Empire 6: Bright Days, Blight Nights

[Roarke]

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Sha

Lilunulil shakes their head briefly.

"The nightmare spinners are assaulting and kidnapping children, and you ask what conflict there is? The users of dark sorceries are taking too many lives. We are removing them from our lands and they are cursing our people. Memories are being lost, being tossed to darkness by these hexes. We are living in fear, with only righteous anger to sustain us.

We are removing them from our lands in punishment and they are escalating. Larger numbers are being afflicted. We are investigating and finding that they are taking control of our resources by force and subterfuge and demanding that we apologize as we remove them - directly but peacefully, we might add - from our lands."

Lilunulil stops and draws in a breath. Their smaller hands and slowly oscillating in agitation, though they master themselves quickly.

"We are apologizing. You are asking a question and we are answering, there is no call for anger between allies.

"You are asking why we are opposing the Dream Speakers? We are asking how one could not? They are memory-hunters, mind-breakers, kidnappers. They are thieves, brigands, and murderers. They cannot be allowed to prosper."

"The Dream Speakers have cursed you? Pfeh. You've brought a curse upon yourselves." The delegation from Ixkarr had arrived without much fanfare. It was led by Thirre, and consisted of a handful of shamans. The female one who had spoken up to the Dolod was accompanied by two youths, a boy and a girl.

"The Dreamers have been blessed with great abilities by the stars," the shaman continued, "and offered to teach those of your people born with the same gifts how to use them. Yet you shunned and expelled them. In doing so you not only rebelled against the stars, but also the Sun whom the stars serve. For this you have deserved your just punishment. I've heard one of your ilk was even judged personally by the Sun, his blood turning to fire." There was not much emotion in the woman's voice, as if she was merely listing facts. But it was quite clear that she delighted in it.

Thirre interjected before she could continue. "We thank you for the invitation to this gathering" she said to Yeitso, "and look forward to discussing matters of faith with the Revered Triad. May this be an enlightening day for us all." While she was otherwise her usual cordial self, her eyes looked weary.

Ixkarr

The Dolod are clearly uncomfortable with the presence of the Ixkarr delegation.

"Children are being cursed. We are refusing to bend the neck to such atrocities. We are sorry to see that such strong warriors as yourselves are so deeply manipulated by these nightmare wielders that you praise them for it."

Yeitso watched the exchange play out between the Dolod and the Ixkar regarding the Dream Speakers with interest. When the moment presented itself he spoke.

"The Ixkar may be warriors but they speak great wisdom. If you were truly to care for your children you would not condemn them to nightmares and death by failing to appease those who would help them. Perhaps were the Dolod more knowledgeable of the Twilight Sight prior to expunging the Speakers your actions could be more wisely seen but it seems you now act to cut off your nose to spite your face."

"The current losses from your conflict with the Speakers cannot help but outweigh the slow trickle of loss we see in moderate cooperation with their wandering order. It is your people to govern but an offer of peace from the Dream Speakers may be unwise to shun now with so many lives yet hanging in the balance and so many years of strife yet to pass. Knowledge has been gained that the Twilight Sight may be solved by those outside the Speakers. If you would permit the Sha would shoulder a portion of the burden for reconciliation and aid your efforts to uncover a means to circumvent the Speakers as monopolists of the Sight."

The Sha

Neferkare removed his oxtail helmet, both improving his hearing and exposing his wavy elfen hair made ever kinkier by the glass-like sands of the desert.

He briefly massaged his ears before responding

"My armies are thankfully fed by a train of buffalo, fortunately, there is little we shall need to impose upon you. May we both bask in the light of the sun before we do battle."

"It would do you well to observe fasting before the Argent Swarm arrives. It pleases the Celestial Emperor to see servants surrender earthly pleasures in honor of God's glory," Yeitso knew it was impossible an army of Neferkare's size would leave local markets untouched in their passing lest they were husks compelled by magic and not by material needs, "May the Sun drench the battlefield as precursor to the blood of the Blightspawn."

The Soreni once more come forward and present writing, but with a new revelation;
When you write on clay, the clay is soft and unformed, but when exposed to the sun, the divine light of God will harden the clay, it is confirmed in His eyes. His truths become permanences. Writing is not just a good path, but a holy one.

The Soreni once more offer writing to all attendees.

Negotiations take place and while many in Sikar had adopted the Crow Tribe's writing system at the gathering in Vesparre the Triad decrees the Soreni writing of more utility in the Sands of Sha. That such an adoption would prevent easy conversion by potential schismists was an unspoken side effect. (Acceptance added to Event sub-actions)