[sub][indent][i][h3][color=d8cfbe]𝔼nidad[/color][/h3][/i][/indent][/sub][hr]
The Palace of Enidad was buzzing. Messengers and soldiers flooded in and out while servants gossiped among themselves with no care for who was listening. At worst, a Dalris spy learning what they already knew. War was coming.

A certain part of the palace, however, was silent. Ishtar’s Crown, the largest tower in the palace, and the home of the Mage Queen. Very few were allowed to enter, only the most trusted of House Croan. The queen’s safety was their first priority. Their security was so tight that it was said that the queen was not even allowed to bleed.

Needless to say, Ishtar’s Crown was often empty. It still was, aside from one room. The queen’s chambers, housing Inanna herself and her most trusted retainer, Ezra Croan. His youth had been wasted in servitude of the queen, and as time continued to pass his good looks faded and the furrow in his brow never seemed to leave.

[color=d8cfbe]“I have compiled reports from messengers all over the continent, as well as survivors of the tragedy, your holiness. I will read them out for you now,”[/color] he said. Inanna stared up at him, sitting up on her bed, surrounded by silk sheets and pillows.

[color=d8cfbe]“Get on with it, then! Oh, and I’d like some more tea, please.”[/color] She waved her empty teacup at him, which he refilled without complaint.

[color=d8cfbe]“Let’s begin. On the sixteenth of Anais, year 1648, Harrow’s Keep vanished, only to reappear, completely destroyed, half of the population dead. Of those attending the talks, a good deal of soldiers and servants have died. Most notably, Wester Nols, who is missing and presumed dead, and Jevin Pachel, who was killed by Arthur Kothlin.”[/color]

Inanna sipped her tea. [color=d8cfbe]“Pachel, you say?”

“I did indeed say that, your holiness.”

“Hmm. Esmeralda Nols must not be pleased. Send our condolences to her.”

“Arthur Kothlin has declared war on Southern Croania- namely, every house save Young and Lapseus. Next, the reports and information I have compiled regarding this. Beginning, of course, with House Pachel.”

“I had expected that man to hold on a little longer, really. A shame. I presume we should leave House Pachel alone for a little while?”

“An excellent decision, your holiness. Though no one has declared anything yet, we can mark the death of Jevin Pachel as the beginning of the 33rd Pachelian Succession War. We cannot guarantee their military support until it is over.”

“I see. Should we sponsor a candidate, I wonder? It might speed things up a little. Ezra, when you get the chance, I’d like you to compile reports on every candidate for me to read over. I have a particular interest in Alana Pachel.”[/color]

Ezra blinked. [color=d8cfbe]“She is not a Pachel by blood. I would not think she has any place in this war.”

“That woman would make an excellent puppeteer, mark my words. Anyway, keep going.”

“Seler has yet to report back to us. The First and Second of their council have yet to return and they are hesitant to make a decision before then. However, it is unlikely they will not support the South. Their naval strength will be a great asset against the North.”

“We ought to poach some of Pachel’s soldiers while we have the chance, you know. Who else is on our side?”

“Darius Balaur is still up in his tower. He’s old now, I wouldn’t expect anything from him. His heir… Matthias, was it? I believe he survived the tragedy, but he hasn’t reported anything either. I wouldn’t call it an army, but Immolis has a fair number of skilled soldiers. Then there’s the Holy Knights-”

“Oh, forget about them,”[/color] Inanna said, waving her hand. [color=d8cfbe]“They’re useless. There’s not enough of them, and they’re all useless except for, what? Five?”[/color]

Ezra sighed. [color=d8cfbe]“And those five are plenty competent. We ought to have them training on the daily, not running errands for House Croan.”

“Then arrange for it. If Lord Croan needs new servants, it doesn’t concern me.”

“Of course, your holiness. Now, it is logical that Kothlin will begin by attacking the houses on the border. Those are Dalris, Reason, Granis and Pachel. Though Pachel is entering its own war, it would still be dangerous to invade at first. But Reason and Granis are already very pro-technologist. Especially with Alexander Reason inheriting the title of Lord Reason. It wouldn’t surprise me if they defected.”[/color]

Inanna dropped her cup. It fell softly against the sheets, tea soaking into the fabric. [color=d8cfbe]“Pardon? Say that again.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me if they-”

“No, before that.”

“Of course. Alexander Reason has inherited the title of Lord Reason, so-”

[i]”And you didn’t say that earlier?[/i] I thought that only the two nobles had perished!”

“Oh, my sincerest apologies, your holiness. Rithal Reason did not attend the talks, but seems to have died soon after.”

“Rithal Reason… what a man. That’s two lords dead and then another three turned traitor.” Inanna picked up her teacup, motioning for Ezra to refill it. He did.[/color]

He began to speak, but faltered. [color=d8cfbe]“Dalris, Granis and Reason. We haven’t the troops to send to all three.”

“Go on.”

“We aren’t ready for war, your holiness. House Aureolin has been spreading anti-war sentiments, which you’ll find most people agree with. They are afraid.”[/color]

“Propaganda!” Inanna spat. [color=d8cfbe]“You have been infected too, Ezra.”

“Your holiness, I only wish to aid you-”

“You shall do no such thing! I have the guidance of the goddess on my side. You are in no position to advise me.”

“My apologies. I will remember my place.”[/color]

Inanna almost looked disappointed. [color=d8cfbe]“Aureolin… how problematic. Well, I am in no mood for news anymore. Leave, Ezra. Send for Amande. Perhaps she can console me.”[/color]

Ezra nodded quickly. [color=d8cfbe]“Of course. At once, your holiness.”[/color]

Inanna frowned. [color=d8cfbe]“Could you not call me by my name? Don’t prattle on about status. Queen Inanna would be enough.”

“Of course, your holiness. I will keep that in mind.”

“...It’ll do.”[/color]

[sub][indent][h3][color=d8cfbe][i]ℝedline[/i][/color][/h3][/indent][/sub][hr]

On the other side of the country, in a much larger room filled with far more people, an equally serious conversation was taking place. Five men and three women arranged themselves around a screen-table. It displayed a large map of Croania layered with electronic markings and figures.

A dark man in a red uniform pointed at House Seler on the map. [color=d8cfbe]“The naval force here is likely the strongest opposition we’ll face. With Pachel temporarily out of the picture, Seler carries the strongest southern military force. Querida, give us the numbers.”[/color]

Querida, a short-haired redhead with a mousey face, looked up from where she had been doodling small boats in the Eastern Ocean. [color=d8cfbe]“Ah, um, they’re really big. Like at [i]least[/i] five hundred ironsides, plus the loads of smaller boats that go with them. I’d say that our navy as it is right now will get decimated.”

“In which case we go by land,”[/color] said another woman- the gear on her lapel marked her as the head of the Engineer Corps, a specialized unit that focused on powersuit development. [color=d8cfbe]“The Engineer Corps. are ready to go anywhere. We have special treads and boots ready for those Northern Dalris wetlands, and breathing masks if we must go through the Jin Ranges.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Peace, Isma,”[/color] said the dark man. [color=d8cfbe]“Our naval force can still win if we focus production on computers for navigation and simulation. The southern pigs are still using dated techniques.”[/color]

Elias’s older brother, Mark, pointed at the point where Harrow’s Keep had once been. [color=d8cfbe]“We likely won’t have to even take the Keep. Not after what happened.” He looked at Kothlin straight on.[/color]

Kothlin met his gaze. Internally, he was crumbling after what had happened to Elias, but he had to put on a strong face for his men. He gestured further past the Jin Ranges. [color=d29e4d]“Through the passing of the late Lord Reason, we have now gained a small, but important ally. House Reason and Young control the only pass through the Jin Ranges for tens of kilometers. Now, the only other viable option for a large Southern land force is the Dalris Coastal Pass.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“...and the Valley of Rest, in northern Pachel.”[/color]

[color=d29e4d]“Yes, but nobody goes there.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Which is precisely why someone would. Plus, that’s where the South’s largest force is.”[/color] Mark drew an arrow from House Pachel into Lapseus. [color=d8cfbe]“It wouldn’t surprise me if they tried a counteroffensive once we attack. How are the discussions with Lady Lapseus?”[/color]

Kothlin made a face akin to a child’s reaction after tasting lemon. [color=d29e4d]“She refused my offer to send her men to train her forces. She also refused to let any of our soldiers near the Valley of Rest. Suffice to say we will not be attacking Pachel from the North anytime soon.”[/color]

He stepped back from the map. [color=d29e4d]“Let’s turn our thinking around. The South is underestimating us. Some Houses don’t even think we’ll end up fighting, or that we’ll attack and lose immediately. That’s where we’ll show ‘em. We hit hard, and fast. Prepare to move.”

“Let’s end this with one blow.”[/color]