Build an empire & ally with the 100 Tribes

"So you wish to go along with your foolish Brothers plans." Alexia sums up all you've told her succinctly before offering her opinion. "I think its a risky gamble that we cannot afford right now. Not if there is something unnatural happing here."

"Yes and no," you tell her, pleased that she has accepted your dream without a hint of doubt. "I plan on gaining control over Poseidonapolis and freeing the slaves. But I want to bring them here instead of using them to fight the 100 Tribes. I plan on making an alliance with the Tribes."

"Now I know that you're insane." Alexia laughs easily. "There's no way those barbarians would agree to an alliance Bruce. Why do you think this would succeed?"

"Alexia don't you remember my father and your father teaching us that the 100 Tribes respect four things 1. Honor 2. Power 3. Prestige 4. Skill." Her head bobs a little and you continue a little flustered as you become more aware of how close her soft body is to yours. "I am skilled in warfare, considered honorable by most, have the power to join the Kingdoms of Kalion, Poseidonpois, Coreli, Biessoi, and the Confederation of Free Tribes to the east of Kalion to form an empire and that would give me and the 100 Tribes prestige."

"Ok, let's say that you do this." Alexia studies you carefully, her face so close to yours that you can feel the warmth of her breath on your chin. "Are you sure the Tribes would agree? And how would you even contact them? They have no central leadership."

"Not sure, but I'm optimistic. And they do have a central leadership," you tell Alexia, pleased that for a change you have information that she doesn't already know. "They're ruled by a version of an Emperor, a Kahn, I believe is the title and it is his granddaughter who's in charge of their current campaign."

"I still think this is a gamble." Alexia sighs. "but if anyone can pull this off, I believe it's you." Alexia's faith in you is intoxicating, you having more and more trouble concentrating on her words "- gather as much information as possible on the 100 Tribes. I can't believe I'm saying this, but your numbskulls Brother's information is essentially correct. When do you plan on making the move on Poseidonapolis?"

"After the games. I'll have to give an ultimatum to the United Armies forcing them to agree to a joint occupation of Athenapolis and we will stay a neutral power." You see her lips start to open in protest, but you finish your plan in a rush before she stops you. "We'll need to bring in enough gold to buy all the slaves to ensure their freedom; also we will steal back the gold from Slavers Guild and use it to help rebuild Athenapoilis to possibly gain this city as an ally after we clean up the corruption."

"Bruce, I hate to be the one to do this, but it's my duty to point out the flaws in your plans. Are you listening?" You nod and concentrate on what she is saying instead of the way her thigh feels pressed against your leg.

"First of all - What makes you even think Athenapolis will fall? As long as the High Council is safe atop their Citadel why would they accept anyone ruling their city but them?" She stops you before you can talk out a plan for taking the fortress. "Secondly, if the city does fall, why should the United Armies accept your ultimatum? Even with our recent enforcements the United Armies forces outnumber ours by roughly three to one. The men who came to take Athenapolis expect to return to their homes with both gold and slaves." Alexia must see the tightening of your jaw because she rests her hand on your thigh and explains. "They're not like you Bruce, no one is. Those troops are not going to accept any demand you make of them especially if you are -in their minds, Sire not mine - too cowardly to take part in the **** on the city." Alexia has known you now long enough to anticipate what you might be thinking.

"You can't **** them to do what you want." She shakes her head gently, "I know you've ordered nearly every one of our Riders to come join us," you wonder just how Alexia learned that, but over the years you've stopped being surprised by how many sources she has both in and out of Kalion. "and, I'm willing to concede, Sire, that with those additional Riders, your divinely inspired leadership and tactics and a bit of good fortune, you could defeat the United Armies, but if you do that your majesty, it will come at a heavy cost - our forces will be at best half strength and over 200 leagues from home. And for what? You will have allied Kalion with one of the two cities that you despise the most and turned every other city-state in the Hellenic league against you."

"As for your plan to buy the slaves on the auction block. I've tried to explain economics to you before, but let me try again." She suddenly realizes that her hand has been resting on your leg covered only by a sheet and she jerks it away placing it on her lap instead. "When you arrive at the auction and start to buy slaves, the effect will be to drive up the prices of the remaining slaves. Fathers and husbands of the very women you are trying to save will not be able to afford to free their own loved ones. Worse yet, the more gold you spend, the more you will need. Some of the more pragmatic men, like those in the Slaver's Guild, might back out but as I told you before, men who go to war expect to return from victory with a **** or two to warm their beds." Her face colors as she realizes how absurd it is for a nineteen year old girl to lecture a man seven years her senior and a warrior-king at that, on what victorious soldiers want as plunder, but it is hard for you to deny her words. "There is not enough gold, Bruce, not even in Kalion, to save every young woman in Athenapolis." Her head fell, and a lock of her rich red hair fell across her face partially hiding her eyes from you.

"I might be able to manipulate a few of the richer nobles on both sides by offering favorable trade rights, but if I do, you are only enriching the very men who turned the Athenapolis into the center of slavery that it is." Alexia lifted her head once again and her voice lifted in passion. "Kalion has always until now shunned any trade with those who deal in slavery, Sire. That was your father's way and yours as well - are we going to change now?"