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An Empire expanding
expansion III: a Just sacrifice

The Savoset marched into the lush forests of the island, banners of the empire raised high among the formations that dotted the continent. The force had split in two: one holding the area where the ships were based, the other on the hunt.

“Those damned Cats could be hiding anywhere!” A Savoset said in a loud whisper among the soldiers.

“Stay patient, sister of the divine!” Kemi replied, “We shall see to yet another sacrifice to the world.”

The Savoset continued their march, with several scouts bringing up information on the surroundings. Soon however, the Column found their targets: several Lopexians surrounded an alter, which had a Sacrifice ready on its surface. The Leader of the event, the Chief itself, was deep in thought, singing hymns of the ancient. The Lopexians soon saw the Cajapoyans closing in around them, and began doing weary cries of mercy, forgiveness, or utter silence.

Kemi halted the formation with a raised hand. “Leader of this… hovel of a tribe. I command you to end this heathen’s session, or face the punishment of the true divine!”

The Chief scoffed. “You worship the flow of Man’s own blood, and call me as below you? Have you not seen the many you’ve killed, all for your own Zeal and need of conquest!?”

Kemi looked at her troops, then back to the chief. “The ends justify the means. We need conquest, else, how will we see to the grandeur of the old emp-”

“The old empire shall never return!”

Kemi drew forth her sword, and soon enough the savoset had spears readied. “I believe I was not finished.”

“You shout vile ideas of all needing blood and carnage to hold back the punishment of the divine, a wild savage through in through, feasting on the hearts of those the deem inferior to themselves!”

“And you spend your time on an island, hoping your peace will bring through it the fruits of your labor?”

“Damn you! Ours is a society of words, not action. We came here to seek a life outside the constant need of conquest and raiding, hoping to better ourselves as people. Yet as soon as we’ve began to learn of our enlightenment, you strike us down! A nation of bloodlust, and undescribable horrors!”

Kemi began to approach the Altar. “You know little of the world, Old man. For all your eldership, I thought you’d have grown a backbone over the years, or at least a sense of reason. Instead, you believe your people never hunted to survive, never killed to stay alive! You believe in your act of foolishness that there’d come a time, where we could be at peace with all and see the world at true peace? I see that it’d only breed the death of us all, as we rot away into nothingness. So has the old empire fell, so shall the new empire not!”

“I can’t reason with you vagabonds! Your Zealotry to your own superiority will be the death of you, and when I have long since rotted, I shall smile knowing that your Empire will Crumble, just as it has before!”

“And I hope you’re disappointed for your falsehood.”

Kemi rammed the blade in the neck of the Chieftain, twisting the blade, before ripping it out of the wound. The Chief fell to the ground in silence, crawling on the ground, before losing all grasp on the material plane.

The Savoset cheered, with Kemi jumping on top of the Altar. “Today, marks the first step in a renewed empire! We shall, from this day forth, be strong!”