[CENTER][H1] Empire of Khazaria [/H1][/CENTER] "The end is near" is the thought that many Khazarians shared, they could say that with a clear sigh of relief. The war was going to be over, the victorious nation of Khazaria was about to once again show its dominance over the region. The Emperor and his court awaited further news from both fronts but with everything that was going there was no doubt that the time to deliver the final strike was coming soon. The starved forces of Dorist would be arriving at a bitter end that was more than clear to both the besieged and besiegers of the city of Kronik. What else could be expected from the greater forces of Khazaria than total glory and victory? Yet, the news for Khazaria wasn't all rosy just as the news of victories arrived faster, the bad news arrived even faster. The naval forces of the Republic of Kalseran just like another dagger to the back of Khazaria had appeared to begin their dance with the Kingdom of Komentiolos and Dorist. The three western nations that were within the immediate sphere of influence of Khazaria and Paranas were now looking to attack them both in a way not too dissimilar to the crusades of old. "If Nursultan saw this, he would condemn us! We cannot let Paranas fall. It's time to recall our forces from the north. The forces of Stevata and Teclav maybe our distant friends but the people of Paranas are like our brothers. We cannot let them fall now, your majesty you must surely see this through. Your ancestors wouldn't want to see the capital of our allies to fall, just as the old Khazars had their clans on the vanguard rather than their allies the same should apply today." Said Baghatur, a noble from one of the ancient clans of Khazaria said to be a kin-clan to the original dynasty of the Empire. The Emperor maintained his silence, his hand clenched on the arms rest of his throne. He saw this as a disrespect to his decision and authority, but how could he know that at his young age he would have to deal with a coalition that rivaled the worst challenges that the Khazarians had to face in their long history. A side of the court continued to applaud Baghatur, who every time he asked it looked more like a demand on the young emperor to remove his troops from Dorist and send them to the south. But not only that, but he also sought to engage Komentiolos through their eastern border and begin an offensive on a terrain that General Yitzhak had described as "impassable". Baghatur was one of many members of the house of notables to tell the Emperor to change his views and begin advance south. Yet, the emperor faced doubt at a level that he had not seen before, he had to make a compromise with his court and the house of notables. The time for waiting had over and soon enough everything on his mind was already set for it to do. He dismissed once more Baghatur and the rest of the court, they begrudgingly complied. He had given him a dubious "I shall see what can be done." for an answer but one that didn't truly say the plans he had on mind to him. He wanted results to show and not words to placate an ambitious and out of place noble. Results to validate his young reign, he knew that any wrong step and it would take decades to clear his name. To become an average Khazar and not one to be remembered for times to come. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General Yitzhak wore his golden attire with great care, he didn't wake up a single day without a proper schedule and a setlist of chores to do before going to meet with his officers and soldiers. Such perfection was the self-made image of a General from the west, from the civilized waste, the perfect general that he ought to be for his country, and that represented that change from the old times to the new. He was a General that drank little, slept at a particular hour, ate the same breakfast every day, and made sure that he had more than a pair of clothes cleaned and ready to use. He was a tall man, short black hair covered in a nicely done red hat, and a posture that looked almost too perfect for a man to ever achieve. When he stepped out of his tent, he saw a mountain range and his camp. The sunrise was always greeting him like a lover to his mistress, he began with a small walk around the camp. Inspection, he called it, as the soldiers began to do their chores and duties around the camp. The reinforcements had come well but according to the news from the west, it was clear that they were needed somewhere else. He himself felt wasted away around this border, his scouting and forward units saw that it was clear than an attack from either side was harsh at best and impossible most of the time. But duty was a duty and he was content to do his duty as the perfect general, while Alp Tarkhan drank on the glory of the west. The situation in Paranas complicated the situation even further if only he was there...already, a war against the armies of Komentiolos and Kalseran wouldn't be too much of a problem from the rumours he had heard but Paranas had focused on their naval strength....perhaps relying too much on their alliance with the greater army of Khazaria. Only time would tell, just as he finished off the morning tour of his camp, a messenger came. A small but fast sloop could be seen on the distance of the harbor far below the camp. This only meant one or two things, reinforcements, news, or orders. He hoped the last would come true.