There was much chatter and banter amongst the nations, much arrogance and superiority from those factions that triumphed, much camaraderie and brotherhood amongst those faced with the sorest trials. The Lions were excellent hosts, the Dragon bards and our own provided much entertainment, and the Bears were loud and proud. The Wolves brought food to supply the guests, for the Lions had none. The Lions organised a combat tourney, which at first seemed to be entered only by 3 Bears and a lone Wolf!
Apparently the Wolf was so afeared by us that the rumour spread that our brave warriors would murder him in the competition, in front of all the spectators! So a large shield-wall group entered to try and do the same to our lads and lass. Although it was a Wolf who stood last at the end of the melee, his brethren having cowered together behind their shields, the Bears Ook, Elanor, Rab, Daghall - fought bravely and well. I believe Elanor was the last Bear standing, Rab being assailed on all sides by dishonourable foes. Fortunately no one died and those eliminated were rapidly healed.
The negotiations for food proceeded, amidst speeches from all the factions those who would starve us yet still calling on all to join them against the Conclave! The victors had plenty Wolves, Dragons, Tarantulas though the Jackals had lost what they had gained after a deal with the bank to bolster it further necromantically tainted half their grain. The others vied for scraps to enable their people to survive the winter. The Cathayan emissary was also present, offering much food for one willing faction.
The Cathayans offered their aid to us, but with their armies accompanying it to see to its distribution. Trusting in the other factions, we declined this generous offer (60 caravan loads) and secured, as well as aid from the Tarantulas, a mere 20 caravans from the Dragons but again only on the condition that their armies distributed it within Caledonia. We were forced to swallow our pride and ignore the insults done to us, their short memories at favours we had granted them, and make do.
At the end, The Harts, Unicorns and Gryphons all stood with about a third of what their people would need. One of the latter two would accept the aid of the Cathayans, leaving two to starve and Maclan of the Dragons had the nerve to condemn those that would accept this aid when none other was forthcoming. The rest of the factions, they claimed, now had enough to survive but only barely and uncomfortably yet there still seemed an imbalance and neither the Vipers nor Wolves seemed to have made any deals.
The Bears and Harts had agreed to share any gains with the other, and so we will face this winter together allies in the dark depths of starvation with only half the food we need to survive. Even then, Maclan threatened to renege his aid when our intent to share was made clear. It is going to be a harsh and cruel winter for those less fortunate in Caledonia this year
we will all have to tighten our belts and keep our faith to guide us.
Here we see, and will see, first hand the hand of Famine one of the paths chosen by our foes.
Finally, a story was told by a representative of the Incantors, of Julius an ancestor who was perishing through the mists of time and being forgotten. He hoped to spread the story and thus his remembrance, so that the ancestor could live on, but the multitude were unwilling listeners and his tale was lost to most and the lesson missed by those that really should be heeding it!
The story of Julius is found here.
All Works are © Original Author
(OC Author - Paul Martin)