Those Who Sharpen the Mind

Taxes and Plots

Un'debro walked into the massive auditorium that held the Senate in charge of creating and implementing the laws of Haimore. Un'debro did not enjoy this building. The magnificent structures burned his faith and felt like a grand deviation from the Path. He knew the amount of taxes needed to create such a place and what help could have been given instead.

The Senate had not always given Un'debro this uneasy feeling. Un'debro had interactions with the original Senators when he was a much younger man. These older gentlemen showed such promise and hope to Un'debro. Two generations before he was born, the Senate was formed as the first attempt at democracy. The Senators were voted into the position after many serious debates. It signified a new era for Haimore as the people had finally had a choice in their governance. Un'debro truly respected these first Senators, but the ideals of the past quickly gave way to modern demands for power. There were no more elections after the initial, as democracy gave way to nepotism. The sons and daughters of the original Senators and their future generations would pick up their reins in time. The results and power became entrenched in the newer generations and they wielded their unearned power maliciously.

"Ah, you ignore summons now Un'debro? What kind of message will that send to your young Holi-inte?" Senator Drake asked snidely from the middle of a group of chatting Senators.

"To be honest, I left the order today so many of them would not know. If I am to think of what to tell these young men and women about what I have done..." Un'debro drifted off in thought for a moment. His thoughts almost seemed to echo in the auditorium. This was accentuated by the fact that there were only a few dozen of the several hundred Senators in the chamber.

"... There will be many powers that violently grab your attention from the Path, but follow your mind and take care to not stray." Un'debro said confidently as he approached the center of the auditorium. The acoustics of the room made it possible for someone on the floor to be heard in the rising concentric rows that rose high towards the ceiling. Un'debro's voice seemed to ring even more profoundly amongst the far-from-full chambers. Un'debro was meant to attend the meeting that ended over an hour before his arrival. The remaining Senators had anxious energy as they greatly wanted to see what would happen for this digression.

"Going on about the Path as usual I see. You do know that Haimore is in a crisis at the moment, don't you? There is no time for your notoriously long-winded speeches." Senator Drake said, trying to weaponize the energy of the room.

"The Path is faith. Through my faith, I know that a crisis is a rock in the Path. It is not to be ignored, but if you understand the rock and its Path, it can be easily navigated."

"The Paths of rocks? I think you have been inhaling too much dust in that library of yours." Senator Malbock exclaimed to laughs from the other Senators, except for Drake.

"Damn it old man! This is no time for riddles or jests." Drake said, visibly angry. He glared at the other Senators and the laughter and energy of the room silenced immediately. "We have borrowed much from our neighboring Docmore and it would be wise to pay our debts." Drake broke the silence with no more hesitation or polite talk.

"Well as I have said, Understand the rock's Path and it is easy to navigate. Pay the debt and move on from this rock." Un'debro could see that this simple answer would not satisfy the egos of these inflated Senators. "Give Docmore some of all of the Senator's vast belongings. Or, I believe they would much love the statues that line this auditorium." Un'debro said calmly, not being affected by the anxious feeling in the room.

"Are you mad Holi-inte? These statues have stood as beacons of the success of this city and this Senate since before you or I were born." Drake said, not being able to hide any of his anger or distaste for Un'debro.