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<blockquote data-quote="havenstone" data-source="post: 5431548" data-attributes="member: 61094"><p><strong>Emancipation</strong></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“THE DRAGON PATH?”</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> Ontaya echoes cautiously. They’ve never heard of such a Path, but they have seen sculptures of the flying, maned serpents of Xaimani myth, considered to be the noblest of beasts. “Isn’t the ‘dragon’ a symbol of the Emperor?”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Chandur laughs. “And the Imperial Order. Incongruous, yes. If the Path hadn’t been founded by three high-born Xaimani, I’m pretty sure we’d have chosen a different mascot.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“It is <em>all</em> <em>of our</em> hope – not just the Founders’ – that the Xaimani Imperial Order can be transformed into a truly just and harmonious system,” Njitra corrects his friend. “By our nature we have to break the law, but only because the law has been built around a monstrous injustice.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Rian says wearily. “You’re not just another lot of Lakshari rebels?”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“No, my lovely – though as your friends know, I’ve <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/4790959-post86.html" target="_blank">moved in those circles</a>,” Chandur replies, gesturing them all toward the breakfast table. “But I was only up there because we knew that they were going to lose. Our interest wasn’t in stirring up rebellion, but in the men who lost. The best of them are with us, now.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Slavery,” Meeshak says with dawning realization. He looks over to the quiet, scarred girl Shihara who joined them in their flight. “You’re freeing slaves.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">AS THE PARTY </span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">members wearily sink onto the cushions around the low table, Njitra and Chandur begin to explain the underground emancipation movement known as the Dragon Path. It is led from Tziwan by a former general (Tan Li Sheng), a high priest (Haitze), and a renegade archmage (Zhensu). Motivated by a common loathing for the inhumanity of the slave society, these three eminent Xaimani used their wealth and knowledge two decades ago to set up a secret Path, dedicated to discreetly freeing slaves and training them in other, more honorable livelihoods.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The Dragons disregard all of the traditional Xaimani taboos: they remove slaves’ brands, arm some with swords, and teach others to channel their sorcerous talents. The most capable freed slaves – former bodyguards and gladiators, well-educated Slavemasters, newly trained wizards – complete their training on special missions for the Path, seeking out treasure, magic, or knowledge that will benefit the cause. The Dragon Path now comprises thousands of freed slaves all across the Empire, and has rapidly developed parallel institutions – its own small army, spy network, trade guild, priestly order and college of mages, operating secretly within the other, Imperially sanctioned Paths.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“And you’ve been able to keep all of this a secret?” Carwyn asks in amazement.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Njitra nods. “So far. Just about everyone involved has a life-and-death interest in not being found out; we keep a low profile, and the Founders have the connections to supply us discreetly. The Emperor’s spies are still mostly focused on uprooting rebel movements out in the subject nations; within Xaiman, they spend most of their energy monitoring discontented noble houses. Meanwhile, Tziwan’s most skilled Rumormaster is working for us, covering our tracks.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“You’ll meet him soon,” Chandur says warmly. “He’s more worried about the Shrouded Path than about the Imperial Spymaster, frankly. The thieves’ guild has the Empire’s best information network, and it’s not at all clear what they would do if they found out we exist. We think we’ve managed to evade their notice so far.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“And what happens when the Empire finally does find out about you?” Ontaya inquires. “No matter what Imperial myth you name yourselves after, you’ve created an absolutely foundational threat to its existence. Are you prepared for the forces they’ll unleash to destroy you?”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“We’re still fragile, and wouldn’t welcome the overt conflict at this point – but yes, we’ve prepared for what it will take to survive it.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“What about <em>winning</em> it?” The Northern paladin’s eyes and voice are fervent. “Are you prepared for that?”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Njitra smiles, but looks troubled. “I certainly believe we <em>will</em> win. For all their loyalty to the Emperor and their preference for peaceful transformation, the Founders have been building a movement that can win a civil war if the day comes. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">"But as for what comes after... there, I can’t say we are prepared. For all our high-minded ideas, we have no first-hand model for a society built without slavery. We have debated for years what elements of today’s Empire will be carried over to the new Order, and... let’s say there are some very different visions. So you can understand how fascinated we were when we found out about the slaveless Northern kingdoms. Finding a way to free you became our highest priority.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Did you also rescue Atrix and Darren from the Imperial Palace?” Carwyn asks eagerly.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“No – we haven’t yet managed to plant a reliable source inside the Palace,” Chandur admits. “Your friends managed to escape on their own, somehow. We’re trying to find them, like everyone else in Tziwan… but as far as we know, they’ve managed to stay hidden.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">THE FREED SLAVES </span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">finish wolfing down their food and lean back, trying to take in everything they’ve just heard. “You really are free – all of you,” Njitra insists. “If the Northerners among you wish to return to the North, the Dragon Path will assist you as best we can. However… we do sincerely hope that you will choose to join us and work with us in the South for at least some time. We could use your strength, and above all your knowledge.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Well, obviously, we need to stay here until we’ve freed or found the rest of our friends,” Meeshak replies. With vivid immediacy, he finds himself remembering <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/4769840-post78.html" target="_blank">his dream from the slave cages</a>, in which he was called to bring hope to the bound and despairing. “After that... I don’t speak for my friends, but I believe Ain – I mean, Ii – would want me to remain and help you. Slavery is an abomination, and I can’t think of any worthier cause than helping to end it across Xaiman.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Ontaya nods emphatically. “We have an absolute duty to help you. The Imperial Order is a travesty – they’re justifying the worst kind of oppression in the name of Ii. It perverts and debases Ii's order into a bastion of evil.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“It has to stop,” Carwyn says simply. “The bastards can’t keep getting away with it all. I’m staying. We’ve got scores to settle back North, but they’ll keep.” <em>And of course, whatever we can do to challenge the Empire might protect the North from another attack, too</em>.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Well, that makes it unanimous,” Ash affirms. “How could we say no? We’ll do whatever we can to help you, no matter what happens.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Rian?” Carwyn asks anxiously, turning to her new friend.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Don’t worry, I’m staying,” Rian says at once. <em>Until I’ve paid my life-debt to Ash, and repaid Meeshak and these Dragon folk for saving me</em>. “I owe you all far too much to walk away now.” The scarred Shihara nods silently in her corner.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Chandur’s smile splits into an irresistible yawn. “Delightful! Welcome to the Dragons. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m badly in need of last night’s sleep. Bunks are through that door.”</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="havenstone, post: 5431548, member: 61094"] [b]Emancipation[/b] [B][FONT=Verdana]“THE DRAGON PATH?”[/FONT][/B][FONT=Verdana] Ontaya echoes cautiously. They’ve never heard of such a Path, but they have seen sculptures of the flying, maned serpents of Xaimani myth, considered to be the noblest of beasts. “Isn’t the ‘dragon’ a symbol of the Emperor?”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Chandur laughs. “And the Imperial Order. Incongruous, yes. If the Path hadn’t been founded by three high-born Xaimani, I’m pretty sure we’d have chosen a different mascot.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“It is [I]all[/I] [I]of our[/I] hope – not just the Founders’ – that the Xaimani Imperial Order can be transformed into a truly just and harmonious system,” Njitra corrects his friend. “By our nature we have to break the law, but only because the law has been built around a monstrous injustice.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Rian says wearily. “You’re not just another lot of Lakshari rebels?”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“No, my lovely – though as your friends know, I’ve [URL="http://www.enworld.org/forum/4790959-post86.html"]moved in those circles[/URL],” Chandur replies, gesturing them all toward the breakfast table. “But I was only up there because we knew that they were going to lose. Our interest wasn’t in stirring up rebellion, but in the men who lost. The best of them are with us, now.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Slavery,” Meeshak says with dawning realization. He looks over to the quiet, scarred girl Shihara who joined them in their flight. “You’re freeing slaves.”[/FONT] [B][FONT=Verdana]AS THE PARTY [/FONT][/B][FONT=Verdana]members wearily sink onto the cushions around the low table, Njitra and Chandur begin to explain the underground emancipation movement known as the Dragon Path. It is led from Tziwan by a former general (Tan Li Sheng), a high priest (Haitze), and a renegade archmage (Zhensu). Motivated by a common loathing for the inhumanity of the slave society, these three eminent Xaimani used their wealth and knowledge two decades ago to set up a secret Path, dedicated to discreetly freeing slaves and training them in other, more honorable livelihoods.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The Dragons disregard all of the traditional Xaimani taboos: they remove slaves’ brands, arm some with swords, and teach others to channel their sorcerous talents. The most capable freed slaves – former bodyguards and gladiators, well-educated Slavemasters, newly trained wizards – complete their training on special missions for the Path, seeking out treasure, magic, or knowledge that will benefit the cause. The Dragon Path now comprises thousands of freed slaves all across the Empire, and has rapidly developed parallel institutions – its own small army, spy network, trade guild, priestly order and college of mages, operating secretly within the other, Imperially sanctioned Paths.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“And you’ve been able to keep all of this a secret?” Carwyn asks in amazement.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Njitra nods. “So far. Just about everyone involved has a life-and-death interest in not being found out; we keep a low profile, and the Founders have the connections to supply us discreetly. The Emperor’s spies are still mostly focused on uprooting rebel movements out in the subject nations; within Xaiman, they spend most of their energy monitoring discontented noble houses. Meanwhile, Tziwan’s most skilled Rumormaster is working for us, covering our tracks.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“You’ll meet him soon,” Chandur says warmly. “He’s more worried about the Shrouded Path than about the Imperial Spymaster, frankly. The thieves’ guild has the Empire’s best information network, and it’s not at all clear what they would do if they found out we exist. We think we’ve managed to evade their notice so far.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“And what happens when the Empire finally does find out about you?” Ontaya inquires. “No matter what Imperial myth you name yourselves after, you’ve created an absolutely foundational threat to its existence. Are you prepared for the forces they’ll unleash to destroy you?”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“We’re still fragile, and wouldn’t welcome the overt conflict at this point – but yes, we’ve prepared for what it will take to survive it.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“What about [I]winning[/I] it?” The Northern paladin’s eyes and voice are fervent. “Are you prepared for that?”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Njitra smiles, but looks troubled. “I certainly believe we [I]will[/I] win. For all their loyalty to the Emperor and their preference for peaceful transformation, the Founders have been building a movement that can win a civil war if the day comes. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]"But as for what comes after... there, I can’t say we are prepared. For all our high-minded ideas, we have no first-hand model for a society built without slavery. We have debated for years what elements of today’s Empire will be carried over to the new Order, and... let’s say there are some very different visions. So you can understand how fascinated we were when we found out about the slaveless Northern kingdoms. Finding a way to free you became our highest priority.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Did you also rescue Atrix and Darren from the Imperial Palace?” Carwyn asks eagerly.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“No – we haven’t yet managed to plant a reliable source inside the Palace,” Chandur admits. “Your friends managed to escape on their own, somehow. We’re trying to find them, like everyone else in Tziwan… but as far as we know, they’ve managed to stay hidden.”[/FONT] [B][FONT=Verdana]THE FREED SLAVES [/FONT][/B][FONT=Verdana]finish wolfing down their food and lean back, trying to take in everything they’ve just heard. “You really are free – all of you,” Njitra insists. “If the Northerners among you wish to return to the North, the Dragon Path will assist you as best we can. However… we do sincerely hope that you will choose to join us and work with us in the South for at least some time. We could use your strength, and above all your knowledge.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Well, obviously, we need to stay here until we’ve freed or found the rest of our friends,” Meeshak replies. With vivid immediacy, he finds himself remembering [URL="http://www.enworld.org/forum/4769840-post78.html"]his dream from the slave cages[/URL], in which he was called to bring hope to the bound and despairing. “After that... I don’t speak for my friends, but I believe Ain – I mean, Ii – would want me to remain and help you. Slavery is an abomination, and I can’t think of any worthier cause than helping to end it across Xaiman.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Ontaya nods emphatically. “We have an absolute duty to help you. The Imperial Order is a travesty – they’re justifying the worst kind of oppression in the name of Ii. It perverts and debases Ii's order into a bastion of evil.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“It has to stop,” Carwyn says simply. “The bastards can’t keep getting away with it all. I’m staying. We’ve got scores to settle back North, but they’ll keep.” [I]And of course, whatever we can do to challenge the Empire might protect the North from another attack, too[/I].[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Well, that makes it unanimous,” Ash affirms. “How could we say no? We’ll do whatever we can to help you, no matter what happens.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Rian?” Carwyn asks anxiously, turning to her new friend.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Don’t worry, I’m staying,” Rian says at once. [I]Until I’ve paid my life-debt to Ash, and repaid Meeshak and these Dragon folk for saving me[/I]. “I owe you all far too much to walk away now.” The scarred Shihara nods silently in her corner.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Chandur’s smile splits into an irresistible yawn. “Delightful! Welcome to the Dragons. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m badly in need of last night’s sleep. Bunks are through that door.”[/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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