Moonbreaker's Philosophy

Paint For Me a Picture

Those of Western Unis, I stand before you today with no secrets to hide, no tricks up my sleeves, and no empty words spoken. Today marks the day of a new age, an age of prosperity, equality, and peace of mind.
My name is Gwarvyn Stalbjörn Nordrilark. I may not have the power or the right to represent the District of the Iron Sun, but I wholeheartedly believe that there is hope for both regions of Unis. There is a way for us to set aside our prejudices. There is a way to preserve what goodness we have left, and it begins with forgiveness. I stand before you today with no hatred in my heart, but the willingness to forgive.
148 years ago, Unis entered what would go down in history as one of the bloodiest conflicts to befall our continent. For decades, we have since bickered and fought among one another for reasons our ancestors have long forgotten. What rests within us is enmity, distrust, a lack of ownership, and prejudice. We spend our days projecting caricatures onto others, feeding our own hatred, a hatred that will inevitably feed upon us. Here is the primary lesson: Never become a monster to defeat one.
Good people of Unis, for what reason do we go to war? Do we believe, in our hearts, that war is the only solution to our grievances? Do we truly believe that war will solve decades of conflict? What of the people that never asked for war? What of the people that believed in the goodness of our nation? How many have been cast aside to facilitate a massacre? It has been over one hundred years of nothing but pain, one hundred years of needless bloodshed, one hundred years until our ancestors did what they would eventually have to do anyway: sit down and talk!
I did not grow up in the East. I cannot say what they have suffered, and it is wrong of me to speak on their behalf but allow me to tell you what my people have suffered in the wake of this war. Though I have not lived long, I have seen much, and I have, unfortunately, crossed swords with those of the East in the past. Those of you who are not soldiers, paint for me a picture of those men—brave and reckless—with eyes gouged, with stomachs torn, with throats ripped, with skulls battered, with hands bloodied, and with mouths frozen in utter horror. Paint for me a picture of carnage, of terror, of lives that have carried the weight of their nation’s values and inevitably died off in war! Paint for me a picture of survivors no better than those they murdered, standing over the bodies of the damned with twitching fingers and weak legs! Paint for me, war! Show me what war truly is! And I will tell you, that’s not what war is.
War cannot be confined to paintings or books. War is not simply stabbing another and taking a life. Taking a life, in the hands of the compassionate, is never something so simple. Murder is never, in the hearts of the truly good, so effortless. And carnage, in the minds of the wise, is never so black and white. War is something felt within your heart. True war carries with it a passion and a meaning that far exceeds vengeance. If your primary purpose for war is vengeance, you are fighting for evil. Soon, everyone before you becomes an enemy, should they have the capacity to disagree with you. Those of you who have never taken a life. Would you be willing to die for your nation? Picture those you once loved vanishing before your eyes, and tell me if you are willing to die and realize that nightmare to facilitate this war. Step forward if so.
Those of you that have lost a loved one to this war, what drove them to fight in it? Those of you that grieve and mourn those you have always cherished, do you still wish for this pain? Did you expect them to die? Nobody who participates in such a violent practice expects to live or even come out unscathed. And even if there is not a wound on their body, their mind is forever scarred. How many people have to die? How many children must scream and burn for the sake of war? How much blood needs to spill? Can you tell me?
They say before you die, your life flashes before your eyes, but I stand before you today to say that it simply isn’t true. You feel lightweight… and then nothing at all. No sound, nothing. All is silent as your heart slowly ceases to beat.
Can you paint that picture for me?

To Wake and Choose War

Those of Eastern Unis, I stand before you today with no secrets to hide, no tricks up my sleeves, and no empty words spoken. Today marks the day of a new age, an age of understanding, reconciliation, and repentance.
Though I’m sure it is unfair of me to make such a statement, I believe I understand the pain your people have endured. I know what my people have done, and I’m ashamed of it. I know that I alone can not fix years of strife and loss for you. But, I believe in a bright future for Unis. We can move forward out of this age of bloodshed into a new age, and I’m here to ask for your help in doing so. I imagine, however, some of you may be inclined to doubt my intentions, so I will be as transparent as I possibly can.
My name is Gwarvyn Stalbjörn Nordrilark. I come from Ursund, a humble city in the West. Some of you may recognize me, and some of you certainly will not. My name doesn’t matter, and any title you’d give to someone like me doesn’t either. I can only hope that you see me not as an enemy but as just another person who wants what’s best for Unis as a whole. For those of you who have lived long enough, I’m sure you remember the war that began 148 years ago, a war that would divide Unis for years to come. Your people years ago were strong and did what they believed was right. And now that war has befallen you again, you raise your weapons with a fire in your soul and defend your country with a heart of polished iron.
I myself have experienced war before, though I’m young and I believe I’ve not been put through as much as all of you. And as I survived that conflict with scars of my own, I was left wondering where it had all started. I've come to ask all of you why you choose to participate in this war. No doubt some of you are either preparing to leave to join armies or have family members who've already gone, so why? Is it that there's no other option? Have you tried and the other side is unwilling? This isn't me scolding you; it's me doing my best to understand. Scream, shout, insult—do whatever you please, I have heard it all from my own people.
War is not something you decide in a single moment, mind you, it takes a careful mind and an even more careful hand. When you go to war, you are endangering not just yourself but your people as well. Nobody can predict how many people will suffer in the wake of bloodshed, so you must have the presence of mind to forgive—never forget. It takes a strong heart to take a life but an even stronger heart to stay your blade. The man who invaded this land long ago did not understand that.

This man, whose name eludes me, might not be found in history books on this side of Unis, but he is responsible for all of your pain. A prideful old man, blinded by greed, was punished for his hubris and came to sacrifice his firstborn. Enraged, he tore a path through your lands and stole it for himself, casting Unis into chaos. Do not take my words as the gospel truth, but I promise they are as honest as I can make them. I have but one question: Do you know why the war started? Can any of you give me an answer? I don’t have an answer myself, but perhaps you do.
Again, I encourage you to disbelieve me. Question me! I am never content with people who won’t challenge my thinking. In our minds, we are the most correct we could possibly be. We feel as though we have exhausted all other options because there is nobody else to tell us that we can and should find another way. That sort of guidance was lost on me and the ones that declared war. I can promise you that I give them no pass in this matter either. They have caused me as many grievances as you. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m ashamed at how things fell apart so quickly. Whether or not these words make me a traitor in the eyes of the West, I can’t be bothered to trouble myself with how people view my actions. I’ve been silent long enough, and I think all of you have as well. But don’t misunderstand! We should not substitute rational thought with violence. Question yourself. Have others question you. Never become content with one opinion, one method, or one idea. To confuse self-justification with rightness is the quickest way to bigotry.
I leave you with a warning, good people of the East: the events of history have already begun to repeat themselves. I can go further than the 148-year-old war as well! Our lust for conflict is even baked in Aohiri’s name—the forest spirit herself. The dwarves and the elves argue over who the land belongs to, but if you read of Aohiri’s legend, the tale is more or less identical. We’ve argued her appearance—she has none set in stone—and we debate her power—also a mystery. And despite knowing nothing, we’ve managed to contort an ancient legend to fit our beliefs. This war is the same, an excuse to lash out at people who have caused resentment in all of us. It is nothing but revenge. So long as we trap ourselves in this vicious cycle of revenge, Unis will never know peace for centuries to come. You and those you despise will be forced to cross blades, shed blood, and pass from this world in nothing short of a merciless massacre. Your descendants, those destined to pick up the scattered pieces of your life to begin anew, will never have the chance to live for themselves. Instead, they’ll be squandering their lives ending the conflict that we set in motion. It took a man for the war to start, it will take more than a man for it to end.
When you wake and choose war, I hope you’re able to tell yourself the reason why.

A Good World?

Those of Eastern and Western Unis, I stand before you today with no secrets to hide, no tricks up my sleeves, and no empty words spoken. Today marks the day of a new age, an age of rebirth, ambition, and unity.
My name is Gwarvyn Stalbjörn Nordrilark. In the past month of my life, I’ve found myself undertaking yet another seemingly impossible odd: reuniting Unis. In my travels, I have come across a being I’ve never encountered before: a vampire. Out of respect for him and his principles, his name will remain unsaid. This vampire is no longer with us, but his words remain, and I’ve taken them to heart. It was because of him that I’ve come to all of you with perhaps the trickiest question I have ever heard: is this world “good”?
“Certainly not,” the vampire thought. He’d met with cruelty unlike any I’d ever seen. His experience is enlightening: it reminds me that there is always someone who has endured worse. My life has been good. I have a family that I can return to at any moment. I have friends that have saved me time and time again. I have a place I can call home, and I have no doubt that should something befall my home, my people would band together to repair it. Tell me, Unis, have you ever been enslaved? It’s a crime of an unquantifiable degree, isn’t it, the idea of owning another? But, we are in a time of war. Taking prisoners and enslaving them is just par for the course, unfortunately. But, this vampire—he thought it was just another facet of the evil, evil world we live in.
He told me he wanted to purge the world of this evil. He wanted to remake the very foundation of our lives for the better. And in his heart, I’m sure he could see no other option. But on his path to cleansing the world of evil, he was forced to commit evil. He killed; he maimed; he experimented; he tormented; he tortured—he lied. If he had to burn bridges, he would torch them without another thought. If innocents died, then it was simply a means to an end. The lack of regret and hesitation in this man’s heart astonished me. I thought, “Well, surely he must be at his limit.” And, he was. He was completely and utterly ruined. Of course, he is dead now; I killed him myself. But that’s not to say his actions and words did not affect me. It is because of him that I am here, after all.
But, “Is this world good?” he asked. He wanted an answer. My only regret is that I couldn’t give an objective truth. I could only say what I had experienced, after all, and he is far older than me. And I told him, “This world is good. You have resigned yourself to the belief it is evil.” And, he laughed at me. For a while, I wondered why; if you convince yourself of something enough, then the opinion becomes a self-approved fact. But I think I understand that vampire now. He wasn’t resigned to the belief that the world is evil. He wanted to hope it was good, but he felt he’d been betrayed. It’s no secret that the world is harsh and unforgiving.
The life of an adventurer isn’t a clean one. I am just as fallible as all of you, no better in worth or status. I am whatever you perceive me to be. And that vampire—at his core—he is no different from you and me. He is just another man who was hurt enough to wish everyone else would feel the same. And it’s a common grievance. If you claim to have not felt this way at least once, I’d call you a liar without hesitation. This vampire is simply another representation of that kind of pain. It drove him to vengeance against what he perceived as the source of his problems, but the more he lived, the more his pain grew. He wasn’t truly solving anything, but he felt he was inching closer to the end of the horizon. He died, with his last words being that of uncertainty. “Can this world truly be saved?” he asked me. And I told him, “There is no saving to be done.”
The kind of vengeance he sought to inflict on us is no different from the vengeance we attribute to this war. Somehow, we have confused it with justice. Somehow, we have managed to demonize ordinary people just because they’re “the problem.” But what is “the problem?” Is it them; is it us? Or is it both, and we’re just projecting? If we were to tell a foreigner what represents Unis best, what would you say to them? What could you say to them? Would you tell them that it was a haven where you could choose how to live? Would you tell them that it was a paradise you’d have to carve out of a rough piece of land? Would you tell them it was like finding a needle in a haystack? Or, would you tell them that it was a war-torn continent that has forgotten why it fights? Our people are attracted to conflict—practically seduced by it. Each day we find more reasons to continue warring with one another. I fear there’s no end in sight.
I know Unis is greater than this petty squabble, and so do all of you. An era of prosperity awaits us so long as we move past this conflict. There is a way for both regions to live in peace, and that is to live as one. Know this, Unis, your days of eternal conflict are soon and rapidly approaching their end. I swear that before the day I pass on, I will have sewn together this continent and created a far better one. And I dare any mortal soul or higher power that would dare stand in my way to strike me down where I stand. It is by my hand that this vampire's words will be reborn anew. This world is good, but it can be better. It can be shaped for the better. But I cannot do this alone. Nobody can. If you can find it somewhere within yourself to lend your aid, I implore you to do so.
You are not East or West Unis. We and they are not "the others." You are just Unis, and we are just people—people capable of doing amazing things and surpassing insurmountable odds. Seek me out, and promise I will not fail you.
Today is the beginning of a path to a new Unis, and I will be the one to lead the rest of us there.

A Warning

I will be brief. What I am about to say is not born out of spite or vengeance, but apprehension and sympathy. While you may debate whether it is fact or fiction, I can only promise that it is honest. And while I may regret speaking these words, it is far better for you to be aware of who has just entered our walls and touted themselves as our saviors. However you see me after this speech does not concern me. Don't waste your breaths.
The one known as Archibald Amberhyde is an individual that I am well acquainted with. While I do believe that it is important for the entirety of the West to be unified in order to stand strong against the East, I also believe that it is important to take mind of problems from within. And so begins my cautionary tale.
My name is Gwarvyn Stalbjörn Nordrilark. I am an adventurer, a wanderer, a sightseer—whatever title you may ascribe to me. And in my pursuits to unify and protect Unis, I have adventured and wandered to Amberhold. A small town, though rich with minerals and undoubtedly valuable to the West—a beautiful place, no matter where you look or seek. And though I may regard them as a bit stingy, I do think the people of Amberhold are good, if a bit unforthcoming.
In the same way that I believe those of Amberhold are good, I believe that Archibold Amberhyde has our best interests at heart. Very rarely do you see one from outside our walls so quickly and deftly lending themselves to our cause after dropping out of the Iron Sun once before. So quick to aid, but so strange to leave in the first place. But let us remember, they were not at all involved with the war or were threatened by it, so it is certainly understandable that they’d leave us, their trade partners and brethren, hanging out to dry for months after the war resurfaced and Trivdolir (and by extension, Ursund) was threatened by the East. And Amberhyde, oh the wonderful jokester he is, even turned me down when I asked him to lend a hand against an equally wonderful joke, Miragor, the very entity that threatened Ursund!
But, of course, I’m sure he was kidding when he cowered inside Amberhold and dared not show his face here until I and my compatriots resolved that issue.
Forgive my tangent, but I’m so overcome with emotion that one of our dear allies has returned to us for so long. Amberhyde! Amberhyde! How great he is! How quick he was to turn me away and play the ignorant fool—pardon me, I’m being brash. Amberhyde! Amberhyde! So wonderful and great! How he intended to dispose of me so coldly—please excuse my cold-heartedness. Amberhyde! Amberhyde! How he barged into our walls uninvited and took control of each street—terribly sorry for the hastiness.
I ask you but one question, Ursund. Why is he here? To defend us? From what? The East? Before Amberhold rejoined the District of the Iron Sun, we’d been valiantly and excellently defending ourselves just fine. When Trivdolir was torn asunder by a mummy lord, it was later rebuilt and it is still healing today. If he wanted to properly deal with the war, why is he not at the heat of the fight? Ursund has almost never been the hotspot of a national threat, and Miragor was an exception, not the rule. No, there must be something more he wishes to gain from this.
Never forget our goal, Ursund: we do not fear and cower, we soldier through hardships and confusion with bravery and willpower! In times of nonsense and chaos, there must be reason and order, and that has always been, unequivocally, us! A guiding light in a sea of darkness, but now we seem to be getting lost ourselves.
Are you willing to trust these creations with your lives instead of the soldiers that have already taken a lifelong oath to protect you? Who’s to say they won’t turn on the very people they were sworn to protect? You have no way of knowing his sincerity unless a beast were to barge into Ursund right this very moment!
Look around you, Ursites, at these machines that mount your walls and buildings! Look around you, Ursites, and every which way your eyes look, a cold, metal, carapace looks back. The walls of this crater become a sharp, choking, cage as you have quickly allowed yourselves complacency in the chilling care of an utter stranger. Should this fool turn on you as he did me, then who is really the fool? You trust this man, and I trust you to trust this man, but I need you to ask yourselves: who is the man protecting you, and what is behind those eyes?
Whatever may happen to Ursund now, tomorrow, or somewhere in the near or far future— just don’t say that I didn’t warn you.

---

This is widely recognized as King Nordrilark's first speeches combating the ideologies of Segoma's War. Though they are only a fraction of their original size, they contain the most major points. It is unknown what order they are meant to be spoken in, though these speeches used to be heard at every major city in Unis over two centuries ago.
King Nordrilark's "A Warning" speech is notable for its sarcastic tone. It is also one of only two speeches that explicitly name an individual aside from Nordrilark himself.