Open Petition for many names (Read within)

[Poolson]

[This is a letter delivered to: Lieutenant Rennik Colmes, Condottiera & Warmaster Mirielle Rosseu, Sister Selsi, Lyrist Aubrey Domergue, Balestrier Melody Stearwood, the Astronomers of Q'tolip, Balladeer Aurelio d'Lyon, Ulfgrim Grimgarson, Maqqari Ahmad, Legate Vellyn, Legate Alexandria.]

Also included is the Sukaitza Gudari, specifically one who is literate and not currently addicted to any substance (this description is literally given to the courier, ver batim, with an attached post-script: "Pretend that you will be at a meeting with the Lendakari. You know exactly the kind of mannerisms of which I require of you."]

Companions, colleagues, Honored Legates

I am Katya Belyaeva, a Balladeer of the Lost Hearth. I write to you all with razor-keen sensitivity to the current situation we find ourselves in with Kha'esh's imminent departure. We are exposing ourselves to great danger, and our political decisions have put us here.

We have need of new friends, and quickly. To that end, we must turn now to our generous benefactor and beg for His endless love for more help. Do not mistake this for a second: if Ephia's Well retakes Arslan and re-installs The Grand Tutors, Kha'esh will not abide it, there will be no union, and there be great strife. I cannot stress enough the terrible, terrible danger we are all in, and the level of insult it is, to betray men who cast down their slave masters, to favor those who openly practice slavery.

Three Legions has The Sultan promised us. We are going to need even more Legions, if we are going to somehow make up for the absence of the largest host The Great Ring has ever seen in 500 years. Sultan Osman VI - Peace Be Upon Him, Long May His Line Reign - has given us so much, and now we find ourselves in an ungrateful position where we must extend a hand out to him again, like a beggar who has become accustomed to the kindness shown to him and expect even more.

This shall be an act of groveling that in of itself shall define the meaning of the word Grovel, but grovel we must, if we are to spare our brothers and sisters, nevermind ourselves. Time is against us, and once Kha'esh completely uproots, we are well and truly under-equipped for a war of this scale. This is not hyperbole, this is a critical situation where the entire campaign can unravel. We know not when they mean to attack the Kusatma, but we know that they are constructing the weapon, and without the manpower of The Great Serdar Yataghan, it will become a considerably easier target, and it is no small thing to simply hide under a blanket.

We are not in a position where we can bargain, and that in itself is an enticing prospect, for our desperation will be reason to hear our plea. All the more that the Satrap can make itself of use to Sultan Osman VI - Peace Be Upon Him, Long May His Line Reign - and show our appreciation for His endless generosity.

So how do we draw the attention of eyes that are so high above us that they will not pay heed to us lowly mortals?

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First, a bold declaration, gilded and with great majesty.
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Something that must span the height of the Majordomo's desk, that he might read it and occupy his afternoon. No other function of The Palatial Pyramid ought be important to him, save for his service unto dizzying heights. It will be a use of great vocabulary and extreme posturing, framing it as a joined interest of the greatest Ephia's Well has to offer. Men of title, men of renown, all joined in harmony to express a dire need. Scrounge whatever accomplishment in recent memory you can find, embellish its proportions to the most realistic capacity that you can.


We ought form a rough draft together some afternoon, put our signatures to it when complete. We can discuss the wording, but, not for long, for the hourglass is against us.
 
If this even gets anywhere, it ought be organized, so as to not overwhelm those who turn their ear to us. A handful to mark the delegation, but the masses to bare witness to the sincerity of our plea.

I suggest:

1) Lyrist Aubrey Domergue.
2) Lieutenant Rennik Colmes.
3) Balestrier Melody Stearwood.
4) Sister Selsi.
5) Ulfgrim Grimgarson.
6) An Astronomer in proximity to the Zenithar and has their expressed trust. Mae Stern? Welly Wormswill? Zol Nur? I beg your forgiveness, that we do not often meet.

In addition, I suggest including the names of the war effort that will be known by those who are observing such an ordeal, and even adding emphasis to their role in the war.

1) Warmaster Mirielle Rosseu.
2) Master of Logistics, Maqqari Ahmad. (Previously held by Durgin Doomed-Oath, may he rest in peace.)
3) Thronebreaker, Aurelio d'Lyon.
4) The Slayer, Katya Belyaeva.


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Second, a spectacle, to catch the eye.
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Ceremony and pomp are critical, for if we simply ask The Majordomo and stop there, it can and will be taken as an insult and a gesture of being ungrateful. Rather, by doing this, we make our first impression as a celebration and gesture of appreciation of The Sultan Osman VI's boundless generosity - Peace Be Upon Him, Long May His Line Reign -.

This will have to be extreme, for we are not just doing it to bring a smile to The Sultan's face - Peace Be Upon Him, Long May His Line Reign -, but because He must be able to see us from where ever He lingers, be it one of His summer homes, or upon His balcony at the greatest height of Baz'eel. The sight must gleam like a gem on the horizon, the sound must carry on the wind. How exactly we do that is up to you, but, below is my proposal.

Whatever you decide, we ought communicate with each other, so that when we do it, it is in harmony.

After the submission is put forward, we begin a grand parade, with banners held high, the thunder and clatter of plated boots and percussion of Sukaitza explosives obliterating anything that might think us an easy mark, its explosion to ring out like the firing of cannons in ceremony.

Two things herald our approach to the seal of the Barrier of Baz'eel: first, the fall of rose petals, as my colleague and former master Aeronwy Caddick takes to the skies of her griffon, and soars high the great standard of the Red and Black, whilst casting fistfuls for the wind to pull down.

The second, an arrangement of brass. Our newest student Quincy is arranging our brothers in parade formation, Lyrei is to lead the song in instrument arrangement. We and the Sisterhood join choir, to sing the great songs that shall carry into the wind.

I suggest the Fourth Legion form columns with their helmet tops polished, that it might catch the light of the highnoon sun. Each column should have a divide, where the camel of a Sergeant sits in this gap, Lieutenant Rennik Colmes to take the front

The Astronomers of Q'tolip might call upon Welly Wormswill to call upon his expertise to lure great and fantastical beasts to take to the edges of the parade.

The Duunthal take both the front and the flank of the march, that the strength of Kulklund be great enough to bear all of us.

The Legates should be in the exact center of the entire formation, carried there by the Scribes and volunteers within a palanquin, bearing the colors of their Leagues.

The Sukaitza ought to dot the left and right flanks of the march, both to maximize the visibility of their bright orange and the expand the distance of which their bombs might boom through the air, but also for our safety.

Spectators ought to give distance to the march, but show the attention this march ought command by how many have come to behold such a great and dire request.

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Lastly, our requests.
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It should be done with great humility. There is no delicate way to phrase this, but, we have need for much and not in any position to say no. There will be much shaming and condemning of our carelessness, there will be much doubt that we will not also squander what else is given to us.


We need to be proactive, because if we wait, Iakmes' horde will hit us where we are most delicate. We know what they are planning, but not when or where, which adds to the time sensitivity of this.

This is where we sink or swim, everyone.

Balladeer Katya Belyaeva.

[Doofus]

THIS IS A ISSUE OF THE WELL'S OWN IDIOTIC MAKING.

I WILL SHOW IT AROUND, ANYWAYS, AS A SIGN OF GOOD FAITH.

EXPECT A MEETING LATER.

- THE LAST ASTERABADIST

[Blue41]

Balladeer,

There are few in the Well who have given the matter of Arslan more thought than I have, or can speak to the necessity of its liberation.

That said, the events of the day have likely changed some
circumstances- some for the better, others for worse. It's a discussion better had in person.

Lt. R. Colmes