Firstly, you can just die and be replaced by a new Thrune who hasn't sworn that.

Secondly, you didn't introduce yourself as His Infernal Majestor, so I infer you aren't actually in a position to make binding commitments on Cheliax's behalf.

Thirdly, I'd prefer that Cheliax become free, and attacking your army with prejudice helps to achieve that.

You'd be sacrificing your own resources and your own soldiers lives, to make your own country poorer and less safe.

Does the word "Good" mean anything to you?

If I was only trying to do what was best for the average Andoran, it wouldn't be Andoran, it'd be Osirion. I'm not trying to be Osirion. Osirion is being Osirion and Hell seems to intend to continue existing anyway, so I'm going to try doing this instead.

What could I swear to, that would make you let this army retreat unopposed?

I'm open to suggestions.

You could defect? You could forsake Asmodeus?

No, I could not.

We could try to estimate how many of your forces I could kill, and you could require that many to swear to fight the rest of their lives at the worldwound, and for no other causes.

I would want Aspexia Rugatonn to co-sign, that the Church of Asmodeus will recognise no future monarchs who do not agree to uphold that.

Well that does sound very lawful. Cheliax already has substantial treaty obligations to send men to fight at the worldwound, it wouldn't require any new institutional load to just increase it by some amount.

He's not going to agree to "as many troops as they expect Codwin could kill". That would mean Codwin gets to save his own men at no gain to Cheliax, and Cheliax has to pay upkeep on soldiers at only marginal benefit.

He's also not sure he wants to let Rugatonn control the negotiation for him. She's got less motive to preserve Barzillai's bargaining chips that he does. It's not enough that this saves the army and therefore the chellish state. He needs this to play out in a way that benefits Barzillai Thrune.

Every member of House Thrune worth taking seriously has spies and knows how to use them. It has been two hours now. They know how the battle ended. The queen is noticible in her absence for most of it. There were enemy spells cast she should have been able to dispel.

They put all the pieces together with diabolical efficiency. They are supposed to be informed about this kind of thing. Why isn't Aspexia Rugatonn informing them?

She's not supposed to interfere in succession disputes. If she did, the Church of Asmodeus would have to deal with even more court intrigue than it already does.

This is between them and Asmodeus.

Not informing us is interfering.

We're not going to let that stand. Barzillai has the personality of a dish cloth. Nobody likes him. It should be one of us.

If Asmodeus picks Barzillai, one of us will have killed him within the week. And since Lord Asmodeus is smart enough to figure that out, he's not going to pick Barzillai. You're wasting your time here.

The matter of the survival of the army is rather pressing. Is it possible for you to resolve this in less than eight minutes? Otherwise we'll embarrass ourselves in front of the foreign paladins.

Less than eight minutes? Fine.

Terthule Thrune teleports into Augustana, defended by two squads of Hellknights, and with handful of other Thrunes lending their implicit support.

She is dressed somewhat more regally than ordinary, for a scion of House Thrune.

She has the face of someone who paid a high price and endured great agony, for that face.

Are you just endorsing her because you think she'd be easier than Barzillai to kill later?

Regicide is a capital crime. It's an insult to suggest any of our noble status would do that.

Also, if we were planning that, telling Terthule would be interfering in the succession.

She is twelve.

She's old enough to sell her soul.

She'll be weak.

The last queen was strong and look where that got us.

We'll back her up and keep her in power for her whole reign. Promise.

Couldn't you have come up with something better?

We were trying but you only gave us 8 minutes. We picked a compromise candidate and negotiated a time-sharing agreement where each faction gets a set amount of opportunities to manipulate her per week.

You're too slow. The army already agreed to support me.

She looks directly at the nearby soldiers, and widens her mouth slightly.

We must defend the queen!