A strange, mysterious woman.

You open the viewing slot in the door, only to find a woman that you have not seen before, or did not see in the Phebian royal court. Your eyes see the young woman in a nice dress that hugs her fit curves. A few of her features, however, seem to make her different to you. Most of the humans in Itheria are of fair or other light-skinned complexion, with a handful of those with more ebon or cocoa-colored skin. The woman on the other side of the door, however, has a rich, golden brown skin. Her seemingly long, rich, dark hair frames her face nicely, while her light brown eyes look soft and beaming with life. A leather belt around her waist holds a couple of small pouches, giving the impression of a trader. You can see her holding a scroll in her hand, as she looks calm & collected.

"May I help you, fair lady?" You ask her.

"Aye." She tells you. "You are King Bryce of Itheria, correct?"

"That is correct." You tell her.

"I have a message for you from the front lines." She tells you, without any hint of hesitation.

"From the front lines?" You ask her. "Only my military scouts and spies send me authentic reports. Why should I believe in someone who has the looks of a trader, but appears to be someone else in disguise?"

"Because you are a very young ruler, just from looking at you." She tells you, speaking softly. "Your actions in your ally's lands may not only seal the fate of your people, and that of the Phebians, but also my sisters outside these city gates. I can explain in detail, but only in private."

"Alright," you tell her, "but I am watching your actions carefully."

You unlock & open the door, allowing the alleged Amazon spy or emissary in. She walks in gracefully, walking over to one of the chairs near a round table, where she sits. You close & lock the door, then walk over to the table, taking the other chair. It is there that she gives you the rolled-up scroll, and waits for you to unroll it, and read what is written.

Greetings, King Bryce of Itheria:

By now, you are wondering why I am able to contact you personally. The reason I am able to reach you directly, is because my tribe of Amazon women have planned this raid for a long time. Some of my brave sisters have been able to masquerade as traders & merchants for your ally, the Phebians. We have been planning this for a long time, for a reason. In Amazon culture, men is our lifeblood, just as might & wealth is the lifeblood of your kingdom. They do more than provide the muscle that builds our island civilization, they also allow us to breed. The growth or **** of an Amazon tribe depends on how well they can use, and defend, the men in their numbers.

This is also the time of our current generation, where we sail beyond our island home, in search for previous resources and luxuries that we cannot find at home, as well as to find able, young men. When we heard about Phebis from a merchant ship that got destroyed in a storm, and washed up on our island, we decided to act according to our customs. This is why we are here, and that is why I have sent one of my agents to contact you. Your ally's instincts to attack us in defense of his kingdom is what has prompted us to fight back. We may be small in number, but we are known to fight with the might & tenacity of an army tenfold that number.

So I have sent one of my agents, who may look like a traveling trader to you, but is actually one of my most skilled fighters, spies, and diplomats. It is my hope that you will give peace and diplomacy a chance, before you send your forces against mine. You are a young king, and I am a young queen. In all likelihood, we do not have immediate heirs at this time, and so our own lives are precious at this moment. If you are willing to work with me, and come to an agreement between your kingdom, your ally, and my tribe, I will be waiting for you at the coastal village of Havroy, where we first landed, during the next day. Please do not come before dawn, or after dusk, as I have already instructed my sisters to not attack. Come, let us find a peaceful solution, before any more people need to be killed.

Signed, with a hopeful heart,

Queen Cielina

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"So you see, your highness," the Amazon trader/spy tells you, "my queen is a more-open minded Amazon leader, not some greedy, bloodthirsty woman that your history books may say otherwise. She understands that if my sisters continue to raid with careless impunity, then there will come a time, where we will pay for it in blood. She does not want her people to be killed off, and neither do I. She had her sisters only kill the Phebian people that tried to fight back--first the villagers, then your ally's army."

"So she wants me to engage in diplomatic talks?" You ask her. "My kingdom swore to Phebis that we would protect them from all threats, in exchange for their rich trade charters. What could she and your kind offer that would benefit everyone?"

"Things that can only be found and cultivated in our tropical island." She tells you. "Food and spices to add variety to your daily meals, and new knowledge to add to your royal library. We are also adept in both naval & land warfare, and we can share that with your people, including your women. If you are fortunate and can please my queen, you could have a woman with a spine on her back as your mate. A woman that can help you enforce your laws, and inspire your women to be more than just demure dames & maidens. All I ask is that you agree to give diplomacy a chance with my queen, before blades and magic are drawn. What do you say, O' King of Itheria?"