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Interview with Barra
Leyara

 

Leyara asks, "How long have you been in Spur?"

Barra says, "About 5 or 6 years."

Leyara asks, "What were your first impressions of Spur, the people, the Pride?"

Barra says, "My first impression of Spur was that it was a lawless place, where might makes right. It had an ineffectual government, that existed to serve itself and the merchants."

Barra says, "The people, well, there were basically 3 kinds of people."

Barra says, "Those that minded their own business, those that meant well, and those that didn't care about anything but filling their own desires."

Barra says, "I was killed my first week here in a minor dispute with Kryger."

Leyara asks, "What kind of person do you see yourself as?"

Barra says, "I used to mean well, Now I mind my own business."

Leyara asks, "And your impressions of the Pride when you first met them?"

Barra says, "A bit puzzled."

Leyara asks, "Why?"

Barra says, "I wasn't sure I wanted to join such a racially focused group."

Barra says, "But I liked the khats I knew back then, and I thought the Pride was the only group in Spur that was doing it's people any good."

Leyara says, "But you eventually did join"

Barra says, "Mainly because of Sammeth, Smeul, and Sinfonia."

Leyara asks, "How long after you came to Spur did you join?"

Barra says, "Roughly 2 months."

Barra says, "Smeul was my Pride sponsor. He left Spur to become a religious hermit in Leuia. The Pride disgusted him, so he left. (To be exact, it was a proposed action that the Pride leadership was advocating that caused him to become disgusted with the Pride.)

Barra says, "Long before your time."

Leyara asks, "You don't think the Pride should have been racially focused?"

Barra says, "I didn't think I wanted to be."

Leyara asks, "Then why did you join? After only two months in this land?"

Barra says, "I liked most of the Pride Khats I knew back then, and it was the only group that seemed to do anything. Besides, easier to do good by starting with one race."

Barra says, "Spur was a real mess back then. People were getting killed in TSC all the time."

Leyara asks, "Did you ever start to feel different about the Pride?"

Barra says, "I've felt a lot of ways about the Pride"

Leyara asks, "But did you ever start to feel that they were not doing any good anymore?"

Barra says, "I've been proud of it, ashamed of it, and disgusted by it."

Barra says, "They failed to do (good) when the XS War began."

Barra says, "That is a long story."

Leyara says, "Then explain why they failed to do good during this war"

Barra says, "They failed to protect their members (and many innocent non-member khats) against the XS. In fact, Saldaea was opened at that time, and most of the Pride Council ran off to see the new lands."

Leyara asks, "Is that so?"

Barra says, "It was very disturbing to me, Tigerclaw can verify that. He was Khatyr then."

Leyara asks, "And how long were they there for while this war raged on?"

Barra says, "Some for months. The ship did not travel regularly then."

Leyara asks, "And was this war still going on when they returned?"

Barra says, "We had a Pride meeting with one council member at one point."

Leyara says, "Positively shameful"

Barra says, "It ran hot & cold, but the Kang went to Saldaea within 5 days of telling me personally he was going to take some action against the XS."

Leyara asks, "Who was the Kang at that point in time?"

Barra says, "Not sure of the spelling. K-h-a-t-e-u-l."

Leyara asks, "And did you or anyone else confront him when he finally returned?"

Barra says, "I fired off a rather angry letter to the members. They didn't appreciate it. In fact, I resigned, But the Pride Council, what was left of it, refused to except it."

Leyara asks, "So you tried to resign and they wouldn't let you?"

Barra says, "Not quite like that, They rejected my resignation."

Leyara asks, "But you left anyway?"

Barra says, "Had I pushed it, they would have had to let me go."

Barra says, "I stayed."

Leyara asks, "Why did you stay?"

Barra says, "The Pride made me Kituri in the next election. Erok and Purrkinn talked me into it."

Leyara asks, "Talked you into it?"

Barra says, "They (Purr & Erok) cared enough about me to argue with me for hours into staying."

Barra says, "The words didn't do it. The effort and time and caring they showed did. The members elected me to that post."

Leyara asks, "How long after you tried to resign did they talk you into being the Kituri?"

Barra says, "They didn't talk me into it. I accepted."

Leyara asks, "OK but how long after you tried to resign did they vote you for that post?"

The following jumps to Barra's being appointed Khatyr.

Barra says, "The very next election. I'm not sure of the date, a few months. Tigerclaw had to leave suddenly for a personal reason, and we were Khatyrless for a while."

Barra says, "Well, this alleged khat from Leuia came, and began lecturing us on how we were doing everything wrong. His name was Duran."

Leyara says, "I see"

Barra says, "The only point he made that stuck was that we needed a Khatyr."

Barra says, "There was only a month left until the general elections, so the Council chose an interim Khatyr."

Leyara asks, "Who was that?"

Barra says, "I was the only volunteer."

Leyara says, "OK fast forward to election time"

Leyara asks, "You got chosen to be the official Khatyr?"

Barra says, "I was elected Khatyr again. I guess my one month was not a total disaster."

Leyara asks, "How long had you been in Spur at this point?"

Barra says, "About 2 years."

Leyara asks, "What do you feel was the hardest thing you ever had to deal with as Khatyr?"

Barra says, "Can't tell you the specifics of that."

Leyara asks, "Why?"

Barra says, "It involved a dispute over a Khat'sara. It was ugly, and in the end, nothing was proven."

Leyara asks, "And a dispute over something like that needs to be kept secret?

Barra says, "If I thought it would do any good, I'd make it public."

Leyara asks, "So you are telling me the hardest thing you ever had to deal with as Khatyr of the Pride was a Khat'sara situation?"

Barra says, "But since the khat most accused was never found guilty of any wrong doing, I can't see the point of dragging his or her reputation through the mud."

Leyara asks, "What was the Leuian accused of that was so terrible?"

Barra says, "Taking multiple mates."

Leyara asks, "And he or she was never found guilty of that?"

Barra says, "Couldn't be proven, one way or the other."

Leyara asks, "How come? No one would come forward or ?"

Barra says, "All that was proven was that one khat involved was not honest with another."

Barra says, "That khat admitted it, and the accuser was satisfied. She was satisfied that justice had been served against that one khat, she never forgave the other khattress involved in this triangle mess.

Leyara asks, "How long were you Khatyr for?"

Barra says, "I finished Tigerclaw's term, and had one full term of my own, I believe I only missed one meeting in all that time."

Leyara asks, "How long was each term?"

Barra says, "A term was a Spurian year."

Barra says, "Khatyr's are for 'life' now.
(What a reaction I got from him here.)

Leyara asks, "Why does that disagree with you?"

Barra asks, "Ever try removing someone that's an elected leader for life?"

Leyara says, "Not yet, no"

Barra says, "Elections are a pain in the tail, but they are a safe guard against wrongdoing."

Leyara says, "When did things with the Pride really get bad for you"

Barra says, "At the end of my term I was tired. It's not an easy job, being Khatyr, You have a lot of khats that want to talk to you about lots of things, including personal problems. And then you have all the non khat's to deal with."

Leyara says, "I can only imagine dealing with Leuians that cheated and all, very exhausting I would think"

Barra says, "Never found anyone guilty of that. Let's be straight, the worst someone did in that little mess was lied about seeing another khat."

Leyara asks, "This was an honorable Leuian that lied?"

Barra says, "Yes, note-The Leuian was honorable, but this specific act was not."

Barra says, "But as the accuser was satisfied with his apology, and wanted no more, it was left at that. Except I gave that khat a lecture about truthfulness and honor."

Leyara asks, "Where are they today?"

Barra says, "Two are still about, though rarely. The third has gone off to do something religious."

Leyara asks, "I thought you said this was one couple?"

Leyara asks, "Third?"

Barra says, "It was a triangle."

Leyara says, "I see"
(Leuians, never can satisfy them.)

Leyara asks, "And the two that are still around, are they the khat'sara'd couple or?"

Barra says, "Yes. They are happy with each other."

Leyara says, "Interesting"

Barra says, "But I stepped down as khatyr."

Leyara asks, "You stepped down and stayed in the Pride?"

Barra says, "They elected me for every post, but I refused all but Khatleth, Which is the fighter representative."

Leyara asks, "Why did they do that?"

Barra says, "I guess I was a good Khatyr. And they wanted me to have input on the council."

Leyara asks, "When did you leave the Pride?"

Barra says, "It's another long story."

Leyara says, "Try to narrow it down a bit"

Barra asks, "But to make it short, do you remember the night the Scryvixx attacked? The night the Pride pulled out of TSC during an invasion. There had been a meeting with the knights before this. They were trying to tell us we could not enforce Pride Law anymore, as the KNIGHT's were now the supreme law."

Barra says, "Well, it went badly."

Barra says, "When it was pointed out that the Pride did much good for the city, the Knights made little of it. So, at this meeting while we were discussing what to do about this, this invasion came."

Barra says, "And Lestor and I decided not to defend the city."

Leyara asks, "Why?"

Barra says, "The Pride is the Leuian Community, not the city's free militia."

Leyara asks, "Racially driven?"

Barra says, "An attack on TSC is not going to harm the welfare of the khats of Spur, unless they run into TSC looking for a fight."

Barra says, "I said I was not, But the Pride as a group is."

Barra says, "That is it's focus, or should be."

Leyara asks, "OK, so you and Lestor did not defend the city, what happened next?"

Barra says, "A khat from Leuia came, named Valyx, called the Pride dishonorable, and so on."

Barra says, "And I did not take it well."

Leyara asks, "Why did he do that?"

Barra says, "I have no idea. I don't believe he was really from Leuia."

Barra says, "Anyway, I lost my temper, but the Pride, they fell for this garbage"

Barra says, "And they decided to apologize to the city for not defending it."

Barra says, "And there were things said about me that were not kind."

Leyara asks, "Such as?"

Barra says, "And things done that make me believe I was used as a political scapegoat."

Barra says, "That I had a "personal agenda"."

Leyara asks, "Personal agenda for what?"

Barra says, "Against Pure."

Barra says, "The person that said that has since retracted those words."

Leyara asks, "Is this when you lost your mind? And became the Self titled Master of Meetpoint?"

Barra says, "Yes. A part of me died then, when I saw that the kyn and I were so far apart on what it meant to be an honorable khat."

Barra says, "And on what direction the Pride should be heading in."

Leyara asks, "So did you really lose your mind or was it a ploy to try to get them to see things your way?"

Barra says, "I really lost my mind."

Barra says, "I did a lot of things I am not proud of."

Leyara asks, "Like what?"

Barra says, "Rather not say. I spent my time in jail for them though."

Leyara asks, "So there is a public record of your law breaking then?"

Barra says, "Actually, I think you saw me claw that Cloud once, not sure.
(It was an accidental clawing of an immortal's pet, the cloud had got between him and his chosen prey.)

Barra says, "I've been in jail twice, once for various assaults on citizens of Spur and once for Killing Guzzle in TSC."

Leyara asks, "During this insanity of yours?"

Barra says, "No, killing Guzzle was a very sane act, though the death part was accidental."
(Can we say contradiction?)

Barra says," I meant to hurt Guzzle, not kill him. Given what I found out later about Guzzle, I wasn't at all sorry I killed him. BTW, Guzzle was molesting a khatress at the time, who attacked him. I did not see her initiate the attack, and jumped to the wrong conclusion and killed Guzzle for it. I'd like to add that there were many young khits at the time who were rather pleased by Guzzle's demise.

Leyara asks, "And what of the attacks on others?"

Barra says, "They were acts of madness."
Here he muttered something about stupid ugly clowns.

Leyara asks, "And how long were you insane for?"

Barra says, "Not sure. Perhaps 2 months."

Barra says, "I know Khatmandu shocked me into sanity."

Leyara asks, "And How did he do that?"

Barra says, "Pointed out something I had overlooked, that the Tome used in Spur was based on the Diaries."

Leyara asks, "How did that shock you back into reality?"

Barra says, "Almost all of what I believed in was based on the teachings of the Spurian Tome."

Barra says, "I always thought the Diaries a historical fiction."

Barra says, "Therefore, all that the Tome is based on is the fiction of an overly romantic Usilin elf."

Leyara asks, "And that was enough to bring you back?"

Leyara says, "How interesting"

Barra says, "I lived the Tome for a year."

Barra says, "I represented it for longer, defended it."

Barra exclaims, "And it was all a fiction!"

Leyara asks, "What do you think of the Khatyr now, Tarmit?"

Barra says, "Good Khat. I was there when he earned that honor ring he wears."

Leyara asks, "Do I sense a but in there?"

Barra says, "But, his election as Khatyr is a barbaric thing."

Leyara asks, "Because it is for life or for another reason?"

Barra says, "There was a reason that the author's of the Tome adopted it (The Tome), and did not stick with the Diaries."

Barra says, "They had evolved into a more civilized khat, more able to see what was needed to live in Spur. The current Pride is running backwards, to a glorious past. But I doubt that past will serve them well in this modern world."

Leyara asks, "So you feel they are failing?"

Barra asks, "Failing? No, they are succeeding at becoming barbarians. Perhaps they will one day decide to hunt on all fours again, they will never have good leadership, they can't."

Leyara asks, "Failing to act like true and Honorable Leuians and instead they are acting like a pack of Oog-ra's searching for their next meal?"

Barra says, "I won't say that. According to Masai, this is how things are done in Leuia,"

Barra asks, "But then, we don't live in Leuia, do we?"

Barra says, "As the fact that you and I are still tolerated exemplifies."

Leyara asks, "So you feel that with Tarmit as their Khatyr, with their present leadership they will never succeed?"

Barra says, "It's not Tarmit."

Leyara asks, "Then what did you mean present leadership?"

Barra says, "When I was Khatyr, my authority was based on being the elected leader, Tarmit's is based on being a teacher. He can never claim to be a 'leader'"

Leyara asks, "Shouldn't the Khatyr be both a leader and a teacher?"

Barra says, "I thought so."

Leyara asks, "Then why can't one be a teacher who in turn leads others with his knowledge and experiences?"
(He can only lead those that choose to agree with him. Any that do not can simply tell him he is only the chief teacher, and has no authority based on law to lead.)

Barra says, "But now he or she is just the tie breaker for the clawmasters, and chief spokesperson."

Barra asks, "What happens when something devisive comes up?"

Leyara asks, "Claw masters or not, shouldn't the final say fall to the Khatyr?"

Barra says, "Those that don't like the policy he sets, will ignore it, as he is not a "Leader"."

Leyara asks, "So you feel he is not a leader and will not be listened to?"

Barra says, "It should be voted on."

Barra says, "Not if an unpopular decision has to be made."

Barra says, "As I said, there was a reason the Tome writers set up the Tome as they did."

Barra says, "It's a complicated matter."

Leyara asks, "Do you think you will ever rejoin the Pride?"

Barra says, "No."

Barra says, "The only khat that might have talked me into doing that is dead."

Leyara asks, "Name?"

Barra says, "Selwin."

Barra asks, "Besides, you want to follow what the island teaches?"

Leyara says, "No"

Barra says, "Neither do I, but for different reasons."

Leyara says, "Thanks for consenting to be interviewed"

Barra says, "Hope it was enlightening."

I decided to end the interview on that note or else we could have been there all night discussing things. He had alot to say and still does, in the not so distant future I will interview him again.. See how much fun you missed out on Tarmit?