"You speak of the ancient primordial entities of our world then?" There were many ancient powers that inhabited this world and fed upon its energies. They were waging their own silent war, unseen but manipulating energies to their own benefits. Death had once been like an old friend, but he had stayed his hand from the futility of outright slaughter of humanity once he had learned his abilities. He had made the necessary deals to gain power, to be powerful, and he did still repay Them for their services.
He was, of course, currently ignoring God and Satan and their powers upon this world. They moved in different more tangible ways when it came to humanity, and their influence was not to be ignored. He had already cultivated means of having a night creature army, and souls would always be the cost of that business proposition. He had no qualms about such a cost, of course. The process itself was rather fascinating after all.
He nodded his head at her assessment of Styria, and he agreed with her. "Diplomacy would be your strongest card to play. If it came to a military challenge, your army would benefit from the harshness of your winters and your difficult terrain." And it would depend on the size of the army by that point. A long war would do no one in Styria particular benefits, even if he acknowledged that Morana and Striga had the ability to outlast most human armies.
The corner of his lips twitched in a little smile when she rose for the chess board, watching her tactical movements of the political landscape. He had already made considerations on what moving his castle would mean for those of his court, though it was far reaching beyond the borders of just Europe. His reach was still wide and often within the shadows; he had cultivated spies and the good will of information being passed to him over generations as a farmer tends his fields so the greatest benefit came from each crop.
"It seems to me that your assessment of the situation is that, should the Ottoman army come, I should remain for their armies to crash against my castle and sweep across my lands. By standing firm, the reach of my court remains what it is." He picked up his glass of wine and took his first sip from it; he had already decided as the Ottomans formed what he would do should they expand towards Wallachia's borders and beyond. "It is good then that I am already taking action, but the Empire will come regardless. Their hunger for expansion will come at great personal cost to them."
He set down his glass to regard her. "You answered my question exactly as I expected you to. I do hope your Sisterdom appreciates your insights as much as I do."
no subject
He was, of course, currently ignoring God and Satan and their powers upon this world. They moved in different more tangible ways when it came to humanity, and their influence was not to be ignored. He had already cultivated means of having a night creature army, and souls would always be the cost of that business proposition. He had no qualms about such a cost, of course. The process itself was rather fascinating after all.
He nodded his head at her assessment of Styria, and he agreed with her. "Diplomacy would be your strongest card to play. If it came to a military challenge, your army would benefit from the harshness of your winters and your difficult terrain." And it would depend on the size of the army by that point. A long war would do no one in Styria particular benefits, even if he acknowledged that Morana and Striga had the ability to outlast most human armies.
The corner of his lips twitched in a little smile when she rose for the chess board, watching her tactical movements of the political landscape. He had already made considerations on what moving his castle would mean for those of his court, though it was far reaching beyond the borders of just Europe. His reach was still wide and often within the shadows; he had cultivated spies and the good will of information being passed to him over generations as a farmer tends his fields so the greatest benefit came from each crop.
"It seems to me that your assessment of the situation is that, should the Ottoman army come, I should remain for their armies to crash against my castle and sweep across my lands. By standing firm, the reach of my court remains what it is." He picked up his glass of wine and took his first sip from it; he had already decided as the Ottomans formed what he would do should they expand towards Wallachia's borders and beyond. "It is good then that I am already taking action, but the Empire will come regardless. Their hunger for expansion will come at great personal cost to them."
He set down his glass to regard her. "You answered my question exactly as I expected you to. I do hope your Sisterdom appreciates your insights as much as I do."