Forging links

The jungle held its breath. Latao stood with his arms extended holding the ritual bowl and the polished tempest jade sphere the magic required. His face was hidden behind the traditional mask of dragonbone and mahogany and bright feathers, shaped in the aspect of a great wide-mouthed lizard. The rest of the coven wore their own masks, arranged in a precisely positioned triangle behind him.A sudden burst of movement as a dozen birds broke cover, panicking, fluttering into the sky with raucous cries. A moment later, a small family of drakes came skittering past. The smallest stumbled and began to cry out; one of the parents peeled off, ran back, picked it up by its neck and followed after the rest of the brood. The tiny lizard continued to wail, the noise grating on Latao's nerves like a rough iron file.There was no further sound for several minutes."Has something gone wrong?" Asked one of his covenmates in a loud whisper. There was no reply; everyone else knew better than to speak at this point in the rite.Then the foliage ahead parted suddenly, and a massive black-furred feline head emerged from the undergrowth. It was followed by the shoulders and forelegs of a titanic jungle cat with eyes the colour of polished sapphires. Sleek, smooth, muscled, talons flexing against the stone of the meeting place. It yawned lazily and focused its attention on Latao."I have come," it said. Its voice was like oiled velvet, cutting through the silence. "Speak."Latao glanced toward the präster, who inclined her head slightly."We call on you to honour the bargain with your master." Latao kept his voice steady. "We have brought the traditional payment. A hundredweight of fresh bananas. Two casks of wine. A basket of ambergelt. We require the gift that is yours to give on his behalf."The vast panther sniffed the air with a sound like a knife being sharpened, and focused its gaze now on the white-robed präster. She wore her own mask - a mostly featureless construction of wood with a neutral expression. The cat lowered its head slightly, until its hot breath filled Latao's awareness."And will you give thanks for your boon?" It asked, in an intense voice, audible only to the magician. "Will you honour my master and myself with songs of praise, and leap through the fire as your ancestors did? Feel the blood pump in your hearts, and give voice to the hunters' cries?""No," said Latao firmly. "I will not. As well you know, creature of the jungle deeps. You may accept the payment offered, or our meeting is at an end."The cat made a huffing noise, and raised its head again."The payment is acceptable," it said. With one lazy claw, it cut a sinuous line into the tree to its left, and then another to the right. Thick reddish amber began to flow, like honey. Two urn-bearers moved quickly forward, and began to capture the almost-liquid in their vessels, keeping their faces turned toward the tree and away from the beast. From either side of the titanic shoulders, a pair of more human-scale figures came forth to collect the payment the coven had gathered. They had the same midnight-black fur and feline aspect as the spokescat itself. They easily hefted the baskets and barrels, and returned to the jungle, silently as they had emerged.The warm amber stopped flowing; the urn bearers stepped back. The panther cast its slit-pupiled sapphire gaze across the coven, expression alien and unreadable, and then disappeared back into the jungle, back toward the regio it had emerged from.Latao sagged, but the präster was at his side, catching his shoulder and squeezing it."You did well," she said encouragingly. "You spoke with Pride, and discounted the creature's blandishments. That it was bold enough to try and tempt you, even in jest, is not a good sign. We will need to discuss whether the reward is worth the risk, going forward, to perform the ritual again next season."Latao nodded, deep in thought, reliving again in his mind the moment the panther had leant forward to speak to him, and him alone, of the old ways of doing things back when his ancestors would have danced and howled and celebrated with creatures such as that. Just for a moment he wondered what that must have been like... Not to merely perform rituals but to actually feel the howler's magic coursing through your veins... He shivered violently and shook his head to clear the dangerous thoughts from his mind.

Overview

The Sumaah Republic are simultaneously allies of, and rivals to, the Empire. Their shared practice of the Way both provides them with common ground, and divides them over questions of orthodoxy. As founding members of the Liberty Pact, their ties to the Empire have been strengthened, and they have been closely involved in bringing ruin to those involved in the abhorrent practice of slavery. At the moment they are focused on their war with the Asavean Archipelago, but they remain committed to spreading the Way through the entire world. In gratitude for major aid from the Empire in repulsing an Asavean assault against the port of Zemeh, the Sumaah have committed to sharing a dose of true liao with the Empire every season " until the Plenum falls and the Way is spread to the Archipelago." Relations with the grateful Sumaash, which have been bumpy in the past, are now better than ever.

The Sumaah ambassador to the Empire is Oxtitocszin, who holds the rank of Censor of wood, metal and stone and is a member of the High House of Pride (the Sumaah equivalent of the Pride Assembly, but with significantly more responsibility and leeway to pursue foreign diplomacy). They advise not just the Sumaah präster, but the House of the People (the Sumaah equivalent of the Imperial Senate). By all accounts they are an even-handed, level-headed individual, and a devout practitioner of the Way.

One Link at a Time

As laid out in Winter and Autumn, the House of the People instructed the House of Pride to secure a shipment of aid to be given as a formal gift between the Republic and the Empire to help the Freeborn restore their ravaged territories. Unfortunately, Asavean espionage agents became aware of the arrangement, and there was a serious threat that their ships might intercept a convoy bringing such aid to the Bay of Catazar. After a brief delay, a flotilla of Imperial vessels set sail for the Sea of Salt to provide a much-needed escort to the Republic's transport vessels. Nearly a hundred captains answered the call to action. A majority were from the Brass Coast, but nearly every Imperial nation was represented among those sailing south-west to defend the Sumaah vessels from the jealousy of Asavea.

It is as well the response was so well prepared; before leaving the Sea of Salt the Republic convoy was attacked by an organised armada of Asavean vessels. There was nothing subtle about their tactics; they simply sought to sink the Sumaah transport ships. Imperial vessels, and the small number of Frieøyer warships, were more than equal to the task however. The Asavean attackers were forced to retreat, and several paid the ultimate price for their temerity in seeking to derail this virtuous endeavour.

Shortly before the Spring Equinox, then, the Stone Fleet reaches Feroz. They sail along the Fortargenta coast to Oran, where they set to work unloading the white granite they have brought with them to help rebuild the ravaged territory. The House of the People has donated twenty wains of white granite, and forty doses of liao intended for use by Freeborn priests to help fortify the Pride of the people of the south-eastern Coast. This "aid package" has been brought to Anvil under the auspices of the Civil Service and will be available for the Ambassador Accalon to collect on Friday evening, so that it can be distributed to the people of the Brass Coast. It includes a container holding ten pots of sevensalve for the Ambassador's own use.

The Sumaah have also provided more mundane aid. A number of Republic citizens have risked their lives to travel to the Empire to help in Feroz. They are helping rebuild houses, repair homes, and offer healing herbs and medicines to those in need in the territory. Sincere and committed as they are, there are not enough of them to make a major difference - but they can still help a little. Determined to make a difference one of them approaches some of the hakima and after a brief discussion they agree that if the Senate raises a commission in Feroz this season, then the Sumaah will do what they can to help. The civil service calculate this will half the labour costs of a single commission raised in Feroz, provided it can be completed in a season.

All that would be needed to gain the benefit would be to include a request to the Sumaah in the wording of the Senate motion or announcement. If there were two or more valid commissions, then the Sumaah would apply themselves to the one that passed last.

With their mission of mercy more-or-less complete, the now much-lighter Sumaah transports are ready to turn for home. There is still some risk from Asavea but the Frieøyer mariners are confident the cowards of Nemoria have learned their lesson at least in the short term. A player who wants to roleplay that they are helping the Asavean Stone Fleet safely return to Sumaah can take the maritime escort voyage to represent this.

Pact of Broken Chains

During the Winter Solstice, the Voice of Liberty met with their counterparts from Axos, the Commonwealth, and the Sumaah Republic to discuss matters relevant to the Liberty Pact. The Pact unites the four nations in opposition to the practice of slavery. To "reject the practice of slavery, outlaw it amongst our citizens" and to "work towards the abolition of slavery across the world." The meeting was called by Axos, and hosted under the auspices of the eternal Lashonar in their Caucus Forum. As discussed before the summit, this is less than ideal because Lashonar lies under the enmity of the Conclave.

Unfortunately, it appears that a misconception snuck into the meeting that said that the chair - Axos - had the ability to settle tie-breakers. It's not clear how exactly this misunderstanding arose - only those in the meeting are likely to know - but it caused confusion among the delegates. A number of the agenda points discussed ended (perhaps predictably) in stalemate; the Axou delegate then broke that stalemate in their own favour. There's no evidence that Lashonar itself was involved in this misunderstanding - but it can't be denied that it is odd that a failure of communication took place in an area overseen by a creature that exists to facilitate communication. This confusion lead to a Senate motion proposing amendments to the precepts of the pact to be withdrawn. Once the erroneous tie-broken decisions were removed, only three of the seven points raised for discussion were settled on correctly.

The first was a motion to remove the requirement of free trade put forward by the Axos delegation. This apparently passed unanimously; each nation favours being able to set their own tariffs in trade with other signatory nations. The only restriction is that no member of the Liberty Pact will embargo trade with any other.

The second provision was the creation of the "two tier" system proposed by the Commonwealth - that the Liberty Pact be composed of voting members and signatory members who would be bound by the pact but not vote. After some passionate discussion, a new wording was agreed on and passed. The implication is, apparently, that all new members of the Liberty Pact will be signatory rather than voting members.

Even there the confusion was not over. It seems the Sumaah delegate left satisfied with their understanding that Axos would be a signatory, rather than voting, member for the time being. Axos, by contrast, left on the assumption they would remain a signatory member. The actual status of Axos doesn't directly impact the two amendments agreed on, but it seems the High House of Pride in Sumaah has already passed a statement of principle with a greater majority urging the Voice of Liberty to bring the matter up again at the next meeting. Assuming there is one...

After the Storm Breaks

While Axos left the Liberty Pact meeting satisfied, neither the Sumaah negotiator nor the representative from the Commonwealth were able to return home with good news. Both great powers have been unhappy with the role played by Axos in recent years, and the confusion at the meeting has only compounded that. Both are now resigned to the fact that the latest changes will make it virtually impossible to sideline Axos in the future - both are questioning whether the Liberty Pact still serves their interests.

After seeking the advice of the High House of Wisdom, Oxtitocszin, Censor of wood, metal and stone, has come to the conclusion that the four nations who form its backbone can only come to anything approaching unanimous agreement on matters of slavery. Attempting to bring the four nations closer politically outside of that singular shared goal is doomed to failure. Their proposal to centre the Way could never achieve a majority because two of the nations are composed entirely of heretics and blasphemers. The Commonwealth effort to redefine the position of Axos was likewise unlikely to be achievable because the Empire would vote to protect its protégé. Axos' frustration that the Liberty Pact prevents them seeking diplomatic ties with the Principalities of Jarm, and their attempts to remove the embargo will always fail while Sumaah and the Commonwealth both have their own reasons for wanting to prevent others trading with them.

In the view of Oxtitocszin, the real problem is that the Liberty Pact has fundamentally achieved what it set out to accomplish. The international trade in slaves, which has immiserated countless Virtuous souls for millennia, has been broken. Torn to pieces by the combined martial power of three great empires, it is no more. Rachensgrab is destroyed, Chalonsio was sacked. Sarcophan, the largest trading nation in the world, abandoned the practice; Axos and half a dozen lesser nations just like them outlawed it.

Of course, Asavea and Jarm stubbornly refuse to mend their ways - but neither of them has the slightest choice. Slavery is endemic to every aspect of their society, to give it up suddenly would mean the fall of their respective empires. There is no chance at all that either nation will simply give up slavery unless they are forced to by force of arms. As Militärattache Ludkhannah Schöningen points out, that might happen one day, but if it does, it won't be because of the Liberty Pact.

At least not directly... What is notable, is that neither nation has attempted to resurrect the trade between countries. There has been no attempt to found a new Rachensgrab. Chalonsio is being rebuilt, but the markets for human flesh remain closed. Ludkhannah puts this down to fear - the success of the attacks by the members of the Pact on Chalonsio and Rachensgrab have made the dangers of engaging in the slave trade palpable. Neither Asavea nor Jarm is prepared to accept the humiliation and collapse that bowing to the Liberty Pact's demands would entail, but equally neither is foolish enough to provoke the pact into taking action. Neither nation are prepared to risk Nemoria or Rigia becoming the next Chalonsio.

It might not have ended the way people imagined. The Commonwealth would still dearly love to overthrow the cruel, selfish, Jarmish Princes. The Sumaah dream of the day they finally defeat the Asavean tyrants. But both these powers have been locked in armed struggle with their neighbours for more than a century - neither imagines that the conflict is going to end soon. Yes it would be Virtuous to free every slave in the world, it would clearly serve the Common Good, but wishing for it isn't going to make it happen, and dreaming of it only obscures the fact that it is happening anyway. Without ships laden with slaves docking in Asavea, the practice is bound to die out there eventually. The Jarmish are faced with the same fate - in the long run neither power can sustain its current course.

That is why the two powers forged their so-called "Freedom Accords". A desperate attempt to shore up their crumbling position, with each other, and with the rest of the world. But it hasn't worked - it can't work. The Freedom Accords can mandate that nobody can interfere in another nation's business, but they can't force their trading partners to engage in slavery without exposing their own hypocrisy. Nations that want to prosper while trading with Sumaah, the Commonwealth or the Empire are moving to emancipate their slaves.

The Liberty Pact has won. They have won every battle and won every argument. It's not the kind of victory that people dream of, but it is still a victory of a kind. The practice of slavery has not been eradicated, but it has been comprehensively defeated.

Ludkhannah fears that this victory is precisely the reason that the Liberty Pact is now struggling. Robbed of its central purpose, it risks becoming a talking shop for trade routes, tax rates and membership policies. It is notable that at this meeting just passed, the Empire did not raise a single item to the agenda. Most of what the Commonwealth and Sumaah raised was thrown out - and none of this should be a surprise or a disappointment. Victory has robbed the Pact of its purpose and without that reason to sacrifice their own best interests, the members of the Pact have less and less they need to talk about.

Moving Forward

It seems that both the Commonwealth and Sumaah have arrived at the point where they feel the Liberty Pact has outlived its usefulness. With the support of the High House of Wisdom, Oxtitocszin has put forward a proposal for consideration by the other members of the Pact. The core idea is that the Sumaah plan to retire their Voice of Liberty and suggest other nations consider doing the same. The Pact must continue to exist, its existence is still working to end slavery; it is the meetings that are not working.

It is those meetings that Oxtitocszin suggests can simply stop. It is expensive and risky to send delegates to a meeting that is achieving nothing - resources both Sumaah and the Commonwealth would rather devote to fighting their enemies. If the situation changes, if the threat of the slave trade rises again, then anyone can call the Pact together to propose how to respond. But absent such a threat, the House of the People simply do not see any value in further meetings.

Henceforth, Oxtitocszin will handle all matters relating to the Pact on behalf of the Sumaah, and by letter where possible. The decision to put the Sumaah Ambassador to the Empire in charge of this reflects the simple historical reality - that the Empire was the driving force behind the creation of the Liberty Pact and that with few significant exceptions, every meeting of the Pact has always happened in the Empire. The Sumaah are perfectly satisfied with that arrangement - they simply plan to formalise it.

They suggest that the other members of the Pact do likewise. If a meeting must be held, then it will be the ambassadors that meet. They will take their amendments to their own governments for ratification, and they should only amend the pact when all voting members agree. That last element is crucial in Oxtitocszin's view. If a member of this alliance does not agree, then that decision should not be forced on them. All that would happen if the Pact tried to force Sumaah to compromise their religious beliefs is that Sumaah would leave the Pact.

If that happened, if the Pact were to shatter, then that is the one thing that could reverse the Liberty Pact's victory. If the Pact were to visibly fail, then the slave trade might yet return. But if members of the Pact stop trying to endlessly tweak the terms of the Pact (and Oxtitocszin cheerfully accepts that the Sumaah have been as guilty of this as anyone else), then it can continue to serve its purpose.

Oxtitocszin has made these suggestions to the other nations, as well as the Empire, and awaits responses from the three.

Joining Virtue and Magic

Ambassador Accalon has piqued the interest of the Sumaah Republic with a proposal from the Grandmaster of the Celestial Arch, Xanthippe. The offer proposes cooperation between the Empire and the Republic and suggests several possibilities such as military assistance against the Asavean menace; supporting initiatives to expand new forms of engagement between Imperial magicians and the High Houses of Virtue; coordinating interactions with certain eternals; or exploring the nature of the astronomantic constellations within the Republic.

Within the republic magic and magicians are generally the purview of the High Houses. Each of the virtuous assemblies has a cadre of ritual magicians who support the präster with enchantments and divinations. As a whole, Sumaah places an emphasis on less supernatural means of resolving problems; many citizens of the Republic prefer to avoid magic altogether; they would rather receive the blessings of the faith in the form of anointings or hallows than the magical effects of a ritual. This means that the Republic lags behind the rest of the world in terms of magical might. It makes up for this by having more organised magical traditions than any other nation with the possible exception of the Commonwealth, but organisation can only achieve so much.

After discussion with representatives of the High Houses, and with the House of the People, Oxtitocszin has agreed that some form of joint effort relating to magic could be considered. It would need the Imperial Senate to arrange an appraisal, selecting a single proposal from the agreed list. The präster would work with the civil service to ensure that any magical cooperation was undertaken in such a way that it did not cause problems for either nation. The Senate would need to appoint an appropriate prognosticator, and should plan for them to be busy in Sumaah for at least nine months given the distances involved. Because of the nature of the appraisal, it would create an opportunity for the Conclave to guide an order to support the appraisal, directing the appraisal in accordance with their manifesto and beliefs.

The Sumaah have ruled out some items on Accalon's list; there is no interest in exploring the nature of astronomancy with the Empire. The Sumaah have their own traditions, but view magic that draws on the powers of the constellations to be a form of aspect magic, something that is at best heresy and arguably strays into blasphemy. As such, no reputable Sumaah magician would openly practice astronomancy, even if they might have some mild academic interest in the matter. The idea of working with Imperial magicians against the Asavean menace is more appealing in theory, but unfortunately when the High Houses studied the assessment of the opportunity provided by the präster in the High House of Wisdom, they determined that the costs were simply too high. Sadly, it would require too many skilled war-magicians to be pulled from the front line against the Asaveans.

This opportunity is only available until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE - events in Sumaah are in flux at the moment and Oxtitocszin cannot be confident that they would be able to arrange support for it after that time.

Sumaah Further Reading

Click Expand to see a summary of various pages related to the Sumaah Republic.

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