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RoE Archive => RoE2 Archives => Fire and Steel => : DM B February 20, 2012, 11:24:09 AM
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The turn begins with Queen Swordwraith's forces holed up in Calrie.
Count Ardai commands the besieging force.
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Calrie is protected by the mighty Berendor river on two sides. Maybe three depending on how you count. North and west definitely. To the east there is a large spit of marshy ground outside the city walls. An army COULD land here, but the ground isn't ideal for sieges. So really only the southern approach is worthwhile.
The city is well fortified. An old but strong wall surrounds the inner city. And the Queen's great castle sits within this outer wall. So does the Royal Navy - the Aerenwan fleet lies at anchor, well protected by the walls of Calrie.
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War move 1:
There seems to be around 20 units of mixed infantry and 5 units of cavalry actively engaged in the siege. There could possibly be other detachments elsewhere.
Calrie seems to hold around fifteen or so units. Some knights and some other cavalry. Quite the crowd in fact. The city still has free access to the Berendor River - and beyond that the sea.
Nothing much happens. Dispatches fly back and forth.
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War move 2:
More of the same.
War move 3:
Ongoing.
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War move 3 & 4:
Nothing happens. At all.
WM 5 beginning.
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It's one of those rare autumn days you hear about but rarely get to experience. Summer is long gone, but the sun and the wind has decided to caress the world for just one more day. Framed not in the brilliant green of summer, but the dying colors of autumn brought to life again by a sun that seems to shine a lazy orange.
On this day, the 10th of Sehnir (OOC: The approximate equivalent of 1 November), Count Cimeric Ardai rides forth to address the besieged Queen of Aerenwe. After the event rumors sweep through both the besiegers' camp and the city - much to everyone's surprise the Count professing his undying love for the Queen - and asked for her hand in marriage!
A stark departure from his earlier words...
There is considerable confusion in the ranks. And among the officers there are...disagreements.
The confusion becomes even greater when scouts report the banners of Roesone approaching from Dhoenel. Soon every besieging soldier knows that the Queen's allies are here. Ardai seems unable to coordinate the army anymore and subordinate commanders try to take charge.
The Roesonan commander wastes no time and begins striking at the besiegers. He may not have more than 2000 men, but it's a pure cavalry force, well suited for harassing infantry engaged in a siege.
The following day the Queen's army sallies. ETN templar knights stand with them. But all told there is less than a 1000 cavalry and about 2000 infantry. Hardly enough to break the siege.
But when the armies draw up for battle before the walls of Calrie there is trouble in the ranks. Count Ardai and his most loyal troops are refusing to fight the Royal Army! bewildered observers on the walls try to make out what is happening. Finally Count Cimeric rides hard for the city with a small bodyguard. He's surrendering himself to the Queen!
There is no battle that day. They troops are all lined up and ready, but the besiegers are confused and the defenders aren't strong enough to mount a credible attack. Come mid-day the besiegers quite the field and retreat a distance. The defenders are cheered as they enter the city!
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As the defenders ride back into the city, they are accompanied by wide-eyed Cimeric Ardai. Surrounding their count, Ardai's bodyguards appear tense and alert, as if the cheering people around them were a pack of hungry wolves. Further inside the heavily fortified town, Queen Tasaenae is waiting with bodyguards of her own, standing to greet her troops. Maravoel Dhon, riding at the head of his troops, dismounts to report, but Cimeric Ardai is already on his feet, rushing like a small child towards the queen, his bodyguards running behind him, trying desperately to catch up.
"My Queen," he starts, still running, but whatever he wanted to say is cut short by a surprise as a pair of halberds blocks his way. He tried to break through, but one of the guards hits him in the legs with the butt of his halberd, bringing him to his knees. Ardai's guards start to draw their swords, but quickly find themselves surrounded, arrows pointed at them from fortified positions all around.
"Take them all into custody." the queen orders. "I want them under double guard, but treat them with respect."
There is a moment of silence as Ardai's guards consider their options. Finally, they drop their weapons with a clang that triggers another wave of cheers from the gathered crowd.
Queen Tasaenae returns to her chambers as the cheers fade in the distance. A small victory has been won without casualties, but there is still a large army outside her castle, and army partially made of her own subjects, along with soldiers of her enemies, just waiting for her allies to slaughter them. A very troubling situation.
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On the very night following Ardai's sudden declaration of love there is a great uprising in Calrie. There is fighting in the city as conflicting loyalties clash.
Come dawn the full gravity of the situation is revealed:
The royal colors no longer fly above Caer Callin. Instead Ardai's colors wave proudly in the wind. Above the closed castle gates there is new decoration - three dozen heads on spikes. Rumor sweeps across town, initially spread by those sympathetic to the attackers: Queen Tasaenae is dead and the rest of the royal family locked in the dungeons. The war is over. Count Cimeric Ardai has won.
The besieging army has rallied and mustered in the dark of the night. Now they are already arrayed for battle and advancing on Calrie. The Royal Army rush to the walls to stop them, but there is uncertainty and confusion. Soon it becomes known throughout the ranks that the spies have secured one of the city gates. Now that gate is firmly in the hands of the attackers. With the Caer in enemy hands and the city wall breached Calrie will fall.
Roesone's cavalry can do little. They harass the flank of the advancing army, but is forced to retreat. They are last seen riding for Dhoenel, but not before setting part of the besiegers' camp on fire.
WM 7: Begins
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WM 7: The personal banner of Baron Tristan Bellamie is unfurled beneath the banner of Count Cimeric Ardai, indicating the presence of the Baron in Calrie.
The enemy host advances on the City of Calrie. Despite the fact that the enemy holds one gate (OOC: Result of espionage, reduces the effectiveness of the Calrie castle) and the Caer (a further reduction to castle level) the Royal Army and the temple of the ETN have no intention of giving up without a fight.
A citizen militia more or less spontaneously joins the defenders, making the attackers pay for every step with blood. The attackers eventually tire of this determined resistance and abandons all plans for lenient treatment of the city. The streets of Calrie run red.
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On WM 7:
Roesonian contingent will retreat to Fairfield, awaiting further informations from Calrie.
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The attackers as repulsed. Determined defense by elite ETN knights and Royal heavy infantry. Backed by both divine and arcane realm magic - healing and blessing on the divine side, confusion and paralysis on the arcane side. The attackers lack magic support and the elite heavy units needed to break through.
Losses among the defenders are light. Losses among the attackers are severe. Castle takes one level of damage.
WM 8 begins.
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WM 8: The attackers launch another series of attacks. The defenders are unable to keep them all at bay. The city is overrun.
Losses among the attackers are heavy and inflicted on numerous units. Losses among defenders are nearly total. A few broken units feel aboard badly manned Navy vessels. Other ships are caught still at anchor and seized by the attackers. Castle takes one additional point of damage. Calrie drops one province level and there is widespread destruction of holdings.
Castle is now at lvl 4 and controlled by Bellamie.
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WM 8: A large host enters Dhoenel. The army is led by Marquis Isilviere of Roesone. He immediately lays siege to the province and demands that the steward open his gates or forfeit his life and his master's lands!
A large cavalry force - at least 3000 strong - returns to Calrie, the very one that fought Ardai's host earlier, but reinforced with banners from Isiliviere and Noelon. Ardai's cavalry is surprised and routed.
The fleeing cavalry is cut down, almost to the last man by Warden archers!
Calrie isn't under siege per se - but Ardai's men can't move freely about outside the city walls either. How ironic!
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WM 9 begins:
Roesone's cavalry in Calrie report a massive Osoerdan host beginning to cross the Berendor into Calrie. They are calling it at least 10.000 men, if not more.
This is also apparent to the men inside the city of Calrie - Osoerde is coming!
In Dhoenel the steward is distraught, but he doesn't open his gates. He's been given orders he says. Isilviere starts looting his countryside, pointing out that if he's promised to keep the land safe he's failing quite badly. These fact are known to the Roesonans - and those with agents or espionage actions in Dhoenel.
Isilviere also gets another report - another mighty host is approaching from the north. The Duke of Ghieste has sent a host to Calrie! Which side is it on!?
Said Ghiestan host is greatly hampered by the fact that it moves through a foreign land with active fortifications and garrisons all over. All supplies shave been moved to safe locations - there is very little forage to be had and they are out of supply from Ghieste. They must forage soon - or starve!
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There are risks to every campaign it is true and Ser Silvistrie is well aware of that, but this is a horrible one. Knowing men might starve and not wishing to steal food if at all possible is a conundrum.
So messengers are sent forward to try to find the command and nobility of Roesone, while the army moves on forward, to see that the agreement made is supported and that they are allowed to pass with supply lines intact; that they are allied with the efforts of the Barony and that they are looking for the Realm's officers to report to. In the meantime he is glad that his Duke saw to supply him with a war chest to make what purchases he can to limit the exposures he has to make.
Money makes some things easier, but does not solve everything sadly. Some things require small, but necessary, evils.
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Marlae jumps down into the boggy field, fury tinged upon her face.
"General, get this army moving - immediately. I don't care what motivation you have to use - whips, gold, death - whatever it neccessary. I will not have this upstart little count, a moment longer next to my niece. I will not have Caemed failed in this. Get us to Calrie. Now!" She spins back with finality. As she climbs upon her horse, she says a bannerman assigned to her.
"Let us at least hope the Baron is not a fool. No, I doubt he would have survived as long being a fool."
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"Just Ghieste? No banner from Avanil?" Saender Ghorried starred from the window, apparently lost in thoughts.
"But sir, they're strong enough to help us anyway", objected the squire after a moment of silence.
"This is not about numbers, not this time." Saender suddenly turned back from the window.
"Bring my armor - and notify the guard, we're leaving in a hour. I hope we'll catch them soon."
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Ramon Black stood in the fields of Calrie, watching his men mobilize together with Roesonean host. A young warden had just finished his report and was standing there nervously, wondering if Ramon had even heard him. The boy was a recent recruit from Halried, without enough time in the Erebannien to truly sever his ties to his family. He was probably wondering whether any of his relatives have died in the siege, or are they trapped in Calrie right now, or did he shoot one of them in the back?
"Thank you, Haedan," Ramon broke the uneasy silence, "keep reporting what you hear." Roesonean commanders didn't care about informing him of any developments. To them, he was just a leader of auxiliaries which were part of their army. Still, they didn't go out of their way to hide information, which made it easy for his wardens moving around the camp to 'overhear' briefings and reports of Roesonean scouts.
The news were grim. The enemy was battered and holed up in Caer Callin, but a massive army from Osoerde was riding to their aid. Osoerde agian. The Wardens had already fought against two invasions from the north, but will this be their last? No more Lasarus to rely on or to bolster their morale with the presence of the Dawn or some treants. No more Lčalawaan to help with his powerful magic. Two High Wardens lost in a short time span and Yousaff and Kerdan still holed up in the Erebannien and uncaring about the outside world even if the faith of the forest is being decided on the field of battle.
With a sigh, Ramon turned to face Aedon Dhon. Aedon was worried as well. Still no news of his cousin, Maravoel, who was leading the queen's army. The only news was bad: the royal army was decimated and House Dhon was refusing to help the allies from Roesone. Aedon was worried, but at least Ramon could count on his experience comrade to remain unaffected and make the right decisions when necessary. "Tell the men to hurry up. Roesonean generals won't wait for several hundred wardens forever."
"Are you sure about this, Ramon?" Aedon asked. "The men are reluctant. They don't want to leave Calrie, and to fight for a guilder no less."
"Calrie, Halried, Dhoenel, they can all burn for all I care." Ramon explained. If Aedon was touched by the mention of his childhood home in flames, he didn't show it. "Queen Tasaenae was a warden, and she pledged to have her children become wardens as well. I had no love for the idea of being vassal to the queen of Aerenwe or making her the High Wardens, but it was a necessary evil, and a fortunate one considering the alternatives. Tell the men we don't fight for a guilder, that we fight for the Swordwraiths, the only ally outside the Erebannien that Wardens ever had. Tell them to hurry up or they can go back to watch the trees grow with Yousaff and Kerdan."
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There are risks to every campaign it is true and Ser Silvistrie is well aware of that, but this is a horrible one. Knowing men might starve and not wishing to steal food if at all possible is a conundrum.
So messengers are sent forward to try to find the command and nobility of Roesone, while the army moves on forward, to see that the agreement made is supported and that they are allowed to pass with supply lines intact; that they are allied with the efforts of the Barony and that they are looking for the Realm's officers to report to. In the meantime he is glad that his Duke saw to supply him with a war chest to make what purchases he can to limit the exposures he has to make.
Money makes some things easier, but does not solve everything sadly. Some things require small, but necessary, evils.
Roesone has not ever been allied with Ghieste. Nor has any diplomacy taken place betwixt your realms. A few letters have perhaps been sent back and forth, one regent to another, but that's the extent of things.
The army has been buying what it can since entering Roesone, which isn't much since most local lords are under strict orders not to waste their supplies in times of war. Certainly this strange army passing through isn't getting any freebies.
Behind Ser Silvistrie's armoured back the soldiers are stealing what they can. But once again it isn't much. The peasants hide and the lords and towns have their stores locked securely away. Besides, you pass swiftly from province to province, so each area is only briefly touched. It will be more of a problem when you stop; then you MUST have supplies.
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Marlae jumps down into the boggy field, fury tinged upon her face.
"General, get this army moving - immediately. I don't care what motivation you have to use - whips, gold, death - whatever it neccessary. I will not have this upstart little count, a moment longer next to my niece. I will not have Caemed failed in this. Get us to Calrie. Now!" She spins back with finality. As she climbs upon her horse, she says a bannerman assigned to her.
"Let us at least hope the Baron is not a fool. No, I doubt he would have survived as long being a fool."
The first boats across the Berendor reports mission impossible. Roesone commands the far banks with 3000 riders. More than enough the send all of you to watery graves.
Fortunately you do not need to take that route; Baron Bellamie sends his regards - and numerous river craft to ease you passage over to the well-protected harbor of Clarie, guarded as you pass by the Royal navy's own war galleys. It will take several days to get everything across, the baggage included.
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WM 9: Seeing the vast size of the approaching Ghiestan army Lord Dhon's steward finally caves in and surrenders his castle to Marquis Isilviere.
The Marquis is most kind; the steward is given an honorable beheading instead of a humiliating hanging. And he promises that the steward's treasonous behavior will not reflect badly upon his liege when the the sovereign of Aerenwe decides the fate of his fief.
Ghieste's army doesn't immediately do anything useful though - instead they spread out and start widespread looting. Their commander, Ser Silvestre, tries to compensate the locals for as long as his gold holds out, but it's not nearly enough. Not can it pay for the deaths and other hardships the naturally follow with a foraging army.
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In the good sized tent where the command of the Steel Legion of Ghieste have been called a rant has begun. A rather louder rant than perhaps it should be. But understandable
"Where by the hells are they! Her Highness told his Grace they would damn well be here and they are not - the local Lords are not sure if are some monstrous army from the North sent to destroy them all or if we are some bizarre figment of their imagination. And without being able to fold into her damned command structures and within the arrangements she has we may as well be both of those. Dear Gods old Grumpy is going to be furious when he hears this. And him being furious does none of us well, least of all you lot as you can be assured I will not be taking the blame."
If the shuffling of feet and the avoidance of gaze was a tourney trophy it seems that the officers within the tent may all be vying for All-Amuire Champions.
"Right, seeing as none of you seem to be willing to fall on your sword quite yet let us sit down and try to work out where those horse might be and where we can get supplies that might not bring several nations down on us immediately. And one of you dunces find me someone who can get a message to Ghorried or the Marquis for pities sake!"
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WM 9: Dhon's forces join the Roesonan army. They are quickly ordered out of their garrison position and replaced by more loyal units. Undoubtedly the Dhon forces will get to prove their new-found loyalty in the van of the army.
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Ser Silvestre is invited to dine with Marquis Isilviere - in the Marquis new castle accommodations...
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Duchess Marlae and Baron Tristan are happily united in Caer Callin.
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Osoerdean soliders begin seeing to the protection and defense of Calrie and Caer Callin. Moreover, they swiftly move to impose order upon the city. They begin to see bodies gathered that they might be seen to proper burial, while the Eastern Temple of Nesirie is called upon to begin making preparations for the burial rights of Taesaengae I, Queen of Aerenwe and Scion of House Swordwraith.
Swiftly, the Osoerdeans strike down the banners of House Ardai and Bellam, instead rising the unicorn of House Swordwraith in supremeacy over the cross-axes of Bellam and the regalia of ancient House Ardai, that yet they rise in prominence over the Osoerdean banners now flying from the walls and battlements of Caer Callin. While House Swordwraith is no longer imprisoned, for their safety they are kept, while numerous nobles and lords are also given protection details that largely confine them to their own houses and properties, while an attempt is made to sort out what can only be described as an utter mess (though the Duchess would be more apt to use 'clusterfuck' it such were lady-like).
To relieve the hardship within the city, a small fleet of ships is organized to travel to Gulfport and make arrangements to see the city provisioned.
Bound letters are sent to the Eastern Temple of Nesirie, Count Dhon in Elinie, Marquis Isilviere and the Ghiesten General.
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Ser Silvestre, Commander of the Steel Legion of Ghieste is delighted to accept the dinner so kindly offered by the Marquis and turns up promptly, well dressed and with a roster of the substantial number of men at his command under his arm. In his other hand he carries a note, a reply to the missives sent to them.
The gentlemen sit down to discuss the details over food.
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In the Calrie there is much dissent. All these newcomers and the sudden reversal of the things the men have fought so hard to achieve. There is widespread in-fighting among the various factions. Several officers are killed trying to calm things down. A fire breaks out in the port area, but is contained. One of the war galleys desert and disappear down the Berendor with its new crew.
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Ser Silvestre, Commander of the Steel Legion of Ghieste is delighted to accept the dinner so kindly offered by the Marquis and turns up promptly, well dressed and with a roster of the substantial number of men at his command under his arm. In his other hand he carries a note, a reply to the missives sent to them.
The gentlemen sit down to discuss the details over food.
Much is discussed over dinner. Some of the more weighty matters are; what is going on inside Calrie and what should the army do next; invest Calrie, liberate Halried or put the pressure on Bellamie by counter-invading county Bellam? Liberating Halrien and then investing Calrie is the most tempting course of action; it will put most of Aerenwe into loyalist hands and give the armies a decent forage base. And with Duchess Marlae in charge Calrie, as show by the new banners makes putting pressure on county Bellam less effective. It is decided that Ser Silvestre will take a sizable contingent of men and seize Halried with speed and force. Riders are also sent out to link up with any Warden assets in the area.
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Meanwhile in Roesone: The Crown Regent is gathering his reserves and mercenaries and marching to Dhoenel with all haste.
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Derric Dalen sends some of his riders west together with the Warden forces to help Ser Silvestre with taking the province. The bulk of the cavalry remains outside Calrie to screen and scout.
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WM 10: Crown regent Saender reaches Dhoenel with some knights, musters and mercenaries.
Ser Silvestre marches south into Halried. Once there he joins forces with the Wardens and some cavalry come up from Calrie. Halried has recently seen an upgrade of fortifications, but the garrison is pitiful - almost exclusively militia. Ser Silvestre sends dispatches to Marquis Isilviere - he will force the rebels to surrender by putting pressure on the provincial population.
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"War is not pretty and full of glory. Anyone who tells you it is has either never fought in a war or is lying to you. Or both."
He draws himself up on his horse, shading his eyes from the low sun to get a better view of the deployments around the village and to appraise the readiness of the assigned soldiers. With a single gesture to the man beside him he signals the go order and around him banners dip and twist. In turn section serjeants and corporals turn from the ridge they have been watching and nod to the large man each team has placed before a door and around the village, almost as one, boots and shoulders are put to wood and portals staved in. Troops stream into houses silencing screams with the back of the hand or the occasional stave to the belly and back of the neck. One by one the whole population of the village is dragged forth, gagged and hogtied. When one young lad attempts to make a run for it he receives a back peppered with crossbow bolts for his willfulness.
By the following dawn those same villagers, some of whose fathers, sons or sweethearts are within the fortification outside which he now stands, are staked and splayed on the ground. The Officer grins a wicked grin, to himself, as he listens to their screams start, placed carefully further than the range of missiles and projectiles from within, and with those screams come first the torches on the wall and then the shouts of anguish as they witness their beloveds threatened with suffering. He turns to his adjutant.
"Give them one hour of this display, then send the polite request for their surrender. If they don't then we start upping the pain and ask them again later."
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Ghoried hastily reched the Dhoenel's castle just with his personal guard and a small group of officers and knights. The rest of his newly arrived units were ordered to join an already established camp outside the city walls.
As he passed the gatehouse, Ghoried yelled at the soldier in Isilviere's colors I need to see Marquis immediately. Where do I find him? He turned to one of his own officers, and with much calmer voice continued Send a dispatch to Derric Dale, whether he's in contact with someone from the Queen's army or not. If there's still someone alive and fighting, I need to get into contact with him/her. Also try to check temples of Nesirie, the clergy might be aware of Calrie's defenders fate ...
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Lord Saender is given a quick update on the fall of Calrie. The treachery from within and the death of the Queen. How the city fought on until the last, with ETN templars, Royal Army and citizens fighting side by side against the attackers even as the banners of Ardai and Bellamie flew above Caer Callin. How Marlae arrived with a large Osoerdan army, struck Ardai/Bellamie's colors and replaced them with the Unicorn of Aerenwe.
There is some confusion regarding the fate of the rest of House Swordwraith. The Wardens continue to fight and have joined Roesone's forces. The Royal Army is no more. Same with the Royal Navy. The ETN has been crushed and it's temples looted. Or so they say.
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"Marlae dared to use a banner of Arenwe, the same symbol she helped to take down? How insulting! If there's no royal army left, we will be the army! I want to see Aerenwan banners to flee next to ours. And spread the word that it's not some guilder from Roesone, but Teried Swordwraith, in whose name was this army raised, to free the land of his ancestors."
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When the biggest turmoil and bloodshed after fall of the city calms, surviving ETN priestess and priests emerge from hiding and start doing their duties again. So many bodies to bury, so many graves to consecrate, so much pain to ease. They try not to cross path of the occupying soldiers, but dead and wounded to tend are between them too. So the most brave amongst the clergy take the risk.
Body of killed queen is received from osoerdan officers and taken to one of the intact shrines where it is tended to and prepared for proper ceremonial burial. Those citizens who dare are allowed to see the body and part with queen and pray for her soul there.
One morning, people in the city see that the ancient Great Lighthouse, recently repaired and put to work, has turned all black, save for the light at the top. As a towering memento for all dead, it will remain so for the whole winter that is coming.
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"A gentle hand, Captain, a gentle hand," Marlae chides brusquely as she passes men-at-arms attempts to maintain control of one of the various food doles that have been established through out the city.
"Do not do to them that which you would not see done to an Osoerdean. They have though more enough inflicted upon them by friends and foes of late," she says before continuing with the inspection of the city, her guard shadowing closely. She looks to her left slightly before addressing one of the knights around her.
"Ser Daenel, I have heard that Marquis Isilviere has heavily pillaged Dhoenel - at least all that he could reach. And that the Ghiestens engage in more barbaric mercenary behaviors. The Eastern Temple of Nesirie inspired peasents to rise up against armed professional soldiers whose forgone conclusion was a complete bloodbath. Armies raised in the name of Teried or Saender or Daerin or...I suppose it matters not," she is interrupted by a courier whose dispatch she reads.
"Blessed be the All-Father, this is excellent news! We return to Caer Callin," she says before spinning back towards the castle proper.