"An ailment of thought upon which the souls depend."
--
The amphitheatre belonged to a civilisation long dead. With every passing year the verdant valley threatened to reclaim more and more of it. Hardy arctic moss had begun to crawl over the crumbling stones that must have once been steps. More and more cracks appeared in the semi-circular benches that formed a perimeter around the worn centre platform. It was not a hidden place--Kasrjin could see it from the mouth of the mountain cave in which he had awoken--but the ever practical Xaela that dwelled in this valley had hardly any use for such a landmark that was so worn in its age.
"That loud harpy better have an excellent reason for this," Erdeni muttered underneath her breath. Tsanai had bid the craftswoman to join Kasrjin on his jaunt to the amphitheatre. Her fingers twitched as she walked, restlessly tapping the tools adorning her belts and pouches as if she were imagining her craft being before her in this instant. Kasrjin hid his small smile of amusement; Tsanai must have used quite a prodigious bribe indeed in order to draw Erdeni away from her work during a Communion. He merely patted her shoulder, a gesture that rewarded his hand with a reflexive slap.
"I have had quite enough of Tsenkhai meddling," Erdeni gnashed her teeth as the pair sat down. Kasrjin glanced around the amphitheatre, noting the presence of other individuals, most of which he didn't recognise. Jungsai, Yerenai, Erdegai...how long had Tsanai been working on this plan of hers? She had been different since her return from the western continent, but there were close to thirty people here. He raised an eyebrow at his mate's comment. "Have they meddled overmuch?", he queried.
Erdeni pinched the scaled bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger. "The Communion. Some of the Tsenkhai who had awoken were storming yurt to yurt, asking about the 'forfeiture' this and 'Correspondence' that. What is the point of all of that noise? It is their role to approach these problems; the Tsenkhai should stick to what they do and allow the rest of us to do what we do."
"Have they told you what they suspect?" Kasrjin leaned forward, clasping his hands together. His emerald gaze focused sharply with surprise upon seeing Kaizhan take a seat in the amphitheatre as well.
"They 'suspect' that someone or something is interfering with the Communion somehow, deliberately or not. Something is not as it should be. I suspect that that is why they are so aggressive in regards to your history as Tsuven, as well." Erdeni flexed her fingers to and fro, her agitation practically tangible.
Something interfering with the Communion. Was that even possible? The Tsenkhai would certainly know if there was precedent, and the fact that they were as riled as they were proved that there was not an advisable course of action to refer to. A part of Kasrjin was tempted to let out a sigh when he saw Tsanai step forward onto the centre platform, her azure robes fluttering in a light breeze. Startlingly, Alaqu was accompanying the Tsenkhai as well; she brushed crimson hair from her face as her fingers gestured towards each individual, counting the number of people present.
The remaining chatter among those gathered fell silent, and all attention was on the Tsenkhai that had called them here.
"I suspect that Kaarad-El is...ill. Perhaps dying, if such a term can be applied," Tsanai began, folding her arms into the wide sleeves of her robe. She did not have to speak overly loud--something about the amphitheatre, perhaps the construction, seemed to amplify her voice such that even Kasrjin and Erdeni sitting towards the back of the theatre could hear each word clearly and distinctly. "It is time to consider our people's reliance on the Correspondence. For generations, the Correspondence and the Tsenkhai have allowed us to conquer anything. This age may be at an end."
That shocked them to attention. Erdeni's fingers had stopped moving.
"What is your evidence?" rang a voice from the crowd.
"The interpretations have become increasingly difficult. We expected this trend to stop an entire cycle ago. It has not, and the problem has worsened. The Correspondence arrives less frequently, less clearly, with less information," Tsanai asserted.
Alaqu coughed and stepped forward, runestone in hand. "Losses to the black ones have been greater. The korums collectively lost many individuals to the freeze. Hunts are plentiful now, but the Jungsai have had greater difficulty in their tracking," the Aljai said. The frustration was clear upon her face, her brows wrinkling in consternation. "One of these circumstances happening is not overly important, but a collective drop in efficiency across all korums points to the only common point all korums possess--the Forfeiture, and our connection to Kaarad-El and the Tsenkhai."
Murmurs fell over the gathered Xaela. Kasrjin's frown deepened. At the very least, he could personally corroborate that the intelligence regarding the black ones had become more faulty. They were winning, yes, but each battle had come closer to a pyrrhic victory. With their magitek reapers and fire lances, the black ones held a tactical advantage in all situations. Where the Khadai won was in the strategic information fed to them by Kaarad-El; his warband was always one step ahead, one ambush ahead, and could wittle away the great beast of the black ones until naught remained.
But they were encroaching closer and closer. If the current trend continued as it was, it would only be a matter of time until the black ones managed to discover the full extent of the tribe's operations.
And what would they do then? If they found their numbers, what they were capable of...would that warrant a full invasion of the tundra to stamp out what resistance remained in Othard?
"You have been gathered here to prepare. Several cycles ago, the the korums had made a proposal to make for the western continent," Tsanai.
"A proposal that the Aljai continue to wholeheartedly resist due to the logistics and material requirement," Alaqu interjected, snapping a glare at the Tsenkhai which was flatly ignored.
"I have been to this land once before. I believe that this land holds the answers to our questions. If the knowledge there cannot solve the riddle of Kaarad-El's reluctance, then at the least, we will know if such a location will hold a viable future for our people."
"Who else knows?" Erdeni called out, a deep scowl marring her face. "The Tsenkhai? The korums? That proposal was a thought experiment, nothing more. You cannot call so many Erdegai away to build boats and vessels for a wager. Are the korums united on this?"
Alaqu shook her head. "The Aljai that I had spoken to are reluctant to allow their korums' efficiency to drop further. Those we have gathered here...those who were willing to gather here will be all who are privy."
Erdeni snorted derisively, glancing among the crowd. "Vessels for a journey to the western continent. And you have but a handful of Erdegai. These vessels will have to brave arctic waters. Navigation, supplies, shelter. It must cut through storms."
"None of that will be necessary but the vessels themselves," Tsanai snapped, her moccasins beginning to tap on the centrepiece. Kasrjin instinctively glanced away from what was sure to be another vehement argument between those two. "The Correspondence will grant shelter to these vessels. They will seek the beacon I placed on the west's shores."
"You have no way of knowing that. This is a journey of what must be at least one hundred suns," Erdeni argued, standing up. "This risk is too great, with nothing to gain!"
"We lose everything if we are not at least willing to try!" Tsanai flared. "I cannot control the other Tsenkhai. Kaarad-El's behaviour...it frightens them. Who knows what they will attempt to do to repair it? We do not know if we can even reach the western continent as we are. But I know what will happen if they do not find the answer they seek." She began to pace, her robes bristling with anger. "The Tsenkhai retreat further and further into Kaarad-El. The number of individuals failing to awaken from Communion increases with every passing day. Without Kaarad-El, our people have nothing! Not our system, not our prosperity, none of the things that separate us from those savage southerners, and the Tsenkhai know this. They will be willing to do anything that is required to preserve it...and so must we."
Kasrjin's gaze was fixed squarely on Tsanai now. She was almost shivering. Her lips trembled. She paced to and fro. The sleeves of her robes fluttered lightly with the motion of what must have been her hands clasping her arms.
The realisation hit him hard, causing his stomach to drop.
Tsanai was....afraid.
Something she had seen in Kaarad-El had spurred her into this. Either something about the black granite temple itself, or something that the rest of the Tsenkhai were doing. The gravity of this situation must have been incredibly dire. Nothing had fazed Tsanai before. Not the arrival of the black ones, not the freeze, not even...not even Kasrjin's own forfeiture. The feeling his warband felt when Kaarad-El tugged at their souls, the feeling that something was wrong--not just incorrect, but horribly, innately wrong--was recalled to his memory, causing a visual shudder of chills to ring through his body.
In the wake of her outburst, all discussion had ceased. Tsanai breathed deeply. "We will send what we can to the western continent. They must seek a solution to this. We must find a solution to this."
"Who will go?" a male voice rumbled from the front.
"Anyone. Everyone. Whoever we can afford to send. Nayantai. Jungsai. Khadai." Her gaze--almost a glare--flashed toward Kasrjin with frightening intent. "The Mahalai and Aljai will secure supplies. The Erdegai must construct sturdy vessels and supplies. In the mean time, those we intend to send must be trained and taught. Hunting, herbalism, survival, tracking. I will gather every piece of material I can find on the western continent in the mean time. We will not send you unprepared. The essence of our people must go with you so that you may succeed."
With that, Tsanai exhaled, nodding to Alaqu before retreating off of the ampitheatre stage. Alaqu, to her credit, managed to visibly resist a tired sigh.
"As much as I am loathe to admit it, I have much of the details worked out, and have managed to secure some support from a few other korums. Who we are sending, however... volunteers would make this easier."
Erdeni was startled by a sudden movement, as Kasrjin was the first among them to stand.
--
The amphitheatre belonged to a civilisation long dead. With every passing year the verdant valley threatened to reclaim more and more of it. Hardy arctic moss had begun to crawl over the crumbling stones that must have once been steps. More and more cracks appeared in the semi-circular benches that formed a perimeter around the worn centre platform. It was not a hidden place--Kasrjin could see it from the mouth of the mountain cave in which he had awoken--but the ever practical Xaela that dwelled in this valley had hardly any use for such a landmark that was so worn in its age.
"That loud harpy better have an excellent reason for this," Erdeni muttered underneath her breath. Tsanai had bid the craftswoman to join Kasrjin on his jaunt to the amphitheatre. Her fingers twitched as she walked, restlessly tapping the tools adorning her belts and pouches as if she were imagining her craft being before her in this instant. Kasrjin hid his small smile of amusement; Tsanai must have used quite a prodigious bribe indeed in order to draw Erdeni away from her work during a Communion. He merely patted her shoulder, a gesture that rewarded his hand with a reflexive slap.
"I have had quite enough of Tsenkhai meddling," Erdeni gnashed her teeth as the pair sat down. Kasrjin glanced around the amphitheatre, noting the presence of other individuals, most of which he didn't recognise. Jungsai, Yerenai, Erdegai...how long had Tsanai been working on this plan of hers? She had been different since her return from the western continent, but there were close to thirty people here. He raised an eyebrow at his mate's comment. "Have they meddled overmuch?", he queried.
Erdeni pinched the scaled bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger. "The Communion. Some of the Tsenkhai who had awoken were storming yurt to yurt, asking about the 'forfeiture' this and 'Correspondence' that. What is the point of all of that noise? It is their role to approach these problems; the Tsenkhai should stick to what they do and allow the rest of us to do what we do."
"Have they told you what they suspect?" Kasrjin leaned forward, clasping his hands together. His emerald gaze focused sharply with surprise upon seeing Kaizhan take a seat in the amphitheatre as well.
"They 'suspect' that someone or something is interfering with the Communion somehow, deliberately or not. Something is not as it should be. I suspect that that is why they are so aggressive in regards to your history as Tsuven, as well." Erdeni flexed her fingers to and fro, her agitation practically tangible.
Something interfering with the Communion. Was that even possible? The Tsenkhai would certainly know if there was precedent, and the fact that they were as riled as they were proved that there was not an advisable course of action to refer to. A part of Kasrjin was tempted to let out a sigh when he saw Tsanai step forward onto the centre platform, her azure robes fluttering in a light breeze. Startlingly, Alaqu was accompanying the Tsenkhai as well; she brushed crimson hair from her face as her fingers gestured towards each individual, counting the number of people present.
The remaining chatter among those gathered fell silent, and all attention was on the Tsenkhai that had called them here.
"I suspect that Kaarad-El is...ill. Perhaps dying, if such a term can be applied," Tsanai began, folding her arms into the wide sleeves of her robe. She did not have to speak overly loud--something about the amphitheatre, perhaps the construction, seemed to amplify her voice such that even Kasrjin and Erdeni sitting towards the back of the theatre could hear each word clearly and distinctly. "It is time to consider our people's reliance on the Correspondence. For generations, the Correspondence and the Tsenkhai have allowed us to conquer anything. This age may be at an end."
That shocked them to attention. Erdeni's fingers had stopped moving.
"What is your evidence?" rang a voice from the crowd.
"The interpretations have become increasingly difficult. We expected this trend to stop an entire cycle ago. It has not, and the problem has worsened. The Correspondence arrives less frequently, less clearly, with less information," Tsanai asserted.
Alaqu coughed and stepped forward, runestone in hand. "Losses to the black ones have been greater. The korums collectively lost many individuals to the freeze. Hunts are plentiful now, but the Jungsai have had greater difficulty in their tracking," the Aljai said. The frustration was clear upon her face, her brows wrinkling in consternation. "One of these circumstances happening is not overly important, but a collective drop in efficiency across all korums points to the only common point all korums possess--the Forfeiture, and our connection to Kaarad-El and the Tsenkhai."
Murmurs fell over the gathered Xaela. Kasrjin's frown deepened. At the very least, he could personally corroborate that the intelligence regarding the black ones had become more faulty. They were winning, yes, but each battle had come closer to a pyrrhic victory. With their magitek reapers and fire lances, the black ones held a tactical advantage in all situations. Where the Khadai won was in the strategic information fed to them by Kaarad-El; his warband was always one step ahead, one ambush ahead, and could wittle away the great beast of the black ones until naught remained.
But they were encroaching closer and closer. If the current trend continued as it was, it would only be a matter of time until the black ones managed to discover the full extent of the tribe's operations.
And what would they do then? If they found their numbers, what they were capable of...would that warrant a full invasion of the tundra to stamp out what resistance remained in Othard?
"You have been gathered here to prepare. Several cycles ago, the the korums had made a proposal to make for the western continent," Tsanai.
"A proposal that the Aljai continue to wholeheartedly resist due to the logistics and material requirement," Alaqu interjected, snapping a glare at the Tsenkhai which was flatly ignored.
"I have been to this land once before. I believe that this land holds the answers to our questions. If the knowledge there cannot solve the riddle of Kaarad-El's reluctance, then at the least, we will know if such a location will hold a viable future for our people."
"Who else knows?" Erdeni called out, a deep scowl marring her face. "The Tsenkhai? The korums? That proposal was a thought experiment, nothing more. You cannot call so many Erdegai away to build boats and vessels for a wager. Are the korums united on this?"
Alaqu shook her head. "The Aljai that I had spoken to are reluctant to allow their korums' efficiency to drop further. Those we have gathered here...those who were willing to gather here will be all who are privy."
Erdeni snorted derisively, glancing among the crowd. "Vessels for a journey to the western continent. And you have but a handful of Erdegai. These vessels will have to brave arctic waters. Navigation, supplies, shelter. It must cut through storms."
"None of that will be necessary but the vessels themselves," Tsanai snapped, her moccasins beginning to tap on the centrepiece. Kasrjin instinctively glanced away from what was sure to be another vehement argument between those two. "The Correspondence will grant shelter to these vessels. They will seek the beacon I placed on the west's shores."
"You have no way of knowing that. This is a journey of what must be at least one hundred suns," Erdeni argued, standing up. "This risk is too great, with nothing to gain!"
"We lose everything if we are not at least willing to try!" Tsanai flared. "I cannot control the other Tsenkhai. Kaarad-El's behaviour...it frightens them. Who knows what they will attempt to do to repair it? We do not know if we can even reach the western continent as we are. But I know what will happen if they do not find the answer they seek." She began to pace, her robes bristling with anger. "The Tsenkhai retreat further and further into Kaarad-El. The number of individuals failing to awaken from Communion increases with every passing day. Without Kaarad-El, our people have nothing! Not our system, not our prosperity, none of the things that separate us from those savage southerners, and the Tsenkhai know this. They will be willing to do anything that is required to preserve it...and so must we."
Kasrjin's gaze was fixed squarely on Tsanai now. She was almost shivering. Her lips trembled. She paced to and fro. The sleeves of her robes fluttered lightly with the motion of what must have been her hands clasping her arms.
The realisation hit him hard, causing his stomach to drop.
Tsanai was....afraid.
Something she had seen in Kaarad-El had spurred her into this. Either something about the black granite temple itself, or something that the rest of the Tsenkhai were doing. The gravity of this situation must have been incredibly dire. Nothing had fazed Tsanai before. Not the arrival of the black ones, not the freeze, not even...not even Kasrjin's own forfeiture. The feeling his warband felt when Kaarad-El tugged at their souls, the feeling that something was wrong--not just incorrect, but horribly, innately wrong--was recalled to his memory, causing a visual shudder of chills to ring through his body.
In the wake of her outburst, all discussion had ceased. Tsanai breathed deeply. "We will send what we can to the western continent. They must seek a solution to this. We must find a solution to this."
"Who will go?" a male voice rumbled from the front.
"Anyone. Everyone. Whoever we can afford to send. Nayantai. Jungsai. Khadai." Her gaze--almost a glare--flashed toward Kasrjin with frightening intent. "The Mahalai and Aljai will secure supplies. The Erdegai must construct sturdy vessels and supplies. In the mean time, those we intend to send must be trained and taught. Hunting, herbalism, survival, tracking. I will gather every piece of material I can find on the western continent in the mean time. We will not send you unprepared. The essence of our people must go with you so that you may succeed."
With that, Tsanai exhaled, nodding to Alaqu before retreating off of the ampitheatre stage. Alaqu, to her credit, managed to visibly resist a tired sigh.
"As much as I am loathe to admit it, I have much of the details worked out, and have managed to secure some support from a few other korums. Who we are sending, however... volunteers would make this easier."
Erdeni was startled by a sudden movement, as Kasrjin was the first among them to stand.
