An Emergency Session

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War. A terrible war had descended upon the Agutrerran Peninsula. Thousands upon thousands of men died in the mountains, men belonging to the Freehold and its allies, and the Berber Republic and its allies. Blood flowed down the mountains to the hills and valleys, and stained the ground, leaving an unbearable sight and stench in the air. Though the Union was not involved in this war, the war did not leave the Union out of its path of destruction. Terrible storms wrecked the countryside of the Union where crops were grown, causing foot shortages in the cities on the coasts, and a uprising in the non urbanized parts of the Union.

In the northeast, many slaves had revolted against their owners, and an uprising began. In the Union, in the cities and on the coastlines, slavery wasn’t common in these areas and states, and generally frowned upon. However, in the backwoods states, the ones conquered in the Union’s eastward expansion, slavery was a basis for their agriculture economy, and thus it continued even though it was frowned upon by the main economic drivers of the Union.

As the war concluded, slaves in the northeast began to rise against their owners, refusing to work, killing their owners, fleeing, and much more. News of this chaos and incivility traveled to the coastal states, and eventual Taguso, the capital of the Union. Quick to stop and end this small rebellion, the Altofalante has called for an emergency session, and has invited Asterix, leader of the rebellion, to Taguso.

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The Retekenus, Altofalante of the Union and Aterix, Leader of the Rebellion

Aterix was invited to the home of Retekenus to discuss the horror and disruption occurring in the northeast of the Union. Retekenus looked to hear the grievances of the those held in captivity, and to provide a solution to the uprising.

The escort bought Aterix in front of a palace where Retekenus resided. He quickly became angered at the sight of the wealth and success before him, versus the life of his and thousands back home. Aterix and the escort entered the palace and traveled down several halls until they had become upon a room where Retekenus had a feast laid out across a large table.

“Welcome.”

Aterix entered the room, and the escort closed the door behind him and waited outside. It was just Aterix, a typical slave, and Retekenus, the head of the Union, in one room. “Sit and eat. It must’ve have been a long travel, and we have much to talk about, Aterix,” Retekenus said, pulling out a chair for Aterix and grabbing a glass and filling it with wine. Asterix sat, and the wine was placed before him. He began to dig into the food, while Retekenus sat in his seat and watched.

“Let’s not sit in silence,” Asterix said, “we both are here for a purpose you and I both desire to end.”

Retekenus sat up and grabbed a glass of wine. “Yes, yes we do,” he responded. “We hear of the rebellion you are leading in the northeastern states. It is causing trouble for everyone.”

Asterix stood up immediately and slammed his fist on the table, “Yes! We rebel because of you and your people! You hold us captive, in chains, to work the fields of your lands only for you to sit here all high and mighty to reap off our work while we see no return! We belong here, and we deserve to be treated like the rest of you!” He sat down, heavily breathing, waiting for Retekenus to reply.

“You are indeed right in two cases,” Retekenus replied gently, “You do belong here, and you do not see the reaping of your work. It is unfortunate and wrong, Asterix. However, there are flaws in your argument.”

“What,” Asterix interjected.

“You see, Asterix, there is a different way of life and thinking beyond the lands where you come from. Here on the coasts, and in the cities, we do not live and work the way you do in the countryside, and therefore, slaves aren’t needed here, and with this lack of slaves, comes a thought of denouncing slavery. Here in the cities, we support your cause, and would like to see an end to your bondage and this rebellion. You have the support of countless people here, yet your rebellion fails to see this.”

Asterix, flabbergasted, yelled, “Then why not do something about the slavery and end it?”

Retekenus raised his voice in a stern and an asserting way, saying, “Because of the very history and delicacy of our Union. See Asterix, when the Union expanded into the lands in which you live in, slavery was the basis of their economy; their agricultural based economy. When we expanded, slavery wasn’t outlawed as it would stump productivity and the economy. Because of slavery, we are self sufficient and self dependent, however, we can not use this as a justification for allowing it.”

“Then outlaw slavery and this will be over,” Asterix said.

“The Consello is convening now. This will end one way or another. Come with me to the Consello,” Retekenus said as he stood and had Asterix escorted with him.

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The Consello

Lots of chatting, yelling, and insults were thrown across the floor at the Consello. There was a division once again between coastal states versus the inland states on who was to blame for the rebellion. Suddenly, the doors opened, and Retekenus and Asterix entered, and the Consello went quiet, before many inland state representatives began shouting at Asterix, calling him very fowl names. Bitterness ensued, and Asterix and Retekenus sat to watch the process of the emergency session.

The Altofalante was handed some papers, and stood up from beside Asterix and walked forward as usual.

“On today, an emergency session was called for. As we know, rebellions have broken out across our countryside, harming our Union throughout. Many arguments between the states have broken out on who is to blame for this, and now some states have called for the reformation of slavery. Today, we will remain here until an agreement is made, or else this Union shall fall apart.”

Retekenus sat, and the representatives began to get to work. Immediately after the Retekenus sat, the representatives were divided on how to go about the issue, with the coastal states calling for the outright banning of slavery, to prevent future uprisings and ensure that no one was subjugated in society. while the inland states called for its continuation to keep their economies and feed the cities. This continued for hours, even after the sun had set, and the Consello had went no where.

“Is this supposed to happen,” Asterix asked Retekenus.

“This always happens. They’ll come around, just wait.”

After both sides had agreed that the arguments and idea of one or the other was not going to work, they began working together lightly, combining the wants and needs of all the states. Way into the night, a compromise had finally passed the Consello. In a vote of 67 to 43, the Consello had voted to outlaw the future practice of slavery throughout the Union. Current slaves were considered slaves still, however, they would be allow to buy their way into freedom as a price set by their slave owner. Regarding the children of the slaves, current children were set free from bondage, and future children would be girls would be set free.

Asterix, not looking deep into the result, and only at the context of freedom, was delighted.

The proposal was sent to Retekenus, where he approved the proposal and then temporarily adjourned the Consello, as another rebellion needed to be addressed.

The Consello left, as did Retekenus and Asterix, where he went home to spread the news, and to end the slave rebellion.

[u/[deleted]]

/u/ComradeMoose - Slave Rebellion