[h3][i]Falahad-[/i][/h3] Zanzeb- that is, the original croppings of mud huts and adobe abodes, would have displayed a certain architectural curiosity were the city not cut in half by the river nor surrounded by similar yet small villages. In many places throughout the city it became a similar problem that these small homes were being built [i]outside[/i] of the original wall, the small hovels being built closer and closer until many found their stability on the wall itself. It was during these years that the [i]second[/i] wall was built to shield these outliers. It quickly became a caste in and of itself- around Zanzeb specifically one may find the 'outer' peoples live nearly oblivious to the functions of the 'inner' folk. The architect whom pondered such musings- Rord- stood atop one of the inner wall's gatehouses, staring into the river below. It glistened beautifully even on a relatively cloudy day such as this. But his reminiscing on the city's historical construction had been abruptly interrupted by the loud gong of a bell. The bearded man glared towards the direction of the noise- the only bell [i]that[/i] loud was housed in the middle of the circular city, and was used to hail significant events, most often regarding the Ketua. There was one thing that came to mind, something most of the populace had been expecting for months; the sounding of the bell were their dreams coming to fruition. A second gong rang out. The time between the gongs was as quiet as a post-warfare battlefield. A third. The city below Rord erupted into cheer, applause, and merriment. Three rings of that particular bell could only have meant one thing: Idris Setuin, sister-wife of the Ketua, Falahad, had birthed a child. A son, no less. No doubt the festivities were already being arranged. As per Armanian tradition when a leader's child in born there are great feasts held the next supper in celebration. This was one of the few traditional events that the powers that be chose not to reform when they restructured their ruling. While their new found Republic meant the son of the Ketua didn't naturally inherit and power, their opinions were often seen as a reflection of the Ketua himself, and often times if the populace were favorable with one Ketua then his children were often nominated to be next in line, at the very least. But this particular child had come at a very convenient time- much of the former aristocracy were still bitter about losing their official power, so if the Ketua were to service his child to become a ward, hiring a guardian for his child from among the upper class, then it could be possible that they raise the child to reinstate himself a [i]King[/i]. Of course, such grand a plan had required months of planning and subterfuge, of which Rord was plenty guilty of. He had been a secret letter carrier for several months now- ferrying capsules filled with written letters, plans, charts, and graphs to and from the upper class in an attempt to further the cause. Luckily, today's leadership was not very smart. Inbreds. ---- [h3][i]Oluro-[/i][/h3] The road was muddy today. Not necessarily surprising, considering many were built next to or over rivers and their tributaries. But why was he [i]walking[/i]? Surely he, the Grand Triarchate of the Church of the Ternion, deserved to be [i]carried[/i], especially on a task as important as his. For long the Church of the Ternion had operated solely out of their singular, massive Ziggurat in the equally large city of Kyk. Such an old and fundamental religion deserved its own piece of land- though not in Arman-Arhus. The Church's worshipers were spread throughout the world and the Grand Triarchate had decided it time they were offered haven. Thus, it had been decreed that the Church and its missionaries would begin searching for appropriate land on which a colony of sorts could be built, perhaps even a second Ziggurat to glorify a second patron god, for the existing one in Kyk was devoted to Edesu, the Goddess of Fertility and Growth. To further their agenda not even the Grand Triarchate was pardoned from the gruntwork that would be required. Of course, a contingent of the Ketua's own Oathguard were dispatched with him to safeguard him on the road, for though his destination were the Commonwealth's one enemy but long-time allies in the Dominion of Terus, the road to get there had passed through some of Khumer and A Seihid, who had had little contact with the Commonwealth. Not to mention some of the peoples of Azraca [i]still[/i] made Oluro nervous. Yet their journey was nearing completion. The Oathguard and the contingent of Triarchates that accompanied Oluro were all tired, but the aging Grand Triarchate was becoming ecstatic at the thought of finding a place for a new Ziggurat, or perhaps even a new city. No doubt of which he would own, of course. [hr] [h3]TL;DR[/h3] -In Zanzeb, Ketua Falahad becomes a father to a son. This pleases the upper class, who have been plotting for months to try and convince the Ketua to service out guardianship to someone in Zanzeb, who would then collaborate with other peoples of the upper class to try and convince the boy he should become King, overthrowing the somewhat recently established Republic when he becomes of age. -Meanwhile, the Grand Triarchate of the Church of the Ternion (How's that for a title) is travelling to Azraca to try and find suitable land on which the Church may build something new. Whether 'something new' refers to a settlement for churchgoers or a new Ziggurat, that's yet to be decided. Regardless, Oluro's journey is getting close to its destination.