[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/iNZ0gse.jpg?1[/img][/center] Warmth filled the meeting chamber, it had been so long unused, but the Lord Marshal deemed the current discussion weighty enough that all the Commanders of the Order must be gathered. The meeting hall that had up until recently been a dusty untouched room for the past several years due to the Lord Marsha’s desire to remain undisturbed due to his illness, had been meticulously cleaned, and the metals polished, causing the Council’s room to look as if it had never languished in untouched vacancy. The Wardens were the first to arrive taking their respective seats at the table, each of them sitting so that their backs were to the direction they were the commander of. After the Wardens' they were followed by The Most Exalted, The Grand Wizard, The Lord Commoner, and The Knight of Flowers, taking seats between the Wardens. Murmuring could be heard around the table as they discussed among each other what this might be about, some thought they might be heading north finally to civilize the barbaric clans, others thought they might be marching to war on behalf of Shenra into the Emerald empire, no one knew for sure though. Soon enough Markus had arrived, looking as gruff as ever, and standing off to the side. After half an hour the door finally opened once more, and entered The Lord Marshal, and The Under Marshal, Richard would take a seat at the head of the table with Katalina standing next to him as the Lord took in every who was at the table. “We are all here. Thanks be to the Prophetess.” Richard’s hand would come up as he gave a few coughs, and held a cloth to his lips, he noticed the red stains there, and folded the handkerchief up and put it away. Each of the members had dressed nobly for the meeting, donning silk doublets and trousers for the men, and the women had come dressed in dresses, and other finery, with magnificent embroidery to really give that sense of nobility. Taking a deep, but gravelly breath the Lord Marshal brought a hand to his chin and stroked his hand across his features. “I have called all of you here today for one reason, to discuss our neighbors to the South, to long have we turned a blind eye to their barbarism, slavery, and war mongering. Too long has their dishonor and injustice plagued our borders. Well I say no more, my time on this world is short, and I will be damned if I will leave this world without giving justice to this nation of despots. I propose we deliver demands for their surrender, and if they choose not to accept those demands then we will march forces into their lands, take their cities, and break the shackles of those they oppress ourselves!” Those gathered around the table stared at the Lord Marshal for a moment, stunned at his suggestion of the invasion of Matathran, then slowly they looked to each other, and all nodded. “Agreed” “Of course my Lord.” “Matathran is a pit of abominable heresy” all these answers and more were given as the Lord Marshal stood up and held out a letter. “I have already drafted terms of surrender for Matathran, I will have delivered it directly to our emissary in their Capital, should they refuse our offer, we will invade, should they not reply within seven days… We will invade.” Moving across the room Richard stopped at their War table. “Marie, Markus, and Peter, you have all been undergoing drills on my command. Peter I want you to take your forces immediately and move them to the Southern fort, and join up with Marie, Peter you will continue to command The Hawks Talon, and prep your forces there for movement. All of you will begin gathering provisions for the forces to move through the desert. I will send word to Captain Howard, and Captain Dubois to gather a small force each and gather more supplies in the meantime, if it becomes necessary to transport it to Matathran.” “Dismissed.” The entire council got up, and moved out of the room, except for the Lord Marshal, and the Under Marshal. Richard walked towards a desk with a series of slots in it and lifted up several letters and began to set them into the different slots where they subsequently disappeared. Richard turned towards “Katalina, the doctor says I am getting worse, and it’s only a matter of months before my end has come. I want you to continue our work, defeat Matathran, end its wicked rule.” [hr] The provided quarters had been adequate for Lady Lemaire, but she longed for home. When her letter box began to give a faint glow a jolt of excitement ran through the Emissary for Matathran. “Am I going home? Being called back?” She moved quickly across the room and opened it, and frowned as it was designated to go the Imperial hierarchy. A sigh escaped her lips, and she fanned herself for a moment with the letter. “Fine.” The Lady muttered before pulling a gown on, it was rather flattering showing just the right amount of cleavage and accenting her curves in a way not over the top. The blue and green silk shimmered whenever light came across it. Yellow slippers were placed upon her feet, and her hair was neatly braided and wrapped into a bun. Once ready Jaqueline left her room, followed closely by two men, each wearing chain mail and a tabard to show they were part of the Order of the Lady’s lament, with a sword on their hips as their protect should any harm try to befall the lady. Lady Lemaire went straight to the Imperial Courier, knowing that if the letter had been sent by magic it was of the utmost importance it reaches the eyes of whoever was to read it immediately. She would leave the letter there, and then head back to her quarters, everything in this place was a hodge podge of hurry up and wait, and not even the leaders of another country were expedited, unless it was something as simple as reading a letter it seemed. Once in her quarters she undid all that she had done to pretty herself simply to walk to the Courier, and moved to her balcony and stared out towards the North, where her home was, her white shift fluttering in the wind. [hider=*Letter wax sealed and pressed with the Lord Marshal’s signet ring* For the Administration of Matathran, read immediately][img]https://i.imgur.com/GQmoSA0.png[/img][/hider] [hr] The refugee town was coming along well, Albert Churchill overseeing it as people fleeing from the Northeast continued to come across the border searching for a place of safety, and this was that place. Knights and soldiers having removed their armor and weapons now used hammers and saws as they built the makeshift town for the refugees to live in, this would be their new home, a safe place, all were welcome, and the clergy were insuring that all were taken care of and administered to. [hr] The letter box glowed, and Lady Margot turned and looked towards it. Opening then what was a sealed letter inside, her eyes glanced over the words before she set it back down and took a deep breath and glanced to the Captain of the guard that had just been briefing her for the day. “Have the men start drilling, tell them we may… have war. Tell them to begin reinforcing all the walls, all the gates, and to gather as much as we can for the mangonels, and trebuchets…”