There are many groups all moving in coordinated ways. How long have they practiced their marching?

There is an army with sharp-looking halberds and heavy-looking armors. The moonlight is softly reflecting on it all, making them quite conspicuous. Somehow, they give out a rough and powerful vibe. They don't even bother establishing a camp and simply sit on the ground, remaining fully geared. They will be ready to move out at any moment.

"These are the Sons of Steel. They are strong melee fighters that are deadly in close combat. Other than that, their armors are enchanted to be especially resistant, and they are able to block magic. Actually, it's more that they disable it before it reaches them."

[I see.]

Damn! That sure sounds neat. I wonder what their main weakness would be? Possibly master archers or perhaps mages that have a brain. If magic doesn't work against them, then one can simply use magic to propel a very big rock and crush them under the weight. I do appreciate the live commentary too.

There is an army with its members that look like elegant scholars near that one. They are busy raising portable pavilions. Their clothes and every item they own seem to be white. Every one of their movements seems to be calm and dignified. It's almost as if they don't even realize that they are on a battlefield. There are even some that seem to be happily drinking tea.

"These guys are the White Lotus. They believe in using techniques to subdue force. They shouldn't even be around this area. I'm guessing they are here to subdue some evil sect or something. They are members and fervent advocates of the Righteous Faction. These guys are especially hard to reason with. Anyone not refined enough doesn't even get the right to be heard in their sect."

[This sounds like a royal pain in the ass.]

"It is, it is for sure."

If I'm not mistaken, it's these guys that put a bounty on my head a while back. If these pricks are all like that one sect, then it's normal that they hated me. I am strongly against all that bullshit. I care more about the message than the way it's delivered. So what if it lacks grace? It seems dumb to get hung up on formalities too much.

There is an army with members that are all wearing the same mask and brown armor. They are currently raising the earth itself with their magic to create shelters. Are these guys earth benders? They do have weapons, so I'm not too sure what they are.

"That's the Followers of the Muddy one. Their motto is that everyone should be blessed by their god. In fact, they keep claiming that they are but a branch of the real sect, even their headquarters. Anyway, no one knows if it's true or just a bluff. They abhor individuality and force their new members to become part of the Legion."

Okay, these guys, I'm just going to call them terracotta warriors. They are many, are all similar and are brown too. Yep, totally! Muddy one somehow sounds really dirty, doesn't it? As for the kind of dirt it is, I don't know.

There is one with literal villagers sitting at the front. All of them are wearing slave collars. This one seems especially dark. The kind that no one sane should ever associate with. In the back, they have some sect members to keep order in it.

"These guys began as merchants and somehow turned to slavers along the way. They are the kind that will buy any living being and sell them for more. They can usually be seen like vultures, hovering around weak villages. They are the worst. Somehow they have a better reputation than us even then. It is pretty ridiculous."

Does he not know their name? Well, it's fine. I'm starting to really hate slavers. There is always the option of ethical slavery where broke individuals sell themselves as cheap labor in exchange for food and a roof. It doesn't seem to be the case here, however. The dumbasses in Eaglevien and the dumbasses at the water sect are good examples.

[What about all the sects in the back?]

"These ones are small ones that will likely not play that big of a role in the events to come. We can pretty much see them as extensions of the bigger sect they came here with."

[So it's the big four and then their followers?]

"Something along the line."

[What about the alliances?]

"White Lotus are righteous, Sons of Steel are neutral, Muddy ones are neutral, and the slavers would be part of the evil faction."

[What about the Gu Meadow?]

"We are considered an evil sect because of the Gus.

Every time I look at the small fruit fly, I can't but think of how unfair this appellation is. It's so cute and innocent! Even now, it is drinking apple juice as we are talking strategy. I pet it slightly with a look that tells it not to worry.

[What do you think?]

"I think we should definitely stay clear of the Lotus and the Slavers. The first ones are simply arrogant, self-serving pricks. Then, the other will just straight up try to enslave us as we make a move. Actually, now that I think about it, it could help us to survive."

[Wouldn't that soon become a fate worse than death, however?]

"Of course, that is a big issue."

[What about the terracotta warriors? If we say we are just passing by, they may let us go through, no?]

"You mean the muddy ones? They totally hate strangers. The only way to be friendly with them is to BE them."

[Then why didn't you propose we avoid them in priority?]

"Well, the good thing is that they are very cohesive. For instance, the righteous faction may send someone after us because it thinks we are evil's agents. As for the slavers, some of their troops may voluntarily chase us for profit. With the muddy ones, as long as they don't believe us to be a big enough threat, they won't bite, and we can maybe avoid them."

[I see that makes sense. What about the sons?]

"These guys may just be our best bet. They love to fight but only worthy opponents. As long as we either stay really far from them or miraculously beat one in a duel, we should be fine."

[Wait, can't you just do that? You are strong against single targets, right?]

"*Sigh* That's the issue. The Gu Meadow is really hated by everyone. Some hate us on principle because of the poison, others because of the bug part of the Gus, and the last one because of the demonic part of it. Me showing my abilities means turning everyone here against us."

[It's that bad?! This is crazy!]

"Yes, it's that bad. We are used in horror stories, even for the stuff we haven't done. Then there is the whole thing where people draw their weapon upon just hearing out name. At this point, it's ingrained in their habits."

[This is totally bullshit! This is blatant discrimination! Still, perhaps I'd be able to beat one of these Sons guys in a duel. I can always try. How is victory determined?]

This is something that can be tricky. Sometimes common sense can vary a lot from a group to another. Well, most of the time, it doesn't matter, but this time around will be a very delicate diplomacy mission. My game needs to be on point.

"Pretty easy. It's all about the quality of one's technique, one's ability to efficiently wield a weapon."

[What about winning with brute force only?]

"That would be considered cheating."

[Why?!]

"I think it's because warriors with only power tend to tire really fast on the battlefield. Thus they made that rule where one needs technique too. This way, it prevents idiots from achieving high positions and dying early."

[That sucks. I learned swordsmanship, but I clearly lack practice, and I was never good at it. What if I can prove to them that I can also outlast them even if I'm using all my power?]

"They'll probably think you are either cheating or using some kind of power from another sect. It would just make things worse, really."

[Damn! Why can't it just be simple, eh?]

"Because there is a war and everyone has their own interests and values. Add to that the fact that they see us as strangers and are most likely to try to kill us...there you pretty much have it."

[So, should we charge right out straight at the beginning then? Or should we wait until these guys start fighting and try to sneak out during the confusion? Also, can't we just go straight at them and beg them to let us pass?]

"If we wait for the fight, it will be extremely dangerous. There will be battle formations, and mass destruction spells used all over the place."

[Wait, you said something about the sons of Steel being able to block magic or something. How do they do that? That sounds like a good plan for sure! If we can manage to grasp that ability...]