VOL. 1
EDITION. 8
Baruch & Kortrevich Publishing
Three Minas per Edition
Available in Nauvmarian
THE GOLDEN CROW CHRONICLES
New Reza, Haense
Tov and Yermey, 319 E.S. | Sun’s Smile, 1766
12 pages
Written by: Sigmar Baruch & Viktor Kortrevich
Published by: B&K Publishing
Pg. 1
STATE OF THE EMPIRE
WHAT LIES AHEAD
Varoche Hall, Helena
Sigmar Baruch, Farooq Gray, Conrad Barclay, Amadeus D’Aryn, Lajos Károly, Siguine Ruthern
As we mentioned last week in the editor’s notes, the election of the new Imperial Diet has come and gone, now we look to what lies ahead. With the biggest election possibly ever for the Imperial diet, the newly formed House of Commons is now populated with a diverse group of political thinkers, the Josephites hold a 1 seat majority over the Everardines, and both groups will work together to create a better Oren, hopefully these factions will work better than our own did in the Royal Duma.
The first inaugural session of the House of Commons, as well as the second, have already been held. Both group leaders lay out their plans for the future of the legislative body and what they hope to accomplish before the next election. The State of the Empire address also took place in the second meeting, it was a speech celebrating our growing economy and expansion into the new territories. While these are only the first few meetings, they showed that the future of the body will be certainly interesting to follow in the coming years before the next election. The authors will continue to update you, the reader, on any major event that takes place within the duma, we hope to see great things come from this august body.
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“POETRY IS AN ECHO ASKING A SHADOW TO DANCE.”
Godan’s Muse
I’ve ventured ‘cross some cold, bleak, distant peaks,
But there is naught that can compare to thee.
The peerless blue above those velvet cheeks:
The moonlight to calm every stormy sea.
I rolled on waves and I’ve seen dawnings fair,
But their beauty can only ever yield
To radiance cast by golden strands of hair:
The sunlight to sow every fallow field.
I’ve cleft the ocean twain on mighty ships,
But thus you made the nightingale cry:
None could hope to reflect those rosen lips,
A flower to charm e’ery wandering eye
Then, since lands and sky all hold beauty,
I so conclude that Godan’s muse was thee.
Written by Vorion Sturmholm
* Message Erilobar#6916 over Discord to purchase a poem!
* Paid for by Vorion Sturmholm
Pg. 3
FESTIVITIES IN HAENSE
Ekaterinburg Palace, New Reza
The congregated host of men and women at the Seafood Festival
The Seafood festival of Reza was a huge event celebrating the great fishermen of Haense who work tirelessly from the shores of Valwyck to the port on Lake Milena. There was a fish slapping competition that many northmen competed in, as they fought back and forth to see who would get knocked out first. Shortly after the competition, a ball took place where many dressed up in their best blue outfits, a costume contest took place to determine who had the best blue outfit. It was a sea themed event where cod and specialty drinks were served. The event was a great time of unity and celebration for the hard working fisherman of Haense.
The Margraviate of Vasiland, Haense
A painting of the newly-constructed stronghold of Vasiland
The traditional Speaker’s Ball was held in the recently built March of Vasiland by Lord Henrik Vanir in honor of over a decade of service in the Royal Duma. the Lords of Haense came and celebrated this accolade with Lord Vanir, including to retired Speakers, Lord Sigmar Baruch and Lord Konrad Stafyr. The event started with a ceremony in the chapel held by Archbishop Benedict, after a feast was held in the main hall where the joyous visitors ate and drank their fill. To end the night, a dance was held in the main hall where members took part in a haeseni waltz. Before everyone left, Lord Henrik Vanir gave a speech about the continued success and preservation of the Royal Duma. While the end of his speakership is coming to an end, the mark he and his predecessors left on the chamber will not be forgotten.
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Are you a business owner in Haense? …and are you looking for more business in your small firm? If so, worry not as the Golden Crow Chronicles offers low low prices for an advertisement in our yearly publishing! Seek the authors at B&K Publishing for more information regarding our pricing plans!
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* Paid for by B&K Publishing
Pg. 5
OUR CITY SEES EXPANSION
New Reza, Haense
A depiction of the newly-constructed buildings
Two years ago, His Royal Majesty King Sigismund II and Her Ladyship Viktoria Ruthern sought to deal with the housing crisis that was ongoing in the city once and for all. With this initiative of theirs they and their architects planned out the expansion that would be the second expansion the city has seen since its founding. The new district itself was deemed to be named in honor of Her Royal Majesty, the late Queen Maya Valeriya; and as such the streets of Valeriya and Maya Avenue were given in her namesake. And as to recognize her time as the Queen-Consort and Queen-Mother, Queen’s Corner would be a name used as well.
Metropolitan Cathedral of the Three Hallows, New Reza
An illustration of an early-morning perspective of the Cathedral
After the construction plans were set in stone, construction began and immediately the Crown saw the aid of their noble vassals and citizens alike donating spare coin and spare supply towards the effort to complete construction in a swift and cohesive manner. My colleague, Lord Viktor Kortrevich took it upon himself to withdraw a plentiful amount of his family’s own building supplies and coins to purchase and contribute to the expansion. These donations were greatly appreciated and accepted and as of just last year the city’s expansion has been completed and offers twenty-one new residences and three-manors.
We the writers at B&K Publishing, recommend that you take a look at the newly erected architecture for it may be you who plans to move in with your kin and friends alike.
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Pg. 6
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“THE HOUSE OF ALL WARES”
Rosebud Market IV, New Reza
A rendering of the Wittenbach Warenhaus store-front
Are you looking for a new pipe or tobacco to fill it with? Perhaps a new quill to write your next book? Or a good strong whisky for a great evening with friends. Or even just a clock so you can remember what time it is. Well we have all that and more at the Wittenbach Warenhaus, The Haense shop that specializes in crafting carving or brewing any item or drink that you need. Here you will only find the finest Waldanian craftsmanship, producing the finest and most durable items and the best and tastiest drinks. Come to us and browser our large array of products or make custom orders!
* Message EtowTheOfficeCat#0312 over Discord for more information!
* Paid for by Otto Wittenbach
Pg. 7
MAP OF OUR EMPIRE
CARTOGRAPHY AT ITS FINEST
The Map of the Holy Orenian Empire
By; Frederick S. Armas
The Empire
The Crownlands is at the westmost point, and capital state of the Empire. The capital of Helena is a metropolis in size and population that Our Imperial Majesty, Peter III rules over the human realm from. Within the Empire rests a multitude of cities varying in sizes but, Helena is a city like no other. It was constructed on a lake of the same denomination and its architecture is known to be rather unique to the rest of the Empire. While the city’s renovations are new in age the city itself has stood for its rather long and storied history. Since what many historians recognize to be an economic miracle of the 1740s, the industrialized Helena has become the realm’s most populous and most fruitful city compared respectfully to the former capital of Johannesburg centuries ago. The city itself and the surrounding areas of the Crownlands encompasses all sorts of cosmopolitan people, Highlander, Heartlander and nonhuman alike, all of different qualifications.
The Pale is one of the more unique provinces of the Empire, predominantly since its population consists of elves rather than humans. The locality of the Pale was established by the Edict of Settlement of 1756 as a portion of land reserved for elvenkind by His Imperial Majesty. The name of the region itself derived from the High Imperial palus, which to those who are unaware translates loosely to ‘stake’, as in ‘staked territory’. Its government is run by an elected elven executive who administers the land surrounding the city of Tor Eldar, which is built on a highland dotted with boughs of great-tall pines. Their military defense includes Malin’onn auxiliaries who serve as His Imperial Majesty’s expert scouts, outriders and archer units.
Haense is the informal name for the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, a formidable province of the Empire, and the continually enduring one. The Haeseni populace are an honorable northern folk, and are ruled by a vassal king from the city of New Reza, on the short banks of Lake Milena – where they have a superb selection of excellent seafood. To the west of the capital of Haense are the remains of Old Reza, which unfortunately burnt down to his foundations years ago – save the Basilica of the Fifty Virgins, which is now a cultural site in the country. Their culture is a distant offshoot of the old Raevir, with elements of syncretism from the long lost realm of Hanesti. Haeseni halberdiers and dragoons make up a significant portion of the Empire’s forces, and the locals here are particularly skilled woodsmen. The province itself is mostly of a temperate, but also somewhat boreal climate. Haense is generally a safe region, though it is inherently more rustic than the Crownlands.
Kaedrin is the Empire’s most centralized province, and one from which Sir Frederick Armas hails from. The old Commonwealth is mostly rural farmlands, with mild seasons year round. The soil in Kaedrin is some of the most fertile in the realm, and their primary industry is agriculture, including grains, livestock and tobacco – leading to the Commonwealth occasionally being known as the Empire’s breadbasket. This perception is helped in no small amount by the large amount of sun their crops receive. The capital township of Owynsburg, in the foothills of Mount Saint Catherine, was built in the last few decades to replace the ruined metropolis of Ves. It is quaint, and the cost of living at the time of Frederick Armas publication is cheap. The Kaedreni are a proud, militaristic folk who are said to be the most fervent Imperial in all the country. They are usually devoutly religious Canonists, and have a democratic streak that lingers from Old Ves – this region is safe, but nonhumans ought to mind their tongues.
The Territories are the outer regions of the Empire. There are two territories of note – the Northeastern Territories (Formerly known as Curon) and Northland. Both are frigid and coastal borderlands, beyond which all manner of pagan marauders and tribesmen inhabit. The Northeastern Territories was once a vassal kingdom of the Empire, however, a series of catastrophes induced the economic catastrophe that led to its collapse and reorganization. Today, the former shipyards lay empty, the fields untilled. What soldiers remain there guard the border with the tribes of the Fell Country. Northland was formerly inhabited by a group of peculiar gypsies hostile to the Empire. Long since expelled from the land by His Imperial Majesty’s troopers, the only remnants of their brief presence here is ‘the Dyke’ in the north, which they seemingly constructed through a strange hex, and the Gypsywood, which broadly covers the territory in spruce forests. Since the expulsion of the former inhabitants, the land has been colonized by Orenian settlers, and remains under His Imperial Majesty’s direct administration as part of his sovereign land. In the centre of the territory is the Kennel, home to an order of flagellant irregulars known as the Hounds of John as of 1765.
*Excerpted from ‘Map of the Empire’ documentation
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Pg. 8
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Royal Haense Military Police
“KRUSAE ZWY KONGZEM”
Haeseni Royal Standard
The Royal Haeseni Military Police (RHMP), is a law enforcement subdivision of the Haeseni Royal Army (HRA), assembled by Commander Ser Ivan. The unit consists of enlisted soldiers who have undergone HRA enlistment standards (must be of the rank of Footman), show interest, and have been vetted by the Chief of Police. The maintenance of decorum and competency is paramount within the RHMP – to show less than expected will result in summarily expulsion from the Military Police.
The Royal Haeseni Military Police is meant to uphold the law and to keep the King’s Peace within the streets of Reza. It is the task of these individuals to fight the injustice that plagues this realm and to protect the common civilian way of life.
* Message erictafoya#8407 over Discord for more information!
* Paid for by Ivan Robert
Pg. 9
ROYAL WEDDING
THE BAROVIFEST
Basilica of the Fifty Virgins, Haense
Ser Eyepatch, Isidore of Reza, Viktoria, Anton, Sigismund
The Royal wedding happened this year. It was a celebration for all highlanders as his Majesty Sigismund II married his betrothed,Viktoria Ruthern. There was a beautiful ceremony held in the Basilica of Fifty Virgins where many guests attended from all reaches of Arcas. After the joyous ceremony, a great feast was held in the throne hall where the nobility of Haense gave gifts to honor the newly wedded Royal couple.
In the following days, the Barovifest was held. There was a joust and a melee where highlanders from all walks of life participated. The next day, a masquerade was held. Barovifest was a huge success that all Haensemen enjoyed.
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HISTORICAL FIGURE OF THE YEAR
Aeternius of Metterden
Imperial Fieldmarshal
Imperial Archchancellor
The Imperial Fieldmarshal Aeternius ‘The Hardy’ of Metterden prior to his deployment in the War of the Beards,
Michael von Lichtenstein, 1634
A baseborn resulting from the union of a nameless couple of Haeseni peasants under the care of House Ruthern in the County of Metterden, Axios, Harren (his name at the time) was raised in a tumultuous age. Whereas in another time he would have grown to be a penniless peasant, Harren instead was thrown into a world of war, politics, and chaos; in an Age where the Holy Orenian Empire was torn apart, Haense itself conquered, and the world balkanized into minor factions – Humanity lost its golden age. Aeternius would eventually carve his name into the annals of history, responsible for many great feats. Restoration of the Kingdom of Haense, the first and only Haeseni Archchancellor, Imperial Fieldmarshal during the subjugation of House Romstun-Lorraine, and more.
Harren’s story officially began in the Great Northern War, in which saw the Kingdom of Haense pitted against the Kingdom of Courland, who had been at the time the de facto leader of the Isles of Axios, having replaced the Holy Orenian Empire after a successful rebellion decades prior. Sighting their imminent destruction, Harren’s liege, the Count Ruthern, terminated all ties with the Kingdom of Haense, committing themselves to rebellion in support of the Kingdom of Courland. Haense would be thoroughly destroyed in the war, its people fleeing in a mass diaspora, while House Ruthern persisted under a new overlord, that of Courland, and the newly established Archduchy of Akovia, Franz Kovachev.
During this Great Northern War, Harren proved himself capable during his conscription into his Count’s levy for war, earning himself the attention of his peers. The County of Metterden was kept secured during the dissolution of the Kingdom of Haense, mostly due to Harren’s keen observation and knowledge of the land, responsible for turning away Haeseni refugees. Harren was rewarded for his competency and was appointed to the position of Constable of Alriczan, the seat of power for House Ruthern. Years would go by as the world laid dormant, Harren reserved to his duties of maintaining his Lord’s retinue for these times.
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Pg. 11
In the year 1611, Harren’s liege and family would be ordered to Aleksandria, the Capital of Courland, to answer charges of treasonous activities against the Archduke of Akovia. House Ruthern had been consolidating its influence and power throughout the old remnants of Haense, annexing the neighbouring County of Istria after some shady political maneuvering. The Archduke demanded the return of the County to his name, which was declined by the sitting Regent of the young Count. This decision resulted in the Rutherns being massacred in the Courlandic Throne Hall, ordered to be cut down by their own Liege. The remnants of the Rutherns back in Metterden were outraged at the death of their young leader, and instantly raised the banners of war, commencing the Greyspine Rebellion.
Acting in his capabilities as Castallen of Alriczan, Harren declared himself the new Regent of the County and rallied to him the remnants of the Haeseni, fellow Lords in the regions (notably Vyronov, Baruch), the Kingdom of Lotharingia, the mercenary band of Dunamis, and the Church’s Black Sepulchres. Combined together under the leadership of Harren, the baseborn led his coalition to continuous victories – finally crushing the Courlandic main relief force during the two Battles of the Rothswood, wherein his outnumbered and outmatched allied army managed to outwit the enemy commander, the Archduke of Akovia. In the final battle, the Courlanders were lured into a disadvantageous position – the Tosali Estate within the Rothswood Forest. Trapped and surprised, the Courlanders attempted to mount a defense, but the location prevented any feasible attempts. Harren’s forces would whittle down the edges of the confined Courlanders, eventually causing the collapse of the enemy’s center, and commencing the wholesale slaughter of the Courlandic army. Harren’s own commander of infantry, Lucas Vanir would perish in the battle, alongside the enemy Archduke, Franz Kovachev.
This surprise victory caused the disintegration of all Courlandic influence upon the Isle of Tahn, resulting in the revival of the Kingdom of Haense, and subsequently, the Holy Orenian Empire as Courland retreated from their losses and consolidated its powers throughout the Isles of Axios. During the first National Duma of Haense, the returning Lords voted upon who should become the King of Haense, in which Harren, in his capacity as Regent, pushed for his liege, now the Duke of Metterden, to become the King of Haense due to the rebellion belonging to House Ruthern. After some backdoor politicking, Harren begrudgingly acquiesced, endorsing Stephen Barbanov instead, and causing a landslide win for the Barbovic House. Harren, seeing this as an insult, reserved himself entirely to the Ruthern Duchy, retiring from all politics as the Kingdom was brought back into the Imperial fold.
Years later, a letter was sent to Harren, penned by the hand of the Lord Protector of the Empire, Robert Marna. The Emperor had just died in a battle against the remnants of Courland, who had rebelled against his reign, resulting in the establishment of the Lord Protector’s Office. The Marnan sought to recruit the war hero into his newly founded Council of State, where Harren was given the Office of the Imperial Archchancellor. During this time, Harren fully imperialized himself, adopting the customs and traditions of the Imperial Crownlanders, and taking up his name translated in Flexio; Aeternius. However, the King of Haense, Stephen, would have his way in Imperial Politics, forcing the Lord Protector to abdicate after some clandestine politicking, paving the way for Peter II’s rise to the Imperial Throne in the swamps of Mardon. Aeternius would continue his duties to the new Emperor as Archchancellor, reforming as much of the Empire’s heartland into a cohesive State.
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Pg. 12
Aeternius’ plans for a new Imperial Capital was put to a halt as the Emperor ordered Imperial forces eastward to deal with the bandit hordes of House Romstun, who had at this point conquered much of the waning Lotharingian Kingdom, now the Archduchy of Lorraine. The Archchancellor once again took to the military leadership, appointed as one of the Imperial Fieldmarshal for the campaigns, and under the direct command of his Emperor, Peter II, the Empire defeated the Romstuns routinely throughout Lorraine, resulting in the Archduchy’s absorption into the Empire, and the peace returned to the Realm. For these victories, the Archchancellor was formally made into an Imperial Knight, with Aeternius styling himself as such for the rest of his days.
Under Aeternius’ administration, the Empire finally saw the construction of a new Imperial Capital, Adelburg, the establishment of the Constabulary Force, later the Imperial Army. A general sense of stability and peace returned to the Isles of Axios for many years, and the Capital prospered for many years.
However, this peace seemingly addled the Emperor, leading to the Archchancellor losing faith in his now slothful Liege. Aeternius and Peter would argue publicly on many occasions, with the Archchancellor accusing the Emperor of caring more about his Empress’ bed than the wellbeing of the Empire. In one of his final acts, the Emperor would defy the Archchancellor’s advice, pledging the Empire’s support to the Grand Kingdom of Urguan during the Dwarven Civil War (War of the Beards). Aeternius resigned from the Office of Archchancellor and begrudgingly took the mantle of Imperial Fieldmarshal once more, now leading the Imperial Forces to meet the rebelling Kaz’Ulrah dwarves at the Fields of Jornheim with his Urguanite allies. The allied armies were soundly defeated, and forced into a retreat towards the Haeseni held Fort Vanir (Dwed: Kovakirr).
Aeternius was, for once in his life, finally cornered into an inescapable scenario, and resolved himself to hold out to the last. The Frostbeards would set themselves upon the Fort, aiming to quickly overwhelm the fortifications, which they would accomplish. Dwedmari explosives collapsed a corner of the Fort, leading to a slope in the walls capable enough to be assailed. In response to this, the Fieldmarshal rallied his own retinue to contest the breach, and was consequently slain in single combat amidst the rubble by one of the Kaz’Ulrah Grand King’s personal guard, Gror Blackfist, the Battle was lost.
The Fieldmarshal was granted a peaceful death, and his remains honorably repatriated to the Imperial Capital for a somber funeral. The failures in the War would cause Peter II to abdicate to his young son who would eventually be coup d’etat by Renatian radicals and executed within his own Court at the age of thirteen. The Empire would once again be broken apart.
Much of Aeternius’ legacy would be undone by his successors, but he was nevertheless responsible for the restoration of the Kingdom of Haense and the reforming of the Empire into a cohesive State, even if it was only for a few decades. Aeternius never married, nor took a surname, dedicating his entire self to the Empire. His name and legacy would die with him.
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((*Excerpted from the mind of Seannie))
Editor’s Note:
In the Next Edition.
Historical Report of Lukas Vanir
Game Night in Reza
An Invitational at Novellen
A Message from Terrence May
A Message from Friar Boniface
And whatever else that may come. .
We most definitely hope you enjoyed this year’s edition of Our Newspaper as for we spent a taxing amount of time to place in a page regarding the Royal Wedding and the Barovifest for this edition. As you our readers are well-aware this is a rare occasion since we felt it was important for our readers to be well-informed on what took place at the wedding and what specific events happened at the Barovifest this year as opposed to this being detailed in the following edition!
With all that being said, my colleague and I wish to make known that we are nearing our tenth edition of Our Newspaper and we seek to remind our readers that we have something exceptional planned to celebrate this milestone of ours. Stay excited and if you have yet to subscribe- we urge you all to do so now! As always stay safe and be well.
We’d like to acknowledge Our dear friend Lord Henrik Vanir’s passing, his service in the Royal Duma supersedes most before him; our thoughts and prayers go out to the Vanir Household during these mourning times. More information will be covered in the next edition regarding who will be taking the mantle of Speaker in the Duma.
We the Writers at B&K Publishing wish to remind our readers that each edition that is published at the end of every year pertains to the events that took place the year prior. We as a small working force work as swiftly as possible to put out our publishings in an efficient and cohesive manner. My constituent and I wish to formally reveal our utmost appreciation for the praise our last edition received from the far-reaches of the Empire.
This concludes Edition 8 of the The Golden Crow Chronicles, Edition 9 will be ready by the end of next year.