[center][img=http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i374/bensundeitestutho/bennipolisbanner_zps73a54274.png][/center]
[center][b] The City-State of Bennipolis [/b][/center]
[center][b]Bennipolis[/b][/center]
[center][i]The 14th Eponymous Year of Athenakles With Lysander as Interrex[/i][/center]
As the interrex, Lysander held an emergency Ekklesia in order to determine the best action to take for the imminent invasion of Terheridon. Lysander stood in the midst of the Ekklesia and gave this speech.

“We need not be alarmed either at the possibility of the Tereridonians raising fortifications in Bennipolis, or at their navy. It would be difficult for any system of fortifications to establish a rival city, even in time of peace, much more, surely, in an enemy's country, with Bennipolis just as much fortified against it, as it against Bennipolis; while a mere post might be able to do some harm to the country by incursions and by the facilities which it would afford for desertion, it can never prevent us from sailing into their country and raising fortifications of our own there, and making reprisals with our powerful fleet. For our naval skill is of more use to us for service on land, than their military skill for service at sea. Familiarity with the sea they will not find an easy acquisition. If you who have been practicing at it ever since the Great War, which happened so very long ago, have not yet brought it to perfection, is there any chance of anything considerable being effected by an agricultural, unseafaring population, who will besides be prevented from practicing by the constant presence of strong squadrons of observation from Bennipolis? With a small squadron they might hazard an engagement, encouraging their ignorance by numbers; but the restraint of a strong force will prevent their moving, and through want of practice they will grow more clumsy, and consequently more timid. It must be kept in mind that seamanship, just like anything else, is a matter of art, and will not admit of being taken up occasionally as an occupation for times of leisure; on the contrary, it is so exacting as to leave leisure for nothing else.”

“Even if they were to touch their Tereridonian gold, and try to seduce our foreign allies by the temptation of huge tribute, that would only be a serious danger if we could not still be a match in arms for them, by embarking our own citizens and the aliens resident among us. However, in fact by this means we are always a match for them; and, best of all, we have a larger and higher class of native coxswains and sailors among our own citizens than all the rest of the lands around the Hellenic Bay. And to say nothing of the danger of such a step, none of our foreign allies would consent to stay neutral as our fair nation is barraged by the Tereridonian forces, for the sake of an extremely high tribute.”

“If they march against our country we will sail against theirs, and it will then be found that the desolation of the whole countryside of Bennipolis is not the same as that of even a fraction of Tereridon; for they will not be able to supply sufficient forces to repel our raiding parties since they have sent the majority of their military against us. On the reverse, since our forces are so small compared to Tereridon’s, sending out a small attachment against their homeland would not cause any more damage to our own land than if we kept them in our own homeland. The rule of the sea is indeed a great matter. Consider for a moment. Suppose that we were islanders: can you conceive a more impregnable position? Well, this in future should, as far as possible, be our conception of our position. Dismissing all thought of our land and houses, we must vigilantly guard the sea and the city. No irritation that we may feel for the former must provoke us to a battle with the numerical superiority of the Tereridonians. We know that the Tereridonians outnumber us. Therefore, we should not engage in battle until reinforcements arrive from our allies so that we might turn the odds in our favor. We must cry not over the loss of houses and land but of men's lives; since houses and land do not gain men, but men them. And if I had thought that I could persuade you, I would have bid you go out and lay them waste with your own hands, and show the Peloponnesians that this at any rate will not make you submit.”

“Therefore, first we must send a formal request of assistance to our allies. We hope that they value our alliances between us and them. Next, we must send word to the ruler of Alm, Alart III. Their nation had been supplying the Tereridonians with modern weapons for the past few months. We told them to reduce the amount of weapons that they would send to them because we knew that the Tereridonians would invade our land. Nevertheless, they did not listen. Now, since the Tereridonians are fully armed, they have arrived on our doorstep and the Almians are to blame! They complained that their economy was going to fold if they did not provide arms, but was their economy not afloat before Tereridon opened its borders and asked for military weapons? Their lead ears are to blame for this war and if they refuse to do anything about Tereridon, we shall press charges of reparations. For if someone would give a man a gun and that man would kill another man, wouldn’t the first person be also guilty by association because he was the one who provided the gun. If the first man had not given the second man the gun, the third man would not have been dead.”

“Next, we must rally our military forces. We must send messengers to all the tribes of Bennipolis and have them summon troops and one general before the gates of Bennipolis. In addition to this, all the people of Bennipolis would need to abandon their homes, destroying anything that might be able to be used by the Tereridonians, and come to the Eastern shores of Bennipolis, where our forces can defend them until our alliances can arrive. Finally, we shall send a naval force against the Tereridonian shores. Our first target should be their port cities. Destroying their navy would be extremely beneficial to our cause, giving us free rein over the waves. Then, once their navy burns and their ports destroyed, we shall start devastating their coastal regions. And throughout this excursion, we shall free all and any Hellenic serfs who have suffered under the Tereridonian iron fists for too long. We shall send two of our Frigates, 7 of our Schooners and Sloops, and 8 Brigs against the Tereridonian coasts, along with four-hundred knights and one-thousand regulars. Finally, we shall put out a call for arms to our nation. We hope to get as many recruits as possible who are not already in our ranks.”

And in this way Lysander gave his speech, which was met by a roar of applaud. The letters were sent to their respective recipients and a call of arms and retreat was given out to the rest of the Bennipolitan population.

[hider=Aznavor]
To Philip, Basileus of the Aznauori.

As you surely have already heard, the Tereridonians have declared war against us and claimed our lands by means of words. This is a formal request of reinforcement in order to repel this attack on our fair nation. We understand that you might not be able to move troops quick enough in order to aid in the defense of Bennipolis, but we would be grateful if the Aznavuori would send troops and ships to the Tereridonian homeland so that we might either force their troops to turn back home or cause significant damage to their land. We shall also be sending a counter-strike, the size of which depending on how many troops, if any, that Kamalao Republi supplies.

In addition, we would like to beg you not to accept the Tereridonian bribe. We would hope that you value the friendship between our nations more than the greed for more resources and money.

May your God be gracious to you.

The Demos of Bennipolis
[/hider]

[hider= Kamalao Republi]
To Kamm Kutuk, Basileus of the Kamalao, blessed by Hephaistos who dwells at Nuesma.

As you surely have already heard, the Tereridonians have declared war against us and claimed our lands by means of words. This is a formal request of reinforcement in order to repel this attack on our fair nation. We would like it if you could help reinforce our country by sending military troops over to our homeland in order to even the odds against the Tereridonians. Their forces out number us more than three to one. We would be extremely grateful if you send troops. We shall provide guides for your military so that you might be able to transverse our terrain with ease.

In addition, we would like to beg you not to accept the Tereridonian bribe. We would hope that you value the friendship between our nations more than the greed for more resources and money.

May the Immortals be kind to you.

The Demos of Bennipolis, sacred to lovely-haired Bennis.
 [/hider]

[hider= Emperor Walhart III]
To Alart III, Basileus of Alm.

As you surely have already heard, the Tereridonians have declared war against us and claimed our lands by means of words. We know that we are not on friendly terms; however, we would like you to send troops against the Tereridonian homeland. You may take any plunder that you can take from their land as you please. However, if you refuse to supply troops and if we happen to survive the onslaught of the Tereridonian forces, we shall be pressing for reparations against your nation for the arming of the Tereridonians.

May the Immortals be kind to you.

The Demos of Bennipolis, sacred to lovely-haired Bennis.
 [/hider]

[hider=gm]
The Bennidae family has requested that the Tereridonians allow free and safe passage to the hill of Irene, a small hill a couple of miles west of Bennipolis, which has a small temple of Irene on it, the goddess of peace, so that they might talk with Athenakles. Only 100 knights will be accompanying the Bennidae family. Therefore, they ask the Tereridonians not to send any more troops than as many as the Bennipolitans have.
[/hider]

Note: Speech quoted (and edited) from Thucydides' [i] The Peloponnesian War[/i], Book 1, Chapter 142