It was a bright sunny day in the Vermilion Flower State. Which wasn't that unusual for the bushveld region, but any sunny day was a good day for the children of some wealthier families to play in the streets. Though the population of the Vermilion Flower State is overwhelmingly composed of Tei vokrai, the children of the wealthy and influential filling the streets represented many of the Sovereignties' eclectic species.

In a shady alley between a weaver's shop and a bakery, a small group of children played a game somewhat different from that of the others. While the kids out in the street were playing with balls, hoops, or merely chasing each other around, the youth in the alley had decided to play adventurers. Their little group contained five: a short Greif boy, a well-dressed Chijnol boy, a shy-looking Neetooh girl, and a Tei vokrai girl and boy. Currently the Tei vokrai boy, who went by Ndot̂e, was giving his "team" what he considered to be a rousing speech.

"Now men! We've all heard of the mean, bad Kobolds stealing in the south. Something needs to be done, and we can do it! Now as your leader-"

That was as far as the youth made it before being interrupted by Zotz, the well dressed Chijnol. "You can't be leader! Only girl Tei get to be leaders."

"It's Tei vokrai, stupid!" fired back Ndot̂e "And nuh-uh! I can be leader! Divi can be the spear soldier, Vogel can be the crazy sword fighter, Choc can be the archer, and you can be the... uh... smart one!" He said, pointing to the other Tei vokrai, the Greif, the Neetooh, and Zotz in turn. For her part, Divi nodded happily, clutching the long pole she had already grabbed from near an unattended store, but the rest looked varying degrees of upset.

"Why do I have to be the Schwertkämpfer?" Protested Vogel.

"Because you're the Greif! Strong bird of the mountains, expert with a sword!" Said Ndot̂e. "Duh!"

"I don't want to be the swordsman though! Make Choc do it!"

"I don't want a sword, I want to use a spear!"

"You can't use a spear, that's my job! And we need an archer!"

"Why can't I be an archer?"

"Chijnol are the smart thinky ones! You can't be the archer!"

The children's argument grew more intense, and as it did it grew louder. Soon a door swung open, and an elderly Tei vokrai woman poked her head out, curious as to the cause of her commotion. Seeing the children arguing, some brandishing sticks and poles at each other, she spoke up.

"Well, what seems to be the commotion out here, pups? Did my alley do something to upset you?"

The children turned to face the voice. Even though the woman was partially draped in the shadow of the door frame, the children could see her great age by the thinning fur on her face, and immediately stopped their bickering. It didn't do to disrespect an elder! After the children stood silent for around half a minute, the old woman realized she would have to speak again.

"What were you arguing about just now, pups?"

It was Vogel who spoke up first. "Ndot̂e said I had to be the swordfighter because I'm a Greif!"

Ndot̂e immediately responded with "You do! Besides, Zotz said I can't be the leader because I'm not a girl!"

Within seconds, argument had resumed within the small group. The elderly Tei vokrai sighed, but smiled despite herself. Oh, to be yough and ignorant of the world. Coughing lightly to clear her throat, the woman spoke again. "Children, please. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're telling each other what to do, based only on what you've heard of each other's people"

The children were silent for a bit. It was Divi that finally spoke up "How else would you do it?"

The woman allowed herself to chuckle before speaking. "I can see no one has told you the Old Stories, then?"

The children shook their heads. "No, of course we know the Old Stories! The great Tei vokrai merchants brought the Sovereignties together in peace!" said Ndot̂e.

"No, she obviously means the tales of how the great Greif heroes drove the Kobolds from Chakat!" rebutted Vogel.

"Mmmm, while those are old stories, they are not the Old Stories to which I refer. I am talking about the oldest stories, the Old Stories of the Races. Do you mean to tell me you haven't heard them?"

When none of the children responded, the woman chuckled. "Well, that is a shame. Who do they let be an Orator these days?"

"Are you an Orator, miss?" queried Divi, tilting her head slightly.

"No, I am but a humble weaver named Vundi. Though many years ago, I was orator for the small village of Crimson Daylily in the north, so I could say I know a thing or two about storytelling." Vundi paused, looking out at the five young faces focused on hers. "Would you like to hear the stories?" A chorus of nods signaled her to begin. "All right then pups, allow me to grab a seat. My back is not as good as it once was."

Soon, five children were seated on the packed dirt of the alley, facing a low chair holding Vundi the weaver. Clearing her throat again with a light cough, Vundi began to speak.

"Today, I am going to tell you the Old Story of the Greif." Vogel's eyes lit up at this, and the other children looked briefly to him, before looking back at the impromptu Orator. "Now, as you all know, the Greif are the strong avians of the mountain. But in the days before the sovereignty, the sharp beaks and talons of the Greif were frightening to people all throughout Iik'ka'an. You see, the Greif began atop the Rheinberg, the tallest mountain in Iik'ka'an. It is said that they flew to its peak from beyond the world, and lost both their will to fly and their very wings upon seeing the mineral treasures the mountain had in store. Regardless, the Greif started atop the Rheinberg, and began to spread throughout Iik'ka'an from there."

"As they traveled, they began to discover the other races of Iik'ka'an. The Greif were confused by these strange creatures they could not understand, and sadly, when people do not understand each other, they resort to fear. While some run from fear, the Greif response is a decidedly more violent one. The Greif gained a reputation throughout Iik'ka'an as ruthless killers, their swordsmen striking down soldier and farmer alike. The Chijnol had it worst, living in the forests near the Rheinberg. It is said that many of the oldest Chijnol settlements was completely destroyed by Greif ferocity."

At this point, Vogel looked horrified at the Chijnol to his left, before turning back to Vundi. "W-why would anyone do that? The Chijnol are builders of the sovereignties, and friends to the Greif! My friends are Chijnol!"

Vundi continued "Oh, but they weren't back then, pup. The Sovereignties weren't even a dream in a Damir's mind back then. And the Greif cared only for the Greif. Mountains have metal and stone, but they don't have food. The Greif had to eat, and those around them provided plenty of food. They grew it too." Vundi hoped the implication would be lost on the children; there were some reasons the Old Stories were not usually told to the young. "Regardless, the Greif gained a reputation as brutal savages and the most powerful of warriors. Descriptions of Greif became outlandish, some describing them as gigantic winged monsters with razor-sharp claws that would kill all in their path."

As Vundi paused for a deeper breath, one of the children spoke up. "What changed?"

"As the founding stories say, the Tei vokrai. At first, the Greif killed all, but eventually they found themselves with more wealth than even they could appreciate alone. So they sought to trade. Not the most noble reason to civilize, but it was the reason nonetheless. The Greif allowed a few Tei vokrai caravan-runners to enter their lowland Dorfs, and soon trade between Vermilion Flower State and Rheinheim was flourishing. With the ability to trade for food, and the necessity of accepting another race into their lands, the attitudes of Greif began to change. They may have spit at Tei vokrai and called them Hund, but the killing and pillaging of Iik'ka'an began to die down. In another three centuries, when the Sovereignties were united, the old Greif were nowhere to be seen. The race had gone from killing all and trusting none, to trading with the Tei vokrai, allowing Neetooh farmers into their land, and even sending royal Schwertkämpfers to rid Chakat of Kobolds. By the time Rheinheim joined the Sovereignties, Greif were viewed as noble warriors, ready to rush to the protection of any in the Sovereignties. They viewed themselves this way as well, taking great pride in the skill and nobility of their Schwertkämpfers. To a modern Greif, the idea of attacking any race of Iik'ka'an is abhorrent, and the stories of their past fell from favor. That is why the Orators must preserve the Old Stories."

Vundi leaned back in her chair, the children still silent despite the fact that the Orator had finished speaking. Noticing that all five children were still attentive even after the telling of the story, Vundi asked them all a question. "So pups, can any of you tell me why I chose this specific story?"

There was a shaking of heads, which caused Vundi to smile before continuing. "When I found you five, you were arguing about what each other should do, because it's what your race would do. After all, Greif are strong, Chijnol are smart, Neetooh are cautios, and Tei vokrai unite the races. You all know this, but do each of you feel it personally? You, young Greif," said Vundi, pointing at Vogel, "do you wish to be a mighty sword-wielding warrior?"

Vogel shook his head.

"And I assume similar things are true for many of you. Yet you still tell each other to do what their race would do. Tell me this: if back in the old times every Greif had kept doing what Greif are supposed to do, where would we be? Would Vogel be sitting here, listening to my story? Or would he be training as a warrior to raid a village of unsuspecting Neetooh." Choc flinched at that, but Vundi chose to continue with her oration. "Every race is different. The things people say about them are true to an extent, and they help us a great deal. But if a person wishes to differ from their role, let them. Only by ignoring what a race should do can a race discover its true destiny. Just as the pillagers let themselves become protectors, let each other grow, and expand the possibilities of the Sovereignties."

The children were silent for a few more seconds, before Zotz shouted "I call archer!"

This was followed in quick succession by Ndot̂e calling leader, Choc calling spear soldier, and Vogel calling tactics-shin. The four ran from the alley to resume their adventure, pausing only to grab their sticks, leaving Divi alone with Vundi.

"Orator Vundi?" began Divi after a moment of silence passed between the two. "May we hear another of the Old Stories sometime?"

Vundi chuckled. No one had called her Orator in a long time. "Of course you may pup. But for now, catch up with your friends."

Divi raced from the room, leaving Vundi to reminisce of times gone by. Despite being an old, forgotten woman, she was being given a fresh opportunity to pass on stories to the youth. What greater calling was there for an Orator?