DEATH IS ETERNAL #436 by GIC

THE PARLIAMENT OF KORTHALON and THE FLAMING RIVER

Contents

1. THE PARLIAMENT OF KORTHALON (genre: anthropological science-fiction)

2. THE FLAMING RIVER (genre: apocalyptic science-fiction)

THE PARLIAMENT OF KORTHALON

Genre: anthropological science-fiction

Inspiration: 1265 – The first English parliament to include not only Lords but also representatives of the major towns holds its first meeting in the Palace of Westminster, now commonly known as the “Houses of Parliament.”

Word count: 514

Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash

The amber sun hung low over Korthalon Prime, casting long shadows across the gleaming spires of the capital. Inside the Council Sphere, an architectural marvel of crystalline lattice, the first gathering of the Unified Assembly was about to commence. For the first in recorded history, not only the ruling scions of the Eleven Dynasties but also the envoys of the worker collectives and free guilds would have a voice in shaping the planet’s future.

High Arbiter Xel’mon Rhai, a figure cloaked in iridescent robes that shimmered with every step, took their place at the central dais. Their gills fluttered nervously—a sign of unease despite the otherwise confident demeanour. Around them, the amphitheatre filled with a cacophony of whispers as beings of varying forms and statures settled into their seats. The crystalline walls refracted their voices, making the chamber feel alive with anticipation.

“For too long,” Xel’mon began, their voice amplified by the Sphere’s natural acoustics, “our decisions have been dictated solely by those born into power. But we stand on the precipice of a new era. The worker collectives, the merchant guilds, the artisans—they, too, have a stake in our survival. Today, we forge a path toward unity.”

The representatives exchanged wary glances. Perched in their elevated seats, Dynastic Lords radiated disdain through their bioluminescent skin. Below them, the newly invited guild envoys—more modestly adorned and visibly less assured—sat in tightly packed clusters, their postures a mix of hope and fear.

Envoy Lysa Trask of the Metalwright Guild was the first to rise. “We, the makers of the tools that sustain this world, welcome this opportunity. But we demand more than words. We demand action—fair compensation for our labour, a voice in resource distribution, and recognition of our contributions to Korthalon’s prosperity.”

A ripple of murmurs swept through the chamber. One of the Dunastic Lords, Marnoth Vrell, rose imperiously. His crest of scales flared, catching the light in a dazzling display of authority. “This is folly,” he thundered. “Our ancestors built this civilization. To grant the rabble equal footing is to court chaos!”

Before Xel’mon could respond, another voice cut through the din. It was Olrek Dhaan, a grizzled envoy from the dockworkers’ union. His leathery skin bore scars from years of labour in Korthalon’s acid seas. “And what chaos wrought by your endless wars of dominance? If we are rabble, it is because your policies have kept us in the dirt!”

The chamber erupted—cries of outrage with shouts of agreement. Xel’mon raised a webbed hand, and the Sphere’s acoustics amplified the gesture, silencing the assembly. “Enough! This is not a place for division but deliberation. If we cannot find common ground, Korthalon will fall—not by external enemies, but by our own refusal to evolve.”

Over the next days, debates raged. Concessions were made, alliances formed, and compromises brokered. Though fragile, a blueprint for shared governance emerged.

As Xel’mon gazed at the assembly from the dais, they felt hope. Perhaps, in this tumultuous experiment, lay the seed of a more just Korthalon—a beacon for the stars.

The end

THE FLAMING RIVER

Genre: apocalyptic science-fiction

Inspiration: 1785 – Invading Siamese forces attempt to exploit the political chaos in Vietnam but are ambushed and annihilated at the Mekong River by the Tây Sơn in the Battle of Rạch Gầm-Xoài Mút.

Word count: 1,064