The Ferreumin Empire and Concilio Union
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@DracoLunarisThe council of 13 was in an emergency session. The benches around the council’s roundtable where crammed with scribes, bureaucrats, military advisors and general onlookers as the 4 present members of the Union’s ruling body attempted to organize a response to the massive attack on the fortress of Norsal by the resurgent northern Minotaur hoards. Present in the meeting where, once again, the three members resident to the Capital city itself: the shaman Rorshash, the Mayor Trin and the Minor races representative Reston. Joining them was the leader of Roc-port’s merchants Krawskana Kensu. She was dressed in Sacrosanctian style finery: a dark robe with golden trim that featured several instance of the Justinian eye, as buttons, embroidered emblems and jewelry. She had arrived along with the information on the situation in the north, having wanted to personally bring the report to Gwendolin Sliverton, who to the Corvant's great disappointment was not to be found leading the meeting.
With their de facto leader inspecting the southern fortress of Barby, and the council sporting an even number of members, the meeting was not going smoothly. Of the many issues currently being argued over, the debate on whether to moving troops from the capital and south garrisons was advisable, or whether the north should be left to protect itself was centerpoint. Rorshash preached for the mobilisation of all available forces to crush the heathens, Krawskana wanted relief forces to save the planned summer campaign's supplies that were trapped in the fortress. Trin and Reston where both opposed to this, as moving troops north might leave the south, or worse, the capital itself, vulnerable to attack by their many other enemies.
It was into this room that Monte Dominus Messor entered, interrupting an impassioned speech by the mayor on not risking the safety of the rest of the Justinian frontier to reinforce the north, which surely, he had just implored, would though faith and firepower be more than a match for the malnourished horde of Godless beasts coming at them from the desolate northern wastes.
The travel to the Zatherop City went smoothly as Messor could arrive quicker than he would expected. Having arrived late at night to the union capital the Monte Dominus rested before he headed to council round table. As the next day dawn Messor ready himself for the upcoming meeting. Donning the armor of the mountain lord and gathering his honor guard headed towards of Titan's fingers.
The travel to the Titan's fingers lead the Ferreumin contingence through the heart of Zatherop. As they group past through the busy streets the crowds parted before the giants. The sight of them caused many of local resident to stare in awe of the massive armored warriors. Swiftly arriving at the millipede to take them to the top of the stone spire. After the ride of the top of the spire. Striding into the fortress he was stopped by the guards just outside of the entrance to the lower meeting chamber.
“Please excuse us Monte Dominus Messor but the council of thirteen is in the middle of emergency meeting and have to request you to wait outside.” the guard said giving a quick bow to the Monte Dominus.
” And what cause this meeting?” messor asked glaring at the guard who stopped them.
“There was invasion in the north by the minitours,” the unfortunate guard replied to the large ruler.
Messor proceed passed the guard and swiftly strode past him ignoring his cries for him to stop. Bursting through the door into the chamber the entire room fell silent.
” Those savage minitours attack and you here arguing it is time for action.” He said striding into the chamber.
” You strike now. Failure to do so will only embolden them.” The 4 council members were breifly stunned into silence by the arrival of the titanic armored Northman who entered through the lower entrance to the chamber that was reserve specificly for the council members. After a brief moment of them all waiting for the absentee Gwendolin to respond to Messor’s arrival, three out of four of them started to talk at once.
The recently appointed Trin, angry at his speech being interrupted and unfamiliar with Messor began with
“Who. The. Fu” before one of his aides managed to stop him causing a diplomatic incident with urgent whispering.
Rorshash, completely in agreement with Messor’s declaration uttered
“The man's right! we’re wasting time here.”It was Reston however, who dominated the response, partially because of having the highest lung capacity but also because he was the only one who had known Messor was in the city.
“Welcome, Lord of the Mountain, my apologies for our lack of preparation for your arrival, the report to the invasion only just arrived and required our imediate attention.”The two globin were briefly chided from additional speech by their failure to recognise the leader of their nations powerful neighbor, a failure brought on by youthful arrogance and an aged memory respectively and it was into this vacuum that Krawskana interjected. While she too wanted additional forces mobilized as someone who often dealt with foreign powers as part of her merchant profession she leaped to the defence of the Union’s response to the crisis.
“While we debate additional responses here our fellow council members D‘ave“ who had no military experience
“and Dref Met-Zog“ the leader of the most prominent of the northern nomadic tribes that she hoped the messenger she had sent out had found by now
“are already on their way to norsal with forces rallied from the north, including the encamped invasion forces”“What we were discussing was whether to send troops from the center or south to support them. We are the Justinain frontier after all and as such our force distribution is a careful balancing act, overcommitment in one area leaves weakness in another that our enemies might attempt to exploit”Even moving the forces in the north was a dangerous proposition, forces taken from the fortress of Enrith and walled city of Insmaw left the border with the Principality of Evernyx perilously vulnerable.
Taking a few moments Messor surveyed the current council to determine who was currently there. The downside in with his dealing with the union is that unless it that elf they council can change every time he is there. The mountain lord listens carefully to the response of those present. He ignored Trin near outburst instead focuses on the other two members.
He had the support Rorshashin as he echoed the same sentiment that only left Krawskana to convince of his plan.
”There would be no need to weaken your borders with Evernyx. I can quickly raise an army and march them to the north. To meet your north forces. Our combine force would be enough to drive back the beast.” The mountain lord proposed striding around the council chamber. Swiftly rounding the table with each stride.
”But this is only a temporary solution to the problem as when we crush them. Another group will invade then another so on and so on. Bleeding you out slowly. Decisive action must be taken to crush the minitours once and for all.” The Monte Dominus concluded eyeing the rest of the council.
“We would be honored to accept your aid” Reston began before his colleagues butted in.
“But getting your guys together will take time. Time Norsal doesn’t have“ Mayor Trin was firmly on the resentment side of things
Krawskana meanwhile rummaged around the various document on the table till she found the copied list of deployment orders they had received an hour after she arrived, detailing the force mobilization put in place by D’ave and the northern generals. While she wanted the help, the data supported Trin’s opinion
“our own troops should be reaching the fortress in 3 days, and even with Councilmember Nast‘s plans to use the dwarven hold below the fortress to resist the siege as long as possible, 3 days is already cutting it.“ The younger pair of the council were however too focused on the issue of the meeting they had been ahving and had failed to register the entirety of Messor’s words. Their elders however, had been paying more attention.
“Ah, I see what you came here to suggest. To redirect the planed summer's campain northwards” Why else was he so prepared to send out troops, seemingly on a whim, if he hadn't already come her with somthing like that in mind. The elf was so pleased with his deduction, he failed to consider the ramifications of saying it out loud.
“To crush those hooved wretches before the glorious might of Justinian! I always said we failed to take full advantage of whatever broke Zul’s control on the region” Rorshash’s zeal was reflected by most of those in the room and there was a chorus of agreement from the stands. The desire for vengeance for this attack was already strong.
As much has Messor hated to admit Krawskana had a point. It would take too long to marshal an army then to march north to fight the horde of minitours. While Rorshash zeal is usefully to help rally support from other members of the union it also tended to put off the more even headed member. And the elf had figured the purpose of the Messor travel there but that he can work with.
”Of course those beast have long been a thorn in our side.” Messor replied to the elf giving him a glare. The northman paused for a moment to compose an idea.
“If it would take too much time for me to form an army to aid Norsal. Instead Ferreuimin can mobilized force to protect the area that the union mobilized troops from.” Messor proposed stroking his chin.
There was more muttering. Working alongside the giants was one thing, leaving the safety of the land in their hands was quite the other. It felt demeaning, as if they could not be trusted to protect themselves, let alone Justinian’s holy lands. Even as the stands, and Trin, stewed with this, the other three could see the advantage of this.
“A most generous offer, if you'll give us a moment to work out where to...”“Here obviously. Like I’ve been saying from the beginning!” The aged goblin carefully lowered himself from his seat around the table and hobbled towards the exit, his ceremonial staff clacking against the stone floor.
“Vestrid! Ready that Griphon of yours for take off. I need to address the people and ready the troops!” From behind where the Shaman had been sitting a goblin wearing a pair of goggles, light armor and a Yawanist helm covered in scratchings of Justinian symbols sprung to his feet, saluting. After releasing Rorshash wasn’t even looking at him, the goblin air cavalryman rushed up the stairs and out the door to do as his spiritual liege had instructed.
“But. There isn’t housing for that kind of people available and what if we are attacked between our forces leaving and the Ferreumin empire’s arriving““We can build some in the before they arrive, I’ve experienced in making such facilities for those westerner's waiting to join the summer campaign, and unless there's an army already on the way then the transfer will happen faster than our foes can react. There aren't any armies incoming, right?“ “I” Reston began, and then hastily corrected himself
“We’d know if there was. We have eyes everywhere in the jungles and mountains”“True, there are none eye’s sharper or noses keener than ours. Fine then. In that case, for how long will we be left vulnerable, Lord of the Mountain, and how many of your people should we be expecting?“ At this point the same aid that had stopped him making a scene had filed Trin in on who exactly their guest was and how to address them correctly.
Rorshash stopped on the far side of the table near the door, interested in the answer so he could gauge how much they would be able to send out from the capital.
This offer was going over far better that Messor original thought it would. He expected it would be flat out refused by the council. But now they are seriously discussing it.
”I should be able to muster about 6,500 warriors to send within two weeks and easily raised more from the vassal states within a month. In addition to the 500 that already here spread across numerus of the raid camps.” Messor offered to the council.
“As for housing, them they can be temperedly station in the raid camps in till proper housing can be built. As for Evernyx I have instructed Manus Varro to oversee an increase in over the border raids into their territory. Which would put them on the defensive for now.” The Monte Dominus replied to the concurs of the council.
There were three reasons as to why they were being so cooperative, firstly there was the fact that they didn’t want to sour relations with the empire by wasting Messor’s time bickering over proposals and that meant that any one idea that gained momentum generally dragged the others along with it. In this case it was Rorshash’s desire for mobilisation. Secondly the union was rather used to working with foreign powers and felt that their position as the frontline of the Justinain crusades made them immune to realpolitik manipulation. Finally there was the fact that none of them wanted to be the one to explain why they had turned down the offered assistance from their fellow Justinian's to Gwendolin Sliverton, head of the Oratorium and the unspoken head of the council.
“6,500 eh? Hmm. then the capital can spare 35,000 of our own”“preposterous! That's practically the entire garrison. 6,500 for 6,500 makes much more sense.“In response to Messor’s troop figures there was a brief round of discussion that looked an awful lot like haggling, a discussion that would have gone on for far longer if Messor hadn’t been present. After a couple of rounds of counter offers and concessions the agrredd composition of the relief army was: 18,000 regular troops, whatever militia Rorshash could rally in a day which would almost certainly outnumber that troop count, the inclusion of a Corvant necromancer that Reston and Trin both wanted out of the city and who Rorshash would begrudgingly take on as part of his staff and the exclusion of artillery and giant monsters from the force due technically to speed concerns but mostly because Trin refused to let those vital arts of the city defences go.
These numbers reached, Rorshash left to give a speech and various subordinates and generals were sent out to actually organise the army for him. This left the remaining 3 of the 13 to discuss future joint operations with Massor
“So, about your suggestion that we solve the problem of our northern enemies. What exactly are you proposing”The northman patiently waited for the council as they debated about what force they would send up north. Messor made a mental note to raised additional forces when he returns to Ferreumin. As well as move the Ferro legion to support Manus Varro in protecting the Union.
The Monte Dominus shifted his focused back to the council now that they are done with their debates.
”What I propose is that the summer campaign should be sent north to finally destroy those minotaur’s. A combine Ferreumin union army would march north laying waste to all that stands in there way,” Messor said as he began his speech.
”For years as you know they have been nothing but a nuisance from the beginning. Clearing them out would be advantageous for us in the long run. First it would give us access to the eastern sea. From which we could launch raids and invasions into the heathen countries. The defeat of the minitours we can put more pressure on Evernyx from the north. Giving us an upper hand in the conflict.” The Northman paused for a second to see how many of the council was paying attention.
” With this we would strike a great blow against the heathens of the world in the name Justinian!” Messor proclaim finishing off his speech.
The speech was received well by the spectators, who were always fans of good oration and the desire for revenge was still at the forefront in their minds. Amidst the cheering and applause the 3 council members took advantage of the noise cover to discuss among themselves Messor’s plan. By the time the spectators had calmed down they had formed a cohesive response and some suggested specifics for the northward invasion.
”Those of the council gathered here today believe that, with someone or thing having rallied the Minotaurs together, the former strategy of slow expansion into their territory is no longer tenable.””The previous plan to breach the easter ocean required equipment and supplies that have almost certainly been damaged or destroyed in the siege. That plan will probably have to be put on hold as it won't be able to be reliably supplied, particular with the threat of minotaurs raiding our supply lines. If we instead spend this year campaigning on the west side of the northern land bridge we can resupply the assembled troops from ocean vessels, something the Minotaurs have shown no capability to harass. All this makes invading the north a safer and saner course of action than bullheadedly trying to go east regardless of the situation.”“So I say we fight our way up the west coast, where our navy boys can help trounce any minotaur attacks with their cannons. Then we take the dead red god’s seat of power; Zul'Goroth for our own. Once we got it, we use the city as a staging ground for sweeping east and clearing out the minotaurs once and for all!Masson’s case was helped along by the fact that the proponents of the eastward push where not present, those being Randeirsa Nast and D’ave (or more specifically his master's down in mother’s rest). Also, when it comes down to it, when a 14 foot tall juggernaut proposes something, it is very hard to disagree with him, particularly if you are a 3 foot tall goblin.
”In order to officially agree to this course of action we will have to wait for a proper council meeting, which will happen once the current crisis has past. Based on the circumstances however, I believe that, with Justinian’s blessing, said meeting will also come out in favor of invading the north.”Messor basked in the applause and cheers of the crowed around him. Unknowingly ignoring the member of the council as they discussed his plan. As the applauses subsided the councilmember their specific ideas and such about the plans.
The Monte Dominus listen closely to their suggestions finding little flaw with their ideas.
”Very well then I’ll shall take my leave to see to delivering the promised forces to you. I shall await word on how the meeting transpire.” Messor quickly turned on his heels, striding out of chamber.
”Once we have arrived back in Ferreumin start railing more warriors there will need them in the coming months,” The northman order to his aids as they left.
The remaining council members, pleased with how they had handled the Diplomatic meeting despite the state of emergency, quickly ended the current sesion and went of to make preperations for the relife forces departure. A scant few hourse later Rorshash's hastily formed army marched out of the city, heading north.
