Krokar grimaces. "It would be difficult diplomacy indeed. Trickery perhaps could work, but we would most likely send a different team based on your feedback from previously. Perhaps this mission ought to wait for another time, after we're better prepared and Heff has had time to gather more intel. We know next to nothing of this particular rune giant."
"That might be wise. Our mission should have clear goals. You mentioned before a briefing about the southern merchants?"
Pazeek doesn't deign to acknowledge the tepid insult aimed his way by Toramin, and even the faintest urge to do so is easily quelled by Krokar's forbidding countenance. Fortunately, he has something to distract himself with, in the form of Krokar's subsequent words. Cocking his head to the side with a clearly puzzled expression, Pazeek responds to Krokar's inital statement with some confusion. "Pardon the momentary change of subject, but I was under the impression that I was in fact a member of your organization, my services having been offered to you by my flock's elders. Partly in payment for your aid against those giants, and partly as a surety of my flock's support in your own struggles until a full alliance is properly in place. Is this not the case?" Leaving that issue for Krokar to sort through, the tengu address his other points.
"As to the giant, if it is a threat to the flocks, then I have a duty to see it dealt with. It is clear enough that the Aestherics have more experience than I do, so I'll follow your lead in handling the matter. Which means that, no, I won't attack it in a mindless fury." He's about to say more, but is cut off--and then rendered speechless--by Toramin's furious interjection. For a time, he says nothing, not even answering his nominal superior's pointed question. He simply stares at Toramin with narrowed eyes and fluffed feathers while Ianna and Krokar converse, then exhales slowly and faces Krokar with both eyes and plumage relaxing to their normal state. "There is no problem between us, Krokar, at least not on my part. While I think I know the reason for his current state, it is no barrier to my working with him when required." Pazeek states quietly. After that, the tengu falls silent while his gaze slides back to rest on Toramin once again.
Krokar nods. "Yes, that's what we had intended on sending you all on next. I'll brief the rest of the council on what we learned today. You all should rest while you can, we'll get you set up with some rooms."
Krokar stares at Pazeek for a moment, then Toramin, then nods. "Alright."
"Yes Pazeek the official position was offered, but we wanted to have a chance for you to see how we work as well as give us a chance to see you in the field before making anything final. As long as you and the majority of the council are agreed, you will gain full status."
"Assuming that happens, and I'm betting it will, would you be alright with waiting a while to come back to this rune giant? We will of course defend the village in the meantime if the necessity arises, but it will be a while until we mount an offensive."
Recognizing that the debriefing no longer required his presence, the Bjorkus doesn't hesitate to stand from the table.
"You know where to find me. If there's a sock wrapped around the door handle... well you'll probably hear us down the hallway already", the big bull says as he excuses himself.
Rilka observes the tension between Pazeek and Toramin with increasing concern. In general, she’s noticed that some competition between people helps bring out their best efforts. Sometimes that competition can go too far. He was fairly confrontational with Akip. She was too. Maybe it’s a tengu trait?
”Describing rune giants that way Toramin is very clear. Two golems? I’m at a bit of a loss for words.” She shakes her head and chuckles. ”Then for the time being, we’ll gather more information on them but instead focus on the looming war to the south. Any change of that situation in the last day or two?”
"Well, I'm pleased that you find my addition to your ranks to be of value, and I hope the remainder of your council does so as well. But for myself," the tengu responds with a faint shrug to Krokar's statement. "There was no choice to be made. My elders ordered my to serve you and, so long as that service does not pose a threat to the safety and security of the tengu, to do so until I die or am released by you." After a bit of thought on the matter, Pazeek decides that that statement merits a bit of explanation from him. "For various reasons from our past, tengu are very reluctant to serve others, even by choice. Partly because, when we do consent to do so, we consider such service to be more than mere employment."
Warbling softly to himself, the swordbird then carefully considers what Krokar asked of him, taking his time to avoid a rash answer. "Well, as I said, I'm ordered to serve, and will thus do as you order. If that means we go south, then we go south. Speaking for myself, now, I'm not having a problem with preparing for this giant in whatever way is required. If nothing else, I can maybe get enough time to cook up some useful little bits of kit that'll hopefully help us out." Waving a talom toward the loaded bandolier slung across his torso, he chuckles. "Not much in the world that doesn't find something in these flasks to be painful, so having some spares to toss about is never wasted effort."
Ianna bows respectfully to the council and follows Bjorkus out the door.
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The party gets a good night of rest and a hearty breakfast in the secret Aestheric base before their meeting with the Hand's Council. All of the council members are present except Drosil, who is attending in the form of a magic image.
"Welcome. We have a lot to cover so let's get started." Heff gestures and a map of Erandor appears. He indicates the nation to the south shown in yellow. "Brumik, the nation of wine and silver. Or swords and silver, depending on who you ask." The image zooms in. "Due to their positioning between all of the other nations, they are the strongest in terms of trade. They control the most important trade routes, and their resources are second only to Xilres."
"As is common knowledge, the merchant class of Brumik is extraordinarily powerful. Less common knowledge is that they have a monopoly on more than just goods: the government there is nothing but a figurehead. The true rulers are the banks and guilds, and gold. Indeed, the merchant class has their own army, although they would never admit it. A collection of mercenaries and sellswords from a thousand different factions, which can be mobilized in unity at the discretion of the ruling merchants. Which they have proven recently."
"'The land of wine and silver, or swords and silver' is a common idea in Brumik. This is because the nation would exist as a strong center of trade alone if it were not for the barbarian tribes that prey upon it from the southern forest and western mountains. Well in the wake of the forests burning due to the mad king Nuro, the merchant class decided to take advantage of its retreating enemy and mobilized its forces. With the barbarian's homes burnt, they had lost the home field advantage and were massacred."
"Well according to our intel, the merchant class liked how good that massacre was for business. Between the spoils of war, newly acquired land, less enemies, and more natural resources, they have acquired a taste for blood and decided to move on to merchants of war. And while defending their borders is one thing, conquest is another. And the citizens of Brumik feel it coming, and they don't want war."
"That is where we come in."
Heff points to five cities on the map. "North Muskegon, South Muskegon, Cypress Island, the Sky Cliffs, and Darien. The most influential cities within Brumik. And the ones where there are seeds of rebellion."
Heff swipes his hand to zoom in on North and South Muskegon. "Two cities with a long blood feud. North Muskegon is ruled by the Mournwhirl family, while South Muskegon is ruled by the Stalesh family. The two cities both were created on river banks near the mountains so they could mine the natural resources and transit them by boat to the rest of Brumik, and by virtue of the mountain threats have both developed into strong fighters. Over generations they have fiercely competed, and after things escalated their families ended up in a blood feud. It is a very thinly veiled and unstable peace. However, despite their disagreements the leaders of the two families both want to avoid war with other nations and have a disdain for the ruling merchant class. We will need to convince them to work together for the good of the nation."
A second swipe and the image moves to southeastern Brumik. "The Sky Cliffs, a city built into the sides of cliffs. Close enough to Eagle Grove that they trade for the monstrous birds of prey to serve as mounts. The only place the actual government has any real power, and also the home of their military might. If Brumik is to stay together, they must see their own soldiers fighting for them."
Another swipe and the image moves to a body of water with a city marked in the center. "Easily the most difficult task. Cypress Island, also known as the floating city. Built for similar reasons to the Muskegon cities, it harvests the natural resources of the massive lake it sits on while facilitating trade through the nation. Isolated from nearly all outside threats due to its positioning, Cypress Island has become a haven of culture, art, and politics. There is much internal controversy in the city, but its inhabitants are also against starting a war. Ruled by a large council. Normally they would quickly and strongly unite against this war...but in the wake of their dissent there have been mysterious deaths. Political leaders and activists pushing against war have been going missing or found dead. We don't know the truth of what's going on yet, but we suspect foul play. This must be dealt with."
"The Muskegon's will give them tradition and lineage. Cypress Island will give them spirit and rebellion. The Sky Cliffs will give them unity and might. With those three factors, Brumik should be set for an uprising against the merchant class."
A final swipe and the image zooms in to the northeastern corner of Brumik. "Darien, the capitol. The largest city in the world, a sprawling metropolis of trade where you can get anything for the right price, and the diversity of people there rivals that of Gesthil. Where the merchant class resides as well as their armies. This is where we will end this mission."
Heff sits, looking around for any questions or comments.
”Pazeek, I grew up in Andril. I’d be pleased to show you the city’s various districts. Restaurants, taverns, markets, and entertainment too. I’ll even help you find some quarters if you’d like.”
Rilka takes notes as Heff gives them a brief lesson on Brumik’s geography and political divisions. When he asks for questions, Rilka glances to make sure she’s not interrupting anyone about to speak, and says, ”How long has the merchant class been ruling from the shadows? I assume it was a gradual seizure of power, but perhaps not. Does preventing the war extend to weakening the merchant class? Would the current head of state be proficient in ruling if the ruling merchants lost power?”
Rilka pauses and taps her pencil on the table’s top. “Do you know what the rational will be given for the hostilities?”
Heff smiles. "Correct, a gradual seize of power. And yes, there will be a weakening of the merchant class. That is intentional. A powerful merchant class is not in it of itself a problem, but it is when they start warmongering. As for the current ruler, we don't have much info on how they would fare since we have never seen them actually rule anything. Supposedly an inwardly drawn man."
"The rational will be the truth, but for the people to believe it and be united we must hit these areas and gain strategic support first."
Dalton had already spoken his bit to Pazeek and would not revisit a quarrel with the avian. Instead, he enjoyed a good night of sleep and a succulent scone the next morning. With tea.
Ah, Heff. All business. How much bluffing or blustering will we hear today?
The information the leader gave seemed accurate though; Dalton, being a shopkeeper, had to keep orders of various supplies coming, and Brumik was a major point of origin for many of them. It did not surprise him entirely the merchant class had such power, though the manner of approach in remedying this status suggested by Heff did.
"Why not let them reap what they sowed? Enough people in the pockets of the dark merchants to hand the government over? Let them go to this war and oppose them on the fields. Once the tides turn against them, the motivation for profit will be extinguished and the direction of investment - if not the power of the investors - will be changed."
Being a centrally-located country, Brumik did not have the luxury of holding one front. Even a simpleton of war like Dalton knew that. The Aestherics were pushing the boundaries of guiding the people in the countries and making their decisions for them.
Clicking his beak absentmindedly, Pazeek eventually gives Rilka a brief nod. "I accept. I didn't get to see much of it before, since the Aestherics weren't keen on letting on me roam about after the effort they made to grab me and get me here from Grastle Hollow." After accepting, he gestures with a talon for his self-appointed guide to lead on as she wills.
Pazeek is perched--metaphorically speaking--on the edge of his seat, dark pupils at their widest as he takes in the map produced by Heff's magic. Listening just as intently, a corner of his mind is also busy digging through what he knows--little enough though that is, he reluctantly acknowledges to himself--of Brumik, and of the portion of that nation occupied by the mutually-antagonistic cities of Muskegon, both of which weren't terribly far from Grastle Hollow and the areas most frequented by the caravan he and his uncle traveled with.
Even so, the preoccupied tengu does note Dalton's question and offers what he considers a plausible reason for intervention. "Oh, I think I know why! Because letting the biggest trading power in the area get mangled in an ugly war against their neighbors is bad for business? Trade routes get chewed up when caravans on them get by taken by soldiers, brigands, or one pretending to be the other. Supplies, especially the stuff everyone needs to just live, get scarce and expensive too." The tengu cocks his head to the side with a low croaking sound, eyes switching between the map and Dalton. "And since these are coin-biters and the like giving orders, I'll bet my tailfeathers those orders will definitely involve removing any of their competitors wherever they decide to strike. So even if they eventually get driven back to Brumik, they'll leave a right mess behind anyway, beyond just the usual sort caused by warring."
[dice=Untrained Knowledge (local) Check]1d20 + 3
"Why not let them reap what they sowed? Enough people in the pockets of the dark merchants to hand the government over? Let them go to this war and oppose them on the fields. Once the tides turn against them, the motivation for profit will be extinguished and the direction of investment - if not the power of the investors - will be changed."
Krokar grunts. "A good point. That was similar to what I was thinking originally. If they wanted to play with blades so bad I'd say let them get a few cuts and go home to lick their wounds. Problem is, their entire force is officially just mercenaries and sellswords. That means Brumik is technically innocent of any aggressive actions, making counter measures difficult. In addition we would like to see the problem handled internally instead of waiting for it to escalate to involve the other nations. We're hoping for less bloodshed that way."
["Oh, I think I know why! Because letting the biggest trading power in the area get mangled in an ugly war against their neighbors is bad for business? Trade routes get chewed up when caravans on them get by taken by soldiers, brigands, or one pretending to be the other. Supplies, especially the stuff everyone needs to just live, get scarce and expensive too." The tengu cocks his head to the side with a low croaking sound, eyes switching between the map and Dalton. "And since these are coin-biters and the like giving orders, I'll bet my tailfeathers those orders will definitely involve removing any of their competitors wherever they decide to strike. So even if they eventually get driven back to Brumik, they'll leave a right mess behind anyway, beyond just the usual sort caused by warring."
Heff arcs a brow and smiles. "Ah, a very pointed observation. We don't know the exact military plans of the merchant class, but permanent infrastructure damage like that is certainly among our concerns. The best case scenario would them creating a monopoly on goods, while the worst would be a scarcity like we haven't seen since the Dragon Wars."
It didn't take a spymaster to understand the former part of Krokar's reply to Dalton was not at all the main reason the Aestherics had declined to let that path work itself out.
"Technically matters little when a trio of angry neighbors bashes down on your doorstep for perceived responsibilities. If you simply must handle the problem internally though, why not just buy them out? Merchants respond to money if nothing else."
The siblings share a long look before Toramin speaks. They both seem to think there are significant problems with the story.
"Dalton isn't wrong. Mercenaries can be bought. Moreover, relying on the cover that they provide is a flimsy political shield. If they aren't associated with the government, their neighbors could declare the mercenaries bandits and do peace keeping missions to police the borders. Or they could declare a war of restoration to restore the Brumik monarchy and protect it from 'brigands.' Such a fiction is actively destructive to their sovereignty. Worse for Brumik, war with Andril will speed the crown's consolidation Xilres. What you are describing sounds like suicide for the warmongering merchants. Either you have not revealed the full picture here or these merchants are being induced to act against their own interests."
"Technically matters little when a trio of angry neighbors bashes down on your doorstep for perceived responsibilities. If you simply must handle the problem internally though, why not just buy them out? Merchants respond to money if nothing else."
"It would be possible to convince the bordering nations that the mercenaries running rampant throughout their lands are actually Brumik's doing. If we fail on our primary mission, I think that's an excellent plan B." Heff looks around to the general approval of the rest of the council. "As for money...well to be frank we just don't have the kind of resources to buy them out. Buying out Andril or Xilres would bankrupt us, buying out Brumik is just impossible."
"Dalton isn't wrong. Mercenaries can be bought. Moreover, relying on the cover that they provide is a flimsy political shield. If they aren't associated with the government, their neighbors could declare the mercenaries bandits and do peace keeping missions to police the borders. Or they could declare a war of restoration to restore the Brumik monarchy and protect it from 'brigands.' Such a fiction is actively destructive to their sovereignty. Worse for Brumik, war with Andril will speed the crown's consolidation Xilres. What you are describing sounds like suicide for the warmongering merchants. Either you have not revealed the full picture here or these merchants are being induced to act against their own interests."
Alis breaks her silence. "There is more than one way to catch a rabbit. Your military and political observations are keen, stone child. There are two reasons we have chosen this particular course of action."
"As Krokar says, we believe this will result in the least bloodshed of any solution we have come up with."
"Secondly, it will be a long term solution to the merchant class oppressing the citizens. We don't plan on elimination them - far from it. We plan on unseating the individuals with the mindset of making coin by staining the country red, and establishing the government as the real power once again. Beyond that we still expect the merchant class to be very influential."
Alia gives Toramin her piercing gaze. "And I assure you, we do not withhold information. We have promised you that."
"It will always be the aim of businessmen to gain the highest profits though. If the road to wealth is through war, so be it. Pushing the pendulum of power back to the monarchy will just delay its inevitable swing to the other side."
Dalton cleared his throat. Some more tea would be lovely. "How many heads are there to this mercantile hydra?"
"You would not need to buy the countries, Heff. For Dalton's plan to work, all one would need to do is pay the second and third largest mercenary companies to attack the first largest. Mercenaries are contentious and fragmented by their very nature."
Toramin would be confused by Heff's obtuseness if he didn't suspect the man of lies and treachery.
The dwarf gives Alia a polite bow, "If it is as you say, honored elder, then again I state that the actions of the warmongering merchant's seem to be against their stated interests for the reasons I specified above. War with Andril-Xilres would be a disaster for them. Are there any hints there are external influences."
He glances back to his sister, but she is quietly watching the council with a slightly troubled expression.
"It will always be the aim of businessmen to gain the highest profits though. If the road to wealth is through war, so be it. Pushing the pendulum of power back to the monarchy will just delay its inevitable swing to the other side."
"Well yes, but if we want a permanent solution that would require us making an authoritarian takeover, which I think we all agree is not a good idea."
Dalton cleared his throat. Some more tea would be lovely. "How many heads are there to this mercantile hydra?"
"It fluctuates as there is no set number, but there are currently 11 of them."
"You would not need to buy the countries, Heff. For Dalton's plan to work, all one would need to do is pay the second and third largest mercenary companies to attack the first largest. Mercenaries are contentious and fragmented by their very nature."
"Yeah that's what I said. Just have them all kill each other. Too bad we still can't compete with that much money, plus it's still a short term solution. More mercenaries will always spring up."
The dwarf gives Alia a polite bow, "If it is as you say, honored elder, then again I state that the actions of the warmongering merchant's seem to be against their stated interests for the reasons I specified above. War with Andril-Xilres would be a disaster for them. Are there any hints there are external influences."
"They're not going to start an open war, they're going to strategically hit trade and resource locations. They're not going on a conquest to expand their borders. They plan on sowing discord and confusion so they can take advantage of it."
"Right now we have nothing suggestion any external influences."
"Which as I just mentioned could lead to open war because it is ludicrous to believe that any state will sit on its thumbs while being attacked by its neighbors who go 'sorry, those were our brigands.' States that are not seen by their neighbors as being able to maintain the integrity of their borders do not long remain states."
"While I think my brother makes excellent points about the political and military fallout of such a conflict, I am more concerned with the parameters and goals of this mission. You have identified four locations upon which you want to exert your influence. Do you have a specific list of goals and methods for each location? From what I have observed of my brother and our friends, is that you send them/us into tense political situations where they/we annoy those in power until those authorities confront confront them/us and are then slain or subdued in that confrontation. It's a recipe from coups and chaos. Is that your intent here as well?
Because if you do not have a plan that seeks to leverage their strengths, you will have the same results as before. If you will forgive me for being direct, it is madness to repeat the same action again and again and expect different outcomes."
"Which as I just mentioned could lead to open war because it is ludicrous to believe that any state will sit on its thumbs while being attacked by its neighbors who go 'sorry, those were our brigands.' States that are not seen by their neighbors as being able to maintain the integrity of their borders do not long remain states."
Krokar shakes his head. "They won't be "Brumik's brigands", they will just be lawless and unaffiliated bandits."
"While I think my brother makes excellent points about the political and military fallout of such a conflict, I am more concerned with the parameters and goals of this mission. You have identified four locations upon which you want to exert your influence. Do you have a specific list of goals and methods for each location? From what I have observed of my brother and our friends, is that you send them/us into tense political situations where they/we annoy those in power until those authorities confront confront them/us and are then slain or subdued in that confrontation. It's a recipe from coups and chaos. Is that your intent here as well?
Because if you do not have a plan that seeks to leverage their strengths, you will have the same results as before. If you will forgive me for being direct, it is madness to repeat the same action again and again and expect different outcomes."
"I laid out as much as we know and have planned on. And we don't, nor have we ever, set out just to cause chaos."
"Intent does not always determine consequence. Prudence comes from observing the past and learning its lessons."
"It does not matter what they are called, Krokar. It matters what they do. Consider. The merchants send their clearly organized mercenary companies into Xilres, Andril, and perhaps Gesthil to raid. Then Andril mobiles its professional army to defend its borders both in Xilres and Andril. They determine that the 'bandits' are well funded and equipped and retreat back into Brumik. There is a diplomatic mission to Brumik to request they cease their hostilities. The diplomats are told, 'gosh, sorry, we cannot do anything to police our borders. Bandits, what can you do?' The diplomats return and inform the Queen of Brumik's excuses. She consults with her generals on how to best secure the borders. The professional army begins to cross the borders in pursuit of the bandits. Thus a war begins. Alternatively, the leader of Brumik will lay the blame at the feet of the merchants and requests the aid of Andril to reassert his hegemony over Brumik. If he can secure and maintain Sky Cliffs as a secondary capital, all he needs do is wait until Andril moves to the south in force and the his military harries the mercenaries from their position. If the mercenaries are sent south to siege Sky Cliffs, it is a very defensible position. They can hold out until Andril can support them from the north. It would be clever on his part and a solution to the problem for the Queen. Yet another way this foolishness can lead to war."
Dalton was glad Toramin responded to Krokar's obliviousness so he didn't have to. Actions always speak louder than words.
"If there are 11 termini of this creature, supposing they are roughly of equal strength, how many heads'-worth is the monarchy's forces presently?" The mage had to abstract the situation to make good sense of it, but as it stood, he did not see Heff's plan as viable.
During the discussion, the tengu simply watches and listens, head tracking toward whomever is speaking at a given moment. Ordinarily, such subjects would quickly burn through his patience, but since he'll be expected to work within the plans made with this information, he's working hard--visibly so, in fact--to keep his attention where it needs to be. And it pays off, as several points raised come together in his overactive mind to form a rather intriguing possibility.
"Excuse the interruption here, but I've just thought of something that may be relevant." Nodding in Toramin's direction, the tengu begins laying out what he's thought up. "He pointed out that these coin-biters doing all of this is suicide. What if that's the plan, in fact? I mean, you've mentioned a few times that those rune giants can get into heads, yes? So, a rune giant gets to a coin-biter, does whatever it does and tells the new slave to bring some friends over. Repeats that trick and works up the ranks while doing it, until it has the big money under its thumb." Pausing, the avian strokes his scarred beak in though, then blinks and looks to the council members. "And on that matter, do any of you know if this thing has a limit on how many it can control, or from how far? Does it need to, I don't know, reapply whatever it does every so often?
Giving his head a shake, he returns to main point of his idea. "Anyway, the giant--or maybe someone the giant is partnered with--starts handing out orders. Stupid orders, really stupid orders, on purpose. Because yeah, this whole 'use mercenaries to cause trouble, and say it wasn't us' plan is so thin, you could probably see daylight through it if you held it up to the sun. But that's the whole point, to get Brumik to jump off a cliff and drag the neighbors along for the dive to the bottom. And while everyone is off watching the show over here, someone over there is using the lack of attention to get things done while the getting is good." Taking a few breaths after that rapid-fire spate of words--for Pazeek has a tendency to speak quickly when he's caught up in something like this--the avian lifts a talon to forestall any interruptions.
"Further, if you're a nasty, low-minded, and suspicious sort--like me, in fact--it isn't even hard to think of few things this plan could make happen while folks are distracted." He then ticks off the points on his talons as he mentions them. "Get a good, hard look at what the Aestherics can do, and how quickly they can do it is first to mind. Could the speed and direction of our response be used to identify people working for us," he asks in another aside to the council. "Wreck Brumik and its coin-biters good and proper, use the chaos to take over or make off with their assets." The tengu then nods again toward Toramin as he continues. "He said something about Andril and Xilres using this to unify. Happens with the flocks sometimes, where two or more small ones form up into a bigger one, and it's always a mess while birds sort out who does what in the new hierarchy. Bet lowlanders don't have it any easier, and that might be a chance to slip into that heirarchy before it's settled and secure." Lowering his talons, Pazeek concludes with a shrug before settling back into his seat. "And that's just what I could think up right now. You folks, who know the players and the game a lot better than I do, could likely come up with a lot more that would affected by Brumik coming apart deliberately."
After Pazeek says his peace Heff spurts out in laughter. "Oh damn, you guys said he was a fighter but I want him in my group. That kind of conspiratorial thinking is exactly what I need."
Drosil gives Heff a glare that says Don't be a dick and responds in his raspy voice. "No. Limited magic, need it to keep conquered giant clans in check. Also too far, no teleportation magic."
Heff wipes a tear from his eye and gives one last chuckle. "As he says, it would take more effort than just theirs with their limited magic and the distance. Not impossible with help. However we haven't learned anything to suggest something like that."
"It does not matter what they are called, Krokar. It matters what they do. Consider. The merchants send their clearly organized mercenary companies into Xilres, Andril, and perhaps Gesthil to raid. Then Andril mobiles its professional army to defend its borders both in Xilres and Andril. They determine that the 'bandits' are well funded and equipped and retreat back into Brumik. There is a diplomatic mission to Brumik to request they cease their hostilities. The diplomats are told, 'gosh, sorry, we cannot do anything to police our borders. Bandits, what can you do?' The diplomats return and inform the Queen of Brumik's excuses. She consults with her generals on how to best secure the borders. The professional army begins to cross the borders in pursuit of the bandits. Thus a war begins. Alternatively, the leader of Brumik will lay the blame at the feet of the merchants and requests the aid of Andril to reassert his hegemony over Brumik. If he can secure and maintain Sky Cliffs as a secondary capital, all he needs do is wait until Andril moves to the south in force and the his military harries the mercenaries from their position. If the mercenaries are sent south to siege Sky Cliffs, it is a very defensible position. They can hold out until Andril can support them from the north. It would be clever on his part and a solution to the problem for the Queen. Yet another way this foolishness can lead to war."
"Because they don't trust Andril."
Geoffrey steps into the room, weary-eyed and with limp hair. "Andril already have an enormous amount of power, and with the recent war with Xilres we have basically taken over that entire nation as well. You attended the Queen's Council meeting, you know how talks are going."
He looks to Heff, who twirls his bird nonchalantly in response. "You don't want to keep using Andril to solve your problems because whenever you do they amass more influence. It's the only nation that's firmly aware of your existence, as well as your hideout location, and could actually be a threat to you." He scowls. "You're worried about watching your own hides."
Krokar frowns. "Insightful. I won't sit here and lie to you and say we're not concerned about Andril's quickly-growing power. It was a factor in our decision. But regardless of that we still believe this course of action would be the most beneficial for Brumik."
Toramin smiles. "Good Morning, Geoffrey."
The dwarf did, in fact, remember that meeting. Though he wished that Geoffrey had not mentioned it. Unification of the human kingdoms under a centralized rule was the subject of the Treaty of Balgradash. Per his agreement with the Aestherics, he would act in their interests except when those interests conflicted with dwarven interests. The foundational alliance between the Voices of the Stone and the royal family of Andril was quintessentially a dwarven matter. Toramin would always work towards uplift and unification. However, he had long ago realized that Aestherics were not committed to either. The less they considered his motives and what actions he would take, the happier their coordination would be.
Spreading his hands, "Much like their intentions, their wants do not truly matter. They would need to forestall the raids entirely to prevent this course of events. So far they have not presented a plan capable of preventing Brumik from coming under Andril's influence either through war or alliance if the merchants of Brumik continue their course. In fact, Heff's gesture towards a plan would do much to precipitate that outcome."
Thinking quickly, the dwarven stone lord queries, "Before we left for the northern seas, there was some concern that the councils' memories might have been compromised on certain issues. Was there a resolution into that inquiry?"
If nothing else, that question, which needed an answer, would distract them.
Alia briefly jumps in. "I had five separate mages examine my mind under public supervision, and then I examined the minds of the others. There has been no tampering."
"Then do you recall Maloise?"
"Yes. I am still looking into possible rationals for what occurred."
Finding his theory discounted by his superiors, Pazeeks shrugs unconcernedly. "If you say that's not the case, then so be it. But if you're wrong, I will be reminding you all that I totally figured it out, and you dismissed it." Settling down once again, he resumes his watching and listening, head once more directed toward whomever is speaking. But his mind is still examing the problem of Brumik's masters' motivations; though his job with the Aestherics is more in line with killing things than pondering them, he's a reasonably smart bird possessed of the full measure of tengu curiousity. As such, Pazeek can't resist the lure offered by the conundrum. "Honestly, I think it's pretty plausible. And they sure play up these giants as a big problem, so why couldn't one or more be behind this Brumik mess? Toramin's a bag of foul wind, but he's not wrong; it doesn't make sense for the coin-biters to do something so obvious."
"Do we have contacts in these cities?" Bjorkus adds. "And which of the Council will be handler for this mission? We're gunna need plenty of support for somethin' like this."
"We've each been preparing for the different areas. Alia will support you in the Muskegons, Jasper will support you on Cypress Island, and I will support you at the Sky Cliffs."