Civil Discourse

Story so far

Civil Discourse is the private confrontation Diomedes arranges beneath Io after publicly returning from the dead. He brings Lysander to the shrine where Darrow waits, reveals Fá's severed head, and establishes that neither guest knew the other would be present. The encounter begins with drawn razors, mutual suspicion, and Darrow's certainty that Diomedes has betrayed him.

Diomedes makes the meeting about a force neither rival can defeat alone: Atalantia au Grimmus, strengthened while the Rim, the Republic, and the Society have exhausted one another. He proposes a military alliance of all three against her and asks for concrete acts rather than rhetoric. Darrow must present Fá's head to the Moon Lords and seek mercy; Lysander must present Atlas's head and seek mercy. Both men acknowledge that a future peace would require actual change, though Lysander doubts it and Darrow cannot promise it beneath a continuing hierarchy. Diomedes lets Lysander leave as his protected guest, demanding their answers at nivalnight in the House of Bounty. The meeting ends with Cassius missing and Gaia's Dustwalkers surrounding Darrow and Diomedes.

Appearance

A dim shrine garden around a reflecting pool, with the Shield of Akari beneath a box containing Fá's head and armed rivals seated across from one another.

Role

Civil Discourse is the first formal attempt to turn the three commanders' intersecting griefs and interests into an alliance against Atalantia.

Relationships