Antonius ran suddenly into Remus's office, before stopping with his hands on his knees as he panted for breath. Between gasps, he shouted "Consul!"

Remus groaned in frustration, before theatrically throwing papers both ways off of the side of his desk. "Antonius, I sincerely hope this is important. I'm very busy!" Remus muttered to himself "Turns out imcreasing the standing military is a lot harder than shifting a percentage...."

Between breaths, Anonius continued to speak "This is important Consul...very important...there is a man...at the arena...from the Geferlich horde...shouting at a sparring match."

Remus put his forehead in one hand, then said "Antonius, that is the least important thing I think you've ever said to me. Geferlich men shout at the games all the time. Remans shout at the games all the time. Next time, don't disturb be over trivialities."

Antonius has regained most of his breath at this point, and says "No, you don't understand! It's Khan Kargan!"

Remus stood up immediately. "Khan Kargan is here, in Rema? Why didn't you tell me this sooner? We need to go!" Remus ran from the door, with a fatigued-looking Antonius reluctantly running after him.

"You are disgraces to the very idea of combat! He has lost and his life is forfeit! Finish him off you weak-spined coward!" Shouted a man at the height of his boisterous voice.

"That is indeed the Khan" said Chu Yuyan.

Remus sighed. "What is he doing here, in a Reman arena?"

Khan Kargan resumed his shouting. "You piss-blooded fools have no understanding of what it means to fight! Let a real man show you how it is done!" Khan Kargan leaped over the edge of the seating area and onto the arena floor in one fluid motion, drawing two wicked-looking swords.

"That...that was a 30-foot drop!" muttered Antonius in disbelief. Chu Yuyan snorted at his comment.

"Khan Kargan, hail! How nice of you to visit our Republic!" shouted Remus from the edge of the arena.

Khan Kargan, who was advancing quickly for the combatants with swords drawn, turned towards the sound of the voice. When his eyes fell on Remus, the murder dessapeared from his eyes, and a huge (possibly even exaggerated) smile split his face. "Remus, my friend! I was about to seek you out, but it appears you have saved me the time!"

Remus didn't smile, but rather retained his disapproving glance even as he replied. "Why are you attempting to assault my citizens?"

"Remus, Remus! I only wished to show them the true meaning of combat! You need not worry! No harm will come to me!" Kargan began to laugh uproariously.

"Khan Kargan, why are you here, in Rema? Your lands are a great distance away, so your showing up in person is quite strange, as you must admit."

"As I said, my friend, I came to see you! I have a proposition for your Republic!"

"I would love to hear it, but would you rather talk in your embassy, or perhaps the palace? We are in a very public place, and I don't see any of your men to watch out for you."

"Bodyguards?" Interrupted Khan Kargan. "You amuse me Remus! No man can best me in combat! I have nothing to fear, so let us talk in this place. The smell of blood clears the mind!"

Antonius whispered "He has to be putting on a character. No man is this insane, or as devoted to violence!" Chu Yuyan replied curtly "You would be wrong."

"But I did not come here to scare your little warriors, as fun as it is." said Khan Kargan with a laugh. "I have come to talk of an alliance with your people!"

"Alliance?" echoed Remus uncertainly.

"That is what I just said! Our people have been on good terms for longer than any can remember!"

"Our peoples...." corrected Antonius under his breath. Remus held up a hand to silence him.

Khan Kargan continued, either not seeing--or simply ignoring--Antonius's interjection. "Only good things can come of a formal alliance between our people! My military might, and your...not combat might..."

"Culture?" provided Remus, with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes! Your cultural...might." Kargan did not so much say the word as chew it. "We will make a great alliance indeed!"

"I am not certain he has wholly good intentions." Said Chu Yuyan quietly. "He is almost certainly planning something, and wants us to either join it, or at least pay it no mind."

"I am sure you are right," whispered Remus back, "but I have no intention of provoking the Horde. We should accept this offer while it is available. If nothing else, Kargan would not invade his own allies. He is at the very least a man of his word."

Remus spoke up, again loud enough to be heard by Khan Kargan. "The Republic of Rema would gladly accept your offer of alliance, and looks forward to cooperation between our peoples!"

"That is fantastic!" proclaimed Kargan. "You are too far from my lands to easily invade anyway."

Remus gave his a deadpan stare, which was mirrored by Chu Yuyan and Antonius. "It was a joke, you over-serious children!"

"I'm sure it was" muttered Antonius.

"Would you like to accompany me to the palace, so we may draw up the formal terms of an alliance?" said Remus.

"Of course! After that, I can show your gladiators how to truly fight!" Khan Kargan let out a great laugh, before sheathing his swords and following the group from the Arena floor.

Effect: The Republic of Rema is now formally allied with the Geferlich Horde. This is not a mutual defensive pact; merely a public declaration of friendship and cooperation. This alliance is not kept a secret, so any nation with an embassy in Rema learns of the alliance.