Damocles - Redressing the Broken Pledge (Aphros v Dawnstone)

[Daeut]

Days had passed since the travesty of Vera Cruz.

The people of Aphros were only beginning to pick up the pieces from the broken rubble and ashes of their despoiled home. Casualties in the hundreds to thousands as its hallowed district billowed in smoke for the week to come.

A victory against the Imperfect saw the demonic masses remained routed and scattered back to their home, made rudderless by the loss of their beloved Archon. Yet such a triumph rang hollow as the Crusading forces lost three invaluable integrants of its spearhead, hardly given time to mourn in the aftermath. On that day, both sides suffered a calamitous cost.

The war was not yet over.

In light of new information and developments, those of the Bastion, Aegis, and Goldlight company set off to march in a different direction: to the West. 

Seizing the window of opportunity granted by the Archon's demise, as its demonic legions scrambled for new leadership, a blitz of soldiers began to congregate outside of Dawnstone's border. And in this rapid initiative, did the Oracle of Athelios issue her ultimatum. A decree laced with rage and zeal that boomed in the mind of Ludmaz Dawnseeker and his ilk.

So it has come to this.

During the Summit, we made it clear that neutrality in the face of our most imminent and existential threat would not be tolerated by those that agreed to our Indefinite Crusade. Your objections did not go without notice, pitiful and selfish as they were. Your official position to withdraw Dawnstone's support from this Meranthian Crusade has thusly sealed my declaration.

You bemoan your losses as though you are owed a greater share of grief, pity, and sympathy than any other. And then you place their deaths on my shoulders. It is pathetic.

The Frontier lost Kava. Fortune lost its Sovereign and its Commander. The Enclave lost everything. They all did so knowing their sacrifices were for a greater cause than themselves, and not once have they whinged and complained as your entitled kin have.

Those who are not willing to risk or sacrifice for the future and safety of Meranthe will have no place in it.

Your sad little insistence on neutrality would see us all killed. You would allow the shadows to consume Meranthe whole before they reached your gates. At which point, you would likely embrace and accept them with open arms like the craven worm that you are.

Though I suppose your people haven't been properly apprised of your reverence and worship of a Void entity consuming the stars, or your inordinate tolerance of witches as you continue to cooperate and play nice with Sheol behind the curtains. There is nothing you can hide from us. There is nothing you can do.

You are no King.

Stand down from your position, or you will be removed perforce.

To those that can hearken my voice, turn your swords where they belong: against the complacent enemies of Humanity. Against the wretches that would rather sit idly than die fighting.

The choice is yours.

Objective: Depose the Dawnseeker King and install a Crusade-compliant regime under Tristinia Djulkorren.