Alusair's Reflection (posted by player request)

[Munroe]

Posted anonymously by player request:
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In the final hours before dawn, thirty-six copies of a poem are left, neatly folded, and placed on the paths and favorite sitting spots of the Royal Gardens in Suzail. They are written in plain, bold lettering.


~Alusair's Reflection~
An Unenchanted Mirror

Fruit fallen far from the tree,
Has courage fled from thee?

Now gone is the Silver Shield,
Traded in Thayan deal,
Seek low, look high,
Search under the sky,
The Regent has lost her steel

Forsaken was the Marsh of Tun,
With no battle lost or won,
Yielded to a lone squid,
Where has bravery hid?
Alas, this tale has just begun

Suzail justice had not wiles,
To contend with Banite guile,
Under oath 'fore judge's booth,
Uttered naught but vile untruth,
Yet innocence proclaimed by trial

Neighbors true were Dwarves of old,
Oghrann Clan, stout hearts bold,
Bereft of Dragon Friend,
Alone with Drow at the end,
Slain they were, in hearth and hold

Cut adrift was Redmist Town,
Gift to Thay, by Cormyr Crown,
Left to beg crumb,
'neath Tyrant's thumb,
For these peace will not be found

To Isinhold turn gaze west,
On bent knee she made request,
To Cormyrian Crown she appealed,
And found apathy revealed,
In neutrality she must rest

Fields further west have been sent,
Into the keeping of the Zhent,
With footholds both west and east,
Corner the Dragon as hunted beast,
The Zhentarim will not relent

Such is the Western Accord,
Wages Crown can ill afford,
Taken are the rights of the folk,
And given to lift Banite yolk,
In favor of them she lords

Will she continue to yield,
Taking not to the field,
How much longer will sun rise,
Over this Throne of compromise?
The Regent has lost her steel

Princess, I pray, prove me wrong,
Kindle the fire, make Cormyr strong,
Reclaim the path of right,
Unleash the Dragon's might,
And I shall sing your song

Fruit fallen far from the tree,
Has courage fled from thee?

~

The Faithful

[HeatherRae]

Passing through the gardens on her way through Suzail, Liadan happens upon one of the poems. She stops, picks it up, and reads it, emotion flickering over her features. Her eyes grow wide as she reads stanza after stanza. Finally, she breathes a single word in Illuskan - "Finally." After a moment more of reflection, she folds the paper carefully and tucks it into her bag. But although she sees the other copies, she leaves them where they are, carrying only the one she first found away.

[kaltorac]

He pondered the words she'd just read to the group and sighed heavilly. The apparition of Delinaria continued to circle the room, moving in and out of their sight as if impatiently awaiting a response. He looked at the each in turn. He saw the words Liadan read had marked them all. He studied one longer than the rest though, the one he still was not sure he could trust. He watched him, the battle bard could not meet his eyes, he turned away and looked down as if in shame. When Warrick finally looked up, he saw it. He'd made the choice as well, he would finally take a stand.

They all started to discuss the words; "The Crown is weak", "The Regent a Fool", "Why do none come forth?".

Once again, it was Liadan setting things in motion. "How is it a Dawnbringer from a distant land seems to be my guide constantly?" He wondered silently.

What had started as a discussion soon broke into arguements over which threat was the greatest. Some focused on Redmist and the Servants of Bane, others on the increased presence of the followers of "The Vaunted One". The only commonality was that all felt the "Crown" did not care, that the "Crown" had abandonned them.

He watched his wife beside him, could see the anguish in her eyes. She knew. It was time, the look her face when she returned his gaze confirmed it. He would tell them what he knew.

"Enough!", the word echoed off the chamber walls, even the apparition of the dwarven priestess seemed to pause and wait.

He told them.