(1873-11-22) Battleborn North Plan
Battleborn North Plan
Summary: Helena advises Thomas that she intends to take the Battleborn northeast to fight the Qatunax.
Date: 1873-11-22
Related: Westwar
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Ludovic  Helena  Thomas  


Oracla Fort War Room
n/a
1873-11-22

The weather hasn't much improved since the fight with those who ought not to be living, but at least the fortifications have. Over the last five years, Oracla has moved from a small, inconsequential village in a good strategic position to a massive fortress with stone fortifications, a triple ditch with obstacles and several strongly garrisoned outposts. This, along with real stone barracks, a proper road system, sanitation and all the logistical necessity that one could ever ask for. Since the fight the other day, though, two more ditches have been dug and filled with nasty obstacles. Snow hasn't let up, now blanketing the ground in a half-foot layer that is not much of an impediment to walking, but slows movement out and about.

More troops from the East and South of have shown up, numbering over a thousand now. Still and again, these are an advance party, setting up accommodations and marshalling supplies for those yet to come. No word on what the strategy is quite yet.

The planning and coordination of the Galenthian war effort goes on in the central stone fortification, which could probably be accurately called a castle at this point. Brigadier Viscount Thomas Chandus is in the "war room", a study festooned with maps, plans and staff officers bustling to and fro. He's seated at a desk somewhere in the corner, hastily occupied before anyone else could claim it, and appears to be examining paperwork. Always paperwork.

Paperwork sucks, but it is part of the job, with power comes boring ass paperwork. Helena walks into the command room with One Viscount d'Korbina with her. "You are sure about this Ludovic? I can be a very insistent commander… as I'm told, and I expect full command of this operation before i can agree to anything, all respect given to you of course, and enough fighting to satisfy even Lord d'Rana himself." She says as she moves towards Thomas' Corner. "General Chandus, a moment of you time?" She asks as she gives him a knightly salute.

Ludovic shrugs his shoulders at Helena's question "Can't see why I'd turn a knightly order away that wanted to lend a hand Helena. It's not like I'm offering you my untold love and respect for the rest of my life." He takes a moment to remove his wide brimmed hat as he steps into the war room. "General Chandus." he echoes a moment before he steps aside enough that he isn't blocking the door.

"General, eh?" Thomas looks up from his work with a wry grin on his face. "I suppose I can answer to that, if I must, Lady Helena." Brushing his plain, off-white tunic off and rising from his seat, the Easterner dips his head to both Helena and the Aequorian lord. "Viscount Ludovic, I presume? I regret that I did not get a chance to speak to you when we went out on the patrol. Viscount Thomas Chandus. I understand you're a man of the mountains as I, but with a very… unfortunate situation, at the moment."

Helena gives a nod. "Yes, Viscount d'Korbina does have a small problem, and we have a request of you, While I know I can't pull my own house forces for it, I would like to commit my battleborn to aiding our Friend the Viscount here." She says with a smile and does step aside to let the two counts further discuss that.

"Viscount Ludovic d'Korbina." Ludovic replies to Thomas. "As of three weeks ago, give or take a few days." He flashes a brief grin. "Beautiful valleys and soaring crags. I gotta say I hate this place. Where are the hills?" He glances at Helena as she talks and then looks back at Thomas. "Did the commanders pass on the news that the d'Korbina will be pulling out of this action in a few days? We're leaving the cattle, those were always intended for this force, but with Hellsmouth changing hands I just can't argue for splitting my forces." He glances at Helena again "I'd be grateful for the extra hands."

To say that Thomas looks unhappy would be perhaps too strong of a term; he purses his lips but accepts the request with a nod. "They are your troops, my lady, though we will be disappointed to see such a strong and reliable force go. That being said. As someone who gazes with bated breath to the mountains whenever I am in my home fief, I understand. I do not, fortunately, have the weight of hideous savages in my fief… I understand. Please go forth with the blessing of this army. I do not envy you."

Helena nods. "I'll leave Sir Boris as a field commander for my house troops, they are serving under viscount Kaedon. I'll try and finish this mess in the mountains up as quick as I can. Ludovic does have an imperial with him, so maybe we can get them to attack from the flank if I can find a messenger skilled enough to sneak past." She says but gives another salute. "Well then, Viscount Chandus, I wish you well, and please, tell Wulfred to have a keg of wine ready when I get back, I;m sure he would like to hear the stories." She says and turns to Ludovic. "I'll get my knights ready, we can head to kaedon County, and then take a river to your holdings."

Ludovic moves across to one of the chairs and leans both hands on the back. For the perceptive he's still got that faint stiffness in the way he moves that suggests he's still got a few aches and pains remaining from standing against the undead hordes. "I explained that they seem to be exterminating the populace." He tells Thomas. "So we need to at least attempt to push them back. I reckon the more trouble we can cause the more of our people will get out before it's too late. Besides, it's never a good thing, to let invaders dig in and make themselves comfortable. Specially when they are all into blood magic like these are." He looks to Helena and shakes his head. "It's all roads between here and there Helena and besides, rivers are a terrible way to move cavalry." He moves to take the seat, settling his hat on his knee and grimacing a little as he settles. "I'd like to hear some about your mountains. You don't have any dormant volcanos do you?"

"Yes, she was out with us the other day, was she not? Striking to and fro with that sword of hers. Intriguing. I will say, however, that I've my doubts about being able to cross the mountains… everywhere that it isn't the savages, it's those bloody… whatever they are. Little green bastards who chased the Caltu out." Thomas appears unwilling to call them goblins. "Thank you for your service thus far, Lady Helena. Much as you might not want to hear it, I hope the One blesses you and your endeavour."

He turns to Ludovic. "Bloody savages. I've never heard of such barbarism in my life. If we didn't have this business here, I'd be up there with half my banner. No volcanos that I know of."

"I haven't been deep enough east to see the goblins." Ludovic admits. "But I believe the reports. How much do you know of what happened? I wasn't there, luckily, but i've heard reports from people I trust. It's probably best that I give you what i can before I head out." He gives Thomas an apologetic grin. "Wasn't meaning to take so many troops from this front."

Thomas shrugs. "We've many more coming, including from my province and from the south. We'll be fine, though as I said, it is a shame to see them go. But, still. A good cause. I've only heard the rumours about your barbarous foe. As for our new and unfriendly green skinned neighbours? I've unfortunately seen them up close. They smell of vermin and rot. They are weak, but move in massive numbers. And they are led by something most decidedly not green skinned…"

As Ludovic talks he takes a small piece of rock out of a pocket and starts turning it around in his hand, lacing it through his fingers and generally fidgeting with it. "Only two things I really care to say about them. First, don't give them the benefit of chivalry. They killed, tortured, everyone that went to a parlay breaking every damn code of conduct you can think of in the process. Second, they got some crazy magic behind them that just doesn't make much sense. Best guess? They used torturing folks for power. What they did must have been planned. You couldn't do something that big on impulse." He chuckles darkly. "Doubt I could manage it at all." For a moment he just closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before looking back at Thomas. "Vermin and rot? Odd smell."

Thomas's watery blue eyes flick to the rock in Ludovic's hand a few times, but he keeps his focus on the man himself. "I'd rather the vermin and rot than what you're up against, to be truthful. I set my pike blocks and fixed them, hammering them from the side. They kept coming, though, until their commander picked me out for a duel. I don't normally duel in battle." He doesn't see who won, but - he's standing here, after all. "This magic is nauseating. Magic is a difficult subject… I hope that when the Church comes to its senses and their Holy States are defeated, that they take a more nuanced view on it. We need to harness it, but it must be under control or it will get out of hand. Our enemies all use it."

"Similar to how feel about it" Ludovic agrees with a smile. "I heard all kinds of things about that battle where the dragoon first became the dragoon. Seemed to me that if he hadn't been there, and willing to use his gifts, then we'd have been in a whole heap of trouble. Besides. There's a lot of stuff its good for that doesn't involve killing stuff. Like." He tilts his head a little as he thinks, grinning at his idea. "Ice cold beer."

"There needs to be control over it, I will state. The Church is right to fear unrestricted magic. I have no doubts that people do not know what kind of power they are fooling with… our prejudices do not exist without reason, even if we may not know the exact ones." Thomas eyes the paperwork on his desk. "Perhaps we shall fight together once this mess is done, down here. As every commander has said, I hope for it to be over by All Feast Day. The soldier in me says that it may not be."

"Maybe." Ludovic says maybe in a way that suggests he really doesn't want to go into it. Then he moves back to his feet. "We'll be finished by all saints day." He tucks his dimpled rock back into its pocket. "It won't be this all saints day but I reckon, with the one's help, it could be the next one." His hat gets returned to his head "It's been nice meeting you but I have promises I have to fulfill. Helena's offer wasn't something I was really expecting. If you want to share stories later, in a more appropriate" He gestures at the office. "setting." He tugs on the front edge of the hat brim, causing most of his upper face to vanish into shadow. "I'd like it."

"Well, the One bless you in your endeavours. You'll need all the help of his will and his servants against these scum. Hopefully, I'll see you up there soon." Thomas nods. "Sometime soon, my lord, but not today."

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