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The garments the King was wearing during the speech, which were typical of much of the Clergy present.
As the curtain revealed the Thuidon, something did not seem right. Many within both the foreign delegation and the clergy expected the Thuidon to be wearing the traditional garb worn by the Head of the Temple. However today, the King decided to wear the robes of one of the clergy. Was the Thuidon trying to send a message to the clergy?
"Hark!" he exclaimed. "Fellow siblings of Ruthak, I thank ye for a timely arrival this day. As for our most esteemed guests, I shall not tarry you overlong. For this Lekornmeiluz hath revealed not a trying judgement for the Omeihiz on how Ruthens shall precede."
"When I became the Thuidon in 2001 in the Southern accounting of time, Ruthund was still emerging out of a most trying time for the Realm. The house of Ruthak was still ever divided against itself and many were still recovering from Runhoithaz Descent. We lived together through a time where the future of Ruthund remained uncertain. We lived together through a time where the assurance that our Realm would worry not to live through another civil couldn't have been assured to her people. And most importantly, we lived through a time where the Constitutional order of this Realm, as established by the people in 1994, stood on a knife's edge. I have sat silent within the Halls of this Temple, silently watching for 20 years. And while some in this room may know my thoughts of the matters of state in Ruthund, I have remained silent to many.
Some say that I should retake the fir mantle of this Realm and to breathe life once more upon the old regime, yea, to this very day we still hear its voice echo down the streets of the city. To once more rouse my children as Ruthak did with the Ruthens over a thousand years ago. And to what cause should I take the throne once more and end the Stewardship, I must ask. Any learned person of our history knows that the King was merely a string in the puppetry of the various factions and classes that have long dominated this Realm. We had first the Christians, then our Nobility, then the Nowugaz. The legacy of the throne remains weak and yet there are those that feign it strong. Now, Ruthund has joined a league called the European Union-- out of character of what my ancestors intended Ruthund to be: a sacred place of peace and quiet, a garden for Ruthak’s children. But we must also mind a time when Ruthund had a different policy, a policy of proving our righteousness and might across the North. We have garnered the reputation among the other Realms and of ourselves that we are a people destined to work and die alone-- that we need only each other. But my siblings, I ask all of you to think on this well: Who exactly made the policy that many of us so dearly treasure today as a part of our own soul? Was it Queen Palhanuz when she expelled the Christians? Was it King Airnojuz when he planted the runestone at Rangentazav? Or was it really the Restoration that brought about this policy? If this be a sacred charge by those who succeed Ruthak, then where is the Librihaz making it part of the divine doctrines of our Temple?
I have poured over this Temple’s library, and I found none. This policy is sacred as our imaginations will it and no more. Indeed, it is written into our Basic Law that our Old Policy must be guarded, but did this Temple give it its seal? Did I, as the successor of Ruthak, give it my blessing? None of this has happened. Think well on it...
In this time of great change for Ruthund, I have been charged with the task of seeing that the Temple’s relationship with the Realm remains with the ever-changing times for these people. Much has happened in the last 20 years, but this year alone will be pivotal to the future of these people. I have always believed in our true religion, I love this Realm as my own, our people as my siblings, and our heritage our forefathers have given us as blessings. I, as a Ruthen, intend to guard them in whatever way I can from those who mean it harm.
But for long now, it was always understood the enemies were the Christians and those who would deign to collaborate with them. But in my search for the proper Spirit to inhabit the vessel of time, I have come to the realization that the true enemies of our religion are at times those who have sworn to protect it. What strikes at my heart more is they use me, a person they have never encountered, as their rallying banner. Of all things I have spoken with the Omeihiz the most, it is this. The Omeihuz that shall fill the vessel of this year’s life has indicated to me what must be done after the New-Year Flame is kindled. The Omeihuz for this year shall be Wesjaruz, the Omeihuz of the stirring dreams.
Ruthund has long been in slumber since our defeat and our age old humiliations, though it is one more dangerous: one of which we think we are conscious. This year, I see we are stirring from slumber and soon we will feel the last tendrils of sleep depart from us. It is time for Ruthund to reawaken and to experience the world and to shake off the drowsiness of the past. We must, for our own sake, build a new Ruthund off of the foundations of our forefathers and give our hands out to the world. I, of all Ruthens, shall take this first step and I have indicated my intentions to the Lord of State about my plans: I shall be abdicating as King after this midsummer without an heir. I intend for the position of Thuidon to be abolished and its office to be reform by this Temple.
A new light will shine across Ruthund, one that will be alien to all of our siblings. It will be strange to all of you. I will no longer be there to continue this path I have set the Temple for, it will be up to all of you to tend the flame that I will have kindled. Of all things I have asked this Temple to do, this will be by far the greatest task to undertake. But should you succeed in guiding our fellow Ruthens towards walking freely in the light, I wager history will see you all as the true heroes of the Ruthund and its people."
The King bowed as a bell signaled the curtains to close.