"Hebdemen's Law! That was written ages past! Very astute, young Journeyman; the Headmasters of your Guild have taught you well. Yet, what you fail to see, is that Chardun's power is borne of men's ambition. No different than Corean," with a gesture towards Richard, "Can the Overlord universally dictate power. If he did so, no mortal dominance would stand in the way of the other Gods aroused for war. Hebdemen's Law was coined for the Titans, who truly held almost all power in one hand. In the Land of Chains, & it's pale reflection Dunuhane, we also see that model. The old model, of a young, tormented God seeking absolute obedience. Yet in the last century, we have seen the rise of Calastia as the chosen of Chardun. Where Dunuhane dominates, Calastia assimilates. All the Gods find worship in Calastia. Likewise, client states are expected to sign the Calastian Charter & submit to the Hegemony, but are largely left to go about their business. As a scholar, I would find the yoke of Vesh or Hedrad as onerous as Calastia."
"You see, the threat to Lokil, & possibly even Hollowfaust, are lessened by this act. Lokil already trades with Calastia & Dunuhane freely. The Sutak have been a threat, yet they have chosen to harass your people instead, for reasons both practical & madness born. Yet now, the Sutak follow the Overlord, meaning the scales of Madness have fallen from their eyes; by that fact alone, they are less of a threat than they once were. As for an unbroken chain, I am not yet certain of that either. The writings of Chardun's Strategicon & his own Black Bible stress obedience to Him & the order he imposes, as well as those with Lawful Authority over you."
His rheumy eyes twinkle at that last part.
"Just because they are converted doesn't mean the Sutak have a place in the Calastian & Dunuhan religious hierarchy, much less the Military one. It may be that a Warlord rises among them, filled with Chardun's glory, & demands equal representation at any strategic table with Virduk & Arithriatrix…one can only imagine the trouble that would cause…"