AN ADDRESS FROM THE EMPEROR

[vivalamods]

AN ADDRESS FROM THE EMPEROR

[A number of Flotsam ships have been called to monitor the seas and airs surrounding The Vault ever since the revelation of its location to the Empire. When another address is announced, everyone gathers in tense silence around their radios to hear what the Emperor will say about the discovery and the capture of their allies.

The Emperor speaks again before a crowd of his favorite soldiers and the full lineup of generals. This time, extra Honor Guard stand watch near the Emperor and his esteemed guests- several High Priests and the Pope of the Church of the Divine. Way in the back of the crowd, Odilo's eldest son, Hans, sits in a gloomy silence.]

Citizens of the Empire, hear me and attend. This is Emperor Cladius Varschein II, appointed by the Divine, lord of all Esthere above and below. I bring you news of the Corsairs' inevitable defeat!

["Bring forth the prisoner!" someone yells in the background. The sound of metal chains rings out and a thump, as a Corsair is thrown to the ground before the Emperor.]

Behold! Our search for the traitor Odilo Durst has brought us a far greater prize!

[There's a soft murmur of curiosity from the crowd. A small croaked laugh can faintly be heard and a quiet, "Sorry guys. Not dead yet though." To the Corsairs who know him, they will recognize Emery's voice over the radio. His next weak laugh is cut off by a sharp thud. "Silence!" The guards see to it he is knocked out again.]

One of the Corsair's false gods lies in chains at my feet! Never again will this creature terrorize our empire with his blasphemous rhetoric. Let this be a reminder that those who worship the false old religion will be re-educated by force or eliminated entirely.

As I speak, our greatest scientists and the esteemed leaders of the Church of the Divine are studying this vile creature's evil energies. One day, we will purify it, and put his ether to use for the expansion and safety of our Empire!

["Take it away," the Emperor tells the guards. There's some rustling and thumping as the guards drag Emery away from the scene.]

There is more: Odilo Durst's location lead us straight to one of the Corsair's hidden safeholds. As I speak, our troops are preparing to overtake the island and drive them out of their hole.

The Empire's gratitude goes to Hans Durst. You saw your father was lead astray from righteousness and returned to your Empire. As promised, you will live the life of nobility that your father so foolishly abandoned, and I give you opportunity to restore the honor to your family's name. Your grandfather would be proud.

To our spiritual leaders, who so nobly worked alongside the bounty hunters I sent to the coordinates Hans Durst gave us, I thank you again for bringing me such a bounty of gifts. All hail the Ever Powerful Divine!

[Hail! the soldiers reply.

The Bounty Hunters involved go without any honors despite doing much of the heavy lifting to sneak into Corsair territory. Few aristocrats hold any true respect for them, regardless of their strength. They are, at the end of the day, another type of lowly servant.]

Citizens, you will not wait long to see a world free from the Crimson Corsair stain. Look forward to the celebrations to come after our destined victory!

[The crowd cheers, loud as ever, and within a minute their cheers turn into repeating chants. Long live the Empire! Long live the Empire! Long live the Empire!

The Corsairs turn away from their radios, many with a hard resolve down in the pits of their stomachs. "Let's send out our own message!" many of them decide. Several had anticipated this and had already set up the transmission equipment.

"They haven't reclaimed the Lower Isles." "The Vault will not fall into Imperial control!" After the three leaders of the Corsairs have spoken, the most powerful and renown of the Corsair ranks are greeted by expectant looks and gestures towards wherever the nearest transmission equipment is sitting.]


[ooc: The comment section is open to characters' private and/or publicly announced reactions to the Emperor's speech and the battle ahead, and/or any interactions that happen between PCs at the time.]

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[theriflespiral]

"Citizens of the Empire. This is the Voice of Bluvink, calling from the Vault.

"Your chains are long, and your hearts are iron.

"Let it be known, the Vault still stands.

"Let it be known, the world is not for one man, no matter how long his grip, to hold forever.

"His Imperial Folly would have you believe his wealth unlimited, his army unstoppable, his fortress impregnable.

"I say to you, citizens: If he is so infallible, why did he need to recover Odilo? If he is inevitable, why is he grown ever more rabid?

"His grip already slips. His heart already falters. Isolated from the world, he has lost sight of Heaven, and lost sight of the people.

"Thus, always, go tyrants.

"But what of you? The citizens of the Empire, the hearts of the Corsairs, you now have a choice: A choice between uncertain life, and certain death.

"Let ice fill your hearts, for what must be done.

"They cannot stop all of us. They cannot stop all of you.

"They no longer have the power."

There is a brief pause. The calm voice of before fades, into--

"SCREAM YOUR FURY! For your friends! For the family they ground into meat, for a few extra moments of joy! For the people whose lives we saved! LET YOUR FURY SHOW!"

"For, rest assured, citizens:

"We remember you.

"And I shall wear a scarf of scarlet."

[spacetogrow]

[Ilphyl is going to sort through their worries later. But now they need to at least try and say something.]

Citizens of Esthere.

I'm a lot better at farming and raising animals than talking to people. Plants don't need anyone to tell them to grow. Fish know how to swim when they are born. Birds learn to fly from watching their parents; they don't need lessons. You can't teach a bird to breathe water like a fish, or to plant itself and grow on sunlight and water.

The Emperor wants you to think that you have as much choice in being a peasant or noble as being a fish or a bird, because then you won't try to become something else. That it's natural, and divinely ordained.

But if it is, why are there Crimson Corsairs? Why do our numbers grow? And why is the Emperor so insistent on stopping us? Why bring in the head of the Church to stop one person claiming to be a god?

[Ilphyl tries to keep their voice calm there; they are worried about Emery]

You don't need to put up netting to keep your fish from flying away. You certainly don't have to shoot them if they try. You don't have to make examples of them.

I'm not from this world. But I grew up in a place where those who ruled also insisted the way we lived, with some above and some below, was the only correct way to live. When I questioned that, I was punished. When I left, I didn't know what I was running to, only what I was running from.

I found out that not all the people of my world lived like my people did. That I had a choice in how I could live, and the people who found me didn't force me into a role, but let me make that choice. And when I was given a choice, I chose to keep choosing which meant I had to stay gone from my birthplace.

The Emperor doesn't want you to make that choice, so he pretends it isn't a choice, just like it isn't a choice for fish to live in water. Because if you actually have a choice, you get to ask 'what benefit is it to me to be a peasant when others are nobles?' And none of their answers hold up beyond 'you have no other choice'.

The Corsairs stand for making a choice in how you want to live your lives, and not telling other people how to live theirs. The Empire stands for telling you exactly how to live their lives, lest you be punished. It's easy to not see the problem when you get told that as a noble, you get a fine house and food and other people to see to your needs. But... for everyone else.

If no one would punish you for it, what would you choose to be?

[supersmashbrother]

—Oh HAIL NO!

[A giant green fist slams down onto the table to punctuate Raph's statement, shaking the feed mightily for a few seconds. As he leans back, Donnie can be seen somewhere behind him off to the side, shaking off the surprise from his Not!brother's recent actions.

Judging by the depth of the crevasse in his red-bandana'd brow, he's obviously Not Happy about this proclamation.]

They're countin' on us being fearful in order to break us down an' snuff us out one by one. But just know this:

[He points directly at the screen.]

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

We are Corsairs! We have each other's backs. Bound by blood or forged in fire, family is family. An' you never turn your back on your family.

We all make choices. We all make mistakes. Fixing them on our own or giving up completely ain't the way to go about it! We hash it out, we change our stances, we come back stronger. Together.

[With that last word, he makes a fist, holding it up in front of him with fervor.]

That being said: DOWN WITH THE EMPIRE! We don't need someone throwin' around their weight like that! A leader is supposed to help others, not kick them down when they need it most!

An' I say it's time to set some priorities straight!