Hello, Sapience

As their recent post has made all too clear, the Tsol'teth have no interest in respecting our traditions.

They have proven what they said from the start, that their goal is to use these trials as a way to force us into their processing solely to make themselves stronger. Requiring sampling for only one championship trial doesn't change the facts of the situation, as I'm sure they know well enough. Since having to skip even a single game can easily determine who wins or loses the staff, those who want to compete for it are still forced to submit to the Tsol'teth's goals.

For the last six hundred years, Sapience has used these games to select champions of the Modern Age through fair competition, heroes that carry on the legacy of Age of Light. But as the Tsol'teth refuse to hold a fair championship, this long legacy risks coming to an end.

We find ourselves at a crossroads of history. The championship games that we looked forward to and expected to run much on their own have been stolen by an invading power and twisted to their own ends. When history looks back at this, will it be the moment where, after years of war, the cities of sapience sat down and gave in to the Tsol'teth's demands? Or will it be the moment where we stood up and took these traditions into our own hands?

It is time that we make that stand, and make this chapter of history our own.

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And so, I am proud to announce the first and only Seleucarian Games!

As the name suggests, these games will be held to properly honour the legacy of ancient Seleucar and to carry on the traditions of our past anniversary games. And in truth, this is a more important anniversary than many of us realise. As of 800 AF, Seleucar has now laid fallen for as long as it once stood, making it all the more important that we take this chance to hold this celebration properly, to reflect on Seleucar's lasting influence and keep this historic date from being twisted to the Tsol'teth's ends.

The Tsol'teth will continue to claim the legitimacy of their events, but a true celebration of Seleucar's anniversary could never be held to empower the Anzari-tarin's goals. Nikolas and Seleucar were chosen and guided by Lord Sarapis Himself as the first bastion of resistance against the Tsol'teth, to defend against the threat of the first wave. A celebration of Seleucar's legacy must celebrate this spirit of resistance, that we continue today as we fight back against the third black wave.

Where the Tsol'teth have failed to carry on these traditions, we will rise to meet the occasion. The Seleucarian Games will thus serve both to celebrate the legacy of Seleucar, allowing us to select a proper champion, and perhaps more importantly, will serve as a symbol of resistance against the Tsol'teth's demands. We will carry out and celebrate Lord Sarapis' charge to Seleucar, and stand against those who invade and try to make us bow.

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The main part of these games will be a series of Championship Events like the quinquagenary celebrations of years past. These events should be much the same as we are familiar with, and schedule permitting, will be held about a month before the Tsol'teth hold their false trials. At the end of these events, we will crown a true champion of the next fifty years, a hero of Sapience chosen by legitimate contest to be a real bearer of Nicator's legacy.

The goal of these games is not cooperation, but fair competition without being forced to submit to our invader's demands. In this spirit, there will be no limits placed on who can take part in these events, as anything less would leave out worthy contenders, and would then render these games as illegitimate as the Tsol'teth's.

Of course, this means that anyone who wishes to take part in the Tsol'teth's trials for the sake of power or greed can do so, and still participate in these Seleucarian Games. Frankly, the Tsol'teth are willing to put the resources of their empire behind this effort to improve their race and will be able to offer more money. But I believe that the Seleucarian Games hold much more potential than just coin.

While the Tsol'teth aim to make progress for their war efforts, we will be making history. After all, there will be many more world games, and many more chances to fight for the Staff of Nicator, hopefully more legitimate than this. But there will only be one Seleucarian Games. Only one chance to make history as for the first and only time, we take our legacy into our own hands and hold our own world games. And only one chance to not only be chosen as the true Champion of this next fifty years, but as a hero of the resistance against Seleucar's original foe.

And of course, there will be more events as well. Games and challenges to celebrate other parts of Seleucar's history, and to display the many talents that we bring together. A proper schedule of all the events will be posted to these boards soon.

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For those who wish to take part, the Seleucarian games will begin in Sarapin of 802 with an opening ceremony to be held, with permission, at the grounds Asterian Restoration on Meropis. Built in the shadows of the ruins of Seleucar, the Restoration has always been dedicated both to preserving the lost knowledge of Seleucar, as well as bringing together cities that are normally at odds in shared displays of talent and skill. I can think of no better place to host these once in a lifetime games.

And for those who wish to volunteer and help make these games happen, please let me know in a message or tell. For something of this scale, we could use every pair of hands we can get.

For eight hundred years, Seleucar stood as a symbol of mortal potential and of resistance to the hordes from the Underrealm who seek to end it. And for eight hundred years since, Seleucar has been in ruins, allowing for the growth of our great city-states that even now carry on the potential that Sarapis saw in Nikolas all those years ago.

As the Tsol'teth try and twist this anniversary to their own ends, it is up to -us- to determine what this anniversary will mean, and how the future generations will see us today.

I hope you all will join me to make history.

Ever Loyal,
Keorin, Commander of the Vashnars

Penned by my hand on the 1st of Mayan, in the year 801 AF.