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[Taricus]

"So, just an armed reconnaissance then? Sounds simple enough. Anything else I should know that isn't in the report?"

Laythe read the report whilst Eshir spoke.

[CyberGenesis]

"So, just an armed reconnaissance then? Sounds simple enough. Anything else I should know that isn't in the report?"

Laythe read the report whilst Eshir spoke.

"The people of the old Motavi Empire are cranky to say the least about the dissolution of the empire. Despite it being entirely their own fault, and happening a handful of dead ancestors ago, they continue to think that either they should recombine or simply one of the three nations should rule over the other two. They're a disturbed people that have been paying Galam a fair bit over the years to maintain the peace and prevent any, how should I say, extreme actions? Things have gotten out of hand, so we pulled out - much like some of their father's should have done." Eshir rubs his temples, "Aside from that, you should be fine. The general populace isn't unaccustomed to my men riding through their lands - and you will be dressed as such, obviously."

The report simply details troop distributions, outposts and known rade routes between the nations, internally and externally. It's a tad vague and seems as though it was rushed together originally.

[Taricus]

"Very well, just one more detail: What's the pay?"

[Ardas]

"I understand. If your master prefers to sit here and do things his own way then I will leave you to deal with Blackadder alone. Its clear that I can't deal with your petty squabbles."

Nikephoros left the man and returned to his own ranks. He knew that he had advantage in numbers and arms, but also in surprise. If Blackaddder was worth his salt as a tactician, he would sally to help Nikephoros as soon as Hopper's men were attacked by overwhelming Ligorian force.
He said quietly to August and Tala: "Be ready and move at my command."
And it begun with a volley of handcannon fire.

Leave Sir Hopper's camp. Call for a surprise attack with all regiments.
Tactics:
Combine surpise attack with tercio handcannons for shock and surprise.
Split enemy once

[Terenos]

The Border Campaign

Leave Sir Hopper's camp. Call for a surprise attack with all regiments.
Tactics:
Combine surpise attack with tercio handcannons for shock and surprise.
Split enemy once

Tactics, Ardas: Suprise Attack(Doesnt yet exist, BS'd for now), Split Enemy.
Tactics, Sir Hopper:  Untraceable Retreat.

Ardas's Tactics, succeed (+3 difficulty vs +3 Tactics score.)
Sir Hopper's Tactics succeed (+5 difficulty, vs +6 Tactics score)
Battle Roll (Not Required: 11 Strength, Ardas, 2 Strength, Sir Hopper.)
----------
The volley of handgun fire surprises and somewhat demoralizes Sir Hopper's troops. Your forces crash forwards and succeed in splitting his forces, easily surrounding and annihilating a single regiment of heavy troops that dug in and fought back brutally. It appears that this was a delaying tactic meant to buy time for Sir Hopper and his personal guard to retreat. They have vanished without a trace.

Sir Hopper's Forces have been routed, but you cannot track them.
Furthermore, Blackadder's forces have not sallied forth from his makeshift palisade. Closer inspection reveals that there are no actual men within the walls, merely exceptionally well crafted decoys.

[filiusenox]

Spoiler: The Lord's Speech (click to show/hide)

Later that day...

"Ladies and gentlefolk of Polca. I come to you this day to provide both good and bad news. The last couple seasons for Polca have been eventful to say the least, a little domestic terrorism turned into the removal of the smugglers that so thoroughly entrenched themselves in our city over the years. The silver lining to the coming cloud I must lay on you all - I'm not well. Part of the reason many things have happened over the years has been due to slowly failing health. I apologize for the suffering this has caused all of you. Which brings me to the next bit of news..."

The Lord takes a breath, looking exhausted, before continuing. "I have secured an alliance with the Nation of Hatcur. As part of this alliance, I am stepping down from most of the major day-to-day operations of administration and allowing the man beside me now to continue as the agent of Hatcur. I will remain in the city and in my Manor as the face of Hatcur to the people of Polca to whatever degree I am needed. With that, I shall step aside and allow Hatcur's agent to introduce himself and speak for the Hatcuri nation"

William stepped forward, his face uncharistically blank. He wasn't wearing his usual arrogant grin. He gave a small cough,ran a gloved hand through his hair and then began.


"The Hatcur sent me here to take control of Polca, through any means necessary, if the Lord didn't agree to the terms that they stated. They told me to, when I gained power, to increases taxes by fifteen percent...they told me to draft you all into an army, ready to fight for those scaly bastards, and they told me to hang anybody who didn't agree with me."

He paused for a moment.
"They told me to turn Polca into a "model" "Human" city of their empire, one enforced with hate and cruelty, from what I could see. Where you become little more then slaves serving a foreign and strange power, that lay across the seas. But you want to know something?"

"I will be making some changes, BUT NOT THE ONES THEY WANTED ME TO. Instead I will be instating a citizen’s council, elected by the masses to make sure the government works for the people instead of against them. They will advise me on what the people want.
I will be legalizing a new right that states before a man or woman is sent to jail or the gallows, that he or she gets a far and due process, judged by a jury of his or her peers.
You all will receive the right of free speech, which means you will be allowed to debate to your heart's content, as well as a few other minor rights.
I will be hunting the remains of the criminal organizations in Polca, until they are brought to due justice.
I will be increasing the size of the Polcan Guard to protect you in your homes from these criminals.
I will be building a new Temple to the Light in this city.
To top it all off, I'll be cutting taxes by, oh lets say...twenty percent."

He paused, then he fixed his gaze on the crowd below.
“That is, of course if you wish me to rule you as the Lord Of Polca. I‘ll leave if you so choose. Its up to you. It's your choice.”

[Ardas]

Damnation! what happened!? where did they go?
Nikephoros was fuming. He was duped. Was Hopper's force just a decoy? If that was De Plume, she knew how to play this game. And Blackadder was nowhere to be seen, despite the fact that his was supposed to be his land. Maybe that's why he could not speak with Hopper...

This is getting ridiculous. I will waste no more time dealing with this foolishnes. Sir Timothy, clearly De Plume is commanding sizeable amount of resources if she can keep evading and tricking us like that. Unless you have any ideas about any other nobles that could assist us, I am going to break and take over every manor and village in the borderland. I will smoke her out and then I will make sure that this land is pacified.

Ask Timothy for ideas and advice. Order a thorough search of Hopper encampment and of "Blackadder" palisade fort for any clues. Then destroy the remains and move on to Sir Hopper lands to destroy his manor.

[CyberGenesis]

Spoiler: The Lord's Speech (click to show/hide)

Later that day...

"Ladies and gentlefolk of Polca. I come to you this day to provide both good and bad news. The last couple seasons for Polca have been eventful to say the least, a little domestic terrorism turned into the removal of the smugglers that so thoroughly entrenched themselves in our city over the years. The silver lining to the coming cloud I must lay on you all - I'm not well. Part of the reason many things have happened over the years has been due to slowly failing health. I apologize for the suffering this has caused all of you. Which brings me to the next bit of news..."

The Lord takes a breath, looking exhausted, before continuing. "I have secured an alliance with the Nation of Hatcur. As part of this alliance, I am stepping down from most of the major day-to-day operations of administration and allowing the man beside me now to continue as the agent of Hatcur. I will remain in the city and in my Manor as the face of Hatcur to the people of Polca to whatever degree I am needed. With that, I shall step aside and allow Hatcur's agent to introduce himself and speak for the Hatcuri nation"

William stepped forward, his face uncharistically blank. He wasn't wearing his usual arrogant grin. He gave a small cough,ran a gloved hand through his hair and then began.


"The Hatcur sent me here to take control of Polca, through any means necessary, if the Lord didn't agree to the terms that they stated. They told me to, when I gained power, to increases taxes by fifteen percent...they told me to draft you all into an army, ready to fight for those scaly bastards, and they told me to hang anybody who didn't agree with me."

He paused for a moment.
"They told me to turn Polca into a "model" "Human" city of their empire, one enforced with hate and cruelty, from what I could see. Where you become little more then slaves serving a foreign and strange power, that lay across the seas. But you want to know something?"

"I will be making some changes, BUT NOT THE ONES THEY WANTED ME TO. Instead I will be instating a citizen’s council, elected by the masses to make sure the government works for the people instead of against them. They will advise me on what the people want.
I will be legalizing a new right that states before a man or woman is sent to jail or the gallows, that he or she gets a far and due process, judged by a jury of his or her peers.
You all will receive the right of free speech, which means you will be allowed to debate to your heart's content, as well as a few other minor rights.
I will be hunting the remains of the criminal organizations in Polca, until they are brought to due justice.
I will be increasing the size of the Polcan Guard to protect you in your homes from these criminals.
I will be building a new Temple to the Light in this city.
To top it all off, I'll be cutting taxes by, oh lets say...twenty percent."

He paused, then he fixed his gaze on the crowd below.
“That is, of course if you wish me to rule you as the Lord Of Polca. I‘ll leave if you so choose. Its up to you. It's your choice.”

Reaction Rolls:
Change in Leadership: 2
Change in Government: 4

The people accept the change in government due to the Lord's speach, they're not particularly happy about him being replaced so soon after him reducing the internal threats to their safety. The new political setup looks promising to the people though, so they're also inclined to give you a chance. Polca is yours to control now. Current stats and such will be drafted and posted later

"Very well, just one more detail: What's the pay?"

"Pay? You're a funny girl, Laythe. How about I pay your cavalry come spring?"

[Taricus]

"Sounds like a fair deal then. We'll set out after outfitting in the new uniforms and such."

Laythe and her unit sets out towards the territories of the Motavi empire after being outfitted in Galamese uniforms.

[filiusenox]

William walked into the barracks, his face still devoid of emotion. Which, to those who knew him better, was a sign that they should listen to what he says and not to screw around.

"John, I want you to go and smith me a brand with the Vagun Old Northlandic rune on it and bring me a bottle of Lonemine Whisky."

"Err...what are you lighting on fire, sir?"

"I'm not lighting anything on fire John, unless you wish to volunteer. I'm going to drink it. I'll be in my office. No one is to disturb me tonight."

"Yes, sir."

William entered his office and slammed the door behind him. A moment later the sound of his desk smashing against the wall of the office filled the barracks.

. . .

John politely knocked, before turning on his heels and leaving as quickly as possible. He had left by the door a cheap iron brand and a large bottle of Lonemine whisky. William opened the door and grabbed both. He put the brand into his fireplace, now burning merrily, fueled by the broken chunks of his desk, and gazed out over Polca. His new city. One gained by lies and with a silver tongue. Instead of cold steel and truth.
It made him sick, but perhaps that was just the Whisky he was drinking on an empty stomach.
He downed half of the bottle, almost puked as he tasted the burnt wood and coal that was the special taste of Lonemine, then downed the other half and retched again.
With no regret in his eyes he pulled the brand out of the fireplace, then slipped off the glove that covered the marked hand.
He closed his eyes and inhaled, before forcing the red hot brand down on the Hatcur tattoo. His other hand clenched at the metal as the smell of burnt flesh- a smell that William knew all too well- wafted up from the contact between skin and burning metal.
He pulled the brand up when the pain rushed pass the cloudiness caused by the Lonemine Whisky and threw it against the wall.

[Terenos]

Ask Timothy for ideas and advice. Order a thorough search of Hopper encampment and of "Blackadder" palisade fort for any clues. Then destroy the remains and move on to Sir Hopper lands to destroy his manor.

[5, ?] Timothy assists with your thorough search of the two encampments.

"These are obviously the livery of both Sir Hopper, and Blackadder. Blackadder was willing to join Ligoria once, and given his many years of life as a bandit chief, he is a wily and cunning foe. Given I know De Plume was after control over the peninsula, barring any major centers of power it would make sense for her to use her adversaries against each other. Sir Hopper hunts down Blackadder eliminating him, and weakening his own position, leaving him easy prey to be surrounded and brought down before he has a chance to return to his lands.

As far as acquiring other allies, you would have to go further afield. I would caution against that, as there are more who oppose Ligoria, than are friendly towards you. And I am certain De Plume is waiting for any opportunity you care to give her. Her lands are unguarded. Unsettled, but unguarded. Defensively moving forth might be the best course of action."

[Ardas]

"If there is one thing that I can do and she can't is to wage an extended campaign. I'm currently on her turf, and if I continue to pursue and punish her, she will be forced to come out.
I can organise reinforcements from Ligoria and baggage train to supply the army, while she will have nothing to support herself excepet what she steals from others. Its clear that whatever supplies  there are in the land will soon be exhausted before winter.

And yes. you are right. Moving to her territories and setting a camp there will draw her out eventually, she can't be in flight all the time."

Move to De Plume lands. Send August's scout regiment there first, to find out anything about the situation in the countryside, interrogate peasants(if there are any) and to do a bit of foraging for Ligorians, to deny supplies to others. 
Once there, set up camp.

[micelus]

Retcyl waited for what seemed an age, and finally gave up getting a meeting. Rather, he decided to do something of use.

Hire an engineer. Send messages to ships in Polca to return. Head off to the arena and find out who exactly runs it. Send some men to find out if there are any mercenary ship crews selling their services in the city. Send the Bleeding Fists to discreetly rob a local historian's collection for writings of naval history and tactics.

[filiusenox]

William sends the Republican Regiment back to Ligoria on Rectyl's boat. With a message that William wishes to speak to Rectyl, he also sends John with strict orders, notes and documents and a request to meet with Kathos.

After that he checks the treasury and examines the most common type of house in Polca. Mostly to see if they are ramshackle, rundown and what the common folk commonly live in.
Also the quality of life in Polca for the commoner, if the streets are clean and the state of the walls and roads.

Then he heads to the Brothel house and speaks with the Madame.

[Terenos]

Move to De Plume lands. Send August's scout regiment there first, to find out anything about the situation in the countryside, interrogate peasants(if there are any) and to do a bit of foraging for Ligorians, to deny supplies to others. 
Once there, set up camp.

You arrive at De Plume's lands slightly behind the scouts you sent. They sent back word that nothing out of the ordinary was about, anywhere in De Plume's lands. There are few peasants if any remaining in the lands. Most that remain tell stories of their families being abducted by the 'nobility' and forced to move nomadically about. They hear this is being done in other lands in the peninsula to prevent death and keep the nobility from losing their power. There is a definite air of misery and hopelessness in the peasant class.

When you arrive at De Plume's lands, you are shocked to find Blackadder and a full regiment sitting there, enjoying a nice meal. Clearly waiting for you. His foppish, out of date wear has gotten somewhat more extravagant. Though the effect is much lessened by the dirt, grime and small cuts.

"Pleasure to meet you! Much obliged for the timely distraction, I thought Hopper had me outplayed."