Sterling Declaration

The **Ralmulash speech** was an important announcement made in 983 after the former king of Ralmulash was imprisoned and forced to abdicate the throne. The speech is historically incredibly important for Ralmulash, because the monarchy would be abolished turning Ralmulash into an oligarchy ran by the Sterling Council.

## Speech

Important for context to the speech is that it was held from the balcony of the royal palace within the capital Ingareth, with the king tied up and gagged next to the spokesperson of the Sterling Council. Further the text is written from a very one sided perspective meant to make the Sterling Council look as the saviours of Ralmulash, while the monarchs were meant to be seen as undoing the glory of the land.

''We the Sterling Council stand here before you today on the balcony of our olden monarch. First, we shall say fear not citizens of Ralmulash. Your lives are not under threat with us here, they were however with the king! We as the council decided it was time to intervene directly in the high matters of our beloved country. The king started many wars which did not only threaten our livelihood, but also our very lives as citizens of this confederacy. Time and time again we advised the king not to go to war, for the sake of petty gains. Now we stand before you with the king under our control and an important document in hands. For we seek a new future build upon by those of wisdom from the council, not the tyranny of the king. In a few moments the 'king' shall sign this document, stating that they will abdicated the throne and that the monarchy of Ralmulash shall be no more. Instead the Sterling Council shall rule in her name, seeking to establish peace with the enemies the king made. For we do not see them as enemies, but as friends to build a favourable relations with. But before we got to that we would like to remind everyone of the heinous crimes that have been committed under the monarchy. First of all, the wish advice of the council has often been left ignored. This has only caused grief as the economy faltered. We had the solutions but they did not follow our advice. Secondly, the monarchs have put us in many different wars. No one wanted those except for elite rulers of the monarchy, allowing them to throw lives away in the field of battle while they sat safely far away from it all. Thirdly, in many other cases the monarchs have acted like they are above the law. Pardoning royal house members who committed crimes. While we sought justice, they barred us from doing so. This is all prove of the monarchies failure to rule. Therefore we will now hand over this piece of parchment, which will be signed by the last king, announcing the end of the monarchy and installing the Sterling Council as full ruling body.''

In this moment the hands of the king are untied and begrudgingly signs the paper.

''Now the rule of the monarchs has ended, let the rule of the Sterling Council begin. We shall announce our agenda and goals within the week. Furthermore new rules and the full abolition of the monarchy will be set into working. Now next to use stands an equal citizen of the land. Who has, as we mentioned, committed many crimes. The Council has convened and decided that the only form of justice is to be brought in front of the hammerer.''

Next a large dwarf appears from out of the shadows, wielding a silver warhammer. The former king is brought forward and with a hard thunk his head is splattered.

''Long live the Sterling Council, long live Ralmulash!''