In Brez, Surrounded

#81

“Agreed, should you require the time to make appropriate observances we can wait or return later.” General Ma’pel said with a nod to Sira. “Please accept the condolences of the EEF. Though among my people a death such as this is not mourned rather to die in the course of ones duty is greatly honored. Know that my people will hear of your brother monks brave sacrifice and honor it as well.”

#82

Sira thanked them and convened the meeting for three days while mourning occurred. It seemed brothers of the fist often refused resurrection by way of the Leyas. Something about needing to join the great wheel.

Three days later they met again.

#83

"Brother Sanjay gave his life in service to this peaceful negotiation. He was a brave young man and had he reached the rank of Heart then he would have known surely that his life of service was appreciated by the universe .

Sadly he died a Fist and will have to be content his great karmic work will reward him in his next incarnation.

The 3 Rivers Monestary has already begun a ceremony to honor his life and works.

I, like you, know the work we do here is worthy. It is time we finished this negotiation for the benefit of all."

#84

Three days later an AAV returned to Brez again it circled but this time it stayed grounded after it landed. The same group of people exited the vehicle and returned to the meeting place. “Greetings,” General Ma’ple said with a nod to the gathered delegates. “I have had drafts of our agreement created for review. Please feel free to look them over. We have bought eyepieces worked with leyas to allow anyone to read them in case any of the respected delegates find written earther difficult.”

#85

Sira smiled at that lifting up one of the eyepieces and trying it on. He nodded in thanks to General Ma’pel and then after showing the arrifact was safe would hand the one he had used to Vektor. He gave a respectful bow and said, “Respected leaders it is customary in Earther culture to confirm agreements in writing so that all may know it is a legitimate agreement.”

#86

Lok’or glanced up from where he was studying some insects on the ground, “Does this mean that we will get to see the train soon? No offense but I hope your schedules will be more accurate in the future.” Not waiting for a response he went back to his observation of the bugs. Behind him, Torgor the warmachine just shook his head ruefully.

“Sorry about that, he gets distracted easily and really wanted to see your train. He has seen many things but never a train. Sometimes he seems to be more of a youth than the younglings that came with us.” Torgor went back to watching the surgeon.

#87

Vektor came back after three days. The Earthers wanted him to engage in some written atrocity. What good was their paper to them anyway? Would a piece of paper stop the Church of One from entering Brez?

“There’s a mighty Yaldol in the room that we never had the opportunity to discuss the last time, before we finalize our agreement. We are currently fighting the Church of One Earthers. What security do you offer against them in all of this?”

#88

General Ma’pel looked at Lo’kor and Torpor as they spoke. She had an uneasy look no her face but nodded politely “I am sure services will be resumed shortly.” she turned back to Vektor.
“Simply having a squad or two of EEF troopers assigned to protect the station, a duty they can sure with willing tribes, should keep the church from coming to cause trouble.”

#89

Auf Lalur’ab says "I do not believe here, I have to… sign anything. I’m very happy to see this has worked out well for all sides here. I did want to let you know that while I was gone, we started construction of the Trading and Cultural Outpost near the Tla’loc’al train station. The Lodging will be done shortly. All of you are invited to come and see what we have. It should be completed by the End of the week. The museum part of course will be an on going expansion as we get more input from the other tribes. "

#90

Jill-Jo looked at the treaty and immediately wished Navigator Turin had come in her place. The Navigator was a learned man and could more easily discern the jargon than she. Sa’Tor had the monocle and followed along as she tried to explain the various clauses to him. The one thing she looked for with regards to the pirates of Unen was any piracy clauses (And what definition of piracy was used) limiting the GUTS from using the ports. Either way the treaty would need to be brought back to the GUTS members for ratification.

#91

(OOC the treaty doesn’t say anything about piracy other than an agreement that the train and charge stations are off limits and the signatory tribes will assist in its defense. There is also a clause stating that lines may be extended to any tribes lands but specific compensation will be negotiated at the time of expansion but before construction begins. Brez is covered in the details as discussed in the thread as far as obligations and compensations at this time)

The General looked uncomfortable as she looked back at the representatives of Unit 817.
“I must bring forward a concern of the EEF and the civilian colonial authorities. Namely the Warmongers Dead among you.” she looked directly at Lok’or and Torpor.
“We do not object to your participation in these talks however I am afraid that if you wish to sign this agreement we must ask a special concession from you. We ask that you submit to a brief observational period from our specialist exorcists to determine that your unit is free of Warmonger and the possibility of it or one of its generals forcibly controlling you.”

#92

Auf Lalur’ab says after reading the treaty "Ah this is more general than I thought. I will sign this for my tribe and the Lur Union. All members of the Lur Union I have talked to have supported protecting these stations. Though I expect our biggest help will be by the station at Tla’loc’al. But when called on, we will assist where needed. "

Auf Lalur’ab after given instruction what and how to sign, will do so. He will draw they symbol of his tribe and the Lur Union symbol as signature.

Auf Lalur’ab says "Lok’or and Torpor, if you wish, I offer be present during any examination. "

#93

A single Inquisitor stood just outside the city of Brez he shouts into it “I am Inquisitor Toth, Monk Sira requested a Church negotiator to come speak to him. I am here to speak to him and request permission to enter the city to speak to him.”

#94

Brother Arvind came to interrupt Sira and the negotiators, “Brother Sira an Inquisitor has come to speak to you.”

Sira serenly looked up and said, "All things are part of the great wheel.

Honored diplomats and Brezan Natives, please excuse me so I might discuss matters with this Inquisitor.
To show that I will honor your requests I will meet this…diplomat…at the edge of the city limits.
If you the people of Brez wish him to enter the city, then send a messenger along to fetch him and I.

Vektor of Uf Mag’og I ask you approach the assembled gangs and family groups of Brez and see if they might vote to ratify this treaty with the provisions agreed so far so that the work on the train might be finished.

If they will assent to a vote we will organize one and each family group or community group may send one of their number each to vote.
I will return when I find out what our grasping neighbors seek in the land of Brez."

Sira left Brother Arvind with the diplomats hoping it would prove an enlightening experience.

Sira took a leasurly walk to the city limits. He saw the Inquisitor there.
Walking past the city limits at least ten paces to the nearest piece of rubble Sira sat cross legged on the rubble. It looked incredibly uncomfortable but the serene look on Siras face spoke of an inner calm at odds with the sharp rocks below him.

He looked up at the Inquisitor, “Mr. Toth is it? Greetings and salutations from the Brotherhood of the Fist.
I apologize but Brez is not my city to give you permission to enter. So I have come to you here so we may discuss the intentions of your leadership towards the Natives and this place.”

#95

Nodding his head at Sira Inquisitor Toth responded "We may speak here, that is not a problem. As to the intention of my leadership towards the natives and this place, well the answer is different for each. For this place in particular my leadership has a dark view on. After all this city currently has an army that sacked one of our towns and is besieging another. The leadership is currently debating if they want to start dropping bombs or not, after all, why would they continue invading if their homes are in danger? A decision has not been made yet

For the natives in general there is currently a discussion on that table. Lord Grimaldus wants to create a definitive boarder, fortify it and shoot anyone who tries to cross it. Some of the Inquisition believes that there is a need to punish the natives for their current offensive and wants to make examples of communities. We have found small pockets of natives who we have found to be more reasonable then others. Sadly the less then reasonable tribes seem to hold the most influence.

Lord Grimaldus and the Inquisition are currently deadlocked which is why only a small portion of our army has been deployed.

What do you believe should be done? Tell me your feelings on the matter."

#96

Sira said, "Suffering begets suffering, and stems from grasping. In grasping towards a world without the Natives your leaders have created the suffering which they will justify to create death and violence and more suffering.

As long as they grasp towards more lands and punishing those who they feel have wronged them the cycle will repeat endlessly.

What brought you to this place Mr. Toth? What led you down the path of Inquisitor and not the countless other jobs a hearty man might do in a civilization? Why an Inquisitor and not a candlemaker, or a healer, or a scientist?

What is it you personally grasp for Mr. Toth?"

Sira seemed genuinely interested as he observed the diplomat sent from Dunesphere.

#97

Toth smiled "Suffering indeed begets more suffering, and the cycle indeed continues. As the natives continue their march west most likely this city will become a target. We shall leave the other major settlements until they take a larger role in the current war. As you are constructing this rail line in this warzone I shall warn you. This city will be targeted, we shall try to avoid the hover train station to the best of our ability. I do hope that this can be avoided but as no one other then us seems to want to end this war that doesn’t look like it shall be the case.

As to why I am an Inquisitor, well several reasons really I didn’t want to live a life of mediocrity, I wanted to accomplish something great. God has provided me a chance here, perhaps if I help end this war then I can fulfill my desire.

If I may ask a question to you, Why do you solely condemn the Church and ignore everything done by the natives? They have slaughtered many, quite a few who had done nothing but live peacefully and request the Church’s protection. Do you believe that the natives are exempt from blame for the evil that they do as long as one can say that the Church started it?"

Toth waited patiently for Sira to speak as he sits down across from him.

#98

Sira looked with interest at the Inquisitor, "Blame implies judgement. I do not judge you nor do I judge the natives.

I feel compassion for you both. You were raised to believe that slaughter was good and noble. They were raised to believe that your people would hunt them to extinction. Both believe they are acting to save their families communities and loved ones.

Though you grasp too strongly to WIN the war to actually want it to end. And War does not make one great.

You speak of slaughter of innocents but I am too aware of how your leaders train their peasants. They are trained to hate and daily pray for God to wipe out all Natives. That does not an innocent make in a war perpetuated by hatred.

You may feel good knowing every peasant filled with hate who died will be given a new chance by the great wheel to live a life of peace in their next incarnation. Or you will view this as a blasphemy to your faith. I will not tell you what you think or what you believe.

I will tell you that as long as you preach all Natives must die then your grasping towards that goal will turn the heart of even the most noble and goodly Native against you. This preaching is not an old crime or one long disused. It is common in every church of your faith. This morning your people wished violence on the natives, and yesterday morning, and the morning before that.

The question is now that you see the monsterousness manifest by a war predicated on hate will you continue to preach this tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.

Or will you open your heart to compassion and see in the actions of the Natives a mirror of what has been done to them and say it ends now. Never once have I heard a representative of your faith apologize for this violence before asking the Natives to stop repeating this violent cycle.

So i ask you directly do you apologize for the years of torment imposed on the natives?

There are no Natives present, none of your leaders either. Just two Earthers you and I. Now that you know how it feels to be the victim can you empathize with those victimized in the past?

I am not asking you to condone or agree or support the violence done by the Natives. I ask simply if you can see the connection?"

#99

Toth smiles at Sira "You say you do not judge, yet the only thing you speak of is how we are wrong and nothing about their actions. You seem only interested in lecturing me, where is the negotiation? Did you not criticize Paladin Gorth because he lacked the power to negotiate? You said you would only speak to one who has the power to do so, thus I was sent. Yet when I ask about the current political climate you only respond to lecture me about how my culture is wrong. Did you lecture the Goblins about their violent path? Their acceptance of Quall worshipers? Their acceptance of those who follow the Krato? Your culture who forbids non humans into their own lands…because of how much you respect and love them?

Is this what I traveled all the way here for? Not to try to work together to stop violence but to be lectured that my culture and beliefs are wrong and that I should apologize? While the people who have lived here get butchered and their homes taken over I should apologize?" Toth chuckles "You amaze me monk. Do you wish to apologize for banning non humans from your lands? Do you wish to show how truly open minded your people are by allowing them to settle along side your people?

Why should I apologize for what was done to creatures that know only violence? They have gathered strength, organized for the first time in who knows how long, and the first thing they do is go on a warpath of conquest. I am suppose to look at this and feel sympathy towards them? I saw the town of Bartsport, the bodies scattered everywhere not even given a chance to surrender. Why should I apologize for actions done to prevent these things from happening? If we are taught to hate the Goblins I can see why. Their savagery is horrifying, they have earned the hate that we have been taught."

Inquisitor Toth shakes his head sadly "I see a connection, I see them justifying our hatred. You are right this is indeed a cycle and you cannot just wag your finger at me and say that we are the only ones responsible, we are humans and we see savage monsters who want to kill us. They are proving us right my dear Brother, perhaps if they surprised us by not being the monsters that we believe them to be, perhaps then we can think about teaching our children to hate and fear them.

Now I know you are just going to turn this around and just continue preaching at me, which is sad because I hoped that you could be a neutral third party in this conflict. Someone we could go to to make the first step. You don’t try to change someone’s culture then afterwards try to make peace. Even if we were willing to change our entire culture that cannot be done when the Goblins are justifying our hate. If I was slaughtering people in your lands would you watch and question your beliefs on the chance that your people deserved it? Or would you save your people then ask questions?"

Toth chuckled again “Not that I actually expect you to give me straight answers, I expect more lecturing and maybe criticizing me for not being open minded. However if not being willing to apologize when the people who depend on people like me for protection are being threatened makes me evil, then evil is what I will be. However until this war ends, I will not even think about the poor plight of the Goblins, until they stop their warmongering, then they are just monsters in my eyes.”

Toth continued to sit patiently waiting for the next lecture from this Holier then Thou Monk.

#100

Sira kept his face serene, "oh you are here to negotiate? I regret the confusion. After all you asked to speak to me and I do not own Brez.

If you are here to negotiate what is it that Dunesphere wants to immediatly close all Death Camps and release all enslaved Natives?"