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To Ricardo Araujo of the Jesuit Order.
It is regrettable that actions of the past so color the present, and actions do speak louder than words.
A man of his word and deed paint himself by all that he does and all that he does not.
You were an inspiring leader Ricardo, with your system of pursuing heretics that makes the barbarians take note. I have thought good about you, as a gentleman. Yet growing more concerned by every deed that has befallen and all the empty, ignoring silence that has been employed. By your people, your army, your priesthood and yes, even yourself against all nations, and particularly against your very neighbour Spain.
My father went forward to deal with you and his words to me were to uphold the unwritten agreement of old, that would last for a hundred turnings of the world. He spoke of you as a man that would never step forward from shadow to assault anyone from behind. But you did this, and the world shook from the very foundations to the heavens.
Yes, from the very heavens above were seen the falling stars and earthquakes shook the mountains of Africa, making Rome slaughter it's citizens to bring forth volunteers into a fervor of blood madness, procuring human skulls from their own families and fastening them to the broad shields of their legions to strike terror among my troops when marching to battle.
Nightmares were reported and suffering among children wailing to the skies at night, such that parents were close to succumbing to a nameless dread. Saying all is lost in the face of this unthinkable, unspeakable horror unleashed by your Inquisitors against the innocent citizens of Spain.
Then the day that the earth stood still came upon the land..
..and all was overturned, once more silence ruled your nation.
No effort was made, and your kingdom fell into a stupor. Your leadership vanished after this terrible cataclysm, only now resurfacing with indignation and surprise that actions have caused reactions. War is never easy, it is never lightly entered into except by those who have no fear, more fool they.
I rescinded the declaration of war upon your return, seeking no other value than understanding.
Had you returned sooner, there would have been no need for this declaration to become reality.
Still, I was uneasy about you. By corruping your image, reminding all around you of how barbarians act, silently without talk. Only attack, attack, attack. It makes me ask - did you do this for a reason? Were you silent on purpose? If not, why did you remove yourself from the public eye and deny all attempts of communing with you? Why did you not alert anyone, be it so much as a short;
"I may be absent due to religious or personal reasons - Know that I will return?"
My father spoke of this gentlemans word, a sort of warrior codex, where implicit tact and careful interaction with others was of the utmost importance. Any such man would not simply vanish, not speaking a word of his absence, giving no clue as to his return.
You vanished. For all I knew you were killed by barbarians rising up to take over your nation, as so many have done before. I was glad that you returned. I had a glimmer of hope that you would see reason, that your core values would stand firm and remind you of your responsibility. To your family, to your order, to your land and citizens therein.
I even intended to set up the trade routes as well, following your reply to this message.
The Persian Empire hereby declare war upon Portugal, in the year 1358 AD.
May Allah have mercy upon your soul.
-Sultan Arsalan
It is regrettable that actions of the past so color the present, and actions do speak louder than words.
A man of his word and deed paint himself by all that he does and all that he does not.
You were an inspiring leader Ricardo, with your system of pursuing heretics that makes the barbarians take note. I have thought good about you, as a gentleman. Yet growing more concerned by every deed that has befallen and all the empty, ignoring silence that has been employed. By your people, your army, your priesthood and yes, even yourself against all nations, and particularly against your very neighbour Spain.
My father went forward to deal with you and his words to me were to uphold the unwritten agreement of old, that would last for a hundred turnings of the world. He spoke of you as a man that would never step forward from shadow to assault anyone from behind. But you did this, and the world shook from the very foundations to the heavens.
Yes, from the very heavens above were seen the falling stars and earthquakes shook the mountains of Africa, making Rome slaughter it's citizens to bring forth volunteers into a fervor of blood madness, procuring human skulls from their own families and fastening them to the broad shields of their legions to strike terror among my troops when marching to battle.
Nightmares were reported and suffering among children wailing to the skies at night, such that parents were close to succumbing to a nameless dread. Saying all is lost in the face of this unthinkable, unspeakable horror unleashed by your Inquisitors against the innocent citizens of Spain.
Then the day that the earth stood still came upon the land..
..and all was overturned, once more silence ruled your nation.
No effort was made, and your kingdom fell into a stupor. Your leadership vanished after this terrible cataclysm, only now resurfacing with indignation and surprise that actions have caused reactions. War is never easy, it is never lightly entered into except by those who have no fear, more fool they.
I rescinded the declaration of war upon your return, seeking no other value than understanding.
Had you returned sooner, there would have been no need for this declaration to become reality.
Still, I was uneasy about you. By corruping your image, reminding all around you of how barbarians act, silently without talk. Only attack, attack, attack. It makes me ask - did you do this for a reason? Were you silent on purpose? If not, why did you remove yourself from the public eye and deny all attempts of communing with you? Why did you not alert anyone, be it so much as a short;
"I may be absent due to religious or personal reasons - Know that I will return?"
My father spoke of this gentlemans word, a sort of warrior codex, where implicit tact and careful interaction with others was of the utmost importance. Any such man would not simply vanish, not speaking a word of his absence, giving no clue as to his return.
You vanished. For all I knew you were killed by barbarians rising up to take over your nation, as so many have done before. I was glad that you returned. I had a glimmer of hope that you would see reason, that your core values would stand firm and remind you of your responsibility. To your family, to your order, to your land and citizens therein.
I even intended to set up the trade routes as well, following your reply to this message.
But now I know you for what you are. A man to whom the words mercy, modesty and wisdom have been replaced by cruelty, pride and stupidity. I have today learned the fate that has befallen what was known as the city of Lisbon. Nearly 3 million people slaughtered, by your feverish attempts to placate whatever broken faith you have taken upon yourself to wield. I do not see you as a follower of Christ anymore. If I was a follower of your faith I would denounce you and pray that you at the very least become aware of your actions, for I would find it extremely difficult to grant any kind of forgiveness to someone such as you. I would have another leader rise in the place of one who, without any apparent thought, would order the destruction and genocide of an entire city in one stroke without cause. You had a slim chance to reclaim greatness through humility, and you have so completely fumbled it that I am still in a state of shock from your actions.
May Allah have mercy upon your soul.
-Sultan Arsalan
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