The General's Speech

    To think, just months ago - he had one of the happiest stags in Silverthorne. Having just met Mora - his heart was lifted off the ground - but recent news and events had always loomed over him, just waiting for the moment to bring him down like a ravenous pack of wolves. Piling up on each other, one after the other, Skul could not let it weigh him down - but, it was one pebble among the pile of boulders that finally broke his back. It could have been prevented too, had a certain someone listened and acted on it. He felt like a fool, a complete fool - to let such a deed go without vigilant attention. He was a General! He could have done more to prevent it! What else could he have really done though? A General has plenty of authority in the herd, but even then - it wasn’t enough to save one that he cared most for. The last bit of family he had left since his sister fled. The one who had kept him company and offered him advice when there was no one else to ask. That person was gone now. Whether or not they would ever return, Skul did not know for certain - but, he did know that another event like this could not happen again. The idea of it had to be stomped out, and he had to be the one to do it. He was sure of that.

    Organizing a meeting with the other Generals in the midst of rut was not an easy feat, but it was a necessary one - that was an assured fact. Their duties kept them busy, but a meeting of Generals was nothing to miss, especially a democratic meeting like this. It was their vote for kingship after all - one could not overlook that. Perhaps his brothers were aware of the current situations inside and outside the herd? Perhaps they were aware of the content in this meeting? Or perhaps they were just as oblivious to the looming threats, like most other stags in Silverthorne appeared to be? He did not know for sure where the loyalty of the other General’s rested - but with a good speech, all could be revealed to him today. If his speech went as planned - it would be a quick meeting, and the Generals could return to their posts relatively soon. They probably had their own personal issues to worry about alongside political ones - he did not know a single stag who didn’t at this time of year.

        Skul had arrived at their meeting place at the time when Grian’s celestial body was at the highest point in the sky. A bit later than he intended to arrive, but nothing that would alter their set schedule of events. Some herd members, who must have overheard the location of this meeting, were in attendance, hushed and waiting along the sidelines of the clearing. The other four Generals were already in attendance, and it appeared that they were not left waiting too long - at least, by their expressions. Now that all five were together, business could commence.

    They met every year, as had been the way for decades. Decades and decades of meetings, all with the same intention - the benefit and survival of the herd. Some of the younger soldiers - and even some Generals as well- might not see it as that, perhaps more convinced that the titles of King and General were merely “social status” ranks instead of the serious jobs they were. And all had seemed well on the inside of the herd - but that “peace” was only an illusion, or at least it was as Skul perceived it. He would do his best to make that point known to the others, and give the reason why he believed so. With that thought in his mind, and after once again replaying the course of events leading up to this moment, he stepped forward. All eyes were on him. There was no turning back at this point - he couldn’t believe what he was going to say himself, but he knew it had to be done. If no one else was going to say what he had to say, he’d be the one to say it.

    “My Brothers” he started out calmly and peacefully, just as he always did in conversations with them, “It is good to see all of you together here. It’s an honor to be standing among some of the brightest and most able-bodied stags this herd has to offer. I truly mean it, in all sincerity”. He paused for a moment to dip his head in respect to the four other stags around him, and picked straight back into his speech. “You know well of the work it took to get to this point, to be standing here as a member of one of the highest orders in one of the most- if not the most- powerful herds of the Isles. Its soldiers and strategists like yourselves that have earned Silverthorne its fearsome and respected status, and it is one that must also be maintained. A controlled blaze is powerful and effective, but if you let it go uncared for or unwatched, it can devour anything it touches. In this essence, we are like the flame - this herd of ours.”

    He took a brief moment to let that sink in, then continued on, “There’s a reason we have remained so dominant in the structure of the Isles, why we have survived and prospered so long - and that is because of our Order. We are vigilant to dangers, strict in our training and in our upbringing - if a threat surfaces, we rise to meet it. We may sometimes fear our obstacles, but through courage and strength, we overcome them. Silverthorne has remained like this for generations, but it is only lately that I have observed some slack in maintenance of our Code”. He glanced around the circle of Generals, noting their expressions - some changed with curiosity, some remained mostly the same as when he began his speech. Perhaps they noticed the same things he had, Skul couldn’t tell, but he continued to speak.

    “I have observed these past few years a subtle rise in violence and fights - outside of the rut season, for that matter. Not only that, but some of these fights have been performed as dishonorable combat - going against both our Laws, and our Morals. Decades ago, under the rule of the Old Kings of Silverthorne, stags and soldier does alike would be swiftly punished for such deeds - but, no actions have been made to these souls here today. They live on in their villainy, spreading their violence and criminal ways to others who may see it as acceptable, only because it has not been corrected by the King or his Generals”.

    If there wasn’t a change in the expression of his colleagues before, there was now. “However, the ways of those who stray far from our Laws has grown to the point where one General cannot hope to fix it alone. They do not see reason, they cannot understand why our Code is in use like we do. They believe in the same pagan ways of fighting like our neighbors to the north of us do, and that cannot be allowed. Discipline and maintenance of our Laws must be preserved and enforced - especially with what looms on the horizon. These are changing times, my brothers”

    There were times where Skul talked, and he felt as if his lectures just washed over the ears of those he spoke to - but in this instance, he felt otherwise. It was probably because they were Generals, after all - they were wiser than the average soldier, so could they have observed the same things he spoke of? Or maybe Skul had pointed out something they never really thought of themselves? He continued on.

    “Glenmore, as you may have heard of, has seen a King and a Crown Prince departed from their herd. They have brought in a new King - a young,inexperienced one, at that- and by now they probably have a new Crown Prince, or dozens of possible heirs to their throne. News travels slowly in these lands, one can only assume that nature has run its course there by now. Any sudden or drastic change in leadership in a Kingdom relying on bloodline alone can be met with resistance.” he paused only for a moment, and continued on, “I’m speaking of Civil War here. Our neighbors to the north of us might see that ‘change’ as an opportunity to try something - and should they succeed in that, we could very well be the next herd to be trifled against. We are surrounded by threats, always have been since the days the borders were decided. Should we let our soldiers fall out of order and discipline, like a raging fire - we will only ensure the destruction of our own Kingdom.”

    “It is the King’s duty, as the ultimate commander of our powerful army, to maintain the order and discipline I have described, and weed out those who choose to reject our Code. If our King could have done this from day one of his reign, we would not be at this point. But we are. There’s no way to make it any less than what it is. Some soldiers choose to ignore our laws, and the only reason they believe so, is because there aren’t enough consequences implemented for it. I have tried to do what I can, to inspire soldiers with the honor and nobility involved in our way of life, since it must be knowledge that guides them, not the threat of force. If a soldier knows why things are what they are, and believes it with their heart to be what is right and justifiable with our laws, they will remain true and loyal to our ways. But again, one General cannot make much of a difference if the King does support him. It would seem that not even five Generals together could do much, I’m afraid.  A King is both a commander, and a figure head - should he not act and lead the herd - the intended path is lost. If you let the herd stray too far from the course, you may never find the path again. If our King continues to blindly lead us, I’m afraid we may lose the true meaning of our laws, or let them be twisted into some other meaning.”

    He had them now. He could feel it. Whether they agreed with him or not, he had their attention. He had their thoughts - he could feel their minds mulling it over. The purpose of his speech today relied on their opinions of the matter. He did his job though- he made his points, he backed them up, and all he could do now was wrap it up and let them decide for themselves. After pausing for a moment, Skul inhaled and picked back up into his speech.

    “I have been loyal to our King since the moment I took the position of a General. We all have. But, it is our duty both as Generals and members of this herd to protect those we love, those we care about. Our fawns, our does, our livelihood - we cannot let those be taken from us. We cannot even allow the enemy to even think about it. We need a King who can help to keep these aspects of our lives safe, just as much as we need Generals who can carry out the actions of said King. So…”. He paused, drifting off. Here it came, his whole purpose of the speech. It was hard for himself to believe that he was really doing this - it all felt so surreal to him. But, he could not just stop - he had to keep speaking, to finish his speech.

    “It is with the best interest of the herd” he started off, “That I would like to offer myself, General Skuldafn of Silverthorne, for the consideration of my brothers to become the next King of Silverthorne”.

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Here is is folks, Skul's speech to the othe Generals (and to the herd members in attendance) ! Will he win them over? Will the other stags see his reasoning and vote them in? Will TWI have another floofy-necked King? YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE! It's ok though, I'm waiting, too - since this is only just his application! Its in the hands of the bacon gods now, Wish him luck!

Also, if you don't know who Skul is upset about in the beginning of the story, I'll give you a hint. It was a doe who recently fled from ST. Recently. </3 

Final Word Count: 2,930 words (because Skul enjoys talking a lot)