(Collab with Flooby)

Solterra was sitting at his personal desk in his small study, looking over the recent letters that had came in, but not any from his subjects, but from people who he has sent letters to. One had caught his eye, and he felt like he needed to read over it a few times. Solterra then closed his eyes and sighed, reaching up to take his glasses off and lay them on the desk as he reached back up to rub his eyes. After a second longer of thought he stood up and adjusted his clothing, bearing a determined face as he set out through his home. He walked until he found Flooby, his most trusted Courtier and bestest friend and he gave him a long look that held sadness, but also boldness. "Flooby... come with me." He spoke in a hushed tone. He turned to head toward his show room and proceeded to his ceremonial armor. Custom made, just as strong as ordinary armor, just, slightly flashy; to show a point instead of just soldier apparel. "Help me put my leggings and armings on." He grabbed the chest piece and began to slide it on himself, connecting the straps on the side.

Flooby took out a key from a compartment located below the armour's case. He was not a man prone to great reactions, but this armour had not seen use by anyone in ages. In fact, he couldn't recall a time when Solterra had ever worn the armour. As he unlocked the case, and hefted the armour out, he arched a brow at Solterra.

"What event are you to wear this into?" he asked.

He had a servant fetch the proper padding and strings, and began putting them on Solterra. He was a large man, but the armour seemed to be intended for someone larger, so a bit of work would be required to make it fit comfortably.

The armor was never made to fit him snugly, and he was not a man to exercise his muscles. Some say he was a paranoid man, others say he just never felt too prepared. He needed a little extra into every spot within the armor to make sure it not only stood out, but it made a point to anyone who saw it. As he began to tie some of the other straps because he didn't believe to not do any himself for what was to come next.

"Whether it is tomorrow, or today, when doesn't matter here. But..." he took a breath, ashamed of himself from what he was about to say. "What I do does not make me right, it never will." There was a short pause before he continued. "By my own hands, I will commit murder of the highest degree. Rone will be taken down."

He jerked at his shoulders and legs to get the fitting correct as he stared at Flooby, the man he would entrust his life to. There was no helmet, not because Solterra never wore one, but when he puts this armor on... there is no hiding from the truth. "Walk with me."

There was nothing scheduled, no requested audience, it was just the time when the streets were most busy. "I need to show my people. No... I need to show everyone, the reason why I do things is to make a safer and happier world, not one controlled by someone because they say they can control you just by word of mouth." He pushed forward and walked toward the hall that lead to the balcony at the entrance of his home, where many of his subjects were in the streets and doing as they did, live their lives. "If I don't, I will lose all the support I have, and this world will fall, along with every life in Lundlands."

Flooby finished putting on the armour, and walked alongside Solterra in the halls as he spoke. 

"You're being very vague, sir. Are you planning on joining your men in the siege of Bolgaz? And what do you mean 'this world shall fall?'"

They began walking out onto the streets, toward one of the balconies that faced the market centre of Bellmoral. It was dawn, and indeed the busiest time of day, when everyone was setting about to their work for the day.

"Sir, are you going out?" he added.

Once they stepped foot outside, Solterra turned to Flooby and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Lundlands is ruthless, and will not stop. People will continue to kill and blood will continue to spill." He then smiled, continuing. "I'm the cure for these lands. Even if it means it is the first cure to allow for an immunity after me. Do not worry any longer."

He then, without another look or word towards Flooby, he turned to face the balcony and approached it. He rested his hands on the railing and took a breath as a few onlookers caught him. 

"My people. My subjects. My friends. Please, I beg you to hear me. I apologize for the recent losses that occurred in our home of Therral, and I will not dismiss them as they were nothing. We will hold a grand funeral for all of those that lost their lives in their own home. But, you must hear me out. The churches will return. The drinks will return. Safety, happiness, and laughing children will return. It will all come back as it once was before all of this happened, I promise. I do not hate the church, and nor am I against it. But those who hold the power to do whatever they wish by simply uttering the words must be stopped. I must stop these people, so not only the joyous times of past will return to Therral, but too all of Lundlands! And that power I speak of is Rone. His people, starve, desperate, pale, women and children dying." He pounded his fist against the railing. "I will not sit by and allow this to happen, to allow Rone to starve his people, let young ones die, just so he can raise an army to control us! We are a threat, to the greed he has over the Church, and I aim to cleanse that sin. But I can not do this without you! Today, I will set out to Rone's home, and I will take it. I will cleanse the church of its evil that plagues the inside, and bring back God to our loving arms! Please, tell me that these fires, this hate, and the fighting in our own home will be gone once I return. Please!"

At first, there were few onlookers to Lord Solterra's speech, but his passion grew, so did those who were listening. 

In a matter of moments, the entire street stood in awe as they realized their king was personally addressing them.

After Solterra finished, there was a silence. 

"Cheers for the King!" yelled a woman, who was holding the hand of a child. Several other women joined her in shouting.

"Murderer! Liar! He preaches peace, but holds a knife behind his back, as the aedile did against St. John!" cried a priest. Several joined his cries of hatred, and began chucking stones toward the balcony.

In what seemed an instant, the whole crowd erupted into a frenzy, a mix of cheers and jeers. Fights broke out between people, and dozens chucked stones toward the balcony. One of them hit Lord Solterra square in the jaw.

Flooby stood back at a safe distance, and stood with wide eyes. As he saw the reaction of the people before him, he could not help but think about Solterra and his actions. All this time, he had been serving him as a man of numbers and state actions. Passion and opinions were something to be had away from one's desk. The man felt himself conflicted: on one hand, Solterra's speech appeared to be apologetic. He renounced all his ill deeds before his people, and gave them no violence in return. Yet at the same time, the last two seasons had been filled with nothing but death by his own hands.

The speech was powerful, but for those so vehemently against him, who had lost everything by his hand, it seemed doubtful he would ever be accepted again.

He grabbed Solttera by the arm. "My liege, we should go back inside, before things become more heated."

He hunched slightly, brushing his jaw as he looked at Flooby, turning away, jerking back to his people. "This injustice must STOP!" He yelled with all of his might, disregarding his pained jaw entirely as sadness and adrenaline rushed through him. "We are a people joined as one for the safety of others! Therral was NOT to control its people, it was to protect them. Still, Keep Middlesbrough stands with no order of military actions. If you have any faith in me but do not follow me, leave there now! My remaining soldiers will from now on NEVER slaughter another man or women of Therral! The churches will be rebuilt, and the priests given a home. When I leave my castles gates, drinks will no longer be taken, and not one more scream shall happen! If you follow God then you shall not lay one more hand on another for He shall strike you down for harming one of his own people. If you do not follow me, you will follow Him!" Solterra gained an angered face, but the sadness started to erupt as a tear glistened from his eye. "Soldiers of Therral! Those who are left to guard the people of Therral, only raise your weapons to an enemy, your people are not your enemy! Restrain and calm them, but only if needed. No jail, no sentence, no stocks. I leave now to free Lundlands from the plague that threatens ALL of our families. I hope I do not come back to death and torment." 

Solterra heaved a mighty breath and slowly turned back to his castle, looking to Flooby. "Ready five-hundred men in their own ceremonial Armor. The best of them, to my side. I leave to Bolgaz this moment," he continued, walking back in and heading to the stairs to find the entrance. "Find how many subjects live in Falkwreath and purchase food for all of them, open all the trade routes. Do as I said we would do with our people." He stopped, looking at Flooby and holding his soldiers. "Take over while I am gone, and make my people happy. I don't know if I will return. Goodbye, my friend." He reached down to grab Flooby's hand in a shake, and then abruptly left to find the men and leave his home.

Flooby gave a curt nod, and set about the task assigned to him without another thought. Guards were set about to maintain order, making sure not to harm anyone, but everyone had calmed down, even the priests. The people dispersed from below the balcony, and set about their tasks once again, though this time accompanied by low talk of what had just happened. 

Meanwhile, five hundred soldiers spent the next hour getting prepared in their ceremonial armour, and set out into the courtyard of the keep, to await their liege, who had been there with them and began to set out on their march.