Theodorable

The Rise of the Second Kingdom of Osteria

Merek Thorne, Appointed Advisor to King Alaric Gyre of House Gyre, Ruler of the Second Kingdom of Osteria

While the fiefs dallied and discussed taxation, a door suddenly slid open and a cloaked messenger emerged. His robes indicated the Order of the Wasp, a rather rapturous group of assassins, sworn to secrecy forever. Hanging from a worn leather belt in loose fitting scabbards were dangerously curved blades and anyone worth their salt could only imagine the amount of bloodshed they'd made manifest in the decades of King Timault's rule. The assassin pulled free from his robe a worn parchment and handed it to Merek Thorne up on the dais, turned and was gone through the door a moment later. If one were to look, the door blended in so well with the carved stone that only if you stood close enough for a long enough time could one see the thin slits of the door. Such was but a single weapon in the arsenal of the Order of the Wasps.

While Lords and Ladies talked, Thorne's thin fingers unrolled the scroll and cast his eyes upon the words there. Not a second later he turned, approached the King and leaned down to whisper. "My liege, there appears to be an intrusion on the castle grounds, the guards have.." but anything else Thorne said was drowned out by the dialogue between the assembled council members. Jarl, the personal champion of the King, took a half step closer to the throne. Thorne descended the steps of the throne, pushed past several members of the crown and took--rather delicately--the wrist of Timone II into his hand, leading him to another door through the side.

Whether or not anyone besides the King noticed was an issue that Thorne cared little about.

The Rise of the Second Kingdom of Osteria

All of the taxes are being collected on values so small that everything is rounded. We should multiply both the rates at which resources are gained and the price of everything which costs resources by ten, so the figures are easier to work with precisely. This would also allow for all fiefs to collect some meagre amount of gold, or to consume a small quantity of grain. It's silly that there is literally *nothing* collected in taxes from some baronies, or other others consume no food whatsoever. If all of the values were raised to a factor of ten, all those that currently have a value of zero could be given a number between 1 and 9.

@The Nexerus

This will work.

The Rise of the Second Kingdom of Osteria

Name of Lord/Lady: Suran Keto

Physical Description: A tall, well-built woman of half-elven descent with short red hair and dark brown eyes, Suran does not, at first, bear the inborn nobility expected of a noble, holding herself as a woman of practical means whether war or governance. Her austere nature is evident in the limited pageantry and affluence with which she lives, she cares little for splendor, whether in a dress, tunic, or armor she prefers simplicity and functionality to appearance and grace which has caused many to think of her as stingy or common.

Claimed Fief: Unclaimed, awaiting mod decision.

Basic History: A noblewoman of a relatively young house, Suran Keto found as many doors closed to her as open, A daughter of an elven knight and human woman raised to nobility Suran spent her younger years emulating her father more than her mother having inherited his height and imposing health and physique. Suran's father taught her the art of battle as well as governance when it became clear that he would have no sons and had no desire to take a second wife upon the passing of his first. Suran took to her father's training and attention eagerly and did her best to succeed, devoting herself to the study of war and governance and to her martial training at the expense of her social relationships with her peers, who found her austere nature, comparably low birth, and generally stoic nature to be unnerving. Loneliness served her well however and she has found herself in no rush for the companionship of others, preferring to spend her days attending to the days matters or practicing her skills with sword and shield.

Background: Champion

@Ravigen

Accepted, given the Duchy of Jauneau, replacing newly elected King Gyre.

The Rise of the Second Kingdom of Osteria

Thank you, do I submit the app in the Character thread or is that just an archive for the apps

@Ravigen

Yes, submit it there.

The Rise of the Second Kingdom of Osteria

Chapter II: A New Monarch

With the votes tied at three apiece, Lord Marek was forced to put a pause to the proceedings while the Church was summoned. From it, Ecclesiast Timone II, Head of the Vinossian Church silently cast an anonymous vote--in another candle lit room--for whom might be elected to the throne of Osteria. The proceedings were long and drawn out, with much delegation between Marek and Timone II, while the gathered Lords and Lady were forced to wither away by daily proceedings and nonsensical talk, all the while being away from their prospective lands.

When finally Lord Marek returned, alerting those gathered that the Ecclesiast Timone II had already departed back to the Parna (the Church), he came bidding news. "After much deliberation, Ecclesiast Timone II has made his will known that Duke Alaric Gyre shall be raised to the title of King of Osteria. With the support of the Vinossian Church, as well as at least half of the gathered fiefs, Duke Alaric Gyre will be the Head of House Gyre and King of the Second Kingdom of Osteria."

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Spring, 1191
Three Days after the Coronation

The coronation of King Gyre was a monumental affair, held in the Parna and required attendance of every noble from the Duchy down to the mayoral level. It's ending was immediately proceeded by a calling of counsel three days following, with all the fiefdoms in attendance and the following gathered: Merek Thorne, the sharp nosed and newly promoted Advisor to the King, the pauldron embellished Jarl, proclaimed Champion to the King and the only man allowed in the king's presence with a weapon present. Merek flanked King Gyre's right side, while Jarl stood on the left. On either side, the assembled Lords and Lady from the various fiefs were in attendance

Throne Room in Tythmas, Osteria

With the assembly present, Merek Thorne stepped forward and raised a hand, immediately calling the session to order. He pulled from his robes a scroll and unfurled it. "Today marks the First Council of His Highness' Reign. The following agendas are present and will be discussed and agreed upon before you may return to your lordships."

"First to be discussed is the appointment of a Spymaster, responsible for espionage and leadership of the Order of the Wasp. This appointment comes with it a requirement that will force you from your fief and immediately surrender 50% of all it's resources to the Crown. Similarly is the appointment of a Marshal, responsible for leading the Black Army in battle and in training. This appointment comes with it a requirement that will force you from your fief and immediately surrender 50% of all it's resources to the Crown. Any who wish to be appointed may make a spirited request to the King."

"The second issue is Taxation. As it stands, each fief--as ordained under Lord Timault--is responsible for levying 30% of it's iron and goldstuffs to the Royal Treasury for use by the Kingdom, and 80% of all grains." Lord Merek didn't skip a beat.

"The third issue is Parnal Taxation. As ordained by King Timault, all fiefs must pay a taxation to the church measuring 10% of their seasonal income. The Vinossian Cleric present is here to speak on the Church's behalf."

"The fourth and final issue are the Dwarven and Elven emissaries, which will be given entry following the conclusion of the royal appointments and taxation. My lord," Advisor Thorne said, rolling the scroll back up, turning to the King and bowing. "The floor is yours to speak."

King Rules

I. The King may decide Parnal Taxation at any time. It will stand for 1 season, minimum.
II. The King may decide Iron, Grain and Gold taxation on a 0% to 100% skill at any time. It will stand for 1 season, minimum.
III. The king may appoint an NPC as Marshal or Spymaster at any time.

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[All Players may now submit their orders: 1 Military and 1 Political.] (Vinossian Church has 2 Political Orders, 0 Military).

Basic Rules

I. Recruitment
- 1,000 Men at Arms: Cost 2 Iron. (1 Gold Upkeep during War).
- 1,000 Cavalry: Cost 3 Iron. (2 Gold Upkeep during War).
- 1,000 Knights: Cost 5 Iron. (3 Gold Upkeep during War).

II. Building
- Basic Roads: 10 Gold
- Standard Roads: 18 Gold (Requires Basic Roads) (2 Gold Upkeep)
- Paved Road: 30 Gold (Requires Standard Roads) (4 Gold Upkeep)
- Clear Farmland (1/3): 10, 20, 40 Gold (Province generates +3, +5, +7 Grain)

III. Debt
- Any land may go into debt as much as -50 Gold. Every increment of -10 increases Unrest by 1.
- Interest for payback is 20%.
- Can be loaned from Vinossian Church, the Dwarves or the Elves.

The Rise of the Second Kingdom of Osteria

Hello there, I'm a friend of Lone Wanderer who suggested this forum to me if you're still accepting apps I'd like to join

@Ravigen

Absolutely. Please fill out an application but leave the "Province" section empty, there's a Duchy that's opening up.

The Rise of the Second Kingdom of Osteria

Given that Zeke is voting for his liege, it's tied at 3-3.

Nexerus' will have the deciding vote. Please PM me your vote, bud.

The Rise of the Second Kingdom of Osteria

In 12 hours, any previously cast vote will stick. Just PM me your vote if you cannot afford to post IC. Thank you.

The Rise of the Second Kingdom of Osteria

The Barony of Kadua

Name of Lord/Lady: Baroness Adelaide Estense
Physical Description:

Claimed Fief: Kadua
Barony of Kadua (Unclaimed): In long standing servitude of the Duke of Marethia, the Barony of Kadua is the most fertile bastion in the entire kingdom. "Fed by Kaduan grain" is a quote heard across the land, as any loaf of bread has a one in five chance of being scythed from a Kaduan field. The Barony of Kadua is a regal title, responsible for maintenance of a plot of land that delicately props Osterians up.
STATS: 50,000 Citizens | 500 Men-at-Arms, 200 Cavalry, 0 Knights | Produces 12 Grain/0 Gold/0 Iron | Basic Roads | 0 Grand Fortress | Requires 0 Grain/Season. | 0 Unrest

Basic History:

The Estense family have ruled Kadua as vassals of House Gerantius for as long as either has held power, intermarriages connected the two families beyond the simple bonds of fealty. A storied house, with many almost folk-lore figures of the Barony bearing the name Estense, it has been a series of tragedies which prompted the rule of the relatively young, and female, Baroness that now rules the fief. Originally the third child, with two older brothers, Adelaide grew up expecting to be little more than married off to secure the family position, and with two younger sisters eventually joining her, she would have certainly had internal family competition over such matches. Growing up in the picturesque fields and meadows of Kadua, she wanted for little, other than something to keep her interested. Eventually this would come in a somewhat darker form.

A jousting accident would claim the life of her eldest brother, and a violent brawl in a tavern a future Baron had no place in being, the next. Her father shattered, he lasted another half-decade before falling to one of many potential illnesses, without the drive to carry on, he passed quickly. Two years prior, Adelaide was 16 at the time, and with five short years of preparation, she was thrust into the rule of the Barony, with her Aunt and Mother as guides. Her mother wasn't long for the world, dying in childbirth of a stillborn son, conceived just before the death of her father. This has resulted in the young woman growing increasingly close to her aunt, the Lady Aeolynn, both of the women having developed something of a friendship over the course of previous years. Unusually for the Estense Household, Aeolynn is raven haired, unlike the three remaining 'Estense Sisters' which, in the suspicious fey-touched Meadows of Kadua, is something of an ill-omen, when it comes to the noble household that rules the fief.

The Estense way is all charisma, charm and negotiation, and Adelaide is no different, depending upon her courtly manners and sweet smile more than any natural gift for administration. This, combined with the potential marriage of all three Estense siblings, puts the Household in a surprisingly well connected position, for a House that is, theoretically, in crisis.

Background:Diplomat

Supporting Cast

Lady Aeolynn Estense;

@Ezekiel

Accepted. Best post IC to get your vote in or it may not get counted.

The Rise of the Second Kingdom of Osteria

Lord Marek

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"Two votes for the Lord Gerantius and two still for Duke Gyre. More voices we have not yet heard. A king in the making we have. After the remaining Dukes and Barons have voted, the King-Elect and this court shall move to the Parna for his coronation the next morning, a quite moving affair for those not present at King Timault's own coronation some years ago."

[In your next posts, please post your Vote in brackets at the end for Moderator's sake.]
[Lord Gerantius: 2 Votes]
[Duke Gyre: 3 Votes] [Stolt PM vote*]