General Rehn carefully read the letter. The Emperor brought up several good points, which he then conveyed to the new King of Sescos in a private meeting.

"Your Highness is in a perilous position as you are without a doubt aware of. The lands of Sescos have been ravaged by war. The people of Sescos have suffered. Two Kings have been lost in quick succession and just months earlier, the Kingdom was on the brink of complete collapse. I understand that you wish to seek retribution. However, as things continue to unfold, it's becoming increasingly clear that this war will last years. Will your Highness be able to fight a war for years in the Dashkatar lands and leave the matters of the throne behind in Europe? We fear that ambitious nobles, and perhaps other claimants to the throne will cause more instability in these trying times. Perhaps, it would be more prudent to offer the Dashkatar a ceasefire and a truce for a year. We allow their two armies safe passage back even though the noose is tightening around them with our combined armies and navies. And, then you would have a year to rebuild and strengthen your own position as King, which the Empire of Attolia will fully support with advisers, military and other assistance as needed. Once that period of rebuilding is over, then we can pursue retribution with a proper Sescos army leading the charge. Plus, the slow acting armies of the HTE will be able to finally join the crusade and give the support that they have promised months ago. But as things are developing... we're looking at a pyrrhic victory. The cost of years of war will ultimately bring the Kingdom to ruin, or so that is what Emperor Lothair II fears. Will you not consider a temporary peace to rebuild the Kingdom?"