Part 1: The Summit of Naotik

Part 2: The Second Summit

Part 3: The Leadup to War

Part 4: Déjà vu

Part 5: Loose Lips Sink Ships

Part 6: The Traitor's Due

Oh no Radeti, no, of course Teltras isn't under siege! No, we're just keeping you inside without any supplies coming in so that you'll actually speak with us. Why don't you come burn yourselves on our firey nonsense as we discuss how we're totally not conquering your land?

Serek's mind wandered as he stared out from atop Teltras' walls at the Hashas encampment. The easterners hadn't established a siege, at first. Instead they constructed a narrative that they were present merely to restore order, and that they had to secure the city before they could in turn march to Naotik to bring justice to those that had betrayed their kin and, as the Hashas general had said, "Slandered our names in blaming us for such vile treachery."

Serek didn't buy it, and neither did the other Radeti. Well, a few had, and they'd tried to open the gates. They earned their fate, Serek thought sadly, smelling the speared head of one of the traitors as it slowly rot in the warm spring sun.

It had taken just two days for the Hashas to abandon their pretenses and begin siege of the city in earnest. It progressed rapidly. With no leadership in the city, the walls were sparsely manned, grain divided poorly and attempted raids on the Hashas ditch-diggers and engine-makers flaccid and easily sent back into the city.

Their intentions were clear. They knew the forces that had departed north would return any day, and they sought to make the coming battle as one-sided as possible. So they built their famous siege engines and prepared their assault.

By historical happenstance, Teltras was the least fortified city in Radet-Ashru. Made to dismantle their walls multiple times over the centuries, they had not made defences a priority since Unone had come to power, sure that any threat would come from the east and be stopped at the Radet, the Arathee well trusted not to come knocking with hostile intent.

Serek lamented this history as he aimed his bow at the barely exposed head of a Hashas man taking lead in a battering ram. Heavy rocks had damaged the ram's canopy, and Serek shuddered to think that the man felled after his bow's twang was perhaps the 10th he'd sent to the void.

It didn't seem to make a difference, though. New men flocked to the ram even now. The gates were cracking and the Radeti forces arrayed behind them were woefully inadequate in order, discipline and number.

Serek moved to the guard tower to join the swarm behind the gate as the gates burst open, iron-clad Hashas warriors streaming inside in disciplined lines. Casualties began to mount, albeit slowly, each side well armoured enough to make the battle one of attrition.

Serek could see that the Radeti would wear out first. They didn't know who to turn to for orders, for support. They'd fail without reinforcements, but what could they do? He was at a loss, and panic began to rise when he saw Anatellum, the Datu's pride. Team captain of the A-league Datu keron team and star athlete aside, his name and face were known to most... and so too was Serek's.

He slipped out of the Radeti group carefully, calmly. He didn't want to start a rout. And then he ran off to the city's aristocratic district, where he knew more morose kashi who had little faith gathered. There he slipped to the middle of the group, that mingled little and spoke less. There he locked eyes with a man known as Berkash, and he began to sing.

"A bulwalk strong and memory long,

Spears ever at hand

Foes beware their peerless stare

To void they go from this land."

Berkash's hollow eyes smiled then, and he took the cue.

"Balu, Balu, to Keron we go, Balu, Balu..."

The chant spread, then, slowly at first as more and more of those present took it up. Serek quickly climbed back down from the house and slipped through the crowd, clapping Berkash on the shoulde and again locking eyes with the man.

"Lead them through this. Lead us through this. Shore up the gates. Prove your bulwalk is strong, and your spears ready." Berkash nodded, turned, and waved his spear high in the air before marching towards the gates. Those chanting the creed of the Balu followed, their exposed skin baring tattoos of the beasts to signify their membership of the team.

Serek sought out one of the Linos then, the snakes. Though their A-team captain was a Naotik officer and thus doubtless dead, Serek eventually found a man just as good, their A-team linesman, Anjui. When the Linos man saw Serek, he knew what to expect and called up his own team's chant. The Lions, Crocodiles, Hawks and a half-dozen other teams went by then, each moving to reinforce the gates or walls or find whatever part of the city needed them most.

And so it went, until only Serek's own Echpek remained and it was his turn to lead his team to battle.

The situation was dire. Warriors had been rallied, but the Hashas warriors were proving worthy of their moniker Aljimayi^1, and their superior discipline and equipment was slowly forcing the defenders further back into the city, claiming it street by street.

Inspiring chants were nice, but they didn't win battles.

1. 'The Immortals'