Friends, Cousins, Comrades and all Gentle Readers,
If the letters I have received are any indication, then many of you care far more about the nascent state of Almeric than about the ancient and collective heritage in the Blessed Lands. I admit, I am somewhat surprised. I naturally lean the other way. And usually I do not garner much in the way of replies. Well excepting the replies of academics and other colleagues. You’d be shocked over the things scholars and dilettantes can find to debate. Honestly. I know some scholars connected to the Emerald Society who are still debating what the Khitani Fork Ritual is all about. So far as I know the argument has been running for 42 years. People, just buy some forks already! And find someone from Khitan to teach it to you!
But I digress.
As I was saying, your wider set of comments and critiques has caught me somewhat flat footed. But not displeased. Many messages I have received are passionate, though they were also of widely varying character.
Some of you want to know why they should choose to join an Altherian in meddling. Others appear to be quite taken with the idea of a Chamber of Princes. A few errantly claim that only the consolidation of power in a Throne and King can provide stability.
Let me tackle these thoughts in reverse order.
First, I mean no disrespect to those living under Empires, Kingdoms or Principalities. I am sure you love your nation as much as I love Altheria. History is full of great leaders. Both the legendary First Emperor and the modern King Osric are icons and symbols of heroism! I only mean to point out that other stable governments exist. Look back at the Blessed Land. The First City is effectively ruled by a cabal of Merchants with some foreign military presence. The same is essentially true for the city of Censure. And of course my home, bright Altheria, is an enlightened Republic. All of these governments have been running for hundreds of years.
So while, in theory any stable government is a significant improvement over the anarchy that reigns in Almeric, I see no way to create a Kingdom out of the mess that exists there now. Neither has anyone who has voiced objections put forward a viable path. Unless you count some variation of “Divine Providence,” as a master plan. Personally I would rather take action now rather than wait for thing to get so bad one or more of the Valinor feel compelled intervene.
I submit to you that even some of the Princes and Princesses working together some of the time would be an improvement to what exists now. This potentially highlights one of the strong points of building up a negotiating and legislative body. It has the power to grow from even from a modest start. Rulers will see advantages to joining it. Were we to simply cobble together a league of 10 towns to act in concert we would create a corner of relative calm in Almeric. Fewer crops would be pillaged and burned. Their collective people could trade with each other for mutual benefit. Neighbors would be encouraged to join such a compact for the economic benefits, while outsiders would be discouraged from challenging the combined might of the ten towns.
From a modest seed good things could grow.
I suppose a fair question to ask is, “Are there 10 towns ready to enter into such an arrangement?” And the answer to that at present, as I am sure many of you already surmise, is no.
Almeric needs a nudge.
Now as for why it should be outsiders who provide this nudge, all I can say is that the nudge needs to come from an honest broker every party can trust. No such domestic individual exists. Perhaps Roderick val’Tensen, ruler of Treslau, might fit the bill. At least in some quarters. But Roderick does not seem to be exerting himself in this direction. Further the relative disparity of power between Treslau and smaller towns undermines some of his ability to appeal to fellow val’Tensen who may fear subservience to another more powerful Prince.
I have gone looking for enlightened aides to the various Princes to discuss these views. And to my surprise I have found few to talk to. Suspiciously few. This also cries for outside investigation and perhaps intervention.
Now, the Temple of Hurrian has chosen to do everything possible to keep itself out of the questions of government. And I can see that if you were smart enough to see the horror of anarchy and tyranny coming you might vote with your feet and relocate back to Milandir or Coryan. But still. Where are the rest of the diplomats and wise sages?
I raised this question to one of the few "Princes" who would spend time talking with me. One Walder Gelbachen, who I note is not a val’Tensen, and is scorned by all his neighbors. For all that, there is no denying that he rules the town of Maren. Apologies to my val’Tensen readers, but I judge Walder’s claim to any throne as only slightly more ridiculous than usual. He countered my questions about the lack of advisers with one of his own, “Have you seen any Battle Mages while traveling in Almeric?”
I had to confess I had not. Which is curious. In a very simple summary of our conversation. Walder noted that in large scale battles it is easier to dedicate a group of archers or slingers to kill off casters of all stripes. The range of missile weapons, even without thinking about flintlocks, is generally much longer than the range of the arcanum. The snipers of the Shining Patrol are in part dedicated to this theory. But with smaller skirmishing groups the balance shifts back, sometimes heavily, to the advantage of casters. In the open you can’t dedicate archers to shooting casters if they are going to be overrun by swordsmen. In the chaos of Almeric a few dedicated casters could have, at least in theory, a disproportionate impact against more mundane troops.
So what is going on? Where are the battle-mages and the sages and the diplomats? Walder suggested I look in to the name of Almeric itself, and then concluded the interview. How irritating! Without I should also note, committing one way or the other to the idea of a parliament. Still, the man was generous with his time.
Researching the name of Almeric is not an arduous a task. Almeric val’Assante was the “second” Emperor of Coryan and is largely credited with forging the nuts and bolts of the Coryani Empire out of the coalition put together by the First Emperor to fight the original Crusade of Light. But for ancient Almeric, it is possible that the First Crusade could have dissolved with death of their leader and everyone might have just returned home." It’s not too hard to see why the val’Tensens might have chosen that name for their fledgling country. But nothing here in the basic version illuminates Walder’s rather cryptic comment.
Fortunately I happen to be one of the most learned scholars on Onara so I had but little trouble digging deeper. Practical Almeric also known with a terrible bargain with a foreign power. It turns out it was also Emperor Almeric val’Assante who first treated with the Sorcerer King of Ymandragore. Almeric granted his Sorcerous Majesty the right to send Harvesters to the Shores of Onara in exchange for defending the continent from further infernal hosts from across the seas. This treaty would hold for roughly 500 years till the ill fated dispute with Empress Shar val’Assante over her twin children Nurion and Gemmalus. Which of course led to the Coryani-Ymandrake War from 536-538 I.C., the sacrifice of Gemmalus to the Isle of Tears and eventually Nurion abdicating the Alabaster Throne to found of the Sanctorum.
Is this what Prince Walder was referring too? I am not entirely sure. But I do know I have encountered very few casters of any stripe in Almeric. Maybe my sample of life in Almeric is too narrow, but I confess I feel a certain guilty relief that Ymandragore usually doesn’t prey upon psions. And I also confess a strong desire to lower my profile while I travel through on the Pilgrims Way. Just in case.
Let’s hope this line of thought proves false. But if true is just one more reason why stability should be reintroduced to this bleeding land. So I ask you, if in your travels you get the chance to bend a Prince's ear, plant this idea. Together we may be enough to provide the nudge I so fervently believe is needed.
I remain as always your obedient scribe,
Tukufu, Ambassador of Altheria
_________________ Eric Gorman
AKA Ambassador Tukufu, man of letters, tomb raider and Master Sword Sage . . . and Sir Szymon val'Holryn, Order of the Phoenix Formerly Sir Jaeger val'Holryn. Weilder of the Holy Avenger: Thonanos. Gave his soul to help free King Noen
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