TO RETIRE THE DREAM

[Terry 2680]

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

NO DREAM LASTS FOREVER.

 

 

ISSUED BY

THE HETMAN OF THE KAROSLUND

 

⸙

 

ON THIS

14TH OF VYZMEY AG HYFF, 617 E.S.

 

 

EA BYK ZWE ZANYOTSKER ZWEER EA TER PETRAVEZKER,

THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MOTTO OF HANSETI-RUSKA, OF OUR PEOPLES, AND OF THIS KAROSLUND. 

I WOULD HAVE PERISHED HAD I NOT PERSISTED.

But in my zealous pursuit to preserve what remained of Haense and of our kin, I became blind to what these words could lead to; stagnation, and rust. Two things of which I never stopped to consider nor thought would ever occur to those of us that remained, and yet here we are, no doubt by the actions; or inaction rather, of my own hand.

I have failed, both in my mission to ensure Hanseti-Ruska continued, and in my mission to retain what people followed us to the Karoslund. The city lay desolate, empty and silent. The trees which surround us have made more noise than we, and all those I once called family or friend, are dead or gone. There are no peoples anymore, no council and no Royalty with which Haense was once so known for.

For years I have battled my own internal thoughts on the Karoslund, that persisting despite the dwindling population would eventually lead us to success. That in time, this Empire may crack, and that those of Haeseni or Raevir birth might return. There were even those within Norland, of whom I thank, that gave me hope that eventually, in time, this would become true.

But now, looking back, I only see a fool with a fool’s dream, waiting on a future which would never arrive.

 

VA BIRODEO HERZENAV AG EDLERVIK,

IT IS MY EXPRESS DESIRE, AS HETMAN OF THE KAROSLUND, TO ANNOUNCE IT’S FOLLOWING DISSOLUTION. 

 

I remain the fool with a fool’s dream, but I will no longer pretend that we will ascend once more. The Haeseni Age is long since over, and the Age of the Dragon is here to stay. 

 

To those of you that do still reside within or outside of the walls of the city, I offer my most profound apologies. I have failed in my oaths, and therefore I have failed you all. Any and all assistance I may yet offer in the process of this dissolution, do feel free to reach out, and I will do what I can.

 

 

I shall remain close, ever vigilant and always ready to come to our people’s defense, devout in my love for Exalted Sigismund and our Haeseni ways, until death itself dares come to claim what remains of my tattered soul.

 

STAND STRONG, MY HAESENI, MY PEOPLE. OUR DAY SHALL YET COME, SOME DAY SOON.

BUT IT SHALL NOT WEAR THE FLAG OF THE KAROSLUND, NOT YET.

 

IV JOVEO MAAN, KRUSAE ZWY KONGZEM.

DLUM VE EDLERVIK, DRUZ VE EDLERVIK.

 

EA BYK ZWE ZANYOTSKER ZWEER EA TER PETRAVEZKER,

 

SER SIGMAR RHYS VAR RUTHERN, 

Hetman-Emeritus of the Karoslund,

Former Lord Speaker of Hanseti-Ruska,

Former Deputy Palatine and Emissary of Hanseti-Ruska,

Knight of Valdev and of the Marian Retinue

 

[ProcaPro 557]

A man long dead, long perished but persisting anyways, finds the missive with as much an ache as his heart can muster.

He remembered.

He remembered those full walls and lovely roads. History and monuments he thought would last forever as a child, and saw fall apart long after he had died. The world was no longer home to those who were his family, his friends, his heritage. Time had killed them first, then their enemies had come for the remains.

 

But still, the old soldier remembered.

[Phersades 1710]

"Oh, please. Even if just one roach survives, then you will one day find a nest. I wonder if he knows...." Magdalena Anastasya, the once Valkonen, mused as she looked over the missive. "I am surprised. I could have sworn Karoslund was already dead, I could have bet money on it with my father." The Archduchess commented to her husband in passing. @Deets
____________

 

A young Kortrevich boy blinked at the missive, waving it around in his brother's face. He did not mean to actually show the missive off, clearly only doing it to irritate the elder sibling. @Tav

[__Stal27 2126]

“You have done well, with what you were given, a true knight of the Haenseti. Forever will your will be heeded, by us who come after you. One last war. . . That is what I ask of you, one more campaign.” Spoke the High King as he looked upon the western walls over Verdrgrad, eyeing it carefully.

[BlauRps 545]

The Luminary of the Temple of the Divine Revelation, Mímír, would awaken from his meditation as a red cloaked Sorvian Newt offered the missive to him.

 

The Sorvian gave a nod of thanks to his smaller kin as he gently took the missive and read over it, a faux sigh of sorrow escaped the motionless and emotionless lips of his mask

 

“It was a good dream, Ser Sigmar… but it is stagnant that kills all in the end. Rust will break blades and rivers will carve mountains to canyons and plateaus.” The masked being spoke to himself as he thought “Much to meditate on in these trying time…” Mímír added before returning to his meditation before a small brazier deep within the temple.

[Xarkly 17299]

 

The news brought the Phoenix only a moment's lamentation.

It was now as it should have been long ago.

 

That which does not die, he recalled, 

is unworthy of life.

[marsloll 1384]

 

Words travel fast 'pon the wind, whistling far and wind through the lands. A letter wrapped in green ribbon soon finds itself sitting on the doorstep of the old and weathered Ser, delivered by a white pigeon. 

 

Spoiler

Ser Sigmar.

 

Time erodes everything, in the end. A mountain is reduced to a hill, then a valley soon enough. It is best enjoyed when you can still see the mountain, and not yet worry what is to come. There is no failure in accepting reality, just as there is no victory in defying it. Still, the heart aches for what could have been, for the mind is a wanderer. These are mortal failings, and they are simply indicators that there is life within your form. I hope that you can cherish it still.

 

I do not know if you still recall me. I would be surprised if you did, given my fleeting presence here and there. My hand, heart, advice, and services company, are still extended towards you, and the kindness you showed me in that small hamlet, that you call home. I hope that it can still be home to you still. Should you need the shoulder, or presence of any other, you may always find a listener in me.

 

Eislyn.

 

 

[Digit___ 1225]

Aviel, whose wife grew up within the settlement of the remnant Haeseni, read the missive. His heart ached for the diasporic Crows that would soon fly from the snow-covered fort-city; soon he found himself going to speak to his wife, Selyne (@Parasolii), and give her the tragic news and to think of ways to help the people of her homeland.

[Rig 17580]

"It takes bravery for a man to fail and readily confess so. Dreams are ephemeral and short." 

 

The masked fellow continued along the road, guiding himself along the path with his staff.

[xo31 3979]

A great wizard sat humbly and gazed over the city.

One of his few true allegiances. A fist gently thudded against his chest.
 

"I hope I will live to see you again, Haense."

[Weebmaster36 390]

Renna Odessa stared at the missive in silence while she drank hot tea. The old and heavily faded Haense flag sat folded in her basement, catching dust in the dim light. "Krusae zwy kongzem, oh how I miss those towering red walls." She threw the missive into her fireplace before walking to her balcony to stare at the flaming tree, a heavy sigh falling from her.

 

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Eve Beliee had picked up the missive as she was riding through red snow-covered woods to the west of Norland, casually looking for herbs. As she read it a frown formed and a small, yet sad, weight lifted from her shoulders. Her birth nation would never come back, like she had hoped it would.