The next meeting of the Council of Three was more tense than usual; it seemed as though the Council remembered that they have enemies just to their east, enemies who were not going away. Add that to the recent news from Treb[i]lea[/i], where Carol's bardic diplomats were met not only by a blanket refusal of their offers to trade, but also tales of a village that castrated their men should they fall into servitude. The latter set of facts caused Carol Padilla's next words to mark a full volte-face in her stance towards the nation of musicians, "All right, it seems that the Trebleans are ridiculous assholes. Let's find out how to end their vile practices without weakening ourselves against the Yamarae and Centaurs right away."

Isabella de Guzman smiled at that. "Well, I am currently looking for mercenary companies and potential investors for said mercenaries; the goal would be to dismantle the Treblean community with minimal bloodshed. One of said potential investors is in the Old Imperial Capital; he might be interested in working with me in this endaevor. 

"As for the Centaurs, Juan actually has a fine battleplan," she then gestured to Juan de Maldonado, who unrolled a map showing the lands to the west of the League of Cities of Sapientkind, a map showing several markers and arrows. "It doesn't even cost more than it brings in, even!"

At that, Juan smiled at the flatter, and the old soldier spoke, "The Centaurs to the west are primarily chargers and cavalry archers, and traditional infantry tactics are a mixed bag against them before gunpowder. Thier Goblin slaves are scouts and basic infantry, but are largely disloyal. But, more importantly, the Centaurs have never met Ogres, or at least, [i]Ogres with Hand Cannons[/i]."

He then brought out a drawing of an Ogre in leather and plate armor carrying a hand cannon so large that it can be easily mistaken for a mortar. "Ogres are as fast as Centaurs and can endure more; even in armor. With these hand cannons, we can punish the enemy raiders before they become a true threat - and of course, liberate the Goblins under their rule.

"As for the Yamarae...I trust that you won't try and negotiate with them, Lady Carol? After all, their shamans were who let in the Horde to try and destroy us." Juan already knew the answer, and had it confirmed when Carol drew herself up indigantly.

She then said, "The Shamans of the Yamarae have deceived their own people. It is only fitting that we free them from their lies by force. Nevertheless, their land is hard and arid, and the mountain passes harsh. We will need Orcish and Goblin troops if we are to make a campaign in their territory a reality; Goblins are very good in mountain warfare, I've noticed."

The woman faced Juan, "So free as many of the Centaurs' Goblin slaves as you can; try and get the allegiance of a few Centaurs as well through bribery and divide-and-conquer tactics. Once we have enough Goblins, we shall show the Shaman-Liars of the Yamarae the Truth of Sapientkind."

[@Mistiel][@gorgenmast][@Crispy Octopus]