Empires of Ashes

"Indeed, although I cannot say why. When she spoke up for the first time, we hadn't even met before."

*draws her own sword.* "you know, I was considering killing you. I assumed you had some part in doing... Whatever it is to her, but now I see she doesn't owe loyalty to you through part of her brainwashing, but you've been genuinely nice to her."

Trajan: *chuckles* well I'm glad I convinced you not to kill me. In any case, their...'creators' are the mortem factorem....but just eliminating them isn't exactly doable.

Diana: "how big an army do they have?"

"That's...not the problem. The problem is twofold. Politics, and the fact they're far too...useful. Outside the clavae, they have also created all of our unusual and advanced weaponry, and are still developing more. Just look at the Clavae's Clypeus shield, or the Scatter-slingshot."

OOC: The war is on...
"The military is on a massive recruiting drive in advance of an invasion of Brasilistan, carpet bombing has decimated Brasilistan's landscape and population, the nation's air missiles have killed thousands of Brasilistan military personnel, and elite teams of assassins have been sent into Brasilistan."

Diana: "damned politics. They're no better than kelthrovi slavedrivers."

"Agreed..."

"So you just wanted to talk to me about LI?"

"there was....one other thing." 
*he takes the letter from the newcomers and hands it to her*

OOC: My army far eclipses those of Bush and Himfea combined!

All Hail the Dominion!

*She reads it*

Trajan: yout thoughts?

(I dont know what letter you're meaning)

OOC the one saying basically, we slaughtered the voldamian army, the blood of nations are on your hands, we're coming for you all
that one

Diana: "That you're probably screwed."

"I recognize that much"

Diana: "A force capable of destroying the voldamian army... well, I suppose they must have come from the sea?"

"That's what I was thinking. But it is the 'blood of nations' that has caught my eye the most...Diana you are versed in our history are you not?"

"Somewhat. I assume they mean the wars of expansion"

Trajan: maybe...but I have a hunch this goes back further

Diana: "Well i didn't pay much attention in history, so you'll have to elaborate on your hunch."

"Do you know of the shattered wars?"

"Vaguely"

"The wars that shaped us as an empire, and a juggernaut of imperialism. And it ended in the greatest atrocity we've ever committed."

"Oh wonderful"

OOC: Oi, I asked you a question over yonder!

Trajan: we destroyed an entire city. Men women and children all. No survivors.

"Okay... I can see why people would be pissed"

"We uprooted an entire city, its people sealed inside, and cast it into the ocean. It was an atrocity. Something that should never have happened....but that was over five a centuries ago."

Diana: "How in the fuck did you do that?"

Trajan: I do not know the details. As I said, it was centuries ago, but the evidence that it happens is still there. I've been to the site.

Diana: "Fuck... I..." *thinks for a second* "In Daer's name... You dont think, any of them survived did you? The city, it had a harbour, yes? a fleet?"

"They did. Supposedly we had blockaded the city but...it is not impossible there were survivors. Which is why I'm worried."

Diana: "Its been centuries, long enough to rebuild a nation. A nation with a national identity of hating everyone on this blasted continent"

Trajan: maybe...or maybe long enough to find a pre-established one, and have your descendants rise to power within it.

Diana: "Perhaps... the point remains, we may be going against a nation we cannot defeat, even with the full force of every nation combined."

"You sound incredibly sure of that."

"They defeated the voldamians in open cavalry warfare, That means we are facing the best mounted warriors we've ever fought."

"True, but one has to think of a few things. Firstly, that does not speak for their infantry. Two, cavalry has its own hard counters. Three, knowing the voldamians, they underestimated these newcomers. Thought, understandably, that they would win in cavalry on cavalry. But that is beside the point. What you mentioned about a combined force of all nations...I think that might be possible, and it might have to be."

Diana: *Silence* "You're serious?"

Trajan: I am

Diana: "I feel like you should be talking to ket about this, not me."

"I will. But I want your opinion first. You've got a...unique perspective on things. Both dracian, and not."

Diana: "Kelthro's main military power is slaves, name one other nation willing to fight alongside slave soldiers. and without slaves, we would loose two thirds of our military power."

Trajan: which is why we need to do away with the current....regime. It's far from perfect, but it's something.

Diana: "Hmmm... It still means we loose that portion of the army, against, god knows how big a force."

"It is still something."

"True enough... true enough. Well now i know of the impending doom, i need a drink..."

"In that case, let us conclude. It's been a pleasure meeting you, my lady"

"The same to you, my lord." *Picks her helmet back off the table* "I'll see you on the battlefield most likely"