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Lev Lafayette wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:1263449646.4447.44.camel@squirrel" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">On Tue, 2010-01-12 at 22:15 +0000, Nic Hughes wrote:
</pre>
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<pre wrap="">All the same he would need their help so he had better go with them and
keep his eyes open just in case anything interesting did happen.
</pre>
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<pre wrap=""><!---->
At the village Res Publica bores you to tears with elaborate but well
meaning models of a White Moon peaceful democracy where the invasions
conducted by the Lunars are replaced by missionaries to foreign lands to
teach them the error of violent ways. During the discussion, the white
doves released earlier in the day return! Aalmon is quite amazed;
apparently these White Moon cultists do have some notable magic and are
well connected.
Res Publica coos to them for a while and responds. "King Bryon has made
his peace with the Lunars through his proxy, Praxelite of the Empire of
the Sun. They seek no further aggression, although among some of his
number there are murmurs that they should send warriors to protect the
Orlanthi in Riskland."
"This is a matter of some debate to us, oh leader. Do we seek peace with
chaos? What is your opinion?"
"As for Dranz Goloi, we could receive no message. The battle for Oraya
is already under way. One one hand Jar-Eel has reinforced the city, and
on the other settlers in the Redlands have joined the Nomads. We have
operates in both camps. What do you recommend?"
"You made mention that you wished to meet with you friends? Where are
they? Where do you wish to travel to spread the end of war?"
</pre>
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<br>
Like many an old soldier Aalmon treats the boring lecture as a perfect
opportunity to stock up on food, not knowing when he would next have
the chance.<br>
<br>
He listens to the comments and questions of Res Publica while munching
away and sometime stuffing one of the more durable looking pieces of
food into his saddlebags. When he senses that the priest is beginning
to run out of questions he washes down a mouthful with a cup of water
then finally replies.<br>
<br>
"There are many prophesies, too many to count and some you might not
know of. The Devil is coming for one thing. I know because I am
prophesied to be there in the last desperate battle and it seems I have
a part to play there. This is part of what makes the peace, or it is if
the rebels have travelled to hell to make their peace with the Emperor
and are by his side waiting for the Devil to fall howling amongst them
when chaos does its part by turning back on itself. In the meantime
should you send emissaries to the chaos army? I cannot stay to guide
you so all I can say is that the part that chaos plays in remaking the
world into a peaceful one is not like the part that others play, chaos
is contrary and its role in this may be that it must try to cause
horror and destruction for the opposite to be created."<br>
<br>
"As for the others do not confuse peace with a mere lack of war, any
more than you would think that light is the same as a mere absence of
darkness. If the swords are not dripping blood in the South right now
then that is good time to make peace but it must still be made. That
truce sounds like the sort of thing Jareena would do but you cannot
rely on her still being there to answer every hot-head, I think she
will have moved on by now. In the Redlands the Empire mistook a truce
for peace for too long and now the price will be paid, it was never
anything more than the truce of a bitter and defeated foe waiting to
re-gather their strength and for the time to be right. In the Redlands
the task will be all the harder because a warriors blood runs hot in
the midst of battle. If you try to stand between the warring sides both
will cut you down for your interference, seek out those who might be
willing to walk the path of peace that lets men accept that others have
their place in the world without being conquered. Make them your allies
before you take any other action."<br>
<br>
"Unless you have a friendly moon-boat captain nearby I think it is
almost time for me to try to open the paths across the stars to try to
rejoin the others of my group. By now they will be either in the city
of Lei Tabor or close to it, so once more I will have to cross the
greater part of Genertela. Oh well, I should be used to it by now. I
doubt if I will be able to stay in contact, unless you could show me
how those doves of yours travel so far and so fast."<br>
<br>
Nic<br>
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