Speech, Lapu (15th Wane 4E 103)

"*Many contemporary and post-modern scholars have researched and debated the works and speeches of a certain 'Lapu of House Holt'. The title is in brackets for little is known about the mysterious figure, and what scraps of information we can gather are usually deciphered through excerpts of his speeches and works. We are fortunate enough to have an exact transcription of his speech given at Silverthorne City, in the year 4E 103. The well-respected professor of Northern Alliance History, Therrhius Malvadar, regarded as an expert on this mysterious figure, states that this speech suggests some key characteristics of 'Lapu of House Holt'. His love of rhetoric for one, may be taken from an even earlier warrior-poet of which little is also known, Wilhelm of the Spear. What speeches we have of these 2 figures seem to correlate, although this can be coincidence. What is also evident is 'Lapu’s' oratory skill, which according to other records of the era seem to have had quite the effect, captivating crowds and moving regents. This is however, all second-hand information.* "
 ― Milostones, E. (4E 554), *The Mythology and History of Silverthorne. 2nd Ed.* Iron Academy. StC.

The following speech is attributed to Lapu of House Holt, on the day of the execution of Malus Helmgar, Namfoodle B. Swaggins, and Nemeia Tullius at the Silverthorne Trade Plaza, on the 15th day of Wane in the year 4E 103.

## Transcript

#### Common

*Friends, Silverthorners, Countrymen, lend me your ears,*
*I come not to speak of regicide, but to enlighten you.*
*The evil that men do lives after them,*
*The good is oft interred with their bones.*
*So let it be with Malus and Namfoodle. The noble Alyssa,*
*Hath told you Malus is ambitious,*
*If it were so, it is a grievous fault,*
*And grievously is Malus answering it.*
*Here under leave of Alyssa and the rest,*
*For Alyssa is an honourable woman,*
*So are they all, all honourable people.*
*Malus is my friend, faithful and just to me,*
*But Alyssa says he is a queen killer,*
*And Alyssa is an honourable woman.*
*He hath done many a service to the Elven Empire,*
*Whose benefits did not the Elven Empire benefit from?*
*Does this in Malus seem murderous?*
*When the dreadborn inflicted atrocities on us, Malus hath wept.*
*Treason should be made of sterner stuff,*
*Yet Alyssa says Malus killed the queen,*
*Treason should be made of sterner stuff,*
*And Alyssa is an honourable woman.*
*You all see that Malus had plenty of chance to kill the queen and get away with it,*
*Yet each time he refused. Is this a murderer's attitude?*
*Yet Alyssa says he killed the queen,*
*And sure, Alyssa is an honourable woman.*
*I speak not to disprove what Alyssa spoke,*
*But here I am to speak what I do know.*
*If you all had seen him fight for you, you all would love him, not without cause.*
*What cause withholds you then to execute him?*
*O judgement thou art fled to brutish beasts,*
*And men have lost their reason! Bear with me,*
*My heart is in the coffin here by Malus and Namfoodle,*
*And I must pause till it comes back to me.*
*So tell me Silverthorners. Countrymen. Friends! How can you stand idle*
*While injustice is made before your very eyes!?*