Rousing speech

You take a deep breath, calming your nerves as you walk towards the balcony. You can hear the murmur of the gathered people. For some reason, this speech has you more nervous than the first, possibly because you had the first so impulsively. Having Maya and Kali by your side makes you less nervous, but there’s still a lot of people anticipating your arrival.

All three of you are dressed as if for battle. You have on your golden scaled armor, with your blade at your hip. One gauntlet is removed to show your rune carved arm.

Kali is wearing a new set of armor that the smiths have created for her, a gleaming breastplate, custom fitted around her wings, with the edges picked out in bronze. A white leather military kilt covers her thighs, and high armored boots protect her legs. With her new sword on her hip, she is the very image of the avenging angel she’s become known as.

Maya, on the other hand wore a simple leather vest, with holes for her wings. Her dwarf-made gauntlets protect her hands, but that’s the only armor she wears. A pair of leather pants highlight her body rather than protecting it, but that’s more her style anyway, and it’s what the crowd would expect from her.

As the three of you step out into the light, the crowd, which fills the courtyard and more, goes quiet. A sense of anticipation fills the air. You take a moment to collect your thoughts, looking out at the people counting on you for leadership and protection.

With a nod, you begin to speak, your voice carrying through a combination of magical enhancements and clever architecture. “It’s time. We are at the precipice of the future. We are about to embark on a campaign to change the future of this world. As I stand before you, we are preparing the campaign which will strike down the demon lord, once and for all!”

A cheer goes up, and you give it a moment before lifting your hand for quiet. “Even as we speak, our forces are gathering. Soon, I will go to join them. No longer will you need to live in fear of forces darker than we can imagine! We will defeat the darkness, not only for ourselves, but for our children, and their children! This land will be peaceful once again!”

Another cheer, louder this time, and taking longer to subside. “I won’t pretend this will be easy. I won’t pretend it will be bloodless. Most of you have sons or daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands or wives, fighting this fight alongside me. You have my word, I will keep as many safe as possible. Your sacrifices and theirs, mine and yours, our blood is shed to make a better world.”

“I say these things because you have already done so much for me. You’ve accepted me, an outsider, not just as one of you, but as your leader, your ruler. You’ve accepted my family, with love and adoration. And still I must ask this one more thing. The demon lord must fall. The demon lord WILL fall!”

The cheers seem to make the air vibrate. You let them go for some time, basking in it. Finally you raise both hands, speaking over the slowly fading cheers. “To that end, my fellow leaders have entrusted me with a great honor, and a great responsibility. We go to war, not as disparate nations, or even as simple allies. We go united as one, a single empire! We are Athkalla, forged anew from the fire of unity!”

A wild cheer goes up, and you smile as the chants begin.