Senatorial Address
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::The sun catches the gold and blue of Sir Mariston’s armour as he mounts the stand, resplendent in the colours of his Order he casts an imposing figure. His blue eyes survey the crowd before he speaks, his hand rests on his sword hilt as he does::
//Charisma 26 – Persuade 28 roll of 18 = 46//I speak to you for the first time since Norwick’s fall, in a solemn time for the life of our lands, of our Jewel, of our allies, and, above all, of the cause of Freedom. A tremendous battle is raging in Norwick. The Bugbears, by a remarkable combination of cunning and heavily armoured warriors, have broken through the Norwickian defences, and large numbers of their fighters are ravaging the open country, which for the first day or two was abated by the actions of her brave peoples. They have penetrated deeply and spread alarm and confusion in their track. We shall shelter our neighbours and offer them the hospitality of our Jewel.
We must not allow ourselves to be intimidated by the presence of these Bugbears, for Norwick shall be free again.
Do not let the concerns of a few regarding the nature of the freeing of Norwick blind thee to the task at hand; there hath been no talk in the Senate of making Norwick a vassal of the glorious Jewel that now shields thee and the Norwick’s Remnants. Be not so swift in judgement of thine allies and friends, for that is what we are friends against a common foe.
It would be foolish to disguise the gravity of the day. It would be still more foolish to lose heart and courage.
Our task is not only to win the battle for Norwick - but to win the war.
After these Bugbears ravaging of Norwick abates its force, there will come the battle for our Jewel – for all that Peltarch is, and all that Peltarch means. That will be the struggle. In that supreme emergency we shall not hesitate to take every step, even the most drastic, to call forth from our people the last ounce and the last inch of effort of which they are capable. The interests of property, the days of labour, are nothing compared with the struggle of life and honour, for right and freedom, to which we have vowed ourselves.
Centuries ago words were written to be a call and a spur to the faithful servants of Truth and Justice: "Arm yourselves, and be ye people of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altar. As the Will of the Triad is in their celestial halls, even so let it be."
