Peristaltico Family/Bustoarsenzio

The history of Bustoarsenzio Peristaltico

The first days as noble on Dwilight

Bustoarsenzio was born from and old and almost forgotten branch of the Peristaltico Family, emigrated to Dwilight and living in Donghai since countless years. Since long time they cut all contacts with the rest of the family and Bustoarsenzio was never aware of the other noble Peristaltico around.
The Peristaltico, as many other easteners that landed in the surroundings of Donghaiwei, were heavily oppressed by the Dwili and joined the religion driven rebellion lead by "The cloudy" Deverka Cryfwdr, that eventually founded Morek. They were rewarded with a piece of land a minor noble title in Donghai. As soon as Bustoarsenzio was old enough to start his career as noble, he was sent to serve into the ranks of the nobility of Morek. He gladly accepted his fate, full of dreams of glory and a deep faith in the Bloodstars.
When Bustoarsenzio joined Morek, the knightly Order was still restoring itself after a huge monster invasion and a failed rebellion. Huanghai and Cailyn were barely under control, and savage hordes of monsters ravaged the borders on a daily basis. Bustoarsenzio swore an oath of fealty to the Lord of Donghai, Lady Maura Hart, that sent him into the Order of the Maddening Star, Morek's main army, under Marshal Vesuvius.. Slowly, he began to master the foundations of military discipline and improved his knowledge of Sanguis Astroism, Morek's one and only religion. He understood what the Warders of the Temple were about, but never joined their ranks, not completely sharing their point of view.

Knight of Deverka Cryfwdr and leader of the Maddening Star First Battalion

Morek was growing and starting to reclaim regions from the wilderness. The realm expanded into Shomrak and Ashrak, and a colony was developing in the city of Libidizedd. Soon however, tensions rose between Morek and its colony, Astrum. Many arguments and quarrels took place into the halls of Sanguis Astroism, and back then Bustoarsenzio decided not to meddle to much in such political affairs, remaining focused on day-by-day knight duties and fightings.
Due to the extensive confrontations against monsters, one day Deverka Cryfwdr, Hero and Grandmaster of Morek, Duke of Donghaiwei, offered a generous stipend for the noble that was willing to lead a huge unit as a specific weapon against monsters. Bustoarsenzio proudly put his name forward and, for the surprise of many, himself included, he won. Later on Grandmaster Deverka confessed that never choice had been so right, and he praised the Bloodstars for having given him the wisdom to choose.
Bustoarsenzio became a knight of Donghaiwei and the leader of the Maddening Star First Battalion, that still restlessly fights countless battles against the enemies of the stars. Thanks to his place inside Morek's capital he was able to discover some short pieces of history about the Peristaltico family, and thaks to his increased income, he was able to select his own insigna, since then flying on the banners of the Maddening Star First Battalion.

Unterstrom

It was back then that Grandmaster and Duke Deverka Crywfdwr married Lady Allison Kabrinski, High Inquisitor of Morek. Bustoarsenzio knew little of her and was somewhat scared by her choleric and hot headed attitude. As a marriage gift, Grandmaster Deverka granted Lady Allison the Duchy of Donghaiwei, claiming the Duchy of Unterstrom for himself. The Order of the Maddening Star was then tasked with the conquest of the lands surrounding the city, and to capture the city itself. In the meantime the Ordermaster (Marshal) of the Order of the Maddening Star joined the Warders of the Temple, leaving the leadership to sir Hather Grindle, former vice-marshal. Bustoasternzio then became the vice Marshal with the blessing of his master and mentor, Grandmaster Deverka. The bond between Bustoarsenzio and Deverka grew till the point that the Grandmaster named him as Lord Steward of Unterstrom city, tasked with holding it till the day the true Duke would have taken the power. Once in command of the city, Bustoaresenzio built there the first temple dedicated to the Bloodstars and blessed by his holiness the High Prophet Mathurin Hossenfeffer in person. The temple still stands there, half abandoned but not forgotten. Unfortunately, monsters hordes and restless peasants proved to be too many for the Order of the Maddening Star, and soon the city was lost to riots, for the triumph of heathens and anarchists. Bustoarsenzio never forgot the city, and many other times he would have had to do with it again.

Marshal of the Order of the Maddening Star and the Secession Wars

Morek had no other enemy than monsters, bandits and rebels till that moment. With the vaste wilderness surrounding the few realms dotting Dwilight countryside, war seemed a distant ghost to read about only in books. It would have not been so for long. Soon the Duke of Muspelheim and Bishop of Sanguis Astroism, sir Cato de la Fare, seceded from the nearby realm of Springdale (Realm) after a failed assasination, claiming his religion was the reason why the King wanted him dead. His reasons are exposed in a letter to the realm. Once again, a storm of discussions fulled the halls of the churches for days, and the bond between Bustoarsenzio and his liege eventually strenghtened even more, given the young knight appreciated and agreed with the moderated and detached behavior the Grandmaster held during those quarrels, as opposed to his wife's heated rhetoric.
The decision to send the Morekian Warders of the Temple to defend the newly formed theocracy of Virovene against Springdale was then taken, and war broke between Morek and his ally Springdale. The Grandmaster duty was a secular one, and he focused on maintaining the realm while the religious warriors fought in Springdale. Bustoarsenzio followed him once more, ignoring the call to arms issued by the Waders and remaining inside the Order of the Maddening Star. All the resources of Morek were poured into the Warders, knights were called and gold was delivered in large amounts. The Order of the Maddening Star was left alone and considerably weaker against the hordes of monsters, tasked to defend the south and without any hope to push the border to Unterstrom once again.
During those difficult times, Bustoarsenzio distinguished himself for bravery and military skill: largely considered by the nobles of the Order their true leader, he was then promoted Marshal when sir Hather Grindle left the active life in favor of a retired one. As Marshal and leader of the First Battalion, he fought with his handful of brave nobles dozens of battle, succeeding in holding off the countless monster hordes no matter the few resources available. This acknowledged success yielded him large prestige and renown between the nobles of Morek, even between the highest ranked ones. He was starting to be considered an influencial noble and that was a significant step. The political power in Morek was in fact largely held by the Warders of the Temple that saw him under a bad eye, given his secular interest and lack of religious zeal. Due to Bustoarsenzio reserved nature however, this disrespect was always kept implied, as the Warders never had the need to oppose him openly given his poor interests in any career, but of course no offers were made either.

Current War notes

What follows is a sketchy tale of what happened on the 30th November 1009 in Croton, where the Raivan and Libero Empire attacked Xinhai forces running a takeover. The report can be found here (temporary placed here. Soon to be moved elsewhere)

Roleplay from Bustoarsenzio Peristaltico

Message sent to Message sent to everyone in your realm (35 recipients)

Busto spent an uneasy night of meditation and prayer in the small makeshift chapel inside the camp of the Order of the Maddening Star. Everything was set, and there was no time to change anymore. Yet, he was visibily worried. Each time he went through the analysis of the formation and the movements he was satisfied, but too many things could still change. And that was a battle too important to be lost to chance. Few hours before full sunrise, when the first light of dawn begin to light the sky, he rallied his men: the Maddening Star First Battalion. Roaming in front of the line, he shouted: "First Battalion! In the plain ahead of us the enemies are gathering his forces. At sunrise there will be battle, and it will be a bloody dawn. Two realms are necessary to even remotely match the strenght of Xinhai and the will of the stars. But they won't be enough, as even together they will be defeated! This is the battle all of you have been trained for, the glorious battle we dreamt while facing monsters dug in in the ice frozen ground of Shomrak. It is our moment, and it is the time for us to show them what mistake they did attacking us! You are the finest of Xinhai, the first battalion of the Order of the Maddening Star and thus you will not enter the battlefield as mere soldiers. All the rest of the army will watch and follow you as an example and an inspiration, do never forget it. The entire Xinhaian army is made by your brothers and no one of you must let a brother fall at his side withouth sacrifying himself first. We do not fight for honor or glory alone, we fight for victory and for Xinhai as a whole. We will fight at the center of the battle line. The enemy must not breach there and the Maddening banner should be kept high all the time. Good luck men, and may the stars have mercy of our enemies for we will have none." The men turned side and took place in the middle of the Xinhaian army. With silver shining armors, blue cloaks and blue plumes they were an impressive sight to see. The sun rose above the Xinhaian army. In the distance, the dust lifted by the twin empires soldiers were filling the horizon. They were many, but not enough. As ordered, Xinhaian army deployed on three lines. Special forces and chosen archers entrenched behind makeshift wooden fortifications forming the first. Long range archers forming the second one, hiding behind mantlets and barricades. The third was composed by the Xinhaian infantry. An ordinated war machine waiting an order to unleash all its fury. First horn. The enemies are at range, the first and second lines open fire. Echoes of distant screams show the enemy is firing on our lines too, but the barricades should give us the upper hand for the ranged combats. The infantry marches into the corridors left open into the second line, all knowing where to head. Second horn. The enemies draw closer, the archers correct the aim, firing on the advancing infantry. Special forces prepare for melee combat. "Men! Double time!" Infantry starts running and fills the holes in the archer deployment, following a carefully planned scheme Then the clash. Like the strongest thunder during the strongest storm, infantry clashed against infantry. Men against men, shield against shield. "For the stars brothers!" Xinhaian left flank was made by the Austere Order, the Empire right flank by the Libero forces. Busto spotted the banner of Royal Marshal Sejieda, and in the distance, the royal insignias of Queen Alanya. Without their Vice-Marshal and leader of the infantry forces wounded during a night skmirmish, the Austere Order deployed a good amount of archers in melee in order to make up their somewhat lacking numbers. Heavy casualties were taken, but under the direction of Marshal Hericus Lefanis the Austere brothers fought valiantly, and the Liberonians were routed. Even the charge of the Queen in person could not turn the tide of that flank, and the Austere Order pushed forward encircling the right flank of Raivans' center. Xinhai right flank was led by Coffermistress Kabrinski and her large unit of archers. At the beginning of the battle however, an arrow wounded her and she had to be dragged back out of the line, her unit left into chaos. A large detachment of screaming raivans closed in, and the archers panicked without performing the planned movements. That cutted out the Bihand templeguards that could not take their place up front in time to defend archers, that suffered heavy casualties and were forced to retreat. Quickly however, the troops led by the Lords of Linhai, Zhongyuan and Cailyn, leading some among the finest soldiers of the Order fo the Maddening Star, along with the Skald Militia light infantry unit filled the gap slaughtering the snarling Raivans and capturing their leader, sir Igor Vats of Mt.Black Nastrond. The right flank was secured too, and quickly the Xinhaians start pushing towards the center of the Raivan formation. The center of Xinhai battle line was made by the Lord Polmarch and the First Battalion, the Archon's bodyguards and the former High Inquisitor along the current Judge special forces. Facing them the Raivans deployed the Gray Company, led by their General, the Imperator's brigate, led by the alpha imperator and the Imperial treasurer guard led by the Raivan treasurer. The fight was terrible, both armies were composed by well equipped and determinated veterans, and no one could seem to be able to prevail on the others. The warders of the faith special forces, in their shiny bloodstar red armor fought with their usual zeal, suffering terrible casualties but slaughtering dozens of imposing raivans. Finally after what seemed an eternity, the Raivan line broke under the combined pressure of the Xinhaian center and flanks. No enemy noble could be captured but the General and the Banker of the Raivan Empire were spotted while dragged away wounded by their men. Few of the Raivans survived, many were captured or killed. After three hours, the whole Xinhaian army, still deploying good numbers, shouted and celebrated the victory. Cleaning his heavy mace shaped as the maddening star itself sit atop a rocky formation overlooking the field of battle, Busto sent congratulations to all the Xinhaian nobles that fought in Croton. It would have been a day to remember, and all of them made their part for it to be so. Sir Bustoarsenzio Peristaltico Lord Polemarch of Xinhai, Marshal of the Order of the Maddening Star

Bustoarsenzio Peristaltico