CLYSPERIES SPEAK IN FAVOUR OF HEARTBREAK Pharoah Akasha of Clysperies has today used social media to invoke support for the Kaqam tribes criminal activity. In her tweet she stated she will "Not condemn" the group for producing drugs while calling the Empire "Oppressors" while then giving the Kaqam King a virtual invite by stating her "lines are open." The fact that the Pharoah is also attempting to manipulate the world's largest oil and gas exporters into isolating the Empire shows she is bent on attempting to economically damage the Empire on behalf of the Kaqam rebels. Emperor Antionio III spoke about the Clysperis announcement while visiting a centre in Rehoyas where those rescued from the Kaqam are supported. The Forest School project is built just 10km from the the northern edge of the tribes self claimed territory. It is currently home to some 120 survivors and 20 support staff ranging from psychological councillors to doctors and teachers. Speaking to the staff the Emperor said "The work you do is phenomenal. These people have been snatched from their own tribes and made to be the labour force or sexual partners of members of the Kaqam heirachy. Lets not forget the Kaqam have a ritual where they demand that any male wishing to marry a Princess must bring their King a severed hand taken from someone not of their tribe, then at the end of their ritual a man is sacrificed. The Kaqam raid several times a year their neighbours villages leaving them in fear of their lives. During these raids those men capable of work are taken back to the Kaqam's homelands while the women not considered attractive are murdered. Those women allowed to live are raped and sold to their King. The fact the staff take some of the worst treated humans on the planet and give them such love and care is astonishing. To have a foreign monarch support the Kaqam in their endeavours is shocking to me."
Not all of those living at the Forest School though are from other tribes. Kalise is a 20 year old who was found living on her own in the forest. Her story is one of heart-break. At the age of 16 she was selected by King King Calfuray IX as his Sky Queen. Each year the King may pick any unmarried woman from the tribe to be his Sky Queen. Within that year she is the most senior female of the tribe. Kalise says "At first you are proud to be picked. The fact you get a chance to honour the Gods and help the tribe makes you happy. Within weeks though it is clear you exist just to appease his desires. We existed just to produce children. I was unable to and I'm glad as the King was not a nice husband. When the anniversary of becoming Sky Queen came about and I was not with child I was stripped and without any posessions exiled from our land in disgrace. Should I be seen on tribal land for any reason I will be beheaded. I will never see my family again, we are so indoctrinated for the Gods that even they are ashamed of me. During my time as Sky Queen the King took at least four slave girls into his hareem. The villages all had slaves and they lived a miserable experience." Kalise is now studying at school and has regular meetings with a councillor. She is hoping one day to become a teacher at the school.
Having heard her story Empress Valantina said. "Kalise is a very brave young woman who has had to experience more in her short life than anyone ever should. Our actions are designed to halt these practices that are confined to past, more harsher times. The Pharoah of Clysperis has in the past ended slavery in her own nation and even used facilities that had been designed for the Mundus Games to host freed slaves. What the Forest School does is not much different. Our own nation outlawed slavery well over a hundred years ago. We sadly unlike the Pharoah have not been able to wipe it out because we have a physical foe to fight intent on keeping what the Pharoah has called an act "incompatible with Ma'at" from spreading. While the Pharoah's word is law in her land we still have armed elements denying the laws of this land. While our men and women are sacrificing their lives to end this in our country the Pharoah is attempting to make it harder for us by imposing forms of economic sanctions on us while encouraging the illicit drug trade which gives the Kaqam money to carry out their raids."
The most recent government estimates are that the Kaqam tribe have around 1,200 slaves in their villages. The most recent raid freed six who are now being cared for at the Forest School. The Imperial Family have committed to continuing the fight to end slavery and pledged more funding for the Forest School and other centres like it.