All sentient life is connected. The appendages may be different, we may eat different things, and live in different solar systems, but at the end of the day, we’re all one big family.
It’s time to explore the branches of the universal family tree, and today, we present:
Fhet Kings
– Issue 1 – The Lord of the Kings
The meeting of the Kings was unprecedented. There has never been a gathering of all sixteen Kings and the measures taken to secure the gathering were extensive. Many of the Fhet Kings are bitter rivals and have only united in their history during the failed military effort against the Rhasdwiis that resulted in an embarrassing defeat on the universal stage. This was disastrous for the organizers of the war efforts, the Kings of Sections 3, 6, 9, who were promptly overthrown and their crowns passed to new men of different families. The war against Wiis was supposed to demonstrate the fearsome might of a united Fhetat and the Kings who organized it, meant for it to show Fhetatians what they could achieve if they worked together and squashed their petty intersectional squabbles, but the combined volunteer forces from Section 3, 6, and 9 failed miserably in their attack on Wiis because of these very petty intersectional squabbles. They chose Wiis as a target for their show of united might to the universe because of the rising fame of Pen Nuren, who had served as security along with a small band of elite Rhasdwiis soldiers for the Universal Infirmary as they established branches around the universe. When the UI traveled to the Fhetat to create a branch there, it was Pen Nuren who met with representatives of the Fhetat to negotiate the terms, and it was then that Pen truly earned the ire of the Fhetat. No Kings were in attendance at the meeting, but the representatives of the Kings relayed her disrespect in demanding that the UI be allowed to establish it’s branch with guarantees of security on the future campus. The representatives were most insulted as men specially chosen and under the protection of their powerful section King; they felt that a woman was beneath them for the level of diplomatic negotiations in which they engaged and Nuren was especially disrespectful in her demands. Nuren also made her perception of the Fhetat and its people very clear. She called them barbaric and undeserving of the UI branch that would likely be destroyed if it was ever built. So, the Kings of Sections 3, 6, and 9 very confidently sent volunteers with the hopes of putting the Rhasdwiis woman in her place, only, the military forces of the Rhasdwiis are extremely cooperative and very well trained, and the Fhetat was easily defeated and embarrassed. Because of this conflict that was watched by many around the universe, Fhetatians have a reputation for violence and for military ineptitude.
The recent gathering of all sixteen Kings was a clear example of the lack of cooperation and coordination of the sections of the Fhetat, but it also demonstrated the gravity of the threat that the Fhetatians faced.
“What does occupation even mean?” Gilthon Ju-arl of S3 asked. He was standing next to an elaborate chair, one of sixteen that had been manufactured with care to honor the solemn occasion of the meeting of the Fhet Kings. Ju-arl, who wore leather armour with metal accents that was similar to the other Kings in attendance, and very dirty leather boots, had one foot in the chair and the fine fabric of the upholstery was soiled with what looked to be mud.
“It means they are going to steal our crowns and rule our people,” Teknon We-la of S15 said. “It means that Representative Nuren is taking her final revenge and ridding the universe of Fhet Kings.”
“Let her come!” Aid-o Minios of S7 yelled. “Let her come to sacrifice her daughters, her sisters. It is well past time we settled this. And this meeting is pointless. When the aggressors arrive, each Section will be forced to defend its own. There is no need for cooperation, unless you know your Section is weak.”
“Are we not all Fhetatian?” Manes Juyame of S4 asked. “I do not want to see any Section fall to this woman and her empty threats and I will personally fight to my death to see that it never happens.”
There was a moment as the Kings considered the words of Juyame. The conflicts of the modern Fhetatians stem from many fhrings of cohabitation on the Fhetat that has limited resources; it is a relatively small portion of Fhetatian history, though, and they have existed as a civilization for a very long time, since their ancient origins on the planet Eel, and to the establishment of their first homeworld Ife. The Fhetatians had an extensive shared history of struggle that bonded them and Juyame reminded every King of that history with his question.
“Our course is clear,” Cras-myne Re of S16 said to break the silence. “We stand together against the IP, against Nuren. We won’t lose if we stand together. Our embarrassing history actually works to our advantage. No one truly appreciates the power we wield with our crowns, and we have the advantage of defending our home.”
“What you say is true,” Sao-Reyne of S1 said. “But is it possible? We must select a leader, someone to take charge and direct forces, and who among you will agree to take orders from anyone else?”
The Kings looked around at one another and Juyame was the first to raise his hand. Some looked shocked, others laughed at him.
“Think about what we face,” Juyame said. He stood and looked gravely into the eyes of the men assembled. “The Black Storm, you all know it, it rages on Fhet, spreading it’s darkness more and more each day. And that has always been a bad omen for our people. But we possess magic. We have to use it together to fight back the darkness.”
“You are crazy and your wife must taste very sweet to be able to fill your head with so much nonsense,” Ju-arl said. “The Black Storm, we’re not even on Fhet. But I’ll raise my hand too. I’ll take orders if I am not the leader, though I am the obvious choice. I will not allow any Fhetatians, not even the sorry ones in this room, to bow to alien rule.”
Re raised his hand, and so did Teknon of S15, and Klezhar of S14. Then Zulu of S5, and Lasie of S6. Soon, the only holdouts were Minios of S7 and Sao-Reyne of S1.
“I can’t speak for Minios,” Sao-Reyne said, “but unless you all intend to make me the leader of our new alliance, then you will never recruit me to your cause.”
“What say you, mighty Kings?” Re of S16 asked, and they all agreed to unite under Sao-Reyne, except for Minios who looked defiantly around at everyone.
“Good luck in your doomed alliance,” Minios said and stood to leave, but he stopped when Re called to him.
“Minios, there are ways to get S7 on board. Fifteen Kings can easily remove the crown from your head, or your head from your body. Come together with us, or perish, make your choice now.”
Minios reluctantly joined.
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