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[Ghazkull]

The Eel was angry...as usual. This time however the matter wasn't a mere trifle thing but the very rebellion itself, yet while he was angry he wouldn't take it out on an injured person...so he went to the next best victim to lay into...Baron Hoffenburg.

Men sprang out of the way as they saw the massive overweight form of the Jarl approach the generals tent like a primordial wave. The Guards posted to the left and right gulped in anticipation of no matter what they did they would be in the deep end of it.

Tell your general that Jarl Halfdan is here.

[micelus]

Ignoring my suggestion, my lady? Very well.

Erika waved her hand distractedly at the Sister.

"The men need to see me up and walking, crutches or no.  Can't have people thinking I'm dead.  Hoffenburg, soon as we're ready to march, we march.  I'll ride in a litter until I can manage riding a horse if I have to.  I made some grave strategic errors, and it's time enough I listened to my advisors and did what we should have done two weeks ago.  Let's take Sheepstead.  We can rendezvous with the militia who were escorting that artillery unit along the way."

"Of course my Princess...the men will be roused and we'll be back on the march in no time. And once the Prestoners are defeated, you will be coronated as the true Queen of Elbreth, as destined."

Glancing at Hassir, Hoffenburg made a suggestion. "Spymaster, if some recruits were to join us, would your agents be able to filter them for spies?"

The Eel was angry...as usual. This time however the matter wasn't a mere trifle thing but the very rebellion itself, yet while he was angry he wouldn't take it out on an injured person...so he went to the next best victim to lay into...Baron Hoffenburg.

Men sprang out of the way as they saw the massive overweight form of the Jarl approach the generals tent like a primordial wave. The Guards posted to the left and right gulped in anticipation of no matter what they did they would be in the deep end of it.

Tell your general that Jarl Halfdan is here.

Wondering what the commotion was outside, a guardsman alerted Ambros to the Jarl's arrival. In a rage too, it seemed. He sighed and welcomed the man in. "Jarl Halfdan. What can I help you with?"

Send out some legates to the surrounding countryside with orders to recruit as many peasants as possible to the rebellion. Use the fact that we've taken Castle Black and are on the way to take Sheepstead as propaganda. Any possible intelligence the enemy could get from that is lessened by the damn obviousness of our next few actions.

If Hassir agrees, get his agents to sort out any recruits for hostile spies.

[Deny]

(During the impromptu "meeting")

Ssyrith glanced at Hoffenburg, before his eyes glanced to the ceiling for a moment, "It would depend on the numbers of recruits. Though I doubt that there would be any spies if we did this so suddenly, the Prestoners have yet to strike me as quite so thorough about this sort of thing, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem anyway. So yes, I could screen them, the quality of the screening would of course depend on the numbers of recruits, but as said, there shouldn't be too much risk anyway, especially if we use them quickly."

He then glanced back at the princess, then the abbess, "As I mentioned previously, I can brew up a potion to speed her recovery, get her on her feet faster with minimal medical risk."


(After the meeting)

Ssyrith grudgingly made his way back through the impromptu hospital, tail twitching about behind him, why must life always be so difficult? It had taken a bit of repetition to get them to talk but eventually he'd managed to get some of those idiot nuns to tell him where the Abbess was, he wasn't about to go searching though this mass of fanatics and sickly all day. Eventually he found her in the one of the many medical tents near the queens own, it was much less full now and she was fortunately isolated enough to speak to privately without risking eavesdroppers.

"Abbess, I have a, request to make of you, a short while ago the princess tasked me with finding some doubles for her in order to protect her, I have found only one individual suitable unfortunately, and she is one of your nuns. Now the reason I come to you is that she refuses to actually play the part without your permission, so if you would be so kind as to grant it, I can do my job."

[Ghazkull]

What you can help me with? WHAT YOU CAN HELP ME WITH? WHAT THE HECK KIND OF IDIOT MOVE WAS IT TO TAKE THIS COMPLETELY UNIMPORTANT BACKWATER OF A FUCKING CASTLE?

the last part was screamed at the top of the lungs of the Eel in front of your tent where the guards are slowly moving a few feet away, desperately trying to evade flying spittle.

Your sheer bloody-minded incompetence, is what you can help me with. Why in the hell did the atillery move forward alone without infantry support? We lost more than three thousand men on that fools errand! But all of that aside. Recruiting men? are you completely out of your mind? We don't have time for this. The entire success of this undertaking rests on a speedy assault on Sheepstead!

All the while during this tirade the Eel moved back and forth gesticulating wildly his head turning a dark red, profuse sweat staining his clothes.

[micelus]

Dirty barbarous Weylander deserving of a slow torturous death. Bloody swine worth nothing more than the worms you sleep with...

"...Jarl, I completely agree with you. We don't have the time to stay here and go through the arduous process of recruiting additional regiments. I intend to march the moment the Princess is ready; any recruits that happen to stumble into the Castle will be quickly pressed into militia groups...and should we be long gone we've acquired a ready pool of men to train into a proper army once Elbreth is independent once more. As for our siege..."

The general, truth be told, had to give the Jarl that one. The Princess had ordered the artillery move up first. As a skilled commander Ambros should have advised her to push some expendable regiments first...but that was only the most recent of the Korlanman's regrets.

"You cannot simply leave an enemy fortification behind the army hoping that the men within will not harass you later on. Perhaps we would be sieging Sheepstead at this point, perhaps having even taking the city for ourselves. But perhaps we would find ourselves flanked by an enemy force. And what would be at our flank? Why, our command staff, supply lines and most dearly of all, the Princess. Could you imagine what would happen if we were to be captured along with our rations and equipment? Utter failure."

Ambros looked at the man in the eye. "Better to lose a few men now rather than losing it all later on."

[Ghazkull]

This castle is a bloody weeks ride from Sheepstead, utterly unimportant and its two Regiments of Mercenaries couldn't become a problem even if they wanted to! And given our dear Queens penchant for charging to our mutual death in the first row of a battle line, would make that argument relatively moot don't you think?

Besides, those few men you are talking about could populate an entire town! You Elbrethians spend far too freely the lives of your men for useless targets...ach who am i kidding! What do i care...i am just a fat barbarian!

Cursing and gesticulating the Jarl marches off again people making sure to evade him...

[GiglameshDespair]

With the Queen

"If you move around too much, you might not be. It'd do no good to collapse in front of your subjects, either. If you must move about, be carried in a palanquin or carriage, walking to a minimum, and certainly no strenuous or quick movements!

Perhaps we should add one of my Sisters as a permanent companion of yours. If you were wounded or poisoned by an assassin immediate care could make all the difference..."



With Ssyrith

The Abbess calmly sipped at her tea. Petty perhaps, but the lizard was quite unpleasant, and his arrogant nature irked her.
"That is a problem, Ssyrith. We Sisters strive to live by the seven virtues - one of which is Castitas. Chastity. While most use it mean sexual purity, it has further meanings - honesty and purity in word and deed. As those who have given themselves to God, we are held to a higher standard... The candle lights the carrier brightest of all."
She looked at the inhuman creature before her.
"Surely in this entire camp, this entire town, there are more suitable ladies - you are capable of finding - than one of my charges?"

[filiusenox]

The day wore on-- Jonathan heard rumors of the generals and lackeys approaching the tent. And waited. He expected the herald, summoning him from his men's camp to the queen's tent. It never came. He sparred, in the mean time, waiting, his hands shaking as he parried and blocked. Every muscle in his body tense-- until his grip slipped, and his sergeant's 'sword' caught him in the side of the head. Jonathan sprawled into the dirt with a grunt.

"Boy?! You still alive?"
"Yeah." Jonathan slurs, pulling himself up off the ground. He staggered, than swore, stepping towards his tent and collapsing into a cot.


"Have an Elbrethian flag made or delivered." He gave his order clearly, as he headed towards the makeshift stables of his regiment. The stableboy helped to ready a horse as soon as he started, and he graced the young man with a smile.

He was armed and armored, his sword at his side, a musket on his back and a flintlock at his hip. His horse was readied, a Elberthian flag in the saddlebag. Finally, he wrote out a letter to be delivered to the Queen, and her lackeys.

'My dearest Aunt, and her generals, I have decided to scout out the enemy lines around Sheepstead and within, to provide you with better information. I also seek to implant myself to open the gate for your men as they approach.

Jonathan Sigurdson.'

He left long before it was delivered, heading towards Sheepstead. He intends to enter the city and seek out business men.

[Deny]

Ssyrith narrowed his eyes, as his tail lashed out behind him again, how dare she, to insinuate that he wasn't capable!

"If there were another candidate then I wouldn't be here, but sadly for both of us, there isn't, we checked the entire camp and the entire village, and we could find no one else, if we take Sheepstead, then I'm sure we'd find far more candidates, but as it stands right now, there is only the one. Besides I thought you cyclists also believed in the royalty having some divine purpose or somewhat, and this is in the interest of her protection, so surely there could be few greater purposes than this? Don't you want to keep the princess safe?"

He'd calmed down by this point, his clawed hands behind his back and tail swaying just barely from side to side.

[GiglameshDespair]

With Ssyrith

"I have indeed been blessed with the knowledge of her Majesty's divine purpose." She tapped on her chin, thoughtfully. "...I will permit this, on a few conditions.
You will teach three Sisters of my choice all you know of poisons and their cures.
You will do your utmost to keep the decoy safe - she is no disposable puppet.
When you find another suitable candidate, you will release her from her duty."

[Taricus]

"So, no efforts at compensating anyone for lost property and basically leaving everyone's investments to the wolves. If that's how it is, then good day to you." Adrian said, storming out of the office, fuming over the callousness and unscrupulous practices of the prestonian administration.

Adrian leaves the factor's hall.

[Ghazkull]

Meanwhile in the Factors Audience Hall
And, make sure that those barricades are up by the fortnight and those sewers have to be screwed shut tight. I don't care how you do it...just d-

Well, Well, Well High Factor Clynthan, i hope you are quite ready with the Defenses, the Elbrethians are only a week away.

And, Reed, whos fault is that? In any case we are as well prepared to defend this city as one can defend this midden heap. Not much more to be done. Have you brought them?

Meredith Reed, the Black Sword of Preston grinned evilly. Indeed i have my dear Clynthan, indeed i have...this time shall be different.

[Ardas]

When the Queen marches home

Summer 720a...

The Princess has ordered it and the men followed her command -The final march on Capital has begun. The camp was quickly packed up and the soldiers rallied to their units to march in orderly columns, with baggage train in the back, where Erika was made comfortable in a carriage.

[6] The weather is wonderful. The last rays of summer sun grace your march towards the capital and Elbrethian army is in great mood, the patriotic singing rising from the army as it is marching forward. Erika is seen and praised, despite being carried behind the army, and the leadership of the existing officers shines as they head the column of Elbrethian army.

The troops are cheered in the lands they pass through, peasants willingly giving up supplies, and with departure of majority of the Prestonian troops, they are unmolested and can harvest majority of corn that just begun turning gold on the fields around them. In not too long a time, columns of gathered milita join your march, and even a column with guns from Sheepy Hollow makes its way to you.

In not too long a time, your march brings you within road marks of Sheepstead and the cobbled roads that lead to it. You stop few miles from the capital, as the sun wears you down and you are forced to stop for some rest.  Just beyond the hills that obscure your southern view, you can see clouds of grey rising, the smog and smoke of the city adding to the heat in a disgusting haze. (-1 to morale due to weather conditions and exhaustion)

What are your orders?

Johnatan

He intends to enter the city and seek out business men.

Entering the city is not too difficult, although you make yourself look suspicious due to your looks and way of carrying yourself. After a while of your entry, you are followed by guards of the city, who in no unclear terms aim to ask you questions about who you are and what business you are after. Despite that, you make your way to the King’s Market, where you attempt to accost some of the merchants of the city.

However, before you manage to utter a word, you feel a gloved hand on your arm. You turn to see a man in Prestonian uniform.

“That’s enough of that, you’re coming with me! You can ask captain questions, and he will ask you some too.”

Ambros von Hoffenburg

Send out some legates to the surrounding countryside with orders to recruit as many peasants as possible to the rebellion. Use the fact that we've taken Castle Black and are on the way to take Sheepstead as propaganda. Any possible intelligence the enemy could get from that is lessened by the damn obviousness of our next few actions.

[4]You officers disperse throughout the countryside and it does not take long to rally.. Enthusiastic peasantry rises up, taking whatever firearms and sharp tools they have and march to your cause. Most of other Elbrethian towns are too far from your direct route to the capital to send in any proper militia, but you manage to gather up 5 regiments worth of peasants and militia to aid you.

If Hassir agrees, get his agents to sort out any recruits for hostile spies.

[6]Hassir and few of his lackeys quickly screen the militia for any spies. They are good. Too good even, as they found no one and being picking at random and rejecting people that they don’t like the look of. Their picking gets worse and you end up losing 1 regiment worth of people, with a large part discouraged by your picking and distrust. You can be assured that your forces are all patriotic and unwavering, but their attitude to your officers and Hassir leaves a lot to be desired after this.

[Iituem]

War Council

Despite the Abbess' continued objections, Erika had finally graduated to crutches, and used them to limp into the war tent.  She gave a curt nod to her councillors.

"Right.  My not listening to you got hundreds of men killed.  That isn't happening again.  In brief then, I want your proposed strategies for the attack."

[Ghazkull]

The Eel gave a curt nod and turned to the massive map of Sheepstead on the table before them.

Okay Ladies and Gentlemen, i will reiterate what we all already know:

Sheepstead is one awful pain in the ass to defend. But attackers won't have it easy either. No matter from which side we approach we get into the slums around the Old Parts of the City. That means house to house fighting, close-quarters and nasty business.

Shelling the place will lead to immense civilian casualties. Incidentally we might get more support there than anywhere else in the city.

Once we fought our way through the Slums we will enter the Old City...that is after we cross the City Wall. Luckily for us the Prestonians tried to avoid angering the Civilians by destroying the hovels built against the wall, which means our troops will have an easy time climbing them. From the Old City we can either go through the Market District or The Mills. Both places are dominated by either wide open marketplaces or factory halls and warehouses. That means artillery will be useful but we might get into trouble with sharpshooters.

that also however means while collateral damage will not be potentially that big, we might still incite the populace or destroy important economic structures, bear that in mind when you order artillery support.

The Foreign Quarters are something we sadly cannot bypass and while people won't go out of their way to hinder us they will defend their property. Not ot mention that a lot of important Prestonian Bankers and other Civilians are in there. Once we are through the Foreign Quarters we will have the worst behind us and arrive at the Palace District. Luckily for us there will be no civilians to hit and nothing more important than old historical buildings and the Cities Citadel with the Kings Palace itself. We can presume that the Prestonians will hide behind the Citadel walls if all else fails.

As for approaches to the City, it really doesnt matter from where we attack, the assault will play out all the same. Problematic however, will be if we split our force. The City is big enough that our men from one flank will never be able to reach and support the other flank...that is pretty much all.