From EncyclopAtys
“I have always attached great importance in the legends of our People as I worry that these stories may wither on the bark; therefore, I made it my duty to always pass on to you as many of these old stories as I could when you were child; however, I realize today that this is one of those tales I have never told you.
My mother often told me when I was very young that our ancestors were born of the sparks that escaped from the fires. The passage of time fed these flames, and they soon became Fyros with the flames burning within. These in turn, left no escape from the tongues of fire, their children. Each Fyros therefore is born from the first sparks and this legend reflects to our home we call the Burning Desert.
If sometimes the flame trembles it can resume its full strength, but there comes a point where we know that no log will revive it completely. A day comes when time will continue its way without us, and I know I myself will come to these terms. With the days remaining to me, I will tell you, my son, what was my epoch, so that you may become rich from my experiences and so they do not disappear with me.
[...]
If it was necessary to find a decisive instant in the confusion which introduced us to the year 2540, it would, undoubtedly, be necessary to remember the announcement of new kitin movements to the east of the New Lands. 2538 was preparing to give up its place and in the imperial office where reports were given and decisions are taken, Epus read the evidence of his informants.
By rereading the meeting notes the scribes had scrupulously recorded, I see again the comfortable living room of the Palace, blind to avoid that our confidentiality flies off. I keep a surprisingly definite memory of this day and while I write, the scene unfolds before me, undamaged in spite of time.Our eyes made tired by light augmented by the desert differentiated pieces of furniture, cubes of amber and parchments only in the weak light of some lamps with oil. Leaning over his desk, the silent scribe recorded each of our words, and to read them even now brings me back to this day at the end of the last cycle of 2538.
... We were there only a few hours when the ground began trembling. As we gaped through the opening in the bark they appeared, terrifying, the largest kitin to cross this part of Atys. Without taking time to look at their surroundings, they rushed forward, throwing themselves on our swords, axes and pikes. There were hundreds, perhaps thousands, that came in an uninterrupted stream and poured on the forested region without their nest seeming to exhaust itself.
Blended with homins come to defend the tribe. I, at this instant, believed my end was near. But we fought vigorously, tirelessly, and if one of us fell, another one raised us by healing magic. I became aware, little by little, that we were greatly out numbered and that our will and courage would be enough to confine the onslaught of this day. Countless Kitins continued pouring from the hole to smash on the wall of some three hundred homins who come to defend...
I suddenly interrupted the reading of Epus with a wave:
Three hundred?! Impossible! Yrkanis does not have such an army! I did not hear that Yrkanis asked the Nobles to intervene. Why would he have them sent to defend this tribe? Besides, to my knowledge, this tribe does not count among the vassals of the Matis.
Then who? The Rangers do not have a force of three hundred soldiers either...
The informant invents, he magnifies the story to return with this epic tale. Why do we waste our time with such unreliable testimony? A possibility, yes, but other informants speak of only two times when such number of homins gathered. But they...
It changes nothing! Perhaps one hundred and fifty homins, as no nation or guild can unite so many combatants, at least not since the Exodus!
It seems that the tribe sent messengers randomly to the New Lands to ask for help. I heard the echoes of their cries for help and I transmitted them to the senators, to know their opinion on an intervention of our imperial army.
And what did they say, I asked.
I have their answer here, I intended to read it to you afterwards. They think that... Epus took another handwritten leaf and read,"'We cannot take the liberty to strip the defenses of the city and of our outposts to rescue a tribe with which we have never had previous exchanges with.' They add that, 'We would run the risk of too much danger by leaving the Empire empty of its army.' In short they recommend not to act, he concluded by resting the document on a nearby table.
The scribe took advantage of the pause and placed the reed into the bottle of ink and gently tapped it on the lip, waiting for Epus or me to speak again. I had, as is my habit in these moments, reached my hands under my nose, pressing my lips while I pondered.
Homins of all people rushed to help a Tribe which they did not know, without an order being given to them?
Yes, confirmed Epus. Refugees mostly, if I believe one of my informants. None of the leaders really seems to control all those who have arrived for these last ten years. Even after nearkt fourteen years, the most ancient are still called 'refugees' by homins having *borrowed Rainbow.* In general, they are citizens of no people.
And when Kitins appear, they run up in one hundred and fifty to push them back, and succeed...
I remember that Epus let me take the full measure of my last remark, before resuming, The refugees are a considerable force in number. The Four People continue ignoring them, but for all these years, they join the New Lands as a whole. We would be wrong to persist to not see it. At every event it is they who react first and, very often, they tilt the scales in one way or another. It is not uncommon to see the refugees of all people flock when we group the Fyros citizens.
Yes, this I know. But I would not have thought that they could react so quickly, and in such numbers, without any organization.
Coriolis! This is our chance that they fail to organize! If we are able to believe the last census of the Rangers of Atys, then half or a quarter of them would be enough to found a new Empire.
Even today I am surprised at the faculty of Epus to lay eyes on such confidential documents as homins censuses regularly maintained by the Rangers. But this day of 2538 my thoughts were turned to other subjects and ideas that filled my head.
We have enough marauders and Kitins to threaten us. We cannot allow bands of powerful homins unattended to decide to build an Empire. We cannot afford the luxury of a potential threat any longer. Yrkanis does not appreciate it either as I have never heard that he cared of refugees in his Kingdom. Yes, Mabreka has given them a real role within his People. But with *Toen,* I am surprised that he ever manages to give a semblance of organization to Trykers, let alone the refugees...
Some people are Fyros, at least by birth. Maybe it is time they stop being refugees.
To become full citizens? Why would they accept?
For prestige to belong to the Empire of the Burning Desert. And then, we could give some of them roles, tasks, responsibilities.
They will not destroy their own home. Is this what you think of Epus?
Yes.
A small pattern in the margin shows the silence which followed while I thought.
Cancel my appearances the rest of the day, I need to think about this beating the blade while the fire is lively.
The imperial Alchemists wish to share with you the issue of their current research.
They can wait until tomorrow to teach me that they still discovered nor invented anything new.
I think that they wait especially for additional appropriations.
Granted! Even if it means maintaining them for nothing, as much as it is lavishly,I concluded.
The last lines had been transcribed mechanically and crossed out by the scribe:
And prepare a bath as soon as possible. I always think better in hot water.
In the calm steam of the private bath, I drew a new face this afternoon for the Empire.
