The Holy Titious Empire - HeartImperium - City of Titoñn - Year: 23,478 AC - Month: 25th 07
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The heavy oaken door creaks open, admitting a warm shaft of afternoon light into the dim, cavernous chamber of the War Hall. It is a fortress of stone and iron, it's walls lined with maps, battle standards, and trophies from campaigns past. The scent of aged parchment mingles with the faint tang of burning cedar from the hearth, where a recently quenched fire smokes.
At the heart of this cavernous chamber stands Dorran Godbourne, Lord of War of Titious. He wears a finely tailored doublet of deep crimson velvet, it's fabric rich and soft, embroidered with subtle gold thread that traces the emblem of his house (A tall maiden holding a hammer in her right hand and a feather in her left) across the chest and cuffs. His trousers are of dark wool, fitted yet comfortable, tucked neatly into polished leather boots that gleam at the shine of the afternoon sun pouring in from the opened door. Around his neck hangs a delicate chain of silver, from which a signet bearing his family crest swings gently. His hands, bare but for a ring set with a single sapphire, rest calmly at his sides.
Standing barely an arm's length from him is a young man in his late twenties. He's tall with a striking resemblance to the war lord. His dark hair is held in a ponytail, as broad shoulders fill the leather and chainmail of his battle-worn armour. His eyes—cold, calculating, and fierce—survey the prince and baron as they enter.
Guards outside close the door returning the room to it's dim origins.
"Lord Godbourne," Deltmire intones, voice steady but respectful, "I am beset with joy that we meet again, barely three weeks have passed. I'm pleased that our declaration of urgency is not wasted on you". Deltmire stops with a joyful grin.
"Please, it is not of my doing but rather that of his grace, Prince Borrad. I'm sure both your stays in the capital have been... Adventurous" he finishes with a wicked smirk that sends red up the Evarlars faces.
"Where are the chairs?" Lucas asks.
"There are none." Answers the tall knight.
"Indeed, the customs of our empire. "To remain seated in war is to offer oneself as a target; better to be a restless wave than a fixed stone." A quote said by Prince Borrad, right before he had all the chairs in this room removed."
"Your prince sounds like a hard man." Comments Deltmire.
"He's a great man." The knight says sharply.
Dorran clears his throat "In any case let us get to the matter at hand. I apologise for the swift summons but I had not predicted that the battles north of the empire against the ice raiders would end so soon..."
"Of course it would..." The young knight interrupts, his voice is deep and bold. "Led by the Ashlord there could be only one swift outcome."
"Yes... And who the fuck are you, ser?" The prince snaps, enraged.
"Pardon me," Dorran apologies "This is my eldest son and heir: SerEldric. He will be leading his and your men to Gloran".
"Gloran?" Baron Lucas says, stunned.
"Yes, that is why I have summoned you here today. You will depart on the morrow, but today I must instill the plans for the alliance and our now mutual enemy".
Dorran gestures to the ginormous map sprawled across the massive war table. It's a detailed mapping of the entire continent.
"Let us speak plainly of the campaign" Dorran says. "The prince is not bought by your beliefs of the weight of your word, he demands a pact be made to bind you to that word before anything can commence".
"That will not be a problem " answers Deltmire.
"Good, my retainer will see the pact drawn and brought to you to sign before day's end. Now, regarding the force that will march into your kingdom; the prince believes a generous amount of a hundred thousand will suffice".
Both the Evarlar's eyes glimmer at the mention of the number.
"The army, as I've said before will assemble at Gloran, the ancient seat of House Clorgan. I'm sure you've heard of them".
" 'Honour as deep as seas' " Baron Lucas quotes the family's words. Affirming that they have indeed heard of them.
Dorran sips water from a cup kept left of him then continues. "Splendid, the Clorgans for centuries have been sea folk, their fleets makes up a tenth of the empire's navy. Which is a strength that will be more than capable to move the hundred thousand man army to Flabbasport.You will not just be departing with Eldric, but also with the head of the main household: Ethan Clorgan. Using the Larth Roads" he traces a finger across the map "It will be a direct path to thecountryofGloran, then to the great city of the same name and the main seat of the Clorgans Gloran Castle."
"You'd think their forebears would've had more imagination when naming their lands. Pffft, the fools." Ser Eldric's comment is met with a squint from the prince, a slight chuckle from the baron, and is completely ignored by his father.
Dorran continues "There, you will join with the Clorgan fleets—swift and formidable—and sail to Flabbasport. Haste should be your priority, prince Evarlar. For the king has engaged the mountainmen in open battle, and he's loosing".
"What!" Deltmire says shocked. "My father is loosing?. When I departed Botletor arrangements to summon the great lords of Vor'ros were being made. You tell me that the full might of my kingdom is... Loosing?!, to savages?!."
"Indeed, that is what I'm telling you. My informants have sent me dozens of teleports. It's not the savages besting your sire but a dragon."
"Impossible." The Baron says. "The Dragonlords would not ally themselves with..."
"Not the Dragonlords, my informants in the states assure me that the warflame has not been ignited."
The prince slams two hands on the war table "And how trustworthy are these informants. The Dragonlords monopolized Dragon power, if not them, then who!?"
"I do not know. It's an unknown variable, but with the preparations that will soon be underway, woe to the dragon." He finishes with a smirk.
"All these are beside the point" says Ser Eldric, "There's war to be fought, there's a dragon?, so fucking what. Steel yourselves Vor'rossi. There's savages to slaughter."