Grand Council

In the grand council chamber of the Shadow King, the final moments of the assembly were beginning to take shape. King Varyn of the Northern Kingdom, scanning the room with his eyes, said, "This rebellion will reach innocent people as well, which is why the great uprising has been named the 'Bloody Rebellion.'" King Cypron, with a not-too-harsh expression, replied, "We all know what happened in the last rebellion, but the situation demands this."

Upon hearing these words, Varyn’s mind drifted back to what he had witnessed in the Iron Kingdom during the Bloody Rebellion. The destruction and suffering of those horrific days flashed before his eyes. The torment endured by the people and the harm inflicted on the innocent deeply affected him. At that moment, he thought that an honorable man would not resort to such violence and, taking a deep breath, continued speaking.

King Varyn of the North’s Stance Against the Rebellion:

"We all saw what happened in the Iron Kingdom during the Bloody Rebellion," Varyn said, sorrow in his eyes. "Thousands of innocent people lost their lives, cities were destroyed, and families were torn apart. An honorable man does not resort to such violence. We must find another solution. Rebellion will only bring more blood and tears."

Lady Aria, agreeing with Varyn’s words, began to speak: "King Varyn is right. Our people have already suffered enough. We must not forget what happened during the Bloody Rebellion. The innocent suffered greatly in that uprising, and it left a deep trauma among the people. Therefore, instead of seeing rebellion as a solution, we should try to resolve these issues through diplomacy and negotiation."

The Effects of the Bloody Rebellion:

The other participants in the meeting listened to these words attentively. King Daeghar of the Fire Realm, frowning, began to speak: "We all know what happened during the Bloody Rebellion. But as long as the Iron Kingdom’s oppressive rule continues, our people will never find peace. Rebellion could be a tool to reclaim our people’s freedom."

Lady Aria responded to Daeghar’s words: "Daeghar, rebellion only brings more pain. During the Bloody Rebellion, our people lost their homes, their families, and their loved ones. The scars of that trauma still linger. Instead of reliving those events, we must find a different solution. Diplomacy and negotiation might bring us the peace we seek."

At this point, Shadow King Gareth Silhou intervened. The Shadow King, recognizing the gravity of the situation, had decided to propose a solution. King Gareth spoke with a thoughtful expression: "Though we are divided, we carry the same people in our hearts. I, too, demand that the six great kings come together and negotiate. We can only solve these problems together."

Daeghar and Cypron’s Opposition:

Daeghar reacted angrily to this suggestion: "Negotiation? Do you think Jorah Iron can be negotiated with? He is an oppressive and cruel leader. We must fight for our people’s freedom." "Weren't you just agreeing with us, Varyn? You were even more impatient than we were."

Varyn: "You're right, I was. But during the Bloody Rebellion, I was still a young prince. I used to travel with my father to the Iron Kingdom for diplomatic talks to gain experience. The things I saw horrified me. For a moment, everything flashed before my eyes, and I made this decision. But we can use Mythos for much more than just rebellion. For example, his tactical intelligence."

Daeghar: "I understand, King Varyn."

King Cypron, siding with Daeghar, spoke firmly: "Yes, Daeghar is right. Negotiating under Jorah Iron’s rule is impossible. Trying to negotiate with him would only be a waste of time. We must take a strong stand for our people’s future."

Gareth Silhou listened to these objections calmly and then spoke again: "Yes, Jorah Iron may be an oppressive leader. But rebellion only brings more blood and tears. Our people should not suffer further. Negotiation may be difficult, but it’s worth trying. If we act together, perhaps we can find a solution."

Daeghar stood up in response to Gareth’s words and spoke harshly: "Gareth, your naive ideas will drag us into more suffering. Negotiating with Jorah Iron is impossible. We must fight for our people’s freedom. Rebellion is our only solution."

King Cypron, agreeing with Daeghar, added: "Yes, Daeghar is right. Negotiating only legitimizes Jorah’s oppressive rule. We must stand firm for our people’s future. Rebellion is a chance to reclaim our people’s freedom."

At this point, Shadow King Gareth Silhou indicated he wished to address a separate matter. "As for the issue of the Iron Kingdom not selling technological weapons or tools," he said, "I’d like to point out that, as the Shadow Kingdom, we have made significant progress over the past ten years under Jayce’s technological leadership. You can now procure technological tools or weapons from me."

This statement caused a momentary silence in the council chamber. Lady Aria was the first to respond: "This is truly wonderful news, Gareth. It’s a source of pride for all of us that the Shadow Kingdom has advanced so much technologically."

King Varyn also congratulated Gareth: "It’s truly heartening to hear of the Shadow Kingdom’s advancements. Your progress under Jayce’s leadership is a hopeful sign for the future of our region."

Gareth Silhou calmly accepted the congratulations and continued: "Thank you. I wanted you to know that we can be a strong alternative when it comes to technological tools and weapons. This could provide us with a significant advantage, whether through negotiation or other means, against the Iron Kingdom."

After listening carefully to Gareth’s statement, Daeghar softened slightly and said: "Your technological progress is certainly an important development, Gareth. However, I still believe we need to take a firmer and stronger stance against Jorah Iron’s oppressive rule."

King Cypron, agreeing with Daeghar, added: "Yes, Daeghar is right. Still, the Shadow Kingdom’s technological strength will be a great advantage for us. Nevertheless, I believe we must resist Jorah’s oppressive rule rather than negotiate with him."

After hearing these objections, Shadow King Gareth Silhou waited for the council to settle and then spoke: "We must make a decision on this matter. Do we want the six great kings to come together and negotiate, or do we want to fight through rebellion? We should hold a vote on this."

The leaders in the council chamber responded positively to the call for a vote. Each would cast their vote with the intention of making the best decision for their people’s future. The vote resulted in the decision for the six great kings to come together and negotiate. This outcome paved the way for an attempt to resolve the issues through diplomacy and negotiation rather than rebellion.

King Varyn of the Northern Kingdom and Lady Aria of the Lake Lands, with their stance against rebellion and their pursuit of a diplomatic solution, influenced the meeting’s outcome. The other leaders, considering the damages rebellion would bring and the effects of the Bloody Rebellion, decided to attempt resolving the issues through diplomacy and negotiation.

Thus, the leaders of the five great nations came together to stand against Jorah Iron’s oppressive rule, opting for diplomacy and negotiation over rebellion. This decision was made to prevent further suffering for the people and to establish peace. The leaders, unwilling to forget the damages of rebellion and the effects of the Bloody Rebellion, resolved to seek a different path for the peace and prosperity of their people.

As the council meeting continued with debates, the silence was suddenly broken. Nash, who had been hiding in a corner of the council, slowly stepped forward. Removing the device that concealed him, he appeared before all the council members. King Varyn, King Cypron, Lady Aria, and the other leaders looked at Nash in astonishment.

Nash began speaking confidently: "The reason I am here today is that, after my exile, I witnessed the suffering of my people and wished to fight alongside them. What I saw deeply affected me, and now I want to act with you."

The council members were stunned by Nash’s confession. King Varyn was the first to speak: "Nash, it takes great courage to be here. However, to earn our trust, you must pass a few tests. You also need to explain why you didn’t come and speak openly instead of hiding."

Lady Aria directed a question at Nash as well: "Yes, Nash. Why didn’t you come directly? If you truly wish to join us openly rather than hiding, you must convince us to trust you."

Taking a deep breath, Nash replied: "The reason I hid was to observe you and understand your true intentions. Instead of choosing a direct path to earn your trust initially, I wanted to show that I share the same goals as you. I am ready to undergo tests to earn your trust. I want to fight alongside you against the Iron Kingdom and protect my people."

King Cypron evaluated Nash’s determination: "Nash, if you can pass these tests and earn our trust, your knowledge and experience will be invaluable to us. But you must prove yourself for this partnership."

Lady Aria added: "Yes, Nash. If you truly wish to be with us, you must pass these tests to earn our trust. Only then can we act together against the Iron Kingdom."

At this moment, Shadow King Gareth Silhou spoke with a stern and cautious expression: "Nash, it takes great courage to be here. But how will we know your true intentions? In my father’s time, an agent named Eryx infiltrated us and destroyed us from within. Eryx crushed the rebels and walked away unscathed. How can we be sure you’re not like him? How can we know you won’t infiltrate us and bring us down from the inside? You must explain your intentions and plans."

Gareth continued: "If you truly wish to be with us, you must pass several tests to earn our trust. You need to explain why you hid instead of coming forward openly. Additionally, you must detail how you can assist us in our fight against the Iron Kingdom. We will watch you closely, and if you make even the slightest mistake, the consequences will be severe."

After gaining the leaders’ support, Nash began working with the council members to devise strategic plans and prepare for trust tests. Now, Nash would fight alongside the leaders of the five great kingdoms against the Iron Kingdom and do everything in his power to protect his people.

Following Shadow King Gareth Silhou’s stern and cautious speech, Nash took action. As everyone watched intently, Nash drew his sword and knelt before the council members. This gesture heightened the tension in the room, and everyone stood on alert.

Extending his sword toward Shadow King Gareth Silhou, Nash spoke with determination and loyalty in his eyes: "You are right, Your Majesty. I willingly submit to any tests you deem necessary to earn your trust. My sword and my honor will henceforth serve only you."

The other leaders in the room watched Nash’s sincere and resolute gesture with a mix of surprise and admiration. This act clearly demonstrated his sincerity and loyalty. Shadow King Gareth Silhou was moved by Nash’s behavior.

Looking into Nash’s eyes, Gareth slowly nodded and said: "Nash, this bold and sincere gesture is an important step toward earning our trust. However, we will watch you closely, and you will need to make further efforts to fully gain our confidence."

Bowing his head in response to the Shadow King’s words, Nash replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my very best to earn your trust."

As the tension in the room eased slightly, the council members appreciated Nash’s determination and loyalty. Nash would now fight alongside the leaders of the five great kingdoms against the Iron Kingdom and do everything in his power to protect his people.