Chapter 7: Confrontation

Written by @Blazinghand and edited by @swwu

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Ardavan III

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Siwen V

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Spoiler: rolls Ardavan to act diplomatically in response to a religious statement.

Ardavan’s Diplomacy (Moderate): 11

3d6 = 13, Failure by 2.

Spoiler: rolls Siwen to rescue the diplomatic situation and get the upper hand vs Leila to do the same. Danush to assist, if possible.

Siwen’s Diplomacy (Hard): 19 - 4 = 15

3d6 = 8, Success by 7



Danush Diplomacy (Hard): 15 - 4 = 11

3d6 = 6, Success by 5 (Ignored because Siwen’s success greater)



Leila’s Diplomacy (Hard): 18 - 4 = 14

3d6 = 11, Success by 3





Siwen to make a proposal of subjugation.

Siwen’s Diplomacy (Herculean): 19 - 12 = 7

3d6 = 18, Failure by 11

Kavos to assist, if possible.

Kavos’ Diplomacy (Herculean): 16 - 12 = 4

3d6 = 9, Failure by 5



Hoshfarn III

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Sir Ardavan Ashakaya, commander of the Starry Legion, surveyed the field as the noontime sun moved behind another bank of clouds. He adjusted his shield straps carefully as he took in the grassy field before them. Four mounted figures stood in the center of the field, displaying the flag of parley alongside Leila Roshandade’s flag of a starry sky on a field of red and blue. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn’t see where a trap might lay; this was likely a true attempt at resolving things diplomatically.The discussion of who should go was eventually settled by the Queen. When consulted, Ardavan had argued strenuously for the three strong warriors to accompany Siwen. Siwen’s delegation was to be four to match Leila’s four. Beside Ardavan, Arch-magister Danush Solanzin consulted quietly with the Queen, and on his other side, Lord Mayor Kavos Ustad shifted nervously in his saddle. The old man had little to worry about, in truth. Whatever travesties against the law the false Empress had endorsed, she would likely not wish to be known as a truce-breaker. Not with all the Royal Army and likely half the city watching from those walls. Furthermore, the Gods watched over Ardavan and his holy mission, so failure was not possible. Still, Ardavan couldn’t help but analyze the possibilities for ambush. After all, did not the Gods command men to do good in their name, and achieve wonders for themselves?Zastan, the Holy City, was built hundreds of years ago during the reign of the Empire. Over the course of decades, it (and its impregnable walls) grew where the Baradon River flowed into Zastan Bay. It was thought, in those days, that Zastan would make an ideal port city. The Zastan Bay was placid and safe, and though The Maw was rocky, it was at least navigable, thanks to the wonders available to the Aveirian Empire. The winds themselves were calmed and the currents calmed, and trade flourished. After the fall, however, the only entrance to Zastan Bay became almost impassable. Without the magics of the Aveirian Empire to calm the turbulent waters and winds, only small, lightly-loaded boats could pass through Icitha with ease.Even so, Zastan had grown, and remained the capital of Argonath. The Gods would not have it any other way. Where most of Argonath’s soil was rocky and made for poor farming, the plains of Lower Baradon were fertile, especially around the Baradon River and its tributary, the Silk River. The grasslands that stretched to the east and northwest made for good grazing land, and timber could be easily floated down the Baradon River. Though The Maw stifled much of the sea trade Zastan benefited from, goods still made their way to capital from her duchies by road and from foreign lands by the port at Alonia. Trade had done her well, and so Zastan now had a population pushing, at last census, 75,000 souls. She had long overgrown her walls, with several neighborhoods, called faubourgs, spilling over into the fields beyond.One such neighborhood came nearly within a mile of the field of parley. Though a mile was a long distance, Ardavan swept his eyes over the seemingly-abandoned buildings suspiciously. The usurper had drawn her citizens inside the walls days earlier as the Royal Army approached, but it would not be too difficult to hide soldiers there, waiting to spring a trap. Still, even a fast horse with a capable rider would take a few minutes to cross that gap. The Queen would have plenty of time to ride back to her lines in case of an ambush. The absence of terrain in which the enemy might lay traps was a good omen; the Gods favored Queen Siwen.At last, Siwen nodded to Danush, and turned to address the group. “There’s a certain tension in the air, isn’t there?” she observed. “It has been two and a half years since I’ve been here. Two and a half years since the Queen on the Blood Throne has been on the Blood throne. Two and a half years since my cousin dared to defy me.”She straightened her surcoat, and Ardavan couldn’t help but notice the presence of the bulky mail armor she so rarely wore. A sign of wariness, perhaps?“Today, it ends.” She grinned. “Or so we pray. She’d not be meeting for terms unless she felt threatened by this army. Although our best estimated placed her at having 8,000 men loyal to her, it is possible we overestimated, or she has since lost hold on some of her army.”“Do you know what terms she might offer?” asked Lord Mayor Ustad. “Surely you won’t accept a white peace, Your Grace?”“I’ll accept what I choose to accept,” Siwen replied flippantly. After a moment’s pause, she added, “but you’re right. Leila Roshandade will never be my equal under any peace. For her crimes, there must be punishment. There is no other way.”The elderly Lord Mayor nodded and grinned. “You are right as ever, Your Grace.”“Thank you for your advice so far, Kavos. Should anything else come to mind during the parley, please let me know—discreetly, of course—as soon as possible. I value your input.”“Of course, Your Grace. I am ever at your service.”Ardavan grimaced beneath his helm, scowling at the simpering old man. Lord Mayor Kavos Ustad was a slimy, disreputable puke of a human being, forever grovelling for scraps. Kavos Ustad was a man without honor, without chivalry, without piety. No chests of gold he brought before the Queen could buy himself the blessings of the Gods! Though Ustad’s coffers and his dealings with the mercenaries were undoubtedly valuable, he was an ally to be tolerated, not a comrade to be celebrated.Ardavan schooled himself as the Queen turned her gaze towards him.“Sir Ardavan, I chose you to come with me due to your realm-renowned honor—” did he hear Lord Mayor Ustad snort just now? “—and your skill at arms. I entrust my safety into your hands. Be watchful and vigilant. I expect no less from the commander of the Starrly Legion. If anything goes wrong, do what you think is best to protect my safety and honor.”“Yes, Your Grace.” Though Ardavan’s words were formal, and he already knew his role, hearing Queen Siwen say the words was empowering. The Gods surely smiled upon him, to bless him with such an opportunity to serve his Queen.Siwen cast her gaze over the group one last time before turning to face the field. “Very well,” she said. “We ride.”With that, the four riders departed. Siwen led them as they rode through the camp, with its tents and its cookfires. She rode past the columns of the royal army assembling for battle. She rode past the earthworks and fortifications built to defend the camp. Then, she led them out across the abandoned fields between the siege lines and the city, to speak terms with the monarch who had spent the better part of the last three years trying to kill her.The late autumn breeze gusted coolly across the path of Siwen II Solanzin, Queen on the Blood Throne and rightful diarch of Argonath. The ride had been short enough; the horses made good time on the flat ground of Zastan’s farmlands. She pulled her horse to a halt a few feet in front of Leila’s party, and sized them up. Siwen immediately recognized two of Leila’s fellows. Holding Leila’s banner at her right was Duke Manuborze Lade of Atholide. The young man ruled the Silklands and would normally by law owe fealty to Siwen. His appearance at the pretender’s side was tacit acceptance of her claim on the Blood Throne. Leila was further joined by was her maternal aunt, Kiana Roshandade, as well as a knight with heraldry Siwen did not recognize: a chalice on a field of orange and black.Siwen thought.Siwen’s companions drew up alongside her as she spoke. “Cousin Leila,” she began, her voice clipped, “I come under the banner of parley to treat with you. I accept the commencement of negotiations.”The pretender smiled, and raised her arms in an open gesture, revealing unarmored sleeves. “Cousin Siwen, I come under the banner of parley to treat with you. I accept the commencement of negotiations.”The words were said, and so it was done. Siwen wanted to speak, but she knew that speaking first would put her at a disadvantage. Leila had called this meeting; she had made herself vulnerable, politically, by doing so. It was clear the false Empress wantedout of this, and Siwen would have a better idea of what exactly that was if she spoke carefully.Moments passed, and finally, Leila spoke. “It has been some time since I last saw you, Cousin. When last we spoke, over two years ago, we parted on bad terms.”“So we did,” replied Siwen. She neglected to bring up the cause for bad terms; Leila’s usurpation was the topic at hand regardless.“Now you come to my city with an army,” continued Leila. Siwen bristled.city? Leila continued, unknowing or uncaring. “An army I cannot ignore. My scouts said you wouldn’t have more than four thousand men, but looking at the force you have assembled, you have more than double that, don’t you?”“I do,” admitted Siwen. Time to lay some cards on the table. “And I have the loyalty of Lower Baradon behind me. I can raise more armies than you could hope to, Leila. Especially if you stay hidden behind Zastan’s walls.”“You speak truly,” replied Leila. “Even if I had the forces to fight you now, unless my victory were utterly decisive, you might recruit another army. I also I suspect that in a protracted siege, you might eventually even take this city. However, I think there is a better way. There is no need for us to fight, you and I.”“So, you’ve come to offer your surrender?” asked Siwen. However unlikely it was, the question needed to be asked.“You never really understood why I did it, did you,” mused Leila. “You probably think that this war was only about my personal ambition, my desire to take two crowns for myself. Is that what you think? ...yes, of course it is. You’re just another small-minded ruler who can’t see beyond the present. There’s a big picture here, and it should be obvious.”Siwen gave the pretender an incredulous look. What could possibly cause her to ramble on like that?“Tell me, Siwen, what would you do if I surrendered unconditionally right now?” asked Leila.Siwen smiled. “Simple enough. The Blood Throne is mine. You abdicate your seat on the Starry Throne. There would be a problem of succession to work out, of course. Alternatively, we’d reorganize the titles so—”Leila laughed, a deep bellowing laugh, unseemly coming from one of such high birth as herself. She recollected herself after a moment. “That’s just the problem, isn’t it? You’re thinking too small, Siwen! You would recreate the same problem that has plagued Argonath for generations!” She grinned widely, and Duke Manuborze Lade shifted uncomfortably at her side. “The Diarchy is fundamentally broken and weak, dear cousin. Religious power in one diarch, and secular power in another? It has only ever led to internal struggles and inability to project our power beyond our borders.”“That’s obviously false,” replied Siwen, thinking back to her education. “Under a monarchical system, which you attempted to institute, all the top-level rulers—that is to say, just the single monarch—have succession simultaneously. This is inherently unstable and leads to succession crises due to the lack of institutional and legal continuity between governments. Did you never pay attention during Grandmother’s history lessons?”Leila snorted. “Oh, Grandmother Yasmana knew which side her bread was buttered on, that’s for sure. She was part of the system as much as you or I was. Argonath has become shiftless. Our borders haven’t changed significantly in over a hundred years. We should be conquering the Minarian barbarians to the east, assimilating the Avarian League members to the west, and reclaiming Bavandia to the north! Instead, every generation leaves Argonath diminished. We are the last nation that worships the true gods, and we are stagnant. Unless we can grow, the true gods and their light will fade from this world. It is our duty—”Ardavan shifted angrily as Leila continued her tirade, and finally spoke out. “Blasphemer!” he cried, gesturing angrily with his free hand. “You would pin your treason on the gods? You would soil their honor with your words!? You are a false prophet and will burn in four hells! ”Ardavan almost reached for his sword before remembering the circumstances around him. He froze as a tense silence grew between the two diplomatic parties. The knight with the chalice sigil stiffened up, his hand resting on the pommel of his blade. “You’re surely not one to speak of honor, Ardavan Ashakaya.”The situation was in danger of spiraling out of control. Siwen gestured back with her hand, and Ardavan stayed silent at the insult. She kept her eyes on Leila, and spoke clearly. “Let’s focus on the matter at hand. You wanted to undo the Argonathi diarchy and reshape it in your image, as a monarchist government. I understand you claim to have reasons for that beyond your personal avarice.” Siwen paused for a moment, and saw that eyes were on her rather than Ardavan.she thought.“Supposing that this is true, I can offer a solution that would make both of us happy. If you surrender now without a fight, I offer you the following. First, you will relinquish your seat and claim on the Blood Throne. Second, the Starry Throne will be now and forevermore a vassal of the Blood Throne, as the Starry Throne shall be a Queenly title, and I will sit on the Blood Throne as the Empress of Argonath.” Siwen grinned viciously at the look of shock from her counterpart. Leila’s mouth hung open as Siwen continued with her strident proposal. “Sounds good, doesn’t it? A unified monarchy, and I get my throne back. We both win. Unless, of course, you didn’t speak truly when you spoke of your vision for a monarchy?”Leila snapped her mouth shut, then spat out, “You don’t have the ability to run a realm on your own, cousin. Only I am capable of it. You, you’re too uneducated, too crass to understand!”“Of course,” Siwen continued in a lilting voice, “I could just take the throne from you with my army. I have the men for it, and the food, and you have to keep that whole city fed, don’t you? No trade, no last harvest, and few boats this time of year. How long do you think you will last until the city folk turn against you?” Leila’s face grew redder and redder with each word. Siwen put a finger to her chin delicately. “Oh, I don’t think you’ll last long at all, not when Queen Siwen is just outside the gates with all the food your peasantry could want. The Queen of Famine, they’ll call you. I can just see it now!”“I—I refuse those terms!” snapped Leila, having finally found her voice. “It is undignified to even suggest I would ever swear fealty to you! I was learning at our grandmother’s side when you were an infant! I ruled for a decade before you came of age, and under my rule this realm will prosper. You are too young to understand what it means to leave your mark on history as I do, you can’t imagine the burden I shoulder every day. If you wish an end to this war, surrender now and I will grant you the Blood Throne in vassalage to my own title. It is more than you deserve, you cunt!”“Tsk tsk, cousin,” tutted Siwen. She took her finger from her chin and waved it reprovingly. “Surely, Grandmother taught you better manners than that!”Leila growled in frustration. “We’re done here,” she announced. “This is clearly a waste of my time.” She turned her horse and kicked it into a gallop, back towards the western faubourg of Zastan and the walls rising above it. Her escorts quickly followed.Danush turned towards Siwen. “That wasn’t very wise, Your Grace.”Siwen turned her horse back toward friendly lines. “Perhaps, Uncle Dan. Perhaps. Somehow, though, I don’t think she was going to accept any proposal that didn’t put her on top. She had too much pride for anything else.”“Do you think she was right?” asked Kavos. “About monarchy, I mean.”“Let’s discuss somewhere less exposed,” declared Siwen as she kicked her horse into a trot.The command tent was thick with tension as Hoshfarn perused the intelligence documents in front of him. Troop movements, descriptions of troop quality and strength, and sketches of knight raiments covered the sheets of papyrus, drawn in a shaking, squarish hand. This would be the work of a dozen incredible scouts or spies and a capable of spymaster. It made sense; it was probably all correct. Still, something just seemed off about it.“And we’re sure this is accurate, Your Grace?” he asked.“The source is reliable,” she replied. “It is possible there are other troop movements happening elsewhere, or out of sight, but we know this information is accurate.”Hoshfarn frowned. Spying was difficult work, and not in his wheelhouse, but he’d learned enough in his long years as a general to recognize that information like this was rare. He’d spent most of his life operating on educated guesses and limited scouting, not information like this. Queen Siwen’s refusal to explain exactly how she got it was worrying as well. Was it Kavos? Or perhaps Felipe? Who was operating spies in the capital?“It seems to me,” commented Ioseph, “that if Leila is really massing for an attack based out of the the western faubourg, we might be well-positioned to attack her. While her troops muster in those cramped alleys and small plazas we can catch them by surprise. If we enter the faubourg from all sides at once it should be simple enough.”Just like the kid to suggest something so straightforward. Still, Hoshfarn mused, there’s nothing wrong with being straightforward, if you have the power to back up your position.“It’s never that simple,” replied Kurush around a mouthful of food, as was his wont. “They’ll almost certainly see us coming. On top of that, a lot of our army—the Silver Company, specifically—isn’t well-equipped for fighting in such rough, narrow terrain. These bourgs spring up naturally, without planning, so it will be difficult to actually fully rout an army in that terrain. We’d be hindered as much as they are.”Hoshfarn had to admit that Kurush had a point—and he hated admitting that. “Do you have a better suggestion?” Hoshfarn asked. “I don’t think an assault on the walls is a good idea, but I would like to hear another point of view on this.”“Actually, I do,” said Kurush. He paused to swallow and brush oil out of his thick beard. “Look, we all know the Queen has that living spell she can use sometimes, right?” He turned to Siwen, and when she nodded, he continued. “It has helped us before, with fire and brimstone, with creating walls, and with other similar physical feats of magic. Booming voices, lances of lightning, and other minor effects all seem not to drain the spell too badly, as we experienced during numerous sieges on minor castles. How about we really let loose with the living spell? Have it rain fire and brimstone down on the faubourg and tear open Zastan’s walls for us. Even if we use most of its energy, defeating the usurper’s army here and gaining us access to the city would be easily worth it.”Hoshfarn shook his head. “You’re right that the spell is powerful, but I believe it is best kept in reserve. We would be best off setting up a traditional siege and starving the usurper out. We have to feed thousands of men, yes, but we have all the surrounding farmlands to live off of. And Leila? She has to feed tens of thousands of men, and no farmlands to use for supplies. We dig in, lay siege, and force her to come to terms.” He glanced at Siwen, thinking about the breakdown in negotiations a few days earlier. “More favorable terms, that is. If nothing else, eventually, the peasants and her own army will grow hungry and turn against her. Then, the city will be ours. These troop movements in the faubourg are concerning, but manageable. We simply tilt our strength towards the west and prepare for their sallies..”“I’m not so sure,” said Kurush, gesturing with a leg of poultry. “Zastan has never fallen to siege before, and I doubt it will now unless we do something unusual. Other generals in the past thought to lay siege to Zastan, and they all failed. We will only succeed by trying what they did not. If we try to same action, we’ll get the same result, so let’s use our unique tools. We have the living spell; we have this intelligence. I say we strike now while the iron is hot, using both of them in concert.”“Why not attack with our soldiers, see if we can take the rallying troops in the faubourg, and only use the spell if necessary?” asked Ioseph. “It wouldn’t do to overcommit if we can already take down Leila’s forces with minimal losses.”“Not that I agree with Kurush on this one, boy” countered Hoshfarn, “but undercommitting to an attack might be more wasteful than overcommitting in this case. If we fuck up badly—excuse the phrase, Your Grace—but if we fuck up badly with the living spell, we still have our army, and morale won’t be lost. Morale is key here, and we can’t afford to lose it. Not if we want to win a protracted siege.”King-Consort Felipe took this moment to speak up. “I think Ioseph has a point. Why can’t we just use the living spell if things go wrong?Hoshfarn sighed, and got ready for another round of debate with Queen Siwen’s command staff.As you listen in on this discussion of strategy, you realize that you have the Queen’s ear directly, and many of these options involve you in some way or another, especially since (unbeknownst to all but the Queen) the “intelligence source” they’re using is in fact your own magnified, high-altitude scrying.You feel unknowable processes within you driving you, urging you to give advice and guide her in a way to bring victory and glory to The Aveirian Empire.With thousands of men arrayed outside Holy City Zastan, and negotiations failed, it’s time to choose a strategy. Leila and Siwen will not tolerate each other, so war it shall be. The only question is how it shall play out. What will you do?9 months[ ] Advise the Queen to use Hoshfarn Ironhand’s plan: lay a siege around the city and strengthen the western half. Starve the false empress out.-[ ] Additional actions, if any (Write in)[ ] Advise the Queen to use Kurush the Fat of Eruton’s plan: spend 1 mp to attack the mustering army and the wall behind it to create an opening in the defenses.-[ ] Additional actions, if any (Write in)[ ] Advise the Queen to use Ioseph Solanzer’s plan: the Royal Army will attack the mustering army and rely on you for backup if things go wrong.-[ ] Additional actions, if any (Write in)[ ] Other (Write in)Feel free to also write-in an overall plan for what the spirit will do here.Also, thanks to everyone who has written posts letting us know you enjoy the story, debating what to do next, and asking questions. @swwu and I really appreciate them, and it’s really encouraging to see people like it. It is very rewarding as an author to read those.