The True Cause

[Zezimus 1523]

The True Cause

 

 

Printed pamphlets are spread throughout the various territories of Anthos and the Fringe, each bearing the seal of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan. The text has been pressed in bold black ink and reads as follows.

 

“Citizens of Anthos. I write to you all, not as an enemy of humanity but as one among you who we must share this world alongside. As such, it is only natural that you may view we dwarves as the oppressors in this catastrophic war. For we have fought for many years, as blood has been so heedlessly shed upon the vast soils of these lands. Past years have seen grave atrocities performed at the hands of us all. Yet as a devout follower of Anbella, I believe that it is among the greatest of sins to drive apart a family. To know that never again will a father come to lay eyes upon his son. For I too am a brother, a son and a father and I have lost much of that which I once held dear. I wish only that you may see the very truth that the only evil that dwells among us today is that which sits upon the throne of Oren.

 

Shortly before I assumed the throne of Urguan, I saw what wretched and sinful acts humanity and dwarven kind alike were capable of committing. I watched as my own kin led an attack upon Oren, to enforce their interests upon a foreign people. A decision which to this day, I sincerely believe was wrong. Yet I could not excuse what came afterwards. Oren’s assault by King Heinrik Carrion upon the territories of Urguan, saw our lands torn apart by war and injustice. That day, I felt that what little light was left in the world was lost. Humanity had turned towards slaughter and an attempted genocide in seeing its will put forward.

 

After word reached my ears of Oren’s attack upon the Conclave and their wish to subjugate the elven peoples to what can only be described as a horrific occupation, I foresaw where such actions would lead. When questioned upon this matter in a meeting of the rulers of Anthos, the Orenian ambassador dismissed his King’s actions as a mere attempt to establish House Carrion’s interests within the elven borders. Make no mistake that Oren’s wishes had poisoned what little stability and independence the nations of Anthos still retained. The supposed Teutonic Conspiracy, a simple lie overblown and utilised as an excuse in shrouding the Orenian government’s true purpose – To reform the Holy Oren Empire, with Heinrik Carrion at its fore.

 

It is no secret that the former Grand King Thorin’s actions in liberating the free nations of Anthos, sent a shockwave through Orenian nobility. Since then, many of its Houses have clawed for a sense of purpose in a hostile world, a cornered dog with a dire and destructive will to restore its former glory. I see now that we can no longer stand by and say we did not act. We cannot be among those who refused to fight. For if we do not, all of Anthos will once again see itself bowed before the foot of Orenian Imperialism. I refuse to leave the world to wither and burn in anguish.

 

While Oren masked its intent in the feigned words of peace, it plotted and conspired in its quest for conquest. Since the day that Oren and Urguan signed the treaty of peace, there has been no wish by its government for an end to hostilities. An end to conflict or the issuing in of an era of true prosperity and stability. Oren remained blood hungry and with a will for war and conquest. As per its wishes, it forged a falsehood to cloud its true cause. Their brutal intent has echoed in their employment of grotesque forms of torture in an effort to gather the information they desire. For there is no mercy that will be shown by their hand and so no just end that will see hostilities ceased.

 

It is further true to state that found battling alongside Orenian forces, have been the near constant presence of the Harbingers of the Black scourge. Furthermore, within Oren's own forces, mortal men have been witnessed to have been protected and enhanced by their dark magic. These spells ensure that no mere blade may fell them with ease, their skin as hard and unbreakable as the scales of Setherein himself.  We thought once was but a mere coincidence and yet twice, our suspicions were aroused. However, by the third occurrence, our conclusions were made clear. Oren had indeed aligned itself with the servants of Setherein. For how long this has been true, we are yet to determine.

 

May you see now that we fight this war because we must. If we are truly to succeed in forging a world in which the rule of order and peace is to prevail, we cannot stand idly by and allow tyranny to succeed. For we do not seek conquest but to liberate you from the chains to which you are shackled. Do not allow the fatuous words of the Crow to cast you down. Sons of Horen, you can no longer deem yourselves a mere pawn in the Crow’s desires. For he is not undefeatable, nor unbreakable. He is but a mortal man of flesh and blood who has bludgeoned his own kind into submission to his every word. A spineless, hate filled coward who will commit any measure of evil to cling onto the power he so desperately desires. See that if you fight by the side of King Heinrik, you do not defend free will, nor peace. For the world is changing and what he stands for is the last desperate memory of an old era. An era in which the good were enslaved and all sound thought among mortals was lost.

 

Meanwhile, we, the free nations of this realm who have aligned ourselves under the Treaty of Zion, see through this shroud of lies that Oren has set around you. We seek to defend sovereignty, free will and the right to remain unbound from the iron grip of an oppressor. Yet it is not our wish to seek to impose our own rule upon humanity. As such, only a free Oren can choose its ruler. A ruler put in power by the Orenian people, yet one who does not seek to inflict his crazed aspirations of control upon the mortal races. See wisdom and rid yourself of what has plagued your kin for so many years. Find means to bring an end to the Crow’s unwanton blood lust and set down his ignoble rule. Only then will we truly be able to establish peace.

 

I issue a call to the free people of Anthos. No matter, your allegiance, faith or creed. Do not make the mistake of standing idly aside as your kin are felled by the blade of injustice. Heed our call and fight by the side of what is right. Fight because if we are to fail, there will be no one to stop the Crow from forcing his will upon us all.”

 

[Yippie 64]

Gags on his stew as he reads to pamphlet. He places his stew onto the table and takes quill to paper.

 

"The Dwarves have utilized the Scourge in their battles many'a time, as I've personally witnessed. They know they lose this war and so try to create this feeble and pathetic excuse of propaganda to create internal strife within the Kingdom. It has been common knowledge that the Orcs were belligerents in this war, raiding Vekaro and taking the life of the Lord Chancellor. So Oren responded in force on the Orcs. The Zionist alliance was one of a 'defensive alliance', which means that they're to participate in wars that their opponents are to be the belligerents, not the other way around. The illegal war raged by the Dwarven Kingdom is one to install a Zionist puppet onto our Kingdom, one of the name of Mircock DeNurem. Few remember the time when the Grand Rose and Blackmonts raged war with the Teutonic forces. I one of them, I was not even born at the time... But the stories and legends remain of this... tyrant, brain-washing, milk-livered miscreant. 

 

The people of Oren would not accept such a fate, we're loyal and dedicated to our King, our home and our country. We will continue to defend our interests with the blood of Dwarf, Elf and Orc alike. It is only the Grand King that can end this war, but he has no intention, not until Mircock sits on our throne.

 

-Darius Bartham"

 

He decides he'll place a pamphlet or two around every one of the Dwarven messages he can get to.

[Major Dom 1297]

Iosif shakes his head, very displeased by Wulfgar's lies.

[Zezimus 1523]

Gags on his stew as he reads to pamphlet. He places his stew onto the table and takes quill to paper.

 

"The Dwarves have utilized the Scourge in their battles many'a time, as I've personally witnessed. They know they lose this war and so try to create this feeble and pathetic excuse of propaganda to create internal strife within the Kingdom. It has been common knowledge that the Orcs were belligerents in this war, raiding Vekaro and taking the life of the Lord Chancellor. So Oren responded in force on the Orcs. The Zionist alliance was one of a 'defensive alliance', which means that they're to participate in wars that their opponents are to be the belligerents, not the other way around. The illegal war raged by the Dwarven Kingdom is one to install a Zionist puppet onto our Kingdom, one of the name of Mircock DeNurem. Few remember the time when the Grand Rose and Blackmonts raged war with the Teutonic forces. I one of them, I was not even born at the time... But the stories and legends remain of this... tyrant, brain-washing, milk-livered miscreant. 

 

The people of Oren would not accept such a fate, we're loyal and dedicated to our King, our home and our country. We will continue to defend our interests with the blood of Dwarf, Elf and Orc alike. It is only the Grand King that can end this war, but he has no intention, not until Mircock sits on our throne.

 

-Darius Bartham"

 

He decides he'll place a pamphlet or two around every one of the Dwarven messages he can get to.

 

As you walk past the same location, a parchment is nailed aside the pamphlet, addressing the cases its writer brought up.

 

"To Darius Bartham,

 

Though you bring up a number of issues, you very conveniently overlook how this all began. Were it not for Oren's hostile acts in marching upon the Conclave in the first place, the Orcs would have held no reason to oppose Oren. Neither would we have deemed it a necessity to forge the Treaty of Zion in defending against Heinrik's aggression. War ultimately sparked with we dwarves however when Oren chose to attempt an assassination upon dwarven Lords within human lands, present to negotiate a truce between Krugmar and Oren.

 

As for Mirtok DeNurem, whether he is alive or not is irrelevant. The simple fact remains that it was Oren who begun hostilities over a single man, who has long lost the influence he once held within the nation of Oren. In turn, it was Oren who plunged us into the chaos and war we see now. I implore you not to allow yourself to be blinded by such baseless propaganda."

[Yippie 64]

In response, yet another pamphlet is posted.

 

"To whom it may concern,

       I am not subject to any propaganda, I've been personally present at the majority of Skirmishes, Battles and Sieges up to and before the war begun. I do not consider myself 'blinded' by anything at all. The influence of Mirtok DeNurem is not retired due to the clear and common knowledge that the man has amassed a huge amount of wealth in a minuscule amount of time. Even the most simple of birth understand the threat he poses, even if, like me, you're not royalty. You must also understand Mirtok's character and nature as a son of Horen. I should think he has so Dwarf blood in him, as it states in the wonderful articles of "Flay and Friends: a story." by Baelreo Romstun,  that Mirtok is greedy and power-hungry, as evidenced by the Teutonic war of Anthos in decades gone by. The fact that he may well have Dwarf blood in him makes it easy to assume that he's allied himself with his true people, the Dwarf. 

 

It is incredibly clear to me, my people and my country the true intentions of the Grand King, and we would not stand idly by whilst you try to convince the people otherwise.

 

Godani jest wielki.

 

-Darius Bartham"

[Idioticozzy 66]

Oryol thinks Dwarves post these because they are losing

 

"Godani Jest Wielk!"

[Zezimus 1523]

In response, yet another pamphlet is posted.

 

"To whom it may concern,

       I am not subject to any propaganda, I've been personally present at the majority of Skirmishes, Battles and Sieges up to and before the war begun. I do not consider myself 'blinded' by anything at all. The influence of Mirtok DeNurem is not retired due to the clear and common knowledge that the man has amassed a huge amount of wealth in a minuscule amount of time. Even the most simple of birth understand the threat he poses, even if, like me, you're not royalty. You must also understand Mirtok's character and nature as a son of Horen. I should think he has so Dwarf blood in him, as it states in the wonderful articles of "Flay and Friends: a story." by Baelreo Romstun,  that Mirtok is greedy and power-hungry, as evidenced by the Teutonic war of Anthos in decades gone by. The fact that he may well have Dwarf blood in him makes it easy to assume that he's allied himself with his true people, the Dwarf. 

 

It is incredibly clear to me, my people and my country the true intentions of the Grand King, and we would not stand idly by whilst you try to convince the people otherwise.

 

Godani jest wielki.

 

-Darius Bartham"

 

Yet another response is left in place of the pamphlet.

 

"Should you hold any knowledge of past conflicts, you would know that it is a complete fallacy to suggest the dwarves would align themselves with Mirtok and seek to place him upon Oren's throne. It was the Teutonic Order that wore armoured suits and roamed the lands, intending to purge Asulon of what they referred to as the 'Xenos.' More specifically, this referred to the races of Dwarves and Orcs. This was an order of which Mirtok led and utilised in aggression against the former Kingdom of Urguan, under the rule of Hiebe Irongut. Mirtok's crimes against these races attributed to more than than they ever did the people of Oren." 

[Yippie 64]

"This seems like fabricated evidence as in the articles of "Flay and Friends: a story", it does show clear evidence of may of Mirtok's officers being sons of Krug, including Erik'Azog and Maur, whom still harbor an oath to the man himself."

[Zezimus 1523]

"This seems like fabricated evidence as in the articles of "Flay and Friends: a story", it does show clear evidence of may of Mirtok's officers being sons of Krug, including Erik'Azog and Maur, whom still harbor an oath to the man himself."

 

Another note is left aside the pamphlet. 

 

"Ask any man in Oren who knows a thing about the nation's history and you will find my words to be quite true."

[__WaterFox__ 636]

"Who remembers that is was the crows who attacked the Denurems? Who knows knows that the crows must go? A new order must be in place" is stated under propoganda of dwarven and human

[Idioticozzy 66]

"Who remembers that is was the crows who attacked the Denurems? Who knows knows that the crows must go? A new order must be in place" is stated under propoganda of dwarven and human

 

what.

[Smithers 388]

A simple statement is issued for all to see, distributed on the level of the wartime propaganda. Individual copies are issued to the leaders of Alras and Urguan, perceivedly in the hopes that both nations see the folly in their declaration. 

 

"I maintain no qualms with typical wartime propaganda, for it is essential to victory for either side, but this time you go too far. To fork blame on another nation and level accusations of alliances with the Black Scourge is to sow the seeds of chaos and unknowingly fall in line with the agenda that the dread dragon Setherien sets for all. It is an agenda that includes conflict and death among all, with the intent of the Black Scourge being to come in after the dust has settled and sweep over all weakened nations. I will have all know that it was I who faced down both of those who deem themselves 'Harbingers' in single combat, killing them both. It was not Oren land that they were fighting upon; it was the archway above the battlefield, an area indisputably under the jurisdiction of Alras and Urguan, that offered oversight as the two Scourgemen fired down upon both forces. It was not the forces of Oren that ran back and forth beside them, unwilling to raise a blade in the defense of all sentient races, but instead the routed forces of Alras and Urguan, either too stricken by fear to stand up to Setherien's legion or blissfully turning an eye to individuals who might heighten their chances of victory. Do not level blame where it is not due, or all is lost in the face of an enemy greater than us all."

[Zezimus 1523]

A simple statement is issued for all to see, distributed on the level of the wartime propaganda. Individual copies are issued to the leaders of Alras and Urguan, perceivedly in the hopes that both nations see the folly in their declaration. 

 

"I maintain no qualms with typical wartime propaganda, for it is essential to victory for either side, but this time you go too far. To fork blame on another nation and level accusations of alliances with the Black Scourge is to sow the seeds of chaos and unknowingly fall in line with the agenda that the dread dragon Setherien sets for all. It is an agenda that includes conflict and death among all nations, with the intent of the Black Scourge being to come in after the dust has settled and sweep over all weakened nations. I will have all know that it was I who faced down both of those who deem themselves 'Harbingers' in single combat, killing them both. It was not Oren land that they were fighting upon; it was the archway above the battlefield, an area indisputably under the jurisdiction of Alras and Urguan, that offered oversight as the two Scourgemen fired down upon both forces. It was not the forces of Oren that ran back and forth beside them, unwilling to raise a blade in the defense of all sentient races, but instead the routed forces of Alras and Urguan, either too stricken by fear to stand up to Setherien's legion or blissfully turning an eye to individuals who might heighten their chances of victory. Do not level blame where it is not due, or all is lost in the face of an enemy greater than us all."

 

A small parchment is nailed beneath many of the copies of the original notice.

 

"Utter nonsense. The battle to which you refer to was neither the first time the humans had fought alongside those affiliated with the scourge, nor likely will it be the last for as long as those such as yourself remain in denial. Despite the unfounded allegations Oren would claim against the allies, it was scourge magic being cast upon the allied forces, not from them. It was additionally those warriors, enhanced by Harbinger magic that served alongside Oren's military. How long will it be that the supposed honest and upstanding citizens such as yourself will turn a blind eye to this matter?"

[Arkelos 1027]

A simple note lays on the board of the warring factions.

 

"We are watching. Soon comes the Head Scion's word."

[Smithers 388]

A small parchment is nailed beneath many of the copies of the original notice.

 

"Utter nonsense. The battle to which you speak refer to was neither the first time the humans had fought alongside those affiliated with the scourge, nor likely will it be the last for as long as those such as yourself remain in denial. Despite the unfounded allegations Oren would claim against the allies, it was scourge magic being cast upon the allied forces, not from them. It was additionally those warriors, enhanced by Harbinger magic that served alongside Oren's military. How long will it be that the supposed honest and upstanding citizens such as yourself will turn a blind eye to this matter?"

 

A response is returned.

 

"Do you truly fail to see sense? I fought alongside the forces of Alras and Urguan, as I have many, many times before, and was routed back beyond the walls along with all of the rest.  Never before in my conflicts with Oren have I encountered any semblance of the Scourge amongst either force, until now. It was not Orenian forces that they fought alongside.

 

As we were routed we retreated beyond the walls, still did the dread magic of the forces of Setherien pound down among Orenian loyalist forces from the archway above. I rose to the archway and set off in search for the Scourgemen for, while they spread havoc amongst the force we were fighting, the Scourge is the enemy of every race and must be struck down regardless of circumstance. The spells were traced to the rooftops of the market district upon the archway, and I and one other climbed to meet them. The sight we were met with was that of two Harbingers, but they were not alone. No less than six soldiers of the Zion sprinted back and forth near the Scourge, evidently aware of their presence but unwilling to take any action. I disregarded this and charged, striking down both Scourgemen as those I counted as comrades stood there and watched idly. I was distraught, my foundations shaken and my iron will and trust in the rationale of the forces of Zion swiftly disintegrated as I found them fighting alongside the enemies of every man, woman and child of every race.

 

One might swiftly drop this folly of word but instead, after being caught in a lie, you deflect it and instead accuse me of turning a blind eye. No doubt you will disregard what I say with honeyed words to save face and attempt to re-validate your fallacious propaganda, but I name you Wulfgar. I name you as a liar and a snake, a wolf in sheep's clothing who accuses others of turning a blind eye to the true issue while he himself remains ignorant, or perhaps not, of the Black Scourge residing in the very heart of his lands. I pray to the highest deity that you see the folly of your ways, or all is lost."