Lament for the Heartlands

[Frymark 2337]

Spoiler

 

 

“So he has declared; May the Heartlands fall to the abyss once again.”

Attributed to an unknown soldier after the Adrian revolution was declared.

 

---

 

In an empty hall, a soft voice rose. It sung a song of tragedy and betrayal, of kinslaying and broken bonds. It sang its song quietly, a sense of melancholy and sadness to it..

 

A soldier stood with his comrades, shoulder to shoulder. Perhaps for the first time since the Harvest Revolution, the streets of New Vienne were filled with people. Soldiers, cargo and refugees from the Aaunic south filled the streets. The soldier’s focus fell back on his commander and he felt a sense of calm before the storm. 

 

From east to west, from north to south, our Kingdom’s banner flies..

 

The soldier listened to the Captain’s words. He spoke of treason, of heresy and damnation. How the Duke of Adria was marching his army of mercenaries, azdrazi and heretics north to lay siege to the Aaunic Capital. And how, if he succeeded, all would burn, such as it did when the Harvest Revolution concluded, or when the Brother’s War tore the realm in two.

 

Against the foe, with sword and shield, our valiant armies rise..

 

A woman - a mother of Adrian origin wept in the small quarter that had been afforded to her by the Margrave of Haute-Epine. She was scared, oh so incredibly scared. Her husband had died while they were making their refuge to the Arentanian hills - ambushed by soldiers or bandits, she didint know which, or if they had been of Aaunic or Adrian origin. The roads were filled with both. Her husband was gone, her home was gone, and soon her old friends and family would come to tear down this last refuge too.

 

The Duke of Adria, cursed and damned, with heretics by his side..

 

A recruit of the Greycloaks, newly enlisted to serve his Duke in the battle against the oppressors, did not understand what was happening. The city which had earlier been so alive with joy and laughter was now filled with strangers. Yet, despite everything, he had decided to serve to the end, while others had left and strangers came in their stead.

 

His darkened heart, with evil planned, wishes to our fate decide..

 

“DOWN WITH THE ANATHEMA! NEVER AGAIN! FOR THE KING AND DUKE!”  Cheered a Speermann of Minitz along with his brothers as the Lawspeakers speech finished. He did not feel much, he didn't know these people. For him, they were nothing but traitors, oathbreakers and heretics. It was his first war, and he was awaiting it with excitement.

 

To capture the throne, o’ only if he realized he was all alone..

 

A Lady of Hohengarten rode along with the King’s retinue back from Atrus after the successful covenant. Along with her were her friends, some guards and the King, Crown Prince and Princess themselves. She had been happy when she had arrived to the southern Kingdom; it was peaceful, joyous. But now as she was heading home, tread was the only emotion she held. She couldn’t stop wondering; where had the Duke of Adria been? Why wasn’t he pledging his forces to fight the Inferi? Was he working with them too? She wondered, and a tear fell down her cheek.

 

The voice grew in strength, echoing across the hall. It held a strength to it, replacing the melancholy and sadness..

 

Though blood and tears will stain the land, we will fight, with sword in hand..

 

You smell something. What is it? something from your dream? No - Smoke! You wake up, and you see the yellow cracking fires from your window. Your house is burning - you had just bought it, began to plant the crops, how could it be burning? You dart downstairs, despair in your eyes. The door is locked, closed from the outside. Your dying screams are only fading into nothingness, nobody will come to rescue you as the Heartlands burn.

 

For we are the children of Horen, and we will not be undone..

 

And we will see the rising of a new sun..

 

The voice became softer, quieting down until it became nothing but a whisper in the darkness..

 

For we are the children of Horen..

 

And we will see better days.

[Enlightenment 1033]

"I wish it did not come to this... once this is all over, everything will be what it once was."

[Sarven 888]

"To lament is to dally, to dally is to rust.."

"Wer Rastet, Der Rostet." Yvian commented, trying to move past the sense of sorrow in his heart, to fill it instead with the burning fire of passion, of duty and of action.

 

For such are the heralded words of Minitz, the creed of the Order of Saint Tylos.

[Gandhi 1554]

"The Heartlands burn.." Sir Ludolf, the Bailiff of Minitz muttered. "Wer Rastet, Der Rostet." The Ritter battered a proud fist upon his chestplate.

[ratlordmagic 341]

“What GOD wills will be.” Waclaw Jazloviecki sighed. “Our homes burn and other children now grow up without fathers because of one man’s oversized ambition. I pray it comes to an end soon…”

[Olox_ 1472]

Jan Jazloviecki simply nodded