Did Someone Say Kill All Morilantans?|Neo'anar

[Kender Bard]

Twilight had, with his brother's help, managed to secure the documents needed for the kind of council he'd be holding. He didn't give much of a rat's ass about them but Sunray was very insistent that they secure them. He left them in his brother's care, wanting Sunray at the meeting at any rate.

The following day he gathered his siblings to him in a meeting room.

"So Schuldig will be coming?" Emerald asked with interest.

"Maybe or he might just be dropping in mentally," Twilight told her. At this point they were prepared and just waiting on the telepath to contact them again.

[Darastrix]

A bit later, Schuldig gave Twilight a mental nudge. ~We're ready when you are,~ he said. ~Nagi and I will both be coming, so just let us know where to teleport.~

[Kender Bard]

Here, Twilight answered and focused on the meeting chamber. "Here they come."

Sunray rose from his seat, as did Snowflake and Twilight. Emerald glanced at her siblings, sighed, and stopped leaning back in her own chair to stand.

Once they'd teleported, Twilight smiled and bowed to Nagi. "Welcome back to Anarlina, Prince Kazimir. We're glad to have you with us."

"A pleasure to see you again," Sunray added, smiling. "It's been a while."

"Hi Schuldig!" Emerald greeted enthusiastically.

"Please, make yourself comfortable and then we can begin by going over what Schuldig told me yesterday," Twilight directed.

[Darastrix]

Nagi bowed before sitting. "I wish it were under better circumstances," he murmured in response to Sunray and Twilight.

"We can be cheerful and maybe drunk after this, Em," Schuldig said, dropping into a chair. "Right now, I don't know if Brad's even fucking alive."

"Schu...."

"Yeah, yeah," Schuldig muttered, propping his elbows on the table. "Facts first. Crawford was on sabbatical in Firegem. I got a letter from him yesterday. Morilanta is allied with Fireteeth to take over Grandisle in Firegem. The attack was set to start at the end of summer, so by now it's got to be underway. He was planning to stay on until near the end of Aes, probably doing the seer-adviserly thing he does so well."

[Kender Bard]

"It's unfortunate what has happened to Grandisle, assuming they were not able to withstand the assault," Snowflake replied. "Although..." She glanced at Sunray. "Perhaps it would be enlightening to know both how Grandisle fairs at this moment as well as the status of Crawford."

"I can do two rituals to determine that," Sunray offered. "If you don't mind excusing me from the meeting while I do so."

[Darastrix]

Nagi nodded. "Please."

"We were planning to ask if you could do one for Brad in any case," Schuldig added. "If he's safe, he's probably bringing more information. From what he wrote, though, it doesn't sound good for Grandisle. They're all courtiers and socialites."

"Celentia's the real military force of the islands," Nagi added.

[Kender Bard]

"Then let us pray that things fell in their favor," Snowflake replied gravely.

Sunray nodded and pushed away from the table, leaving the room for elsewhere.

"While he does that, why don't we determine the worst case scenario situation?" Emerald inquired. "Grandisle has fallen under an attack from Morilanta and their own bogeyman the Fireteeth Islands. Generally, aggressive action on Morilanta's behalf is an instant declaration of hostile intentions and Anarlina would prepare for war appropriately, though we would not lead the first assault." She rolled her eyes. "Historically, it's against our national philosophy to do so."

Twilight crossed his arms. "However, those were the procedures for Old Contrasta. Because any hostile movement was on us anyway. We've made it a point to update this information to include any hostile attacks inflicted on other nations that we are either aligned with or have the interests of as well... But that was just for Naruta. The Firegem Islands are very far away and we're not certain of what Morilanta's actions will be here closer to home. I'm prepared to believe that they're gearing up for an assault here too. However, I don't think they have ignored the fact of just how seriously outnumbered they are. Their only ally here is Ekaitz and from all that I've seen Ekaitz is happy to just keep to itself, prey on individuals in the area surrounding their nation, and cause grief for Caelium now and then. Not precisely a frightening force."

[Darastrix]

"There is still Fireteeth," Nagi pointed out. "Amastar is on our northern coast and they sailed all the way from Firegem just to raid that village. About a hundred men, and they did so much damage." He tried to suppress a shudder at the memory of the aftermath, and was only partly successful. "I lifted the roof of a house off of a woman's husband. They even killed children if they happened to run into them."

"With them being friendly with Morilanta," Schuldig added, "they can sail north in force and have a nice little halfway point to rest, resupply, and get more men. And do you know where Ilyamen stands now after they had their trouble with whatever monsters they had down there? Their capitol was practically closed."

[Kender Bard]

"We don't know," Twilight admitted. "We haven't gotten in official contact with them. I believe I'll send someone, if not go myself, and do that soon. As to your other point, you're correct. There's still a danger of coastal attack... Primarily to you, unfortunately. We're more fortunate to be landlocked in that respect. Not to make light of the danger you face, I'm concerned with the possibility that Fireteeth will be sending men to Morilanta to help them with an overland campaign."

"If I were a warlord, in their position, I would try to overwhelm you," Emerald said. "Once Khelek was subdued, we'd own the eastern coast. The rest of Naruta would be rising up against us so I'd also grab Ronduin while I was at it and try to create strongholds all along our newfound borders and from there begin a mixture of siege and attack warfare in hopes of chipping away at the rest of the nation while remaining safe in my own conquered land. We'd also get supplies from our conquered islands in the south--a slow supply line, certainly, but better than none."

"That's all well and good," Twilight interrupted her, before she could continue on. "But it's not a real concern, it's just a theory."

"It is a concern," Emerald argued. "I think once Morilanta tastes an easy victory, they'll start turning their eyes to Naruta and the scenario I described would be their best bet."

"What does Khelek wish of Anarlina?" Snowflake cut in above them both. "In short."

[Darastrix]

"In short--for now," Nagi said, "since the situation or what we know of it may change--Khelek wishes to aid Grandisle and requests Anarlina's assistance. We're not declaring war--"

"Yet," Schuldig interjected.

"But we don't intend to keep idle while Morilanta attacks a peaceful nation. As long as it would take and without being able to know what's happening on Grandisle by the time any Narutan ships could arrive, aid would, I think, have to focus more on getting supplies and men to Celentia and taking survivors who wish to leave Firegem to Naruta. It's sketchy as far as plans go, but so is our information."

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake looked to Twilight. "As your spiritual adviser, I say that this is an excellent plan. You have my blessing."

Emerald looked a bit less happy. "As your military adviser, I... suppose it'll work," she replied. "All we can offer are some men and that won't hurt us any."

"Then I agree," Twilight told Nagi. "I'll let Emerald pick out some men to help you and we'll see what supplies we can spare for the mission."

"How many do you want?" Emerald asked. "We have our regular militia I can dip into or I can just give you a smaller number of Knights."

At that point, Sunray returned and slipped into his seat. "Your friend is alive," he told them. "I Saw him on a ship with what I think were some other people from Grandisle. They certainly looked it. In fact, I recognized Queen Delilah. But I was unable to See what Grandisle's current condition is."

[Darastrix]

Schuldig let out a harsh breath at the news and slumped in his seat to rest his head on the table. "Thank fuck."

~Brad's okay,~ he sent Filly. ~He's on a ship with some Grandisle folks and the queen. Pass it on to Locket and Harmony.~

Nagi sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. Thank you, Thuoth.

"Thank you, Lord Flamehart," he said, opening his eyes. "I should probably be more disappointed that we still don't know about Grandisle, but we were all so worried about him."

[Kender Bard]

"I understand completely," Sunray told him. "If it were one of my family or friends, I know that I wouldn't be able to place priority over their life."

"Then since the question of Grandisle's fate is still undecided, we will have to continue assuming that they did not survive," Twilight concluded. "We'll get things prepared and send them over to Khelek. Forces, though, I hope we manage to beat the worst of your winter storms or we'll only be that much more delayed."

[Darastrix]

"That actually won't be too much of an issue," Nagi said. "Our westernmost fort uses men to guard the pass and our river border. We have ships there that can be brought to the northwestern coast."

"Good thing, too," Schuldig said, raising his head. "I wouldn't want to send a ship south to help Firegem that's have to pass Morilanta's ocean coast."

Nagi nodded. "If they keep to the western side of the river and cut through Seere, there's less of a chance they'll run into an enemy ship. And it's a more direct route in any case."

[Kender Bard]

"Then we'll have people there with all haste," Twilight said. "Is there anything else we can help you with? Sunray's vision failed, but perhaps we could employ the use of our other seer-"

Snowflake gave a discreet cough. "Actually I believe he's employing his skills in Talen'sul at the moment while Nalani preaches there."

Twilight rolled his eyes. "Figures. Well we can at least offer you rooms if you'd like to stay for dinner and rest up before heading back."