Board Thread:Middle Earth Roleplays/@comment-26210095-20170418205753/@comment-31215921-20170423145525

At dawn, the citizens within Cair Andros are gathered in the city square, awaiting an announcement by Eradan. While they wait, a messenger is sent into Anorien to inform them that they fight for a similar cause. The area is well protected by the Ithilien army, and anyone with a sharp eye would see a few rangers scattered about.

When the setting moon is visible directly above the palace, Eradan emerges, followed by his wife and children. There is much cheering.

"Citizens of Ithilien! As many of you will have noticed, we have found ourselves in tumultuous times. Our homeland has little wealth to its name, a bloody civil war rages throughout Gondor, and a plague worse than the great plague of the Third Age has ravaged East Gondor. Yet amidst all of this, Ithilien has seen the worst of it!"

He pauses to let them jeer.

"If not for the preventative measures I have taken for you, Ithilien would have been reduced to an empty forest as it was before the reign of King Elessar!"

They cheer for their generous and kind ruler, and for their great king of old.

"Truly, it is sad to see how that once great line has fallen. The last king was a fool, taking no rightful heir upon himself, abusing his power over the fiefs and principalities of Gondor. Now Gondor has been given to a woman unworthy of the great seat of Elendil's heirs, arrogant in her new power to the point of ignorance of the gravity of the dangers she has inherited!"

They shout words of hatred for the last king and the new queen.

"It is with great confidence and pride in this great that, to you the good people of Ithilien, that we will not subject our wills to this so-called empress!"

The crowd is overwhelmingly joyous. Eradan is handed a scroll.

"It is with great confidence and pride in this nation that I say we will be mistreated no more!!!"

They cheer for him with great pride. Eradan opens the scroll.

"I, Lord Eradan II of Ithilien, declare that henceforth the fiefdom of Ithilien is independent from all authority of the crown, and that Ithilien and all its properties be withdrawn from the possession of Gondor. If the city of Osgiliath does not make the decision to join the new State of Ithilien, it will be taken as an act of hostility and all of its property east of the west bank will be subject to annexation. Ithilien, recognizing the crown of Gondor as an oppressive body and enemy of the people of Ithilien, formally declares war on the Gondorian Empire and its allies. Anyone caught sympathizing with Gondor and its enemies will be charged with high treason punishable by death."

He stops at his seal and signature.

"Go now, good people of Ithilien, and take pride in your nation!"

He gives the Númenórean salute, and turns back with his family, entering the palace.

It is around this time that the reinforcements reach east Osgiliath, marking the first battle between Gondor's and Ithilien's armies.