"Aras is right, your cough-" The door at the other end of the room opened.
A man in noble robes, blue and green, walked into the Hall of Ceremonies, flanked by several soldiers. The soldiers each stand in front of one of the pillars of the Hall as the robed man, holding a large scroll, steps up to Richart and his group.
"I seek the man called Richart of Farfield. Is that you?"
"That's right. I am Richart of Farfield." The robed man nods.
"Greetings to you and your fellows. I am Theodwar Starguard, Lord Chancellor of Estphal. Good work saving the life of our beloved Prince, sir Richart." "It was the right thing to do. Meeting the Prince was a reward enough." "The King decided otherwise, sir Richart. Now, Richart of Farfield! I bring to you the word and command of King Orwin. Kneel and hear what he has to say!" "Sir!" Richart immediately drops to his right knee. As Lord Chancellor rolls open the scroll, Richart stiffles a cough with his right hand, his eyes darting towards the soldiers.
"The King Commands Thus:" The Chancellor reads into the document briefly.
"For the most honorable and merciful gesture of saving the life of Crown Prince Merhart, I, Orwin the Second of Estphal, wish to elevate the commoner, Richart of Farfield, a man of respectable age and exalted honor, to the rank of the Lord, and this has been agreed by Royal Council and thus is to be declared by my Lord Chancellor, Thedowar Starguard, to all whom wish to hear of it, in the Hall of Ceremonies on the same day." The Chancellor moves the scroll in his fingers up a bit.
"And with the Rank of Lord bestowed upon Richart of Farfield, comes the Priviledge of Family Name. For that purpose, I, Orwin the Second of Estphal, have decided that family name 'Ravenkeep', extinct since year 1829, is to be revived and its Name be bestowed upon Richart of Farfield, henceforth to be called Richart Ravenkeep. And this Rank and this Family Name is thusly also bestowed upon his spouse, if he has any, and to be passed upon his children and grandchildren as well, current and future, so that they be treated as Nobility themselves." The Chancellor moves the scroll up again.
"And for this purpose, the Ravenkeep castle and its adjacent Village, and the environs of it, and natural resources in forests, and fields, and hills surrounding, are thusly Detached from the direct control of the Magistrate of Pinewell, so that no taxation or tithe or commission of supplies happens in Ravenkeep for the Magistrate, but into the hands of Richart Ravenkeep and his family, who, from this day onwards, is responsible for taxation of the Households, development of the Land, and protection of the Common Folk of his land." More scrolling.
"For this purpose, Richart Ravenkeep might take with him Retainers, in number no greater than ten, and Workers and Commoners, in number no greater than fifty, for the noble purpose of restoring the Ravenkeep Castle, thus vacant since Year 1829, to establish himself as the Lord. Furthermore, he is allowed to order his Retainers and Workers and Commoners to construt shops, and temples, and fortifications, and lay new roads and watchtowers, and also establish mines and fields..."Five Minutes Later...
"...and may the revived name Ravenkeep thus flourish until the End of Times, or cessation of the Kingdom of Estphal, whichever comes first, by the divine will of the Four Gods, and the Gods of the Divine Pantheon, and the Void Primordial Itself. Signed, Orwin the Second, King of Estphal, 1st Sprouting, Year One Thousand Nine Hundred of the Equal Calendar." The Chancellor rolls up the scroll and hands it to one of the soldiers who left his spot under the pillar to the left.
"Congratulations, Lord Ravenkeep." The Chancellor helps Richart stand up, and the latter moves his legs a bit.
"I didn't expect this to take... so long." "It's per the ceremony. Also, our King is a poet and a bard. He wouldn't have it in any other form." Richart smiles and then turns his head to cough into his right hand again.
"I've noticed you had some trouble breathing whilst I spoke. Are you alright?" "Ah, I must apologize for that. I am of forty years and I have been traveling lightly-clothed in the recent days, the cold weather has taken its toll on me, I am afraid." Richart smiles softly, staring into Chancellor's eyes, who returns the gesture.
"I see. Good health to you, Lord Ravenkeep." "Thank you." The Chancellor smiles politely.
"Well, Lord Ravenkeep. There's no celebration attached for this particular Ceremony, but I think you will probably want to visit the local inns on the Trade Road. Be mindful of one thing; although the Command did not include it, you're expected to arrive at Ravenkeep within hundred days from now to formally take over the land of Ravenkeep. If you fail to do so, this will be treated as abandonment and you will be in danger of losing your rank and priviledges." "I see. Do not worry. We will have a large dinner and begin our journey within a day." "Understood. Well, then. I must return to my other duties. May Kriga protect you on the road ahead, Lord Ravenkeep." "Thank you." Richart bows his head, while Lord Chancellor raises his lefth and at the soldiers. The dozen spearmen leave their posts and march alongside the Chancellor towards the door at the end of the Hall.
Richart, once Lord Chancellor and his soldiers begin moving through the door, suddenly turns around and has a coughing fit overtake him to the point he goes red-faced for a moment. Merewin hurries to his father's side.
"Father..." Richart raises his right hand, while Lord Chancellor stares at the ill man from afar for a brief moment, before the door closes.
"I should stop behaving like I'm in my young age still, don't I?" "You said it yourself the best. You ARE forty." Richart breaks into a chuckle, followed by a little cough.
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Topic: Belegian Emblems on Forums: Emblem of Estphal IC Thread (Read 5927 times)