Empire 6! The Standing Stone

[Aedilred]

Faranandūll, Year 5

On the banks of the mighty Erapira stands the town of Īellimon, undeserving of the title of city but nevertheless the largest settlement for many hundreds of miles, and certainly the largest on the river upstream of Anbroch. Along its river frontage, visitors would see that craft are drawn up on the mud banks, or tied to wooden jetties projecting into the water. Foreign boats are viewed with wariness, but once peaceful intent is clear they are welcomed, with locals moving to help them secure their craft and carry their goods ashore, with cries of "mepupāmēsh, mepupāmēsh!"

For a visitor, the town itself is perhaps not particularly interesting, almost entirely residential in character. More lively would be the trading post a half-day's walk upriver, but the purpose of the visit is not for trade. The objective lies further inland, and once all goods have been unloaded and arranged for transport, a small escort is provided to guide them along the new, but still faint, tracks into the forest to the north.

Eventually, over the sounds of the jungle, more noises become apparent, and signs of civilisation appear once more. The settlement here is smaller than Īellimon and seems almost in danger of being reclaimed by the forest, but many of these structures are intentionally temporary, set up purely for this occasion. In a larger clearing where the trees thin is a standing stone, a new erection built at the request of the Sentinels. Many of the surrounding tents, huts and bowers are the lodgings of the workers who built it, not only the Bannanda but elves from the west and Vygra from the south. Some of these workers remain, but other dwellings have been repurposed to house guests. In a wide semicircle around the stone are arranged tables and benches, some of them already laden with fruit, and beyond them, firepits where food will be cooked.

And now, the people, some of them carrying refreshments for guests, or preparing food, some guarding the perimeter against unlikely but nevertheless possible incursion not just from blightspawn but from other dangerous creatures of the forest, and the hosts: the king, his only wife, and their children, and a number of other apparent high personages: onōē, the chiefs of the various tribes, a handful of banozhisyi, the shamans of the Bannanda people.

[Gaius Hermicus]

After the fiasco at the Veramondi feast, the blemmyae had been understandably reluctant to attend another continent-wide meeting. The invitation to visit the Standing Stone, however, was too good to pass up. The blemmyae were staunch allies of the Sentinels of Stone, and it was deemed important that they be present at the unveiling of their new monument.

Despite this, caution was taken to avoid another situation like that of the death of the previous King of Kings. While King of Kings Huleten Kw’Muketi would attend this feast, they would do so heavily protected, and accompanied only by the cooler heads among their advisors. Presuming that the Anbroch might attend the event, First in the Realm Yegin Kw’Haleti had been left behind, for fear that they might find a fight with the belligerent dwarves irresistible.

Approaching the Standing Stone by boat, the blemmyae delegation was instantly noticeable from shore. The central canoe was surrounded by a pair of larger, heavier craft, each one filled with twelve blemmyae warriors. They bore spears, axes, and slings, watching the shore for signs of an attack. With no violence breaking out, however, the canoes eventually reached the shore and unloaded their passengers. Six of the warriors remained, to guard the boats against theft or sabotage, while the remainder formed a tight escort around the three leaders of the delegation.

Finally, the blemmyae reached the Standing Stone. The crowd of guards fanned out, allowing two blemmyae and a human to approach the king of the Bannanda. The human is recognizable as Tengir Kw’Sewi, the chief diplomat of the United Blemmyae Tribes. Both of the blemmyae are unfamiliar. Tengir bows to King Odilon. Greetings, King Odilon. I am glad to see that you remain alive and well in the years since we last met. Allow me to introduce my King of Kings, Huleten Kw’Muketi. They are a wise and noble king, who has led our people through the tragic death of the previous King of Kings.

Wetag teru, Mer Odilon. Tesifo terosoyi yo anidil. The King of Kings blinks once to show respect, then continues to stare, piercingly, at Odilon. Their gold-speckled eyes swept over him and his family, calculating, gathering information.

The King of Kings says hello, King Odilon, and wishes that the joint future of our people will be prosperous, says Tengir. Additionally, let me introduce Inigid Kw’Anigoli, leader of the Anigoli clan. It is a smaller clan, and for many years has not been regarded in as high esteem as others, but the King of Kings feels that it is prudent to select their advisors based on their personal merits, rather than the reputation of their clans. Inigid is a good counsellor and has some skill in the sorcerous arts. Hearing their name, the second blemmyae blinks at Odilon. Unlike the finery of Tengir and Huleten, they wear a ragged, torn cloak, but this appears to be a calculated choice of clothing designed to inspire mystery, rather than indicative of true poverty. They bear a staff topped with a carved flint scorpion, the eyes glinting with tiny jewels.

I apologize for the presence of our guards, Tengir continues. I argued against their inclusion in the delegation, but the King of Kings feels that some precautions are warranted, after what happened the last time a blemmyae king ventured out of the Korebita Foothills.

[Minescratcher]

Bannanda
An enormous double canoe appeared in the distance, its crew of eight Bel-Dan-Ub pulling hard at the oars against the river current and its sail hanging limp. It overshadowed a fishing boat in the same way that a forest overshadowed a tree. Soon it reached Īellimon, drawing up onto a shallow part of the banks. Six stayed behind to guard the craft, while two continued down the forest path. One was a woman, dressed in a wide-brimmed straw hat, a loose jacket and skirt of some animal hide, with an axe belted at her waist; she carried a rolled-up scrap of Pandanus leaf, with Veramondi logographs scrawled across it. The other was a man, wearing a similar skirt, a bright yellow sash that wrapped around his chest and over his left shoulder, a spear slung over his back. They approached Odilon cautiously and bowed.

"Hail, King of the Bannanda. Your people are blessed this day to have the Sea People as guests," the man said. "I am Nal-Mej, and this is Fuj-Dan-Ce. This Standing Stone is certainly impressive!" He looked about the clearing, taking in the evident scale of the project.

"We come with an offer of diplomacy from the new Reren," Fuj-Dan-Ce interjected, unrolling the Pandanus leaf and beginning to read. "The young Reren Ren-Num-Har declares that his wife, Tes-Rus, has been unfaithful to him and betrayed his trust. He wishes to remarry from among the Bannanda and thereby cement an alliance between our tribes."

[Aedilred]

Ichippā barely glanced up as the pirates from the north arrived. At the Feast of the Blue Star they had been a disappointment, initially promising, but easily distracted and more concerned with boasting than holding her attention. In the time that had passed since she had put it out of her mind, but as Nal-Mej began with his vainglorious speech about how honoured her father should be to have the Sea Peoples here, she had to bite her tongue - and then as Fuj-Dan-Ce read his prepared words, however, she could restrain herself no longer. She frowned and strode over to stand beside her father.

"Betrayed his trust? I heard her only crime was bearing him a son, something any man should welcome. If he expects me or one of my sisters to put up with that nonsense, he'll be paddling his own canoe a while longer."


After the fiasco at the Veramondi feast, the blemmyae had been understandably reluctant to attend another continent-wide meeting. The invitation to visit the Standing Stone, however, was too good to pass up. The blemmyae were staunch allies of the Sentinels of Stone, and it was deemed important that they be present at the unveiling of their new monument.

Despite this, caution was taken to avoid another situation like that of the death of the previous King of Kings. While King of Kings Huleten Kw’Muketi would attend this feast, they would do so heavily protected, and accompanied only by the cooler heads among their advisors. Presuming that the Anbroch might attend the event, First in the Realm Yegin Kw’Haleti had been left behind, for fear that they might find a fight with the belligerent dwarves irresistible.

Approaching the Standing Stone by boat, the blemmyae delegation was instantly noticeable from shore. The central canoe was surrounded by a pair of larger, heavier craft, each one filled with twelve blemmyae warriors. They bore spears, axes, and slings, watching the shore for signs of an attack. With no violence breaking out, however, the canoes eventually reached the shore and unloaded their passengers. Six of the warriors remained, to guard the boats against theft or sabotage, while the remainder formed a tight escort around the three leaders of the delegation.

Finally, the blemmyae reached the Standing Stone. The crowd of guards fanned out, allowing two blemmyae and a human to approach the king of the Bannanda. The human is recognizable as Tengir Kw’Sewi, the chief diplomat of the United Blemmyae Tribes. Both of the blemmyae are unfamiliar. Tengir bows to King Odilon. Greetings, King Odilon. I am glad to see that you remain alive and well in the years since we last met. Allow me to introduce my King of Kings, Huleten Kw’Muketi. They are a wise and noble king, who has led our people through the tragic death of the previous King of Kings.

Wetag teru, Mer Odilon. Tesifo terosoyi yo anidil. The King of Kings blinks once to show respect, then continues to stare, piercingly, at Odilon. Their gold-speckled eyes swept over him and his family, calculating, gathering information.

The King of Kings says hello, King Odilon, and wishes that the joint future of our people will be prosperous, says Tengir. Additionally, let me introduce Inigid Kw’Anigoli, leader of the Anigoli clan. It is a smaller clan, and for many years has not been regarded in as high esteem as others, but the King of Kings feels that it is prudent to select their advisors based on their personal merits, rather than the reputation of their clans. Inigid is a good counsellor and has some skill in the sorcerous arts. Hearing their name, the second blemmyae blinks at Odilon. Unlike the finery of Tengir and Huleten, they wear a ragged, torn cloak, but this appears to be a calculated choice of clothing designed to inspire mystery, rather than indicative of true poverty. They bear a staff topped with a carved flint scorpion, the eyes glinting with tiny jewels.

I apologize for the presence of our guards, Tengir continues. I argued against their inclusion in the delegation, but the King of Kings feels that some precautions are warranted, after what happened the last time a blemmyae king ventured out of the Korebita Foothills.
It was hard not to find the blemmyae repulsive, but Odilon was still glad that they had sent a delegation. It would have been easy for them to have taken offence at the events in Veramondo and started a war, whether against the Veramondi themselves, or the Anbroch dwarfs ultimately responsible, and either would be undesirable. If this occasion provided an opportunity to promote peace among their southern neighbours, so much the better.

He nodded politely to Tengir and again to the blemmyae king.

"Be welcome, King sāg-Huleten Kw’Muketi, sāg-Inigid Kw’Anigoli. I am glad to see that you are not discouraged from travelling abroad after the tragedy at the Feast of the Blue Star. I am also glad to see you here, for I know you are friends of the Sentinels of the Stone."

"Nor are your guards unwelcome," he said. His accent remained thick, but his command of the trading language had improved since the Blue Star Feast. "We would not need a standing stone here if the forest were not dangerous, and more spears are always useful should the worst happen." After all, it was not as if he did not have enough men on standby to deal with the blemmyae should they, against all anticipation, prove hostile - and that was without factoring in the remaining elves he was sure would fight to defend the camp.

"How fare the people of the Korebita? We hear that your priests have been proselytising in lands beyond your own territories." He glanced slightly curiously at Ingid.

[Gaius Hermicus]

I thank you for your understanding and your kind words, King Odilon, says Tengir with audible relief. They had not failed to pick up on the Bannanda king’s revulsion towards the blemmyae, both at the Veramondi feast and now. It seemed, however, that Odilon was willing to look past his prejudices in the pursuit of peace, and for that Tengir was grateful. Likewise, they were glad that the presence of such an excessive military force would not be the diplomatic faux pas they had anticipated. While there were some who thought it would be better to isolate ourselves, or to act with aggression against the Anbroch, cooler heads prevailed. We seek a diplomatic solution whenever possible. They glance knowingly at Odilon. Despite certain legends and fairy tales to the contrary.

A short, awkward pause follows, before Inigid breaks the silence. Their voice is deep and gravelly, a voice that carries with it an atmosphere of mystery and power. Teyika si ayatariga si Korebita. Lakimoyi nesa asitam iwike wed gorusewegose. Tengir translates for the benefit of King Odilon. The priests and librarians of the Korebita were sent to teach our neighboring tribes about the mystical truths of Abiherism. So far we have met with great success among the Sirrvadut and the Sewune. I hear that your shamans have also been proselytizing in newly discovered land. Have they met with success?

[bc56]

A delegation from Veramondo arrives.
Leading the party is King Oram himself, closely followed by his 16 year old younger son, Oram III. Behind them, laughing and talking with a group of dwarf women, is princess Kona, dressed in a warrior's garb, with a longspear slung over her shoulder. Judging by the distance between them, she may not be entirely accepted by her family.

"King Odilon! At last, I greet you in your own lands!" Oram extends a hearty greeting. "I have brought gifts, for you and for the esteemed Sentinels. Baskets of grain from the southlands, to feed you through the coming dry season." To those familiar with Veramondi culture, it's a gift appropriate for a housewarming, or a fortress-warming, as the case may be. "I don't believe you've met my younger son, Oram?" Not formally anyway. The prince looks away shyly.

[Aedilred]

I thank you for your understanding and your kind words, King Odilon, says Tengir with audible relief. They had not failed to pick up on the Bannanda king’s revulsion towards the blemmyae, both at the Veramondi feast and now. It seemed, however, that Odilon was willing to look past his prejudices in the pursuit of peace, and for that Tengir was grateful. Likewise, they were glad that the presence of such an excessive military force would not be the diplomatic faux pas they had anticipated. While there were some who thought it would be better to isolate ourselves, or to act with aggression against the Anbroch, cooler heads prevailed. We seek a diplomatic solution whenever possible. They glance knowingly at Odilon. Despite certain legends and fairy tales to the contrary.

A short, awkward pause follows, before Inigid breaks the silence. Their voice is deep and gravelly, a voice that carries with it an atmosphere of mystery and power. Teyika si ayatariga si Korebita. Lakimoyi nesa asitam iwike wed gorusewegose. Tengir translates for the benefit of King Odilon. The priests and librarians of the Korebita were sent to teach our neighboring tribes about the mystical truths of Abiherism. So far we have met with great success among the Sirrvadut and the Sewune. I hear that your shamans have also been proselytizing in newly discovered land. Have they met with success?

"Some, I hear. The banozhisyi seek to discover the shuvache who reside within these new lands, make contact with and placate them, and enlighten the locals as to their presence and wishes. I understand that some of them have been successful in this, but it is far from an organized process and while I am happy to assist those who request my help with supplies or guidance, it has largely been on their own initiative."

"In light of what happened in Veramondo, I should warn you now that an invitation was extended to the Anbroch as it was to all the peoples of Kiswa. We are not yet certain if they will attend, but it is a short and relatively easy journey for them, so I would be somewhat surprised if they did not. I trust they will act more courteously on this occasion, and we will not tolerate the conduct we saw previously."


A delegation from Veramondo arrives.
Leading the party is King Oram himself, closely followed by his 16 year old younger son, Oram III. Behind them, laughing and talking with a group of dwarf women, is princess Kona, dressed in a warrior's garb, with a longspear slung over her shoulder. Judging by the distance between them, she may not be entirely accepted by her family.

"King Odilon! At last, I greet you in your own lands!" Oram extends a hearty greeting. "I have brought gifts, for you and for the esteemed Sentinels. Baskets of grain from the southlands, to feed you through the coming dry season." To those familiar with Veramondi culture, it's a gift appropriate for a housewarming, or a fortress-warming, as the case may be. "I don't believe you've met my younger son, Oram?" Not formally anyway. The prince looks away shyly.

"Hail, King Oram," said Odilon. The king wore a jagupard-hide cloak, and a simple copper circlet decorated with bright feathers. He had put on a little weight in the past few years, but retained a strong and powerful aspect. "It is good to see you here at last, and I thank you for these gifts: grain is a rare luxury in these parts." He looked over at the younger Oram. "I remember this young man from the feast, though we were not properly introduced. And I hear I am to congratulate you on the birth of a healthy daughter!"

He swept an arm out to indicate his own family. "My son Etelīs and daughter Ichippā accompanied me to your lands, of course, but here are my younger daughters, Acadiprē and Erelma, and my youngest son, Onodīs." The two girls were similar in age and would have been similar in appearance, though Erelma's bearing and manner were significantly more demure. She curtsied to King Oram and seemed to look carefully over him and his son before casting her eyes to the ground again, while Acadiprē curtsied less deeply but already seemed to be looking around for a new distraction. Onodīs simply stood proud and as straight and tall as possible - tall for a boy of his age, though still well short of his father, and fixed Oram with a defiant look. Eventually he gave the smallest, least perceptible of nods.

"Ah!" Odilon cuffed him, not hard, good-naturedly but with a slight hint of annoyance. "His sister is a bad influence, and she's not the only one. Speaking of which-" he nodded slightly towards Kona- "I am a little surprised to see Kona with you after the events at your home. Have you had the fortune of repairing your differences?"

[Gaius Hermicus]

The Bannanda

Yes, we had thought that the Anbroch might be here. We were careful to avoid bringing anybody to the feast that might be unable to avoid provoking them. It may yet be possible to redeem the Anbroch from the poor leadership of Warlady MacGill; certainly we hope that there are more reasonable voices among them. If they act respectfully, we will not start any aggressive action against them.


The Veramondi

Spotting King Oram arriving at the clearing, the King of Kings moves to intercept him, gesturing to an interpreter to come with him. Greetings, King Oram. I am Huleten Kw’Muketi, King of Kings of the United Blemmyae Tribes. It pleases me to meet the leader of our western neighbors. The relationship between our people has been tenuous for far too long, and I wish to put that history behind us. Perhaps... a marriage alliance of sorts would be in order? I have two eligible spawn, or perhaps you would be more amenable to a marriage with a human? My chief diplomat is unmarried, and I count them among my best advisors. Whatever you decide, I want you to know that the blemmyae bear you no ill will for what happened to my predecessor at your feast.

[Minescratcher]

Bannanda

Ichippā barely glanced up as the pirates from the north arrived. At the Feast of the Blue Star they had been a disappointment, initially promising, but easily distracted and more concerned with boasting than holding her attention. In the time that had passed since she had put it out of her mind, but as Nal-Mej began with his vainglorious speech about how honoured her father should be to have the Sea Peoples here, she had to bite her tongue - and then as Fuj-Dan-Ce read his prepared words, however, she could restrain herself no longer. She frowned and strode over to stand beside her father.

"Betrayed his trust? I heard her only crime was bearing him a son, something any man should welcome. If he expects me or one of my sisters to put up with that nonsense, he'll be paddling his own canoe a while longer."

The two emissaries glanced at each other with confused looks on their faces - this wasn't the story as the Reren had told it. "She abandoned her husband for a slave and fled our lands. I surely hope you, who I presume are the daughter of a great king, would never betray your family in such a way," Fuj-Dan-Ce replied. "Do your people have no punishment for unfaithful spouses?"

Nal-Mej interjected, addressing Odilon directly. "But that small matter aside, King Odilon, you surely agree our peoples would be far greater together than alone. This world of ours is filled with dangers and enemies; we may overcome them in alliance and win through to glory, or we may set our hopes on vanity and be ground to dust beneath the Ice." He glanced expectantly between the king and the princess.

[bc56]

The Bannanda
"It is good to see you all. Yes, little Vari is the joy of my wife and I, so bright and full of life." Oram nods to each of the Bannanda princesses and princes in turn. "Ah, my wayward daughter. If I hadn't asked her to come, she would've stalked us all the way here. This way, I can keep an eye on her. She wants to meet some of the Sentinels, I think."

The Blemmyae

"I too regret your predecessor's death. I hope for peace in our time, but I think a marriage is, at this time, unlikely." There would be little political advantage in marrying a human of the Blemmyae kingdom, and Oram is decidedly opposed to his children marrying a Blemmyae.

[Aedilred]

The Bannanda

Yes, we had thought that the Anbroch might be here. We were careful to avoid bringing anybody to the feast that might be unable to avoid provoking them. It may yet be possible to redeem the Anbroch from the poor leadership of Warlady MacGill; certainly we hope that there are more reasonable voices among them. If they act respectfully, we will not start any aggressive action against them.

"I am glad to hear it. Though we have not had confirmation of whether the Anbroch intend to appear, it is a relief to know that we cannot expect a repeat of what happened in Veramondo. Please, enjoy the feast, and your men are welcome to take refreshment should they so desire."


Bannanda

The two emissaries glanced at each other with confused looks on their faces - this wasn't the story as the Reren had told it. "She abandoned her husband for a slave and fled our lands. I surely hope you, who I presume are the daughter of a great king, would never betray your family in such a way," Fuj-Dan-Ce replied. "Do your people have no punishment for unfaithful spouses?"

Nal-Mej interjected, addressing Odilon directly. "But that small matter aside, King Odilon, you surely agree our peoples would be far greater together than alone. This world of ours is filled with dangers and enemies; we may overcome them in alliance and win through to glory, or we may set our hopes on vanity and be ground to dust beneath the Ice." He glanced expectantly between the king and the princess.
"Of course, we seek friendship with all where possible, and far better to stand united against those with whom it is not possible. Our tribes would not exist otherwise." Though Henanda itself was far less united than it might appear from the outside: while most of the onōē had so far followed Odilon's lead, it had not been without some complaint, and he suspected that as time went on, that might well change.

"It would certainly be to our benefit to agree that our people shall not be enemies," he said, "but before committing to an alliance it would profit us, I think, to discuss our shared objectives and opinions. An agreement which results in an obligation to attack someone due to belligerence by an ally is not desirable."


The Bannanda
"It is good to see you all. Yes, little Vari is the joy of my wife and I, so bright and full of life." Oram nods to each of the Bannanda princesses and princes in turn. "Ah, my wayward daughter. If I hadn't asked her to come, she would've stalked us all the way here. This way, I can keep an eye on her. She wants to meet some of the Sentinels, I think."
"And I am sure she will. One of the most prominent Sentinels is one of our own people, and has taken the name Theodora. I believe she is here somewhere and I am sure she and Kona will have much to discuss. Assuming of course that you are happy for her to develop her combat skills further, after her previous behaviour..."

[Aedilred]

The Feast

Once the Sentinels had completed their rituals, the guests were invited to take their places around the tables. It was an egalitarian affair, with none excluded: guards on active duty of course remained at their posts, but labourers and hunters took seats on the benches along with onōē and banozhisyi. The visiting dignitaries were seated in places of honour, proper chairs in the middle of the semicircle, near to the royal family. Once the drink had been flowing for some time, Odilon got to his feet and raised a drinking horn. He spoke in his native language*, leaving pauses for translations into other tongues.

"I thank all of you for coming to see the inauguration of this stone, and propose a toast to those who have made this evening possible. I welcome our friends from Veramondo and in particular their king Oram, and the emissaries from the Bel-Dan to the north, as well as our more distant visitors from the Korebita Foothills, including their king Huleten Kw’Muketi. I toast the Sons of Sirrvat and the Vygra for their work in raising this stone, and the Sentinels, who protect us from the depredations of the Blightspawn."

"Hear hear!" came a shout, and a figure emerged from the trees at the edge of the clearing. He was at least as tall as the king, but younger and more heavily muscled, and slung across his shoulders was a giant beast of some kind. He flung the body down near one of the firepits and snatched up a horn from a nearby table, before walking over to where the king stood and flinging himself into a nearby chair.

Putting his feet up on the table in front of him, he raised the horn. "A toast to all those who keep us safe!" He drained the horn and tossed it back on the table, then gave Konaa a meaningful and suggestive wink.


*which I will not write, since I'm at work

[Minescratcher]

Friends?

"Of course, we seek friendship with all where possible, and far better to stand united against those with whom it is not possible. Our tribes would not exist otherwise." Though Henanda itself was far less united than it might appear from the outside: while most of the onōē had so far followed Odilon's lead, it had not been without some complaint, and he suspected that as time went on, that might well change.

"It would certainly be to our benefit to agree that our people shall not be enemies," he said, "but before committing to an alliance it would profit us, I think, to discuss our shared objectives and opinions. An agreement which results in an obligation to attack someone due to belligerence by an ally is not desirable."

Nal-Mej looked crestfallen for a moment, but recovered quickly. "We would not ask for your help in our voyages or our raids, just as you would not ask for our help in your spiritual realm or your grass-growing," he replied. "We seek mutual defense and protection against any natural creatures, foul Blightspawn, or hostile armies that might seek to destroy us, and of course offer the same to you."

"Our envoys could gather again in the future, say perhaps sixteen summers from now, and discuss our goals once again, so that we know they are not incompatible," Fuj-Dan-Ce added.


A Toast or Ten
Nal-Mej and Fuj-Dan-Ce sat together, drinking heavily. At the king's toast both yelled "Hear, hear!" and drained yet another drink, laughing uproariously and falling back in their seats.