The compulsion is barely needed. The Statement spools forth easily, cleanly, as if pre-prepared. Dimitri's posture shifts, a crisp, relaxed martial rest. If the Archivist (that's not how Jon introduced himself, so why -- ?) has no knowledge, then Dimitri will start at the beginning.
"Faerghus is the northernmost country of the continent of Fódlan. In 747 -- just over four hundred years ago -- our first king, Lugh, led a revolt against the Adrestian Empire. After four years of war, the Church of Seiros backed our claim to independence, founding the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus.
"It's not an easy place to live. The climate is harsh. The soil is poor and difficult to farm, but rich in high-quality iron -- our steel is our finest export. Internal conflict is common, as minor lords squabble over grazing land and mineral rights. All of this is to say that we're a martial people -- I was raised with a sword in my hand, taught to hold a lance before I learned to write my name. Our pride is in our strength, and our strength is in war.
" ... and then there's Duscur." Dimitri sighs. "Duscur is ... was ... our neighbor. A smaller nation, occupying a peninsula off our northwest coast, divided from Faerghus by the Sacred Gwenhwyvar mountains and the vicious Sea of the Horns. Perhaps due to the mountain range, the climate is milder. Duscur is thickly forested, with fertile river valleys and abundant fishing. The mountains hold deep reserves of iron ore, as well as gold and silver; Duscur gold- and whitesmiths have no equal.
"Countless Faerghan lords have coveted Duscur for conquest, but the terrain made such a thing unfeasible. Duscur needed no standing army -- small regional militia could rally more quickly, and hold the narrow mountain passes against a Faerghan army ten times their number. The people of Duscur have their own language, their own faith, their own ways of governing, unlike anything of mainland Fódlan. And they did not have the culture of war we do in Faerghus."
Dimitri glances at Jon, making sure he's following. The context is important!
no subject
"Faerghus is the northernmost country of the continent of Fódlan. In 747 -- just over four hundred years ago -- our first king, Lugh, led a revolt against the Adrestian Empire. After four years of war, the Church of Seiros backed our claim to independence, founding the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus.
"It's not an easy place to live. The climate is harsh. The soil is poor and difficult to farm, but rich in high-quality iron -- our steel is our finest export. Internal conflict is common, as minor lords squabble over grazing land and mineral rights. All of this is to say that we're a martial people -- I was raised with a sword in my hand, taught to hold a lance before I learned to write my name. Our pride is in our strength, and our strength is in war.
" ... and then there's Duscur." Dimitri sighs. "Duscur is ... was ... our neighbor. A smaller nation, occupying a peninsula off our northwest coast, divided from Faerghus by the Sacred Gwenhwyvar mountains and the vicious Sea of the Horns. Perhaps due to the mountain range, the climate is milder. Duscur is thickly forested, with fertile river valleys and abundant fishing. The mountains hold deep reserves of iron ore, as well as gold and silver; Duscur gold- and whitesmiths have no equal.
"Countless Faerghan lords have coveted Duscur for conquest, but the terrain made such a thing unfeasible. Duscur needed no standing army -- small regional militia could rally more quickly, and hold the narrow mountain passes against a Faerghan army ten times their number. The people of Duscur have their own language, their own faith, their own ways of governing, unlike anything of mainland Fódlan. And they did not have the culture of war we do in Faerghus."
Dimitri glances at Jon, making sure he's following. The context is important!