[RPG] [Antoza] Withdrawing Anacan

[Jeff Guillot]

(META: Word of this speech will spread quickly, both inland and along
the coast and down the river. Many will hear of it.)

Olwe stands in Anacan town square, addressing the people. The streets
are crowded with eager souls awaiting news from their beloved Duke.
They know something is amiss... the walls are manned heavily, whispers
ride on the winds, and the banner of the Commonwealth no longer flies
above the city. The day is bright, the weather pure.

"People of Anacan! Sons and Daughters of the city! Hear me!"

A cheer from the people.

"I come before you first to tell you that the rumors you have heard of
the King's illness are true. The man you and I both love is no longer
fit to rule us."

Uneasy and tense murmors sweep the crowd.

"But I come before you secondly to tell you that the dissatisfaction
each of you have felt in your hearts has been real and justified. Long
have you lived and died as members of a Commonwealth - a commonwealth
your ancestors founded! You are a people of lions! You are brave, you
serve those you love and those you respect with pride!"

An eager round of "aye!" and "say true!" goes up from the masses.

"Yet, have not each of you long felt that somehow, you and this city
were pulling more than your weight? Have not you felt that this
Commonwealth you served was little more than a den of helpless sheep
that your efforts went to serve?" Olwe pauses... murmurs of agreement
sweep the crowd... "I stand before you today to tell you that your
Commonwealth does not have *your* best interests at heart, people of
Anacan! You provide it with wealth, and young sons to fight... and it
gives you nothing! What has happened to the Commonwealth that your
ancestors founded? A bastion against tyrrany, a place of freedom for
brave souls? A place of prosperity? Its dream has died!"

The crowd is now agreeing loudly. Angry shouts against the
Commonwealth begin to rise.

"I am a warrior of the sword- and I fight to serve each of you here.
But I say that you do not need a sword to be a warrior! Each man,
woman, or child who loves those around them, who serves happily, and
who lives his life and does his or her job bravely... they are
warriors too! All of you are warriors! All of you are lions!"

More cheers.

"I have announced today in the council that our city is withdrawing
from the corrupt hulk of a commonwealth. Will you join me now in
taking back your home, in remaking Anacan as the city it once was -
and still is, in the souls of each person here?"

The crowd shouts loudly, cheering "Aye!" and "Yes!"

"Today, we form a brotherhood... a brotherhood in the image of the one
once founded by the people of Toren, in my homeland. They were a
people much like us - a people of lions! So today we will usher in a
government ruled by what is held dear to each of us - love, honor, and
respect!"

A mighty cheer goes up from the people. An air of excitement quickly
spreads, out from the city and into the countryside... "The old city
is coming back! Duke Olwe is withdrawing from the Commonwealth! No
longer will our taxes go to pad the pockets of a strange plethora of
nobles, so they can fight strange wars! Our home is ours again!"

Olwe hoists the banner of a silver Lion above Anacan Keep. A new age dawns.