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Post by Terion, King of Ireland on Feb 6, 2008 17:04:47 GMT -5
From what Terion's scouts told him, the entire Southern Hemisphere was going to war. What kind of madness had been going on down there to insight such an uproar of arms and destruction Terion could not guess. From what his people told him, Egypt had attacked Persia, Carthage had attacked Italy and Rome and the Celtic tribes were attacking as well, several actually allying themselves with Rome. There were other nations that could not be named by Terion's scouts that were also attacking one another. Terion thanked Thor that he was living on an island far to the North and it was hard to access because of rough waters and usually horrible weather for anyone coming from the South. In any case, Terion still felt that it was his duty to try and gather as many Celts together in case some empire came after them. Terion wouldn't let each Celtic empire fall one at a time. He knew that they had to unite. That was why Terion found himself in the kingdom of the Celtiberians. He needed their alliance as much as he needed anyone else. Terion rode with a small well armed company over the plains, riding towards the capital city, or village, whatever you wanted to call it. His patrol consisted of forty men, ten of which were spears and the rest were simply light calvary.
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Post by Octavia on Feb 6, 2008 18:09:43 GMT -5
Guards that where patrolling in front of the main gate saw Terion and his men approaching. They already knew who he was and they opened the gates for him. Meanwhile, a messenger ran up to the castle and into the throne room, where Octavia was sitting, talking with some of her advisers and warlords over some of the larger villages. When the messenger ran in, her bowed to Octavia and the rest of the people. "My Queen, King Terion of the Gaels is approaching the city." He said as Octavia nodded. "Alright, let him come to the castle. Thank you for informing me." Octavia said as the messenger ran out of the castle and back down to the gates.
Octavia looked at her warlords and advisers and she smiled. "I would like to keep this private, but I will inform you later of what has happened. You can all go down to one of the local pubs, free of charge." Octavia said as her warlords and advisers nodded before leaving the room, leaving Octavia alone. She walked back to her throne and she sat down in it, waiting for Terion to arrive.
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Post by Terion, King of Ireland on Feb 6, 2008 22:09:59 GMT -5
Terion and his men were given a warm welcome by the men at the fortress gates and Terion couldn't help but wonder why. He had not given word of his arrival and in truth he didn't even know that there was a fortress around here. He was exploring this land as much as he was looking for allies. In any case, Terion did not resist the warm welcome and once he had dismounted from his horse and had it taken away he turned to the first person that looked to have authority. "Your King?" Terion inquired and the man smiled a bit.
"Sire, our King is a Queen." Terion raised an eyebrow at this. A woman becoming the ruler of a Celtic tribe. That was a bit odd and at some time Terion would have to ask her how she had become so important. Usually women were not given titles.
"She awaits you in the throne room sire." The man concluded and then bowed to Terion and Terion, with several men walked up the stairs leading to the throne hall of the castle. He told his men to wait at the door and he walked into the room to face the.....dang she was gorgeous! What the?! When he had been told a woman, he was expecting a hardened one, that was almost like a man in muscle and in physical ability, not a beautiful one! Terion raised his eyebrows, an action that could not be seen so soon. Terion walked to the throne room, "Hail Queen." He announced, bowing his head slightly.
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Post by Octavia on Feb 6, 2008 23:16:15 GMT -5
Octavia was sitting at her throne when Terion entered. Her brown eyes went to him for a moment. She rose to her feet as she also bowed her head at him. "Greetings, King of the Gaels." Octavia said, a smile on her face. She was happy to see another Celtic King, that was still in good health. She was wearing a green colored dress, with her usually gold leaf crown on her head. Her people were know to be master crafters, which was visible seen throughout the throne-room, where pillars had intricate designs of flowers and other things.
Octavia looked at Terion, the same smile on her face. "What brings you to Celtiberia, Terion?" Octavia asked. Of course, she already knew most likely what he was here for. She knew that the tribes were uniting to fight Rome. Now she faced a dilemma, since she was already allied with the Romans. They had promised to help each other, since they both had a common enemy, Carthage. By the way Terion was acting, she could tell that the news hasn't come to him, which was good. She didn't want turmoil to com between their people.
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Post by Terion, King of Ireland on Feb 7, 2008 9:50:24 GMT -5
She rose and bowed to Terion and that was to be expected between rulers. It didn't really matter what ruler it was of the Celtic tribes, all payed respect to each other no matter the disposition. Terion did not know the full diplomatic status of the Celtiberians but he was about to find out. He probably wasn't going to like it either. Terion watched her as she walked down to him, watching every movement she made, watching every curve of her body and every movement of her long dark hair. Personally Terion loved long hair on a woman. Once she asked him his purpose he began to speak. It was obvious that he was a King because of the way he spoke, with the pride of a nation and the determination and boldness of a ruler. "I am here to fight the Romans." Terion said calmly, "My army is North of this location three hundred leagues and still moving." Terion said and paused, "Carthage is already at war with them and the Egyptians soon after because of the alliance there. We attack now, we can win. I can use the support of my brothers, of your people to attack from the West when i come from the North. I can not depend on Germania because they have sided with the Romans; an agreement i can not understand." Terion said shaking his head. His army was not far from here and it was moving towards the Alps to cut off the Romans.
((Its in present day France; my army is ))
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Post by Octavia on Feb 7, 2008 18:20:05 GMT -5
Octavia listened to what he said, and when he said fight the Romans, she walked back to her throne. Her fingers ran across the surface before she sat down in it. She knew that it was only time until her Celtic brethren would attack Rome, but she had not prepared herself for the day to come this early. She knew that she was going to try and remain neutral, but she didn't know how Terion and the other allied kingdoms would take it. Eventually, her kingdom would possibly be turned on.
Once he was done speaking, Octavia was silent for a few moments. "It seems everyone wants to destroy Rome." Octavia said quietly as she stood up again. "I know this may be news to you and I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but Celtiberia and Rome are in a alliance. I can't break that alliance. We need to take the southern coast of my country back from the Carthaginians and my army combined with Rome's will be able to do that." Octavia said as her hand went to Terion's shoulder. "I don't wish for our people to fight and I am pleading you to please, don't attack or our people will meet on the battle field. Celtic brethren against each other. I don't want this to happen." Octavia said, her eyes going to his.
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Post by Terion, King of Ireland on Feb 7, 2008 18:52:07 GMT -5
Terion listened to what Octavia said and he kind didn't want to believe it at first. Was this seriously the second Celtic land that had sided with Rome? In all honesty Terion couldn't believe it and he almost didn't. However, the resoluteness of her face and the concern she had for her people and the army that was baring down on her country now forced the truth. He met her eyes and she could see that his burned with a passion war. Not a war against his brothers, not a war against an unarmed enemy. A war against a tyrant. He was fighting against oppression and he would not have his island be taken ransom by some king from the South. "What is it about Rome that my brothers find so appealing?" Terion asked, sort of half to himself as it was to Octavia. "Do you not see what is happening? We, as Celts fight amongst each other from time to time yes, but never to carry such tyranny. What has happened to the strong leaders of the Celts i grew up hearing stories about?" Terion looked at Octavia with almost a look of disgust, "Tell me we have not replaced them with weakness." Terion paused, "If you need help to drive out the Carthagians, you fight with us, with me, with your people."
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Post by Octavia on Feb 7, 2008 19:30:31 GMT -5
Octavia looked into his eyes, and she could tell that he longed for war. As she listened to him, she could see the disgust on his face. She knew that he would never understand where she was coming from, but she would try and explain it to him. "Not all wars can be won merely by numbers, Terion." Octavia said as both her hands went to his arms. "We are not weak, Terion. Don't even say that. The Romans wouldn't march across the Alps and into our land. You of all people should know this. The Alps are a natural barrier cutting them off from Celtic land. I will go to their Senate and I will tell them that for the good of their people and ours, to stay out of Celtic territory. Terion, don't attack them, just keep your army somewhere nearby the Alps, so you will be ready if they do attack." Octavia said, her hands letting go of his arms.
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Post by Terion, King of Ireland on Feb 7, 2008 19:57:19 GMT -5
Terion looked at Octavia as she moved her hands over his arms. He shirked them off after a moment and took a few steps back. Terion didn't like negotiating. He didn't like having to talk because nothing ever came from it. He knew that very well, "Negotiation doesn't work. You don't find them, they are going to think you are weak anyway. You going into the Senate will do nothing but cause us a problem. I send no disrespect, but a woman is not concerned one that should be speaking in their Senate. Whoever you have made an alliance with does not run Rome, nobles run Rome and they beyond anyone else. If they don't like you, no manner of "alliances" with help you. I won't Rome crush my brethren. I have no reason to stop my attack, i mean to continue. If you want to stop me, then you best do it on the battlefield." Terion said firmly.
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Post by Octavia on Feb 7, 2008 20:54:18 GMT -5
Octavia's kind eyes took a more angry look. "Your being foolish, Terion." Octavia said as she turned her back to him, walking to one of the windows. She looked out over her lands for a few moments before she turned to look at Terion. "I know there is nothing I can say or do that will change your mind. I won't fight you, my armies will stay away from yours. That much I can promise you." Octavia said, her eyes going to the ground for a few moments as she walked to her throne, sitting in it as she covered her face with her hands. Never before has she been so stressed out. She was torn between country and promises. She looked up at Terion, her brown eyes going to his. "I'm sorry, Terion." Octavia said, sadness in her voice.
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Post by Terion, King of Ireland on Feb 7, 2008 21:51:50 GMT -5
Terion watched as Octavia went to the window and looked out on her lands. She told him that she was not going to attack him and she gave him her word on that. Now, Terion didn’t say this out loud but he was thinking it. He didn’t know if he could trust a woman that had decided to side with the Romans. He didn’t have an awful lot of requirements for his trust and friendship, but she had broken one of the biggest ones already and he had been speaking to her for all of five minutes. He was hoping to get an alliance here, hoping to acquire more soldiers in his invasion and it turned out that she was going to have to fight him in the end. He knew this was going to happen, whether she said she was planning to or not. She would have to fight him and he would have to kill her on the battlefield. It would be a shame to get kills something so gorgeous as she was. He sighed and looked at her as she put her head in her hands, “In a week’s time, my men will be at the base of the Alps. From there we will stay or in invade Rome depending on my decision. Understand this,” Terion paused and then spoke clearly and slowly for her, “If I invade, the Romans will request your assistance and as an ally, you will have to give or break that alliance. In the end, depending on your decision, we will have to fight.” Terion concluded.
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Post by Octavia on Feb 7, 2008 22:45:31 GMT -5
Octavia looked up as she listened to Terion. "I understand." Octavia said quietly as she stood up slowly and she walked up to him. "I know you must be angry at me, but I am a woman of my word. I will not betray an alliance that was set up months ago. But, if you do decide not to attack, we should speak more. I know this sounds odd, but I want to hear what you think and have been told about Rome." Octavia said, her eyes going to his. "If we do not meet in battle, then may the gods watch over you and if we do, do not hold back. Fight gloriously, as our warrior god would want." Octavia said as she looked into his eyes. "Don't hate me for my decisions that were best for Celtiberia." Octavia said, still looking at him.
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Post by Terion, King of Ireland on Feb 8, 2008 10:13:35 GMT -5
It was hard for Terion to believe that a Celt would so openly side with the Romans, their enemies. He could not blame her entirely because she was, after all, not the only Celtic King to submit to the Romans. The King of Germania sought the same things. Both of them tried to negotiate with the Romans and Terion was one of those people that simply did not do well in negotiations. It was because he didn’t know how; it was because words could only do so much good. Terion knew very well that if he got into a war with Rome then he would have to fight Germania and Celtiberia at the same time and that would not be a very good fight. He was going to need the assists of several other tribes. He had the Britons on his side already and so that would provide him with at least a formidable force. Already he was formulating plans in case he was attacked by all three kingdoms, although he found Celtiberia to be the most unlikely of all to attack him because of their war with Carthage. Terion met her eyes for a moment and walked towards her, stopped about to feet from her. He was not afraid to show improper edict because it this point it didn’t matter. “What I think about Rome?” Terion asked, “Rome has nearly enslaved every kingdom it has ruled. They have just taken the Etruscan empire. One more step and they will be here. One more step over the Alps and they will simply walk into your country. Fine, have them kill, pillage, burn and rape everything you know and love. I will not have it for my country. Do not speak of your alliance to these foreigners as if their word to you is more sacred than your brethren. Who is more sacred than they? When one tribe goes to war, we all go to war!” Terion said loudly. Terion was intimidating, but he was passionate about his people and he was worried for them. He would not risk their lives and she could tell that.
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Post by Octavia on Feb 8, 2008 20:17:29 GMT -5
Octavia listened to him as his voice got louder, she took a step away from him. Her eyes went to his as she thought about what he said. She already knew what Rome had done in the Etruscan empire, and what are happening to the people there. She didn't want that to happen to her people or any other Celtic tribe. As she listened to him, her eyes stayed on his as she listened. "Terion..." Octavia said after a few moments of silence. "I can't promise you much, but I want you to know something. If Rome moves into any of my Celtic brethern's land, I will be there." Octavia said as she walked up to him, her brown eyes going to his. "If invasion does come to our Celtic lands, we will defend them." Octavia said as she reached out with her hands, both of them going to his cheeks as she brought his forhead down to touch her's, it basically means a pact. It was something her people did, but she didn't know if he knew of it. Her hands let go of his cheeks as she took a step away from him, her eyes going to his.
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Post by Terion, King of Ireland on Feb 9, 2008 0:09:24 GMT -5
Terion looked at Octavia and as she brought her hands to his cheeks he was tempted to pull away from her touch. He didn’t know what she was doing and this was not a custom among his people. She put her head against his and for a moment he thought that she was going to kiss him. That thought went through his head very quickly until he figured that it wouldn’t get her very far. He was not easily swayed by a mere kiss or the touch of a woman. Terion was a warrior and he was a man determined and his resolve was set and would not be easily breached. Terion withdrew from her as she withdrew from him, not sure what kind of pact that they had just entered into. He had an eyebrow raised at her for a moment as he looked at her, not saying anything for a short time. He let his eyes move up and look into hers and he shook his head, “I will defend my lands with the allies that I have already made. If you are one of them when that fateful day comes, then so be it. If not, beware me.” Terion concluded.
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