Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 3, 2017 6:55:25 GMT
The horse snorted as Corinn Aqard gazed coldly over the great open plain where Holy Union territory ended and Sacrye began. At his back stood thirty-nine more riders of the 1st Royal Union Demi-Lancers Regiment. On the recommendation of Haldwin the Sage, the Recimir had seen fit to send a delegation to the fearsome giants who dwelled to their west. Though they had not shared this border for too long, a few incidents had taken place over the years that meant simply ignoring the Sacrye Empire was no longer viable - and the Recimir was not truly one to ignore any neighbour for long. Haldwin had informed them that the giants followed their own faith and so had not yet been corrupted by the religion from the South. And so they had brought with them the Qarqaz[1] Laminat Kayal with them in the hope of successfully converting these people to the great indigenous religion of the North; the religion of its glorious history, the religion of the very earth on which they trod and their Northern skies. The religion which the spatterings of the rain whispered and the gently falling snowflakes sighed; the religion that the majestic mountains proclaimed and which the hills and dales and valleys remembered. Aye, it was the religion to which every true Northerner was inherently drawn; it was peace to their hearts and souls, and the answer to the calling of the blood in their veins. No doubt the giants had managed, in this religion of theirs, to emulate the likeness of Esharanism. They followed the calling of their heart, and no doubt their local religion was not so far removed from the truth for which their hearts searched. With the aid of the Gods and the honeyed tongue of the learned Qarqaz, they would bring the light of the true, unadulterated faith to these searching giants. And perhaps it would calm their fury and bring them much peace.
Corinn urged his horse onward, and the delegation moved forth into Sacrye territory, heading to where the city of Atitath was said to be.
[1] The honorary title of a scholar of the law and theology of Esharan Paganism [Esharanism]. A Qarqaz, being recognised as more learned in religious matters, will generally lead prayers and litanies. Esharan Paganism has no official clergy or official body that can claim to speak in the name of the Gods, and so a Qarqaz is more Rabbi less Priest.
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Post by Boop_Im_A_Dragon on Jun 4, 2017 1:39:04 GMT
When the delegate eventually arrived in the grand city of Atitath, a city built on the very tundra of the lands both harsh and cold, they where welcomed with a rather watchful eye. With southern modernization the giants of the land begun to adapt many of the look and feel of their neighbors from the south, in an attempt to almost create a wonderful and strange bastardization of culture between the Sacrye and the rest of the northern continent. The palace itself was the grandest mix of these styles. Gold and Marble, blending in such intricate designs, that architecture large and sturdy, as well as the gardens bright and colorful. The doors themselves so large they could fit five horsemen lined side by side without a single one needing to squeeze by.
The delegate was then immediately greeted by Emperor Aonag himself. "Greetings" he bellowed. "Welcome to my grand empire, worthy of the very name that it bears, the religion it upholds, and the people who breathe its air." It was then that he continued "What is it that brings your people to these lands?"
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 6, 2017 4:48:07 GMT
Qarqaz Laminat and Corinn had walked through the large and tremendously well-built palace, admiring the craftsmanship and noting to one another the clear Union influence here or there, admixtured with indigenous designs and things from other nations. It spoke volumes of the truly Esharan heart of these people - they learned with open hearts and incorporated from other peoples and nations all that was good and worthy. Presenting themselves before Emperor Aonag, they bowed deeply in the official manner reserved for the Recimir and those heads of state whom the Union had extreme respect for. They held their respectful positions until the Emperor spoke, thus permitting them to rise. Being the official delegate, it was the Qarqaz that spoke.
'Hail, Master of the endless North!' came the scholar's powerful voice, 'Lord of the Worthy, the Pious, and the True. Upon you be the blessings of the Supreme God, Eshar in Qiqarius and Qiqarius in Eshar, He who first taught knowledge and gave understanding. And the blessings also of all the Gods who gave and continue to give us knowledge pure and sweet. May they bless you and give you wisdom, and may they guide you to the way of enlightenment, and may it strengthen your body and your every strike. We come bearing with us greetings from His Sacred Majesty Recimir Aulus the Chosen-of-Eshar and the Union Council. They send you the greetings of a faithful nation that holds true to the Gods that you do - whereas you have kept the dark God at bay, we have endeavoured to prepare for the day He is finally unleashed. We prepare our enlightened armies to stand by Eshar-Qiqarius and all our beloved Gods, to fight it and bring it to an end - that the light of enlightenment and the sweetness of knowledge may at last reign supreme. We come with friendship in our arms, wealth and trade for your merchants and ours, a firm promise to aid you against all who threaten our shared religion and ways, and a promise also to share with you our military knowledge and strengthen you - our brother nation - if you so pledge to do the same. His Sacred Majesty esteems you and has nothing for you in his heart but love - for you are his brethren and neighbours, and you are his natural allies and friends against all who threaten our ancient Gods and ways.
'As a display of our great esteem for Your Imperial Majesty, and as an affirmation of all that unites us, we bring with you a humble gift: it is a statue of our beloved God Eshar-Qiqarius,' and with that, a great statue - carefully sculpted by the Union's finest cadres of religious sculptors who made it their life's mission to supply all the Union's temples with statues of the many Gods. It was due to Haldwin the Sage - who dwelled in Sacrye for a time before his coming to the Union - that Qiqarius, one of the Gods of Sacrye's giants, came to be identified with the chief Esharan God, Eshar; thus bringing into popular usage the name 'Eshar-Qiqarius'. His discovery of another personification of great Eshar Himself had propelled him almost immediately into the ranks of the great Esharan Sages and guaranteed his influence far and wide within the Union. The statue portrayed Eshar-Qiqarius, a book in his left hand held to his chest and his right hand extended outwards, looking serenely into the distance. In a circle at his feet were giants and dwarves, orcs and goblins, humans and elves - all hand in hand looking up adoringly at their creator. 'It is our hope that Your Imperial Majesty will accept this humble gift, and that this will mark the beginning of a beautiful friendship and brotherhood between our two nations.'
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Post by Boop_Im_A_Dragon on Jun 6, 2017 22:45:59 GMT
Aonag stood for a second, staring at the gift to him and his people. The Esharans, while heathens seemed to have both an interesting and amusing religion in the eyes of the esteemed Emperor. "A strange, but interesting gift nonetheless from your people. I shall keep it in my courtyard alongside other precious statues of our gods." He then motioned for two guards to come in and begin to haul the gift away, a rather easy task for them considering the size of the statue in comparison to the giants themselves, but the fine details certainly added to the precious flavor of his palace.
Once the two guards had fully taken the gift to be placed alongside many other statues, he turned towards the Union delegate and began to continue his train of thought. "Though its rather amusing to me, the idea of fighting the mighty winter god, he who brings winter, storms, and death. He who seeks to send all into darkness through his fury and hatred. A monster that the gods themselves sacrificed themselves to fight against. What is that your people, who but are mortal in comparison to such a beast, have to stand against such fury and hatred?" He then paused a second, and began to hold his tongue. "Either way, enough with theology and religion, while an important subject, it is not a relevant one to why you have come. As mentioned earlier I humbly accept your gift towards our gods, and the mighty empire to which we live in." He then began to take a seat. "As show of good faith to your people, we will gift you one of our mightiest Frozen Titans, beasts worthy of any true northerner." He then let out a shout "tell the beast tamer to gift one of our mightiest Titans to our welcomed delegates to gift to their king."
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 6, 2017 23:58:57 GMT
The Qarqaz bowed deeply at this tremendous gift. 'We thank Your Imperial Majesty wholeheartedly for your magnanimity. His Sacred Majesty will be overjoyed to receive such a majestic creature.
'And yes, while theology and religion are not the main reason we have come to you, it would gladden me greatly if, perhaps, Your Imperial Majesty would permit me - when Your Imperial Majesty has the time and is feeling inclined towards discussing theology - to perhaps come and speak with you about our religion, and hear more about the noble religion of Your Imperial Majesty's realm. Haldwin the Sage has told me much about it, and I would love nothing more than to hear more about it from a great and pious ruler such as Your Imperial Majesty.
'But, on to matters of more direct importance. His Sacred Majesty and the Union Council have, first and foremost, requested that we establish free trade and an open border between our two nations. Our merchants and Your Imperial Majesty's merchants will benefit greatly from such an arrangement, and both our nations prosper. His Sacred Majesty also proposes a defensive alliance between our two nations. Should any attack Sacrye or in any way threaten its ways and religion, then the Union pledges to come to Your Imperial Majesty's aid - and if any do likewise to the Union, then Sacrye will come to the Union's aid. If you accept this, the Union also pledges to share with you its military technology and capabilities and aid you to further modernise and strengthen your formidable forces - if you also share with the Union your military technologies and capabilities. This will cement our defensive alliance and ensure we are more than capable of protecting the integrity of our territories and coming to the aid of one another. This all we offer you so as to cement the friendship of our peoples and ensure the safety of our indigenous religion and ways against those who would seek to undermine us. We, unlike many others, will never seek to undermine your religion - we embrace it and protect it -, and we will never seek to undermine your way of life - we learn from your example all things good, and in that way improve ourselves and you. This all we offer to Your Imperial Majesty with sincerity, without any motives which we have not mentioned to you. You will find us ever forthright in our dealings and honourable, friends you can trust with your turned back, and who will trust you with theirs.'
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Post by Boop_Im_A_Dragon on Jun 8, 2017 20:41:19 GMT
The emperor sat silently contemplating the request before him, he had little qualms with the Union to the East, but he was not unaware of their current diplomatic situation. Eventually letting out a deep sigh he addressed each request, "I have no issue with your Qarqaz from remaining in my palace to discuss his religion, though I recommend he does not stray from from my eye for his own safety. I may be gracious enough to accept you within my home, but my people I can't say the same."
"As for your request for free trade and open borders, I humbly accept such an offer and have no issue with your people freely exchanging with mine, so long as my people may practice our rights and traditions as freely as I permit your people to." Then came the difficult decision of the offer of alliance. A difficult choice indeed, considering the potential advantage it may play, but the risk of fighting both the Esharan Empire and the Firetooth to the South seemed like an ordeal even his mighty warriors could not handle. A risk worth far to much in comparison to reward. "I will unfortunately decline the offer of a defensive alliance and shared military technology. Tension between the firetooth and your enemy the Esharan Empire are far to great for us to be able to face both. In better times and after some improved relations between our people and yours then maybe we may become allies."
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 9, 2017 14:04:52 GMT
The Qarqaz bowed deeply in response to the Emperor's words. 'In Your Imperial Majesty's caution Your Imperial Majesty is wise, and in Your Imperial Majesty's gracious acceptance and firmness, there is also wisdom. We are most grateful to Your Imperial Majesty, and it is our hope that this will be the beginning of amicable relationships between our nations for many years and decades to come. We promise Your Imperial Majesty firmly that the practices and ways of the Sacrye will be firmly protected and upheld in Union lands, and that they shall be treated, insofar as is possible, equally to Union citizens should they ever be brought to the attention of the law. However, while the Union completely understands and can sympathise with practices designed to keep the Dark God at bay, we will unfortunately not be able to countenance the sacrifice of people in Union lands. The Union will, however, facilitate the seamless provision of sacrificial animals for such rituals should it ever prove necessary. It is our understanding that Your Imperial Majesty is encouraging the sacrifice of animals in place of people, and it is an endeavour in which His Sacred Majesty wishes Your Imperial Majesty the very greatest of success.
'Know that, though we are not allied, the Union considers Your Imperial Majesty a brother-in-faith and a true Northern compatriot, and we will endeavour to use all our diplomatic abilities to ward off those who should threaten Your Imperial Majesty and the people of Sacrye.' With their discussions seeming to have come to their natural end, the Qarqaz bowed deeply once more and waited on the Emperor to permit him and his companion to retire and not disturb the busy Emperor any more than necessary.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jul 6, 2017 23:48:01 GMT
To His Imperial Majesty Emperor Aonag of the Sacrye Empire,
Your Imperial Majesty, we have of late engaged with negotiations with the Orcish clans, with whom Your Imperial Majesty has had a long-standing dispute. Interested in maintaining peace and prosperity, as well as mutual co-operation, between our neighbours and all the nations of Ergoria, His Sacred Majesty earnestly seeks the peaceful resolution of the conflict between Your Imperial Majesty and the orcs. Towards the achievement of this goal, His Sacred Majesty extends an offer of mediation between Your Imperial Majesty and His Highness Chief Artog of the Orcs. His Sacred Majesty has no doubt that a peaceful resolution to these hostilities will create great stability and future prosperity for the people of the Sacrye Empire for many years to come.
The age of constant warfare and bloodshed can be brought to a close. Together we can cast aside old ways and old rivalries and usher in a new age. His Sacred Majesty see the Sacrye as firm and steadfast partners in achieving this vision, and hopes that his offer to mediate will be accepted and the word given a chance, at long last, to make itself heard.
To show beyond all doubt the completely sincere nature of our overtures, His Sacred Majesty offers buy from His Imperial Majesty the freedom of all orc slaves and prisoners in the Empire for five [5] Gold pieces. His Sacred Majesty respectfully requests, if this is accepted and mediation can thus go ahead, that Sacrye troops refrain from raids into orcish territory until mediation comes to a close. We very much look forward to Your Imperial Majesty's response and have no doubt much good can come from this mediation if we come together.
In Friendship from His Sacred Majesty and the Holy Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus and True Eshara,
His Sacred Majesty's Private Secretary, Councillor Thorlund Great-Wealth III
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Post by Boop_Im_A_Dragon on Jul 7, 2017 1:35:36 GMT
To his majesty King Aulus of the Holy Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus,
I find the request of his majesty both deeply amusing and incredibly insulting. While the concept of negotiating with the Orcs is not entirely out of the question, these supposed demands are almost out of the question. Either his majesty has become fond of Orcish propaganda or have assumed through prejudice of my people, any and all Orcish prisoners are either criminals or southern spies of which all have been fairly sentenced, secondly slavery has not been a legal practice within this Empire since the crowning of my late father and thus the assertion is more than insulting. In regards to refraining from all raids and pillages within the Orcish territory, an almost as outlandish claim as that of slavery, we find it deeply unsettling that you would believe such claims, when any trip to the southern lands where Gusko's Rest lay would more than prove that it is the southern Orcs who raid, pillage, and capture any man, woman, and child they see in their self proclaimed attempts to "liberate" my peoples rightful lands.
With Regards,
Emperor Aonag "The Hand of Gatyx" of the Sacrye Empire
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jul 7, 2017 2:12:02 GMT
To His Imperial Majesty Emperor Aonag of the Sacrye Empire,
His Sacred Majesty is most pleased that Your Sacred Majesty is amenable to negotiations with the orcs. Such amenability is certainly the first step towards securing peace.
I assure Your Imperial Majesty that it is not the intention of His Imperial Majesty to insult the Sacrye in any way, shape, or form. Any erroneous assertions are most certainly not the assertions of His Sacred Majesty, but merely a representation of the orcish claims by His Sacred Majesty in his capacity as and endeavour towards being a fair mediator. Fully aware that slavery is illegal in Sacrye, we only put forward this request - which we full know is met even before we ask - so as to be utterly fair and to be seen as bringing forward and resolving all the impediments to peace and miscommunications and misunderstandings which doubtlessly exist between the Sacrye Empire and the Orclands.
With regards to prisoners. His Sacred Majesty trusts completely that all orcs were judged fairly and imprisoned for justified reasons, but the offer stands - as an olive branch first and foremost, and as an opportunity to express our sincerity. All orc prisoners will be taken by the Union, and should they return to the Orclands His Sacred Majesty will be certain to secure His Highness Chief Artog's guarantee that they shall nevermore enter Sacrye territory. And, of course, we are happy to personally compensate the Sacrye Empire should it agree to this, as we know full well that the release of prisoners should never be done without an equal benefit being procured - either in the form of their rehabilitation or through the payment of a fine, or some other such thing.
With regards to the raids, we are certain that both sides have their justified or justifiable reasons for breakouts of hostilities on the Sacrye-Orcish frontier, and His Sacred Majesty does not pose to present the truth to Your Imperial Majesty or to His Highness the Chief, but only to bring you together and mediate a demarcation of your respective borders and resolve the unstable situation on the frontier. I beg Your Imperial Majesty not to misunderstand this communication, His Sacred Majesty seeks only peace for his neighbours and prosperity for all Ergorians.
In Friendship from His Sacred Majesty and the Holy Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus and True Eshara,
His Sacred Majesty's Private Secretary, Councillor Thorlund Great-Wealth III
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Post by Boop_Im_A_Dragon on Jul 7, 2017 2:27:59 GMT
To his majesty King Aulus of the Holy Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus,
Understanding where the outrages assertions stem from, I forgive such insults. If the Orc's so desperately wish for the rapists, murders, and thieves held within the prisons of the Sacrye Empire then we shall not keep them from their so called kin, their attitude towards morality may fair better in Orcish society than ours. We will accept the purchase of 5 gold, only under the circumstance that they are to be held until negotiations with the Orcs are over, within your lands. If we are to request their return due to negotiations turning sour, then we trust that they shall be returned to the Sacrye Empire to continue to face their sentence and money paid by the Union returned. All implied attacks along the Orcish border will also end, if that puts orcish minds at ease.
However, if we are to put faith into the barbaric orcish people of the south, then they are to do the same for the Sacrye people of the North. They themselves will cease all activity and attacks from across the river.
With Regards,
Emperor Aonag "The Hand of Gatyx" of the Sacrye Empire
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jul 7, 2017 3:28:18 GMT
To His Imperial Majesty Emperor Aonag of the Sacrye Empire,
Having received Your Imperial Majesty's letter this morning, I was so pleased at its content that I put aside all other work so as to personally pen a response. I must first express that I have never felt anything less than great respect and love for Your Imperial Majesty and the Sacrye people. However, Your Imperial Majesty's letter has confirmed to me that my feelings were indeed well-placed. I am extremely grateful to Your Imperial Majesty for your graciousness and wisdom, it is abundantly clear to us that you seek peace and prosperity as earnestly as even we do. For this, you have my respect and the respect of all Esharans.
I have ordered Councillor Thorlund to despatch with this letter the amount of five [5] Gold pieces, along with a delegation of forty guards who will accompany the prisoners to Esharan territory. We assure Your Imperial Majesty that the prisoners will remain in Eshara until such a time when negotiations come to a close. We also wholeheartedly accept that, should negotiations fail altogether, the prisoners shall be returned to the Sacrye Empire. This I firmly pledge.
I shall write forthwith to His Highness the Chief Artog and inform him of your gracious and well-meaning overtures. And I will request that he also make similar overtures that direct negotiations may begin. I shall endeavour to personally keep Your Imperial Majesty informed of all future developments. I once more express my gratefulness to Your Imperial Majesty, your great wisdom and enlightenment shall be lauded all across Eshara, and your sagacious ways become a model for all those seeking perfection of character and mind.
With Unreserved Friendship and Greatest Respect,,
His Sacred Majesty, Recimir Aulus the Chosen-of-Eshar
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Post by Boop_Im_A_Dragon on Aug 19, 2017 13:24:22 GMT
To his majesty King Aulus of the Holy Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus,War between the firetooth and Sacrye has recently broken out and both them and the Ikegami have begun to march upon my lands without second thought to the consequences of their actions or the price that both sides may pay. It is because of this that I must make two requests, being no fool to the reality of such a dire situation, from such a prestigious and mighty nation. The first, with the potential loss of the province of Jaxtathriali, mass starvation in the lands of the Sacrye will follow. Hundreds of thousands will die without the breadbasket to support us by the time that winter comes. We ask that the Holy Union, if it can, provide us with any foodstuffs that it can spare until the war is over with the promise that after the war has ended such a debt will be repaid. The second, and likely the more difficult for your people to accept, is the request of direct intervention in this war. Our mighty Empire will struggle holding off both armies of the Ikegami and the Firetooth, however if we were to be able to concentrate our forces on one foe at a time then this may be a swift and decisive victory, especially come winter. With Regards, Emperor Aonag "The Hand of Gatyx" of the Sacrye Empire
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Aug 20, 2017 3:51:57 GMT
To His Imperial Majesty Emperor Aonag of the Sacrye Empire,
We must express Our most sincere apologies to Your Imperial Majesty. It had been Our hope that this war should be averted and peace should, at last, come to be between the Sacrye Empire and the Firetooth. It would appear that Our attempts at persuading the Firetooth did not go far enough - and We consider that to be a failing on Our part. It is Our hope that Your Imperial Majesty will not hold this against the Firetooth should they seek to negotiate in future, but will ever hold open the door to peaceful and honourable resolution.
As this war has started and there is now little chance of it abating without bloodshed, We will, of course, provide all the foodstuff possible to the people of the Sacrye Empire so as to prevent famine and the death of innocents. We have instructed Councillor Thorlund to dispatch, along with this letter, caravans carrying [15] food, [50] supplies, and [10] gold. We have not failed to make known to Our Ikegami friends that we condemn this war of aggression and do unashamedly side with the Sacrye - Our principles demand nothing less, for were it the Sacrye who pursued this war We would have stood just as resolutely with the Firetooth.
As for direct military intervention, it is a matter We must discuss with our military commanders and councillors. It is a matter of supreme gravity and it is not Our desire to lose the friendship and respect We have with the Ikegami, or to tarnish with war Our relations with the Firetooth. However, to stand with justice sometimes demand the sacrifice of those who We would much prefer to befriend. We have thus ordered the 1st Esharan Army to the Sacrye-Esharan border so that it can be prepared should We decide to intervene. On that note, however, We must request of Your Imperial Majesty - and I realise that this may be difficult, even impossible - that the Sacrye not seek anything more than to defend their territories. Striking out into Firetooth or Ikegami territories will meet with condemnation from Us. We would also request that Your Imperial Majesty emphasise the importance of treating prisoners of war with dignity and respect - We have no doubt that such good treatment has always been the case, but emphasising it to the troops during this war, in particular, is of the greatest importance.
Finally, We pledged to Your Imperial Majesty that, should negotiations fail, the Orcish prisoners who were so kindly delivered to Us would be returned to Sacrye lands. We plan on honouring this pledge, but shall wait until this war is over before doing so. It is Our hope that this is satisfactory to Your Imperial Majesty.
With Unreserved Friendship and Greatest Respect,
His Sacred Majesty, Recimir Aulus the Chosen-of-Eshar
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