LORD ROCK’S ADDRESS TO MEMORIAL SERVICE, TEMPLE OF THE TRIPLE GODDESS, ROCKPORT
“As the sun sets over this beautiful island, we gather here in sorrow, in anguish, in disbelief and in pain. There are no words that I can summon to solve in any way the hurt and the suffering and the pain being felt by so many of my fellow countrymen and women and by so many of the citizens of other nations. I can say though to my Rockport countrymen and women that there are about ten thousand citizens of Rockport who are trying, however inadequately, to feel for you and to support you at this time of unbearable grief and pain. The wanton, cruel, barbaric character of what occurred here has shocked our small nation to the core. I know the anguish that so many are feeling, the sense of bewilderment and disbelief that so many lives with so much before them should have been taken away in such blind fury, hatred and violence.
“I can on behalf of all of the people of Rockport declare to you that we will do everything in our power to bring to justice those who were responsible for this foul deed. We will work with our friends inside and outside the Free Realms to do that and we will work to others to achieve an outcome of justice. There will be scars left on people for the rest of their life, both physical and emotional. Our nation has been changed by this event. Perhaps we may not be so carefree as we have been in these past few months, but we will never lose our openness, our sense of adventure. We will always reach out to other nations in a spirit of friendliness and engagement. We will always be an open, fun-loving, decent people.
“And so as we grapple inadequately and in despair to try to comprehend what has happened, let us gather ourselves around each other, let us wrap our arms around not only our fellow citizens but our arms around the people of Ienos, the Eastern Empire, Stormshell City, Freeport, O-Kai-Lia, Hsia-Ch'in, Dawnisle, and Lyndorea. Let us wrap our arms around the people of other nations and the friends and relatives of the nationals of other countries who have died in this horrible event. It will take a long time for these foul deeds to be seen in any kind of context. They can never be understood. They can never be excused. Rockport has been affected very deeply, but the Rockport spirit has not been broken. The Rockport spirit will remain strong and free and open and tolerant. I know that is what all of those who lost their lives would have wanted and I know it is what all of those who grieve for them would want.”