Cathay/RP/Parley

From the northern camp of the armies of Lasanar, Ethiala, and Sartania rode a handful of armored knights bearing the standards of the House of Scarlett and the Duchy of Ossaet.

Duke Galiard rode forward and opened his visor.

He called up to the battlements: "Lords of the Antozan Commonwealth!"

"Having in the traditions of chivalry delivered unto you the injuries done to the Feudal Republic of Lasanar by King Corey that have caused us to raise in warlike arms our host against you, we do therefore in the eyes of the Gods present ourselves in this place, to meet you once again in honorable combat."

"Having rejected our magnanimous terms of surrender, you gathered Lords atop the walls of this great city do leave our grievances no recourse but battle, no answer to the injustices done unto us but to topple you, noble lords, from these walls, and the walls along with you."

"In testament to the righteousness of our cause, these many realms that ride with us do contest with each other for the privilege of being the first over the battlements. It is that same righteouesness that shall kept the entirety of this in places and at times of our choosing -- the same righteousness that hath paralyzed the once-great Antozan banner, that hath rendered irrelevant the name Antoza in all affairs outside earshot of its lands. It is the same righteousness that seen them fortify, turtle-like, this mighty fortress, that hath taken every drop of gold and labor from their serfs and turned them to brick and stone and garrison spear."

"We are resolved to batter down those bricks and stones and to see to the return of justice and fair rule in these lands, and to accomplish so much of this today as the rising and setting of the sun permit; and whatsoever remains of this Our greatest task after this day to come shall we complete upon our return, be it a day or a week from now; good knights and nobleman gather in our homelands far faster and far greater than peasants may be conscripted to man these walls."

"Thus do we commit ourselves, our sharpened swords, and our mighty engines of war to honorable combat. Quarter shall be given when it is sought, and the wounded and captive spared abuse beneath their station. Strength and Honor!"

The Duke lowered his visor, wheeled his horse around, and rode back towards the camp.

--- (The next morning, before dawn...)

Dodd rubbed his temples. "Explain this to my poor, addled brain but once more, m'lud."

"Fodder," said Galiard, "is actually a term that comes from a position of GREAT HONOR--"

"see," Dodd shook his head. "That's where you lose me."

"In ancient times," said Galiard piously, "Nobles would compete for the honor of being the first through a defensive breach! It was the fastest way to advance, to be noticed. The first hole in the wall would appear, and you'd run through, before anyone else--"

"...and get an arrow in the eye," observed Dodd dubiously.

"Yes!" Galiard agreed emphatically. "That's why the Gods gave us TWO EYES! Because then, after the battle, you'd have one eye, but oh the glory!"

"Glory with poor depth perception," amended Dodd.

"So what do you say?" said Galiard cheerily. "Do you want to be the first through the breach?"

Dodd frowned. "I am already m'lud's second-in-command," he replied. "In order for me to advance, not only would m'lud have to die a very early and immediate death, but the Grand Council would have to select me to replace m'lud."

Galiard pursed his lips.

"Perhaps," offered Dodd, "The Grand Council will lose several of their eyes, and that will seem like a good idea?"

"I'll take that as a "no" on the fodder." Galiard harrumphed.

"Do YOU want to be the fodder?" Dodd demanded.

"Of course not!" Galiard exclaimed. "We swoop in at the end, when everyone is really tired. With as many men as we have, we'd be a target for every archer on the walls if we were in front."

"You mean like Duke Luyten," Dodd observed.

"That's different," said Galiard defensively. "His men are insane."

"Unlike m'lud," said Dodd, neutrally.

There was a trumpet call in the distance.

"Sunrise approaches," said Galiard, rising to his feet, his amused expression evaporating. "Make ready."

Dodd turned to leave, but Galiard stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"Juse in case," said the Duke. "There is no finer man I should care to die beside, my friend."

Dodd looked misty-eyed for a second, but only a second.

"I'd say the same," he replied just as quickly, "but I can think of several, actually."