“....while your enthusiasm is commendable, charging broadsword first has already been tried. To no good results.” Livius says, cleaning the underside of a nail while the grey knight moves through the hall. “That and I would not waste your or my valuable time by coming here to throw you at an enemy without a plan. Vizer, if you please.” He says, giving the other man the floor. 

“Yes mi'lord. Thanks to the efforts of the Royal Scouting Guild we've been able to determine the purposes behind these attacks.” He produces a small booklet, the image of a nude goblin like creature with a large...uh....sword emblazoned on the front. “They call themselves the Branches of B'vitol, some old local god of fertility and the harvest. Long since relegated to a piece of local color to be honest with you.”

He continues. “These men and women seem to think their leader, who've we've yet to identify, is the reincarnation of their god, one with a particular hard on for destroying all known varieties of mage craft. See's it as an abomination against nature or the like. The manifesto is theirs, recovered from the third site.” 

“They also have some rather unflattering predictions on Reon and Mayon which I wont go into.” He continues. “We estimate their numbers to be around ten or so cells totaling 100 individuals, operating semi-independently across the wilds of Ithillin, only coming together for raiding. We also strongly suspect they've received some degree of military training, as their grasp of guerrilla tactics is well beyond your average bandit group.”

“If we were to go in, we'd be fighting a highly distributed group on their own territory. And given the lack of success on Ithillin's part, I doubt you'd fair much better. Thus, in conjunction with a few select members of foreign nobles in Velt and Thaln, we've devised a strategy that should hopefully allow you to slaughter them in one stroke.”

He places a new pin on the map, as well as drawing three lines forming a tight triangle between the three boarders. “We've taken the liberty of evacuating a near by village predicted to be along their path to a lords strong hold. After some length negotiations, the inhabitants have agree to resettle in Velt territory provided that Thaln will provide protection as they move through our lands.”

“Officially speaking, the only members of the Iron Roses expected to participate is the good Captain as a sign of good faith. The rest of the provided guard will be...” he pauses to provide air quotes. “ 'mercenaries generously provided by the houses of Thaln'.”

“The hope is that given their recent strings of victories combined with the prospect of killing mages and a figure head of a rival religion will draw them out. As they cross the border to engage your forces, who they will believe to be an easy target, both Ithillin and Velt will heavily fortify their boarders, trapping them between yourselves and our allies. If all goes well, the lot of them will be dealt with with only one operation. After they've been dealt with, the remaining villagers are to be transported across the Velt boarder as planned.”