Sorry for this being a day late. I lost internet access last night when I had been planning on posting this... :P And now you thought all the surprises in the Arquenia Saga were over...
For those who are analyzing calendar dates, this post is two months after the last one chronologically in Arquenia.
Part CXXXIV: The Council of Arquenia
Date: Traje 22nd, 115 A.U.
Trumpets blasted in the distance while the drums were beat, creating a symphony of noises that slowly faded into the background as the doors were shut to the Noon-Chamber, leaving the members of the Council to meet in privacy around the Noon-Stone even as the noises could still be faintly heard in the background.
Representatives from all of the races and countries sat upon the thrones and chairs seated around the Noon-Stone: Lord Freglak of the goblins; Rehi Garum, the new chief of the Imperial Orcs; Governor Astrid of the humans; King Ddederaun of the dwarfs; Tzjearjlan of the sla’ad; Commander Eren and rebel leader Rezja of the elves; Grandine of the auggers; and finally, the remaining members of the Xavier Team, along with Monty.
“Welcome to the first meeting of the Arquenian Council for centuries,” Grandine said solemnly as he stood up. “For years, ever since the great civil war that raged close to eight hundred years ago that broke up the previous council, these seats have sat uninhabited for centuries, the city itself lying waste and dormant before we came, fleeing the augger slayers, to dwell here. And so, for the first time in 832 years, I call this meeting to order.” Satisfied, he sat back down in his seat.
“It is fitting that I should speak first,” Commander Eren of the elves said, standing even as he lifted his head up high in a proud stance. “As the representative and leader of the elves, I have come to tell you that there is no need to pursue further retribution among the elves. Retribution will be given among our own kind, and those who partook of Jaigran’s faults will be duly punished.”
“With all due respect,” Rezja, leader of the elven rebels said, standing. “I would hardly trust a previous commander under the Emperor to be found fitting for the task.”
“Your own kind is not able to solve the pressures alone,” Rehi Garum of the orcs rumbled as he likewise stood. “Your paltry attempts at a court system so far have found us guilty more often than not in the past two months than of your own kind. You are hardly able to declare sovereignty over the matters of your own people.”
“My people are well sovereign enough to-” Commander Eren said, raising his voice.
“Silence,” Reynyagn said, standing up and putting an end to the discussion. “This debate will run its course in the meeting of the council, but the purposes of this council demand an agenda before we get embroiled in heated debate.”
“Thank you, Reynyagn,” Grandine of the auggers said, standing. “According to the brief communications we have enjoyed before this meeting, the following objectives have been given for this meeting. First, that the Council hear a full report from the Xavier Team detailing the exact fall of Jaigran. Second, that a measure would be given as to what consequences, if any, the orcs and the elves will receive. Third, that requests be heard for any necessary rebuilding that will need to be done under the oversight of the Council. Lastly, that a regular date and session for the Council of Arquenia would be re-instated.”
“Number 994 and I have been appointed to bring to the Council a full report of the actions of the Xavier Team, beginning with our partial-commencement in Araelia, continuing on to the destruction of the Mothership and the demise of Jaigran,” Reynyagn said. “We will present to you our full report, and then receive any questions from the Council concerning any details or rationale that they wish to be presented for our actions. I will henceforth begin with the calling together of the Xavier Team by Governor Astrid…”
Grandine slammed his gavel down upon the stone. “There are henceforth no more inquires made to the Xavier Team for their actions in this meeting, unless further inquiries arise during the presentation of the further elements of the Council,” he proclaimed after the numerous questions had finally ceased. “We will henceforth move on to the next agenda item: what consequences, if any, the orcs and elves will receive. The board is opened for discussion.”
“As the chief of the Imperial Orcs, I demand that additional oversight be given to the actions of the elves,” Rehi Garum said, immediately standing up. “I will not deny the involvement of my race in the actions of the orcs, nor will I deny my own presence among the Imperial Orcs. However, I am able to go in much detail about what the current court system is that Commander Eren has instituted among the elves, and how they are failing to achieve true justice-”
“The sovereignty of the elves will reign supreme,” Commander Eren snapped, standing up. “In case anyone here would soon forget it, we are still in charge of numerous elven airships. The downfall of our greatest ship destroyed the regime, but even without it, we are not altogether lacking in power, along with the rest of our floating cities. None of us wish war again here, I am sure. And so to avoid war-”
“To avoid war, you would demand that we turn a blind eye to the instatement of a new elven regime,” Rezja snapped. “From what I have seen of your rule, I would agree with Rehi that your measures are far from satisfactory.”
“Commander Eren has unwittingly brought forth a strong point that must be discussed,” Governor Astrid said, slowly standing up. “Although Emperor Jaigran has been defeated, much of his forces still remain, albeit secluded now in the land of the elves. Peace will not be long held while the elves still outnumber all of the other races one hundred to one in the skies.”
“So you plan to wrack your vengeance for the sins of our former leaders on us,” Commander Eren snapped, glowering vehemently. “I will not be held accountable for such sins—furthermore then, I declare that-”
“SILENCE!” A great voice boomed throughout the chamber as all the members of the Council looked around, startled. They looked around, trying to identify the speaker.
“It would appear that the Council has forgotten, or perhaps dismissed, what had been a central part of the previous Council!” the loud voice continued. “As a result, allow me to enter this climactic dispute, as the proper chairman, and the overseer, both of this Council, and of Arquenia.”
The voice dropped off and there was silence as the Council looked around one to another, trying to discover who was speaking. There was a sizzle, and bright light suddenly poured out, as the Council looked in astonishment to see the doors into the domain of the Watcher slowly open, blinding light coming forth before the doors slowly began to close.
Astrid blinked, trying to regain her proper sight, as she squinted through the lingering light to make out the figure that had emerged from the domain of the Watcher. She slowly managed to pick out the features as the remaining light dwindled away. And then she gasped with realization, along with the rest of the Council, as it suddenly became quite obvious who it was.
And lifting his head up to meet them, Flek stepped forward.
For those who are analyzing calendar dates, this post is two months after the last one chronologically in Arquenia.
Part CXXXIV: The Council of Arquenia
Date: Traje 22nd, 115 A.U.
Trumpets blasted in the distance while the drums were beat, creating a symphony of noises that slowly faded into the background as the doors were shut to the Noon-Chamber, leaving the members of the Council to meet in privacy around the Noon-Stone even as the noises could still be faintly heard in the background.
Representatives from all of the races and countries sat upon the thrones and chairs seated around the Noon-Stone: Lord Freglak of the goblins; Rehi Garum, the new chief of the Imperial Orcs; Governor Astrid of the humans; King Ddederaun of the dwarfs; Tzjearjlan of the sla’ad; Commander Eren and rebel leader Rezja of the elves; Grandine of the auggers; and finally, the remaining members of the Xavier Team, along with Monty.
“Welcome to the first meeting of the Arquenian Council for centuries,” Grandine said solemnly as he stood up. “For years, ever since the great civil war that raged close to eight hundred years ago that broke up the previous council, these seats have sat uninhabited for centuries, the city itself lying waste and dormant before we came, fleeing the augger slayers, to dwell here. And so, for the first time in 832 years, I call this meeting to order.” Satisfied, he sat back down in his seat.
“It is fitting that I should speak first,” Commander Eren of the elves said, standing even as he lifted his head up high in a proud stance. “As the representative and leader of the elves, I have come to tell you that there is no need to pursue further retribution among the elves. Retribution will be given among our own kind, and those who partook of Jaigran’s faults will be duly punished.”
“With all due respect,” Rezja, leader of the elven rebels said, standing. “I would hardly trust a previous commander under the Emperor to be found fitting for the task.”
“Your own kind is not able to solve the pressures alone,” Rehi Garum of the orcs rumbled as he likewise stood. “Your paltry attempts at a court system so far have found us guilty more often than not in the past two months than of your own kind. You are hardly able to declare sovereignty over the matters of your own people.”
“My people are well sovereign enough to-” Commander Eren said, raising his voice.
“Silence,” Reynyagn said, standing up and putting an end to the discussion. “This debate will run its course in the meeting of the council, but the purposes of this council demand an agenda before we get embroiled in heated debate.”
“Thank you, Reynyagn,” Grandine of the auggers said, standing. “According to the brief communications we have enjoyed before this meeting, the following objectives have been given for this meeting. First, that the Council hear a full report from the Xavier Team detailing the exact fall of Jaigran. Second, that a measure would be given as to what consequences, if any, the orcs and the elves will receive. Third, that requests be heard for any necessary rebuilding that will need to be done under the oversight of the Council. Lastly, that a regular date and session for the Council of Arquenia would be re-instated.”
“Number 994 and I have been appointed to bring to the Council a full report of the actions of the Xavier Team, beginning with our partial-commencement in Araelia, continuing on to the destruction of the Mothership and the demise of Jaigran,” Reynyagn said. “We will present to you our full report, and then receive any questions from the Council concerning any details or rationale that they wish to be presented for our actions. I will henceforth begin with the calling together of the Xavier Team by Governor Astrid…”
Grandine slammed his gavel down upon the stone. “There are henceforth no more inquires made to the Xavier Team for their actions in this meeting, unless further inquiries arise during the presentation of the further elements of the Council,” he proclaimed after the numerous questions had finally ceased. “We will henceforth move on to the next agenda item: what consequences, if any, the orcs and elves will receive. The board is opened for discussion.”
“As the chief of the Imperial Orcs, I demand that additional oversight be given to the actions of the elves,” Rehi Garum said, immediately standing up. “I will not deny the involvement of my race in the actions of the orcs, nor will I deny my own presence among the Imperial Orcs. However, I am able to go in much detail about what the current court system is that Commander Eren has instituted among the elves, and how they are failing to achieve true justice-”
“The sovereignty of the elves will reign supreme,” Commander Eren snapped, standing up. “In case anyone here would soon forget it, we are still in charge of numerous elven airships. The downfall of our greatest ship destroyed the regime, but even without it, we are not altogether lacking in power, along with the rest of our floating cities. None of us wish war again here, I am sure. And so to avoid war-”
“To avoid war, you would demand that we turn a blind eye to the instatement of a new elven regime,” Rezja snapped. “From what I have seen of your rule, I would agree with Rehi that your measures are far from satisfactory.”
“Commander Eren has unwittingly brought forth a strong point that must be discussed,” Governor Astrid said, slowly standing up. “Although Emperor Jaigran has been defeated, much of his forces still remain, albeit secluded now in the land of the elves. Peace will not be long held while the elves still outnumber all of the other races one hundred to one in the skies.”
“So you plan to wrack your vengeance for the sins of our former leaders on us,” Commander Eren snapped, glowering vehemently. “I will not be held accountable for such sins—furthermore then, I declare that-”
“SILENCE!” A great voice boomed throughout the chamber as all the members of the Council looked around, startled. They looked around, trying to identify the speaker.
“It would appear that the Council has forgotten, or perhaps dismissed, what had been a central part of the previous Council!” the loud voice continued. “As a result, allow me to enter this climactic dispute, as the proper chairman, and the overseer, both of this Council, and of Arquenia.”
The voice dropped off and there was silence as the Council looked around one to another, trying to discover who was speaking. There was a sizzle, and bright light suddenly poured out, as the Council looked in astonishment to see the doors into the domain of the Watcher slowly open, blinding light coming forth before the doors slowly began to close.
Astrid blinked, trying to regain her proper sight, as she squinted through the lingering light to make out the figure that had emerged from the domain of the Watcher. She slowly managed to pick out the features as the remaining light dwindled away. And then she gasped with realization, along with the rest of the Council, as it suddenly became quite obvious who it was.
And lifting his head up to meet them, Flek stepped forward.
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