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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on May 15, 2022 4:56:30 GMT
Responding to the Moderali actions into Placidia, the Councilor of Unity decided to have the young emperor make the very first address to the populace over radio.
“Umm…Hello, citizens of Divinium? It’s Florin. The Emperor. Emperor Florin-Aurelius. Von Marcum. I have been asked to issue this speech to keep you all informed of the events happening that might be concerning. It is true, despite the efforts of our government, the Moderali do not want to see reason. Like many of our enemies before, they just want to be angry. They have done many things that have injured the pride of our nation and our people. They insulted our diplomats, killed our sailors, and now they sent troops to Placidia.
I am told the troops in Estraria will protect us. But out of an abundance of caution, we are mobilizing the Imperial Army as well, to defend Divina Magna. No war has been declared, and we hope they can come to see reason…soon. Emperor Catherine… my mom, she gave a speech once. Well I mean I guess she gave more than one but well… She quoted our motto. ‘God does not dominate, and neither will they.’ It’s fitting right now. No matter what happens, Divinium will be alright. I promise. Ok?”
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on May 16, 2022 20:45:57 GMT
Ethlynn, yet again, entered the Emperor’s study, where the Council of Wisdom and the young Duke Estrana had already begun their Meeting. Logistics tables were scrawled across chalk boards that had been rolled in across the carpet, and a map indicating fleet and troop movements was strewn across the table. She did her best to ignore Florin, who was unsurprisingly, red faced and sulking in the far corner.
She was quickly brought up to speed, and stared back blankly at her councilors in turn. Military strategy was not her strong suit. Thankfully, Coltain stepped in for her.
“I proposed we bring the DOC fleet that is laid up in ordinary back into commission. Rashad has expressed interest in taking some of the torpedo boats under her command, and the others can help us if need be.” She nodded as he continued. “The Home and Southern Fleets can maintain their positions. There is no imminent naval threat, especially with Rashad moving into position.”
Christoph chimed in next. “The Second Army has already been issued orders to move up to northern Estraria, building entrenchments and fall back lines. The Moderali have already taken forward positions on their holdings in Placidia. We’ve ordered them to act in defense. No assault without open aggression, but we need to be ready.”
Before she could assent, Florin yelled out, his tiny hand smacking the window next to him as he gesticulated wildly.
“You made me lie! I told people they would be fine. Now they’re gonna die! You-you can’t! They can get hurt real bad! I’m not gonna agree!”
“Princeling we-“
“No! I’m the emperor. I don’t wanna. Fighting is bad! Bad people hurt people! I’m not a bad boy!”
“Enough!” The cutting edge of her voice made the boy react as if he had been slapped in the face. His big, brown eyes pooled with tears again. “Violence is never good. You’re right. But if we don’t prepare for the worst, they might hurt us. It’s self defense. When you’re older you’ll understand. Until that time I am your regent, and I will sign off on this. Pen?”
“Guards!” Ethlynn stood shocked, as four praetorians entered the room, staring between the boy and his grandmother. Even Florin looked surprised at the order he had given, unsure what he expected the men to do, before continuing. “I. Don’t. Don’t let them do it!”
Ethlynn stepped forward, toward the men and quietly gave an order. “Please escort the emperor back to his chambers. Send for his tutor. Florin needs to write a letter thanking his uncle for the biscuits.” They stepped toward the emperor, hoisting him up from under his arms. He flailed his legs, wailing louder as he was escorted out of the room.
“Ahem. Pen?”
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on May 30, 2022 13:33:07 GMT
The lights clicked on, signaling the Emperor to speak. He had been drilled forward and backward. Don’t stutter. If you must stop, let there be silence. Keep your voice steady. Still he felt the pit of distress gnawing at his stomach. Grandmother had insisted that right and wrong were not always so clear. That leaders must make hard choices. Just like his mother did. It was Councilor Retorus however, who had helped the most. “Play pretend. You aren’t Florin, you’re…Victor. The conqueror!.”
“Divinians. I’m here not to express indignation, but to bemoan my fate. Is it not deserved for us, who have met with undeserved misfortune? Is it not dreadful that we have become engaged in war after war?” He paused, sucking in a sharp breath.
“But the trumpets sound again. A plot has been formed against us and our dear friends by our own kin. Our Latin brothers in Moderal. It is on your behalf… that I toil to keep us safe by any means. Our enemies are numerous. But… but we will prevail! Because an eagle is not formidable when in command of an army of fawns. But Divinians! Each one of you is a wolf! The pack hunts as one! And one of our pack has been gravely wounded. Will we leave the Magdali to lick their wounds alone? No! We will come to their aid…as they… as they would come to ours.”
“But never forget. The Moderali too, are our brothers, as misguided as they are. I pray to the Almighty God that we will not be deprived of the greatest prize both of war and victory. And what is this prize? To look those who have wronged us in the face. And offer forgiveness. To keep faith with those who have broken faith with us. When we have victory, they will be welcomed back to us with open arms. What…what is the profit then, if we cannot learn from the mistakes of our past. Noble Romulus fought his brother to the death. Fearful Difid put his brothers in Latium to the torch. But we can do better! We can settle this affair with strength but… we can still show the world that there is a right way even to deal with war amongst brothers. Thank you.”
As the broadcast cut off, several members began to come forward to congratulate the emperor. Florin, who had locked his knees as he stood there, promptly collapsed into a heap on the floor.
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on May 31, 2022 4:35:30 GMT
When he had been told to give the declaration of war, Florin ran out of the Council Chambers in a flurry of emotion, all the way to the chapel of the palace. Sobbing he lit a candle, went through prayers, and waited. Silence. Angry, the boy hoisted a reliquary and flung it, shattering a nearby window into so many shards of crystal. The blues and purples cast by the window popped like a bubble, finally letting in clear, bright light. Florin sank to his knees sobbing, his body shaking.
The shards that had skittered across the floor dug into his bare knees. Tiny drops of blood had welled up, matching his tears. Still he knelt, gazing out the shattered portal toward the sky.
“It’s like a game, you know?.” Florin jumped at that, turning toward where Councilor Retorus was sat at the back of the chapel. He was fiddling with a series of medals that hung from the chain around his neck. “Giving speeches. That’s how Cat saw it anyway. You aren’t really yourself. You’re who the people need you to be.”
The boy's small fist slammed into the pew. “My mom?! She’s dead! She’s dead! And Auri! And now - Now grandmother is sick too? You’re not part of my family! You’re not my DAD! Shut UP!”
Cathal continued twirling the medals around in his hand, letting the child release what he had tamped down for years. “I wish I was. Your father that is.” He looked down, tearing a strip off of the fabric of his sleeve, and stepped toward Florin. As he knelt, dabbing the bleeding knees, he continued quietly.
“I loved your mother more than you can imagine Florin. I was assigned to her guard when we were both teens. She was… not what people tell you. Oh she loved her people. And she fought for them, it’s true. But she was also ruthless. She had no right to the throne, you know. She let Divinians kill Divinians because she wanted to rule.”
Florin drew in a breath, but winced when Cathal plucked a large chunk of glass from his leg. The Councilor took the opportunity to press on. “But she was right. Eugene was never fit to rule. She abhorred violence, but she used it like any ruler does. And I followed her. She gave me this position. And in the end, she died for a speck of dirt on a map. She was not someone you have to live up to.”
He rose again, content with the wraps on his emperor’s knees, and walked toward the exit. “Your mother was no saint. But then, who is?” He slipped a medal off his necklace, and flicked it before exiting. With a high pitched lilt, it bounced across the floor, rolling to a stop near the altar.
Florin shuffled toward it, wiping his nose with the sleeve of his tunic. His fist closed around it, and he brought the object up toward the light for examination. In his palm was a small golden coin of some sort. It was pitted and bent, as if it had been heated after its initial casting. On the front, the letters FVM. On the back, faded text. He squinted, unsure what to make of the simple message.
“Unusquisque sua noverit ire via”
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on Jul 12, 2022 2:33:05 GMT
The empress gasped for breath as she lay in bed. The end was coming soon enough. At her side the Councilors stood; some grim faced out of obligation, others in sincerity. “At least I managed to see to the end of the war”, she thought.
A knock on the door pulled her out of her musing. Councilor Retorus brought in Florin, who was rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He was gently pushed toward the front of the throng, wide eyes brimming with tears. Before he could speak, the Empress raised a hand.
“Don’t cry dear, there is nothing to be sad about. A grandmother is supposed to pass away before her grandchildren. You need to be strong. For your people. Listen to your advisors, and the new regent. Be a good boy.”
She turned her head then toward Duke Estrana. “Please make sure he doesn’t inter me in that cave. I’d like to be buried in Chalphys, with my parents.” Aodhan nodded stiffly in affirmation.
“And now I think I should like to sleep.”
~~~
“My dear Citizens, this is the Acting Archduke Aodhan Estrana speaking. This evening, the Empress Regent has passed away. She served this Federation faithfully to the end, and as such three days of state mourning are to be respected in her honor. She will be laid in state two days from now in St. Charles Cathedral before being interred. The Council of Wisdom will act as a regency until such time as the Senate sees fit to elect a proper Emperor Regent. May God bless you all, and God Bless Divinium.
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on Feb 11, 2023 4:34:13 GMT
My dear people. When you elected me to my position as Imperator at such a young age, I know full well your hopes lay not with me personally, but with the progeny of my mother. Indeed it is true that my forefathers have maintained our position as emperors of our great nation since her founding. Despite the scheming and machinations of those within and without who have sought to remove us from our position, it was by your support and divine right that we have ever returned to serve you.
I have ever endured the labor of this service, despite my own wishes, because you have placed your faith in me. And so I must act in the best interests of the state. During the time in which the patricians attempted to hoard food from the plebians, I enacted harsh measures to assure all my people fed. When the church sought to hide her wealth away from those in need, I dragged their sins to the light. When the aediles, the elect few, sought to profit from famine, I ordered our military to ensure equitable distribution of the dole. Even when the senators were surrounded by a justified yet illicit mob, I brought them to safety.
And yet, a handful of our senate have taken it upon themselves to enact laws without forethought and with malice. The patricians, the aediles, our senate. They look down upon the majority for not having the very privileges I grant them through you! In this way, I have failed you. I have allowed them to steer the course of the state from the first, believing their experience meant wisdom. I was sorely mistaken.
Whether Aerali’i, Catholic, or a professor of the Imperial Cult, you all believe it is my right to rule. The laws this group so desire are meant to strip me of my power and leave me little more than a puppet king. But I, like my ancestors, have the blood of Old Latium and the sons of Difid coursing through my veins! Latium never fell. She was maintained through the toil of every tenant in the fields and every legionary who shed their blood for Divinium. I will not abandon my duties. In light of the inefficiency and treachery of the Senate, I formally dissolve the inherited rights of the Patricians of Divinium. Those with the merit to rule will maintain, and those resting on the laurels of greater men shall be discarded. I call upon every able bodied man of Divinium, from Tanysira to the northern islands to take up arms as Imperial Auxilia and serve not these lords, but your emperor! Know the might of the Divinian military stands as your vanguard.
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