Council Letters
The First:
The fireplace crackled as 'The Three' rested within the guarded walls of the city. Mail had poured from all corners of Emberstrand from everyone who lived within the walls. The scent of wood smoke and Jylland Brandy wafted through the room as the 'First' spoke.
"So the people are speaking their minds," he muttered, picking up a stack of parchment letters from airship captains stationed in Emberstrand. The first felt heavy, weighted with opinion. He began to read:
"Dear Citizens of Emberstrand,
My name is Leetle. You may know me as Captain of the Doodlebug. Or irascible husband to Moiraine, High Priestess of Mog.
Others may choose to address to the council members, or the noble houses, or Archades, or Rozzaria.
I choose, in this time of dire need, to address you instead.
First, I would share with you a bit of history, my history. I would tell you of a choice I made, one that would change my life and influence it for years to come. Once, I was a young moogle, working as an engineer on an airship. The Captain was a harsh man, an aging brute who commanded through fear instead of through loyalty.
The last voyage of the Valiant Wind was also the first of Red's Revenge, the ship of Queen Red, a pirate of some repute. How, you might ask? The Captain, as mentioned, was a brute, growing moreso as he aged. On this last journey, a mutiny was conspired.
The choice I made was to support the Captain, and I barred the way to the engine room, and I defended it against all who would fight against the Captain. It was both the right, and the wrong, decision. I made the decision blindly, resisting caused the deaths of many, and I defended a man who was a greater monster than I could imagine. But I was doing my duty. I chose duty over freedom, for freedom is what the mutineers wanted, freedom from the Captain's lash.
And so my life changed. The mutineers had gained the trust of one of my fellow engineers, the very same person who would become Queen Red herself. I was struck down, and left to die on a deserted island.
The story has a happy ending, for as you can see, I survived to tell the tale.
However, it is not my story I wish to continue, no, it is your story, citizens of Emberstrand, that I wish to talk of. You, too, face a choice, and it will have consequences that will echo until the end of all time.
You must choose between the old Captain and his lash, or to participate in the mutiny. You may sit on the sideline, to be sure, but life is cruel, and it will make you choose... perhaps not now, but eventually your hand will be forced.
You may side with the Old Captain, and hope that by doing so, you will be left alone to live your lives. But it is a false sense of security, and you will have to do the Captain's bidding lest you be lashed. You will watch as others are taken, never to be seen again. A neighbour, or perhaps a youth, whose crime will be nothing more than asking the wrong question, but the Captain will call it treason, or subversion, and you will just nod, shrug and move on. For to speak up will mean being dragged away in the night, for your turn at the wrong end of the Captain's lash.
Or, you can choose to mutiny. To fight the old Captain, and perhaps earn your second chance at freedom. For that is what Emberstrand is. Second chances. Freedom. But do not think it will be easy. The Captain has many weapons, and he will use every one against you before the day is done.
If we do not fight, and make this the last time two empires decide to struggle over one more point in their crown, we are doomed to have our children, or our children's children... or their children... fight this very same battle. It's time to say NO MORE.
People will get hurt, and people will die. There are those who point to this fact alone, and tell you that this is why we must not fight. People will die, they say, because of what you ask us to do. And I SAY to them that people have already died, without OUR having said a word. The Captain has already bloodied us, would you lie down then for a further lashing?
The Ashe Road lays ruined, with people still crushed beneath it's weight. The Farmlands and the hunting grounds lay smouldering, bombed by cowards in the middle of the night. There, I say, are two weapons already brought against us. Terror, and Starvation. How many more will we see before we say ENOUGH!?
But what, you are probably wondering, can be done about it?
The first thing is to ensure that we are not alone. And to that effect I am suggesting the foundation of the Free Cities League, where the free cities of the continent unite into a single force in times of trouble. If one is attacked, all respond. This is a thing that I think can be quickly done. Our council members should be asked, in once voice, to be the guiding force behind the creation of this League.
The second is more immediate, to keep us protected until help can arrive to relieve us, and that is to offer AMNESTY to all the Sky Pirates, merchant captains and privateers that fly the world and bring it back to Emberstrand every day. Ask them if they would defend a free port. If they would have their names cleared. If they would be as the Sky Pirates of old. Again, people of the city should be clamouring for this to happen. Let the council members know.
Every able bodied person who can fight must be asked to do so. Every engineer not tasked with keeping critical infrastructure, every mage and their apprentices, every trainee swordsman, every city Guard, every dockhand... Unite them, under one banner. The council members say there is no more coin to hire people to fight, or to train others. The people of the city have the coin for this. I shall empty myself of my own fortune, that of a member of House Rider and a frugal captain of a fighting, merchant vessel. Others can also lead by such an example. There is coin enough to purchase what we need. It only need be asked for.
Know something now, the free cities of the continent will be watching, looking to us as an example, making their decision whether to flee or follow. And what will they see? Cornered rats in a crumbling city? NO! They will see the finest people in all the world defending their city, their families, their friends... against the largest bully the world has ever seen. And that bully will hear the courage in our hearts, see the flashes of our guns, and feel the sting of our magic... and they will KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO.
The last thing, is a thing that you citizens of Emberstrand can do. Have courage, to face the dangers to come. Have faith, in yourselves.
Leetle
The First sat his letter down, a frown creasing his brow as he reached for the brandy, swirling it in the highball glass. His gaze looked to the Third, watching her bird-like features take in her stack of letters.
The Third:
Politics had ben in her blood since infancy, her father having taken to the council during his middle years and urging his eldest daughter to take the mantle when it was time for elections. She held the position for ten years now since her election. Her tufted ears twitched as she continued to read the stack of letter that The First demanded they read before coming to a decision. The crest of feathers on her head rose in surprise as she read the next in the stack.
The handwriting was exceptionally neat, extreme care taken with each word. She read on:
A simple letter mailed to the Council, stamped with a symbol of a tattered book and quill.
"My name is Ainsley, with no family name to call my own. I came from the Grey Scholars, from Giruvegan. I'm addressing this letter to you with several great concerns in my heart. "With the threat of war over the heads of everyone in Emberstrand, I understand that decisions must be made for the sake of the people. However, this very narrow timeline that has been given has offered very little ability to properly devise a solution. In light of this, I feel as if Emberstrand will inevitably choose the third path. The Archadean ideology and Rozarria's conspicuous lack of activity have both made it difficult to accept the control of either side. "I support the option to fight for independence, and that is what my official stance will be. However, as a scholar well-read in the chronicles of history, I am aware that this path stands the highest chance of causing the slaughter of Emberstrand's people, especially if actions are taken to constrain the unique and varied abilities of those in the city. "If the ultimate decision comes to that, I believe skilled individuals should be gathered, given special tasks. Resources must be spent into unorthodox defenses. If Pre-folly technology can be found and utilized, for instance. Contacting summoners, negotiating with airship captains, convincing merchants to support the local economy. Finding leverage from the two sides to force them to follow what we, as the people as Emberstrand, want, to make it impossible to ignore our value as an independant force. The leverage to make them think twice about bringing their rivalry to our doorstep and make them hurt for coveting our home and bloodying our noses. "We need to be creative. We need to use our heads, and we need to grab ahold of every resource we possibly can, or becoming our own figure in this war will only end in ruin. If you believe otherwise, then so be it. "I pray the correct decision is made, whatever that is."
So the young scholar chose to weigh in on the situation? The Third stifled a sigh as she took up the next letter, another one from a prominent member in the Mage's Guild. Greetings unto the Emberstrand Triumvirate,
The three of you may know of me, or know me personally, through the words of your children or the children of your friends as I have been instructing them at the Mage Guild for the last two years. My name is Professor Raziel Lunafluere. It has been brought to my attention that you are soon to make the important decision of choosing the stance our city will take in the upcoming conflict. As I have business which will not allow me to attend the council meeting I write these words with the hope that they will stand in my place. Your children know me as a strict, but fair teacher and one who attempts to look at situations from a logical standpoint. This is something which I will attempt to do in the passages you are about to read.
A few facts that I would like to begin with. The Archades and Rozarrian empires have long been a thorn in one another's side and thusly in the side of anyone who would come between the two of them. In times long past, prior to the Larsan Folly, they stood toe to toe and Archades pushed and annexed the Dalmascan people. Without anything separating their two empires it is very likely that the two giants would come to blows. We are positioned in a manner that we stand between them. It is not a comfortable place, but I believe that it is a necessary one.
Please allow me to go back to how this started. An explosion shook our city and collapsed the main entry bridge in and out of Emberstrand. And then, in the wake of this, Archades began to make hints of annexing our city in the name of 'for your own protection'. How likely is it, I ask, that Archades or Archadian agents orchestrated the explosion which would give them a reason to come and protect us? And what sort of protection, I must further ask, is it they offer when they send in airships to begin bombing our city. I would not desire such a double edged protection from anyone.
In regards to the Rozarrian empire my feelings are mixed. They have not before made a move to annex this region unless it was in response to actions taken by the Archadians, and even then their form of action was to support, according to history, the Princess Ashe in her fight against the annexation of her kingdom. It is my feeling, though it is one that could easily be proven wrong, that they make this move in an attempt to stop a repeat of the past and while I do not think that joining their empire would be, in the long run, a wise choice I would instead suggest that we seek their support in keeping the Archadians at bay.
So what then should we do in response to this threat? Obviously I urge us to remain separate and a neutral force within our land. I have already stated that I would not mind accepting aid from Rozarria, but if we do so a treaty must be signed that would keep us as we are; two separate nations who join together only in times of invasion from hostile forces. Furthermore I believe that we should contact some of the other city-states and request their aid as if we become the neat prize of one or the other empire who is to stop them from going after Kandala, Mr. Bur-Omisace or Zara-Qum? With the help of those we might be able to bring to bear a stronger defensive force.
I would also suggest that we commission the sky pirates to fight with us, to call upon our Mage Guild to bring in their support, the priests and summoners to ask the spirits for their blessings and aid, to request the merchants begin transporting in goods which can be used to fortify the walls of our city, the bellies of our people and the weapons of our armsmen, to form a militia and to mobilize not only city guard, but the guardsmen who are attached to noble houses. Yes, there are two major forces dancing at our gates, but we have options which we've not even begun to tap into yet.
In closing I will thank you for the time you have taken to read this and I will ask that you give serious thought to the words which are written upon this page. It is my earnest belief that yielding and allowing our home to become annexed by either the empire to the north or two the south will spell disaster to our people. New rulers, new laws, new taxes and the prospect of being fully pushed into a war with whichever side did not obtain the keys to Emberstrand is what I see laying before us should we yield and should we fail.
With Best Regards,
Professor Raziel Lunafluere
The Second:
It had been a long time since such an uproar had taken to the streets of Emberstrand. The Second of the Triumvirate remembered the last time, and it had been when the order had been given to the city guard to search the slums for illegal brothels. It had been twenty years since then, and the Second still remembered it clearly. This would be no different.
Three letters sat upon the table, all read, but the Second felt they needed another glimpse. The first letter came from a moogle swordsman, demanding peace.
"I am not a native of your Emberstrand. My name is Kupor. I am a wanderer by trade. I hunt monsters. I hunt bandits. I see men die for food or money, to feed their families, to feed their greed.
I have seen men die for their village. I have seen men with fields go fallow turn to becoming a soldier. I have seen men become soldiers to send money to their families. I have heard of rapists and thieves become part of armies.
War is a thing of stories. Of great rebellions long past. Of dying for glory in the name of an ideal. War is not this. War is men killing one another for land. Families being destroyed. Farms being ruined. Lives being devastated.
I have made this city my home. I believe I am needed here. I will defend it. But there must be peace. Life is far too sacred."
-Kupor
A snort of derision rose from The Second. A true peace would never be attained so long as differences kept arising. The naivity was refreshing. The next two letters were weightier, both from transplants from outside of Emberstrand.
People and Council of Emberstrand.
I am Celeste St. Wallenrod. I grew up in the deep desert; and I have spent much of my adulthood earning my passage on airships, seeing the world and enjoying what it has to offer. Long ago I chose to make Emberstrand my port of call; not just because it is rich and beautiful, but because it is free.
Now the armies of Archades march this way. Already they have struck; the Ashe Road Bridge lies in ruins, your farmlands are torched, and people have been killed. And now I hear, they offer peace; and to this I cry foul. Peace? What peace? It is only the same peace that a mugger offers in the darkened alley; surrender your purse, and there will be no bullet in your gut.
Archades comes to rape and pillage, nothing more. They come to take your riches. They come to take your beauty. They come to take your freedom. That they offer peace means they would be only too happy to do it the lazy way, by having you serve it up to them on a platter; and the Rozarians are no different.
Surrender to one, or surrender to the other, and you will be doing exactly that. Surrendering. You will surrender your right to choose your fate. You will surrender your right to see your children grow up free and choose their destiny.
Fight, and you may die. Surrender, and you will live... for now. But when your beloved sons and daughters are conscripted to a foreign army, to fight over a far away patch of land and bleed their lives into it; and when your friends and neighbors are taken, to silence them for words spoken against an empire; and when the weight of tyrany has fallen heavy across your land, and you find you yearn to resist... it will be too late.
Stand and fight. This is no idle urging; I mean to stand and fight, and present both shield and spear to the enemy. Send out emissaries to the other free cities; Kandhala, Nalbina, Bur-Omisace, and the rest. Ask aid of them, for if we can stand, so can they. If we fall, so might they.
Two hundred years ago battles were fought for freedom, and those battles were won. Let not that struggle have been in vain. I am Celeste, and I am going to fight. I hope that I shall fight in the company of heroes.
Celeste, as dictated to Scribe Naya Fieldsworth, Acolyte to Odin
The First
The frown still creased his face, watching the pair as they read through their own stacks of letters. As always, the Second had a scorn for the people in the city, and the look that came upon the otherwise cool face showed it.
"May I take the other letter?" the First asked, swirling his brandy once again before sipping.
The Second waved a hand irritably. "Go ahead. It's from the Archadian noble who is staying within the city walls. The one whose brother attacked the city."
The First rolled his eyes before taking the letter. There was some nerve in writing the Council after what had happened. He unfolded it.
Members of the Council,
I write to add the opinion of an Archadian expatriate who lives within the walls of your city. Since the days the recent attack by my former countrymen's actions, I have noticed a distinct air settling upon the city: a seething rage that is a dangerous undercurrent to a city that is about to be besieged on all sides. When I make this suggestion, I ask that it is not immediately thrown out as coming from 'just an Archadian' or as 'the brother of one of the Archadian Generals', but rather I would like this suggestion taken as from a man who has called Emberstrand his home enough these few months to move his household to this city; I ask that the Council chooses a path of restraint. I will explain further as to my request.
Restraint is the best tactical measure when a small city is surrounded on both sides by enemies who would swallow a small morsel without a second thought. The city is home to many powerful individuals who are both citizens and mercenaries--these individuals also hold sway in areas outside of the regions both spiritual and secular. There are also individuals within the city who hold great military prowess at their disposal. It would be best to use restraint while these individuals marshall their talents together in a unified force to attack both sides in a covert war.
As with both armies, there is the problem of logistics in a long, drawn out siege. Supply lines are crucial in order to maintain a military campaign. Items such as food, weapons, armors, repair materials, ammunition are all vital components that can be disrupted easily. Troops can be disheartened with covert attacks at the rear of their armies as well as at their flanks. The best military campaigns are never won with a frontal assault against a juggernaut; they are won when you trip the titan and watch him fall.
I also suggest that while using restraint, Emberstrand also looks further than just a 'League of Free Cities'. If it is to be taken seriously in what is increasingly becoming a war between Empires, then Emberstrand may need to look to its enemies and take hold of that same imperialistic manner to secure itself from future excursions. Rozarria and Archades are but two players upon the world map; Moorabella, Goug, and the peoples around Bur-Omisace may see this as an opportunity to increase their hold upon the continent. To secure local lands would also secure trade routes, food supply, and internal security for the city--things that are vital to the survival of a gathered people.
-Lord Agrin Corlan
The First gave a long pause as he sat the letter down. It was not the sort of letter he had expected from the Archadian expatriate. The others had looked to the First, brows raising and waiting for his own words.
He cleared his throat, trying to find the words. "There's ... a lot at stake in what we choose next. The people are in arms about wanting to fight them both. I feel we could fight them if we engage the local mercenaries within the city walls to help."
"Or issue Letters of Marque to the local sky pirate population," chimed in the Third.
The Second remained silent, transfixing sharp eyes to the pair of them. "Our city guard will not be able to hold off one army, let alone two." The high, nasal voice continued. "If the mercenaries and the sky pirates do not drive off either side, then there will be guerrilla warfare in the streets and covert campaigns to 'Free Emberstrand' will come up."
"A risk I'm willing to take," the First said levelly, his gaze like a Basilisk. "We are known as a free city, not the pawn of an empire. Either side will give us a yoke of slavery, it only depends on the harshness of the master who holds the whip."
"There was also pleas for a League of Cities between all the free cities. A way in which to join together and prove our sovereignty," the Third chimed in, crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair.
"True," responded the Second, steepling fingers in thought. "We need to secure ourselves no matter what. I suggest we also speak with the free cities and remind them that all trade comes through Emberstrand at some point. If we fall ... We cannot guarantee trade tarriffs wouldn't be astronomical under new masters. Perhaps that should be our message to potential allies."
The First nodded, letting out a long sigh. "Do it, then."
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