12-29-2020, 03:25 AM
On the campaign trail
Huitzitaca
Xayactochtli, the candidate for Prime Minister from the Imperial Glory Party, glared. At the crowd in front of him, at the cameras broadcasting his speech, at everything.
He was a very angry man. And he wasn't afraid to show it.
"We are led by fools and cowards!" he shouted, slamming his fist down on the podium. "First Yauhmi, a weak old woman with a bleeding heart who cared more about how much a bunch of foreigners and domestic traitors loved her than she did about the Empire! Then Xochiuhue, a lunatic murder machine with the competence of pond scum! Now Calhualyana, who cravenly seeks permission to give away half of our Empire and prostrates both herself and our Empire before the foreigners in Jinyu! Truly, she is the worst of all - she wants to just give away half of our Empire, which she did nothing to earn us, so she can have a shameful peace and plant her pretty behind on the Obsidian Throne without further work!"
Xayactochtli shook his head. "We will not have it! We didn't fight to build a great Empire over all of Huenya, Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands, just so it can be given away for a coward's peace! What the hell did our ancestors fight and work for, if we're just going to lay on our backs and let the rabble of the west and the foreign devils take it from us without a fight?"
"I say this, and will say it again and again, as often and as loudly as I need to for the message to finally get through to the coward living in the Palace of Flowers, the moronic incompetents who call themselves the General Staff of our military and shame the uniform I once wore, and the other idiot leaders in Tlālacuetztla: we will not accept this! Xiomera must fight to regain our entire Empire! If Yauhmi and the rabble want Huenya 'unified' so badly, let us give them their wish - under the boots of Imperial soldiers! Let us 'unify' Huenya under the great banner of the Xiomeran Empire, as it should be and as it was for centuries before the idiocy that befell us after Topilpopoca died! And if any foreigners object, they can find themselves under our boots as well! We haven't expanded in a very long time, and perhaps it's overdue! But, if nothing else, I will say this: the IGP and those that follow us will never accept a shameful peace or a servile surrendering of our Imperial lands. Xiomera must fight on, and burn down the world if need be, until either we win or until no one is left standing! A century of war to defend what is ours is better by far than a millenia of a shameful peace with us under the boots of the western rabble or the foreign devils!"
The crowd attending his rally, mostly older Xiomerans, veterans and a scattering of far-right activists, shouted in agreement.
---
Xochiatipan
The Plaza Henalca, in front of the Municipal Palace, was traditionally where large gatherings were held in Xochiatipan. It was also typically where the infrequent uprisings by the Xiomeran people began, as the scars the plaza bore from both 1977 and 2020 demonstrated. The largest single uprising in Xiomera proper against Yauhmi's overthrow had happened here, just six months prior. Cozamalotl and the Unification Party were hoping that they could resurrect their waning campaign in this city, the historic home of Xiomeran democracy movements.
Since the campaign had begun, the Unification Party had struggled to recapture the energy of the initial rebellion against Xochiuhue. Convincing people to rebel against a mad Emperor who was murdering people left and right, and driving the country to ruin, was one thing. Convincing them to continue rebelling, after eight grinding months of war, sanctions and economic collapse, was proving to be much harder after the mad Emperor was no longer around as a lightning rod for the people's anger.
The Xiomeran people, more than anything, wanted things to just go back to normal. They wanted the war to stop, and for the sanctions to end. They wanted to go back to work. They wanted money in their pockets, and food on their tables. The heady promises of reform and democracy from just eight months ago were wearing thin, in the face of the very real struggle Xiomera was facing. Calhualyana was promising a return to normalcy, and to prosperity. For a people unused to hardship, her appeal was proving to be very alluring.
It was facing this spirit that Cozamalotl and the Unification Party members running for Parliament seats arrived at the plaza. The first person to speak was Mixochitli, the UP-X candidate for the Imperial Parliament for the newly created Xochiatipan Province, District 1. When she began her speech, the relatively small group of UP-X activists and party members in attendance cheered for her. The great majority of the crowd, however, remained silent, occasionally giving her tepid applause. When she was done, it was time for Cozamalotl to give his own speech. He quickly walked up the steps to the podium, doing his best not to be disheartened by the disinterested, even sullen response the majority of the crowd had given Mixochitli.
"Citizens of Xochiatipan, you know who I am, so I won't waste your time with longwinded introductions," Cozamalotl began. "I am proud to be here, today, in Xochiatipan, the city that has always fought the hardest for democracy and freedom in Xiomera. The Unification Party is here, to continue that fight at your side..."
A voice echoed out from the crowd. "Where were you when your 'fight for democracy' brought soldiers down on our streets and our people? You were off hiding in Chuaztlapoc!"
Cozamalotl was slightly shaken, not expecting such outright hostility before he had even started his speech. Nevertheless, he continued. "To escape the coup, and Xochiuhue's thugs, such a step was necessary. But we are here now, and we will not abandon you..."
Another voice, angrier, shouted over Cozamalotl. "Yeah, like Yauhmi didn't abandon us, right? You're all full of crap! You start fights, and then run away and leave the people facing the anger of the government when things get too hot for you! And you want to run our country?"
Now thoroughly thrown off track, Cozamalotl tried to regroup. "We never abandoned the people or the fight for democracy here. Our presence here, now, is proof of that. We are the alternative to the tyranny disguised as democracy that Calhualyana is trying to impose on us all....under the Unification Party all of our people will have a voice, and we will begin laying the foundation for true freedom in Xiomera...."
"Bullshit!" another person shouted, her voice strident. "You're just another separatist like the bastards in the west! You don't want to save Xiomera, you want to destroy it!"
"That's not true!" Cozamalotl shouted, beginning to lose control of the situation. Before he could continue, some of the Unification Party members began arguing with others in the crowd. In the next instant, fistfights began to break out between the Unification Party members and others in the crowd. Cozamalotl desperately shouted for calm, and for the Unification Party members who were fighting to stop. But it was entirely too late.
Within seconds, Imperial Police began marching into the Plaza Henalca, slamming their batons against their shields. They moved to separate the Unification Party members from the crowd, forming a line between the two groups and not hesitating to use force on anyone refusing to break up their fighting. The rally degenerated into complete chaos, with angry people on one side threatening the Unification Party members if they didn't leave, and the UP-X members shouting their own threats and angry responses. Accusations of treason and corruption filled the air, mingling with the smoke from the tear gas canisters the Imperial Police were now discharging. Several Unification Party members quickly began escorting Cozamalotl and Mixochitli out of the Plaza for their own safety, as Cozamalotl turned back to look in complete disbelief.
The Plaza Henalca, the cradle of Xiomerans' fight for democracy, was filled with shouting people denouncing the very idea of democracy and threatening the people trying to bring it to them. "I don't understand," was all Cozamalotl could say as he was hustled to a waiting van for a harrowing ride out of the plaza.
---
Stadium of September 1850
Tlālacuetztla
In a backstage area of the stadium, Empress Calhualyana and Toquihu, the Xiomeran Citizens' Party candidate for Prime Minister, spoke via video call as the Empress was still in Jinyu for talks. "You certainly did a good job planting GCL, PYC and XSPA members in the crowd to rile up the people at the Unification Party rally," Calhualyana said approvingly.
Toquihu nodded respectfully to the Empress. "Thank you, your Majesty, but it was nothing. We've had a lot of experience in running these radical scum off our streets before. We'll do it again if we have to. But I think we've gotten things where they need to be. After that debacle in Xochiatipan, Cozamalotl is finished. Not that he ever had a chance, really."
Calhualyana simply smiled at that statement. "Let's finish him and his 'democrats' off, then, shall we?" she said. "It's time."
The massive national stadium of the Xiomeran Empire was filled to capacity - over 100,000 people had packed into the iconic structure to attend the XCP campaign rally. The stage, and the entire stadium, were decorated with massive Xiomeran flags, flags with the XCP party symbol and golden bunting. Images of Xiomera's most famous rulers lined the stadium walls - Quiauhticue, Patonal, Achcauhyotl, Camaxtica and Lōpoch. In a deliberately snide affront to Yauhmi, if she were somewhere watching, Topilpopoca's image was also mounted to the walls.
As the rally began, the XCP leaders, with Toquihu at their head, marched down the long aisle to the stage, escorted by Imperial soldiers in dress uniform, representing all of Xiomera's armed forces branches. Following them were members of the various Xiomeran "citizens' groups" - the Patriotic Youth Corps, the Xiomeran Students' Association, the Xiomeran Servicepersons and Protectors Association and the Good Citizens' League. They carried more Xiomeran flags and XCP banners with them as they made their way to the stage, to raucous cheering and applause, as the Imperial anthem played.
With the images of previous Xiomeran rulers, in noble poses, looming over the crowds, Toquihu waited patiently for the XCP candidates for parliamentary offices from Tlālacuetztla gave their speeches. It was his turn soon enough, and Toquihu strode confidently to the podium to more applause. "People of Xiomera! People of Tlālacuetztla! Thank you for your welcome! As the XCP candidate for Prime Minister, nothing warms my heart more than to see so many of our people here today cheering us on. Xiomera, today, faces threats and opposition from both foreign powers and domestic turncoats who want to shatter the Empire, and to destroy the hard work of our people for six centuries. They have already stolen half of our Empire from us," Toquihu said darkly, to angry shouting and booing from the crowd. "But we will not let them take any more from us! We are Xiomerans! We will uphold our way of life, and defend our Empire! Your strength and your pride, which you demonstrate so clearly here today, will see us through this chaos into a stronger and better future!"
As the crowd cheered, Toquihu continued. "We will defend our homeland. We will protect our borders and maintain our sovereignty. We will renew and re-invigorate our economy, and become even more prosperous than before. We will defend our culture, our heritage, and our way of life against domestic traitors and foreign manipulators alike, who think there is something wrong with being Xiomeran. They say that the Xiomeran Empire is wrong, and must come to an end, whether you want it to or not! Will you let them take our country away from us?"
The crowd began roaring angrily in denial. "Of course you won't! And neither will I, and neither will the XCP! Like you, we love Xiomera, and we will fight for it and see that the sacrifices of our ancestors over so many centuries are not in vain. Together with you, we will ensure Xiomera prevails, and not only that, but that our Empire is stronger and greater than ever!" Toquihu shouted, as the crowd roared even louder. "I am not the only one who will fight for you, either. Even as we speak, there is someone else who is ready to fight with you!"
Toquihu turned dramatically to the giant viewscreen behind him. In Jinyu, an XIN crew was ready to broadcast the Empress live. As the screen lit up, Toquihu shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen.....her Imperial Majesty Calhualyana, by the Mandate of Huītzilōpōchtli, Empress of Xiomera, Protector of the People of the Sun, Sovereign of the East!"
Normally, in public appearances, Calhualyana stuck to the smartly tailored professional-looking outfits of a head of state. That was not the case for this broadcast. The image filling the screen showed the Empress in full royal regalia, featherwork crown and all, with golden robes draped around her. A golden dagger and mācuahuitl were strapped to her waist. If a movie studio had tried to capture a perfect representative image of what a Xiomeran ruler looked like, they couldn't have surpassed the image of Calhualyana, staring confidently into the camera.
"Thank you for the introduction, Toquihu," Calhualyana said as the crowd cheered, surprised by her appearance. "While I wish I could be with all of you today, I am here in Laeral fighting for the future of our nation. Just as I work here to defend the Empire, Toquihu and the XCP are working at home to do the same. Together, we are fighting for all of you. For your children, and for our future. Xiomera has withstood everything the world can throw at it for over six hundred years. We will withstand this too, but only if we stick together and stick to what made us a great people and a great nation. If we do that, nothing can stop us. We will throw off the damage of a war and an insurrection we did not seek nor deserve. We will not only rebuild our economy, but we will build it even stronger. We will protect and defend the things that make us unique in all the world, we will defeat the plots of those who seek to undermine us both from within and from without, and we will show the world the true strength of the Xiomeran Empire! If we stand true to our values, and the things that made us who we are today, there is nothing Xiomera cannot accomplish, and nothing we cannot get past. But we need your help! I need your help and your support to save Xiomera and make it better than ever. Vote for the XCP candidates in your districts, and vote for Toquihu as Prime Minister! Together, we will save Xiomera, and we will show the world that this great nation we have built will stand for another six hundred years!"
Raising her hands in a triumphant pose, Calhualyana stared directly into the camera. "Long live the Empire!" she shouted.
The crowd began echoing the Empress, their anger and frustration at the last eight months finally pouring out in a roar that shook the stadium. As the chant "long live the Empire" echoed thunderously, Calhualyana and Toquihu both smiled.
Huitzitaca
Xayactochtli, the candidate for Prime Minister from the Imperial Glory Party, glared. At the crowd in front of him, at the cameras broadcasting his speech, at everything.
He was a very angry man. And he wasn't afraid to show it.
"We are led by fools and cowards!" he shouted, slamming his fist down on the podium. "First Yauhmi, a weak old woman with a bleeding heart who cared more about how much a bunch of foreigners and domestic traitors loved her than she did about the Empire! Then Xochiuhue, a lunatic murder machine with the competence of pond scum! Now Calhualyana, who cravenly seeks permission to give away half of our Empire and prostrates both herself and our Empire before the foreigners in Jinyu! Truly, she is the worst of all - she wants to just give away half of our Empire, which she did nothing to earn us, so she can have a shameful peace and plant her pretty behind on the Obsidian Throne without further work!"
Xayactochtli shook his head. "We will not have it! We didn't fight to build a great Empire over all of Huenya, Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands, just so it can be given away for a coward's peace! What the hell did our ancestors fight and work for, if we're just going to lay on our backs and let the rabble of the west and the foreign devils take it from us without a fight?"
"I say this, and will say it again and again, as often and as loudly as I need to for the message to finally get through to the coward living in the Palace of Flowers, the moronic incompetents who call themselves the General Staff of our military and shame the uniform I once wore, and the other idiot leaders in Tlālacuetztla: we will not accept this! Xiomera must fight to regain our entire Empire! If Yauhmi and the rabble want Huenya 'unified' so badly, let us give them their wish - under the boots of Imperial soldiers! Let us 'unify' Huenya under the great banner of the Xiomeran Empire, as it should be and as it was for centuries before the idiocy that befell us after Topilpopoca died! And if any foreigners object, they can find themselves under our boots as well! We haven't expanded in a very long time, and perhaps it's overdue! But, if nothing else, I will say this: the IGP and those that follow us will never accept a shameful peace or a servile surrendering of our Imperial lands. Xiomera must fight on, and burn down the world if need be, until either we win or until no one is left standing! A century of war to defend what is ours is better by far than a millenia of a shameful peace with us under the boots of the western rabble or the foreign devils!"
The crowd attending his rally, mostly older Xiomerans, veterans and a scattering of far-right activists, shouted in agreement.
---
Xochiatipan
The Plaza Henalca, in front of the Municipal Palace, was traditionally where large gatherings were held in Xochiatipan. It was also typically where the infrequent uprisings by the Xiomeran people began, as the scars the plaza bore from both 1977 and 2020 demonstrated. The largest single uprising in Xiomera proper against Yauhmi's overthrow had happened here, just six months prior. Cozamalotl and the Unification Party were hoping that they could resurrect their waning campaign in this city, the historic home of Xiomeran democracy movements.
Since the campaign had begun, the Unification Party had struggled to recapture the energy of the initial rebellion against Xochiuhue. Convincing people to rebel against a mad Emperor who was murdering people left and right, and driving the country to ruin, was one thing. Convincing them to continue rebelling, after eight grinding months of war, sanctions and economic collapse, was proving to be much harder after the mad Emperor was no longer around as a lightning rod for the people's anger.
The Xiomeran people, more than anything, wanted things to just go back to normal. They wanted the war to stop, and for the sanctions to end. They wanted to go back to work. They wanted money in their pockets, and food on their tables. The heady promises of reform and democracy from just eight months ago were wearing thin, in the face of the very real struggle Xiomera was facing. Calhualyana was promising a return to normalcy, and to prosperity. For a people unused to hardship, her appeal was proving to be very alluring.
It was facing this spirit that Cozamalotl and the Unification Party members running for Parliament seats arrived at the plaza. The first person to speak was Mixochitli, the UP-X candidate for the Imperial Parliament for the newly created Xochiatipan Province, District 1. When she began her speech, the relatively small group of UP-X activists and party members in attendance cheered for her. The great majority of the crowd, however, remained silent, occasionally giving her tepid applause. When she was done, it was time for Cozamalotl to give his own speech. He quickly walked up the steps to the podium, doing his best not to be disheartened by the disinterested, even sullen response the majority of the crowd had given Mixochitli.
"Citizens of Xochiatipan, you know who I am, so I won't waste your time with longwinded introductions," Cozamalotl began. "I am proud to be here, today, in Xochiatipan, the city that has always fought the hardest for democracy and freedom in Xiomera. The Unification Party is here, to continue that fight at your side..."
A voice echoed out from the crowd. "Where were you when your 'fight for democracy' brought soldiers down on our streets and our people? You were off hiding in Chuaztlapoc!"
Cozamalotl was slightly shaken, not expecting such outright hostility before he had even started his speech. Nevertheless, he continued. "To escape the coup, and Xochiuhue's thugs, such a step was necessary. But we are here now, and we will not abandon you..."
Another voice, angrier, shouted over Cozamalotl. "Yeah, like Yauhmi didn't abandon us, right? You're all full of crap! You start fights, and then run away and leave the people facing the anger of the government when things get too hot for you! And you want to run our country?"
Now thoroughly thrown off track, Cozamalotl tried to regroup. "We never abandoned the people or the fight for democracy here. Our presence here, now, is proof of that. We are the alternative to the tyranny disguised as democracy that Calhualyana is trying to impose on us all....under the Unification Party all of our people will have a voice, and we will begin laying the foundation for true freedom in Xiomera...."
"Bullshit!" another person shouted, her voice strident. "You're just another separatist like the bastards in the west! You don't want to save Xiomera, you want to destroy it!"
"That's not true!" Cozamalotl shouted, beginning to lose control of the situation. Before he could continue, some of the Unification Party members began arguing with others in the crowd. In the next instant, fistfights began to break out between the Unification Party members and others in the crowd. Cozamalotl desperately shouted for calm, and for the Unification Party members who were fighting to stop. But it was entirely too late.
Within seconds, Imperial Police began marching into the Plaza Henalca, slamming their batons against their shields. They moved to separate the Unification Party members from the crowd, forming a line between the two groups and not hesitating to use force on anyone refusing to break up their fighting. The rally degenerated into complete chaos, with angry people on one side threatening the Unification Party members if they didn't leave, and the UP-X members shouting their own threats and angry responses. Accusations of treason and corruption filled the air, mingling with the smoke from the tear gas canisters the Imperial Police were now discharging. Several Unification Party members quickly began escorting Cozamalotl and Mixochitli out of the Plaza for their own safety, as Cozamalotl turned back to look in complete disbelief.
The Plaza Henalca, the cradle of Xiomerans' fight for democracy, was filled with shouting people denouncing the very idea of democracy and threatening the people trying to bring it to them. "I don't understand," was all Cozamalotl could say as he was hustled to a waiting van for a harrowing ride out of the plaza.
---
Stadium of September 1850
Tlālacuetztla
In a backstage area of the stadium, Empress Calhualyana and Toquihu, the Xiomeran Citizens' Party candidate for Prime Minister, spoke via video call as the Empress was still in Jinyu for talks. "You certainly did a good job planting GCL, PYC and XSPA members in the crowd to rile up the people at the Unification Party rally," Calhualyana said approvingly.
Toquihu nodded respectfully to the Empress. "Thank you, your Majesty, but it was nothing. We've had a lot of experience in running these radical scum off our streets before. We'll do it again if we have to. But I think we've gotten things where they need to be. After that debacle in Xochiatipan, Cozamalotl is finished. Not that he ever had a chance, really."
Calhualyana simply smiled at that statement. "Let's finish him and his 'democrats' off, then, shall we?" she said. "It's time."
The massive national stadium of the Xiomeran Empire was filled to capacity - over 100,000 people had packed into the iconic structure to attend the XCP campaign rally. The stage, and the entire stadium, were decorated with massive Xiomeran flags, flags with the XCP party symbol and golden bunting. Images of Xiomera's most famous rulers lined the stadium walls - Quiauhticue, Patonal, Achcauhyotl, Camaxtica and Lōpoch. In a deliberately snide affront to Yauhmi, if she were somewhere watching, Topilpopoca's image was also mounted to the walls.
As the rally began, the XCP leaders, with Toquihu at their head, marched down the long aisle to the stage, escorted by Imperial soldiers in dress uniform, representing all of Xiomera's armed forces branches. Following them were members of the various Xiomeran "citizens' groups" - the Patriotic Youth Corps, the Xiomeran Students' Association, the Xiomeran Servicepersons and Protectors Association and the Good Citizens' League. They carried more Xiomeran flags and XCP banners with them as they made their way to the stage, to raucous cheering and applause, as the Imperial anthem played.
With the images of previous Xiomeran rulers, in noble poses, looming over the crowds, Toquihu waited patiently for the XCP candidates for parliamentary offices from Tlālacuetztla gave their speeches. It was his turn soon enough, and Toquihu strode confidently to the podium to more applause. "People of Xiomera! People of Tlālacuetztla! Thank you for your welcome! As the XCP candidate for Prime Minister, nothing warms my heart more than to see so many of our people here today cheering us on. Xiomera, today, faces threats and opposition from both foreign powers and domestic turncoats who want to shatter the Empire, and to destroy the hard work of our people for six centuries. They have already stolen half of our Empire from us," Toquihu said darkly, to angry shouting and booing from the crowd. "But we will not let them take any more from us! We are Xiomerans! We will uphold our way of life, and defend our Empire! Your strength and your pride, which you demonstrate so clearly here today, will see us through this chaos into a stronger and better future!"
As the crowd cheered, Toquihu continued. "We will defend our homeland. We will protect our borders and maintain our sovereignty. We will renew and re-invigorate our economy, and become even more prosperous than before. We will defend our culture, our heritage, and our way of life against domestic traitors and foreign manipulators alike, who think there is something wrong with being Xiomeran. They say that the Xiomeran Empire is wrong, and must come to an end, whether you want it to or not! Will you let them take our country away from us?"
The crowd began roaring angrily in denial. "Of course you won't! And neither will I, and neither will the XCP! Like you, we love Xiomera, and we will fight for it and see that the sacrifices of our ancestors over so many centuries are not in vain. Together with you, we will ensure Xiomera prevails, and not only that, but that our Empire is stronger and greater than ever!" Toquihu shouted, as the crowd roared even louder. "I am not the only one who will fight for you, either. Even as we speak, there is someone else who is ready to fight with you!"
Toquihu turned dramatically to the giant viewscreen behind him. In Jinyu, an XIN crew was ready to broadcast the Empress live. As the screen lit up, Toquihu shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen.....her Imperial Majesty Calhualyana, by the Mandate of Huītzilōpōchtli, Empress of Xiomera, Protector of the People of the Sun, Sovereign of the East!"
Normally, in public appearances, Calhualyana stuck to the smartly tailored professional-looking outfits of a head of state. That was not the case for this broadcast. The image filling the screen showed the Empress in full royal regalia, featherwork crown and all, with golden robes draped around her. A golden dagger and mācuahuitl were strapped to her waist. If a movie studio had tried to capture a perfect representative image of what a Xiomeran ruler looked like, they couldn't have surpassed the image of Calhualyana, staring confidently into the camera.
"Thank you for the introduction, Toquihu," Calhualyana said as the crowd cheered, surprised by her appearance. "While I wish I could be with all of you today, I am here in Laeral fighting for the future of our nation. Just as I work here to defend the Empire, Toquihu and the XCP are working at home to do the same. Together, we are fighting for all of you. For your children, and for our future. Xiomera has withstood everything the world can throw at it for over six hundred years. We will withstand this too, but only if we stick together and stick to what made us a great people and a great nation. If we do that, nothing can stop us. We will throw off the damage of a war and an insurrection we did not seek nor deserve. We will not only rebuild our economy, but we will build it even stronger. We will protect and defend the things that make us unique in all the world, we will defeat the plots of those who seek to undermine us both from within and from without, and we will show the world the true strength of the Xiomeran Empire! If we stand true to our values, and the things that made us who we are today, there is nothing Xiomera cannot accomplish, and nothing we cannot get past. But we need your help! I need your help and your support to save Xiomera and make it better than ever. Vote for the XCP candidates in your districts, and vote for Toquihu as Prime Minister! Together, we will save Xiomera, and we will show the world that this great nation we have built will stand for another six hundred years!"
Raising her hands in a triumphant pose, Calhualyana stared directly into the camera. "Long live the Empire!" she shouted.
The crowd began echoing the Empress, their anger and frustration at the last eight months finally pouring out in a roar that shook the stadium. As the chant "long live the Empire" echoed thunderously, Calhualyana and Toquihu both smiled.
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