Who is the Horned God?
Posted by Sen'azala on 12/03/23
Fear is instinct. Fear keeps us alive. There is nothing wrong, nothing shameful or weak about being afraid. To be afraid, and to push on, is what bravery means. But fear can also blind us, can turn us against each other, can make us desperate. You should be afraid of what happened during the Eclipse of Mirrors, what you saw and heard during the Blood Moon. That's the only sane reaction to be had. But you should also know the truth, with clear eyes, you should know why you are afraid, and you should know who is responsible.
I have named the enemy before. I will name him again. He is the Horned God. Who is the Horned God? He is Orichalcum, who dared not face the friends he betrayed, who hid far, far away while they were murdered, while an entire kingdom burned to fuel his petty vengeance. Orichalcum, whose father betrayed and murdered the ruler and heirs of House Grayson until only Alarice was left to take the throne. Orichalcum, who sent assassins to murder Prima Venandi Raksha'hasa, because he was too afraid to do so himself. Orichalcum, who would not even defend his own father when justice came for him. Orichalcum, who murders his own children for power. I have said, I will say again. He is a coward. He is a traitor. He is an oathbreaker. He is a murderer. A kinslayer. He is a butcher of the innocent and the defenseless. He has no honor and mocks those that do. He respects no sanctuary. He holds no mercy. He cares nothing for loyalty. He destroyed Bastion, he brought Artshall low, he burned Old Oak, he terrorized the Northlands for generations, he emptied the Gray Forest, he killed even those who came to fight for him, and he did it with a smile. He has obliterated countless tribes, countless clans, countless houses, countless families to feed his own ambitions. He is *small*, and he will always remain so.
To the free peoples, the unbowed, the Abandoned, enemies, friends, allies once and future: there is no Arvum if he has his way. Your sacrifices and legacies will mean nothing. He does not care who we are, where we are from, what gods we worship, what leaders we follow; he will chain us all, and we will have nothing. Under the alliance formed between the Compact and House Venandi, I say again that any clan, tribe, or house that joins under the Wolf's banner with true intentions to fight the Horned God is an ally. Any clan, tribe, or house that joins with the Centipede is the enemy. Come to us. We gather. We will march on Harrow Hall. We will put an end to him and his.
And to Orichalcum, the Horned God, the small man too afraid to kill my parents with his own hands, who I am told has named me his nemesis before gods and men, I say this, before gods, before men:
I *accept*.
And I am no longer alone.
--- Malespero Stance via Lianne ---
He is no god despite his title. He is a herald of Legion, the Archfiend of Slavery. He is our enemy. He cannot succeed. Thank you, Sen'azala, for making plain what we face. House Malespero stands with House Venandi, with the Compact, with all of Arvum against this threat.
--- Amadeo Stance via Duarte ---
A coward who hides behind miles of dense bramble. Forever alone. Such a thing could never be a god but a minor chapter, destined to be closed by the enduring strength and unity of the Compact, the Faith, and our righteous heroes.
--- Saik Stance via Medeia ---
The people of Saikland will never acknowledge him as a god. "To act without thought is slavery" - and we shall continue to think.
--- Mirrormask Stance via Giada ---
Let there be no mistake: Despite what some would have it believed, the Thirteenth's shrine rises in open defiance to the Abyss and its denizens. The Faithful will find faith in the Gods, and His disciples will serve and guide to the best of our abilities.
--- Furyborn Stance ---
Our minds will always be our own. We will never comply and will always fight for our will as well as the will for everyone else.
I have named the enemy before. I will name him again. He is the Horned God. Who is the Horned God? He is Orichalcum, who dared not face the friends he betrayed, who hid far, far away while they were murdered, while an entire kingdom burned to fuel his petty vengeance. Orichalcum, whose father betrayed and murdered the ruler and heirs of House Grayson until only Alarice was left to take the throne. Orichalcum, who sent assassins to murder Prima Venandi Raksha'hasa, because he was too afraid to do so himself. Orichalcum, who would not even defend his own father when justice came for him. Orichalcum, who murders his own children for power. I have said, I will say again. He is a coward. He is a traitor. He is an oathbreaker. He is a murderer. A kinslayer. He is a butcher of the innocent and the defenseless. He has no honor and mocks those that do. He respects no sanctuary. He holds no mercy. He cares nothing for loyalty. He destroyed Bastion, he brought Artshall low, he burned Old Oak, he terrorized the Northlands for generations, he emptied the Gray Forest, he killed even those who came to fight for him, and he did it with a smile. He has obliterated countless tribes, countless clans, countless houses, countless families to feed his own ambitions. He is *small*, and he will always remain so.
To the free peoples, the unbowed, the Abandoned, enemies, friends, allies once and future: there is no Arvum if he has his way. Your sacrifices and legacies will mean nothing. He does not care who we are, where we are from, what gods we worship, what leaders we follow; he will chain us all, and we will have nothing. Under the alliance formed between the Compact and House Venandi, I say again that any clan, tribe, or house that joins under the Wolf's banner with true intentions to fight the Horned God is an ally. Any clan, tribe, or house that joins with the Centipede is the enemy. Come to us. We gather. We will march on Harrow Hall. We will put an end to him and his.
And to Orichalcum, the Horned God, the small man too afraid to kill my parents with his own hands, who I am told has named me his nemesis before gods and men, I say this, before gods, before men:
I *accept*.
And I am no longer alone.
--- Malespero Stance via Lianne ---
He is no god despite his title. He is a herald of Legion, the Archfiend of Slavery. He is our enemy. He cannot succeed. Thank you, Sen'azala, for making plain what we face. House Malespero stands with House Venandi, with the Compact, with all of Arvum against this threat.
--- Amadeo Stance via Duarte ---
A coward who hides behind miles of dense bramble. Forever alone. Such a thing could never be a god but a minor chapter, destined to be closed by the enduring strength and unity of the Compact, the Faith, and our righteous heroes.
--- Saik Stance via Medeia ---
The people of Saikland will never acknowledge him as a god. "To act without thought is slavery" - and we shall continue to think.
--- Mirrormask Stance via Giada ---
Let there be no mistake: Despite what some would have it believed, the Thirteenth's shrine rises in open defiance to the Abyss and its denizens. The Faithful will find faith in the Gods, and His disciples will serve and guide to the best of our abilities.
--- Furyborn Stance ---
Our minds will always be our own. We will never comply and will always fight for our will as well as the will for everyone else.