Into the minds of the Abysmali

So the first key here is...what do they think like?

Let's start with what we know about them. We know that they're the second oldest race....they kicked the pants out of the Simsaur in the first war. The third race didn't care about them, neither did the fourth. The Bleyoki kicked the pants out of them, but so did everyone. The Sopensen kind of did, but in a benevolent condescending way.

So its really only been humans that ever really beat them down. And they haven't really done this just once, but every single time a new empire arises and wants to throw its weight around.

So the thought occurs that the Abysmali are going to have a slow, simmering anger building (which culminates at the time of Fulcrum but this is before that.) But they're mindful that another empire is coming along, so they're not going to want to kick humans around TOO much.

Most cultures that have been victimized have one of two choices or tactics they most use; the first is to adopt and absorb the conquering culture as one's own. I just don't see the Abysmali doing that, and the second is to invent their own history that paints them in as positive a light as possible. I see the Abysmali doing that.

The thing I think that makes this interesting is that I see the Abysmali starting to take the really long view of things, both because they ARE old, and separate (being in the water), and they live a long time. But also because it contrasts them with humans. As such, I think that they hold humanity to the first deal made with the first empire....a hundred thousand years ago.

So what seem like magic tokens of protection and tribute to the humans of Glashause, are in fact navigation and tarriff agreements to the Abysmali. Of course, it isn't their fault that humanity hasn't bothered to collect on their end of the deal for 40,000 years. They're holding THEIR end of the deal up.