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I lie on the fur bed, using Wolfe as my pillow while also inspecting him as I wait for Zhao Ming. To my bewildernt, Wolfe has no new mutations even after he changed so significantly after being bestowed power by Ulric. This is different from when Khorne changed him as it leaves the mutations behind. This ans that either the power Ulric bestows only amplifies what is already there or that he can entirely take back the power he had bestowed. What a cheapskate. But I guess only the Chaos Gods deal in mutations and that the other Gods did not do the sa. Pity though, as I can’t replicate this with the others, I was hoping whatever I find can help stabilize the beastn’s genes. But that is to be expected.
“Boof.” Wolfe softly barked. Notifying and Valeria that Zhao Ming has arrived. He entered along with two others. I sensed a connection between the three so the two others must be his dragon-blooded children or sothing. But to my surprise, he did not bring along anyone else. Is he still confident that the three of them can run away in case I did sothing or is it a sign of trust?
“Welco. Forgive to not prepare anything. My arrival here is abrupt.” I greet them without sitting up. Then a few of my shamans entered and put down so pillows that were used by the ogres based on its size and cleanliness. Zhao Ming sat on the pillow without a second thought, already having dealt with ogres before while his children followed soon after.
“Before we begin, I would like to apologize for my daughter’s reaction. She mistook your proposal for sothing much more… severe and permanent.” I started and paid his trust back first.
“Ahahaha! Do not worry about that.” He cupped his hand together. “As my children have put it, apparently it was not exactly the appropriate way to propose such a thing.” He answered cordially.
“But the aim to make an alliance here is true, yes?” He continues
“Of course. I have heard that you are considering it before you make your proposal.”
“Indeed. But now that you are here personally, would you mind enlightening as to why ally with Cathay specifically? Why not the Kingdoms of Ind southwest. I heard there are other beastn there.”
“The most important thing is of course stability. I haven’t heard much of Ind, but they don't exactly seem like a united nation. My herd’s arrival there can shake things up, especially if one of their kings, Raja as what they are called, accepts my herd. The others will see it as a threat or a power play.” I bullshit through. They are never depicted officially as far as I rember and they are only a footnote during End Tis so I don’t know anything about them.
“I am grateful for your complint.” He accepts without a sign whether what I say is true or not.
“The other thing is land. The Warpstone Desert is vast and uninhabited.” I decided to add so truth to it so he didn’t call out on my bullshit. To this, he is visibly surprised.
“You plan to settle the desert?” He repeats to confirm
“Permanently and if necessary. Unless of course, our alliance stands and you can provide a better place.” I add and he frowns as he thinks. I let him think in silence. Seeing his two children, both are equally bewildered by my words. Technically it won’t matter even if I settle in the Warpstone Desert. I think it is possible to transform the desert similarly like in Drakwald with my divinity. It will take significantly longer and it won’t be a lush forest, but livable.
“What drove you to such lengths?” He finally asks
“I can’t say. Only that the reason why is going to be revealed soon.” I answer ambiguously. Again silence returns as he thinks. Rubbing his beard as he studies and Valeria.
“This alliance, I did not think it will benefit as much as it benefits yours.” He said it bluntly. Is the politically polite speaking finally over now?
“Really? And what other benefits do you need to consider to be acceptable? I think you were more receptive to the idea before my arrival.”
“Before I only saw a herd of beastn and nothing more. Now, I see you and I need sothing more than vague reasons.” He said confidently. Clearly knowing what I am. Yet he still cos here alone with only his two children. Which ans he has prepared sothing that allows swift escape and also buying ti for sothing. Again I am at a disadvantage when negotiating terms like this. I think I have the power to block whatever he has that can ensure escape with my Space concept if it relies on teleportation. But that only proves there’s no sincerity in the alliance offer.
“I can’t say more for the reason other than survival and that it will be revealed before this year ends.” I said firmly. Push co to shove, we will settle deep in the Warpstone Desert near the foot of the Mountains of Mourn. While this ans that the new base will be sandwiched between the ogres and Cathay, if hostilities are unavoidable, it will beco a very good ground for battle experience.
“Of course my herd will help defend Cathay should the need arise and I expect the sa in return, as for other benefits,” Then I heard heavy footsteps and I sensed Dorn had returned. I smiled as I had found my advantage. “Why don’t I just show you.” I rise and beckon the rest to follow.
Exiting the tent, the raucous atmosphere of the camp has turned more subdued as Dorn arrived. Carrying a huge Warpstone almost twice his size. He drops the Warpstone outside the camp. Quaking the earth from its weight.
“The other benefit, Zhao Ming, is that I plan to make a gate, linked directly to my Herdstone back within the Empire. I am sure we can negotiate a fair deal on using my gate to expedite trade between Grand Cathay and the Empire of Man in the west and everything that follows the removal of travel distance.” I explained and his eyes widened for a blink as he understood the implication. As I have stated my willingness to settle the desert and now with the gate, alliance between and him is actually no longer a strict necessity. Alliance with will provide him with all the benefits I have stated while refusing will add a potential enemy very near that can reinforce instantly whenever necessary.
“AHAHAHAHAHA!” Zhao Ming laughs loudly. “You drive a hard bargain!” He then said, technically it is closer to an ultimatum.
“Very well then.” He turned and looked up at . “This alliance, I will accept if only you swear it.” Again it is the fact that I am a daemon that blocks this alliance into form. I guess a daemon as an ally is more of a risk than another unruly neighbor like the ogres.
“I am sorry. I’m afraid I cannot do that.” I have gotten this far without swearing anything and now that my Divinity is already very high, I must also be careful to not add a burden or an oath that might be absolutely enforceable should I ascend to beco a proper God. “What I can do is that I promise to uphold the alliance, to defend Cathay should the need arise if you do the sa as long as you did not betray this alliance first.” I offer the next best thing before an oath.
“Good enough.” He concedes. Much to his children's shock. “Then I too promise to uphold this alliance, to defend the Golden Herd should the need arise if you do the sa as long as you did not betray this alliance first.” He repeats my promise. This went smoother than I expected. Wonder what reason made him accept so readily.
Then a loud and long and deafening horn sounds from the south. Echoing through the desert and the sky. The earth rumbles as thousands of ogres march from the south.
“I hope you wouldn’t mind that I invite so guests.” He said before laughing again. This must be what he’s buying ti for. “Now I must return. This alliance must be celebrated.”
“Then I will prepare the gate.” He nods and finally leaves with his children. I breathe a sigh of relief. This polite form of speaking and negotiating is exhausting. The beastn's usual approach of fighting and assimilating other hordes is much preferable to . But I know that is not possible with other races. Well maybe it can work with the ogres and the orks, but not the rest.
“So the alliance is made, mother?” Valeria finally speak
“Yes, finally.”
“All that speaking is so convoluted, must we do that from now on?” Valeria asks, clearly having the sa opinion as on just fighting.
“Unfortunately, yes. You have been observing in silence so far, what do you think?”
“It's tedious.” I chuckle at her response. “But I guess we have not much choice against a larger enemy.”
“We don’t. Well at least not yet. And I think this is much better this way, the beastn have ford an alliance of huge warherd like this. Think of it that way but with other races instead.”
“Then we must also give what the other needs or wants.”
“Yes, but also be careful. When negotiating, the other party might be just buying ti like Zhao Ming did. While he did accept the alliance for so reason in the end, he also buys ti for the ogres to arrive.” She nods at my teaching
“I don’t like him.” She finally concludes her opinion of him
“Hmmm. But if his interest in you still stands, I think you can learn much from him. Now go and prepare the herd.” She finally left and now it's ti for to build the gate.
—
The sa evening, off the north coast of Nordland. A secluded bay directly south of the small archipelago with jagged reefs nad Manaan’s Teeth.
“LAAAAAND!” Manaan shouts joyously on top of the Black Ark. “I can’t believe I am this excited to see LAAAAAAND!” He runs to the edge of the deck to look at the land, the river that ets the sea and the ancient forest of Laurelorn. Trailing behind him are a few dark elven servants, utterly terrified but forced to follow him nonetheless.
“Would you believe I almost want to cover the entire world below the sea?” He asks the dark elves with a grin. Not one dark elf answers. They quickly learned that there’s no good answer when Manaan starts asking. They just hope his attention leaves as quickly as mortal sailors would hope the storm passes.
“That was petty of . I’m glad my parents locked up.” He turned back to look at the land then to the sea below the deck. There should be at least fifty ter drop from the deck.
“Anyway, thank you for the lift. Oh, and don’t leave until the day after tomorrow. There’s so surprise for you tomorrow.” He said before jumping from the deck to the sea below. The sea catches him in their embrace and Manaan quickly stands atop of the water. Running joyously on the water to the land following the river upwards. Leaving the dark elves in chaos. With the dread captain dead, so of his surviving lieutenants want to just imdiately leave the coast but many already left too terrified to even act against the God of the Sea’s will. Not after what happened below the deck.
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