[center][color=9e0b0f][h1][b]The Under-Republic of Rodents[/b][/h1][/color][/center]

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[b]The Commonwealth's Northern Borders[/b]

Rattus Regius Ignatius Fell-Eye had issued orders to the Ring of Rodents, the Under-Republic's campaign plan was simple, they would divide the Vermintide into three divisions, with four members of the Ring commanding each one, and Ignatius himself commanding from the central force as a fifth member and supreme commander. 

Having left the mountain pass in which Petrus' Maw was located in, the campaign could begin in earnest, with the first target of being the Northeast plains and farmlands and various settlements of The Commonwealth. Ignatius intended to cut a swathe through the soft and rich underbelly of that fertile region, clearing the path not only for the Vermintide to march clear to the Empire of Yore, but also to the Dwarven Kingdom of Thundrim Kadrin. That would be the point in which the Vermintide separated, but for now, all three arms of the Vermintide would cast their might against the Commonwealth's frontier regions. 

Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of rodents marched, the sea of fur going from fur, to clothed, to ironclad, to steelclad, and punctuated by the units of Rattus Giganti the further back one got in the massive army. 

The outlines of farm houses and human settlements could be seen in the distance, and Ignatius then called over one of his Steel-fanged bodyguards. 

[b]"Call for a full stop and break camp. Have the troops setup a trench line all along the army's southern flank, make spikes out of whatever trees you can find, and set up foraging and scouting parties, we're staying here for a week."[/b]

One of the Ring of Rodents members, a Aurus Goldclaw overheard these orders as the call was made along the line as trumpets and officers for miles along relayed the orders to the massive swarm. He, like many others in the army, particularly the non-Vermin units, were confused and perturbed by the Rattus Regius' sudden order.

[b]"Regius Fell-Eye, you do your own bold words at the Maw discredit! How exactly can you defend calling a stop to the army before we've even begun? And within sight of Human settlement!?"[/b]

Ignatius flicked his whiskers in slight irritation and tapped his claws upon [i]Retribution[/i]'s grip as he thought of his next words.

[b]"Aurus, I didn't become Rattus Regius merely because I was born of a clan with wealth, I earned it through martial might and the boons that came from it. We may be camped here, but don't be so foolish to think that we'll be idle just doing trenches and spikes."[/b]

He signalled for another bodyguard again to come over.

[b]"New orders for the Bubonic Philosophers, have some of them go to our slaves and Commeni packs. They're to pick some choice specimens and send them off to our neighbours in the Commonwealth frontiers bearing "gifts". They are to herald our coming. I want the Commonwealth to know that the Vermintide has come again to their lands, and to make them fear our name before they've even seen our forces."[/b]

Ignatius then started to turn before making one last remark.

[b]"And notify the clan levies, within three days they will have liberty to launch raiding parties if they choose to within 20 miles of the camp, no more, no less. All slaves, loot and material are their for the taking, but all food supplies are to be given to the army stocks. All Vermin will remain in the bounds of the camp and ensure order."[/b]

The orders sent, within an hour, several members of the Virulent Academy had set about their task, and several packs of Rattus Commeni were released to scatter in various directions south, with slaves "released" and thrown out south as well. Both were loaded with a particularly gruesome pestilence that had become iconic of the Rats, the Black Death would come again to the Commonwealth, and it would be the harbinger of the Vermintide, whilest the army itself sat along its massive lines, tens of miles long, setting to work preparing the ordered rudimentary defences, pitching lean-tos and tents, and lighting campfires. Within three days, some of them would have liberty to raid, and all were anxious to fight their enemies, and more than a few perplexed by Ignatius Fell-Eye's odd strategy so far.