<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/7/79/Tevinter-aesthetic.jpg)</div><strong> Ualan Yoson (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=274532.msg13563593#msg13563593)</strong><br/><strong>Time:</strong>Y0S4, immediately after the battle.<br/><strong>Location</strong>: Aka ka Clan fields, site of the battle against Midori Oshiro<br/><strong>Tagged</strong>: Midori Oshiro, Kogatana<br/><hr/><br/>It was strange: Ualan had fervently hoped that the Lady Oshiro would be shrewd and dispassionate enough to entertain his offer of alliance, but now that it actually happened, it suddenly seemed too good to be true. He narrowed his eyes, carefully studying Midori for some hint of duplicity, but found only the same wariness mirrored in her look. Perhaps he’d underestimated her. Perhaps she too realised their untenable position: trapped in the crossfire of an empire-wide civil war, surrounded by rivalrous Great Clans on every border.<br/><br/>“Don’t think for one moment that this decision was any easier for me,” Ualan said to her. “But if our people are to have a future, this merger is necessary all the same.”<br/><br/>Ualan gave a curt wave, signalling for his troops to lower their weapons, and a moment later the ring of levelled spears slowly withdrew from the cornered Oshiro. Only his shield-bearers remained in position, one of each side of Ualan, and the pair of burly Krai bodyguards fixed Midori with leery glares as she closed to arm’s reach. Even Ualan himself was still half-expecting the Lady Oshiro to flick out a concealed weapon and lunge for his throat at the first available opportunity. It was all he could do not to rest a hand on his trusted dagger for reassurance.<br/><br/>With an outstretched arm, Ualan took a deep breath, and gestured for Midori and her guards to accompany him across the battlefield. A detachment of Aka ka troops quickly fell in line either side of them, close enough to respond in case of treachery, but far enough back that their presence felt like that of an escort rather than jailors. He spoke in bland, matter-of-fact tones as they walked.<br/><br/>“If this is to go ahead, we’ll have to form a new Clan… after all, this merger has to be on an equal footing, otherwise it’ll never last the strain of this war. I suppose Aka-Shiro<em>((red castle))</em>would be a fitting title for both sides?”<br/><br/>With their trademark efficiency and cold professionalism, the Aka ka troops were already seeing to the battle’s aftermath. Small, organised groups of soldiers were picking the dead clean of loot, wrenching weapons from death-grips or sliding armour off fresh corpses, ever under the watchful eyes of prize masters who tallied their findings. Others were tending to the wounded, either tying tourniquets or administering a brisk, businesslike coup-de-grace to those who couldn’t be saved. Ualan was not naïve about the ‘glory’ of war; he didn’t stop to gawp.<br/><br/>“A separation of powers will be necessary,” Ualan continued, outlining the broad strokes of his proposed alliance. “You’ll be the spiritual and political leader of the Aka-Shiro, while Kogatana will be the military commander of our combined forces. For all intents and purposes, the two of you would go on to be Empress and Shogun respectively.”<br/><br/>All things considered, it’d been a small battle, and it only took a few minutes to leave the blood-soaked battlefield behind. In fact, by time they’d crested the next hill, there was no longer any visible sign that a bloody melee had even taken place… and yet, if a merging of their Clans did go ahead, the brief confrontation could well reshape the fate of all Shindo, Ualan mused.<br/><br/>“As a mark of respect, you’d still be given your share of troops to command. The same goes for your attack dog, Itakura. Everyone will retain their own personal retinues, obviously, but the bulk of our forces will be intermingled to prevent treason by either party. My spies will be watching your every move, and I’ve no doubt that Itakura’s shinobi will return the courtesy in kind. Let me assure you, it’ll be quite impossible to betray each other if this goes ahead, so if you’re planning on burying a knife in my ribs, now’s the time.”<br/><br/>The moment the battle had started, Ualan had sent two of his best riders to Kogatana’s position with news of the unexpected encounter. With luck, she’d already be on her way, and they would meet her halfway between the two battle sites.<br/><br/>“Kogatana will be here soon. She might not indulge in your precious blue-blooded games of honour, but she abides by the ways of discipline, and of law. You needn’t fear any trickery on her part - provided you don't attempt any first.”