Today a Hero Falls

[The following speech was given by King Gabriel in Wren’s Square, Gawaine. He stood on the steps of the Hall of Guardians with his Great Wolf, Boldheart, sitting solemnly at his side. On this wet autumn morning, thousands stood in reverent silence as His Majesty’s voice echoed throughout the square.]

“I do not stand before you all today as your king. No, on this day, I speak to you all as a man in mourning.

Prince Talysen Boldheart, Governor of Gawaine, Commander of the Northern Armies of Carloth, and my younger brother, is dead.”

[King Gabriel pauses as a wave of horrified gasps and sobs ripples through the crowd.]

“As Talysen was the duly appointed ruler of the great city of Gawaine, I felt it was my responsibility to travel here to deliver this horrible news myself.

You, the people of Gawaine, pride yourselves on your strength and unyielding resolve, so I shall not withhold the details of what happened. You deserve to know. But before I get to that, I wish to take a few moments to share a few personal memories of the man you knew as Governor, but I knew as brother.

I remember the day our mother, Queen Margaret, came into my bedchamber carrying a squalling newborn. I was only four years old, but I didn’t feel any of the jealousy that can happen when an only child becomes an older sibling. Talysen was so small, so upset, so confused at being alive, I immediately felt it was now my responsibility to protect him.

Decades passed, we both grew into adults and rulers, yet I have never let go of the obligation I placed upon myself when I was four to safeguard my brother.

Prince Talysen was fond of saying that Adamanth is the heart of the human realms, Cerulea the mind, and Gawaine the fist. I believe there is great deal of truth in this. Gawaine is the home to the finest military academy in Entrath. Many of the most brilliant tactical minds who ever lived, including Talysen, were trained right here on the cobblestones we now stand on. And yet, I was unable to protect him. I failed.

Several weeks ago, I received a scouting report that there was heightened necrotic activity in the jungles south of the Feralroot Woods. Our enemies seemed to be mustering forces, perhaps for some kind of attack. I ordered Prince Talysen, along with a small contingent of knights, to travel south and investigate what the Underworld might be up to.

He and the knights were never heard from again.

A few days ago, an elf ranger made a grisly discovery in a jungle clearing. A dozen shields, each bearing the insignia of the Knights of Gawaine, had been carefully arranged in a circle. In the middle of the circle was a thirteenth shield, one that bore the sigil of the Boldhearts. Talysen’s shield.

Sitting atop each of the shields … was a human heart.”

[More gasps and cries erupt from the crowd, along with a few angry curses.]

“The hearts were taken to the Academy in Cerulea to be examined by the mages. They were able to confirm that, indeed, the hearts belonged to Prince Talysen and his contingent.

There is no question, no question whatsoever, that our Underworld foes perpetrated this heinous slaughter and crafted this macabre tableau to make absolute certain that we knew what they done. The only reason they would commit this atrocity is to incite a war.

Well, citizens, if the Underworld wants war, then I hold the power to grant them their wish.

I do not make this pronouncement lightly. We have gone to war with the Underworld before, and we are still recovering from the devastation it wrought. Were it not for many noble sacrifices, including that of King Wren, we would not be standing where we are today. The very square we now stand in was named in his honor. Let us not forget that on this dark day.

Back then, humanity was perched on the very brink of ruin. So, I understand the awful cost we will likely pay by declaring another war against the Underworld.

And yet, this murderous act of cowardice shall not go unanswered. We cannot allow the best of us to be brutally slaughtered and dismembered in an unprovoked assault.

For too long, we have allowed the amoral tyranny of the Underworld races to prosper. That ends today. By the life and blood of my brother, Talysen Boldheart, I do swear it.

Today, a hero falls. Tomorrow, humanity rises!”





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