I speak to you now, not as your Emperor, not as Herald of the Tides, The Voice of the Ocean, Coast-Scourge, High Commander of The Tentacle’s Grip or any of my other titles or honours. No, I speak as one of you, my children, for at my core, beneath the glory of my accomplishments, I am simply a creature of the deep, like all of you.
The Frostkracken Empire is under threat. Perhaps not today, not directly, but I foresee a frantic, bloody struggle for power in Elementia. A sprawling reef of our enemies is spread beyond the coastal cities we have claimed as our own, and the rock that reef is rooted in… is gold. I cannot with a clear conscience enjoy the luxury of the deep with you, my children, while our manifold foes seek to plunder Aurdinas. Whoever succeeds in relieving the dragon of his hoard will be the richest creature in our world, and you can bet your brightest goldfish they will use that power to come for us.
So? We beat them to it.
This very night, we will launch our own assault on the City of Gold. It has caused me great anguish resolving who to trust with this voyage. Our fearless raiding parties have performed admirably to expand the Empire beyond the blue. Half the coastline of Elementia now answers to me - to us! They have carried out my will so expertly, in fact, that you have been blessed with my own presence for more turns of the tide than I ever thought possible. Yet even if I sent them all, along with every single beast of the brine, from Kracken to krill, I would still know I had not done enough to protect and serve you.
I speak to you now, with a gutted heart... for I must do my duty, for the good of the Empire, and leave you to plunder Aurdinas myself. When I return, it will be to a more prosperous civilization than any of us could ever have imagined! Do not mourn my departure, instead rejoice! For our enemies in Elementia are about to drown in our assault, and all the gold in Aurdinas will soon be brought to you, in the grasp of The Tentacle's Grip!
