Copies of the document are scattered around various parts of Amaethea THE DENOUNCEMENT OF LAETRANIS AP TAHORRAN
By Brother Wildfire
For long have our people lived through an age of stagnation, negligence, and degradation. From the crumbled wrecks of Irrinor, we have lived divided and confused, confined to the meek walls and damp burrows of Siramenor-Aegrothond ‘till the fall of Arcas. Now do we find ourselves amid looming redwoods and grandiose halls, our lush culture prospering proudly, and yet, we still contain this lingering flaw that followed us from before we were known as Elvenesse. The plague that still holds us back, that still ravages our beautiful faith, that spits on our way of life, that will be the root of our undoing — this plague that has followed us to our modern time.
Only a few years back, I distributed a paper on the value of our culture. I preached the security of our green faith and the rejection of what attempts to destroy it, the expulsion of those who sympathize with cultural menaces and risks. For it, I was threatened, criticized relentlessly, my home vandalized by those bearing the druidic gifts. Let this be irrefutable proof to my claims that we live in an era of weak mali’ame, controlled by ideologies of open-mindedness in exchange for the dissolution of our way of life, all of which are naturally encouraged by our so-called Green Priests.
Among our people lies a coyote. Deceitful and manipulative in his methods, this coyote whom we recognize as Laetranis ap Tahorran preaches his care for the people, the stability of our culture, all while slaughtering stags before our very eyes in acts of foolishness and pure lack of self-control. The coyote kills our livestock, yet we welcome the coyote back and even befriend it while our food supply is diminished until nothing remains. Do farmers welcome back pests that destroy the seasonal crops? Do librarians treat kindly thieves who steal their books? Of course not, so why is it that we welcome the man who puts our safety at stake?
Only in Arcas amid our serene village did Laetranis needlessly take the life of an Ireheart in a pure act of terror, rattled by the empty intimidations of the dwarf. From it, we were thrown into years of strife, our peaceful land forced to fight his battles, forced to suffer the hands of brigands and bandits. Our people, only wanting nothing but peace and calm, were forced to take arms against a battle that should have never occurred — a battle provoked by a man who would and has cause many more. I willingly sought out my end of the dwarven grudge to finally bring peace, but it was Laetranis who stalled until the consequences sought him, the man too shaken to dare even leave the village for months on end.
Now in Almaris do we find ourselves in Elvenesse, Laetranis once more raising a spear upon Vulen Calithil, who was mercilessly cut through the visor of his helm. Decried by the masses, Laetranis defended his actions until he temporarily abandoned the city for a “hunting trip” in what can only be deemed a pure act of cowardice. Like the serpent he is, he came slithering back months later while we fought his battles sparked once more by his own actions, the countless acts of banditry and raids we repelled to the best of our abilities in his absence. After many months more he was delivered to Vulen’s family, where he’d be justly punished by their blades.
The dilemma not only lies in Laetranis himself, but in the people who would so remarkably follow him to their demise, the demise of the people, and the demise of their faith. Our people have endured enough by fighting battles that should not be ours, battles sparked by mere gout that has festered into carnage. However, he is still guarded by the senseless who prefer this faux priest, a murderer, before potential eras of harmony we could see if he is detached from the face of our faith. This problem is made worse when they regularly fail to discern the consequences of sheltering these people, oblivious to the happenings of political endangerments and impending wars that are often sparked by single individuals.
While Laetranis may have seen “justice” for his transgressions, we will be faced with these circumstances which we may be unable to prevent in the future. Once more will our people be unwillingly dragged into an era of blood and battle, constrained by the hand of Laetranis while he flees from his difficulties to instead wait for us to resolve them. Despite this, he will be welcomed back with open arms when he should be denounced for the endangerment of the people. He is praised as a cultural figurehead, one we should admire and look up to despite his selfish deeds.
Decry not me for urging that we protect ourselves rather than be misled, but decry what feigns calls of peace while acting with violence. Decry the man who has the blood of hundreds of mali’ame on his hands, the man who flees from the problems he creates. Most importantly, the man who was not here to witness the bodies of slain mali’ame being hauled in from the trails day after day.
I beseech you, people of Elvenesse, our council, our citizens, the vulnerability of our people lies in our inability to swiftly begone with the perils of our culture, that which threatens our longevity. Let us rid ourselves of these individuals who only act in self-interest rather than be continuously strung along by their schemes. We possess the potential to be strong yet peaceful, fierce yet respected, wise yet kind. However, we are none of those things, and we will never be until we remove these tumors among our people.