County of Stormhold grows to a Duchy

It is with attention and distinction that We have received the request for the County of Stormhold to be elevated to Duchy. We would be remiss if We did not acknowledge the foundations and pillars of Our feudal estates, used by all level 3 and 4 branches in the Empire, was founded within her stone halls. Her Storm Knights, are premier and preeminent among the feudal martial orders and her Storm Weavers are poised to follow suit. Be it known henceforth, that Peer Alanna Deverux shall be called Duchess for as long as she holds the Duchy of Stormhold. May the winds of fortune never cease in her realm!

- Queen Yeshika Voronova, Iron Phoenix

Unto the Populace of Ardesca

From the pen of Aveloc, Ferrum Rex

It has come to Our ears recently, a hue and cry for further laws and boundaries that amount mostly to defining our “Rule 0:” Be Excellent to each other. And this I am loath to do as, for in doing this I damage one of the pillars of the Empire itself. To inculcate into Our citizens a deep and abiding understanding of personal responsibility; for without striving toward this ideal we are nothing more than another beer and rattan club.

Every law/rule that we require limits our ability to enact and understand “Rule 0” for the essence of true responsibility is found in right action without the constraints of “law.” But what is it to “Be Excellent?” I have asked many and a modern definition seemed to center around empathy and compassion.
However, it has been my experience, whilst trying to "be excellent," that ofttimes it requires something more than compassion and empathy to achieve the aforementioned goal. For these, like good intentions, are often misleading and tend toward egoistic bias; good intentions, while always helpful are never enough on their own and axiomatically bad on many occasions.

This said, I believe that compassion, empathy and intentions are themselves a part of Virtus/excellence … just not all there is to it by a long shot.
Excellence can be found in “Virtus” called more commonly “Virtue” and what is seen as Virtus varies with the age and location of the culture. For the warriors of the Empire it can be seen most readily in our actions on the field, for any citizen it can be found in actions such as refusing the repetition of a lie, the creation of beauty, or through the dedication of service. Each in their own capacity. Excellence is pushing your own limits and in doing so bettering your community with both effort and example.

All Luminaries (those who have received a Tyros, Arx, or Manus Lumen) ought to be both representative and champions of this ethic. As Luminaries we can be either an example or an excuse. If you don't choose to be an example of excellence, you will be used as an excuse to justify the baseness of others. They will say "Well, Sir Aveloc does it, it must be all right.” The choice is yours, and you show your decision by your actions. Example or excuse, each of us must choose.
I believe that being excellent may be as simple as being personally responsible for all of your exercises of power/actions … and being observant and functional enough to clean up after yourself and others when necessary. Taking the betterment of the realm as your personal responsibility. Excellence is an attitude, a state of mind, an emotional conviction that I as an individual am alone morally responsible for all of my acts.

However, this is only one man's understanding and so I do not expect it to stand unchallenged as a definition for us all. I consider it rather an exhortation, a call to action in defining for each and every one of us to find out what the limits of our excellence truly are or can be and then pushing them just a bit further.

It is a privilege and a joy to welcome new branches into Our Kingdom.

It is a privilege and a joy to welcome new branches into Our Kingdom. However, with this entitlement comes the responsibility to pare back the structure which has not flourished as hoped. As We are Ardesca, We feel this loss with sadness while hopping the new shape will bear future fruit.

Our first foray into the level 5 royal estate, the Grand Duchy of Dweomerfell, is hereby abated. We hold the name Dweomerfell in trust for those who may come after to claim its inspirational roots.

Lost Legion, though currently unpopulated, shall be Held in Reserve. In honor to their members belonging to the the Armed Forces, We choose to hold their charter as pre-approved for their return from foreign shores.

The following two landed estates are under required population and are being given until the summer solstice to bring their population into compliance:

Company of the White Wolf

North Sea Privateers

These are the branches to be removed:

Terra Di Poveglia

Traveller's Rest

Village of Willow Wyrd

Port of FreeHaven

Nirranor

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From the Quill of the Crown, Unto the denizens of Ardesca

There was a time in the Empire when no Kingdom existed. The Empire of Medieval Pursuits coalesced in May of 2004 in Washington State and later under the Societies Act as a Canadian British Colombia Society. There were only level one and level two sized branches prior to 2011. Level three had yet to be attained and level four we envisioned would be a kingdom. When new branches wanted to be chartered, the House of Lords would convene and take a vote to pass the charter. The House of Lords created the Imperial Legion in this manner prior to the Kingdom of Ardesca forming. We had seven years with no Kingdom and no Crown.

In 2009 we experimented with subfudated branches when Astaroth (at level three) became large enough they had branches within their fief who were part of a Counsel of Elders. Debates about how this might work within or break our system of Lordly accountability and Asteroth’s Elders relationship with the Crown were heated.

In preparation for forming a kingdom and the House of Lords meeting, there was a level four (for that was our highest number at the time) branch charter prepared. Before this time, there was no branch that carried the name “Ardesca.” Though this vote passed in 2011, it was not unanimous. The leadership of Arandor did not believe we, as the Empire of Medieval Pursuits, were ready. One of the things they believed was lacking was the exercise of a feudal structure. 

In the summer of 2011, hosted by Viadrina at a place called the Grene Wode, in British Columbia, we became Ardesca.

Our Crowns have been (in sequence):

Queen Tayissa 

King Vego

Queen N’Ket (successfully usurped by King Vego) 

King Aveloc

King Theron & Queen Tierany 

King Samael

King Turalyon & Queen Alanna

Queen Aloya

King Vego

King Flanagan & Queen Drahamera

Queen Tayissa & King Derek 

King Aveloc & Queen Yeshika

Under the rule of King Turalyon and Queen Alanna, we gained a branch size 2.5 in the Ardesca charter which incorporated the vision of what became the Counties with feudal estates to be fought over.

In the reign of King Flanagan and Queen Drahamera, we knew Ardesca had picked up enough wisdom that we believe the Empire branch structure should be reflective of those lessons. We opened the discussion of Empire Branch Rules to all the leadership and again, the discussions were passionate. We knew we wanted the rules to be clear enough for new Kingdoms to have a common structure for interaction, while also being open enough for expansive creativity. 

We understand that excellence does not flourish if it has no competition. Though it may seem counter to Ardesca’s best interest to loose a portion of itself to a new kingdom, We know it will do Us good. We have approved the first level five branch charter in the Grand Duchy of Dwoemerfell and We are uncertain of its future, yet We know We must risk in order to learn. Though it may not be as visible to Our citizens outside of the current duchy, We recognize the efforts of the Misty Blue Mountains this past year as well. They embarked on a path more similar to Ardesca’s birth with a formation of a House of Lords who well are poised to become a new kingdom. The saga of the Empire’s growth continues and We are excited to see how it incorporates new visions and forms.

From the Quill of the Crown, Unto the denizens of Ardesca

This marks the first of hopefully twelve letters delivered from the quill of the Crown of Ardesca during Our reign. Each putting Our thoughts before you, Our citizens, and providing fodder for the imaginations and intellect of all. As there seems to be some misconceptions regarding our understanding of Ardescan fealty, We have chosen it as the topic de jour.  

A fundamental principle, upon which the Empire Of Medieval Pursuits was founded was the ability to form groups with people whom an individual's heart is drawn to. A Lord’s lands are literally a map drawn upon the hearts and minds of their citizens, and upon this topography, Ardesca lives. When we talk about Our Branches and Fiefs, these groups are formed of individual citizens who, each and every year, are making the choice to band together no matter how distant from one another.  

Fealty is the term describing the contract between a Lord and their vassal outlining the boundaries of their stratified relationship. The Kingdom of Ardesca is united by the hierarchic relationships between Sovereign and Lord, Lord and Citizen. The lower station offers, the higher station reciprocates. The vassal offering up a portion of their autonomy and industry in exchange for protection, resources, and guidance.Through this system Ardesca’s governance is realized. These relationships, based upon trust and honor, are both given and received. 

When a Lord swears fealty to the Crown they are swearing to abide by the written laws of both the Empire and Kingdom and to support their Kingdom with both wisdom and virtuous enterprise. In return the Crown offers the same and further, the resources and vision necessary to maintain the Kingdom as a whole.  

Having described what We believe fealty to be, it is time to clarify what Ardescan fealty is not; to whit: slavery. Our understanding of fealty does not demand that you “bend the knee,” in fact what We seek are Lords of commitment, courage, and action; rather than those who would hope that We be the answer to all their pleas. This is seen most plainly in the fact that every Lord of the Empire has a sacred duty to judge the works of their Crown and call for a veto for those they find abhorrent. This is about as far from supplication as We can imagine. 

The only other option within Our current structure is to be in rebellion. It is to this end that We require the fealty of the Lords of Ardesca. 

So say We, Aveloc Rex and Yeshika Regina, Iron Phoenix