Lord Delecti's Address to the Third Council, calling for veneance on the Praxians for the rampages of Waha!
"A tremendous battle is raging in Prax and the Good Place. The Praxians, by a remarkable combination of Impala archery and heavy Bison have broken through the Pure Horse defenses north of Moonbroth, and strong groups of their armoured Rhino Riders are ravaging the open country which for the first day or two was without defenders. For myself, I have invincible confidence in the Horse army and it's leaders, only a very small part of that splendid army has yet been heavily engaged, and only a small part of the Good Place has yet been invaded. There is good evidence to show that practically the whole of the specialised and outlandish forces of the enemy have been already thrown into the battle and we know that very heavy losses have been inflicted upon them. No magician or warrior, no priest or chieftan, which grapples at close quarters with the enemy wherever encountered, can fail to make a worthy contribution to the general result. The armies must cast away the ideas of resisting attack behind magical defenses or natural obstacles and must realise that mastery can only be regained by furious and unrelenting assault and this spirit must not only animate the high command but must inspire every fighting man. On the other side, often at serious odds, often at odds hitherto thought overwhelming, we have been clawing down three of four to one of our enemies and the relative balance of the Praxian Spirits and Wyrmish magicians is considerably more favourable to us now than at the beginning of the battle. In cutting down the nomad gods we are fighting our own battle as well as that of the Horse People. My confidence in our ability to fight it out to the finish with the Praxian Khans has been strengthened by the fierce encounters which have taken place and are taking place. At the same time our heavy tuskers are striking nightly at the tap root of Praxian magical power. They have already inflicted serious damage on the Sacred Oases on which the nomad effort to plunder the world directly depends. We must expect that as soon as stability is reached on the eastern front the bulk of the hideous apparatus of aggresion which dashed Hender's into ruin and slavery in a few days will be turned upon us. I am sure I speak for all when I say we are ready to face it, to endure it, and to retaliate against it to any extent that the unwritten laws of war permit. There will be many men and many women in these hills who, when the ordeal comes upon them, as come it will, will feel comfort and even a pride, that they are sharing the perils of our allies on the plains; Aramite tusker riders, Basmoli lion men, and Wyrms Friends, Cosmic Dragon aid them, and are drawing away from them a part at least, of the onslaught they have to bear. Is not this the appointed time for all to make the utmost exertions in their power, if the battle is to be won, we must provide our men with ever increasing quantities of the weapons and magics they need. We must have, and have quickly, more swords, more lances, more Rune Power, more Wyrms; there is imperious need for these weapons, they increase our strength against a powerfully armed enemy, they replace the wastage of the obstinate struggle, and the knowledge that wastage will speedily be replaced, enables us to draw more readily on our reserves, and throw them in now that everything counts so much. Our task is not only to win the battle, but to win the war. After this battle in Prax abates its force, there will come the battle for our hill forts, for all that EWF is and all that EWF means, that will be the struggle. In that supreme emergency we shall not hesitate to take every step, even the most drastic, to call forth from our people the last ounce and the last inch, of effort of which they are capable. The interest of property, the hours of labour, are nothing compared to the struggle for life and honour, for draconic thinking, to which we have vowed ourselves. I have recieved from the chiefs of the Pure Horse, and in particular, from it's indomitable chieftan, Joraz Kyree, the most sacred pledges that whatever happens they will fight to the end, be it bitter or be it glorious. Nay! if we fight to the end it can only be glorious!
Having recieved the Council's commision, I have formed an administration of men and women of every political faction and of almost every point of view, we have differed and quarrelled in the past, but now one bond unites us all: To wage war until victory is won and never to surrender ourselves to servitude and shame, whatever the cost and the agony may be. If this is one of the most awe striking periods, in the long history of the Wyrmfriends, it is also beyond doubt the most sublime, side by side, unaided except by their kith and kin in the great dominions, by the wide empire which rests beneath their shield, side by side the Horse and Tusker peoples have advanced to rescue not only EWF, but mankind from the foulest and most soul destroying tyranny that has ever darkened and stained the pages of history. Behind them, behind us, behind the armies and sorceries of the EWF, gather a group of shattered tribes and bludgeoned races; the Adari Refugees, the Pure Horse Mothers, the Basmoli, the citizens of Robcradle, the Dark men, the Newtlings, upon all of whom the long night of Waharism shall descend, unbroken even by a star of hope, unless we conquer, as conquer we must, as conquer we shall."
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