The winds of discord blow fiercely across Britannia. The High King, Uther Pendragon, faces rebellion, and the realm is fractured by the ambitions of powerful lords. Here in Gloucester, a vital port city upon the Severn, we have made a choice, a decision that some in Logres may question, but one that we believe is in the best interests of our lands and our people. We have allied ourselves firmly with King Fallagantis de la Fontaine of the Kingdom of the Circle of Gold.
Gloucester, the second biggest city in all of Britain, is no stranger to the ebb and flow of power. Our docks teem with ships from across the seas, and the wealth that flows through our markets makes us a prize worth contending for. Yet, we have observed the actions of Uther Pendragon and found them wanting. His grip on the High Kingship grows increasingly tenuous, and his policies often seem driven by personal ambition rather than the good of the realm.
When King Fallagantis emerged as a voice of independence, a ruler secure within his own borders and seemingly untouched by the chaos engulfing the rest of Britain, we took notice. His kingdom, nestled within the ancient Forest of Dean, possesses a stability that Logres under Uther can only dream of. The tale of the Circle of Gold, left unguarded in his city's square, speaks volumes of the trust he holds with his people and the peace he has cultivated within his domain.
Furthermore, we in Gloucester value our autonomy. The heavy hand of a distant High King, demanding taxes and interfering in local affairs, has never sat well with our independent spirit. King Fallagantis, it seems, shares this sentiment. He governs his own lands effectively without seeking to impose his will upon others or bowing to the dictates of a faltering High King.
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Our alliance is not born of rebellion against Uther, though we harbor our reservations about his rule. Rather, it is a pragmatic partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests. The Kingdom of the Circle of Gold lies to our west, a natural buffer against potential threats from that direction. The Forest of Dean, while mysterious, also holds resources and trade opportunities that could benefit Gloucester.
Moreover, the whispers of Queen Elisbeth's… unique abilities have reached our ears. While we do not fully understand the extent of her sorcery, the stability and security of Fallagantis's kingdom speak for themselves. A touch of the old ways, perhaps, that offers a protection Logres, with its reliance on brute force and political maneuvering, lacks.
Indeed, my own regard for Queen Elisbeth's wisdom and power is such that I plan to send my daughter, Morgwise of Gloucester, to her court.
It is my hope that under Queen Elisbeth's tutelage, Morgwise will receive the finest education in becoming a lady of grace and, perhaps one day, even unlock any latent talents she may possess in the arcane arts. Such an upbringing, I believe, will not only benefit my daughter but also further strengthen the bonds between Gloucester and the Kingdom of the Circle of Gold.
This alliance also serves as a strategic counterweight to other powerful lords in the region, those whose ambitions might threaten the peace and prosperity we have worked to build here in Gloucester. By standing with King Fallagantis, we strengthen our own position and contribute to a balance of power in the west.
Let the lords of Logres scheme and the banners of rebellion fly. Gloucester has chosen its allies wisely. We stand with the Kingdom of the Circle of Gold, a beacon of stability in a troubled land, a testament to the strength of independent rule – and a place where the future of my daughter may well be shaped.
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