u/betterincolor

How blind must one be to think that the Banner of the True North, once planted, can ever be torn down by force?

How much more blind must one be to ally oneself with Vladek and Lionne-Morcia?

Kolpeg and Valcazar, we do not know you and assume you have been poorly advised. Declare your neutrality and there will be no ill will between our realms.

Bandits of Morcia and Ashada, you do not deserve this generosity and you will foolishly mistake it for weakness. But my love of peace compels me to make you the following offer:

- The Margraviate will withdraw from The Arrad under the stated conditions

- In return, the Margraviate receives Kandor Hook from Ashada

- Ashada hands over the Falcon Rangers

No better offer will be made. We do not bargain.

If you think you can win this war: by all means. But remember, it doesn't matter who wins the first battle — it matters who wins the last.

The last time the patience of the True North in Therican was overtaxed, we took The Arrad. What will we take next time?

-Margrave Philip von Rossenfels, Standard-Bearer of the True North

To Captain Edric and the Falcon Rangers stranded in The Arrad,

Once we marched into this land, side by side, to end Lionne's harmful influence on Therican. It grieves me to now stand opposed to you and your men. Your will to serve your lord does you honor.

But you stand on the wrong side of history. Lord Falcon has betrayed all the ideals for which the True North stands: pride, loyalty, courage, and honor. Whoever follows him follows him to ruin. Lord Falcon's lies release you from your oaths, for no man need follow an oath-breaker. We need no further bloodshed, neither among your men, nor among mine, and least of all among the civilian population of The Arrad.

I give you my word as a knight that all who surrender will be treated well. I will even have you taken to Rutland if that is your wish. Or you may settle in this land, which can become a new home for all of us. In Braccenfoot and Entarbor we were once neighbors — why not also in The Arrad?

In the name of the Margrave I demand that you lay down your arms. In my own name, I implore you to consider this offer.

-Sir Waldemar von Heidenrich, Commander of the Margravial Troops in The Arrad

OOC: Thank you very much for your patience and above all for so many excellent texts and images!

Stay tuned as I add comments with further developments.

The conspiracy is spreading ever wider, but with every question answered, new question marks arise.

Help the Margraviate prevent the uprising in Parthention, or lean back comfortably and enjoy the chaos...

The truth is out there!

"Our very thorough interrogations of the conspirators in Parthention have proven both fruitful and deeply concerning. The republican agitations are not limited to Parthention alone, but are spreading across all of Rutland and even into the New World. The individuals sought are evidently high-ranking members of the conspiracy. We ask the respective rulers to place the wanted persons in chains and remand them to Parthention so that they may be interrogated here. These arrests are absolutely necessary to apprehend the foreign mastermind behind the conspiracy!

With highest respect,

Ludwig von Schwarzenberg, Governor of Parthention"

"Recently, the Margraviate has received two pieces of news that could not be more different:

In northern Therican, an undead abomination has risen, making any secure future in Mordrun impossible.

At nearly the same time, our soldiers, as part of a great military campaign, have ended Lionne’s dominion over The Arrad.

Let the fate of Lionne serve as a warning to any ruler who believes they can find a place in this world through ignorance and insolence.

In their wisdom and benevolence, the members of the True North have decided that the refugees of Mordrun shall find a new home in The Arrad. I hereby pledge myself to protect my subjects in The Arrad as I do the interests of the North in the Yagean.

This territory is not a gift, but a duty.

Today I am not the Margrave of Entarbor. I am the Standard-Bearer of the True North."

Margrave Philip von Rossenfels

The colony of Mordrun was always treated like a stepchild by its motherland. Central authority was weak and settlement efforts fell short of expectations. When reports of a massive undead army in the mountains arrived, the margravial administrator made a fateful decision: The colony is to be abandoned. All belongings were hastily packed up and a train of refugees is now making its way toward Narrow Nook.

"Today we have struck a great blow against a conspiracy of hostile separatists. After weeks of observation, a wave of arrests swept through Parthention. Several individuals with ties to the former rulers of the Republic, the Vinolini Clan, have conspired against the rule of the Margraviate. The prisoners have not yet been sufficiently interrogated, but all evidence points to the separatists having been supported by a foreign power and being part of a conspiratorial network that stretches across the entire North. But we are vigilant and will crush any disobedience in the bud!

In response to the actions of the insurgents, I hereby decree the following measures:

- Ban on gatherings of groups larger than five persons

- Ban on gatherings after nightfall

- Dissolution of the Republic's legislative body, the "Council of 500"

- Recruitment of further mercenaries for the Black Band, funded by a special tax levied henceforth upon all citizens of Parthention

- Merger of the Republic's state treasury with that of the Margraviate; the treasury has been relocated to Entarbor for security reasons.

It is not too late to cease the resistance. But if the Margrave's generosity continues to be abused, I will not hesitate to impose further, more draconian measures.

In the name of the Margrave,

Ludwig von Schwarzenberg, Governor of Parthention"

​

​The sentries of Anvard on the periphery of the siege of Stormweald Hold were vigilant—they would not be caught off guard again. Thus, they quickly became aware of a group of armed men approaching Anvard's forces: seven young men from the Margraviate, requesting an audience with King Rollo.

​Granted entry, one of the armed men, Sir Max of Altendorf, stepped forward to speak:

"We are sons of the noblest families of Entarbor. It is known to us in the Margraviate as well that the usurper Mordred challenges you, Your Grace. No one in all of Rutland defends the True, the One Faith as fiercely as you do. Your heroic deeds in the crusades are well known to us. Now that your righteousness is being questioned, we wish to serve you for the duration of the civil war, and to defeat the usurper with you and for you. Please, take our blades into your service, Your Grace!"

As agreed beforehand, all seven dropped to one knee.

​King Rollo and his advisors sensed a mixture of genuine idealism and fortune-seeking in the newcomers. These young noblemen were not the heirs to their houses, but were instead seeking glory, honor, and perhaps a place to live abroad. The men could not yet have gathered much experience, but as noble fighters, their equipment and presumably their training were good.

​

Lord Oswell leafed through the yellowed pages of the old book. On a page, partially illegible due to moisture damage, he read under the heading 'Theodora the Horse Tamer' the following lines about Theodora, the eldest daughter of the High King and sister of Alexander. Like many elder children, Theodora had been very dutiful in her youth, and because of this sense of duty and her great seriousness, it had even been considered to have her enter a convent in quiet contemplation. Theodora was reserved among people, but she had always been a great horsewoman, which earned her the epithet 'the Horse Tamer'. In an illustration she is shown with her white mare Arborea.

The High King was deeply disappointed when Theodora nonetheless abandoned her sense of duty and fell head over heels for a nobleman from the southern neighboring land. She married him without her father’s permission, who was said to be deeply disappointed.

She left the High King’s realm and travelled to her husband’s homeland. The account of Theodora ends rather abruptly with a brief hint of several misfortunes that Theodora had to endure in exile. She outlived her husband and six of their eight children.

​

As the victorious troops of the Margraviate marched back from their defense of Rydonius, a surprising sight awaited them at the strategically vital fortress of Castel Fiorentino: above the castle flew the banner of the Horse Knights, proud in the wind, and directly beneath it - even more surprising - the flag of the fallen Republic of Ytios.

​

Even senior officers of the Margraviate had not been informed of this move: While the Margrave was waging war in Rydonius, his consort had traveled to Parthention with a small retinue. After the departure of the Nordari and the Lions of Elmhhirm, Parthention was a region without official government or liege lords, squeezed between the Margraviate and the de Meron domain to the south.

​

At Castel Fiorentino, Margravine Hippolyta met Donna Isabella Della Torre, an influential noblewoman from the strata of Parthention’s population that had lived there even before the Nordari. Her relatives had been high-ranking decision-makers of the Republic of Ytios.

​

What followed had been diplomatically prepared long in advance: the Margravine met Donna Isabella in the castle’s solar, where Isabella curtsied, but was immediately raised up by the Margravine. Hippolyta began in a firm voice: "Donna Isabella, you asked for help and Entarbor has answered! Since our mutual friends have left the region of Parthention to fend for itself, it is now time to return to law and order.

I hereby declare the reconstitution of the Republic of Ytios, but it will be a stronger state than the old Republic.

Donna Isabella, the elections that were held in Parthention in the past only caused internal strife and external weakness. You shall lead the civil affairs of Parthention as Consul for life. Furthermore I appoint Ludwig von Schwarzenberg as Governor. He will determine military matters and stand at your side as an advisor representing the Margraviate. Together we will bring the time of interregnum, of uncertainty and worry, to an end. From this day forward, Entarbor and Parthention stand at each other’s side, undivided for eternity!"

​

Individual cries of "Huzzah!" rise up, all from the Black Band-Soldiers that Ludwig von Schwarzenberg brought with him.

​

​

​

Actually, Sir Edgar knew the answer to his captors' question immediately. But he still needed a few days to come to terms with his conscience.

​

The words he’d been beaten over the head with during his time as a squire wouldn’t leave him: "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori!" - "Sweet and honorable it is to die for one's country!"

What nonsense! It wasn’t even sweet and honorable to live for one's country, let alone die for it.

What did Entarbor still have to offer him? His knight's "estate" was a cluster of wind-bent huts on the coast. His marriage had been loveless ever since both his children were carried off by smallpox. He was a good warrior, but he had no friends with political power who could make a military career possible for him. And the Sanskratians were right: his post in South Rydonius wasn’t a reward. It was exile.

​

No, no one would miss Sir Edgar. But this went both ways. He still had a few good years ahead of him - why not gain fame and honor here in the Republic, and above all, wealth?

​

The choice was made - Sir Edgar is dead. From now on there was only "The Northman"...

​

Once again the Margrave's path led to Rydonius. At the head of his troops he rode to Rydonius to end the unprovoked aggression of the Republic. Too many of his men had already died for control of Rydonius; he would never surrender this province without a fight.

Marshal von Grauert's battle plan is as follows: Join forces with the troops of Conrad de Meron and, thanks to the superior local knowledge from the previous Rydonius campaigns, force Vespasianus' troops to battle on a field advantageous to the northern troops. He places his cavalry on the same flank as his opponent. The North is superior in archers; they should open the fighting and cause the first casualties. In addition to their role as skirmishers to throw the Republic's strong infantry lines into disorder, the scouts of the Birkenwald Rangers were tasked with taking the enemy's elephant handlers out of action with targeted shots. Even though there are no elephants in Entarbor, they were not unknown in Rutland, as Drakehaven also used them. The infantry in the center was to hold out against the enemy, who were roughly equal in numbers to them (OOC: I don't know Conrad de Meron's exact numbers yet), until the cavalry could seek the decision.

The Margravial troops try to maintain contact with the remaining troops who are on their way as reinforcements for Rydonius but, due to the longer journey, cannot intervene in the fighting immediately. The plan is to either bring them in to decide the battle or cut off the Legion's retreat to Tython in order to capture as many enemies as possible.

​

The debate had grown more heated as the evening sun sank lower. "We must act cautiously! If we act rashly now, we have far too much to lose! Think of your opposition among the nobility, Milord!" said Eberhard von Dux, a respected advisor to the Margrave, in an urgent voice.

Sir Rodric did not agree with him. His bitterness over the Lions of Elmhhirm having left him behind in Rutland was still clearly evident: "The Lions of Elmhhirm are gone. The Nordari are preparing their departure. The Iron Bank in Carador no longer grants loans. Conrad de Meron does not answer our dispatches - Milord, the lions on our surcoats are now mere decoration, and no longer the symbol of a great power of the North!"

Philip the Younger, the Margrave's son, also had to concede: "Our personal authority will only benefit from acting independently. The powers of Rutland are vying in competition for the new continents. Let us act now, and we will present everyone with a fait accompli. The peace in the South keeps our back free."

Margrave Philip had said little throughout the entire council, but now he rose: "Leave me alone..." he said in a hoarse voice, "I will consult with the Margravine."

​

The Leader of the Forestmen has won an important archery contest! Joy knows no bounds!

A small scene I put together for r/Lego_Minifigure_Realm.