Aside from the 'let's meet with our Skaven 'friend'' argument, there's more to Parleying with Eshin.
The
one thing that people seem to throw around with regards to trying to parley with the Skaven seems 'they are untrustworthy' and to that, I think we need to take a step back and remember that
nothing is a trap option and from a writing perspective, 'stereotypes are
stereotypes'. The existence of Mathilde, Johann, Soizic, and even Alkharad (yes, that's his real name) is proof enough. As such, I believe that a parley and something akin to a temporary mutual agreement to be
absolutely in the cards. Grey game knows game.
Keeping in mind that I am arguing against the tide of people trying to Parley with the Dragon, what can we expect from the Eshin, strategically speaking?
- They cannot contest any claim on Karak Eight Peaks, their forces — already locked to the unusual numerically inferior Elites — are too depleted.
- They have four Hero Units on the field and maybe one or two more Rare Units hidden, as per Mathilde's intuition.
- They are here for the complete destruction of Traitor-Clan Mors.
Summary, Eshin will cut losses
once they have done the last clause. Any deal we're making with Eshin hinges on that last point. But first, it needs to be
specified that the only one who
could make the deal would be Mathilde the Grey Magister. Mathilde the Thane of Karak Eight Peaks would
utterly be unable to do such a thing. So what the Magister bring for the Eshin?
- The Fifth Hero Unit and wildcard in taking out Sleek and his battalion-sized bodyguards. Sleek can and will expect Eshin Shenanigans, but Mhornokrul Shenanigans... not really.
- "Convincing" Mathilde the Thane to have Eshin leave Karak Eight Peaks with no further conflict.
Two things, but very powerful cards on the table. What can Eshin
do to the Magister then?
- Leave Karak Eight Peaks with no further hostility. This is big. Four Hero Units is not to scoff at and while we can leave them against the Dragon and Sleek... that's a chance I'd rather not take since apparently mutual rout + disorganized re-engagement + surprise Hysh Dragon didn't get them.
- Loot. Duh. AP Hell, yes. But we can always foist the loot off to the Colleges if need be.
- The Most Unprecedented Thing. Diplomacy. The Skaven Expert in the whole of the Empire and perhaps Old World will have done literally everything that could be done with regards to Skaven, from the dissection of knowledge of the major clans to the deciphering of written Queekish and even to the length of parleying to not just any Skaven Clan, but the one which is most similar to the Grey College. This is the sort of things that gets one fast-tracked for Lord Magister position, in case our performance hadn't already.
So with the good things brought to the table out of the way, what are the bad things that Eshin can beat us down with? Actually, there's only
a bad thing. Well, Bad Thing
TM
- Mountain Vietnam. There's a reason why Eshin is the worst possible faction — even counting the Dragon in my opinion — that we could face. Mathilde's senior in Intrigue, at max. four Hero Units, and the wide playing area of Karak Eight Peaks? That's a nightmare scenario beyond Hysh Dragon that can't be solved with 'and then two of Karaz Ankor's most powerful Runelords atop their Anvils of Doom smote it with the power of the Ancestor Gods'.
And inversely, what can Mathilde — in all her Aspects — do to the Eshin in a negative way?
- The Loremaster can negotiate with the Hysh Dragon and say, "I hate Skaven. You hate Skaven too right? Care for some jolly cooperation with the freshest force in Eight Peaks?" And (Hysh Dragon + Dwarves) + Mors + Eshin = Four and so Four will Feed.
- The Grey Magister can already
[] Attack Clan Eshin right now. It would be a challenge to be sure, but she's a fresh Hero while the Eshin Hero Units have been fighting for the past four hours.
- The Thane can simply march her troops — which again, is the freshest fighting force in Eight Peaks — towards Karag Yar once everything blows over but before Eshin can make a getaway. What remains of Clan Eshin can make it absolutely hurt for the attackers but it's a number's game on exhausted Hero Units and would eliminate a sizeable chunk of Eshin assets Mallus-wide.
Summary as a whole? Eshin will have
zero choice but to go along until they leave...or they court destruction. Mathilde possesses the biggest carrot and stick in the whole Battle Royale right now. We can
absolutely force Eshin's hand to honour the treaty, if the Skaven are
so backstabby as to be memetic.
I hope that's a good enough pitch for you, pickle, and to anyone else reading.
