Kenny1

The Empires of Terra

Although obviously without the guard rails

The Empires of Terra

The Empires of Terra

Here are some pictures of the paths into Xi'an

The Empires of Terra

"Your Majesty, I have news from Lhasa. The earth demons have finished blocking the rivers into Eastern Theos." Announced a proud looking earth general

"Thank you general. Please begin phase two; evacuate the villages between the cities and the border. Burn any food or supplies that can not be taken with them, but leave the buildings standing." Ordered Ling

"What shall I do with the pale humans within some of those villages?" The general asked. The humans he was referring to were refugees who had fled into the Xianese mountains from Theos, and built villages in the few hospitable places it offered. They'd been largely ttolerated for years, so long as they paid taxes and followed the laws. But with the outbreak of war those few thousand humans could prove to be a wild card.

Ling leaned back in his golden throne, pondering this situation. Finally he said "provide them with a simple choice. Either swear loyalty to me using unbreakable magic and become Xianese, or leave them behind with a week's worth of food. Most of those people are apostates so I am sure anyone that stays behind will be killed when their army comes through."

The general bowed politely and left to complete his orders. It would have to be quick, it would only be a month or two before whatever was left of Theo's army came to the gates of Chen or Lhasa.

(Ooc: I hope you don't mind me adding in refugees who fled your country. It seems realistic that at least a few thousand people would flee because they didn't want to convert)

The Empires of Terra

Drikdarok was annoyed. Here he was being ordered around by a former human! And a slave at that, his slave in fact! But in truth he was glad. There was a reason to declare war now, and against Xian too, whom had been unbreakable since the second age. He rode on his long-strider back to Xian. In truth he only had time to stay in Bubgruk for a few days before he got an order from the High Darok. He had complained of course, about how he could just announce it on one of the border cities and they'd deliver the declaration for him, but he supposed that was dishonorable, and Sanukdarok seemed to think so too. So he rode back to Nanking to Deliver a message. It read.

To Ling, Emperor of Xian
The Great Empire of Ocrad officially declares full-scale war on Xian. Know that our army to has demons and we won't be defeated by the likes of you! You thought the Demon Lord was making empty threats? Well then come onto the battlefield against us and see how empty they were!
Sanukdarok

A small note was attached to the bottom, it read.

Ling, I give you one more chance to join me, you and me both know you cannot hold out against my and Theolagius' armies together, so I offer you one more time. Utter the words 'Shedanaran unhzero' and the war will end, I even offer to fight Theolagius on your side. But reject this and I will make sure that we fight personally.

@ThatOneNewGuy

Ling calmly read the letter, as his advisors looked on nervously. Xi'an had been an impenetrable fortress, surrounded by steep and deadly mountains, ever since his ancestors had driven out the orcs three thousand years ago. Between their raw power as demons and natural geography they had not faced any serious challenges in over a thousand years.

"It seems that in our isolation we have backed ourselves into a corner" Ling noted

"Your Majesty Theos stands no chance. It's winter and they are humans, half their army will die before they even get to the first City" interjected one general

A female general followed up "Yes, but by sheer numbers we'll still have a challenge. They outnumber us ten to one even if half their army dies, and they've been stockpiling poison for generations. Enough to at least cripple us enough to make the take over by Ocrad a cake walk"

The emperor rose his hand to silence the debate "we could win either war, but not both. Especially with demons on the opposing side we'd only barely scrape by."

Ling wrote down a message and had it dispatched

'I will agree to an alliance, if you can physically promise that Xi'an and her people remain under my sole authority. Demon and human beings. I do not care about hell and will not oppose you. I am the emperor of Xi'an and the elemental demons, beyond that I will not oppose you or your plans'

Before even a single shot had been fired, Xi'an offered surrender terms. Autonomy and independence in exchange for Xi'an not impeding Ocrad.

The Empires of Terra

He will

The Empires of Terra

There was no need for conscription in Theolagius's military, almost every man and their slave enlisted themself. An army in the millions.
"Forward!" An officer bellowed, spearmen, swordsmen, archers, cavalry... they all moved in unison, even mages rode with the siege equipment behind.

(A week prior)

"Astreiden, come here." a very tired Royal adviser ordered.
"Yes attasivan, what is it."
"I understand that your trip to Orcish lands did not go so well, pity. I have another test, a simple one." Yktrisen took a sip from a ceramic mug, thick wine dripped down his chin.
"Another?"
"Yes, you will go to Xi'an... with the crusaders."
"The crusaders! You want me to go to battle?"
"No, I want you to observe, capture a Xianese heretic, a demon even, interrogate him and find the flaws in their lands."
"How could you find this simple? Speaking with orcs was enough, I could die!"
"I'll pray for you."

(Present)

Astreiden lay in the back of a supply wagon, he shifted uncomfortably.
"Damn, why am I doing this?" He asked no one, an officer, one who accompanied him to Ocrad, rode up beside him.
"Do not worry, boy, you'll be back in your comfy bed before you know it."

@Shmektheshmuck

"Your Majesty, the Theo's have declared war on us. How should we proceed?" Asked an anxious looking general

"Have the earth and water demons damn up the rivers into Theo. The narrow mountain passes make an invasion impractical so we'll have to starve them out" Ling said, referencing the steep passes that made anything wider than a cart impossible to navigate. Probably those passes were the only reason they had stayed out of conflicts this long.

"Humans need water my liege"

"I know that general. The plan is to use their own citizens against them. Daming up those rivers will cause a terrible famine, and in a pinch we can blow up the temporary dams and flood the lowlands" Ling said, confident that even the most insane would drop their invasion if their fresh water was cut off and starvation was possible

The Empires of Terra

"You dishonor me rebel. You presume I am unhappy providing for my people, human and demon." Ling said, allowing his demonic voice to echo the power hidden behind the humanesque body "Yes I seek to strengthen my people, but the cost of your proposal is to great. I can find the secret to bettering humans without forcibly dominating others. That is where we differ you and I. You are great in pride, but I am happy serving my people.

The Empires of Terra

Ling shook his head lightly, as if dissapointed "My friend, a ruler who does not have the consent of his people is but a slave master. You were once a slave, can you not see that humans and demons deserve to be free? Do you wish your miserable former life upon humans and demons of the other clans?"

It was true that there was a shared interest in immortality, but like a mountain he would not bow to the winds of temptation.

The Empires of Terra

"Dominance?" Ling asked "we demons have no right to subjugate humans who have not asked us for their protection. To forcibly conquer an innocent people would be dishonorable."