[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1284616974898565211/1284616977024942111/forceandfury_A_wide_angle_shot_of_a_large_wooden_gazebo_beside__11fff98c-259e-4332-ba5d-af1f0cbec9a9.png?ex=6716158a&is=6714c40a&hm=b543917536049d84228da8fad2644cd85aacb5f3e5c801432861913aa4744be7&[/img]
[h2]M E E T I N G   B Y   T H E   L A K E[/h2]

[i]"The young conqueror surveys his new empire and crows that it is vast, like Lake Albadón, but he knows nothing of its depth."[/i] [i][right]- Firrazi Proverb[/right][/i][/center]

The road west from Torra Corda stretches on into inner Torragon, straight as a line in some places. To one side is Lake Albadón and the sparse greenery upon its shores; to the other lies a vast and cruel desert, bleeding off into the horizon, seemingly endless.

It was into this scene that Ayla Arslan, a daughter of one of the greatest noble houses in the country, arrived. From the dust and winds, the endless mirror of the lake emerged, flamingoes and other waterfowl dotting its surface, peering up from their animal activities at the new arrival.

Not so far from its shore lay a gazebo. A simple wooden structure, it cast a rhomboidal shadow across the whitish sands as whitish curtains fluttered in the stifling breeze. Just outside was a horse. Just within was a man. He waited at a table. The girl arriving knew who he was.

Since they first met, that girl had grown into a young woman. Years of Ersand’Enise education and extracurricular activities had moulded the once demure girl—a lion cub—into a confident lioness. While a typical lady of the court might don her prettiest dress before an audience with the king, she had chosen a more practical outfit. She wore sturdy black boots and an embroidered rose-patterned corset styled like a tunic over a red blouse. A belt cinched her waist, holding the hilt of a bladeless sword, and a cavalier hat added a bold touch, with her red hair neatly tucked up inside as it shaded her from the sun.

As she strolled toward the gazebo, she admired the flamingos in the water before finally approaching the occupant. With a warm greeting, she crossed her arm over her chest, clenched her gloved fist, and bowed her head respectfully toward the gentleman.

The man inside was King Sancho VIII of Torragon, called El Alacrán in the Northern dialect. He rose to his feet and nodded in return. [color=8A0808]"Lady Arslan."[/color] A smile lifted his mustache from his upper lip for a moment, and he waved her warmly towards a seat. [color=8A0808]"It must've been a long ride. Have a drink. Have some tapas. Then, we discuss."[/color] He settled back into his seat and moved to pour both himself and his guest a drink.

Ayla took the seat offered to her by the King, pulling back the soft-cushioned wooden chair before settling in. [colour=009fff]“We find ourselves north of Varrahasta more and more these days,"[/colour] she remarked, her voice light with humour. [colour=009fff]"One might think we’d be used to the long rides and saddle sores by now.”[/colour] She offered a playful yet sweet smile as she accepted the glass of wine and a rather delicious-looking empanada.

She took in the surroundings, her gaze sweeping over the vibrant landscape. [colour=009fff]“This must be one of the jewels of the north, with such a breath-taking view,”[/colour] she added, gesturing toward the flamingos gracing the nearby lake. [colour=009fff]“Who should we thank for this pleasant scenery?"[/colour]

[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgonemB05FY]♫[/url][/center]

The king smiled again, briefly, plucking from the plate. He nodded. [color=8A0808]"It is what some would call a 'hidden gem',"[/color] he admitted, taking a bite and chewing. A light breeze rippled the surface of the water and a quartet of ibises took wing. [color=8A0808]"A place not known to those courtiers who want only to fill the king's ear for their own gain."[/color]

He watched the birds for a moment before addressing the second part of Ayla's question. [color=8A0808]"It is a place we thank An-Orafe for, in our prayers, but I have always thought that we owe equal debt to An-Ejerran."[/color] He tilted his head and stroked his goatee. [color=8A0808]"Why do you think that is?"[/color]

Ayla secretly suspected that the Queen's influence had been involved in choosing such a beautiful location, but she smiled pleasantly nonetheless and nodded when the conversation turned to the gods. The empanada was spiced in the manner preferred by the men of the north—bold and fiery—unlike the sweeter versions she was accustomed to in Varrahasta. Thankfully, and unsurprisingly, there wasn’t a Virangish pepper in sight.

[colour=009fff]“Then we shall prepare to be plied with food and wine, while our ears are filled for the King’s gain,”[/colour] she quipped with a mischievous smile, her sharp tongue making light of the situation as she used the jest as an excuse to indulge in the spread laid out before her.

Sancho let out a snort of laughter, but it quickly gave way to something more pensive. [color=8A0808]"Certainly,"[/color] he admitted, [color=8A0808]"I hope to gain, but your words remind me of something that dear Felipe told me before he left to be with Ejerran."[/color]

He sat in profile now, almost a silhouette as the morning sun shimmered off of vast Albadón. [color=8A0808]"One cannot rise while the ship he is on sinks."[/color] He lifted his glass from the table and took a sip of his wine. [color=8A0808]"This was what Huarcan Frannemas did not understand."[/color] He glanced her way, setting it back down. [color=8A0808]"That is why I killed him. He was willing to sink the ship to rise within it."[/color] His eyes, in shadow, found the young woman's. [color=8A0808]"It is a lesson I believe that you know,"[/color] he decided, [color=8A0808]"So tell me, Ayla Arslan, what is the ship that we are on?"[/color]

As the ripples of wine settled within the chalice, Ayla's eyes rose to meet Sancho's. [colour=009fff]"He was a mutineer on a surrounded ship,"[/colour] she said, shaking her head, [colour=009fff]"though not one that's sinking—yet."[/colour] She took another sip. [colour=009fff]"There's no real appetite for war in the East. Trade during peace brings prosperity to its people. The raids in the West are a different matter; they embitter the people."[/colour] Her gaze sharpened on the captain. [colour=009fff]"So the ship needs a carefully plotted course to avoid troubled waters—it can't rely solely on the winds."[/colour]

[color=8A0808]"And yet, much as it may yearn to, it cannot defy them either."[/color] Sancho breathed out into the desert air as a flock of sandpipers came to land at the water's edge. [color=8A0808]"The Firrazi have a saying: The young conqueror surveys his new empire and crows that it is vast, like Lake Albadón, but he knows nothing of its depth."[/color] He took a bite of his empanada. [color=8A0808]"What do you think this means?"[/color]

Ayla pondered the saying for a moment, though the fact that it was Firrazi made her a bit skeptical. [colour=009fff]"It suggests looking beyond what's on the surface. While some may focus on the size of their armies and navies, real strength comes from stability, loyalty, and the discipline of individuals in battle. Overlooking that depth might hide how fragile a situation truly is—like a lion made of parchment."[/colour] She tapped her lip thoughtfully. [colour=009fff]"Just one of many aspects of an empire, for brevity."[/colour]

[color=8A0808]"You are not wrong,"[/color] the king admitted, [color=8A0808]"from a certain point of view."[/color] Wind stirred the curtains and the hair of the people withing. Horses snorted and flicked their manes outside. [color=8A0808]"And I don't disagree, but the Firrazi like to remind us, in their bitterness, that they know this land in ways that we do not."[/color] He snorted at the notion; whether in dismissal or agreement, it was not quite clear. [color=8A0808]"It is a parable designed to trick us Torragonese, for Lake Albadón is, at most, five meters deep. Should the winter rains fail to come one year, it might disappear entirely."[/color]

He breathed in the lakeside air, tinged as it was with hints of dust and salt. [color=8A0808]"It is a reminder of how tenuous - how [i]ephemeral[/i] - are the monuments and works of we individuals in the face of greater forces."[/color] He breathed out. [color=8A0808]"I think it is also, in a teasing sense, a call to understand, truly and humbly, before acting."[/color] He swirled the last remaining wine in his glass. [color=8A0808]"This is why we must go to war."[/color] He glanced out at the vast salt lake, brow furrowed, before turning back to gauge her reaction.

Ayla raised an eyebrow at the mention of war, especially considering King Sancho's impassioned plea for peace in earlier years. During her time at the academy, however, she had encountered many factions and individuals aiming to shape the world to their own agendas. The statement left a void she felt compelled to fill.  [colour=009fff]"With whom?"[/colour] she asked.

Sancho grimaced at her well-but-not-perfectly-hidden confusion. [color=8A0808]"The people who would see us laid low."[/color] He furrowed his brow and continued. [color=8A0808]"Would that we could be like cattle, left to feed and fatten on the plains with no care in the world, but that is not the truth of things."[/color] He shook his head. [color=8A0808]"The bull may appear complacent, but he is anything but, for he cannot be."[/color] A lone cloud drifted lazily across the face of the sun, providing a moment of welcome relief. [color=8A0808]"He is surrounded, always, by hungry wolves and serpents and tigers."[/color]

Sancho batted the imagined animals away. [color=8A0808]"Trust you me, girl: they circle even now, and I imagine you can guess who most of them are."[/color] He shook his head again, tightly, and reached over for the wine bottle. [color=8A0808]"The blood our answers spilled to reclaim this land demands a price."[/color] He poured, pensively: deep crimson wine splashing into the glass. [color=8A0808]"Since I took el Trono de Hierro, I have built a Torragon of peace. I have furnished universities and libraries and ports for trade."[/color] He sipped. [color=8A0808]"I have patronized artists and scientists. I have shaken Osman's hand as a friend and equal. At the start of last year, I repealed the laws against Darhannics."[/color]

A couple of swans alighted on the lake's surface, and tiny waves lapped at the shore as their ripples spread outward. Sitting in profile, the King breathed deeply: in and out. He turned to Ayla, gaze heavy and direct. [color=8A0808]"It won't be enough."[/color] He was earnest. [color=8A0808]"Two of my dukes rebelled against me. Frannemas, you know, and I slew the bastard with mine own hand."[/color] He sniffed and glanced away, at the lake and the swans. [color=8A0808]"Herrera was in league with him, ready to march on their 'soft' ruler. Only the quick death of Huarcan persuaded her otherwise, and after I disinherited his brats I'd have had a rebellion on my hands had I tried to remove her as well. Ejerran knows Tojarra is frothing."[/color]

He stood all at once and held the bottle out towards Ayla's glass, raising his eyebrows inquiringly. [color=8A0808]"We are of the same cloth, to some measure,"[/color] the king concluded. [color=8A0808]"We speak for peace and sense and mutual benefit and nobody listens."[/color] Finished with the bottle, he set it down on the tabletop and turned to face Albadon, crossing his arms. [color=8A0808]"At the summit, last year, I convinced none who had a real say."[/color] He glanced over his shoulder at the youth. [color=8A0808]"It was something from Hunghorasz, the old wizard, that made them pull back."[/color] He tapped one of his temples. [color=8A0808]"I can still feel the way he went into my head and forced a decision."[/color] Sancho snorted. [color=8A0808]"At least it was the right one."[/color]

He pivoted on his heel and leaned over the back of his chair. [color=8A0808]"It is a regrettably simple conclusion, Lady Ayla."[/color] He pursed his lips for a moment. [color=8A0808]"Most everyone wants to fight: on every side of this thing, and I will not let Torragon be served up as a feast. Can you work with that?"[/color]

Ayla nodded as she mulled over her thoughts, reflecting on the complexities. [colour=009fff]"Peace is not easy,"[/colour] she began thoughtfully. [colour=009fff]"It takes hard work and is anything but complacent. Sometimes, people need to be reminded that it is in their best interest not to act against it, or persuaded by other means."[/colour] She continued, using the earlier metaphor by Sancho to make her point clearer. [colour=009fff]"A complacent bull is weak—others start to ignore and violates its boundaries. This stirs the bull into action, forcing it to use violence to make others respect it, a war. Now, an active bull, constantly vigilant, dissuades people from crossing its boundaries. If they try, they're met with a snort and a show of the horns. Violence isn't needed because the threat alone keeps others in check, thus experiences peace. But it's important not to be an aggressive bull, as that would cause others to band together and outnumber the bull, seeing it as a threat."[/colour]

She paused for a moment and added, [colour=009fff]"You could argue that peace is a war—a war fought with words, influence and clout."[/colour]

[color=8A0808]"Perhaps it is so,"[/color] the king acknowledged, as a gust of wind stirred the feathers in his cap, [color=8A0808]"and perhaps it is not."[/color] He pursed his lips grimly. [color=8A0808]"I've called you here, Lady Ayla, for two reasons."[/color] his wine sat on the table, he was drinking none of it now.

[color=8A0808]"The first is that you have helped your country immensely. You acted decisively when the Queen's and my lives were threatened, for which you've my gratitude, and again to secure Revidia's secret weapon for us."[/color] He shook his head. [color=8A0808]"Such things should not exist and, if they do, they should not be kept from friends."[/color] There was a brief, ironic smile. [color=8A0808]"You could say that you sharpened the bull's horns and diluted the serpent's venom."[/color]

In the distance, the sun lay atop the water, its surface a mirror to the sky and the plains. A pack of dwarf halassa grazed on a copse of bushes. [color=8A0808]"The second,"[/color] Sancho began darkly, [color=8A0808]"is that the time for metaphors and waxing philosophical over what [i]may[/i] happen is at an end."[/color] He tapped the table twice and worked his jaw, eyes meeting hers. [color=8A0808]"They will have their damned war whether we want it or not."[/color] He sighed in vexation. [color=8A0808]"I want to make it as short and decisive as possible."[/color]

He glanced down before meeting her eyes again. [color=8A0808]"I've no desire to spill blood over Revidian and Perrench squabbles."[/color] Sancho shook his head tightly. [color=8A0808]"Neither is a clear evil, much as the leaders of both will rail that his counterpart is."[/color] He glanced out over the idyllic scene of the inland sea. [color=8A0808]"And we are a continent away. Our only real danger is the unbridled ambition of some in Virang."[/color] Now, he lifted the glass and took a sip. [color=8A0808]"Osman is a good man. I had hoped to build an understanding with him, but I fear his days are limited and his influence wanes."[/color] Sancho swirled the wine and watched it for a moment. [color=8A0808]"The new generation do not remember war, and so they treat trade as if it is a thing to be won, and encourage the most radical form of their religion, and fund Hattim of Firraz in his campaign of terror against the Nordeste."[/color]

He scowled into the sun before his eyes flicked Ayla's way. [color=8A0808]"We are going in opposite directions, and it is time for the bull to use his horns, while he can still quickly put the panther in its place."[/color] He tilted his head. [color=8A0808]"Is this something you can help me with?"[/color]

Ayla nodded thoughtfully after listening to the reply, then straightened her posture, adopting a more formal bearing.  [colour=009fff]"What is it that we need to do?"[/colour] she asked in a composed tone.

Sancho regarded her and... was there a hint of discomfort on the face of the king? [color=8A0808]"An act that will make our names live in infamy like that of your ancestor."[/color] His bearing became grim, serious, [i]earnest[/i]. [color=8A0808]"But one that could save millions of lives by putting a swift end to the war."[/color] In the distance, a flock of flamingoes lifted from the surface of Lake Albadon. [color=8A0808]"I am asking you, Ayla, not commanding. Is this something you think you could countenance?"[/color]

She gently put her hands together as she sat and listened, as she prepared herself for what was about to be spoken,   [colour=009fff]“Yet without my ancestor, there would not be a Torragon or our people.”[/colour] She nodded, as she consented,   [colour=009fff]“Please continue.”[/colour]

Sancho nodded at her words. [color=8A0808]"Mine own, Felipe de la Sangre, was infamous in his time."[/color] He shrugged. [color=8A0808]"And perhaps since, though he has not had the unique misfortune of having his name live so in infamy as Alizée."[/color] A fly came to rest upon the white curtains, tiny and black and eager to take of the food on the table if given the opportunity.

Sancho batted a hand dismissively. [color=8A0808]"Virang has risen much, some as a result of my own leniency towards it and the desire that both us and they might rise together and break the endless cycle of two grand alliances, mutually exclusive."[/color] He leaned forward and plucked an enchilada from the platter. [color=8A0808]"They are too strong for us to trample as we may have in the past."[/color] He regarded the morsel and shook his head... annoyed? Regretful? Admiring? [color=8A0808]"They will dig in and hold on and occupy us while the other Darhannics pounce and Belzagg either overwhelms Joru and takes us from the East, or Perrence joins them."[/color]

The king bit in and chewed. [color=8A0808]"Millions on all sies will die for the ambitions of few and grudges passed down for centuries, now meaningless."[/color] He swallowed. [color=8A0808]"I want to avoid that. We need a quick, decisive victory that will humble them where they stand and act as warning against any who might consider taking their part."[/color] He glanced out at the curtains as they flapped and the fly took off. [color=8A0808]"Something strategically decisive, scored away from their innocents, that leaves them utterly at our mercy."[/color] He took a second bite and chewed, eyes narrowed as he glanced at the lake and back at Ayla. [color=8A0808]"Can you think of such a thing?"[/color]

Ayla was presented with a near-impossible task: figuring out how to take down Virang without unnecessary bloodshed or loss of innocent lives. As soon as the Torragonese forces mobilized, Virang would respond in kind. Both sides had permanent garrisons ready for such a situation, and they would have to cross the Merapora making a land approach infeasible. Even if they attempted to circumvent the defences through Inipor, Gandakar lay to the south. A naval approach, even with allied support, would struggle to pass Izan without incurring heavy losses before reaching the capital.

[colour=009fff]"It would have to be like lightning,"[/colour] she mused. [colour=009fff]"Using portals to transport groups to capture key locations, then moving in the armies to catch them by surprise."[/colour] She shrugged, acknowledging the difficulty of her suggestion. [colour=009fff]"Unless we could somehow position ourselves as welcomed liberators, there would be significant resistance—and for that, we'd need an enemy to liberate them from."[/colour]

Popping the final bite of enchilada into his mouth, Sancho paused, and a grin spread across his features. [color=8A0808]"This is why I come to you, Ayla."[/color] He finished chewing and swallowed. [color=8A0808]"For this is precisely our plan."[/color] He pushed the plate away and paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. [color=8A0808]"The Virangish rise has made them less amenable to us, true."[/color] He nodded. [color=8A0808]"but it has made them many enemies."[/color]

The plate sat there in the middle of the table, a sprinkling of crumbs dusting its surface. [color=8A0808]"Among those is Tarlon, who will soon try to force the Bin Ada again."[/color] The fly took off from its spot on the curtain, circling around the two of them and zeroing in on the plate. [color=8A0808]"Osman fears that they will move on Paggon, which they refer to as 'lost lands'."[/color] Sancho shifted in his seat and regarded Ayla frankly. [color=8A0808]"He is terrified of it, in fact, if our people are to believed. Losing Paggon means losing their stranglehold on the Bin Ada and the tolls they take for trade into the Ensollian."[/color]

The fly made its move and, with a single quick motion, Sancho swatted it. [color=8A0808]"He is willing to sacrifice Palapar for Paggon."[/color] The tiny creature lay broken upon his glove for a moment until he flicked its corpse free. [color=8A0808]"His advisors are not. Many own vast amounts of land there that this new unrest threatens."[/color] The king set his gloves aside and turned to Ayla. [color=8A0808]"Tell me, now, with more of the picture in place, how might you proceed."[/color]

Ayla listened carefully to the foundations of the plan. From what she gathered, the idea was for Torragon to pose as the liberators of an anticipated Tarlonese invasion of East Severa. It was true—the Tarlonese would never expect Virang and Torragon to work together, and both nations would be able to repel the yasoi. If the Tarlonese were bold enough to attempt such a gambit, they would likely stoke tensions between the two nations, causing a war, and then swoop in to seize any territories they desired.

[colour=009fff]“There are only two main conditions for such a possibility to exist: a weakened Virang and for Tarlon to move against Virang proper.”[/colour] Ayla leaned back in her seat, contemplating. [colour=009fff]“A decisive action against Virang would guarantee the conquest of Paggon and control of the strait. Both are likely Tarlon’s long-term goals, so there is motive, but the opportunity is lacking.”[/colour]

[colour=009fff]“For Virang to be weakened, it would need to become embroiled in Palapar, and it cannot achieve a decisive victory—neither for the rebels nor for itself. There would need to be a stalemate, encouraging reinforcement from the mainland as they try to tip the scales in their favor.”[/colour] She moved imaginary figures across the table. [colour=009fff]“With the mainland and Paggon vulnerable, and its forces occupied across the Asperic Ocean, controlling the strait would prevent Virang's forces from returning, allowing Tarlon to achieve its objectives. They would hope this would create an opportunity for us to strike at Virang.”[/colour]

[colour=009fff]“However, Virang wouldn't send its forces to Palapar if they knew it would leave them so vulnerable.”[/colour] She knocked the imaginary figures from the table. [colour=009fff]“They would want a guarantee—a strong, ironclad one. Virang might draw support from Belzagg toward Joru to keep us focused on the Eastern threat, bolster their numbers from Perrence, or even consider an agreement with Eskand.”[/colour]

She placed her glass to the north of her position on the table. [colour=009fff]“Then there’s another factor: ReTan. They seek vengeance against Tarlon, and control of the strait would threaten their trade. They might consider working with Virang against Tarlon in these circumstances. So, Torragon's objective is clear.”[/colour] She moved an imaginary fleet from Varrahasta toward ReTan. [colour=009fff]“We need to strengthen our partnership with ReTan. That means working with them against Tarlon.”[/colour] She marked an imaginary cross over the straits. [colour=009fff]“This benefits everyone. We work against Tarlon and demand concessions from Virang for our support, such as tariff-free ReTannese trade for Torragon and rights on the Merapora. Virang would accept nothing less—they require a guarantee of our self-interest in iron.”[/colour]

She drew a semi-circle on the table, symbolizing a protective line against Tarlon. [colour=009fff]“This might prompt Virang to take risks in Palapar.”[/colour] She moved the imaginary figures back to Palapar. [colour=009fff]“But then you have the same problem again with Tarlon…”[/colour] She let the cyclical situation hang in the air, unresolved.

Sancho leaned forward as Ayla spoke, taking in her analysis of the situation. [color=8A0808]"You understand the picture well for one with limited information."[/color] He nodded appreciatively. [color=8A0808]"So let me share the rest that I know, as a king, with you."[/color]

Leaning back somewhat, the king stroked his beard twice over. [color=8A0808]"Firstly, Tarlon's appetites far outstrip what its teeth can chew. The people in charge know this. [i]Second[/i] -"[/color] He ticked another point off on his fingers. [color=8A0808]"Osman with his famous prudence and his... wariness of us, is seen to be losing his battle with old age in Virang."[/color]

Sancho did not reach for his wine or a snack or anything of the sort. He narrowed his eyes shrewdly. [color=8A0808]"The Tarlonese are easy to fear and to hate, to ascribe goals and motives to that we can decry."[/color] Not so far away, his horse snorted and stamped the dirt. [color=8A0808]"It is a common disease of people."[/color] He batted it away. [color=8A0808]"But I see, in them, a people not so very unlike us: They want to live as they wish, on their own land, unbothered by others, and they will do whatever they need to ensure that."[/color] He shook his head tightly. [color=8A0808]"Beyond that, I do not agree with them on much."[/color] His voice sunk, even though the seemed to be here completely on their own. [color=8A0808]"But one does not need complete agreement from an ally, merely common purpose."[/color] [i]Now[/i], he took an empanada. [color=8A0808]"Of course, we could let Virang think much the same."[/color] 

[colour=009fff]“Keep our enemies close, divided, and pitted against each other?”[/colour] she succinctly summarized the course of action Sancho was proposing.

[color=8A0808]"Something like that,"[/color] he allowed as, in the distance, the dust trail of another rider could be seen. [color=8A0808]"But, perhaps, a common enemy might make for a useful ally."[/color] He rose in preparation to greet the fast-closing rider, who was just now entering sensory range. [color=8A0808]"We can only hope that Virang sees it that way,"[/color] he added by way of conclusion.