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[Mairsil]

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Mayor of Blackmarsh,

Several days ago it came to my attention that a letter by Cal Hurst made its way to the Oracle of Stonegate.

While I would normally see no issue in correspondence between our people, I was particularly annoyed at the tone of this letter. It implied that the relationship between Blackmarsh and the Lotus clan was failing, and yet that you understood our position and honored us still.

This letter even went on to say that should it come to blows between our people, in the interest of honoring the ties we've made, it would not be taken personally.

The Oracle responded to this letter, only to be reaffirmed with yet another making it perfectly clear that just as it has appeared, you are deeply entwined with the Order of the Ebon Skull.

Allow me to make something very clear.

Firstly, Cal Hurst spoke of acknowledging what Stonegate did for you and speaks of honor, and yet you continuously search for excuses to war the people of Tokuno. In doing so you do not acknowledge in the slightest that it was not only Stonegate, but the people of tokuno that aided you as well. It seems Hurst has a rather selective memory.

Secondly, there was mention of acknowledging the power and knowledge of the skull, that your relationship with them was purely one of learning and an equal if not ridiculous hatred of the people of Tokuno.

I should not have to point out the extreme folly in this line of thought. To think you are worth anything to the Ebon Skull, or that they teach you anything of true significance in their magics, is absurd.

You are a tool, you are a means to an end, because the Ebon skull is too weak to fight us themselves they strike against our allies, twisting you to take such offense at such minor dealings that you would aid them like naive and gullible children. I thought the people of Blackmarsh to be smarter than this.

But now we come to it... The greatest insult of your people yet.

It comes to my attention that last eve the lotus were raided by the Order of the Ebon Skull.

At the time of the confrontation, the Order of the Ebon Skull made its appearance before members of both the Lotus clan and the Stonegate clan.

In every past battle the Skull has proven to be pathetically weak on the field, and seeing as their numbers were few and we would outnumber them, the Lotus clan graciously requested that Stonegate pull back and not involve themselves. That the people of tokuno might show the Order of the Ebon Skull that even without our aid their magic is too weak to ever take hold in Tokuno. Those of Stonegate present accepted, in plain view of everyone present, and made their way back into the Tea house, sitting down and not taking part.

Just as combat was initiated, the people of Blackmarsh sweeped down upon the Lotus in aid of the Ebon Skull like mindless cowards. It is with no shame that so outnumbered the lotus were defeated in this battle.

The greatest insult however is that battle did not stop there. Your people proceeded to make way into the tavern, despite all your words of honor, and attacked a small group of non combatants, soldiers of my very own kingdom who voluntarily agreed to withhold from the battle before they even knew you were involved.

This act is outrageous and will not be forgiven, for you have finally revealed your true intentions. The only greater surprise in all of this is that it took you so long to stab us in the back.

The Kingdom of Stonegate aided you, has been nothing but good to you, has supported you, and it is you who betray us. It is you, who once so boldly and loudly spoke at the protectorate meetings of how pathetic the protectorate was for not striking the lich, and knowing full well our position on the lich, went out of your way to prostrate yourself before him and do his bidding.

It seems to me that you no longer desire any tie between your people and mine. Furthermore, you've made it clear that you have no minds of your own save for the desire for power. You are truly the perfect pet for a lich lord to manipulate.

Just as you acknowledged your weakness in seeking our aid to take the Lands of Yew, you do so now in seeking the aid of the Lich. Though I can only guess at your goals form this point, you've proven to be predictable in every way in the past, and shall be no less so in the years to come.

Remember well that without the aid of the Shadow Claw Alliance you would be nothing.

I don't care if your army is a thousand strong, you will always be nothing.

Mindless, pathetic thugs... No more significant than a child bullying another.

If you wish war with the warriors of fate, you have it.

Myrddin ab'Arawn,
Wolf King of Stonegate
_________________
"You see I can not be forsaken, because I'm not the only one. We walk amongst you, beating, r#ping, must we hide from everyone?" - Jon Davis

[Denzin Bracken]

---

Denzin held the letter wrote to him by Wolf King Myrddin. He read over it once, then a second time more carefully. He made a few uncomfortable looking faces during his reading of the letter. He placed the parchment on his desk and sighed quietly. Then he preceded to write a reply.

Dear Wolf King Myrddin ab'Arawn of the Stonegate Valley,

First off - wow. As I sit quietly in my study, I feel personally attacked by you're insulting words. I honestly feel as though it was slightly arrogant of you to write me with such hostile words. I will do my best not to insult you like I used to insult other children in study class many years ago.

Clearly, you addressed me as Mayor to make it clear your letter was one of arrogancy and rudeness. I understand this, I understand your upsetness. It was quite the opening line.

I apologize for whatever offense your Oracle may have taken from Cal Hursts' letter. I was unaware that he wrote such a letter. However, I am not his parent and I cannot control his thoughts. Cal is the head of the Blackmarsh Military now. Perhaps he meant the best by the letter, but his diplomatic skills have slipped since his term of Mayor of Moonglow. Regardless, I think you may have blown the letter out of proportion?

I feel as though you may be blinded by anger. Perhaps you should have waited to write your letter. Blackmarsh has not been searching for an excuse to attack Tokuno. I, myself, do not have a selective memory. I remember clearly who was on the field with Blackmarsh, helping us birth our Empire. Mind you, it was only yourself whoever replied to my letters of thanks and gratitude, and the Empress of Tokuno merely brushed me off. Regardless, to clear this situation up for you:

Months ago, a Lotus member was seen stalking Blackmarsh soldiers while they were driving the orcs back in Cove. When I personally approached Soke Bishimi, he claimed Lotus sent people to keep an eye on their friends. I asked him not to continue to do this. He gave me his word that no more ninja folk would be seen in Blackmarsh (no pun intended...). Two separate occasions, a spy has been located in Blackmarsh. Although the Lotuses were not our enemies, we certainly did not share tea with them. Alas, I found it offensive that Soke Bishimi had not kept his word. General Cal Hurst sent a letter to the Soke making it clear that the Lotuses were in Blackmarsh sights now. They had cross one too many lines, one too many times.

Yes, Blackmarsh has been working and trading with the Ebon Skulls. We have also been working and trading with Sanctus. I also have plans to set up other trading partners. It was made clear among the military leader of the Ebon Skull and Cal himself, that both of us shared a common threat, the Lotus. An attack was formed against the Lotus. I apologize if any of your soldiers found themselves in the cross fire. Blackmarsh soldiers were not instructed to attack Stonegate soldiers if they were seen, unless they attacked our soldiers first. In the chaos, someone must have shot a spell somewhere.

I feel like you literally just started witting angry thoughts at me. As far as I was concerned - and I'm not at all concerned with the silly Malas war - Stonegate and Umbra were enemies. Tokuno merely aided you. So I'm unsure where you ever got the idea that the Lotus ever asked you to sit back while they attacked. I feel like it would have been the other way around.

I'm not a tool of the Lich Lords, nor do I seek his aid in fighting the Lotus. We have both found fighting a common enemy. I wish no war with Stonegate. I feel it is unnecessary. Even after the aggressive, offensive, insulting letter. Although, you've made it clear that you've made up your mind.

I'm not quite sure how to react to the last bit of your letter. It was childlike. Simply said. I'm sorry that you feel we will always be "nothing" no matter what we accomplish. It seems like something a lady may say after leaving her husband. I do not feel we had that type of relationship. I'm sorry you feel we're "mindless, pathetic thugs." I personally, have never been in a fist fight. I've also done quite well with each of my business investments throughout my life, and my studies of the arcane arts.

Anyway. Sorry to see you so worked up. Blackmarsh has no plans to attack Stonegate. I hope we don't have to cross paths on the battle field.

Perhaps in the future, a more diplomatic and mature approach can be made among the two of us. It's a shame you did not contact me sooner about the distress about General Hursts letter.

Again, we have not looked for war. Soke Bishimi merely betrayed his word to myself, the Emperor of Blackmarsh, on several occasions now. So...let's make sure the fingers are pointed in the right direction.

Sincerely,
With Best Wishes,
Emperor Denzin Bracken.

P.s. Please enjoy my gifts.

Along with the letter is a slab of raw meat and a jug of milk.
_________________
BeastMaster ‎(6:27 PM):
Why is there a trapped box in the mailbox?
Shabam ‎(6:27 PM):
HAHA
BeastMaster ‎(6:27 PM):
Second time.

[Mairsil]

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Mayor Bracken,

That you would try to react so innocently to my letter, or pretend that it is anything but justified, is simply unrealistic.

Displeased with you and yours though I am, I give you credit enough that I am confident you do not actually believe in what you speak. I of course can understand that you would wish to make yourself appear a misunderstood and righteous individual, though I'm afraid I will not accept this farce.

Furthermore, I sense that you did not in actuality read my letter for what it had to say, but merely focused upon the most offensive words used and took that to be the entirety of its meaning.

Allow me to address a few of your points...


I will not deny that my letter was certainly insulting, but these insults were provoked. It seems to me that as insulting as this letter might have been, you refuse to accept responsibility and acknowledge the aforementioned fact. I might even go on to point out that you do not only take offense to my insults as if they are not justified, but take offense at even the most minor of formalities. In the case of addressing you as a mayor... perhaps we are of different worlds, but I am a soldier before I am a king. I addressed you by your title with no intent at all other than officially addressing you. Many of my words were full of intent, but knowing you would focus so heavily upon a greetings in a time of pressing matters only enhances my suspicion of falsehood.

Moving on, it was not the Oracle that took offense to Hurst's letter, it was me. Certainly you must see the coincidence that in days before your people raid my allies and slaughter my own unarmed soldiers, unprovoked, we receive a letter seeking to justify taking offensive actions against mine after all we have done for you. It matters not to me whether Cal Hurst is a mercenary, a soldier, a general, or a diplomat - I acknowledge you as the authority of Blackmarsh. If you are telling me that you hold no sway over Hurst and will make no effort to guide his actions, reprimand his whimsical deeds of betrayal, or even require that you are knowledgeable of his plans... than I can not trust you and have no choice but to assume that cal Hurst has stolen all authority in Blackmarsh with ill will toward my kingdom.

You say that I am blinded by anger, but honestly, I feel no anger at all in this moment, only a calm truth. Time and time again you and Hurst have spoken of the Blue lotus and their spies..breaking their word to you. I bring up that it was the Blue lotus that aided you just as much as Stonegate, and your rebuttal is that they didn't respond to your thank you notice? I seem to recall that after at least one battle the men of Blackmarsh were extremely rude to the Empress, so I do not see that you should of expected anything else. In addition to this point, I again must bring to light that you were fully aware of Stonegate's stance on the Order of the Ebon Skull. By trading with them you supply them for a war they seek against not only the Blue lotus, but Stonegate as well. Beyond just supplying them, you support them and defend them, you slay for them my very own men. You do all of this, and yet you act as if catching a man who's who life has been spent training to walk among the shadows, gives you the right to war the Blue lotus..and yet you state that I am over reacting? Your logic holds no weight here.

The Order of the Ebon Skull... An Ally against a common threat. Again, another falsehood.

That you know Stonegate is so tightly entwined with the Blue lotus, and yet would not trust us but the Ebon Skull to resolve the situation in war is insulting. I've already stated twice now why it is obvious you wanted this war. You say you are not concerned with it...but again your own general disagrees with you. I just read an interview stating he was now interested in Northern Malas, not that this comes as a surprise. It is no more surprising still that you and he speak different stories, this is the likely downfall that always comes with deceit.

Perhaps you were bored, perhaps its your greed for the ownership of the moongate systems, or the love you've so obviously held for the Ebon Skull for months now... I do not know your reasons, but I know enough to see that you are desperately trying to hide not something from me, but many things from all of us.

You call me a child, you want to seem justified in your actions against my alliance.

I call you nothing because you have something, and you are throwing it away, just as you seek to toss us aside...

In serving Darrien you serve oblivion.

In serving oblivion you let go of any real purpose you might of ever had. All servants of Oblivion are puppets, this is the path you have chosen.

Even if you had a future in this pact of yours with the ebon skull...You did this knowing Stonegate.

You knew what my reaction would be, eventually it was always going to come to this.

And so you've made your choice.



*a spot of ink appears here as if he paused in his writing*

Myrddin was agitated.

The more he felt the need to make these points, the more he knew that this arguing would serve no point and would continue endlessly.

Begrudgingly, he tore away the top half of his letter, deciding that there was little left to be said.

He scribbled what little that was, sending only the small portion of scroll below:


Mayor Bracken,

I could continue to argue with you point by point, but let me make this easy for both of us.

The Ebon Skull has been and always will be my greatest enemy.

They are the threat Sosaria faces. A threat you once acknowledged beside us..

May the fates determine what shall come to pass.

This is my destiny, with or without you.

And I am ready.


Myrddin ab'Arawn
Wolf King of Stonegate






_________________
"You see I can not be forsaken, because I'm not the only one. We walk amongst you, beating, r#ping, must we hide from everyone?" - Jon Davis