Saloskan walked up the main street, passing ramshackled dwellings with broken glasses and tags on the walls of '
Orcs Get Out', a common sight nowadays. There were still tens of thousands of orcs living in the Shesonate, with about half staying in the capital Tamalossa, and the Basnan population had grown increasingly hostile to the creatures. His Holyness Paralua had ordered a week ago that all orcs were banned from the city and to move their unpleasant asses out in the harsh winter. The looting had started soon after, and the few orcs that had remained in the city stayed in hiding. Between the hostile Basnans, the cold winter and the roaming dragons, Saloskan didn't like the chances of these orcs out there in the open.
The athletic commander of the Redempter Prong brushed the crowd aside and strode in the White Cathedral. Courtisans flocked around him, trying to get a word in or hear the latest news but he didn't have time for these fools today. When he approached Paralua, the Sheson seemed to stand a bit taller, a bit more firmly than before. The last years had taken a heavy toll on his weight and his overall physical condition, but the recent events and opportunities seemed to have given him a new life.
Your Holyness, I come with reports from the border. Basnan merchants have been hunted down, captured and eventually killed. Six legions are reportedly massed at the border.
As Paralua turned to him, he saw in his eyes the victorious gleem he knew he would find. The Sheson had worked a lot to arrive to this situation, and the Forged Born were giving him an uncalled for, unprovoked
casus belli. Massing an army and attacking Basnans like that, what were they thinking? Paralua obviously gloated, the fat of his double chin jiggling.
Excellent, excellent. Call in a Primarch Council and prepare meetings with our the Ashari and Eldrin representatives. What are the other news of the countryside? Have the dragons be dealt with?
The winter is cold, but we have seen worse, and all regions were sufficiently prepared and stocked. A dozen or so Ponds have disappeared overnight probably due to the roaming dragons, but the Ponds have learnt to adapt. Tiger dragons are being hunted down wherever they are seen. The people have gotten to treat Green Dragons with the respect due to missionaries of Tamatoa. They leave them in peace, often bringing them gifts and offerings, and the dragons seem to let them be. For the moment.
Good. Good.
One more thing, Your Holyness. For all intents and purposes, the orcs have been moved out of Tamalossa, and are spreading in the countryside. If left unchecked, they might turn to banditry and cause mayhem and chaos.
Let them be. If they turn to querrulous, it will give us ample opportunity to further turn the populace's wrath against them.
Saloskan twitched at that. Hundreds of weaker Ponds would be vulnerable to such a mass of homeless orcs and Basnans would suffer, but it was not his place to discuss the Sheson's orders. He bowed and left Paralua to his own thoughts.
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The dreary agony of boredom of Salanaha's trip was cut short when a Forged Born ship was spotted on the horizon. It soon became clear the two vessels were aiming for the same destination and engaged in a... friendly race to the border, only to be stopped brusquely by the border patrol. It was old news by now, but Salanaha was surprised to have the face of Commander Prahorn appear in front of him, apologising for not welcoming the Basnans himself. Once he got over his amazement at the spell, he bowed and started dismissing the apology as utterly unnecessary, but the face was already gone.
Hopefully, the Forged Born ship would be delayed by the inspections longer than them, and Salanaha could slip a few chosen words to the Supreme in time. He made his way as quickly as he could, his long legs aching in the dry cold southern streets as he reached the palace. The presence of the dwarves had kicked in his adrenal glands and he felt 15 years younger, eager to meet the Elf. When he was finally introduced to her, he bowed deeply and gave her all the signs of respect he had learned of these Elves.
Lady Nexxis, you look more ravishing every day, and it is always a honour to be in your presence. I have missed our conversations and look forward to hopefully spend more time in Athea for once.
He smiled warmly and allowed himself to come a tad closer to give some sense of secrecy and importance to his words.
I bear news of the mainland. The Sheson Paralua heartily agrees to all your requests. You are invited to pick any land you choose in the Shesonate and build an embassy there. Furthermore, the Sheson would like to strenghten our bond through an alliance. He took to heart your... dislike for the Harpies. It just so happens that the United Kingdoms of the Forged Born have developed an alliance with these creatures. For what purposes, we can only surmise, but they surround Elven and Basnan realms. This is no defensive alliance, and the Forged Born have already moved troops at their border with us. His Holyness Paralua, and the whole Shesonate, would sing a praise to Tamatoa the Great Crab if the Atheans joined us in our fight against our common ennemies, the Harpies and the Forged Born.
Salanaha took a step back and kept as neutral an expression as he could, observing the Lady Nexxis' reactions attentively. Hopefully, he wasn't too late.
@Iamtheecchiking
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One by one, the primarchs arrived from all over the Shesonate: fair Trania, old Gorna, powerful Yruna, wise Solmo, rash Trintare and meak Julen. When all of them had settled, they gathered in the Council Room, an underwater chamber they reached through swimming - Paralua and Gorna required a bit of help to reach it - where they could be in contact with the will of Tamatoa. The Council Room was also practical in the sense that nobody could discreetly bring weapons when they were naked, and no one could overhear the Council discussions under the sea. Paralua stood before the other lords and ladies of the Shesonate, water dripping from his naked, fat body.
Brothers and sisters, thank you for joining me on such short notice. I have gathered you today because...
Cut to the chase, Paralua, we don't need your speeches here, interrupted Trintare, a rather young Primarch who always wanted to show he deserved his spot on the Council. It could grow a bit tiring, but Paralua had to let it slide today.
Quite right, quite right. In a few words, as some of you might already know, the Forged Born have massed their armies on the border and have mistreated all Basnans they could lay their hands on.
A general grumble of outrage spread through the room, with Julen, who had taken Paralua's Primacy on the United Kingdom's border, sharing stories of the abuses inflicted by the mechanical dwarves.
This is what your political machinations get us, Paralua! The Basnans are not meant to go politicking, we are people of the sea, we raid and we feed the fishes with the bodies of our enemies! Gorna spitted. She had never gotten over Paralua being elected Sheson instead of her and held to more... outdated beliefs than him.
Peace, Gorna, peace, interjected Solmo. The Sheson has acted with Tamatoa's blessing - and ours. Turning to the Sheson, he added, Have your meetings with the foreigners been successful? Do we stand alone?
Yruna, always silent and watching, raised an eyebrow at the question and observed Paralua carefully. He knew she didn't approve of dealing so much with foreigners, but was also one of his staunchest supporter.
Undoubtedly. We are allied with the Eldrin and the Ashari. They will come. But we need to be ready. I ask of the Council to approve preparations for war. Muster your Prongs, sharpen your weapons, use the new alloys and weapons we received from our allies, and make ready. With your blessing, we will carry the banner of Tamatoa high on the battlefield.
The banner of Tamatoa, or yours? You had us all riled up against the orcs, and you are now making us go to war against the dwarves... sneered Gorna
The path to the orcish lands passes through the United Kingdom, Gorna. And besides, I am not the one launching the hostilities...
The debates went on like that for another couple of hours, but the result was soon obvious: Paralua had his majority, and his war. Trania, Yruna, Julen and Solmo were on his side, while Trintare made protests more for being heard than anything else.
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Once he had the approval of the Council, Paralua met with the Ashari and Eldrin envoys. Putting them together in the same room might be a risky business, but he had no doubt they had plenty of opportunities to meet and discuss at any time in Tamalossa, both of them now having embassies in the capital.
Dear Voron, dear Azariah, welcome! Thank you for joining me. Have you met each other? Please, have a seat. I have received grave news. The United Kingdom is massing its armies on its borders and assaulting our merchants and citizens. Their intentions seem quite clear: unilateral aggression, leading to war. Our worst fears have come true: their alliance with the Pale Harpies was indeed a first step towards large scale conflicts. Their mechanical minds have gone wild with unchecked ambition and ego, and they have decided to impose their cold-hearted logic to the world.
He let the words sink in, savouring the moment.
Luckily, both of your nations have joined the Shesonate in a mutually beneficial alliance, and I believe it's time we all put it to use. If the Forged Born are acting so boldly, there's no doub the Harpies have started mustering their troops. We need to act quickly, on both fronts. Will the Ashari and the Eldrin join me in this crusade?
@Yogii @Emory