Another notice was added in response to the whole drama by Lynmard Lomstedt
Once again I have to write something like this to remind people what they are actually writing and what they stand for....
Firstly, Lord-Protector Riftan Mekrov, I strongly recommend that you read the message board more carefully, as it currently appears that you are either deliberately ignoring whole passages or trying to "turn things around" in a very poorly planned political plot. I therefore suggest that you first talk to your political advisor or hire one if you do not already have one.
The purpose of Countess Gwentyr's response was to remind people of recent events and to show that you may not be entirely fit to rule over additional territories, no matter what claim you make to them. Yet you counter this with a duel, although the Countess accepts this for reasons I do not know, this in no way proves that you are better suited to rule said territory. One could say it even proves the opposite. It shows once again a rather violent and one could almost say ruthless nature, something I had already feared when I read your initial claim, which was more a declaration of war against half of the archipelago than anything else. But again, this is not the first case, as you yourself mentioned in your proclamation. As bad as the leaking of the documents was, it was you who drafted them, even though various staff members advised you not to push any state into our beloved empire under threat of force or murder. I should know this, because I was there and spoke out on this issue myself. Furthermore, you claim that your culture's history is in blood with the then Skagers, and extend this as a casus belli to cultures and noble houses native to Velheim, such as the Sorenviks and Hjortsund, both of whom have in fact been involved with this realm longer than you might think. The Sorenviks in particular have been a good example of integrating the Velheimers into the Empire, showing us how to treat them correctly and honorably. Lady Protector Hjortsund, on the other hand, continues to work to enforce and protect what is holy in our realm, which is obviously at odds with much of what you do, as you don't even seem to care about your own rules and traditions in Unionism.
Something that becomes quite problematic considering that you claim to have had a meeting or conversation with the God Empress Ness, which the Reliquary Order, the largest library and archive of religious happenings, has no record of. Of course, it may be that because of your general hostility to other religions, you did not want to share such records with us. Until then, both of these motives make you look very bad, especially after you responded to a real letter from Countess-Everian Gwentyr with, and I quote, "Ah, House Gwentyr. A petty House of little to no repute;" which is pretty much a direct insult to everything the pious Countess stood for in all her years of service to the Everwatcher. You took that to heart not too long ago when she was present to comment and advise on your case regarding the bloodshed on the grounds of the Archtemple. How quickly things change when you think you are out of the sling. Just to show what a farce the whole thing was from the start. So until you have atoned for your sins, it is best to keep in mind that there will be no blessing from either of the prophet-gods. For who would do that after trampling not only their greatest temple, but also their priesthood? And before you try to argue that as a follower of Draconism I cannot argue for Unionism. Please remember that not only do I have a duty to know as much as I can about any religion, but unlike some people, I also have the ability to use my common sense.
In light of your continued aggressive and almost warmongering statements, I would like to remind you that unlike some uncivilized hinterland villages, the Empire and its various lands, especially the Archipelago, are not ruled by an iron fist or who has the largest military. Rather, the Iron Peace was made to prevent opportunists like these from destroying our beautiful Empire from within and sabotaging any preparations against real enemies like the Allorn or the Sendrassian Empire. So I urge you to refrain from such militaristic and expansionist statements, otherwise you will be considered as such by the rest of the aristocracy. You may now say that it takes strength to rule your specific territories or against any enemy you happen to have. To this I reply "No, you don't need it" because since the military reform by Imperial Prince Frederick Kade on May 28, 310AC and the associated introduction of the Imperial Legions, there is no longer any need for an arms race or "being ready" for the next big bad. Everything is and will be governed by the only authority trustworthy enough. The State. And it is closely watched by the Crown. Sure, as a knight, you can make your mark as a soldier for the Empire. But that's about it. A soldier for the empire. A soldier is not synonymous with the ability to rule. For a long time, it was the wise, intelligent and enlightened who were able to hold their people together and listen to their concerns. I will even give you an example: Emperor Alexander Kade I, may he find his way back to us, never raised the sword himself, but entrusted this to his capable generals and soldiers. So it was also for a long time outside great wars, who used special powers with which Archchancellors or Emperors had been entrusted by the Everwatcher to exercise them properly. In our own archipelago there is no great war at the moment, therefore you behave more like a soldier than a ruler. So behave like the intellectual ruler and pious unionist you claim to be, make proper amends, and for the life of all that is holy, stop pretending that everyone wants to plunder your country and murder you in your sleep because you rule over a piece of land.
There is no war in the Regalian Archipelago.
Signed,
Lynmard Lomstedt
Baron of House Gwentyr
Faitharm of the Reliquary Order
Nachtrag:
I forgot to mention it in the original draft, but wanted to add it to avoid easy answers. We all know that the Lothar Order has a lot of freedom when it comes to telling the truth, which could sabotage your mission or policy regarding the occult. It is also pretty obvious that criticizing and monetarily keeping the claimed lands away from you could be seen as limiting your ability to accomplish such a mission. So please don't just say "How dare you accuse me of lying" or "Knights can't lie", because the only way to prove me wrong would be to present independent and irrefutable evidence that either doesn't exist, that you don't want to share, that could reveal a vast conspiracy against occultism, that you in turn don't want to share with me because I'm a dragon mage and archon, or conceal the whole truth for one of the reasons mentioned above.
[!] A letter is penned back to
House Gwentyr [!]
It bore the sealed sigil of House Mekrov- the parchment was tan, with black ink that was written into the paper with ease and with warrant. As the true Lord-Protector of House Gwentyr came forth, so did the effort of which the letter was penned. Time passed, and it arrived to the doorstep of Lord-Protector Lynmard Lomstedt; another Reliquary, an Order of which Riftan has encountered much conflict with over the pass many weeks.
To Lord-Protector Lynmard Lomstedt,
The Centrism of Archon, and so the nature of the House you are within, amuses me. Such a nature of your peoples are not a mystery to me, it is natural to always maintain an intellectual and moral highground that 'anyone' can rise too if they but become apart of your people themselves. Centrism is an infection, a tumor that should be removed by sword or scalpel- for Centrism seeks to appease all, but only ends up appeasing none. It is simple dialectics; there is a thesis, and an antithesis. A pendulum that either goes left, or right. In the end, there is a synthesis- and, the cycle continues. Centrism is an anomaly, and it should be destroyed as a concept entirely. While your well-written essay is indeed impressive; answering to it is rather a headache, however, I will do so out of honor and tact. It is odd that the Archon, who pride themselves with understanding, somehow fail to understand the concept of what the Lothar Order, and so what the Kriv people, believe.
There is no political plot because my political beliefs, and so my plots, have already been announced. It would surprise you to know that I am, past any existential belief that people have made up in their heads, easy to understand. It's as simple as a children's tale. House Mekrov will fulfil the role of Dictat within the Archipelago. We will forever act within the grounds of our own peoples, and our duty as Lothar. We will defend our homeland of Zemlya from foreign Nobility that has no regard for our cultural beliefs neither the people that live within them. We will fight the Occult, and Occult Noble Houses. Might it be noteworthy that /you/ are Occult, Lord-Protector. My response is not a sword [as I am a Darkwald] because you are a Knight of this Empire first.
You mention the history of House Sorenvik, and House Hjortsund. It is not my prerogative neither my duty to care about that. At first; it was believed that there was a mass of new Unionists that have entered the Empire, only for it to be revealed that they were all faking it. Hvitskag rebelled against the Empire, and following that, Members of the
False-Elven State arrived to meet with Velheim Diplomats. Tyrellande accepted False-Elven support, becoming a pseduo-member of their apparatus that has no claim over their own homeland. It also something to note that the original document of which the 'Steel Dawn' decree contained was in-fact forfietting rights of citizenship for Afflicted. Unless you are wanting to defend the citizenship of Afflicted within the Empire, this point falls apart. In-fact, you should be investigated for Pro-Afflicted sympathies. However, if you simply failed to remember, that is fair. We all make mistakes.
Warmonger? Violent? Is this supposed to be a surprise? I do not acknowledge any foreign apparatus that is not the Regalian Empire. Warmongering, and violence, comes with the political beliefs that I hold. However, it is funny that you mention 'bloodshed' when in-fact I spilled none. But the Reliquary Order are not obligated to uphold any virtue of honesty or un-bias belief like the Viridian Order hold. I tried telling you this in the All-Beacon Temple, but you simply denied it and continued believing as you saw fit. Because you are bias, filled with political belief and deception meant to tarnish. Which I do not fault you for; the Darkwald do advocate for the annihilation of your foreign religion, and the Occult overall. That is the nature of conflict, and that is the nature of the weak that they would utilize more subtle tools rather than fight us upon the field like true Knights and Warriors should. When it comes to Countess Gwentyr, being a Celate does not grant immunity from criticism. Countess Gwentyr failed to read the writing on the wall when she sought to claim Zemlya {Krainivaya} land, as well as land currently occupied by the Lothar Order, and then immedietly go against everything that the Krainivaya and the Lothar Order believed in. House Gwentyr is a House of no repute. This is the first time I've ever seen House Gwentyr do anything, and it is writing a letter.
Your final paragraph does come from a good heart, however, it would surprise you to know that the Archipelago is actually a dangerous place for some people. Even in Zemlya, we deal with Dymolov Vampires and other threats that have encroached upon our territory. While some lands are peaceful, others are not. You would also be surprised to know that as a Lothar, people are actually out to kill me. People are actually out to try and take Kriv lands- House Gwentyr is actually a great example. Your points, once more, come from a good place- however, they crumble because they lack any actual context as to the ongoings of the City and the ongoings of the areas that I have prerogative over. Also, in matter of the Iron-Peace, we both agree. Which is why I am confused as to what you were trying to do if not an attempt to paint me uninformed or misunderstanding of the Empire's current situation.
Lord-Protector Riftan Mekrov
Purger-Knight of the Lothar Order
OOC
I don't really know what ur message is talking about but probably just dm me on discord cause saying it on the forums doesn't seem like the place
