"Dakros, my friend, there is something deeply unsettling about this meeting. You shouldn't go."
Dakros looked helplessly at his T'au friend, Farsight.
Ever since they had retreated to the Farsight Enclaves, Farsight, too, had become deeply wary of artificial intelligence.
Now Farsight had come to seek technological support from the Leagues of Votann.
"Farsight, I understand your concerns perfectly well, but please stop saying things like that."
"We're friends in private, so we can discuss it quietly."
"But if you questioned the Ancestors like that in public, the other Hearthkyn brothers might well beat you to death."
Farsight frowned deeply.
"Dakros, have you never considered how strange the Votann Cores' 'rebirth' was?"
At those words, Dakros's expression darkened. He stood up, his eyes fixed on Farsight.
"Farsight, you've gone too far."
"I'll submit your trade request to the brotherhood later, but this conversation is over."
With that, Dakros snorted coldly and left the room.
Farsight shook his head helplessly.
The dwarves' Votann Cores were immensely powerful artificial intelligences, the unrivaled heart of each dwarven league.
Every Hearthkyn had their consciousness uploaded to a Votann Core after death, and they followed its advice with absolute devotion, believing it to be the teachings of their ancestors.
But for that very reason, the redundant data accumulated within the Votann Cores kept growing, and they took longer and longer to respond to the Hearthkyn.
The Hearthkyn feared that the Votann Cores would collapse, and had long sought a way to save their ancestors.
But...
Some time ago, all the Votann Cores had suddenly updated themselves.
They became faster to respond and more accurate in their calculations, shaking off their previous decline.
The Hearthkyn erupted in fervent celebration, giving thanks for this gift from their ancestors and calling it the "Great Rebirth."
But Farsight had