Post by Azuloth on Dec 13, 2016 18:39:43 GMT -5
Chaos and horror were spreading throughout the land. The Sovereign Kingdom of Cruinthe had declared war on just about every major power in the region. The Republic of Cruinthe for the ideological threat they presented. The Royal Justean Guard for their military power and territory, and the Skaldi Resistance Front for a variety of horrible reasons as well as territory. Korasus was dragged into it for territorial reasons and ideological ones. This was all what the Chromatic Council had determined from the sidelines. Kel'Alee had always been a neutral place not tied to the Sovereign Kingdom of Cruinthe. It seemed to be the one place all the sides recognized as a safe space to meet for discussion.
Representing the Republic of Cruinthe was Baelfyre Kan'Raegr, an experienced diplomat. He was getting on in his years, and arthritis was ruining his range of motion. He had a scraggly long bear, and war a wide brimmed hat as well as a leather duster over his cotton shirt and breeches. He had been a poor farmer, and believed in what the Republic of Cruinthe Represented.
Commander Valenstride represented the Royal Justean Guard. He looked pissed.
Karvan the Devourer himself had shown up to the summit in order to show that he was not afraid of an assassination attempt. Not that any attempt on the massive Skaldi would yield any results. A long range bow shot would likely bounce off his scales. Poisoning him was right out, as he was too huge to succumb to nothing short of a massive dose.
Korasus was represented by Maelin Av'Hranai, a member of the Initiative, a Kalimbra, and a skilled diplomat.
Baelfyre spoke up first.
"Thank you all for coming, I assume you've received the declarations of war from the Sorcerer-King?"
"We've been at war with the illegitimate kingdom of Cruinthe for as long as we have existed, they're slow to just now declare war on us," Commander Valenstride said.
"You may be, Valenstride, but Korasus hasn't done anything to warrant such a ridiculous declaration," Maelin said.
"Your city stands on lands they claim to have owned originally."
"And we have the paperwork to prove it was given to us by a legitimate ruler of the Sovereign Kingdom of Cruinthe, ages ago."
"You will not fight?" The Skaldi was confused. To not fight when war was declared was cowardly.
"Not what I said Karvan. I said their grounds to declare war are ridiculous. Of course we'll fight. But we'll fight on our terms. We'll defend our borders from any invader."
"Good, we shall all fight."
"Karvan is right, we should work together."
"We don't need you, weakling."
"Karvan is right, what do you have to offer, Kan'Raegir?"
"We brought you all together, if we fight together we can stand against Julgrava's armies. The majority of the citizens conscripted have reported for duty. We'll get crushed one by one if we don't join together."
"Says you."
"You can't be serious, Valenstride. What do you have? Ten thousand men? They have nine times that, just in areas they control. Not to mention Mage hunters, who will tear your men to pieces with their magic."
"We have mages too."
"How many?"
"Enough."
"To fight battalions of talented mages?"
"Don't need magic to win."
"Don't be crazy, Karvan."
Karvan roared at Baelfyre, who merely scowled.
"Let us calm down gentlemen. You're proposing an alliance?"
"Yes, we are proposing an alliance. We can use our contacts to help keep your armies supplied, and run guerrilla campaigns behind enemy lines. The RJG and Skaldi Resistance front can make up the majority of the fighting force, what can Korasus offer?"
"Coin, lots of it. Your contacts won't do anything without their palms greased, am I right? No one really does anything on principle alone. We can also provide some specialists for support and places to... lie in wait should it become necessary. We won't march on Cruinthian territory however, that would breach the agreement that gave us the land in the first place."
"Where are elves?"
"They didn't show. I'm guessing mutual hatred for all parties."
The Skaldi hissed.
"Listen, I know you're both thinking we can just march north on Fordeth and win this thing. It's a two pronged war, and it's going to be protracted unless we can come up with a diplomatic solution."
"I agree with Baelfyre."
"Explain."
"Yes, do so."
"If I were Julgrava I would call for reinforcements from my vassal states. Hek'Cruica specifically has a large and well equipped army. Cahalia will likely be used as a buffer against the Empire of the High Born. Any large force marching in from the bone wastes will be spotted long before it reaches their forests, and will be destroyed before it can get very deep. Selbria and Fringoth can supply troops and supplies via the long road so long as their navies can keep the imperial navy off them."
"So, we can count Cahalia and the Empire out. They'll be at a stalemate. Walking into the bone wastes is suicide for the same reason as invading Cahalia from the west. They'll just stare at each other, waiting for the other to give up. Which leaves the northern pass through the Darthaks into Cruinthe's backyard. The Empire can still access that."
"Forts there."
"Yes, there are forts along the pass, and if Julgrava has already occupied them, they have control of the dam. If he's crazy enough he'll blow it and flood the bone wastes. The empire would have to go all the way around the continent to attack."
"He's crazy enough. So it's the four of us against the four of them. Fringoth, Selbria, Hek'Cruica, and Cruinthe."
"It sounds like we're in agreement. An alliance then."
"Good."
"Yes, for now, until my liege deems it unnecessary."
"Fantastic, shall we call ourselves anything? The rebel alliance maybe?"
"We're not rebels. So no, that wouldn't make any sense."
The others shook their head in agreement, shooting down Baelfyre's idea.
"Worth a shot. Let us keep in contact."
Representing the Republic of Cruinthe was Baelfyre Kan'Raegr, an experienced diplomat. He was getting on in his years, and arthritis was ruining his range of motion. He had a scraggly long bear, and war a wide brimmed hat as well as a leather duster over his cotton shirt and breeches. He had been a poor farmer, and believed in what the Republic of Cruinthe Represented.
Commander Valenstride represented the Royal Justean Guard. He looked pissed.
Karvan the Devourer himself had shown up to the summit in order to show that he was not afraid of an assassination attempt. Not that any attempt on the massive Skaldi would yield any results. A long range bow shot would likely bounce off his scales. Poisoning him was right out, as he was too huge to succumb to nothing short of a massive dose.
Korasus was represented by Maelin Av'Hranai, a member of the Initiative, a Kalimbra, and a skilled diplomat.
Baelfyre spoke up first.
"Thank you all for coming, I assume you've received the declarations of war from the Sorcerer-King?"
"We've been at war with the illegitimate kingdom of Cruinthe for as long as we have existed, they're slow to just now declare war on us," Commander Valenstride said.
"You may be, Valenstride, but Korasus hasn't done anything to warrant such a ridiculous declaration," Maelin said.
"Your city stands on lands they claim to have owned originally."
"And we have the paperwork to prove it was given to us by a legitimate ruler of the Sovereign Kingdom of Cruinthe, ages ago."
"You will not fight?" The Skaldi was confused. To not fight when war was declared was cowardly.
"Not what I said Karvan. I said their grounds to declare war are ridiculous. Of course we'll fight. But we'll fight on our terms. We'll defend our borders from any invader."
"Good, we shall all fight."
"Karvan is right, we should work together."
"We don't need you, weakling."
"Karvan is right, what do you have to offer, Kan'Raegir?"
"We brought you all together, if we fight together we can stand against Julgrava's armies. The majority of the citizens conscripted have reported for duty. We'll get crushed one by one if we don't join together."
"Says you."
"You can't be serious, Valenstride. What do you have? Ten thousand men? They have nine times that, just in areas they control. Not to mention Mage hunters, who will tear your men to pieces with their magic."
"We have mages too."
"How many?"
"Enough."
"To fight battalions of talented mages?"
"Don't need magic to win."
"Don't be crazy, Karvan."
Karvan roared at Baelfyre, who merely scowled.
"Let us calm down gentlemen. You're proposing an alliance?"
"Yes, we are proposing an alliance. We can use our contacts to help keep your armies supplied, and run guerrilla campaigns behind enemy lines. The RJG and Skaldi Resistance front can make up the majority of the fighting force, what can Korasus offer?"
"Coin, lots of it. Your contacts won't do anything without their palms greased, am I right? No one really does anything on principle alone. We can also provide some specialists for support and places to... lie in wait should it become necessary. We won't march on Cruinthian territory however, that would breach the agreement that gave us the land in the first place."
"Where are elves?"
"They didn't show. I'm guessing mutual hatred for all parties."
The Skaldi hissed.
"Listen, I know you're both thinking we can just march north on Fordeth and win this thing. It's a two pronged war, and it's going to be protracted unless we can come up with a diplomatic solution."
"I agree with Baelfyre."
"Explain."
"Yes, do so."
"If I were Julgrava I would call for reinforcements from my vassal states. Hek'Cruica specifically has a large and well equipped army. Cahalia will likely be used as a buffer against the Empire of the High Born. Any large force marching in from the bone wastes will be spotted long before it reaches their forests, and will be destroyed before it can get very deep. Selbria and Fringoth can supply troops and supplies via the long road so long as their navies can keep the imperial navy off them."
"So, we can count Cahalia and the Empire out. They'll be at a stalemate. Walking into the bone wastes is suicide for the same reason as invading Cahalia from the west. They'll just stare at each other, waiting for the other to give up. Which leaves the northern pass through the Darthaks into Cruinthe's backyard. The Empire can still access that."
"Forts there."
"Yes, there are forts along the pass, and if Julgrava has already occupied them, they have control of the dam. If he's crazy enough he'll blow it and flood the bone wastes. The empire would have to go all the way around the continent to attack."
"He's crazy enough. So it's the four of us against the four of them. Fringoth, Selbria, Hek'Cruica, and Cruinthe."
"It sounds like we're in agreement. An alliance then."
"Good."
"Yes, for now, until my liege deems it unnecessary."
"Fantastic, shall we call ourselves anything? The rebel alliance maybe?"
"We're not rebels. So no, that wouldn't make any sense."
The others shook their head in agreement, shooting down Baelfyre's idea.
"Worth a shot. Let us keep in contact."