(IR) 4th ooc-thread of the 5th IR

[William Ronald]

Edena, I have no objection to you playing Thomas' power. As I recall, the location of Aliador is hidden and I believe its existence is a secret as well. So, I believe diplomacy would best be done by the known members of Thomas' power. These include the elven nation of Celene, the Yeomanry (a human nation near Keoland whose government is a democratic repubic. The predominant allignments are LG, LN, CG, NG), and the Theocracy of the Pale (dominated by the faith of Pholtus, common alignments are LN, LG, LE).


(I will have to do a separate post on the actions that take place in Turn 1. Serpenteye, as I know how the calendar works on Oerth, I can perhaps suggest that the IR might begin immediately following the weeklong festival of Needfest. This would be the first day of the month of Fireseek, Common Year 604. There are four week-long festivals in a year on Oerth, marking the time in which the lesser moon Celene is full.)

Assuming that Aliador remains hidden, Al'Akbar personally greets the representatives of Thomas' power. (Yes, Edena, those that are publicly known received gifts and diplomatic messages.) I imagine that they include represenatives of the Yeomanry, the Theocracy of the Pale, and elven kingdom of Celene.


As the ambassadors enter the city of Ekbir, they see several new embassies. An elegant and strong castle serves as the Embassy of Nippon, Zindia and the Nippon Dominions. A slender white tower serves as an embassy to the Greyspace Alliance. (On their way to the city, the ambassadors noticed a wide area set aside for landing of spelljamming vessels. They also noticed another area completely surrounded by an impenetrable fog.) A tall tower of elegant black stone rises to the sky, flying the colors of the Empire of Lynn. There are also embassies for the Celestial Imperium of Tsian -- (OOC: Radiant, I did try to set up a meeting and offer assistance as did Bugbear. At a bare minimum, I imagine that both Greater Nyrond and the Baklunish Empire would offer food shipments, delivered by magical means.)

The ambassadors are lead into a great throne room in the Palace of the Caliph of Ekbir. As the doors are opened, all those seated in the throneroom stand for the visitors, who are greeted with blowing trumpets. A tall, thin figure, dressed in white trimmed with gold, and a blue cloak smiles and bows slightly towards the ambassadors. A crown like a turban, set with gems rests upon his head. Three women of exquisite beauty and grace, yet each distinctive, stand near him. A man wearing ancient armor glowing like the sun stands nearby, his green eyes regarding the visitors warmly. Another man, with timeworn features and dark eyes, dressed in the simple garb of a mountain shepherd smiles as well. He wears a brighly colored prayer shawl with seven threads hanging from the fringes.

"Welcome to the Malkuvah Baklunim, the restored Baklunish Empire, and the city of Ekbir! It is an honor to meet you! These are my wives, Ahava -- Al'Akbar nods to a woman of classic Baklunish beauty with green eyes and black hair that cascades down her hair like a waterfall --, Bilqis --Al'Akbar nods to a woman with brown hair and brown eyes, a woman of Baklunish stock with a hint of Oeridian heritage --, and Vashti -- Al'Akbar noods to a woman with pale yellow skin and blue eyes, indicating Baklunish and Suel blood. This is Azor'alq, hero god of light, purity, courage and strength. This is Daoud, hero god of humility, clarity, and immediacy. These are the members of my court," -- Al'Akbar gazes at a wide collection of people of various races, humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, half-orcs, kobolds, orcs, half-ogres and even some genies and celestials -- "and I am Emperor Al'Akbar of the Malkuvah Baklunim. On behalf of the Baklunish Empire, I welcome you here."

"You asked about some of the recent treaties. I will try to answer your questions. I may refere some of them to representatives of other nations who can answer them."

"The Baklunish Empire is also a member of the Treaty of Ekbir Organization. Admission and other decisions is decided by a vote of its existing members. I believe that everyone who is part of an organization deserves a voice in its affairs. At most, I can submit an application for membership in the organization and cast a vote. The text of the Treaty of Ekbir Organization is as follows."

PUBLIC
[sblock]
Treaty of Ekbir Organization Charter

"The undersigned nations will respond to an attack on any one of them as an attack on all of them. We shall take whatever actions deemed necessary to support each other in such an event."

"The undersigned nations shall also take actions to support each other in matters of trade and diplomacy. It is the opinion of the undersigned nations that disputes between various nations should ideally be resolved through diplomatic means. As the cost of war is high, it should be the last resort of rational and law-abiding nations in disputes with other nations."

"The undersigned nations realize there is a danger of attack to their nations from forces from beyond Oerth, or such forces as the Whispered One. In the face of such events, the undersigned nations will urge other nations to put aside any differences, declaring truces and armistices if need be, to face a common threat to Oerth."

“The members of the Treaty of Ekbir Organization offers our assistance in mediating disputes, and our assistance to our respective allies. We urge that no nation make war on its neighbors, in light of the potential threats from the Whispered Ones and other forces."

Signed on this, the fourth day of Needfest in Common Year 604, being the year 3264 (Baklunish Hegira)

King Ogrim Scarseer of Orcreich, the Low Khanate, and the High Khanate

King Seth Rhynnon of Nyrond, the County of Urnst, and the Duchy of Urnst

Emperor Al’Akbar of the Malkuvah Baklunim, the restored Baklunish Empire
[/sblock]

"I would refer questions on the Treaty of Erheli-Cinlu to the government of Greater Nyrond.
I would say that Vesharess Eclavdra is quite resourceful, and that my government maintains diplomatic relations with Eclavdor -- despite some of the recent statements of Vesharess Eclavdra. Of her, I would say that to understand her, one must realize that there are two great pillars in her life -- her people and her goddess. While I disagree with Vesharess Eclavdra on many issues, I do respect the depth of her dedication. Perhaps "

"I will ask the embassy of Greater Nyrond and those of other nations with embassies in Ekbir whether their governments could enlighten you on the nature of the TEC Pact. I believe that one goal of the TEC Pact is to prevent conflict in the light of coming threats as well as offer mutual protection. I will speak further of these threats and my divinations soon. In the interim, I offer you the hospitality of my court and the Baklunish Empire."

If the ambassadors wish, they are lead to a great feast hall, where delicacies from the Baklunish Empire and many other lands are served to them.


RIKANDUR AZEBOL AND KNIGHT OTU: Last night was the third time that Al'Akbar's government asked for ambassadors who had business with him to please meet with him. I have NOT been ignoring either of you.

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

There is a beautiful place in the Flanaess that few know about.
A place known as Aliador.
It has an Andelainian beauty to it, with naturally tall trees, green meadows, rolling hills, and a great vibrant health about it. For those with magical sight, it is strong with enchantment.
It occupies the eastern third of the Theocracy of the Pale, and extends well into the Rakers to the east, this enchanted land of forest and meadow, rushing streams and wide pools. All about it are plants growing with silver berries, strange magical berries that are extraordinarily nourishing and delightful to the taste.
In many places the berry plants have actually grown into large trees, which shimmer like molten silver in the sunlight.

The people of the Theocracy of the Pale do not venture here, because their clergy forbid it. The intolerant clergy of the Theocracy have long been terrified of this place, and will not enter, and restrain their people from entering.
Yet the occasional commoner does enter, and when this happens he or she seldom returns, for what he or she finds is so extradinary, so pleasant, that the desire to stay overcomes any feelings for home. Those that do return from Aliador typically remember only pleasant things, and never speak of elves or other residents of that pleasant, forbidden land.
The occasional humanoid or giant comes down from the Rakers into this land to hack, burn, and pillage. Few humanoids or giants return to the mountains, and what becomes of those who have gone missing is not known: divinations show they were not slain, but otherwise no information is granted.

What has escaped the notice of the heavily populated regions around this one, is that this is the home of two and a half million elves.
One could understand the mistake: there are no elves visible. People have searched for the rumored inhabitants, and found dryads and other forest beings aplenty, but rarely have they seen elves.
Clerics of the Theocracy have come with Detect Invisibility and True Seeing, but for all their efforts the magic of this place has frustrated their spells. They have not found the elves.
Some powerful wizards have attempted Wish spells to garner the secrets of this place, but there are those here who wield magic as potent as any Wish, and thus no Wish has gained the secrets the casters so desired.
Only those who have come here with friendly and open hearts, seeking the rumored inhabitants out of a desire to understand, to learn, to befriend, have found the elves, and all of those have either stayed or kept the secret of this place carefully guarded in their hearts.

-

The elves live in the trees. Literally. The trees are the homes of nearly all the elves of Aliador.
Within the great trees of Aliador are what most would call extradimentional spaces, but the elves who know the truth call them the Arden Kiethlin, or Hearts of the Trees.
If a stranger is welcomed into one of the tall, lush trees of the forests here by the elves, that stranger would find oneself in a great cathedral of living wood, green light flooding down from the heavens, great natural archways and passages running upward beyond sight, and running downward into unguessable depths. An impossible forest of great wooden stems, like pillars in a great hall but much more lofty, would extend upwards and downwards out of sight. A breeze of life, a breeze of magic, would flow over the strange, and he would see strands of light - strands of the Weave - running in silver, blue, purple, white, and many-colored splendor to the lofty unguessable heights beyond the soaring wood above, and down through pools of impossible depth into unseen distances below. If he looked long enough, he might see they soared away into other places, dimensions, and times.
That stranger would also hear the laughter of elven children, the singing of elven people, the chanting of elven wizards, the chatter of a whole society as it went about it's business: the noise of hundreds of elves busy with their lives. The cathedral is only the opening, the doorway to the house as it were. The communal hundreds that live up those vast soaring passages, in the amazing labyrinth of enormous chambers beyond, the great caverns of living wood below, up to the skyvaults miles above, or to the depths of the roots miles below, would greet the newcomer with all the warmth and cheer and merriment the elves are justly famous for. A new vistor has come calling, and the elves would delight in making her or him feel at home.

The visitor would quickly realize he was at the gates of a vast city, a city the elves call Varna. For the trees connect, and the great passages run from tree to tree, and communes of like minded elves inhabit different trees, hundreds of trees, thousands of trees, for miles and miles through the lush forests of Aliador.
The visitor would learn that several hundred thousand elves live in Varna, in the trees, in splendor and glory, in might and power, to rival the greatness of the Suel Empire. He would also find they are as courteous and pleasant, as friendly and merry, as a family welcoming their father in out of the snow on a cold winters' night.
The elves, the visitor and stranger would see, come in all colors. Some are vibrant yellow with dark yellow hair. Some are milky white with blue hair. Some are blue with white hair. Some are green with silver hair. Some are bronzed with black hair. Some are jet black with white hair.
Most are slim or slender, but some are fat. Many are very young, and a few are very old: the majority seem ageless. Some are as tall as 7 feet, and some as short as 4 feet. Some have extraordinary differences in their facial and body makeup and appearance, compared to others. Some are well groomed and wear ornate, elaborate uniforms. Some have unkempt hair and wear nothing at all. Some wear conservative looking tunics and dresses, and some are dressed in outlandish contraptions that would shame the debaunched nobles of Greyhawk City.
But whatever they look like, and whatever they dress in, they all are welcoming and friendly, all seem comfortable and even merry, all seem to fit here as if they were a part of the wood itself, and all are curious about the visitor.

-

The visitor would learn that other great cities exist in Aliador, such as Varlaith, Varluirra, Varleea, and Verrenlorr. All of them repositories of elves, with all their culture, their lore, their ancient strength, their communal togetherness among those of like mind, and their utter loyalty to each other and to their Lord and Lady. There are dozens of these cities, and thousands of smaller communities. There is even the occasional community of one, where elves desire solitude, but this is relatively rare: only a few thousand of these exist.

The visitor might wonder how so many elves can exist together, without exhausting the food supply.
The elves, seem to derive their main food supply from the very leaves of the forest, and by mystical means make waybread out of them, even as humans make their own bread from specialized grasses such as wheat, barley, and oats. The trees never seem to lack for leaves, though: the vistor will never find trees stripped of their leaves in Aliador.
The elves also partake of the silver berries, and they say a couple of them will sustain one easily for an entire day.

The visitor might wonder how so many elves could stand to live together in communes, since communes are so restrictive and demand such uniform behavior.
The visitor would be made to understand that, unlike humans, elves take great delight in each others' company, are not threatened by each other, and are not bashful around each other (a point that has often driven humans out of their wits, since humans can hardly stand each other.)
The elves would also point out they are very, very tolerant of differences between each other, and bend over backwards to accommodate individuality (another thing that drives humans batty, since humans tend to prefer uniformity.)

The visitor might wonder how the elves could stand all the NOISE. Especially the endless laughter of children and crying of babies. It echoes through the great passages and chambers, through the magical constructs of the elves, up and down the strands of the Weave.
The elves would simply point out they can shut it out if it bothers them. They never explain quite how.

The visitor might wonder that the elves never go outside their trees, and enjoy the lush forests and meadows and sunlight.
To this the elves would laugh, and smile secret smiles, and they would say that Things Are Not As They Appear, and the Guardians are always watching.

-

The trees ward the elves well, but the trees - for all their splendor and majesty and secret splendor - do not defend them.
The Guardians defend the elves.
Yes, the elves have their own army - every elf and elfess in the Realm would die to protect it and each other, and most are highly skilled in the (unpleasant) art of killing, but the real protectors are the Guardians.

The Guardians are those elves who refused Arvandor and the Afterlife to stay in the world, and train, and teach, and protect, and otherwise interact with the Living World.
These are the Morn and the Nymphs.
The Lord of Aliador is a Morn. The Lady of Aliador is a Nymph.
Wielding the most powerful magic known to Aliador, the Guardians under the Lord and Lady have warded the borders, and maintained the enchantment, so that none could enter without detection, and none could escape again without permission, and none could glimpse the secret of the elves without their blessings, and most certainly none could deceive the elves in friendly pretentions, then walk out into the World and give away the secret of the elves to that World.

Until now.
Now the secret is out.
And the knowledge of the elves has spread to the farthest reaches of Greyspace.

-

The devils came, and they were strong enough to breach the defenses, grant the elves their dark gift, then reveal the secret of the elves to all, before the devils returned to whence they came and the Crystal Sphere closed.

Laughter is stilled now, in Aliador. There is no laughter in the great chambers. There is no laughter at the high windows looking out over the forests. There is no laughter in the great pools in which the elves have so delighted, swimming unharmed down to unguessable depths, shrouded in blue magic.
There is solemnity among the elves as they sit in chairs of living wood, and the faces of elven children are frightened, as they lie in beds of soft wood that sink like cushions under their weight.
In solemn sadness and necessity elves and elfesses are picking up their swords and armor, calling to them their steeds, their griffons and hippogriffs, their mighty unicorn allies, the pegasi who are as much a part of the magic of the forest as any of the faerie, now also mustering for war: grigs, atomies, sprites, sylphs, pixies, all cut off from their Home Plane of Faerie, and all sadly readying for the horrors of war to come.

The Lord of Aliador is quiet nowadays, often in Melding with the Lady, and the two are deep in council with the other Guardians and elven elders, seeking ways to protect their people from the calamity bestowed, to protect their people from the powerful enemies all about.
Tears are often on the face of both the Lord and the Lady nowadays, and they do not laugh or sing or dance, nor do they walk in the forests and lose themselves in it's breathtaking beauty and it's exhilarating magic, for soon that may all be lost if they do not find a way to save it.

 

[Rikandur Azebol]

RIKANDUR AZEBOL AND KNIGHT OTU: Last night was the third time that Al'Akbar's government asked for ambassadors who had business with him to please meet with him. I have NOT been ignoring either of you.

IC:
*An orcy figure grunted cheavily again, over the ear of snorting frogman. Gate guards were bit accustomed to this strange ambassador of Empire of Iuz. After the first shock of their inhuman apperances passed, they quickly realised that this group resembled more squad of soldiers than mad beasts that were usually ravaging Balkuni borders. Frogfaced avoke finally and snarled at orc.*

What ?! I'm going to sleep well before we return for impaling.

Um, boss ... humie com' and azk'd Yo' to go to AbaAbark. We're goin' to be gutted ?

*Demon smiled broadly, a sigh of relief escaped his lungs.*

Avoke the Priesstess, and prepare Yourselves ! Guys, we're going to visit this Al'Akbar. And behave or I'll gut You all myself.

Ekbir, Audience Hall.

*After all bowing, every step demanded by etiquette followed flawlessly, Hezrou spoke in neutral, diplomatic tone. His fiendish eyes weren't displaying any emotion as well as ans his respectful yet proud stance. His armour was of finest quality, and exotic workmanship ... probably elven ? But wich elf would make something for a fiend ?! Most unusual.*

His Emperor Highness, God-Tzar, Lord of Demons, Master of the Land and leader of People Iuz the Old, sends You greetings and gifts ... as he ordered, delivered to Your hands only. Here are signs of My Lord's goodwill.

*Clean and shaved Orc come forward, lay jug filled with alcohol and sealed with wax. After crude bow it walked away o the rest of diplomat's team.*

Head of Ali Baba, known tomb robber and insane murderer, caught while fleeing trough Empire of Iuz. Also know for his disrespect for gods of his country, robbed many temples devoted to Your Enlighted Higness.

*Another Orc came, with one tusk missing and laid next to jug a small paper box with flashy writings over the cover, and picture displaying greedily smiling gnome grabbing world.*

A game of complex and difficult rules, monument of gnomish mathematic forethought. Best to try it Yourself ... and "Build! Empire". No one has ever bested international champion of Aestia, GreenBorrowGimmnick. Youngest Gnome who achieved such results.

*Three Gnolls, with furs shining clean, wawing their tails and looking around in excitment come closes with package and small jewlery box each. They laid it near other gifts.*

And Lord Iuz gives You also this three sets of jewelry, pride of an elven princess. They are of great antiquity and telling their story would take ten days, for each. And also these dresses, that fit the jewels perfectly, spider silk of rare quality molded by best fashion designers in Queendom of Eclavdor.

*Demon smiled, intending to behave nicely, but his smile was this sort that many saw it last time in their lives. And laid delicate small box of sandal wood next to other gifts.*

And this small token, pipe of unicorn ivory and fine dwarven tobacco, Strong No'3. And Emperor invites Your Enlighten Hingness to send emmisary and establish embassy in Dorakaa.

*All is good, but why this frog-demon is so repulsively ugly ? And they wish to establish embassy.*

OOC:

Finally ! Well, now I have to nag a little our mutual friend Bugbear. Please recive my ambassador Pleeancis before Merchant Guild start rits in protest for unfair competition.

 

[Melkor Lord Of ALL!]

Airwhale have you got my last email?

 

[Creamsteak]

Hey Melkor, you sent me a reply to an email I sent you. However, it looks like (perhaps) it was an email meant for airwhale. What do you want me to do about it?

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

TO SERPENTEYE

The Lord of Aliador is Leathnor. The Lady of Aliador is Gwyndilyn. I claim both as PCs, since they work as a team. Since I seem to have 2 Epic PL for leaders, could we say each of these is worth 1 Epic PL?

-

TO EVERYONE

The clergy of the Theocracy of the Pale are ... well ... the clergy of the Theocracy of the Pale. Nevermind that Pholtus has disappeared and they've lost all their powers. They are the clergy of Pholtus, and of course they are invincible.
They prepare a message, and it goes like this:

To Iuz:

The Theocracy of the Pale is protected and empowered by Pholtus, Mightiest of Dieties, He of the Blinding Light.
If you so much as step foot in our country, he will strike you down and incinerate you in his Glory, and you will be no more.
If you dare to attack the Theocracy, the forces of the Pale shall level your empire, your capital of Doraaka will quickly fall before our Holy Might, and the Pholtus the Sun will shine once more over the Howling Hills; your Darkness shall be banished forever.

To Aerdi: You have no business up north, so keep your armies and your diplomats out. We have no time or room for your heretics here. Leave the Theocracy alone, and we will leave Aerdi alone. Bother us, and ... pay the price. The Wrath of Pholtus is not to be taken lightly.
Your predessors left us alone, for they rightfully feared the invincible strength of Pholtus of the Light. We pray for your sake that you see similar wisdom.

To the Wolf God: (no message: the Theocracy would not stoop to speaking with humanoid rabble.)

To Nyrond: We perceive your ambitions against the Theocracy: has Nyrond not always sought expansionism in the north, pretending altruism and offering false aid? We reject your TEC Pact utterly, along with your heretical audacity. Allying with heretics is not in the Theocracys' interest, and never will we stoop to such behavior.

-

Fortunately, none of the messages above get out.
Before they can, the Elves of Aliador magically charm all the leaders of the Theocracy, by default taking over the country.
The elves do not assume rulership, but the clergy of Pholtus - under the effects of the charm - come to see it the elven way, and moderate drastically in their thinking, actually becoming semi reasonable for once.
The elves did not wish to do this, feeling that free will denied was a crime, but they also felt they had no choice. The missive from the Theocracy would have brought the wrath of all their neighbors upon them, and they had their own innocent people, as well as the innocent people of the Theocracy, to protect.
The kneel and ask forgiveness from the Seldarine for this criminal act (they are not answered) and they resign themselves to the punishments afforded such criminal behavior which will be inflicted later on when the Seldarine return, but they charm the leaders of the Theocracy anyways.

-

TO ELUVAN

King Arlon of the Yeomanry, and Queen Yolande of Celene, along with the leadership of the Knights of Luna and the leadership in the Gnarley Forest, are asking for admittance into the League of Athyr.
They are not prepared to forfeit sovereignity, but they are willing to send their armies to aid the League of Athyr in whatever forays it undertakes, and they are willing to bow to the general dictates of the League.
(This does not mean I am giving up playing these countries. They will remain under my control. But if you, Eluvan, accept them as member states of the League of Athyr, they fall under the protection of your power. Can you see why they'd do this? They are allied with Aliador, yes, but they also seek the protection and support of their large and powerful friendly neighbor, the League of Athyr. Aliador is in no position to protect them, and both nations face formidable foes right on their borders.)

-

TO SERPENTEYE, ELUVAN, WILLIAM, KALANYR AND OTHERS

A plea goes out to Al'Akbar and the leader of the League of Athyr, and Queen Xin of Miranda.
Aleithnor and Gyndillyn are both pleading ... to allow Aliador to open Gates, and send it's children, and the innocent children and civilians of the Theocracy, to the safety of mighty Ekbir and Veluna. Or to the distant and presumably safe refuge of Miranda.

Every able bodied elf and elfess is staying in Aliador. Nobody is leaving. Nobody is going to desert their fellow elves, their leaders, or their country. They cherish them all, and they are not leaving.
But they want to save their children. Surely, say the Lord and Lady, there must be a place for the children. Surely, in the West one of the strong nations could take them and grant them safety?
Aliador will pay in money and goods whatever price is required to house it's hundreds of thousands of children, and yet more children and civilians from the Theocracy.

OOC, if this counts as a special operation, Aliador will pay in PP/PL whatever it takes to save it's children, and the children and non-combatants of the Theocracy.

Also, Aliador opens gates to Ratik across the mountains, now isolated and facing obliteration, and offers to take all the children, civilians, and anyone else unwilling to stay and face the impossible situation there.
Aliador once more requests that the West receive these refugees.
Aliador once more promises to pay whatever amount is demanded for the safe housing of the refugees of Ratik. (If you look at Ratik, it is unclaimed, and facing obliteration from three directions on Turn 1. Many elves live in Ratik, along with faerie and forest beings. The elves of Aliador know this, and they care about these cousins across the Rakers.)

OOC, if this counts as another special operation, Aliador will pay in PP/PL whatever it takes to save the people of Ratik who wish to flee their desperate plight, and save their children.

Saving the lives of innocent children and innocent people comes first, for the Elves.
Protecting their homeland, with their own lives, comes second.
They cherish their fellow elves as much as the drow hate their fellow drow. Elven men and women, youths and maids, all take up their weapons and armor, in sadness and pain, understanding all too well what the horrors of war mean, understanding all too well they may never again see their children.

TO EVERYONE

If one of the Western Powers says yes, it is a great victory and also by sad necessity a monumental loss, for the Elves of Aliador.
There is SEVERE pain among the children who are leaving, who may never see their parents again. There is great pain among fathers and mothers watching their children go. It is an agonizing scene of heartbreak, many elves collapsing in tears, others reeling and being helped away by others, and sad faced elders trying to keep from breaking down themselves.

In solemn ceremony, Leathnor and Gwyndilyn sign the TEC Pact. It is a joyless ceremony, but Leathnor and Gwyndilyn put the interests of their people over their own personal feelings.

In an equally solemn ceremony, Leathnor and Gwyndilyn sign the Miranda Pact. There are some smiles here, and both seem relieved that powers of the Light are allying in the face of the massive threat hanging over everyone.


-

As per the TEC Pact, the drow ambassador and her people go marching into Aliador.
The Guardians do not stop them. The trees do not bend down to crush them. The Faerie watch solemnly, and stay their hands.
The Drow, under Geas from Eclavdra, nod courteously and respectfully to all, and continue on their way. Inwardly, though, they smirk and sneer at these snivelling fey amidst their tall green weeds, frightened like pathetic goblins at the mere sight of drow might.

Right to the gates of the city of Varna, the drow march.
They halt before the great oak tree that is the main gate, until the elves admit them.
Gleeful in victory, marching into the most secret and treasured place of these wretched, pathetic elves, good only to be tortured and enslaved if they are good even for that, the drow march in triumph through the hallowed halls and cathedral chambers of living wood, their armor glinting in the green light, their footfalls echoing loudly throughout the Heart of the Tree.
The elves and elfesses just watch, in apathetic horror, as the Drow Enemy comes marching into the very heart of their realm, into the place that had known thousands of years of safety and secrecy. There is nothing they can do. The Lord and Lady have decreed the TEC Pact is to be followed, they all understand the reason for the TEC Pact, and they stay their hands.
All the while, on the surface respectful and courtesy, the drow sneer and scoff at the weakling elfies and their pathetic wooden hovels.

It gets worse for the elves.
Melkors' vampires eventually come. Once more, the Guardians open the way, and the tramp of undead feet thunders across the living wood of the heart of Aliador.
Later, the demons of Iuz come, probably sneering openly, laughing at the weakling elves, and once more the men and women, youths and maids, of the Elves of Aliador have no choice but to watch as the Enemy marches into the very innermost heart of their Realm.
And still they come, a parade of evil beings and monsters. Mighty humanoids riding hellhounds. Towering giants. The Minions of Ivid. Succubi. Assassins from the Scarlet Brotherhood. Swaggering barbarians serving the Tempest of Hell. Sahuagin from the Solnor. Devils in formal armor.

All of them parade into Varna, capital of Aliador, into the most cherished, treasured, and secret place of the elves on Oerik.
A stonefaced Lord and Lady allow them in, with full due as ambassadors, and give them full and proper accommodations.

Even with the friendly ambassadors from Nyrond, the Iron League, the Ulek League, Aerdi, Miranda, Gigantea, Hyperboria ...

It is a truly Dark Hour for the Elves of Aliador.

 

[Kalanyr]

Although we of Miranda doubt that we are truly in a place of safety, we will offer whatever refuge you of Aliador wish to take. And if we are correct, we shall shed our blood to defend these children as if they were our own.

Her Lunar Majesty Xin Hope.

 

[Rikandur Azebol]

Aliador, it's gates.

*Demons of terrible stature, and houndlike faces came. Twice as tall as any elf, their armours crackling with arcane energies contained within blackened mithral. Scenes of unspeakable savager and devastation are carved all over their armours. Their doglike heads gaze at elves as someone might look at the insects, vile smiles and smirks enter their faces for mere moments when someone displays sign of fear. They were surrounding someone as if this was honour guard. Dread filled elven hearts ... Evil One came himself ?! But not ... it was weiled petite woman, with golden hair of young elf maid surrounding her like halo. Scarred, like veteran of thousand battles, and lacking one eye an unicorn was bearing her. It's obvious that demons stand beyond the reach of his hooves, and pay attention not only to surroudings but also seemingly insane beast. When she ride from between them, demons grabged their butchering blades, easily capable of slicing ogre from head to groin, and gazed at the elf guardians. Expecting that they move their hands toward their weapons. Elf maid ride closer and spoke softly and quietly.*

First Maid of God-Tzar is coming here, He is wishing to offer his protection to Elf folk of Aliador.

OOC:
Got You !

 

[Gurdjieff]

EDENA

TO SERPENTEYE, ELUVAN, WILLIAM, KALANYR AND OTHERS

Does this include the factions the elves did not contact to establish diplomatic relations? Especially mine? Is it public that this plea is made?

 

[Eluvan]

Edena (Aliador):

The reply is solemn and pained, but filled with compassion. "It is a black day that you ask this of us. For parents to send away their children that they may not face the horrors of war... this is an act filled with both great nobility and great sadness. I weep that you feel these drastic measures are necessary, but I do not presume to know your own situation better than you yourself. If this is what you feel you must do, we will not naysay it. And certainly we will not refuse you aid. In these troubled times the League of Athyr can give no guarantee that any of the people within its border will be truly safe, for it is my belief that in the coming months and years there will be not a man, owman or child across all of Oerth who can truly call themself safe. But we can guarantee that our loyal soldiers shall fight to the very last, shall sacrifice themselves in the hundreds and thousands before they allow any civilian under their protection to be harmed. If you must send your children to us, we shall take them in and we shall protect them as if they were our own."

Edena again (Yeomanry/Celene/Gnarley Forest)

"The League of Athyr welcomes all those who ask admittance in good faith. We will be only too happy to welcome you, and we would like to invite you to send one Councillor, selected as you see fit, to Niole Dra to take a place on our Council and there represent your interests. You will, of course, be expected to act in accordance with the League's policy, but you will retain your independence and have free reign to pursue your own agenda so long as it does not conflict with the League's own."



Kalanyr

The League accepts graciously and signs the treaty.