Falx Slave: "My ruler, the marshal wishes to see you."
Falx Governor: "Bah. Doesn't she have a war to fight?"
Slave: "My apologies, but the honourable general Croses is also with her. She says it is urgent."
Governor: "Croses...? But... he died... Very well, send them in."
Governor: "General. I heard you drowned."
General Croses: "I got away. Barely. But we have more important matters to discuss."
Marshal: "Governor, the enemy have captured one of our portals and they are preparing to move through in great numbers. They wish to invade us!"
Governor: "Ha? Ha! Hahahahaha! Those barbarians think they can threaten us? They'll die like cattle!"
Croses: "These are no ordinary barbarians. They wield steel and wear armour similar or maybe even superior to our own. They know how to use magic and construct machines of war. They've beaten our armies many times before, they managed to persuade the water demons to join them, they've managed to capture two of our portals, and they seem to know how to use them!"
Governor: "What do you want me to do about it?. You are the military minds here. I'm sure you're brilliant enough to think of something."
Marshal: "Now is not the time to be resentful, governor. These people are unlike any enemy we've faced before. A few legions aren't going to stop them. Call in help from the archons, or we risk losing this province."
Governor: "No! I will not appear weak to the rest of the council. I will deal with this invasion myself. If you want more troops, convince the Esti or the Aranei to join you."
Marshal: "The enemy is already on our doorstep. There is no time for that!"
Governor: "Then I'm sure there isn't any time for arguing with me either."
Marshal: "I suppose there isn't. I don't know what you will be doing but I'm going to actually do something about this invasion. And if we fall, it'll be on your head!"
Kingdom territory, Northern provinces, location of the captured Falx portal...
Queen-Marshal Lara has activated the captured Falx portal. On the verge of sending her troops through, she has gathered the leaders of the Hitokiri and Water Demons, who will be tasked with guarding the portal to make sure no Falx come through should the crusade fail.
Queen Lara: "We do not know what the Falx have waiting for us on the other side. The Hitokiri will go through first and pave the way by crushing any immediate Falx resistance on the other side and then fall back, so my army will be able to move through unobstructed. I intend to strike deep into Falx lands before they know we're there."
Queen Lara: "Of course, this will weaken our forces on this side of the portal, so I expect the Water Demons to seal the portal behind us, should we fall."
Fishstache: "A bold plan, your grace, but we will do what must be done."
Queen Lara: "Of course you will."
A short time later, the Hitokiri army has almost finished passing through the portal.
Fishstache: "How will we know when they're done clearing out the Falx, or if they're even alive?"
Queen Lara: "It could be a long battle. We will wait for ten hours. If none of them get back to report during this time I will assume the Hitokiri have been defeated, and move through with the rest of the army. We will bar their path into our world permanently or die in the attempt. If we fail, you know what must be done."
Fishstache: "Of course, my liege."