Trillia glanced at each person sitting at the table with her. She wanted to be careful with her words. She was learning very quickly that orc culture was a stark contrast to human culture.

"I think. I think my first question is to Lady Kismet and Lord Maldoun. How long did D'Jamu practice slavery? I was born into a people that do not practice it at all. I guess. I guess I'm curious why it wasn't stopped long ago?" Trillia prepared to write things down. To her surprise, it wasn't Kismet or Maldoun that spoke, but Stas.

"It was only in the last two or three centuries that the Shattered Plains stopped the practice. Most orc and monstrous tribespeople still happily practice slavery. Especially concerning defeated enemies. Grand Chieftain Amara and King Cordaos were both slaves when they were young. So when we were all exiled to the northern continent, we agreed to abolish slavery on the continent. Anyone who was found practicing it had to face the Four Great Beast Generals."

Stas nodded slightly to Kismet and Maldoun. "Don't judge humans so harshly. It is the law of nature that the weak are ruled by the strong. The only reason slavery isn't practiced amongst our own people. Is because someone stronger is there to ensure that it doesn't take hold. Forgive me for stepping in to speak, but I feel it important that you know the history of our people before you inquire as to the history of another culture."

Kismet offered a smile and nodded back at Stas. "Thank you, Lord Stas. Truth be told, slavery is a touchy subject for our people. It originally started when our kingdom had neighbors. D'Jamu used to be one of the largest cities in the desert and its outskirts. Trade is no longer tenable due to the Sage. Because of that, our ability to feed our people rapidly declined. The ruling class at the time chose to capture and enslave merchant caravans that came through the area, using the Sage as an excuse."

As Kismet thought about what to say next, Maldoun filled in. "Understand that all of this was long before Kismet and I were born. The city and culture we were born into was one where birthright was everything. She and I clawed our way out of poverty and slavery, losing two brothers and a sister to starvation along the way. I think... I think when we finally made it, we had lost enough of our humanity that we didn't remember our own suffering and struggles. So we were quick to play the game of nobles and enslave others to secure our own comfort."

Trillia wrote a few things down. As silence filled the room, she realized how wrong she was to judge. Her life had difficulties, but starving to death and watching those around her starve to death wasn't one of them. That line of thinking also led her to ponder Tormash and his desire to strike out on his own.

It led her to wonder why her mother was so against non-combat classes. Was it because of a past like Kismet and Maldoun? Uncle Stas said that she had been a slave. Did she pressure all orcs to take combat classes so that they couldn't be taken advantage of as easily?

She jumped a bit when Arlyss placed a hand on her shoulder. Looking around, she realized everyone was staring at her and waiting. "Sorry. I also want to apologize for judging you all. My tribe values a person's individual freedom. At least...I thought we did."

Kismet tilted her head slightly in curiosity. "We don't enslave others. Even from a rival tribe. We kill them or release them. But at the same time... our Chieftain puts heavy pressure on those who take non-combat classes or are thinking about it. Even the people who cook in our village have combat classes. Our herbalists are often alchemists, shamen, or scouts. I wouldn't compare that to slavery... Especially not after seeing so many people in this city with blank stares in their eyes."

She sighed heavily, setting down the enchanted writing tool and rubbing her eyes. "I guess. I think I'm just too young to understand the impact of all of this. I'll be more mindful of judging others in the future. I want to help the city of D'Jamu mostly for selfish reasons. The choice is to either help Lord Arlyss and his siblings become powerful enough that we can seal the [Primordials] or watch as my Mother and my uncles sacrifice themselves to do the same job."

Maldoun scratched his chin as she finished. "That's all life really is. Using others to further your own ends. People are a resource like any other, meant to be tapped into. Sometimes that resource is friendship, and sometimes that resource is labor. Don't feel bad that you want to save your family. You're choosing to place yourself into the servitude of a deity for all eternity. Kismet and I fought, murdered, stole, and killed to save ours. While we are desperately trying to repent and do better, when the choice came to us, we chose to be dishonorable."

He looked over at Kismet, taking her hand and giving it a little squeeze when he saw her eyes tear up. "We're happy to help you learn about our culture. Not only are you the Avatar of our deity, but your willingness to sit here and discuss this. Instead of just writing us off speaks volumes for the type of woman you're growing up to become. For what little my opinion is worth, I think your tribe would be damn proud to have you represent them to the world as a whole."

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Stas lightly pounded the table with his fist. "I'll agree to that. As the oldest creature here, let me give you a warning, Trillia. You are going to see things in your time alive, especially as a pact-bound creature that would break most people. You will watch humans tear each other apart limb from limb. You will watch demons and celestials feast on mortals around you. There is a reason that the life expectancy of pact-bound creatures, despite being functionally immortal, is only a few centuries."

Stas looked to Arlyss and motioned. "His mind works differently than ours. He is incapable of forming the same bonds with mortals that we do. Because to him, a thousand years is the blink of an eye. His father isn't just a deity. His father is millions of years old and has probably sired tens of thousands of children. It's the same for most of the ancient deities. The life of mortals is short and fleeting. Even dragons only live for a few thousand years."

Trillia slumped back in her chair a little. It was a rather depressing thought that she was serving a creature that seemingly looked down on them. Or would be, in the future. Stas saw her stature and pushed on.

"For what it's worth. Lord Darktone at least cares about his mortals. He fights for us. He's willing to bend and break the rules for us. I think he genuinely wants to see us happy. I have no doubt his son will be of the same moral fiber."

Arlyss offered a faint smile, and Trillia thought he looked sadder now than when they had begun this discussion. "For my part in all of this. It's selfish, just as it is with all of you. I want to create an environment that I can use to help my siblings ascend. I want to remove the debuff that blocks my father's insight from reaching all of us. It just so happens that my desires align with actions that will help all of the mortals on this plane as well. I have no intentions of harming any of you or betraying your trust."

Trillia gave the slightest of nods. This hadn't been the discussion she had mentally planned for at all.

Kismet stood and bowed slightly. "I think we can all agree to work together for the betterment of D'Jamu. Whether that is for selfish reasons or not. For now, our interests all align. With any luck, as we get closer to saving the city, we can also get closer as friends and form bonds of trust. Lord Arlyss, if it's ok with you, I'd like to either call this meeting to an end or a pause. I fear I am far too exhausted to continue this discussion." Trillia didn't miss Kismet glancing at her, and she was grateful for the woman taking the blame for wanting the conversation to end.

Arlyss stood and offered a nod. She realized to him it was all platitudes. He had heard the excuse before, and he knew its reasoning. He could quite literally read their minds. He knew that none of them wanted to continue the conversation, but it wasn't his place to call for an end. Trillia spoke up. "I'd appreciate more rest as well. I won't be of much use for the next couple of days while I wait for the curse to fully wear off and the regeneration of my resources to resume."

Arlyss had already started to walk away when he paused and looked back. "It's fine. Why don't all of you take a couple of days to let things sink in and recover from a tumultuous few days. Besides, Stas and Trillia haven't had a chance to properly explore the city. Despite its many problems, D'Jamu has a great deal of things to offer and many new foods that both might enjoy. Take time to explore and enjoy the city together."

Arlyss motioned to Trillia. "If anything goes wrong, reach out to my mind. I'll be here as fast as possible. I'll run some errands out of the city so that you all have time to discuss things without my ever-watchful eyes and ears." Without another word, he vanished from the room.

Everyone either stood or sat there in silence for a few minutes. Trillia slowly closed her journal. "How did he force most of you to abolish slavery?" She whispered the words quietly as she looked at Kismet and Maldoun.

"The rules that deities must abide by are rather strict. The rules that immortals must abide by are less so. For a child immortal, there are very, very few rules. He entered the minds of most of the ruling class and dug through them. If he felt they could be turned to his side, he approached them. Otherwise, he tore apart their mental faculties and watched them devolve into gibbering messes that couldn't even take care of themselves." Maldoun spoke coldly as if remembering that very thing happening.

"It wasn't a choice at first. He started as a child tyrant. No one in the city was able to stand against his mental assaults, and so there was virtually no resistance to his rise to power. But as things began to get better for most people in the city, public opinion of him rose rapidly. Now it's just a small band of nobles acting as a resistance. Saying that the monstrous humanoid races shouldn't be allowed to have freedom. Because he ascended to a local deity, Lord Arlyss is no longer able to simply enter their minds and shatter them."

Kismet spoke after Maldoun seemed done. "Right now, it's solving the food shortage. After, I believe his plan is to finally lay the Sage to rest and get trade flowing in the city again. I believe his current plan is to bring his brother to this area for that purpose. His brother is a prodigy holy warrior on another continent."

Trillia opened her journal back up and wrote a few more notes down. "Why doesn't his mother just bring an army. Wait... no, never mind. If she solves all of the problems, people won't follow him. If he has no followers, he can't grow as a deity."

Kismet confirmed her theory with a nod.

Trillia closed the journal again. "Forgive me. I'm still tired. I think I'm going to borrow a couple of books and return to my room to rest. I'd like to explore the city as Lord Arlyss suggested tomorrow. If either of you are available."

"I'd be happy to. I think Maldoun and I could use the rest as well. Have a good evening." Kismet bowed and turned to leave. Maldoun followed shortly after.

Trillia rose and began looking through the books on the shelves. She still had a couple of hours of the bestowed trait available and was trying to find a book on the human tongue to practice while she was able.

Stas sat in his chair while she searched. He appeared to be deep in thought. As she left for the evening with her books and Ialu, she offered him a little wave. Upon getting no response, she made her way to her room to do some reading and rest for the evening.