Right, well, someone's gotta talk about this. Yes, you guessed it, we're making another series of posts, as we do with all conquested villages, to beseech the world for their freedom. I know, I know, I thought we would be tired of this as well, by now. Somewhere around the 45th post I made when Mhaldor re-took Mohgedu or the 19th post about Eleusis taking Tasur'ke, however, I admit, I started to lose interest.

No, no, that's not right, I had my notes wrong... We're here to talk about... Ah, yes, Mount Piraeus. I had this prepared for when it came to light, actually. You are right, we have conquested this reclusive village of Cyclops. And yet, with waters pervading their home, they will manage. We do not ask of them to be our slaves, nor do we demand obediance from them. I hope that in time, they will forgive us for spreading our influence, but as members of Lord Neraeos' Empire, we are to spread His waters. I have noticed a distinct lack of water flow in Mount Piraeus, and so, I stand with the cylcopses in taking DOWN the beavers of Mount Piraeus. LET THE WATER FLOW, I SAY.

Oh, no, sorry, that wasn't it either. I've only got the one paper to write this out on, so you'll have to forgive my mistakes.

It has been brought to my attention, as well as yours, if you are one who keeps up with the news, that Cyrene swore an oath to protect the Aalen. I don't know the details of this oath, but from what I'm told by people who've talked to King Tu'eras recently, an old Imperiate made it, many years before I was born. That's all well and good. I'm not meaning to talk ill of those who are no longer waking, but... If this oath was taken on behalf of the city, it was done in privacy. There are no records of votes, no news, no forms filed in triplicate, documented, agreed upon.

We're learning about it for the first time now that we've spread our waters into the Aalen. There was not a single letter, a check-in, a visit from the Tsol'aa to maybe remind or inquire about Cyrene since this happened. Why would he? He had everything he wanted from us, offered up in return for nothing. We have new citizens, senate, ministers, leader, name, patron, and a new form of eidolic influence. I will not be beholden to an oath I didn't know existed, made before I was alive, by a man I don't know, for a city born anew, to a king who has shown us nothing but indifference.

Tu'eras:
I would like to apologize. I am sorry that a former Imperiate and/or senate made a pledge on behalf of the city that they would not hold the city to.

Your threats are heard. I hope that in time, if we continue down this path, we might learn to live with eachother, starting with our own goodwill in that we have outlawed hunting in your village. I'm not sure if you were misled or if the listener was confused about what was said on that day, but I can assure you we have no intent to kill your people or intrude upon your governing structure.

There are many things in this world worse than being under Cyrenian influence. We do not ask for slaves, to change your laws, or to stop worship of other Gods. We hope to help each and every village grow, becoming better with us.

Vothaec:
I, too, am proud of Cyrene for pushing undeath back. Against undeath, I will stand by your side any day. The Cyrene of that day is not the Cyrene of today, though. We are the Gate of Oceanus.

Since you admit you were snooping, anyway, you likely heard the rest of that conversation. A frustrated young Cyrenian (not, I will note, an officer) said those words: "I say kill her and replace her with a new more willing queen. But I will NOT act on that.", but you conveniently left out the next parts. That we would not do something like that, and that slaying the villagers in the Aalen is now outlawed, as they are within our territories.

Aina:
What?

Treyal:
I am glad to hear that when Eleusis holds Manusha, the Granite Hills, or Tasur'ke, that it is not for glory. I am proud of you for holding your head high with honor and justice as you spread Eleusis influence into those places. Good job.

In reality, I, and many other Cyrenians had a hard time in old Cyrene, the Heart of the Vashnars. For as much as we claimed to stand for, we fell for anything - you are right, that we were somehow the only of the cities to be controlled by Tsol'Teth. We were weak. Something hopefully remedied by now, but there is always work to be done.

I recall Harae, when we lacked the power or influence to help more families survive the volcano. Or Narcisse, where I felt I had no choice but to ally myself with Nature. I recently visisted Narcisse again, after many years, to witness, with shame, what had become of it. Even today, their spirits suffer. If it were to happen again today, I hope we might bring the power necessary to save them.


Long live the Imperial Dominion of Cyrene,
- Elmer Fortuna

Penned by my hand on the 15th of Scarlatan, in the year 992 AF.