Neziul
CassidyTheButch
mothcat
Not a Sayan
PrinceAlexus
NoriWasHere
Iwannabeyours
Simply Not RealNear the Black Encampment
The woman was middle aged, ruddy faced, with long hair that was probably once blond now streaked with grey that fell over her shoulder in tangled braids greasy from days living on the land. She kept her hands raised as she was circled by riders bearing the Black banner even while she kept her hands raised. "I bear dhe message for your lady sirs! Ees sealed. Ya see, yeah?" Slowly she produced an envelope, sealed in red wax. "For your Lady Empress Coralie. I to bring eet to her."
To the aspiring Empress Coralie D'Ambois nee Hasikos,
I have served The People's struggle against the Empire with every fiber of my being, and would gladly die a thousand deaths before betraying it, or by inaction, seeing it betrayed.
Our Empress Ariana Hasikos, I truly believe, has the best interests of the people at heart but fear she has fallen under evil counsel. The people we set out to help and protect are ignored and neglected at every turn. Left to wallow in slave pits, worked like dogs in the fields - or worked to death in the quarries and mines. Those that should be our friends are made to be enemies. The Empire that kills, enslaves, and oppresses us is allowed to recover - unchallenged - from the blow we struck them at the cost of so much blood at Rodelkog. It is such fears, and my great loyalty to The Cause, that impel me to write you as I do now. I fear the days ahead will see evil counsel only serve to further weaken the opposition against the Great Enemy.
I cannot in good conscience allow it and, in truth, should the evil council that brought us to these desperate straits prevail in the coming days - I fear the men that provide such council will feel themselves secure and emboldened enough that I fear for the safety of myself and those who've placed their trust in me.
I perceive yourself to be no enemy of the beleaguered peoples of Inburia. Instead, I see a fellow Inburian, weakening our common foe: a potential friend and ally in our Great Cause. I hope to find in you a kindred spirit, with the grace and wisdom to see the mass of desperate Inburians before you, not as enemies to be crushed, but to perceive instead the opportunity that lesser minds miss.
You will likely be aware that most of my force is even now tied up in the occupation of Suen, as the same sage counsel that argued against exploiting our victory against the Empire after Rodelkog saw no profit in re-enforcing us in their race south to link up with your force. I possess with me now only a small force of partisans.
However, what we lack in numbers on the field of battle, we make up for in the eyes and ears of the people of Inburia. Such people know who fights for them. And who does not. It is by their good will that we have endured all hardships. It is they who supply us our strength, and supply us with all that we need, and see and hear. Wheresoever in Inburia there is an Inburian slave, or a serf beholden to their land: we have eyes and ears. Through their bravery, and diligence, we have known some small success and liberated many items, worthless to us, but you might find of value if they could be brought to market. The eyes and ears that inform us, we should gladly share with those who would call us allies.
Many of our number are desperate. You will likely have heard this. But they are dedicated and many would gladly lay down arms and return to the fields if they were allowed, and felt protected enough, to do so as Free Peoples. Such people would gladly and generously, support through their labours those who take up arms in the name of Liberating their fellow countrymen.
As a token of my goodwill you will find included with my letter, such documents detailing what we have been able to gather regarding the troops and dispositions of the Empress Ariana's forces. United as we are in conflict against a common enemy, I provide this information freely from one rebel to another: that we might better collaborate against the common foe.
It is also my counsel that you will find your present problems greatly reduced if you made your policy known to any you might encounter in the coming days who are confused on this point: that you support the cause of Freedom, that you oppose the Great Oppressors, and that regard any former slave, serf, or common person who holds similar views not as enemy combatants to be killed, but as friends over whom you would extend your protection - guaranteeing their freedom - and welcoming any who would take up arms in your service.
I believe you would find such declarations, firmly and repeatedly made, would greatly inhibit the mass of people from any thought of firmly opposing you. I would venture that a True Empress might find the bulk of the common people, having suffered as they have, have no wish of quarrel with anyone except the Great Oppressors whose innumerable crimes are beyond counting. Such people care little for the colour of the Wyvern that fights the Empire: only that they fight.
I hope in the coming days to see such obstacles as now preclude our speaking in person be swiftly removed that we might greet each other as friends and allies ought.
Respectfully,
-S.
I have served The People's struggle against the Empire with every fiber of my being, and would gladly die a thousand deaths before betraying it, or by inaction, seeing it betrayed.
Our Empress Ariana Hasikos, I truly believe, has the best interests of the people at heart but fear she has fallen under evil counsel. The people we set out to help and protect are ignored and neglected at every turn. Left to wallow in slave pits, worked like dogs in the fields - or worked to death in the quarries and mines. Those that should be our friends are made to be enemies. The Empire that kills, enslaves, and oppresses us is allowed to recover - unchallenged - from the blow we struck them at the cost of so much blood at Rodelkog. It is such fears, and my great loyalty to The Cause, that impel me to write you as I do now. I fear the days ahead will see evil counsel only serve to further weaken the opposition against the Great Enemy.
I cannot in good conscience allow it and, in truth, should the evil council that brought us to these desperate straits prevail in the coming days - I fear the men that provide such council will feel themselves secure and emboldened enough that I fear for the safety of myself and those who've placed their trust in me.
I perceive yourself to be no enemy of the beleaguered peoples of Inburia. Instead, I see a fellow Inburian, weakening our common foe: a potential friend and ally in our Great Cause. I hope to find in you a kindred spirit, with the grace and wisdom to see the mass of desperate Inburians before you, not as enemies to be crushed, but to perceive instead the opportunity that lesser minds miss.
You will likely be aware that most of my force is even now tied up in the occupation of Suen, as the same sage counsel that argued against exploiting our victory against the Empire after Rodelkog saw no profit in re-enforcing us in their race south to link up with your force. I possess with me now only a small force of partisans.
However, what we lack in numbers on the field of battle, we make up for in the eyes and ears of the people of Inburia. Such people know who fights for them. And who does not. It is by their good will that we have endured all hardships. It is they who supply us our strength, and supply us with all that we need, and see and hear. Wheresoever in Inburia there is an Inburian slave, or a serf beholden to their land: we have eyes and ears. Through their bravery, and diligence, we have known some small success and liberated many items, worthless to us, but you might find of value if they could be brought to market. The eyes and ears that inform us, we should gladly share with those who would call us allies.
Many of our number are desperate. You will likely have heard this. But they are dedicated and many would gladly lay down arms and return to the fields if they were allowed, and felt protected enough, to do so as Free Peoples. Such people would gladly and generously, support through their labours those who take up arms in the name of Liberating their fellow countrymen.
As a token of my goodwill you will find included with my letter, such documents detailing what we have been able to gather regarding the troops and dispositions of the Empress Ariana's forces. United as we are in conflict against a common enemy, I provide this information freely from one rebel to another: that we might better collaborate against the common foe.
It is also my counsel that you will find your present problems greatly reduced if you made your policy known to any you might encounter in the coming days who are confused on this point: that you support the cause of Freedom, that you oppose the Great Oppressors, and that regard any former slave, serf, or common person who holds similar views not as enemy combatants to be killed, but as friends over whom you would extend your protection - guaranteeing their freedom - and welcoming any who would take up arms in your service.
I believe you would find such declarations, firmly and repeatedly made, would greatly inhibit the mass of people from any thought of firmly opposing you. I would venture that a True Empress might find the bulk of the common people, having suffered as they have, have no wish of quarrel with anyone except the Great Oppressors whose innumerable crimes are beyond counting. Such people care little for the colour of the Wyvern that fights the Empire: only that they fight.
I hope in the coming days to see such obstacles as now preclude our speaking in person be swiftly removed that we might greet each other as friends and allies ought.
Respectfully,
-S.
