Across The Pond

Emperor Titus Mede II stood atop a large balcony overlooking a large open area for which he can address the people of Imperial City. He let out a quite sigh before starting his speech.

"Elves, Best races, and Humans alike:

Yesterday was the 30th of Frostfall in 4E 171, a date that will live on in infamy. On that day I received a letter demanding I surrender my throne and my people to the Thalmor of the Second Aldmeri Dominion. They demanded this with one, simple ultimatum. They threaten our way of life with war.

The Empire was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of the Thalmor, was still in conversation with its government and its leader looking toward the maintenance of peace in the southern reaches of Tamriel. But as of late they have extended their reach into Valenwood and even Elsweyr, and have found there, the confidence to challenge us.

People of the Empire! Of the bravest of nations! I have no doubt of your courage, and none of your victory, which never by any chance or obstacle escaped your efforts.

Most of those who have spoken here before me have spoken of war as something we must fear, something we should avoid if at all possible. This can not be the case today. If we stand aside who will stop the Thalmor? Who will stand up for the families the Thalmor takes? So I stand here, not to say we go to war because we have no choice. Rather, I stand before you to tell you we will fight, and we will win.

We must all come together and tell the Thalmor in one voice, you can not silence us. We will never stand aside while you trample and destroy our very way of life. We will live on, and we will survive.

My people, late last night my faith in one of my most trusted men was called into question. And this morning he is no where to be found. Yesterday our strength was called into question. Will you be absent when the time comes to prove yourselves?

Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. We do not copy our neighbours, but are an example to them. Let us lead by example. The rest of the world will know of the bravery of every last man and woman of the Empire. We will not surrender, it has never been our way.

Today I stand before you with a simple message. It is a message of hope. Hope for the future and hope for today. Pray to the nine what tomorrow will bring for only they can know.

I am here to tell you that we, as in you and I both, must study politics and war so that our children, and our children's children can have the freedom to study mathematics and philosophy. The only way to secure everlasting peace is through the Thalmor. If we cower now what will happen? What will happen when we show the world we won't defend ourselves?

I know this isn't something you all anticipated but it is a necessary hardship.

And we have not forgotten to provide for our weary spirits many relaxations from toil; we have regular games and sacrifices throughout the year; our homes are beautiful and elegant; and the delight which we daily feel in all these things helps to banish melancholy. Because of the greatness of our city the fruits of the whole earth flow in upon us; so that we enjoy the goods of other countries as freely as of our own.

Then, again, our military training is in many respects superior to that of our adversaries. Our city is thrown open to the world, and we never expel a foreigner or prevent him from seeing or learning anything of which the secret if revealed to an enemy might profit him. We rely not upon management or trickery, but upon our own hearts and hands.

The Thalmor only gained their power through undermining the government system from within. I doubt they have any real strength on the battlefield. They certainly don't frighten me. I have faith in the Imperial Legion.

My people, when we fight you must remember three things. Three core values you must take with you when you go and protect out land.

The first is honor. Now what is honor? What does honor mean to you? I'll tell you what it means to me. Honor is the manifestation of respect; respect for yourself, respect for your fellow man, and respect for your country.

The second core value I want you to take with you when you leave here today is courage. Remember that courage is not the absence of fear, but the acknowledgement of it, and the mastery of it. It means being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway.

The final thing I want you to to keep in mind is commitment. Commitment is simple, a promise. Can you commit to the Imperial Legion and protect your families? And if you can't then you aren't the type of person the Legion is looking for.

Raise your standards, my brave men and women, and set neither measure nor limit to your merited rage. May the lightning of your glory be seen and the thunders of your onset heard from east to west, from north to south. Make no doubt in the minds of our foes that we will stand together as one, and we will not now, nor will we ever surrender!"