This time, however, you would score a significant blow; the trebuchets resumed their barrage with renewed precision and ability, spurred on by an increased confidence the crew was gaining as they got accustomed to operating the lumbering beasts of war. One after the other, they landed on the walls, brushing aside the crenelation behind which the defenders were hiding, and collapsing one of the towers with one particularly well-placed shot. The garrison tried to reinforce the walls, though that was in vain, as another round of shots rendered that section of the wall unwalkable. It wasn't a breach, but in theory you could funnel enough ladder through it as to scale the walls, though you weren't sure of the drop if one were to climb the ladder and then drop into the city.
The more you thought about it, the stupider that particular idea seemed, so you scotched it before it even left your mouth. Still, if you kept this up, you might be able to cow the garrison commander into surrender. It would seem that Raymond was too entangled with the Mizarians, so neither would come for the time being. For now, that would mean you still held the initiative, and the cards. Time might be against you, but if the deadline was twelve and the clock just struck one, you had a lot of time to gamble with. Or, as you told your most prominent commanders and lords that evening over dinner.
<span class="mu-i"> ''I do believe the time for negotiating a surrender is near. If we're lucky, the commander of the garrison has been sufficiently spooked by the towers, ladders, and trebuchets outside the city, and with no help coming for the time being. I hope to take this city as intact as possible, if that is what can secure this land.'' </span> You told them as the appetiser (onion soup with bread and cheese.) was served.
<span class="mu-i"> ''That will be a disappointment to the men; usually they will get a bonus for all this drudgery by being allowed to plunder such a city, but I suppose that the men haven't yet reached that level of frustration yet,'' </span> Konrad said while stirring the soup.
That is true, but considering your mission here to strengthen Mithras, and not to weaken it, leaving the city a shell of its former self can negate any positive effects a seizure of Iasida might have upon the region. Still, if you were to take the city without having to subject your soldiers to a hard, and most likely costly, storming of the gates and walls, you might be able to consolidate your hold on the region without one blow of your sword, leaving the Mizarians to scramble for the ports and Raymond back to his kingdom.
Will you open negotiations?
>Yes
>No
What shall be your terms? (If you want to negotiate?)
>Magnanimous, there shall be free passage for the city commander and the garrison.
>Generous, free passage for the garrison, but the commander shall be taken hostage to await a ransom.
>Harsh, no free passage, the garrison shall be made to work in rebuilding, and the commander to be taken hostage.
>Write-in
