This is not ES fanfic, exactly. But I love Vehk's children so much I had to write it.
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"...and that's why I built this casino."
"To disrupt the local economy of neighbouring towns? Isn't that a bit of a dike move?"
"Weren't you listening, boy? The local economy of neighbouring towns, to use your fancy words, is a demon. Was, anyway."
They called him City-Face. They are not an imaginative people. I knew his real name.
He came to this land when he fled his father-mother. It was just plains and rocks then. Some mighty fine rocks they were, once. A family of wanderers found him crawled up in a hole. Barely existing. They unloaded their donkey and sat down and said "This place is good. We can build here. There is water, and stone, and game" And maybe City-Face moved a bit.
And the travellers were right. They burnt the plains and they cracked the rock. They planted food and hunted prey and built houses and had many children.
A lone wanderer came by and she said "This place is good. You have houses and crops. May I stay here with you?" The settlers put down their weapons, and without really knowing why, said "You are welcome here. We will help build you a house and you will help tend our crops"
This happened many times. City-Face grew older and stronger.
That's where I got involved. City-Face's father-mother spoke to me, and I heard "He is that which I cut from myself to become more perfect. You are my sword-brother, and know the ways of cutting. Reach heaven by violence." and I heard City-Face's name and nature.
I took my poison sword and my poison clothes and my poison speech and I rode to the plains. I was overtaken by several trucks.
This place was good. Long boulevards lined with apartments and factories. I walked to the central plaza. "Ha-Note," I said "You are a bare urge of power. An esoteric wind nerve, tuned to the frequency of the huddled masses. I have come to kill you."
From the Mayor's palace came a tall man in a dark suit. His face was the city. I heard "Mu." He tapped his face where I stood, and I had to flee the city as his finger crushed the pavement around me.
I came to the city again, and I saw in the minds of the people a veiled astrology, the star charts of culture. I disguised my self, and waited for election day. The count was announced. City-Face was elected unanimously for another term. As City-Face shook hands with the crowds, I tapped his face where he stood. I fell for a long time.
I came to the city again and said "Under this reason did the people slide into your realm, drawn by your coveting, hidden in loss. We shall build our tower-hope upon your face"
"...and that's why I built this casino."