Aerdis Chooses a Side

Life, Organisation Association

With its hand forced, the Kingdom of Aerdis chose to solidify its alliance with Zukei. It cited a lack of evidence supporting Murtay's innocence as one reason, but the primary reason for this decision was that Zukei had been a longtime ally of the kingdom and, additionally, was directly adjacent to it. Starting a war with a much stronger neighboring nation was not in the cards for King Ahren II, and so he pledged his kingdom to the cause of Zukei.

Murtay Mhiina had grown enraged at the accusations levied against his people--particularly as "reasons" for the assassination were suggested by Zukei and its allies, chief among them being that he had secretly allied himself with Fainarr. This insult to Murtay and his honor had gone on for several months, and all of his attempts to prove his innocence and appease Emperor Otagi Nakomori had fallen on deaf ears. War seemed inevitable at this point, which put King Ahren II in a difficult position. After much deliberation, the King of Aerdis chose to set his allegiance with the Empire of Zukei. While Murtay's inability to prove his innocence was one cited factor, the primary reason for this decision was Aerdis's geopolitical position as a neighbor of Zukei. It could not risk making an enemy of the larger, more powerful nation--particularly with Buern to the west. Siding with Miliim would have ultimately led to the utter and inevitable conquest of Aerdis. This caused even greater offense to King Murtay, who immediately moved to find his own allies.