VOL. 1
EDITION. 1
Baruch & Kortrevich Publishing
Three Minas per Edition
Available in Nauvmariav
THE GOLDEN CROW CHRONICLES
New Reza, Haense
Tov and Yermey, 312 E.S. | Sun’s Smile, 1759
11 pages
Written by: Viktor Kortrevich & Sigmar Baruch
Published by: B&K Publishing
Pg. 1
HAESENI EXPEDITIONERS
RETURN FROM ATHERA!
Haeseni Campsite at Athera, 1756
An Illustration of the Haeseni host all together at their campsite
Privej, readers! Allow us to entertain you with a tale of adventure, mischief, sacrifice, intrigue, and so much more! With the return of the King and his Expedition from Athera, they bring with them an untold number of stories, gifts, and ancestral relics.
It began many years ago, once the Realms of Arcas caught word of a landmass that was undoubtedly recognized as the once lost continent of Athera; the peoples of Haense were bustling with activity at such a discovery. For the uninformed reader, upon Athera lies the birthplace of the Royal Family of Haense, the House of Barbanov, and its seat, the Duchy of Haense, upon which the ancient capital of Siegrad was situated. Immediately was it that the Kingdom prepared for a voyage, stocking on essentials, forming the Royal Expeditionary Command, and commissioning a new flagship for the Realm, titled Geltenkaros, and constructed graciously by the House of Baruch.
With the vessel now seaworthy, the time came for Haense to depart. However, something seemed amiss at the time, the King had been reported absent, unable to be found within the Ekaterinburg Palace, or its nearby vicinity. Dismissed as minor thoughts at the time. Coinciding with the Haeseni expedition, the Emperor had also seen it fit to dispatch his own from Helena, leading the Empire personally to the ruins of Athera. And so the fleet sailed forth, leaving behind the realms of Arcas.
An unpleasant mystery came to be revealed, as it was found that the young King had managed to stowaway within one of the barrels meant to carry Carrion Black. With ample distance already created between the Geltenkaros and Arcas, it was deemed that the boy would stay, and explore the lands of his ancestors with the rest.
Perhaps in retribution for such a reckless decision, the Imperial crews were struck by a Kraken as they came to sight the Atheran landmass. In the ensuing battle, the Emperor’s ship was split in half by a great swing of one of the Kraken’s limbs, while the Geltenkaros shared the same fate, dragged under to a watery grave. By the Grace of God, the majority of the crews survived, clinging on to whatever they could as the tide swept them away to Athera.
Surprisingly, the specific land the Expedition was marooned upon once belonged to the ancestors of our very own House of Stafyr, Wendenberg to be exact. The nearby territory was renamed to Peter’s Landing in honor of His Imperial Majesty, and recuperations began as the Imperial forces began to establish camp. However.. Wendenberg was located upon the eastern half of Athera, while the destination of the Haeseni, Siegrad, was situated across the entire continent, on its western half. A long trek was in order.
As the Haeseni got accustomed to this new land, they sought to make sense of their nearby surroundings, having caught wind of there being remnants of various societies that survived the cataclysm that tore apart Athera centuries prior. It is here that the Crow Odyssey begins, for the Haeseni party stumbles upon a trio of native merchants seeking protection, and as any Haeseni would, their hopes were met amiably. The merchants were led forth to their destination, but an unnatural and mysteriou force had other plans. North of Petrus lay a great bridge that connected the Eruthos Canyons and the heartlands of old Oren – as the expedition crossed, a bolt of lightning suddenly slammed into the bridge with tremendous strength, enough to tear the overpass asunder, and the merchants along with it.
Fearing for another strike, and with their return route cut off, the Haeseni Expedition fled northwards, seemingly directed by some sort of Holy Spirit. It took many months to eventually follow the canyons of Eruthos to lands of Ayr, where the House of Heinzrich once ruled, a title now belonging to the House of Baruch, the descendants of the former. With Ayr found, Siegrad had to be close.
Unprepared, and unaware, the Haeseni continued forth to their destination, and ultimately leading themselves into another ambush, this time at the hands of a native tribe. Led by a formidable Chieftain, Bralt the Boar, the Scyflings descended upon the Haeseni with great savagery, inflicting many casualties to the point where all seemed lost. But fate would have it end another way – Bralt himself would be ambushed. Led by an elderly Chieftain, Olvav, the Tribe of Voliks would shatter the rear of the Scyflings, causing them to rout, and saving the Crow King and his entourage. The Haeseni would see Siegrad yet.
continued…
Pg. 2
With so many injured, the Voliks led the Expedition to the ruins of Vanderfell, the once Capital of the Waldenian People of Aesterwald. From here Olav explained to the Haeseni of his Crowsoath – an Oath of Fealty to the progenitor of the House of Barbov, the Patron Saint of Haense, Karl Barbanov, which was still in effect. For centuries the Voliks had acted the part of a custodian for the lands of Haense, maintaining its wealth and defending its ruins. The Elder continues on, explaining of the great vault Karl had constructed underneath Siegrad, from which relics prized over all others by the Barbovics were stored within behind a great gate. However, the keys for such were casted about and lost throughout the Hinterlands of Northern Athera – only oral tradition passed down from Volik generations had made any sort of sense about their locations.
In the very same depths of the Vault of Siegrad, the Great Wyrm, the Destroyer of Athera, had made its domain. According to Volik folktale, within its Wyrm’s maw was one of the rumored keys, and supposedly, the remains of Saint Karl. Luckily for the Haeseni, the Wyrm lay dormant at the time. Unluckily for the Haeseni, Bralt the Boar had found them once again. Only through the actions of Primrose Kortrevich, Knight of the Marian Retinue, the Haeseni were saved. Her selfless sacrifice committed in the same way our Patron Saint had done so. Such an act gave the King and his party the time to flee, having found a way to circumvent Bralt’s ambush, and subsequently retreated from Siegrad for the time being.
As our brave Haeseni recovered, the Emperor had called upon our ranks to assist in the Siege of Petrus. It appears that while the Haeseni were lost in the northern hinterlands of Athera, His Imperial Majesty had discovered the ancient capital of Oren, Petrus, had been swarmed with the ruinous forces of the undead. Despite being significantly outnumbered, the Imperial Expedition had uncovered wondrous long lost technologies, in the forms of explosive artillery, keeping the undead Petrusians at bay with such weaponry. The arrival of reinforcement tipped the balance of power, and so a general assault was given. Together, the Empire tore through the rank and file of ghouls and skeletons, laying waste to all abominations in their path. The threat came to a conclusion as the foul conjuring necromancers (which had merged into a grotesque representation of a dragon at the time) were dispatched appropriately by way of spectacularly fired pairs of grapeshot. As the Emperor and his retinue began their return to the homeland, the Haeseni had unfinished business.
Now prepared for the trials ahead, the Expedition returned to the Siegradian Hinterlands and with the assistance of the Voliks, the Haeseni retrieved the last of the keys needed to open the Great Vault. With all the tools in their possession, the King was finally able to delve deep into the Great Vault and with the insertion of the keys, activated an ancient set of mechanisms that swung the gates open.
Revealing within untold amounts of riches, mounds of gold twice the height of the average man, and relics thought to have been long lost to time. The Kingdom of Haense had finally seen the return of their artifacts. However, it was for naught, for Bralt and his Scyflings struck again, slaying near to the entirety of the Volik Clan in the process. A great battle ensued, resulting in the flight of the Haeseni as they cut their way through the encirclement, being directed by the last of the Voliks to their ships.
Having endured far too many casualties, and now tasked with the protection of the Volik refugees, the Haeseni had no other choice but to flee Athera altogether, bringing with them only a fraction of the wealth of Saint Karl, but keeping in their possession the entirety of the Barbovic arsenal and much more. They Haeseni Expedition returns to New Reza, greeted with triumphant applause as a display of their experiences and newfound wealth was made apparent to the peoples of Haense.
And so ends the Odyssey of the Crows.
Dame Primrose Kortrevich’s PK Post
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Pg. 3
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Anthrop Dale stood in front of his bake shop
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Pg. 4
DUMA HALLS REMAIN OPERATIVE
Royal Duma Halls, Ekaterinburg Palace
The Royal Herzen, Henrik Vanir seated at the post of the Duma halls
Despite the ongoing war that afflicts our great nation, the very function of our government continues to maintain its purpose as we near the twentieth year since the outbreak of this conflict due to the savage Morsgradi aggression. The Duma session of 1758, hosted by His Excellency Lord Henrik Vanir, held nine members, with eight being absent. The attendance record for the Duma session of 1758 are as follows:
Prince Alimar – N
Lord Barclay – Y
Lord Baruch – Y
Lord Gant – Y
Lord Kortrevich – Y
Lord Ruthern – Y
Lord Stafyr – N
Lord Vanir – N
Lord Kovachev – N
Lord Batavus – N
Lord Amador– Y
Maer Stafyr – Y
Alderman Corbish – Y
Alderman Barclay – Y
Lord Palatine – N
Royal Exchequer – N
Archbishop of Jorenus – N
Present: 9
Absent: 8
The Royal Herzen, Henrik Vanir urges the members of the legislative body to attend His Majesty’s Royal Duma for it is their responsibility to serve as a main proponent of the Kingdom’s governmental function.
continued…
Pg. 5
9TH OF TOV AND YERMEY, 311 E.S.
Lord Sigmar Baruch, the former Lord Herzen of the Duma presented two bills which would subsequently lead to both passing but only one saw Royal Assent by Lord Regent, Otto Sigmar.
The first being the ‘The Powdered Wig Outlaw Act’ which can be outlined here:
An Act to Remove Powdered Wigs from the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska
Powdered Wigs do not belong in our admirable culture, and should thus be restricted from it.
I. This Act will outlaw the sale and wear of powdered wigs within the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska for any reason.
II. Anyone wearing a powdered wig will receive a 1,500 mina fine to the Crown. Anyone selling powdered wigs will receive a 3,000 mina fine to the Crown and shutdown of any other businesses that they might own.
III. This Act will be effective upon royal assent.
The implementation of this Act into our Kingdom will greatly strengthen and promote our own, unique culture by disallowing foreign influence that is not true to it.
This Act would later find itself after the conclusion of the roll call passed by a vote of five ayes, zero niets and two abstains. It has since been denied Royal Assent by His Excellency, Lord Regent Otto Sigmar.
The second being the very act which would lead to this newspapers formation; ‘The Royal Newspaper Act of 1755’ which can be defined here:
An Act to Establish a State Funded Newspaper for the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska
This act would establish a State funded newspaper that would provide the public with much needed knowledge on upcoming events.
I. A State funded newspaper would be established to provide much needed information to the public of Haense.
II. This Newspaper would include topics of the Royal Duma as well as bills passed by the Duma. It would also include upcoming events, interviews, political views of the nature of the State, as well as advertisements that can be purchased for businesses.
III. This newspaper would also include an Historical person of the year. It would list the accolades and include a biography of an individual who contributed to this nation greatly ranging from kings to statesmen to military generals. This individual will be randomly selected.
* A heated debate ensues between Alderman Siegmund Corbish and Lord Sigmar Baruch over the use of a newspaper.
This Act would later find itself after the conclusion of the roll call to be passed by a vote of six ayes, one niet and two abstains. It has since been given Royal Assent by His Excellency, Lord Regent Otto Sigmar.
The Golden Crow Chronicles wishes to remind its readers that His Majesty’s Royal Duma is hosted at the Ekaterinburg Palace, Duma Halls during the month of Tov and Yermey every year. His Royal Herzen, once again urges the honorable Lords of this kingdom’s domain to make a prompt appearance to Duma as it is a God given responsibility to see the successful function of the very government that operates the Dual-Monarchy of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska.
Next Duma Session Date:
15th of March | 9th of Tov and Yermey, 1759 | 5PM EST
Pg. 6
ADVERTISEMENT
“YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE”
Terrence May for Senate, 1760
Helena, Oren
Portrait of Senator, Terrence May c.1757
“My fellow citizens,
This upcoming election represents the best of our Kingdom. Our army is strong, our businesses are prospering, our fields are abundant, and our safety is secured. These things are only made possible with a great era, shaped in large part by the diligence of everyday Haensemen. If you believe in preserving this vision for Haense and that of our Holy Orenian Empire, I am asking you to support this campaign. Over the last twenty three years, I have served as your Imperial Senator, taking the fight to Helena to talk about the issues that matter to you most. In my career, I have championed transparency in government, promoted businesses and workers, reformed our legal system, and worked across the benches with other senators from throughout the State to ensure that our local communities are heard. Together, let us strive to move forward and keep up the important work that sustains our progress.”
Vote Sir Terrence May GCM in the 1760 ballot!
~Terry May
* Paid for by the Terrence May for Senate Campaign
Pg. 7
THE STALEMATE OF A WAR PURSUES!
New Reza, Haense
Sketch of a Brotherhood impromptu training
While the Rubern War continues to remain in a stalemate, The Holy Orenian Empire has continuously risen to the occasion as their war efforts continue to remain in full-effect. Several times throughout each month, both the Brotherhood of St. Karl’s infantrymen and the soldiers of the Imperial State Army have retained close ties with one another as they continuously show their mutual cooperation by hosting a multitude of shared training assemblies to better assemble for the war that has now reached its nineteenth anniversary since its eruption.
The Brotherhood of St. Karl further exemplifies their continued war-effort as they patrol the provinces outside of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, to ensure safe travel for the inhabitants of the Empire- from the far reaches of Curon to the Duchy of Kaedrin through the northern dominion of Haense up through the crownlands where Helena is situated.
The Lord Regent Otto Sigmar urges his citizens to work with him in, “Finishing the fight.” he commented saying that Haense will come out stronger than ever before!
Pg. 8
ADVERTISEMENT
“WE NEED YOU! ENLIST NOW!”
New Reza, Haense
Enlistment Poster for the Brotherhood of St. Karl
Your Kingdom entices you to enlist yourself into the Brotherhood of St. Karl! Serve your liege lord through the light of God, May you defend your country at the side of your brethren and sistren. Enlist now where you may rise to the occasion and take up arms against the adversaries who seek to bombard the very walls we reside behind! Stand now and bring oneself to the commissioned officers of the Brotherhood where you may bear the colors of Black & Gold and serve your homeland with the utmost amount of honor and prestige.
“Should we falter our shield turns to ash, but we shall not falter.” -Rhys var Ruthern, 1686
APPLY HERE
<link>
* Message Miniguy15736#6963 over Discord for more information!
* Paid for by the Brotherhood of St. Karl
Pg. 9
GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS
Royal City of New Reza, Capital of Haense
The Coat of Arms of New Reza
With the General Elections in New Reza coming to a close, we the writers at Baruch & Kortrevich Publishing wish to congratulate all of the candidates for their tenacious effort to better our great nation.
We, the writers at Baruch & Kortrevich Publishing, will pay particularly close attention to newly re-elected Maer Aleksandra Mariya Stafyr’s tenure in office – time will tell if she was the correct choice for Haense during these never-ending times of war that continue to rage on.
Along With the newly elected Maer of Reza, we the writers at Baruch & Kortrevich Publishing will maintain a wary eye on the endeavors of the newly re-elected Alderman Ser Osvald Barclay and newly elected Tribune Father Harald Vuiller throughout their tenure in legislative office. Again, we congratulate those who were elected and wish to express our sincerest gratitude to all those who ran for election.
Pg. 10
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The Lord Regent standing in front of Sturmholm’s shop
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Pg. 11
HISTORICAL FIGURE OF THE YEAR
Lord Leopold Stafyr
Lord Palatine of Haense
Count of Nenzing
Nenzing, Haense
Mural of Lord Palatine, Leopold Stayfr c.1710
Leopold Stafyr (Common: Leopold Stafyr) was a Haeseni nobleman and Count of Nenzing serving as Lord Palatine between 262 to his death at 271 under King Marus II. Leopold was the son of disgraced Lord Marshal Sergey Stafyr, and despite the recent fall of his family, had during his time as pater familias managed to re-elevate his family to comital status and strengthened his own political power, leading to King Marius II summoning him to serve as his Lord Palatine following Konstanz Ruthern’s disgrace and resignation. Leopold’s tenure as Lord Palatine coincided with a build-up of tension and military stand-offs in the heartland estates between competing powers of Renatus (led by the imperial-claimant Pertinaxi dynasty) and Adria (who had recently elected Marius II as their duke).
He gained fame in his defense of the sovereign during the subsequent Sacking of Ves (264) and destruction of the Adrian estates, defending Marius both in the court of the Pertinaxi dynasty and during the Adrian massacres. Leopold was also seen as instrumental in the Nenzing Plot where high lords of the Empire convened in a chamber deep within the castle of Nenzing to plot a revolt to replace the Pertinaxi dynasty with the Marnantine dynasty. After the plot was unraveled by imperial spies, Leopold orchestrated the first imperial coronation of a Holy Orenian Emperor in over a century of civil turmoil, sparking the War of Two Emperors.
During the war Leopold fought in the victorious Battle of Upper Rodenburg, though suffered defeats at both Lower Rodenburg and the crucial Siege of Helena (269), before being killed at the Second Battle of Leuven (271) due to an infected arrow wound. Under Leopold’s tenure, he completed the first Haeseni Law Codex, though it remained unpublished till the end of the War of the Two Emperors under King Andrik III, and heavily sponsored the Duma and its subsequent rise in political influence.
*Excerpted from ‘Lord Palatines of Haense’ documentation
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Editor’s Note:
In the Next Edition.
Historical Report of Prinze Georg Alimar
Report on newly-elected officials
And whatever else that may come. . .
This concludes Edition 1 of the The Golden Crow Chronicles, Edition 2 will be ready by the end of next year.