A Pact Broken

[Meanking 311]

- A Pact Broken -

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Thorin Grandaxe, son of Chaecus and Grand King of Urguan sits silently upon his throne, his fists clenched as a young courier dwarf stands before him. Nowt but the hiss and crackle of a roaring fire could be heard in the keep that night. With a wave of his hand, he orders the young dwarf to leave the hall and so he does, undaring to turn his head back upon the throne. Slowly, the King lifts himself to his feet and looks to his Lords as hushed whispers begin to fill the hall.*

 

“Ah ‘ave jus’ baehn informed t’at nawt but wit’in’ t’e las’ week, ah Dwarven Lord wus attacked wit’in’ Kingston baeh t’e Knight’s Chapter ov Oren ‘o call ‘emselves t’e White Rose. Ah gud lad n’ un’ ‘o wud duh nuh ‘arm tuh aneh wit’out reason. Aye, fer tuh lun’ ‘ave weh stood n’ watched ‘as croimes ‘ave baehn committed agehnst ouhr kin. T’e weak ‘ave baehn beaten n’ ahll t’e gud t’ere ‘unce wus ihn t’is wurld drained. Baeh wut roight dus aneh umros ‘ave taeh defy maeh?!”

 

 

*Many Lords within the room look up at the King, eyes widening in astonishment at his words. Yet the King continues, stepping down from his throne and making his way towards the council table.*

 

“Maeh grandfat’ers Thorik n’ Valen wished fer ah peace t’at wud save t’is nation frum bludshed. Ah wud beh t’e furst tuh up’old aneh wurd of t’eirs. Yet, t’ere wus a day w’en dwarves stud awn t’is throne ‘o defended the weak n’ ‘elpless. Ah believe in maeh ‘eart t’at ‘is wut ouhr Paragons wud wish fer... N’ iff nawt, suh cast maeh intaeh t’e foires ov Khorvad’s dominion.”

 

*Thorin, raises a clenched fist and looks directly towards his council, his expression dark and yet glaringly composed.*

 

“Issue t’e ordah fer all dwarves ov Kal’Azgoth n’ Jarls ov t’e Empoire t’e mobiloize t’eir armehs ihn preperation ov ah siege. Send ouht ambassadors tuh Malinor n’ each ov t’e orcish clans n’ inform ‘em t’at waeh seek allehs. Delivah ah letteh tuh t’e Imperial Keep ov Abreesi citeh informin’ t’e Emperor t’at iff t’e ‘eads ov t’e King ov Kaedrin n’ t’e commandahs ov t’e White Rose areh nawt delivered tuh t’e ‘alls ov Kal’Azgoth wit’in’ t’ree elven daehs, weh wil’ considah tuh blood pact broken, null n’ void. Inform t’e Grand Marshall t’at ‘e ‘is tuh assemble t’e armeh at ‘unce n’ wit’out delaeh.”

 

 

*The Lords rise, bowing their heads before they quickly depart. The King is left standing alone in his hall, his head tilted over a map of Anthos, various settlements and coordinates dotted over it. Besides the map, Thorin takes a raven feathered quill, dipping it into a small pot of ink before he begins to etch out some words upon a clean parchment.*

 

“To his esteemed Emperor Horen V,

 

Though as one who considers you a dear friend and ally, this pains me to say, I fear this letter is the culmination of many events that have transpired and rather been ignored than dealt with. I therefore do not place the blame for what I am about to say on your head but instead on those who dared break the pact that has for many years stood between our two great Empires.

 

In Aegis, Oren and Urguan stood firm as allies against the orcish hordes of Krugmar. Valiant and noble victories were achieved, issued on by heroic acts that led us against the tyranny of what we both believed was a savage and bloodthirsty race. In Asulon, we grew divided by cultural change and internal struggles and yet never did our armies march upon the other’s lands. As we were once again forced from our home, your father and my grandfather forged a bond that we hoped would ensure compliance and prosperity.

 

There has long been a fear that one day these bonds would become chains and we would be forced from acting, in the name of an ancient tradition, known only as the blood pact. I have for some time believed this to be the Gods’ will as it was they who brought the first blood pact into this world. I stood and watched, trusting the agreement would never be torn in my lifetime or yours.

 

What I therefore ask of you is a great sacrifice and potentially a burden upon already strenuous relations. A day ago, I was informed that a dwarven Lord was struck with a crossbow bolt by Knights of the Chapter of the White Rose, immediately outside the city of Kingston. Had the same act been made against an individual of Oren’s Imperial blood, I am quite assured that such an act would not have been left unpunished.

 

Therefore, I will cut to the immediate details of the demands I wish to make on behalf of the Empire of Urguan. As we are informed the White Rose are under his watch, we demand the head of the King of Kaedrin, as well as those of the highest commanders of the White Rose, to be delivered to Kal’Azgoth within the next three elven days. We further demand the immediate disbandment of the White Rose as a knightly and military Chapter of the Holy Oren Empire.

 

Should these demands not be met, I have issued orders to the Grand Marshall and all Jarls of the Empire of Urguan to prepare an invasion force. I can assure you, and mark my words clearly, any retaliatory act made against any kin of my own will result in war. As I hope you dearly understand, that is not what either of us wish to occur. Until our next meet, I eagerly await whatever answer you intend to bring me in return.

 

- Thorin Grandaxe, son of Chaecus, Grand King and Emperor of Urguan.”

 

*From across the Dwarven Empire, a steady drum beat echoes through the lands, as the militaries of each hold and citizens of the Empire prepare for another Great War, the second Great War of their time.*

 

 

 

[Mish_ 101]

Ike listens to the speech, nodding at the end "The Corridians are at your service!" he smiles pleased to be able to help

[Neri 3590]

Mayirr hears of the news the next day from a Dwarven friend. She leans back in her chair, before stating simply.

 

 

"At last."

 

She picks up her crossbow from her desk and pulls on her cloak, leaving quickly.

 

Uprisings in Malinor. Unrest in Salvus. Blood pacts broken. All the pieces were slowly coming together, it seems.

[The Fact Core 511]

*The Oogie Boogie Man takes a giant grin once again on his scary and unknown Face.

 

"Perfect...brother! It seems like the White Roses are making all those problems...HiHiHi!!!"

[Dreek 1633]

*Dreek sits, chained to the pillar in the palace listening. Hoping he will get unchained so he can help The kingdom in these wars, he tries to not die from starvation and lack of water.*

[Telanir 6975]

Farmer Billy Bob begins to flail his arms and run around in circles upon hearing a few guards discussing this.

"Nup tha' gud gurds!"

[Dun_Irongut 104]

*In his talks with Thorin, Dun hears of the Declaration of War and laughs*

 

"So they 'ave wished Aturial be damned. So t'ey seal t'eir fate."

[Hammely 11]

Erik Wodesome, hearing of the broken pact from one of his many informants (merchants tend to need those), was shocked at first, then thrilled. He sends a letter to all of his family telling him to ready for battle, and set a mark on their maps for the islands of Oren. The Folc is gathering, all will hear the shrieking of the Dragon.

[Peter Chivay 2494]

"And so the Dwarves get rid of their strongest ally.

 

Let there be war."

[MasterKitty 5]

As she hears from Igor of the news, she smiles, giggling.

 

"Guud. Uwf wit' der 'eads!"

[DragoonCrow 346]

Crowley Thorne hears the news through one of his dwarven friends and rubs the back of his head, wondering how the Dwarves can marshal enough men to beat Oren.

[Scipp3r 451]

"And so the Dwarves get rid of their only ally.

 

Let there be war."

[FORƎST 1312]

Jarl Hayes stands from his seat, making his way quietly to exit the city. He, in stark contrast with his peers is taller, leaner - a Human. The sailor can almost feel the Dwarven eyes following his back as he departs.

 

...

 

"PREPARE THE RIGS, RAISE ANCHOR, GET TA WORK ALL THOSE WHOM REEK OV' SHARK BAIT! HAR HAR HAAAR!"

 

The Admiral enters his quarters, rubbing his throat. One ship down, a fleet to go. Everything seemed to be going according to schedule. His new weapons, for the most part have arrived - the rest were on their way. The men were hard at work preparing his vessels which seemed mostly intact, so much so that dusting off the ships seemed to be their most daunting task overall.

 

Davey found himself pleased with the way things were going. He sits down to pen a letter to Thorin to tell him just that.

[Sultan 3953]

Horen smirks slowly, he looks at his advisers ''So they played into our hand, good they broke the blood-pact instead of going threw the proper paths that are clearer outlined in our pact, it is good that we have our army already assembled, he smirks to his Grand Marshal, make sure to send to my so called friend a letter for a diplomatic meeting and make sure the first strike if there is war comes from us.''

[Norman 492]

Samuel sits in a relaxed, calm posture inside the dining hall of the Rose keep, perking up slightly upon hearing of the war declaration, giving a bemused snort. He places his pipe back into his mouth, speaking evenly in his gravelly voice, " And so it begins. "

 

He promptly hustles off to sharpen his blades and craft ear-necklaces in anticipation for his fourth campaign.