obtained via Loshajin1
Collection Date and Location: 19 Roo’Asha, i0541 - Tower of Reflection, Erikenyea 8:402:FUP-2
LIBRARY CLASSIFICATION CODE: Restricted - Level 3 of 3
Location: Private Room at the Sonakabar’s Restaurant near the Royal District in Verughar, Saadhari
Date recorded: 30 Roo'Asha i0482
Individuals Present2:
- Verisha Mahvaar, Shakoon of the Mahvaar Family (29, Female)
- Arja Jaatha, Vheleda of the Jaatha Family (45, Male)
- Sandha Jaatha, Arja’s son and heir (20, Male)
- Manek Qaditha, Khumalava of the Qaditha Family (47, Male)
- Khamjeer Ghato, Nakevat of the Ghato Family (52, Male)
- Jymeet Alagithi, Paji of the Alagathi Family (71, Neither and Both)
- Dejakaar Venkobhon Aalrorani, Thejak of the Venkobhon Family (38, Female)
VERISHA: I hope you all enjoy the food. I have requested the chef personally, especially for the sake of our dear friends from Saamghara.
He does a number of dishes that adhere to the ancient traditions and keeps the meat strictly separated.
AALORANI: your formal, Verisha. You’re not speaking to the peasants, you know.
SANDHA: I rather appreciate the tone. After all, the import of the moment does require an air of dignity. Shouldn’t it?
MANEK: The gesture is very much appreciated and will be remembered.
KHAMJEER: I hate to be the one that reminds us all, but every second we spend here, we are at risk. Maybe you aren’t familiar with the Goshaka way of doing business?
AALORANI: He’s right. For all we know, the restaurant is full of spies. And where there are Goshakan spies, knives soon follow. Five of them.
KHAMJEER: It was foolish of us to meet so close to the Roaring Throne in the first place. Might as well meet in the Emperor’s toilet.
VERISHA: Then let us waste no more breaths.
Are we capable of coming to a decision?
ARJA: We are ready. Although we still question why we can not be more open with the people. As we have said before, the city of Bat-Hom is ready to act, we do not need-
AALORANI: The Lilac Order is everywhere. For all we know they are in this very room. There is no way to ensure complete-
ARJA: Unlike the city of Dejakaar, the people of Bat-Hom love their Royal Family. We have no need to distrust them.
SANDHA: Nor they us.
AALORANI: That’s cute. I’ll remember that when your family hangs from the rafters in the imperial throne room. You’ll be right there next to the chiefs from Rishea. Rotting up in the ceiling for all to see.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
KHAMJEER: The more we fight between us, the longer we are here.
AALORANI: I couldn’t have said it better myself.
KHAMJEER:
I have spoken with the family. The Ghato are ready.
AALORANI: The Venkobhon family votes yes as well.
MANEK: For once, I agree with The Elephant in the Room.
As long as the Mahvaar Family honors the deal, and the rest of the families honor the privacy of this process, then the Qaditha Family votes yes, though it is with a heavy heart that we do so.
VERISHA: The reluctance of the Qaditha only speaks to your benevolence and your family's long-standing pursuit of peace, Manek. Know that we, The Mahavaar, feel the same way, and hope that the loss of blood will be small.
ARJA: It will. It has to be.
AALORANI: Assuming we all agree and do our part.
She hasn't said anything tonight. Or last time. Or the time before that.
JYMEET: She is neither and both she and he. And please do not mistake a silent tongue for an inactive brain.
SANDHA: That's from something, yes?
What is that from?
ARJA: Quiet, Sandha.
AALORANI: Poetry aside-
VERISHA: With all respect, Jymeet. It is time for silent tongues to speak.
JYMEET: But for my family’s insistence, I would not have entertained any of these meetings after I understood their intent. After all, we are simple vintners and have little interest in the affairs of the Empire.
MANEK: Jymeet, our families are here for all of Saamghara. We-
JYMEET: I am not finished.
JYMEET: I pulled this out of the heart of Nakesh, my twin brother. The reason behind his death, we do not know. But there is no doubt as to weapon’s origin.
VERISHA: The make is certainly familiar.
JYMEET:
The Goshaka Family shall drink only bitter wine from this day forward.
KHAMJEER: I am sorry for your loss, Paji. I have pulled a similar weapon out of the heart of a loved one.
SANDHA: As have I.
ARJA: More than one.
JYMEET: It seems there is agreement. Though I must be direct- many in my family have concerns as to whether we can trust the Mahvaar Family and the long line of Veru to honor the pact for long.
SANDHA: Here, here.
VERISHA: The candor of the room is appreciated. I know I am the youngest here and I have many year’s to earn the trust of the royal families assembled. But know that we all agree that it is long past the time the Lands of the Empire should be controlled only by one family, and voiced by one single person. The actions of Maldana Ghoshaka prove this. The Verughar family will honor the decision made here. And I do so on my life and the life of my unborn child.
JYMEET: Change is as inevitable as the ripening of the grape, as we say back home.
JYMEET: The Alagathi Family will lend our resources towards this effort.
SANDHA: Summer Red! My favorite.
AALORANI: Let us waste no more time.
AALORANI: What more appropriate instrument?
JYMEET: It has a poetic irony to it.
VERISHA: For the good of the Empire and its people, we drink. We drink to the success of our mission.
JYMEET: And the death of the Emperor.
AALORANI: Now let's talk details.
ARJA: Were you able to-
END OF TRANSCRIPTION
1Loshajin is a spell often used by the Cult of the Five Knives and their pupils at the Order of the Lotus. It literally translates to "Eyes of the Locust”. As it sounds, they use a particular breed of locust to make clandestine recordings of various events.
2For a complete listing and history of the titles for individuals below, please refer to Bookmaster Haraj Ahaja’s “A Grand Vision: The Complete History of the Imperial Families from the Founding of the Verushan Empire through the Arcane Wars.” 2: 198: REK-3