Many have debated the exact aning of the na attached to Yolesh the Ever Dying. Is the Ancient so form of undead? Is it a boast to state how Yolesh cannot truly die? Does it have another aning altogether?
Amongst the worshippers of Yolesh, there is no consensus, but there are a few prevalent views, the most common among them being that the aura of undeath that surrounds the Ancient is fuelled by its own life force. In that sense, Yolesh is always dying, burning its own life to maintain its power.
Whether that ans the Ancient is destined to die, or if it can replace what it loses, we can only guess.
What is known, is where Yolesh surfaced during the Rending. The Valley of Eternal Mist is ho to the undead to this day. No matter how many tis they are killed, no matter how thoroughly, they still return. Perhaps an example of the true nature of Yolesh.
-Excerpt from 'Collective Wisdom of the Cults' by Granin Lazus
The diplomats of the Colony had never imagined that their work would beco so simple. The Folk were clamoring for teams to leave Antho and tour their territories. Inquiries about visiting the ho of Tunnel Ball had skyrocketed, with thousands expressing interest in seeing how the ga was played by the creatures who'd created it. Cultural exchange and acceptance between the Colony and Folk, which had seed so difficult at first, a project of decades, was accelerating by leaps and bounds every week.
The brathian had also caught the bug. From the most recent reports, the Brathian Island Conglorate was paying for ant coaches and teams, even putting up a hefty fee to recruit a team of carvers to demonstrate the official construction thods for their own builders. News of the ga was spreading along the shipping routes, causing other conglorates to reach out, desperate not to be left behind by their competition.
It seed like everywhere the Colony went, as long as Tunnel Ball was also there, they were welcod with open arms. The conversations were easy, the compromises flowed smoothly, agreents were made, signed, sealed and delivered before the tea got cold.
Diplomant could not have been more pleased. What they had assud would take them ten years would be done before twelve months had passed. All because of a training exercise the farrs liked to watch.
As she stood, looking over the edge of the flying ship rising above the shimring sapphire waters of the fourth, she could only admit that her role was no longer to represent the Colony in international negotiations.
No, everything had changed.
Her role was to spread Tunnel Ball as far and as fast as an ant possibly could. If the locals were playing the ga, then they would reach out to the Colony on their own. All the ants had to do was sit back and wait, sipping tea and eating cake.
It was simple. She hired ships and sent out Folk, brathian, golgari, ka'armodo, even a few bruan'chii, who had learned the ga while serving in the battalions. They would play demonstration gas, teach children and adults, organise matches between the locals. Over a few weeks, they would build interest, develop a following for the ga, and inevitably conversations would turn to perhaps creating a proper field, organising regular gas.
At this mont, the Colony would swoop in. You need a field? We will build it, free of charge. Would you like so training? Would you like to see an ant team play? Of course, we will happily sponsor your best team to tour the fourth stratum, we will do it every year!
After a month or two, she would turn up with her fellow diplomats. How do you feel about trade? Would you like to recognise the Colony as an independent, free nation of sapient creatures?
I'm afraid recognising our sovereignty and right to exist is a requirent of participation in the World Cup.
Wonderful to have your agreent in this matter. Let us toast with a fine cup of loose-leaf tea and scones.
It worked like one of the Silver City's magical clocks, as predictable as the turning of gears and the swing of a pendulum. An unprecedented level of diplomatic success. Reports from the spies within the Church of the Path said the priests' heads were spinning. Trying to unite the sapient races against the ants was almost impossible as the ga opened doors left right and centre.
Not that they didn't have so success. They would need to be dealt with eventually, likely when the Eldest awoke. For now, Diplomant would, to borrow a human expression, make hay while the sun was shining.
However, of all the races, kingdoms, fiefdoms, free cities and islands to which she had spread the ga, there was one that caused her so level of concern. The reputation of these people was such that she wondered if they would even be interested in Tunnel Ball. On so level, she was almost more worried if they did take an interest.
With a slight jolt, the flying ship bumped into the dock. The crew jumped about, yelling instructions, throwing ropes and tying things down, and soon enough it was ti to alight. Along with her escorts, Diplomant skittered down the ramp, her eyes taking in the incredible view from the floating island in the sky.
She'd asked, of course, whether or not the locals had taken to the ga, but all she'd heard back was that she would have to 'see it for herself'.
It didn't take long for her to see what her agent had ant.
"Ey? Eyyyyyy?! Are you fair dinkum mate?! The ball was in!"
"You wanna have a go, mate?! Caus' I'll go! I'm dyin' ta go!"
"Shut your pie holes, you drongos! Get your thick heads back in the ga!"
"Ey?"
"Ey!"
"... Fine."
Cheering erupted as play got back underway.
"Co on, you good thing! Get 'em!"
"Ball? BALLLLLLLLL!!!!"
"Ump! Where's the flamin' call?!"
"Hey! I'm the umpire, not you! Shut your flamin' mouth!"
"Oh? You wanna have a go, then?"
"Eyyyy?"
"Eyyyy!"
Soon, two magpei, one in an official umpire's uniform, were grappling and fighting in the skies as play continued beneath them.
Diplomant clacked her mandibles slowly, unsure if she should be pleased, or in despair. Everywhere she looked on the outskirts of this one small town, they were playing Tunnel Ball, or fighting about Tunnel Ball, or both at the sa ti.
The magpei were legendary for their fiery tempers, impressive physical strength, shocking durability and recovery, and undying love for hitting each other.
It was entirely possible they would dominate the world of Tunnel Ball. It was built for them.
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