>>5427444>>5427440>>5427259>>5427007>art: Brook Kapukuniahi Parker>alt text: Imaikalani of Kau wearing a Mahiole, surrounded by Hawaiian warriors. They hold bundles of spears“I can’t do it. Morals aside, the moment I lose support for breaking the oath, Norodom gets elected and we’re guaranteed to be doomed. I know what you’re feeling. This Island and its people are chaotic and prone to conflict, and we swim in a sea of opposing interests. But a generation ago these people were killing each other. It’s going to take time and effort to work past that, and we do it with dreams like yours. Where The Island working together brings everyone something that couldn't happen before. Is the Ebbikele a risk outside our hands? Yes. But that risk is a thousand times better than the bloodshed from before. I’m not giving weapons to your enemies, I’m serving our people.”
You walk towards her and rest a hand on her shoulder.
“Like my metasister before me.”
She stares at you like she’s looking at the bottom of the sea. Her brow tenses and she screams.
Agana: Ah! Damn it you’re right.
She slumps into her chair.
Agana: You have to be careful Lono. This job, and the pressures it puts on you, can push your mind to a bad place. Every day I feel more of Mama Koa inside me.
You lean closer.
“We aren’t them. Our parents came up in a world of blood and death. The only Peace they could imagine was one built on threats and control. We can be something better. We can *do* something better.”
You raise her up and she gives a small smile.
Agana: Go to the Ponni, speak your truth, and *win* this election. And that’s an order.
You smile back.
“Guess I can't refuse, Axeholder.”
{You have moved closer to DEMOCRACY.}
____
The nectar from the wild shrubs fills your nose as the grass crunches beneath your feet. People think the Ponni are savages but you know from your time in the fleet how clever they are. The whole of the Centre Grasses gently nudged and shifted by migrations all to serve people and their Doomswine. Incredible.
Aki: Incredible.
“You lead a team that built much of the Fleet, only right you see the fruits of your labor.”
Chief Aki stands among several Ponni tribals, each holding their Ebbikele weapons with ferocious inquisitiveness.
Aki: I left my home because my family had too many mouths to feed, with this I doubt we’ll go hungry again.
Kaori: And there can be more where that came from. The Great Fleet can be a permanent institution. More Ebbikele, enough to pay your tribute *and* improve your lives is on the horizon.
Aki: I have faith in your Captain, Alvar, but we know he agreed to the plan to make the Ebbikele the only form of tribute.
Kaori: Thank you kizhar, but I’m no Alvar, just someone here to help. As for the Captain-
She turns so you can speak for yourself.
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