Too many of us want reality to align with our beliefs rather than make our beliefs align with reality. That materialism is the basis of Imperial diplomacy and Imperial governance. Yet materialism by itself results purely in the factory-towns governed by Maisara, of Order. The buildings are unadorned and perfect, the population is proficient, skilled, highly educated, intellectual, they are places of science that refine known chanics into more efficient inventions, I cannot deny that. Nor can I deny that her towns are not the very pinnacle of how much production one can squeeze from an area. There is no one who can run a factory like Maisara can, and she can run it so well that the factory consus the city.
Yet likewise, one does not need to argue from a philosophical or moral perspective when they point at her domains. One rely needs to point out the four generation life-cycle of them. They only arise in the case of crisis, for humanity has must have so unconscious safety chanism built into them to avoid pure, unchanging, ever-present and ever-lasting toil. What this chanism is, I do not care enough to define it, but I am certain it exists. Maisara’s realms eventually all fade away due to the sa problem: they lack people. The woman is able to manufacture a peaceful, andering cleansing, for those serving under her simply stop having the instinct to produce children. It is not the goal of her operations, nor is she happy with the fact this is what her rulership produces. The point is important to make, for we must not at what her system is defined by but instead by what it produces.
It is through that logic of the final effect that we can truly judge the material and the philosophy. And that is foundational philosophy of the Empire. Likewise, it is the foundational philosophy of our reality. We will not humble ourselves with gift-giving nor treaty. The reality of the Empire is that it contains within itself the strongest Divines on Arda. With one word, Olephia is able to wipe a city away from the face of the world. We are the most scientific society on this world, breaking the stagnation that marked the Age of Reconstruction and finally driving the world towards the future. We are most human society, for the Divines I have chosen are those who care least for humanity. And we are the one realm that has been liberated from the clutches of philosophers and artisans who wish to paint political theory over reality.
We cannot descend to Maisara’s purely utilitarian nature, nor can we look at the philosophy Allasaria espouses and consider it a blueprint for a state. The Empire is real first, and it is spiritual second, but it is spiritual nonetheless.
Irinika of Darkness said it once: We do not temper our spirit with steel, we temper our steel with spirit.
- Excerpt from “Empire-Building”, one of texts Arascus wrote in the short ti between the foundation of the Empire but before the Great War.
Arascus marched into the building that was the new mayoral office, of New Alkai, whilst the real new mayoral office was being built. It was going to be grand eventually, Arascus had no doubt of it. The sheer size of Divinity mandated every structure built for them be grand. The real risk was whether it would be a monunt to vanity or to respect. Etala seed like the type who would manage it well though, if worst ca to worst, she could always request an Imperial architect to assist.
The temporary new mayoral office was a warehouse; there was no other way to describe it. It had obviously been built to facilitate governance of a rebuilding effort first and to be torn down at the very end of construction. The walls were plain, with huge clear windows and tapestried in the monocolour of white. UNN flags of their various states hung off the walls fastened onto hooks. A stage was present, although Arascus could obviously see it was not for him. It was fashioned like a courtroom, most likely the building served dual purpose for that too.
The judges today would be the UNN politicians, Ciria stood in the centre of them, she had no seat. President Kochinski sat to her right in a blue uniform that made Ciria’s white dress even more vibrant. Halkus’ black suit was obviously there to contrast with Ciria. The imagery was obvious, Divinity in shades, the humans in colours. A separation of the two. Arascus in his black uniform, with edges of red and silver and faint gold cloth, with a sword in a black-gold sheathe on his belt, with a short cape of crimson, was the odd man out. And frankly, it was perfect. He would not have it any other way, let them show their separation between Divinity and Humanity, and let him show the fusion of it.
And the jury were the caras. On one hand, Arascus could not believe the sheer stupidity of that move. There was no polite way to put it, going up against him in public debate was akin to trying to outcompete Elassa in magic, Anassa in sorcery, in trying to make a light shine brighter than Allasaria. On the other, he had to respect the sheer confidence of the move.
But it was stupid. He and Kassandora were not invited to debate because they both treated it as a competition to be won. That was what it was after all. And once one beca aware of the rules of oration, of sophistry, of argunt, good faith talk beca impossible. There were rely conclusions to be aid for.
Conclusions such as the transferal of Ciria and Halkus to support the Imperial war effort. “Mister President.” Arascus gave the tiniest inclination of his head to Kochinski, it was respect to the office and the power, not the person. The man looked like he had gone through a death-march. There was a fire in his eyes, and the fire was about to flicker out. “I have co for diplomacy.”
“I hear you Arascus.” Kochinski said, for a man who looked at the edge of his nerves, his voice was rather steady. “I assu it is do with your war. Let be clear, the UNN will not send its sons and daughters to fight in an Epan conflict. Nor do we intend to beco an arms factory for you. If you have co for that, then you are wasting your ti.”
That was planned, maybe not rehearsed, but planned definitely. But it was fine completely, they had drawn the line in the wrong sandpit. Arascus let them feel as if they were in advantage. “The Surface War against Tartarus has reached Kht now, it has devastated the Eparika sea, the fight is more than just an Epan Conflict.” The important part was not to end the eting here and now. That would be easy, anything to technical or too out there would be an imdiate signal that they were unprepared.
“Indeed.” Kochinski said. “But we are not in the Old World. Tartarus has repeatedly stated the war is against you. Tartarus versus the Empire. And they have repeatedly stated they will leave once you are dead or taken away.”
“I do not deal with demons.” Arascus said. If soone said that to him, the reply was obvious: one is standing before right now. He let the silence hold for a mont, it was a risk. And it was a risk that none of Kochinski’s n, nor the president himself, nor Ciria or Halkus, seized. “Tartarus has broken treaty before, no plane flies on Arda because of their ash, that is the amount of value they put on the planet itself. I doubt that they have put anymore on what they say to us.”
Not a bluff but a declaration. The obvious answer would be to just say he was wrong. But to say he was wrong would be to stand against Arda and with another world and who would do that? Kochinski sighed. “Then let us deal with the reality Arascus.” He said. “The war is in stalemate.”
Good move. Very good move in fact. To say that the UNN would tip the balance would go against what Kochinski declared in the first place. “The war is slowly being won.” Arascus said. “The Empire has stabilized the situation in Epa, we are beginning to retake Rilia.”
“And Kht is falling at the sa ti.”
“Kht’s forces will break themselves upon Ainai.” Arascus said. “We shall cage them in and we shall not let them spread their ash any further. Kht will be the last country on Arda to fall. The maps, as they are now, will mark the furthest extent of success that the demons have achieved.” Make the discussion about the war, and make the war glorious, and make the war total, and let the people feel sha for their lack of participation. And, most importantly, give them an out for that sha. They did not want to provide arms or blood? Epa had enough of both. They could rely provide the two Divines that stood behind Kochinski and thought themselves above this discussion. “And we shall send them back with such force that they will not return for a thousand years.”
Ciria’s smile grew. Good, let her build the confidence and over-extend. Kochinski leaned back and shook his head. “Then we wish you well in this war, the UNN is thankful for your support but we make our stance clear. It is not our conflict.”
Perfect. Pinnacle of statecraft and conversation. It was rare that a human was this capable. Arascus nodded in respect, this ti fully. To the person, not the office. “Then we should talk after.” He said.
“The war is concluded yet.” Kochinski said.
“But it shall be soon.” Arascus replied. “And there will be an after, I have co because we have done you a sin, and we intend to repay it, and there is no need to delay.” Kochinski took a deep breath.
“Repaynt is one thing, dependence is another.” Good move. They were obviously wary of the Clerics, but words were words, and there was no such thing as help without a little dependence at least. Arascus had to bait Ciria into the conversation, this man was too calm and too focused.
“Indeed.” Arascus sad. “We shall have troops, we shall spare manpower and ships, and magicians. And all those things will need a place to go after the Empire demobilizes. It would be a sha if spare hands went back to the barracks when there is still work to be done on Arda.” It was a thoroughly crude point. Ciria’s eyebrows narrowed, her lips twitched. Kochinski took the lead.
“Imperial troops in the UNN is simply not going to happen.”
“Imperial hands.” Arascus said. “Not troops. I have no intent to conquer you and your people are too proud to be conquered in the first place.” Give the caras what they wanted to here. Arascus wanted to check the reactions on the faces of the reporters, but he kept his gaze straight. Winking at the cara was far too personal.
Kochinski actually smiled and shook his head. “I suppose you know of pride.”
“I am the incarnation of it.” Arascus said. “No, to conquer the UNN would be to try and conquer the human spirit that loves freedom.” That obviously got Ciria angry, her golden eyes twitched. It was cheap bait, coming from the mouth of the Emperor, it was even cheaper. “I have ambition to climb mountains, I do not intend to walk on the sun.”
Kochinski laughed. That was the first check. Arascus was winning nothing here but he knew the dread of a subordinate laughing in a negotiation. The only people he would trust to laugh and still co out with a good deal would be his daughters and Iliyal Tremali and they were certainly the exceptions that proved the sheer inflexibility of the rule. “I did not expect you to co singing our praises.” The president eventually said when he cald down.
Arascus smiled for the caras, even as he fixed his gaze on Kochinski. “I deal with reality. I do not hug hedgehogs and I realise when a nation cannot be conquered. The democracy you have has produced sothing my ancient spirit finds unfathomable frankly, there’s a part of that horrified, but I can’t rewrite reality. The reality is that your people will not submit in conquest.” Praise was cheap, but being a human so horrifying that you baffled Divinity? Now that was priceless. “So I will not even bother.”
Ciria finally snapped and took control of the situation. Far too early, frankly, Arascus enjoyed the buttering up of a fine dish. “And if your troops co, then what? You bring an army here? Do not be stupid Arascus. We cannot allow Imperial troops or Imperial hands or however you wish to call them on UNN soil.”
Arascus lowered his tone imdiately. Ciria should have worn the sa style as Kochinski, they had separated themselves visually on purpose. It was too easy to make others see the difference. “I deal in reality Ciria.” Arascus said. “The Empire could militarily defeat any nation on this world. It could defeat every nation together, we have grown to the level of power that we alone are able to stand and win against another Tartarus. But could we hold the UNN? No. That is the reality of the matter. We would bankrupt ourselves by placing a platoon on every street. It would be a generation of uprisings, and then it would be the tearing down the black-red-white across the continent.” The ancient tyrannies of Divinity had been lost that way. They had held and held and held until they simply did not have the strength to hold and had to fall. “So it is sothing I will not even bother attempting.”
He t Ciria’s gaze. The only thing that could be said against his speech would be a threat or a display of power. But the Goddess pretended not to be involved in the politics here, so what exactly could she say? The silence held, Arascus smiled easily in the tension.
Etala ruined the unease. The door suddenly swung open and the Goddess of Democracy entered in a dark blue dress. Arascus had told her to get out of the blacks, they looked far too Imperial. He had assud she would choose a suit or sothing that fit in with the style here. And not…
Not the style of Epan aristocracy. He took a deep breath now that the caras had swerved to her. “I have co since the UNN is being discussed.” At the very least, she was not bold enough to stand next to him. Instead, she walked across the room, around the judge’s bench and stood by Kochinski’s left side. “Continue, I have been tracking the conversation.”
Ciria took the initiative this ti. “I have seen you t with Goddess Etala already.” Ciria said, the cara crews were swerving around, pure chaos. The Empire would have had a stage for these sorts of things. Better yet, it would do diplomacy in private. Who did Ciria think she was? This was so trap?
Very well, if she had enough pride to think herself equal enough to stand against the incarnation of it, he would treat it like an even playing field. Let her show off her skills in the realm of public debate. “Etala is the Goddess of this nation, I had thought it like Epa.” Arascus said, he bowed his head to Kochinski this ti, the caras would catch it. “My apologies for the mishap, it will not happen again.”
He saw Ciria’s eyes narrow for a mont, then relax when she realised the caras were on her. Her fingers uncurled from a fist too steadily to be a natural release of tension. Maybe she had realised her mistake? Hopefully not. This would be done today if the caras were allowed to remain. What would she say? Sothing petty? Sothing grand? Kochinski had fallen silent, he seed to shrink with Etala by his side, the president sat up straighter. Was he afraid of her? “How much support are you willing to send?” Etala broke the silence.
“Anything and everything can be negotiated, from individuals to institutions to Divinity.” Arascus said.
“That would require an agreent with the courts and the senate first.” Ciria said.
“The senate and the courts need to know what they are allowed to bargain on.” Etala replied dryly without even looking at Ciria. They really did hate each other. Or maybe Etala was simply putting on a brave face because Arascus was here. Either way, he was impressed.
“That depends on how much support we receive in the war right now.” Arascus said. “It shall be won, but each day we carry on is more countless lives lost.”
“As president Kochinski said, the UNN is in no position to assist the Empire. We have no moral imperative and even if we did, then the reality of the crisis we are in now forbids us from it.” Arascus saw the role she was playing, the pragmatist and the realist. The lowering of moral standards and making the discussion one of pure material reality. She was a good dance partner, one day, she may even match Helenna or Malam.
Arascus took a deep breath and nodded. “That is understandable Etala.” He said and saw her turn her lips up at him and nod upwards towards the door. Another hand reached her chest and she bowed. Arascus got the ssage. It was a risk, but nothing was won without risk. He was to leave. It was bait. If it was Malam or Helenna or Kassie, he would follow along imdiately. It was Etala though. But Etala had seen him first, and Etala had been honest and frankly, he trusted Etala. She didn’t like him, she didn’t trust him, but she trusted the state of the world and that was enough. Arascus bowed his head to her. “Very well, I shall not interfere with your nation. Any diplomacy we do will be once the war concludes but you have my nur.”
“I do.” Etala said. “It was a pleasure to host you, your fleet is mighty and I am glad you recognize the spirit of my people.” From the reactions of the cara crews, she had just made a faux pax. Arascus took a step towards the door and stopped.
“Divinity should not interfere in politics Etala.” Ciria said dryly. “Do not leave yet Arascus.” Arascus stared at the door. Victory. Check soon, even though Ciria did not see it. Etala had just removed Kochinski from the discussion, they could cease this farce of discussion and get to the actual discussion. “This is a human nation, it is up to the President to dismiss you.”
“I dismiss myself Ciria.” Arascus said.
“Of course you do.” Ciria said, looking sideways at Etala and at him. She obviously sensed there was sothing going on but now, she was leading the discussion. Arascus tapped his foot.
“I have a war to manage.” He said to hurry her along. “There are lives to save.”
Etala nodded. “Indeed.” She said, then glanced at Kochinski and back at Arascus. “Although the UNN governnt will not support you, we have people here who are fond of the Empire. I see no reason they cannot volunteer to serve in the defence of Arda. You may dock your fleet.” Ciria blinked then looked at Etala, then back at Arascus.
“We will not allow Imperial trained soldiers to return here.” Ciria said. “You are crafting a private army for yourself Etala.”
“It is for the defence of Arda Ciria.” Etala turned to face the Goddess in white. “And Arascus said he would not bother occupying this land already. I do not care if you believe him or not, reality is as he says it, my people do not submit to occupation.” All the caras were on them. “And likewise, the reality that everyone in this governnt has been avoiding is that we are in a state of crisis that will take a century to fix.” She extended an arm out to Arascus. “Call it a deal with the devil but this is the most humble man in this room right now for at least he represents what force stands beside him.” She raised her voice. “I have watched my nation be destroyed by their own cataclysm true, but why did it get to that point Ciria?! Why exactly did Elassa need to crack the continent to kill the Jungle when we stood as the most powerful nation in this world? What did you do for Arda then? And now you co and turn Arascus away because of what? Because he is older than you? Because the Empire is grander than anything you have ever built?”
Etala turned to the caras. This was her desne truly, Arascus would not steal the spotlight. The Goddess of Democracy knew how the show was ran. “Ladies and gentlen of the United New Nations, I speak to you directly here, and I do not care for Divine interference or any clauses left by a White Pantheon which no longer exists. We have been destroyed, we are suffering, that much is true. We can look towards the past, we can pity our mistakes, we can live in a delusion that one day we shall rebuild and defeat the Empire for its cri of saving Arika, even as we watch everyday as it defeats a monster we can’t even fathom, or we can look towards the future and actually comprehend.” He finger pressed into the desk. “That the world is no longer led by Allasaria and that whether we like it or not, Arascus exists, his Empire exists, and currently, they are the only people extending a hand to us.”
She cooled down, took a deep breath as Kochinski sighed deeply. Of Democracy turned to Of Civilization. “Ciria, Arascus has given us a choice here. Our support now for his support later. It is a deal so clean I do not understand how anyone in this room has not taken it already. Who exactly do you stand for?”
“I stand for Arda.” Ciria said, she extended her arm out to Arascus. “And Arascus will strangle it.”
“There won’t be an Arda to strangle if Tartarus wins the war.”
“It is against the Empire!”
Etala turned to the room. “Who here genuinely believes, after Ashen Skies, after the destruction of the Eparika, and after the invasion of Kht, that Tartarus will actually stop at the borders of the Empire when it sees what our world is capable of? Raise your hand right now if you think they will see the Empire and assu another Divine will not recreate it? I certainly do not and I say this because this if the Union returns to what it was, we are a comparable force.” And who thought she could speak like that? Arascus looked around the room. No one raised a hand. “Well Ciria, Democracy has spoken.”
“You will coup and destroy this governnt Etala.”
“I am the Goddess of Democracy Ciria.” Etala said. “The last thing I will do in this world is destroy my own desne. I will not be the guinea pig of that particular theory, of that, you have my assurance.” She turned to Arascus. “Has that ever happened.”
Arascus shook his head. “No.”
Etala nodded and Arascus saw the play. Etala may have carved out her own path, but it would be one drenched in civil war here and in blood. And, he still needed Ciria. Of Democracy had just proven herself though, she would understand what he was doing. “There is an alternative.” Arascus said. “In exchange for support.” It was honestly baffling that sohow, Etala had actually made him the good cop in this conversation.
All the gazes turned to him, every in genuine surprise save for Etala who had to feign it. “What now?” Ciria asked.
He and Etala could bounce Ciria about all day between them. They could get assurance after assurance and it would not change a thing in the world. It was ti to make the call. “You.” Arascus said.
Ciria narrowed her golden eyes at him. “What?” She hissed.
Arascus took a step forwards. “The Empire has arms, it has blood, it has the will to defeat Tartarus and we shall. But what we cannot do is breach Ashen Skies, the ICDT tower that was built in Rilia, we need hundreds of them. Thousands maybe. Our engineers are working on manufacture right now but it is a slow process.” He let the silence hold for a mont. “There are a hundred and twenty million people in Kht right now Ciria. We do not know how long they have, but we know they are under demonic occupation. We are not going to bombard that nation specifically because they are being used as shields and we do not know how long the Ainai garrison will be able to hold. There is a clock, a window, right now, in which we can end the war quickly.” He stared at Ciria. “No Imperial troops in the Union, you may ask for materials, for mages, for whatever you wish, with whatever restrictions you wish, and we shall provide it. And in return, we do not ask that you fight, nor spill blood, nor aid in the creation of weaponry, we ask that you build the towers that will clear the world of the ash that infects it.”
He killed the smile that threatened to grow on his lips. That would be too on the nose.
But in Ciria’s eyes, he saw the mark of the end: acceptance.
Check and mate.
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