A weary old Dwarf hobbles his way to the Board of Public Announcements, his steps that of a man who should have had the use of a cane many years past. Any other man likely would have given into that need. But Krook Betifale was not any other man. Any who know him would have to say that it was his pride alone that kept him standing upright. Though some snickered that the ground itself did not wish to have his cantankerous grumbling any closer than it had to be, regretting even the touch of his calloused feet. Either way, his back refused to be bent by more age than any should be allowed in one lifetime. It was often whispered where none thought that he could hear, that even Death would not put its cold fingers one his old bones. If that be the case, Death had good reason.
?Blast ye fer fools and none such. I tole em the Fenki ain?t gunna bring nothing but ruin at the realm,? Krook grumbles vehemently to himself.
A nearby Lemor just passing into manhood jumps at the words, likely thinking Krook addressed him. He quickly moves away, looking over his shoulder the entire way. That was another common reaction of people about the Dwarf. The following is also an all too common reaction, if you ask anyone who has spent more that three minutes in his presence.
Krook spits.
?Begone with ya then, ya tefpile. I ain?t got no time at waste on fool greenskins. Bad enough I gotta set the record straight on a *spits* Fenki.? The last word is filled with more that a little disgust.
Krook continues grumbling as he pulls out a long scroll from under his beard. Not even bothering to look for a clear space to post it, he positions it dead center of the gold-framed board. Now, this may not have been taken as an untoward action, if not for the fact that it covered no less than three proclamations by some of the larger guilds, and one plea asking for help in finding some missing orphans.
?Thare. Ye fools ken read this and choke on it, but I ain?t gunna stand for no one?s sufferin based on ignorance. If ye wanna make her suffer, at least ye be informed.?
Krook spits once more, this time on a foul worded request for something to be done about the usurper residing in the temple. He then turns and hobbles away, carried by pride and the ground?s refusal to have the nasty little man one hairs width closer.
This is what he wrote in the neat hand of an expert scribe:
------
This is a proclamation in light of the recent events surrounding one Xillix, a Enkiduki female of the Scions of Wyldewood guild and association.
There has been many a rumor and supposing going about because of these events. Mainly, the fool lass?s claim to the seat of Octarch. First, before I go on, know that I do not support her foolhard claims in any way. I also do not support the fools against her. I merely support the truth.
The truth comes in two forms:
First. There is an Octarch of the First Level, and it is not Xillix. As you all know, there was a great amount of trouble in the rebellion twenty years past. No less than three Octarchs, and more Vigesimi than any wish to count, died or vanished under assassin?s hands. Three years passed before the Rebellion was put down, though many had feared it had gathered more strength than the corrupted Government could face. If not for many of the Great Guilds coming to the aid of the Government, you would now be kneeling to a King, rather than bowing to an Octarch.
On the fourth year, the External Circle replenished itself from the ranks of the Great Guilds, and the new Octarchs where chosen. This includes the current Octarch who rules to this day. Any fool knows this. However, as in all times of strife, there are secrets best left buried. This brings up the next point.
Second. Xillix?s claim the Chair, though misguided in the extreme, is founded on the bedrock of truth. Some of which she remembers only borders the truth. But any mage can tell you that mind altering Gyphs tend to have that effect on the mind.
To make myself clear, Xillx IS ALSO THE OCTARCH. I write that so as even the most blinded of you fools may read it. Now, before you stomp off in the ignorant huff I know you wish to, read the following truth.
In the days of the Rebellion, your Octarch was assassinated in the most brutal manner, along with half of her Vigesimi. In fact, many people died that year as the followers of the Black Flame rose up. I know many of you reading this will still feel the pang of losing your folks to this savage attack. Blood ran in all of the lands. Only fifteen of the twenty Vigesimi remained to this Level, as it is where the Rebellion struck first and hardest. Those fifteen lived in real fear for their lives, proven by the deaths of five more of their rank over the next year. Fear does odd things to the mind. Not a soul would stand forth to the Chair for that fear. Then two more Octarchs died in quick succession. This lead the remaining Vigesimi to desperation. During that first year, they did elect a new Octarch, though it was done in secret. So secret, only one more than half of the fifteen Vigesimi knew of it. Just enough to vote in a new Octarch. Sadly, this part of Xillix?s tale is true. It was she who found herself placed on the Chair of the First Level, not two hours from her mother?s womb.
You may ask what insanity drove them to do this thing, and I will tell you again that fear does odd things to the mind. Fear told them that if they had an Octarch, any Octarch, the Government could not fail. Who better to start anew than an infant. She was to be trained from birth as the perfect leader, so as to prevent another uprising. She was hidden from all the realm to keep her, and them, safe. It did keep her safe, but not the Vigesimi, as five of the eight perished. It is my mind that other Vigesimi divined the plan and had them killed, but there is no proof to the matter. The final three resigned their titles and took the girl deep into the wild. I know not what happened to her after that. Not until she came back into her memories. Little did the fools know they were only preparing for this day. All of their fear plans fell to naught. A new and very competent Octarch was elected, bringing peace to all of the Levels, not just this one.
That brings us to this date. Xillix has gained her memories back, befuddled as they may be, and thinks that she must take the Chair. It is not her own power that drives her, but the power of the Glyphs that were used to erase her memories and compel her into this position. For the last three of the Vigesimi did not even trust her to take on her duties. Breaking all laws, legal and ethical, they brought the Compulsion Glyph from the Great Vault and used it not hours after the deluded Fenki was born. This sickens even I. But the fact is, it has happened. Shady as it was, the proper number of Vigesimi elected an Octarch. And to my great distaste, Xillix is she.
If the Octarchs and their Vigesimi were not in the Meeting of Levels as we speak, I am sure our own Octarch would have acted swiftly but kindly to resolve this situation. But that is not possible, as he will be gone for weeks yet. It is for the people to find the solution.
Use your heads, you fools, not your blades. How do you think your real leader will react to the slobbering mob that you are? This can be resolved. After posting this note, I shall be going straight to Xillix to tell the trull straight.
And one more thing, if you tefpiles still doubt me. I am Kruthmand Bentifale, High Scribe to the last Octarch and her Vigesimi, and Lower Scribe to Vigesimi of other Levels for longer then most of you have lived. I was present at the taking of the child, though I knew not her name at the time. I saw the ring she wears placed on her tiny finger. I scribed it all. Doubt me if you will, but know that you are ignorant fools doing so.
May your gods be with you, because I am not.
~?Krook? Benifale
*edit*[[ Anyone who makes out of character posts in this thread is in severe risk of having their \'deleted post\' count added to. If you are posting something that is neither in-game, nor in-character, it does not belong here. If you wish to have your points made, do so in a thread of your own making. Whatever you may think, the good folks involved in this \'event\' are going to continue it to the end.]]
