The Investigative Assembly of Ash Readers

It had a certain ring to it, Adel thought. Not that the sound mattered, or the meaning, or anything at this point. It was out of his hands. How did they even get to this point? What had been done? Where did it all go so wrong?

The proceedings looked to answer just that.

The Aparsamupastām Parsātāha was made up of every Parsāta of the Aryatsarūn. Every assembly had a different name, generally centered around the reason as to why the assembly was called, since each city ruled itself individually rather than as a whole. These assemblies allowed for consensus in decision making on things that affected the whole of the Arya. In this assembly, there was himself - Adel, the Parsāta of Danioz (now called Agartha) - as well as Adorhoshang of Vâharåŋhânô and Levros, Behbud of Gâtuvîs, and Peshotan of Zhrahnyābhuhmihs. The remaining Parsātāha had not yet arrived, or weren't coming.

The Parsātāha gathered around a long table. Only themselves, the Lawgiver, and the Keeper of Records from Asanšiyāta (who held no voting but was present to represent the settlements around the Ziggurat and to provide any necessary references from compiled history and documents) were present. Adorhoshang represented both Vâharåŋhânô and Levros as their Parsāta, and so held the most power at the head of the table. He opened the proceedings with a grunt.

"May the Keeper of Records regail us with the reasonings as to why we are here."

"In short or in full?" The Keeper did not sit at the table, but stood to the side, opposite of the Lawgiver.

"In full, please."

"May it be understood, then." The Keeper cleared his throat, looking down at a prepared scroll. "The World Was. Know this: that there was a land and people called Orissioz, and within this land did they hail the god or gods of Canaan. They came to know their ways as false, and knew god as something more. They revealed this knowledge to those in Canaan, and were rebuked. They came to the shores beyond our sea, and settled there, and preached their word. This is their Book of Rittan, as has been made available for study for the assembled Parsātāha. There was then Savitra, which prophesied a coming of god on this land, and that this coming of god would die and be resurrected, and usher in a new age with it. In this, they professed that all nations and peoples who would not recognize this coming of god would fall before that god, and be excised from the world for their impurities, and that a new kingdom of heaven would be put in their place. That all others besides them, even those who could be considered their kin, are worse than them in their eyes is also recorded. This is our understanding of these writings, and seems to have been the understanding of the Orissioz as they rode to war with Canaan after establishing their Republic of Savitra."

He paused, as if waiting for any interjections, and then continued. "I state these things for the sake of the Lawgiver, that he might know our ways and offer rebuttal when asked of it later, as requested by Parsāta Adel, whose rule here is known. It was shortly after these things that Fierce Taxmaspada instructed our written records, using the Barren Script. Before the time of cities, he formed Zhrahnyābhuhmihs and its walls, the foremost of our peoples. He kept our oral traditions, and inscribed them, telling us of the generations before. He wrote of how we destroyed the Ameika with wanton aggression, and how the Priest-Kings and the Warrior Caste fought with each other when the flow of goods from their raided homelands stopped. Suffering came upon our peoples. Taxmaspada rallied the Warrior Castes and united them all under his command, and began hearing word of a looming danger from far-off lands. He readied us for a war against an enemy we did not know. He called for the creation of a weapon that could pierce even the heavens, and end Suffering Itself, for if we could defeat Suffering, we could defeat any enemy. In this, the people rallied to him, and overthrew the Priest-Kings when his wisdom reached their ears. We learned that the only things that hold us back are our own inaction, and that Suffering Itself can only be stopped when we move to stop it. That the Priest-Kings used curses and gods as a facade for Suffering Itself is known to us, as the people cast off Apathy and took to their own devices when they were gone, which is good. Zūrovarīdaēuua - She Who Slays daēuua - did show us this by her actions, in taming iron itself and breaking the chains of the Gods-Who-Are-Not by working and moving, rather than talking and hoping. Her curse of muteness became a blessing of diligence, and all took to it. Through Our Efforts And The Fire, These Things Were Overcome For The Betterment Of All. It is known."

"It is known." The various Parsātāha responded, some with enthusiasm and others with a barely-held-back monotony.

"It was then that the coming of the foretold messiah happened upon the Orissoz, who then took to the name Savitrans. His words were that of a conqueror, who united the peoples in a fervor of his religion to usher in a place of heaven on earth - that is why they took the name Savitrans. It was written by that messiah himself, 'There will be a war soon, a war between follower and apostate, good and evil, God and Shatana'. These things troubled Zūrovarīdaēuua, who took to the topic with the interest one would have on an arrow flying too close to the face. Word reached us that he had died, and risen from the dead, and delivered a victory for his peoples. It was then that we knew him to be daēuua, a Non-Thing, That Which Is To Be Rejected, That Which Cannot Be But Is. He called to his people, and demanded a kingdom of god on Earth, and set about making it through fire and blood. We looked at this, and set about preventing this through Our Efforts and the Fire for the Betterment of All, for if this kingdom of god on Earth were to be established, the daēuua would bring Suffering Itself into the world again anew, and strike their own peoples with Apathy due to their eyes seeing no way to stop it, despite their hands having the power to do so."

"Then it was that the Savitran ways touched the shores of Krimeam, and glossed over the eyes of the Quarvoz, who were our brothers. They turned to these new ways in droves, and men walked into the sea through the sheer fervor of it all. We saw these things, and knew that Suffering Incarnate would be upon us if we gave way to Apathy. Zūrovarīdaēuua still ruled us, and in her wisdom she refused and refuted Apathy. She took matters into her own hands, as all should, and enforced her will upon the world for the Betterment of All. First it was that she tried to rouse the Quarvoz from their stupor, in proving them failable, and instructing them in the way they should go - of movement, of betterment, of self-improvement in the face of adversity. She and the Warrior Caste sacked Helioz itself - yet, there was no response. The people there had already given way to Apathy. In their stupor, they did nothing but persist in their stagnation, and the teachings of the daēuua took root in their hearts like a fetid cancer. Zūrovarīdaēuua could see no other way to prevent the fall of the Quarvoz or the introduction of the daēuua's ways to our lands, and so demanded the submission of the Quarvoz, to which they denied and were conquered and made to accept for the Betterment of All."

"In this course of action, she was right in our eyes. For as Quarvoz bent the knee, Savitra then took to the path of war. They looked to Canaan, and saw nothing but lesser beings worthy of naught but extermination. This same look would have taken the Quarvoz in respect to us, as we had done away with gods as all should. The Quarvoz would have descended upon us with Savitran armies in tow, and laid waste to all we hold dear and driven us into the steppes, and then turned their eyes on another. The Savitrans took to Canaan like a flame to straw, and burned all in their path. No man nor woman nor child was spared. All died or were enslaved in their wake. Cities were razed in such a manner that no stone was left atop one another. The devestation was so great that nations were shook to their very foundation and found wanting. The Bagaroki Turfet floundered, and was replaced by families in the same way as Canaan once ruled. Canaan itself ceased to be, and so to did its colonies. The Asegon is no more, their people scattered and fleeing deep into the south of the world. The Danaya are no more. Savitra itself now exists only in those lands we stand on, in these outcasts that fled from the dying carcass of the conquering nation. All of these things because of the words of the so-called Nuwe Ales, taken and enforced upon a world for the sake of the self rather than the sake of the all. I weep, that we did not act further and prevent it. Parsātāha, I beg that you do not fail to prevent a worse fate later by failing to bring to heel Agar-"

"The Assembly thanks the Keeper of Records for their words and reminds them to know their place, as the bringer of facts and not of opinions." Adorhoshang slammed his hand down on the table to grab his attention. "Though I will make a personal promise that I will see things done to their utmost to prevent such a thing from happening again. Is there anything to add further, Keeper?"

"Only this: that those from Savitra fled here away from the chaos, and settled in the lands of the old Danioz. These lands, by submission of the Quarvoz, fall under our laws and our ways, and are called to be ruled by those of our kind. We learned of this new settlement through attempted trade with the remaining Danioz, only to find them supplanted by these new Savitran settlers. We made them aware of their transgressions, and they relented to our rule. Our people moved in, establishing houses of rest and storage for trade, as is customary and is their right by the submission of the Quarvoz. These very same, those inhabitants of our cities that moved here, were then butchered all across Agartha for us to see in plain view. Adel then turned to us for guidance, and we did agree to a meeting here to oversee ways in which these actions can be ended, and how further crisis can be prevented. The World Is. The World Shall Be. For the Betterment of All, Through Our Efforts And The Fire. It Is Known."

"It is known." The Parsātāha responded in kind. Adorhoshang gestured vaguely towards the Lawgiver. "We have his holy books from the Quarvoz, it's only right he be given the Scroll of Wisdom that he might know our own ways in comparison while opening statements are made. Make it so, and then begin recording all that transpires here, at least in brief."

"Yes, Parsāta." The Keeper gave the Lawgiver a bundle of scrolls, written in Barren Script both in the Aryan and Quarvoz language.

Adorhoshang cleared his throat and spoke again. "Since this is Parsāta Adel's holding, I differ the opening statement to you." He nodded to Adel, who then rose from his chair and read his own prepared statement.

"Thank you, Parsāta Adorhoshang. I would like to preface this in that there is nothing in the Scrolls of Wisdom or the Walls which dictate to us that gods in and of themselves are inexcusable to hold in faith. In the lands of the Bagaroki, they too hold to the ways of gods, and so do the Qheriin who yet reside among us in servitude and in seclusion within their own places of settlement. We are called to serve the betterment of all, and to free those around us that are in servitude to Apathy and Suffering and reveal to them that destiny is within their hands and not handed to them from above. Is it not so that if we are to hand judgement upon Agartha, that we would be doing the very same as the Priest-Kings of old, and punishing for the sake of our own beliefs rather than because it is good for them? For this reason I move that we aim to stop the killings rather than punish the belief of this messiah. I am further backed by the writings of Zūrovarīdaēuua: 'Seek not the destruction of those that oppose you, for there is no greater friend and ally than one born of conflict. Bring them to your understanding, that the both of you are made greater for it, and stronger bonds are brought forth into the world.' I thank you for the opportunity for statement, and am open to further discussion."

Adorhoshang nodded and spoke up in response. "Such discussion shall be had. You leave out that which is written directly after: 'Yet do not hesitate to cut down those who would cut down others. Like a diseased tree within a forest of many spreads its taint to those around, so too is the ways of man. See to it that you do not fall to such corruption.' This very same corruption is evident here, in this city, in that the ways of their faith have turned them against the betterment of their fellow man and they instead cling to their ways against all others. They will not see fault in their actions; they would rather die with them in spite of any dissenting opinion."

Behbud butted in, the oldest of the group, and adorned plainly. "I think us shortsighted if we give way to simply quelling all opinion other than our own. Would that not make us just as bad, as Adel says? The words of the young man have touched me, and I see wisdom in them; we cannot simply excise these people from existence because of their barbarous ways. They must be shown the greater way to go."

"I agree." Peshotan nodded. His was a splendorous tunic, embroidered and layered with many jewelries. "Though we must remain stalwart against further injustices on the world, we must not become an injustice ourselves. Let us embrace them with love, that they might learn of it through our actions."

"Such is the wisdom of a hemp smoker." Adorhoshang murmored. "The Quarvoz would not see light until it was forced upon them, I see no difference here."

"The difference here is that they pose no threat to us." Adel shook his head. "Agartha is a small place, barely a few thousand peoples large. They do not border us, nor do they have any military to speak of save for their militia. It-"

"-is not about the size, but of their potential, Adel." Adorshang interjected. "Take the Quarvoz. One to one, they were weaker than us, less numerous, and found wanting of military potential. Yet now because we failed to contain them, they have ventured to the northwest, into unknown lands, taking their ways with them, and will yet tarnish others with their teachings. This will not bode well for the future, and I aim to not let a repeat happen here with Agartha."

"Then what do you propose? Kill them all?" Behbud scoffed. "That's-

"If necessary."

"-not only foolish and near sighted, but against our very core beliefs."

"Is it?" Adorshang shook his head. "Look to the writings again. Look to the recounting of the war with the Quarvoz. ' Inaction is not my way, and should not be the way of any.' If we let them persist in their faith, then they would continue on in their ways, going back to war as a necessity of their faith, and doing so to kill and maim the unbelievers rather than protect those who would be harmed by those who beset them."

"Zūrovarīdaēuua went to war and found it lacking in solution!" Peshotan shouted. "Am I the only one who reads? The Quarvoz as you even said still persist! We cannot force change!"

"And we cannot sit aside and do nothing! Apathy is Death!" Adorshang shouted all the louder. "Kill a Savitran? That's a martyr. Imprison a Savitran? That is harshness. Enslave a Savitran? That places them below us, just as they do everyone else, and makes us a hypocrite. Do nothing? They persist! Something, something, something must be done! Damn them and their stubborness, they will not see the Fire for what it is but instead twist it to their own machinations. Lead them in the way they should go. Phah! If the Quarvoz taught us anything, it is that they cannot be lead!"

"Then we are to set aside what has been called of us?!" Adel yelled incredulously. "You would have us disregard the writings of Taxmaspada and Zūrovarīdaēuua and the submission of the Quarvoz for the sake of your own ends. You lust for death, nothing more."

"I lust for justice!"

"This is not justice, this is-"

Behbud slammed his fist into the table. "Silence! I am hearing no proposition to actually address any of these issues, and only hearing complaints of one or the other. These are vague obscurities - we have murderers here, and we have not seen to their end. Blood has been spilled, you noble men! Should we spill more for the sake of it? No! We must prevent, not seek revenge. We must end this, not start it anew with our own hands. That is as a good ruler does."

"A good ruler rules with prudence and with the future in mind!" Adorshang spat out. "Damn you all if you can't see it, these people will be the death of our children's children's grandchildren! The death of the world! Already the world is in chaos because of them."

"Then propose something, you braggart, rather than foam at the mouth all day, for the love of Love!" Peshotan waived him off, growing impatient.

"Fine! It is my proposition that they are to be enslaved and dispersed among the Arya, in the same way as the Qheriin, that they are left without home and without community. Their ways will be lost to them as there will be nobody to teach their young but our own, and those who kill will be put to the death. Those who martyr themselves will not be mourned, for their communities will be flung about the world rather than all in one place, and if they persist in martyrdom then the whole people will be made a martyr of. That is my proposition."

"Bullshit." Adel slammed his fist now on the table. "The Qheriin are allowed their faith! This is outrageous! Never in my life-"

"Your life has been short, young one, so know your place and know your experience! That is my proposition!"

"I stand against it." Peshotan stands with his arms crossed. "This is not right. I stand against it!"

"And I as well!" Adel took up a similar point.

"Oh? Then propose something else, braggart." Adorshang sneered. "Let me see your justice."

"Let them have their land and their ways, but bring about our own laws and rules and rulers." Adel said after a thought, and glanced to the Lawgiver. "I will have the authority to appoint who I see fit, though the Parsāta will remain Aryan forevermore. Include the laws of Vâharåŋhânô and Levros, in that one must marry out of their caste, clan, town, or profession, and bring about settlers from Arya. Teach them in the way they should go with mutual kinship rather than a fist of iron."

"Heh. Behbud?" Behbud remained silent for a moment before responding to Adorhoshang. "I have no proposition of my own, but Adel's has my backing."

"And mine as well." Peshotan nodded. "That makes it three to one."

"... No. It does not." Adorshang snapped his finger to the Keeper of Records, who then produced a scroll for him, with multiple seals stamped on it. "This I produce from the land of the Quarvoz: 'By the authority of the Parsātāha of Lephroz, Helioz, and Asethoz, we do commit our votes to the backing of the proposition as made known to us by the Parsāta of Vâharåŋhânô, in that those within Agartha be subjugated like that of the Querhiin.' In this way, it is four to three, good Parsātāha." He smirked, victorious.

"That is absolute horse shit, you can't!" Adel fumed. "This - This is my land, I forbid it, and furthermore it has never been done in absence. Why is it that they have not shown to make their votes in person, like brave people?"

"I too wish to know. We made it without issue, why then can they not make it?" Behbud thumped the table in support.

Adorshang paused for a moment, before saying simply, "Carob riots."

...

"Even the wisdom of a hemp smoker can see through that haze and call it for the lie that is!" Peshotan yelled, furious. "Carob riots! I call to question the legitimacy of these seals, in this case. Carob riots. What is really going on here, Adorshang?!"

Adorshang passed the scroll to him - the seals looked legitimate enough. His eyes shifted to the Lawgiver poignantly, remaining there for a moment so that everyone took note, before saying again. "Carob. Riots."

Adel thought for a moment. Oh. Oh. There were still a number of the Quarvoz who practiced the ways of Nuwe Ales... it would not be hard to imagine them rising up in one way or another when word of further persecution or potential persecution of the remaining Savitrans was brought to the east... or it could all be a feint, an excuse to push through a rule. "Be that as it may, it does not account for the vote of Sevethoz or Tethros. I will not relent until they are counted as well, seeing as how we are now counting those who have failed to show!"

"Boy, Tethros has never voted and is all but depopulated, and Sevethos is... at the heart of the Quarvoz, and a main port." Adorshang grew impatient as well, now. "Surely you can see why they would be unavailable even for comment! With the carob riots."

"Carob riots! Enough of it!" Adel pounded the table again. "I do not care! I refuse! And the others stand with me; I will not allow it! You would kill all just as an ease of solution so you can return home and say 'Look, I fixed it'. Fuck you, and your position! This won't serve any purpose other than more wanton destruct-"

"NOW YOU LISTEN HERE AND YOU LISTEN WELL, YOU FUCKLESS RUNT OF A MAN!" Adoroshang bellowed, his yelling masking the sound of trumpets muffled by the longhouse walls in the distance. "Look about the world! LOOK AT IT! See that everything is in peril! All the world is coming apart! Everything! Everywhere! You cannot name a place or a people other than ourselves that are not touched by it! There are none! Nothing! Nobody! Nowhere! Destruction and Suffering Itself has descended upon the world and undone it! There are people of Asegon south of the Varic lands and east of Canaan trying to escape the death! The Kelgoi have eaten entire cities! Tyre is on fire! Do not call 'horse shit' on the facts of the matter - the world is coming undone, and the Savitrans pulled the threads that held it all together! Theirs is the fault, you absolute addle-brained moronic twit! And in turn, the fault lies with us! US! WE did not stop them! OURS is the task of providing for the Betterment of All and we failed! We stopped at the Quarvoz! We could have taken their ships, and descended on Savitra, and stopped this before it started! We could have abandoned the cities, taken to the horse and chariot once more, and driven ourselves through the mountains! We could have gone to the Asegon, bowed before them, and pleaded that they take up arms against the very Incarnation of Suffering Itself! We could have! We should have! I Will NOT have it said that we did not move today to prevent the very same thing from happening again because these ass-backwards, blood-drinking, fervorous warmongers decided that this person over here wasn't deserving of life because that person happened to pray to the wrong thing! I will see it done! I will not be silen-"

The door burst open. An armor-clad figure stood in the doorway, axe in one hand, and shield in the other. Adoroshang fell silent, as did everyone else as the figure stepped forward, their footsteps falling heavy with each slow step taken. Behbud finally spoke up after a few seconds of their approach. "You can't be here."

The figure responded by taking the Lawgiver - which was closest to them - by the neck, and forcing him against the wall, pushing him up to the point that his feet dangled as he gasped for air. Adel protested. "No, wait - please. I allow you here on my authority, please, speak."

They dropped the Lawgiver, letting him catch his breath, as they approached the table again. The figure raised their axe, and chucked it at the table, burrying it deep into the wood. A woman's voice spoke from behind the helmet. "I come on my authority. I speak on mine. If you assume you have power here and now again, I will prove it otherwise. Understand this. I have seen, and I have heard your indecision. They will not plague you any more. Lawgiver. State your response to these things, and then chose yourself your fate. That is our way. We choose what happens by our actions, not debate them with words like these. I will back you in it, and see these men undone because of their indecision, that all will know their weakness. Side with one or the other - or make your own side. Now is your time."