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Post by RWU on Aug 7, 2015 15:03:06 GMT -6
Union Councilor Alagh Walayad flipped through her little notebook one last time before leaving the shuttle and setting foot on Wuxianese soil. It had been enough trouble finding the right clothes for the visit, since she her spacefaring family had never owned a set of formal attire to match their ethnic origins. Smugglers and freelance miners, isolated in small mobile societies as they were, were plenty traditional but tended to wear the plain clothes of peasants and laborers to blend in. She had decided to opt for traditional Oghuz dress anyways, even though she had never worn it before. Her attire felt stiflingly complex to her, but it was relatively modest by the standards of the Wuxianese elite: a blue sleeveless outer robe with extended shoulder-coverings and a set of polished wooden buttons fixed with orange strings, a black inner robe with sleeves visible on her arms bearing Old Oghuz calligraphy in red, and a black cap with two red "banners" hanging from it - one over each shoulder.
It would be even harder for her to master the Wuxianese Court Dialect, and all her notes and practice could only get her so far. Oghuz Dialect was one of the few tongues in Wuxian that had its origins in a totally distinct language, still mutually intelligible with the rest in its current form but "rough" on the ears of most other Wuxianese. Even worse, her family had only ever spoken Oghuz Dialect, never needing anything else in their nomadic life among the stars and a few other Oghuz families. Alagh was confident the Yuyan himself could overlook such linguistic differences, but she wasn't so sure about the One-A's.
In fact, she was not especially uncomfortable about meeting the Yuyan; she doubted any family in all of Wuxian failed to teach their children the proper conduct should they ever meet the being in person, and even then schooling would do it. More importantly, she trusted the Yuyan to be thoughtful and forgiving, as wise and benevolent as the Divine One was. It was his bureaucrats she couldn't trust.
Whatever party came to greet the RWU representative would find the Alagh Walayad was short even by Ayar standards, which made her quite diminutive for a Wuxianese. But just as Ayar could be incredibly tough for their size, Walayad emanated great strength of spirit, and her form belied a physique of steel. One did not simply fight in the Revolution and come back "normal" in mind or body.
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Post by zurajai on Aug 8, 2015 12:09:46 GMT -6
The Union Councilor, as all foreign dignitaries are, was met almost immediately by the ground crew made up of guards from the Ministry of Defense. These guards bore richly colored uniforms of deep red and tan but were starkly armed, carrying only ceremonial looking stun batons. With but a nod and formal smile the Oghuz Wuxianese woman was directed to follow, brought down from the landing platform where several other vessels of foreign make remained docked to be greeted by a waiting individual in a fine Administrator uniform of the same deep red but accented by jade green. In an instant the figure bowed, flashing the famous smile all Wuxianese diplomats carried as their most potent weapon.
"Union Councilor Alagh Walayad, I presume," cooed the Administrator, "It is a great privilege to make your acquaintance. I am His Divine Imperial Majesty's Administrator Ju Min. I trust your trip was calm and relaxing. Before any pleasantries may begin we must first pass through the Palatial Processing where you will receive identification that shall give you, as an Honored Guest of the Yuyan and representative of your Esteemed People, freedom to appreciate the grounds of His Divine Imperial Majesty's Imperial Palace at your leisure. An estate on the Palatial Grounds has been reserved for you in the case of your prolonged stay as His Honored Guest. With my sincere apologies if I have failed to share any information pertinent to your stay I will now accept any questions you might have before we continue."
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Post by RWU on Aug 10, 2015 14:01:08 GMT -6
Immediately Walayad recognized why her clan had never been interested in going back to the capital. By all the divine beings known and unknown...is this how all of my people's administrators talk back "home"?
Of course, the Councilor kept her thoughts to herself and matched Ju Min's warm smile with her own. "An honor to make your acquaintance," she replied with a short bow. "The Yuyan's hospitality is without compare. For the purposes of identification I permit the Departments and Ministries to know my full name, Adankhangiin Alagh Sansar Walayad. If these things are not fully known to the Departments and Ministries, the first name is my patronymic, the second is my given, the third is my clan, and the last is my Ayar name." A mouthful to explain, but Alagh knew how much names mattered in Wuxian. And it couldn't hurt to be at least as verbose and comprehensive as the bureaucrat she was talking to.
"If I may ask one question of his Majesty's administrator, I would, on behalf of my staff comrades aboard my vessel, inquire as to whether or not the invitation to make use of an estate on the Palatial Grounds applies to them as well as myself. I have no other inquiries to make, and I eagerly await the singular honor of an audience with his Majesty the Yuyan."
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Post by zurajai on Aug 10, 2015 14:10:35 GMT -6
"Such information is only necessary at the Palatial Processing but your openness is appreciated," commented Ju Min as she recited her list of names, an unexpected but welcomed show of cultural understanding that came as a surprise to the Administrator when delivered by a foreign Wuxianese, "And to answer your question, it will be necessary for Palatial Processing to process every individual aboard your vessel who seeks entrance into Palatial grounds. However, it is our sincere regret that accommodations within the Palatial Estates are designed and reserved for visiting dignitaries only; if your 'staff comrades' are in need of accommodations I would be pleased to arrange for a wing of the outer palatial grounds to be reserved for their stay. If this is acceptable I shall put forward this request to as soon as we are through Palatial Processing. Will there be anything else before we pass through Palatial Processing and continue onto the Yuyan's assembly chamber?"
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Post by RWU on Aug 10, 2015 18:41:40 GMT -6
"I offer my sincerest apologies for any insult to the magnificent Yuyan's hospitality, but I must insist on staying with my staff comrades for both practical purposes and reasons of faith," Alagh replied with genuine regret. "That I would choose better accommodation than my friends and equals would be an insult to them as well as to the codes of Rightful Reverence. If this means I must stay in the Outer Wing of the Palatial Grounds, I will do so.
"If this is acceptable, I am now ready to proceed through Palatial Processing."
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Post by zurajai on Aug 10, 2015 19:20:59 GMT -6
Ju Min looked deeply troubled for a long moment, so much so that even his unwavering smile did in fact the exact opposite; it wavered. The concept was completely beyond standard protocol for visiting foreign dignitaries due to the sheer nature of their treatment as members of the Imperial Bureaucracy during their stay in the capital. After near seconds of consideration the expected smile returned brightly and Ju Min closed his eyes to give the most benevolent bow he could possible muster.
"Of course, Most Respected Councillor, the Yuyan does not intend such insult to your faith," he added, quickly trying to pull up from his earlier nosedive in etiquette, "We understand your deep seeded faith and find it encouraging that our foreign brothers and sisters remain to this day truly faithful. The Yuyan would most certainly approve. Come, let us proceed."
With that Ju Min brought Alagh forward and into Palatial Processing where a identification badge was printed after a quick, cursory background check to confirm that she was indeed who she claimed to be. With all the formalities out of the way and with Ju Min feeling ever so slightly uncomfortable Alagh was brought immediately to the Palatial Assembly Chamber. Upon arrival, as the gates had been left open in accordance to proper etiquette when inviting in new foreign dignitaries, the pair were met by the full brunt of the Imperial Bureaucracy. To the left and right were administrators, like Min, kneeling respectfully. At the end of the Assembly Chamber were a total of three chairs and the single throne that the Yuyan would occupy when he arrived. As was the new fashion, brilliantly glowing hardlight ornamentation dotted the room in the perfect quantity to evoke awe but not overwhelm the onlooker. At this time only one chair was occupied, that of Chancellor Zhao Yu, who immediately stood and gave a bow before reciting his lines with his usual gusto.
"Welcome Honored Guest and Representative of your Esteemed People, Adankhangiin Alagh Sansar Walayad," intoned the Chancellor as he rose from his bow, "You and your Esteemed People are known to the Yuyan as highly moral and respectable. His Divine Imperial Majesty would have it that you were treated as you treat Us and is truly interested in your words, no matter their purpose."
As if on queue the Yuyan descended from an opened portal in the ceiling, levitating down to float just above his throne with legs cross and his three extra pairs of arms forming an elaborate halo effect behind his back while his primary pair rested on his knees. As he descended every individual inside the room bowed deeply, holding up their hands in the fist-in-palm salute as well as lowering their head to gaze down. The Yuyan in turn responded in kind, his pearlescent, silvery skin reminiscent of the nebulas of space itself shimmering in the light as if his faceless features were in fact arching into a benevolent smile.
"It is an absolute privilege to finally meet you," mused the Yuyan as his featureless face bore into her, "You do your ancestors a great honor by wearing their garments but I can't help but notice that they are not your own. You need not put on false displays for my sake, child, only that you be true to yourself. Tell me, what has brought you here so immaculately dressed?"
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Post by RWU on Aug 11, 2015 14:57:31 GMT -6
Alagh bowed deeply -but not too deeply- to the Chancellor upon his entrance, hands together and elbows out while she locked her gaze to the man's eyes. Zhao Yu was only the doorman for a much greater being in this place, the Councilor knew. She would respect him with due courtesy, but nothing more.
The entrance of the Yuyan, on the other hand, provoked a response embodying the utmost humility, a bow that brought her head nearly to the floor, and this time her eyes were fixed to the ground. Only once the divine one began speaking did she allow herself to rise. And the words that emanated from him could only make her smile.
"We are both privileged today, then, for I've longed for an audience with your Majesty since my childhood," she replied to the Yuyan. "For us Sansar, the Outer Space ones, your great self was the only thing that kept our hearts tied to the world of Wuxian we were citizens of but rarely if ever saw. You do me great respect by affirming my true origins, masked by my clothes, and I know you require no such displays from the Reverent. It was with this knowledge that my family could worship you in the clothes of their true ancestors - peasants and simple nomads. Yet even more so for the Wuxianese of the Age of Chains: Thousands of slaves presented themselves to shrines in your name wearing sweaty rags and grimy dog-collars, certain that you would hear them no less than the resplendent 1-As and 1-Bs who surround you in your palace. But the same cannot be said for those latter ones, who have Courtly customs and expectations to maintain." It wasn't exactly a criticism of them so much as a praise of the Yuyan, but she didn't especially care if they took it badly. The Yuyan had asked her to put on no false displays, and she would follow his command. "It is for their sake, not yours, that I have paid such careful attention to my dress.
Alagh cleared her throat without a hint of embarrassment, her warm smile unbroken. "I come before you, oh Wise One, as a representative of the Revolutionary Workers' Union, but also as a representative of the Rightfully Reverent, of which I am the first to speak with your Majesty in person. In the first capacity, I have come to offer friendship and cooperation. We, Ayar and Wuxianese and human and Kwazan alike, know that you are a being not only of Wisdom, but of Justice. You do not turn weapons against those who would dissent against their conditions, but listen. For you there is no distinction between a 1-A and a 9-B. We mourn that this has not been made reality throughout the Empire, by no fault of your Great Self, but we acknowledge nonetheless that the bureaucracy under you has made concessions and accommodations to the Workers of Wuxian. In this light, we propose free travel and trade between our peoples, that we may be friends and partners in this galaxy. In two cycles, we would hope that such interaction could be facilitated by a devoted lane of connection via spaceports.
"In the second capacity, I make a plea to you and you alone, Wise One. The Rightfully Reverent remain faithful to you, but most do not wish to leave their comrades and return to a world they never knew. We beseech you: Please grace us with a visit. The arrival of your navy was a great banner of hope for our people decades ago; how much greater would your Presence be!" This was the only point at which Alagh Walayad's voice rose, a moment of true excitement that had crept into her line of speech and thought.
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Post by zurajai on Aug 13, 2015 13:54:33 GMT -6
There was an uncomfortable shimmy audible in the room as the numerous administrators moved themselves our of the awkward nature of the woman's earliest statement; it certainly was not common for someone to come in and start pointing fingers at their quality of life, especially when that someone was foreign but still Wuxianese. It did not aid their cause that the Yuyan didn't seem to take much offense to the statement, simply listening patiently as the woman continued her speech. All but the Chancellor seemed to be made uncomfortable by the further accusations that the state had failed to take care of it's people thoroughly, his features remaining serene if not partially stern. As her final request was put forward there was a nearly audible sigh of relief that the finger of blame was no longer pointed dangerously at their foreheads and a far more acceptable line of conversation and request had been put forward. At last all eyes turned the Yuyan, waiting for his most wise and esteemed response.
"I would love to see the children taken from us by the cruelty of the Antoviyans," spoke the Yuyan in a brilliant tone of voice reminiscent of melodious music, "And so shall it be. My Chancellor, what say you on these matters of friendship and cooperation? And of the possibility of an Imperial visit to the world of New Sovereignity?"
"My Yuyan," the Chancellor said clearly as he raised his hands into the proper salute before continuing, "I think friendship and cooperation should be reserved for those who understand their friends. Though I wholeheartedly believe the Esteemed Guest of our Yuyan to mean no insult by her words I cannot say that she does not wound Imperial pride. To have her point such an accusatory finger at those who have done nothing but help all the people in Your Esteemed Empire is indicative of the thought process that can be expected from all those who belong to the RWU. If friendship and cooperation are to be the true nature of our relationship then understanding of each other is essential. However, in regards to an Imperial Visit to the RWU homeworld I must strongly support the idea; Your people taken from you by the cruelty of the Antoviyans should see their Yuyan so they might bask in your wisdom and benevolence."
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Post by RWU on Aug 13, 2015 14:42:14 GMT -6
"How can one understand a friend one doesn't know?" asked Alagh, turning her gaze slightly to face the Chancellor. "If you desire understanding, then surely trade can only do good." Her words had no hint of malice, and they were spoken in the measured pace of someone who considered her words carefully. Of course, she doubted greater understanding would completely exonerate the Bureaucratic System of the faults she suspected.
"I sincerely apologize for any insult to any of you," she addressed the bureaucrats as a whole with her head lowered slightly in humility. "Understand that I mean no personal criticism. It is my understanding that the conditions of life for most Wuxianese are more than adequate; I spoke not of mere material needs but of the principle of the equality of all people. Hence my use of the word distinction, not oppression; I would not dare to claim deprivation where I have no reason to believe it exists. If anything, the Empire of Wuxian is one of the few nations of this galaxy that has advanced so far in social consciousness as to provide for the autonomy and welfare of all communities under its jurisdiction. What I do know is that the number designation, theoretically of only administrative value on its own, was a very real social and material brand in the memory of many elders of our clan, who had left life on Wuxian in their youth."
Councilor Walayad took a deep breath. She hoped she could recover at least some credibility in the eyes of the bureaucrats before her, but many of the usual tools of diplomatic speech were unavailable to her now that the Yuyan had asked her to abandon all falsehoods. She would have to hope the truth, rightly-worded, could convince them of her goodwill. "Comrade administrators, I have many important obligations and perspectives I must hold in careful balance: Honesty and directness to the Great Yuyan who asks that I make no false displays, honor to the memories of my family and clan, the principles and interests of the Union I represent, and also proper respect for all of you. Surely you are familiar with such duties, and I ask that you forgive me for swaying too far in one direction or the other."
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Post by zurajai on Aug 13, 2015 15:08:31 GMT -6
"Well spoken," mused the Yuyan with no hint of displeasure shown, "And let us leave it at that. The Imperial Secretary will write up the treaty to allow free trade between the Wuxian Empire and the RWU along with the request that both parties receive free travel between our systems and beyond. While this is undertaken the Chancellery will enter talks with the RWU government body that deals with such matters in planning my visit to New Sovereignity."
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Post by RWU on Aug 13, 2015 15:52:43 GMT -6
Alagh Walayad simply bowed deeply to the Yuyan to signal her deference to his decision. No words of agreement were necessary: The Wise One had spoken. All she need say now was a few concluding remarks.
"I will inform the Union Council and the Workers' Congress of your decision, your Majesty." She turned to the Chancellor. "And I will provide you with the information necessary to contact the Union Planning Commission, the body best suited to discussing infrastructure and transportation for the blessed visit. When shall the treaty be ready for signing, comrades?"
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Post by zurajai on Aug 13, 2015 15:56:37 GMT -6
"I expect," the Yuyan replied with his melodious mirth returned to his voice even greater than before, "That the Imperial Secretary shall have it fully written up within the hour. Until then I would make another request; I would have it that you are assigned to me as my liason to your government until the completion of my visit to your world. And in that capacity, I would have you take a stroll with me through the Palatial Estate; I would meet your crew that I have heard you would rather stay with than in the grounds themselves."
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Post by RWU on Aug 13, 2015 16:02:14 GMT -6
"I am privileged to accept," Alagh replied with another bow. The offer was more than a little unexpected; in her report to the Union Council she would have to inform them that she couldn't make any meetings for a matter of months, which would mean that her designated substitute would need to take up her usual tasks as Councilor. But Alagh wouldn't dream of missing this opportunity. "Lead the way: My comrade-crew members will be honored that you see fit to visit them."
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Post by zurajai on Aug 30, 2015 14:59:47 GMT -6
The Yuyan strode through the garden with his primary pair of arms held out in front of his chest, hands wrapped around the opposing wrists while his featureless face pans back and forth across the wide open space of the Imperial Estate. All around the grounds people from all walks of life could be seen, most commonly bureaucrats on their way to complete some important function or perhaps relaxing for the few precious minutes of downtime they receive. Several lower class families whom clearly had waited all their lives to make this journey strode through the estate with massive smiles beaming with awe and wonder at the home of their beloved Yuyan.
"So, Alagh," warbled the Yuyan in his strange, singsongy voice, "Tell me about your life in the RWU? I have never been to the world of New Sovereignity myself and if I am to visit those taken my the cruelties of the galaxy I would like to know more about their home."
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Post by RWU on Aug 31, 2015 14:15:38 GMT -6
Councilor Alagh Walayad smiled at the Yuyan's question. How to describe life on her homeworld...?
"It is dense," she began. "Not just the cities, but the countryside as well. The Antoviyans filled every rural space possible with what we call Rhizomatic-Industrial Density Agriculture, a system that makes crops grow extremely close together using genetic manipulation to bind the plants together, fungal strains to enrich even the barest of soil, and on-site factories both for inputs and packing and export. Very efficient, but also very labor-intensive..." she sighed, "and that's why they enslaved so many hundreds of millions of us, alongside our fellow Asteran and Kwazan masses. They didn't need us in the cities, where they had plenty of Ayar already as wage-slaves.
"But I'm getting off topic, you want to know about life on my world as it is today. Dense, like I said, and sadly devoid of wild plants and animals, except for a few forests and swamps we were able to resurrect. But as crowded as we are, food is plentiful now that most RIDA is going to the nation instead of to export. And even with the forests mostly gone, the tropical rains still visit us regularly on Awodej, the larger of the two continents. Everyone has enough to eat and enough to drink. And for people who are forced to live so close together, I am amazed at how well we get along. New Sovereignty has little to offer the tourist or the investor, but for us it is dear.
"Before the Revolution, I couldn't have imagined so much public liveliness, all in public spaces: Festivals, political rallies, debates, town meetings, religious services, media screenings, and even just meals hundreds of neighbors will share in common. Everyone from the farmer to the clerk, of whatever species and gender and age, knows their voice and contribution is important to the Revolution and the common good. People who once spoke just of getting by or visiting family every now and then can meet together in droves to discuss the political implications of where they focus their production, or to debate the merits of the different parties or even propose to make demands of the parties that none have yet considered. They will even speak of their philosophies on the gods or art or exercise, not just in private among friends but in the district square or the common fields for all to participate in-between shifts or after their work is done. I, who once smuggled and raided and traded with only a vague idea of my place in the galaxy and not an ounce of respect from those who held power, now go from Takudar to Takudar and I listen and I am listened to. Every day I know I am an important part of an even more important whole, not just in ideology but in concrete practice, for what was once the talk of dreams and ideals now has very real meaning. The comrades around me, the many Takudars I mingle with, the projects I see from my window, none belong to a king or a bureaucrat or any distant person indifferent or unaware of me. Rather all are my own responsibility, shared with all the billions of the Union: Can you imagine, oh Wise One, how this has turned indifference and fear into enthusiasm and hope?"
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