Sapience, and in particular, good Laras

We have known each other a long time I feel. We have always been honest and lacked formality that might be demanded or expected from others, but while I rarely feel an urge, or desire, to partake in the public drops of rain that are these boards, I feel you are missing a vital point in any victory.

Sacrifice.

You raise the banner of Riahn, or Kasotus, perhaps all those that have silently, or loudly, left Oceanus' Gate since it's conception a few decades now past.

Yet, while you may know the stories, you do not know what transpired, having not dwelled in a city since the fall of Shallam. You may speak to the few, but what of the many, what of those that lived it?

You do not know the sacrifice, the debate, the disputes, the discussions that transpired, not only publically in the City, not only within the Senate, but within the hearts and souls of those five individuals that made that ultimate choice.

It is true, we had desired a larger majority in the initial voting, and in the voting of the first two votes within the Senate, based on the people's choice, soon came the third by the Imperiate, sealing the future of Cyrene.

I, being one of the five, cast my vote next, to give the majority more then the slimmest of margins, with Kasotus standing upon his morals and beliefs. I do not begrudge him this, anymore then I have ever begrudged Riahn for his belief. It is within all of us that we must grow, and by these paths they walk do they do such, in their own way.

You proclaim that we, the victors of that day, write the history, but in this realm, all know that the viewpoints of those not victors sometimes become the canon of concepts. You profess you cry out for those that lived within the City, and fell to the wayside by this singular choice.

You do not need to tell me those we lost, for I remember them all well. It has always been my faith, my duty, to rise to the demands of service and honor the choices made by those places I dwell. I served, and I led, and I strove to talk to those wavering, when allowed to, to tell them that all of history has not been forgotten, but their paths were set firm and in some cases, loudly and with disrespect.

I, like the God-Emperor whom I served by His Imperial Will, can only handle disrespect for so long before words must be turned into action.

You enact the names of Knights old, Knights in your youth whom were your examples, an honorable lot.. mostly.. as you must also understand I knew them as well. They are fine examples, yes, but they lived in a different era, a different place, a different time. Remember them, but do not make them all out to be heroes, they, like us all, were simply mortal.

You speak of the Imperials that still dwell within Cyrene, in pain, in remorse of their decisions. Perhaps there is, perhaps they desire to watch what transpires, what limits we will go, how strong our Passion... our.. Conviction even is in service to His Empire.

You have no idea what was required of those few leaders that stepped forward and took the reins in what is likely the largest transition this world has seen since the fall of Shallam into the Hallowed Hearth that dwells there now.

I can not speak for any other then I, of the years of hardship, of the will required to bring a people out of the depths that Cyrene had fallen, in so many ways, into being what it has barely touched the edges of being, of what it will spread, what it will teach, the compassion and the art and the wisdom that dwells within all that live within His waters.

This is the promise of Cyrene, of Oceanus, of the Empire. This is simply the beginning of a journey, and I hope, Laras, that in time you come to see the possibilities as I did, to witness a true growth of not simply a few individuals, but an entire society and people as a whole, which could spread to such a vast distance that this world is only the start.

For the betterment of creation, for the betterment of all that Cyrene's teachings touch, all that we come to gather to His Empire. We do not do this to be victors, but to be shepards upon a path that few will ever dare to walk.

Into a better future then what we started with.

Not slavery, or purification or a fading of all.
Simply a better, bountiful, life.

You, Laras, whom enspouses so often the teachings of the olden days, of the days of Light and Shallam and the Te'Serra. You whom believe in Justice, Righteousness, Growth and Knowledge, tempered with Compassion.

Remember what it is we strive to do, old friend.

For the rest of this realm, let me simply state this.

Riahn had multiple choices and chances in this realm to walk the path he strove to claim he wanted to uphold. Knighthood is not an easy path, but path of demand and personal sacrifice. One of the first lessons is that you should learn to listen, before you speak. Even as an Armsman, Page, Vassal, anything we desire to proclaim it, honor, respect, and duty should have been your life.

You ignored the hands that reached out, and proclaimed yourself more and beyond, and others ignorant, regardless of their intent. That is why you need to address Cyrene before you can continue forward on the path you profess to desire, but you can't, won't, because pride drives you forward, yet you have not learned sacrifice yet.

Pity.

May all that seek to speak of the times of the Heart of the Vashnars fading into Oceanus' Gate remember this. Speak not for those that were there, it is unfitting to presume.

May all have a fantastic turn of the year, and see the next thousand years allow growth for all in this realm, in their own paths and ways.

In Service to Her,
Lord Milabar Si'Talvace
Knight of the Realm
Ex-Imperial Chancellor
ect... ect... ect...

Penned by my hand on the 23rd of Chronos, in the year 999 AF.