The initial shock and fear had begun to give way to a grim determination. The six monarchs, having witnessed the terror of the Skarnwraiths through the desperate accounts of refugees and the chilling reports from their borders, understood that survival depended on unity. However, the path to a true alliance was fraught with the ingrained pride, historical rivalries, and differing priorities that had long defined the relationships between the seven kingdoms. The forging of this new Concord would demand significant concessions, each kingdom forced to pay a steep price for the hope of survival.
King Theron Vaelorin, ever the pragmatist, took the lead in the arduous negotiations. He understood that Vaelorin, while initially the most directly affected, needed the strengths of the other kingdoms to stand a chance. His first, and perhaps most difficult, concession was a willingness to share the ancient knowledge of silver's properties and its traditional use against Lycans. Lord Vorlag of Draventhall, initially dismissive of arcane solutions, grudgingly agreed to dedicate a significant portion of his forges to crafting weapons imbued with the specific silver alloys known to weaken Lycan physiology, hoping that some residual effect might hinder the Skarnwraiths even if it could not destroy them. In return, Vaelorin had to pledge a substantial amount of silver ore, a resource vital to their own traditions and defenses, to Draventhall's war efforts.
Lord Vorlag, in turn, had to swallow his pride and acknowledge the potential value of Solmorae's arcane arts. Lady Seraphina, wary of Draventhall's pragmatic and often dismissive view of magic, demanded a solemn oath that Draventhall would not seek to exploit or control the ancient knowledge she shared. The price for Solmorae's limited but potentially vital wards and counter-rituals was a pledge from Draventhall to provide significant resources and manpower to protect the sacred groves and ley lines within Solmorae's territory, acknowledging their strategic importance in the fight against the encroaching darkness.
Queen Maelis of Tir Vareth, her heart heavy with the blight's effect on the natural world, offered her kingdom's unique expertise in healing and the potent properties of her flora. However, she insisted on a commitment from all kingdoms to preserve the remaining natural sanctuaries and to refrain from any actions that might further harm the delicate balance of the land. The price for Tir Vareth's healing draughts and knowledge of countering the Skarnwraiths' life-draining touch was a binding agreement to respect the sanctity of their forests and a promise of shared research into restoring the blighted lands of Morrathiel, a long-term commitment that stretched beyond the immediate threat.
Warden Kyros Starseeker of Nytheris, while offering his celestial insights, proved the most detached in the immediate negotiations. His price for sharing his astronomical findings and theories on disrupting the Skarnwraiths with focused light was a commitment from the other kingdoms to invest in the construction and maintenance of more observatories across their lands, furthering the understanding of the cosmos. This demand, while seemingly self-serving, was framed as a long-term investment in knowledge that might hold the key to understanding and defeating this otherworldly threat. The other monarchs, though skeptical of its immediate practicality, recognized the potential value of his unique perspective and reluctantly agreed to allocate resources.
Lord Kaelen Bloodhowl of Ulvaren, his impatience barely contained, demanded immediate and decisive action. His price for the fierce warriors of Ulvaren joining the unified front was a commitment from the other kingdoms to engage the Skarnwraiths directly and aggressively, rather than relying solely on defensive strategies or arcane solutions. He pushed for coordinated hunting parties and a willingness to meet the enemy on the field, even with the limited understanding of their weaknesses. In return, Kaelen had to agree to a degree of strategic oversight from the other monarchs, particularly Theron and Vorlag, acknowledging their greater experience in large-scale warfare and tactical planning, a concession that chafed against his independent nature.
The absence of Morrathiel loomed large over the negotiations. The once-radiant kingdom was now a silent, blighted void, a stark reminder of the devastating price of unchecked darkness. The other monarchs spoke of Selene with a mixture of sorrow and a growing unease, the fear that the corruption might spread beyond her borders a constant shadow over their discussions.
The forging of the Concord was a slow and arduous process, each agreement sealed with a heavy weight of compromise. Pride had to be swallowed, old grudges temporarily set aside, and long-held beliefs questioned. Vaelorin had to share its most sacred knowledge, Draventhall had to embrace the arcane, Solmorae had to reveal its secrets, Tir Vareth had to secure the future of its land, Nytheris had to bridge the gap between the stars and the earth, and Ulvaren had to temper its fierce independence with strategic cooperation.
In the end, a fragile alliance was forged, a pact born not of kinship but of necessity. The six monarchs, bound by the shared threat of the Skarnwraiths and the haunting silence of Morrathiel, pledged to stand together. The price of this alliance was steep, demanding significant sacrifices from each kingdom, but it was a price they were willing to pay for the hope of survival, for the chance to push back the encroaching darkness and perhaps, one day, reclaim the light that had been lost. The Concord of Howling Blood was reforged in the face of terror, a testament to the enduring will to survive, even when the skies turned silverless and the howls fell silent.