Abington Account/September2007

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Birth of the Republic

September 4. Special Article

The turmoil of the last days of the Monarchy is, to say the least, hard for us at the Abington Account to fully relate. In this article we will explore the events central to and surrounding the rebellions and the fall of King Gauihu.

The Madness of King Gauihu

At some unknown point in time, Gauihu, King of Abington, lost his sanity. Whether this occurred a long time ago and was simply not known until recently, or was truly a recent development brought on by the stress of his position and weaknesses of his character, we may never know.

To most in Abington, his insanity first manifested itself in truly irrational decision-making during the last week of the monarchy. According to sources at the royal court, the decision to declare war on the Cagilan Empire was described widely as "rash" by leading lords and government members. Although the Cagilan Empire did invade prior to this, thus making the declaration justified in principle, it was believed that the move would be perceived as overly aggressive and lead to more actions taken against the realm.

It was the seeming inability of Gauihu to secure new alliances, end current wars or, indeed, change anything that lead to what was to be the last straw, the Secession of Wayburg under Duke Magnus the Mighty. Two more duchies promised to follow suit, and in the ensuing arguments, Gauihu's state of mind clearly spiraled down into insanity, leading him to declare war on Tara, Darka, the Barony of Makar, even Minas Ithil.

Besides his official policies in these last days, rumors abound that his madness was manifesting in other ways, including a homicidal rage towards his own wife and children, a tendency to talk to himself, executions of random subordinates, questioning the blood of several nobles. It's even suggested that he walked through (and perhaps summoned) a crowd of undead in Riverholm, untouched, just before the end.

But end it did.

The Odoaker Rebellion

Odoaker Sciriani, a knight of Narville, was among those nobles accused of false or otherwise non-noble blood. "Filthy low-born! You may have fooled those around you for a few weeks but no longer! You are discovered, revealed, found out, cast out!" Gauihu declared after Odoaker had publicly protested (along with many others of the realm) the king.

Within the day he lead the first rebellion, announcing:

"The rule of Gauihu ends today! For too long he has lead us towards our demise, we must act now, before it is too late. Since it has become painfully clear that he has lost all sanity and reason, we are forced to take matters into our own hand... I ask that all those who truly love Abington to join us, as to make this coup as bloodless as possible. Once it is over, I will step down, and allow a fair election to place a worthy ruler on the throne. For Abington!"

Although his statement that Gauihu's reign (effectively) was at an end proved prescient, the rebellion did not have the success hoped for. Ilandere (another noble accused of being low-born), Mia and Leith quickly signed on, but High Marshal Xuanye, Duke of Stoneville, expressed his doubts that a relative newcomer would be fit. When Odoaker announced that he intended to step down after the rebellion (a "front man" as he called it), but that the government would be reformed as a Democracy, Xuanye was the first to join the loyalists.

Taran, a Priest of Aristoi Atamarism, said: "I will not support any rebellion by anyone advocating the destruction of the Royal Line of Kings of Abington... especially not one lead by a noble from a family so unremarkable."

Despite Odoaker's reassurances and his passion to get rid of the tyrant, the rebellion was effectively doomed. Otto, Colin, Vinas, Alain, Carl, Count Manfred, Rory, Countess Aeryn, Zhang, Zoltan, Roger I, Count Castageir, Jurigar, Count Phlex, Darin, Lion El'Jonson, Levolgush, Del'Sinda, Kosuke, Harn, Leton, Gadrial, Illyrien, Khârn, Cosimo, Enker, Galdar, and Taran (who had left the priesthood) all joined the loyalists.

Owing to an oath he had sworn at the start of the rebellion, Odoaker, seeing it was lost, brought a dagger to the side of his throat, and with a steady hand, cut through his windpipe and jugular vein. The first rebellion had failed.

Interim

Although the rebellion had failed, Odoaker was the only one to lose his life (and at his own hands) over it. Grand Poobah Jr, recently elected as judge, declined to punish the rebel members. The execution of Spiritmonger brought an end to the Aquitaine movement and was hailed at the time as a just decision.

Meanwhile, Gauihu declared war on the Barony of Makar, and lowered relations with Carelia, matching their long-standing hatred with his own. He accused Yal'rassia, an Aristoi priest, of imposture, calling him a "heretic." He did the same with Lion El'Jonson, without the heresy charge. He executed peasants and his own officers at whim. Protests continued steadily, even by his own wife (whose family dissolved the marriage) and fellow Royal, but seemed to have no influence on him.

Battles continued throughout the land, involving various strange combinations of Darkans, Cagilan Empire, Carelia, Caergoth, monsters and undead.

Something had to change.

Xuanye's Rebellion

"Fellow nobles -- it is time to rid ourselves of Gauihu. Let us depose the man who is no longer fit to rule and move foward to try to restore order before it is too late! Rise up!"

So spoke Xuanye in a passionate speech that signaled the end of both the monarchy and its last monarch. The rebellion was quickly joined by Taran, Mia, Galdar, Arch Priest Grand Poobah, Jr, Kosuke and Yaginaka (joined later by many more). Talk of the new government type included the possibility of an Aristoi theocracy, while Mia opined that republicanism and democracy were both overrated.

Of course, not everyone approved. Teael, who had been a strong supporting member of Aquitaine and now again a knight of Narville, said, "How does Duke Spiritmonger lose his life over what is now the norm in this realm? Then too, should all of you joining the rebellion lose YOUR lives for not having the foresight or the courage to do what SHOULD have been done. Shame on your nobles who call yourselves honourable."

But with Xuanye, High Marshal and Duke of the capital - not to mention the new Arch Priest - supporting the rebellion, Gauihu must have known he couldn't maintain power. Xuanye made little doubt about what would happen if he remained, saying to the king, "Gauihu, step down before there's further bloodshed, or you will be forced to go disgracefully -- with all the implications of that action."

Gauihu, now without royal guards (who had fled to the palace in Stoneville) and pursued by his own cousin, sped through Riverholm and boarded a ship which he had apparently had waiting there for him. Although the royal palace itself was not to be fully secured for a day and a half, the rebellion had won.

Formation of the Republic

"It is my honour to proclaim the founding of the Republic of Abington today. It is, I hope, what will be a glorious new beginning for this realm. Given all that has transpired, it is clear that the monarchical system no longer suits the needs of the people of this realm, and thus the republic is born. Let us work together to rebuild some order amidst the chaos. Our work is only just beginning."

Xuanye has now reformed the government of Abington, declaring it a Republic and himself the first Prime Minister. Callisto Maximoff was quickly appointed as Minister of Finances, and Grand Poobah Jr has announced his intention to run for the position of Grand Justiciar. Ten leading government members and lords have been formed into a "Grand Council" and across the realm, weary celebration proliferates over the ending of a dark era in Abington's history.

Tara and Barony of Makar Agree to a Cease-Fire

Details are still sketchy, but two of the victims of Gauihu's war declarations have already agreed to a cease-fire with Abington's new government, with strong hopes that others will follow. More on this breaking story as it unfolds.