State of Esshar

[ilio]

“Crimes committed in the dark do not go unpunished.”

- 1740 AC -

The Shimmering City, Osrona acts as the last light for The Empire of Esshar.

Letter flurry over Esshar, delivering message of the King to Myllenoris.

I will never bow to the demands of a demon.
No lives need be sacrificed for the Petrakis dynasty? Show Eternia how true those words are, Asta Hargrave.
My mother, Serea Astor? Siegfried, my loyal knight? Both killed.

You insult my wife, you threaten my people, you murder my knights, harbour occultists and you demand the sacrifice of two-hundred lives.

Tell them the real reason you march for me, the reason that Myllenoris now knows. You wish to rule over all of Esshar. The reason I anticipated, why I have never let you have your way.

But it is clear my people held as hostage, loyal as they are, have fallen ill to your lies of dissent and do not wish to suffer any longer, so I will free them from their oaths. The oaths that are too heavy for their shoulders and I will bear that burden myself.

The Stellus Romani Montclaire, no longer Stellus, no longer tied by his position in the Triumvirate.
The Triumvirate? Broken now by King Alexander, King Arisitidis' son instead of through a fake, forged document. And it will last broken until my death.
Ophelia Montclaire? Relieved as Diplomatic Aid and removed from her duty to the Crown.
For Thalis, a man of Faith fighting for his home? For him, relieved of his duties and for him, we exchange Danica Drugovic. A captured hostage on our side.

All of them removed from their ties to the Essharian Empire, to the Petrakis Dynasty. Regulus in all of his diplomatic wisdom surely would understand how foolish it would be kill them now.

Though the only reason you need is me.

This is between you and I, your insecurity that man was granted divine right over all of Esshar. Prove that you at least have the spine of a leader, free those prisoners assuming it is you ruling and not Sythaeryn. And then once they are freed, stop cowering behind excuses and come.

Rally your army. Raise your wraiths, your occultists, the mercenaries and murderers. Worship Aschea for aid. Rally Theria who came to my castle walls begging for peace after sending dragon fire to raze land. Rally Illburg who shows they wish for nothing more but pointless bloodshed. Rally Barsburg even! For not even could an external empire cause all of Esshar to unite like it could to come after me and my people.

This war ends with me.

And for those who ask why I continue? Who beg for peace despite throwing up arms and attempting a siege against my walls? Actions speak louder than words. Who tell me to stand down without having a single moral bone in their body? That find nothing to fight for?

It is called standing for a purpose greater than yourself. And I will stand even if nobody else finds the courage.

For I lead for the good of Esshar. That is why the Petrakis were given divine right.

King Alexander Petrakis


The War of Crowns,
The War of Divine Right continues.