Those should have been good times. I wonder why didn't they head south.
You have to understand why Lord Brackern is a little "stubborn" about this matter. Basically you're offering him some kind of consolation candy. By allowing him to decide the size of the belligerent armies you think you are giving an honourable chance to Barca to finish this war. If Barca loses, I assume you would theoretically stop the hostilities (I guess setting some favourable to Aurvandil neutrality rules, like those we've seen in the D'Haran case), and wouldn't try to invade our lands.
If Barca wins, would you sign and respect the "Treaty for expansion to unclaimed lands"? I don't think so. And by your strength you've acquired the right to change your mind whenever you want, and create exceptions to the rules set.
There's no honourable solution for Barca in this offer. Accepting means to be seen as a defeated and impotent nation pledged to the game of Aurvandil. Not accepting means to face what would probably be the invasion and maybe the destruction of all that Barcan nobles have constructed. It could be seen as an easy choice, but please don't talk about honour.
By the way you speak I would say your character is King Mendicant. It's been a nice conversation, NoblesseChevaleresque. It's late, so maybe we read each other tomorrow.
Regards.
They couldn't do anything because their army revolted from under them due to the extreme distance from the north to the south, a saving grace against the hideous power Sea Travel gave S.A. in any given circumstance.
Don't get me wrong, the hostilities between Barca and Aurvandil had already ended, at least on the Aurvandilan part. I made it clear we had achieved satisfaction in having punished their Ambassador for his actions and having defended our and honour from his slights. The offer to continue hostilities on Barca was so that Barca could seek satisfaction over the quite swift attack on Rettleville. The battle wasn't a means to decide the terms, of which I pretty much already told Barca they are to present what terms they like, it was perfectly in Barca's court to allow them to extract terms they wanted and to gain a peace treaty to their satisfaction, Aurvandil has no interest in dominating, humiliating or reigning over Barca.
You imagine agreements were made when nothing was agreed upon. D'Hara feels no obligation whatsoever to uphold something that was proposed but never agreed upon. As none should. I'd say Glaumring had the same problem.
If the "good name of D'Hara" is gone, that's quite fine with D'Harans, because they don't care about what Aurvandil thinks of them anymore. Our pride could only stand so much of Mendicant's condescendance.
I don't "imagine agreements", I do however take note whenever D'Hara refuses to agree to something.
And I'm sure D'Hara are fine with their reputation, after all it doesn't matter how other people perceive you so long as it is a means to an end, right? So long as Sanguis Astroism will defend you and empower you it doesn't matter what level you lower yourself to so long as you're happy with it. And I wasn't talking about how Aurvandil thinks of you, but rather other realms based on my correspondences with them.
And if you think Mendicant was condescending, then you don't realise the fact D'Hara was utterly beaten in war with Aurvandil standing victorious. As much as Mendicant tried to put you on an even footing, as equals D'Hara wouldn't have it, nor would you accept the fact you fought a war and lost it and still acted as though you had a right for things to go back to the way they were originally, with no consequence so long as you stuck your head in the sand and demanded there be no consequences for your actions.
