Free Peoples Alliance

Purpose

The Free People's Alliance manifesto was written as a call to arms to fight against the expansion of the Solbarran Empire. The Empire had long been confined to a large region in the center of Helion, covering most of what is currently known as Conseptia. After centuries of peaceful coexistence with surrounding nations, the Solbarran Empire began a war of conquest against the small Nelwyn nation of Olalohi . The Nelwyn fell in days, with few survivors. As the armies continued to march and gobble up territory, the other powers on Helion mostly ignored them. It was only when they began to threaten one of the great powers that a true resistance was formed.

When it became apparent that the city of Carilae was directly in the path of the Solbarran army, the people of Carilon began to seek help. Having pursued their own wars of conquest in the past, the Carilons were not trusted and no other nations were willing to ally with them. The Free People's Alliance manifesto was a direct response to that - the Carilon government, with the help of their state church of Kolero, created the Free People's Alliance to attempt to rally individuals to the fight while obscuring their involvement.

Document Structure

Clauses

Each clause is separated by a header summing up the purpose of the particular clause. The way the document was written resulted in some definite tone changes in sections. Some scholars have claimed to have determined which clauses were written by which authors, but most of these claims are contradictory. What is known is that there was some disagreement among the authors, leading to the tone changes between the clauses. It is unknown why these were not reconciled before publishing, but an inability of the group to agree is generally agreed on.

Legal status

The FPA manifesto would be considered illegal by any of the nations of Helion at the time, although there were never codified laws against it. The idea of a call to people to abandon their nations to join an unconstrained international force would never have been considered prior to the manifesto, but no ruler would accept it in their kingdom. Thanks to spreading faster than the rulers could react, the document was read by or to many people without consequence. Although a couple of nations attempted to crack down on its spread, they could not contain it. This led to most of the nations joining to maintain control of their people.

Historical Details

Background

The Free People's Alliance manifesto was the combined work of four authors, two Human, one Nelwyn, and one Orc. It was written as an attempt to work around lack of trust between the various powers of Helion to bring together an army capable of defeating the Solbarrans. By ignoring the governments and appealing directly to people, the Alliance was able to gain strength as governments began to recognize they were losing people to this army and understanding that the army could be turned on them in the end. This led to most of the nations actively joining the alliance, allowing them to retain control of their own citizens participation.

History

Prior to the beginning of the Solbarran War, the various nations of Helion were in a nearly continual state of war with each other. Large-scale battles were rare, as most had no desire to take and control territory, but small skirmishes along borders were a daily occurrence. Raids were common, including raids by the various nations into Solbarran territory.

The assault on Olalohi changed the state of the world, as the Solbarrans suddenly did take and hold territory. Most nations continued squabbling, while those closer began to fear the Solbarran army.

Public Reaction

The manifesto was widely derided by diplomats and nobles in the various kingdoms, but it struck a chord with wide swathes of the common people and quickly spread. Some were inspired by the ideals behind it, of freedom from tyranny and protecting each other. Some were pragmatic, recognizing the real threat of the Solbarran Empire expanding. Some were bloodthirsty, and saw an opportunity to engage in war with a hated other, and many of those considered goblinoids in general different enough to be killed without remorse.

Legacy

The legacy of the manifesto is decidedly mixed, with opinions ranging from it was responsible for saving society to it was responsible for bringing on the Shattering. While the document calls for simply pushing back the Empire, several parts of it seem to condone the complete elimination of the Empire and possibly goblinoids in general. In the end, most goblinoids were erased from the hemisphere. While goblins were far too numerous and scattered to be killed off, the Hobgoblins and Bugbears were not nearly as numerous and fell back to the capital as the war turned against them. The Hobgoblins and Bugbears were all killed or scattered, and by the current age no native-born Hobgoblins or Bugbears exist in the hemisphere.

Read the Document

Free Peoples Alliance

Rise Against Tyranny, or Fall into Slavery!

Free peoples of Helion, the time is now! Together we must rise, or separately we will fall.

The Solbarran Empire has tightened its grip, and we must band together to escape the clutches of the sinister Empire. No longer content to rule the Goblinoids, the Empire seeks to subjugate us all. Cariae is surrounded and will soon fall - we implore every free being of Helion to join us in the fight to drive them back to their own lands, for together we have the power to shape our destinies and forge a future where all are free, and where the principles of Civilization shall not fall to Darkness.

Light the Darkness

For too long, the Solbarran Empire has been shrouded in mystery, conducting its business in the shadows where the free peoples of the world cannot see. They have deceived the rest of the world, claiming they have no desire for anything but to rule themselves as the goblinoid nation. We have ignored them as they prosecuted their war against the kobolds, as we accepted their claims of self-defense and self-preservation. We have stood by while they claimed the western hills, accepting their claims that none but the brutish hill giants were displaced, and their need for more land for a growing population.

But no more! They have shown who they truly are with their unprovoked siege of Carilae - it is time to believe them. They wield power like a cudgel, stifling the voices of any among them who would speak out and crushing internal resistance with public torture and executions. We can no longer turn a blind eye to their treatment of their own citizens by dismissing them as simple goblinoids and not worthy of concern, as they have shown that they intend the same for all the peoples of the world. The plight of the goblins will soon be our own if we do not stand together now.

Strength through Unity

Now is the time for truth, and we will not shy from it - as individual nations, none of us can stand against the Empire. They outnumber us, and will continue to do so. Any people who try to stand on their own will fall, buried under a sea of goblins. Their strength is their unity, in knowing that the goblins will obey the orders of their Overlords, and in knowing that the Overlords speak with a single voice. They will not be torn asunder, and so cannot be defeated by individual nations.

To stand against them, we must stand United. No longer can petty squabbles keep us at each others throats, else we are offering those throats to the Empire. Dwarves and Daikini, Nelwyn and Gnome, Dragonborn and Human - put aside the differences between you and focus on what binds us. We hold this single truth as what will lead us through this crisis - the desire to be free unites us, and if we embrace that desire we cannot lose.

We have put aside our differences to create this manifesto, written and signed by members of all free races. We do not forget the past, but we will not abandon the future. Our differences are nothing compared to what the Empire wants, and any possibility of resolving those differences will be crushed if we end slaves to the Empire. We must be united now if we wish to be divided in the future.

Harness your Power

Each of us carries within us a divine spark, granted by the Empyrean. Together those sparks will light the fire of resistance that can burn the Empire to the ground. Whether warrior or farmer, merchant or wizard, you have that spark within you and you have the strength to use it. Your skills are needed to stop the Empire, whatever those skills are.

Farmers - we need food for the armies, and ways to distribute it. You know what needs to be done to feed the people of your village or town - it is time to take that knowledge and feed those who will fight for your freedom. Miners - we need weapons and armor, which means we need the metals you provide. Smiths - we need you skills to turn the metal from the miners into weapons. Merchants - we need organization and logistics, key to your business. No skills are unimportant - everyone can help, and everyone Must help. Anything less, and we all fall.

A Call to Arms

The time for hesitation is past - the time to engage the enemy is here. Take up your staffs and wands, your swords and bows. Rally to Carilae - the city holds against the siege for now, but must eventually fall. Rally to the banners of freedom that gather in the ports and cities - the armies seek any willing to fight for their freedom and their people. Put aside past differences and work with those you meet there, for it is the bonds you forge with strangers and former enemies that will allow us to prevail. The Fate of all free people, those reading these words and generations to come, rests in our hands. Together we must push back against the darkness, end the tyranny, and reclaim the mantle of freedom.

Join us, fellow warriors and wizards, in this noble duty! Together, we shall rewrite the history of Helion from one that falls under the sway of Solbarra to one where the free people stood up and cast off their oppression. We shall write a history of brave and noble crusaders who held fast against an enemy that wanted to consign them all to darkness, one where courage triumphed over fear, and where the common people reclaim their destiny as masters of themselves. The time for action is now, and together we will take it!

Hope for a New Day

As we write these words, the weight of the coming battle hangs heavily over us. Yet we remain steadfast, filled with Hope for the future if people heed the call.

As we stand on the brink of Revolution or Darkness, let Hope be our light in the darkness, our way forward. The road ahead is dangerous, and many will fall along the way, but we cannot falter as things become difficult. If our resolve breaks, if we falter when all seems lost, all will be lost. We must march forward together, undaunted and unyielding, until the Empire crumbles before our resolve.

Those of us who have joined the fight stand united, bound by honor and duty to defend all the lands and people of Helion against the encroaching darkness. Each of us carries the hopes and dreams of our people - dreams of safety and prosperity, dreams of freedom and the future. As we ride forth into the unknown our hearts beat as one - one defiant rhythm that carries us to our future. With every step, we pray for a world free from Tyranny, free from Oppression. A world where we can once again lay down our weapons and return to our lives in peace and prosperity.

Our sacrifices today shall pave the way for a tomorrow where our elders can rest peacefully, our children can play without fear, and our fellows can pursue their passions without fighting. Though the path we tread is fraught with danger, it is the path that leads to a better Day. Together we shall ride towards it, and capture that day for all of us.

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Type

Statement, Political (Manifesto)

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

Festiva 3, 74 Be.

Authors

• Caryn Lenest
• Elias Silver
• Evel Narmen
• Malachi Binebeak