Caligan Courier/December'10/TraitorIllacara

Roleplay from Illacara Ferous

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“People of Bursa!”

Illacara stood on a wooden platform beside the new temple of the church of Ibladesh. On either side were guards and servants and the mounted brigade of Bursa’n hussars that circled a large mass of peasants more than 400 strong. The surrounding villages had been called in to this central gathering point in Mettensul the mountain village of Bursa where the manor stood. Here the lord addressed the crowd.

“Thank you for coming. I wish to speak to all of you on a very important issue. To those of you faithful to the gods of the temple we raised today. We paid for it, as a donation and asking of acceptance into the church of Ibladesh that is freely preached across our borders. More than half our population follows the church as I do now and we had begun our own honouring of the gods with this temple we built.

But my people I have bad news. The tyrant king of Caligus decrees you cannot worship your religion. He says no temple can stand in these lands. I read out his very orders to me today.”

“The CoI however at this point in time it is deemed a threat to have as a religion in Caligus. For this I will order you to take your temple down…”

“A threat? Our church? The faith of an ally of Caligus is evil and dangerous? Why? Why? Because Dobromir has a hatred for anyone who can rival his power or not be called under his authority. His authority enforced by his pet torturing judge and his corrupt council. The dukes who lick his boots to keep their titles and the family friends and hangers on. He stamps his authority over everything and expects utter obedience for absolutely no compromise or return.

Where are the principles of oblesse oblige in this situation? The noble agreement of two way mutual protection and service? A time honoured system. There are none! This is power and control and oppression pure and simple! He challenges our gods because he thinks he IS a god lording and ruling these lands.

Whose lands are they though? Whose lands? I took this region, I took this region ALONE with a handful of men! I killed the monsters who attacked you and slaughtered your families! Me! Without the help of any other knight or noble. I gave you the security of a realm and a country to call your own. I built the mountain fort we have to protect you all, to give shelter in times when the beasts do strike. I repaired the damage caused by the war. I built recruitment centres for the young men to find work to feed their families and contribute to the glory of Caligus. Those young men who swore to fight for their king! And THIS is how he repays our loyalty? THIS is how he forces his dictatorship on you, and I and our gods?

All these things I could not have done without you, with your labouring and your toil and your taxes. Together we became one and together as one we will remain! We have taken nothing from this realm and given much, so from this we shall serve our own autonomy. Bursa is independent in all but name, we are not aligned to any duchy but that is soon to change. Betrayal of US has forced us into action.

Here is a black mark, awarded to me my king Dobromir today.” Two servants stepped forward and held up a scroll “And here is another one that arrived only an hour ago.” Illacara unfurled the other scroll bearing the seal of the king in black wax. “Here is proof of the betrayal of all that we have done, the abandonment of our king from his loyalty to us. He seeks to drive me from this region and you from your loyalty to me and to yourselves. I stand here tonight on the cusp of this betrayal and ask you this, does this king deserve the honouring you give him? You or I or your children who fight for him, or the food we grow for him? Does a tyrant like he who slanders his allies and besmirches rulers actually deserve to be a king? Who dictates our gods and calls them dangerous and false? Does he act befitting of his rank and status as a monarch?”

There was a hushed silence as these words of feudal heresy were spoken.

“No he does NOT!” Illacara shouted “He is a tyrant without honour! And I see no reason to gift him our loyalty and our taxes and our honouring when he shows not a shred of either in return to us and the people of Bursa!! YOU the loyal people of Bursa. What say you?”

Illacara Ferous

Baron of Bursa

Roleplay from Illacara Ferous

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There was more silence then one voice broke the deathly muse.

“No! .. down with the tyrant!”

“Down with the tyrant king!”

More people took up the shout! “Down with Dobromir! Down with the tyrant! Down with Dobromir!” More chanting, and soon the mass of peasants were clamouring and jeering their insurrection wide across the mountainscape.

“He will not oppress our gods! He will not lie and cheat and twist and slime any longer! He has no authority in these lands! NO king who speaks as he does of his allies and no king who labels our gods as he does in his oppression has right or virtue to rule! Let us cast off his tyranny!” Illacara shouted high to the cheers of the peasants.

“Burn those symbols of dishonour and heresy!” Illacara ordered the guards who turned and set fire to the banners on the platform hung up like prisoners on a gallows. The Caligus flags roared in flames and to the firey sign of their freedom the Bursan peasants shouted and jeered into the night.

“To freedom from religious oppression and unjust tyranny!” Illacara decreed. “Here to the realm of the gods!”

Illacara Ferous

Baron of Bursa

Roleplay from Percival Prestongreen

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Bad news travels fast.

Percival opened a daily dispatch and received word that the traitorous scum, Illacara, has shown his true colors. His mind races. It is a shame Illacara disgraces himself, Busra and Ibladesh. How could he have been allowed a Lordship. Obviously his tongue is silver.

Percival remembered when this miscreant beat unsuspecting peasants doing the work of the nobles of Caligus. That should have been a warning, but he had been given the benefit of the doubt- then were peasants after all. If only I had seen him for what he is, I should have banned him then.

Perhaps if I contact Pontifex Sinted. We had been on good relations in the past, though he has not responded to my last message. Nay, I need to seek our King's direction.

Scribe... Ready your quill. I need an urgent message sent to our King.

Percival Prestongreen

Baron of Mines of Isadril

Roleplay from Bjorn Utengar

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The messenger enter in Bjorn's tent and give him a scroll. Bjorn read slowly, drink his mug full of mead. His look to a soldier with rage in his eyes.

- Soldier, call Captain Heinfried, now. - He looks to the messenger - And you can return to your duty.

Bjorn gives to the man two silver coins, and get up from the floor. Heinfried enters the tent.

- Yes, my Baron?

- Heinfried, talk to our soldiers. Soon, we will wage war agaisnt Ibladesh.

The Captain remains cold, but in his voice Bjorn notice some preocupation when he asks:

- But my Baron, why...?

- Baron Ferous have abandoned Caligus, and sworn a oath to Ibladesh, taking all the region with him. Because of the religion. Ibladesh is a Theocracy, and they will use this to declare war against us. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next year. Just prepare them for the inevitable.

Heinfried just walk out the tent. Soon, Bjorn call his scribe. He enters the tent.

- Do you hear what I have said? - the old man just agrre. - Good. Send a letter to Hilda with my basic intructions. Soon she will fight a great war. Tell her to wait me to futher preparations. Understand?

- Aye my Lord.

The scribe leave the tent. Bjorn look trough the tent's opening, drinking his mead.

- May Odin be our wisdom, may Tyr guide our swords and spears and may Vali avenge our dead. This time, Caligus will face our own demons...

Bjorn Utengar

Baron of Sordidus

Roleplay from Markus von Richthofen

A young lad of fifteen approaches you with a black silk tied scroll, the scroll is dripping something crimson from one end and the youth seems disgusted to be carrying it. Holding it at full arm's length, he deposits the scroll at your feet and runs away as fast as possible. Upon opening it, you see three words written in blood with the stamp of the von Richthofen clan at the bottom.

Betrayers will burn

Markus von Richthofen (Knight of Viseu)

Roleplay from Kevin

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The bards of Partora have begun to sing tales of a traitor in the midst of the Caligan People. Of the loss of a region, and of religious motivations.

Turning to his scribe, Kevin asks what he knows of the situation

"Well, m'lord, it seems that the Lord of Bursa has called hearsay against our King. Not only that, but against all of the King's council, dukes and all. I gather it was quite an impassioned display."

"Well, I should hope that you do not feel the same lest you wish only your head to join him..."

"No, of course not!"

"Good. I pushed for that traitorous scum to be punished back before he was given power, yet somehow he eluded that. Now do you know of any response from Ibladesh?"

"No sir. Nothing that I should have delivered to you, anyway."

"Is that to say that there IS something?"

"No. It's just that... well... this is bound to upset some powerful people, and raise tensions even higher. If we go to war with Ibladesh, Partora will be right on the forefront, and bound to see the first assault. I guess the people just fear war."

"This is a fair conclusion I suppose. We must belay their fears so that they do not panic unnecessarily. I will address the public when our King has something to say on the matter. Until then, I want preparations to begin to upgrade the defenses of this city."

"But... m'lord... we don't have the money for th-"

"I don't care about that! Tell the smiths to begin work on fortifications on my order. I will see that they get their payment."

The scribe hastily leaves the room to go to the production district of the city. Kevin looks out of his Keep over the city, hoping that the walls would not soon see the presence of siege engines and enemy troops at her walls.

Kevin Fergus

Duke of Partora

Roleplay from Traemlin Augulus

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Ahh, so the traitor has left our realm... I have to say, I cannot deny that Caligus feels cleaner now... Traemlin shifted positions within his field command tent, where he had been spending the last few hours pondering the recent turn of events.

He called to his servant, "boy, fetch me the teachings of the Church of Ibladesh. I want to check something! Make it quick!" The lad rushed out of the tent on his errand.

Now, what was Illacara's reason for betraying his realm? Oh, right. He felt religiously oppressed. How ironic. Could he not see the hilarity of the situation? Illacara was seriously angered by the good King's response, when...

The boy returned to the tent, carrying a bound leather text. "Thank you, my boy. Now, leave me in peace!" Traemlin flicked a silver piece at the boy, who caught it with an outstretched arm. Traemlin opened the book, and found rather quickly what he was looking for.

Oh, here it is! So, Illacara's reasoning for his betrayal was religious intolerance? It says within their very text, more or less, that Ibladesh allows no other religion to be taught, practiced, or believed within their realm. Moreover, they stress the values of honor and wisdom! It would be a wonder if Ibladesh doensn't reject Illacara for his traitorous actions! If this one foolish noble brings war to my homeland, things will not end well for him. That is a fact...

Traemlin Augulus (Knight of Tokat)

Roleplay from Elisedd Deytheur

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Another day, another fresh wave of confusion. Another hint that this realm had problems that ran deeper.

Elisedd sighed and wondered what he had wandered into. The phrase 'out of the frying pan into the fire' came to mind.

Sir Elisedd Deytheur

Marshal of the Caligus' Golden Talons

Roleplay from Leonardo Francios

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Leonardo was startled by his scribe's entrance.

"Mi lord! Bursa, Bursa has changed alliegence to Ibladesh!" The young scribe squealed, his hands holding up the latest bag of reports.

"So, Illacara really did that? I suppose so." Leonardo exited his tent, staring out south. From the moment he heard from the priests that the scum had joined the Church of Ibladesh, he knew that was going to happen, but not this soon.

Leonardo held up his combat sword and sworn out loud.

"The moment I see you, Illacara, I am going to take your head with this!"

Leonardo Francios

Royal Treasurer of Caligus, Baron of Scio

Letter from Dobromir Menethil

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Regarding Baron Illacara and Ibladesh,

Illacara has been a noble that lived for himself didnt respect anyone and does as he wishes. He never helped our army out in any way and by all means he never raised a finger for Caligus only for his own personal gain.

Not much of you are aware of his past crimes. He constantly got into fights with peasants, beat up adventurers for fun, stole a precious item of Duke Cuthbert and shipped it away before he was caught officially with it, disobeyed orders contantly, trapped food in his region and only listened when he was ordered directly, never joined the army and just sat in Bursa collecting taxes after taxes.

For these crimes and then him letting CoI preach in Caligus without my permission nor asking of it (As I am his direct liege) I ordered either he take the temple back down and prove his loyalty or leave. He decided to leave and show his true colors.

Regarding Ibladesh and Pontifex Sinted. I have no clue how Ibladesh will react to this. I warned Pontifex Sinted this would likely happen a day before it did and this is a rogue noble that serves no one but himself. However, Moyale which we still have a claim to they are so far refusing to give me a date to return the region. It has been promised they would only keep the region till Caligus wants it back. Therefore, I dont know if I see Ibladesh returning two regions to us.

Out of all the commossion and strained relations as of late they have a chance to prove if they wish to be our allies or not. I have faith they will do the right thing.

Signed,

Dobromir Menethil

King of Caligus