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Post by psychopathickids on Oct 13, 2014 23:16:49 GMT
“They will remember me as the Queen who came too late,” complained a young woman riding double atop a borrowed horse, legs crossed at the knee and strewn over one side of the stallion as a proper lady of the Southern Shores was expected to mount on the rare occasion it was found necessary to ride at all, richly garbed in a silken gown shimmering brilliantly despite the rather dull nature of the overcast afternoon in a shade somewhere between violet and silver, matching both her eye shadow and polished fingernails, freshly washed and lightly perfumed in hints of lavender and jasmine despite the month previous spent upon the dusty road to Cerdigon. A white gold neckpiece, masterful in its delicacy and studded with black diamonds sparkled as brilliantly as her dress in the pallor, and stood in sharp contrast to the golden olive hue of her bare shoulders and neckline. Word of Cadoc’s voluntary abdication and surrender to the Survaek had reached the main body of her forces just a week out from Hakin, the seat of Cadoc’s court and the manor upon which she had marched seven thousand souls, having intended to wrest control of the last major Sylphan settlement not yet occupied by the Vaekirate from the Usurper before marching East with the majority of her infantry as Athinea’s forces, along with her cavalry who had rode ahead with Ser Dristan to regroup with the Sefti forces under Merithea, pushed West, forcing their mutual foe into a series of battles he could not hope to win.
“Kallista, you of all people should understand that the only reason Cadoc abdicated rather than deliver a finishing blow to this false Queen of Sefti at Thesus is because he received word of our numbers and intentions of joining with Merithea’s remaining forces to ensure his defeat and eventual execution. Prince Aeron knows as much, your subjects know as much, and the Survaek who spent the war twiddling their thumbs too afraid to declare for one side or the other know as much. The North will not forget who put an end to the bloodshed of this war,” the aging guardsman holding the reigns reassured her, though whether or not she took his words to heart, or even if he believed his own statement remained uncertain. She tightened her arms around his waist nonetheless, and looked about at the forty eight other members of her royal guard, each mounted upon horses which were not their own, and each garbed in black cuirasses of boiled leather, and coats of ringmail, bearing heptagonal steel bucklers and wearing leaf shaped longswords peace bonded at their hips, clearly a long way from the coasts which they called home and strikingly out of place in the thick woodlands surrounding the Sylphan manor. They were but minutes from the former court of the Usurper, and should soon encounter the very soldiers they might have been bloodying upon these very grounds had things been different. A pudgy youth no more than nineteen with a few patchy wisps of dark facial hair which couldn’t have passed for a beard even among five year old boys rode at the right hand of his Queen bearing her flag, as well as that of a peace banner, and her identity could not have been mistaken even were it not for the sylphs being acutely aware of the thousands of professional soldiers under her employ encamped just outside of the border of Prince Aeron’s lands.
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Post by cerdigon on Oct 14, 2014 4:07:22 GMT
'' HUMANS! Thousands of 'em! '' The march of the Queen's army of mercenaries hadn't gone unnoticed. The newly declared King Aeron had over a weeks notice as they snaked their way towards his lands with unknown intent. Once more his exhausted levies were raised and put to the march. The Queen would find Hakin well garrisoned and defended. Not just with a handful of farmers with pitchforks that she might have expected but infantryman with bronze armor and professional longbowman waiting. One of those arrows was nocked and loosed, the shaft landing neatly at the heralds feet.
'' If you would have words, you would best have them with the King! You are on his lands now. Come any closer and we'll fill you bastards full of arrows. '' Someone shouted down. After several further minutes of haggling followed by back and forth threats, riders emerged from the manor to discuss terms. It was eventually agreed that the Queen would march her army several miles east to where the Cerdigonian's were encamped. It was near dusk when King Aeron and his retinue moved out into no man's land between the two armies. It was clear that the King was quite young, those features full of youth. But he possessed the piercing blue eyes of his father, like twin chips of ice that drilled hard into the woman that would dare defile his new nation.
'' My fair Queen... '' King Aeron murmured at the arrival, trotting his horse back and fourth as he surveyed the horizon. It was a great sea of metal that threatened him. With more than enough professional soldiery to drown him in blood, if the woman so desired.
'' You are a long way from home. Why are you here? I have no quarrel with the Republic nor with you. ''
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Post by psychopathickids on Oct 14, 2014 5:19:10 GMT
It wasn’t exactly the welcome Kallista had expected, nor did it do much to assuage her fears of being named the, ‘Queen Who Came Too Late,’ but it was better than nothing. She had assumed the Prince would have been aware of her arrival far earlier than he had been, and would have recognized her forces remained outside of his sovereign borders save for her relatively small honor guard, whose weapons had been peace bonded and who marched under a peace banner as well as her own colors, but he was young, and young men were oft’ like to see conflict as one’s natural intention as was their own nature, and besides --, less than a month ago he had been at war, and one did not so easily nor quickly recover from the horrors of blood, gore and bodies strewn about the killing fields. Dismounting, the Queen smoothed out the skirts of her gown before offering a deep curtsey, low and proper as was expected when addressing a monarch, made seemingly even more dramatic by the difference in height between herself afoot and the mounted prince. “Most esteemed King Aeron, true and rightful ruler of the Kingdoms of Sefti and Cerdigon, I do believe we have gotten off on the wrong foot. I am Kallista Eudokia of House Makris, Queen of the Crowned Republic of Juturna on the Southern Shores. I marched to Cerdigon to declare my support for your claim, and came in person to add legitimacy to what would otherwise appear to be a purely strategic move on the part of my nation, though it appears my aid may no longer be necessary,”
The word, ‘may,’ had been chosen rather strategically. There were whispers in Thesus, or so the Broken Lances claimed upon regrouping with the main body of her forces, that though the Cerdigonian Codes had been abolished and immunity had been granted the forces of Sefti, Prince, --, or rather King Aeron held several hundred Firetooth mercenaries prisoner, and intended to sell them into slavery, and to their old enemy the Jotun no less. It was understandable, they were prisoners of a war torn land which had too many of their own mouths to feed, several among them having lost sons, husbands, brothers, fathers, or uncles to the muskets of the orcs, and this was an easy way to solve two problems at once; prisoners, and their hungry bellies, for food. Regardless it wasn’t something she was especially happy about; the Firetooth were friends of a sort, and may well become allies of both the Commonwealth and the Republic in time. No doubt some of the mercenaries held captive were members of House Wargchaser, and they were all subjects of her neighbor to the North who would no doubt be unhappy about Aeron selling them into slavery, even if they had surrendered rather than fight to the death. “Might we speak somewhere a tad more receptive, your Grace? I will consent to come alone if you would prefer,”
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Post by cerdigon on Oct 14, 2014 12:19:00 GMT
'' Indeed. '' Legitimacy, the word stuck in his throat. While he was quite sure that Queen Kalista was more than willing to install him as a Seftian controlled puppet, it was without a doubt that Cerdigon would have suffered as a result. This was an army that was meant to conquer, and the mercenary flags that flapped and fluttered in the wind were a stark reminder of how close Cerdigon had come to losing the war. If negotiations at the capital hadn't succeeded, then Aeron was convinced that he might very well be a King without a throne. '' I thank Your Grace for your support. Although you can see for yourself, the war is over. Law and order will be restored now that there is peace. '' There was still the Wild Hunt to be concerned with. Although the Vaekirate was hunting them down relentlessly, the King was concerned that Tanglemane would turn his ire back on his former employer.
'' If you would join me in my camp, we can sup together. Take bodyguards with you if it would make you more comfortable. '' After several moments for the Queen to gather herself, the King struck out towards the Cerdigonian encampment. Nervous sentries eyed the party warily, hands rested on sword hilts and archers toyed with the arrows that hung limply in their quiver. The King's pavilion was a sprawling place, outfitted with not only a bed but a fine table at which he dined. The King eased himself down across from her, aside from the specter of servants that would pour wine or bring food and royal guard that patrolled outside, the two were completely alone. '' You have won my everlasting gratitude for your assistance Majesty. I believe without the pressure that news of your army provided then we would not have been able to achieve peace. ' It was a mystery if Aeron believed it himself but it paid to flatter a beautiful woman -- especially with one with a massive army.
'' May I ask now that the war is over, what are your intentions? ''
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Post by psychopathickids on Oct 14, 2014 20:44:40 GMT
Kallista took none with her, save the horse upon which she had rode double to meet the King in the no man’s land between her army and his and he only because it seemed preferable to ride than walk back to the royal pavilion, leaving within moments to join Aeron on his trek back to his men. The situation as it stood appeared rather more tense on behalf of the Sylphs than for her own men, or even on her own part despite finding herself alone save for a stallion and her wit, however much of such she bore rather, and clearly the war must have been more costly and dire than she had first assumed to have put her hosts on so keen an edge. None among the Cerdigonian forces seemed possessed of the mental fortitude to see themselves through another battle, let alone a potential war --, perhaps she should have left her forces further back than she had, though it was far too late for such thoughts now. If ever she had beheld a hot and cold reception, this was it; compliments and honeyed words espoused as soldiers fingered their blades and loosely knocked arrows upon their bowstrings, quite the display of bravery in the face of a lone woman, unarmed and with no intentions as to bringing them danger of any sort, though there was naught to be done about it as she dismounted alongside the King and entered his not so humble home upon the road.
Seating herself across from the King of Cerdigon and Sefti, and accepting a plate of Sylphan delicacies and a goblet of Eastern wines, Kallista took a liberal sip from her glass before responding with a high, bobbing bow at the waist, the best she could do sitting down. “You honor a humble woman with kind words, your Grace, and I thank you for hosting me at your own table, though I did only what the Survaek seemed unwilling to; sacrifice to ensure the true and rightful ruler of the Commonwealth found his throne. I rejoice to hear of the abolishment of the Cerdigonian Codes and the amnesty granted to those who took up arms against you, and your decision to respect the rights of all your citizens; wise decrees which will be sure to quell any potentially rebellious elements among your mother’s people before they can become an issue deserving of military intervention and, perhaps, even unnecessary bloodshed, made even more unsettling in light of all those who have died to see the day of your coronation come. I would ask, however, as to your intentions regarding the Orcs of the Firetooth who served as mercenaries in the employ of your mother and their ancestral arms held captive by your forces before speaking of my intentions as to the future,” and, with that the Queen took another sip from her goblet before beginning to pick at the choicest bits on her place, warm eyes all of amber locked upon those of the young King all the while.
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Post by cerdigon on Oct 14, 2014 21:39:53 GMT
Could one blame soldiers for being nervous when such a force was upon them? King Aeron could not, these men had survived several bloody battles, only to have foreigners arrive virtually unannounced. Many viewed the presence of the humans as little more than an insult. The question of the Firetooth caused knuckles to curl over the goblet of wine, Aeron's face remaining carefully composed and blank as he put forth his next words carefully.
'' I have been in contact with the Firetooth Elders over their status. I am currently seeking reparations, these orc's are foreign criminals who joined the rebellion against me. By all rights, they should be hanged. '' The words were laced with anger. He hard seen men torn apart in great volleys of smoke and fire during the Battle of the Two Generals within the Great Forest. '' As you have said, I am the legitimate King of Sefti. The Firetooth made their bed when they joined with my mother, now they can lay in it. If I don't receive a satisfactory response in my negotiations with the Elder's then these prisoners will be my guests for the foreseeable future. '' A long swallow of wine followed so that Aeron could plot his next words carefully.
'' The status of a few hundred prisoners shouldn't concern you however.... It will be dealt with in time, let it not be said that I am not merciful. '' The vice like grip on his goblet relaxed as he stared at the map that was spread out on the table at a nod from the King to a servant. '' What I am more concerned with is the status of the Sultanate of Beg Gurihmon my border. '' Aeron stood, circling around the table so that he was now standing behind the seated Queen. He leaned over her shoulder, gently seizing one of her delicate fingers and drawing it west. '' As a result of factional infighting and Jotun raids, it has collapsed. Not only has this caused an influx of Dwarven refugees but the entire region is unstable. '' It also left much needed resources untapped that Aeron intended to seize to help bring financial stability to his newfound Commonwealth. '' My peasants are tired and wish to go home. It would take me some time to raise fresh troops but now with your army here.... we could easily restore some sense of security in the short term. ''
'' Will you help me Majesty? I would be forever in your debt. ''
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Post by psychopathickids on Oct 14, 2014 23:03:48 GMT
"You ask me to bring stability to the former citizens of the Sultanate? Under the jurisdiction of the kingdoms of Cerdigon and Sefti, to be sure?" It was neither an unreasonable request, nor a dishonorable one. Her forces had traveled through the lands of the dwarves on their way to Cerdigon, and seen the devastation wrought them by the Jotun. Worse yet, in the ruins of their fallen nation bands of warlords and ruffians had begun preying on the weakest amongst them --, she had hung twelve bandits, rapers and murderers to the last man, by the neck until dead on her way to meet the prince, and it was clear order would not be restored to the innocent amongst them without much bloodshed. “In light of the fall of Eshara during the Survaek incursion, I feel the Commonwealth is the clear successor to her former lands and authorities in the region, under your unchallenged rule. Should you release every Orcish prisoner remaining you into my custody along with their ancestral arms, grant them amnesty for their crimes against your royal person and the Commonwealth, and swear to me upon your oath of honor that you will do all within your power to put the past transgressions of the Firetooth behind you as you have put those of the elves of Sefti aside so that we three sovereign nations might regain our former glories taken from us during the Southern War together as friends and fellow Northern Monarchs I will bring the remaining lands and holdings of Beg Gurihm to heel, in your name,”
“In addition any recompense already paid you by the Firetooth for their transgressions or ransom for the safe return of their sons shall be repaid to them immediately, and any future offer of reparation on behalf of these men’s crimes refused. They shall make reparations to you and your subjects by fighting for you under my command, bringing order to the Sultanate fallen --, surely their crimes would be better repaid with the blood of false dwarven bandit princes and warlords felled by their muskets on behalf of yourself and the Commonwealth, and surely a kingdom, even one in shambles, is worth far more than whatever pittance the Firetooth might be willing to deliver you for the safe return of a few hundreds of militia mercenaries? The dwarves will be accepted into the Commonwealth as full members, given the same wise treatment you have shown the elves of Sefti, and allowed to keep whatever overlords they so desire so long as each in turn pays fealty to you. If these terms are acceptable, I will march for Beg Gurihm on the ‘morrow, your Grace, though I do have another matter to discuss with you in private. Might we take a walk, if this pleases you? Or if you’d prefer, I would be happy to stay in your pavilion should you send away the servants and all but your most trusted men, should you feel better in the company of guardsmen,”
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Post by cerdigon on Oct 14, 2014 23:20:49 GMT
The King of the newly declared Commonwealth threw back his head and roared with laughter. To think that this small woman infront of him would declare herself a conqueror? His father would've died on the spot rather than accept the offer. He always been far too proud. Aeron however was not his father and smelled an opportunity. '' You would conquer the lands of the Sultanate? With but a word hm? '' He might've laughed at her offer but if she could see his eyes, the Queen would know that he took her question deadly serious. His fingertips toyed up her arm, his breath hot against her neeck as he leaned closer to her ear. '' You have my attention, Your Grace. I will forgive the Orc's for their transgression, you will ensure that these creatures never return to trouble my people again. '' Aeron arched at an eyebrow. What could she say that couldn't be said infront of lowly servants? Standing straight up, the King clapped his hands together.
'' Leave us. '' The command rang throughout the pavillion. One by one the servants and stewards alike shuffled out. The two were completely and utterly alone save for a handful of guardsman that lingered outside to guard the entrance. '' Now, let us cut to the heart of the matter. ''
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Post by psychopathickids on Oct 15, 2014 1:20:26 GMT
As the servants and guardsmen cleared the pavilion Kallista took a few gulps of wine from her goblet, slightly taken aback at the prince's laughter at her offer to bring a few thousand measly bandits to heel, though fairly unfazed so far as things went. It must have seemed rather silly as it were, she only a few years older in appearance than Aeron and a human woman no less offering military support, though she was no fool --, should she have chosen things could have been quite different in the Commonwealth this day, and the forces of whoever was vying over Beg Gurihm now would be less a challenge than an excuse to appease mercenaries made to march so far without having a chance to loot and pillage, but for what she intended she needed friends, and more importantly friends who could get along with one other, and taking petty kingdoms paled in comparison to what she had planned for the future. The boy King seemed to take the direct approach at every chance he could, and so she chose to do the same.
“I confess, there is an ulterior motive behind my support of your claim, King Aeron. Firetooth, Sefti, Cerdigon, Beg Gurihm, Juturna --, none matter so very much in the grand scheme of things, not as they now stand. I was not exaggerating when I named the Commonwealth the closest thing to a successor to the Esharan Empire there is in the North. However, so long as we pay homage to foreign overlords and are forced into the worship of a foreign God we are not truly free, nor are we truly rulers in our own right. The Survaek see their grasp over the North slipping, and my friends among the Northern Monarchs see so much as well, and we prepare, as I would advise you prepare. Should you choose to join with us when the time is right, and we have amassed the numbers and influence necessary to oppose the Empire outright, I would see Cerdigon rise to become so great as Eshara of old. I would see the North free,” to speak the words she had spoken this afternoon was treason, to be sure, but she had the feeling Aeron held as little love for the Survaek as she herself. Should he agree with her in this it would be the beginning of a long and prosperous alliance between herself, her allies and Cerdigon.
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Post by cerdigon on Oct 15, 2014 1:38:16 GMT
Those words whispered in the wrong ears would surely have left both of them short -- by a head. The King whether due to his youth or his nature was an extremely blunt man but now he lapsed into a brooding silence. His father had told him tales...tales of oaths sworn in exchange for Survaekom aid to ignore his war against the Seftian's. It had amounted to little in the end but it was a foolish man that crossed the Vizier. Nor however could he afford to cross the Queen. Not only was she offering him a chance at power but the prospect of independence, something that both Cerdigon and Sefti hadn't tasted for decades. He stared hard and long into his goblet of wine, as if the crimson liquid might hold a secret answer to his problem as he swirled it within his cup. When it failed to divine him an answer, he downed it in revenge.
'' And who would lead this mighty new alliance? You alone? '' The King inquired. '' It's not just the Imperial Army that will be a concern but the Vaekirate if you intend to take the war against their gods. '' In public, Aeron was one of the faithful. But he quietly followed age old sylph customs of Taranis, the Forest God as were many of his subjects...but many more followed Aed. Aeron needed more wine, he could just imagine his father screaming in his ear, telling him to reject these foolish notions. Revolution was a young man's game and it beckoned with an open hand.
'' You have piqued my interest. We shall take one step at a time on this new road together, shall we not? First let us bring the Sultanate to it's knees. Everything else will come with time. '' The King said picking up a pitcher and refilling both of their goblets.
'' Can we drink to that, Your Grace? ''
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Post by psychopathickids on Oct 15, 2014 5:31:19 GMT
"Indeed we may. To the prosperity of both Juturna and the Commonwealth," a raise of the goblet in solute, and she drank deeply in time with the King, warm amber eyes never leaving his own crystal blue orbs. He hadn’t exclaimed anything along the lines of, “off with her head,” run her through with a bronze blade, nor outright scoffed at the notion, all of which were good signs. He may well come around, given time. With the last of the wine in her goblet drained Kallista found her way to her feet, and standing offered a proper curtsey, low and respectful, before speaking once more. “None shall lead this new alliance, and officially one does not exist. Behind closed doors we are merely likeminded monarchs of sovereign nations who would see our people free from Survaek tyranny, leaders who recognize that the only way to achieve our goals is together, standing united against common foe. The Vaekirate will be handled in their own way, and will have little reason to become involved --, I don’t intend to force the faithful or their representatives from the North, merely to allow everyone the choice in faith they deserve, and any more permanent decisions regarding our friends in the church would be made by individual Northern kingdoms and their rulers on a case by case basis. The only requirement for membership, if you will, is the desire to see our lands free of the Empire,”
Not that Kallista wasn’t possessed of her own ambitions, though they were aimed more towards her own shores than the mountain home of the dwarves, forests of Cerdigon or Northeastern coasts of Sefti, and with any luck should find no cause to conflict with those of the Commonwealth. “Most esteemed King Aeron, if that is all you would discuss with me I fear the hour grows late and I must inform my captains to have their men prepared to march West by dawn. Should you be able to spare, say, a thousand of your own men in total to hold each settlement with one or two hundred soldiers per village, town, and manor as mine take them it would greatly increase the rate with which order might be returned to the innocent dwarves of Beg Gurihm under your rule, and reinforce their knowledge and understanding of just who they now serve, though I can do without if need be. Otherwise, should you excuse me, preparations must be made for the march,” returning to Beg Gurihm hadn’t crossed any of her commanders minds that she knew of, there wasn’t much to be seen within her borders save for the occasional handful of fearful peasants and savage raiders and though they commanded a considerable deal of mineral wealth neither she nor her mercenary captains were miners in any sense of the term, her people preferring to make their living trading on the open sea and the soldiers for hire who followed D’Artagnan and Ser Gerrack living and dying by their blades.
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Post by cerdigon on Oct 22, 2014 16:28:15 GMT
This was not the victorious triumph that King Aeron had been expecting. Instead the tattered banners, torn armor, and bloodied troops spoke of defeat as the Juturnan Army streamed back across the border. Worse the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force that had numbered two thousand strong was now down to a quarter of that. The King's plan to seize vast quantities of the Sultanate before the Ikagami could even reach them seemed to have gone awry.
'' Is she awake yet? '' The King patiently asked, snapping shut a book of poems as the Queen's eyes began to flutter. He had been told she had been lapsing in and out of consciousness as a result of her wounds. Cerdigonian and Juturnan apothecaries alike huddled about her like moths to a flame. Bickering amongst themselves as to what their next course of action was.
'' If she is no danger of dying, then leave us. '' There was the undertone of a threat in the King's voice. The apothecaries and their dreaded leeches had become quite tiresome as the King watched the slow procession of self proclaimed healers leave. Aeron poured a goblet of water and forced it to the lips of Kalista. It seemed that she was regaining consciousness though the King wasn't sure if she remembered the turn of events that had brought her back to Cerdigon.
'' You have been defeated. A setback in the campaign to be sure. '' The King said evenly. He would now be forced to treat with the Ikagami, he had heard reports from his spies that they were already operating in the area. Aeron's best guess was that they were making a bee line for the mineral rich gold regions to seize them before Aeron's slowly mustering army could arrive.
'' The question now is, do you wish to stay and avenge yourself? Or retire back to the South? I would not blame you if you chose the latter. '' The bitter taste of defeat was not one that Aeron would suffer. This war however was not the Queen's fight. Aeron resumed his seat at her bedside as he waited for her to gather her thoughts.
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