Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team

On Inclusion

Hello members of our Realms community,

In the face of discriminatory laws at both the federal and state level, the Knights of the Realms remain steadfast in our desire for the Realms community to remain an inclusive space for everyone. 

We are opposed to the federal executive order limiting gender to that assigned at birth. 

We are opposed to a similar and reprehensible bill, HB148/SB268, making its way through the New Hampshire legislative process. 

To our LGBTQ+, and specifically trans, friends, know that we would be lesser without your full presence in our lives. You are a vital and valuable part of this community and we are committed to doing everything we can to make sure you know you are wanted here.

To every member of our community. If you believe in the sentiments that we have expressed above, let this missive serve as a call to action.

As of the time we’re writing this, this legislation in New Hampshire has passed through the House and the Senate. There is still time to act, however, before it is signed by the governor. A very similar bill was put to the previous governor, Chris Sununu, last year and he vetoed it, saying “It is unacceptable and runs contrary to New Hampshire’s Live Free or Die Spirit.”

The following webpage contains multiple methods to contact Governor Ayotte. https://www.governor.nh.gov/contact-governor-ayotte

Reach out and let your opinion on this bill be heard. If you do not live in New Hampshire but have family or friends there, encourage them to express their opinions on this legislation.

Never fool yourself into believing that elected officials, especially our local ones, are ever in a position to ignore the calls and emails of their constituents. I can assure you that they read our emails and listen to our calls. Minds can be changed and votes can be influenced with a large enough groundswell.

We know that calling this a difficult and scary time for many in our community is a severe understatement. This rollback of civil rights is unprecedented in our lives up until now. 

The best we can do as a community is to stay true to the path we have chosen. We will look out for each other at all times, seek understanding from each other when we disagree, and stand by each other when disruption to our inclusive ways seems inevitable. 

We pledge to do these things always as we march into uncertain times ahead.

In duty,

The Knights of the Realms

Undersigned

Jason Rosa, Knights Commander

Patrick Bobell

Matt Brenner

Keith Cronyn

Kathy Fey

Randy Gordon

Jason Gray

Angela Gray

Lani Jones

Steven Matulewicz

James Murphy

Tucker Noyes

Ian Pushee

Sean Veale

Art of the Soul in the eyes of the Potato

 Written by: John "Potato" Peloquin 

Started this adventure scrolling through the village enjoying the peaceful day with a baked potato. I stopped my pace to finish eating and saw the library had a sign in big letters saying there was an art show on display. I looked closer and read a small description saying they are still accepting submissions for it. Thinking about how I dabble in the arts myself, I decided to check what it's about. I walked in and started to gaze around the library admiring the woodwork on the walls. I eventually spotted signs posted pointing where to go for the art and followed. I walked round the corner and saw the installation, such a variety of art to admire. Before I continued on to get a closer look, I was stopped by someone who looked to be a librarian. I was asked if I had any questions or art to submit to the show. I ask them a few general questions about the place before asking what the theme was and who can submit a piece for the show. They smiled before saying “anyone with art in their soul can submit their work, up to three different mediums that represent themselves. Place it on an empty display and write on the placecard is all you have to do. The theme is art of the soul. What art shows off your passion and soul? Have a look around, enjoy your time, and be inspired.” I looked at her a little stunned, deeper than what I was expecting. She smiled, turned, and walked off without another word.

I look down the hall and see a couple people putting up their art to display or admiring the art. Closer to the end of the hall, I think I might’ve seen two people with metallic skin, shiny clothes, and glowing eyes and hair near some plushies on a display. The yellow-haired one looked like they were adding to the display before they turned a corner out of the hall. I think I’ve walked by them before towards their house in Sanctuary. I should go over and formally introduce myself some time. I thought to myself, before walking up to the first display.

The display had a little card that read Heart of Omri crafted by Omri, displaying a heart sculpture beholding what they valued most to them. I gazed at the heart sculpture that was open wide to receive and give love. A purple shine like a geode inside exposed, placed in empty spaces were hearts to show the love that has been given, a butterfly kissing an edge of the heart to make it flutter, and a dragon tucked away showing their bravery to protect what they love. I thought back to myself how inspiring this heart was to show that love was something to be cherished and protected. 

I scrolled off to the next display, it was a small book. The display read a Light rune trial a story of three princesses written by Mistral. I sat back at a convenient chair by the display. Feel like it is there for the purpose of enjoying this tale. I lost track of time in this riveting tale about the princesses battling against a dark wizard wanting to take the kingdom and power they had. Through this reading I start to get this feeling it's more than just a tale about saving their kingdom. It's about their journey on overcoming insecurities and accepting who you truly are. In the end everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, but one can become stronger when with others. What a thoughtful tale for people to enjoy. I closed the book and put it back on display, so others can learn from it and proceeded to the next display.

The display was an armor stand with a place card pinned on the chest. On the shoulder was a striking deep green pauldron and below it, the place card that read Leather pauldron crafted by Saegan. The leather pauldron was designed, textured, and dyed forest green. On the main plate displayed two embossed majestic stags locked in combat, displaying strength and the untamed spirit of the soul. The plate under it had the heraldry of Blackwood embossed on it, identifying where he hails from. The strap had an intricate design flowing down the sides showing off his attention to detail. Overall this piece shows the dedication to the craft made with the passion of his soul. I should keep his name in mind with my journey of learning leather crafting. Maybe he has some knowledge he'd willing to share.

I continued on to the next display while thinking to myself what art could represent my soul? It was another armor stand, this time displaying a Leather chest piece. The place card with it read Leather chest armor crafted by Gordon. So this is the chest piece I overheard them talking about. Not being done quite yet, but wanted to still show off his skill. Dyed a pitch black with a tree burned on the front of it. The tree outstretches its branches and roots across the front. Could be representing their strength and deep roots in the realms. The dedication in their craft shows off as well, can't wait to see this finished being used in battle. The details and craftsmanship is already stunning. I should keep their name in mind as well if I want to learn some tricks of the craft.

Bowls crafted by Keith C. & Emma S.

I headed off to the next display to view, thinking about how many inspiring artists and craftsmen there are in the realms on the way. It’s of two bowls with a place card that read "Clay bowls crafted by Irri and Saegan." One was of a solid deep blue with what looked like herbs or flowers branching up the bowl in a dark green. It appears they could have dipped herbs or flowers in colored paint and pressed an impression onto it. Same on the teal colored rim on the bowl. Displaying white herbs or flowers branching around the rim. How creative to use them in such a way to decorate the bowl. And the bowl itself must've been made with delicate hands to get this even, smooth shape and perfectly formed rim. I look at the other bowl, it's a solid sky blue bowl with pine green trees painted around branching up to the rim. Near the bottom of the bowl under the trees is a lighter blue striped in a patched jaggy fashion around the bowl. Staring at the bowl for a couple minutes, it started to remind me of bracers Saegan wears. I wondered if that's what he was going for as I turned away from the display to see what was next.

 

On display is a necklace with a place card that reads Ladybugs love crafted by Hedda. A beautiful clear heart-shaped pendant with a ladybug inside. The details on the ladybug itself is eye-catching. The way the lines swirl around and are perfectly symmetrical on each side with each other. The details in the necklace shows the love she put into her work to create beautiful works like this. It's as beautiful as the souls that dwell in Sanctuary, I thought to myself as I made my way to the next.

  I walk up to the next display and it looks like a couple tables were put together to make more room. The place card read "Multiple works of art crafted by Lady Tarnisha and my daughter Mandolin."  There were some colorfully fun gingerbread cookies decorated on a platter. Next to them were some sewn fabric stuffed plague rats, maybe trying to get the delicious-looking cookies on the platter. A beautiful dream catcher on a cold-colored matching necklace that looks like it will be used for a ward spell. As well as what appears to be a worst-case scenario colored drawing of a solar eclipse. I feel like these ones were done with little Mandolins growing talents, very nicely done by her. There was a sheet of paper next, it was a ballad written and titled Ballad of Darkvale, sounds like it's about what took place during Winter Reverly. The last piece was a sideless light blue and tan surcoat. It had its own little note attached to it that said it's just a first pattern for a more complex  SL surcoat, she is making for King Orion's Coronation. Even so it was still elegant, decorated with an upper band of flowers along the chest line, and patch of flowers under the right armhole of the surcoat. If this is just the first pattern I can't wait to see how gorgeous the final will be. This display of work just shows the time they spend with family is what's important to her soul. 

So much to reflect on as I scroll through this hall of art, so many impressive artists in these lands. I reach the next display with a place card that reads Enchanted armor token and Heraldry of The Kingdom of Misery crafted by Rain. The armor token was black with a scattered line pattern on one side and on the other an incomplete looped heart wrapped in leather around the circle edge. Next to it a drawn heraldry with a rainbow over a castle silhouette. Both are well-crafted pieces of art for their journey ahead.

The next display to be seen was a poem written by Styx. I found the poem to be captivating how they captured what their soul would look like. Felt like I was there looking into their soul, the home that was built that shows the hardships and good times the soul has had. Content with who they are as a person and the journey they have had. Home is where the soul is. As I placed the poem back down for others to see I got a whiff of something sweet going behind me and turned around.

It was Fern quickly walking by with the smell of something sweet filling the air. I see them stop at an empty display and place a plate and a little display card. Before I could reach them for some small talk, they started to walk away to leave. So I let them, must be busy getting ready for the coming events like others. I can just read the little display place card about what smells so good and catch up later. The display card read Earl Grey Honey cheesecake, Blackberry and Sage cheesecake, and Chocolate Sumac cheesecake baked by Fern. They even left an additional place card describing her choice in work. It said “As many of you know, I love baking and coming up with new desserts. As slightly fewer of you know, I am an Avatar of the Beast, and Avatars of the Beast must eat cheesecake. For this Art of the Soul project, I created a set of three types of cheesecakes meant to represent me: Earl Grey and Honey for a more academic side, and bees!, Blackberry and Sage for my appreciation of nature, and Chocolate and Sumac again for my love of nature but also the comforting aspects of life. These were a good intellectual challenge for me, as I have not made many cheesecakes on my own before. I had to heavily adapt the recipes I was basing these off of, and I had to gauge the flavor balances correctly on my first try. I did a ritual with them shortly after finishing them. They turned out just as wonderful as I envisioned, and even the decorations played along. Truly food for the soul!” Could be the leftovers from the ritual, I wanted to try a nibble but resisted. I've been told the cheesecakes they make are beyond delicious, I'm sure one day I'll get one. I took off from the display before I couldn't resist any longer.

I reached the final display and read the place card. Two plushies of Kas' parents, no name of who crafted it. These plushies look like the ones I saw earlier. One plush of a short yellow haired person wearing a knitted yellow shirt, pale red surcoat, and brown pants for an outfit. There was also a rock placed next to it, that's what they placed on the display. The other was of a long red haired person wearing a knitted light purple top and violet pants to match. So much detail went into embroidering and sewing the plush together. The clothes they wear are so tightly and neatly knitted together, amazing craftsmanship.

I thought about leaving the art show, but then I looked at an empty display. I stood there and thought if my crafts had anything I thought was worthy of being shown off as my art of the soul. After some thought I walked over and decided to place two items. I took out my chainmail coif with holes for my ears, my first chainmail craft. I made it because I wanted to be more protected so I can fight better with my friends and allies. I had fun making it, and will continue until it's a full suit. The other piece of art I decided to place were a few of my Potato Chips I have been making. Woodburned circular chips one side a potato and the other a number one with a P and C, with a decorative dash border going around. I hand burned each one, and have many more to continue making. My hope is to make it a new currency the realms will like when Im ready. Back by my shop and food cart, if anything maybe they'll want to collect the art. I put my soul into my art and the memories I make with my friends. I write down on the placecard what I placed on the display and my name. Left the art show with a little more thought about what art of the soul can be and appreciation for the artists for showing me their soul.

Why I Want to Go - Sanctuary Questing 2 [Part 2]

Written by: Nixon "Jasper" Showalter

Hello friends, foes, and otherwise,

For those of you unfamiliar with Sanctuary, its people, its Guardians, and the foes which threaten the plane, let me give you a quick refresher. Sanctuary is just that, a plane which offers sanctuary to those in need. It is protected by twelve Guardians, each encompassing an alignment, with each alignment having a rune. The twelve alignments are Time, Love, Nature, Creation, Protection, Soul, Space, Light, Mind, Magic, Truth, and Hope. For reference, I am Soul aligned (if you could only imagine), following Guardian Amber of Soul. While these Guardians look to help all who they are capable of, they are not uncontested. There are other beings, known as Devourers (but saying that word can cause them to listen, so be careful), which look to destroy what the Guardians represent.

Across the seas two of these beings have been laying waste to the alignments they counter and it is up to us to stop them. While many of you know me, know the condition I have been left in as of a year prior, these beings are to blame. The first we will be targeting on this journey is Anti-Soul. Anti-Soul is currently consuming many Souls which have been taken from their rightful body and consumed, not being allowed to exist nor past to their after life. As you can imagine, this is a problem. We know of ways we can return these Souls, via the use of Hematite rings, weapons, and missiles of Soul Channeling. Once we have gathered the Souls into the Hematite, we can put them to rest. Additionally, we will need to defeat Anti-Soul itself. It currently has six Soul boxes which need to be destroyed before we can destroy the being itself. These are seemingly hidden around the university which we are visiting, it is up to us to find their exact locations. There is a seventh Soul box, belonging to Sir Perseus, a once Paladin of the Celestial Flame turned Servant to Anti-Light. We intend on freeing Perseus from their bond to Anti-Light as we did for Barton and Anti-Truth some year ago. This will not be as straightforward, requiring us to locate their head and reattach it, while also physically removing the rune from their body. However, I am confident in our ability to do so. Anti-Soul does currently have a ‘servant’, though they lack the power of other servants we have seen and are reluctant to be in their position. They are a Soul, located within Anti-Soul, currently serving as a clerk for the being, organizing the Souls within. There is little information known about them, but we are nothing if not a group capable of on the fly thinking.

After we handle Anti-Soul and free Sir Perseus, we will then be going to defeat Anti-Light. This is a being which feeds on Light. Expect darkness to surround us, Light magics to be haltered, and vision to be obscured. We are going to be fighting against it mainly in a tunnel battle, so prepare your long weapons and your best shields, we will need them. Other than that, this fight is more of a mystery, at least to me.

I hope you have made it this far, the information above will be crucial to our success. If you haven’t surmised, I want to go to Asteria to defend Sanctuary because it is a place that offers itself to defend those who need it, so it is only fair I offer myself to do the same. Anti-Soul and Anti-Light both are wreaking havoc on Asteria, capturing innocent Souls and sucking the Light out of the world, and for this they must be stopped at whatever cost. It is also relevant to note that I am a vampire turned by Sir Perseus. I have chosen to stay this way in hopes that the connection to them may strengthen their bond to our world. We will have to see if this holds true once they are freed.

If you have any questions, you are always welcome to reach out to me in whatever means you are able, I am happy to help. There are also many knowledgeable people going on this journey, so posting to boards around the Realms will also help gather the information you seek.

Until the sun touches the sea,

Jasper Sherwood of Alifon

((OOC:

Hi everyone! Nixon here! Sanctuary Questing 2 is going to be an absolute blast. There are going to be so many interesting mechanics, so many cool encounters, the entire quest is going to be full of so many things to do! And the BBEGs are just begging to be hunted down, so we must do as they wish! The plot team is full of incredible people and the work they have done, have been doing, and continue to do is incredible.

You may have heard this before, but I can’t emphasize it enough, trust yourselves, trust your marshals, and have fun!))

Why I Want To Go - Sanctuary Questing 2 [Part 1]

Written by: Keith “Saegan” Cronyn

Famed author Brandon Sanderson can be cited saying that a good fantasy story has enough Strange to be interesting, but enough Familiar to be relatable. I think this is a very poignant idea, and a hard needle to thread, and many fantasy writers slip too far in either direction, but I think the Sanctuary Questing team, does a brilliant job of threading that needle. 

Sanctuary,  a sort of pocket dimension for protected individuals, is empowered by 12 iconic forces, represented by beings called the Guardians. Players can take trials to align to these powers, either 1 or 2 of them, and gain specific benefits by doing so. These forces are made up of intangible ideas like Truth, Love, and Soul; as well as aspects of physics like Time, Space, and Light.  Combined they create a deep meaningful system, that is both easy to opt into and relatable; while also offering deep actionable quality, and leading to important character moments. 

It is not uncommon for players to say something like “I never realized “X” about my character, until taking the trials, that’s pretty cool.” and that comes from aged veteran and newbie alike. 

The staff of Sanctuary Questing, are driven by the fundamental ideas that their plot should be available to everyone, taking steps to ensure that a plot that could be criticized as being overwhelmingly E-Questing centric, is not that. Over the last year they have introduced elements that allow for people to take home their Trials, as between event actions. They’ve created summary documents so that if you’re busy you can just read the bullet points, and be caught up with all the important information. They’ve organized meetings for players, and encouraged team work to create an environment of friendship and success. They strive to do everything they can to make this even series, fun, interesting, accessible, and unique. 

In a more specific highlight, to encourage the arts within the community, as a specific benefit for the event, players are allowed to submit art pieces that represent themselves or their soul in some way. This benefit specifically aids the players in the quest in that it protects them from the Devourer of Soul. I think this is such a great idea, because the Arts can be so often left to the side as a part of the community. This highlight, and meaningful mechanic reinforces participation in the arts in a way I can’t recall having ever been done before. And it’s fantastic. 

This weekend, our enemies will be the Devourer of Soul, and the Devourer of Light, and their respective minions. They sit as polar opposites of their respective Guardians, and I think their names represent their goals fairly obviously. 

So, this has been a bit more of a long winded “Why I Want To Go” than usual. Why do I want to go? I want to go because I want to support the meaningful efforts of the staff. I want to go because I have a great time when I play in the world they’ve developed. I want to go because I know I am going to have meaningful choices to make, and important character decisions. I want to go because I want to see what’s going to happen. Who we can save, who will be lost to the light? 

I am so excited to see you on the field. 

Keith “Saegan” Cronyn

Straight Outta Context

Here's our next installment of “Straight Outta Context” where we post a photo with absolutely no context and see what you think is happening! To kick off each post, we'll ask someone random in the community to take a stab at what's happening!

Jason "Aeston" Rosa guesses:

"Captain America training camp"

Share your guesses about what is going on via Discord or in the Facebook comments!

Want to take a stab at what's happening in our next picture? Reach out to Dani Lacasse via discord or facebook messenger to signup!

Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team

Laughing Gods in the Eye: The Void loves you as a friend (unless?)

 By: Ethan "Jean Baptise" Goldman

"Everyone knows the void looks back but when will it stop?"

Morning Coffee Break

 Got your morning cup of coffee and a few minutes? Great! We're trying out a new feature at the View - we're going to be asking a series of questions and we want to know your answers! The question is posted below. So while you sip your morning beverage of choice, ruminate on this one:

Your character wakes up one morning and  decides to start a podcast, what's it about? What's it's called? And, who is your ideal first guest?

Head on back to Social Media to let us know!  

Realmsle #22

                       

This custom Wordle-adjacent-puzzle features a 5-letter word that is particularly relevant to the Realms.

If the embedded page isn't working below you can click this link to get to the puzzle.

Like regular Wordle you can copy your result's (but only if you follow the link), so paste them or a screenshot onto social media to let us know how you did. But no spoilers!

Leviathan's Feast of the Mind: Knighthood Word Search

From the minds of the great puzzlers of activities for Leviathan, we give all of you who missed their chance to work on these Feast of the Mind activities or for those who wish to try their hand again. This is part 1 of a series of yet to be determined length. Despite the inclusion of points, there is no prize for the digital version of these challenges, simply for the fun of it.

[Knighthood Word Search: This word search contains the names of 10 different knighthoods. The terms you are searching for would follow "Knights of [the]...". Word can be hidden diagonally or appear backwards.]

Meme Monday

by the Meme Team 

(Alternate caption: bread for combat)

What's It Do? What's It Do?

In this continuing View feature, we show you a picture of a theoretical magic item. Then you go back to social media and in the comments, invent your idea for the powers that this item would have.

Here is this week's Pi Day themed item:

What's magic powers does this cushiony confectionary have? Head on over to social media and let us know!

What You Missed - Avalon Questing 3

By Kyra/Kieran “Omri” Barry

OOC Foreword:

What do you mean these series of events took place Febuary 1st, more than a month ago? I wrote this post haste and sent it via bird through the lands of Fae-oh I see what happened here. Fae time weirdness. Yes that’s exactly what happened and why it’s late. Do you want to know what you missed or not???

In all seriousness, kudos to the Avalon team for running three Arthurian style mods (Arthurian style, I’ve come to believe, means people switch off NPCing and PCing for each other). You had to NPC at least one, and you could NPC all 3 if you so choose. Way to go team players who did so this event.

IC:

1st part:

I will attach the letter written by a fae aided by adventurers for the first series of quests undertaken. It appears that it was a party with political intrigue, murder, and ghosts.

“Greetings,

Adventurers of the Realms, I thank you for your efforts in attempting to restore my father. I understand you were unable to save him, and understand even better now that I hold his power why that was so. Since your departure the Manor of Levenstone and its surroundings have adapted to my rule and have truly become my own domain, not part of another. However, I have started to see darkness creeping in the Expanse nearby. Friends of mine have travelled there and not returned. This will be a task for another time though, for now, we will rest and recover our strength. I hope to see you again in the future, and under better circumstances.

Sophia del’Rhomar, Duchess of Resolution in Conflict

Unnerving.

2nd part:

A fissure of sort opened via a Nightmarish door a while ago. The door is gone but what has been opened does not easily close again. Our world has a tear to another, and various factions have come on through. Two sets of refugees, one of plants and one of animals akin to wolves, in opposition to each other, both took up residence near a village. We managed to get the villagers freed who had been slowly turned into plants by overthrowing an evil plant advisor. We managed to convince the wolves creatures to remain relatively peacefully in their caves. And hopefully these two don’t cause any more issues, although they weren’t the only ones to come through.

3rd part:

In the First Age of Fae there was a teacher of a magic system involving Mage Runes. It seemed that one student remained uncycled through all that time and has become corrupted by Space Magic. They were attempting to control, enslave, a fae dragon, and to defeat them we had a gruelling fight against many foes of different types.

To be honest I mostly found myself beside the captured dragon, attempting to soothe and free it. It was truly a group effort.

Guess that Realmsie

 Another in our continuing series! In the below picture there is a Realmsie-shaped black hole. Can you figure out who it is based only on the profile? Tell us on social media if you think you know who it is! The answer will be revealed later in the day.  

Nations of the Realms: Rhiassa

 It took me a comically long time for me to learn of Rhiassa. In part, because I hadn’t made the connection that they were the ones running Queen of Hearts. Though, to be fair, my early years in the Realms did mean that I was still fumbling through learning a lot about the nations I wasn’t actively surrounded by at the time.

Rhiassa has a lot of history. And I do truly mean a lot. Just…see for yourself!

-Felnar Dulintel

The Nation of Rhiassa

Excerpt from the history of Rhiassa:

Sir Duncan, a Knight of the Eternal Flame, grew up in a place far from the Realms, far enough that its location relative to the Realms is still unknown. Duke of a land called Crestview in the kingdom of what we now call Old Rhiassa, Duncan's lands were destroyed in a surprise attack by an army of drow from the realm of Nifelheim. Soon afterwards the entirety of the kingdom was besieged by the evil race.

One of the knights of Old Rhiassa and an accomplished hero in his own right, Duncan undertook a great quest to find an ally against the drow, a fae elf known as Lorien. Though the elf was gravely wounded when they rescued him, Duncan was successful in bringing the fabled creature back to the castle of Old Rhiassa where he began to recover. Meanwhile, the drow army and the people of the kingdom prepared for what would be their final battle.

The forces of Rhiassa, led by their knights, clashed with the army of the drow across an expansive battlefield, and although they fought valiantly, the best the people of Rhiassa could do was slowly give ground as they were forced back towards the center of the kingdom. During this exchange, Duncan was gravely wounded and brought back to the inner keep where the fae elf Lorien saved him from the dire effects of the drow poison.

By the time Duncan was roused from his sickness, the drow army had broken through the interior of the castle. All of Old Rhiassa had fallen but for the king's tower, where Duncan and a handful of others now sought to make their last stand. Hope would have been lost then, but Lorien opened a portal into fae, and the few soldiers and nobles who remained fled the destruction of their kingdom into an uncertain fate.

Those warriors and gentry were scattered from one another in the wilds of fae. Many of them Duncan never saw again, but with the help of Lorien he was eventually able to find his cousin, Lady Fallon. Together they stepped out of fae and into the lands of the Realms. There was no way to return to the land that they came from and no kingdom left to go back to in any case, but the two Rhiassans did not fall to despair. Instead they chose to honor the lands that they came from and the memories of those who had died in the drow invasion.

They donned the heraldry of their old kingdom, the black lion, but on a blood red field instead of the traditional white, to symbolize all they had lost. They began their new lives then, and while they never forgot the link to their past, they remained steadfastly focused on building a new future for the country of Rhiassa.

Rhiassa is a city-state with a triumvirate of lords that all share equal rank between Lord Sir Aeston Stromgate, Lady Dame Areni Stromgate, and Lord Sir Gwen Stromgate. It is also a Knightocracy, where the knightly order is the noble class. Knights, and to a lesser extent squires, are responsible for all of the duties of coordination and administration that make a country function. A lord of Rhiassa also serves as the knightly order's commander.

The culture of Rhiassa is very heavily dependent on that knightly order. The mission of Knights of Rhiassa, as well as the philosophy of the entirety of Rhiassa itself, is one of service. Service to the community in a myriad of ways, such as projects and initiatives that are of benefit to the Realms, but chief among all of them is making the gatherings that Rhiassa hosts of the highest quality. The Knights set the standard for both their squires and the rest of the group for what it means to give of themselves in order to make the Realms succeed.

Rhiassa has a number of important geographical landmarks, some that relate specifically to the gatherings held yearly.

Cold Springs: The capital city, known for its large central cathedral dedicated to Garm. Cold Springs was the site of the quests referred to as “What Lurks Beneath”, where an army of goblins and trolls compelled by an eldritch horror attacked the city from caverns and sewers below the streets.

Fallon’s Crossing: One of Rhiassa’s most important mercantile hubs.

Oregoth: A mining town and the source of Rhiassan Steel, and the hub of the Gilded Lion Ironworks, which provides vital weapon making materials to the whole of the Realms.

Crestview: The retirement estate for the former lords and nobles of Rhiassa.

War Maneuver Fields: The site of the yearly Queen of Hearts Tournaments and War Maneuvers.

Southland: A southern city that is well known as the location for the yearly Feast of the Leviathan. It also boasts The Grand Parthenon of Justari, a central hub of the Justarian faith.

The Vanfrost: A portal connecting to the worlds of Norlund, where the Echoes of Ragnarok took place.

Rhiassa's ecology is to a very large extent typical grasslands and woodlands with some elevated rocky bluffs and hills. Within this nation’s borders dwell two subnations. Periden, a historic nation in its own right, was claimed by Rhiassa and presented to Aeston and Areni’s son, Aerik, as his birthright. The other, Lionsmark, was once part of the lands of Ashenmark, gifted to Rhiassa on the occasion of the birth of Aeston and Areni’s daughter as her birthright. Lionsmark stands as the symbolic home of the friendship and alliance between Rhiassa and Ashenmark.

Rhiassa is well-known as the Realms geographical center of the worship of Justari. However, the worship of the Just God in Rhiassa is recent, compared to the nation’s more historic religions. In its earliest incarnations, Rhiassa was the home of Kethrellen, the High Priest of Aurora, with Lord Sir Duncan serving as one of her faithful paladins. After Da’oud broke the sword Dalindanna, Duncan was forced to become one of Garm’s paladins instead, and built a cathedral to honor him in Cold Springs. During the Third Age of Rhiassa, with the onset of Bedlam across the Realms, the worship of Justari became a central part of Rhiassan culture.

Worship of Leviathan is also to an extent a part of Rhiassan culture. While Leviathan is a regional deity of Aeston's homeland, the yearly feast in Leviathan's honor does make him an important god in Rhiassa's history. It is said that the feast keeps him slumbering for another year.

Of course, this does make Feast of the Leviathan Rhiassa’s most important holiday. Held every January in the middle of the month, in many ways, it acts as the Realms’ New Year’s celebration. While the origin of it comes from Aeston’s far-away homeland, Feast of the Leviathan has been embraced by the people of the Realms, and is truly now one of the cornerstones of the year. During a time when chances to tournament or quest are lessened by the weather, it does all of us good to come together in kinship and camaraderie.

Though food seems to be Rhiassa’s (pardon the pun) bread and butter, the gigantic and resplendent charcuterie boards that are on display at many Rhiassan-led gatherings, are impossible to miss.

In Aeston’s own words: “Rhiassa is well known for keeping in trust two of the Realms' most important and historic gatherings in Queen of Hearts and Feast of the Leviathan. A great deal of our national pride and the lion's share of our efforts each year go into making sure these two events remain as high quality as they can possibly be.

Otherwise, I hope Rhiassans are known for their dedication to making the community a better place, for our work ethic, and for our mission of service. Everything we do, from our national knighthood to the training we give to even our newest members all starts with those foundational beliefs.”

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(OOC, further words from Jason: If you enjoyed learning about Rhiassa and would like to know more about our members, our traditions, our events, and dozens of other things please visit http://rhiassa.com/

If you believe strongly in making the Realms endure and making sure it constantly grows into a better place. If you are not afraid of hard work and embrace the idea of personal growth. If you want to live a life of service and dedication to others and find joy in helping other people and watching them have fun. If you want to be a part of a team that works well together toward their highest ideals. If all of those are true of you than Rhiassa might very well be the best home you can have.)

Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team

Iawen and the Artillerist

 This is not a story about me. I was there but I was watching it. I am the… seventh most important person in this story. And do not worry, I will give you the rankings as I go.

This story starts when Prince Orion (6) had a no good very bad idea. Orion said, outloud, to a room with people “I should run a Hunt It Kill it Eat it”. And all the royal advisors, whose job it is to stop madness and pride from dooming a kingdom, did not say anything. So, we had a event.

Now I, liked HKE, but that’s because I was PLAYING HKE, meaning I did not have to look at non-euclidian spreadsheets. You see… HKE it was not a event, it was not two events.

It was TWENTY events. Run by numerous teams. But for the purpose of this story we shall focus on only one team. My team.

My team was a humble team, for some reason the A-listers never hang out with me, I don’t know why. You ask a few white belts if the dry age creates natural marbling and suddenly you get assigned to watch children? Either way the team line up included Sarah (5), Dani (3), Omri (Im not going to number literally everyone), Sir Tulli the Bastard, knight of Chaos,  and some wolf person I never met before who WASNT from Vorainess yet. 

Oh and Iawen.

The One.

Now the story starts, for me, with Iawen quickly setting me aside and going. “Okay JB, you realize that I am not a fighter, Tulli is a spellcaster, and the others are new right? Your going to be our main fighter for this event.”

Which I responded with “No, I didn’t know that at all.”

But what was I supposed to do? Die? (I mean… I did). So the event goes on, monsters are hunted, cows are rescued.

Then number four shows up. A artillerist (4). He starts speaking in this thick fae accent “Ah wee wee, my sister (2), she is…. How you say? Crazy? The bombs, she uses them to blow zee people up. It is wrong, you must stop her.”

And I said “Wait isn’t this a hunt? Aren’t we supposed to be eating what we kill.”

And he goes “Ah, don’t, how you say, worry about it. The food, she will come, for now, the saving yes?”

So… I guess we are just killing sisters now. Not the first time…

Now I don’t know if you know this about bombs, but if you can survive a explosion it turns out you can survive most anything else. Including swords.

Now a second thing you might know about bombs is that if you can survive a explosion you still cant survive three of them. So all we had to do was take the bombs the artillerist was throwing, and carefully bring them to be fixed up into real bombs to throw back. And my aim was BAD! I mightve been the teams best fighter, but a missile user, I was not. In addition, these bombs were HEAVY, even in bits. So we had to slowly lug em all the way up ten feet of hill. Well it felt like a lot at the time.

And during this time we look to our side and see a small twenty tiny bomb hit Dani in the back of the foot. “Aw” She said, as she burst into flames, dying on the spot.

And Iawen decided she wasn’t having that. Oh she was not having that at all. 

Iawen descended upon the sister like a storm upon a small fishing boat, the bombadiers total immunity to sword blows being only the most technical of protections against the knights wrath. In a last ditch effort to save her own hide, the artillerist quickly drew a second bomb, and struck Iawen right dead center in their chest.

Iawen blinked for a moment, their wrath forcibly halted. “Dead.” They call, until realization struck. “Wait a minute, no! Knight fucker!”

The artillerist took a step back and threw again, but Iawen simply called knight again, and then the Artillerist simply gave up, turning tale and running. And Iawen ran after, chasing the artillerist in circles until me and Sarah mercifully blew the artillerist back to hell.

Where she was safe.

And then Iawen ate some pomegranate and rabbit skewers.

You forgot this was a feast event didnt you?