#Weep for Ludwig supporting a Hresvelg pretender comes at the cost

[randomnameless]

I'm procrastinating so have this Nopes!AU nonsense instead, with an Adrestian pretender.

So the setting is the same Nopes, Rhea crashes on Dimitri's couch in Faerghus and all but then -

Aegir Sr manages to escape thanks to some schmucks helping him, led by a lead random who is a Hresvelg bastard (or are they?) with a Crest of Seiros (maybe a cardinal fucked, or this random is a descendant from Willy's 120 children, or just, a far far removed member of House Hresvelg (maybe Ionius's bastard cousin got a kid who got a kid or whatnot)) and they mount a rebellion against Supreme Leader, because she's been stuck in this war so the promise of MAGA in 3 weeks fell flat especially since the nobodies of Leicester managed to put off a fight, when everyone considers them weaklings (it obviously happens before Clout and Supreme Leader join hands).

Hresvelg Bastard wants to sit on the throne and doesn't believe Supreme Leader's MAGA is going to work - maybe they tried to garner support in the backwater reaches of Adrestia (aka not Enbarr) by getting rid of some Agarthans who were there trying to create War Assets or what not, and so, they start a rebellion.

Knowing they can't win alone (even if Aegir Sr gives an impassionated speech telling the Nobles who followed him/the ones who were ignored by Supreme Leader (mostly the minor ones) or who don't like her "centralising policies" that he was injustly arrested, Vestra Sr assassinated and how she turned the scions of all great families against Adrestia's best interests - if she's not taking them hostage thanks to the help she received from Arundel who is the man behind all those war assets and disparitions : can they seriously believe that she had no hand in his experiments when he is a member of her own family? She only kicked him away after he ended his usefulness, like she'll do to everyone else!) Hresvelg Bastard has a bright idea.

Banking on the masses being faithful followers of the CoS - and not giving a fig about Varley and his "new CoS" - they believe they can also rally some people under the guise of the war against the CoS, the Archbishop is a beloved figure for all commoners (who can't rely on anything else but the Church since Adrestian Great Nobles, who all joined Supreme Leader, prefer to remain in Enbarr rather than manage their lands and people) so they end up with a small army of rebellious nobles, and peasants.

Not the army that will be able to topple Adrestia's military.

Maybe they can get help from Brigid and Dagda... sure, Brigid has their Princess used as a hostage by Supreme Leader, but do they really believe they will become something else than a vassal after the war, if Supreme Leader wins?

Granted, Hresvelg Bastard is Adrestian, and ultimately thinks they cannot rely on "savages", and besides, how will allying with "savages" bolster his claim on the throne? Adrestians don't like "savages" especially the ones from the former House Nuvelle, if they have to keep the Nuvelle mages as allies, they cannot rely on Dagdans.

That's where Adrestian Bastard has a master plan : they will join forces with the CoS (not those barbarians! Just the CoS and its knights!) and assist them in retaking Garreg Mach, on the only condition that the Archbishop herself names them the true and only inheritor of Adrestia's long legacy, starting with Great Emperor Wilhelm, and recognise them as Adrestia's ruler, while Supreme Leader will be just a mere usurper.

(details could be fleshed out later on about where Adrestian Bastard gets their legitimacy from, or to throw shade on Supreme Leader and her direct ascendants).

Thus the CoS - and the Barbarians, since they're allies ! - receive a missive from some loser, backed up with the Empire's fallen nobility and some militia, who suggests they can help them defeat Supreme Leader, only if the Church of Seiros crowns them Emperor at the end of the war.

Rhea immediately wants to refuse, it is not her place to crown people or what not, besides humans will find another way to complain about it and she only wants to return to the monastery.

Besides she gave a crown to Willy, and his descendants ruined everything he stood for and are coming for her head (she heard rumours about the Empire wanting to strike "inhuman beasts" and got wind of Adrestia's "information campaign").

The Kingdom doesn't share her worries (of course since she just told them "nah") and welcomes any new ally... if this person becomes the new Emperor, maybe they could draft some treaty cementing borders between Faerghus and Adrestia once and for all, and stop this war - since the current one seems hell bent on conquering them.

Matthias Gautier has doubts though, would Adrestians accept a puppet Emperor on the throne, controlled by the CoS? Besides, it's not like Adrestia ever respected their borders to begin with, so it's hopeless to hope this new Emperor will respect them. But at least it will create a decoy in Adrestia, which will divide the Imperial Army's attention.

Rodrigue disagrees though, if this is a chance to get a peaceful resolution with Adrestia - or a new Adrestia - they could seize it, sure, Adrestia always scorned them and their borders, but if it gives them at least 15 to 20 years of peace and no skirmishes, they should take it, especially if it ends this current war faster.

Dimitri drafts a letter to propose terms to a potential agreement, Rhea reluctantly agrees (she knows it's going to end up in a disaster, but maybe by that time, Sothis would have solved things out or something?) because it might end the current war.

The agreement is definitely canceled when Hresvelg Bastard gives their reply, calling Dimitri a "reasonable barbarian", and accepts to make him the governor of "Northern Adrestia" if he swears fealty and allegeance to the Empire.

They also replied that the Archbishop shall crown them Greatest (tm) Emperor of Fodlan, marry them and "restart the divine dynasty that was broken since Great Emperor Wilhelm's passing" that will rule over the continent from Garreg Mach which will become the new capital.

Rodrigue sighs while Matthias wonders what was he even expecting from Adrestians to begin with?

Dimitri is tempted to accept "The war will end!" but looking at the stares of everyone else, he frown and hands the letter to Rhea, who hands it to Seteth.

Seteth throws it in the nearest chimney.

Sylvain still asks if they can find some sort of common ground, they have a common foe, everything else comes "later" ? Felix frowns though, if this person's plan is ultimately to make Faerghus a vassal or what not, the Kingdom helping them would be seen as acceptance of Adrestia's lordship over them. Besides, how to tell their friends and people that they are going to die to save the ass of someone who thinks they're barbarians??

Dimitri notes that he has a point, it would be unreasonable to lend Faerghus' help to people who spits on them. But what about the Church? Regardless of the "restarting dynasties" thing they promised to liberate Garreg Mach, right?

Seteth gives the longest sigh ever, but mostly says that if they have to retake Garreg Mach, it will be on their own terms, and those don't include siding with someone who only sees them as a commodity to bolster their claim, or who intends to target the ones who offered their help when asked.

Rhea thus writes the reply, enraging Hresvelg Bastard because hey, their plan was well-thought and they even allowed the Blaiddyd governance over Northern Adrestia! Ludwig says maybe they should make concessions about this "Northern Adrestia" thing, they could still MAGA but later, first they should retake Adrestia? Surely the people would enjoy them putting an end to this disaster of a war, and bringing them back peace (and food).

"Sure, but within ten years of the end of this war, we invade Leicester!"

So Ludwig leads the negotiations instead of his new liege (with some of their orders though, like "do not make it so those barbarians think we're bowing our heads to them!") and agrees to Dimitri's original terms (there's no mention about Leicester's borders though!), using the argument that as soon as there is peace they could "discuss the future of their two countries", and how "taking out the Usurper takes precedence over anything else" for the sake of their people.

Ludwig mourns his friend Igor and wonders how House Vestra managed to, well, manage Hresvelg Emperors if they are all like the one he found, but using his years of political experience, manages to organise a meeting between all parties, Hresvelg Bastard, King Dimitri and the Archbishop herself.

Aegir made Hresvelg Bastard swear not to call the Faerghians barbarians - but they broke that promise within 5 minutes when they congratulated Dimitri on his timing and fashion sense (the shiny armor!) saying something like "I never expected a barbarian and savage northerner could be on time and wear anything else than rags".

Ludwig was dying on the inside, and knew everything would be ruined when Gautier reminded Hresvelg Bastard that if they are asking for the Church's aid, they are also asking for the Kingdom's help since they are allies, so they should play the part if they want their assistance.

Hresvelg Bastard fumed, frowned and stomped the ground in frustration - what is that bum even saying??? - but Rhea cuts them before they can even say a thing, if taking Supreme Leader out is also their objective, then they shall ally but only on that grounds, the Church will offer assistance to the Adrestian population - to the best of its abilities - once the war will be over, but Garreg Mach remains a CoS territory, and Adrestia will swear a blood oath that it shall never invade nor try to conquer its neighbouring nations.

"Even Leicester?"

Ludwig screamt inside because he always scorned the faith magic classes at the Academy, and only now realises learning the "Silence" Spell could have had its uses, but he gives his best assurances that they totally agree on never attacking Faerghus ever again.

Matthias shrugs, Leicester isn't Faerghus, and those bastards never answered their call for help, Rodrigue frowns though, this will create another war. And Nopes!Dimitri only wants what is best for Faerghus, so he is on the verge of agreeing, but Rhea glares at the Hresvelg Bastard.

"Leicester, Faerghus, Brigid and even Dagda."

"It's an acceptable proposal your Majesty! Adrestia can still thrive without ruling over the continent and beyond! We can still lead Fodlan in other ways, look at those barbarians, they don't even know how to appreciate fine culture ! They eve, eat their meat boiled or grilled! Our refinement and culture is ways above theirs, and copied by those of Leicester, who envy us!"

Maybe, maybe, this will save the meeting and those "alliance" talks and discussions?

Hresvelg Bastard reluctantly accepts to "bring the wonders of Adrestian refinement" to the Faerghus and the Church in exchange for their military assistance against Supreme Leader.

Dimitri thinks those terms are acceptable - only if Faerghans aren't forced to accept those "wonders" - while Rhea knows it will end in a disaster in 200 years, but if it can stop this war, and if everyone accepts it, then why not.

At the end of the day : Nopes wise, there's a small army who allied with the Kingdom and the Church of Adrestian soldiers led by their own leader (a bit like green units) - their fate depends on the routes picked, in AG Hresvelg Bastard assumes the throne, in GW they're killed when the Srengese-Federation army marches on the Kingdom, and in SB, they followed Rhea in GM thus, died.