Exquaestio Interlude 1456-1457 Rojez Lafwe, Primate of Exquaestio, stood. Everyone in the room who wished to speak had had a final say. "It is time for us to vote. It has been requested that a voice vote be made on this issue instead of the standard secret ballot. Are there any objections?" After a pause, he continued, "Very well then. The rohain observer will call the vote. I remind you that the bylaws to permit a vote of 'pass' have not yet been accepted." As he sat, Marya Randir rose from her place beside Mirafelle, away from the members of the conclave proper. Rojez had wondered about the propriety of allowing a follower of Demerhaze, not even a quaestae, to observe these meetings, but she had been selected by the rohain preceptory to present rohain views. In the absence of a Preceptor, that made her the seniormost rohain, and the Precepts and Strictures said that the senior rohain and espiri must be allowed to observe conclave meetings if they desired. Allowing her to attend had also meant that she was able to raise Demerhaze's Veil around the conclave. That magic might be destroyed, but nothing short of the strongest gods could perceive anything which passed within without destroying it. In a firm voice, Marya began calling out the positions occupied by the members of the conclave, from the least senior to the most. "The Oversee of The North votes Yea." Rojez thought it was a special miracle that this meeting had been managed at all. Years of prior negotiations had culminated in this one, and most of The Conclave had already journeyed to Cormenaera to welcome their new members and finish plans for the Festival Year when the news came from Tanimbar. Mirafelle had then worked herself ragged to teleport in Marya and the few who had originally decided not to attend. "The Oversee of Sedonia votes Yea." Plans for the Festival Year had been going forward, but no one had expected this meeting to turn so critical. Everyone in this room knew that this vote would determine much of Exquaestio's future, though none knew what the results would be. "The Oversee of Fauve Monde votes Yea." "THAT was something of a surprise," Rojez reflected. Apparently Atros had been convinced by the arguments for using using goblins in future conflicts with the Ice Demons. "The Oversee of Tanimbar votes Yea." Which was no surprise at all. The arguments between the new Overpriest and his sponsor, the Bishop of Orasar, had been acrimonious. It meant, though, that all four of the new council members had voted for the motion. In turn, that likely meant that the newest quaestae would also support it. "The Oversee of Videss votes Yea." If this measure passed, the Conclave's plans for Videssia would have to put on hold, Rojez reflected. As satisfying as it would be to bring down the church of Phos-Skotos, it would be impossible to divert the resources to do it in the face of conflict with the government of Tanimbar. "The Oversee of Cormenaera votes Yea." ALL of Exquaestio's plans would have to be put on hold, or redefined in the face of this conflict. The morality of this course was clear, genocide was evil, but what wasn't clear was if Exquaestio could actually do any good. "The Oversee of New Lands abstains." Surprise shown on no few faces. This was the Overpriest who had argued that letting the goblins be slaughtered would likely drive the nonhuman Vraa'al away from Exquaestio. It looked, though, that in the end his own argument had failed to sway him. "The Diocese of Parmouth votes Yea." The newest of the conclave's bishops had seen fighting against the Ice Demons as Overpriest of Aseria. His vote meant that the conclave had definitely managed to make the distinction between Ice Demons and Goblins. It also meant that at least a simple majority of the conclave would be voting "Yea." Unfortunately, an issue this important really needed to be settled by more than a simple majority. "The Diocese of The Tana votes Nay." The first nay vote, and completely expected. From what she had said privately, Rojez was convinced that the Bishop actually favored the motion. Unfortunately, with Tana in the state it was in because of the Ice Demons, she needed to be publicly on record as opposing the motion. Anything else would likely end up with her being lynched. "The Diocese of Lowfells votes Yea." Cormenaera might be Exquaestio's administrative center, but Junder was still the center of its faith. Though its bishop supported her views Mirafelle had confessed to Rojez that the militancy arising in Junder disturbed her a bit. She thought the successes in Junder's rebellion and against the ice demons had turned the quaestae of Junder overly cocky. "The Diocese of Mirabalpur votes Nay." In most nations quaestae could hide their beliefs. The Bishop of Mirabalpur was all too aware that wasn't possible in Mir and had argued strenuously against the motion. Still, Rojez knew that whatever had prompted this vote, it wasn't cowardice. "The Diocese of Orasar votes Nay." The debate between the Bishop of Orasar and the new Overpriest of Tanimbar had made the prejudices of the former clear. He hated the goblins passionately. It was also obvious that the bishop felt betrayed by the person he'd thought of as a close friend and comrade. Rojez hoped the two hadn't lost all ability to work together. "The Diocese of Anecir votes Yea." None of anradan on the council wanted this fight. If they liked fighting they'd have joined the rohain. Most had decided, though, that they must stand up for their beliefs, whatever it might cost them. "The Diocese of Crisaeda votes Yea." Rojez dared to hope. Two more Yea votes would give him the 9/12 majority he needed, and one of those votes would be his own. "The Diocese of Cormenaera votes Nay." Rojez had been afraid of that. Since the Primacy was based in Cormenaera he worked closely with that bishop and knew him well. The bishop had campaigned hard to get the primacy in 1447, and still felt he'd make a better primate than Rojez. He'd been clearly wavering throughout the debates. Still, Rojez knew the bishop would support the conclave's decision even if he voted against it. Marya turned to Rojez. "How does the Primacy vote?" Rojez stared at his hands for a moment. He had decided days ago that keeping Exquaestio whole was what should drive his vote. Faced with the actual vote, though, he hesitated. Was keeping Exquaestio together worth the deaths he was about to create? "The Primacy votes Yea." Marya tallied the vote and reported what everyone knew. "The vote is eleven to four with one abstention." As Marya seated herself, Rojez rose once again, decades older than he'd been a few weeks past. He'd sought a decisive 9/12 vote on this issue, and he hadn't gotten it. "Fellow councilors, the majority of the conclave favors protecting the goblins of Tanimbar. While the precepts and strictures which govern this conclave do not permit this vote to be protested, I must now ask, in all seriousness: Are there any here who cannot accept the results of this vote?" The Bishop of Orasar shifted uneasily, and the Bishop of Mirabalpur stared at the floor instead of meeting the gazes from around the table, but neither spoke. In his mind Rojez said a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. This wouldn't break Exquaestio after all. "Then let it be known that the Grand Conclave of Exquaestio has decided that all ecclesia and quaestae should work in whatever manner they deem fit to protect the goblins of Tanimbar from extermination." "I am declaring tomorrow a day of rest." There was mild laughter from around the room. The bishops and overpriests knew quite well that this decision meant there would be no real rest for some time. "We will meet in two days starting at the second hour to discuss the ramifications of this decision and the shortcomings of the precepts and strictures this debate has made clear. Rojez nodded to Mirafelle and bell-like sound magically filled the room. Demerhaze Veil dropped and the late afternoon sunlight drowned out Mirafelle's magical lights. "This meeting of the Grand Conclave of 1457 is adjourned." ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
