Author's Note: Life of a Dragon Sequel v2.3 had been released on Epicwar, Hiveworkshop, and MakeMeHost! I hope that everyone will enjoy the new content and finished the main story!
I've come to realize that La Rochelle is actually Gallia's territory, but since I've already had plans and made many mistakes, I'm keeping in at Tristan's Territory, thus making Tristain a little bigger than it actually is.
Now, enjoy the chapter everyone!
Life of a Zero Dragon
Chapter 29: Wayward Politics
The incoming force of the foreign nation had been quite an alarming sight to Grom, and his fellow orc kin, while he could, with confidence, easily speak with the foreign embassy. There lacked a crucial, determining factor that unfortunately the Transition didn't solve or grant him the ability to decipher.
He couldn't read the foreign dialect.
While the items within Life of a Dragon Sequel seemly allowed any who equipped them to read their descriptions, albeit mentally, it seems that factor lied solely in the items alone.
All magical ways of translating text to their language of the orcish people had long since been destroyed or lost by the end of the war against the demons.
So, any deal he could make with these unknowns would have to be put through verbally alone, otherwise, he risked the fact of... For lack of a better term... Disadvantaged fine print.
Damn, even in this world, politics was still a load of evil shit crammed into verbal and written mortal combat.
He preferred fighting the rogue red dragon over this.
There was also another issue that was quite prevalent, and that was the different nobility influencing possible negotiations outside of just him and the crown. He had learned from his… 'Interrogations' with the captives, all of which have been released since then, about the country, its basic political state, history, some religious information, and also key military knowledge.
The latter he could understand the most, considering his training within the armed forces and experience helped him filter out notable military intelligence quite keenly.
"Warchief!"
"Yes, Kon'Kor?" Grom replied to perhaps one of his greatest commanders.
"The foreign embassy has arrived, the Meeting Fire has been established," Kon'Kor answered his Warchief, his King.
It was quite odd that the term 'King' still applied to Grom when many now referred to him as Warchief, Grom guessed it was a cultural carry-over from when the time the Fel Empire was still a vast, continent stretching nation.
"Ah, the Meeting Fire," Grom said, he actually didn't have a clue what that meant.
Kon'Kor nodded, "I shall guide the humans there to discuss; food and beverages have been provided as an offering."
Grom closed his eyes, 'So, Meeting Fire is another cultural thing… It appears the Lakor- Wait, no, Fel… Fel… Lakor? Lakor Empire... '
Why did his terms start changing all the sudden?
Is perhaps, the lore of the map shifting? It is a probability, after all, Warcraft 3 maps were bound to update and change things around as they aged. The Map Maker might have changed the lore name of the orcish people from Fel to Lakor to further differ from the Warcraft counterparts.
'Which would be good, considering the fact it gets annoying to keep saying Fel all the time, when knowing the term Fel usually means demonic bullshit is occurring.' Grom had to agree, it is decided, he would introduce his Empire as the Lakor Empire. After all, the Fel Empire could logically be considered over since it's all but destroyed by the demons, so the start of a new civilization from the survivors would mark a true transition.
Wait… His Empire?
When did it become that in his mind?
He shook his head, no time to dilly dally on such thoughts.
A large group of humans on horseback approached the hastily built defenses of the Empire, just outside the rebuilding, charred town of La Rochelle. Grom walked towards the Meeting Fire, eager to get this talk over with.
He stood up tall, awaiting for the Tristain delegates to arrive. His mind expecting a royal queen as gleamed, beautiful and pure, wise and knowing.
Instead, he got a bunch of noble men coming in front of the fire.
Only confusion decorated his face, and he spoke first.
"I was expecting your noble Queen," Grom stated, hiding his displeasure behind an emotionless mask. Whether human or orc, the emotional expressions between the two races were similar to one another. "I see that she had decided to not make an appearance."
"Apologies," The nearest noble, who appeared to lead the group answered, "But the Queen couldn't risk this being a trap of some sort." The man finished, his monocle along his right eye moving slightly as words spoke through his mouth, his facial features showing a blond mustache and beard along with long hair reaching to his shoulders. His outfit was strange, but not entirely foreign to Grom, the man-turned-orc had some historical knowledge in the fashions of Earth's past thanks to the same studies in Ancient and Medieval Warfare.
Grom nodded, "The roads must indeed be dangerous, the burning of La Rochelle must have forced many into the life of bandits or brigands. I am Warchief Grom, the Lakorian King of the Lakor Empire."
"Pleasure to meet you, I am Duc de La Valliere, one of the higher nobles within the Kingdom of Tristain." He said, "To my right is Sir General Gramont, and my left, Noble Duke Orlais."
"Greetings," Gramont said.
"Well met," Orlais continued.
"What business do you bring? Though I am sure it involves the survivors we have been harboring?" Grom questioned.
"That is one of the topics we hoped to discuss with you," the Duke answered, "We are also curious about the nature of what, and who your people are."
"A curiosity that I'm sure many back in your Kingdom's circle of nobles are wondering," Grom began, "But, let us start this discussion on a high note, I am willing to return all citizens of the Kingdom of Tristain back to your Queen's custody without any strings attached."
"Truly? That is a generous offer," The Duke replied in surprise.
"However, we cannot finalize this deal by written works," Grom quickly said, "As I'm sure you can expect, our two civilizations have different languages, I am perhaps one of the few that can understand you, as is the same way in reverse. So, only our words and keeping of the deals will tell each side whether it can trust the other."
"I can see the predicament, the relationship between our two nations is fragile, like thin ice with a cart traveling over it. It can break at any moment," The man replied.
"A fine analogy," Grom spoke. "I trust the Kingdom of Tristain, to be honest in its words?"
"Of course, Tristanians are a proud people, they would not go back on their promises," He responded.
"And what does the people of Tristain, particularly the crown, wish of the Lakor Orcs?" Grom questioned.
"Information," Gramont spoke, "The Lakor Orcs have appeared quite suddenly in our borders, it is rather curious that you would appear roughly the same time that La Rochelle is under siege from a dragon."
"Which begs the question," Orlais spoke from the other side, "While dragons are formidable opponents, they do not nearly the amount of power to raze an entire city. Perhaps a few villages of commoners, but not an infrastructure built also with stone."
"Ah…" Grom trailed off as he tried to keep his calm, the game of politics now began, introductions were over and the careful words of dagger and gestures presented itself. "I'm afraid the nature of your local dragons does not match the sheer ferocity and prowess of this dragon."
"Do explain," Gramont said.
The Lakor Player looked to them, "What's the average height of your dragons?"
"Two and a half meters tall, measuring an additional meter when standing upright." Duke Valliere explained.
"Juvenile?" Grom said, causing the nobles to blink in slight surprise, "This dragon measure at least nine to ten meters tall, and if it stood upright, possible fourteen to fifteen meters."
"That's… That's huge…" Orlais spoke in shock, but Gramont and Valliere seemed to have kept their cool. Considering Gramont and Valliere's titles, they were of military origin, where by Orlais was a simple noble that had a higher ranking, his presence was most likely a formality if anything.
"An Ancient Dragon, it is believed those had gone extinct many thousands of years ago," Gramont spoke, "Are you sure of its size?"
"The corpse lays just a trek away from the city, in the field now covered with burnt grass. I do have information about this type of dragon, which most likely, is far different than any other dragon you have seen before," Grom said.
"Enlighten us," Valliere said.
Grom shook his head, "I'm afraid we haven't come into an agreement just yet, Tristanian."
"Ah yes, the return of our citizens," Valliere recalled, "The Queen does wish for her subjects to cared for."
"It sounds like this Queen has quite the caring heart," Grom complimented.
Orlais spoke, "Indeed, Queen Henrietta has a heart unlike any other. She cares for all the subjects within her domain, and those outside as well."
Grom nodded, this Henrietta figure seemed to have a more modern day morality. This Tristain so far seemed to have a far more peaceful and tolerant atmosphere than the dark ages of Europe.
Still, this was a medieval-tech nation, or so he believes for the moment. If there was any subject that would make this talk go south, it would be religion. So, best to avoid that topic altogether.
"You are free to have any of your citizens back, provided they have people willing to take them in. If you have a scribe, they can put down a list of names that the survivors give and you can place that list on display in a populated area, that could make transferring them easier as family members or kind individuals take them in," Grom said.
"We do have a scribe," Orlais spoke, "This deal is acceptable."
"Now, what are your terms?" Grom questioned.
Duke Valliere answered, "The Nobles of Tristain will most likely want the Lakor Orcs to be evicted from the possession of La Rochelle."
"I expected as much," Grom said, "But there is more to it?"
General Gramont nodded, "Most also don't know who or what you are, for all they are aware, you are just a band of ordinary human mercenaries who slew a big dragon."
Grom crossed his arms, "You want us gone before they figure it out, keep it silent and not induce panic."
Valliere made an agreeing gesture, "That would be a favorable outcome."
"Alright," Grom said. "However, we cannot leave these survivors alone, also, I want to discuss another important subject."
"We can occupy this encampment and convert it into a refugee camp," Valliere replied.
"I offer my troops," Gramont spoke.
Grom nodded, "Now, in the matter of that other subject, my people have conquered some regions."
"Conquered?" Valliere looked suspiciously at him.
"Grunt!" Grom said at one of his warriors, "Bring me the drawn map!"
"Yes, Warchief!"
"Now," Grom continued, "It wasn't any land taken by humans, but rather a disgusting mockery of true orcs, we have since exterminated them."
"Oh, thank Brimir," Orlais spoke, "If it was those tribes you took, you are free to have them!"
"Glad to know they were not appreciated," The player said, "Now," The Lakor Warchief began, "Let us discuss the finer details in possession of this land, as well as exchange information on each others people…"
Current Status:
Chosen Dragon Player 1: Saito Hiraga - Alive - Purple Dragonet (Agility) Level 11
Chosen Dragon Player 2: Alex Storm - Alive - Bronze Dragonet (Strength) Level 8
Chosen Dragon Player 3: Asuna Godiva - Alive - Nether Dragonet (Strength) Level 10
Chosen Dragon Player 4: Artos Archway - Alive - Green Dragonet (Agility) Level 8
Chosen Dragon Player 5: Cora Rune - Alive - Blue Dragonet (Intelligence) Level 10
Dragon Slayer Player 6: Celdrahil - Alive - Slayer Level 8
Dragon Catcher Player 7: Rosina - Alive - Catcher Level 12
The Human Kingdom Player 8: Aylmer and Abigail - Alive - King Level 4, Princess Level [Error]
The Fel Empire Player 9: Grom - Alive - King of Fel Empire Level 8
Mercenary Player 10: Elizabeth Loyal - Alive - Sorceress Level 7
Observer Map Maker: Map Maker - Alive - The World Editor