Memoirs of the Twin Rose Wars

Full Item Description
Memoirs of the Twin Rose Wars
Major Advarete, p498, 22 ill. 1320 Greenfield Presses

The book itself is hefty, nearly 500 pages. The cover has no wording advertising itself, but the embossed leather has three roses, painted blue, yellow, and magenta. This symbol of the yellow and blue roses, entwined and surrounding the magenta, was originally considered heretical and seditious. Over the years since, it has become the emblem of the war.

History
Major Advarete, originally Ser Adverete, was in a unique position to record this period history, he was there in the beginning. While he dedicates three chapters to explaining the situation at court, these are listed as preambles to the book proper. The history begins with a single act, the same act that scholars define as the first act of the war, The Theft of the Magenta Rose. Ser Adverete was a member of The Order of the Magenta Rose. He was in charge of the castle forces during those first few days of the war. He traces the adventure of its recovery and the out of control spiral that led into the two revolts.

His attachment to the King's forces as an aide de camp allowed him intimate knowledge of the first campaign. He actually talked with survivors of the opposition and with actual members of the Elven army, to make sure his work was accurate. It details all the forces and the maneuvering of the campaign, ending with the death of the Great King.

His eulogy of the Great King is quite touching. Upon his death, the rebellion actually began. Advarete, like many in his rank, were caught as leafs in the wind during the hurricane of events that followed the Great King's death. His following the Queen lead first to the Blues, then to the Yellows, then back to the Blues. He followed the military campaign, like the soldier he was. He was there at the first surrender and escorted the Duke to his cell. His details on the historical figures of the day can be illuminating, as Advarete is quite fair in his appraisals.

Maintaining a post in the castle, dedicating himself to the protection of The Magenta Rose, he was again in the unique position to watch events unfold. Upon the death of the Viceroy King (as he is now known), the Thorn uprising began.... first with assassination of character, then blood, in the castle... then on the field of the land. Upon the freeing of the Duke, the second war of the Twin Roses began. Feeling the Duke was in the right (actually that was always his position, but his duty prevented him from supporting him), he joined the Yellows.

This change cost him his rank and position, but his position on this is almost archetypal of the middle nobles of his day.

His recounting of the Final Battle of the Blue, is accurate to the point of pain. However, his account of Releger's Ride, the scout's wild ride to stop the invading Elven Army because peace had been won, is somewhat embellished by all other historical accounts. It is perhaps the only artistic or embellished section in this otherwise fair and neutral recounting of the events.

The last few chapters cover the time of peace after the wars, the rebuilding, the call to parliament, and the New Order.

Magic/Cursed Properties
None

For this to make the most sense, one should click upon the free-text link of magenta rose and check all the impacting events. This is the future history for those societies. There will be more NPCs for this set of posts.