War.
Jartis stared contemplatively over the expansive, lush plains, productive farmlands and pastures of Agarsarian's western region as his caravan rolled along the main thoroughfare connecting the Agasarian Empire to the Republic of the Dwarves. The rumors had reached the Republic, whispered on the mouths of dwarven merchants – the Kingdom of Tarvanna had made a declaration of war. Jartis' frown deepened as he recalled the conversation he had had with his mother, Senator Adana, before embarking on a mission to Musari via Arimasnu. According to emissaries sent by Emperor Kilvan, the Tarvannian king Hrothulf had declared open war under an Agasarian diplomatic flag of peace. Jartis knew King Hrothulf did what he wanted, but he also knew such disregard for decorum was not easily forgotten – especially by the Republic of the Dwarves, a major supplier of weapons to the Kingdom.
Jartis stroked his beard solemnly. He knew that the appointment by the Dwarven Senate to oversee a shipment of weapons to Musari was not by chance or lottery. His eyes flicked to the other passenger in his steam-powered carriage – the Dwarven diplomat to Agasaria. Not since the previous Tarvanna/Agasarian war 150 years ago had a dwarven diplomat visited the capitol of Musari. The Republic tried to stay out of the politics of the two major nations in Arras as much as possible. Now, however, the Senate had voted to reach out to the Agasarian Empire to broker a weapons treaty. Jartis audibly snorted in disgust (causing the diplomat to startle and glare at Jartis) because he knew that other factions in the Republic were setting up arms deals with Tarvanna. 'We may stay out of their politics, but we sure love getting involved in their wars,' Jartis thought.
Besides being the foremost engineer of the Musari Passage, the underground mech transport between Musari and Arimasnu, Jartis was tasked with assessing the armaments of the Agasarians. Also, although no one else was privy to this information besides his mother, Jartis was personal bodyguard of the diplomat – not because there weren't more qualified applicants, but because she wanted an account of the diplomatic meeting from someone she trusted.
Suddenly, the carriage's mech motors slowed to a whir and the carriage began to slow. An envoy guard strode up to the carriage door, saluting Jartis and then in a gruff voice said, "There appears to have been a marauder ambush up ahead, sir. Four figures are mounted on horses -- one appears Agasarian, one a hill folk, and the others I have never seen before. How shall we proceed?"
Jartis eyed the diplomat. "Proceed with caution. When we draw close we will hail them. Maybe they need aid if recently attacked my marauders." The solider nodded then strode off. Abruptly the carriage began rolling again and Jartis mulled over the information. 'Strangers in Agasaria? Things are becoming more complicated already."
Shortly the carriage slowed to a stop again, and Jartis disembarked, hoisting his hammer just in case. He dropped down from the mech, iron-clad boots thudding and sending up puffs of dust, and surveyed the four figures in front of him. His eyebrows rose slightly then returned to normal as he took in the tall woman on the black stallion. 'A Daimun in Agasaria? Things definitely have become complicated.'
Addressing the strangers he said gruffly, "Hail strangers. It appears you have been in a recent battle. Have you need of aid?"