25-10-2003, 09:45
This is a closed RP thread involving Menelmacar and myself. Unless you can telegram me with a darn good reason why you should be involved, please don't post.
-----
Queral vae Rejait ki Taiyen stood on the edge of the world, looking into the dawn. Several kilometers below, the calm sea shone orange and gold, the colours of the sun. Behind him, the dawn light was just touching the low hills and forests of the High Green, making the Senate Dome sparkle like an enormous jewel. Directly beneath his feet, the High Green gave way to air, the rock of Phaerion falling away out of sight.
Deep within that rock, Queral knew, the Aethrakai caste mantained their watch on the rionkhal, the Heart of the Palace, as they had done since the days of Enthrial the Founder, keeping the massive flying island of Phaerion aloft. Within that rock dwelt the millions of Phae of every caste and clan who were the Rejait caste's responsibility. Never had that responsibility rested so heavy on his shoulders, never in three thousand years.
The rising sun gave no advice. Mind and heart in turmoil, Queral turned away from the view, and walked back to the Senate Dome. The Clan Senate would start the Council with or without him, and he had to be there; Queral's faction could tip the vote in either direction. And he still didn't know which way to lead them.
Gravel crunched underfoot as he returned to the Dome along the meandering paths of the High Green, but this morning Queral spared no thought to the elegantly tended gardens and parks.
How can I decide, when either choice might lead to destruction?
At his approach the big hexagonal door of the Dome slid upwards, revealing the kind of carefully elegant pandemonium only the Phae could create. There were the Progressives with their green gloves, their leader Ekhashen vae Rejait ki Jarish arguing loudly with Thariel vae Rejait ki Sforath and his red-scarfed Conservatives. Thariel looked irritated by the much younger Ekhashen. That, at least, was usual.
"Senator Taiyen, I was beginning to think you wouldn't turn up!"
The speaker was a young woman with a bright blue sash tightly belted around her waist; the second-in-command of Queral's own Moderate faction, Kiaren vae Rejait ki Zhanhai. Like many of the Senators and Queral himself, she had the delicate crystal vanes of a former Aethrakai caste member spreading in a fan from her back.
"Have I ever been absent for a Council, Senator Zhanhai?" Queral asked, smiling. With her eternally cheerful manner, it was impossible not to like Kiaren. At sixty-five she was the youngest Senator elected to the Clan Senate in Queral's lifetime, having charmed Clan Zhanhai as she'd charmed everyone else.
"Of course not, Senator," Kiaren replied, "But there's a first time for everything, isn't there? Look, the Sundial's almost lit!"
There's a first time for everything. That was one of Ekhashen's slogans, of course. But should there be a first time for this?
Queral forced his mind off it's frenzied circling, and regarded the Sundial. A wide, flat disc of plain marble set into the floor, it was studded with thousands of tiny aethric crystals in twisting coils and loops. When the dawn sunlight - reflected through a complex series of mirrors - hit the Sundial, those crystals would light up, signalling the beginning of the Council.
As he watched, a narrow beam of sunlight shone down from the roof of the Dome, and the soft blue glow of the aethric crystals filled the Dome. Silence fell, conversations severed abruptly as the Council began.
Thariel vae Rejait ki Sforath was the first to speak by virtue of his seniority; the Conservative leader had been Clan Sforath's Senator since before Queral was born.
"As you all know, the Caste Senate voted yesterday for the opening of relations as proposed by Senator Jarish, the affirmative result being won by a narrow margin."
Very narrow indeed, Queral thought, Only three votes.
"So now," Thariel continued, "The decision has fallen to us. We must now decide whether or not to open relations with the Kinslayer Elentári, Sirithil nos Fëanor."
Thariel's emphasis of "Kinslayer" was not missed by many.
"Let me remind you of the Elentári's history, Senators. The Noldorin elves abandoned the Waters of Awakening soon after they arose, as we - the true people - did not. There in the outermost West the husband of the Elentári created trinkets of such corrupting influence that when the Silmarils were stolen, they warred and broke the world in an attempt to regain them.
"In that war the Noldorin slaughtered the Telerin elves for their refusal to aid their conflict, and became the Kinslayers, accursed by the right-thinking peoples for all time. The Elentári was involved in the massacre of the Teleri, and her tactics have not grown any more subtle with age. To Sirithil age has given not clarity of vision but fanaticism, a rabid belief in her own superiority which drives her to war with the humans again and again. A narcissism so great that she has declared herself a god.
"And now Senator Jarish proposes to welcome this Kinslayer, this seething fanatic into Phaerion, and give to her the rionkhal itself, like as not! I say no. This must not happen. This cannot happen. And I implore you all to ensure that it does not happen!"
Thariel was angrier than Queral had ever seen him, the very image of the old aristocracy, full of fire and acid.
The next dozen or so Senators - all Conservatives - confined themselves to expressions of support for Thariel, until suddenly Queral had the right to speak.
"I pass the right to speak to Senator Jarish," he said solemnly. "We should hear both opinions here before coming to a conclusion." That was a Moderate sort of thing to say, and handily concealed the fact that Queral still had no idea where to put his faction's support.
Ekhashen cleared her throat, glaring at Thariel.
"Many of Senator Sforath's statements are incorrect," she began. "Allow me to adress them in turn.
"Yes, the Noldorin abandoned the Waters of Awakening. Yes, they made the Silmarils. But they did not sunder Beleriand; the Valar did that. Can we blame an entire race for being led astray by forces who did not have their best interests in mind?
"And yes, the Noldorin slaughtered the Teleri. I do not deny that. But the ancient records do not mention the Elentári Sirithil during those years, and if she was involved in the Kinslaying, there is no record of it.
"And while it is true that the Elentári Sirithil has acted ... rashly, in the past, she has always done so for the preservation of the Elven race as a whole. Surely her commitment to the race is to be commended?
"As for Senator Sforath's comment about the Elentári's supposedly divine status, this is obviously a delusion of weak-minded humans. To the best of my knowledge, the Elentári herself has never claimed godhood herself.
"And as for "giving her the rionkhal" - that may be put aside as the joke it is. The rionkhal is the foundation of Phaerion - it is ridiculous to consider giving it to anyone!
"That, I hope, answers Senator Sforath's worries. But there are other reasons to open negotiations with the Elentári beyond the simply diplomatic. Phaerion is beginning to run low on essential raw materials - the iron veins are growing thin, and within a short period we may even run out of aethric crystals. We will need more crystals soon, and for that we need mining rights. The Aethrakai inform me that Menelmacar is sitting on a major aethric crstal deposit. If we could get access to that, the benefits would be obvious."
Ekhashen paused, waving to Queral to speak.
Queral paused, aware that what he said next could decide the fate of Phaerion for millenia.
Why, why, why did this decision have to rest on my shoulders?
"Having considered both sides of the issue," he began slowly, "I have decided where to cast my vote. This is not an easy decision; both Senators Sforath and Jarish have truth in their arguments.
"While the Elentári Sirithil is a controversial figure at best, we must, I believe, open relations with the world beyond - both Elven and human - and there are warlike nations who would attack us simply for the "crime" of being who we are. Phaerion is ill suited to defend against such attacks; the best way to avoid destruction would be to hide in the shadow of the Elentári, as it were.
"Thus I cast my vote for the opening of negotiations with Menelmacar. I can only hope that it is the right choice."
Thariel's face showed no doubt whatsoever that the Conservative leader considered it to be the wrong choice, but Ekhashen was beaming. One by one, the remaining Senators - Conservative, Moderate and Progressive all - cast their votes, fairly predictably; Progressives for, Moderates, following Queral's lead, for negotiations, and Conservatives against. With Moderate support, the Progressives won easily.
In the hush that followed, Queral siezed the opportunity to speak.
"The drafting of a message of such import should be done by the Caste Senate as a whole, as well as the Clan Senate and the Vaithrei Caste."
The Vaithrei were the negotiators and diplomats, and it was natural that they would be consulted for the drafting of the message. The Senators readily agreed to Queral's proposal; their power was equal to the Caste Senate's, after all, and this matter, which would have so much import to all the Phae, affected the Castes just as much as the Clans.
As they left the Senate Dome, the sun lit the Dome with a blinding radiance, reflecting bright rainbows across the High Green.
-----
The next day, the Senate Dome was crowded with several hundred Senators in a bewildering riot of clothing styles and colours; aside from the Clan Senate's three major and several minor factions there were also the Caste Senators, who had in addition to their own factions different uniforms for each Caste.
Unlike the comparatively simple Clan Senate vote yesterday and the Caste Senate one the day before that, this Council had stretched into the afternoon. And they still weren't beyond the Menelmacari ruler's impressive list of titles.
Her name - long even by the standards of the Phae - caused no problems diplomatically, although pronouncing "Sirithil Nalosaurawen Finlaurë Aineldalië Minyavendë nos Fëanor" was a different matter.
Sirithil's titles, however, had caused massive controversy, with the Progressives of both Clan and Caste calling for the inclusion of every single one of them, and the Conservatives and most of the Moderates demanding the removal of several that they saw as too pretentious. As usual, Queral tried to arbitrate between the two groups.
"Her Eternal Imperial Majesty?" Thariel vae Rejait ki Sforath said, shaking his head. "Give me a sword and I could prove she's not as "Eternal" as all that. Besides, she has no such authority here."
"If we want to come to any sort of agreement with her, we need to give her her pride," the Caste Senator he was arguing with responded. "If one of us were to go to Menelmacar, we'd want to be known as Senators, would we not?"
"I don't think we need to give her any more pride than she's already got." Thariel responded, glaring at Queral as the Moderate leader passed.
Close by, Kashaithra Caste Senator Akhajeth vae Kashaithra ki Feraj was arguing to a crowd of listeners, including Kiaren vae Rejait ki Zhanhai. Queral stopped to listen.
"You all know my opinions on the subject," Akhajeth said, "But obviously we shall never remove all her titles, so we must come to some compromise. However, I for one refuse to call her "High Queen and Lady Protector of Elvenkind". Sirithil may be the elf with the biggest stick, but that does not give her dominion over all the others. We must show her that her gravships and space fleets do not give her dominion over us."
The Kashaithra Caste were the police and military of Phaerion; it was the expected sort of thing for the Kashaithra Caste Senator to say, and one which Akhajeth had no trouble saying.
Queral moved on, and found the worried-looking Vaiphaen Caste Senator, Najaren vae Vaiphaen ki Shenath, asking Clan Shenath's Senator, Yiragh vae Rejait ki Shenath, "...And isn't "Empress of All Elves" saying she rules us? We don't want to give her any ideas..."
"I think it's another territory of Menelmacar, Najaren," Yiragh replied, "An odd name to be sure, but perhaps it means "fully elven" rather than "every elf". Menelmacar wouldn't be the first nation to enforce homogenity."
Senator Najaren noticed Queral, and turned to greet him.
"Senator Taiyen! Perhaps you can help me. How is "Guardian of America and the Congo" different from "Empress of Vinyarda, Ceres, All Elves, and Eärendil"?"
Queral considered for a moment.
"You know, I don't think they are. A matter of semantics, that's all. If we call her by one, we should probably call her by the other also."
"Oh. But she does seem rather pretentious, doesn't she? We don't want "Phaerion" added to that list next to All Elves and Ceres."
"I don't think that annexing us would be good for her international reputation, Senator Vaiphaen." Queral reassured Najaren.
"Actually," Yiragh said, "Speaking of that, I noticed Senator Khetral debating whether we should be calling her "Lady" Sirithil or not."
"What?" Queral was puzzled, "Of course she's a ... oh. Perhaps we should keep Senator Khetral from talking to the Elentári."
Eventually, of course, they reached a consensus, and the Vaithrei Caste diplomats wrote the message, with many revisions as one Senator or another objected.
To the Lady Sirithil Nalosaurawen Finlaurë Aineldalië Minyavendë nos Fëanor, Elentári of the Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar, Empress of All Elves, Eärendil, Vinyarda and Ceres, and Guardian of America and the Congo, greetings from the Senates and People of the Most Serene Republic of Phaerion, the Island of the Skies.
The Most Serene of Phaerion is interested in opening diplomatic relations with the Empire of Menelmacar, the Senates having deliberated and come to the conclusion that such relations would be to the benefit of both nations.
We extend to the Elentári Sirithil nos Fëanor and to the Empire of Menelmacar the hand of friendship, and hope that the Empire of Menelmacar will reciprocate.
By the blood of Enthrial the Founder,
The Clan and Caste Senates of the Most Serene Republic of Phaerion
Debate and counter-debate and, in several cases, threats not to sign had pared an initially rather flowery document down to it's bare essentials, all that could be included without more controversy. The Senators filed past the desk set up by the Vaithrei Caste diplomats to add their signatures, almost four hundred names.
Then the diplomats double-checked it for any last-minute mistakes, and handed it to the Aethrakai Caste Senator, Ruithan vae Aethrakai ki Saiyan, for transmission through the aethric crystal resonators to Menelmacar.
-----
Queral vae Rejait ki Taiyen stood on the edge of the world, looking into the dawn. Several kilometers below, the calm sea shone orange and gold, the colours of the sun. Behind him, the dawn light was just touching the low hills and forests of the High Green, making the Senate Dome sparkle like an enormous jewel. Directly beneath his feet, the High Green gave way to air, the rock of Phaerion falling away out of sight.
Deep within that rock, Queral knew, the Aethrakai caste mantained their watch on the rionkhal, the Heart of the Palace, as they had done since the days of Enthrial the Founder, keeping the massive flying island of Phaerion aloft. Within that rock dwelt the millions of Phae of every caste and clan who were the Rejait caste's responsibility. Never had that responsibility rested so heavy on his shoulders, never in three thousand years.
The rising sun gave no advice. Mind and heart in turmoil, Queral turned away from the view, and walked back to the Senate Dome. The Clan Senate would start the Council with or without him, and he had to be there; Queral's faction could tip the vote in either direction. And he still didn't know which way to lead them.
Gravel crunched underfoot as he returned to the Dome along the meandering paths of the High Green, but this morning Queral spared no thought to the elegantly tended gardens and parks.
How can I decide, when either choice might lead to destruction?
At his approach the big hexagonal door of the Dome slid upwards, revealing the kind of carefully elegant pandemonium only the Phae could create. There were the Progressives with their green gloves, their leader Ekhashen vae Rejait ki Jarish arguing loudly with Thariel vae Rejait ki Sforath and his red-scarfed Conservatives. Thariel looked irritated by the much younger Ekhashen. That, at least, was usual.
"Senator Taiyen, I was beginning to think you wouldn't turn up!"
The speaker was a young woman with a bright blue sash tightly belted around her waist; the second-in-command of Queral's own Moderate faction, Kiaren vae Rejait ki Zhanhai. Like many of the Senators and Queral himself, she had the delicate crystal vanes of a former Aethrakai caste member spreading in a fan from her back.
"Have I ever been absent for a Council, Senator Zhanhai?" Queral asked, smiling. With her eternally cheerful manner, it was impossible not to like Kiaren. At sixty-five she was the youngest Senator elected to the Clan Senate in Queral's lifetime, having charmed Clan Zhanhai as she'd charmed everyone else.
"Of course not, Senator," Kiaren replied, "But there's a first time for everything, isn't there? Look, the Sundial's almost lit!"
There's a first time for everything. That was one of Ekhashen's slogans, of course. But should there be a first time for this?
Queral forced his mind off it's frenzied circling, and regarded the Sundial. A wide, flat disc of plain marble set into the floor, it was studded with thousands of tiny aethric crystals in twisting coils and loops. When the dawn sunlight - reflected through a complex series of mirrors - hit the Sundial, those crystals would light up, signalling the beginning of the Council.
As he watched, a narrow beam of sunlight shone down from the roof of the Dome, and the soft blue glow of the aethric crystals filled the Dome. Silence fell, conversations severed abruptly as the Council began.
Thariel vae Rejait ki Sforath was the first to speak by virtue of his seniority; the Conservative leader had been Clan Sforath's Senator since before Queral was born.
"As you all know, the Caste Senate voted yesterday for the opening of relations as proposed by Senator Jarish, the affirmative result being won by a narrow margin."
Very narrow indeed, Queral thought, Only three votes.
"So now," Thariel continued, "The decision has fallen to us. We must now decide whether or not to open relations with the Kinslayer Elentári, Sirithil nos Fëanor."
Thariel's emphasis of "Kinslayer" was not missed by many.
"Let me remind you of the Elentári's history, Senators. The Noldorin elves abandoned the Waters of Awakening soon after they arose, as we - the true people - did not. There in the outermost West the husband of the Elentári created trinkets of such corrupting influence that when the Silmarils were stolen, they warred and broke the world in an attempt to regain them.
"In that war the Noldorin slaughtered the Telerin elves for their refusal to aid their conflict, and became the Kinslayers, accursed by the right-thinking peoples for all time. The Elentári was involved in the massacre of the Teleri, and her tactics have not grown any more subtle with age. To Sirithil age has given not clarity of vision but fanaticism, a rabid belief in her own superiority which drives her to war with the humans again and again. A narcissism so great that she has declared herself a god.
"And now Senator Jarish proposes to welcome this Kinslayer, this seething fanatic into Phaerion, and give to her the rionkhal itself, like as not! I say no. This must not happen. This cannot happen. And I implore you all to ensure that it does not happen!"
Thariel was angrier than Queral had ever seen him, the very image of the old aristocracy, full of fire and acid.
The next dozen or so Senators - all Conservatives - confined themselves to expressions of support for Thariel, until suddenly Queral had the right to speak.
"I pass the right to speak to Senator Jarish," he said solemnly. "We should hear both opinions here before coming to a conclusion." That was a Moderate sort of thing to say, and handily concealed the fact that Queral still had no idea where to put his faction's support.
Ekhashen cleared her throat, glaring at Thariel.
"Many of Senator Sforath's statements are incorrect," she began. "Allow me to adress them in turn.
"Yes, the Noldorin abandoned the Waters of Awakening. Yes, they made the Silmarils. But they did not sunder Beleriand; the Valar did that. Can we blame an entire race for being led astray by forces who did not have their best interests in mind?
"And yes, the Noldorin slaughtered the Teleri. I do not deny that. But the ancient records do not mention the Elentári Sirithil during those years, and if she was involved in the Kinslaying, there is no record of it.
"And while it is true that the Elentári Sirithil has acted ... rashly, in the past, she has always done so for the preservation of the Elven race as a whole. Surely her commitment to the race is to be commended?
"As for Senator Sforath's comment about the Elentári's supposedly divine status, this is obviously a delusion of weak-minded humans. To the best of my knowledge, the Elentári herself has never claimed godhood herself.
"And as for "giving her the rionkhal" - that may be put aside as the joke it is. The rionkhal is the foundation of Phaerion - it is ridiculous to consider giving it to anyone!
"That, I hope, answers Senator Sforath's worries. But there are other reasons to open negotiations with the Elentári beyond the simply diplomatic. Phaerion is beginning to run low on essential raw materials - the iron veins are growing thin, and within a short period we may even run out of aethric crystals. We will need more crystals soon, and for that we need mining rights. The Aethrakai inform me that Menelmacar is sitting on a major aethric crstal deposit. If we could get access to that, the benefits would be obvious."
Ekhashen paused, waving to Queral to speak.
Queral paused, aware that what he said next could decide the fate of Phaerion for millenia.
Why, why, why did this decision have to rest on my shoulders?
"Having considered both sides of the issue," he began slowly, "I have decided where to cast my vote. This is not an easy decision; both Senators Sforath and Jarish have truth in their arguments.
"While the Elentári Sirithil is a controversial figure at best, we must, I believe, open relations with the world beyond - both Elven and human - and there are warlike nations who would attack us simply for the "crime" of being who we are. Phaerion is ill suited to defend against such attacks; the best way to avoid destruction would be to hide in the shadow of the Elentári, as it were.
"Thus I cast my vote for the opening of negotiations with Menelmacar. I can only hope that it is the right choice."
Thariel's face showed no doubt whatsoever that the Conservative leader considered it to be the wrong choice, but Ekhashen was beaming. One by one, the remaining Senators - Conservative, Moderate and Progressive all - cast their votes, fairly predictably; Progressives for, Moderates, following Queral's lead, for negotiations, and Conservatives against. With Moderate support, the Progressives won easily.
In the hush that followed, Queral siezed the opportunity to speak.
"The drafting of a message of such import should be done by the Caste Senate as a whole, as well as the Clan Senate and the Vaithrei Caste."
The Vaithrei were the negotiators and diplomats, and it was natural that they would be consulted for the drafting of the message. The Senators readily agreed to Queral's proposal; their power was equal to the Caste Senate's, after all, and this matter, which would have so much import to all the Phae, affected the Castes just as much as the Clans.
As they left the Senate Dome, the sun lit the Dome with a blinding radiance, reflecting bright rainbows across the High Green.
-----
The next day, the Senate Dome was crowded with several hundred Senators in a bewildering riot of clothing styles and colours; aside from the Clan Senate's three major and several minor factions there were also the Caste Senators, who had in addition to their own factions different uniforms for each Caste.
Unlike the comparatively simple Clan Senate vote yesterday and the Caste Senate one the day before that, this Council had stretched into the afternoon. And they still weren't beyond the Menelmacari ruler's impressive list of titles.
Her name - long even by the standards of the Phae - caused no problems diplomatically, although pronouncing "Sirithil Nalosaurawen Finlaurë Aineldalië Minyavendë nos Fëanor" was a different matter.
Sirithil's titles, however, had caused massive controversy, with the Progressives of both Clan and Caste calling for the inclusion of every single one of them, and the Conservatives and most of the Moderates demanding the removal of several that they saw as too pretentious. As usual, Queral tried to arbitrate between the two groups.
"Her Eternal Imperial Majesty?" Thariel vae Rejait ki Sforath said, shaking his head. "Give me a sword and I could prove she's not as "Eternal" as all that. Besides, she has no such authority here."
"If we want to come to any sort of agreement with her, we need to give her her pride," the Caste Senator he was arguing with responded. "If one of us were to go to Menelmacar, we'd want to be known as Senators, would we not?"
"I don't think we need to give her any more pride than she's already got." Thariel responded, glaring at Queral as the Moderate leader passed.
Close by, Kashaithra Caste Senator Akhajeth vae Kashaithra ki Feraj was arguing to a crowd of listeners, including Kiaren vae Rejait ki Zhanhai. Queral stopped to listen.
"You all know my opinions on the subject," Akhajeth said, "But obviously we shall never remove all her titles, so we must come to some compromise. However, I for one refuse to call her "High Queen and Lady Protector of Elvenkind". Sirithil may be the elf with the biggest stick, but that does not give her dominion over all the others. We must show her that her gravships and space fleets do not give her dominion over us."
The Kashaithra Caste were the police and military of Phaerion; it was the expected sort of thing for the Kashaithra Caste Senator to say, and one which Akhajeth had no trouble saying.
Queral moved on, and found the worried-looking Vaiphaen Caste Senator, Najaren vae Vaiphaen ki Shenath, asking Clan Shenath's Senator, Yiragh vae Rejait ki Shenath, "...And isn't "Empress of All Elves" saying she rules us? We don't want to give her any ideas..."
"I think it's another territory of Menelmacar, Najaren," Yiragh replied, "An odd name to be sure, but perhaps it means "fully elven" rather than "every elf". Menelmacar wouldn't be the first nation to enforce homogenity."
Senator Najaren noticed Queral, and turned to greet him.
"Senator Taiyen! Perhaps you can help me. How is "Guardian of America and the Congo" different from "Empress of Vinyarda, Ceres, All Elves, and Eärendil"?"
Queral considered for a moment.
"You know, I don't think they are. A matter of semantics, that's all. If we call her by one, we should probably call her by the other also."
"Oh. But she does seem rather pretentious, doesn't she? We don't want "Phaerion" added to that list next to All Elves and Ceres."
"I don't think that annexing us would be good for her international reputation, Senator Vaiphaen." Queral reassured Najaren.
"Actually," Yiragh said, "Speaking of that, I noticed Senator Khetral debating whether we should be calling her "Lady" Sirithil or not."
"What?" Queral was puzzled, "Of course she's a ... oh. Perhaps we should keep Senator Khetral from talking to the Elentári."
Eventually, of course, they reached a consensus, and the Vaithrei Caste diplomats wrote the message, with many revisions as one Senator or another objected.
To the Lady Sirithil Nalosaurawen Finlaurë Aineldalië Minyavendë nos Fëanor, Elentári of the Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar, Empress of All Elves, Eärendil, Vinyarda and Ceres, and Guardian of America and the Congo, greetings from the Senates and People of the Most Serene Republic of Phaerion, the Island of the Skies.
The Most Serene of Phaerion is interested in opening diplomatic relations with the Empire of Menelmacar, the Senates having deliberated and come to the conclusion that such relations would be to the benefit of both nations.
We extend to the Elentári Sirithil nos Fëanor and to the Empire of Menelmacar the hand of friendship, and hope that the Empire of Menelmacar will reciprocate.
By the blood of Enthrial the Founder,
The Clan and Caste Senates of the Most Serene Republic of Phaerion
Debate and counter-debate and, in several cases, threats not to sign had pared an initially rather flowery document down to it's bare essentials, all that could be included without more controversy. The Senators filed past the desk set up by the Vaithrei Caste diplomats to add their signatures, almost four hundred names.
Then the diplomats double-checked it for any last-minute mistakes, and handed it to the Aethrakai Caste Senator, Ruithan vae Aethrakai ki Saiyan, for transmission through the aethric crystal resonators to Menelmacar.