Days after Phoiníkē's fall, the Türkiye Stratocracy and its vassals states (Mızrak, Balta, Biçki, and Kiliç) gather at the Divan to vote to make war preparations against Balt-Rhein.
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Days after Phoiníkē's fall, the Türkiye Stratocracy and its vassals states (Mızrak, Balta, Biçki, and Kiliç) gather at the Divan to vote to make war preparations against Balt-Rhein. However, all the sultans of the four stratocracies voted against the collaboration, much to Zağanos's frustration, who wants to get rid of the sultans. Another Pasha, Tesisat-Kapı Saruça, believes that the Sultanates are showing defiance because they are unsatisfied with their unequal rights. In the Mızrak stratocracy, Mahmut and company are in Liman city and visit the water shrine to figure out what is going in Mızrak after seeing a weapons dealer around the town. Underneath the closed off water shrine, Mahmut and co. meet Beyazit and Ayşe, brother to Mızrak's sultan Balaban and daughter of Balta's sultan Fatma, respectively. Beyazit is also part of Zağanos's spy network and informs Mahmut about Divan meeting that took place, and how they both oppose the sultans' recent actions. Mahmut meets with Balaban, who expresses his disdain being under for the Türkiye Stratocracy's authority. Afterwards, Balaban burns down the water shrine since Beyazit and Ayşe refuse to surrender to him, not knowing the two have already escaped. Hearing of Beyazit's opposition, Zağanos convinces majority of the Divan to vote to secretly overthrow the sultans, appointing Mahmut with this task and sends Süleyman to relay the orders. As Balaban takes Mahmut and his companions to his palace, he secretly meets with Eleanor, revealing that Balaban has been conspiring with the empire. At night, Mahmut and company are able to escape the palace, but is soon found out by Eleanor and other Röd Orm agents.
