The Speech from the Throne, 7550

Noble Lords and Ladies, Distinguished Visitors, and Steadfast Friends, Welcome to the 25th Council-General !

24 years ago we brought forth a new nation, conceived and inspired not by disagreement over some obscure and petty political issue, not by adoption of some utopian economic/political model, and not from the desire to create some kind of cultural hegemony. The world has seen too many of these historical movements recently, and the world is no better for any of them. Rather, we had a vision inspired by a history, documented by a Don of Oxford long ago, of a time the world has too soon forgotten, but would do well to remember again. A history with different races living in harmony, struggling together against an ancient enemy, who threatened to engulf them in shadow and misery, through force and corruption and a little gold ring. A history replete with examples, of noble self-sacrifice by the weakest, of extraordinary heroism by the common, and of redemption of the damned.

We have pursued our vision, of that nobler idyllic time, of a King and his people, whose greatness will never die. Over the past 24 years, markets have risen and fallen, nations have splintered and merged, and dictators have come and gone. But still we endure, together with our allies, driven by our vision, which will never die.

The past 24 years have seen many historic moments, from the extraordinary interview of ascension candidates, and the meeting and greeting of dignitaries high and low, to the ring hunts and Elessar contests of yore. Today we face another great moment, perhaps the most critical and important, in our 24 year history. For the first time since our founding we are bereft of the Steward who helped us pursue and preserve the vision called Gondor and Arnor. It has been one year since this council considered the loss to our kingdom caused by the shocking abdication, leaving the lack of a true Steward. The Lord Great Steward is more than a leader; he connects us to all that came before us, a living embodiment of our vision, Until the King Returns. For on that day still unknown to us when we kneel before our lord, it is our Steward who will stand first, and return to him our all. We must act now, today, to fill this void, not with some legal legerdemain, but as we did 24 years ago, at that second Council-General. We must let the world know that our vision is alive and well, and continues now and forever, whatever may come.

May the King Soon Return !