The Return of the Stars.

It was a cold day in Gaia, the night before had brought a lot of snow, which now covered the houses and the quiet street. Gaia was quite a culture shock for someone who had grown up in Capdest. Capdest was a bustling hub of trade, people and manufacturing, constant ships coming in and loading and unloading their various cargos. The merchants in the street hawking their wares and the constant hum and pounding of machinery. Gaia by comparison was a ghost town, rarely did anyone step outside for anything other than to journey to the next buildinging, and there was no manufacturing in the city at all. Nor were there the ships that constantly made port. He constantly got the feeling that he did not belong, that this city was only for the elite, the extremely rich and powerful, those people who controlled the empire. However, he was the most senior position that was not a direct member of the navy, and so he was given a fine house and an office and left to deal with the politician that made Gaia what it was. He was quite hoping to be reassigned to the new city that was to be the seat of the Latin League, although he was beginning to suspect that that would not happen for a while. He eventually made it to the building he was looking for and swung open the door. The door opened onto a dim room and a man stepped through. The room was lit only by a small cosy fire lit in a hearth on one of the walls and small reading lamps sat at the twenty desks around the room. The man looked around the room at the eighteen other people already present, each representing one of the families of Moderal. It appeared that they had already begun discussing without him as two of the representatives were on their feet and shouting at each other. Once they noticed him enter, they managed to calm themselves down and retake their seats. One of the representatives who had managed not to shout themselves hoarse stood and welcomed him in a heavy West Moderelian accent, it appeared that none of the higher up representatives had returned from their campaign in the south.

“Ah, good, you are just in time. We were just about to decide what to do about that interloper sent by the Sadaler and their allies.”



He rushed through the snow flinging it out of his way as his cloak billowed around him. After thoroughly exhausting himself running through the snow he made it to the orate door that marked his destination. He took a second to gather himself before throwing the door open.

“You know what’s happening. You aren’t a fool.” The representative of the Barcă family said rapidly as he entered the office of the House of Alb with a sense of urgency, quickly moving to sit down and talk. “Most of the other families are in agreement and I haven’t been able to dissuade them of the idea, their success in Asderaordia has emboldened them and you will pay the price.” The representative continues, he sighs and puts his head into his hands. “What’s worse is that the Lupta family is on your side, and refuses to budge on anything. The way this is going it will be more bloody than the first collapse.” The representative looks up with his head still lowered slightly and stares dead into the Alb representative's eyes. “The way we see it, you are a victim of happenstance and as such we have come to offer you a deal, a gentleman's agreement as it were, to attempt to lessen the bloodshed the coming war will have. We are suggesting a series of duels to determine who gets control over the navy in the coming war. Whoever loses backs down and cedes the control of the water to the other side.” The representative falls quite for a second before speaking once again with a new steel in his voice. “Before you decide, let me say this. If you agree and renege on the deal, no one will be on your side any longer, and then soon your family will disappear from the world, erased by the remaining families with extreme prejudice. This is a matter of honour, and we here in Moderal take that very seriously.”