Madness and Stupidity

XKyber

XKyber

Forum Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
[!] The following notice would be sent throughout the span of the Empire, with a personal copy being sent to Ceril's Keep and the Palace in Adelsburg [!]

1749611370039.png

ON THIS DAY
HARVESTDAY 18, STARFALL, 1563
Madness and Stupidity

1749611559204.png

​
To the Spineless Coward, Richard,

For some years now I have tolerated and watched you - presiding in Diets where you needlessly let your voice and opinion be known to the misfortune of the other attendees, acting with poor leadership and leading our military into a mocked shell of its former self, failing to respond to the still at large Ser Damien von Aval and allowing foreign powers to make us look like fools, neglecting the Griffin threat in Bergwald given your position as head of the armed forces, desperately attempting to hide your past errors with Crown-Prinzess Anna-Carina von Lichtenfelts, diminishing your name and house through rumored whispers as to the nature of Blakely and Wilhelm von Lichtenfelts true connection, and perhaps worst of all, waddling about wearing the proud sigil of Reichsmarshall which was my vater's before it was yours. For these many sins and greivances you have levied not only unto myself, but your family and the Empire at large, I left it for Alder to condemn you in the afterlife. Yet, you have now turned personal.

In the past weeks you have slandered my wife, Herzogin Janne Esme Tzyrnowski, and the honor of her children, Jasmijn and Quill von Eisenwalde. The young and dutiful Quill had taken to demanding your rightful apology, and you challenged him to a duel - making your way out of your lands and into my own, seeking him out so you may batter the seventeen year old. For all of your mishaps which clarify to me your poor judgement, this will be the final. You will make your way to Norburen in the coming days and lay yourself before the Tzyrnowski family and pray its forgiveness. If you do not, Ceril's Keep will burn to the ground with you in it. In your place, the far more competent, honorable, and accomplished Joseph Vianden will take your place as successor to the land and titles you hold.

The Tzyrnowski family further invites Ser Joseph Vianden and Lady Daphne von Aval to be treated in Norburen until this conflict is resolved. Understanding the poor husbandry that the Spineless Coward has demonstrated before, his unending lust which spawned itself onto the cheek of Her Highness, Crown-Prinzess Anna-Carina, and the many other faults, rumors, and lies that pervade his being, we find him unfit for the position of husband to Lady von Aval and, holding close the distant but still present memory of Ser Damien von Aval, act in his stead to save a member of his family from ill-fate. He has conducted himself with madness and stupidity, but the House Tzyrnowski will remain silent no longer on this present threat to the Empire.

1749613027628.png

​
Signed,
Herzog Bartosz-Jan Tzyrnowski​
 
Last edited:
Danielle Von Aval paused at the doorstep, spotting a notice lying at her feet. She hurried inside to drop off her things, then returned to retrieve it. A soft laugh escaped her more than once as she read, her head shaking, a foolish grin tugging at her lips. But the moment her sister’s name caught her eye, her smile faltered. She skimmed the rest in haste, then darted back inside to fetch paper, ink, and quill.
 
The notice's parchment crackled as it was unfurled between pale, boney fingers. A fire coughed in the hearth, kissing with warm light the silver in Veredra's hair. Slouched in her armchair the Kaiserin read in silence, as ever. Though vanished from the public eye, peacefully fading out, she had never stopped observing the Empire's shenanigans. And this time the Empire didn't seem to want to remain as peaceful as her.

She read on before a breath slipped out. Half a huff, half a scoff.
The parchment dangled between two fingers, like something.. unfortunate found in her wine.

"Fascinating.." Veredra murmured "how concerned ze gut Herzog Tzyrnowski ist with ze private parts of everyone but his wife.
Almost like his vater." The parchment folded delicately. She tapped its edge against her knuckles.

"What ist all zat barking from ze provincial doghouse like it was mistaken for ein throne?"

She rose with her joints aching their protest and then began the long walk through the corridor's hush. Somewhere in these walls her husband would be brooding. He could use a good laugh, or perhaps a moment of silence and pity for the fall of a House that once stood great.​
 
Janne sat within the Keep’s library, the room dimly lit with candles as the air hung thick. Her hand reached to a quill, interrupted by a knock on the door. In came a servant presenting her with the notice, her eyes reflecting the flame as she scanned over the words. A long breath left her as she glanced back at the servant, giving a tired smile before dismissing them, her thumb running over the paper, she stared at the table as the mere sound of fire crackling filled the room.​
 
Quill sat in his room, the light peaking in from the window to touch the parchment in his hand as he read the contents of the notice a soft frown passing by his lips. He spoke to himself like lead dropping to the floor as he lay back on his bed crumpling the note.

"Not bad, Bartosz.. Let's see who the coward ist now, Richard Vianden. Dein move."
 
Nimble fingers swiped the notice that had been left in the library. Wary eyes grew even more weary as she looked upon words on the sheet, feeling the growing gravity weigh even heavier upon the houses. Fingers rubbed her brow, before creasing the note just as she found it.

Raising herself from her seat, she made her way down to the kitchens. Tonight would be a cocoa night. Who knows for how long she might have access to such a luxury?
 
A robin pecks at her window, an envelope clutched in its beak. Daphne von Aval approaches, gently tugging it from the bird and opening the letter with a curious glance. As her eyes skim the parchment, her hand flies to her mouth, a gasp escaping her lips. What bitter words written on the page, spewing things she never even thought fathomable. "Is this true?" She whispers, looking up at the bird as if it would give a response.

It simply cocks its head at her and then flies off. She watches it go, her mind reeling. Then Daphne turns and heads out into the hall - there's someone she really needs to talk to...
 
Last edited:
While taking a walk through the beautiful streets of Bergwald, her eye falls on the noticebord. Something new seems to be placed. Her eyes start to move over the paper written by her son in law. "The reichsmarshall has been acting rather strange, even more strange than usual. As if he switched personalities with a snap of the finger. I am afraid something inside him is taking over and I am convinced it won't end well. Perhaps he should talk to a doctor or the Vater about his mental struggles." The woman thinks after finishing to read the post. She makes her way back to the keep and starts to read some books about Alder looking for ways to help.
 
Anna strolled peacefully along the quiet garden path. She surveyed the snow covered garden, and took in the happy silence the snow gave her. Her ladies kept a fair distance. The events between Quill and Richard had been ever-present in her head since they had happened, and they weighed on her. She wondered would they bury this hatchet or would it escalate. Still, she strolled, taking in the small snow drop flowers which so delighted her this time of the year. They blended seamlessly with the white grounds, save for their emerald green stems. She loved the garden like this.


Her thoughts were marred by the heavy footsteps and jangling noise of an attendant. She quickly strode past the court ladies and curtsied so aggressively Anna thought she fold herself in two. “Your Imperial Highness” the woman breathed. Anna half turned to her, and was met by an outstretched arm with a small parchment for her. She tentatively took it, and watched the woman bow and back away. In the stillness of the white garden, the only noise was the sound of parchment being unfolded.


The fire burned slowly and its light cast her shadow across the room. The missive laid on the table. She watched the fire dance, it spread, taking new fuel as it went. She sighed. Her eyes drifted down to the parchment again. “How could he be so foolish?”
 
As Ser Cedryk sat in his small cabin-office at the outpost, one of his guards approached, offering a salute before handing him a letter. Cedryk accepted it with a nod, dismissing the guard so he could return to his post.
Unfolding the letter, Cedryk read its contents in silence. When he finished, he exhaled deeply, folded the letter, and set it on the desk. His gaze shifted to the window behind him, where the distant silhouette of Nörburen loomed on the horizon. "Let uns make our Vater proud eine more time, Brüder.."
 
Berend read the letter with a smile, and almost burst out in a horse laugh. The words on the page were as bold and foolish as ever, everything he knew to expect. He rumbled to himself as he shook his head, speaking softly, deeply, and with amusement, “Zat man really needs to learn when to shut up und cut his cost.”

He glanced down at his dusty boots, the ragged cloak draped over his shoulders and the haggard way he looked. He didn’t look much more respectable than the fool who had penned him. But there was no time for that now. He folded the letter and put it in his coat and walked on, his eyes all over the streets. The day was growing late, and he had to find a venue, some place he could stay the night and keep an eye out in case trouble traced him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top