[center][h3] Eidolon Plains - Strife [/h3][/center]

The negotiations between the Four-horns and Sun-sworn soured. One side would push an unreasonable demand upon the other, causing the other to make their demands less reasonable in return. Sophia eventually ordered her band graze on a river that the wool-eyes had claimed, sending a group of slingers to support them. She had intended to go with them, but the other Four-horn marshals were able to gather at that time and they insisted that she involved in the inner-band discussions. The other marshals supported the idea, but they all wanted someone else bands to take the first step. 

Nobody knows who struck first, but chaos quickly erupted afterwards. Sophia's band was eventually forced to retreat, the enemy had superior numbers and wielded a great amount of spears, while the slingers were still lacking in aim. There was few causalities, but even those few deaths changed both the Sun-sworn Clade and Four-horn Culture. 

Shortly after that first skirmish, the Sun-sworn sent a small group. They returned the untampered bodies of the fallen, establishing a precedent that neither side wished to break lest their own allies called them blasphemous. They also said that any further attempt to graze Sun-sworn territory would be meet with force. The messengers were allowed to leave in peace. 

The small camp that they had originally established to continue negotiations grew and changed. It had became a war encampment. Both sides believed that they had stronger claim to the land than the other, and both sides believed that they needed the land if they were to flourish. 

Overall, the Sun-sworn were stronger, however their defenses were spread thin across the entire territory that they wished to claim. The conflict started to develop its own tempo. The Four-horns would find a weakness in the Sun-sworn defense, and take some grazing land on the  fringe of their claimed territory. Eventually, the band would graze until they need to find fresher pastures or the Sun-sworn mustered their force and drove them out. And then the Four-horns would find another weakness, and so the cycle continued. 

Sophia was mediating a particular fierce talk between two marshals about trading salt and spears for a foal. It was interrupted by a slinger warning the marshals about a wool-eye attack force. This was not the first time the encampment had been attacked, but this was the largest force that has been sent against it. It was reported that at least three marshals spotted rallying the attackers. It was rare for marshals to be apart of attacking forces, due to the value placed upon the horse and the leadership they provide. 

Sophia and the marshals quickly mounted their horses and prepared for the assault. It was not long after the wool-eyes began charging at the encampment. The chaos of battle quickly ensued as they were meet with a volley of rocks. None had matched Sophia's accuracy, however several were beginning to get close. 

The adversaries frontline consisted entirely of knife-men, their clothing padded with wool to help cushion them against attacks. However, it provided little protection against the brute force of the slings. Most who where who hit were forced to retreat, however those hit in the head were not as lucky. 

The Sun-sworn knifemen who managed to pass through the storm of stone engaged with the Four-horn knifemen. The Four-horns had the advantage as they had far more experience in combat. However behind them were the Sun-sworn spearman, who had superior arms and some where equally experienced. 

With the two armies clashing, the slingers were no longer able to wildly aim or else they might hurt one of their own allies. Many put there slingers on their belt and drew a dagger, while the most accurate among them attempted to keep the spearman at bay. Without projectiles raining from the sky, the Sun-sworn marshals were able to ride in with their spears. 

There was in truth four opposing marshals to the four-horns three. However a stray stone flew over the heads of the knifemen and spearmen and threw one of the marshals from his horse. The only one with that accuracy was Sophia. She had slain that Eidolon with the same stone she had killed the bird on the ancestor-led encounter. Afterwards she returned her sling to her belt and one of her attendants handed her spear to her. It was light in her hands, and she knew that meant she had the war spirit's favor. 

Sophia knew that many Eidolon would met their ancestors in the shroud today. She assisted one of the sun-sworn spearman on that journey, driving her spear through his chest. The Eidolon were still learning about the ways of warfare, and didn't have a strong formations. However as Sophia approached, a wall of knifemen formed to both of her sides. Knifemen had protected the other marshals as they entered the fray, but not as fervently. 

While Sophia held the center, the Sun-sworn began to retreat. She had learned that wool-eye knifemen became distracted by something, allowing one of their knifeman to drive his dagger right into one of their marshal's horses. She had our force stand at guard in case they regroup or sent another wave. Eventually the sun began to set, and Sophia ordered her troops to gather up the fallen and their possessions. The next day, a lone wool-eye marshal arrived and discussed about how their fallen and there worldly items would be returned. There was some disagreement about taking from the dead, however they would not want their band's heirlooms lost to the enemy and nor would they wish to upset the shroud maid. 

After that, a service was held for the Four-horns who died in combat. They were first brought some distance away from the camp to not attract predators to it. It had became sadly routine. The salters at the encampment would extract and clean their cores, which would be returned to their respective bands. Their bodies covered in pelts, before the pelts were coated with blood. Distinct from regular graves, desa berries were placed around them. Only after the bodies were tended to did the people at encampment all gather around to eat and tell stories about the fallen. 

[hider= Story] 
Tensions between the Sun-sworn and Four-horns boils into armed conflict. The Sun-sworn are in the stronger position overall, but their defenses are spread thin allowing the four-horns to gain victories among the margins of their territory. The Eidolon mutually agreed that the fallen soldiers and their equipment should be returned to opposing side for various practical and spiritual reasons. 

The camp that Sophia and several other marshals were staying at to continue discussing the Sun-sworn issue became a war encampment, the largest of several. The war encampment was attacked by the largest group yet, but the Four-horns fended off the Sun-sworn. 

The Four-horns then attend to the dead. 
[/hider]

[hider= Spirit] 
Rider of Hevel (Sophia):
Starting: 5 
Ending: 8 
+1 for post, +1 for main character, +1 for length
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