The Golden Tunnels are devastated

1255 AC (Aclian Calendar)
Eighth Month

With the worst of the damage fixed and what remained of the Dwarven elites treated of wounds, the remnants of the Dwarven Kingdom of Virnfaldur unanimously decided that they had **** but to submit a formal plea for assimilation to the Aclian Empire, having lost two-thirds of their nobility and all conservatives, and over half of their population. Furthermore, much of their infrastructure lay in ruin, and without economic relief and support, they would not last the winter.

Bofurn was to be named High Thane of Virnfaldur and Thane Thazok his Chancellor, and currently, the two of them sat in the guest quarters, nursing tankards of ale with Iozunk and Kelvhan.

"Have to admit, I never thought I'd turn from exile to High Thane of Virnfaldur," Bofurn smiled wryly, a bitter, hollow smile, "How fate makes a mockery of our plans."

"We Elves often say: Mortals propose, the Gods dispose," Kelvhan said, "Not that everything's beyond our control, just most things in life."

"Like how we Dwarves are now subjects of a monster empire?" Thazok questioned, "Certainly nothing our ancestors would approve of. I say they're rolling in their graves right now."

"Like I said, most things are beyond our control," Kelvhan stated, "In any case, now that we've greatly expanded our country, we have to slow things down or else we lose everything."

"I'll need to talk with Diepkutter about organising old and new blood, but with the worst of the warhawks gone and the rest amply fed and rewarded, I think we won't have to worry much about them getting testy," Iozunk said, "How long did you say we need to consolidate again, Kelvhan?"

"Five to ten years, initially," Kelvhan answered, "Now that we've taken both Torfun and Virnfaldur, that estimate's gone up to twenty or thirty years."

"That long? Are you serious?" Iozunk asked incredulously.

"I'm serious. I mean, I know that we're partly to blame for wrecking castle walls and keeps and portions of city street with cannons, but some of the more spiteful nobles destroyed parts of their own holdings to deny us resources. Scorched earth policies," Kelvhan explained, "And with our recent expansion and the terrible damage the Undead did to the Golden Tunnels, we're stretched to the absolute limit."

"He's right, I'm afraid," Bofurn nodded, "I've taken a look through our records and our logistics machine's held together by strings."

Iozunk reluctantly nodded, "I admit, I would have liked to unite all of Aclia in my time, but that just doesn't seem possible, does it?"

"My apologies, Emperor," Kelvhan bowed his head.

"No, you're not to blame; no one on our side is," Iozunk reassured, "For now, enough with the doom and gloom; let's drink to a better tomorrow."

"...For whatever it's worth," Thazok grumbled.

And they clinked tankards.

1256 AC
First Month

Iozunk stood before a huge crowd in the central plaza of the stronghold of Dornham Citadel, kneeling before Kelvhan as he took a crown presented on a soft crimson cushion of satin and cotton. The crown itself was a simple circlet with three diamons set in leaf-shaped impressions, yet glittered like starlight in the rays of the sun.

"Now come the days of the Emperor, and may they be blessed," Kelvhan smiled as he placed the crown upon Iozunk's head.

Iozunk smiled cheekily at Kelvhan, and he muttered, "Formal, prissly chump, ain't ya?"

Kelvhan maintained his smile, and with the crown set upon his head, Iozunk stood before the gathered audience, who jubilantly clapped for their new Emperor, happy that the tyranny of the mad Prime Minister was finally ended.

"It's been several long months of war, and we've had to spill much blood to bring about this peace. Our own countrymen, corrupt nobles and merchants who harmed their fellow man, and a horde of Undead that spilled from the Dwarven tunnels," Said Iozunk, "Now, as we celebrate the newfound unity of our Empire, I say it is time to celebrate and enjoy our peace, rebuild from the ashes of war, so that our children and grandchildren may live without the horrors of war!"

Another round of applause followed, and his newfound Elven and Dwarven subjects bowed alongside his Human subjects.

While he was not Emperor of the entire continent, he had achieved in a handful of years what no Goblin Chieftain ever managed to achieve. Of course, he could not claim sole credit, since Ferdinand and Kassandra did the mammoth's share of the work, Diepkutter was one of several trusted generals who won his fair share of battles, and now Bofurn and Kelvhan served as chief administrators of his realm.

Ferdinand and Kassandra explicitly stated that they wanted no high positions or big estates; they were only in it for ****, after all. They might take a temporary break, but they would still thirst for war soon enough.

Diepkutter just wanted to lounge in his mansion, feast, fuck and make merry all night long.

As for you? Same as Diepkutter, just taking responsibility as and where necessary, and you would have it no other way.

'Ah, this is the life.'