War Forged Plot 305: Call to Hooves

    A soft sigh escaped his lips as he treaded to Fort Skeldr. It was time for a meeting, and in all honesty he really wasn't looking forwards to it. The last time everyone got together there was a spat between them all, and he wondered if the tension was high still with them all. Yet he tried not to dwell on such facts, they all were adults, but yet he had seen stallion act like colts. It made him shake his head wearily, Gods be good. He thought simply to himself. As he trotted forwards he reach Fort Skeldr and noted how another must have entered already. "Hmm." he paused a bit before entering into the War Room. Brow arose as he spotted the first equine there, Edmond. A stone circle member that was blessed to miss out on the first meeting, but maybe it was more of a blessing for him. "Edmond, it is good to see you have returned." Evokar remarked calmly as he trotted towards the war table. 

    Evokar took his spot with ease, allowing himself to waste no more time. He was tired, even though it was so early in the morning, he still was tired. His own trip to his family after the attack had left him exhausted he continually made trips out to them to assure all was well. Plus with rumors of the the unhindered have reached his ears he couldn't help be reassured they all were well. They were so far away from everything, if they got attacked how long would it take for anyone to notice? The thoughts made him feel even more exhausted. Evokar could use some tea, or something to help settle his wandering thoughts. Yet still he couldn't shake his nerves. "I hope all has been well with you Edmond." he remarked with a dip of his head respectfully to the stallion.


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Edmond smiled easily, settling in as the others filled in. The first one to arrive was a relatively young member of the circle, but that didn't bother the older stallion. After all, he had been relatively young when he had started in his position. He smiled, preparing to respond to the new arrival just as a heavy coughing sound entered the room. The stallion's ears flicked back for a moment. He knew that cough almost as well as he knew the chamber he now stood in. Sighing lightly, the stallion forced a smile onto his lips and turned towards Bahar as she entered the chamber. "It's good to be back. I feel my absence was a little too long for my own good."


It had been true, his vacation had been a bit too long for his liking, but everything he had done had been in the name of his kids, so it wasn't like he had hated it. "I hope things haven't been too hectic in the past few months?" The question was named at all that were arriving, including the new horse who had just stepped in. He didn't seem to be the talking type, so as usual, Edmond moved on. It was normally how these events went. Boy, he had really missed this. It helped him forget that he was worried sick over Aly and Addy. Oh, why couldn't they have been more like the boys? Lad and Ales at least were both home. Granted... they hardly ever left home. He sighed slightly at the thought, taking note that a fourth horse had come to join them.

Quietly, the stallion listened, flicking his ears back.

"Where is Hira, anyway?" He couldn't help but ask. It had been quite some time since he had last seen his leader, and although he had to admit that the mare often angered him because of her contemporary ideals, he had missed knowing what was going on in his herd. "I thought that with a meeting, she'd want to be here... or is she out dealing with the affairs of those outside of our borders?"

Gods, he hated being so out of the loop.

Bahar seemed to sit up at once, not even taking notice of what Edmond asked as she mentioned that something didn't feel quite right in the chamber. The stallion flicked his ears back, taking a moment to look around the room. He didn't notice anything that was too off... No unknown horses had entered and from the looks of it, she had been the only one to notice the strange turn of events in the air. Crazy old lady... she probably was just mistaking a cold chill for an ominous warning or something. Mares were known to do that kind of stuff on occasion, weren't they? Especially older ones.

Then, before Edmond's question could even be answered, a young charge appeared through the doors, interrupting the quiet conversations in order to ask for help with some war. Maybe Bahar wasn't as crazy as he had originally thought. The stallion's eyes turned towards the younger horse, eyes taking note of how he seemed to be rushed by the news. The Aodh herd was going to war? That seemed rather odd for the horses that lived so near to the War Forged's lands. The stallion's face remained unchanged by the news, but his mind was racing. The Aodhian's had recently put a relatively strong damper in his mood whenever they were mentioned, considering his late wife had been one and had disappeared from him only to die on her journey home. The exact cause of her death was not something he was certain of, though he had a feeling the herd's lack of care had some cause for it. They always seemed more concerned with their indulgences. His ears flicked back as he debated on answering the younger ambassador, though it seemed Bahar was a bit more quick to react.

Probably for the better; the old mare, despite her gender, most certainly could force one to their knees without issue. Edmond had a grudging respect for the crazy old horse, if only because he was very aware that there was wisdom in her years... (Even if she was at times a bit too quick to act). She asked the same question on the stallion's mind, who were they going to war with and what was the softer herd asking of them. Edmond frowned speaking up to add to the older mare's thoughts. "The War Forged will not jump into a meaningless fight. We need more information than a simple request to join you in war, boy. I'm sure you understand our wish to know more. Our alliance with Aodh is important, but without an idea of how much you are asking of us, we have no idea on how much of a toll this may impact upon us." He glanced at the others, curious to see how they would react. 

This seemed like a rather silly endeavor either way, and despite the fact that the Stone Circle decided many things, putting this into their hooves while Hira was away did cause the stallion some concern. He might not have liked having her as his War Lord, but she still needed to hear about any plans on going to war. This entire ordeal was rubbing Edmond the wrong way. He had to agree with Bahar, something didn't feel right.

    Ears started to curl back a bit as he listened to those around him, and he sighed a bit, though the door opening he assumed it would be Hetta, yet a young equine appeared. Eyes narrowed as his mind strained to recall who it was, and snorted a bit as he realized it was Rollo. Evokar was ready to great the young fellow, but he was much faster and his words carried such weight to them. Aodh requested their alliance in a war with Serora. Brows furrowed, what in Kaia's green earth was going on? Bahar was first to ask and Evokar for once found himself nodding alongside with her. What exactly did Aodh have planned. "Before you say such things, I find it best to explain the situation to us Rollo." he responded to the young one with a nod. While Bahar was quick to nab the paper and read for herself, Evokar was far more curious of what Rollo knew of this whole situation.

    Hetta had finally arrived it seemed all was here, well besides the War Lord, herself. But lately she had been missing from so many things and he had wondered what all she knew what was happening. Hetta addressed him and Evokar sighed a bit at her words. Everyone so quick, so quick to add their little remarks. But this was the Stone Circle and war was not something to take so lightly. Aodh while pushing their limits with the War Forge at times, especially with this new law of theirs, are good allies to have. Not standing with Aodh could easily mean standing against them. "We need to hear what Rollo knows of this, war is not something we should take so lightly and disregarded so easily." he responded calmly. As like all the Stone Circle members they to should know they carry the weights of all the voices, and if an Emissary from Aodh to this very herd had something dire to say, then for Kaia's sake let the poor boy explain more.


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Serora? The stallion's eyes lit up in surprise as he quietly edged closer to the piece of parchment the younger horse had placed down on the table. The horses of the desert had never been trouble for the War Forged as far as he could recall. With a quiet eye, he glanced over at his companions, curious to see how the others reacted to the news. The older horse sighed, obviously feeling the need to speak with the other stone circle members in private while the other horse went to do his own thing, yet he dare not suggest it. He had only just returned from his hiatus. which meant he most definitely didn't have the authority to speak...

Not to mention, with Bahar here with the council, there was little reason for him to bother pretending he had any authority at all. The ancient mare had more authority in one hoof than he had in his whole being in that moment. Instead, he opted to ask yet another question to the Aodian. "Do you personally know the terms of this contract? I'm sure that all of us would like to know what exactly those desert lowlanders did to upset your herd so much as to declare war with them." He rose a brow, tilting his head to the side as he looked Rollo over. He did feel bad for being so critical of the emissary, but as it stood, he was the only one in the room that could answer any of the Stone Circle's questions... He paused, thinking over their alliance with the Aodians. "We did agree to stand by you if war ever broke out though..." He added, mostly speaking to himself.

And of course our precious War Lord is nowhere to be found during something as important as this. Without her here, we can't exactly charge into war. Sure, we are the voice of our herd, but she's the one that could command everyone to fight as needed. Edmond thought to himself as he chewed his lip. Maybe there is something else that is going on here that I'm overlooking...

Bahar, seemingly placated by Hetta's sudden arrival, was abnormally silent after she read the announcement, resting the paper on the table beside her. She watched the boy speak, tightness in her brow and mouth betraying her disquiet even though her lips were sealed.

The room boiled over, the members of the Circle babbling (some, it seemed, to themselves), and Bahar slowed her loud breathing, considering carefully her next move. Serora. The expected answer, but also what she'd feared. Cosmos was quick to disparage Alya's desert-dwelling children --his valid logistical complaints aside-- but Bahar knew the ferocity of winged fighters. Furthermore, every horse in Serora was a soldier. Sure, the War-Forged bred strength, but Serorans carved it carefully into every citizen. Serora didn't need to have an army. Serora, in its entirety, was one.

And the War-Forged didn't fight in the sand.

The Serorans, as foolish as they were to break an agreement with the Aodhians (whose greed was fended off at every turn by the Circle, supposedly the fire herd's greatest friends) were desperate. Aodh had bartered with them for food. This wasn't a political squabble for the sand herd, it was survival. King Amadeus --or, more realistically, his adviser-- was leaning into a herd on the brink of starvation.

"You won't win." Her voice was quiet, not demanding, her previous roar was dulled to a wizened rumble. She turned away from Rollo to face the Circle. "The Aodh kingdom is putting pressure on a dangerous, dying animal. If the Serorans are cornered, if they're pushed hard enough, then all the king's horses won't matter."

"Aodh withholds Seroran supplies, but expects to forge out into the wasteland. As if they wouldn't be handily robbed by the sand birds." She coughed hard, her mouth dry from talking. "There's nothing for them to burn in the desert."

"We have to consider-- what is worth marching our men into Hell?"

Bahar watched her words sink in to her fellows, relieved that her sudden seriousness had been received with appropriate gravity. She was well aware of her status as a controversial figure in the herd -- an unwavering rock, unmoved by the stream -- and knew that her lack of polish rarely gave her a warm reception. She spoke for the conservative generations of yesteryear in a herd that was quickly doing its best to erase them. It was not a glamorous task. Even so, to see that the circle opened their ears when she lowered her voice was encouraging to her.

She did not offer additional dismissal of Rollo after her colleagues bid the boy to leave the room. Bahar breathed rhythmically, loudly, leaning her weight from one rheumatic leg to another as she watched Hetta. They'd lived through many wars, and would likely live through this one, but Bahar did not relish the notion. In response to Cosmos's question, Bahar cleared her throat and spoke: "Serora has very little at their disposal," she said. "All they have in the desert is their family and their principles. They place immense value on both."

"The slavery in Aodh flies in the face of Alya's morality. It was a matter of time before they folded in favor of freedom." Bahar's voice neither commended nor condemned the sentiment, but her voice was tense.

    Evokar remained silent as he normally did allowing other to speak while he merely listened. It wasn't as if he did not want to speak, he just wanted to see what others thought before he opened his own mouth to speak. He noticed how Haku has yet to say anything now, perhaps was doing the same as he was. Feeling out what others felt before speaking up. He listened to them discuss on what could have happened for the Serorians to suddenly end the deal, while some assumed they had gotten better, others expected them to fold due to their values. As for Evokar? He was truly unsure, but something most have been shown in their favor for the herd to end the bargain, so much so that the Aodhians are willing to go to war to it. It seemed foolish a broken deal means war, there had to be more to the story then what they knew.

    Edmond brought up the boy king, and it made Evokar think on that notion. Would the child king be so willing to prove himself that he would go to war. No.. No.. Was all that Evokar could think, not a child that knew nothing of wars until their family had died and left a shaky king to rule. All knew of what had happened and it did not make a man of the king. Evokar shook his head gently at the notion. It had to be someone else pulling the strings, using the king as a puppet. No one knew the King to being a tyrant or thirsty for war. Someone else had to have taken advantage of the state of the boy king and using him a pawn int he grand scheme of things, as for that what though? It was another question Evokar could not truly answer.


    As many discussed to others and threw out their thoughts and views, it seemed Evokar perhaps should speak his own. "I do believe the Serorians have to have something in their favor to end the deal, something so that Aodhians are willing to so easily to go to war to, when they could so easily break the ties and shut them out completely. There is something we are missing, but as to what. Only Rollo perhaps would know. As for the King of Aodh being so willing to go to war, I do not think that is the case. We all have heard the tales of the poor childs family being murdered and the poor thing taking over the Kingdom. The King has advisers, those they trust so dearly and if the king does not know what to do, who do they go to? The Advisers. I easily assume someone is pulling the strings on this, and pulling the curtains on the Kings eyes. But of course its all a theory such as everything else, besides all what we do know. Serora broke the deal, and Aodh is going to war and they ask us to aid them." They were still all blindsided by this and Evokar had wished Rollo would speak up and say something, allow them to be enlightened.


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