Osvaldus had had a busy night. There seemed to be an abundance of letters from advisors and various peasants regarding matters such as his recent tax hike from 50% of all profits and products to 55%, managing the distribution of resources to his holdings around Terneuzen, and organizing his levies.

As the night went on, the Asmeinland noble looked at a folded up letter laying on his desk. His grey eyes quickly fixated on the seal holding it shut. The seal clearly indicated that the letter came from Lucian Aquila, Grandmaster of the Order of the Knights Solanian. He thumbed it slightly, brushing the wax seal a fair bit as he thought it over. Pondering what was inside, he peeled off the seal and opened it, ready to see what the man had to say.

His eyes scanned the parchment. So, it appeared Lucian wanted to lead a foolish crusade against Lord Htraknu? He grinned at their bold stupidity. Mere mortals stood no chance against He Who Swallows Gods Whole. And yet, here it was, plain as the ink on the parchment, they planned to go to war against Htraknu. Osvaldus grinned. Damned fools, he thought to himself, they'll be nothing more than bloody sacrifices to the Great Dragon.

He calmly opened the various drawers of his desk, looking for spare paper. When he found some he grabbed a small inkwell, dipped his pen into it, and began to scribble out a quick letter to the Acolytes of the Great Wyrm, alerting them to Lucian's Crusade. He told them to gather up their weapons and to fortify Htraknu's lair. No need to bother him with a few peasants and Knights.

Osvaldus smiled as he finished writing his letter. An odd way to alert Htraknu, perhaps, but the only way he could think of alerting him. He headed down to the lower levels of the Governor's Palace and ordered a messenger to send the letter to the mountain wher Htraknu resided, informing the young man that the letter was for one of the nobleman's friends. Naturally one of the devotees would take it and alert Lord Htraknu.

With that out of the way Osvaldus returned to his office and reread the letter, wondering where this "Crusade" would assemble. Perhaps he could send some of his forces to intercept them. Then again perhaps it'd be best if he sent his troops to help bolster the defense of Htraknu's Lair.

Having thought it over for a few minutes, Cientus decided it'd be best if he sent his levies to reinforce the Lair and assist the Acolytes in defending it. WIth instructions to assist the "natives" however they can, the nobleman sent his Marshal and troops to reinforce it, knowing it'd take a few weeks of marching before they'd arrive with troops, armor, weapons, and supplies of various sorts. Having done that, and not wishing to keep governoring when His Lord was under attack, he informed his regnant that he'd be gone for a few months, saying it was "various business matters with neighboring realms". He donned his finest suit of armor, grabbed a few weapons, before he then headed to the Governor's Barracks to gather a few bodyguards for his trip.

Inside the barracks the cultist saw a sight that'd frighten other men. At the far end of the room were three large men, the three of them standing rather tall and wide, armored with steel, and armed with battleaxes or longbows. They turned when they heard Cientus shut the door behind him. They spotted his smile and slowly lumbered over to him, their gold eyes fixated on his grey.
"I'll need your assitance in acting as my bodyguards." he said simply
The men nodded and followed their liege as he got on his horse and began to set off. The quickly mounted their own horses and followed, their hooves thumping on the dirt road that laid before them.

Rumors abound in the Acolyte ranks of an adventuring party setting out to stop Htraknu's plan of ascending to Godhood. If he could have his way, Osvaldus would stop it. Preferably by spilling blood in Htraknu's name...