"Nothing so formal. There are loose associations, bonds of comradery for colleagues, and even holy sites they meet at to share news, but if you're imagining someone arranging a vote of all the nature-studiers, that does not happen."

"Are the holy sites like the room in the museum, barred to casual inspection?"

"Generally, yes. Though I know of one that is specifically open to any who are capable of reaching it, the Eye of Hessen, a large plateau with a central lake in the northern hemisphere. I can't help but wonder how they'd react to a shuttle." The king chuckles.

"Maybe somebody'll try it! Not me, I'm just glad I got a nice stable posting with a nice friendly polity."

"I'm glad to be able to provide safety to my citizens and guests. In regards to the observation of the prisoners, how do you see that happening?"

"What Amentans observing other Amentans in situations analogous to this usually do is send a yellow who takes notes - we can substitute a video recording, if that's preferable. And then they report back about how well whatever guidelines are in force are being followed."

"It seems to me then that we should discuss the customary treatment of prisoners, and the usual rules of trials, for both our polities."

"Please go right ahead - is it all right if I write things down?"

The king grimaces slightly but says, "Yes, that's fine. Amentans are not Dwellin. We generally will be uncomfortable, but this is your way. Prisoners are to be given a safe place to sleep, reasonable  privacy, sufficient food and water, and the opportunity to exercise. They are not to be harassed or assaulted without provocation. We sometimes allow them to work simple labor in exchange for privileges for their exercise, but this is voluntary."

"That sounds like a very reasonable list."

"Oh, and I thought this went unsaid but better to actually say it- They may visit the Well of Souls, of course. The purpose of the trials will be to establish an understanding of Three Kills' recent piracy and the level of culpability that the captured leadership has. We are interested mostly in the piracy and related matters like killings, and won't be interrogating them about their entire lives or unrelated crimes."

"That sounds really enlightened, occasionally Amentan judges get a bit too in-depth when interviewing and it's a problem with trust in the justice system."

"It's largely a concession to appearances, I want to reach a dominant naval position so punishing piracy is expected of us but many of our neighbors would question the legitimacy of a trial that did not focus specifically on piracy."

"Are your neighbors sending observers too?"

"Most likely. We've notified everyone close- Deepwoods Fort, Charcoal Junction, Sandstone Temple, and the Olive Council. Probably the Wave Callers will make a lot of noise but not actually ask for anything as usual. I'm surprised our neighbors haven't sent representatives of their own to meet you, honestly."

"We'll have more outposts eventually, including there if they'll have us, but it's easier in a lot of ways when we have one all built to fall back to between chunks of work on it. What will the Wave Callers be likely to remark on?"

"They want everyone to stop fishing and only sail near the coast, for theological reasons. And also fund some sort of ceremony they like to do. Neither of which I think serves my people, though I'd permit them to do their ceremony in my land if they wished, I simply won't fund it or let them swindle money from my people."

"How much of the theology and so on is based in - material concern for hostile environmental reactions, which we'll have to track ourselves too?"

"It can be difficult to tell. Theology is not simply practical, it's about your beliefs and spiritual fulfillment. I had my advisors ask Stoneheart and another nature-studier by the name of Sleeping Acorn about the Wave Callers a few years ago, and both said they were being overly cautious."

"Oh, good. Are we likely to meet Sleeping Acorn?"

"He mostly operates north of here, but I'd bet that will happen eventually, yes. He also has magic- Not all nature-studiers do, but a majority."

"Why is it that most of them wind up with magic?"

"...Because most highly-accomplished Dwellin will seek out magic if they have the means? I hunted mine myself, but a sufficiently important personage could organize an expedition for it."

"Ah, I see. Is there any worry about overhunting the animals that have it available? Presumably someone who did it habitually would not be particularly afraid of more animals coming after them."

"Ah, you have found a controversial matter. We do not have a full understanding of this, but historically, any biome that is meant to have magic animals develops them again even if they are overhunted. Also, the young don't have the stones, so they get left alone."