u/Shot-Salary-5639

Hailing from cold winds of the North, House Cinderwulf–one of the oldest houses of the Jorronplain–are granted the lands of Cinder Point to govern on behalf of the Jorronking. As a lordly house of the Knights of the Hart, they will oversee the continued timber trade from Cinder Point and are charged with the defense of these lands. 

Leading House Cinderwulf is Lord Conri Cinderwulf, a staunch supporter of the Jorronking and House Hart. A childhood friend and role model to Crown Prince Amandil, Conri is a fierce fighter as well as skilled woodsman. He, like the rest of his house, has a strong rivalry with House Blackwood, albeit a respectful rivalry. Together the two houses watch over the stag colonies in Therican.

Too long have men of the forest stood in the shadow of the Lion Knights and Black Falcons. It is time for the those who don the stag, the Knights of the Hart, to rise up and take their place at the pinnacle of medieval LEGO kingdoms!

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This is just a fun 6 month update since my original post when I first put together this new faction. Like I mentioned in my previous post, I wasn't a fan of the original red and green forestmen colorway using the brown stag shields as I thought they didn't quite fit together. I wanted to stray away from the classic "woodsmen" idea for anyone who used the stag shield.

My faction is loosely a mixture of "pseudo-Welsh" inspiration + House Baratheon themes from asoiaf. And I can both thank and give credit to u/notanotheraltaccount for help coming up with the name of this faction!

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I also currently "play" as this faction in r/Lego_Minifigure_Realm for anyone interested in joining a LEGO medieval role playing game!

Eight months ago, Ludwig von Schwarzenberg’s raven had arrived on the Jorronplain with news of a far-reaching conspiracy plaguing the lands. Word had reached the Jorronking, informing him of a so-called republic sympathizer under the name of Enrica Palazza. To his surprise, Enrica had been commissioned as a portrait painter for the recent wedding of his nephew, Ser Rhodri.

Embarrassed by his own blunder, the Jorronking tasked his local guard to keep a watchful eye on the apparent, high-ranking member of the republic conspiracy, hoping to uncover clues that would lead to the larger web of the dangerous republic syndicate.

*****

It was the small hours of the morning by the time the local guards realized Enrica had taken flight into the night. Ravens were sent and men were dispatched to all major border crossings along the Jorronplain, with the hopes to capture the runaway sympathizer.

By midday, guards at the Yomsreach border were notified by neighboring Griffin forces of an illegal border crossing made by a young, female painter. Promptly, Hart soldiers met up with the Griffin guards, who handed over a frazzled Enrica Palazza, to be taken back to the great keep of Cedar Watch.

Hopefully, the journey back to Cedar Watch does not experience any unfortunate interruptions...

OOC: Please let me know if I made any mistakes. Image quality won't be the best. Hopefully this helps both old and new players figure out who is who.

Please refer to the main Map Update Post for any moves in game, etc. https://www.reddit.com/r/Lego_Minifigure_Realm/s/qX91Owa6oh

As Lord Oswell’s mind continued to be absorbed in the contents of the old book, he found himself turning to the next two open pages. On the left-hand side was depicted an ancient illustration of a young maiden running through a lush forest. On the right-hand side, an incomplete page: one with a large chunk torn from the middle. At the top of what remained of the right page, a few words read as follows: “Jorraine of the Forest.” 

Intrigued, Lord Oswell kept reading. “Lady Jorraine, known as the youngest daughter of High King Frederick of the North, was the second youngest of his children overall. At an early age, Lady Jorraine emerged as a skilled markswoman, a natural when it came to her use with the bow. Although a lady of court, Lady Jorraine would often run off on her own, venturing out into the forest to hunt and explore.”

“Lady Jorraine, unlike many of her sisters, was perceived by many to be headstrong and defiant, often causing trouble around the castle and leaving the king and queen with a constant feeling of exasperation. That being said, the High King held a soft spot for his mischievous daughter Jorraine and spoiled her as such, much to the chagrin of the queen.”

“As she grew older, her skill with the bow continued to improve until she was one of the finest archers in the kingdom. When she came of age, she challenged her father, the High King, to find a marksman who could defeat her in an archery contest. Should he fail, she would ask for the wooded lands on the northern slopes of the Northern Mountains. Lady Jorraine was v…” and then he reached the torn edge of the page.

Beneath the tear lay the final few lines, which Lord Oswell proceeded to read.

“After the great fire of the forest, Jorron Hart, grandson of Lady Jorraine, took on the mantle as head of the house and founded the Jorronplain. Jorron settled his people on the slopes of the great mountains and constructed the great keep, Cedar Watch. 

***

Word had reached Jorronking Berethor that Lord Oswell of House Griffin had come across a fascinating ancient book, one that perhaps revealed stories of the North from times long past. With Robin Rivers at his side, the Jorronking and his chief recorder delved into the libraries and archives of old, searching for recorded texts of his ancestor, Jorraine: the first Hart.

Sailing from their colonies abroad, Lord Olwyn journeys home to the North with the first batch of trade goods to bring to the Knights of the Hart.

During these times of peace, the Jorronking hopes to establish and maintain strong trade routes to aid in the growth of the Jorronplain and their allies. With these goods, traders and vendors will sell them in Northern markets, spreading across the region to markets such as Yomsreach, Braccenfoot, Entarbor, and beyond.

Tridentine Alliance, I speak on behalf of the True North Alliance:

Stand down immediately.

Do not assist Sturgia in the invasion of the territory of Myyga.

Assisting a hostile faction in both conquering a (new player) as well as establishing their lands adjacent to our own (The Shadow Forest) demonstrates your allegiance to Sturgia and therefore placing yourselves as an enemy to the True North.

Failure to stand down will result in the full outbreak of hostilities between the True North and the Tridentine Alliance.

-Jorronking Berethor, Knights of the Hart, member of the True North Alliance.

In order to secure a territory on the mainland of Therican, the Knights of the Hart send the small company of House Blackwood, a minor house of the Jorronplain, to scout and secure Cinder Point.

Led by Lord Rhys Blackwood, brother to Lord Olwyn, the Knights of the Hart hope House Blackwood is able to unify the coastline with the Guardians of the Wildward and the Knights of Grüner Bär and claim Cinder Point for the Stags.

This is by no means complete or accurate, but here is a map with usernames attached so everyone is aware of one another's locations, especially with the influx of new players who have joined.

Apologies for any mistakes made!

Autumn had arrived. Cool winds signaled the end to a pleasant, bountiful summer. The day was marked by a tapestry of red, orange, and yellow hues; leaves which had begun to descend to the forest floors and illuminate the Jorronplain. As the quiet, fall weather had slowly crept up on the realm, the Honeywyne Meadow was bustling with life. The tourney was at its final day!

As lords from across the realm were eager to wrap up their long stay in the Jorronplain, the tourney grounds were restless with anticipation of the final joust. Questions arose amongst the onlookers, as they keenly awaited the last festivities of the wedding celebration.

“Who is the Mystery Knight?”

“Will Sir Gerard claim the tournament’s greatest victory for his liege, Lord Oswell, the Guest of Honor?”

“Who will be most successful in courting Princess Edris?”

Other questions and rumors loomed over the crowds; questions of a more serious tone.

“Are the Blood Dragons going to honor their peace agreement?”

“What mysteries do you think are hiding in the new lands of Therican and Uractar?”

“Who is this ‘Antler Lord’ that lives in far off lands?”

“Will anyone stop Anvard from their continued expansion?”

“Is there a battle in Rydonius?”

Just as the patient crowds were approaching their limit, a horn blew from the stands, marking the start of the championship match!

“Greetings to all lords, ladies, knights, and commoners alike!” thundered Ser Devin Reed from the foot of the stands.

“We welcome all to witness the grand finale to the tourney, here at Honeywyne Meadow! We thank our grace, his majesty the Jorronking, for hosting such a splendid celebration for Ser Rhodri and Lady Miranda, the union of two Northern houses!”

“The victor of the joust, as with the victors from the Archery and Strategy competitions, will receive the following: a competition-specific trophy, a chest of gold, fine wines and ales, and the opportunity to court Princess Edris!”

“Now, let the joust commence!”

Sir Gerard adjusted the straps to his vambraces and pulled his visor down. A bead of sweat dripped from his brow. Although the cool, autumn breeze blew across the grounds, his armor was hot. He knew that victory was the only option. His liege, Lord Oswell, had the privilege of being the guest of honor, and Sir Gerard knew that on the highest stage he needed avoid shaming House Griffin. He could see the Mystery Knight off in the distance; donning white armor with white plums. “How cocky,” Sir Gerard thought to himself. “Why does he hide his face? Does he seek to gain more fame in this manner? Bahh, it matters not.”

BWAAAAAAHHHH. The great horn from the stands sounded off, piercing the silent anticipation of the day. The crowds roared with excitement as the riders responded to the call.

“Hyah!” Sir Gerard cried out as he spurred his horse forward. In an instant, the thundering of hooves was all he could hear. Tightly, he held his shield and lance as he and his horse galloped down the track. He could see that the Mystery Knight was charging toward him with great speed.

Closer. Closer. Sir Gerard swore he could see the whites of his opponents eyes. Crash! The first contact between the riders was made! Sir Gerard broke his lance upon the Mystery Knight’s shield, the Mystery Knight clearly dazed from the contact. At the end, Sir Gerard grabbed another lance. Once more, Sir Gerard loosened his grip on the reins as his horse leaned forward and raced down the track. 

Again, the two knights clashed, as a great crack echoed across the grounds with each point of contact made. After two more passes, Sir Gerard and the Mystery Knight lined up for their fourth and final run. Sir Gerard gripped his lance tightly and affixed it under his arm. “Hyah!” The two knights thunderd towards one another. 

Sir Gerard knew this pass could determine the joust. He held his shield firmly against his chest and aimed for the the Mystery Knight. Closer. Closer. The Mystery Knight was almost upon him. He could see his lance coming right for him. Sir Gerard braced for impact.

Crash! Dead center. The Mystery Knight’s lance was true to its mark. Sir Gerard felt his saddle separate from underneath him. Suddenly, as if time had stopped, Sir Gerard felt himself in the air.

Thud. He his the dirt hard. Muffled cheers and cries filled the air.

“No, no, no…” Sir Gerard whispered to himself. He would not be so easily defeated. Not him. Not the champion of House Griffin, the knight who defeated so many before him. He rose to his feet and unsheathed his sword.

“I have not yet conceded, Mystery Knight!” shouted Sir Gerard. “If you truly wish to be champion, come down and face me!”

The Mystery Knight showed no hesitation. Swiftly, he dismounted his horse, set down his lance, and drew his sword.

“He’s strong.” The Mystery Knight thought to himself. “I need to face him. I need to prove myself to the realm.”

He could see Sir Gerard was angry, filled with wrath and fury. “I need to stay calm. I can do this.”

The Mystery Knight and Sir Gerard slowly walked towards one another. As soon as there lay only a few paces between them, they both broke out into a sprint. CLANG! The ring of swords and the thud of shields sounded across the now very quiet tourney grounds; eyes intensely focused on the action so that none would miss a single move. 

Quietly, the two knights fought, panting and slowly losing breath. As the fight drew on, their arms grew tired, their shield became heavier. As Sir Gerard mustered what strength he had, he swung his great longsword down to come crashing on the Mystery Knight. In a flash, and with brute strength, the Mystery Knight parried the great swing of Sir Gerard and disarmed him, knocking down his foe.

The fight was over.

The tourney grounds erupted in cheers and applause! Mixed responses and emotions overcame the many houses as the Mystery Knight had claimed the victory. 

Looking up, Sir Gerard spoke plainly to the Mystery Knight, in a voice in which all could here.

“You have claimed victory here, Champion. Now you owe it to all in the realm. Reveal yourself Mystery Knight! Who are you?”

Slowly, the Mystery Knight removed his helm.

There, before the all of the lords, knights, Sir Gerard, and the peoples of the realm, stood the Young Dragon Heir: son of Lady Blood, nephew to Lord Falcon, ward of the Jorronking, and future claimant to all Dragonkind.

My fellow lords and ladies, welcome back to day 3 of the Tourney upon the Honeywyne Meadow! With the conclusion of Round 2, tensions flared as controversies grew within the tourney grounds. 

After the first match of the quarter-final round, Duke Richard of Braccenfoot accused Prince Hadrian of foul play, stating that Lord Greenhill’s horse was targeted in the competition. Prince Hadrian and his party disputed the accusations, claiming that Prince Hadrian “the Gentle” would never target another’s steed, leading to their complaint that Duke Richard was instigating a defamation case of Prince Hadrian’s character.

I, Ser Devin Reed, as both officiant and host, have concluded that Prince Hadrian shall move on to the semi-finals. Based on discussions gathered from the very few witnesses who stepped forth, we have concluded that there is a lack of evidence to support Duke Richard’s claim. Both Duke Richard and Prince Hadrian received only one voice of support each, with Lord Oswell sharing his testimony in support of the Duke while Sir Philip von Rossenfels shared a short, anecdotal testimony of their experience with Lord Greenhill’s horse.

If more witnesses had stepped forward, perhaps the result may have differed. That being said, the joust continues!

Here are the thrilling results of Round 3!

Sir Gerard of House Griffin defeated Prince Hadrian of the Kingdom of Yenvar. As if carrying the ill-will and justice-driven wishes of his Lord Oswell and of Duke Richard of Braccenfoot, Sir Gerard rode fiercely in his match, crushing Prince Hadrian’s shield and toppling him from his horse. Prince Hadrian had put up a skillful first couple of rounds, but could not withstand the sheer power of Sir Gerard’s lance.

The Mystery Knight defeated Kjell Darkcurrent of the Krakenclan! The Krakens can stand proud after their tourney involvement comes to an end. The Mystery night and Kjell Darkcurrent each rode fiercely, breaking a lance a piece midway through the joust. It was finally when the Mystery Knight found an opening that they pierced the side of Kjell Darkcurrent, rendering his opponent ineffective for the continuation of the match. 

Moving on to the finals, Sir Gerard of House Griffin shall be riding against The Mystery Knight!

And the question remains... Who could The Mystery Knight be?

OOC: I recently shared this for fun with members of the True North to give a visual about how some of their houses are connected via marriage to the royal house of the Knights of the Hart.

This is meant to be less of a lore drop for the community and more so an informative post for our new members to illustrate how marriage can be a fun/important element in the game to create alliances/connections with other players.

This family tree shows how the Knights of the Hart are united with the Falcons, House Griffin, and the Horse Knights, which explains a lot about how I play the game and interact with those houses now.

One tip: this didn't happen overnight either (across 3 months of playing) so don't go and try to create as many marriage alliances as you can in the next few days! 😅

Welcome back to the exciting tourney upon the Honeywyne Meadow! The festivities have continued through our second day of the joust. Here are the exciting results of round 2!

Round 2: 

Prince Hadrian of the Kingdom of Yenvar defeated Wyatt Greenhill of Braccenfoot! Although highly debatable, Prince Hadrian “accidentally” targeted Wyatt Greenhill’s horse, dismounting him instantly as the poor beast, impaled with a lance, crumpled to the floor. 

Sir Gerard of House Griffin defeated Sir Colville of Westeria! Sir Gerard the juggernaut was too big of a force for Sir Colville. So much so that he could not damage the griffin, ultimately taking a hit in the shoulder that ended the match.

Kjell Darkcurrent of the Krakenclan defeated Philip the Younger! The Krakens continue their strong showing at the tournament as Kjell masterfully disarmed Philip the Younger a few minutes into the fight, earning a clean victory.

And lastly,

The Mystery Knight defeated Sir Andrew Castille of House Saint-Cyr! There is not much to say except brute force. This Mystery Knight dismounted a master rider, snapping his lance in the process. Thankfully, Sir Andrew left relatively unscathed. But murmurs in the crowd have begun asking, “who is this mystery knight?”

Many have thrown out their guesses, wondering who the knight may be.

“Could it be, his majesty the Jorronking?”

“No you fool, the Jorronking is there in the stands”

“What about General Broadwans? Has he returned to Rutland?”

“Definitely not. Ol’ Broadwans was not much of a rider as far as I know.”

“I bet it’s Manfred the Necromancer, who’s come back for revenge!”

“I think it’s Lord Falcon himself! I heard he loves a good display of bravado!”

"Could it be King Magnus of the Holy Order?"

"Lad, now you're just throwing out names!"

Moving on to the semi-finals, our matchups are as follows:

The vicious Prince Hadrian shall be taking on the stalwart Sir Gerard! This shall be quite a heavyweight matchup between to master riders.

The imposing Kjell Darkcurrent shall be taking on the brutal Mystery Knight! Who shall win in this must-see showdown?!

Greetings lords, knights and noblemen and women across the realm. Once again, I am Ser Devin Reed, here to host the final event for the wedding of Ser Rhodri and Lady Miranda.

The joust tourney is under way! Single elimination, with the winners advancing. The tourney shall be held at Honeywyne Meadow. We wish all the competitors swift riding and the best of luck!

Here are the results of Round 1: 

Wyatt Greenhill of Braccenfoot defeated Bevon of the Nordari! A strong display of horsemanship!

Prince Hadrian of the Kingdom of Yenvar defeated Zander von der Fluss of the Knights of Grüner Bär! A fierce look lay on Prince Hadrian's eyes as he walked off the tourney grounds...

Sir Gerard of House Griffin defeated Sir Bucketh of the Vikings of the North! It seems the griffin rider was no match for a true member of the house of the griffin!

Sir Colville of Westeria defeated Sir Edward de Meron of Rydonius! With trouble reported in his Rydonius, Sir Edward de Meron is undoubtedly rushing back home to protect his borders!

Kjell Darkcurrent of the Krakenclan defeated Sir Vlad of the Iron Legion! Krakenclan entries continue to be a force in this tournament!

Philip the Younger of the Horse Knights of the Margraviate automatically qualified to the next round with the absence of Rics Stormvein of the Ironpeak Covenant.

Sir Andrew Castille, Champion of House Saint-Cyr defeated the hometown favorite, Ser Cadell Oaksey.

And for our final preliminary match:

The Mystery Knight defeated Thomas Axwell of Braccenfoot! Thomas had to be carted off the tourney grounds, leaving with a few broken ribs.

The eight victors shall be moving on to the next round!

After successfully crossing the Rutlarthian Ocean, the Knights of the Hart have reached the shores of the fabled Isle of Everautumn.

Led by Lord Olwyn Blackwood and Lady Frida the Shipbreaker, the stag force and their bannermen proceed to make camp and establish their foothold in the new world.

What secrets they shall uncover in the ancient forest of the Everautumn remain to be seen. Yet the Knights of the Hart hold this as one of their proudest achievements: reclaiming the storied holy land of their ancestors.

Once settled, Lord Olwyn will lead the Knights of the Hart in support of their bannermen, the Guardians of the Wildward and the Knights of Grüner Bär, to claim the territories along the coast.

Welcome back lords and ladies of the realm! I am Ser Devin Reed, Stable Master to his majesty, Jorronking Berethor of the Knights of the Hart.

With the Jorronking’s return to the Jorronplain, it is time to resume the tournament with our most exciting and final event: The Joust!

I have the honor privilege of acting as your host for the joust portion of this memorable tournament; celebrating the marriage of Ser Rhodri of the Knights of the Hart and Lady Miranda of House Griffin. Now, we also have the special occasion of celebrating the discovery of a new age for Rutland!

For a final time, Robin Rivers shall be helping to oversee this competition along with the precious two events, as he has completed the entry list and tournament bracket.

As the two final entries, the Knights of the Hart have entered our veteran tourney knight, Ser Cadell Oaksey, as well as a mystery knight to balance out our bracket for the joust portion of the tournament. 

As we commence the joust tourney, let us fondly close out the final days of the Rutland we have known and usher in the dawn of a new age!

Knights, prepare your mounts and lances!

After many weeks of talks and discussions, the lord of the True North and the Blind Oracle, emissary to Queen Blood of the Blood Dragons, arrived at terms deemed acceptable by both parties for the establishment of a peace treaty between the Blood Dragons and the True North.

The terms to the Treaty of Sereeda are as followed:

1. The Dragon Heir shall be handed over to the Knights of the Hart as a ward.
2. The Blood Dragons will not expand their borders north past the southern border of the Falcon territory of Old Rutland or the southern border of Rydonius. Likewise no support, diplomatic, material or financial, shall be given for King Sigismund of Sturgia in any potential attempts to reclaim Rydonius.
3. Financial compensation will be given by the Blood Dragons to True North kingdoms involved in the Rydonius campaign.
4. The Blood Dragon personnel responsible for mutilating the corpses of the fallen True North solders in the Rydonius campaign will be handed over to face justice by the North.
5. Blood Dragons shall receive Harragos and the Vyle Coast.
6. Skull Dragons remain in the South
7. Cease all current hostilities.

Although handing over the cursed Harragos was not an issue, the loss of the Vyle Coast was a heavy blow to the True North efforts, a cost apparently to be repaid through financial compensation, boundaries, justice, and an heir held hostage.

War is once again brewing in Rutland. The armies of the West and the South begin to clash. Whispers tell of dark forces in far off lands, vying for a foothold on the continent.

With the Jorronking currently away meeting the Blind Oracle of the Blood Dragons in Sereeda, Crown Prince Amandil begins mobilizing the Knights of the Hart and preparing for war.

Although recently wrenched from the short but joyous wedding celebrations and tournament, the peoples of the Jorronplain recognize that the lands of this realm only favor the strong, the bold, and the prepared.

The Knights of the Hart reaffirm their allegiance to their True North allies, and are prepared to act.