As Faritha's moans filled the air, Queen Ileosa's soft chuckle purred from her lips...Her violet eyes half-lidded. Oh, yes - Something told her that Lady Faritha would be adapting<em>very</em>well to Korsovan tradition! Even as the Elven beauty was eased down, those thighs parted - Her wordless moan making the silken walls of the harem shudder, as she was<em>taken</em>- the Queen's own cries would join hers...!<br/><br/>It was, after all, good to be Queen...And<em>very</em>good indeed to be her guest.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>What came next, of course, was entirely inevitable. Both sides, in their own way, wanted a conflict - The Elves to assure themselves that they remained at the very apex of culture and civilization, that the younger races milling around them were no threat to their dominion.<br/><br/>As for what Ileosa wanted, who could say? The God-Queen, of course, kept her own counsel...Though her inner circle very likely knew what her plans involved.<br/><br/>"And here we are, just as I knew we would be," Ileosa murmured - She'd arrived for war in lightweight armor, gilded to a golden sheen; While she had no intention of engaging in battle directly, her presence here would be essential for morale - She was, after all, their Empress. Everything that had come before had built towards this moment...She could hardly<em>not</em>be present.<br/><br/>And, besides, she had advantages few mortal rulers could hope for...She could see events playing themselves out from every unit on the field, even as they moved into position. The banners and flags, waving above the milling armies, fluttered bravely in the wind...<br/><br/>-But her gaze was drawn to the griffins, which had yet to be deployed. Her Champion had succeeded in his mission, but the harpies had been held to the strictest secrecy - the advantage of surprise, after all, was their greatest weapon.<br/><br/>The question was how to lure them out...<br/><br/>The lovely monarch looked to Morrigan - The crude wooden cover would provide some protection from withering Elven arrow-fire, but the best defense was<em>range</em>.<br/><br/>The Elven General was waiting...She had every intention to give him something to think about.<br/><br/>Ileosa had prepared a speech, but - Given the circumstances - she'd chosen to keep it brief and to the point. She signalled for Morrigan to begin the spell that would transmit her voice across the battlefield, that would no doubt herald the true beginning to the conflict.<br/><br/><em>"To those of the Old Empire - For too long, the free peoples have endured your depredations. We, the Alliance, stand against you; We fight for the freedom of the young races from your oppression. Your dominion has ended - All that remains is that you accept it."</em><br/><br/><em>"Surrender, and be treated honorably. Stand against us, and face the strength of the righteous!"</em><br/><br/><em>That should light a fire beneath him,</em>Ileosa thought - Even as she ended the spell, with a curt gesture.<br/><br/>"Once we receive their response - Signal the skirmishers and the light cavalry to move up, and begin harassing fire," she said. The crux of her strength was the vast coalition of forces, though their quality greatly varied compared to the more disciplined Korsovan infantry; She had to coax the Elves into attacking in force, which would require sacrifice...But she couldn't afford to suffer a collapse in morale. If men started running, panic was inevitable.<br/><br/>They had cover and numbers, and shields to match; They had to make the enemy come<em>to</em>them.<br/><br/>Either way...This looked to be a close thing. Ileosa kept her voice light, her expression carefully serene - But her slim fingers gripped the armrests of her throne, all the same.