Dom sat at the head of the U shaped table in the Palace Hall, surrounding him were his senior Heroes who were available, both from the Civil and Military branches. To his left side was Shang Yang, the Prime Minister in the most important seat beside him, with Xun Yu and Lucius beside him. On his other side was Subutai, with Xun You, Zhou Yu and Sun Ce. Elder Kabbo and Chieftain Kung were the guests of honour beside Lucius, whilst Centurion Banas and Huang Zhong had also been invited along.
The Centurion felt out of place, having originally been the leader of a small tribe herself, she had pushed herself in to being a leader of Warriors since her arrival and had purposefully ignored the political side of things since her people had settled so well in the early days of Riverside's founding. Dom looked towards her and wondered when she would be promoted to a low level Hero, similar to some of his other Centurions such as Alexander or Octavian who were both also high ranked Warriors.
"How have you found your few days in my Capital?" Dom asked the two guests, who were both looking around the large room with impressed eyes. Whilst they had toured the city, the architecture and large buildings was a huge difference to what they were used to. Shang Yang seemed to look at Dom with a slight nod of his head as he expressed that it was his Capital. The two of the San looked at each other before Elder Kabbo spoke, the older and more thoughtful of the two.
"It's been an interesting experience." Elder Kabbo replied with a smile, "The last few days have been enlightening, our enjoyable peaceful life has been thrown in the air. After meeting your men and knowing that we had neighbours, it caused enough stirs within our camps. However, your men were warm and welcoming, sharing food and experiences with us. However, it seems that not everyone is the same."
"I must agree, it was also a pleasure to fight beside them." Chieftain Kung continued in place of Elder Kabbo. "Your City is an impressive place, at first the buildings felt intimidating, but now they feel warm and welcoming. As are your people, Centurion Banas has shown me how her people were integrated in, as General Sun Ce has shown me the same with his own. It is a place of many strange cultures."
"And clothes, many strange clothes." Elder Kabbo laughed in agreement, "Men riding Tigers, giant Horses, armour covered Warriors and impressive Ships. Everything has been new to us, yet everyone has been welcome enough to show us their homes, their equipment and tools. I have learnt a lot and I believe the other Elders would like to visit to learn how we can improve our own homes and livelihoods."
"When shall you depart?" Dom asked them both, after they finished speaking about their time in Riverside. Elder Kabbo has gone in to some detail about visiting the Library, he wasn't well versed, but the depth of knowledge was enlightening for him. Chieftain Kung had explained that regardless of how their alliance progressed, he would be bringing his Elite Warriors to Riverside to visit the entertainment establishments and train with Huang Zhong.
"After this meeting, with the aim to reach your camp to the north of the forest before nightfall." Chieftain Kung explained, a tone of a leader in his voice.
"We shall dispatch Centurion Banas and an escort to travel with you. Whilst the journey isn't long and is through our lands, I want to make sure you arrive home safely and quickly." Dom put forwards, looking towards Subutai who nodded in agreement.
"That would be kind of you, Centurion Banas has been a great person to speak with whilst we have been here and it would be interesting to see her Horse Archers once more." Elder Kabbo replied, with Chieftain Kung in agreement. Banas from the side nodded her head in acceptance of the order and was looking forward to visiting the south herself to train on the Infinity Plains with her forces.
"Then, before you leave, what are your thoughts on how we can progress together going forwards?" Dom asked. It felt strange leading the meeting like this, with his advisors sat silently and not pushing the narrative. They had done their parts earlier and it was his role to finalise what had been agreed over drinks in a bar or over a meal between thinkers.
Chieftain Kung looked to Elder Kabbo to speak first, the two of them had been on very different sides on how to approach Dom and his forces originally, but after the Battle of the Infinity Plains, they had become much closer aligned.
"An Alliance would be what we would want, where we can defend each other and trade goods between our people." Elder Kabbo began, whilst the room silently listened. "Your people and ours may seem very different at first, but after speaking with different cultures within, it seems you have nomadic people like ours based here. There is a lot we can work through together in the future as two growing nations."
"However, an Alliance is between partners who have things they need to offer each other." Chieftain Kung continued, "How can an Alliance benefit us both, you can bring us safety and a range of goods and knowledge that can help our tribe grow. We can offer you hunters, to provide food and furs, we can also offer some of our forces to fight as scouts in your armies."
"When we return home, we will call a vote with the other Elders, but with myself and Chieftain Kung aligned, we are confident that this would be agreed. Our warriors would be glad to fight alongside you as our allies against our enemies to the south." Elder Kabbo added.
Dom was silent for a few seconds as he listened, they both elaborated slightly on their points at what an alliance could bring. Dom could see in the eyes of his Heroes a mixed response to this offer, whist there was some light smiles he could tell that they all expected much more out of this meeting. Dom thought for a few seconds before he decided to reply, trying to structure his response. Dom was confident in his words, but knew that compared to his Civilian Heroes or even those in reality, this wasn't his strength.
"We would be glad to have you as our allies, and for your Warriors to fight alongside us against our enemies." Dom replied, seeing a smile on Elder Kabbo's face, whilst Chieftain Kung kept his own face unemotional, seeing the thought behind Dom's eyes. "However, whilst an Alliance would be a great start, our lands are large and expanding. Our forces have many edges to defend and our military is centrally managed to react to this. We are also growing daily, with new arrivals joining us constantly. Regardless of what is agreed today or in the future, we will be your friends and neighbours and an Alliance would be agreed as a minimal, however I do not believe it is far enough to protect your people."
Elder Kabbo looked saddened by the response, whilst Chieftain Kung nodded in understanding. They were not coming to the table as equal partners, he had seen the Military Strength of Liao Hua's forces. He had also seen the Elite Units in the capital and heard of the other armies and navies around the growing Kingdom. Chieftain Kung knew that their Tribe, whilst bigger than Banas's, was still a small entity in comparison.
They hadn't interacted with Dom much, but Chieftain Kung knew that in his eyes he saw ambition, similar to his own when he was much younger. The Generals and Advisors were polite and welcoming, they treated Elder Kabbo and himself with respect, but he knew that if they wished, they could easily destroy them, as they had the four armies that had attacked the Lazarus Kingdom's southern shore.
"Then what do you propose?" Chieftain Kung asked him honestly, whilst Elder Kabbo looked towards his Chieftain with an understanding look, seeing that his tone had become much more serious.
"There is an opportunity to become our Protectorate, we provide you with protection whilst you provide us with resources in return. You follow our overarching laws, but otherwise you are free to continue your normal lives." Dom explained, an option that had been discussed previously when his Civilian Heroes such as Crassus and Shang Yang had been discussing the different state relations that they had both experiences through their own times and experiences.
"I understand it, but it feels like we are bowing to an overlord that would slowly take away our freedom." Chieftain Kung replied sharply, Elder Kabbo panicked slightly at the response, whilst Dom's Heroes didn't react. "I appreciate everything you have done for us and whilst I agree that you are the larger power in this conversation, an Alliance would be preferred than something that takes away our long term future."
"I thought you would say that." Dom smiled in response, "I do not disagree, you are people of the land and your identity is important. A Protectorate is an agreement that would work in most situations, but our cultures are different and whilst I believe some of your Elder's would agree, it wouldn't be the best way for our relationship to grow."
"So what do you propose then?" Elder Kabbo asked, feeling that he had been out manoeuvred by the Chieftain who seemed more aware of the conversations that were taking place.
"Simple." Dom replied, before looking towards Centurion Banas. "Join us. Join the Lazarus Kingdom, let your people become part of something bigger, where you can continue with your own culture and fight for your own futures as one of us."
"Join you?" Elder Kabbo exclaimed in surprise, "Is that not the same as the Protectorate option?"
"No, their are really two options here. We agree the alliance, or you listen to our plans on how we can defeat the Papaver and protect your people and ours. If you agree to the second option, we will make sure that your people are given the freedoms to continue their current life styles if they so wish." Dom explained whole heartedly, "Your Warriors will be trained to fight as ours are, your healthcare will improve with your people surviving wounds that they wouldn't now. We can help spread education across your people, as well as give them opportunities to progress their own lives in different directions if they wish."
"I am not sure the other Elders would agree." Elder Kabbo replied, however Chieftain Kung put his hand up for silence, with Elder Kabbo stopping mid reply.
"You are the Lord of a new Kingdom, I am the Chieftain of a tribe. We are at your table and it is only right that we listen to your plan as your guests. Please continue." Chieftain Kung stated, as Dom turned to Xun You.
"Move your people to the fertile Infinity Plains, we will give you ownership of two new Cities that you can both manage as Mayor's such as our own. Our Navy can defend the southern coast, whilst our Southern Army under our experienced Generals can use our current border as an expanding front line." Xun You began, "As we grow and expand, we will eventually reclaim your lands from nature. However, the Infinity Plains are much larger and more fertile, untouched before by Man."
"We need to populate our Southern Coast, whilst we also can use your old land as a front line to fight against the Papaver." Subutai explained, "Your warriors can train under General Huang Zhong, before returning and fighting back against those that tried to take them or their families."
"We will fight to defend your culture and your history, as we have and will continue to do so for the rest of our people." Sun Ce added, as he looked towards his new friend Chieftain Kung with honesty in his eyes. "There is hope here, a strong future that you can be part of."
"Your people will not be a minority here either, we are still young and you will be a large percentage of both our population and military. You will be joining us as a partner." Xun Yu smiled, "The San will become an integral part of the Lazarus Kingdom, as has Banas's Tribe, the Sun Clan, the Tongpai Town remnants and many others."
"Your people can continue to hunt, or farm. They could also join many of the other areas across our Kingdom where their specialties can excel." Lucius added, happy to see the Kingdom he had been with since the first day becoming what it was.
"Our Navies need brave Warriors and Crew, who in the San would want to see more of the world than the lands they are born on. You, like us, are in a strange new place. This is your chance to be part of something bigger." Zhou Yu laughed, whilst everyone turned to Shang Yang who hadn't spoke yet.
"Your wishes will be respected either way, but your choices are clear. Lord Lazarus is keen to respect your wishes, regardless of your choice." Shang Yang began. "If you wish for an Alliance, we will do our upmost to work with you. If you wish to take the second choice, we will welcome you with open arms and provide you with everything you need to become a key part of our growing Kingdom."
"So what will be your choice?" Dom asked them both, whilst Centurion Banas watched on with open eyes, when she had joined the small city of Riverside it had been from a similar position, however she had made her own choice easily.