Publius 4098 Share Posted January 22, 2016 "Things have gotten well out of hand..." On the 10th of Malin's Welcome, 1543, Publius Bracchus stands between the piers of Seahelm and the city itself atop a makeshift stage of crates pilfered from the local port authorities. The day is warm, but solemly overcast for this early in spring day and he paces restlessly back and forth, booming suddenly after deep reflection and catching the attention of those around him. The skilled Orator begins spouting off a secretly rehearsed speech, which would see copies printed and sent to all lands accessible via courier. "For over a decade now, war has raged on against the Dwarves, this war meant to knock the forming Holy Orenian Empire on its back as it tried to once again regain its place in the world. In this time, we have seen the formation of Vandoria, a state unifying the Caliphate of Khalestine, and confederation of the resurgent Rovin leadership. In this time, we have also seen the Orenian state gain its footing and balance by catching the spear lunging of Urguan, making like a sword being forged and finding strength in being struck. It is also in this time, that each of the state's leadership have FAILED their people!" Nearing the end of his sentence, he yells far louder than before to catch the attention of more folks passing by, pausing for dramatic effect as he raises his eyebrows and purses his lips before he begins wagging his finger aggressively as he paces. "That is right dearest people, each state has produced leaders failing to meet the needs of their own subjects. Ironic, as it is the only debt they owe for the plethora of bounties they gain for their status. How have they done this, you may ask me? How HAVEN'T they, I would shoot coldly back! Of Vandoria, after the abandonment of the nation's cause by their Rovin leader, Harold Winter the fourth became leader of the nation via his promises to maintain the sovereignty and safety of her people. In Urguan, the goal to 'liberate' the peoples oppressed by the 'Orenian yoke'. In Oren, a promise to simply repel forces, the victim card always in use when the question of morals comes about. All these no longer hold up, Vandoria's High Dictator makes his first motion to render all her lands fiefs of a new, Imperial Vanderguan, the new found Emperor bastardizing the name of the first dwarf and his kingdom for the opportunity to have more men officially for their cause, all the while the Orenian 'defence' has secure enough land to form several fiefs. Is any of this to the interest of the people fighting and dying in this war?" He would beg this question, his neck craned out to the crowd oddly as his right brow raises sharply. A man would matter-of-factly yell out that it is to Oren's benefit, the notion almost seeming to have a physical effect on Publius as he reels back. "Aye aye, to Oren, aye, but who of Oren? Not you, not any that have spent a days work on a ship, or in a shop, or in a smithy, but some third child of some minor lord! The price of this island alone was a river of blood, and anyone here can attest to the fact that their family had to bleed to make the balance sheets ring in Orenian favour! This was to be a war of defence, but it has spun into a mad war of retribution, fueled greatly by propaganda and lies told from either side! It is played up as if Oren is an oppressing force, but where was the respect for the freedoms and beliefs of the Khalasheen who sought neutrality as a core value? Why must they be forced to war when any who sought to fight Oren were already permitted without the threat of Orenian retribution? Why was their option to not fight stripped from them? Is this really to the benefit of Vandoria and her peoples, or is it of the benefit of the embittered Winters, who themselves saw his family exiled from Oren? The only other people I could imagine enjoying his first and only policy as the leader of these people, wishing away the sovereignty of the Vandorian state, to be the current Emperor and the beleaguered Dwarves! Why did Urguan state its support of freedom, when they themselves took the first chance they got to become an Imperial regime? Why would they take on these peoples as fiefs, and not protected vassals, or even more progressively, as defensive allies? Why would they so quickly strike away their name, something they prolonged a war on Athera for nearly a decade to protect? This, while lending absurd insults to the people of Oren with mention of treachery, when the clan of their Emperor nearly sunk the Kingdom in a civil war before? Lastly, Oren claims to seek the end of this war, simply begging for retribution, but they have seen whole kingdoms vassalize under her during the duration of the war, and stripped from Urguan many territories. Why is there no concerted effort peace to be seen? How can one claim to hold moral high ground when the shoe being put on another foot just means a new ass is kicked!? This war, which was so once dreaded, now sees the hunger of vulture like nobles driving it on, as they eye the ever newer fortresses being captured from the Dwarves in hopes that they may trade Orenian lives for their stake at nobility! Why, with all this madness, do we see a failure on all fronts for the people to do anything but seek and destroy? As the people talk in hushed tones, Publius' posture would improve greatly, a stoic look plastered on his face as he continued. It is because of the lies being told, like the lies in the south of Orenian aggression. I personally went to the King of Urguan and the lying ex-Caliph Faiz to propose a defensive pact between the three existing powers in the interest of peace, only to see the Caliph quickly couch the idea when our Dwarven counterpart was ousted, pursuing the same aggressive policy as his successor did! Lies from Oren, propagating all of the south as liars, turn cloaks and madmen! The time has come to stop committing our bodies and minds to hate, and once again to the values of our respective states, the values of our religions and people! Time has come to see the people move against misinformation, against war and back towards the peace that we all desire, by taking this path less traveled!" The old and rowdy man quickly hops down from his makeshift stage, moving swiftly away before a reaction can be had to his words, leaving them to be interpreted without his guidance. 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogrin 120 Share Posted January 22, 2016 A rowdy group of dirty peasants, tired of the conscription, tired of the pillaging, tired of the war time taxes cheer on the speaker. They cheer for the sons, brothers, and fathers they have lost. They cheer for an end to the aristocracy's greedy wars. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy771 900 Share Posted January 22, 2016 "Now t'at is quite somet'in" Dizzy nods, though weary may he be of all these speeches "Someun w'os got a drop o-sense in em. Maybeh t'eres 'ope yet left in t'is world, scarce t'o it may beh" 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pureimp10 5691 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Boris Cassius simply shrugs off the man's words, dismissing them. "We had the chance to wipe them out, under the Chivays, but we failed. Let's hope this Emperor doesn't fail us.." 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imam Faiz Kharadeen 3167 Share Posted January 22, 2016 "Lying?.." Faiz repeats as a man retells what he had heard from the speech "When he came to me and Uldar of a defensive alliance, I was all for it when terms would be shown to us. I told that man to bring us a finished document declaring what the terms would be of said alliance, but in the end such document never came to fruition. We had already signed a defensive alliance with the dwedmar when Skippy was Grand King, peace be on his soul, and would have signed this one as well if the document was ever finished and presented. But, again, that never happened and I suppose the blame goes upon me. No matter!" Faiz smiles to the man, then walks alongside him to fetch some tea! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raomir 1855 Share Posted January 22, 2016 "but who are you?" a solo voice in the crowd asks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyShackles 886 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Charles nods promptly, "Sensible indeed. But it is important to understand that the leadership dwarves of Urguan and the folk who call for Oren's downfall in Vandoria have been nothing but stubborn and unwavering. We can not assume that the dwarves of Urguan will honor any treaty, as they have quite literally disregarded the majority of their treaties. We must secure the safety of Oren from those who will fight to destroy us to their deaths and the deaths of their own people. If this means we must take every piece of land from them till they are forced to submit, then unfortunately I see no ulterior action. Both sides of any war have faults, but in this instance the dwarves began the war, and the dwarves refuse to surrender. They continue to call for Oren's destruction, and till such a time that those with such open threats to the wellbeing of our state are removed from Vanderguanian leadership, we must fight." 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThumperJack 927 Share Posted January 22, 2016 A Doomforged, still traveling around and happening to have heard the man's speech, claps with his gauntleted hands. He withdraws his hood to reveal a dark-skinned face, half of it being covered in old burn scars. The half-breed's age is unknown, but any who would dare look at his bloodred eyes would see he is merely a tired veteran of war "Ah will nee' tuh speak wit' t'is man someday." Demagol wanders off, apparently happy after hearing the speech. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Publius 4098 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 11 minutes ago, Imam Faiz Kharadeen said: "Lying?.." Faiz repeats as a man retells what he had heard from the speech "When he came to me and Uldar of a defensive alliance, I was all for it when terms would be shown to us. I told that man to bring us a finished document declaring what the terms would be of said alliance, but in the end such document never came to fruition. We had already signed a defensive alliance with the dwedmar when Skippy was Grand King, peace be on his soul, and would have signed this one as well if the document was ever finished and presented. But, again, that never happened and I suppose the blame goes upon me. No matter!" Faiz smiles to the man, then walks alongside him to fetch some tea! If Publius heard this, he would be confused as to why there was no interest when the question was begged following the death of Uldar. Though he would, in all honesty, fail to recall trying to appeal to Skippy (rest his soul) in his lifetime. He did not hear this though, bobbing and weaving through the crowd to his cabin. 10 minutes ago, Raomir said: "but who are you?" a solo voice in the crowd asks "I am the dude, guy" Publius would nod at this voice, walking hard onwards. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KUSHerZombie 222 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Caspar de Ruyter as he hears of his father he had long thought dead if not near such a fate, had returned and is alive and well, is quite confused. "Publius lives." He tells his family. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGP 3169 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Bertrand grumbles, annoyed that this topic has once again been raised, "We have reached an impasse. There will be no sensibility. Oren and Urguan cannot peacefully coexist. We will never be free of this constant yoke of war until one side has won, utterly and finally." 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch dharma 438 Share Posted January 22, 2016 "what the guy above me said" 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malgonious 2758 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Ser Hakon of Ruric would wonder why this man is in his locked city? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Publius 4098 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 3 minutes ago, Malgonious said: Ser Hakon of Ruric would wonder why this man is in his locked city? (if this is such an issue, I can simply put it as taking place elsewhere.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Jandy_ 3519 Share Posted January 22, 2016 ((Publius is the Stephen Colbert of LotC)) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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