Hail Aetherius
My name is Insinyan Virs, son to Daganev Virs. This is my first time
making a public post, and I hope it will be my last. I have many things
to say, and to explain. I will speak much of justice, and of truth, and
I ask that as you read this, you ponder those concepts. I will begin
this with a story, and I ask that those reading this be patient with me,
as this may be long, and I am not a writer or speaker by choice, but I
feel this is all but necessary, and I ask that all sensible people of
Aetherius read. There was a story once told by elders and wise men
alike, and it went something like this.
There was once a city that sat in the south. The cities leadership began
to get very one sided and harsh, its people began to suffer. There was a
man that would go at midnight to the houses, and he would say many good
things, and he told the people of how the government was and that it
should not be tolerated. Soon people began to spread the word, and the
following grew. Eventually, one night, the cities people flooded the
city square, in a peaceful march demanding change. Suddenly the people
were surrounded, and the guards of the city began to rush the square,
killing innocent protesters. The leader of these protestors ran with all
his might, and escaped to the sewers of the city, finding more followers
there he lead them out of the city. The escaped men and women walked in
the desert for nearly a decade, searching for peace and a place where
they could find sensibility, knowledge, and justice. This is the story
of Antioch, a story of people standing up against there persecutors,
really great, but only a story.
I will continue with another story, my own, I will start with the very
beginning, and end with recent events. It begins something like this...
I was walking one day along the path from Caanae to Stavenn, I decided I
would go hunting in the sewers. Although a Saboteur, I am in no way an
ally of Stavenn or of any city, I was simply hunting as many do. As I
came across the gate, I saw a gathering outside the gate. Not really
knowing why they were there I simply waved hello and passed on. As I
came in the gate of Stavenn, I saw another group, who I stopped to say
hello and began to move on, but before I could, I was suddenly struck
with an arrow as Stavros and Aidan entered Stavenn. As I pulled the
arrow from my leg and quickly ran from the conflict between Stavenn and
Antioch, I was somewhat furious, being innocent and attacked... but as a
sensible man I let it go.
What irony it was when I suddenly came upon Stavros, and Aidan, in my
fiancee's grove, enjoying a rain. I was somewhat angered, but they
apologized and I quickly forgave, after which a lively discussion began
to take place. The men in her grove where thoughtful, intelligent, and
well spoken, something I was not used to encountering from most. So I
listened and was delighted, there words almost mesmerizing me in there
honesty and truth. They talked much of justice, and Antioch... Justice!
Antioch City of Justice! Justice... justice... and I believed them. As a
Saboteur I am cityless, but I was almost tempted to join Antioch. I
mean, it sounded like such a great place, a place of peace and wisdom,
how wonderful right?
A few weeks later I wandered upon a place called, El�Jazira. As I walked
its streets I saw guards armed and ready... strange, who would attack
this little place? I then met the sheik in his extravagant multi tiered
tent, a strange man to say the least. As I wandered the tent I met the
Sheik�s three man servants and eight concubines.. what the? Well then I
wandered out of the tent, thoroughly disgusted... when I suddenly came
upon five more slaves, three tending to the Sheik�s prized camels... one
of them being a young boy, no older then eleven years old. As I looked
at the small boy my eyes filled with tears, and rage filled my heart. I
was at that moment, forever enemies to the Sheik, and everyone that
stood to help him gain from these poor people, and this town in which he
had enslaved. As I looked about, I realized why the guards where needed,
to stop the slaves and the others from escaping, surely not to protect
against attack. So I began immediately, wiping out the the sheiks thugs,
telling all those under the Sheik, and the Sheik himself of my
intentions.
Wanting change, I thought surely Antioch would aid me in my quest, and
El�Jazira was close, so they surely could help. I came to Antioch with
the corpses, wanting to make sure and get their attention. I told them
of what I saw, and before I could ask for help, I realized that el
El�Jazira was an ally of Antioch, for many years. Angeline, a high
council member there told me that there were no slaves and I was an
idiot! She lived there for seven years and never seen one slave! I
wonder if Angeline was living only in the rich part of town, with the
Sheik and his concubines? I left Antioch a few death threats and insults
later, with a promise of change, and without being enemied nor given a
warning. Perhaps there was hope, I thought. Two years later, as I handed
gold out to the slaves, I saw the same thing. This time I went straight
to the source, bringing the Sheik himself to his knees. I brought the
corpse, as I had done before, to the Antioch square. I begin to speak to
Vero a council member, and he offered me no reply, even though I had
brought him just two years earlier to see the slaves. My last words were
"I am only a man of morals, and sensibility. I�m just trying to do what
is right, can you please have someone come talk to me?" Evadne came into
the room, and enemied me, my last glance was of her grin as I met my
death to the hands of a Justicar of the Shah... I wander if he knew his
hands where being used to persecute?
Upon leaving Dis, I was called trash and a "magicker" by Evadne, who
said Antioch had nothing to do with justice, that Antioch was about
protecting its allies, period.
I will end this now, as you can see my point. Strange how the guards of
the Antioch square repeated history, silenceing a man only trying to do
what he thought was right.
Perhaps death was needed... I could accept that, but could I of not been
spoken with first? I came to Antioch knowing fully I could be killed for
standing up, but I thought they would at least know why they were
killing me before they did... in fact Evadne had no reason why I was to
be enemied, she simply stated that someone told her to because I had
killed an "ally" of Antioch. Well let it be known Aetherius, Antioch
endorses slavery and the general disregard of human rights. The city of
justice, the city of light, is no more then a dream, a wise mans� vision
not seen. They talk this and that of Stavenn and hate and such; I was
murdered in cold blood, I would ask, how are you any better? Are they
somehow exempt?
I am sure Antioch leaders will answer this. They will tell you that I�m
an evil, scary "magicker", I�m trash, an idiot, a liar, oh and a
murderer too! They will avoid at all costs the issue... Antioch supports
slavery and injustice, and kills those who stand up against it. I will
not reply to what they say, it fall upon deaf ears, I am only posting
because I have to. I am sure more will enemies after this... my reply to
that is, I will not bend my morals or beliefs for any, if you have
quarrel with me, talk and I will listen.
In closing, I ask that all people of this land, Antiochians,
Stavennites, Malgnists, Priests, Men, Women... stand up for what you
believe in. Use reason, use communication, use mind before matter, force
when needed... but do not let those ignorant of this land stop you.
Antiochians, who are just and truly represent its ideals, I hold no ill
will towards you, but its time you stand up. To those men and women of
truth...

Penned by my hand on the 4th of Artificium, in the year 450 AD.