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Post by talis on Nov 17, 2017 0:32:54 GMT
An emissary from the Orcland army, now stationed in occupied lands to the south, arrived at the ruins of Gusko's Rest. They accepted the suggestion of a one-week ceasefire, suggesting it be extended to one month's time so that all combatants might properly rest and reinforce. He also suggested standard terms between all combatants for the parole and exchange of prisoners: namely, that all prisoners swear not to bear armies in the conflict for a period of one year before being allowed to return home on parole, unless exchanged for a prisoner of equal rank. He also requested permission to send soldiers to assist in the recovery of the dead, and cooperation recovering and accounting for the bodies of the slain.
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Kho
Landed Knight
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Post by Kho on Nov 17, 2017 1:35:05 GMT
Ziral Dura refuses to so much as talk about exchanging prisoners or giving over the bodies of Orcish dead so long as a lasting peace treaty is not agreed to by the Orclanders and the Sacrye. He insists that the Sacrye and Orclanders immediately appoint a delegation each to discuss a comprehensive and lasting peace, which will cover the exchange of prisoners and dead. There is to be a ceasefire throughout the negotiations between these delegations. Ziral reminds the Orcish emissary of Esharan leniency in the past and the fact that they had released Orcish prisoners, bodies, and weapons without recompense, protecting them from being taken by fanatical elements in the Sacrye military (which is more than can be said for the atrocities committed by Orclander forces). The Orcs owe Eshara a debt of gratitude, and a delegation to discuss a final peace treaty is how it must be repaid.
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Post by talis on Nov 17, 2017 1:49:06 GMT
Seemingly expecting this answer, the delegate accepted the proposal, although he avoided acknowledging any such terms as a "debt of gratitude." Finding Esharan honor worthy, the Firetooth forces would send a delegation to discuss a potential settlement at a time and place of their choosing, within reason.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Nov 21, 2017 2:26:01 GMT
 And The Dead Did Not Talk
In the largest of them negotiations would take place, while in the other four the delegates of the Sacrye, the Orclanders, the Ikegami, and the Esharans, would be hosted. It was expected that delegates would want to retire and speak in private, and the negotiations would take days, if not weeks. They would have to make themselves rather comfortable. The white flag was raised high and so too was the Phoenix Banner, making clear to all who hosted these negotiations and against whom would be the greatest insult should the rules of parley, goodwill, honour, and peace be breached.
Aulus was helped down from his mare and a crutch was handed to him. The Chosen-of-Eshar stood tall, his eyes sunken from illness but sharp as ever, his face pale but losing none of that essential Esharan dignity, one-legged yet never more sure-footed. He stood as noble victors stood; and given his feats, it was only right that he should. He had come a long way, he had lost his leg, he had lost many good men, and he had lost the closest of his friends - he would remember well the earth on which Corinn fell and where was Corinn's Final Rest, the noble face and the peaceful smile which lit up his hallowed visage as he looked up, even in death, to the heavens and to the gods who never before smiled more broadly or raced so swiftly to welcome another amongst their number.
Was he, the Recimir of an uncountable million faithful hearts, bowed and broken? Had the total horror of this war launched against him and his people by the Orclanders shaken his resolve? His standing thus was answer enough to his foes and detractors.
Riders were sent out to the Ikegami and Orclanders, inviting them to send forth their delegations, and another was sent out to the Sacrye inviting them bring out theirs. The Recimir was brought a makeshift chair and the lord of the Throne of Words sat upon a stool of wood and bark and waited upon those who would come.
The white flag fluttered gently in the wintry winds, and the golden Phoenix Banner blew beneath cold, white skies. Away from his nest - though still in the greater Ergorian homeland -, the old and injured eagle sat; unbent, unbowed, unbroken. |
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Post by talis on Nov 21, 2017 5:42:55 GMT
The Orclanders came, as agreed. Artog Aedsword, High Chief of Orcland and Chieftain of the Firetooth, riding a great warg. Bannermen behind him carried the flags of the various Great Clans represented in the host. The war had not weighted on him; despite his setbacks and defeats, he had an indefatigable faith in the power of his people. It drove him forward and strengthened his resolve, both to good and ill. Among his party were many, a handful of Thanes - honor guards more than an actual precaution. Artog did not insult his host by presuming that Aulus would be treacherous. The Sacrye perhaps, but the Esharans were of a different clothe from the murderous giants of the north. Others were representatives and speakers from the Clans, emissaries and Elders who would make sure that any agreement had the backing of the entire Orcland.
"Congratulations, Aulus." Artog greeted the king as his wolf was led away by an attendant. "You have your negotiation. May it be blood well spent."
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Post by ravigen on Nov 21, 2017 13:18:22 GMT
The Ikegami arrived to the negotiations shortly behind the Firetooth. A hundred mounted Samurai, escorting Ikegami Sayoko. With them came, Surime Furutaka, a healer to attend to Sayoko. Her wounds had kept her down for much of the interim period, Furutaka had done her best to heal the ailing Daimyo until eventually Sayoko had awoken, tired and sore but otherwise set to recover quickly from her wounds.
When told of the peace negotiations she had made immediate preparations to attend, despite her younger brother's protestations. She would not sit out of these negotiations, if only to properly represent the Ikegami in this matter and their current alliance with the Firetooth. She was still dressed in her armor, peace talks or no, she was a warrior and would be dressed as such. Over it lay the blue and white Haori of the Ikegami clan. By her side, her siblings Yukimura and Himawari were similarly dressed.
She arrived and dismounted from her horse, pushing away her brother as he tried to help her down. She'd suffered far worse, she could walk on her own dammit. Furutaka remained close at hand, just in case, and she made her way towards the negotiators. Her siblings falling in behind her.
When she arrived, she bowed in customary greeting, ignoring the twinge of pain in her chest. She looked from Aulus to Artog, and stood up straight.
"High Chief Artog, Recimir Aulus, a fair morning to the both of you."
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Post by Boop_Im_A_Dragon on Nov 21, 2017 20:10:16 GMT
The last to arrive at such negotiations would be Aonag, though this would not be by design. Riding in on his mighty Frozen Titan and followed by what would be a small group of trusted guards and aids. His leg torn to the point where he was limp, he could barely walk unsupported. Carrying himself with that aid of a makeshift cane the size of several men, he entered the camp solemnly. He greeted his ally first, out of respect for both the Esharans resolve and honor in the bloody battle of Gusko's Rest, then the other two parties out of formality.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Nov 21, 2017 21:48:22 GMT
Aulus thought he detected a degree of bitterness in Artog's greeting, but he responded graciously and without hostility. 'And congratulations to you too High Chief. Many good people have given their lives over to the gods that we may meet here, many have screamed their last that we may gather and speak of peace. It is Our hope that we will all be able to honour their memory and their sacrifice and make it so no more need die. The blood price is paid.' And there was silence between the old man and the Orc until the Daimyo arrived. Aulus saw immediately that she too had suffered and, out of respect for her coming out today in spite of her clear pain, he rose from his makeshift seat and greeted her. 'And a fair morning to you too, Daimyo Ikegami Sayoko. You honour Us with your presence,' and a small smile grew on his face, 'We see you have proven far better at holding on to your limbs than We!' And the old man allowed himself to chuckle slightly, though memory of the many losses suffered quickly caused it to fade, and a heavy silence dawned upon them until Aonag arrived. Aulus greeted the giant and, with them gathered, led the way into the massive tent that had been prepared.
Seating arrangements were naturally rudimentary due to the utter destruction wrought upon Gusko's Rest. The Esharans had been able to put together some of the rubble into a somewhat acceptable table, while the seating arrangements were little more than wooden blocks or repaired stools. When the lords of the earth warred and wreaked destruction and chaos, they met at the end of it all in a hovel. Aulus spoke.
'We are gathered, after the horrors our hands wrought at Gusko's Rest, to speak of peace and a final end to this futile bloodshed. We have given over the flower of our youth to the hands of death, surrendered the bright future of our nations to annihilation. As We besought you do before, We beseech you to once more: the aggrieved parties must meet and must speak. And so, after over ten thousand lives and over ten thousand miles, we are gathered at last. We ask you all approach peace with sincerity and a willingness to give for what you gain. Nothing can come of nothing, there must be an exchange if we are to have peace. No side shall come out of these talks without giving over something and receiving something in return - that is the way of treaties. With that said, We list for you the main issues at hand, and We suggest they are discussed in this order:
1) We have, first and foremost, the issue of Gusko's Rest and the province of Jaxtathrah. Both parties lay claims to them and both parties must come to a concrete and final agreement on this matter.
2) We have, also, the matter of the gross atrocities committed against the civilian population of Gusko's Rest and the province at large by Orclander forces - there must be some form of accountability and compensation for these breaches of the basic laws of war and dignity.
3) There is also the matter of Orcish prisoners of war held by both sides, as well as the prisoners handed over by the Sacrye to Eshara before hostilities began.
4) There is also the more specific matter of Orcish dead, as well as their weaponry and equipment.
5) Of lesser significance, but still worthy of note, there is the matter of Ikegami breach of the Esharan-Ikegami open borders treaty wherein was specified that military formations would require specific authorisation before entering the sovereign territory of the other.'
And with that said, the Recimir looked from Aonag to Artog to see who would speak first on the touchy matter of Gusko's Rest.
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Post by talis on Nov 22, 2017 0:33:38 GMT
"I find it odd that you take such a position of arbitration, Recimir, when you are a primary combatant in this war. Peace in large part hinges upon your involvement, and any pretensions of neutrality will only make straightforward negotiations more difficult." Artog pointed out. "You are invested in this as much as any of us. Your men have fought and died just as ours have, and the longer the war drags on, the greater your influence over Sacrye grows. Peace would have been established long ago, had you not intervened for your own ambitions."
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Post by Boop_Im_A_Dragon on Nov 22, 2017 2:05:24 GMT
Mockingly Aonag remarked, "I wasn't aware that the Orclanders desired we search for the perfectly neutral party, one with zero desires or stake in this conflict. If so, I suggest they begin their century long search quickly." He then pauses, before bringing the conversation back to talks of peace "In terms of Gusko's Rest, the Sacrye show no desire to let it fall into the hands of the firetooth or give control of it a puppet chiefdom. Should the Ironskull orcs desire to live within our lands, we have had no qualms, however I fear many of them too have perished in this unrighteous conquest. It is only the firetooth spies and their dissidents that we arrest and punish."
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Post by Vaklu on Nov 22, 2017 3:14:16 GMT
The Jotun ambassador arrived fashionably late, in a manor similar to they had entered the conflict. Hakkon Thunder-bane took up a seat on the orcish side of the discussion. "Oh good, I had feared I would miss out on all the best bickering."
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Post by talis on Nov 22, 2017 3:17:25 GMT
"If you wish to indulge the Recimir as he makes a puppet out of you and your nation, there is little I can do to stop you." Artog shot back to Aonag.
"Our demands remain the same as it has been since the beginning: return the Ironskull lands and capital to their rightful claimants. I seek no quarrel beyond the borders of Orcland, but I will not allow foreigners to occupy Orcish lands. This point is not negotiable."
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Post by Boop_Im_A_Dragon on Nov 22, 2017 4:17:29 GMT
"Make a puppet out of my people? Have the wounds from the Esharans caused you to become so bitter that you throw about baseless insults?" Aonag shouted, having never met such a creature with so little respect for an equal. "As for the claim that my people are foreigners to these lands, this imaginary Orcland has no claim to former Ironskull territory, especially not the foreign conquers of Firetooth who scrambled to claim the leftovers of the Frost King himself. Gnawing like rodents at whatever they can stand to chew."
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Post by talis on Nov 22, 2017 4:55:20 GMT
"Shall we call the bards and draw out the songs and records then?" Aonag replied. As if on cue, one of the attendants placed several tomes on the table. "Ormith Forges the Iron Skull. The founder-tale of the Ironskull Clan, dating back to the year 817 - decades before the first Sacrye ventured south out of the north. The tale describes in detail the lands Ormith obtained, referring to the province we stand in now. Ormith himself was the scion of House Treeflame, whose claim as described in the accounts of Norag's Burning Fire and The Great Wars of the North included the region of Gusko's Rest and lands north of the river, a claim that goes back to the year 378..." Artog continued on down the litany of records: the tales of Houses, genealogies, ancient wars and nearly-forgotten marriages and treaties, all carefully recorded by the Bards of Orcland and passed down through generations. These writings were the cannon of Orcish history, and the bards who recorded them scholars educated in law, history, and culture. The point was clear: The Ironskull claim went back centuries to the time when Orcish nomads once ventured north of the Khamar river, seeking new grass for their herds. Finally, after a great deal of description, he reached his point:
"Chief Yurik II Bladesplitter, current Chief of the Ironskull, is born of the same House as Ormith and his descendants, and a legal heir to their claims. His Clan, too, has rightful cause to the land taken from them a mere century ago. What claim, then, can you and yours make, that gives you the right to deny my people?"
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Post by Boop_Im_A_Dragon on Nov 22, 2017 6:30:00 GMT
Aonag listened painstakingly over the records listed by the Artog, before mockingly mentioning "Decades? The Ironskull aren't likely to have existed more than a single decade longer than the Sacrye's presence in these southern lands, let alone several. We marched on the early onset of your so called "fifteen years war". Though I doubt your, obviously flawed texts, made note of it. Of which, I recall having occurred shortly after their existence. And if we are to use history to strengthen our claims over these lands, may I remind the Firetooth of the battle of Johor River, in which they slaughtered the Ironskull army, despite their victories against the Sacrye and Baemire coalition initially. Allowing us to move in with little resistance and lock the Firetooth into this long and blood crisis. This is the competent leadership that Orcland has placed its faith in to restore the Ironskull claim? They are the reason why it fell. At least our claim has basis in conquest and nearly one hundred years of ownership, far longer then the decade long claim that the Ironskull held."
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