SlothfulChronicler

In the year 556 of the Runtallian Calendar, a war broke out in the eastern frontier of the Kingdom of Runtallia between the eastern overlord, Duke Gaverone Walruse of Regalia, and the barbarian chief-thane known as Dariun Drunzelle of the Shiradonii tribe, one of the Four Great Tribes of Norsmund, a nation that borders the Kingdom, deemed to be the land of brutes and savages. As the Duke of Regalia marches with his army to defend the disputed land of Kurlon, the barbarians have taken such an opportune moment to launch another incursion near the eastern border of Regalia near the town of Flendle, with the intention of dividing his army. However, despite accepting the town and the surrounding local lords' territories as lost cause in the war in favor of Kurlon– a newly discovered territory bountiful with veins of iron and other minerals– the Duke tasks his third son, Lord Velmund Walruse, along with his retinue, the Order of the Raven Knights, to fend off the attack. 

Now faced with the plight of defending the border town against a 5,000-strong Norsmundi army with his few yet skilled knights, along with an ill-equipped and undermanned militia, Lord Velmund has no choice but to fulfill his duty as a noble, relying upon his wits and his few but capable retainers to survive his first battle at the tender age of sixteen summers and winters. Contrary to his timid, youthful, and innocent appearance, however, lies his sly and scheming nature, evident by his fondness of dark magical arts specializing in illusion spells. Nevertheless, he himself has no idea of what he is capable of, and what he is destined to become.

Meanwhile, further east at the frontier with Norsmund, a plot hatches to ensnare the Duke within the clutches of his treacherous vassals. Not only his life is threatened by these schemes, but his sons Theo and Varus as well. With this scheme put into motion, the Duke and Velmund's siblings, Varus and Theo, would taste fate's twisted humor, with the former meeting his demise in a blaze of glory amidst the field of battle, and the latter two vanishing in incidents shrouded by mysteries. With the death of the patriarch of Regalia and his heirs' disappearance, the young lord who was initially third in line for the succession of the ducal seat became its temporary occupant. And thus, the tale of him and his court begins…

CHAPTER RELEASE:

January 1st at 12:00 UTC

Lord Raven's Court

<p>Most settlements with a population less than a thousand souls– hamlets and villages– in feudal Runtallia are administered by a local lord referred to as the 'lord of the manor.' While provinces are ruled by provincial lords, nobles of high nobility having the ranks of baron, viscount, count, marquis, and duke depending on the size of their territory, lord of the manors are mostly from the lower nobility: lesser barons, baronets, knights, and at some instances, squires and sergeants. Rich yeomen like successful merchants may also hold a title of lord of the manor by purchasing a title and land from the original noble land owner or the liege lord of his province. </p>

<p>Another way for yeomen or even peasants to be admitted to the lower nobility is if his liege rewarded him a land for his merits through battle or acquisition of enough wealth, power, or favors. Then, a lord of the manor, in return of possessing a land in the province of a superior noble, will owe their fealty or allegiance to that provincial lord as his or her vassal. Owing fealty meant that the overlord may demand a vassal to pay him homage, or require of him military, judicial, and administrative services attached to the vassal's fief. In addition, the provincial lord has the right to a portion of the taxes collected by the lord of the manor from the local populace of his demesne. Meanwhile, towns in the Kingdom of Runtallia may or may not be ruled by a lord of the manor. Those that were not are governed by a local administrator called the 'lord mayor' or simply 'mayor,' which are educated yeomen granted this special honorary title due to their military, economic, judicial, or administrative merits. A lord mayor may be appointed by the provincial lord or the minor noble who owns the town, or they can be elected by the townspeople. However, this title is not hereditary unlike those of higher and lower nobility's. But the scope of their duties does not differ from that of a lord of the manor's.</p>

Information for Public Disclosure: Lord of the Manor