News from Megalos
Wulfe drank down his ale while listening to Ben. He hmm'd and nodded at the appropriate times but was trying to process all of the information in a reasonable way. He didn't really work at such levels of society and had spent most of his childhood and all of his adulthood really concerned with his immediate surroundings. The men to his left and right, and those standing infront of him. Such focus had given him a lot of success in the skirmishes he'd taken part in but this was a much grander scale, with bigger pieces and more granularity.
He supposed though that when reduced to the most simple understanding of the situation it was quite the same. Holding a defence, avoiding the attack, seeking to have your allies behind and to your flank hold you so that you can face off against the people in front. Only that Megalos was a power vast in size. Like a man fighting off a bear, he suspected.
In between drinks he spoke, trying to use some of the more eloquent words he'd heard about the castle - he was trying his best to fit into higher society as befit his role. "Then you're talking of either the eradication of Gedan or its cessation from Megalos entirely. he gave ample pause for the notion to set in. Megalos would probably suggest that such an idea was beyond heresy; high treason no doubt with the important actors being split into parts and made example of.
For Caithness to help Gedan, even opening trading routes would likely be seen as hostility from MEgalos and give them another excuse to attack our lands. So far they haven't succeeded and I think that Gedan is a good buffer. It is true that some of the tradiing might go unnoticed, especially if proxied into Zarak - but such a risk is substantial and I'm not sure what Lady Ai... Her Majesty Airis Moonshadow would say.
Baron Rupert, has he asked only for Caithness to open trade, or is there more? Military aide, and such?
Wulfe's curiosity had taken over him by the point he'd finished his ale and the idea of dealing with Megalos at all was thrilling. He had skirmished with them as a younger lad but nothing too serious. He head many great things about their armies, and equally horrifying tales about their soldiers, and church and inquisition.
He knew what he'd do. The unfortunate position of Gedan stood as a good opportunity for the kingdom to extend its borders. Putting them under full protection of Caithness and making the Baron that Ben had mentioned a count of the land would likely have little repercussions other than the hostility of Megalos - but that was always present. In the worst case the county of Gedan would be lost to Megalos and Caithness would have lost nothing and in the best case the lands grew richer and larger, cutting a chunk out of the beast that threatened all the land.
It seemed also that Gedan might have good relations with the Dwarves and having heard some of the tales of their craft was enough to send a shiver of intrigue through Wulfe.
As an afterthought to his conversation and the questions he posted to Ben, Wulfe mentioned childishly but with the seriousness of one believing fully in their own ability As for conquering Caithness, it would never happen while I drew breath"