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[Dwarmin]

Tala nodded.

"Would you like something to drink, General? We have water, wine, tea...what have you."

She smiled.

[Ardas]

"Unsuprisingly, I want the same thing as queen. Unlike her though, I am prepared to make a reasonable concessions. Obviously I am not going to promise anything that will hurt Ligoria.
Surrender of Mileth to us and transfer of all money to our hands is uncondtional. Nonetheless we will let you and your soldiers keep their arms and will not be taken prisoner if you promise to march away from Ligoria. "

He then paused.
You are bit weak, so I will let you think about it. And Tala can get you a drink. If you got anything to add or counterpropose, I am open to suggestions.

[Terenos]

The Fox laughed, weakly.
"You must be joking. Attacked during a peaceful meeting and you think I'd trust you to provide refreshments?
There will be no talk of surrender. I am sure 3 more regiments have joined my forces.. the disarmed Mileth troops. Doubt they'd be so interested in serving Ligoria now. And how could I trust that Ligoria would not attack when we'd quit the walls?
The money? Destroyed if your forces look to win the city."

Here the Arctic Fox had a brief period of rough coughing before continuing.
"I know that Ligoria wants an Empire, but here and now you've failed. Attack Mileth and whatever of your army is not destroyed in battle will be forced to subdue the populace. To no gain, as the taxes this year will be gone. Remain in Mileth and the other Storm coast powers will know everything of your plans that they already suspect.

Weakened, without allies, and known to be expansionist. A poor position to be in."

[leone313]

For the last week, Avitus had been working his way through the finances and other records he had now access to. He had also sent Henry behind the marching army to get news from the Marshal and Kathos.
After finishing to read the last of the 415 records, he decided it was high time to advance on the University buildings. Hugo was summoned for an interview at the Palace.

Summon Hugo to my office.

In the camp, the day the General woke up.
Henry finally arrived, tired after a fast journey through the Storm Coast.
He quickly found his way to the officials' tents after flashing his papers, and reached to a guard:
I wish to talk to either Baron Thunderblade or Marshal Vandire. Tell them Lord Traianus sent me.

[Ardas]

"As much as you want to believe in your own strength, you are in no bargaining position. I can simply offer pardon to your soldiers, tell the Milethians that I have no quarrel with them and that their tax money will be returned to them after liberation.

I don't know how much you saw, but by now my troops should be finished with earthworks. I can sit here until my beard goes grey, while your men will starve. People will turn on your soldiers eventually and will force them out of the city to be slaughtered by my men. And any sally would be foolish. Again, earthworks and superior arms against your men and 3 regiments of people bullied into service.

I am honest, but not stupid. I can see the politics of Storm Coast for myself. And no one will care for another perished servant of Dragon Empire. Choice is yours. You leave with your troops or you and your men die. Think of them. Do it for their sake and yours."

[NUKE9.13]

One of the guard captains calls for a meeting with all sides involved. The meeting would detail the Guard's lack of presence in the Docks District in exchange for the Gangs involved keeping body counts to a minimum. The Captain is sure he can bluff the reports, so long as things don't get out of hand - or else he'll have to call regiments into the docks to thin out any problems.

Ah, see, that's a sensible fellow right there. A man willing to lay the law aside in exchange for the most elegant situation is one worth keeping.

The Fists will propose that the guard stays out of the docks, aside from maintaining a token presence to keep the folks in charge fooled. The Fists will keep disorganised crime low, and generally keep the docks reasonably quiet, as that those in charge don't question the competence of the guards. And any guards who do wander into the docks will be gently knocked over the head and escorted out, rather than gently stabbed in the gut and left in the streets.
And, in exchange for his sensible nature, and as compensation for the extra work, the Fists will pay the Captain .1d per season.

The Fists make the arrangement with the clever Captain, as well as offering a large seasonal bribe to keep him friendly (.4d a year- just to this one guy- that's probably more than he makes in regular wages. One expects returns on this investment).

Summon Hugo to my office.

"Avitus! Glad you finally have the time. I have masons and carpenters just waiting for your word to start work- and for your coin, of course. I am myself dying to see my designs given form. Painting is one thing, but architecture- is just so much more real.
Ah- I do assume correctly when I say that this is about the university, yes?"

[Terenos]

"Every man under my command knows their duty. As do I. We all live on borrowed time. This is the Dead Man's Command, Marshal. Perhaps you've heard of it?

I was foolishly ambitious. And was thus posted to capture a city on the Storm Coast. Given a paltry force, and sent to die. I am not expected to win. I am not expected to survive. So your threats? Meaningless. Your offers of pardon? Any man who took it would face a headsmans axe.
So either make a deal that we can all live with, or prepare yourself for an attack. Oh, and you might want to kill me before I find the agent I have in your ranks, and can return to my command."

[Ardas]

"Hah, strange that you believe in loyaty of men that were left alone by their commander. I will have no problem slaughtering them. But given the choice, any man will opt for safety rather than death.
And you have no reson to doubt my word. We had plenty of time to kill you, yet we did not do that. And people of Mileth, they are the innocent ones here and I do not desire to harm them.

Reconsider your position again general. You are dooming everyone in the walls of Mileth. Can you justify why they should die for your pointless whim?"

[Dwarmin]

Tala supposed this was also a test-why wouldn't an embittered general let the secret of her mission be known?

She wanted to tell Nikephoros you couldn't bargain with a dying man...but stayed respectfully silent now.

[Terenos]

"That is the marvel of the Dragon Empire. Death one way, or death another, we all choose the method that gives us the best chance. And here that is performing our duty, as soldiers.

But you won't make any sort of deal with me. You, like your queen can see no other path but the one you want. So do as you will."

[Ardas]

"That is the marvel of the Dragon Empire. Death one way, or death another, we all choose the method that gives us the best chance. And here that is performing our duty, as soldiers.

But you won't make any sort of deal with me. You, like your queen can see no other path but the one you want. So do as you will."

If your final word is to let Mileth suffer, then be it. I will send them an offer regardless. I am a man of my word and I will not harm anyone if they surrender. As for you..... I will have to consult Kathos on this. What do you recon Tala? What would you do if a dead man tried to argue with you?

[Dwarmin]

How true, Arctic Fox, Tala thought. How true. For the both of us.

She promised his last words would be remembered.

She spoke up. Her voice was cold as ice.

"Well, If a dead man argues with you, you cannot bargain with him. He is beyond any measure of threats or demands.

You can either give him what he wants...or put him out of his misery."

[NUKE9.13]

Soldiers of the Arctic Fox tell the people what they saw, and try to get the captured regiments of Mileth to help stop the Ligorian invasion

[5] The people's loyalty is reaffirmed, if not strengthened, by this news of treachery. It occurs to them that they would much rather be ruled by the seemingly harmless DE than by a nation whose leaders engage in such despicable actions.
[3+1]The former Milethan soldiers agree to take up arms against Ligoria (for this battle), although they demand that they are paid up front- or rather, that their soon-to-be-widows and orphans are paid up front. .5d per regiment, a cost which your commanders have no problem paying, considering that money is of no use to dead men.

The banner of Mileth is raised on the walls amongst the banners of the Dragon Empire. [1] The Ligorian soldiers seem utterly unfazed by this. They either don't care that they will now be fighting their fellow Coasters, or believe it is a trick, or just don't know what the Milethan flag looks like. The more educated amongst them, however, quickly realize that it is no trick, and messengers are sent to the leaders of the army to bring word of this development.

[Taricus]

Laythe was just finishing up a letter she was writing, stamping the royal seal onto the bottom right corner of it. Once she had finished writing, she summoned one of her bodyguards to fetch Kathos.

"Sir, The queen requests your presence."

[Ardas]

Nikephoros did not expect that kind of response. Well, at least he did not expect that style of response. But she clearly knew the world better than one might expect of a young noblewoman.

Its truly sad when one wishes not only to die, but also drag everyone else down with him.... You will stay under guard, here. Once you will feel better, you will be taken to stockade.

Then Nikephoros started writing a message.

To commanding officer of Mileth,

As you are well aware, we have your commander. He well and alive and we wish to release him free and alive.
I offer same to you: you will be free to leave Mileth with your arms and free to go back home.
However, you are to leave the city whole and its people unmolested. you are also to deposit all the money collected from Mileth in our hands and return anny goods to the people.
I will have you know that your commander refused to surrender and told me that he wishes you and the citizens of Mileth to die. This are a words of a madman and I expect you to be sensible about what you do.
Your continued resistance is futile. But you are given the chance to go freely if you surrender. Choose carefully.

Marshal of HM Forces, Nikephoros Vandire

Nikephoros called in for a messenger and asked to deliver the message to the garrison of Mileth.

Tala, can you think of a way to deliver a message to the citizens of Mileth direclty? I want to let them know that they won't be harmed.