A Bargain of Smoke and Vines

1. The Bargain

The Bargain

D EAR TOVAR, KEEPER OF THE TENDERS,

Under the sight of the Pale Eye, I, Kaelus, King of the Sundered Kingdoms and Lord of House Mordorin, extend my greetings to you and the people of The Grove.

The dark tides of war advance swiftly, with The Legion of Saints threatening to engulf your lands in fire and despair. In these perilous times, alliances must be forged under the dominion of those with the power to protect and command.

House Mordorin, with its ancient and unparalleled might, offers a covenant of protection to The Tenders. Our forces shall stand as an unyielding shield against The Legion of Saints, driving back their advances and securing your borders. However, this protection comes at a price, for power demands submission.

To this end, a union must be forged between our people through the marriage of your Jewel of The Tenders and my heir, Crown Prince Daedalus Phaedren, and in doing so, bind The Tenders to our will. You shall bend the knee and acknowledge the sovereignty of House Mordorin. From this union, old treasons shall be forgiven, and a new era will dawn, where The Tenders shall thrive under our protection and guidance.

This is the will of House Mordorin. Submit to our rule, and your people shall be spared from the wrath of The Legion of Saints. Defy us, and face the relentless tide alone.

May this letter serve as a testament to our intentions and the path that lies ahead. Join hands and hearts with us, for only together, under the rule of House Mordorin, shall we withstand the trials of war and emerge victorious.

Our ship awaits to deliver your Jewel to the fortress of Baev’kalath and the arms of her adoring future husband.

His Majesty Kaelus Phaedren, King of the Sundered Kingdoms, Lord of House Mordorin