As many of you know, I have recently retired from these realms. I feel
myself growing older with every passing day, my limbs barely able to
hold the Tekura stances I once so fluently posed. I fear that my time is
drawing near, and before the day comes when I will breathe no longer, I
wish to gift you all with my words of wisdom.
But first, a story..
I was sitting in my rocking chair, reading an excellent novel whilst
sipping a mug of coco one of my servants had brought me. A brief glance
outside my window showed something I had never seen before. It was a
beautifully sewn black flag, wavering back and forth over the dakhota
hills. Asking my servant for my cane, I allowed my curiosity to get the
best of me as I began the slow, tedious journey. I had no guidance, no
stars in the sky, no map. I ate and slept little, for was I so
captivated by the splendous wonder of this flag, all rationale basic
needs left my thoughts in hopes of finding the location of this flag.
After 2 days travel, I finally found it. I stood before it, reached out
and touched the smooth fabric with awe in my eyes. So beautiful was it,
I closed my eyes and trembled, feeling myself become ecstatic from the
raw presence of such a marvelous creation. Thats when I opened my eyes
and realised where I stood. I stood before the very temple of the Lord
Aegis.
I will be the first to admit, Lord Aegis' soldiers have had trouble
leaving the shrines of my chosen Goddess alone. But being the curious
creature I am, I hobbled my way into the Lord Aegis' temple, my eyes
growing in wonderment as I beheld the tapestries, the statues, the pure
energy and adrenaline that seemed to flow through the air. I even took a
peek at the Lord's child, I listened to its calm, steady breathing as
the child slept.
Shortly after, one of Lord Aegis' soldiers came upon me. He asked me,
"Old man, what have you business in my Lord's temple?". To this I
replied, "Sir, I have merely come to observe. I mean no harm.". I asked
him the symbolic nature of the black flag, and he politely told me the
story of the current events. I listened eagerly, my mind reeling as I
tried to imagine the actions of the Church. Surely the Church would be
smarter than that? Surely the Church, in all its years of hypocrisy and
darkened politics, would be smarter than to anger the God of War? Do
they not know what havoc He could wreak upon them?
But alas, the more I listened to the soldier's story, the more I began
to believe it. And this is why I am here today. I wish to make a
heraldric announcement to the Elysians, to the Church, to the Goddesses
Miramar, Lorielan and Tarah.
Flee while you can. Do not fight back if you fear for your life. I have
witnessed many things in my years, and the destructive wrath of Lord
Aegis' will rain heavily upon you all if you insist on reasoning with
Him. Do you not realise what the black flag stands for? To be bluntly
put, you are screwed out of life itself. I listen, even through these
nearly deaf ears, to the drums of war over the hills. I listen and wait
to witness what I feel will be the most glorious battle in the history
of Sapience. And I've no doubt that when the dust clears, when all of
the bloody, strewn bodies are piled in the battlefield, that it will be
Lord Aegis' and His army with their fists raised triumphantly.
As for the Ladies Miramar and Lorielan, I urge of You both to cease
denying the travesties that befell Lord Aegis' priestess. Even You, in
Your immortal wisdoms, cannot reason with the God of War. I urge You
both to hide your warriors if You fear for their lives! Death will be
slow, death will be merciless! Do You not fear His wrath?
That is all this old man has to say on the matters. I have important
matters to attend to, such as building a stone wall around my home.

Penned by my hand on the 25th of Glacian, in the year 416 AF.