Cyrene.

I have seen much in this life of mine. I have seen Divine end the life of one of Theirs who suffered upon the Chaos Plane. I have seen a myriad of mistakes made by city leaderships whether in Targossas, Ashtan, and abroad. I have even made some of them. I have witnessed and led many people who stood side by side against the Tsol'teth who sought to overtake our land. I have heard the cries of children as they were torn bereft from their mothers. I have seen the bloated bodies of children laid to rest within the graveyard near the southern end of Cyrene.

Yet, for all that, I am ever constantly reminded of the Master's Teachings on Hardship. It is through Hardship that we become stronger if we do not break. IF we do not give in.

However, as I gaze upon the city with such potential when they rose after taking back that which the Tsol'teth had seized for so long, I cannot help but wonder perhaps it would have been better if you and yours had remained away from the city for quite a bit longer. Perhaps if you still heard the echoes of those who you failed crying out for help you may be willing yet to learn to become stronger as a people. Perhaps if you had spent more time away from your city wherein you either had to forge a stronger unity or become scattered to the winds then you may have had the fortitude to actually stand up for that which you have so long professed to...your people.

Instead, here I rouse in the midst of my meditations when I am not busy fighting for what I truly believe to see that Cyrene truly does not need an external enemy to attack it. Well, not unless the said enemy wished to step over already crumbling walls that are falling due to the decay within. Not unless the enemy wished to simply loot the corpses from your fallen as you tear each other apart slowly with words, actions, in spirit and in truth.

To call the land upon which your city stands Cyrene is perhaps apt. To call your people Cyrenians...not so much. Cyrenians were forged into something great even under former Imperiate Verrucht. He may have had his many flaws, but he at least did one thing. He kept the people united. However, it seems fitting that the city which has come to loosely stand for its people is now being torn apart by a SINGLE action of an Imperiate who did not even deign to use that same ability that was so heavily in contention during the Games. It may be fitting that you remain without a Patron for a time for, although we may perhaps wish differently, the truth of the matter is that Divine do not have to Patron organisations. Truly, They do not.

Again, I think back to the LORD's teachings. I think upon a few Truths that may yet help you even just a little.

"The First Truth: What is called evil is simply the drive for advancement, for greatness. We seek, through discipline and pain, to spur the advancement of nothing less than sentient life."

Discipline and pain allow us to move past that which would hinder us. Rather than giving in to whatever may seem easiest at the moment, such as taking on a class forbidden in our city that is well known to go directly against our Patron, we choose to strengthen ourselves and remain loyal to our Lord and His City.

"The Fourth Truth: The enemies of strength are those who trumpet the effeminate values of forgiveness, tolerance, and laxity of discipline."

Forgiveness, tolerance, and laxity of discipline. We all need to own up to our mistakes, not with a cavalier tone befitting some sort of entitled royalty, but rather as someone who realises that unless a new Ascension to Divinity has been recently made, that no, they are not Divine. Even further, that actions truly DO have consequences. ALL of them. If not now, then the consequences will surely be paid with interest as time continues ever onwards.

"The Seventh Truth: The spirit may be made stronger by enduring hardships, both self-imposed and externally-imposed."

This Truth may yet perhaps be the most fitting. No doubt many of you who walk upon the cobblestones of Cyrene are in a mixed state. You love Cyrene. You disagree with the Imperiate and leadership. Yet, unless you wish your fate to be much the same as others who dared disagree with them, you must as yet remain silent. You must bide your words still and pray will all too fervency that this too shall pass.

Remember this Truth. That which breaks us not strengthens us. It is through these turbulent times that the Master's Truths echo clarion. Regardless the outcome of your Imperiate or City, YOU STILL STAND. Regardless what happens, you have options before you. Dare you resign yourself to the fate of a sheep for slaughter or dare you actually take courage within yourself? Dare you welcome the pain for the lesson in perseverence it is and rise, not as someone who meekly submits to whatever whims those above you bandy about, but as someone who bides their time knowing that there will be a time when they fall. There will be a time when their own defenses crumble and you can once again retake that which was yours, that which so many have fought and bled for.

Until then, remember the lessons of the Games. Whilst many chose to go against their professed beliefs, from Eleusis who fought side by side with city-dwellers to Imperiate Keorin who asked permission to take the occultist class to play in the Twins with Shirszae (a known traitor to Cyrene), it was not they who stood at the top. Nor was it they who even placed but second. Rather, it was the MASTER'S Servants who stood against any and all opposition. It was they, Staff of Nicator wielder Crixos and now Tyrannus Taryius, who knew that it is better to stand for your true beliefs and risk failure than take the easier path and fail anyways.

Stand for something or fall for anything.


In HIS Eternal Service,
Lii Lichlord, Chancellor of HIS City.

Penned by my hand on the 17th of Lupar, in the year 853 AF.