The meeting hall of the council was unusually empty as Elder Tervel entered the hall. Only few of the most prominent elders were present, he noted, also noticing that High Elder Susi nor the Holy Emperor were present. Only a few days ago he was still a practically unkown monk to the higher ups of the Tarunian hierarchy. But since the High Elder had caught a fever and was in extremely bad condition, he had been promoted to deputy High Elder (and thus also given permanent elder status) by the suggestion of someone high up in the Hierarchy. He wondered how these people had even heard of him, or how he was any more fit to rule then any of the elders.
He didn't even want the position, but once you have been elected to such a prominent position, refusing it would be an insult to the entire religious leadership. So, here he was attempting to stop Tarunia from being sacked and burned to the ground by the Norge and Mordvin hordes.
As he reached the High Elder's seat, directly below the one reserved for the Holy Emperor although he never attends council meetings, one of the oldest of the elders slowly rose up. Tervel saw from his robes that he was one of the elders from the Baltic provinces.
"I greet you high lord." The man's voice was old and soft. "And I wish that the situation wouldn't look so grim, however know that the Baltic parishes will support you in any decision you make."
The same ritual was repeated by the other elders, stating that their respective parishes will support him in anything he decides to do. Even though Tervel was sure that they wouldn't support him so fanatically as they claimed, that ritual being one that is always held when a new High Elder is chosen, the words did offer him some support.
After everyone of the elders present had said their vow of loyalty, he got up from the High Elder's seat, and began the actual meeting.
"Right now we are presented with two very grim problems. The first being to keep the Norge army stranded on the otherside of the Sea of Tarun*, and the other to prevent the Mordvin heretics from entering Tarunia itself." Tervel spoke as clearly as he possibly could "What is the condition of the fleet?" He directed his question to the elders of the Baltic and Finnish parishes.
"The fleet is currently being rebuilt, after the disasterous loss of our fleet at the hands of the Norge. But the fleet can be rebuilt to nearly its pre-war glory. We also have received word that Nadruvia is sending its fleet to assist us against the Norge. However, we must finish the reconstruction of our fleet before the Norge manage to act or all is lost." One of the Finnish parish elders said and sat back down.
"Then what of the Mordvin Horde amassing on our eastern border?" Tervel asked the leaders of the eastern parishes.
"Our army is currently deployed at the border and our chain of fortifications are in place. Our Northmen are specifically trained for fighting in fortifications, however the heretical Mordvin army outnumbers our army. And we are not sure how long will we be able to hold. But the border shall be defended to the last man if need be."
Tervel was not as confident on the fighting spirit of the Tarunian army as the elder in charge of the eastern provinces was.
"Then what of the fighting spirit of the people?"
"Quite low, his Holiness is actually right now visiting the most important cities and parishes, trying to improve the peoples' fighting spirit." One of the elders from the south said
"Is it having any effect?"
"So far there has been no significant improvement, high lord"
"That concludes our meeting for today, I will expect to hear from all of you within two weeks time"
Tervel wanted to just give the 'glory' of being high elder to someone else, he didn't want to be anywhere near power, and most of all not at a time like this. He wondered if history would blame him for the destruction of Tarunia or would he really be the one to make Tarunia narrowly avert disappearing to the pages of history.
His worst fears were confirmed, when a few days later the death of High Elder Susi was confirmed. Now he was trapped to being High Elder for the rest of his life.
*Sea of Tarun = Baltic Sea
OOC: Symphony, what series is your avatar from? It reminds of Crest/Banner of the Stars.
. Ego and (often) geopolitics will casue the originating state to attempt to retake 'their' lands.
