Journal Note #1: On the Du Quams of the Ori'ehemian Nest

Recorded by the Domme Tirkju'a (an excerpt from his journals)

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It is the year Ki Heptre 3732.

The three Du Quams, Adan Umdochar, Z'jil Kedrik, and Nubejul Tavhaii, are those presently serving the Ori'ehemian Quamship temple in the western shores of Ori'ehem.

Umdochar and Kedrik have been doing so for nearly four hundred centuries by now. Tavhaii, on the other hand, had been housed only in the last decade. I have only formally met him once, the second might be upon his anointment (though, I really think I must visit him a few more times, there is something upon his brow that I do not like). I can be very particular with my Du Quams, but I like to leave it up to them to raise their successor.

To put it frankly, I grew too lax. I had learned to depend on my Du Quams.

Urbedaur was a mistake.

By giving Umdochar control over a portion of the territories in Urbedaur, I fear that I have misstepped. That cannot be the case. After all, he's only supposed to be serving under me with no equal influence over a certain territory. I fear the consequences, the conflict that may arise due to his unpopularity.

Yet he's made his rule his own, and with that, I am obliged to say I am proud; but really, I am frightened. This is what the Dove wanted, is it not?

Du Quams are the link between men and Dommes such as I, are they not? Yet why am I afraid of him?

Nevertheless, his successor, Tavhaii, will be anointed as a proper Du Quam to me fifteen years from now as agreed.

I had left strict instructions for his training and discipline which shall be followed accordingly to what I need of a Du Quam.

I don't want a Du Quam for war. I want a Du Quam who can pacify not just the whims of my ministers, but also perhaps something far greater than what I myself could have.

Is that man so rare? So hard to find? When even someone as highly revered as me cannot even live up to the standard I had set for what is supposed to be my subordinate.

I feel ashamed, very ashamed…

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—DU QUAMSHIP (as defined by Domminical law)

The ring to a Domme's finger, as the highest-ranking servant within a Domminical court; human link between Dommes and humans