Auvergne's court

[Grand Auvergne]

This is an IC thread for the event happening in the Duchy of Auvergne. To keep it simple, there will be no pre-made characters, free or not. They will "appear" as the "plot" demand, either by me or by others players that are free to add more characters, such as ambassadors or merchants.

Here is the list of courtisans that have been named :

Major Characters :

• Duke of Auvergne : Berenger I of Clairmont
  
• Heir of Auvergne : Richard of Clairmont
  
• Archbishop of Auvergne : Etienne III of Issoire
  
• Cardinal of Auvergne : Benoit d'Aurillac
  

Minor Characters :

• Ambassador in Sielburg, Abbot : Michel
  
• Ambassador in Constantinople, Count of Joigny : Mathieu Lepuy
  
• Ambassador in Paris : Eudes of Aubenas
  
• Marquis of Septimania : Baldwin Le Maire
  
• Count of Bourges : Michel the Just
  
• The "Thunder Brothers", Count, Chancellor and Marechal of Tonnerre : Pierre, Jacques, Jean
  
• Count of Mendes : Thierry
  
• Count of Limoge : Baldwin
  
• Count of Tournay : Albert
  
• Vicount of Joigny : Jean Lepuy
  
• Baron of Aubusson : Jacques
  
• Guildmaster of the Sapaudians traders : George the Merchantman
  

The court is held in Clairmont, in the Duke's main castle. But it can very well change location, if the Duke ever decided so if, for exemple, he want to spend some time in his "hunting ground", in Lozaire. Hunting is also one of the most important activities of the court, and the Duke's love for it shaped the political landscape. For exemple, one can see who's in the Duke's favors or graces by looking at the list of the Duke's hunting party members. One change in this list can mean a lot in Auvergne and it made and broke many courtisans.
The stables, the kennels and the aviary hold much more honors and prestiges than in other courts, for being granted the charge of one of thoses is a sign of great trust from the Duke.
Most ambassadors from distant lands speak either greek or latin in the halls of the castle, as both languages are known to the Duke and his counsellors. In fact, it is almost required to speak them, as almost every Acts took by the Duke are in latin for internals affairs and in Greek for external's ones.

[Grand Auvergne]

Characters descriptions

Name : Berenger I
Dynasty : De Clairmont
Title(s) : Duke of Auvergne, Count of Clairmont
Age : 44 years old

Physical Description : Berenger is a strong, tall man. With long brown hair cascading over his shoulder in something reminiscent to the royal haircut of the Merovingian of old. He has a milky skin with the only bit of color being his red lips. He's cleanly shaved, revealing a strong chin. His broken nose show the mark of an old fight, so does his cheek still bearing a scar acquired during a joust. Time is starting to take it's toll over the Duke, with greying temples and wrinkles creeping around the corner of his green eyes. It his a man that show both the stature of the germans and the appearance of the Celts. He is like his peoples : no longer Gauls, but not yet franks, and show the best of both world in its own way.

Psychologial Description : The Duke is a man full of contradictions and paradox. As he is both a boeisterous and chivalrous warrior and an ambitious, scheming scholar. At the same time he believe in the valors of knighthood and exploit his image as a honorable and pious lord in his propaganda and speechs. A wide eyes idealist, and a cold hearted pragmatic, this "doublethinking" is what took him so far on the treacherous road to Kingship.
Devot Catholic, Berenger greatly helped the Church to develop in his territory, keeping the Auvergne as the Frankish intelectual center and the Church greatly helped him in return, assuring that his fief is at peace. Taking over the mantle of King of Francia is for him the logical conclusion to his actions, as he is certain the world is coming to an end, and soon all will meet their Creator to be judged. Saving the souls of his people is both his dream and an excuse he use to move forward his plots and claims for the throne. Greed and ambition are his sins and he is fully aware of it, each day asking himself if he's doing the right things and, more important, for the right reasons. But he knows, deep down, that such torment will not change him, for he is too far gone on the road to power, and he's loving this "game" too much to back down.
What's certain is that he will save his peoples and restore the Peace of God on all the Realm, even if its means losing his soul to achieve this.



Name : Etienne d'Issoire
Dynasty : None
Titles : Archbishop of Auvergne, Keeper of the Seals
Age : 51 years old

Physical description : Etienne is an aging man, but not yet old. He's quite tall and slender, an effect reinforced by his robes and clothes. He cut his greying hair short, and his bear is well kept. His face is wrinkled but his blue eyes still got this cold, terrifying glare, as if he was trying to look at one's soul, contrasting with his little, confident smile. He is a man of wealth and taste and it show in his clothes and appearance, as he is perfumed but not in a way that could bother one's nose and he prefer his robes to be of rich tissues, but in a way that do not bother the eye with too many sign of wealth. Etienne is a man that like discretion and retenue before anything else and it show.

Psychological description : As said, Etienne is an humble man. By choice, but his tastes serves him well for his job at the court. One of the closest friend the Duke have, Etienne is his most trusted advisors and his wises words saved the Duke in many occasions. This trust Berenger have in him made the lord of Auvergne assign his seals to his archbishop, putting him in charge of most of the Duke daily life.
But Etienne is much more than just a friend with wise words. He is a man of the shadows. There is no castle, no church in the whole of Auvergne that doesn't have one of his agent, among the servants, among the cooks, among the monks and the nuns, to listen and report to him the plots of the nobles and of the Clerics. Even if such a title doesn't exist, he is the Spymaster of Auvergne which give him much more powers and freedom over the Realm than one man should have. But the Duke let Etienne do so much because he trust him more than he trust himself. Which shows to be a winning bet has the Archbishop has yet to abuse his powers or betray his Master in one of the most strange, strong and out of place friendship to ever be in the world of the courts.



Name : Richard
Dynasty : De Clairmont
Titles : Heir of Auvergne
Age : 21 years old

Physical description : While not weak-looking by any mean, Richard is still shorter and slimer than his father, which, to be honest, is like to be compared to a bear. His skin is eery pale and his brown hairs are cut shorter than thoses of his progenitor. But his eyes are of a lighter shade of brown and his face is rounder. But his nose is the copy of his father's, even if it has yet to be broken.

Psychological description : Third child of the Duke, but his only son, Richard has been raised by his father since his mother died of illness. Berenger was quite protective of his only heir and took the most absolute care that at no point during the day, Richard was out of his view. It is a popular saying in the court that "The Heir was in a war room before he could walk." and peoples still remember the little bred and then chair that was installed near the Duke's throne.

With such an over-protective and ever-loving dad, Richard came to like to be left alone once he was old enough, even if it was never without a compagny of guard around, visible or not. While he was no slouch during training, he falled in love with the castle's book collections and is much more of a scholar than a knight and keep good relationship with the Church and the monks of the Realm. One passion he do share with Berenger is his love for animals, like horse and birds in particular.

Richard is much more satisfied of the current state of Auvergne than his father and would prefer keeping the duchy as it is than chasing a crown. But he's still a fine tactician, and a pragmatic leader and his father do not hesitate anymore to let him lead his army, even if it is not without his most trusted guards around.

To conclude, Richard is a much more cold and distant man than Berenger, but with a passion for art and science and a pragmatic, if somewhat satisfied, mind. His desires are few but all consuming and he trully care for his people, even if he's not obvious about it." />

[Grand Auvergne]

The Clarus Mons

Throning over the Clermont since the Roman Empire, there is a castle built in Arkose, reflecting the lights of the sun, making it shining like a little star that has fallen on Clermont, like the more poetic minds of Auvergne like to say. this Castle is the "Clarus Mons", the "Bright Mountain", who gave its name to the rest of the city, protect it in its times of needs and now hold the court of the Dukes of Auvergne.

In real life, the Castle was destroyed in 848 by Pepin the Short, but here, it survived, always shining brigthly at the feets of the sleeping volcano, saving the city from complete destruction against the normands. As such, Clermont could grow bigger than it did.

When Berenger allied with the Church, the Archbishop, holder at the time of the fortress, offered it to the Duke who installed there his court. From there, the "Bright halls" became the center of power in Auvergne, where all the ambitious courtiers, wise scholars and great knights of the Duchy and other frankish realms meet to assist the master of theses walls and to advance themselves in the nascent feudality of the XI century.

Clermont is notable for being one of the few cities in the world mostly built in stone, with woods and clay far less present than in any other bourg. The explanation is that, since the careers of Arkose are almost depleted, the Clermontois came to use Andesite from nearby volcanos as a strangely cheap way to build their home. Which give to Clermont, despite its name, an oppressing, dark, atmosphere as most of the city is made of little serpentine streets of dark, cold buildings. in comparison, the "public" buildings, such as the churches, fountains and the Clarus Mons are wells of lights, far brigther than they would have been if built anywhere else.

[Grand Auvergne]

In the Clarus Mons, where the Duke and his family reside for the summer, the letter of the Marquis of Septimania just arrived. Summoning his private council, the Duke and his closest advisors discussed the troubling apparition of the normands at their most southern coast.

"We need to answer the call of the Marquis Baldwin !" Exclaimed Jean, one of the three "thunder brothers". "We cannot let the normands free to do as they pleased ! This is what killed the credibility of the Carolingian in the first place !"

"Let us not be so quick to decide." Answered Eudes of Aubenas, the ambassador to Paris, who was for a few days in Clermont to get new orders. "The Marquis as all rights to raise his own levies and he is himself an excellent captain of yours, my Liege. We should let him handle this case for now, and act only if the situation call for it."

"It would be too late." Cutted another advisor, the abbot of Cluny. "Theses godless normands are harder to catch than the flies they so well imitates. Time is against us in this entreprise."

The Duke, Berenger, listened patiently to all of theses remarks. It is now over a decade since the so called Vikings hadn't tried a great raid over the continent or the isles. Theses previous attacks hadn't touched the Gauls, but it had hitted hard the Saxons and Hispania. And still today, remnant of theses migrations can be seen in southern Italy. It was something of a curiosity however, as the absence of powerfull enough kingdoms in Scandinavia meant raids from the heaten multiplied, but with ever more decreasing number. But not anymore. Now there is new kings, lords who's power base are the glory and the wealth coming from the raids, and not from their own lands.

"Etienne." Berenger said. "What do you think ?"

The Archbishop of Auvergne, at the left of his master's throne, thought. "We should send messengers to our friends and allies in the north. I do not think the lords of Normandy are in any capacity to hold back an assault on the Seine, so we should tell to sire Robert to hold Paris and his realm, to block the river with his chains, and to assure him of our full support if the normands ever came. In the same way, we should see how ready are the lords of Anjou and Maine to hold an assault. Their families have a...record chasing normands from Bretagne. Maybe they could be of some help."

The Duke noded. "They wish to attack us. Otherwise they wouldn't have so many of their boats so obviously waiting at our door. But waiting for what ? Eudes, return at once to Paris, make sure Robert don't think we left him if they ever come by the Seine. Etienne, tell my son he is to rule in my absence, for I am raising the levies of Auvergne, Gevaudan, Forez, Bourbon and Lorraine, in case of troubles. If it come from the north, we shall also see that Bourges and Nevers join us in our campaign. If Baldwin ever need assistance in the south, What we already gathered should be enough.

Lords and Peers of Auvergne, We declare this Assembly over. God be with us."

[Drangavik]

A small caravan of men that would number at around seven would ride from the forests, heading towards the front gates of Clairmont. They are dressed with heavy furs, and seem to be very cautious about their actions.

They move up to the gate, yelling in an unknown language. They look around to each other, as one of them moves to the front of the group, speaking in broken English. "These men from North! Let in, speak with king from land of Drangavik!" he nods before stepping back as the men around him begin light whispers, one even growling towards a guard upon the wall before another would grab him away.

[Grand Auvergne]

It took time before the normands saw anything happening. the Gate were still locked and, while a few of them dissapeared, guards were still watching them with bored or suspicious eyes. The reason why was that no guard in Clermont, or indeed in the rest of the Gaul, understood the language of the Saxons. But there was one, in the Duke's entourage, that could. Alfred the Angle, a heaten forced to flee Great Brittany because of the death of his old liege, and who found in Clermont a new master to serve and the forgiveness of his sins in the Baptism. He managed to understand from the very loose retelling of the already untelligible words the nature of the group. He then recieved the authorization from the Archbishop Etienne to go and speak to them in the name of the Duke, since he was the only one qualified to do so.

So finally, a group of men appeared on the wall. Alfred, who was with them, spoke to the normands in the tongue of the Dane :

"So here is seven men, cladded in fur, coming from the forest, moving swiftly through the trees, like beggars, vagabonds or even : like bandits. You say to come from the north, you speak of a king in Drangavik. What tells us you aren't here to profit of our Master's goodness ? What tells us you aren't using the veil of exotism to hide darker intentions ? Show us the insigna of your duty ! Show us the colors of your master ! Gives us the proofs that you speak the truth ! That you are indeed agents of the King in Drangavik ! Then you shall be treated with the respect due to an ambassy."

[Drangavik]

The Northmen would visibly become restless as time would go on, waiting for somebody to speak to them as the guards would give their occasional glare. Finally as the man would walk on the wall, the man from before would attempt to speak to them in English again, "Hello, men from n-" before being cut off. The men, amused that somebody would speak their language.

Another man would step up from the group, now speaking in their native language. "I suppose you all don't speak English?" he'd lightly hum before introducing himself, "I am Jarl Torstein, Head Shaman and personal advisor to Konge Bjørn in Drangavik. I had never heard of a group of Northerner bandits..have you? I come on important terms, throw away your dogs and show me your leader."

He'd step back into the group of men, leaning over and whispering to two of the seven men, pointing to the forest. A moment later, they would begin to walk off back into the trees.

[Grand Auvergne]

Alfred the Angle :

"Have we heard of northerner being anything else than bandit ? But you do have the regalia of the shaman, and the standing of a chief, which is all the proof we will get, isn't it ?"

Alfred turned to the guards with him and shouted a few orders in the local variant of french. Soon after, the gates opened, just enough to let the shaman and his escort enter the city, under the watchful eyes of the guards, some of whom still observed the forest, in case there was more than just seven, now five, of them.

"Then, Jarl Torstein, I'm afraid the Duke is away for now, but his son and the Archbishop will meet you. If the matter is as important as you say it is, then they have all the authority needed to discuss it. Now follow me, the Bright Halls await."

Alfred and the Auvergnats warriors escorted the Jarl through the labyrinth of dark, shadowy streets that is Clermont. It almost seemed like the city has not been built with, but sculpt in the black stone of the volcano. The people were going to their daily activities without really a care for the delegation. Only sometime there was a sideglance from someone, but all thoses armed men, be it thoses of the Duke or the Jarl Torstein's own bodyguards, didn't get the attention they would have in any other french city. The Auvergnats weren't a people of curious and easily disturbed men. They generaly just wanted to be left alone and to live their daily life peacefully. They didn't care what their master was doing nor who he was meeting, as long as it did not disturbed their routine.

All of this gave to Clermont this "monolithic" impression. Even the atmosphere felt heavy. The rare traveler who come and go from the city tell of this unshakable feeling of "weirdness" coming from everywhere once you were inside its walls. Some even tell of how it was difficult to move there, as if the air was more dense than anywhere else. Only the Clermontois seemed to be able to freely move around, seemingly untouched by the sorcery inside the black rocks of the mountains. Only them seemed to feel comfortable and happy to live here. Most of them were completely oblivious to the fact that the city itself seemed to dislike strangers and would feel sad when they where told of how uncomfortable Clermont was for anyone without the blood of the volcanos in their veins.

In contrast, the Clarus Mons, the Ducal Castle, was a breath of fresh air. Shining under the sun's rays, it doors opened to greet the northerners, it was throning over the dark city, happily showing to the world the Duke's power and wealth.

In the throne room, what Alfred mentioned as the "Bright Hall", the Second and Third Princes of Auvergne, respectively Richard, heir of the throne, and Etienne de Clermont, Archbishop of Auvergne and Keeper of the Seals, were standing at the right and the left of where the throne would be, if it hadn't been taken away because of the absence of the Duke.

The Prince Richard waited for the Northerner to show the propers signs of respect, then after a moment of silence started speaking in French. It was Alfred the Angle who served as an interpreter for the delegation.

"The Prince, in the name of his father, welcome you. He wish to know what grave matters justify your presence here, so far from your homeland."

[Drangavik]

Jarl Torstein

As the gate slowly slides open, the Jarl and his men happily stroll inside of the walls, watching the town guard. Whilst on the road to the castle, the Jarl would notice the atmosphere, shrugging it off as for not knowing how to describe it. Once inside of the castle, he'd look towards those standing around the throne as he begins to adjust the furs on his back. He looks back to his escorts, speaking. "Wait outside."

He'd wait until they moved outside of the keep, before turning back towards the throne. "Hello. You are kids of the king in this land?" He'd look towards the translator, gesturing towards the two. "I'm here on terms of surrender. I'm sure you've seen our ships along your southern coast."

[Grand Auvergne]

Sir Richard would just look at the Archbishop then back at the Jarl-Shaman.

"Surrender, hm ? But go on, give us your terms. We might consider them."

[Drangavik]

Jarl Torstein smiles brightly, nodding. "It is good to see you know suicide once you see it." he'd begin to trail around in a circle, tapping against his chin. "Our first demand if that one hundred pounds of gold and silver be delivered monthly to our ships that will be visiting your coast. The second, being that a garrison of three hundred men be within your capital's walls, unharmed, of course. I know you'd not take kindly to my fine men within your walls, but this is a simple force here to deal with the unruly kind of men that'd suggest not to pay us! The third simply being that you allow our ships access to your ports whenever we shall please. Should you have problems with these demands, speak now."

[Grand Auvergne]

Sir Richard :

"A monthly tribute, of an hundred pounds of silver and gold no less, an occupation and a free enter in our port...

I expected better from you. Thoses are insults not even worth getting angry over. We can't do anything else but laugh if this all you can come up with. I prefer to think this was a pathetic attempt at making us loose our temper and our minds, but the drugs you shamans takes have destroyed your brain.

But since this was not a negociation but an act of war, I insist : stay with us from now on. If you trully are as important as your titles make it sound, we shall see how much you are worth for your master. Maybe, lets see, one thousand and two hundreds pounds of silvers ?"

As Alfred finished the traduction of the last lines, a dozen of guards encircled the Jarl-Shaman, their hands on their weapon. Alfred, himself with a dozen or so of footmen, left the Brighthall to announce the Prince decision and the price asked for Torstein's freedom before making them, be it peacefully or by force if they resisted, the city. Meanwhile, Torstein was conducted to one of the castle's apartment, with a comfortable bed and a few others furnitures. It was less a cell and more a real bedroom worthy of the nobility of the time, but Torstein couldn't leave it, as it was under guard. Servants would bring foods, of good quality, three time a day and a bath once a week to the room and if the Jarl Shaman needed anything, Alfred the Angle has been assigned with listening to him and see if it was possible or not.

After two weeks of time, the Jarl would be transfered to another, unspecified prison, where he would be treated with the same decency than in Clermont but still under the watch of Alfred.

[Rorukheim]

Rorukheim's ships sail north. (Since War had been sounded might've we'll get my fleet ready. See how you fair against 120 ships at your door carriying 12,000 soldiers. Pity not even all my men.)

[Rorukheim]

(Then there's the rest of the north, and some southerners)

[Cantabrio]

A group of about five men on horses moved through the pathway in the forest. In short time they finally arrived at the frank gate. The horses stopped and one of the mounted men called out in Latin: "Men of Auvergne! Open your gates and allow an ambassador of the Hispanic nation of Cantabrio in. We wish to form a pact of sorts." The five men each wore a large round shield with the coat of arms of the Royal House of Cantabrio.

[Grand Auvergne]

The gate opened and a few guards escorted the five men to the Clarus Mons.

Inside the Bright Hall, both the Prince Richard and the Archbishop Etienne standed next to the for-now empty throne, judging the ambassadors.

"In the name of our father, we, Richard, Regent of Clermont, welcome you. What matter does your Master wish to discuss ?"

[Cantabrio]

Again in Latin: "Our King Ricardo Alejandro y Calderon of Cantabrio would like to propose a Defensive Pact between our two nations. We would also like our merchants to have access in trading within Grand Auvergne, as would your merchants in Cantabrio. Our King wishes to strengthen the bond with our neighbors."

[Grand Auvergne]

Prince Richard :

"It is a welcomed proposition and it is glady we agree with the proposed trades partnership. You can assure your lord that Calabrian merchants will always be welcome here, in our Duchy.

And while we are interested by its proposition for a Defensive Pact, and we guess what are the reasons your King offer it, we must say : we are already the target of many vikings, maybe some of the best organized and more dangerous than any seen since decades, at least. If your King wish to see our realms united against our common ennemies, he will certainly become the target of raiders as well.

But if your King trully made his decision with his mind free and all the knowledge need, then you can announce him it is with joy that the Auvergnats will stand next to him, as equals."

[Cantabrio]

The man smiled and replied, "I assure you he has thought this through. Thank you for your time Prince."

[Drangavik]

Jarl Torstein would begin to bang upon the wooden door reinforced with metal bars from the outside, screaming for a guard. Once one would slide open the view port, he'd spit in his face, speaking in the only language he knew. "ge mig publik med prinsen, hund!", pointing towards the throne room.

[Grand Auvergne]

Soon, the Jarl would be once again in the Bright Hall, free of his movement but closely followed by two guards, facing one more time the Prince Robert, but not the Archbishop. Alfred was waiting beside his Prince, to serve as an interpreter once again.

"So, what is it this time ? If it is threat and empty promises, You could have spare us both the loss of time. Speak, and be on point."

[Drangavik]

Jarl Torstein paces into the room, shoving away one of the men following him, punching another before they jump upon him. He'd attempt to pull away from the guards as he begins to yell in his native tongue. "Jag utmanar din hund av en kung till en duell av ära!", the translator would be taken back a bit before nodding, "He wishes to duel you, sire."

[Grand Auvergne]

"No."

"You seem to be mistaken. You believe you are still in your north. If it was, then yes, we would duel. But here, the rules are different, and it is under God's watch that we duel. Your idols have no power here.

I told you to not waste our time. You did. We are really dissapointed. And if you have nothing constructive left to add, this discussion is over."

[Drangavik]

As the translator would begin speaking back to Jarl Torstein in a language he knew, he'd scream over the man towards the end of the speech.

"Då är det uppenbart att du inte skulle dö för dina män, eftersom de skulle du. Hur många otaliga krig Har du européer slåss, utan ånger för dem under dig? Detta skulle bara klargöra din otrohet till mannen i ditt rike, kan Thor ta synd på din svaga kristna liv!"

As Torstein would speak, the translator would faithfully translate, watching the warriors in the room donned in heavy armors. "My lord, he insults your dutifulness, pointing out that you would not die for your common man as they would you. He ends his speech with claiming one of his old gods may have pity upon you."

[Grand Auvergne]

Richard would only smile after the Jarl finished.

"You have no lesson to give us about our duty. We are both leaders, with many peoples under our guidance. We both now there's far more to leadership than just dying, no matter how honorable it may appear.

Now be happy we treat our prisoners better than your peoples do. Do you think any other court would let you hit their guards and still take the time to give you a listening ear ? A man that has insulted them How many Master there are, who would still be considerate of your ranks and honor to let you have a decent bedroom and rest ? The Emperor would have your eyes gouge out, your own people would have you executed, the Bretons would have drowned you and the muslim would have cut your hands and nose. If you had been a little bit more dignified, I would have even offered you to dine at my table, with a seat and a treatment worthy of your rank. But so far you have given me no reason to do so.

We want you to think of this for now. If you wish another, more pleasant we hope, discussion, you can call Alfred here. And not like you did this time. It just serves to make a fool of yourself."

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