The soft tinkle of water from great, soaring fountains accompanied the harmonious trilling of songbirds in the vast gardens of the Palace of the Sun in the city of Ashänti, and yet not all was well in the hallowed halls of the Tyrisinians. In a gilded seat, a table of hot steaming herb tea on a table beside her, contemplated Queen Elsannis III. She was dressed in a long, twisting garment sewn with living flowers that breathed in the sun as if she wore the very vestments of the world itself.

It all felt like a sham. The very foundations of this carefully planned and cultivated city and its surrounding forest were threatened by the very real possibility of war. Across from her, her mother the Queen-Dowager Alēthiana of Nara-Thitinia sipped delicately at her tea. She was venerable in age, her hair now turned white as snow and her robes embellished with the jet jewellery of the widow, but the incoming events seemed to concern her little. "The Dwarves stir up trouble very often, my dear Elsannis. They are a riotous lot, but they will calm themselves," Elsannis heard her mother say, nibbling at a sugared fig. "Their time spent underground stirs up tempestuous emotions. Your father dealt with it many a time,"

Elsannis bit at the inside of the her mouth. "He did, mother, but never in such numbers. We cannot work our way out of this through diplomacy, as we have before - this is not a call to arms from me. It comes from our alliances," Through the natural din of birds, bees, rabbits and the small noble children of the court playing in the endless fountains and parks of the gardens, Elsannis could almost feel the palatable discontent. "The people have heard of the indignities committed against the Elves and their sympathisers by the Dwarves and they have begun to see it as an affront to our noble bloodline and lineage. Frankly, I agree," 

Alēthiana paused, eyeing her daughter severely. "This kingdom will not burn while there is blood yet in my veins. Consider your decision Elsannis, it is not just your pride at stake. Do you think we have cultivated this splendid wealth and glory by attacking every diminutive cave dweller who insulted us?" The Dowager swept to her feet, shook her head, then turned and walked away. In the heat of the moment Queen Elsannis III forgot the rudeness of her mother's turning her back on the reigning Queen.