*Exploration, Diplomacy, Espionage, And Other Civilizations...*

At first you both simply eat, hungrily, but after a few dozen bites Ichtaca broaches a subject that naturally is important to her...

Putting down her chopsticks, Ichtaca looks at you and clears her throat. "Ughum, Excelency, I'm concerned about something: during the first session of the high council, I mentioned that my talents are wasted with no other empires with which to interact, and it's true. I'm sure there ARE other empires out there, just not who they are or where. However, I've heard rumors: to the north somewhere, there are the Haudenosaunee, or 'The People of the Longhouse', a confederation of six tribes that are very spiritual, so it is said, Closer to us are suposedly a group called the Picosa, 'The People of The Deaserts', who know the secrets of turning clay into stone, while to the south lies a tribe known as the Tawantinsuyu, 'The Four Regions', an emergent city-state like our own, but nestled high in the mountains and with knowledge of how to carve stone for building... If we could make contact with these nations, we might be able to trade technology and other secrets, and establish trade routes for the benefit of us both..." Ichtaca explains.