the bastard sons of Bron Fiscere, but I’m also open to any other suggestions. Bjorn Ash ( Bastard Son of Bron Fiscere ) Status: AVAILABLE Age: ~18 Race: Human, Highlander Mother: unknown Father: Bron Fiscere Estimated height: 6’2/188cm Estimated personality traits: Short-tempered, great warrior, good leader, extraverted. Estimated description: Prominent jaw, square face, big nose, wide neck, mesomorph, brown-blackish hair, green eyes and pale skin. Unferth Ash ( Bastard Son of Bron Fiscere ) Status: AVAILABLE Age: ~16 Race: Human, Highlander/heartlander Mother: unknown tavern wench (Renatus) Father: Bron Fiscere Estimated height: 6’0/183cm Estimated personality traits: Even-tempered, lazy, great thinker, neurotic, slightly introverted. Estimated description: Diamond shaped face, thin nose, thin neck, ectomorph, blonde hair, green eyes and pale skin. As I said above, any character suggestions are welcome, though they have to be a Highlander. P.S. Their last names were told to be Ash as they were growing up. But at this time, Bron has told them their real last names, that’s why it’s Ash... for now...

The Province of Rubern Peak Times of Rubern 12PM until roughly 10PM EST Population Density of Rubern Vast majority of the Province is humans with the occasional elf here and there. Description of Rubern Beyond the mundane city life and the simple rural gatherings men and women have flocked here, be they the Reiters of Old or neighboring Heartlanders and Highlanders seeking opportunities based on merit, not blood. Adept are we at our crafts and cruder arts, but unto you provide an invitation to learn them - or make fair coin supplementing our efforts with your own. His Highness Rickard Heinrik Barbanov-Alimar welcomes you to his city, should you be bold enough to live free. Folks that can help you in Rubern Prince of Rubern: Rickard Heinrick Barbanov-Alimar (Khan#1650) Princess of Rubern: Ester of Curonia (Koanda#1275) Lord Commander of the Black Army: Brutus (Patu#4556) Bailiff of Rubern: Commodus Owyn (Fish#5175) Directions to Rubern Coordinates to Rubern are: X: -130 | Y: 56 | Z: -1565 (If you are bad at reading coordinates follow the path north out of Cloud Temple and go all the north without making a turn.) (If you have any other questions about Rubern, feel free to contact Fish#5175 or the people listed above!)

Company of The Rose (Depiction of the Rose Company harassing members of other lowly bandit groups) What it is: The Company of The Rose, is a ‘free company’ a band of gentlemen who appreciate the word of minae more than the word of a King. The term ‘free company’ began catching on after the Lothragnian’s stooped to banditry during the Emperor Alexander’s reign. When Lord Protector Adrian began his ever vigilant watch over The Empire; many hedge knights, ex-footmen, and cavalrymen got the good idea of finding a legal way to provide for themselves and their families. So, over a tankard or two, a hardy group of men decided to write up a precursor for what would become the Codex for the men of the Company to follow and abide during their employment under Julius Franz. The Free Company Codex: Orenian Imperium Edition First Law: The murder of innocents for one’s own selfish desire is strictly prohibited. Second Law: Any sort of harassment towards local organizations or in-fracturing armies, without the probable contract, documentation, and a ranking member to oversee is strictly prohibited. Third Law: Petty theft from those can not afford financial loss, is strictly prohibited. Fourth Law: Allowing a Destrier to be lost in battle is strictly prohibited. Fifth Law: Failure to abide by these laws is strictly prohibited. Sixth Law: Failure to adhere to this new standard of ‘Free Comapany’ will result in immediate termination, of position, and life as you know it. Hierarchy: Grandmaster Contractor: Oversees all operations within the Company, ensures no man within the Company falls beneath standard. Lord Contractor: This position is reserved for those that provide payroll and employment in the Company. Cataphract General: Leads the Companies cavalry regiment on the battlefield and off of the battlefield. Field Marshal: Commands the infantry and shock troopers on the battlefield and off of the battlefield. First Hand: Second in command to both Field Marshal and Cataphract General, is in charge of organizing rallies and training. Cataphract: A mounted soldier of the Company, a key component in the Companies battle strategies. Shock Trooper: Heavily armoured soldier, often a veteran of many battles and has the most renown on the battlefield. Initiated: Learning their ways of rapidly swinging a sword into the battlefield still, but have proved themselves trust worthy. Rando: Entry level position meant for those who are still feeling out the Company and undecided if they wish to join. APPLICATION: MC Username: Character Name: Race: Specialty (pvp, cooking, farming, mining, etc.): (Also the Company has build in progress, it’s glorious so, please contain yourself when finished) ( POST IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS: FEEL FREE TO ADD ME ON DISCORD @hotboss_monk#8587 to make an inquiry to join)

The Arcas Cosmology Guild Purpose There is never a short supply for knowledge and always a yearning from every new generation to gain something more than the last. The proposition of this guild is to gain and spread awareness of why the sky looks the way it does, the placement of the stars, the composition of stars, celestial bodies and what lays in the Great Beyond. Roles President: The President or Spokesperson for our guild will be managing communications with all branches and groups. They will be in charge of approving documents, agreements, projects, and general discourse of the guild. This role cannot be applied for, rather you will need to send bird to the Chairman and request an interview, and will be chosen carefully by the Council and Chairman. Council: Council members will oversee the advancements and production of the research division in addition to just discussing how things are overall going. Council members can vote for or against things the Chairman and President set in motion. These members will be personally picked by the Chairman and cannot be applied for. You must first apply for a different role and participate in the Guild to be considered for the Council. Branch Leader: Leaders or representatives of each nation, settlement, duchy and or wherever are invited to submit applications to the guild and if accepted, after interview, will be in charge of commanding the branch of their race, nation, or specific settlement. This includes sending important scientific data to the research division, President and overseeing smaller projects involved within their branch. Head of Research: The Head of Research will be regarded as the guild’s most knowledgeable scientist and will run multiple divisions of the guild including: Cosmology, Chemistry, Mechanical, and Geography. This role must be applied for, interviewed, and provide evidence of their ability to lead, guide, teach, and conduct scientific studies. Head Tinkerer: This role, which must be applied and interviewed for, will help develop equipment for both the scientific divisions and to be sold to the people of Arcas. Researcher: The researchers will serve directly under the Head of Research and Branch Leaders. You will be out in the field observing and collecting data or working whatever projects are being carried out. Beneficiary: If you are interested in the publishments of our guild and would like to donate mina, labor, or access to private land please send bird to me and you will be given the honorary Beneficiary role. In addition, you will also be gifted a unique telescope and monthly updates on our projects and discoveries. Member: Want to scout locations, send data, or provide help to our guild? Ask to become a member and you will be given tasks by researchers or branch leaders to fulfill. In addition you will be provided a copy of the monthly journal sent out. Star-Gazer: Are you interested in the stargazing events that will be held? Please ask for the Star-Gazer role and you will be updated on when and where they take place. Events On top of having weekly to bi-weekly meetings this guild will host numerous scientific lectures, debates, tours of the Astronomy tower, and stargazing trips to various locations. All are welcome to join in whether for fun, a learning experience, or to contribute. Meeting Locations Currently, a tower where the epicenter of our guilds activity will be is being finalized and constructed. While we will meet there, specific locations will be disclosed to members of every branch and division on where to meet in the meantime. These locations will be decided by branch leaders and or beneficiaries who wish to host the guild. In addition, said locations will be used alongside the Astronomy tower. Application OOC Information MC IGN: Discord: Timezone: RP Information Persona Name: Race: Gender: Age: Desired Role: [Optional] Specification: (If you are applying for the researcher role please specify which division you’d like to enter [cosmology, chemistry, mechanical, or geography.])

Hi guys, this is my fist post, maybe more will come. This is Darius, a tavernkeeper at Reza in Haense. Iits my first character on Lotc, and it have been quite nice to play in this server, i’m very excited too, so i decided to do a sketchy simple paint just to illustrate my character. im still thinking about doing a post with some of my works and maybe open for commission, but for now i hope you like this one. If you want to meet Darius, stop by the Tub & Tuck inn at Reza to take a drink. Well this is it hahahah, thanks! EDIT Made two more of Darius

Name of Culture: The Altaira (singular Altairi, adjective Altairan.) Introduction to the Culture: This culture is not (consciously) based on any real-world culture. It was mostly made to fulfill certain aesthetic and anthropological preferences of mine. Cultural Stereotypes (I.E. TLDR): Haughty Flatterers, Impious, Head-in-the-clouds, Strict and repetitive, Artistic and poetic, Weaklings, Romanticists, emotional, dithering, addicts History: Many theorize that the Altaira were originally half-elven. While it may have been true once, they are certainly now far removed from such ancestry. Due to their small, isolationist communities, the Altaira have mostly flown under the radar of many nations. Commonly, a larger nation will find an unaccounted for castle full of Altaira. They most often just take the castle without thought to the culture of those inside. Because of this, it is far more common to see Altairan jewelry and treasures than it is to see actual Altairi. The predatations of the nations forced the Altaira long ago into the wildlands, though certain noble clans in civilized areas are descended from Altaira who were assimilated. Because the basic cultural appearance of the Altaira is so dignified (as opposed to certain more boisterous cultures), the process of naturalization and acceptance is far easier for Altaira, at least in places where such things are valued (they do not often find acceptance in dwarf lands for instance). This further dwindles the population of recognizable Altaira. Many speculate this culture is on its last legs, but the acceptance the Altaira have for others joining in their customs gives a certain amount of stability. Society: The basic unit of Altairan society is the Kun, or castle. Altaira do not possess individual houses, but rather everyone in a community is united under the roof of the Kun. The only people in Altairan society who do not live in the kun are the herdsman, who are marginalized but necessary for the food and fibers they provide. Each Kun is essentially an independent city-state, with its own king, called a Karilan or Kurilan. The Altairans mainly depend on wheat, honey, sheep, and fruit for nutrition. They also cultivate a type of grass-like plant fiber which is integral to the makeup of their clothes. Eating as a whole community is common, but smaller meals in one’s personal rooms aren’t stigmatized. Both of these meals are mostly meats and meat-pies or fruit pies, both including many flavorful herbs. They often create creamed honey and fruit candies in various whimsical shapes. They also often delight in odd fruit trifles made with goat cream and liquor, sometimes even Altairan absinthe (see the religion section). While there is certainly a great deal of love shared in a Kun dwelling family, each person is expected to care for the other citizens of the Kun almost as much as he cares for his own family. In the same way, Altairan romance can become dampened by the various pressures and duties to the Kun and to natural law (as we will see later). Because of such deficits, emotion, from joy to melancholy, is highly valued in Altairan society, and those who show their emotions, and experience such emotions in fullness at the proper times, are greatly admired. Another value held by most Altaira, though for quite different reasons, is the interpretation and creation of symbolism. Such things make the Altaira known, when they are indeed known, as unrepentant artists, even when the Altairi in question would be considered quite average in his own Kun. While the Altairan herders ostensibly share these values, they express themselves in quite different ways. The Herdsmen are stereotypically hedonistic (for food and sex more than drugs), and are known as augurs and interpreters of omens. These things further complicate their relationship with the Kun dwellers. Disreputable Kun-dwellers sometimes engage in pastoral trysts, or seek out herdsmen for heterodox fortune-telling practices or interesting ideas for poems and plays. Because of these things, Kun-dwellers’ view of the herdsmen exists in a semi-contradictory state of reverence and contempt. (In Altairan stories, the herdsman is something like a perverted diogenes, making fun of the standard view of the world. Keep in mind that herdsmen almost never appear in plays or dances, only stories) Religion: The Altaira are mainly aministic, revering and ascribing sentience to important natural and artificial structures, such as mountains, rivers, and wells, as well as celestial events like storms and seasons. While most Altaira also give material offerings and prayers, the main bulk of Altairan religious practice is in the form of Ritual Plays, Dances, and Conversations. In each of these rites, the principle actors take on the personages of gods, spirits, and natural phenomena, acting out various parts of the natural order. This has a specific purpose in Altairan culture: maintaining the law of the world. Altaira believe that the elements of nature often disrupt or forget the natural order, so these rites are demonstrations of the way things should be. The Altaira are very syncretistic, and have few problems adopting gods, aenguls, and spirits from other cultures. Since their own religion is very dependent on the locale in which it is practiced, they tend to view other gods as very regional as well, and tend to ascribe them natural aspects, such as understanding Aeriel as a god presiding over a local hill or statue that just happens to be a beloved psychopomp and god of light. They are, however, perplexed slightly by the workings of divine magic, as their religion isn’t so much about the accumulation of power against evil, and the phenomena they revere rarely grant powers. Dreams also feature in Altairan religion, but not in the way they do in other religions. Instead of functioning as revelations, they are seen as another area in which the natural order can be symbolically reinforced. Drugs aren’t heavily stigmatized in Altairan society, but they are heavily frowned upon when taken outside the proper context. The Altairan drug of choice is a type of hullucinatory herb which is often mixed with alcohol, often called Altairan Absinthe or Dreamer’s Wormwood. Flowers tend to represent dreams in Altairan religious thought, each with associated meanings. Certain types of flowers, in certain arrangements, are thought to allow the creation of shared dream-spaces (if this is indeed true, it may be thought of as a culturally linked, very low powered form of cartelepsy, which may persist between uses. If needed, I will draft up a lore submission for it). The conjunctive use of flowers and dream-inducing drugs is the standard for all those overly interested in dreams. The spaces cultivated for such uses are called Lukumu. On the topic of dreams: it is said that some castles are so involved with dreams that they are themselves reflected in dreams. Such places are called Kun Tunianik, or Castles half-dreaming. Some also say that there are Castles entirely held in dreams, spirited there by the machinations of wizards and dreamers. These aren’t so much ghost stories as idle rumors, and some dreamers seek out such places. Language: While most Altaira speak the common tongue, they also possess a ritual language used for religious and magical rites, including Altairan ritual conversations. Note: A is always ah, I is always ee, u is alway oo. If two vowels are next to each other, pronounce them individually (thus, the pronunciation of Altaira is Alta-ira). Sentence structure proceeds Subject-Object-Verb, with adjectives and adverbs following what they modify. General nouns: Atun: The way of things, the natural order Kun: House or Castle Alasi: Spirits and gods Pin: Forest Naka: Hill Nurimu: Mountain Iral: Spring or well Duni: Lake Luka: Meadow or Garden Umulu: Veil Iklin: Robe Iklan:Cloak Tuni: Dream, vision Terms for People: Karil: “Dweller in a castle”, variously translated as prince, noble, or courtier. A general term of respect. Kuril: “Dweller in a castle”, variously translated as princess, lady, or maiden. A general term of respect. Karilan: “Ruler of a castle”, masculine. Sometimes king or chief Kurilan: “Ruler of a castle”, feminine. Sometimes queen Kariliamu/Kuriliamu: Artificially constructed by the Altaira to describe the kings/queens and emperors/empresses of other lands, who rule over many castles Neka: Masculine foreigner or traveler Neku: Feminine foreigner or traveler Adjectives: Iamonu: High or Important Moknin: Steady Anak: Little Anik: Half Particles and Verbs: Ki: this Ara: is, am (singular) Iri: Are (plural) Ni: I, we (indicated by verb declension) Li: You Nesak: not, no Latu: has (i.e. singular) Litu: have (i.e. Plural) Bakma: Destroy (Singular) Bikmi: Destroy (plural) Arpa: Wear (singular) Arpi: Wear (plural) Sample text: A ritual conversation to praise the king and protect against earthquakes Adam: O! Ben Karilan ara Nurimu Ki. Li Latu Kun ki. (Oh, king Ben is the mountain. You have this Castle [in your hands]) Ben: Ni, Nurimu ki, ara moknin. Ni Bakma Nesak Kun Ki. (I, the mountain, am steady. I will not bring ruin to this castle.) Ben: O! Adam Karil ara karil moknin. Ki Ara Atun. (Oh, Prince Adam is a steady courtier. This is the way of things.) Note: the phrase “Ki Ara Atun” (this is the way) is very important in their culture. The standard use is as a close to ritual conversation, it is also a phrase of agreement or acquiescence. Think of it somewhere between “Goodbye”, “C’est la Vie”, and the type of “amen” found in really enthusiastic protestant churches. If someone sings a song that reflects the natural law, an Altairi in the audience might call out “Ki Ara Atun!” while clapping or singing along. If there is a difference of cultures, or some kind of natural mistake, the phrase is also used in a more questioning or dejected manner. However, if someone says something untruthful (that is, something which does not reflect the natural law, like declaring that a sea shall burn in ritual conversation), or if someone refuses to participate in ritual conversation, the phrase “Ki ara nesak atun” (this is not the way) is used to indicate departure from proper order. Think of this one more like a director’s “Cut!”, “No, I said that wrong”, or a jeering insult. Common Traits: The Altaira are a culture, not a race, and so have many disparate traits, but the vast majority of humans in the culture have pale blonde hair and green eyes, and are fair skinned (but again, this does not hold for all). They are also usually very thin and willowy. Because of certain cultural ideals of beauty, these traits can appear in races where they are not very common (i.e. if a dwarf who is integrated into the culture matches more closely the ideals of beauty, their traits get passed down more often). Not much grief is held by people who don’t meet beauty standard, due to a cultural propensity for obscuring the face and body. Behaviour: The Altairan way of life is very ritualized from day to day. For instance, the example of the Altairan language shown above is a ritual conversation, meant to show and embody the atun. These conversations typically consist of three sections: First, an introduction in which the roles of each participant is established, which may take either the form of one participant declaring both roles, both declaring their own, or both declaring the other’s (in the first case, some amount of correction by the passive participant is acceptable); Second, an extended metaphorical dialogue in which the participants attempt to ascertain the dictate of the natural law in the specific circumstance; Thirdly, an optional final step delivering information not conveyed in the dialogue (such as the answer to a question that the interviewee regards as in the natural law but not in accordance with their chosen role), or the execution of certain actions decided upon in the dialogue. Here is now another example in common: Alice: O! I am the Daughter*, seeking to know. Who are you? Adam: Hail, daughter. I am the River-Spring, bringing water. Alice: River-Spring, is it in the way that I might have a drink? Adam: Daughter, the river should not stop the Kuril** from drinking. [The action is carried out]*** *the Daughter or Son is one of a class of generic, person oriented roles. The Person/Natural force dialogue is the most common form of ritual dialogue, since it is always of concern to make certain that natural forces act in a certain way to people. In contrast, Natural Force/Natural Force is more rare, since nobody much cares if snow falls on some distant, uninhabited mountain. **Kuril is here used to establish the river-spring’s relation to all Altaira, not just one. ***Due to the metaphoric nature of the dialogue, what action this is remains context dependent. Some possibilities are: Adam lets Alice drink from the literal water he was carrying, Adam gives Alice some piece of wisdom which is refreshing and necessary, Adam and Alice “fade to black”, Adam gives Alice some alms. Metaphoric Faux Pas: Comparing someone to a dream, as dreams aren’t often under natural order, and are mildly associated with subservience when they are. Instead, compare them to a garden or, if the person is powerful or artistic, to a dreamer. Do not either compare someone to a mask, or make references to a mask one is currently wearing. Instead, treat the person as if they were whatever the mask represents (at least in name only, it’s just polite). Comparing someone to a tool, even one well made, is likewise somewhat rude. The best connotations tools can have is sturdiness, good-making, and diligence. Festivities: The two main festivities, Plays and Dances, bear themselves a resemblance to more formal and communal versions of the Ritual Conversation. Plays, if you can call them that, do not need an audience, and don’t necessarily need a script. They always include masks and at least one narrator (if there are multiple narrators, they function as a kind of greek chorus). The narrator could be synonymous with the master of ceremonies. Generally, experienced actors are required for major roles (I.E. Those that can go most astray from the natural law). In a play, anything goes as long as it is in line with the Atun. Characters often introduce themselves when they appear first on stage whenever there is time to do so. This is because leaving identities up to interpretations is a danger to the natural law. Characters in Altairan plays always act with proper respect (or intentional and proper disrespect) for the same reason. Dances in Altairan community are a bit more visually interesting. Music isn’t necessary beyond at least a drum-beat. The general dance begins with a slow start, called the Moknil, or steady forms. The Altaira engaging with the dance assume various poses, some premeditated, some improvised, symbolizing some piece of the natural order which their character must enact. They switch from pose to pose rapidly on the drum beat, moving around most often in a circular pattern, staying completely still otherwise. The drumbeat becomes faster and faster, seamlessly transitioning into the Tuni, or vision. In this stage, the performers no longer pose, but seem to fly about the stage in their previous patterns, with cloaks and veils billowing about them. The name of this stage of the dance is speed and elegance in equal measure. (for the Moknil, think of the dance aang and sokka did in the episode “the firebending masters”) Another sort of dance, sometimes thought of as a game, is the mock-battle. This activity, which also serves as a surrogate for honor duels, is sort of like skillful rock-paper-scissors fought with wood sticks. The opponents swing their sticks at different heights, attempting to get a knock on the person. A higher height generally beats a lower height, but if an opponent ducks and hits very low than the height is a disadvantage. If the sticks clash, then both players attempt to quickly pull back and hit again. This lasts until one opponent gets a number of hits previously specified. Matches between skilled opponents become quite the spectacle of clacking sticks, since one can predict where an opponent is likely to hit based on where he is swinging. This bit of recreation is quite peculiar in the Altairan Kun. Firstly, it bears little resemblance to real Altairan fighting styles, which eschew slashes for stabs. Because of this, it is widely regarded as very silly, and this is the reason that they are called mock battles and not just stick-fights. However, almost every grown man and woman is rather skilled in it. Even more perplexingly, few children play it. The most common theory is that this practice was imported from elsewhere, and its use in honor duels is much more common and important than outside observers think, leading to its widespread use. Clothing: The standard outfit for domestic life in the Altairan Kun consists of modest underclothes, overlaid with two or three flowing robes and a cloak. This is the minimum requirement for clothing, and most people wear far more (but little care is paid if reason is given for less clothes, and many wear only one shorter robe for more practical activities). Veils of thin cloth are also worn by both men and women. These veils vary from covering only the hair to reaching to the shins. Everything, except the underclothes, is brilliantly dyed, woven, and embroidered, and muted tones are very rare. When clothes aren’t bright colors, they are pure white. For official activities, veils are required, and wooden masks are often worn Military: When The Altairi fight, they wield weapons of ceramic and imported bronze. Their cloaks function as a kind of armor, catching and dulling blades as it tears. They employ a brutal martial style, going for the throat as quickly as possible against armored opponents. They are known for employing very tricky tactics, often causing illusions, both mundane and magical, to confuse and frighten the enemy. There is a famous story where a band of Altaira stretched painted fabric between themselves and each held a lantern pole, giving the appearance of a great army with many link-boys, frightening off the enemy. The veracity of this story is suspect, but gives insight into the sorts of tactics they might use if given the chance. However, when in one-to-one combat, an opponent who experienced the Altairan style before will generally prevail, as the style is very predictable. These opponents are rare due to the rarity of the Altaira in general. (This Culture is still open to suggestions and revisions, particularly in the History and Language sections. If you’d like me to retcon your culture into the history, or to suggest a (non-joke) word or grammatical feature, let me know and I’ll consider adding it. This is my first lore(ish) post, so I hope you like it.)

The provincial arms of Rubern. Name of Settlement: Province of Rubern Peak Times: Any time between 12PM to 10PM (EST) Population Density: The town of Rubern proper consists of a mostly human populace, with much of that human majority comprising of Highlanders, with a small community of Heartlanders and Farfolk. Brief Description: The Province of Rubern was established via a pact forged between Prince Vladrick Barbanov-Alimar and the Black Reiter Company; the latter swearing fealty to Prince Vladrick in exchange for safe harbor. Where they once served as a mercenary company of global repute, they have since become the elite household guard for the Prince of Rubern. Upon the Ruber River, they established themselves upon the ruins of Leuven, decimated in the aftermath of the War of the Two Emperors. Once a lawless and scarce land, the Prince’s retainers have transformed the territory into a land of prosperity, centered around the newly-erected and flourishing settlement of Rubern proper. The Province of Rubern has described to be a land of opportunity, inhabited by free men who share a common value - to strike out on their arm, and make their own fortune through toil and hardwork. The Province encourages all craftsmen, soldiers-for-hire, and wanderers alike to settle upon the Ruber River and set up shop. Furthermore, any and all citizens are welcome to put themselves forward as aldermen, where they may serve as representatives for their respective guilds or communities. This allows the common man a voice in governing body of the Province; the Duma. Together, under the guidance of the Prince and the Duma, the Province optimistically looks forward to the future. Key Figures and People of Assistance: The Prince and Princess-Consort His Highness, Vladrick Barbanov-Alimar, Prince of Rubern The Prince of Rubern rules the Province of Rubern, delegating tasks to various subordinates to ensure the stability, prosperity, safety, and smooth inner workings of the Town of Rubern and its outlying territories. Her Highness, Ester, Princess of Rubern Lord Chancellor Lord Simon Basrid, Lord Chancellor of Rubern The Lord Chancellor of Rubern is often referred to as the Hand of the Prince; charged with conducting diplomacy and many of the Prince’s most sensitive tasks. Lord Commander Brutus Morr, Lord Commander of Rubern The Lord Commander of Rubern maintains and commands the Black Army of Rubern. The Lord Commander or any of his subordinate captains may be contacted for any able-bodied man or woman looking to serve in His Highness’s Armed Forces. Maer Bailiff Cassian Turo, Maer-Bailiff of Rubern The Maer-Bailiff oversees much of the business transaction and inner workings of the town of Rubern proper - keeping a detailed ledger of property sales, tax, and overseeing the roster of designated stewards. The Maer-Bailiff may be contacted for any inquiries within the settlement’s walls. Stewards Edwin Brooks, Alderman and Steward Yaroslav, Stablemaster and Steward Thondor the Younger, Steward The Stewards may be contacted for any person looking to purchase property within the city, including houses, permits for stalls, and farming plots. Directions: The town of Rubern may be found at the crossroads between the metropolitan hubs of Reza, Ves, and Helena, along the River Ruber. The front gate of Rubern may be found at [X: -144, Y: -1540]

“Every tale ends with sadness Flora, no knight’s tales end happily ever after” The night was cool, on the sixteenth of Snow’s Maiden, 1728. The wind howled in the far north, and an old wandering knight patrolled the road, looking for something. That something, was a long awaited battle with a fellow man of honor; a man who’s blood boiled proudly under the right circumstances. These two men, as fate would have it, would meet up as they both traveled opposite directions; on a road less traveled. The first man, an olden knight by the name of Ironwood, and the second, by the name of Gawain Harkness; roughly a century before this meeting their ancestors fought an eternal battle that was left unsettled. These two men, however, had a choice. would they end the feud, or would they leave it unanswered? Ajax Ironwood the third’s tale would be a long and mostly boring tale of a man born from a knight and a noblewoman, in the year of our lord 1666. His upbringing was ended abruptly at the disappearance of his mother and father, leading him to be taken care of by mercenaries. Once he could wield a blade, he trained from that point on to be what he saw his father to be; a strong and gallant knight. At about the age of fifteen, his mercenary band moved to the north of the realm, and took in more orphans. Ajax found himself leading these orphans like a big brother; something he was also neglected of, as prior to his knowledge, his brothers were taken from him due to war. Ten years passed, and Ajax found himself leading the orphans to what was known as the ‘Iron Brigade’. This would be, however, Ajax’s first downfall. The Brigade was seasoned; ready and willing. The soldiers he had known to be brothers, uncles and friends were ready for battle; which they were victorious at. Many victories later, and their first, and final, loss was had. At the command of the ‘Iron Lord’, the brigadiers charged into an enemy shield wall; an outdated formation that was easy to destroy with head on assaults. Despite this, the enemy brigands countered the brigade’s charge, slaughtering half of the brigade in the process. A full retreat was on, but only one man survived; that man bearing the burden of defeat and loss on his shoulders. Not only did he lose his brothers in arms, but he lost a wife, and child. It was unclear to him if they escaped, or had died; and that unknowing would eat away at him for his entire life. Time would test the young man; and he found himself in a knightly troupe; as a squire. Unable to bear the burden of battle; he would do tasks for the assigned knight that seemed unremarkable; such as smiting from dawn to dusk; as well as maintaining the steeds. The young, defeated Ajax would eventually rise to knighthood under proper guidance; however the man who knighted him would soon find himself dead; due to a foolish war between family. Despite many failures and horrid things happening to the young man, he survived countless years until he came home to Avalain. He had not seen the city in almost his entire life; he had family that was adopted by his now deceased older brother, and to what he knew, a lover, in Warwick castle. A knight only did indeed, know how to love another knight. Dame Diana would be the only person Ajax kept dearly in his heart, aside from his niece Flora. All seemed well, until that current family of his started to hate him; Flora and Diana being the only two who remained at his side. This would turn the man’s blade in service to King Pierce, a noble and loving king who was a paragon of true virtue and honesty. He never had much dislike for the king, and would have given his own life for His Majesty. One thing recovered from Ajax’s body was a Curonian pin; it was engraved with the Devereux crest. Ajax kept true to an oath his ancestor’s made; serving until death. This in fact, leads to his death. The duel with Gawain Harkness. Their blade clashed, the two swordsmen fought with honor and skill; despite the one’s age catching up to him. The knight’s blade was damaged, yet in could pierce the finest of plate; and the young noble was all too aware of this. They traded blows, until Gawain drew first blood; going for the left leg of the old knight. Despite the injury, he stood strong and tall, piercing his right arm heavily with a forward lunge; then barrelled his shoulder and blade into Gawain; the attack slashing his eye in a mistaken attempt for a shove. This error; costed one knight his life; as Gawain blindly swung his blade. Ajax attempted to parry it, but the blade he carried was too damaged to hold; causing the noble’s blade to pierce his plate slightly, causing a shift in momentum. With this shift, the blade rips into the old knight; his vision fades as it does.... The knight drops his blade, falling to the ground. He was to croak his last words; which were not of hate, but gladness. The knight thanked his friend, and rival, and asked him to deliver his armour and blade to his son; assuming he had lived. Gawain, despite his injury, carried the knight’s body to Avalain, delivering him to the church there, with a note. The note, was a simple note, asking that GOD and country would remember the soul that was once known, as Ajax. Attached would be a short will, wishing to end the Ironwood noble bloodline from Curonia and revoking all oaths it once carried. ((OOC It was fun experiencing all of that rp; which was all throughout one of my favorite characters of LOTC. For those of you who know me to play Ajax II and III; I did that because I wanted an older experience of when I first joined and boy; did I get that. Big shoutout to @Farica16 @Cantonic @fieselena @Capace @KosherZombie @panda_bear @Renoks @Wulfery @MyLittleUnicorn @Bethinwonderland @Anime_Wolf @Dawsy @Sporan @Shmeepp @clonky and @every other friend of mine who i forgot to include who made my rp expeirence the first ajax and this ajax wonderful. No I am not quitting LOTC but this character was on of my favorite; so thank you all who every experienced him!))

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=last+goodbye+lotr&view=detail&mid=1D76EA199550E8EDA2C81D76EA199550E8EDA2C8&FORM=VIRE [!] Eric would sit himself atop his bed, humming to himself as he looks out the window. The night would have been full of laughter like curon nights were always, until he heard a sound hitting the window behind him. He turns himself around and notices a dead messenger pigeon with a note attached to its feet. Eric would open the window and take the note from off the bird's foot and what catches his eye first is the official seal of curon on the letter. To Erics surprise inside the note be an official call to arms. Eric would have been sent on a mission Like always Eric would obey his king and begin gathering his armour and supplies for the trip. The next day Eric would set off on horseback and wouldn't be seen for awhile. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned to months, before one day the sound of hooves could be heard on the path leading into curon. It would be the very horse Eric set off on his mission on. But one thing would be different, atop the horse would not be Eric's body, but instead it would be his corpse, laying lifeless atop the animal. The armour Eric wore would have about a dozen holes and slashes. The brave knight that served his kingdom for so many years, and who was loyal for so many wars, was dead…. Usually the nights of curon would usually be filled with noises, laughter coming from the tavern, crickets chirping from the park, the sound of boots hitting the stone paths. But this night was different. The tavern would be silent, the crickets wouldn’t make a noise, the roads would be empty. On Montagne lane stood Eric’s house, a single candle lit on his desk. It too would be silent, the bed where someone once slept, would be empty. On Eric’s desk would be a stack of papers, a journal that was not finished, and never would be. Next to Eric’s journal would be a small leather book, the book would be opened to the first page. “Curon is a bear, a bear that has grown, from a cub struggling to stand up, to a brave and respected boar. This bear stands strong, stronger than everything that attempts to bring it down. It thrives in a world full of different cultures, full of different nations and races trying to survive. “ “I write this in advance for I have no idea when the end is to come. I write this peacefully of my own will. I write this as my little story, for whoever finds this notebook, and for whoever they shall show it to. I came to curon when it was only a tent camp, I watched it grow just like the bear cub. I stood by it with many others and guided it on its path. I fought many battles alongside this bear. I stood by it until my end. . .” “To those I hold dear, I wish for you to not remember how I die or my death itself, I wish for you to remember the times we spent. Times we spent whether it be good or bad. I wish for you to remember me not for what I did in my life, but for who I was and who I became during it. “ [!] The writing next would be written in an unusual style. It seems each letter is tilted to the right. The last sentence would appear to be pressed deep into the notebook’s pages, much darker than the text above. To the steward that finds this book, please show it to the people I knew. Please show it to them so that it may fill them with a slight bit of happiness. Tell them that my job is done and that there will be no goodbyes, because goodbyes mean going away and going away means forgetting. [!] Below the text would depict a sketch of a polar bear cub. (ooc Thank you everyone who helped me with Eric, this was a fun character to play) PS I know I said boar, look up the term for adult bear

If you are interested in playing the mother or grandmother to my character please either reply to this thread or send me a msg in-game (ItsRainingRupees) or on Discord (LSPrimal#0002). Mother Character Profile: Yvvaeta de Savin (nee Varodair): Race: Human Age: 50 Subculture: Adunian Marital Status: Widow Occupation: Glass Craftsman Children: Exelia de Savin Physical Description: A 5’9 woman with a hourglass figure, light-green eyes, pale skin and a above-average muscular build. Her years of being a glass-blower have built her upper-body strength tremendously, though the death of her husband has made her normally youthful appearance somewhat aged and tired. Notes: I am currently working on a skin for her and will edit this post to attach it. However, if you’d like to make your own skin or alter the one I will make that is perfectly fine. Because Yvvaeta is Adunian, she looks a lot younger than a normal 50 year old would. People often mistake her as her own daughter’s sister. Benefits of taking on this role: Besides asking you to attend certain events you will be allowed to go with this character as you please and continue her story. I will provide a room for you in a manor and seek additional housing for you in Athalia (where Yvvaeta grew up and raised Exelia), in addition to a glass shop in which you will profit from in Athalia. (I still need to set these things up.) Access to the Duchy of Vintas, in which Exelia is a Steward, where active RP will be taking place. (Once it’s built soon.) A prominent role in Exelia’s Astronomy Guild. And finally, connection to the noble House de Savin. Grandmother character profile: Amelia Varodair: Race: Human Age: 70 Subculture: Adunian Marital Status: Married to Hartwin Varodair Children: Yvvaeta Varodair Physical Description: A 5’8 woman who has a gentle face and petite facial features, she has worn but bright skin and medium-green eyes. Amelia’s light-brown hair is long and oddly healthy looking for her age. Notes: Here is the link for her skin: https://www.planetminecraft.com/skin/lotc-don-t-use-base-skin-for-character/ (You are allowed to alter this as you like, I didn’t do the greatest job anyways.) Similar to Yvvaeta’s note, Amelia is old but looks like she’s in her 40’s. Benefits of taking on this role: Everything listed in Yvvaeta’s benefit note applies to Amelia as well. I have a player who is going to be playing Amelia’s husband, Hartwin.

I need a skin for my character Rogg Here’s the skin I’m using for him atm: https://imgur.com/hWQBqIo (Here’s one without the beard and scar: https://imgur.com/a/QPZcanS) I’m looking for a more realistic look to his face but with the same deformed eyes and mouth since the one I have now looks way too happy for what he got goin on Here are some references: https://imgur.com/a/K2VxFjJ https://imgur.com/a/JjYhCMa https://imgur.com/a/EGWTgOJ He’s basically Sloth from The Goonies but with hair and a beard Im broke on LOTC but I can pay with Paypal.

Name of settlement: Laanhold, Westmarch Peak time: Around 3pm EST (from a mix of Europeans and North Americans) Populace density: 85% Human, 15% Halfling Brief description: Laanhold is the cozy agricultural town of the Duchy of Westmarch. With hedgerows bordering the farms leading up to the gentle palisade entrance to the town, the entire area would be welcoming to most. Halfling burrows sit on the left hand side of the road in, and a branch off to the right sweeps up the staircase to the keep: Laanhold Tower. Immediately upon entering the town would be a marketplace, with a medical clinic on the far left, under the clocktower. Bearing left, an arcade leads to a public park, and the small houses in that direction. Straight ahead is the archway leading to the church, manors and side entrance to the keep, and to the right is the road to the apartments, and the tavern too. List of players able to assist: @mra8ur93ss , Duke Stannis, aka func_Soap @Pun , Duchess Kathryn, aka Pun__ @Gleeshers , Mayor Puddifoot, aka ColdDaughter @Cleggmire_ , Ser Fournier, aka Reynald_ @LadyCarolina , Lady Fournier Directions: https://imgur.com/a/zApKoFR Take the Northerly junction of the Aegrothond-northerly – King’s Road-easterly junction, then the first left nearly opposite a vineyard on the right. -

Aestian culture. (big thank you to chaotikal for his template) Introduction to the Culture: If you’d like to make a character, and join the tribe, send me a PM on the forums and I’ll be glad to help, and as soon as we get enough people, we will apply for a Tier 1. If you want to see this culture evolve, join us! Aesti culture is mostly based off of Finnic tribes of the Neolithic and Mesolithic periods. The goal is to develop and expand this culture to maybe one day becoming a popular choice among new players. (this post is bound to change so expect an edit so more information could be added about this culture.) (and keep in mind this is a WIP) Aesti is a culture that has it’s roots in the landscapes beyond the mountains, where cartographers didn’t dare venture to, in the northern wastelands of Arcas, no written records, or depictions in manuscrips of the Great Library exist of this presumably new, yet undiscovered culture. History: Aestian culture starts with the chief of Lumi, Kristofer, who leads a small tribe in the desolate winter wasteland with his wife Gwendolyn, which was outcast from her previous tribe, who rejected her for having a more independant attitude. This new culture brings a more freer and less feudal option to new players and old ones who want a tribal experience, with human characters, and the opportunity for people to make history! Language: Aesti, being very similar to Common, has some words of it’s own, a heritage from ancient times: Some examples include: Hei, Tere – Hello. Mitte, Hüva, Head aega – Goodbye, bye. Tänan – Thanks, Thank you. Jah – Yes. Ei – No. Kurat or Raisk (curse word) – Damn, hell. Sina, Sinu – You, Yours. Mulle, Minu – for me, Mine . Hea, Halb – Good, Bad. Head ööd – Good night. Head päeva – Good day. Hästi – Well, good. Poiss – Boy. Tüdruk – Girl. Mees – Man. Naine – Woman. Juht – Chief. Kallis – Dear. (feel free to ask for more.) Common Traits: Aestians don’t have a sparse ethnicity, they’re very pure northerners. A typical Aestian man would be quite tall, with a burly build, blonde, or black hair. His eyes would be shades of light blue, blue or, more rarely, gray or blue-silver. Men: A beard is a standard facial feature of Aestian men, which is a sign of power, fertility and charity. Some older tribesmen have a beard braid. Hairstyles aren’t of much value in Aestian culture, long or short hair for men is common. Again, braids are common on older tribesmen. Women: However, tribeswomen value their hair, keeping it lush and silky. Long hair is a sign of femininity and beauty. Women are to be considered equal due to their natural, and societal responsabilites. It is said that Aestian women can, with enough training, beat a trained man in hand to hand combat. Society: Traditionally, Aestian society is based on a tribal government. It’s lead by a Chief (Juht in Aesti), and at death, the oldest child of the Chief becomes Chief, regardless of the child being a boy or girl. To address a Chief, one would use “Kallis Juht..” or ”Juht..” Warchiefs are frowned upon. Behaviour: Aestians are very secluded people, they’re very wary of strangers, be it from other tribes or nations. They tend to stick with their friends and family, and reach out to others in times of need. They like to keep their conversations concise and clear. Small talk is avoided in public, as it’s considered as a waste of time. Every Aestian is expected to work, due to the harsh conditions and their small numbers. Elders are an exception to this rule, due to their physical (in)capabilites but most importantly the importance of preserving their knowledge. Food: Aestian food is quite basic. It’s composed of tubers such as potatoes or yams wich are either grown in a field or inside of a bag or barrel, due to the land being frozen most of the year. If grown in a field, the potatoes are sown 3 inches (or 8cm) into the ground to keep the potatoes from freezing, and thus dieing. Carrots are also common, due to them being a source of vitamin C, wich is used to cure and prevent scurvy. Pork and fish are the most common meats in Aestian cuisine, along with their smoked variants. Dairy products aren’t very diverse either, butter and milk (which can be fermented to extend shelf life) are most common. Cereals, with the excpetion of winter wheat, aren’t planted or consumed. Festivities: Saunas: At every end of a Saint’s Week, Aestians gather in a room which is heated to very high temperatures thanks to a fire that would be roaring for atleast 2 hours before entering the sauna (~90°C or ~194°F) in which they can discuss important matters, or just relax with friends and family. A common thing to do is to jump in some near freezing-point water or snow after getting out of the sauna. The room is made from wood, and the furniture too. Sometimes water is thrown onto the heating element to create steam. Clothing: For everyday use, most of Aestian clothing would be made of furs from various animals, capes, coats, headwear and boots are generally made from fur. Underwear such as shirts, tunics is either made from wool, or flax, a costly alternative to wool due to the climate Aestians live in. Architecture: Aestian houses are cheap, and fast to build and require little maintenance. Materials like dirt, thatch, wood, stone are very common in the style of Aestian architecture. The roof is generally made from dirt which can freeze and form a permafrost layer, the house is quite short in height. (the typical house is very similar to a Icelandic turf house.) Walls around a camp or settlement can be built out of Stone and Ice. In some cases, dirt mounds are made when other materials aren’t easily accessible. Religion: Animism is the common faith among Aestians, however, some Aestians simply have no faith due to their straightforward lifestyle. Science or rationalism isn’t a notion used by Aestians in the early stages of the culture. Aestians learn through mistakes, and knowledge is passed on through elders. Military: A military of Aestian origin would consist of small raiding parties, avoiding big battles and favoring small engagements. A warspear, a round shield would be the standard issue weapons. Slings are a popular choice for ranged attacks and hunting small game. For the richest warrior, who could afford to wear armor used helmets, metal armor made of chainmail, and lamellar, which consisted of iron plates sewn together. Lower-status Aestian warriors also used layers of quilted cloth, such as linen or wool, to protect the body during battle. Aestian warriors are lead by the Commander, which in war, would shout the orders at them and be in the frontline of the battle. A modern and organized army would defeat an Aestian party pretty easily on foreign soil. The tables turn if Aestians are defending, due to the terrain on which they train which gives them a considerable advantage against the enemy.

Needing a artists to design a logo for me so I may use in forum posts and the like, add me on disc. Dallren#3257

Hey!, looking for a good skinner to help me with a norse / viking like skin that needs updating aswell as a entirely new skin made. Payment can be discussed in discord, if you are interested in helping me out add me on discord so we can get talking. Dallren#3257

The Wedding of Rathamalion & Kardi The Bells are ringing. Turtledoves fly around. People come in masses to watch the feast.Severeal Doves would spread this Letter to all of the allied Nations of Renatus . My dear Allies of the world i am so proud to finally announce my Wedding to all of you I am going to marry at the 3 Elvenday of this week and me and my Fiance wanted to invite all of you to our Wedding afterwards our closest friends will be able to join us to a little party afterwards. Food and drinks will served from me. Some Infos would be down there When : The 3rd Elvenday this year 7 pm CET Where : Capital of the Khardasi Who : All allied Nations of the Empire ♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤ ____________