Steve isn't going to argue with Istredd's assertion that most people really only care about their own home and their own people. In some ways, that's human nature, and while treaties can and will be forged over the course of history, those treaties can also be broken just as easily depending on the situation. Given Thorne and the Free Cities' long and bloody history, he's not holding his breath that peace is going to be forged while they're here. A shaky truce is probably the best they can hope for, unfortunately.

When Istredd brings up the gods, Steve nods, knowing that's an element of this world that they can't just forget or let fade into the background. He's already talked to Nero about his feelings regarding this, but it makes sense to discuss it with a Summoned of Thorne too.

"In my experience?" He heaves out a sigh and shakes his head. "Gods are capricious. We probably can't even expect them all to be operating under the same agenda. But there are some who think that even if they're gods, they can still be stopped. Maybe even killed. I'm not saying we go that far, not until we learn more about them, but it's something to keep in mind."

It's not something that Steve mentions lightly, but he's also tried of the Summoned being treated like pieces on a chessboard.