2334th Year of Man, 5th Month, 2nd Day:
Monday
You tell Syzzik that it would be nice if he were to ask Ms. Lou about the workshops, but imply that you would rather have them in the basement of Groghall. Syzzik agrees to do this, and you promise to get back to him soon on if you would like to set up potion brewing school in his basement or not.
Before you leave, you also mention that you are considering helping Mabel round up some souls, perhaps by abusing the justice system. Syzzik informs you that he would be grateful if you were to do that, but asks that if you are feeding her petty criminals, to have the victims gagged and lie to the girl about the severity of their crimes; Syzzik has no issues killing off vandals or drunks for personal gain, but he would rather his daughter not pick up that worldview.
2334th Year of Man, 5th Month, 3rd Day:
Tuesday
You order Glen's troops to stand down, and lead the former general to your chambers for a private discussion.
"Glen, I know you miss him. Everyone does, and his family more than most. He would have been incredibly relieved to know you escaped and helped his wife and children get to safety. He'd be less relieved to know you're falling apart without him."
Count Horton gives you a pitiful look, and says nothing. You continue. "Sylvester will be vindicated by history, Glen. He made the Duchy a better place to live in before being murdered by a thoroughly despised house guest, at which point his counties capitulated out of fear of the crown. The best Rubicon can hope for is for my daughter to murder him in his sleep at which point this becomes a tragedy. At worst, he's a storybook villain who briefly interrupts Redleaf's ascent and murders a great man before being brought to justice by the man's daughter. There's no way out of this for him, and there's no tarnishing Sylvester's memory."
At this point, Glen cuts in. "A-as much as I'd like to believe that is the case, I don't think it is. The prince has the support of the crown. We might be able to hold the southern counties, but I don't see us having any success on offense - The murderous prince will have too many men by the time we are organized and ready to strike. Even the best military officer is not a miracle worker, barring obscene levels of incompetence among the leadership on the other side, we are not going to take a county from the prince."
"We are all going to become like the fudgeing Kinkaids, Maeris!" He sobs, "futilely lashing out against the Duke and the crown for generations until the next Sylvester rises to strike us down!"
You blink. You were not expecting this sort of pessimism. "All right, Glen. It will be fine. We can figure this out. I'm a Bonedust and Charlie is basiclly and Orcish Chieftess. We don't play by the same rules as you or any officer the prince might employ. You though... you... It galls me to say it, it really does, but you and Sylvester were always the more matching pair: Charismatic, well-loved leaders and gentlemen beyond moral reproach. If anyone is a shining reminder of who Sylvester was and what he represented, it's you... or you at your best, anyway."
Count Horton stares at you in shock. Clearly he wasn't expecting you to say that. You continue before he has the chance to speak. "I can't have you like this, Glen. I need you to get yourself together and be the man Sylvester would have wanted you to be. Until then, I'm making you my personal bodyguard and captain, and sending Redding to assist Miri in military affairs. The eastern front is too important to let you self destruct on, Glen."
Glen's stare briefly becomes a glare, before he lowers his gaze and sighs, admitting defeat. "F-fine. As much as it galls me to admit it, you are right. I'm a complete wreck... but Redding is the wrong man to replace me in the field. I'd have him command a few hundred men for me any day, but he knows little of logistics or maneuvering a large host of men."
He clenches his fists, and grimaces. "If I'm swallowing my pride, I might as well do it right. Put Charlie, or one of her guys, in charge of my men. If we are to have a chance, our troops need to be on the same page. If you are looking to get Redding out of the house, you can send him anyway; Miri is a clever young lady, but we both know she is a bit lacking in the spine department. If we are leaving her in charge, I'd rather somebody be there to stop others from taking advantage of her at the negotiation table."
"Great," you offer Glen a sad smile, "make yourself at home. We have some living space left for nobles here."
You have Virgil unbound and brought in for the next chat once Count Horton departs. The poor man is in hysterics, worried about his wife, who had fallen ill with fever again, and refused to flee with her husband so as not to slow him down.
Eventually, you calm him down to the point where he can tell his story properly. The Prince had put several thousand men on Virgil's land before paying his fateful visit to Sylvester, claiming that they were performing an audit to see if he was in compliance with the limit on men commanded by a Gulf. He suspects the prince used this 'audit' to present a legitimate reason for his surprise visit to your husband, as you both doubt Sylvester would have been dumb enough to let Rubicon in with a bunch of mercenaries just because he was passing through.
After Sylvester was killed, Virgil had little choice but to swear fealty to the man who still had control of more men than he did in Gulf County, but it seemed as if that wasn't enough. He was tipped off by his nephew, who happened to be one of the prince's men, that Clarence Rothwell was coming with even more men to execute him under the false pretense that he commanded too many soldiers, and to take over the County for himself.
Virgil also tells you that his nephew passed along a rumor that the crown was building another large host under the command of Silvera Marlowe, the twin's mother whom Chasity tricked Sylvester into ousting, so it is possible that the prince is planning to similarly dispose of at least one of the Marlowes. If this is the case, it would suggest that your daughter has little control over the present situation.
You invite Virgil to stay with you, and Count Gulf agrees - for the time being anyway. He would like to rest a bit and get his bearings, but your old friend is eager to do his part, and would like to hit the road with full authority (and perhaps some men and funding) to make improvement to defenses and infrastructure on the lands you control.
---
Redding is clearly worried sick about his brother, and refuses to leave Lindwurm's side, so you have little choice but to speak to the two Strongcurrents as a group.
Lindwurm thanks you profusely, but notes you aid as put him in an awkward situation. "Father didn't actually send me here to negotiate so much as he did to present terms. He told me you are either to take his offer, or leave it. He feels your cause a losing one, but is willing to risk it all for his own flesh and blood, so long as a few key conditions can be agreed to. You could try to negotiate anyway I suppose, saving my life may grant you some leverage, but if I were you, I'd want his commitment as soon as you could get it."
Mayor Strongcurrent takes a deep breath, and begins listing his father's terms. "First and foremost, father would like you to end the exile of Archibald Horton. He is willing to admit the punishment was not unjustified, but thinks whatever point Sylvester had to prove has been proven. He is willing to let Archie live with him if his son Glen wont have him."
You sigh, allowing Archibald to return would likely be a massive insult to the Kinkaids and their supporters, but it would also send a message to Clarence Rothwell, the Prince's new lord of Gulf County who famously demanded the elder Horton's death. Last you heard, Archibald was no longer able to walk on his own, and had lost control of some embarrassing bodily functions, but he was still a keen military mind who might be of some use. He also keeps a bunch of bastard children, who may be of use should you ever decide to get rid of Glen for good.
Lindwurm continues. "The second demand stems from the fact my father respects tradition and protocol. Although there is no written law against it, it is considered unkosher for one family to control two adjacent counties. If one or more of the Western Counties finds themselves without a ruler come the end of this dispute, Ernie would like that county to become the new seat of power in the Duchy. If the capital is moved, he would like Cleanriver County to remain in control of the Riverlands, through Dean, Farquad, or one of Sylvester's male relitives from Tradewind Duchy."
As you cannot see any senerio in which you win back the Duchy but the Kinkaids lose Roe River County, that leaves Silver and King's Road counties as possible locations to set up Redding and Joy per these terms. Silver County would be the more attractive location, as it is more prosperous, populous, and home to a better castle than King's Road County.
The last condition Lindwurm imposes is something you had already sort of agreed to in principle with Redding. "Lastly, my father fears your presence might weaken my brother's influence over both his wife and the duchy. He would like you to agree to marry out of the household once the Duchy has been reclaimed, and if no other arrangements for your hand have been made by that time, he would like your word that you will become his wife. Should that occur, you will wield the full power of the office of Countess for as long as he lives, and will be welcome to hold to office of Court Mage to Vanity Beach for as long as you like in the likely circumstance you outlive him."
You could think of worse possible husbands then Ernie Strongcurrent; Aside from the Kinkaids and arguably whoever rules Silver County, the Lord of Port County is the most wealthy and powerful count in the duchy. Personally you know him to be an honorable, honest, and respectable man. That said, the prospect of being forced to marry him otherwise might push you to at least more aggressively pursue other options; Ernie is much older than you, and according to Redding makes for a disinterested and distant family member.
Redding is the first to speak. "He had to drag Archie into this... didn't he? Other than that, pretty much the offer I expected to get from the old man. What do you think, my Duchess?"
Lindwurm notes that if you agree, he would like you to put Glen Horton's riders in town under his command, so they may escort him, and your message, home and hopefully get Port County under your control as quickly as possible.
---
Eventually Lindwurm has to relieve himself, which gives you a moment alone with Redding. First you call him out for stupidly attacking Glen, and your son-in-law admits it wasn't the most clever thing he has ever done. "He had my brother bound on the floor, and was threatening my family... I was seeing red big time. I think that is what he wanted me to do though... There is nobody better than Glen Horton at goading you into doing something stupid, and then exploiting the mistake for everything he can. Joke was almost on him though, I was shooting to kill but I was shaking so hard in anger that I missed."
A bit shocked by Redding's frank confession, you drop the subject for the time being. You then explain your plan to allow Fortune to share the sight of a pet, and that your daughter is adamant about getting an Orc-Eater Python. You inform him that you would need some mercenaries to catch the beast, and a druid to help you work your magic on it. Your son-in-law smiles, and informs you he knows just the person you need to speak to, and will set up a meeting ASAP.
2334th Year of Man, 5th Month, 4th Day:
Wednesday
Redding bursts into Groghall at breakfast with a youngish female of mixed Elf and Orc blood. They are followed by four orcs pulling a large covered trailer. The woman stands awkwardly for a second, before Redding whispers something in her ear and she offers a curtsy in your direction.
"This is Scales," Redding begins, "a druid who specializes in breeding and training giant reptiles for mercenary bands and orcish clans. I believe she has a proposal for you."
Scales pulls the cover off her cart and reveals a large Orc-Eater, easily around forty feet long. It is clearly captive bred, as its pitch black body with electric blue markings is far from the brown and green you have seen on wild snakes. She tells you the creature was ordered and paid for two months ago by Prince Rubicon, and trained as both a clever house-pet and a means of execution. After your husband's death, she decided not to deliver on the order, but since she was paid in advance, she can part with it for non-cash considerations.
You call Fortune over, and the strange half-breed shows your youngest how to command the snake to stay, follow, hug, release, rear up, and 'speak' with a sound somewhere between a soft roar and a loud hiss. The Druid notes that most snakes have poor hearing, if any at all, but hers are specifically bred and modified to react properly to verbal commands. The animal has been trained to answer to 'Chasity' per the Prince's request, although Scales notes it is actually male and could be easily trained to pick up another name.
Satisfied with the product offered, you pull Scales aside to discuss a transaction to obtain both the snake and her help in altering it. It turns out Scales is willing to give you the animal as a sign of goodwill. As for her help in modifying the animal, she offers you a service for service trade; She has several reasons to expect a plot against her life and would like some insurance. If you agree to see her brought back in a youthful female body with her soul mostly untouched should she die in the next ten years, she will help you put together the seeing-eye snake.
As most animal souls are not strong enough to take hexes, you will have to weave directly onto the python's body, and just as some necromancy skill is required to weave directly onto a dead body, some druidism is needed to weave onto a complex living thing. A small plant you could hex on your own, but there is no getting around the need for a druid if you are working with a snake. You and Scales come up with a plan on how to best accomplish what you want; Three blessings of Yaas will be used, requiring you to first spread nine more curses from Pogpugrooog and company before you meet to perform the operation. The procedure itself shouldn't be complicated, although success isn't guaranteed; Even after years of casual research on the matter, you still do not fully understand the means or meaning behind the blindness Tetha has inflicted upon your daughter, but even if the Goddess does somehow thwart your efforts, her doing so might reveal something to you.
---
After negotiating with Scales, you send word for Syzzik and Mable to meet you at Guard Headquarters. You beat them there, and instruct Topman to have the crazy old lady bound, gagged, and readied for execution. You also instruct all the guards present not refute the story you will tell.
As you wait, you notice two new prisoners in the main lockup. The first is a lowborn fire elementalist around Dean's age who is in for burning a shrine to orcish deity Trance. He dosn't understand why he was only brought in the other night, even though he committed the arson a few months back, and complains that Trance worship is illegal anyway, so he should be celebrated for defending the law rather than punished for breaking it. You suspect the timing of his incarceration has something to do with Clan Ivy's arrival tomorrow; You wonder if the mayor is protecting him, or means to hand him over to score points with the orcs in question.
The second new prisoner is a common prostitute who last night made the grave mistake of soliciting Glen Horton, who had apparently slipped out for a walk to explore the town and get some fresh air after you went to bed. The whore explains that Glen flipped out at her, dragged her to the guard house, and demanded she be subjected to fifty lashes. She expects charges to be dropped once the mayor reviews her case, as Gregory is a semi-regular client of hers.
Eventually Syzzik and his daughter arrive, and you calmly explain that the bound and gagged woman before them is guilty of murdering a traveling merchant who was passing through town. "She is to be executed for her crimes, and you may take her soul to experiment upon as you please."
Topman strangles the 'guilty party' with his whip right in her cell, and your trained senses feel a rush of energy pass from the dying woman into the young half-drow. It took your father several years of regular practice before he was able to decipher memories of the souls he was working, so you figure this is a pretty safe method of feeding Mable for the time being. You will likely have to change things up later, once she gains enough skill to discern the obvious evidence of your deception.
---
When you arrive back home, Glen Horton flags you down. He informs you that he intends to start leading the Groghall Warriors in some intense live combat drills, and will require several gallons of healing potion, or Joy's healing magic placed at his disposal. He also notes that the town guard is doing a very poor job keeping the streets clean, and recommends you appoint a Sheirff who is independent from the mayor's office to take over their day-to-day operation.
---
In the evening, a messenger rides into town with a handwritten note from Count Phineas Kinkaid. The message informs you that he has met with the troops sent by your mother. Fearing that the young leadership your mother chose wouldn't be able to stop soldiers from lands loyal to the prince from revolting or deserting, he is presently in the process of absorbing the bulk of the troops into his own raiding force to relieve his own injured and exhausted men.
Phineas then notes that the twenty five wights your mother sent are heading straight toward you, and should arrive at around the same time as his message. He advised them to wait at a cave just outside town, as he wasn't sure if you wanted twenty five undead riding through North Bank City or not.
Count Kinkaid notes that Horace Marlowe is proving to be a competent enemy, and is using casters from the nature mages guild in place of more traditional commanders to keep his soldiers off balance and guessing. This is a double-edged sword, however, as the mages are inexperienced at military leadership, and make mistakes that can be exploited.
You ally concludes by thanking and congratulating you for your selection of Charlie as general, and renewing his vow in fealty in writing as he suspects he will be too busy to present you his sword in person anytime soon.
2334th Year of Man, 5th Month, 5th Day:
Thursday
Fugitap calls on you at breakfast, informing you that Clan Ivy soldiers have been exiting the Knifehouse since midnight sharp. The city guard has already begun leading the soldiers to their housing. Fugitap then informs you that he has been selected to introduce you to the emissaries sent by Chieftess Ivy.
The goblin first leads in High Shaman Crank, a tall and lanky orc whose face seems to be constantly twitching. You know a bit about Crank; He is functionally the leader of Clan Ivy, as the Chieftess rarely leaves her chambers to rule. He is also an incredibly powerful divine caster, aligned with Trance, and several other deities.
Crank was the last major military leader to fall in your husband's war against the Kinkaids, captured by the combined forces of Clan Gruel and Redleaf Duchy. You have heard the occasional whisper since that to redeem his failure, Crank has taken to exposing his soul to many demons in search of self improvement, and that these experiments have made him vastly more powerful, but borderline insane.
The high shaman abruptly pulls you into an embrace, and swears to support your cause in good faith and brotherhood. You flinch and shudder at his touch; Your finely tuned hex weaver's ability to feel a soul picks up that Crank's is screaming and boiling with excess divine might just beneath his skin. By the time he lets go, the sensation has made you dizzy, so you have to sit down.
Fugitap next brings in an orc smaller than yourself, likely a member of Clan Ivy's feared agent bloodline. The tiny orc introduces herself as Confessor Rash, and explains that it is her job to speak for the high shaman should he become incoherent, and to overrule him should he order his troops to partake in a massacre of the innocent, orgy, or mass suicide at an inopportune time.
As the troops will be filing out of the summoning circle until well after midday, and they are sure you have better things to do than watch, the two orcs give you a breakdown of the troops they have brought. Two thousand five hundred members of the Clan Ivy Army are standard jungle rangers, well trained and equipped with obsidian tipped swords, arrows, spears, and javelins. In addition, two hundred and fifty elite rangers have been brought, equipped with weapons made from steel or better, most of these superior jungle warriors have demonic heritage to enhance their physical and mental attributes, and know nature magic to compliment their weapons.
"Standard or elite," Glen comments glumly, "rangers are best for defending the jungles, not pushing north into the plains where our enemy is held up."
Clan Ivy has also brought casters in spades. One hundred and fifty Blood Shaman and one hundred and fifty Pale Shaman. The Shaman wear hooded cloaks, red for blood and white for pale, but beyond that their gear varies at the whim of the individual or her gods. Blood Shaman focus on the magic of the 18 Orcish Gods, which is largely related to boosting one's effectiveness in combat and spreading destruction. The Pale Shaman worship various dieties of the deep pantheon, and their powers are far less predictable and uniform.
Also present are four hundred of Clan Ivy's dreaded agents; Small orcs with large amounts of goblin and demon blood running through their veins. Agents wear black hoods, and carry short blades. Some carry a long knife for parrying and extra stabbing in their off hand, and others a buckler for defense. Agents are fanatic devotees of Trance and practice her divine magic to great effect; They can ruin any mundane device or mechanism, have a huge bag of tricks for snooping around unnoticed, and can channel demonic aspects like a manifestation to gain whatever abilities they might require to complete a job. The most advanced agents are known as confessors, and in addition to Rash, the leader of their order, twenty five have come along. Not even you know the exact battle capabilities of Clan Ivy's confessors; Anybody who investigates them too closely ends up dead.
To compliment all the rangers and casters, some heavy soldiers have been brought along as well. Six hundred of the orcs are clad in imported steel armor. Five hundred are maul or great axe wielding infantry units known as enforcers, and one hundred are charger knights mounted on pygmy rhinoceroses. Most terrifying however are the fifty scourges, flail wielding elite enforcers equiped with demonic gear and an un-negoiatable loyalty to the goals of Trance and Clan Ivy, and the one hundred and twenty five war ogres, which basically amount to nine foot tall lesser demons with some orcish blood.
"Your mayor tells us Groghall is responsible for holding one hundred and forty of our soldiers." Crank explains with a twisted smile, "as it is your enemies whose souls we shall feast upon, you may pick which of our troops you wish to stay with you."
You doubt the barracks have room for the war ogres, and Groghall isn't equipped to handle the beasts of the charger knights, but any of the other soldiers would go a long way towards shoring up your defenses.
Next turn will at least finish Thursday. It might go a few days beyond that, depending on how many of the interactions from this turn you guys think need extensive wrapping up.
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Topic: (SG) The Redleaf Epic (Formerly Widow: A Duchess Scorned) (Read 65376 times)