Grandmaster Elizabetha d'Auvergne [DM, Aubrey Domergue]

[Loops]

[An open letter is posted to the Grandmaster Elizabetha d'Auvergne, with copies made conspicuously available for Lyrists Beauregard, Didereaux, Pommerst, **Domergue**, and Ser Arkaeos.]

[Inside the Grandmaster's copy are two sheets. The first reads...]

I have confronted your Lyrist Aubrey Domergue with the contents of this letter, in the interests of forthrightness and attempts at concord. She has assented to its posting should I believe it is necessary, our positions irreconcilable.

[The second sheet is presented more widely.]

Grandmaster Elizabetha d'Auvergne,

When last I lost heart, your Alois bid that I should have written a letter. Loathe as I am to put pen to paper to make plain what happens in our halls, here I am, as bidden. I write this beside my noble companion Llywarch, the griffon I have today, for the first time, managed to inspire to roost and rest upon the battlements of our Krak des Roses. And what a sight she is. She gives me the heart to see this through with patience.

When you asked me to don this cloak again, it was on a promise. That treachery in our halls would be ended. And so I pledged to strive to unite our banner again. And so I have quietly worked.

Never before has the Rose been so united. We have moved beyond petty brawls, argumentation, and murder with your Red Band. We have learned from and led the Sisterhood both on our quest, roamed from the centre of the world to the edge of it-- to the most profane hells and beyond in our works to make the world good again. Our Rose banner hangs over the Warmaster's seat, entrusted by the Sultan, and the Legatesure has favoured our works to keep the lost and weary sweet and sanctuary. I have worked tirelessly, as you have asked.

But all is not well beneath our banner. Your Lyrist Aubrey Domergue once explained to me her view on our storied arcades: that this is a stage, that she must carefully manage the influence of each Balladeer and cut them off at the knees when they rise too high to steal her spotlight.

Such a craven point of view has always turned my stomach, for ours is not the role of prima donna. Ours is the greatest of all causes.

Life itself.

I once let myself become disheartened by Aubrey's schemes. I removed my cloak in disgust as those who would see men exiled or executed but for the circumstances of their birth filled our halls, a betrayal of the Cinquefoil promise. But you were right. We must be above such actors. We must strive to change the world forever in our passing.

So, never again.

I have travailed, seeing sights unseen from dread Qa'im to Banafsi, Il-Modo to the world's edge, and Assuru to the burning hells themselves.

At that time, since my return, I offered an olive branch to those I disagreed with. In Aurelio, where once we bickered, I have found a stalwart and trusted companion. Our manifold diversities have come together into a greater whole. Likewise, in Asherias, I have found a woman I can lean on who supports us when we stumble, tireless and steadfast.

But all is not well. But days ago, your Lyrist Aubrey Domergue called council students and Balladeers. To these students, she commanded their distrust of Aurelio and our dear Sisterhood of the Sibylline Vine.

All sorts of gross accusations were bandied about. Accusations of Aurelio inventing rites and the Sisters taking advantage of students in a coarse attempt to manipulate the Rose towards maleficent ends.

Your Lyrist seemed grossly unaware that I, independent of Aurelio and the Sisterhood, have long wandered the world, glimpsed sights unseen, and have more than enough experience to recognise the mythical importance of our quest. To strive and build a better world for our children and our children's children to come.

She commanded me to distrust. And for the student's benefit, I did not raise my voice. I have seen the tumult and agony such arguments, taking place publicly, have caused.

But I say no.

I say no, and I am disgraced that students marched to their deaths with the last command from their Lyrist being treachery in our ranks. I will not allow it to come to pass again.

And so, I hereby challenge Aubrey Domergue. I challenge her to walk beside me and see the realms unseen. To lay aside her myopic personal agendas and desires for Legatesure and advancement. To learn to lead our rosy cohort and not merely punch down upon them as suits her political agendas. Because for months now, she has been breaking us apart.

And, if she cannot do that, I shall lead the Balladeers in her stead. Because we have no more time for idle dreaming. We have no more time for negligence or excuses.

We have a world to save.

Aeronwy Caddick,
Your Balladeer of the Lost Hearth