brnicholas wrote:
I don't see Andrin committed to endless war either, but the issue is trust. I don't see her willing to make peace if she believe Arcana will resume the war as soon as they think they have the advantage.
Three times Sharona has tried to talk to Arcana, three times they have been attacked. The third time in the middle of negotiations the Arcanans started. The only rational conclusion for Sharona to reach from this data is that Arcana will attack when they think they have the military advantage. Which means any offer of negotiation from Arcana should be interpreted as a sign that Arcana is weak and thus Sharona should go on the offensive before Arcana recovers. If negotiators say not and sifters say they are telling the truth the logical conclusion is that Arcana has figured out how to fool sifters. In summary, given what Sharona "knows" negotiating with Arcana is no longer rational for Sharona.
As for mutual exhaustion, the huge transport distances and enormous populations mean casualities will be proportionally low so it will take much longer to set in then historical examples will imply.
Nicholas
Mostly agree. But then trust issues always figure into ending a conflict where there is no clear cut winner.
All I am really saying is there for both sides will ask, "really, what's the point?" Where we seem to differ is I'm a bit more optimistic than you are about how long it will take.
Don