For a moment you don't know how to respond. The small gathering is focused on you. You have been the center of attention before--in your village, you were a distinctive sight after all--but never had a question like this been asked of you. In your lessons with the priest, Gideon, he had never really discussed Zepath except in a historical sense.
You consider the question for a moment. The holiest holiday for your people is the Jubilee, held every fifty years. All debts are forgiven, all slaves (in those lands that hold slaves) were to be freed, and all contracts made void. It was celebrated for a full week--ten days of celebration, rituals, and drunken revelry.
You had been born on the third day of the Jubilee. At the time of your birth, Bnaimokt were sacking a small city. Fire demons had assaulted the Great City of Karnak, to the south and the east. To the distant north, dragons had again assaulted Seir, and again been repelled... though at greater cost than ever before.
The holiest period for your people had become a time of terror. Something about the celebration stirred the interest of the demons. Year after year, the borders of men shrunk. People were stolen by beings of terrible hunger. And Baitel, the First City, the greatest city, did *nothing.*
The House of El did not move itself for the fall of Zepath. Nor did it act in the time since.
You realize that you spoke the last part aloud. It had been barely a whisper. Many might call it heresy... but Kavodel had a proud history of such.
"The demons have been gnawing at our cities for too long," you say. "If the stories are too be believed, we are cattle to them. To be claimed at their leisure. And nobody does anything! When you are struck, you strike back. It seems simple, to me. Yes, by all means build our strength and prepare. But we must take action. Let us begin with the taking of Zepath!" you exclaim.
[+1 ??? Faith Token]
The group looks at you for a moment.
"A very popular view in the city," your grandmother says. "One that I do not disagree with. But I walked the lands to the south when they were still held by my father. Still, Ruth, you have not said your piece yet. What do you believe?"
Your cousin stands tall under the attention.
"I have been to the south, since the demons took it. All here, save Zana, know this. So I speak truth here: the Sea is not so simple a foe as you think. We should preserve our strength for now. Perhaps turn ourselves to the north. Cults grow like weeds outside of our lands. Kings turn tyrants turn madmen. Make common cause with the Protectorate, seize these lands, enforce the Jubilee upon them. Give it another century, perhaps two, and with the full resources of the interior behind us... then, we move against the Bnaimokt," she says. She takes a breath. "But of course we do not make these decisions. Grandmother may have some sway with her closest kin, but she does not decide."
The conversation continues from there. Many seem receptive to Ruth's idea. You notice a certain gleam in Puabi's eye at what your cousin had said, though she adds little to the conversation. Something about the woman sets you on edge. Perhaps it is the casual way she addressed everyone or the sense that she knows something you don't.
Over the coming weeks you explore more of the city with Ruth. When exploring the Symposium, you come across Etana, who seems pleased to see you. He offers you an early congratulations on your birthday. You also learn something of the differences in the Quarters.
The Zepathan Quarter is by far the most Blooded. It has the smallest population and tends to act as the rulers of the city. Each other Quarter has a High Magistrate, who serves the King, and each High Magistrate has several lesser Magistrates that serve them. Together, they administer justice and maintain order. Each High Magistrate is descended of the Kings of Acco, Dor, and Megido, so each quarter is mostly ruled by the same line that saw them flee with your people.
The desire to strike at the demons is strongest among your people, in the Zepathan Quarter, and next strongest in the Dor Quarter. The Megido Quarter seems outright resistant to the idea, with the Acco Quarter ambivalent.
You also detect splits in other topics. You learn that certain people tend to champion more conservative causes, such as the traditions of your people, the seizing of lost lands, and maintaining separation between the peoples of the four Quarters. A more radical faction furthers greater integration and reforms to the rule of the city, making it more akin to the Protectorate. Which, you learn, is not governed by Kings. Rather, each city is ruled by a council chosen by the people of the city.
The radicals are more split on the subject of seizing traditional territories. All agree that to strike at the demons is surely a righteous thing. But... they consider the cost of such, and at what has been built. They are unsure of the wisdom, but not necessarily opposed. They are more interested in striking at the Mountains of Fare to the immediate south, from which the Bnaimokt tend to come.
It is the night before you turn sixteen and a celebration has been held. You have drunk much, perhaps too much, and are finally heading to sleep. You feel as if you have barely placed your head upon your pillow, when you are shaken awake.
Your father stands over you. He wears his armor and has a grim expression on his face.
"Dress and come with me. Take nothing," he says. You do as he says.
Your father leads you to the small plaza the celebration had taken place in. Everything suggesting the night's activities had been removed. A low table had been placed before you. Several objects, some of which you recognize, others you do not, appear before you.
"Choose what you wish to take with you. We will not be returning to the city for some time. But choose in the interests of survival," your father says.
You look over your options...
[] Lapurras lay asleep. He is large and friendly, but you cannot say he is especially trained. You don't think he'd be very useful "for "survival" but... he has been your companion for many years. You choose him.
[] A single spear. No shield included. A useful tool of defense, if you have need of such.
[] A mundane bow with a single arrow. You know how to craft arrows, if not extremely well, so you will not be helpless after loosing the arrow on something.
[] Food and water for three days.
[] A small golden statue of the Ophanim Ganal. Beautiful to look upon, but will it really help you survive?
