Sitting once again in his office, Kuran had the fingertips of his hands pressed together as he was going over the contents of the letter that laid before him on his table.
He was expecting a reaction. He was expecting anything from a „reasonable" demand of reparation up to declaration of war.
THAT however blew up his expectations. On top of showing up earlier than he accounted for. He had sent Claret to bring the one who brought up that letter into his office, as he didn't think he would remain calm enough to NOT throw him out of his throne room and into the depths of the NetherRealm. Too tempting for his taste right now.
His thought process was stopped as he heard a knock on the door and he raised up his gaze: "Who is it?"
The door opens and the redhead of his second Meratrix Claret poked in: "Mylord. The messenger is here."
„Then get him in please," replied Kuran and stood up from his chair. She nodded and left, and only moments later the door opens once more and the man that Claret had reported to him came in. "Holur the Direct I presume," asks Kuran with a friendly tone while holding his hands behind his back
"Indeed!" Declared the man "And you are Overlord Kuran then. You look more scrawny then the stories of you let me believe to." And moved forward.
Kuran was used to not live up expectations when it comes to looks… the last "portrait" he saw of himself before becoming Overlord showed him as a giant of man that can crush blood out rock golems with bare hands. The artist went with the description of his person instead seeking out Kuran to confirm the visuals.
„Not the first time people are a bit disappointed about my looks." Mused the Overlord „But we are not here to discuss expectations of how people look."
Then he gestured on the letter on his table "I take you know what this is?"
"Yes. The letter I was tasked by King Olaf to bring to you." Declared Holur with a stern voice "And I know it is a letter to demand reparations of you sending those orcs at us."
"Very well. Then please take a seat," said Kuran and gestured to the chair while sitting himself down as well "And let's talk about those claims… you said I send those Orcs. Thought I am honest… I never met those orcs. I barely even knew that they were in my lands. All I can go with is a report that they appeared one day from the dessert, their leader spoke to the Taumins living there and then left north for your lands. By the time I was informed this clan was long gone."
"So you admit they come from your lands," mused Holur. "Good. Then you are agreeing to the terms of my king."
Kuran shakes his head „I never deny from where that orc came. I simply state that I had no contact. If somebody told him to go to you, it wasn't me or anybody acting upon my command. So, unless you can proof otherwise, I don't see reason to pay anything. ESPECIALLY if we also include how… how of reason the demand is."
Huffing loudly Holur crossed his arms „You make it sound like my king demands more than the absolute necessary from you. He told me himself that only what he prospects as bare minimum is demanded from you."
Looking Holur into his eyes, the Overlord asks "Those demands are bare minimum?" while holding up the letter a little in a way that Holur could see the contents.
"Yes. After all. Given the damage demanding a thi-" he began but stopped as his eyes scanned the words. He originally thought he didn't need to, only doing to see the words of his king. His jaw dropped and Kuran was holding back a grin. King Olaf didn't seem to have bothered to tell his Messenger what the true contents are.
Then Holur threw back his head and roared in laughter "By the gods! Either you are so poor that my king felt that even this is the smallest possible amount he could go with in his demands, or the damage is so extensive that he is forced to call that much from you!"
"And the possibility of him just trying to justify a war with us?" asked Kuran simply while folding his hands as he watched the man in curiosity.
"King Olaf doesn't need any justification to go into war! Any war he goes into is justified!" declared Holur with narrowed eyes. HIs laughter gone as it were never there upon this implication.
Well… at least Kuran got a read of what type of guy Holur is at the least. Shrugging to that he moved from Plan A of trying to convince his king is mad to Plan B. "Well… in this case the understandings of your king and mine regarding how to demand compensation due to this kind of misfortune differ greatly." told Kuran simply "And of course I have to send you home with a big refusal to pay that sum. But before you go… will you be so willing to amuse us with a thought experiment?"
Holur considered that and smirks "Well, why not? I got a good laugh before, so having another laugh from your adepts to convince me to stop a war you deserve to lose against our forces might be amusing as well."
"Thank you" said Kuran with a nod and took out a map of the continent and rolled it out on the table, placing some objects in the corner, as well a few figures representing troops. Placing one on his kingdom, and one on King Olaf's kingdom "Let's assume our two kingdoms really go to war… then your king has to deal with the following" and pointed at the figure on his kingdom „My forces, which consist mostly of easy to replace minions, of which I can send quite many on the field at once. And the Dark elves" and he places a new figure "Who are my allies. I got also access to a number of Taumins and Skeith." and placed two more figures „And I am engaged to a powerful Succubus. So, she will properly throw in her weight as well." and placed one more figure on the field on his side.
Looking over the board, Kuran gave a thinking pause and mused "So… even with your reputation of never having lost any war before, by sheer numbers you are in a tight position. But of course, I have no actual idea how big your army is or what allies or new war technology you have. So, let's give you the benefit of a doubt and your king had prepared everything for a victory. In this case he either takes my kingdom into his own or leaves it alone afterwards with quite a power vacuum in its place. Which either be taken by the dwarves, once they had settled on a king, or by orcs. I think rather a mix. And that is not counting in the empire."
"The empire?" asks Holur „What are they have to do with this? They are stuck trying to take over Netclis and the natural fortress their lands form."
"True. The mountain ranges that make their south and northern borders makes it quite difficult to take over that kingdom by land. However, it can be still taken when a significant large enough force can land by sea." countered Kuran with a gesture of the map "So I am giving them… three perhaps four years before they are taken over by the empire. Then once they have established themselves and secured the lands, which I also only give them one or two years if they feel generous before pushing north to us. The free cities are not much of a speed breaker for the armies. They will be mostly bothered by the fact there are so much space between them but given the lack unification between them, it's nothing worth mentioning before arriving my southern borders."
Holur looks up and it slowly dawns him „And if we had beaten you beforehand… they are having an easy time taking over that kingdom. And be knocking on our doors soon."
"Indeed. Given how ruthless they are said, I think they simply burn the Skeith Forest. The Nagas will properly just dig in with a magic shield that forces the Empire to wait out before trying to invade." agreed Kuran „Which leaves directly spoken the Dwarves and your kingdom. The dwarves can put up a fight but as long they are busy with themselves, they are not going to react to the empire until they attack first. So that leaves them with only one land to storm and secure their positions before making a push to them." finished Kuran and looks at the messenger.
Holur had quite lost his face colour since the start of the talk and answered "I think… I must bring my king the news that… his demands might be… out of proportions."
"Yes… and I am honest." added Kuran „I am more interested to use my resources to secure myself against the Empire than to have to worry about you guys as well. Perhaps we can even arrange something due to our common interest."
"You have a plan already?" asks Holur in curiosity.
"I do. I am not going in all details, but I am intending to use my minions for it. Their quality of getting easily replaced is helping for the full picture." stated Kuran while giving a smile. Knowing full well that Holur will also act to the fact that in event of a war, the Overlord has easy access to replaceable troops. Something that most other kingdoms definitely NOT have.
Standing up Holur said "I… thank you for your time. But I think… I have to go."
„At this time?" asks Kuran and shakes his head „Too dangerous. We still haven't taken out all bandits from the chaotic times. No. I insist you take a guest room. And tomorrow you will have a hearty breakfast and a well-prepared horse for your trip back. And of course, everything you need to deliver the answer to the king."
"T-Thank you" said Holur with a nod and heads out… where Claret was already awaiting him, to guide him to the promised room.
The Overlord self was chuckling loudly and leans back „To think you can make somebody nervous with knowledge he could find in any pub." musing about his „little" thing he didn't even mention to Holur.
"Well… time for a bath and then going to bed" yawns Kuran while stretching himself „Need to get up early after all."
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
Content with life, Kuran was sighing loudly as he sat in his bath and leans back, letting everything that had taken his attention or stressed him melt away, as the bathing oil he had include mulled also his mind a little due to the good scent he had.
Also enjoying the moment of being simply of himself. As much he loves the attention of his girls and his daughter, always having to pay attention to him can be tiring as well. Hence why he didn't tell anybody about the bath. Well, aside of those who prepared it of course but he made a point of only talking those who can keep their mouth shut. So, if his girls are coming, they either pressed those people… or asked Gnarl. That old minion seems to know everything what is going on in this tower.
Hence as he heard the door open and somebody walking in, he gave a silent goodbye to his alone time and took a moment of who could it be… no clicking that could come from hooves, claws or chitin feet. That cuts off those three. Arlene and Isadel are not in tower. And the two Meratrixes would have announced themselves by now.
Taking a breath, he then spoke „Sunkren. As much I like baths with you, I am not in the mood for it right now. I promise you to give you your moment on a later day." and sighs deeply.
"Thanks for the promise but I fair I am not your succubus" told a female voice. To which the Overlords eyes shot open as he couldn't put any face or name behind the voice. Quickly turning his head to the unknown person, And the first thing he take notice is voluptuous amaranth-coloured hair… and a crossbow aimed at him.
As his mind raced to find a way out of his situation as the woman chuckled "Relax" and moved the crossbow off, letting him realize the weapon wasn't properly armed. Just the bolt laid in its position, but the string not put in place. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have shot you already." and took seat on a chair that was in the room. "No… I am just here to talk," she grinned.
Kuran looks at her and blinked „O… k… and… the reason for you to break in… threaten me and then casually sit down while I take a bath instead of… you know… getting an actual appointment for a talk is why?"
"The Remnants of Steadfast hired me to kill you." she said bluntly „While me for my part got more curious if I should honour the contract. Or if your survival benefits my own goals better."
That caused Kuran to just stare at the woman. The red haired, green eyed and fair skinned woman, that wears a stomach free purple shirt, a surprisingly tight set of pants with green boots and a purple vest with white sleeves and a pair of greed cauldrons added on them. On the side was a second crossbow Opening his mouth for a few times he tried to comprehend his situation and asked „By creating a situation where I just need to call for guards once and you will barely have time to load your crossbow and shoot me… and that I could still call them the moment you start loading. On top of interrupting me in a bath."
„I was always a friend of certain excitement" she simply smiled at him. To which Kuran facepalms and wonders why he always gets the eccritic ones to deal with.
Taking a deep breath, he pinches the base of his nose. „Well… when you want to take it this way: Can I have your name please?"
"Well of course." she answered „Names Domitia, the Sharp Eyed. I am sure you heard of me."
"Mercenary." was the simple answer "Best known for using crossbows for any battle. Even in those where a sword or at least a shield would be the more sensible choice. Never lost a fight but tends to forget to keep allies back free. And one time you helped triggering a war because of the promise of getting a horse. Biggest thing you archived is shooting a Harpy in the head, while falling down from a cliff to save a prince from getting shredded by the same."
"Glad my reputation got around." mused Domitia „Thought I didn't expect my little… arrangement with Dagus would wander around."
"That comes to my question… why should I trust you? A mercenary's biggest currency is their integrity. And betraying the current ones would be very bad for you" stated the Overlord.
She shrugged „If they end up dead before I could fulfil the job and happen to learn it… who can blame me for not finishing a job when no payment is coming? I am risking my neck and risk getting a big bounty on my head on top of it for the lone fact of trying to kill you."
"Alone for breaking into the tower." he said dryly "How did you get in even in the first place?"
"I told guards that Sunkren send me to be your newest girl and want to see you. One of the maidens then told me where to find you" was Domitia's answer.
Kuran sunk into the water „What kind of reputation do I have?"
"I think you can rather blame the reputation of Succubus in general here" mused Domitia.
Kuran looks at her but didn't feel any better off from this last statement. Pinching the base of his nose and sighs „So… you broke in, got here while I take a bath to… offer your services to me?"
„Indeed!" she replied and folds her fingers together „Of course if you like, I can prove my goodwill by making one job for free for you. Just mind I still have contractors waiting for me. Of course, I cannot tell you that they are in Calos." She said with a shrug.
„Oh. Too bad. Else I would have gone to find a reason for a city search… like for example in Calos, they were there." mused Kuran and looks at her „Well… I take your offer of a free job. You going to play bodyguard for somebody who is leaving the tower tomorrow morning. Thought if he ends up dead along the way… expect a very high bounty on your head."
„I understand… and who am I guarding?" asks Domitia with a smile.
„Holur the Direct from the Asgor Kingdom north of here." replied Kuran.
Domitias eyes widened slightly and smiles „Holur? Well, that is something I didn't expect. I am looking forward that job. Just out of curiosity… why is he here in the first place?"
„In short… his king is not making a smart decision right now." told Kuran „Now leave before I call the guards. Meet up with him outside the tower. I will let him know that he gets a bodyguard."
Domitia stood up and nods „Alright. See you when I get back from this" she grinned and leaves the room.
Kuran looked after her and muttered „Those idiots that let her in will be in big trouble tomorrow. There is no way that such a simply lie should work." while getting out of bath and starts trying himself up. His mind busy to determinate the best punishment for those failures of guards. And press Gnarl out if he knew anything about it. By so many minions running in the town, him not knowing an intruder was around should been impossible.
He hates to go to bed with headaches and expect them to be around when he wakes up.