>bumping with world map

>>17637501
Let's hear them now.
Also, the prisoner we took didn't have the cypher in his memories?

>>17637501
We might as well hear them now.

>>17637501
no reason to delay intel. hear them now.

You nod "I'll hear the numbers now."

Finian nods as well, then responds "The larger fords all have between five and eight necromancers, and roughly ten demonologists. The northern fords support demonologists lean more towards crafting demonhosts, and as such the arcanists guards are demonhosts. The southern fords support demonologists lean more towards binding demons to weapons, so its defenders are better armed, though the arcanists guards are mortals." the dwarf pauses, and takes a drink from the cup of water resting off to the side of the sprawled out papers "The bridge has half again as many necromancers and demonologists, of higher quality than the other fords." Finian frowns "Unfortuanately, our prisoner did not have the cyphers to the arcana lists, nor some of the other more sensitive documents."

>>17637871
"Is there any more information on how skilled the demonologists, necromancers, or arcanists are?"

We should talk to the demonologist next.

>>17638047
Second.

You feel your face shift to match Finians frown, and ask "Is there any more information, especially on the skill of the arcanists present?"

Finian shrugs noncommittally "There may be, but if there is, it is in a cypher I have not yet broke. I will tell you if I find more information worth sharing."

-----CQ-----

Nodding, you stand, and make your way to the medicae tent. Inside are a few wounded scouts, and all of the slaves you freed last night. The rescued Degnarian is easy to find, as Teirana is sitting next to the now awake mans cot,l looking like a petulant child "But Master Camilus, its _dangerous_ to leave the contract as it is."

He nods "To you and I little demon, but until I know enough to ensure that you will not influence the contract in a manner I, or my superiors would find negative, it will remain as it is." He pauses to rub his temples before adding in that same fatherly tone he initially spoke to her with "And how many times must I till you to not call me 'Master', Teirana?"

She pouts "But you _are_ my Master. What else would I call you?"

"Camilus, just Camilus nothing more or less than that."

>>17638316
Introduce ourselves to Camilus. Ask him his rank and previous posting.

>>17638316
Introduce ourselves, ask what unit he was with and how he was captured.

If he needs help rewriting the contract we should send for Laelith.

You approach the pair casually, but Camilus immediately recognizes you, and snaps off a salute "Camilus Fraten, formerly of the 32nd Centurion. a pleasure to meet you, Commander Trentz."

You return his salute, then sit in the chair next to the one Teirana is perched atop of "Formerly?" you prompt the man "And I am mildly curious as to how you recognized me."

the man chuckles "You are something of a legend, Commander. And my battalion... we deployed a few weeks before you I believe, sent back to the northern front. My unit was wiped out, and I was captured. Plus, I highly doubt I will be able to serve for line combat with how my bones broke and healed. Is there anything I can help you with, sir?"

How likely would the enemy change their deployments? They probably found out by now that one of their outposts fell and had its intel stolen.

We should probably ask the other Commanders that when we get the chance.

>>17638593
"I was wondering how you've been dealing with your new ward"

>>17638593
I thought the northern front was pretty much wrapped up? We're still getting Centurion units getting wiped out in the north? Ask Camilus for more details.

Make a mental note to send a message to the Praetorian Militant later. Maybe the northern front is not doing as well as he was led to believe.

As for Camilus, offer him help with learning demonology, but otherwise tell him that he should take all the time he needs to recover, at which point he is our guest until we return to HQ, or serve in our arcanist corp if he wishes to. He's acting like we want him back on the front lines.

>>17638593
Given his new...dependent, I don't believe front-line duty is what he's going to be serving as.
Does he know if any other Degnarians were captured and are being used to fuel demonologists?

Don't forget that we still have to talk to Wulf about the Felixians later, Pax. Also, he might now how often the personnel rotations change, and how quickly it would be updated after an intel leak.

>>17638593
Ask him how he found out he was a demonologist and if what he plans to do with his newfound powers. Tell him about the arcanist corps, if he hasn't already heard.

You smirk "Well, once you recover we can see to having you assigned to the arcanist corps, for now though I do have a few questions."

The man smirks "it is an honor to serve for you then, Commander."

You nod and ask "Is it... common, for captive Degnarians to be used as fuel for demonologists?"

The man shrugs "It varies from lord to lord which slaves are pulled and given over to demonologists I would imagine. Though the elf in charge of Uurlanths new border defense seems to prefer using Degnarian prisoners to generational slaves, from what I have heard."

Teirana interjects, with a smile on her face "It isn't a nationality, but the health of the potential host that determines whether or not they are useful for feed, or as hosts." both Camilus and yourself turn to look at the little demon, who tilts her head and defends herself "I may look like a child but I _am_ nearly 50 years old by your reckoning... I think."

You sigh, and reply "So, by demonic reckoning you still are a child then?" sheepishly, the little demon nods, and you continue after turning to face Camilus again "How is your... ward, then?"

the man shuts his eyes for a few moments, before responding "Sometimes like something now lost to me, others terrifying. Once I find the lore I need I will bind her more effectively. She is not harming any mortals."
>cont'd

The demon goes back to pouting, and climbs over to sit on Camilus lap, clearly hoping to get something out of him with this act after hearing what he just hinted at "I'm a little hungry, but the natural aging of the mortals around me is enough to sustain me... though not enough to fight with, or make myself a weapon."

Nodding at the little demon you add "I can see to providing you with the tomes and books needed to more effectively increase your arcane power, Camilus. Now, what of the northern front, I had thought that it was more, peaceful, now."

the man shrugs "It isn't the hellish meat grinder of the early war any more, but it is still an active front, despite our best efforts."

>>17638593
"Firstly, let me say that you've impressed me greatly already. Having the iron will to turn a demon summoning meant to end you to your own advantage is something I've never heard of. I would ask that for the duration of my campaign, you consider studying relevant tomes to your new situation. I bring many arcanist-themed books with me on campaign for reference and training purposes, and perhaps you'd be able to find a way to refine your contract with Teirana that way. At the very least, you will wish to learn how she is fed, as different demon types require different forms of sustinance, and not all of them are pretty."

>>17639012
Fuck, I was a little late.

Let's still say this part
>"let me say that you've impressed me greatly already. Having the iron will to turn a demon summoning meant to end you to your own advantage is something I've never heard of."

>>17639052
Sounds good to me

>>17638915
"Your ward was saying something about how your contract is dangerous to the two of you. What exactly was she talking about?"

>>17638915
Ask if he knows anything about the elf or anything about the forces along the Grayrun.

>>17639052
>>17639170
Both of these are good as well.

You nod understandingly, and compliment the man "The fact that you had the iron will to turn what was to be a demonic binding that would end in your death to your own devices is quite impressive... though, Teirana did mention earlier that your contract in its current incarnation is dangerous to both of you, how is that?"

The little demon, now clad in one of Lenas old, more sedate robes, thoroughly cut and re-sewn to fit the demons diminutive frame, and not crush her wings, answers "It is more dangerous for me than it is for him really. But, if I do something that could be considered breaking the incredibly vague contract I would be thrown back to the demon realm, drained of what little power I have, and far from anything familiar to me. Camilus, if he is somehow able to break the contract, would be marked as a contract breaker, and most demons would consume him on sight. Some demons are known to hunt mortal contract-breakers for fun even."

You purse your lips for a moment, then reply "Thank you, Teirana. Camilus, do you know anything more of the elf running the border watches along the Grayrun, or the defenses themselves?"

The big scarred man shakes his head slowly, and replies "Unfortunately, I do not dominu." he pauses and runs his hand through his short black hair, then asks "Do you think you could have some of the book on demonology brought to me then? the little one on my lap is going to give me a headache with her constant nagging about our contract."

>>17639454
"I'll have Laelith bring around some books for you. Some ink and paper as well, since you'll probably need to take notes for your own good. But for now, rest up, get some good food to build your strength back up. Oh, and welcome to the arcanist corps."

>>17639454
Not much more we can get from him, I think. Have the books sent to him, and recommend that he have the contract gone over by Laelith before finalizing it.

Is there anything else that needs our immediate attention?

>>17639454
"I'll be sure to get them to you as soon as I can. I rather not have either of you breaking this contract if it can be avoided. I'm curious - can demons feed off other demons or demons that have taken a mortal host?"

>>17639499
second

You chuckle "I am curious, can a demon feed off of other demons, or those that have taken a mortal host?"

Teirana frowns in disgust and replies "A demon _could_ feed off of another, but from what I have been told, the taste is terrible. On top of that it is one of the only social taboos in a culture that more or less has no inhibitions to speak of."

Nodding in understanding, you stand up, and reply "Thank you for your time, both of you. Camilus, I will have Laelith bring you some basic tomes on Demonology, and parchment for you to take notes on. Rest well, and welcome to the arcanist corps, both of you." and at that, you leave the medicae tent.

-----CQ-----

You find Wulf finishing his lunch, and watching Catalina teach a trio of men that you can only assume are now priests of Neshai. Laelith and Lena you have set to the task of collecting a few books for Camilus to study from. "Justinian, how can I help you, Dominu?"

You sigh, and plop down next to him on the bench he is eating on "How did your interrogation of the Felixsians go?"

He apes your sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose and replies "Have you ever spoken to a felixsian at length, with the intent of staying on a single topic, one that it doesnt particularly want to speak on?" You shake your head, so Wulf continues "I needed _several_ stiff drinks after that was finished, and I still have a few more that I may be able to get something out of once I am done eating... though I already have a few interesting bits of information, military, arcane, and cult related."

>>17639764
Start with the military, then the cult, then the arcane.

>>17639764
"Let's hear it then."

>>17639784
Second.

"Military first I suppose." you reply, still a bit put off at being addressed as Dominu. You know that it is a title appropriate to you, as you easily qualify as nobility, between your holdings, political pull, and of course your task of growing the Arcanist Corps, regulating arcanists in the empire, and commanding the force tasked with hunting down beasts like the Loukys and were-creatures. That doesnt change how strange it still seems to be called Dominu.

Wulf nods, and by the time the thought is through your head he replies "Part of the reason the king stirred the felixsians to war was his frustration with the inefficiency of the Nobles handling the war. It is rumored that he may soon try to lead all of the remaining Uurlanthi forces on one, unified push for Degnar if things do not turn more in Uurlanths favor soon. Or, that is the rumor in the kings own army at least."

You nod slowly, not liking the implications of such a push "And the Cult?"

"They had agents in the kings army until the rumor I just told you of became widespread. The felixsian I spoke with says all the folk he knew with that tattoo deserted within a few days of each other once that happened." Wulf reports, before eating the last of his meal, and adding "As to the arcane, just past the Grayrun there is an abandoned Elemental fort. It is not large, but none have been able to enter its innermost rooms for several hundred years. A team of arcanists could probably gain entrance fairly easily, though Uurlanth has yet to spare any to that end... Lena heard that snippet and wants to investigate it herself."

>>17640058
"It could be a fantastic coup on our part should we take it. Imagine how fantastic a foothold taking the fort could be.... but it could also be a trap. If you can, ask more about this Elemental fort. I find myself curious as well."

>>17640121
I agree that it would be great to capture it.
However, the region is not yet secure. Holding it may be a problem.

>>17640145
Agreed. I think it's worth grabbing regardless even if we can't hold it. We should bring it up at the next meeting we have for our assaults and see how far it is from nearby targets.

>>17640184
second

Voting we chat up Catalina after we're don with Wulf.

>>17640285
Second

It would help to pinpoint this fort on the map first. If it was close to one of the cities, we could set up camp in the fort while we besiege the city, instead of sleeping in the fields. Whatever is inside the fort is just a bonus.

If it was close to a knightly order, we could maybe even goad them into attacking us while we are in a fortified position. That would be hilarious.

You scratch at your chin and reply "Most intriguing. I would like you to mark the location of this abandoned for on one of our maps, and find out whatever else you can about it before the next command staff meeting."

Wulf nods, and swallows his last bit of food, stands and replies "Of course, Commander... now I need to finish up with these felixsians you set me to questioning before my sanity comes back."

Chuckling, you return the young mans salute, and rise yourself to go see how Catalina is doing with her training. "Good, keep practicing while I speak with the Commander." she instructs her students when she notices your approach. "How can I help you, Justinian?" she asks after taking a few steps away from her students.

>>17640574
"Just checking in on how things are going with you and if any of the Duchy men have been giving you trouble. Plus I heard you had an interesting time with Lena and Wulf."

>>17640574
Just a general update on how the training progresses.
These were all of the priests that could be recruited?

>>17640574
"Just seeing how you're doing, for the most part. How did your little drinking session with Wulf and Lena go last night?"

I'm not sure what you guys wanted to talk to Catalina about, so I'll go off on a tangent for a bit:

How about we just forget the fords and main bridge, and just make a pontoon bridge? We could use our auto-wagons instead of boats. After our forces cross the river, we just drag the wagons out of the water from the other side. I bet those giant flesh golems can move the wagons easily.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontoon_bridge

>>17640633
What about using our earth elementalists and ourselves to create a new ford/bridge?
We have magic, we're not beholden to natural formations and geography.

You smirk "Simply checking in to see how your training is going... I take it these are the only soldiers you could recruit then?"

Catalina shakes her head "I recruited two more, but they are in the medicae tent from injuries they sustained during last nights scouting missions."

You frown for a moment before replying "I trust all is going well then?" Catalina simply nods in response, so you continue "From what I was told, you had quite the time drinking with Lena and Wulf last night."

Catalina blushes a bit and looks away from you though she does not shrink back "I, well... I scarcely ever drank at my old home, so I did not last long, and they were drinking so fast... Is it, normal, in Degnar, to drink that much, and then fuck that loudly? I, I could hear them for almost five minutes after I left for my tent Lena was so loud."

>>17640755
"Hmm, well, Wulf has been away for quite some time. I would not doubt they'd still be waking the dead with their lovemaking after all that's happened. As well, I've always viewed volume as a measure of just how much fun someone is having."

>>17640755
I'm trying to think of something to say that would be appropriately teasing, so >>17640817 is good enough for now.

>>17640755
"Well, technically, Lena grew up among the nomads, so I do not believe it was culturally-specific, just seriously pent up young lovers."

A combination of earth elementalism + wagon pontoon bridge then? Building a bridge with elementalism alone might be too draining for our arcanists.

Let's ask Catalian whether her golems can move the auto-wagons around, flip them upside down and then right side up again, etc.

Isn't there an unguarded ford already, the one with the small outpost we took down last session?

>>17640868
>>17640817
These work for me.

>>17640930
I thought it was too small for our purposes. Is that not true?

>>17640930
>that ford is far too small to move a military force of noteworthy size across in a reasonable amount of time.

You smirk "Technically, Lena grew up among the Kharynchek so you aren't quite accurate culturally putting her and Wulf together. Aside from that, with how long Wulf has been gone, and what he has been through I am not at all surprised that those two are still waking up the dead with their lovemaking."

Catalina heaves a sigh "So no, its just your maniple where such things are commonplace then."

You grin, and answer "The volume is a gauge of how much fun is being had."

Catalina tries, and fails, to suppress a chuckle as she shoots back "That explains the large unoccupied area around your tent then, I suppose.

>so, what do you want to do now, or would you rather just timeskip ahead to when Catalinas training is finished?

>>17641068
Can we just expand it with earth elementalism then?

>>17641068
We had Degrian working on some anti-undead projects. It might be a good idea to talk to his sister and see how those are going to see if we'll have a prototype soon or not.

>>17641148
this

>>17641068
I really want to explore the "screw them all we'll make our own bridge" idea, which would involve completely bypassing the undead + demonhost defenders during entry.

If Pax won't let that fly, then let's just make sure that we are as prepared as we'll ever be in making the crossing.

I believe the plan is for the Duchy troops be the anvil, Gabriel's force supporting them (mini-hammer?), and we and Malcius being the main hammer crossing the river. How do the Duchy troops plan to get across in the first place? What's the battle plan here?

Once we have a solid battle plan, we can time-skip to when we have Neshai Priests churning out anti-undead blessed weapons.

>>17641068

Unless Finian has finished the decoding then go with this
>>17641148

>>17641174
But isn't it completely unguarded now, though?

>>17641148
Thirding

>>17641347
That crossing is too narrow.

It takes a few hours to find her, but you track down Lethiana to her tent, where she looks to have just woke up, and seems quite wrapped up in the parchment she is attacking with a chunk of lead. Either that, or she is working on some new contraption, you cant really be sure which "How goes the work, Lethiana?" you ask from just outside her tents open flap by way of announcing yourself.

She looks up from her work, and parts her beak in the gesture you now know for a fact is a Karskyanas best imitation of a smile. "Slowly, need to kill undead, but killing undead takes strange methods. Need help with something?"

You nod "I would like to try to modify some autowagons to act as a bridge, instead of trying to take a ford or other suitable crossing."

Lethiana tilts her head, and asks "How deep is river?"

You shrug and enter her tent, which is a mess, worse than Degrians dwellings usually are "I'm not certain, why do you ask?"

"If deeper than wagon is tall, will simply loose wagon, may loose wagon anyways even if not. Grayrun has very strong current, wagons may not be durable enough, wont move and will make excellent bridge, but would be torn apart by river before all could cross."

You shrug "Perhaps I could simply widen a ford then, or lift the river to a uniform height to make a swiftly constructed, moveable bridge possible."

Lethiana tilts her head to the side and asks "Soes water not make earth elementalism very difficult, sometimes impossible?"

You feel your shoulders slump, and you just reply "I really did forgett that, didnt I?" with a dry chuckle "That certainly explains more than a few of these scars I have."

Laughing, Lethiana replies "Happens to me as well." before she pulls out a different set of plans, and, looking at it, adds "If you help, might have undead destroying device ready by end of day."

>>17641392
"I would be glad to help. What would you have me do?"

>>17641392
"I'm all for it then. What kind of help do you need?"

>>17641464
Yeah no reason not to.

Just widen the ford. It'll be easier than raising one from the riverbed and we've done that one before, even if we passed out afterwards

>>17641498
We might have to do that at the guarded ford, even.

You shrug, nothing else really needs doing at the moment, so "Sure, how can I help, I suppose."

Lethiana grins, and pulls a few bits of steel out of a chest, they resemble fins, to a certain extent. "Start by helping empty this chest."

-----CQ-----

Its ugly, resting in your hands, a wooden block carved out to form grips, three metal fins that could each be a toddlers shield protruding from the back, each coated in runes, and the three of them twisting around to form a tube. The tube has a nozzle at the end, and connects to a pair of what you recognize as the metal spheres Degrian developed to condense steam, and there is one of them to either side. Your left hand is on the grip just behind the tip, your right on the handle protruding from the rear of the contraption, thumb on a simple stud protruding from the six inches of the handle that runs perpendicular to the ground.

Lethiana explained how the thing works to you as you made it, and it terrifies you. The runes condense the arcane mists in the area, and move them into the tube. When you depress the stud, the steam tanks will fire off, and the steam will be pushed into the nozzle, just barely in front of where the tube begins, activating more runes that keep the mists in the tube, and begin to propel them forward. The flared nozzle at the end of the tube is home to more runic phrases, all carefully arrayed, that force the steam and mists to coalesce, and then, in theory, become a superheated, widening jet of arcane power.
>cont'd

Runes degrade when used. the more intense the use, the faster they degrade. Sometimes instead of simply not working, a runic phrase will have, strange, effects tangentially related to their original use. This test weapon, that Lethiana admits was mostly Degrains work, she simply polished up a few finer points, though none of the runes are filled or at all reinforced, as that would not keep them from falling to pieces after a battle, at the very most. In theory.

"Why again am I the one who is test firing this?" you ask Lethiana as a small crowd begins to gather at the sparring field, despite the late hour.

"Because device is bigger than me. And I not insane." Lethina replies as she steps further back, and continues to watch you. You gulp, close your eyes, and depress the stud. To the tune of an unholy shriek akin to horses being flayed alive from one end, and skinned alive from the other, crossed with tearing metal and a roaring fire, the device works, and incandescant super-heated death lights the night sky.

>Pax is feeling under the weather and tired, and after this its a battle, so I'ma call it here.
>someone archive please
>I'll be back tuesday at 9pm server time

Got this idea from reading that journal thread: Tell Lethiana to put metal shavings and nails from the smithy into her improvised hand grenade. Blast emerald + pitch + metal bits = fragmentation grenade.

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