After travelling for a long time through rarely visited places in the jungle, with thick undergrowth slowing down his pace, Irfidel gets back to Hoi-Cho. During his first contact with the trainers he picks up a few rumors here and there and wonders about the gossip.
Saddened, he shakes his head. "There is a political conflict between the Fyros and the Matis, personal conflicts between representatives of different races, remains of the Kitin mounds, mysterious followers of the Trytonistes, goo infested Igaras in the Upper Bog - wow, so much has happened. And what do the Zorai do? Start worrying about the seating order in the Assemblies??? What is Jen-Lai thinking they are doing?"
One thing is obvious to Irfidel: He will never accept a seating order during a Zorai assembly. A Zorai by heritage, but neutrally aligned to all of Atys, he will happily attend Assemblies and sit near his friends and near the sages if he is allowed to. But the Assemblies are not reporting meetings, they are not "top-down" communication sessions, they are discussions between the wise, and sometimes not so wise Zorais and those who hold the jungle in their heart. It is a time of talking and a time of learning for all.
The Zorai culture thrives on discussion and listening to alternate viewpoints. Irfidel goes to the nearest bar. "There was no need so far to put a Fyros or Matis attitude to our meetings." he exclaims to the barman. "What would you think if the capital next sends an order to you restricting who's allowed to talk in your bar to whom at what time? And who's allowed to sit with whom here enjoying your drinks?". Both he and the barman chuckle. But somehow it does not feel right. It is not a happy time.
Saddened, he shakes his head. "There is a political conflict between the Fyros and the Matis, personal conflicts between representatives of different races, remains of the Kitin mounds, mysterious followers of the Trytonistes, goo infested Igaras in the Upper Bog - wow, so much has happened. And what do the Zorai do? Start worrying about the seating order in the Assemblies??? What is Jen-Lai thinking they are doing?"
One thing is obvious to Irfidel: He will never accept a seating order during a Zorai assembly. A Zorai by heritage, but neutrally aligned to all of Atys, he will happily attend Assemblies and sit near his friends and near the sages if he is allowed to. But the Assemblies are not reporting meetings, they are not "top-down" communication sessions, they are discussions between the wise, and sometimes not so wise Zorais and those who hold the jungle in their heart. It is a time of talking and a time of learning for all.
The Zorai culture thrives on discussion and listening to alternate viewpoints. Irfidel goes to the nearest bar. "There was no need so far to put a Fyros or Matis attitude to our meetings." he exclaims to the barman. "What would you think if the capital next sends an order to you restricting who's allowed to talk in your bar to whom at what time? And who's allowed to sit with whom here enjoying your drinks?". Both he and the barman chuckle. But somehow it does not feel right. It is not a happy time.