The clamour of the people rose into the morning air, disturbing the well-earned sleep of the newly returned war-band, whose time in the fine city would be short, as they were to be sent out once more with those looking for a better place to live. In the middle of the town, a small square in front of the triad hall, the people thronged and demanded answers. What few of the war-band were on today’s watch had been pulled back from their positions at the city edge and were now tasked with holding back the crowd, preventing a riot. They looked back at the man on the rostrum; he should be helping them, why was he just sitting there? He could stop this in an instance, he was the man with the answers, but he just sat there and watched as they struggled against there own people. In fact he was not even watching he appeared miles away as if oblivious to the surrounding. The leader of the watch had had enough and approached him angrily.

"Can you hurry up and get on with what you’re meant to be doing"

But Seymoo would not be rushed, he could see plainly the damage that half misheard rumour had done, he would wait until almost all in the village were here, they would hear what he had to say from his own mouth, not others, whose lack of knowledge of the facts would twist his words.

"I will not be rushed Captain, I will know when the time is right. Be assured that I will not waste a moment when it is."

And with that he turned his head back towards the rising sun, gazing at the hills on the horizon and filling his lungs with long, slow intakes of refreshing sea air. He wondered at all he had been told, of the world beyond, and the peoples they had found, and the extraordinary adventures of those who had been exploring abroad. Now here he was, Mouth of the Word, ready to relay the state of foreign affairs to the people, the opening gambit in his political career. He really should have planned his speech.

The sky was now bright blue, with just a few clouds drifting across. None would bring rain; they were of the harmless white fluffy variety, a pleasant break for the eye in the monotone azure of the sky. The very kind of cloud that he would have stared at for hours in his childhood, constructing shapes and human personalities to each, which would eventually weave together into intricate stories which he would later tell his mother before he slept that night. Even now he was engaged constructing an intricate story around them, now based on theories of their substance and existence. He created many, from many different starting points of thought, none yet made enough sense. He noticed the sun had now risen wholly above the level the poverty pubs roof and looking back to the crowd could see it had almost doubled in size since he last looked. He stood up and made his way to the front of the rostrum. Still no speech plan, damn fascinating clouds!
He stood up to his full height and without any emotion on his face he raised his left hand in a signal for the throng to be silent. The effect was remarkable, in less time than it took a skilled hunter to skin a rabbit the crowd was completely silence. He took pleasure in this power and let the silence run on for a bit. Just as the crowd were beginning to wonder if he could even speak at all, he started.


Listen to me, Citizens of Arete, I am Seymoo, Mouth of the Word, of the Philosophers of Legion. I am here today as representative of the Triad council in order to report to you the state of our nation in respect to the others that are out there in the world. No doubt you have all heard plenty of rumours already, from the illustrious War-band of Prochon, those that live on the edge of our borders and of course the evidence of your own eyes. You have all no doubt heard of the vicious Spanish who appeared on our borders and razed a neighbouring village, no doubt you are fully aware of the strangely skilled men of Babylon who appeared north of our borders not all that long ago. And I guess you have all seen the strangers that have been brought back with our war-band, and even now are beginning to settle on the outskirts of the city. Some of you are no doubt followers of the protectors of faith, who plan to settle beyond our borders, a twin city, and who fear what they will find beyond the safety of our borders.

Let me confirm to you all; yes, the Spanish were at our border and slaughtered all of the villagers of the southern peninsula, we do not know what slight the villagers caused to the Spanish, so we cannot judge them on it. And yes it is true that the Babylonians were spotted on out northern border. So there are two potential enemies out there who know where to find us. But do not fear for neither means us harm. And if either were to turn on us, we also know where their cities are, our retribution would be swift and decisive.

Now on the matter of the strangers that have returned with the war-band. They are the people of two tribes the war-band met while they were exploring, the Yassan and the Sahashunas. They have both taught us new methods of farming and as a reward we have bought them back here to live amongst us. The Triad Council has decreed that they are to be welcomed with open arms and treated as if they were our own.

There are many other tales, better tales to tell of the expeditions, but that is not mine to tell. I suggest those who want to hear them should buy drinks for the illustrious warriors themselves in the poverty pub, for they have more than deserved them for their brave feats.


With that Seymoo turned and left the square, after all the hustle and bustle of this morning he decided to rush to the quiet seclusion of his land, where he could just lay back on the grass and gaze at the clouds some more.