>>5930049>>5930218>>5930241>>5930431>>5930583>>5930599>>5930648The Rex decides to keep the dragons in reserve, for the time being. Once open warfare begins, if that is what this comes to, we will utilize them for their shock value, but until we know more about the enemy we must not tip our hand.
The army moves west while their force moves east. The most forward outpost that the enemy has constructed, or is in the process of constructing, is located upon the southwestern hex of wild black mulberries and amber deposits, as seen in
>>5928091It is here that their army is gathering, and it is here that our two forces meet to size each other up. There is one thing that is clear: they outnumber us, perhaps by a factor of three men for each of our two, or one and a half times our current army. Their defensive fortifications upon this tile also give them a benefit in that they had time to prepare a fighting position before your arrival; a consequence of their initiative to strike out into this land. They came prepared for a fight and are well dug-in.
There is a curious asset they possess, which our people have never seen before: they possess beasts unlike any in our lands, large beasts which resemble three-headed mustelids with long, reptilian-scaled whip-like tails ending in a scorpion's stinger. These chimeric creatures are numerous, serving as daunting augments to their army.
As the two forces look upon each other, envoys from the enemy are sent forwards. The Rex decides to meet with them, for it would serve to obtain intelligence as to why this is all occurring. With guards and advisors, along with the dragonblooded sorceress, they meet with these envoys.
The envoys introduce themselves as representatives of the empire of the west. Their terms are simple: lay down your arms, surrender, and there will be no bloodshed. The Emperor will take over your lands, and you will serve as vassals for him, supplying a great amount of food to feed the people of the west. Your government, such as it is, may remain, provided fealty is pledged to the Emperor, but your religion will change to that of their goddess, the Mother of the Earth and Lady of the Land. You will allow their army to march into your villages and take control; you will accommodate them with food and drink, and many of your daughters will be given to the soldiers as payment for their efforts. Should you refuse any of these demands, there will be complete and total war, and when you are defeated on the field of battle they will do as they have said anyway.
When asked why this must be by the Rex, the envoys reply that it is the will of the Emperor, and thus it will be so. However, a keen seer alongside the Rex divines a deeper truth; there are subtle factors that reveal their empire has grown too large to sustain itself, and in desperation, they are seeking to conquer other lands in order to have them supply food to deal with their current overpopulation issues.
What is our response?
