It is decreed on that on the 12th of April 2020 His Grace Duke Jonas Hoffman shall formerly challenge His Majesty King Philip for the right to wear the Crown of Heremod and represent the God on Mundus. This challenge shall take place in the square in front of the Temple of the Two Gods in the city of Codilla. The winner shall be declared once one man is rendered incapable of fighting by the other, one of them submits or death. This combat must take place at 11am and shall be presided over by Oracle of Sandraudiga. Each man is permitted to wear only a garmet designed to cover their modesty and must fight bare feet and bared knuckled. Furthermore each of the two men may be given advice during the combat by one person. The prescence of all nobles is required on pain of arrest. Furthermore we extend an offer to those across Mundus representing the community of nations to attend.
BY ORDER OF
Queen Karin of Hassfurt
Champion of Sandraudiga
The sun was already climbing into the Hassfurtian sky as King Philip rose from his sleep at the Palace of the King in Eitting. It was a small town about an hours drive away from the capital. He kissed the still sleeping Kornelia Fromm, she was the cause of his scenario. Had he not fallen for the 4th Strata woman and fathered a child with her he would have enjoyed more support, maybe make the contenders to his throne think twice. He had little care for that because Kornelia and his 6th month son were his greatest love. He loved his other children but now they were mainly adults or were made from duty not love. If his love meant no crown then that was the way. His lover awoke at his kiss and watched as he prepared his bag. It was strange as she knew what was next. No sooner had she wished him well for she was not allowed to attend the combat, she would watch the news on television which even that could not show live. Once he left almost immediate teams of servants entered the Palace and began boxing up belongings. Marking each with the contents and room they were in. They were left in place in the room. For some servents they had done this several times, old Alfed Mumbell for example having served in the Palace for 30 years had gone through this before. Should the King lose then all the belongings would be moved out and be gone, for tommorrow morning the new King would be in the Palace. If Philip was to win then as soon as the news reached them they would go and place the belongings back where they came from. Kornelia watched as the staff were busy about her ignoring her and the child in her arms. The King's own children with the Queen were with her in the Palace in Finsing which was her residence. They had two Hannah and Madeline, the eldest of the pair being 4 years of age. They would probably not understand what had happened and things had been strained for 6 months since the birth of the new son. Philip's older children meanwhile had been shocked, his eldest son Jonas had apparently even considered challenging for the throne himself so angry about the way his father had betrayed his Strata. Philip sat silently in the car thinking over the day as he travelled with his adviser , an army friend called Richard Alanz. He would be the King's only company during the day until they knew the outcome.
Meanwhile the decree for the challenge date and time having been issued by Queen Karin she was preparing. Her two children, Hannah and Madeline had been packed off to grand-parents while the King's eldest son Jonas had been staying with her. Both prepared for the day by an early morning run followed by breakfast. The King's other two children, 16 year old Stefan and 13 year old Agatha meet the Queen and their brother for breakfast but there was little conversation. Stefan was hoping his father would win and then come to his sense and exile the Thrus(4th Strata/Rank) whore. Fire had marked her once and surely worse awaited their father unless he changed his ways. Agatha meanwhile was convinced his fate was sealed now and hoped only that he didn't get hurt when he lost. "They won't actually allow father to die will they?" Agatha asked her brother Jonas.
"There hasn't been a death in over a century" Jonas replied, "What Heremod wills Heremod will make happen though." He was rather blunt in his answer
"I hope not." Agatha picked at her cereal.
A man entered the breakfast room. It was
Marcel Bartial he seemed rather more upbeat for the day. "Good morning all" he greeted them as he helped himself to a slice of toast with some marmalade. "Your Majesty, I'm to host a reception for any foreign guests arriving in the old Guildhall opposite the Temple. I suspect I may be asked what result you are hoping for. What should I inform them?" He asked. Marcel was classed as a Prince now but had served for a decade as King before having his arm broken by King Philip in a challenge. Under Hassfurt law it meant he could still call himself Prince and receive high honours with the irony of the fact that he too had transgressed since losing the crown in the same manner as Philip.
Karin thought for a moment gazing out the window. "Tell them I wish for whatever Heremod makes happen." she said dishonestly, dead down she hoped Philips skull was smashed to pulp on the cobbles of the square but she loved his children too much to say that.
After breakfast Marcel found his way to the old Guildhall at the centre of the city of Codilla. It sat directly opposite the
Temple of the Two Gods forming a square with an old stone building which housed the museum of Hassfurt and on the remaining side a building which the lower half formed six arches to allow people into the square. The upper part of this building houses the accomodation of the Priests of the Dual Gods. Marcel watched as members of the The Ermwhal Guards unit stood post checking the credentials of those allowed in, they ushered those of noble birth to the Priest accomodation where they would watch the fight through the windows. Those of foreign nationality attending would be sent into the Guildhall where Marcel stood waiting, stone cups of ale, glasses of wine and fresh juices ready to give his guests. He enjoyed a cup of dark beer as he watched. His guests would arrive, mingle then at the appointed moment he would take them down to the viewing platform erected in front of the Temple opposite them. Already the square was filling as those permitted to watch live were squeezing in, each archway reserved for a Strata and their numbers measured, meanwhile the sixth entrance was the one the The Ermwhal Guards stood nervous to make a good impression of any foreign visitor.