Abington Account/Lies and Dishonour

Royal Lies and Dishonour

Captain's Confusion, Pt. 1

Captain of Talerium, during the War of Dishonour (as it came known to be), once declared that "Abington is the source of all evil on Atamara." As it turns out, this was just one of a long list of slander, deceit and dishonour to come from that ruler.

According to Queen Armitage III, one of Captain's favorite fictions is the history of Lamar and Kanzum. This was first (re) introduced in Gauihu's reign as the accusation that "In the past, Abington had no need for Lamar and Kanzum, the regional decendants of Carelia and RedSpan respectively, and cast them to the side without a defense when the armies marched towards them."

He later stated that "You would choose to ignore and push aside the fact that you abandoned Lamar and Kanzum to death," and referred to a "war which Abington abandoned it's closest friends in."

These accusations ignore the facts, and place the blame of Lamar and Kanzum's defeat not on those who conquered those realms, but those who defended them. (This is, of course, a lie perpetuated today as conquerors blame Abington for the conquest of Redspan). The history of Lamar is hard to glean today, but one thing is clear: Talerium took part in that conquest, and even to this day is willing to blame the defenders for being conquered by his own realm.

Kanzum, who participated in attacks against Abington, is now claimed as Abington's "closest friend" by Captain. But from a man who blames his victims even while he himself is victimizing them, what's one more ugly little lie?

Kronos's Crudity

Kronos of Carelia has never been accused of being a well-educated fellow. Nevertheless, the editors of the Abington Account can hardly believe the depths he is willing to stoop to in the ongoing pursuit of power.

First, it must be reiterated that under Kronos's leadership, Carelia betrayed the Federation, simultaneously declaring war on both Abington and Redspan. While Abington, under Armitage III, mercifully granted a second chance to Kronos, Kronos used that time to form alliances with Tara, Talerium and CE - and then to attack Redspan with the intent of destroying and conquering it. This is tantamount to two betrayals.

Kronos's justification? A single comment made by Gauihu, who was Arch Priest at the time, expressing his opinion that Carelia should be "wiped off the map." This comment was made after the betrayal by Carelia, and yet it is held up as some kind of "reason" for that same betrayal! Furthermore, it is currently the only reason Kronos has to attack Redspan - and that makes about as much sense as time-traveling opinions by the Arch Priest of Abington.

It is already a matter of public record that, because the "wipe off the map" comment was expressed within Abington and was only made public after Strider of Cagilan Empire tortured an Abington noble, Kronos considered Gauihu a "coward" for not "saying it to his face." Evidently, Kronos thinks any noble, in any land, is a "coward" if they have an opinion of Kronos and Carelia that they do not send, directly, to Kronos.

This author would like to incourage all nobles, in any realm, to immediately send any and all of their personal opinions of Kronos to him; otherwise, you will apparently be, a "coward."

It is also a matter, now, of public record that Kronos took the opportunity to "deride the people, government and ancestors of Abington, and declare them to be evil people devoid of soul and undeserving of mercy."

Although it's important to note that Kronos is being "disrespectful" to foreign rulers - on a level of crudity (referring to "balls," and outright calling them "stupid") only matched by his crudity towards foreign realms en masse - Abington has not reciprocated the stance of "Hatred" that Carelia now shows for them. While Kronos, based on his personal pride, may be willing to declare that all Abington is "evil," Abington chooses to believe that there are indeed noble, reasonable and rational lords and ladies within Carelia.

It is simply a tragedy, however, that Carelia is lead by one whose one whims teeter from "dangerously mad" to "dangerously stupid." While Gauihu's opinion may have been to erase Carelia from the map - after the betrayal - it is clear that, under Kronos's leadership, Carelia is now being used as a pawn by Talerium, Cagilan Empire and Tara; a pawn with which to destroy Redspan and Abington.

Propaganda Lies and Dishonour

The Taran "Liberation"

According to Jose dela Cruz of the Tara Times, the invasion and conquest of Stargard and other chunks of Redspan by four realms has been, in fact, a "liberation."

For example, after the Taran army withdrew temporarily from Stargard as Redspan and Abington forces approached, the Times claimed that "Despair and disappointment could be seen on everyone's faces as peasants of the city beg for their protection ... The cries and wails of the bereaved civilians could be heard a mile away from the city."

Later, when the enemy came to conquer - that is to say, to "liberate" the city - it was claimed that "Flowers and praise are being heaped upon the parading Army as the ecstatic city peasants welcome back their saviors."

Repeated statements are made throughout that Abington and Redspan are trying to "conquer" Redspaniard lands, while Tara and her allies are "liberating" Redspaniard lands.

But the editors of the Abington Account have always believed that truth is the best weapon, and certainly the best policy to follow in writing news reports. The fact is that propaganda, while it may have a place, must not be so hideously, blatantly, and absurdly false as to be nothing but lies easily debunked by even the least intelligent.

Loyalty towards Redspan remains high for Redspaniard lands. Rogeshore (93 out of 100 peasants asked), Sullenport (93), Ambernel (93), Lurgod (94). Although Upperfell has been conquered by its enemies, a full 39 out of every 100 of its population remains loyal to their home country (or at least, is willing to say they are, in the presence of 577 conquering troops).

And why shouldn't loyalty be high? The "liberators" have looted Stargard and brutally taken it over! Not just fifteen hours before this writing, Taran "liberators" plundered, marauded, killed, raped, and burned the people and lands of Byblack!

So while it is plainly a lie that the peasants of Redspan are "ecstatic" about having their "saviors" rape and murder them, one wonders just how far the perversion in the south goes - that is, who is willing to, despite all evidence, believe total lies in order to simply fall in line with a new political order?

Only time will tell.

The Carelian "Liberation"

Taking a cue from the Taran propaganda-source, Zerric Zorath of the Carelian Times, has also chosen to euphemistically label brutal takeovers as "liberation."

In a recent article, the Carelian Times wrote that "The Noble Allies are tirelessly trying to minimize civilian casualties, but accidents do happen." Does Mister Zorath truly believe that Tarans, Taleriumites and Carelians are so incapable of leading troops that they just "accidentally" pillage? Accidental rapes? If so, why does he surmise these "accidents" don't happen in Carelia? Those are awfully convenient "accidents," seeming to only "accidentally" happen in lands Carelia is currently trying to get it's allies to conquer.

The same article purports that "Abington still denies causing this war, but then we expect nothing less from those who would write of your destruction then smile and ask for assistance from the one your vowing to "wipe of the map." In this, they follow Kronos and Captain's leads and join in denying the responsibility of their own aggression. This spin is well-known and to be expected, but one wonders from where Zerric gets "ask for assistance." There is no record of Abington ever "asking for assistance" from Carelia ever since Carelia's betrayal.

Of course, Zerric also clings, like Kronos, to a single statement made by Arch Priest Gauihu, as some sort of retroactive justification for war and betrayal. This is further addressed above in the expose of Kronos's lies.

And, sadly, Zerric also stoops to complete insults, writing in an earlier article that "your average Abington noble is fairly incapable of surprising their families when they go home to visit." Insults, lies and spin - this is what makes a Carelian a "hero" and a conquest a "liberation."