While walking down a dirt path to a nearby town Dhuvoc was smoking his pipe. Wondering why his clan had sent him to negotiate with a man from a clan of men called Fratis. As it stood the dwarf knew little of diplomacy. Though the chief of the clan had his reasons, first and foremost he was a direct descendant of the current chief. One of his younger children, secondly Dhuvoc could be rather charismatic when he tried. Though that was mostly in a general rallying his troops kind of way, not a skill usually used in diplomacy. Thirdly though, he was a warrior which from what the Broadmace's understood is what the Fratis were as well. So Dhuvoc was sent a letter by the head of his clan Thorgrim. It told him to stop whatever he was doing and go to this town in the Haza Savannah to meet one of their emissaries.

[ltr]This caused Dhuvoc no small bit of annoyance. As at the time he had been on the trail of a man who owed a payment for a weapon built by the Broadmace smiths. By now the trail will have gone cold again, Dhuvoc tried to put it out of his mind. While he would've loved to just skip out on this meeting and hunt down this man. Such a blatant disregard of the clan chief could lead to no good things for the Dwarf. Indeed to the Broadmaces clan was the most important thing of all. Dwarves are born and Dwarves die but the clan must live on. The town would be quite close now, just a bit more walking.[/ltr]

[ltr]The only thing that caused the dwarf to pause during the rest of his walk to the town, was a need to refill his pipe. Though after that he soon arrived. After pulling out his note he realized that the Thorgrim had failed to include where they would be meeting in this town. This would be an issue, at least for Dhuvoc as he had no idea what this man looked like, all he knew is that his clan was Fratis. Although it would be a damn bit easier to find him, as no dwarves lived in this town from what he could tell him. So he decided to camp outside town and hope the man found him. Dhuvoc even managed to nab a rabbit before setting up his fire. After beginning to cook his food he sat down and waited.[/ltr]

Oh, diplomacy between clans, a wonderful way of making allies, trade partners or atleast, a non agression pact. Silanus and his two bodyguards, Faustus and Leudus were looking for what seemed to be a dignitary of the dwarven clan. They were supposed to meet at a village of the Haza Savannah…

Silanus was wearing his best cloak, it was made of wool, it was long and was a dark tone of purple and it was covering the back of his heavy Lorica Segmentata chestplate. He had rented a horse for himself and his bodyguards, after all, the people of this Savannah had strong, swift horses. And the price was affordable for them!

The chieftain of the Broadmaces clan was named Thorgrim, and the dignitary is supposed to be Dhuvoc, or something like that… Silanus was eager to find him; the letter the dwarven courier of the clan gave to him said that he was supppsed to meet Dhuvoc at a local cantina… Well, so be it! Silanus and his bodyguards waited during two hours for the dwarf, but he was not there…

Silanus was outraged, how dared them to waste his time!? He said to one of his guards: "Send a letter to Thorgrim, tell him that they owe us a coffer full of silver coins for wasting our time, or else, The Fratis will crucify them!" 

They walked out from the cantina, and, oh! The men saw a dwarf cooking a rabbit. Was he the diplomat? Oh, let's hope so! If not, a war of clans would come soon! The armored men walked towards him, and Silanus said: "You better be Dhuvoc, member of the Broadmace clan! We have much to talk!"

Dhuvoc had finished his dinner when three men arrived at his camp. His hunch had been right the Fratis had found him. "Aye, I'm Dhuvoc. I would have been waitin at tha meetin spot, but someone forgot to tell me where it was in town". Dhuvoc offered the men seats around the fire. Well not seats as such, more of logs that he hadn't yet thrown onto the fire. It'd taken him a bit of time to get the lumber but it was worth it the fire was nice and hot. "I don't suppose any of yah are hungry, I've got most of a rabbit left". He motioned the cooked animal around to all the men before placing it down within their reach. Dhuvoc put his pipe away, thinking they might not take kindly to him smoking while they talked.

Dhuvoc looked at the three men, they were all fairly well equipped. Though their weapons weren't of dwarven quality, they were still good for humans. "Now from mah understandin we're here to hash out a deal between our two clans. Whether it be a trade deal or an alliance we'll have to see.". Dhuvoc took a piece of wood from next to him and threw it on the fire. "I suppose we should get to business then. Broadmace is a clan of warriors, though like most dwarvish clans we do have some crafters."

This was not the stuff that Dhuvoc usually covered. It was at this time that a question entered his mind. For him how they answered this was very important. "Before we go any further, I need to know somethin. You're clan has been runnin around makin friends. What are kind a party are yah plannin?". One shouldn't make an alliance without knowing what the others plan is. At least that's what Dhuvoc thought.

Silanus and his two bodyguards sat on a long log, diplomacy was about to start. At the eyes of Silanus' guards, this dwarf was a simple, barbaric man. However, at the eyes of Silanus, he was someone who could be a potential ally…

"Very well, our dwarven friend, we shall seek agreement tonight." Said Silanus. He stared at the fire and the cooked animal… It seeemed to be a good meal, but he and his troopers were not hungry, and it was not the time to eat, Silanus was tempted to accept Dhuvoc's offer, but he refused: "Oh, no. Silanus and his fellows are not hungry, for we ate enough already…" The man licked his own lips and continued speaking: "First of all, the Fratis seek a trade partner… However, our homes are far from each other, so if we are to establish a route, we'll have to be prepared." One of Silanus' bodyguards waited for his superior to finish talking, and said: "A trade route between our garrisons would be a risky option… Since there is a particular chain of bandit clans located there, so our merchants could be assaulted… Not to mention that, even if nobody raids us, our people would last weeks or even months to reach the place, so, for now, we are not interested in trade." 

Silanus picked his canteen and drank some water, he was about to offer some to Dhuvoc, but he seemed to be alright. Silanus gazed at the dwarf and continued to speak: "However, a military alliance would prove useful… Silanus will be honest, the Fratis are planning to loot the towns of the Empire of Adeluna. After their minor villages are burned, we will march directly to the city itself, and conquer it… We plan to take Canelux!" Silanus whispered something to one of his guards, and then, the guard stood up and walked away.

Silanus continued his speech: "But, sending your warriors on a war is not the best plan, right? Many will die for sure… However, if the Broadmaces cooperate with us, you will NEVER regret it. After The Fratis and all her allies take down the empire, your clan will have a good place in Canelux… All the Haza Savannah will be under the Broadmaces' order. Also…" Suddenly, the bodyguard came with two donkeys carrying two large leather sacks. He threw the sacks to the ground and opened them… they were full of silver.

Silanus grinned at Dhuvoc: "To show that we are honest men, we offer all this silver, too. Accept our offer, and your clan will soon be the owners of all this land, and have the silver."