A dragon hatchling returned [27th of Chyril, Early TT]

[Maeve]

The room was yellow, with red pillars, with an incredible high ceiling. For every noble family of the Eastern Empire a yellow banner with the rune of their Kami hung from the wooden beams in the ceiling, announcing their presence without a word spoken. No less than 8 porcelain vases larger than any man stood along the walls. The air was scented with incense made of local flowers and herbs. Lotus featured heavily.

Against the back of the room was a large dias with four immense thrones. Entirely theoretically this was where the Four Dragon Empresses would sit. They were however not in attendance in living memory. Instead a lady dressed in the most expensive yellow embroidered silk, her braided hair curld up around her head like a crown stood there looking imperial, with a well dressed warrior at her side, a silent menace, standing there with folded arms, exhuming military strength. Grey streaks marked him of some age, as was the lady.


Cho Boa Hoang Long Nhu Lien glared down upon the black form that knelt before her, the monks long grey hair not tied into a braid was was the custom of the Sojen. Despite the facial tatoos that marked her an ancient adhiel, there was something distinctly western about the woman before her. That showed in her remarkable lack of respect and her most curious name that did not follow any traditions she knew of. The only reason that she was receiving this woman at all is that Long Minh An had insisted upon it, the leading priestess of the Weigh Heigh indicating that she was one of their most respected order members of the Shato Kai, returned from a journey that spanned decades.

"So, Rioja, you have come to us with a tale of far shores, and would council us upon actions," she spoke tersely, "Your blood and skills allows you this privilege. So speak."

The Yellow Court of Receiving was filled with courtiers of various families, as well as numerous Sojen, more than usual in fact, the news spreading of change in the air. It made Lien bristle and dismiss it out of hand, but yet she would hear the tale first. The yahren had cautioned her to be patient and careful.

[Maeve]

Slowly Rioja rose. Her joints were hurting. It had been ages since she had last shown proper respect to a superior. Already she felt homesick to the Citadel, which she repressed as childish. Nothing would ever be the same after Anochrim's death and she had a mission. A mission that had spanned decades, even centuries. She had watched westerners and imperialists and she had learned. She had even, she admitted, committed the sin of choosing sides, putting in her heart with the Party of Light. Her fire had died with Anochrim's flame however.

Softly she spoke, of all those yahren spend abroad. Her voice carried in the receiving hall, despite her soft voice, an easy trick of the Bardic Voice that Rioja knew well. She repressed a smirk. She knew few would not be impressed by her words, though the lady in front of her clearly was not, so resistant to change she was.

"In conclusion, most respected Cho Boa Hoang, I think the Empire of Seven Isles and the Western Kingdom have reached only a tentative peace, a precarious balance easily breached. This does not mean much to us. However the fate of dragonkin is always foremost in the mind of our Empresses.. It is this that is threatened by the rise of choas and lawlessness. The no longer know our tales and so they do not know what they are destroying by their use of technology and unbridled search for wealth and power. If left unchecked I fear it may destroy all of us. The Nether is ever watchful for such opportunities, bathing us in imbalance and chaos."

Lien bristled "And what, most respected Rioja, do you demand I do about it?" She looked around at the well filled hall with courtiers "Well, anyone, what is to be done with problems that are so far away? Will we not be wiser to stick to our own continent and not interfere?"

[Ly Binh Hue]

Hue had been quietly looking for Phu, for she had missed meeting him that morning and instead come face to face with a strange woman of the Shato Kai. An had warned of change that very morning, and indeed it seemed as if change was happening all over the place. It wasn't even the familiar sort of change. While it was true that Hue had only just recently traveled all the way from the North Lands to Long Danh, the change in atmosphere had meant little more than a change in environment and the meeting of new people. Of course the Floating Market was also new to her, but it was not at all strange. The air was strange now; it gave her the same tickling feeling as if someone were standing behind her.

It was the name Rioja that slowed her steps as she made her way through the Court of Receiving. Just that morningtide she had encountered a woman with that same strange name. Rioja de Valdepenas. Inwardly, Hue thanked the Kami for her excellent memory.

Like a stream of water through a sea of stones Hue trickled her way closer to Lien, noticing far ahead of time that she looked quite perturbed. Hue stopped only when she could see Rioja's form, and recognized the woman instantly. She was either foolish or fearless, practically confronting the entire Palace with her words. Hue couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration.

The words Rioja spoke, however, only confused Hue. She had learned little of the world outside of the empire -- if one replaced "little" with "nothing." What was the "Empire of Seven Isles?" What was the "Western Kingdom," aside from very obviously being located in the West? Why had Rioja gone to these places?

Imbalance. Now that was a word to reach Hue. Her whole life was dedicated to balance, mediation, and peace. But could balance be taught to the ignorant? Hue had grown up on the concepts, but what of those who paid little to no heed to them? Could they be educated?

"Well, anyone, what is to be done with problems that are so far away? Will we not be wiser to stick to our own continent and not interfere?"

Hue nibbled gently on her lower lip in a rare sign of apprehension. Would anyone speak? It wasn't her place to interfere in such matters. Politics were not one of Hue's talents. Yet she felt an urge. Was it the wish of the Kami that she speak? Rioja was up against almost everyone in that room, no doubt.

But Hue could not possibly choose a side. There were so many arguments in both directions. It was dangerous to leave such chaos unattended, but it was also dangerous to meddle in it. The Westerners might make a mess of things, but if the Eastern Empire got involved the Westerners might bring the war to their shores. Yet interfering did seem less favorable to her. Separated, they were safe from Western corruption. How could such distant imbalance and chaos affect them? Surely they were unreachable here? I seek only your will. Help me to find it. The prayer to the Kami was brief, but meaningful. Then, Hue finally spoke.

"What is the danger, most respected Rioja?" Hue stood as tall as she could, her shoulders squared and her chin high to lend volume to her voice. She did not know such tricks as Rioja did. "Are we not safe, with so much water between us? The Westerners have all but forgotten our existence." Her words were not in support, yet they were not against. She was asking questions she did not doubt others shared, and Hue was careful to appear confident in herself.

[Maeve]

Rioja regarded her student with a smile, though whether it was of approval it was difficult to say. "Hue Em. Think on the meaning of balance and harmony, the circle that keeps them all together. If a Tiger no longer kills to eat, but but kills for pure pleasure, will the monkeys on the other side of the pond be unaffected merely because they stay away from his claws? What if the Tiger does more than kill? What if the scent of blood draws near an even bigger predator? Do the monkeys stay unaffected then?"

She turned towards the rest of the assembly "The West is no longer ignorant. More and more do they remember. They will seek us out. Even if they do not, can we afford to remain ignorant ourselves? For there is a bigger beast out there and last time it nearly breached the rift, stopped more by luck than by wisdom. Next time we might not be so lucky. The West is hampered by a lack of knowledge. Knowledge the kin has, the dragonkin that is now being slaughtered, wiping this information from the map. We must prepare ourselves, and share with our brethren, with open arms."

[Ly Binh Hue]

Hue listened carefully to Rioja's words, seeing the sense in them clearly. Yet what would Lien say? Hue's gaze moved to the other woman as she bowed slightly and stepped back once, signaling that she had nothing more to add. After all, Hue was just a beginner, and this was a matter for wiser tongues and more knowledgeable minds to discuss. As always she had faith in the Kami, for they would guide her to whichever path they wished her to take.

Carefully, Hue allowed herself to be slightly curious about the west. Rioja seemed to want her to go there, and Hue couldn't help but wonder at this possibility. What was it like there? She knew nothing of Westerners or their ways, just as they likely knew little or nothing of hers. But what good could she do in the west? What was it Rioja wanted them to do? Share knowledge? Hue still didn't quite understand, but she trusted she would learn in time. After all, what, if not patience, had allowed her to make it thus far?

[Maeve]

Lien did not like where this was going. Rioja was urging her to reach out and get in touch with the rest of Tazlure. It ran contrary everything she had strived for, trying to keep to the old ways, preserving tradition. Unfortunately for the ancient Sojen there was little she could do to influence the Cho Boa Hoang, Kami holding her from the influence of even the strongest mindcrafters, an essential protection in a Court that was steeped in it.

Still, if anything the ancient adhiel had grown a streak of stubbornness during her stay in the Empire of Seven Isles. She gave a respectful bow and offered "Perhaps the Empresses need to be consulted on this matter, oh respected one." It was another way of saying that the Sojen would speak out for or against the matter, interfering with politics. Lien bristled but there was little she could do. Rioja's status was strangely high among the Sojen, for all that she appeared newly arrived.

We shall need a sign. A sign that I am right and the balance is upset, Rioja thought with a saddened heart as she left the chamber.


OOC: I've summarized an end to this. You can bet this theme will return in Recess!