Date: 21 Akroeg 424 (7/1/2017)

S'Kra present (9): Aislynn, Auradric, Hssanh, Kevanus, Natarian, Sarkranis, Sslyk, Whiteburn, Yraggahh

Other races present (3): Laroux, Maxwelinski, Nakori

[Dirge, Temple Interior]
The rough basalt blocks have been piled up so that they meet overhead to form a crude pyramidal shape. The walls are sparsely decorated, mostly with scenes showing sacrifices being made to the volcanoes. As these seem to involve unwilling participants being thrown in, you hope they are of historical interest rather than current events.
You also see a conical altar.
Obvious exits: out.

[20:06] Auradric ceremoniously says in S'Kra, "Greetings, proud brothers and sisters of the tail, and welcome to S'Kra Mur Fellowship Night."

[20:06] Auradric says in S'Kra, "We gather here for two reasons. First, to be reminded what it means to be S'Kra Mur, and second, to begin laying the foundations of community."

[20:06] Auradric says in S'Kra, "Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am known to many as Paladin Auradric. But this is not my true name..."

[20:06] Auradric proudly says in S'Kra, "Ur'hhtrhk is the name gifted to me at birth by my ru'at."

[20:07] Auradric says in S'Kra, "It is a name I share only with the worthy -- that is, you, the blessed of Hav'roth."

[20:07] Auradric tactfully says in S'Kra, "This is not because I do not value my other friends. I am gifted with many honorable and loyal allies who are not of our people."

[20:08] Auradric says in S'Kra, "But regardless what merits they achieve, they will never have the virtues of the tail. They can never be what we can be."

[20:08] Auradric says in S'Kra, "So too is it with our relationships. S'Kra are meant to be with other S'Kra."

[20:09] Auradric says in S'Kra, "Although I have friends from many races, it is rare to name any but one of our own people as ru'at."

[20:09] Auradric says in S'Kra, "And that, ultimately, is why we must come together. After all, even our word for a gathering, 'smo'kku'par', is formed from the word 'smo', which of course means tail."

[20:10] Auradric says in S'Kra, "I know some of you may be less familiar with S'Kra culture, perhaps through no fault of your own."

[20:10] Auradric darkly says in S'Kra, "The wars of Kermoria have made countless orphans. Too many of us are scattered from our homes and families."

[20:10] Auradric says in S'Kra, "And we are, after all, adventurers. Wanderers. Hunters. This takes many of us far from our heritage."

[20:11] Auradric respectfully says in S'Kra, "Thus it is with great pleasure I introduce to you Sarkranis Murhhthi, my dear ru'ati, and the noblest S'Kra I know. You will find no better teacher."

[20:11] Sarkranis proudly says in S'Kra, "Greetings, sons and daughters of Hav'roth. For those of you who do not already know me, I am Sarkranis Murhhthi, Life Weaver of Velaka. I was born into a Musparan family of cloth weavers, but I soon discovered that I had more talent for the loom of life."

[20:12] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "But I did not come here tonight to talk about empathy. Ur'hhtrhk asked that I speak a few words about traditional S'Kra ethics and our views of the lesser races."

[20:12] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "It is written in our ancient lore that Ushnish created our ancestors to harass and punish the smooth-skins. And though the wisdom of Hav'roth and the grace of Peri'el have lifted us from that state of barbarism, most S'Kra have retained in some measure Ushnish's disdain for the lesser races."

[20:13] Sarkranis rhetorically asks in S'Kra, "For while we may not have been the first race to walk the lands, who can doubt that we are first in beauty, strength, culture, and honor?"

[20:13] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "Our code of honor seems strange or even harsh to those not blessed to have been born S'Kra. However, it is the natural result of the immense pride bestowed upon us by Peri'el."

[20:14] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "Broadly speaking, S'Kra divide people into two groups: ru'ati and q'alri. These terms lose some meaning when translated into the crude Common tongue, but roughly speaking, your ru'at is your inner circle -- your kin and close friends. Q'alri are outsiders -- everyone not in your ru'at."

[20:15] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "Paladins and ethicists of the less intelligent races believe in many absolutes about right and wrong. However, the wise S'Kra have a more nuanced view of the subject. How you are expected to behave towards someone depends on their relationship to you. Benevolence must be EARNED."

[20:15] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "Ru'ati give and expect complete trust and honesty from each other. As Ur'hhtrhk mentioned, traditionally, only S'Kra are included in one's ru'at, as the other races can't fully grasp the honors and obligations that come with this bond."

[20:16] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "Q'alri, on the other hand, are not entitled to any more respect or trust than they earn."

[20:16] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "Nor do we expect these things from them. Many S'Kra do not consider it wrong to deceive q'alri or steal from them so long as it benefits you more than it harms them. (Murder, however, remains generally unacceptable.)."

[20:17] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "Even our language embraces this truth, for how you address someone -- and even your grammar -- depends on the relationship between the speaker and the audience."

[20:18] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "Earlier, I mentioned the proscription against murder, yet even that is not an absolute. Our justice is swift, for the wrath of Ushnish burns in our blood. As the great S'Kra philosopher Urshaanin taught us, there is no shame in sending a dishonorable soul to the judgment of the gods."

[20:18] Sarkranis darkly says in S'Kra, "The ultimate punishment for dishonor, however, is to be declared smozh, to have one's tail ceremonially removed, so that you are made to live with all knowing the shame of your tailless life. In effect, it is exile from the S'Kra race, a fate worse than death."

[20:19] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "But it does not do to dwell on dishonor. Those who exalt the virtues of the tail need not fear."

[20:20] Sarkranis says in S'Kra, "So let us return to Ur'hhtrhk, who will expound upon those virtues and the benefits of maintaining ties with worthy S'Kra."

[20:20] Auradric admiringly says in S'Kra, "Sarkranis is quite traditional. She has been steeped in our culture her entire life. It is a stronger influence for her than some."

[20:21] Auradric says in S'Kra, "It is my belief that a S'Kra is defined not by how he treats q'alrin. He is defined not by his mannerisms, but by his virtues."

[20:21] Auradric devoutly says in S'Kra, "Peri'el gave us the gifts of the tail: honor, compassion, and pride."

[20:22] Auradric says in S'Kra, "Each of us interprets these in different ways. In my case, they led me to become a warrior of Chadatru in the service of justice."

[20:22] Auradric inspiringly says in S'Kra, "I for one have chosen to respect and protect all peoples of Kermoria, q'alrin or not. Because I know how it feels to be afraid, and I wish to spare everyone that suffering."

[20:23] Auradric says in S'Kra, "Moreover, I believe it is precisely because the lesser races lack our Four Virtues that they deserve our compassion and protection."

[20:23] Auradric impartially says in S'Kra, "But every S'Kra is gifted with the ability to forge his own destiny. So choose for yourself how you interact with the other races."

[20:24] Auradric enthusiastically says in S'Kra, "Now, I have often said the tail grows directly from the heart. I can no more still the one than the other."

[20:24] Auradric says in S'Kra, "Some of you who have wandered far from your people may have forgotten how important the tail is for expressiveness."

[20:25] Auradric says in S'Kra, "Part of Hav'roth's gift of language is our aptitude for communicating through the motions of our tail. As our arms deal with objects, so do our feelings flow through our tails."

[20:25] Auradric says in S'Kra, "My tail ripples with delight when I join my ru'ati. It traces small circles when I am amused. It slaps the ground when I anger."

[20:26] Auradric says in S'Kra, "And of course, its undulations as I stand peacefully often remind me who I am, even when I am far from my own kind."

[20:26] Auradric says in S'Kra, "It is natural for all S'Kra to use their tail to express feelings and attitudes in a way more meaningful than any other race is capable of."

[20:27] Auradric emphatically says in S'Kra, "Your tail yearns to move. See that you do not deny it, for to do so is to dishonor Hav'roth's gift."

[20:28] Auradric says in S'Kra, "Now, Sarkranis spoke some of the ru'at, and you have heard me refer to Sarkranis as my ru'ati."

[20:28] Auradric says in S'Kra, "This is one of the most important facets of S'Kra Mur culture. It is central to each of our identities."

[20:29] Auradric says in S'Kra, "To be ru'ati to another is a sacred status. It means you trust, honor, and care for your ru'ati as you would for yourself. This cannot be overstated."

[20:29] Auradric says in S'Kra, "Who you choose to be within your ru'at and how you treat them is a serious reflection of who you are."

[20:30] Auradric delicately says in S'Kra, "So take care to choose only those long of tail -- which is to say, those of worthy honor, since the tail is the emobodiment of honor and spirit."

[20:30] Auradric says in S'Kra, "These are bonds I believe all S'Kra need to have, even the cold hearted."

[20:31] Auradric mournfully says in S'Kra, "There was a dark time in my life when I had no ru'at at all. A time when I was alone, afraid, and angry. A time when I was incomplete and lost from the Path of Hav'roth."

[20:31] Auradric says in S'Kra, "You too may become lost without the bonds of ru'at. Do not let that happen."

[20:31] Auradric says in S'Kra, "Which brings us back to where we started. The reason we are all here."

[20:32] Auradric says in S'Kra, "You should understand now why it is important for S'Kra to know the fellowship of S'Kra. And you should see it takes time for the bonds of ru'at to form."

[20:32] Auradric says in S'Kra, "Everyone here is a traveller. But for too long we have been content to roam Kermoria knowing only the thrill of the hunt."

[20:33] Auradric emphatically says in S'Kra, "It is time that we come together, as a people, to build the community Hav'roth meant for us. Not just now, but going forward as well."

[20:33] Auradric says in S'Kra, "So in the future, when you enter a crowd, consider assessing the race of those present and speaking directly to other S'Kra in our native tongue."

[20:34] Auradric says in S'Kra, "Seek out our people to talk to, hunt with, and join for classes or the practice of skills."

[20:34] Auradric says in S'Kra, "And of course, we will soon take some time to mingle and get to know each other."

[20:35] Auradric piously says in S'Kra, "I pray to Peri'el that she make this the dawn of a strong community."

[20:35] Auradric asks in S'Kra, "Before we move to introductions and socializing, does anyone have any questions?"

---

"Empathy doesn't make people nice." --GM Armifer

Empath new player guide: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Empath_new_player_guide

Empath hunting ladder: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Empath_hunting_ladder