Peter Metcalfe:
>He hasn't betrayed the Pelorians nor the Fronelans!
The (civilized) Fronelans feel that he betrayed their kin, be they Brithini or Malkioni. To the Pelorians, he betrayed their hopes of the bright future promised by the Bright Empire. Ok, they never trusted Arkat enough to let him join their cults...
Back to David's point, Arkat's role in Ralios was that of an invader. After destroying the Vampire king of Tanisor, he went on to Safelster and tackled the Dari Confederacy. In this he had Orlanthi support, apparently from the Upper Tanier region, or from Vustria.
He also found resistance around the people holding Hrelar Amali, and from the (former) Hsunchen peoples of Ralios. In Ralios east of Naskorion Arkat is a swear-word. From Naskorion throughout Safelster to Otkorion and Fornoar Arkat seems to be remembered more for his benevolent empire than for his previous role as conqueror. I'm not sure where the Orlanthi of Lankst stand - - IMO they were originally supporters of Arkat, if only because he fought the Telmori. (Fighting the Telmori seems to be an easy way to make Orlanthi friends - sorry, Thomas...)
Do we know what happened in Ralios after Arkat left to fight in Slontos? Ralios had been left on its own for three decades after Arkat's unsuccessful attempts to cross Kartolin Pass. I suppose that - like documented for Kethaela and Dragon Pass - Arkat left local leaders in charge of the affairs.
Peter once identified Anirestyu's attack on Kasda (Fortunate Succession p.22) to have taken place in Ralios. Is it possible that the Council took the opportunity and liberated Ralios from Arkat's henchmen, at least the Hsunchen lands of East Ralios? What other cities could a Dara Happan emperor have attacked, if his own lands were invaded rather than vice versa?
In this case Arkat would have gone on to the area which was the least pacified. One of his Ralian epithets is Peacemaker.
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