Schlottenzwiebel Family/Count
Dates from 09/19/07, 7 AM server time
Request from Screndt (6 days ago)
Message sent to all nobles of the duchy of Aix (18 recipients)
Duchy of Aix,
With Count Maelg becoming Marquis Maelg, Dimwood is without a Lord.
Who among you is willing to become the Count or Countess of Dimwood? Those that are, please send me a message stating your case.
(OOC: I was hoping to give the region to someone who hasn't been a Lord before, but that's not a hard requirement.
Also, I'm only on for 5 minutes today and only about 5 minutes tomorrow and then it's the weekend when I'm less active. I don't know when I'll get a chance to respond, though I will make an effort to make the decision quickly once the information is in.)
Report from Screndt (3 days, 6 hours ago)
I am sorry if my decision on the new Count of Dimwood is taking so long. I was indisposed the last few days and am passing the candidates past the Senate as we speak.
I will make a decision on the final three at sunrise. I will invite those three for a dinner in Aix to decide on the final candidate.
(OOC: Was busy the past couple days. Your characters won't actually have to come to Aix if you're chosen. It probably won't result in more than a few messages.)
Report from Screndt (2 days, 23 hours ago)
After seeking the counsel of the council and much deliberation over many facets of the Countship, I have come to a decision. Those that I will invite to Aix will be the current three knights of Dimwood: Loram, Nyfitsa and Paulus.
They have all put in more than their fair share of work in making Dimwood a great part of the Duchy of Aix and the Realm of Perdan.
To those that will not be further considered, your help is not forgotten and when the Duchy grows, there will be more opportunities for Lordships.
Roleplay from Screndt (2 days, 23 hours ago)
Message sent to: Loram, Nyfitsa, Paulus
The room in which the dinner is to be held is high in a tower on the east side of the city. The vaulted ceilings are at least 7 metres high and are covered with a mural of humans battling elves. Outside the eastern window, the forest stretches off into the distance and the fields of Dimwood can be seen past those. A large table, elaborately set with crystal and silver sits at the top of three steps on the east side of the room. At the base of the steps, the room widens; on the south side a small garden thrives in the sun pouring in from the southern wall made entirely from glass so clean it is almost invisible; on the east side the entrance is apparent with servants coming and going serving both the ladies sitting in the garden and the men sitting to the north; the north side is a monstrous fireplace over which are many stuffed heads of animals; before the fireplace, about a small table, are four massive leather chairs arranged in a semi circle; within the chairs sit Duke Screndt, Knight Loram Merrinoff, Knight Nyfitsa Vecchio Ratto and Knight Paulus Schlottenzwiebel, each with a drink in their hand. Duke Screndt nurses his Aixen whiskey.
"The Count of Dimwood is a very important position. You'll also have a hard act to follow replacing the Prince of Perdan," Duke Screndt takes a sip from his whiskey.
(OOC: To keep this short, I'll ask a bunch of questions right now and just say that I hear your answers in between.)
"What future plans do you have for Dimwood?" Duke Screndt asks, listening to the answers of each in turn and pressing for any clarifications before continuing to the next question.
"Have any of you heard rumours of the new land recently discovered? Do you have any plans to move there should those rumours pan out and it needs the hand of Nobles to guide it? (OOC: The new Dwilight island that may be opening soon.)" Duke Screndt inquires.
After hearing the responses, seemingly out of nowhere, Duke Screndt changes the subject and asks, "What were your thoughts on the Queen's actions in stripping Austin of his powers?"
The talk goes back and forth, Duke Screndt answering the questions of him on the subject and others before moving to another question, "What is your view on peasants?" which is quickly followed by another, somewhat related question, "What is your view on the hierarchy?"
The conversation eventually moves on and Duke Screndt asks, "What are your views on the religion followed by most Perdanese, the Church of Humanity? What of other religions? What is your current religion? (if anyone is not a member of the CoH, Duke Screndt asks, "The majority of the people in Dimwood follow the CoH, if the people of Dimwood start complaining that you do not follow their religion what would you do?")
(OOC: If you don't have the time or inclination to do a big answer, just answer quickly. I am well aware that people have different amounts of time they can put into the game and I will not penalize you if you don't have much time to put into this, though I would like at least short answers to each of the questions.)
Roleplay from Screndt (2 days, 22 hours ago)
Message sent to: Loram, Nyfitsa, Paulus
While engrossed in discussion about the recent actions of the Queen and Austin, Screndt also asks, "What action do you think should have been taken?" as well as, "What should Perdan have done if Austin changed allegiance to Fontan?" "What about Caligus?" "What if he declared independence and started a new realm?"
Roleplay from Nyfitsa (2 days, 22 hours ago)
Message sent to: Loram, Paulus, Screndt
thanks my lord
"What future plans do you have for Dimwood?" Duke Screndt asks, listening to the answers of each in turn and pressing for any clarifications before continuing to the next question.
Dimwood, is a beatifull country. Small but beatifull, i want to keep the production high, because the wine of Dimwood is famous in all the east. Ensure large estate and mantain high the bounty pot for the safety of people, because dimwood and other country side are filled of a lot monster hole.
"Have any of you heard rumours of the new land recently discovered? Do you have any plans to move there should those rumours pan out and it needs the hand of Nobles to guide it? (OOC: The new Dwilight island that may be opening soon.)" Duke Screndt inquires.
Yes something, from my Borther Wezel, he's exicted about it... i don't think is real... was only a fairy tale. But my home is in Perdan, i stay here, someone have to guard the house. Wezel i don't know, i hope he follow Maelg.
After hearing the responses, seemingly out of nowhere, Duke Screndt changes the subject and asks, "What were your thoughts on the Queen's actions in stripping Austin of his powers?"
As everyone can read from the archive, i think that: if the senate think is correct i think they have disccused about it. Is a question can't be disccussed realm wide. But a small complain is correct, the event is not so simple to pass under the bridge without complain. The discussion startet to take fire too much, but in peace time Knight need something to do...
The talk goes back and forth, Duke Screndt answering the questions of him on the subject and others before moving to another question, "What is your view on peasants?" which is quickly followed by another, somewhat related question, "What is your view on the hierarchy?"
peasant are the earth, lord the rain, dimwood a tree. Respect all two was important, landlord have to think to protect the people of his land, Ansd follow order of his Lord and disagree if necessary for the safety of People or Perdan.
The conversation eventually moves on and Duke Screndt asks, "What are your views on the religion followed by most Perdanese, the Church of Humanity? What of other religions? What is your current religion? (if anyone is not a member of the CoH, Duke Screndt asks, "The majority of the people in Dimwood follow the CoH, if the people of Dimwood start complaining that you do not follow their religion what would you do?")
I'm a member of he church of humanity. but i disagred on the Oath, i don't make him because is in contrast quth my Family Totem. I leave the religius metter to the preist, or i simply follow the Law, but personally i'm for the free of religion (for noble)
i hope i saddisfate you my lord
Roleplay from Paulus
Message sent to: Loram, Nyfitsa, Screndt
(OOC: This message has been sent only to you, but if you prefer, I can send it to Loram and Nyfitsa as well. Unless you plan on forwarding it yourself, after your decision. Without sure knowledge of which has spoken, I ignore the problem of ordering the speech of the three knights. And I will be having my eyes operated upon today, so I may be unavailable through Wednesday, but more likely there will be no interruption. )
As Paulus nears Aix, he can see the tower on the other side. He has not been to this city in years. The differences are great indeed between rural and urban. He doesn't allow himself to really think until his combat unit of 29 is interred in the barracks and he walks alone.
"What am I doing here?" Paulus wondered to himself, looking oddly at the tower soaring above him. His older brother had told him many times to keep himself involved in the politics of the realm. That's just what he was doing now, but it felt strange, to have the chance to place himself above even his own father. It's barely been a year since his brother died and he left to serve the realm as a troop leader. This is the first real direction Paulus has had for himself in as long. He knew there were men that followed orders and men who gave them. He wanted to think that his brother, a man who gave orders, would have been proud of him. He will have to wait until sunrise to know if the duke sees him as a giver of orders, too. Suppressing further perturbation, he reaches the room indicated by his invitation.
...
"What future plans do you have for Dimwood?"
Speaking quickly at first, Paulus answers.
"Well, Dimwood is the least populated land in Perdan. That results in the lowest production, as well. It is easy to take the position that Dimwood cannot rise above its existing state of affairs, which is the bottom rung of the ladder. However, I want to make Dimwood exceed people's expectations. If I can't bring the region up from the bottom, it'll at least be the rung with the damn nicest paint in the realm."
When asked how he would accomplish this, Paulus said: "I have been in contact with Marquis Maelg recently. I asked him what he could tell me about the Countship of Dimwood, and he has been sending me details of how the position functions. I will use this forthrightness to guide myself as a Count in learning what is necessary."
"Have any of you heard rumours of the new land recently discovered? Do you have any plans to move there should those rumours pan out and it needs the hand of Nobles to guide it?"
"Every land needs the hand of noblemen to guide it. Of course, I am quite curious about the place, but I have no plans to leave Perdan or Dimwood, my hereditary home. I am more concerned about the lack of a noble to guide Dimwood than Dwilight."
"What were your thoughts on the Queen's actions in stripping Austin of his powers?" "What action do you think should have been taken?"
"My initial reaction, as a noble, was to criticize the actions. However, as the discussion across the realm began, I realized that I did not have enough information to decide whether Austin's actions merited this full punishment. I reversed my first position after both the extent of Austin's crimes, as well as the exact meaning of what the Queen did, became clear. Austin has offered no explanation that I believe for his actions, but the Queen has argued her side constantly. I now support the decision, but I am glad it is mostly a closed issue now. Since the scandal first began, I have agreed that Austin deserved to be stripped. The only stopping point was his status as a noble. I was not aware at first that his nobility was only questioned, as opposed to being stripped as well. So, I agree with the Senate's actions. (OOC: Paulus would prefer they not have questioned Austin's nobility as well, but in-game this is not a separate option, so I won't belabor it.)
"This brings up a similar point. I dislike Ardarik's disrespectful style, but all nobles have the right to question the Senate's decisions. It is one of the things that separate us from the peasants. Many people criticized him for speaking out in the first place, and that was not right. Ardarik's actions were incorrect, but it is not inherently wrong to speak out in disagreement. Only 3 or 4 years ago, when Clarissa abdicated, the entire realm was questioning her decision on the treaty. Members of the Senate after the event were heard, encouraging nobles to question the throne respectfully."
"What should Perdan have done if Austin changed allegiance to Fontan?"
(OOC: I am unfamiliar with the mechanics of allegiance changes for whole regions, so Paulus can't be terribly specific. My knowledge comes only from reading the history of the incident of Winterfell.)
"Perdan would need to demand that Chancellor Lilith expel Austin and return the region to us. If Fontan complies, then peace is maintained and Austin will be executed a traitor. If Fontan makes some push to keep the region, which I consider unlikely, we would have several methods of argument available. Keeping the region is no better than invading and taking it by force. Austin just made it easier for them. We would publicly ask Fontan to confirm its unprovoked declaration of war. I believe this to be the best course of action."
"What about Caligus?"
"Caligus would pose even less of a problem, since as a realm it has few friends. A demand to hand over the region, perhaps in lighter terms than to Fontan, would intimidate it enough. The situation is the same in basic structure."
"What if he declared independence and started a new realm?"
"Austin would immediately seek the assistance of Fontan. He could not hope to survive without either Fontan or Perdan backing him, and Perdan isn't going to be very receptive. We would let Fontan know about our long-term plans for Austin's rebellion, and at the first sign that Fontan is aiding Austin, we shall ask them to confirm their declaration of war, as in the previous two cases."
"What is your view on peasants?"
"That's a bit like asking what my view is on apples, isn't it? They're used for consumption occasionally, and managed the rest of the time to provide maximum usefulness. I do not dislike all peasants, for the same reason that I don't dislike all apples. However, the order of the world clearly places peasants below nobles, and it will always be this way. I would fight to keep it so."
"What is your view on the hierarchy?"
"It is what is. Shall I criticize the world, having no knowledge of other worlds? But it is a better system than all others in history, and so I would fight to keep it the same. I am fortunate to have been born into it, and one way or the other, I will die in it."
"What are your views on the religion followed by most Perdanese, the Church of Humanity? What of other religions? What is your current religion?"
"I consider myself a member of the Church. I think its tenets leave the path a little too open for radicals to twist them into an attack on the hierarchy, but I think this privately. If a radical were to win a portion of Perdan by twisting the faith like this, it would primarily be the fault of the defecting nobles.
"It is not very difficult for another religion to be compatible with the Church, but when one isn't, I will discourage it. The tenets of the Church are based on the natural, true law written into the minds of all nobles from their childhood. If a religion does not recognize any of this true law, known even to children, then there is, shall we say, an upper limit for the respect I have for the followers."
Paulus relaxes slightly in his chair as he finishes his second drink. "If you have no more questions for me, I will excuse myself to get some rest. When Duke Screndt stood, Paulus rose and thanked him "Thank you for the fine food, and conversation. And also for your concern for our taxes. The returned difference goes appreciated."
Roleplay from Loram (2 days, 8 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in your realm (70 recipients)
"What future plans do you have for Dimwood?" Duke Screndt asks, listening to the answers of each in turn and pressing for any clarifications before continuing to the next question.
At the moment the most important issue is to raise the population in the area. By improving the existing infrastructure and through support from estates, Dimwood should be a good place for people to raise their families and for others to immigrate here.
"Have any of you heard rumours of the new land recently discovered? Do you have any plans to move there should those rumours pan out and it needs the hand of Nobles to guide it?
I am not planning on any moves at the moment. I myself am from Atamara but I did not take the long journey just to switch continents again.
After hearing the responses, seemingly out of nowhere, Duke Screndt changes the subject and asks, "What were your thoughts on the Queen's actions in stripping Austin of his powers?"
I did issue an official protest against her action. Despite the fact that I believe that she was acting in the best interest of the realm, I think there were other methods of dealing with Austin. The action that she took was a little disconcerting to me. Also, more details about the investigation should have been disclosed with the action, in order to calm the rest of the realm nobles and assure them that the action was isolated, with sufficient proof, etc. In case he changed his allegiance to Fontan, this would have created a tricky situation for Perdan. In that case our reaction should be firm but not rash. Asking Fontan to ban Austin, and remain away from Bescanon while we claim it back. There would be a period of going back and forth between the realms and the last thing I would allow, is for it to escalate, so making threats, signing alliances would be potentially harmful actions. I think if Fontan really wanted war with us they would have broken it out a long time ago.
As for Caligus, I think similar action would have been much easier since we are on good terms with them and I think both realms would like to keep it that way.
Independence? As only a count, this would only be damaging to a small area and could be quickly overtaken. If he was a duke... that is a totally different matter.
The talk goes back and forth, Duke Screndt answering the questions of him on the subject and others before moving to another question, "What is your view on peasants?" which is quickly followed by another, somewhat related question, "What is your view on the hierarchy?"
We are nobles, born for higher causes, but we cannot forget that our wealth comes from the land that they work on. As nobles, we give them the support they need and protection from undead, monsters and foreign raiders. We have a certain responsibility for them and they use the land that we own. The hierarchy works well and should be maintained.
The conversation eventually moves on and Duke Screndt asks, "What are your views on the religion followed by most Perdanese, the Church of Humanity? What of other religions? What is your current religion? (if anyone is not a member of the CoH, Duke Screndt asks, "The majority of the people in Dimwood follow the CoH, if the people of Dimwood start complaining that you do not follow their religion what would you do?")
I currently am not a member of any religion, I have to admit this is an area where I feel the least knowledgeable. But if I was count of Dimwood, I would like some control into the spread of religion through building of temples and preaching. Some religions may be hurtful to the economy and well being of the region's inhabitants, but if peasants are in need of spiritual guidance, then none of the religions should feel threatened to support people of Dimwood.
Loram couldn't tell what Screndt was thinking about any of the answers he heard. His face was emotionless, "nugritisockmutt face", as some locals in Canock would call a good expression for one of the many silly games they played. Loram was happy with his answers though and would support Duke's decision wholeheartedly.
Out-of-Character from Screndt (4 hours ago)
I'll be choosing you for the Count position. Can you start moving to Dimwood right away? I wouldn't normally do it this way, but this is all the time I'll have to write something up before the turn and it will take you at least two turns to get to Dimwood.
Roleplay from Screndt (6 minutes ago)
Message sent to: Loram, Nyfitsa, Paulus
Duke Screndt enjoyed the evening. The answers from all of the knights pleased him, the dinner was exquisite as was the pleasant chatter amongst the knights and their ladies. But when the night drew to a close, he stayed in the tower and thought about the knights until the light of dawn started brightening the sky to the east.
There were so many things to consider. His main worry was asuaged by all of the knights. He had both hoped and dreaded that his main worry would put at least one of them out of the running to make his decision easier. His second most important item on his list was also no help. Though it warmed his heart to see the answers of all three on the subject, it also brought no one closer or farther from the running.
The decision would have to fall to minor items. The one that the Queen had suggested indirectly would be the first. The position would go to a Noble who had no family with a position. Perdan would be growing before long. It needed the knowledge of Countship upkeep to be spread amongst its Nobles. And it needed those up to the task, but green to learn during this time of peace. As much as it pained him to put such a dedicated Noble out of the running, that put Nyfitsa out at the present time.
The decision fell to Paulus or Loram. Both were well mannered, true Noblemen as were the women they chose to bring. Nyfitsa was as well -- he stopped midthought and pushed Nyfitsa back out of his mind. No matter how well he measured up in these latter categories, he had already decided to put him out of the running for a more important category.
Both Paulus' and Loram's positions and characters were well-suited for the task. After much internal debate, he finally decided that Paulus put in more preparation for the task, reading up on the history of the realm and actively seeking Maelg's advice even before he was chosen.
As the rays of the sun broke over the horizon, Duke Screndt rose from his seat, back and legs cracking, and said to himself, "It may not be the best reason, but they are both so well-suited to the task that something must tip the balance."
"M'Lord, shall I call for the scribe?" asked Duke Screndt's manservant, always meticulous, looking none the worse for wear after staying up the night in silence with his Duke.
"Yes. And breakfast would also do."
"Of course, M'Lord. I assume you shall have it in your sitting room?"
"Yes," he answered before starting for the door and the long walk down the stairs of the tower to the coach waiting outside to bring him to his estate.
Roleplay from Screndt (just in)
Message sent to everyone in your realm (71 recipients)
The decision has been made as to the new Count of Dimwood. Though all of the candidates would have excelled at the task, after much debate, Paulus Schlottenzwiebel will be the new Count of Dimwood.
Congratulations Paulus. I hope that we will soon see more regions in the Duchy of Aix and your new found experience can be shared with those Knights that will move up to the same position.
Knight Paulus, I shall meet you in Dimwood come nightfall for the ceremony.
