Kanul smiled. It had been a few months since he had returned from his first voyage to the south, but this was the first time since his return that a meeting of the council of Ajaw had been called. Now, he was prepared to present what he had found. Or at least as much as he would share.

"Greetings, my fellow Ajaw." He began. "I come before you today to share the findings of the voyage to the south. Firstly, we learned of many nations, 4 of which I met with over the course of the expedition. There were the MAD Sects, whom I learned precious little of; Daconia, an insular city state; Titantium Novum, a perfectly normal if drab empire; and Sarandosh, a large and powerful empire to the south. It is Sarandosh that I truly with to discuss with you."

Kanul began to pace. "I spoke with a man of great importance in Sarandosh. Through our discussions, I managed to negotiate trade for their luxury goods, such as amber and cocoa." There was a smattering of polite applause, but Kanul held up his hand to silence it. "Spare me your adulation. I have much more interesting news to share with you yet. Sarandosh, though comparable with LUX in refinement, the sciences, and wealth, appears to have a few domestic issues. According to Titantium Novum, the nation is known as Bulkhai, but we only met with men of Sarandosh. After enough asking around, we discovered that the nation is at war with fractured pieces of its former self, Sarandosh being the mightiest. Despite this, Sarandosh needs support, and was willing to trade great things for my pledged military support."

Kanul put on his trademark devious smile. "Gentlemen, I sense profit. Sarandosh only knows I am "Ajaw of the Tetk'in". I revealed to him neither the multiplicity of our Ajaw, nor the nature of our state. With some careful coordination, we may be able to play Bulkhai like a fiddle, reaping the rewards from all sides of the conflict. All it will take is the lives of your men."

"And I can see some of you may doubt the merits of interfering in the affairs of such a distant kingdom. Well, prepare to have your doubts assuaged." Kanul beckoned to an Eagle Warrior to his rear, who ran forward with a metal bowl, which he set on the ground before Kanul. Kanul struck flint and tinder he pulled from his robe, holding the fast-burning kindling above the bowl. "Observe." With that word, he let the tinder drop, then took a casual step back (albeit a large one). A conflagration erupted from within the vessel, the spontaneity of which caused the bowl to overturn in short order (though the bowl, made of copper, refused to shatter). After the sparks and flame vanished, Kanul began to speak again.

"The man I spoke with claimed this powder had the power to summon dragons. He gave us a sample, and the alchemists of the Order were more than happy to solve its mysteries. We can produce this powder at will now. It is hardly cheap, but the effects are evident. And I gained access to this ownder merely by pledging my support to their cause."

Kanul began to pace again, evading the charred mark on the floor. "Now, there is one final matter. I became so fixed on discovering Bulkhai that I did not travel any farther south. There are still goods unaccounted for, and potentially lands unseen. I wish to return, so that I may find all there is to find to our south.

Meta: LUX has black powder, and perpares to mount a second expedition to the south.

Conclusion of this.