[h1]The Republic of Tushina[/h1]

[h2]An Order given.[/h2]

As the icy northern and western winds howled in their respective turns blind to the efforts of their counterpart, Blodige of the Western Gate trotted proudly with his right arm held behind his back as he gazed at the legions that had been entrusted to his overall command, standing tall at attention as he inspected them. It was far from the full military might of Tushina, but Blodige had understood the concerns of his fellow commanders about leaving gaps along the western border for the hobgoblins to launch a counter invasion... or if a naval landing was attempted along the southern coast. Not to mention the occasional incursion from the east as mind numbing horrors birthed in the ruins of the Forgotten Empire crawled their way out of their cursed realm. 

What he had been given was still more then enough to get the job done however... through there had been a fly in the stew as it were. Taler's efforts to make peace with the Hobgoblins might have ended in failure, but his efforts had born an... addition to the orders that Blodige had been given and was expected to stand by during the campaign by the Senate; While the Hobgoblins were fair game, the goblins of Bwca had proven much more receptive to diplomacy and thus if encountered on the field it was now a requirement that he try to capture them rather then just slaughter them wholesale, as well as treat goblin prisoners with the rights and respect of actual people rather then as vermin. 

An annoying guideline to be sure, but if it kept the Senate happy he couldn't exactly say no. 

As the inspection came to an end, Blodige slowly ascended a makeshift platform that had been constructed for the purpose of giving an inspirational speech to the troops before they all started to march into those hobgoblin infested mountains to do what they were born and trained to do. Reaching the top of the stairs, the world was silent bar the howling of the winds.

Taking a deep breath, Blodige spoke loudly and proudly words that had been spoken by the military caste since before the fall of the Forgotten Empire. "If that sun won't rise on our horizon!"

"[b]WE'LL MARCH ON TO SPITE THE SKIES![/b]" was roared back at him, tugging a smile from Blodige's lips as the feeling of tradition born from centuries of Too'ave like him washed over him like a righteous tide. He had the attention of his troops. It was time to inspire them.

"My Kin, today is the day that we turn the page in Tushina's history and write a new entry. Since before the unity of our people and the foundation of the Republic, the Hobgoblins of Uul have been a constant annoyance and a threat of varying level. They have raided our lands, slaughtered our people and destroyed our towns... for no other reason then pride and hate. Only recently one of our diplomats actually reached out to them to offer terms for peace, but they refused us and demanded either twenty five tonnes of gold or the lives of enough Too'ave to sate their bloodlust for a war that they started to end! I might not agree with Taler or his views on many issues, but I'm proud to say that even someone as soft hearted as Taler had enough fire and pride not to bow down to such outrageously arrogant demands!"

A thundering noise started up as disciplined solders stomped their feet, or the butt of spears against the ground three times in succession. Their leader still had more to say after all. "Today, we march into Uul to crush all dissent from those who have done nothing but be a pest to us for hundreds of years! We shall greet their cheek with grievance! Mere vermin are these arrogant wretches and we shall see them either bleed or plead allegiance for they have [i]long[/i] surrendered the right to be left to their own devices! Since the hobgoblins seem to only be able to speak in gold and blood may our actions in Uul stand as testament and warning to their rest of their ilk to the west that when Tushina offers her hand in friendship that they should take it, for in her other hand is held a sword and we will brook no threats to our well being!"

The roar that followed started with Blodige, but it was quickly picked up as row upon row of Too'ave solder rose their voice to empower it further. The time for speeches was over.

When the roar finally faded, orders began to be shouted as troops started to march in order, traveling the road to Uul. Not everyone who was going was apart of the military caste through; A number of artisans and builders were going to. While a number of scouts had failed to report back and Blodige fully expected to discover their mutilated bodies strung up somewhere to serve as a warning, many of the legions he was leading had been and fought in Uul before and fought hobgoblins before. The plan for how to start off this war was actually rather simple: 

They were going to march into some of the more fertile areas of the hilly nation of Uul near Tushina's border and they were going to set up shop and dig in. Build proper fortresses and defenses rather then just some wooden stockade and just wait. The Hobgoblins were prideful, simple creatures and having an enemy so brazenly claim their lands would demand a response... even more so because of the threat of losing good growing land if they did nothing. If they didn't attack then Tushina would have secured a fortified foothold in Uul that would be perfect to continue the campaign from.