The messenger leaves with his party, stops in town to buy some supplies for the trip, and departs with an extra copy of the map.
The party arrives four years later, the returning messenger arriving back in honor. The people that are brought with him are strange– people with lighter skin and wide eyes, some brown and some blue. Their hair varies greatly in color and shape. Some people begin to wonder if they are spirits, but the messenger assures everyone that they are humans just like us, but they are as an animal breeder might compare, a different "breed" of human.
They are all taught Erinamese and learn to speak it fluently. They are then tasked with teaching some scholars who will travel to Aspidis to learn their language and customs. The Aspians then learn about Erinamese culture, political events, the Zïtdist religion, etc., before being sent back to Aspidis.
The Ivēxür holds great interest in the trade route, and immediately sends out "cartographers" to map out the region.
When the Aspians reach Erinaum, they are taken aback with the sights and the people, they are proud and content when they learn of the language and are able to speak it fluently, and take care in learning the customs. They are excited when they are taught culture, the state of politics, and all that jazz before they begin setting off, to return home to Aspidis.
Erinaum sends all Aspian scholars and linguists back, and begins to send more scouts along the trade route. Because of trade of spices from either nation, and incense and perfume from Erinaum and Aspidis, respectively, Erinaum dubs the route "The Spice Road".
Over the course of a century, Erinamese scouts also discover the nations of Seneca, Captica and Lotavik, along with any other NPCs related to either.
Construction of the Spice Road is now 15% complete on the Erinamese end. Due to the war being over and the Edict of United Ezbátu creating much more labor than normal, the project accelerates. The main route is planned, and markers are set up where routes are to be. Along completed portions of the route are milestones, marking the progress of the route. At every 10 miles, there will be a rest stop, with a small inn, a stable, and storage areas located there.
The Aspian scholars whom return bring back a strange and seemingly complicated language, but are brought back with open arms. When they return, a prominent Centurion tasks some of them in teaching the emperor this language in his spare time, when he would wish of it, and the others are left to document this language and to create a small, government funded school that allows for the teachings of this language.
Laborers are sent out to begin creation of their portion of the Spice Road. The project comes along nicely so far, however they aren't going nearly as fast as the Erinamese, and only complete 7% on their end. With the main route being planned, and markers set, the Aspian laborers work off this, and a similar milestone system is put down, though is considerably subtle. Similar to the Erinamese, every 12 miles there's a rest stop, inn, and stable with designated storage areas.
Research is done and stuff by this point, it's loving 590 and all that jazz. Rearming of the Aspian military begins, and a rough 2,500 men are rearmed with better weaponry.
(I'm doing this under the assumption that Albiton accepted all my stuff that I offered them before, which is kinda overlooked. If need be, I will quote it and PM that stuff to Miko.)
A small force of 500 well armed troops approach Albiton borders after Aspidis fortifies their borders accordingly, and state that they are being sent on behalf of Aspidis to ensure the protection of the emperor. They say that Aspidis had caught wind of a force to the east beyond the see that wishes to attack and do harm to Albiton, a empire of equal size and power if not greater. They say that they are being supposed to be stationed at the Albitonian capitol to ensure the safety of the emperor, as they are aware that the empire would back off when they see Aspian presence in their lands, as the two have close ties.
If they are let through, they continue along to the capitol and are stationed appropriately within the palace. However, a short while after they arrive, they turn on them and move to attempt to quickly and sufficiently take the emperor hostage, and demands are sent out to render themselves unto Aspidis for the emperor, and his families lives. A day or so before this happens, other nobles of the other conquered empires under Albiton are contacted, and given a chance to become prominent Aspian noblemen if they rise up in rebellion against their current emperor, and they will be granted greater and better things than they already have, and a chance to conquer the world alongside the Aspian emperor, as high nobles, practical princes whom if they play their cards right, will potentially be adopted into the royal family and gain the right to rule.
If they aren't let through, they simply return home to plot their next attempt.
Poll