Caelria 2618 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2021 To Haelun'or Spoiler 12th of Malin's Welcome, 57 S.E. And what sayeth I, whereupon these stones we walk To what end shall words of old leaders evoke? Pride and virtue? Joy and halcyon? Raiseth I from the decrepit rid of death? Bringeth I sanctuary? As some forgotten carrion man? Some corpse? If so, will ye not worship me? For is this not a city of the dead? Lead by the dead? Worshipping the dead? To thee I sayeth Ye worshipper of the deceased. Ye servant of the forgotten. Change. Look not back. But ever forward. To progress. To health. To Haelun'or, Why did I die? What purpose did the death of Othelu Orrar serve? Being born a High Elf, a creature sanctified by the waters of Larihei to possess the coveted blessing of eternal youth, offers some benefit to the mortal scholar. Particularly to the historian, for this blessing ensures the Elf might not only catalog the history of others, but also of themselves. The second benefit of Larihei’s decision is one less visible to the covetous descendant. The blessing of will, and intellectual dedication to strive as close as one might come to the impossible goal of impartial recollection, such that the people of Larihei might stand as preservers of mortal knowledge. This document -- as is the case with any document -- will not be impartial, and so I implore the people of Haelun'or to use caution in their reading. My words are not by their nature sacrosanct, nor were they ever. When I became ill, it was the obligation of my council to maintain order and peace. The foundations of my tenure as Sohaer, at the time, were strong. Our relationship with the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, in the wake of the failed Norlandic War and the dissolved Iron Accord, was flourishing bountifully under agreements wrought between myself and their crown. Haense, who had proven themselves untrustworthy and capricious both at the war table of the Iron Accord and at the diplomatic table regarding our own pacts regarding state terrorists; had been sated for a time even as they plotted in secrecy. Most importantly, least to me, Elvenkind had grown united under mutual accord and shed no longer one another’s blood; leaving the followers of the sagely Elf Malin and the scholar Larihei conjoined in favorable union, albeit one that was tenuous in regards to matters of blood and purity. For the first time in recent history Elves raised blades together against enemies on the premise of mutual respect rather than coercion and necessity, and for a time to me it appeared we could maintain lasting unity among our peoples without the need for further war. Illness took me then. Though I had broken our country’s enemies, it was the will of the world that I be brought low by something that cannot be fought on a battlefield, and that my tenure would not last beyond thirty years. Bedridden and unable to walk the streets to maintain our progress, for a time I watched helplessly on the back of my trusted agents’ reports. That is, until the state began to waste without a leader. Since the beginning of my reign, the corporeal rot of the absentee demagogue and the intellectual rot spurned from worshipping figures past had been a bane I sought to cleanse within the walls of Haelun’or. Such was part of why we scrubbed those walls clean and replaced their stones upon my order, why we shifted our banners, and why we denied at every turn the favorable labels of diarchy or republic both; but in a cruel twist of irony history had dictated that I would leave a state that was headless despite my best intentions. My people begged me, for a time, to remain in my position in spite of my inability to lead our people. For some years, I did. It became clear, though, that such things were not in the best interests of the state. The High Elven people have never needed an idol. They have needed a leader. My death was not a decision made by the state, nor one shared with even the highest echelons of my council. My death was a personal and philosophical affair that I intended to serve as a parting gift to a state I could no longer serve. One final sacrifice, a denial of the fruits of my labors and the fame of my success, in exchange for a country that would not look back to me but instead look forward to building upon the foundations that were created during my regime. A state that was not enslaved doggedly to its history, but instead let its history serve its modern needs. In my mind, this would help to cure the greatest rot of Haelun’or. An ideological rot, grounded not in the notions of justified purity that have made us so infamous and obstinate among descendant life, but instead in our dogmatic shackling to figures about whom we know little. Figures Sullas. Uradir. Elervathar. Visaj. Orrar. You speak of Lucion, but who was Lucion? You speak of Kalenz, or Iatrilemar? Did you know them? You speak of Dimaethor, but did you ever call him friend? You speak of Orrar, and yet who was I to you? The nation of Haelun’or does not need ghosts, nor does it need to venerate the descendants of great men as if knowledge is somehow carried in blood rather than ink. Haelun’or needs visionaries and philosophers. Speakers of truth, and impassioned souls longing as desperately as I did for the good of Elvenkind. People who rise to leadership rather than claim or take it. People who see Haelun’or not as a series of crumbling stones to be sat upon like some fool tyrant, or a pedestal upon which to aggrandize the self, but a sanctuary of thought and virtue to be maintained and defended. To you, the rulers of Haelun’or, I say this. Your claims do not make you needed. You will never be necessary to our people until you make yourselves necessary. You will never be their leader until you lead them. You will never be their savior until you save them. You will not be Sohaer because you say you are, and you will not be Maheral until you have shown you are above the one Maheral whose name is Larihei through deed and action. You will not find success through building a larger tower, by heightening the city walls, by buying new land, or by maintaining this foppish status of ‘nationhood’ to the turrir of our world by filling our city with bored and useless Elves, but by inspiring them with new and brilliant ideas. By delivering upon them culture, knowledge, protection, progress, and pleasure. To you, the people of Haelun’or, I say this. Do not listen to the demagogue who speaks of grandeur but has delivered you nothing, for their words are as sawdust bread to you. Do not listen to the tyrant who declares themselves your king, for bondage is your choice and our people ought never choose to be slaves. Do not be distracted by the newest building, or their artful words, for these things mean as much as the stone and ink of their composition. Plentiful and accessible. Love not the speech, but the ideas that those speeches render. Love not the speaker, but what they teach to you. Love not the Sohaer, but what that Sohaer provides. Ambition without purpose is greed, wrath, lust, envy and gluttony combined. The signifier of the self-loathing, the mentally ill, and the unfulfilled; unfit to rule you or this blessed country. Do not succumb to this curse. Do not let the death I gave to the state these many years have been for nothing, and do not let my return poison you to self-sufficiency. I am not here to be your leader, or to steal your thrones. Cast off the shackles of dogmatic service to the idea of great men and women, and turn your eyes from the stone and marble to look ahead towards the horizon. Be brave, kin. Find faith in yourselves rather than in the opinions of others, do not cling to title or rank, seek no reward but the benefit of your kind, and contribute to society your own value rather than doggedly following in the footsteps of those who would deem themselves your superior; for progress is not wrought from a single man or woman, but from a people. Progress and health forever and always, - O.O. 41 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin_ 1823 Share Posted December 31, 2021 (edited) Sohaer Braxus Ni'leya reads this letter. "Mister Orrar was certainly no fool - I cannot wait to hear the cries of delight from our enemies who misunderstand the purpose of this!" He'd chuckle to himself, shaking his head as he places the letter down on his table within the confines of the Citadel. Edited December 31, 2021 by Gavin_ 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samler 1024 Share Posted December 31, 2021 An ancient elf reads the texts with a scowl, rolling his eyes as he reads ' You speak of Lucion, but who was Lucion? You speak of Kalenz, or Iatrilemar?'. He commented for himself, within his own room. "Yes, Lucion was flawed but one of the better. Kalenz, a disgrace to our kin, which even his own kin agrees on. And Iat..." The old elf took a deep breath before shouting into the paper, maybe suprising anyone within his home. "SHOULD PUT A DAMM SHIRT ON!" Having finished the paper later, he marched down to the fireplace. "At least it can do this good thing." 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryloth 4312 Share Posted December 31, 2021 A weary, albeit rich Kharajyr longing for the high elven place that once raised him from squalor sets his eyes upon the paper. He checked the signature first before shaking his head in disbelief. He did not read the letter, but he knew what its contents likely were. Everything he'd done since then was a bid to glimpse again a shred of what once was, but never was it accomplished if even possible. He continues on his way, ever-wishful of a return to the past -- just like the rest.But it would never come. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thiccpazuzu 542 Share Posted December 31, 2021 The newly appointed Tilruir'indor gets his hands on the missive, and comments publicly, venom in his voice. "Kill this missive with fire. This accursed monster is responsible for all the woes of Haelun'or; for it was during his tenure as Sohaer that Haelun'or resumed its raids on Elvenesse, and altogether made nonsensical diplomatic choices that alienated virtually everyone. The tale of Othelu Orrar should be one to frighten children to go to sleep, not to educate. Burn this Mali'ata and his memory." 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
King_Kunuk 888 Share Posted December 31, 2021 A Othelu Loyalist rises from his seat 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morigung-oog 2284 Share Posted December 31, 2021 "I-- He's alive?" The elf muttered in joyous disbelief as she too rose from her seat, tapping the box of sohaerite truncheons she'd salvaged. A look of determination appeared upon her pale visage. "Othelu... Wherever you may be, my dear, dear llir... Please stay safe." She murmured, chuckling as she read the missive once again. "Bugger always did have a way with words. Should he ever resurface in person, I shall buy him a drink.. Hells, I'll buy him the whole tavern." 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinny 1617 Share Posted December 31, 2021 "One who could end this, yet one who understands what my cause is so founded upon. A horrid cycle of monotous repetition with ever so subtle changes to cast off labels of the prior governing system. The 'aherals do not need more of the same, or ideals of the past but to pass on the torch and let the modern times adapt its form" So sighed the Princess, her digits drumming the table's top before her. "Could I strike down Othelu? Mayhaps, yet would I? Ne, never. This is he who rescued me from the pit I found myself in, and he so understands the ideals moving forward. Those mislead in the state by that of one proclaiming to be the Sohaer believe I'm the great destroyer of our culture, our people- when I have expressed nothing but comprehension and mercy- when I have offered everything but a desire to progress into a bloody civil war. If only they would simply see reason and know all I want is for this to end peacefully, so that we might forge the new shape of the flame together, rather than let it remain in a static shape.. unable to writhe What do you make of this, llir?" So did the Princess hand the the missive to her llir @Monkee 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkee 7356 Share Posted December 31, 2021 41 minutes ago, Twinny said: "One who could end this, yet one who understands what my cause is so founded upon. A horrid cycle of monotous repetition with ever so subtle changes to cast off labels of the prior governing system. The 'aherals do not need more of the same, or ideals of the past but to pass on the torch and let the modern times adapt its form" So sighed the Princess, her digits drumming the table's top before her. "Could I strike down Othelu? Mayhaps, yet would I? Ne, never. This is he who rescued me from the pit I found myself in, and he so understands the ideals moving forward. Those mislead in the state by that of one proclaiming to be the Sohaer believe I'm the great destroyer of our culture, our people- when I have expressed nothing but comprehension and mercy- when I have offered everything but a desire to progress into a bloody civil war. If only they would simply see reason and know all I want is for this to end peacefully, so that we might forge the new shape of the flame together, rather than let it remain in a static shape.. unable to writhe What do you make of this, llir?" So did the Princess hand the the missive to her llir @Monkee The Snow Elf at her flank ponders for but a moment, before suggesting, "If Othelu yet lives, you ought to seek him in-person. Your cause is just; your vision, bright. I am hopeful that he, too, shall come to see this." 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoanOfArc 4586 Share Posted December 31, 2021 "How can I be a visionary, teacher, when all I see is darkness?" queried Éowyn Nullivari melancholically. She overlooked Caer Raywyn and the lands of Myrine - thinking on Olivier and Savoy in the nighttime. The only answer to her question was the wind. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slorbin 1771 Share Posted December 31, 2021 Spoiler GHOST KING GHOST KING Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
High_On_Math 398 Share Posted January 1, 2022 Luthriel blinked. "What the bloody darn-" She looked up at water damaged wood ceiling, stained with the urine of the stray dogs she cared for upstairs. "So did he come back from the dead with necromancy or-" She looked at her metalic arm, fist frozen in an unmoving position of holding the hilt of a sword. Beside it lay her longsword. "All the more reason to serve necromancy." "But, if he ever tells me to bring someone like this to him, I will not. It would be best for the greater good that minds like this stay safe." She took in a deep breath. "I must do what I must do for the greater good." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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