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VOL. 1 EDITION. 19 Baruch & Kortrevich Publishing Two Minas per Publishing Available in Naumariav THE GOLDEN CROW CHRONICLES Karosgrad, Haense Vzmey and Hyff, 372 E.S. 7 pages Written by: Viktor Kortrevich, Karl Kortrevich, & Aldrik Baruch Published by: B&K Publishing Pg. 1 WAR BREAKS OUT: OREN COMMITS WAR CRIMES AFTER NORLAND PROTECTS CHURCH? Providence, Oren A portrait depicting the GCC ground crew interviewing Orenians, 372 E.S. War breaks out between the Kingdom of Norland and the ‘Holy’ Orenian Empire. After over a year of patience, the Kingdom of Norland finally quits giving time to Oren to answer their demands of a weregild after publicly ridiculing and embarrassing a Norlandic official by forcing him into a Church and demanding he kneel and pray to God, even though the Kingdom of Norland is of the Red Faith. After failing to respond and denying to comment, the Kingdom of Norland declared war in order to secure recompense for the embarrassment suffered by the Norland official at the hands of an Owynist-like mob. It is truly ironic that while Oren moves further away from Godan and tradition, openly declares progress and condones the sacrilege of interbreeding, yet they force a foreign man of different faith into a church to kneel and pray to a God that they don’t even honor themselves. So far the war has seen few casualties compared to that of the Rubern War and War of Two Emperors. Neither side has taken a clear advantage on the battlefield, despite the many missives that fly from the Orenian Office of Propaganda; our field officials reported multiple retreats on behalf of Oren and declared victories in which Oren lost only slightly less men than Norland. Just as the war started and the calls of Orenian zealots came out declaring this a Holy War, the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska was able to strike a bargain with the forces of Norland and Urguan in Greyspine. The Greyspine Convention, which Norland and Urguan agreed to, laid out that this was a war of secular interests and the Church would be saved from needless injury and attack, shutting down the Orenian priests who serve the Emperor more than Godan himself. Reports come out after the Greyspine Convention of the Imperial State Army brutally slaughtering the women and children of the Duchy of Elysium, just outside the capital of Varhelm. Many casualties were inflicted on the Orenian military as they retreated after securing a hostage, no other than the Duke of Elysium himself, forcing him to sign a document of secession, which was later rescinded. Ironic that the attempted victims, now turned villains, once claimed this to be a war of defending Canonism, yet they throw out their Canonist principles and attack the innocent, typical of Oren as they only act in the interest of Godan and Canonism when it suits them. The attack has seemingly failed to cow the fighting spirit of the duchy however. Interviews with citizens and soldiers alike showcase their courage and determination to continue the fight, regardless of the atrocity that was committed. In fact, most Norlanders seem to want a true and fair battle between armies instead of the minor skirmishes we’ve seen thus far. For now, the ball remains in Oren’s court. As the war continues to ravage on, we do hope Oren is reminded of their Canonist roots before it is so quickly forgotten once again, and that innocent blood is to be spared when it can be, although no doubt the insatiable bloodlust of the Imperial State Army for those who are merely bystanders will be hard to control, after all if you can’t beat the Northguard, you have to bring someone’s head home! Written by: Fr. Karl Kortrevich Pg. 2 WAR OF THREE KINGDOMS: BATTLE OF ELYSIUM Duchy of Elysium, Norland A portrait of the GCC war correspondent crew with survivors of the Battle of Elysium, 372 E.S. What started off a routine patrol for a Northguard unit would go on to become a night of bloodshed that none would soon forget. It was the early hours of Jula & Piov, when GCC first heard reports of clashes between an Orenian infantry contingent and a joint Northguard-Ranger unit. Anthony Basrid, one of the Orenian participants in this event, claimed that the Orenians were there to fix the dirt roads that lead into the heartland of Norland. On the other side, Alric Theonus, the captain of the Norlandic Crownsguard, claim they were spurred to action by reports of armed men on the roads whom they thought to be bandits. Whatever the reason, this small encounter soon grew into a full-scaled skirmish. Reports differ from either side, but GCC experts estimate that there were 2000 Norlanders against 1000 Orenians. Witness testimonies inform us that the fight was largely back-and-forth skirmishing, with the center of the fight shifting along the road to and from Elysium. Our GCC reporters managed to catch the tail-end of the fight, when they were shot upon by Orenians! For their safety, they were forced to retreat back into neutral territory until the fighting died down. There are, as of yet, no definitive casualty counts that we can report, though participants and witnesses alike agree that more Norlanders perished in the fighting than did Orenians. Our current estimate stands at about 900 dead or wounded Norlanders to 400 dead or wounded Orenians. Both sides have claimed victory in the fight, though GCC will officially label it as a draw. It is clear that morale will be a major determining factor in this war, yet this fight seems to have had very little impact on either side’s courage. Both Norland and Oren stand ready to continue the fight, and we anticipate more clashes in the future. We at the GCC will continue to pray for peace, but while this war rages on, you can always count on us for reliable and accurate reporting. We’ll go to the frontline so you don’t have to. Written by: Aldrik Baruch Pg. 3 ADVERTISEMENT “HAESENI GOODS FOR HAESENI PEOPLE” Merchant Stall I, Karosgrad Maer Barbanov sitting next in front of Schattenburg Farmed Goods! Schattenburg Farmed Goods is one of the oldest stores in Karosgrad, established immediately after the arrival to Almaris in 349 ES by Prince Franz Leopold, Duke of Schattenburg. The store set out with the ambition to provide affordable food for all denizens of Karosgrad, and has since become the number one supplier of food. * Message garentoft#1980 over Discord for more information! * Paid for by Franz Barbanov Pg. 4 ATTENLAND EXPEDITION: A NEW FRONTIER! Attenlund, Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska A portrait depicting the vast frontier of Attenland, 371 E.S. An expedition, ordered by His Royal Majesty King Heinrik II has been ongoing for several years now in the new frontier claimed by the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska; Attenlund. This newly commenced expedition includes an explorative host consisting the likes of; Ser Hildebrand Mondblume, Gwynevere Ameliya, Adrian Colborn, William Carolus, Fionn Castaway and Albrecht Mondblume. Their mission of course is to explore, map, and report back what this new frontier entails, from its beasts to its natural resources that may be invaluable to the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. Here at the Golden Crow, we wish the very best for these fine explorers and may they come back safely and with news that can help shape the future of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. Written by: Viktor Kortrevich Pg. 5 ADVERTISEMENT “ALCOHOL DOESN’T GET YOU DRUNK. VALERIE KORTREVICH DOES!” Wailer Way I, Karosgrad A beautiful painting of the Crow’s Hearth Tavern in the center of New Reza Hold on, you there! Before you skim past this advertisement and read about the Haeseni Social Season, we urge you to take a stroll down to The Old Crow Stout Pub in the city-centre to respite in the rentable tavern rooms or celebrate with friends and family over a fine-brewed mug of Carrion Black. * Message in the Haense discord @Tavernkeep for service! * Paid for by B&K Publishing Pg. 6 HAESENI SOCIAL SEASON! Nikirala Palace, Karosgrad A portrait depicting the courting ritual of the Haeseni Social Season, 371 E.S. The Haeseni Social Season, hosted by the courts of Hanseti-Ruska, has brought forth many young male and female suitors looking for someone to court and romance. Many melees, balls, feasts, and jousts took place to entertain and encourage people to get together. The Lifstala was a major success, as both men and women alike came out in droves, all wearing their best attires, no doubt that those best dressed came from the House of Baruch, which rumor has it is where most of the Golden Crow Chronicles' funding runs off to these days! Those now in courting, betrothed, married, or now in relationships after the Social Season have the Chronicle’s best wishes for their future and we hope to cover many more of these captivating events while keeping a tentative eye on the anonymous author that is Duchess Doja Catherine. Written by: Karl Kortrevich Pg. 7 HISTORICAL FIGURE OF THE YEAR Lord Sigmar Joren Baruch Duke of Valwyck Lord Speaker of Haense Valwyck, Haense A portrait of Duke Sigmar Baruch, c. 1799 Sigmar Joren Baruch, born in 1709 to Jan Baruch and Lilliana Kortrevich, was the first Duke of Valwyck and longest serving Lord Speaker to date. Sigmar, with his brother Eirik, were born in the waning years of peace prior to the outbreak of the War of Two Emperors. When the war sparked, Sigmar’s father, Jan, forsook his oath to the Marian Retinue and the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska as he sided with the Pertinaxi forces instead of the Haeseni-backed Marnan forces. This act left House Baruch without a patriarch, which ultimately forced Sigmar’s great-grandfather, Marius Karl Baruch to serve as acting regent until Sigmar came of age. Marius set up a regency council, consisting of Sigmar’s cousins Lord Lerald Vyronov and Lord Joren Baruch. Sigmar’s years under regency were rather inconsequential, mainly consisting of long tenured studies under the guidance of his great grandfather, Marius. Sigmar in his adolescent years fought with the Marnan forces and at the age of fourteen even executed his own mother who committed treason alongside her husband. Sigmar would take over the House of Baruch at the youthful age of fourteen as Count of Ayr, starting his tenure as patriarch as the War of Two Emperors came to a close. After the war, during the reconstruction of the Kingdom under King Andrik III, Sigmar was appointed as Lord Kastellan(Aulic Enovy) by his uncle Lord Lerald Vyronov, who was the Lord Palatine at the time. During this short tenure, Sigmar would work with vassals on repairing Haeseni infrastructure and familiarizing the Haeseni lords with one another. In 1732, Sigmar joined a committee, formed by Lord Speaker Konrad Stafyr, to reform the Royal Duma to best adapt to Haense in its most modern state. There, alongside Terrence May and Karl Vyronov he authored the Feudalist Manifesto, one of the two main benches of the Royal Duma at the time. Sigmar was a founding father of many of the Royal Duma reforms throughout the years and he constantly saw room for vital improvements. After a few years of service as Lord Kastellan and Leader of the Opposition after the ascension of Terrence May to Palatialship, Sigmar was appointed to the Aulic Office of Lord Speaker by King Andrik III after the appointment of Konrad Stafyr to the Aulic Office of Lord Palatine. There he would serve a tenure of twenty years, mainly throughout the Duma’s polarized and engaged past. Because of this service to the Crown, in addition to Sigmar’s success in cleansing his House from its dire straits reputation and growing it into a powerful noble family, King Andrik IV eventually awarded Sigmar with the elevated title of the Duchy of Valwyck in 1748. From 1733 to 1753, stretching across the reigns of two kings and two regents, Sigmar would serve as Lord Speaker until he tendered his resignation to Lord Regent Otto Sigmar, simultaneously abdicating to his son, Petyr Baruch. After a few years of retirement, Sigmar was called out of it by his son Petyr Baruch, who had risen to the rank of Lord Palatine, to reform the position of Aulic Envoy. He would serve a few years before passing on the position to his nephew, Emerich Baruch-Gant. After this, King Sigismund II would knight Sigmar and award him with the ranking of Hauchkossar in the first class of the Order of the Lily for his years of service throughout the years. In his later years, Sigmar would serve four terms in the Orenian House of Commons, two as a registered Everardine, a party which he was a founder of and two as a registered member of the Haeseni Independence Caucus. Subsequently, Sigmar would found alongside his son-in-law Viktor Kortrevich, Baruch & Kortrevich Publishing, there he would start co-authoring and publishing the renowned Golden Crow Chronicles; which is recognized as the most renowned newspaper in all of Arcas and Almaris. In the later years of Sigmar’s long life, he would serve as a Jovenaar in the Haeseni Independent Aulic Courts. Sigmar left a lifetime of literary works; The Feudalist Manifesto, a dozen of successful bills, eighteen editions of the Golden Crow Chronicles, political and philosophical essays relating to the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, the founding of the Originalist Judicial philosophy, and plenty more. Sigmar would pass away in 1816 at the age of hundred-and-one. Sigmar’s legacy is his unquestioned patriotism, dignified statesmanship, and original political philosophies that molded the era of his generation. ((*Excerpted from the mind of Mr. Drew)) @Drew2_dude Editor's Note: In the Next Edition. Haeseni Season Attenlund Exploration Conflict Amongst Houses Oren vs. Norland This concludes Edition 19 of the The Golden Crow Chronicles, Edition 20 will be ready by the end of next year.