Back within the meeting chamber inside the Western High Tower, the atmosphere grew thick with contemplation and unease as Vanne Brander's words echoed in the minds of those present.
A heavy wooden table dominated the centre, surrounded by high-backed chairs, each occupied by a member of the Brander Clan, their expressions shifting from curiosity to apprehension as the weight of the Vanne's analysis sunk in.
Vanne's voice had been steady yet laced with urgency, articulating a grim reality: if his insights were accurate, the Brander Clan stood on the precipice of annihilation. The implications of his analysis rippled through the room like a shockwave. Every member present understood the gravity of being embroiled in nearly every significant conflict brewing in the Eastern Forests. The clan's reputation as the fourth major power, subordinate only to the Triad Hegemonic Clans—the Sariel, the Nuria, and the Breas—was both a badge of honour and a target painted on their backs.
