In COUNCIL, July 4, 1266

The unanimous Proclamation of the The High Forge of the Mason Order,

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary to dissolve the political bands which bind countrymen to one another, and to assume among the powers of the land, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Chivalry and the gods entitle them, a decent respect to the people demands that they should declare the causes which impel them to separation.”

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creators with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Wealth, Liberty and the pursuit of Glory.—That to secure these rights, Rulers are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the gods,—That whenever any Monarchy becomes too weak, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Rule, laying its foundation on such powers as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Strength and Safety. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Monarchies long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that a people are more disposed to suffer, while weakness is sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, reduces them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Rule, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

“Such has been the patient sufferance of this Land; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Monarchy. The history of King Alfonso Argon is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having established an absolute Tyranny over this Land. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

“For imposing oppressive Taxes upon us beyond all measure of reason:

“He has sent hither swarms of Knights to harass our people, plunder our seas, coasts, and our towns, for what meager wealth remains after Taxation, thus further weakening the spirit of our people.

“He has rendered the Nobility superior to the the People, thus denying their rise to Rightful position through arbitrary means of Birthright.

“For transporting us beyond Seas to be conscripted into Foreign Wars not in Defence of our Kingdom.

“For cutting off Trade with all parts of the world through wonton Crusade and Conquest, leading our Armies to disastrous defeat by waging War against our neighbors, and so leaving us vulnerable to imminent counterattack:

“He has abdicated Rule here, leaving in his stead Feydrid Kearn as Steward of Agatha, a man whose greed knows no end.

“In every stage of this Oppression We have Petitioned for Redress: Our wish for Peace through Rule of Strength has been answered by injury. A King, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of our people.”

“We have appealed to the native justice and nobility of our Agathian brethren, and we have urged them to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of chivalry and of brotherhood. We must, therefore, hold them, Enemies in War, in Peace Brothers.”

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the Mason Order, in General Council, Assembled, appealing to the gods for the rectitude of our intentions, do, by Authority of King Malric Terrowin, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Lands are, and of Right ought to be a Free and Sovereign; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the Crown of Argon, and that all political connection between them and the Line of Argon, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Sovereign Lands, they have full Power to levy War, contract Alliances, seek Glory, and to do all other Acts and Things which Sovereign Lands may of right do. And for the support of this Proclamation, we mutually pledge to King Malric Terrowin our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

King Malric Terrowin
Warlord of Vantear
First Maiden of Marinar
Great Reaper of Ramnor
Prime of Barema