Lord Casca
From MoongatesWiki
Lord Casca is the King pro-tempore of Britannia, played by EM Emile Layne on Europa.
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Origins
Casca is an Elven noble, granted the Kingly title by the Great Council; a husk of a government, over which he holds total control. Prior to his appointment he bore the rank of Royal Ambassador, and sat the Council throughout some of the Kingdom's darkest days. Born in Heartwood, Casca first came to prominence as Royal Prosecutor, acting as the premier lawman in Ricardo the Thief's trial, during which time he was based in Yew's Court of Truth. After successfully sentancing Ricardo to death – which involved some complicated and strategic last-minute legal maneuvering wherein Casca dropped most of the charges – Casca was given a placement on the Great Council and elevated to Royal Ambassador, the first Elf to sit the Council in Britannia's history. Not long into his tenure, he became the sole survivor of the Royal Council Murders in the Warriors of Destiny event cycle. He would, however, be kidnapped by the shady organisation alleged to be behind the massacre; the Followers of Armageddon. Upon his rescue, Lord Casca pointedly accused Captain Avery of Lord Francesco's personal guard with treason and a hand in the Great Council's bloody end. Some dissenting voices abruptly pointed out that whilst the accused wore only rags upon his arrest, Lord Casca's noble attire had barely a stain. As the last remaining Councillor, he would ascend to become the de facto ruler of Britannia, with his henchman Captain Ulrich taking Avery's position as Commander of the Royal Guard. After running the Kingdom's government from behind the scenes for several months, Lord Casca would be named King pro tempore of Britannia, filling the interregnal void left by Lord British's departure many years ago. The Royal Decree with which he became monarch went as follows;
The Royal Decree
Citizens of Britannia!
Know that the Royal Council, in unanimous and glorious unity, has elected from amongst their noble selves a new man of the people, and for the people. Know that the Royal Ambassador Casca has been raised up to lead the people of Britannia in her times of peril and peace, as King pro-tempore, with all rights, statuses, and honors thereof. Know that Lord Casca, ruler of the Kingdom of Britannia, shall lead his people with humility and grace, always striving for the greater good, always seeking to honor the Virtues of our most just and magnanimous founder, our once and future king.
Know that this decision comes at a time of great uncertainty and trouble for the Kingdom, and that even our Lord Casca has been touched by these events. He hath survived the evil designs of evil men, who sought only to rain chaos down upon fair Britannia. Even as his noble brethren fell to fates most ignominious, he hath been preserved through his own power and prowess, an exemplar for the common man!
All hail Lord Casca, All hail our King!
His first royal action was the siezure of Castle Blackthorn, stationing both a cannonade and two of the Royal Guard's finest at its bridge to block any would-be intruders. The island palace would promptly be declared royal property, taken to be both home and pulpit, as it would be here that Lord Casca delivered many of his speeches; most notably, his first.
Early Reign
News of Casca's coronation slowly tavelled the length and bredth of Sosaria, meeting with a wide range of reactions, from open support to horrified surprise. This divergence of opinion would be reflected in the declarations and acts of local governors. Vesperian leaders – then torn apart by civil war – were unconcerned, for though they recognised no king they also bore no ill will to the self-made Casca. The authorities of Skara Brae were dubious, though refrained from speaking openly. Yew's ruling stratocracy, meanwhile, openly dismissed Casca as an usurper. Only the Duchy of Trinsic would embrace this new monarchy, though not without question.
Initial Speeches
Several days after his ascent, Lord Casca sent royal heralds along all the major roads, distributing posters and proclamations in all the major cities. They called the people of the realm to gather at Castle Blackthorn; promising a speech by this controversial new king. The day's events were awkward at best, with Lord Casca arriving late only to be greeted by a large and unfriendly crowd. Doing his utmost to ignore their jibes, he broke out into his first public address. He opened with an account of the Council's massacre, and the torments he endured at the hands of the Followers of Armageddon, before speaking at length about his own sense of duty and virtue, that lead him to his present position. The second half of his speech sought to affirm the legitimacy of his coronation, and ended with assurances that Britannia would succeed in the trials set before it. When the speech was done, Lord Casca invited the gathered crowd to join him in a great hunt. The event would prove something of a sham, as those who willingly followed him into the forests south of Britain would find themselves cut off and ambushed by a horde of daemons. Casca would disappear in the midst of this chaos, leading some to accuse him of purposefully luring the public into danger.
Appointment of Nathan Hawke
On 5 Feburary 2008, Nathan Hawke was announced as the next Captain of the Royal Guard, succeeding the late Jordan Jurrel. Lord Casca also made it clear that Hawke was to lead the "Sosarian Army" – comprised of volunteer adventurers and local militias – in the upcoming battles against the Followers of Armageddon, supposedly behind the recent attacks on the cities of Britannia.
