Riding to War with a Heavy Heart

Our people have never known war with other civilized nations - just with the beasts and barbarians that inhabit the Saxon Jungles to the east. But now with the fires of war burning to the northwest, and hapless Canadian lives snuffed out by the onslaught of the belligerent Greek nation. Their neighbours the Americans have ridden to war, and it seems the Carthaginians have as well.

The emissaries of the tyrant Glaukos rode to us and said they have no truck with our people - that they are only against the Canadians. But we hear they had previously been amicable to their Canadian brothers, then when their land seemed too small for them, they rode in conquest - turning their backs on honour. How can we trust them not to do the same to us? We must protect our people at all costs.

The balance of power has swung too far to the Greek overlords - and their arrogance has been unchecked to this point. Well no longer. Since the Greeks have assumed our enmity - this has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. We ride with the other nations united against this erstwhile overlord.

Lord Carolus Magnus addressed his people thusly:

My faithful people of Carolingia. It is with heavy heart that I ask you, my brothers, to take up arms. The savage and warlike Greek people of the northwest are the first of our neighbours to wish ill on another people - and we fear they will do the same to us when they are done with the poor Canadian wretches in the tundra. We must ride for the future freedom of our children and their children - for the protection of our empire is of the utmost importance. With God on our side against these heathens, we will prevail. And we do not ride alone. The peoples of the west and north ride with us. I know not how long this war will last - or the outcome - but I ask that all of the people left behind pray for your brother who ride to victory!