[IC] States: Peace and War

[TheSecret]

"I guess I should break all commercial agreements" Zhen said a litle annoyed "It could bed troublesome if we do it without warning"
She walked out of her house and asked a soldier to bring her horse while she prepared, soon the soldier arrived with the horse.
Now with her backpack, horse and sword in hand Zhen was ready to go
"First of all is Valhashika" Zhen said starting by the farthest kingdom, riding at great speed

[Opposition]

Katelyn listened intently as he explained his political system to her. She tried to understand as much as she could. Relating it back to Mandisa helped her remember, so she thought of the differences in her head. She smiled as Kurt introduced himself, she liked his shyness to an extent, it intrigued her, but she left him be for now. He probably wanted to be left alone anyway. She carefully continued sipping away at her drink. Katelyn had finished one and a half glasses by now, which seemed to have no effect yet other than staring off blankly after talking to Kurt. She seemed like she was in a trance-like state. 

Katelyn soon snapped out of it as Olaf asked her to explain more about Mandisa. She loved to talk of her country, it was her favorite subject. She giggled a bit at Olaf's threat to Jorgen, but she didn't fully understand the meaning of it. "Mandisa is a thee-theocracy led by our gods and I. We all have different c-cults to worship certain gods. The gods each help us run different aspects of life. Our capital Helion worships our sun god Ra, Nekkropolis worships Osiris who is the god of the afterlife. In Petsuchstis, which is situated on the holy river, worships Sobek, the guardian of the River, that is where I go for the Season of the Flood festivals! Scarabstis worships a few different gods of war and rebirth, and finally Jacklapolis worships our god of mummies, Anubis. Without them, the sun would not rise and we would not have such wondrous things such as crops from our rivers. There are many more as well!" Katelyn gives a brief description of the major Mandisan towns, seemingly stuttering on some of her vocabulary words. She giggles as she finishes, a beaming smile across her face as she gets to talk about her religion.

[TheSecret]

(Time skip, make flashbacks if you want)

After hours of riding without stop Zhen finnaly arrived to Valhashika's capital and presented herself as Rondorio¡'s queen to the castle guards.
"I am here to see king Olaf" she said with a serious voice

[Laggia]

Olaf just listen intensely as she explained more about the religion of Mandisa and how it was run which quite made olaf interested in visiting Helion to see for himself if there are all these cults to each of their gods. Olaf just nod and nod as he took more mead into his system Jorgen. hod and hordor just littered closely as they didn't want to upset Olaf like jorgen had done before and get their nobility pay cut in half or worse be stripped of the rank of jarl. Kurt was just amaied by how she told about her culture and gods that he was totally sucked into her words without even trying to resist it. Olaf just chuckled as she started to talk about the few names of her gods but what he did like was that it was a country led by the gods while she was a link between god and mortals.

" My how interest Mandisa sounds like maybe I have to visit it sometime in the near future, or we could just travel together when your visit comes to an end here in the north" Olaf said while lauhin as he had already had a little to much mead for his own good. Kurt just sighed as he saw his brother in this state while the jarls just shake their heads from this, until Hod spoke up " Sorry for our high kings manners he has already had to much to drink already it seems " He said as olaf just looked at hod with a not believed look and a raised eye brown " No I haven't. How can I get drunk when I got such a cute girl by my side." He said as he loved how she started to stutter making her look cute in his eyes but mostly because of the mead he had drained into his system.

[Opposition]

Katelyn's eyes lit up as he told her he was interested and may want to visit Mandisa. Maybe the gods could show Olaf a sign that they were there when they were in the desert. She too had started to drink more than normal, even for her. The weather change had also changed her eating habits, she started to get a little bubbly and buzzed off all the wine. She tried to make it unnoticeable, but it got to a certain point where she forgot about hiding it.

"You do not need to apologize. I respect your lifestyle, please do not let me change how you would act." She said as Olaf spoke up. Her already rosy cheeks started to emerge with a red blush as Olaf called her cute. She didn't know what to say at first, and resorted to averting her eyes, taking another sip of her drink to stop her from having to speak. She stayed silent for a while after that. It seemed as though the buzz was getting to her and she was beginning to become intoxicated. Katelyn, not wanting to break traditions of the Great Hunt festival did not mind and continued celebrating. The only thing that put her off was the pork the others were eating. Pig was a symbol of the god of evil in Mandisan religion. Occassionally she glanced up at Kurt, wondering why he stayed so silent the whole time, almost wanting to speak up again.

Katelyn then noticed that Kurt was not drinking very much. She felt he was trying to drink in moderation or something, so she figured she would also try to stop. Katelyn slid her glass away from the table, trying to do it subtly not to offend the other men. As she did show she smiled at Kurt, still quite buzzed off the high alcohol content in their wine. Wine in Mandisa was made for drinking normally so it did not have much alcohol content. Her eyes grew wide as Olaf mentioned marriage. She had a brief conversation with her advisors about it, but they never really explained how it would happen, just that after marriage the woman belongs to the man and vice versa. She almost spoke up but her intoxication got the better of her. She was doing a good job trying to hide it.

[Laggia]

Olaf just continued to talk and talk to the jarls about how much he loved them and that he saw them as the best people he knew, while ke kissed the forehead on Kurt that just became even more red on his face as he never really hopped that a girl saw that but Katelyn was in the room after all so she would clearly see it. Putting his hands on his face to shove it away he started to eat more pork and some of his vegetables. The three jarls had started to drink also draining their mugs while feeling the slowly intxotication happening. Olaf at this point were already intoxicated to the brink as he just woblyed in his chair as he looked towards Katelyn as she spoke that they couldn't change their customs while she was there. Which just made Olaf happy to have such a nice foreigner here that not only respected their religion but even how they lived up in the north. "Kurt ya gonna be the High king if ya ol brother kicks the bucket early if Hel decides to take me to the underworld " He said out loud as he took his mug up into the air with a smile on his lips

Kurt was just sighing at this point, not wanting to join in with the drinking and certainly not wanting to join in with his drunken brother when he was in this state. He didn't like to see his brother drunk as it ruined his view of his normally perfect and cool brother in his eyes. He met katelyns eyes a few times as he had noticed she was glancing over to him, which made him wonder why though but his thoughts got interrupted as olaf began to speak" Ya know mah jarls Ah gonna marry our cute little guest under Sjôfn!" The jarls just sighed as they shake their heads by what olaf just said. . . Marrying Katelyn under the goddess of love.

Olaf had calmed down a little as Hod had left the dinner table to go to sleep since he had to travel back to ribbe tomorrow. Jorgen and Hodor was just laughing at their own silly jokes while olaf just pat Kurts head " Ya know Katelyn how about i tell a maid to make a room ready for you to sleep in, wit the night slowly closing in. " He said as he slowly made his body stand up while cearly showing he was drunk with him not being able to stand right.

Walking towards the door he found a maid just walking through the throne room to go to her own room but got interrupted by Olaf " Hey you there prepare a room for our guest" He said in his drunken manner as he just faced the young Pharaoh again with a smile. Walking over to her and standing behind her he just chuckles he for the first time pat her head a little for him to at least get a guess of how soft her hair really is. " Say Katelyn did ya advisors inform ya about anything why you were visiting the north?" He asked as despite being intoxicated he could still think a little but not that much with most of his brain numb from the mead. Hodor and Jorgen slowly stood up and walked out together with Kurt that just stood by the side of Katelyn. " It was a pleasure meeting you young Pharaoh." He said as he bowed before dashing out of the room, leaving only the two of em behind which olaf would be using to his advantage
-----------------------

Olaf was sitting on his throne and sighing as he was listening to Jorgen and his complains of how Olaf was taxing the people that it wasn't efficent enough. Thank the gods for Olaf it soon ended with two guards entering the throne room and walked up to olaf " My lord theres a women that requrests your present." Olaf just sighed again. " Bring her in" The guards nod and walked back to the gate of the city in a matter of twenty minutes and opened the gates for her to get inside

[TheSecret]

Zhen Ji was runnig out of patience, hitting her heels againts the floor quickly until the gates opened and she had free access to meet Olaf.
Once inside she walked up to him sowly making the sound her heels produced be heard throught the room
"I am Zhen Ji Xiang, Queen of Rondorio, I am sorry I came without sending a messenger first" she said whith a voice similiar to the one she used to command her soldiers

[booksmusicanime]

Aurora paced around her room. They had buried her parents several hours ago and the advisers were forcing her to move the coronation to the next day. "Things are going to fast." She mumbled to herself as she sat down at her small table which was now covered with papers.

[Opposition]

Katelyn had started to get intoxicated to the point of unconsciousness. She swayed a bit as everyone stood up from the table, but soon she did the same. Her legs were noticeably wobbly as she walked. She didn't really understand Olaf as he told her about her room, but it clicked after a few seconds. "O-okay Sir Olaf." Katelyn watched with her slightly puffy and red eyes as Olaf walked to the maid and spoke to her. She didn't hear what he said to her. She just watched as he then slowly walked back to her.

Katelyn closed her eyes and smiled cutely as he patted her head. It stabilized her weak legs for a moment and felt good. He then asked if she was told why she was there. "Th-they didn't tell me much. Other than I... am here to improve relations and meet my allies..." She smiled at him as she explains. "I am having a fun time so far!" Katelyn's words were slightly slurring now. She curtsied on her wobbly legs as Kurt bows and scurries out.

Katelyn shook a little bit, stabilzing herself as Olaf puts his hands on her shouldlers. She seems confused, not fully understanding the brevity of the situation. "Whaa- I have to... marry you?" Her tone was very mellow from her intoxication, but it was easy to tell was surprised.Katelyn looks up at him cutely, seeming dazed as he explains. Olaf moved himself closer to her which almost made her see through the confusion.

"Why would they want me to get married? Shouldn't my parents have decided?" Katelyn doesn't seem to understand how marriage works. She assumed she got to have a say and that it happened when she wanted it to. When Olaf said her advisors just wanted to marry her off she seemed angry and pouted for a moment, but as Olaf reached for her cheek, her already rosy cheeks turned a brighter shade of red.

[Laggia]

Olaf just chuckled at how she was reacting to all of this sudden assault from him which was even more admusing then he had thought it would be. Of course he had plans with this little girls country that's for sure he wanted her land our his own realm, to try and put the first foundation of his grand plan that he would surely with luck and carefully planning surely be able to achieve, while the wonderful thing is that if this little treat will be obedient she would surely ripe the rewards as well. " Sorry young Pharaoh but marriage doesn't work like that. Think about it you can make sure that your people will become even stronger than before, with the vast iron ore supply I'm sure the smithies in the south can surely make weapons that will be better than anything you have seen. We will be able to focus our cultures together, while our faiths will also be fused together for the people"

Olaf just chuckled again true he wanted her to be his for him to finally put the first foundation for his plan but also to have an exotic women as his own, to brag and talk about how he had united two countries into one with a marriage that really would be unheard off if he was totally devoted to the northern gods but he saw the bigger picture and didn't want the gods to hinder him in his grand plan" What I mean with I want you, is to again as I said to unite our countries into one nation. Think about it my little flower to unite our nations would mean it is more stable with its military might and is financial secure "

He just had a big shady smile as he spoke to her about it lowering himself to her heights while still having his hand on her cheek that just was red like a tomato from south he had heard about he even came closer with his head towards her as he looked into her eyes " So what better way then to form an strong bound with marriage between our two people " He said as he slowly kissed her cheek. In his eyes she was still a child but he really didn't care as he wanted his grand plan to be put to place within his life time.

---

Olaf was just tired of hearing nobles and peasants complaining about little things but thanks god the women that wanted to talk to him gave I'm an excuse to send this pest noblemen away. After the noble had left and the women that wanted to talk with him entered the room, making it sure she was wearing heels that echoed through the stone carved palace. As she got closer towards the throne he just awaited for her to present herself until he rose his eyes as he was having the pleasure to see the queen of Rondorio. " Well the fact you didn't send any messenger meant it was important of some sort, or you just like to travel. " Olaf replayed as he didn't like the tone she was using when talking to him but then again she was the same status as his so he let it slide " What business do you have with me Queen of Rondorio"

[TheSecret]

"I just thougt that instead of sending a messenger I should personaly tell you that Rondorio has no longer intencion of keeping a commercial relationship with Valhashika" She said with the same serious voice as before, her sword in front of her with both hands on the handle.
Just after speaking Zhen noticed a young girl, her aura was much different from the people of Valhashika. "Perphaps another outsider?" She thought looking at Katelyn

[Opposition]

Katelyn seemed a bit lost and depressed when he told her it didn't work like that. She figured she was stuck marrying him no matter how much she protested. After he started talking about iron she mumbled to her self. "The metal of heavens..." He was true that the iron would help strengthen their military. In a class, Katelyn learned a bit about metallurgy. They used bronze in Mandisa which was a step below raw iron. She thought about the fusion of cultures and faiths after that. "But would the gods be mad?"

She was very scared at the thought of the gods abandoning her. They were all she had left. "Ra could even stop raising the sun in his boat! The floods would stop and Chaos Serpent Apep would escape and hurt us!" Katelyn, still intoxicated, was genuinely scared as she spoke. She felt without her deities, she was nothing. Katelyn didn't really understand economics very well. She figured that with all the gold she had, they would be fine forever. She knew her military was strong, but not the strongest so she always tried to make allies. Katelyn's main worry was that if she united into one nation, what would the Mandisans think, and what would the gods think? Olaf then lightly kissed her cheek. Her intoxication got the better of her and she was unable to react. Katelyn just went wide eyed and let him, unknowing of how to stop him.

---

present:
Katelyn rushed the door as Zhen came in, trying to escape the guards and get outside. She struggled from the grasp of the man that had been holding her. "Let me go you scum of Set!" She was unable to escape but intended on making a scene. She scowled at Zhen and Olaf as they stared at her, noticing her.

[Laggia]

Olaf just sighed he got the full lecture of her clinging to er gods like some devoted priests or what ever they were called in the south-west. He just shake his head taking both his hands on her cheeks with a smile " No the gods won't be mad because we never will stop believing in them.You seem to misunderstand what I said little one I meant as in unite our faith to make an tolerance line where two faiths can live along each other in peace without zealots revolts erupting " The high king then stood up and looked down upon Katelyn for a little the sheer beauty she possessed would indeed make her an good High queen and if his plan was a success he would surely have to call her empress. " Again little one the won't be any Ragnarok or for you to understand end of all time " Bowing down again he just took his hands on her shoulders again with a dunked smile, while racking of mead

Olaf really did the color of Katelyns hair the sheer blueness of hers was like the ocean that the sun was signing on. " So young pharaoh let me hear what you have to say, do you still believe that the end of time will come if we make it so that the two faiths can be tolerance together ?" He asked as he starched his back from some sweat peeling down from his back.

Kurt had trouble sleeping as he couldn't hear his brothers snoring so he decided to see where he was at. Arriving within the throne room he could tell that the dinner room door was a little open as he came closer towards it he could hear the things his brother and the young Pharaoh was talking about. The thought about uniting the faiths was totally unheard of. But when he wanted to open the door and rush into the room to slap his brother for even suggesting that he told what he meant and just stood there again silent and listen.

---

"Well now that is sadden news indeed. Merchants must now pass the dangerous mountains to trade in the south. Perhaps we can arrange a deal of some sort to allow Vaihashikaen merchants to pass some form of special route?" Olaf said as he formed his hands together and put them on his stomach as he heard struggling sounds. " Well good day to you too. Don't mind her. " He said as he looked at Katelyn quite angry too. " Guards put her back into the dungeon again and bring her some warm clothes this time " He said to the guards.

[TheSecret]

"Scum of Set" Those words confirmed what Zhen thougth: the girl was not from Vaihashika but from Mandisa, it was the only kingdom with a god called Set.
"My apologies but from now on Rondorio shall only have deals with Mandisa which territory, citizens and even Pharaoh will be under direct guard of Rondorio"
Zhen said not changing the tone of her voice, she then looked at the guards that were grabbing Katelyn "Anyone who dares to touch the Paraoh shall be burnt to ashes"

[Doctor Wizard]

Duskar was being taken to Mandisia in a carriage guared be 7 warriors heavly armed and arrives at the front gates confronted by the guards

[Opposition]

Katelyn growled for a moment but then looked at Zhen with surprise. It seemed this lady knew her and wanted to help and protect her. Katelyn smiled at Zhen then put a determined look on her face. She was still struggling with the guards as she looked at Olaf. "Let me go Olaf!" She continued to twist and turn trying to break the guards grasp. "Hail Mandisa, kill Valhalshika!" She tried to hold her ground, trying to not allow the guards to take her back to the dungeon. "Don't send me back there! Fight me you scum!" Katelyn barred her teeth, looking on at Olaf with disgust and anger.

---

Duskar was stopped at the front gate of Helion, the Royal Guard approaching his caravan. He was told to turn back now. Mandisa was currently under lockdown and remained isolated, allowing no one in or out. A few members of the Royal Guard noticed the heavily armed guards and prepared for a skirmish. Some slingers took to the walls, while other armed guards stood behind the gate with spears and khopeshes. They seemed ready to defend the capital at all costs.

[Laggia]

Olaf just sighed as he stroke his beard a few times before standing up to look down upon the queen of Rondorio with half closed eyes. " I am sorry but I can't do that you see she is a prisoner of war after attempting to assassinate me with a small golden dagger. You are welcome to see the stab wound if you don't believe me but the answer is still no even if you try and threaten us with that pitifully excuse of a thread. Now begone from my kingdom if you have no more business within my country." Olaf said as he took his hand up to tell the guard to shut her up, which ended in the guard giving her a fist into the stomach quite hard, trying to shut her up.

[Slendy]

Toby yawned as he awaken from his nap.
He gripped his axes and grinned. "Looks like the perfect time to try these out." He says rolling off his bed in looking at the snow through one of his windows. He got dressed and ran out the castle towards a near by forest to train his axes on the trees.
"This should be far enough." He thought to himself. He swung his right axe into a tree followed by the left cutting deep into the wood. He did this repeatedly as he talked to himself.
"I guess being married isn't so bad. Its just them expecting me to have offspring is what's crazy." He swings hard cutting the tree down. "Who would even marry someone like me." He thinks walking to another tree and continued to slash at it." Hmmm maybe Zhen , but the last guy to ask for her hand...... I cant even remember what happened to him." He lodges both of the axes into the tree and let them go so they'll be stuck there. " What about that new Pharaoh girl of Mandisa?" He asked himself. "She did seem cute and nice ,but from what her appearance tells me she's not old enough for what the advisors have in plan." He grabs his axes and heads back to his kingdom." I guess I'm gonna have to search the continent for my bride to be.

[Bresn]

A group of hundreds marched in the Soaria countryside, fully armed and in a combat formation. They were the reinforcements for Soaria's Northern side, for the new act has increased the army population to over ten thousand. Jason looked at the group proudly from his high vantage point, currently standing on one of the many smalls walls in the border of Soaria - Solstice, which had maintained a neutral relationship for years.

"I'm dying for combat." Jason said, his generals off to the side quietly listening as he went on and on...

[Slendy]

As Toby walked towards his castle a soldier ran up to him and begged for his attention.
"My lord!" The soldier shouted running and dropping to his knee in front of Toby.
"What is it?"
"There is possible readings of an army near the city Huron. What are you plans?"
Toby signaled the soldier to follow him.
"Tell the advisors about this and tell them I'm gonna go handle this alone." He ran into the castle and saddled up his horse.
"The ride to Huron is about 5 hours so I'll be back as soon as I can!" Toby horse dashed towards the exit of Catalyst south towards Huron.

(If you don't mind time skip 5 hours)

Toby galloped in front of the large force. " I am a Sir Toby Ellison of Solstice I would like to speak with the man or woman in charge of this reconnaissance.