[hider=Post Summary] [list] [*]Nausk encamps in northern Mousmar [*]Nausk and Yekseen stay and talk in the manor of a powerful northern noble [*]Noble is attacked in the night by a rat toothed vampire who flees [*]Nausk and Yekseen go on hunt to kill vampire [*]Trick vampire to reveal itself [*]Vampire is tracked to a burned out hamlet, having been once a small time noble who had been framed by his victim to steal his lands. [*]Yekseen convinces Nausk to promote the vampire as the county’s head, in return for secrecy and support [*]Kazam Gotembaug returns to Gottisberg under the request of his mother, Penela. [*]Kazam invites the Knights of the Black Rose to Zengher, giving them some lands to establish themselves in [*]Knights of the Black Rose build a temple in Zengher [*]Duke Garlor Olo Veunbera reaches Edgk, makes a deal with the Duke of Edgk to station troops in his barracks [*]Garlor spends money ordering new roads and buying slaves to help build those roads [*]Garlor receives ships from the fleet, stations them on a port [*]Bored troops torment Edgk’s poor population [*]Nausk and Yekseen enter Edgk once reinforcements arrive from Jentre and Tannis [*]Nausk meets up with Tanberg Veunbera, has a good chat [*]Nausk and friends set up a barracks in Edgk, become tormented by both Edgk and Gaszbam soldiers [*]Yekseen is called away to her secret group, returns shortly there after requiring aid [*]The Duke of Edgk imprisoned a number of Yekseen’s friends, asks Nausk to help them get free. [*]Nausk agrees, but tries to talk with the Edgk wardens first [*]The Guild of Illustrious Magi and the Guild of the Studded Collar refuse to release Yekseen’s friends, under the command of Caizera Venkbaug [*]Nausk, demands freedom by force and his authority as Consul. Caizera burns one of Yekseen’s friends alive, forcing Nausk to back off. [*]Nausk has the Duke of Jentre send him a cabal of Sorcerers to help. [*]Yekseen visits an old friend, a Marsh Guardian named Za’kain, who agrees to help free her friends [*]Yekseen and Za’kain attack a caravan as her friends are dragged off, Nausk and the sorcerers are able to free the others. [*]Yekseen reveals herself as a member of the Circle of Edgk Soothsayers, and introduces the Okan druidess Bun. [*]The Circle do not give aid to Nausk, but do promise to provide ‘what help they can’ [*]Disappointed, Nausk collects a clue of information on the Guild of the Studded Collar in Edgk. [*]Nausk tries to co-command with Garlor, but the rivalries of both men create extreme disunity. [*]Nausk decides to form his own battle plans, and reorganized his army. [*]Okke debates becoming a protectorate of Olma [*]Okke leaders erupt into factional violence, but decide to agree to the protectorate status under heavy restrictions [*]Olma establishes trade posts along the great lake, in return allowing Okke clans to settle along the upper rivers and a sizable tax on the ports [*]Olma knights and Okke Mercenaries form new companies in Olma [*]Muhan Ambassador introduces himself to princess, and is overly arrogant [/list] [/hider] [color=orange][h2][b]=-=Shadow over Edgk, Summer 998 2nd Age=-=[/b][/h2][/color] The high banners of Zengher, its red and black banners depicting the Olman eagle crashing down via the black cockatrice waved side by side with the banners of Muoarma, as Duke [color=orange]Nausk Gotembaug[/color] led 45,000 troops out of Zengher, one of the most sizable armies ever mustered by a province. Reinforced by reinforcements from eastern Muoarma, Nausk and his elite retinue rode at the rear of his army, many of his fellow lords, barons, and villagers having come to see the army off. Many were confused, as only few in Muoarma even knew where the army was heading, many fearful nobles had suspected war with the goblin republic, or Varkovnia, but Nausk had still kept the option pretty vague, as he wanted to maintain at least some element of guessing as to not alert the ever isolated people of Ok’va. The levy of troops, their red and black cloth armor and clattering of spears danced along the road melded with the many wagons of the siege corps and the armored step of the Uesbergan, who were being reinforced from other Uesbergan units from the inner lands of the capital. Nausk had, rather reluctantly, tried to keep good contact with his co-consul, Duke [color=orange]Garlor Olo Veunbera[/color], who had been mostly silent. Not sure of his co-consul’s plans, Nuask did not want to set up his troops fully yet within the poorly developed land of Edgk. Nausk knew little of Edgk itself, but had viewed it’s nobility poorly. The Desbaugs were infamous for their arrogance and constant bickering amongst their nobles, as the land was poorly divided up when it was first conquered. Squabbles over small hamlets were common, and local lords often were known to be pretty unreasonable. Nausk didn’t want to rely too much on their aid or hospitality to supply his troops, so he decided he would set up a trade route between Zengher and Edgk through Mousmar. Nausk had no end to choices to set up a temporary camp in northern Mousmar, but decided to camp along the road near the keep of a bordering barony of [color=red]Himsberg[/color]. The Keep of Himsberg housed a long time acquaintance of Nausk, and after a short exchange of letters, Baron [color=orange]Gan Olo Cusven[/color] gave permission for the army to stay in his land. As Nausk’s army began to set up in their tents, his new found companion [color=orange]Yekseen[/color] and her Okan apprentice [color=orange]Forgoia[/color] invited the duke to drink with them along with his scout [color=orange]Zar’usaga[/color]. When Nausk arrived at the site, the four sat amongst the trees and began to drink elven wine. “I must ask, Yekseen, how did you end up doing some job for a noble?” Zar had commented. The elven sorceress gave a half hearted sigh. “I need money mostly, and a lot of it. I see you haven’t changed in the last four hundred years.” Zar chuckled and drank, much to Nausk’s surprise “You two know each other?” “About as well as all Eldan and Muhan elves knew each other, Nausk.” Zar reminded him “However, we met some time ago, when King Kadus use to rule this land, and we were relocating some elven villages to Souk Mar.” “Well, more like kicking elven villagers to Souk Mar more like. I swear, an Eldan elder may as well be moving an oak.” Yekseen took another more somber drink. Nausk turned his attention to Forgoia who had been drinking poorly, or more accurately, like an animal. After wiping her mouth she hicked and set her beer wine down carefully on the ground. “I must ask, how do you two get around? I thought only the mage guilds controlled magic, I’m surprised neither of you actually work for them as far as you told me.” Nausk asked “Well it isn’t easy, but I've got friends in all the right places, making them is the hard part.” Yekseen replied “I'm good friends with the Guild of Sorcerers. I’ve helped them out of a bind or two.” Nausk motioned towards the distracted apprentice, who had since taken out a mage’s book and began looking it over as those around her talked. Yekseen shrugged “That is a more complicated story, but if you are asking if I practice what Aedeth Mar’s ‘great guild’ practices, then no.” Nausk raised an eyebrow, and Yekseen relented. “I was approached by my apprentice when she ran, but I believe my apprentice can speak better on it, right Forg?” Forg looked up from her book and nodded. “Oh. Well, if you are asking my lord if I am a thrall, then no, I came here willingly.” “I suspected as much.” Zar said “But my lord also knows all too well of those Okan who flee their lands willingly, such as [color=orange]Peloaban[/color] if you had not met already.” “Oh, right. I think I did meet him, is he the fat one or the inbred looking one?” Forg had almost shouted out, rather naively, drawing a short embarrassed chuckle from Yekseen. Nausk shoke his head “I knew Peloaban as. . .erm. . .neither. I must ask, how do you avoid the gaze of slavers of the guild? I thought the law forbids free Okan in Muoarma?” Forg shrugged “Not a lot notice when I follow my mistress around I suppose, it's not like there is guards checking if I have some rope collar or not underneath my cloak.” Nausk scratched his beard and looked at Yekseen “I see. Either way, I must commend you on your skill back in Zengher.” “No no, I must admit, I must commend you on your willingness to listen to my advice. A rare commodity amongst humanity. . .by experience.” Yekseen took another drink. The four continued to drink into the night, speaking to one another. As Nausk returned to his tent to sleep, he had learned much of the two strange sorceresses. Yekseen was old, but extended a more younger look thanks to her impressive collection of glamors, and told several stories of her ‘boring’ life as a local healer, bringer of rain for easily convinced peasants, and a temporary court champlain of a long forgotten minor lord. Forg on the other hand revealed only bits of pieces of herself, having fled Ok’va for a reason she preferred to have remained private. What Nausk would come to learn however was that she had very little connection back home, and her clan wasn’t very important, a minor clan who was ‘kind of, but not really’ close with a druid circle inside the Ok’van southern marshes. Nausk began making preparations in the morning to move his army to Edgk, but was approached by a messenger by the Baron of Himsberg. The baron had wished to meet with Nausk before he left, about a more private matter, but one he had not wished to divulge. Nausk was at first suspicious and tried to press the messenger for more information, but relented. Nausk called for Yekseen and her apprentice to accompany him and his captains, joined by his long time friend [color=orange]Zerban Lulsbera[/color] to this meeting. When Nausk arrived, he was greeted by Gan and his men, an older gray haired nobles who had a youthful complexion. Nausk was very blunt in his summons, even as Gan greeted his guests to a feast he had prepared. Gan approached Nausk and his captains with bits of information, and wished to know more from Nausk himself. Apparently, Gan had been approached recently by a mysterious stranger, asking for favors and wishing to delay Nausk’s advance into Edgk. Nausk guessed quickly this was Garlor’s spies trying to hound glory for himself, but Gan was not so certain. Gan remarked the man had a ‘sickly look’ and ‘wore a strange and yet familiar badge, almost like a guild of sorts’ but he couldn’t recall much on it. Nausk’s captains, especially Zerban, remarked this was ill tidings, and wished to avoid a similar situation which happened in the capital. Nausk and Gan talked for awhile, but Yekseen snuck out of the feast to meet with her apprentice who had been barred from entering by Gan’s guards, having assumed her to be a common servant. As night turned to twilight, the party turned drunken as Nausk and Zerban watched two of the captains happily sing with Gan’s soldiers. Yekseen was soon joined by Nausk and the two talked a bit more on more trivial things, and before long Gan entered with a half drunken attitude. The group came upon a high wall, in which Gan became more drunk, but Yekseen who had kept a more keen mind began to notice strange things. Guards were going missing as the night moved on, and despite the keep as Himsberg having several obvious rat nests, several rats kept scampering in rapid pace throughout the area. Gan became distracted as 4 to 8 large rats panicked between his legs, and as Gan turned, before both Nausk and Yekseen’s eyes Gan was torn apart in a sudden burst of fury. A large and imposing black figure leaped down from an upper tower and tore Gan apart in such haste Neither Nausk and Yekseen could react. Nausk drew his sword, which just barely saved his life when a humanoid beast leapt at him next and bit into his sword and smashed it’s iron to bits. Nausk got a good look at the monstrous being, a humanoid like face with rat-like features, a snout and long teeth along with huge and imposing fingernails which were painted red with the gore of the Baron of Himsberg. Yekseen let out a firey spell at the beast, knocking it onto the courtyard, as the two called for aid. Guards who were both drunk and sober arrived, as Nausk saw the beast decapitated one guard with an easy blow, and tore at the armor at another. Fast as wind, the beast went to make it’s escape, climbing up the keep as it injured or killed Himsberg soldiers along the way. Yekseen and her apprentice tried to shoot a freezing spell at it, but it barely slowed the creature’s advance as it entered the keep. Nausk commanded the remaining soldiers, entering the keep and rushed their way to the main feasting hall where Zerban and the other captains were thankfully still alive. Yekseen informed Nausk what the creature was, having faced one before in her travels, having recognized the creature’s facial features. A Rat-Toothed Vampire, an undead horror which dwelled across the old core lands of Muha, it’s absurd speed and power was only matched by its ‘traditions’, as Nausk looked on skeptically as Yekseen and Forg distributed rice and salt to some soldiers, going room to room throwing it on the floor. The vampires had a strange affinity for trying to desperately clean up messes, but after a fruitless search, Nausk took control of the castle and bunkered down for the night until morning, where the beast was more vulnerable. Fearful of further attacks, Nausk did not sleep throughout much of the night, having kept three guards on duty in his room and watching the window of his room. Once the keep in Himsberg was secure, and the body of it’s baron buried, Nausk restricted information and formed an emergency taskforce of those inside the keep to figure out what had happened. Nausk sent his captains in small groups to secure the holdings of Himsberg and begin tracking the vampire, with Yekseen informing them to look for ‘odd placements of blood and wood’. Rat-Toothed vampires were highly intelligent then their Olman cousins, and that they were partial masters of illusions, and thus Yekseen gave each captain a silver coin to throw at ‘tricks of the eye’ which would supposedly shatter such illusions. Yekseen also demanded that the captains begin rounding up night patrols and other workers who primarily worked in the night, as they were likely vampire disguises. Nausk wondered how the vampire had gotten into the keep, and began interrogating the local guard. Nausk learned that a younger and diligent man with a short beard and a thick accent had come on as a night patrolman for the keep over a year ago, and that he often only stayed in the barracks for the previous winter. Nausk and Yekseen determined the guardsman, Femen Olo Granger had been this man, and was the only guardsman missing. Nausk took a small force and prowled around the village, learning that the Granger family used to live on a farmstead far outside of town, and that the last living member of the family was an elderly huntsman who died a few years ago. Upon entering the Granger household, an old abandoned peasant shack, they found a strange variety of clues. Yekseen and an honor guard dredged up from the shack a wrinkled black and white banner of House Cursbaug, which surprised Yekseen. Yekseen explained she had use to have good dealings with the former noble family of Himsberg, the Cursbaugs had been a long standing family who were targeted for purges during the great dynastic purge, and that their former Marshal, the founder of House Cusven had personally arrested and killed them in return for their holdings. Yekseen wondered if the vampire was a member of the purged household in some way, a theory which Nausk asked more about. Yekseen theorized as they continued to tear open the old lair that if members of the old household escaped, and were plotting to get their lands back with aid from a vampire, something that wasn’t outside the imagination of the elven sorceress. Nausk shuttered at such thinking, especially any Muoarman dealing the undead to reclaim their ancestral home. After delving through the vampire’s lair, finding only minor trinkets and some bones of some unfortunate beggars, Nausk had the lair burnt and returned to the keep to formulate a new plan. Nausk asked his elven friend and elite scout Zar’usaga about tracking the monster, in which his friend sadly had no clue how to even start. Instead, he offered a less traditional approach, wondering if the vampire had a primary hunting ground. Nausk poured over a tome, but as he did, the political situation inside the keep began to degrade. Concerned peasants and minor nobles began to ask for Gan in which Nausk decided to step in to try to relieve. Nausk then had to contend with two rival factions in Gan’s court, both became very quickly informed on his death as they were present during the feast, in which Gan’s Marshal of Arms and his captains wished to promote a distant relative of Gan (and who was also the Marshal’s cousin) to Baron. The other faction, led by 7 distant friends of Gan from Souk Mar, wanted to elect one of their own. Neither faction was friendly and were not very competent, and each greedily asked for permission to settle the dispute. Nausk knew that giving either group would mean having to deal with them further to secure his supply network to Edgk, which he dreaded deeply. During the 2nd day since the murder, Zar’usaga made an interesting discovery. A ‘haunted forest’ was discovered where several mutilated corpses of both men and animals had been found in an outlying village. Nausk and Yekseen went out at once to investigate, and after some searching found a secret cabin in the woods. Inside, they found a very well kept apartment, which was recently abandoned in a rush. Yekseen explained that Rat-Toothed vampires were cursed with being mannerly and addicted to cleanliness, and often their lairs were well kept. Even the small pile of animals bones and various old tattered uniforms of huntsmen, guards, bandits, and smiths were all lined up perfectly and stitched neatly. The two discovered a small journal, in which Yekseen became even more surprised. “Humsbak? How?” Nausk asked as well, Yekseen then told the duke of [color=orange]Humsbak Cursbaug[/color], son of the last Cursbaug Baron. She swore she had seen Humsbak hanged and his body quartered and thrown into the sea many years ago, and had once known him personally as a rash but well kept boy. Yekseen was confused herself, as Rat-Toothed vampires at least required a fresh and living body to pass on their curse, and that their tiny gangs very rarely expanded every 200 or so years. The journal didn’t fill in many details but mad ramblings of Humsbak, but it did confirm at least his want for revenge on Gan, or more specifically his family line. However, what was also interesting to the two was that Humsbak, had wanted to raid the barony’s library, to further extend his regicide, not knowing he had already completed his task by killing Gan. The vampire apparently had been unable to corner Gan in the night, and Nausk figured that the two walking on the walls of the Keep and far away from sober guards was just the perfect opportunity for the vampire who dropped his disguise as a common night patrolman. Nausk wanted to bring the creature to justice as quickly as possible, despite Yekseen wondering if she could just talk to him after all these years. Despite these small differences, both agreed they needed to trap the vampire, and likely small parties exploring it’s lair and it going into hiding only made them easy targets as well. Yekseen devised a plan, wanting to lure it into a magical circle with a wall of force with any being to walk into it, but in order to do it, they would need bait. Nausk offered to find bait, and asked Yekseen to prepare her circle near the keep. Nausk and Zar’usaga at first went to Himsberg’s Marshal of Arms, asking him for his claimate to help in the plan, which he profoundly rejected. When Nausk asked his rival for the same for help, they also rebuffed him, calling his designs mad, and that the vampire had already completed its task and would ‘slink back to hell like always’. Annoyed and angry, Nausk and Zar’usaga came up with a plan instead, and decided to kidnap the marshal’s cousin. With aid from Zar’usaga, Nausk and his guard stole the young man from the keep and dragged him to a household outside the keep and explained the situation to him. As Consul, Nausk demanded the man to obey his word on the matter which the man reluctantly agreed to be bait, on the condition that Nausk supported his faction’s claim. Nausk agreed reluctantly as well, but the group soon set out to Yekseen’s location. Forg found the group along the road and showed them to Yekseen’s location, but rather predictably decided to not set up near the keep, but rather far outside of it, near a burned out hamlet which had been an old bandit stomping ground. Yekseen prepared the circle and the bait by having him ‘live’ in one of the nearby huts, and disappointed Nausk by having him make a statement so that the vampire would hear via rumor. Nausk returned to the keep, and the next day made a public announcement of the death of the Baron, and declared that his heir was being chosen and that a suitable candidate was nearby the keep, hidden away and was being prepared to be brought to the keep and rule. Both court factions, furious, stormed out of the main hall and declared they would promote their own candidates, saying the inheritance of Gan was violated, even though the Marshal’s faction had decided not to reveal their own just yet, mostly due to the fact he was missing. Predictably, there were a string of strange attacks and reports, but eventually during the 5th night in Himsberg, Nausk was returning to Yekseen alone where he began to feel trailed by an unknown force. He met a strange man in the night, but after 3 times passing the same man did Nausk realize he was the vampire trailing him. Nausk nearly rode past him a fourth time, where he looked back to see a small group of riders also trailing him, and were clearly not bandits, but Himsberg guards. Nausk didn’t wish to stop and rode straight ahead to the meeting place and as he arrived he shouted loudly at Yekseen and his guard, and noticed a shadow creeping up on his bait. Only a fiery blast from Yekseen and the man running from hut to hut kept the vampiric menace at bay as they tried to lure it into the magical trap. Yet the planned ambush did not go well, as the vampire began to attack desperately to kill Nausk’s baited man, a group of mercenaries and Himsberg guards joined the fray as well, trying to recapture the Marshal’s cousin. The factional mercenaries, while trying to avoid Nausk, were also trying to attack his honor guard still trying to hold off the vampire. Eventually, even the Himsberg Marshal of Arms arrived and began trying to command his men as they were torn apart before his eyes to recapture his cousin. Nausk and Yekseen were able to regroup in a larger hut, and watched their separated forces holding back both the vampire and mercenaries. The Marshal then brought out crossbows, trying to shoot at the vampire and Nausk’s men, but in the firefight which ensued, the Marshal’s cousin was struck by a bolt and stumbled out of the hut in a mad dash for his own safety, only to be swooped up and beheaded by the vampiric attacker. Nausk cursed as he returned to the fray, with Yekseen was able to use her spellwork to force the vampire towards the entrapping circle, carefully guided by her apprentice using an ice spell to keep him from moving faster. Once inside the circle, Nausk watched as the once nimble horror with a rattish figure transform back into an older and pale man with a patchwork of noble and peasant clothes. Nausk ordered his men to then chase off the mercenaries and the Marshal, and looked over the casualties. Nausk’s bait had been butchered, and some of his men had grievous injuries from both fighting off the vampire and the mercenaries. Nausk wanted blood, but it seemed he now had at least one being to make up for it. When Nausk and Yekseen approached the vampire, Yekseen planned to burn the being alive within the entrapment circle. Yet, as they approached, Yekseen relented. “Humsbak, is that truly you?” She asked. The vampire looked at her and only gave a weak nod. “You have come to kill me?” It replied. “Yes. You killed a nobleman and another, not to mention countless more.” Nausk leaned on his sword, looking at the figure. Humsbak looked at Nausk and shrugged “Is that not what we all do? Do not judge my justice, for even our rulers hold our heads for the pike.” “Justice?” Nausk huffed, insulted “We are a civilized people, what you vicious vermin call justice is just murder.” “You were not there, oh Duke. Nor were your fathers, when Baold Penosbaug slaughtered my family, for daring to oppose his tyranny. Where were you and your ancestors when my family were hanged and torn asunder by those we once called friend and servant. This nobleman shared the blood of those who slaughtered my kin wholesale, and I have lived alone and in the woods while he drank from my father’s wine and danced on my mother’s grave.” “I was going to ask, Humsbak, but how did you become. . .this?” Yekseen said, twisting the conversation as Nausk looked on furiously. “I ran from the keep injured and as I ran into the woods, I was chased. . .by something else. I was enjoined to a clan of devils, vampires, who took me in when I awoke in those woods. I separated from them shortly thereafter, and found out I was dead. Some fool villager who took on my face pretended to be me in order to lay claim to my home.” “Vampires of your kind. . .they don’t take leaving clans well.” Yekseen had looked fascinated. Humsbak touched the invisible wall with his hands and shrugged. “They didn’t, so I killed them.” Yekseen asked a few more questions, and after discussing some other minor details, Yekseen asked for three impossible things of Nausk. Nausk listened dumbfounded as Yekseen nearly begged to allow Humsbak to go, to allow him to return to his family home, and rule as a loyal servant. Yekseen wished to see her old friend to have a better life, which Nausk was extremely vocal about in denying. Yet, Yekseen related more of the tragedy of Cursbaugs, with how their Marshal had framed them for treason and before even a trial could have been set, used his influence to kill the family and claim his household for himself. Humsbak had seemed to accept his fate of death at first, but Nausk still had many obvious reluctant arguments against this action, primarily amongst them was that Humsbak was dead, and also undead. Yet, Yekseen promised Nausk she could devise not only a proper disguise and story, but would involve the Guild of Sorcerers to keep watch over him. Yekseen then appealed to Nausk’s pragmatism, saying that Humsbak would be loyal and would secure his supply lines and reward his army with troops, materials, and income. Nausk thought on this, and after some further convincing, Nausk agreed, but under his own terms. The next day, Nausk and a man named “Karl” Cursbaug came back to the keep, an odd and twitchy man with pale skin. Nausk presented the man to court as the original family of Himsberg, and announced that he would restore the Cursbaugs to their rightful lands, much to the shock of the court. “Karl” sat on the throne, emotionless and awkwardly, and thanked Nausk for having found him in the burned out huts and saving him from a vampire. The Marshal of Himsberg angrily reminded the court that the Cursbaugs were a dead family, and that even if they were alive, they were stripped of their title. Nausk then reminded the court that Gan nor his family had heirs, and because of their inability to produce heirs, they were clearly cursed by the gods, and the gods have chosen the Cursbaugs to rule once again. Later that night, the Marshal and his faction went missing and “Karl” quickly put a new guardsman in charge to “investigate”, and soon the remaining factions of the court simply collapsed shortly thereafter. As promised, although Nausk and his captains who were in the know had been very silent and disgusted by it, “Karl” began to supply Himsberg’s troops, money, and resources into Nausk’s army. As Yekseen promised, Nausk waited for three sorcerers to appear in the dead of night who met with “Karl” and began preparing him for court life, but more importantly, began to use their magic to try to ‘cure’ and ‘weaken’ his condition. Nausk refused to dine with the beastial man, but Yekseen however met with him often until it was time for the army to march, the two talked about their long time adventurers and the tragedies which transpired in those days. Nausk refused to speak on the incident at Himsberg and when Yekseen brought it up, Nausk was quick to say “I will not speak of Himsberg or what has happened there again, and neither will you in my presence.” With that, the army finally was able to move into Edgk. __________________________________ While Nausk was away, his wife, the Duchess [color=orange]Penela Gotembaug[/color] had been caring for her children, but was almost as much of a powerful force as her husband was in terms of ruling, although her fist was far more iron then her husband’s. With her husband gone, Penela began the long process of repairing her husband’s reputation from the spring’s incident, along with supporting her husband’s efforts as best she could. Having known of the grand invasion that was planned by the Grand Duchess, Penela had not wished for the Penosbaugs to further bully her family around, and began making frequent trips to the outlying nobility to host games and feasts with in order to promote the Gotembaug name. Yet, as she was gone, her reign over the duchy also began to slip, as rabble rousers calling themselves the Bauskberg Vandals had been building up pressure on Zengher’s borders. The cliche of bandits were mostly older soldiers who felt pushed out by the rural nobles, given only an option between subservience to nobility as serfs or poverty in the cities. Having made the town of Bauskberg their main base of operations, Penela often had to return home to command her forces. Without her guidance, the bandits would often win support amongst the southern villages and bullied it’s nobility to support their many odd causes. Penela decided, much to her own worry, decided to send a letter to her estranged son and heir, [color=orange]Kazam Gotembaug[/color]. Kazam had not been home in over 5 years, and refused to speak to family since joining the Order of the Black Rose. Kazam and his father Nausk had been at odds over politics, neither wishing to agree with one another. Kazam had a more progressive mind for things, and believed much of his father’s work was unfair and overly traditional, which led him into a heated argument. Penela wrote to the grand master of the order, [color=orange]Zarl Olo Numbaug[/color], who had been trying to keep his fragile order together in Tannis. When Zarl received the letter, passing it along to Kazam, the young man feigned his disinterest but once learning it was from his mother eagerly read her request. Penela had wanted Kazam to come home. The Order of the Black Rose had seen better days, primarily because the order had not been in the best condition. The order recently had fought a secret civil war with one of it’s own champions, an insane zealot named Jealand who took some knights on a murder spree in Jentre in order to ‘serve’ their god. Kazam had followed Zarl and another Black Rose knight named [color=orange]Liez Neskerbaud[/color] against Jealand. The order went bankrupt trying to repair it’s broken image, along with the general boredom of their self exile in Tannis, serving a number of very rich and fragile nobles who seemed more interested in the knights simply being strong willed trophies to haul from party to party. The small cave which the group had set up a secret temple in was depressing as usual when Zarl announced that Kazam would be leading the order out of Tannis and into Zengher. Kazam had reluctantly agreed to help out his order by helping them get out of their own Lull and back to helping peasants and fighting bandits in the troubled borders of his own home. Leaving only some volunteers behind to finish their contracts in Tannis, the majority of the knights left, but Kazam and Zarl went on ahead towards the home of the Gotembaugs. When Kazam arrived back home, his mother rushed out to meet him and Zarl, and once in the privacy of their home, Penela and her children embraced their lost son. Penela made her wishes very clear to her son, wishing him to stay and deal with the bandit group terrorizing Zengher so she could support Nausk politically with his campaign. Kazam understood, but still wished to remain a Black Rose knight, which normally forbade these kind of things. Zarl, partially desperate, allowed Kazam the exception in return for allowing his order to come to Zengher in force. After some small other agreements, Penela left much of the affairs of the state to Kazam and his knights who occupied a small plot outside the city of Gottisberg to camp in. Kazam mostly started his early reign by visiting southern noble. . .at the behest of a small army of levies and knights he began to gather as he travelled. Zarl and the Black Rose knights followed behind, smashing up the Vandal’s camps and businesses. Kazam made his demands extremely clear and intimidated his father’s nobles with his sizable force, essentially out intimidating the vandals. Kazam and Zarl then began to personally invade the bandit territory, chasing them into old bandit strongholds along the border with Olma and the Okke. Territories long thought impossible to keep control over began to openly fly Muoarman colors once again as the Knights of the Black Rose took a very proactive role in killing the bandits personally. Zarl was happy to see his knights were no longer depressed, and with Kazam’s hold on the treasury, the Knights freed up some territory for themselves with new contracts in Zengher. Zarl began to formulate the construction of a new temple to the Muoarman God of War, Marii. Zarl occupied a small basement in the temple at Gottisberg to fulfill his cult’s religious occupation, but with some help from the Redshirt Company, they were able to secure an old and abandoned temple for themselves in southern Zengher which acted as a bandit stronghold for Okke and Olmans over the years. The Order of the Black Rose discovered cave systems below the temple and soon occupied their new fort, and began layering out the temple as a new barracks for their order. Kazam visited the temple once he had been able to free himself from duties, with Zarl and Kazam drinking heartily for their victories over the past few months. __________________________________ Duke Garlor Olo Veunbera had arrived with his army in Edgk, the forest-swamp hellscape that awaited him and his army was almost depressing considering the poor state of Garlor’s own realm. The Gaszbam troops numbered only 20,000 currently, but as Consul, Garlor had reinforcements coming from across the country to fill his ranks. Garlor and his army marched on the rotting city of Nosuk Mar, a small Muoarman city which was built over the ruins of a Okan one. The city had one normal district, it’s richer upper district for the nobles and military, but it’s bottom districts relied on the Okan’s close knit streets, wooden walls, and vast complex of moats which have overflowed or were damaged due to neglect. Garlor and his captains rode through these streets and looked over the mud encrusted poor and the horde of beggars who greeted them. Garlor knew full well Edgk had problems from his last stay, but staying any further in the country depressed him deeply to never appreciate the low caste depravity which surrounded him. Garlor met with the fat and miserable [color=orange]Gradkarm Olo Desbaug[/color], a common thorn in the side of Muoarman high society. Gradkarm was more bandit tyrant then a duke, and was never well respected by his southern peers. Garlor despised the older duke deeply, from his mannerisms to his arrogance, the man believed himself higher then what he was truly. Gradkarm often used his soldiers to harass his own people, levied massive taxes on them, and had a very gluttonous lifestyle. Gradkarm was equally revulsed by Garlor, whom he believed was ‘invading’ his land and should not have the right to station troops in his land, even under the Grand Duchess’s orders, but also despised Garlor’s pride and aggressive nature. After some intense debates, the two agreed to allow the troops to take over some of the Barracks in the land, and for Garlor to get a special apartment in the city for himself, his captains, and his son to use as a command center. Normally, Garlor would have had to build barracks of his own to station his troops, but the offer of wealth and a small bribe of elven wine made Gradkarm accept the offer wholesale, along with a few well placed threats. Once set up, Garlor had gotten to work building up his coming campaign. The bulky Consul believed that with sheer numbers, his victory was all but assured, it just mattered how much time it would take. Garlor’s captains, basing much of their assumptions on the Okan slave revolt they put down years ago, believed an Okan army could be crushed with little more than 3,000 Uesbergan, the rest of the army thus should focus on a swift action campaign of taking out villages and securing holdings, making a break for their capital with the aid of the fleet. Garlor and some Edgk captains discussed the plans a bit further, noting that there were no real roads into Ok’va that weren’t just old paths that only the Okan knew of. Garlor had plans to use his own money to begin building roads in Edgk to secure his supply route and muster his army over into Ok’va quicker, but was surprised to learn that out of the pocket of the Penosbaugs, they would pay for most of the upkeep of the Consul’s plans and the upkeep of the army. Garlor, not one to question such things, set up a series of plans to build roads in Edgk for his army, much to the criticism of Edgk’s Marshal of Taxation. Garlor began to bring in wagons filled with Okan slaves from Gaszbam’s work camps to begin constructing the roads, and personally directed them as he waited for his ships. Edgk’s Marshal of Taxation however often pestered him to stop, mostly trying to secure some strange and absurd tax scheme which involved overpaying laborers on infrastructure projects which would never be completed and slowly trickled back into personal accounts of Edgk’s councillors. Garlor, having no time for this began constructing smaller roads to be soon paved into larger ones, along with new bridges for his armies. When Garlor began receiving news that Edgk Uesbergan were being commanded to dig up his roads and intimidate his overseers, Garlor angrily began enforcing his projects with large armed guard. When a work crew was attacked by some mercenaries and some slaves were killed in the fighting, Garlor personally stormed tracked the mercenaries down, beheaded them, and sent them to the Marshal of Taxation as a warning. No more issues plagued the work crews since. Garlor eventually was called to a port where he received word his ships had arrived in Edgk. The Gaszbam duke had hoped to see his ships well fitted and decent looking, but what he found shocked him and his captains. Admiral [color=orange]Nebern Cusvera[/color] was sitting on a fish box, combing his hair, before a small fleet of decrepit ships, most parked in small fishing docks. Garlor examined the capital ship of the fleet, the hull nearly rotting and it’s crew extremely inexperienced and sick. The ship’s only competent members were the rows of chained galley slaves, a mixture of Okan, criminals, and foreign bought slaves who seemed so horrifically abused that Garlor had felt dizzy even staring at them for too long. Garlor and Nebern got into a fierce argument on the condition of the ships, both men yelling and cursing one another. Garlor ordered that resources from his army would be used to patch the ships, and demanded naval exercises until the crews were in top shape. Not trusting the easily offended Nebern, Garlor dismantled the ship’s slave crews, offering freedom and citizenship to both foreign humans and criminals in return for simply leaving the ships and having the Okan crews freed from their positions on the ships and used as new work crews to help patch up the ships and clean out their hulls. Garlor promised fresh slaves to man these ships once victory in Ok’va was secured, much to Nebern’s show of spite towards the Consul. The vileness and corruption of Edgk was replaced by iron fisted tyranny with many troops settling into the barracks across the country. The Edgk Uesbergan despised sharing their beds and supplies with Gaszbam’s highland people. Gaszbam had at least villages for the soldiers to pass their days with by visiting family or dealing with the occasional slave crew, but in Edgk, the untamed wilderness drew a mystical boredom only satiated by song, with pubs and taverns few and far between. The Gaszbam soldiers soon began to follow the corrupt Edgk Uesbergan on their rounds, following them into villages to steal, plunder, and defile at their leisure. While at first disgusted by the Edgk acceptance of this corruption, the Gaszbam levies began to join in. Tormenting the people of Edgk, the soldiers stay became nightmarish as the soldiers did not particularly care for the almost tribal nature of Edgk’s human settlements. What had added more to this cruelty was that the Gaszbam soldiers were not very subtle, and the sight of soldiers often meant a burnt down hut or a missing villager. __________________________________ Nausk looked out over the expanse of streams, swamps, and riverbeds in the lowland of Edgk, his banners hoisted high with the beating drums ringing in the distance. Joining the army were new regiments from Jentre and Tannis who’s own banners held high, and their own commanders watched out over the growing force as it entered into Edgk. Commanded by an elite frontal force, the main army was leading the main army to a large clearing in southern Edgk where the main force of the 45,000 troops would be encamping, joined by another 7,000 more. As the main army marched onward, Nausk was approached by his friend Zerban Lulsbera which informed him of a Gaszbam retinue approaching them. Nausk could see figures on the dirt roads far off from the main army, passing by the villages as they moved about. “Is it Garlor?” Nausk asked. “No, my lord. Thankfully no. Its his son, [color=orange]Tanberg[/color].” Zerban had said with partial disgust. Nausk rode off to meet the Gaszbam prince and his retinue personally, leaving his army to begin building their main base in his chosen command center. Once the two had met up along the main road, Tanberg Veunbera could see the grand army marching, and only barely noticed that Zerban had rode next to Nausk. “My lord Tanberg Veunbera, where is your father? I asked for him weeks ago.” Nausk began. “I am sorry my lord, but fath---, I mean, Duke Garlor was busy with our great fleet. I was sent to help you and your army move into Edgk. I see you already found a spot regardless.” “With no help from your father as usual.” Nausk rolled his eyes “But do tell me, where did your father want me to bring my troops? If he insults me, I fear I may curse his name.” “Thankfully if Duk---” Nausk stopped him and rode a bit closer “My good captain, you may call him father, we are in the field, not a formal hall or a city. Be quick about what you must say.” Tanberg sighed “My father doesn’t mean the things he means, but your army is clearly bigger. There is a larger patch of land near the village of Bersk, with several natural moats and a couple pre-built towers. My father would have wanted you to sit in Muosmar, but I think you’d want a better answer.” “As an insult?” “Nay, because there are poor roads here my lord. I know my father means ill, my Lord Gotembaug, but do understand him.” Zerban came forward, but as he did, Tanberg’s guards put their hands on their blades which made Zerban draw back a little. “I don’t mean you harm my lord, but so I am clear. Nausk, Bersk is a small village, we would be too far from our supply line and they would be have difficulties bringing supplies in this land. Perhaps our original land would do?” “You are perhaps right.” Tanberg shrugged “I could perhaps direct my father’s work crews to begin building roads into Bersk instead? My father doesn’t wish our men sick and crippled before we even begin our advance.” “I would like to speak with your father before hand, young Veunbera. I'm not even sure where he intends to strike.” “I will relay that to my father, my lord, although he will not be happy you brought my grandfather’s and uncle’s murderer with you.” Tanberg looked at Zerban who replied “What my father did, he---” “I will hear no more of it, the past is done. We are hear for conquest and for glory.” “Will you at least listen to my friend? He has much to say on that matter, Tanberg.” Nausk said, trying to calm down the younger princeling. “There is nothing more to discuss, we will see each other in Cousberg, my lord Gotembaug.” Tanberg left with his retinue shortly thereafter. The army marched and as Tanberg had said, Nausk passed a cart of Okan and Human engineers who were passing to begin building a road to Bersk. The main army arrived in the small village who’s elders met Nausk and began redirecting the large open fields and marshes around the village to be cleared, including redirecting some of the houses into becoming officer quarters. Nausk and his captains met inside the elder’s hut and began building their barracks, although this soon became difficult. What began as a nuisance of Gaszbam patrols picking fights with Zengher scouts, soon spiraled into brawls between the xenophobic and corrupt Edgk troops and the ‘overly pompous and southern wine lips’. Edgk Uesbergan were especially spiteful, being little more than well armored bandits who were more loyal to their new Gaszbam bunkmates then the separate camps of Nausk’s army. Nausk had his captains begin punishing these rowdy patrols, especially as his own began to brawl with them and caused injuries throughout the coming months. Nausk became deeply disturbed as angered Edgk patrols also began to torment his supply line, setting up illegal tolls and nonsensical rules as vengeful punished soldiers would only return to set up blockades. Nausk sent Zerban to personally deal with these looters, but issues still arose. Once set up, Yekseen left the camp with her apprentice as promised, saying a short goodbye in doing so. What Nausk did not suspect was her return only a week later, but clearly distressed. Found outside the camp, demanding to talk, she was stopped by a wayward guard who was injured in the attempt to stop her from trying to force her way into the camp. Nausk was brought the elven woman and her Okan apprentice, who jumbled her words in trying to ask for aid. Nausk at first was confused, but once she calmed down, she related her tale. She tried to find some of her friends, only to find out that a large group of ‘hunters’ were rounding up her friends specifically, and that they planned to take them to Nousk Mar, where she was certain they would be executed. She begged for help from Nausk and his army. Nausk offered a small retinue, but she demanded Nausk as an authority, since the ‘Hunters’ were apparently working on behalf of ‘a powerful guild’. When pressed for more information, all Nausk found was more desperate need for aid. A bit reluctant, especially since what happened in Himsberg, Nausk agreed to investigate. Nausk asks more on Yekseen’s friends and why they were imprisoned. Yekseen was vague, telling him that the Duke of Edgk was a rival of her group of friends, with them providing hope and aid to the people of Edgk, while the duke extorted the land. Nausk wasn’t very convinced, and again pressed, in which Yekseen only revealed “The ruler of this land doesn’t like that we had. . .extra legal alliances with more then just the human settlements, but the many Okan clans and holts as well, many enslaved and others free. He doesn’t know much about us, but his confidants do, and they despise us deeply.” Yekseen said very little else, and Nausk accepted it, but was yet still skeptical. Yekseen attempted to show him to a site where her friends were last seen, but found only a Edgk captain and some of his soldiers there ready to collect Yekseen and her apprentice. The captain, a rude and blunt man, told Nausk that Yekseen and her apprentice were criminals who were stirring trouble in Edgk with their ‘cult of evil’, which Nausk only came to believe as just a typical insult. Nausk made clear he would protect the elf and her comrades, and demanded to know where her friends were shipped too. The captain mentioned that he was there only to collect Yekseen, but not wishing to be in trouble, said that the guards handed over the group to some ‘southern types’ and sent them on their way. Nausk and Yekseen once again enter on the trail, and find a small clearing. Nausk stops Yekseen, unsure if he wants to continue helping her, until Yekseen reveals her friends are fellow and ‘unclaimed’ mages. Yekseen promised they would aid him if they freed them, and Nausk, while skeptical once again, once again agrees to aid Yekseen. The retinue approached the camp, Nausk asks Yekseen to keep herself quiet while he talked with these would be wardens. Nausk planned to use his authority, and his sizable retinue to diplomatically deal with these kidnappers, and as he approached, Nausk gave a loud sigh as he spotted the Guild of the Studded Collar’s insignia on a worn flag as they approached. The camp was filled with cages, but Nausk once again saw that Yekseen had lied, as the camp was not filled with elven mages, but Okan, human, and elven figures who had their mouths bound. Nausk ignored this, and continued on into the camp where he was stopped and saluted by the guards of the camp who recognized the Duke’s banner and retinue immediately. Nausk saluted the guards and was met by another familiar group, bearing the blue and black banner of the Guild of Illustrious Magi, led by the brazen haired woman Caizera Venkbaug. “My lord.” Caizera spoke. “You must forgive me, but I ask, have you come to give us that criminal?” “I have done nothing wrong, and nor has anyone in this camp.” Yekseen seethed. Nausk motioned her to be silent and spoke. “I’ve actually come to do the opposite. I’ve come to release these prisoners into my care.” Caizera looked at the duke oddly and spoke up once again “No.” “No? I am Consul of Muoarma and Duke of Zengher.” Reaffirmed Nausk. “By what right do you deny me.” “Consul or not, the Guild of Illustrious Magi and the Studded Collar do not, and will not, release these criminals into your care.” “Again, we are not criminals!” Yekseen shouted, tightening her fists. “Say that as much as you wish, girl, but know that the guilds of Muoarma will benefit greatly from removing these cretans from the land. These are rogue mages my lord, captured with high cost, and will be dealt with in the halls of Magi and other authorities. We are supported by the Penosbaugs and you will both respect that.” “The Penosbaugs aren’t here, woman. You speak ill of the Consul.” Zerban came forward. Nausk spoke up again “The Pensobaugs support me as well. Do not deny me again, release these peoples at once.” Caizera looked at the small retinue, and looked back at her guards and gave a silent chuckle. She walked over to a cage and before anyone could say anything, she spoke a magic word, and the cage bursted into flame, much to the horror of the party. Yekseen prepared herself as the two parties drew weapons, with the screams of an elf inside cried out and was swiftly silenced. Caizera walked back over to the group, seeing they were outnumbered, she looked and grunted at Nausk. “Firstly, my good Consul, I do not answer to you, and you will fail to stop us with this poultry force.” Nausk looked shocked and stayed silent. The woman spoke up further “Take your guard and return your camp, and we will not speak of this again.” “You dare!” Zerban shouted at the woman, but her gaze towards him caused Zerban to back off a little, not sure if the unsightly magi would also just murder them on the spot. “Return to the camp.” Nausk demanded. Yekseen stared at Nausk in disbelief, but the duke clearly did not want to engage the group, seeing as the group would not respect them or their authority. After the intense standoff, the group returned to their camp. Nausk did not like his authority shaken, and felt anger towards the guilds who disrespected him, but knew they spoke the truth. Both the slaver’s guild and mage guild of Aedeth Mar were firm allies of the Penosbaugs, and killing them would only send a very bad message back to the Grand Duchess. Nausk ordered a meeting, now committed to dealing with the two guilds before they left for the south. Yekseen joined the meeting late, and had planned to set off on her own till Zerban convinced her to join the meeting. Nausk had a plan, that since Caizera had used magic to intimidate them, they would use magic to help the group escape, but subtly. Nausk would write to his ally in Souk Mar, the Duke of Jentre, for a favor to send him a small contingent of sorcerers to help him secure the free support of Yekseen’s magi friends. Nausk sold his captains on securing Magi of any group to aid them in the conquest of Ok’va, and would need them to battle with Ok’va’s druids. Yekseen winced at first at the mention, but supported the notion, but she would bring her own allies as well. Nausk asked what kind of allies, in which the elf sorceress only mentioned “He’s a private creature, but he will help.” Nausk wrote to his ally, Galan Sanderbaug, about the situation and hoped he could ask the Magi to aid him, mentioning the elf Yekseen and her ‘friends’. Three days later, 5 sorcerers of the guild teleported outside the camp, which was sloppily done. 3 apprentices were injured, and one ended up stuck in the mud and had to be pulled out, while the leading officer of the group only introduced himself of Perkat. Perkat wasn’t very talkative and spoke vaguely, saying he was there ‘to secure guild allies’ and would speak no more of the situation. Nausk kept up a number of scouts to keep tabs on the prisoner camp and to sabotage their means of heading south, buying them time for Yekseen to gather her mysterious ally. Yekseen returned in the dead of night, only to say that she would attack the caravan on the move, and that her friend would be there. Yekseen had in fact visited the tomb and grove of the ancient Okan warlord [color=orange]Za’kain[/color], the ancient warrior king and once called the Wisp of Edgk for founding the Okan city the Muoarmans now inhabit. His bravery was also his curse, as his eternal reward was service to an ancient enemy of Edgk, an ancient Horned King named [color=red]Bulfa’gua[/color], the Okan God of the Moon. Za’kain was awoken from his slumber by Yekseen within his ancient grove, and once explaining the situation further to him, he agreed to aid the elf. The elf and Marsh Guardian sped off to the edge of Nausk’s camp, where Yekseen explained her plan to free her friends. While on the move, Yekseen and her friend would attack and distract the guards and the sorceress on the road, and in the chaos, the sorcerers would use their magic to free their friends and from their force their surrender. Nausk insisted he would lead the operation, using his own scouts to coordinate the assault, but Yekseen denied him, insisting that once her friends were freed, they could overwhelm the group without further violence. Nausk insisted on coming, annoyed he had the title of Consul but kept in the dark. Despite pleading from the sorcerers, they relented, allowing Nausk to join them on their mission. The opportunity came as the prisoners were nearing the hills to go into Moasmar, slowed down by the number of prisoners and some sabotage by Nausk’s scouts. Yekseen and Za’kain positioned themselves behind some brush, while Nausk and the sorcerers were behind the group, getting ready to spring their trap. Za’kain made his first move, appearing within Nausk’s vision which surprised him. The Okan creature from a distance looked like a mud encrusted berzerker, wielding two war axes and covered head to toe in war paint. Yet, to the guild’s eyes and to Caizera, the creature had more morbid features. A hole which burst from the creature’s chest was a beating tumor of grasses and weeds, and various marshland insects covered and crawled across the creature, a feature Caizera was quick to regonize. The sorceress let out a firey blast swiftly at the creature, only for it to be reflected by Yekseen. The Marsh Guardian let loose an inhuman scream and lept at the group with poisoned axes. While clearly outnumbered, the Marsh Guardian took care of the slaver guards with it’s own twisted magic, as Yekseen appeared and challenged Caizera to a magical duel. Nausk and the sorcerers rode up on the lightly guarded carts, with Nausk and his scouts disguised as common bandits and were able to disable the guards as the sorcerers worked their magic on the prisoners. Freeing the prisoners one by one and destroying the cages and shackles, the strange Magi fled back into the marsh. Caizera, seeing this all unfold tried to kill some of the fleeing magi, but were stopped by the sorcerers who dispelled such attempts. Once enough of their kind was freed, the tide turned and the mass of Magi were able to overpower the guards. Caizera used an illusion and fled, but none chased her as the guards began to scatter. As Yekseen came to the prisoners, the strange group of elves, okan, and humans crowded around Nausk and the sorcerers. Nausk again took note of Yekseen’s strange affinity for friends, especially as the Marsh Guardian seemed to meld amongst a group of strange Okan magi, and Yekseen introduced an older and hunchbacked Okan woman covered in a tattered brown rag, holding and shaking on a tiny stumpy walking cane. The crone lifted her hood, revealing pale eyes and scarred tissue, and if it wasn’t for the fact she could speak very well, Nausk would have thought she looked almost undeadish. “Ya must be the man in black armor, wear’in the guilt of a vagabond! I tell ya, I’d thought ya bigger.” The crone spoke. “Nausk, meet Bun, or [color=orange]Bun an’ Muck[/color] as her clan calls her.” Yekseen introduced, and Bun gave a short bow. “I thought your friends were elves, although from what ive been seeing, I think that too was a lie.” Nausk looked at Yekseen, demanding her explanation. “I am a member of the Soothsayers, you wouldn’t know us well.” “Yes, and valued allies of the Guild of Sorcerers.” Reminded one sorcerer. “You saved us a great deal of trouble Consul Nausk.” Nausk folded his arms “We are going back to camp, and you are going to explain everything.” And everything was explained, although from what Nausk heard he disliked most of it. The Soothsayers were a group of rogue Magi who primarily were made up of elven sages, okan druids, and human wizards who swore loyalty to a cult within the marshland to several very clearly dark gods. Za’kain, who organized the cult’s holdings within the deeper marshland, had been it’s founder. Okan druids trapped in Edgk formed the cult to protect their way of life, and expanded over time to protect the monsters, Edgk, and the gods from harm. The Soothsayers recruited Yekseen and where her true loyalties lie. Nausk noticed that there were 16 members in the group, which was pretty normal for small mage circles, but wondered why so many were in Edgk specifically. Most of them felt a loyalty to Edgk in some odd way, showing it by helping it’s people despite coming from all walks of life. Okan druids did things for their clans, the elves wished to delve more into the dark knowledge not passed down to them by their own communities, and the witches and warlocks of the Edgk came from a distant family who just chose not to leave and spread across Edgk. Nausk asked how the entire group of Magi were captured, which a younger elven sage blushed and answered, where the group had decided despite “the stars not being right, and the signs clearly against us” met in a less stuffy temple and in a town house where the town elders ratted out on them. Caizera ambushed the site with a powerful sleep spell with the aid of some of Edgk’s magi, and gagged them shortly there after. Why she decided not to permanently mutilate them, none of the soothsayers knew. Nausk wondered why the Guild of Sorcerers took interest in the soothsayers, in which the sorcerers explained that the soothsayers were on friendly terms with the guild despite clear differences, and the soothsayers shared knowledge with the guild’s leaders in return for secrecy and continued existence. Nausk then asked the most important question of them all; if the soothsayers would aid him in the conquest of Ok’va. “Nay.” Answered Bun. Nausk frowned. “Why? I aided you didn’t I?” “Ya did, and we thank ya for that, but ya ask us to aid ya in putting my people in chains?” Bun remarked. Nausk shook his head “I do not know what the Grand Duchess plans for the region, but just be---” “Do not fool yerself, young lad, ya know full well what you are there to do.” He looked to Yekseen for aid in convincing the older Okan, but she turned away. While it became clear he wouldn’t be able to convince them, Nausk mentally wondered if he could force them to join, but decided against it. Bun smiled and tapped her cane on Nausk’s desk. “Ya helped us, but we cannot do as ya ask, but we will help ya as we can, with some conditions an’ not. I got some folk in the marsh who can help ya, an’ the real people of Edgk will aid ya as they can. Ya will need them shortly.” Nausk raised an eyebrow as the soothsayers left, and he and Yekseen were alone. Yekseen tried to speak more positively on the situation, but Nausk only gave a sigh. Nausk felt like a fool for putting this much trust in the elf, and mentioned he hoped this had all been worth the effort. Yekseen agreed, and offered to stay in Nausk’s service to make up for his lack of mages, and Nausk nodded and allowed it, under the condition there would be no more ‘favors, missions, and demands’. Yekseen made no promise, and both sat down and drank some beer in the tent. As the two talked a bit more, they were joined by Forg who revealed asked her own questions, wondering why the guild was here, and what they wanted to do with the soothsayers. Nausk wondered that it was odd that the slaver’s guild and Illustrious Magi would go to this length for sorcerers, and try to thwart a Consul so brazenly. Nausk rushed out the tent and caught Bun as she left, asking why the guild was after them. The elderly Okan only smiled, revealing her rotten and browning fangs. “In time, ya will know, no design ya imagine will pass, for you are but the pawn in the greater game.” “If I may ask, what the hell does that even mean?” “Ya will soon know, the masters of those fools want us, for what only the gods know. Here, a souvenir, and welcome child, to Edgk.” The older Okan woman handed Nausk a folded cloth when unfurled was the banner of a household he did not recognize. When he looked up to ask what it was, the soothsayers had vanished. __________________________________ Nausk was eventually visited by Garlor, who had brought along a sizable retinue and refused to enter the camp out of spite. Nausk had to come out, and both nearly looked ready to battle over the marsh, but Garlor eventually came forward and began insulting the duke almost immediately which Nausk simply shook off. Garlor had to be convinced by his son Tanberg to try to make a temporary truce so both could discuss the conquest of Ok’va, and that neither side would get anyway not working out their strategy. Garlor listened only to his son on this matter, and agreed. Nausk, despite superior troop size, was not certain of victory as Garlor was, and it became clear as the two discussed strategy. Nausk had spent his spring studying Ok’va, its customs, and history, and why the country was a miserable country to war with. Nausk presented his servant Peloabam, who gave a short overview which Garlor quickly dismissed as “tribalism and nothing more.” Nausk wanted to make sure their armies could secure villages by building a series of forts, slowly making their way into the country and trying to avoid the main Okan army. Garlor laughed at the suggestion, believing a decisive battle with the Ok’va army would end the war swiftly, regardless of the outcome. Nausk felt insulted, warning Garlor that the Okan army had a history of avoiding fighting, and preferred to ambush and pick off weak targets, trapping armies in their marshland and using dark magic to weaken their enemies. Garlor suggested that they should just make their main assault against the capital and that Nausk should be a reserve force. Nausk and Garlor disagreed on nearly everything, and it became less about planning and more of a means to achieve something over the other. Garlor eventually left the tent in disgust, saying that “If you want to campaign on your own terms, then fine! I will campaign to win before you even march into that land!” Nausk refused to go after his hated rival, and simply pounded the table in frustration. Neither force was worried that the Okan army would even prepare, as the Okan were so isolated that some clans and nobles referred to the Muoarmans as Olmans or Elkadans. Nausk wanted to exploit this as much as possible, having his scouts begin rounding up Okan scouts, and hiring a slave catcher to keep an eye on Garlor’s building teams to make sure possible escaping slaves would not try to make their way to Ok’va. Seeing how he would not be able to deal with the main campaign Garlor was planning, Nausk made his own plans. Nausk wanted to do a slow crawling strategy, conquering small communities and setting up a series of forts and outposts across the land to push back possible Okan armies and to conquer the southern territories before moving into the inner marshland. Nausk wanted to make sure his conquest would be smooth, and began a specific planning with his servant and his elven scout. Nausk was convinced by his scouts to not send them into Ok’va just yet, as many feared that the Okan would likely be alerted if they were ever caught. __________________________________ The Holts met of Okke met in a secluded grove to discuss the issues of the day, called by the current acting leader and visionary, [color=orange]Rab Streambattle[/color]. The Okin warrior had been informed of the guarantee of the Olman king and began plotting the moment he heard word. The Okan ‘ambassador’ was rushed into the meeting of the clans, where the tribes wondered why the Olmans would ever protect them, or why the Olmans would even bother. Rab however had ideas, saying that it was clear to him that the Olmans wanted to vassalize them, not through violence, but through words. The Holt leaders mocked the idea, and suggested killing the Okan ambassador and sending his head back as a warning. Rab denied this, saying such an act would be useless, and that like all non-humans in Olma, they were nothing but the tools of the crown. The Okan ambassador gave a sigh of relief, but then Rab spoke, lamenting that while the clan wallowed in mud, Olmans lived in castles. Rab continued, mocking other clans, saying they were more fit to be slaves of the Muoarmans, that their children would stand upright as castle servants and their warriors would make good laborers in the fields, mines, and forestries, that the Varkovnians would love to see their people skinned, and Rab continued to speak of perceived future atrocities as the room silenced. Rab then offered the Okin leaders a choice, to give into Olman demands, or perish. There was laughter in the halls at first, but as most leaders realized Rab was serious, they silenced themselves. The Okin leaders wondered why Rab would even suggest such a thing, in which Rab revealed his plans. The Okin would bring in the Olmans, would learn and benefit from their relationship, but not all demands. Instead, the Olmans would ‘pay’ for Rab’s designs, to build a city on the water equal to any city of Muoarma and Muha, but of Okin design, a meeting place of the clans which will be paid by the ‘mysterious ways of human coin’. Some leaders yelled and shouted at Rab, calling him mad, and soon punches were thrown. Rab and his allies brawled with the others until Rab came out on top. Rab offered to go to the gods to get an answer from them, but the leaders were fearful of such results, and simply agreed in a defeated tone. Weeks later, Rab and the leaders met with the Olman king on their border in an open field, both bringing huge retinues. The Olman king, [color=orange]Gaezan Weizzbaug[/color] was surprised by the invitation and what Rab had to say. Rab wanted further protection, and wished to ‘better understand’ the relationship between Olma and Okke. Gaezan, through his Okan ambassador, was able to relay the King’s general desires. Rab agreed to allow the Olmans to consider Okke as a vassal to Olma, and that each individual clan at their own discretion would pay homage to the Olman monarchy in return for protection, but taxes and levies would be solely by loyalty, not be requirement. Olma would be allowed to build three trade ports in Okke territory, but were not allowed to build stone roads, and would only be allowed to construct small square posts connected by Okke paths only, Okke clansmen would act as laborers and carriers of goods to the Olman border, a condition Gaezan agreed to reluctantly. Furthermore, Okke clans would be allowed to settle in the north, and would be given a sizable trade tax for each clan for goods sold. Rab felt confident as the Olman King and he shook hands, and as they left, Rab washed his hands symbolically in the river and revealed to his sons and captains he knew the Olmans intended to betray them, but he would simply betray them first in time. Olmans began to enter the land and under the king’s command, built three small trade ports to fit a sizable retinue of craftsman, but the garrisoning of these posts became a problem. The Olman King allowed Okke mercenaries to man the posts, along with Olman knights, who formed an odd bond over their employment. More roguish knights began to bring more Okke warriors and sellswords to Olma, using them as mercenaries and forming new companies. The most prestigious of these companies were a merchant guard known as The Rowdy Bows, primarily being Okke scouts and marksmen and Olman heavy cavalry who worked together for the benefit of their employers to disturbing amounts of success. __________________________________ [@AdorableSaucer] When the ambassador [color=orange]Gu’andar Vessuvian[/color] entered into the court of the palace at Amarra, he was a rather strange sight. Tales of Muhan decadence was not an overaggeration, the ambassador looking like a glittery star with his silver robes and toga, white dyed hair, and assortment of almost feminine apparel. He greeted the princess with a charming affection, although he spoke melodramatically. While charming in speech, his idealism was odd, being a mixture of imagined glory, with some things which bordered on exaggeration and downright lies. Gu’andar showed the princess and others his formal paperwork as a member of the Muha bureaucracy and more importantly, related to the speech of his countrymen very well, recognizing references. He mentioned his love an old elven play of The King and His Court, an elvish play related to the grand life of Imperator Bulchava, a legend in Muhan folklore. Yet it was clear that despite his good behavior so far, his guards were not amused one bit who traveled with him often. They perhaps were more interesting than Gu’ander was able to tell a better picture of Muha; One guard related his trip to the sacred mountain of their country and it’s vast complex of tombs and shrines which dotted it, another told his tale of his stay in Eldar Muha and it’s marvelous temple complex, along with other such things.