[b][i]Draknoz mo Rarahl - The Road to Yunkai[/i][/b]

The host reached Yunkai territory at dawn - Emmisaries had been sent ahead demanding that Yunkai subordinate itself to 'their liege', King Grazdan the Chainbringer of New Ghis, the rightful heir to the Ghiscari Empire. Said emissaries, of course, had their heads and only their heads returned, but that just meant that General Draknoz mo Rarahl now had a signal to begin the raiding of Yunkai's hinterland.

As the army marched at full speed towards Yunkai, cavalry moving to sieze goods and burn farmsteads, as well as ward off Yunkai's counter-raids, Draknoz made sure to wear at least a set of lamellar armor under his robes in order to deter assassins - The Wise Masters might attempt to employ them.

Draknoz planned to set up his main supply base base south of Yunkai, on a birchwood forest near a slanting sandstone ridge. This forest would provide wood for siege towers and ladders, and animals for meat and hides that can be used to protect said siege towers from arrows. It would also deny precious resources to their enemy. Note that in order to maintain his troops' allegiance, Draknoz would have to pick a 'true' headquarters closer to the walls of Yunkai. That, unless the enemy sent troops to burn the birchwood first - Which is why he was going to lead the scouting force that would sieze the area himself.

[b][i]Draknoz mo Rarahl - South of Yunkai[/i][/b]

The General was right - He had just reached the birchwood to find a company of slave soldiers setting up kindling and torches, escorted by a small band of Highborn Yunkai warriors. He gestured with his free hand to split his battalion - Half of his horsemen were to scatter the slave soldiers, while he and his bodyguards were to charge the Highborn. He was counting on superior steel and superior organization to win this round.

Surprised, the Highborn were only able to mount their horses at the last minute - A few had camels, but those were quickly caught before they can mount them. Otherwise, the battle might have gone differently due to the effectiveness of camels against horses.

Draknoz and his bodyguards cut through the now-mounted enemy, with the General himself having the pleasure of unhorsing the opposing commander, a noble with more eagerness than sense. That was what happened when one allowed the martial spirit of Old Ghis to falter.

Now, the birchwood and its precious building materials were theirs', an important step in the upcoming conquest.

[b][i]Draknoz mo Rarahl - Just Outside Yunkai[/i][/b]

A few more days and the host reached seeing distance of Yunkai's walls, and detachments of the Iron Legions were then sent to construct siege lines, while slaves would be tasked to work in the direction of the siege engineers as they unpacked the catapults, ballistae, and trebuchets that were needed to destroy the city walls. More heralds - recruited from the prisoners taken in the birchwood - were sent to deliver a message to the slave-soldiers of Yunkai, simply saying, "Those who swear loyalty to the New Ghiscari Empire will be freed. Those who do not will be made slaves themselves. Make your choice."