The whispers of etabsam's resurgence, carried by merchants and adventurers, had transformed into a resounding roar across Sugbu. The Iron Serpent, the booming foundries, the fertile fields, and the crushing defeat of internal corruption had become a legend. Struggling kingdoms, watching their own economies dwindle under the old systems and the subtle chokehold of the Black Hand, began to look to Mark with a mixture of desperate hope and cautious curiosity.
Mark, recognizing the opportunity and the necessity, initiated a grand diplomatic outreach. He dispatched Alfred, accompanied by Lady Anya and a contingent of the newly disciplined Royal Guard, to invite the heirs of struggling kingdoms to a second, far larger, summit in etabsam. This was not merely about trade; it was about shared survival, about forging a new path for the continent.
The invitations resonated. Over the next six months, Crown Princes, Princesses, and Ruling Council members from eighteen additional kingdoms, mostly smaller city-states and isolated tribal nations suffering from economic stagnation or Black Hand infiltration, arrived in etabsam. Among them were:
Prince Orion of the Sky-Spires, a proud but pragmatic Griffonfolk prince from a mountainous kingdom whose traditional mana-crystal trade was being undercut by the Black Hand. He was fascinated by the Iron Serpent's potential for traversing difficult terrain. Princess Seraphina of the Whispering Sands, a shrewd Desert Elf whose kingdom suffered from rampant banditry and a collapsing irrigation system, secretly sabotaged by Black Hand agents seeking to control their rare desert herbs. Warchief Korgoth of the Stoneclans, a stoic Orc leader from a confederation of Beastfolk tribes, whose people were being exploited for their strong warriors by shadowy mercenary contractors linked to the Black Hand. He sought stability and equitable trade.
The discussions were intense, spanning weeks. Mark, no longer just a Prince, but a proven visionary, laid out his proposal for a Tempest Federation: a grand alliance not bound by traditional military pacts, but by mutual economic development, technological exchange, shared knowledge, and collective security against predatory organizations like the Black Hand.
"We are not here to absorb your lands or diminish your sovereignty," Mark declared in the grand assembly hall, his voice resonating with conviction. "We are here to share the blueprint for prosperity. To pool our resources, our knowledge, and our strengths. etabsam offers industrial expertise, secure trade routes, and a proven model for internal reform. The Human City-States offer vast mercantile networks. The Elven Dominion offers arcane knowledge and resource mapping. The Demon Wastes offer rare materials and fierce protection. What do you bring? Your unique resources, your cultural strengths, your untapped potential. Together, we can build a new era of prosperity that no single entity, no shadowy organization, can dismantle."
Lady Anya skillfully navigated the complex political currents, addressing concerns about sovereignty, cultural differences, and historical grievances. Alfred charmed skeptics, while Ben, with Lysandra, showcased the Royal Guard's renewed strength. Ellaine provided magical demonstrations of efficiency and security, impressing the arcane scholars from other realms. Grumble and Elara, with their miniature steam engine models and detailed blueprints, inspired the practical-minded leaders.
By the end of the summit, after countless negotiations and countless mugs of etabsam's newly popularized stout ale, history was made. Twenty-one kingdoms, including etabsam, Tondo, the Human City-States, the Elven Dominion, and the Demon Wastes, formally ratified the charter for the Tempest Federation. Its tenets were clear: mutual defense against common threats (specifically the Black Hand), unrestricted trade and knowledge exchange among members, joint infrastructure projects, and the establishment of a Federation Council where each kingdom, regardless of size, had an equal voice. Mark, though not officially titled "leader" of the Federation, was its undeniable architect and de facto central figure. The continent of Sugbu, accustomed to a fragmented political landscape, now witnessed the birth of a new, powerful bloc, focused on progress rather than conquest.