HUSHING THE HOUNDS

[Axelu 4333]

 

Spoiler

[!] A Response was diffused across the lands of Aevos, branded with the sigil of the Lordship of Alba. It was directed at the Republican Terrorists based in Salvo.

 

 

The sigil of the Lordship of Alba

 

 

A RESPONSE

To

‘REBUKING THE RATS’

2 0 0 3

 

To the so-called Provisional Freeman’s Army, led by Levi Summers, 

 

Your missive, filled with vitriol and the venom of unchecked rage, demands a response not because it carries the weight of truth, but because it reflects the dangerous folly that has plagued our realm for too long. You offer no solutions, no vision, no course toward justice—only threats of violence and destruction. Your words are the cries of Hounds who would tear down but lack the courage or wisdom to build.

 

It is a tragic irony that you accuse my family of tyranny while cloaking your threats of slaughter and rebellion in the language of liberation. Hush, now, and let me address your claims with the dignity they fail to inspire and the clarity they seek to obscure.

 

On Tradition as the Foundation for Progress

 

You deride us for upholding tradition, calling it idolatry, and accusing us of self-reverence. Yet tradition is not a mere relic to be discarded, nor is it a shackle that binds a kingdom to the past. Tradition is a foundation—a source of stability that allows a state to progress without losing its identity. 

 

You deride the legacy of the House of Alstion as one of failure and autocracy, ignoring the history that stands against your narrative. Yes, we have erred; who among the great houses of history has not? But to conflate our missteps with tyranny is a willful distortion. Our forebears envisioned a kingdom not for personal aggrandizement but for the unity and prosperity of a scattered Heartlands, already marred by notions of anarchy and republicanism that did not last. That vision has been imperfectly realized, yet it persists because it is founded on principles greater than any one ruler or dynasty. 

 

Your claim that we seek to impose ourselves upon our subjects ignores the reality of our governance. The Diet of Aaun, which you so easily dismiss, is an institution that represents the voices of its constituent parts—an attempt to bring diverse peoples into dialogue and governance. If it fails, it is not because we cling to power, but because the road to just governance is fraught with difficulty and requires time, patience, and good faith—qualities your rhetoric entirely lacks.

 

Edward and I believe the crown’s role is not to impose but to anchor. It provides continuity and serves as a symbol of unity, grounding a state that must adapt to its people's ever-changing needs. The crown is not above the people, nor does it seek to stand apart from them. Rather, it is a steward of the kingdom’s heritage, charged with ensuring that progress is pursued with wisdom and care.

 

On Representative Government and the Voice of the People

 

You scoff at the Diet of Aaun, calling it a "family reunion," yet you fail to recognize its purpose: to bring together voices from across the realm in a shared commitment to governance. The Diet is not a tool of tyranny; it is an institution born of our recognition that a kingdom cannot thrive without the participation of its people.

 

Edward and I share a vision for a representative government that honors both tradition and the voice of the people. We envision a state where the Diet evolves into a true forum for the expression of diverse perspectives—a place where nobles, freemen, and commonfolk alike can debate, propose, and decide the future of Aaun. This partnership between the crown and the people is not a rejection of tradition, but its natural progression. It balances the wisdom of the past with the aspirations of the present.

 

The crown will remain a pillar of stability, not as an arbiter of every decision, but as a guide that ensures the kingdom moves forward without losing itself to factionalism or chaos. This is the delicate balance Edward and I seek to achieve: a governance structure where the people’s voices are not just heard but reflected in action, and where the crown protects the kingdom’s unity and heritage.

 

On the Role of the Commonfolk

 

You claim to speak for the commonfolk, yet your rhetoric disregards their well-being. You call for rebellion, bloodshed, and destruction, offering nothing in return but the ashes of what you tear down. Edward and I believe the people of Aaun deserve better. They deserve a government that recognizes their contributions, values their labor, and provides opportunities for advancement and representation.

 

Our efforts to open paths to ennoblement and expand representation in governance are not, as you suggest, a ploy to create a "pyramid of barons and counts." They are an acknowledgment that the strength of a kingdom lies not in its titles but in its people -- from established families to the lonesome refugee who will undoubtedly seek sanctuary from the discord brewing in your own lands. A kingdom that fails to uplift its commonfolk fails itself.

 

Edward and I are committed to ensuring that the working class is not merely the foundation upon which the nobility stands, but an integral part of the state. We seek to build a kingdom where all citizens, regardless of station, have a stake in its success and a voice in its future.

 

On Violence and the Threat of Anarchy

 

Your threats of violence—promises to "break into our keeps" and "kill us all"—reveal the emptiness of your cause. You speak of liberation, yet you offer only bloodshed. You claim to stand for justice, yet your methods betray a hunger for power no different from the tyranny you accuse us of. 

 

We will not respond to your threats with the same call for violence. Instead, we reaffirm our commitment to the people of Aaun. We will continue to build a kingdom where disputes are resolved through dialogue, not swords; where governance is shaped by the will of the people, not the whims of a mob; and where tradition and progress work hand in hand.

 

On the Path Forward

 

Edward and I are not blind to the challenges Aaun faces. We know that dissatisfaction exists, and we acknowledge that past mistakes have fueled that discontent. But we reject the notion that destruction is the answer. The kingdom we envision is one where the crown and the people work together, where representative governance ensures that no voice is unheard, and where tradition grounds us as we pursue progress.

 

To those who would listen to the Provisional Freeman’s Army, I say this: look beyond their rhetoric. See the chaos they promise and ask yourself if that is your desired future. A country, monarchical, republican, or otherwise, built on violence and vengeance will not endure. A kingdom that balances stability and reform, tradition and innovation, under God and Church—that is the Aaun we strive to create.

 

Edward and I remain steadfast in our duty to this kingdom. We will not relinquish our commitment to a just and prosperous Aaun, for the crown is not a symbol of oppression but of stewardship. We invite all who truly seek the good of Aaun to join us in this endeavor—not with swords, but with ideas; not with threats, but with hope.

 

 

---

 

S I G N E D,  

    HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, Princess Cecily of the Apostolic Kingdom of Aaun, Lady of Alba 

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, Prince Edward, Lord of Alba

 

 

[brujera 1152]

Charles Ferdinand watched as the Princess Cecily and Prince Edward penned their signatures on the missive.

 

”Ave Alba.”

[mojanghunter 566]

Joseph Frederick surveyed the missive’s contents, a satisfied smile playing upon his countenance. “Let all who walk the path of righteousness stand beside Edward and Cecily.”

 

[ErosTea 1084]

Edward Caius retorted to his Lady-Wife as their words were penned upon paper.

 

“Ah yes, they seek to protect the people of these lands yet bomb the very same ilk! Surely even if a republican institution was put in place, no one would vote for the people who attacked them so! They seek tyranny under the guise of freedom.”

[valecu 2128]

The Lady Alexandra of Aldersberg applauds the well formulated and penned work of the Lady Alba. “Her Highness does not rest even in her post nuptials. Her care for this state and its countrymen and women is commendable.” The woman confined to her brother, George.

[Inkthorn 1433]

"The Princess of Incest continues her war of words, unaware that war is waged with swords, " remarks Parzifal to his compatriot, Senator Drakehart. @Kursion

[Zqppy 918]

Earoslav reads the missive and scoffs "Alstionite pretenders sign their names in the blood of the smallfolk, stop this nonsense child. you can play pretend with the other incestuous Pho-Marnans"  the Sovereign remarks going back to counting his big mina coins

[indiana105 5126]

"HOW CAN A MAN CALL HIMSELF FREE WHEN HE SUBMITS TO THE SHACKLES OF PONTIFICAL FEUDALISM? YOUR MASTER HAS MOVED FROM WHITESPIRE TO LEMONHILL. YOU ARE A SLAVE. YOU ARE BOOTLICKERS IN REVOLUTIONARY'S CLOTHING. **** YOU!!!" SCREAMED SER STEFAN AF DON AF PETRA FROM THE BORDERLANDS OF THE "REPUBLIC."

[Mattiii 1663]

1 hour ago, valecu said:

The Lady Alexandra of Aldersberg applauds the well formulated and penned work of the Lady Alba. “Her Highness does not rest even in her post nuptials. Her care for this state and its countrymen and women is commendable.” The woman confined to her brother, George.

 

"Indeed, most excellently crafted," George Charles Aldersberg remarked with a single nod, his gaze fixed upon the parchment. He carefully set it down on the oak table that stood between him and his sister, Alexandra. @valecu "Alas, the intended audience shall likely comprehend it not. If only Levi and his misguided lemmings could master the art of reading, they might cease their mindless swordplay and come to understand that the Prince and Princess are advocating for their participation in our governance—striving for the betterment of the realm, without needless bloodshed."

 

The Aldersberg leaned back in his chair then, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "But we shall see whether a dog can indeed learn new tricks."

[indiana105 5126]

1 hour ago, Zqppy said:

Earoslav reads the missive and scoffs "Alstionite pretenders sign their names in the blood of the smallfolk, stop this nonsense child. you can play pretend with the other incestuous Pho-Marnans"  the Sovereign remarks going back to counting his big mina coins

 

Spoiler