Hera walked the path leading the village of the True Sons. Her clan had frequently clashed with them, but they were one of the larger and more established clans within the immediate region and gaining their support could be a great boon to the people of the Rest.

She was accompanied by four guards carrying large stone mauls and had slings affixed to their belt, as a Stonemaul druid and a blindfolded watcher. The group walked towards the palisade walls, but stopped a respectable distance away though close enough to call to the three guards wearing quillat hide armor, “On behalf of Queen Kira of the Stonemaul and of Kirin’s Rest, as her sister I have came to discuss matters of peace.” 

The three guards exchanged glances, before one of them - the leader - stepped forward. “You may follow me, then,” he said, “but you must leave your weapons here.”

Hera nodded to her men, and buried their clubs into ground and then laid their slings over them, and the group approached. 

The leader of the guards shouted a command, and the pallisade gates swung open. Without further words he led them into the village known as Kadan’s Hold. The largest structure in the village was also the most visible; the chieftain’s longhouse, placed atop a hill. That was their destination. 

As they walked, the inhabitants were going about their everyday lives, occasionally giving the visitors glances of suspicion or curiosity. They passed the village temple, where a priest within could be heard giving a sermon. Then, eventually, they reached the base of the hill and began ascending it up to the longhouse itself.

The doors swung open and they entered a vestibule area, blocked off from the rest of the longhouse by a long, thick curtain. “Wait here,” their guide instructed - the first words he had spoken to them since their arrival, and with that he stepped through the curtain, leaving them to wait for several long moments.

Eventually, the guard returned. “His lordship will see you now,” he said simply, holding the curtain open.

Hera walked past the curtain and into the longhouse’s main room. There was a central firepit, currently empty, and two tables on the other side. On the far end was a throne, and sitting upon it was the lord of the True Sons. He was a young man, perhaps mid-twenties, who wore furs and a crown of bone.

“I am Lord Ryker. I speak for the True Sons,” he said as she walked in. “What brings you here?”

Hera bowed respectfully, “I came to speak of peace and union. I understand in the past that the Stone Mauls and True Sons feuded, but the highlands are changing and we must adapt. As you must have heard, the Kirin’s Rest is expanding and we wish that you will join us as we march into this new world.” 

Lord Ryker snorted. “And why would we do that? What would joining you even entail?”

She calmly replied, “The Dunans have stopped their aggression for the time, but do you believe that this will last? Or what of the next threat to our peoples, whether it be mundane invaders or terrible monstrosity. Divided we were weak, and that is how they managed to gain a foothold into these lands in order to terrorize us. We ask that you respect the authority of the queen, but we are willing to generously compensate for joining this union.” 

“You would buy my loyalty?” he asked her. “Pay me to side with one band of heretics over another?” He shook his head. “We do not need your aid. The True Father of Humanity watches over us. We, who have remained loyal, and remembered our history. It is you who should respect our authority.”

“This alliance would be more valuable than what mere materials can afford.” she replied, “But I hold that you have not forgotten how strong we were before, and we have only grown strong since. I pray that we do not turn that against the people of the land again, but do not think I can be easily threatened.” 

“I have made no threats. You, on the other hand…” he glared at her for a moment. “If you seek to subjugate us, we have fended you off before, and can do so again. The Ha-Dunans, too, for Kadan watches over us.”

Hera paused, “I did not come here to subjugate you. If we wish to do so, my sister would have brought the warbands to your gates instead. No, instead I offer myself to create a union between Stone Mauls and True Sons.” 

Ryker raised an eyebrow in surprise. “And in return, you would have me kneel before your sister?”

“We ask that your respect the throne and its commandments, but you may do so on your feet as lord of this settlement.” she replied. 

He leaned back in his chair, much of his hostility and wariness suddenly gone. He was quiet for a time, as he gave the offer serious thought. “If I were to accept such an agreement,” he began somewhat guardedly, “I would only do so if the one I was yielding to would acknowledge Kadan and Endra as mankind’s creators and patrons. And I would expect any woman I married to do the same.”

“We shall build the appropriate shrines to Kadan and Endra, and I shall make the proper commitments to the ceremony. But we can not make those acknowledgements as a kingdom, we would lose to many supporters close to us. It is the one price that we can not pay.” 


Ryker frowned. “You fear the consequences of speaking the truth,” he stated simply, his previous arrogance returning. “Whatever fools turn against you for doing so are not worth keeping around. And whatever support you lose will be more than made up for with the support of mankind’s creator.”

Hera stood firm, “We fear the consequences of imposing your truth upon our diverse people, or the consequences of so quickly abandoning those who have built us up into the sky for a blind promise. Would you even think of joining us willingly if we were to force our faith upon you? Why should we expect the same of the others? We do believe this union will only strengthen both of us, but not at the cost of the people who allowed us to make it.” 

“The difference is, my faith is true,” Ryker countered. “Tell me. How do your people believe mankind came to be?”

“I can not say, and many of our people can not either. But they still will not be pleased to be compelled to your faith, regardless of how much you proclaim it true. But there is also the matter of those who do have their stories, such as our sister tribe who believe us to be the grand-children of the sun. If you wish, I could sing you a thousand songs of the origin of man, and a thousand people hold them each true.” Hera stated. 

“A thousand people would be wrong,” Ryker countered. “And there lies our problem. You may claim you wish to respect our faith. Your sister may even honour that promise within her lifetime. But what of her sons and daughters? What of their sons and daughters? They may break that pact, and turn on us, or attempt to lead us astray. In order for a people to stay united, they must have a common faith, and ours is the only true one.”

[color=violet][i]True as it may be,[/i][/color] a deep, ethereal voice echoed in the minds of all those present. [color=violet][i]I do believe you have missed her point.[/i][/color]

The watcher fell to the floor, with one of the guards quickly catching him and gently bringing him to the ground. Hera’s face paled, but looked to her men and at the watcher and went down on one knee, with her men quickly following. 

Ryker seemed just as startled, the aura of insufferably smug confidence he had just been radiating having shattered completely. He placed a white-knuckled hand on the armrest of his throne, pushed himself to his feet, and this quickly fell to his knees. “Your Grace…” he whispered.

[color=violet][i]Ryker, was it?[/i][/color] the voice asked. [color=violet][i]I believe your father once served as my avatar for a time, did he not?[/i][/color] Ryker nodded quickly. [color=violet][i]Yes. I thought so. It is good to see that you remembered his teachings. Truly, your faith and loyalty are appreciated. But, you should be a bit more respectful to your guests.[/i][/color]

Ryker stammered. “Your-Your Grace. I… I only…”

[color=violet][i]Enough. You cannot convince someone by shouting at them that they are wrong, no more than you can tame a wolf by commanding it to stop eating sheep.[/i][/color] The voice fell silent. [color=violet][i]As for you. Hera, was it? I must say, it is quite disappointing to see how many of my creations have forgotten me. It probably isn’t within your memory, but do you have any idea on how that came to be for your people?[/i][/color]

Hera was soundless mouthing a hymn, and did not recognize that she was until the divine voice spoke to her, “I do not. Only that our peoples have been shaped by the highlands, as the highlands have been shaped by us.” 

[color=violet][i]Hm. How disappointing,[/i][/color] the voice remarked. [color=violet][i]It is a rare thing for me to reach out to my more wayward creations, you must know. Anyhow. Ryker. The deal you were offered seems a fair one, and I myself will not be particularly slighted if you accept. If any treachery is planned, then I shall see it avenged tenfold. As for you, Hera, it is my hope that your people shall eventually come to embrace their true history as a result of this union. So know that it has my blessing.[/i][/color]

Hera paused, she attempted to hide it but her breathing was heavy. She clasped her hands together, bowed her head, “To the glory of the gods.” as though she was ending a prayer. “And so, in light of your god’s revelation, what is your answer?” 

Ryker rose to his feet, with his guards doing the same. He stared at her for several long moments, as if he was still weighing her offer, or perhaps trying to get over the fact that a god had spoken to him at all. “I accept,” he said at last.

Hera and her people also stood, one of the soldiers was needed to physically help the watcher up. “I will then need to return home in order to inform the queen of your decision and to gather my possessions and return with the proper company within a lunar cycle to make the arrangements and plans.” 

“I shall accompany you,” Ryker decided. “I may as well meet your queen in person. Besides, it will give me time to get to know my future wife,” he offered her a smile. “You and your men are also free to dine with me and stay the night. And…” his smile weakened slightly, as he had to figuratively swallow his pride for what came next, “I apologize for my previous lack of hospitality.”

Hera’s eyes widened at the mention of meeting her sister, but she quickly blinked it away and attempted to return the smile, “Your apology is accepted, and I humbly accept your invitation of hospitality and company.” 

[hr]
[hider=Post Summary]
Hera, sister to the queen of Kirin’s Rest, arrives at a village called Kadan’s Hold, owned by a tribe known as the True Sons - a diehard band of almost-fanatical Cadien worshipers who have had a rocky relationship with them in the past. Despite holding only a single village they’re quite powerful and influential for their size.

The True Sons are led by Lord Ryker, whose father is implied to have briefly been possessed by Mekellos (this was after Ryker was born, however.) Hera asks that they peacefully join the kingdom, and Ryker immediately refuses. She attempts to sweeten the deal by offering herself in a political marriage, but Ryker insists that both she and her sister publicly accept Cadien and Evandra as the true creators of humanity.

She refuses on the basis that it would be politically unwise (most of Kirin’s Rest worships their own brand of the Druidic Pantheon, and don’t have common ground on how humanity was created) and a bit of back-and-forth ensues, until Cadien himself intervenes and says it’s a good deal he should stop being such a dick. At the same time he also reinforces Ryker’s beliefs and encourages Hera to accept them. Then he’s out.

Ryker, humbled by this experience, accepts the offer and apologizes for his behaviour. He and Hera make plans to travel back to Kirin’s Rest.
[/hider]


[hider=Might Summary]
No MP or DP spent 
[/hider]