I say we night attack it up. It's been ages since we've done a proper night attack and we should let the men rest. If any are feeling decent enough to help during the night attack they can join us but we definitely should let them rest after that damn forest.

>>18113121
Yeah after what happen last battle they need the sleep

Agreeing on night attack. With how haggard our guys should be looking, the poor people will probably thing they're being attacked by ghosts.

You grin a bit "I think Aurelius has the best plan right now. Gather whatever men are able to fight in such an engagement, and have the rest continue to rest."

Aurelius apes your tired grin and replies "My entire battalion will be able to support this attack."

Sansa shakes her head "Already that could be a fourth of our foes force. Well, if they are all awake. How do you plan to get around their palisade, Commander?" as the mercenary captains reach the meeting, and begin quietly catching themselves up through Gaius as you ponder that problem.

>>18113530
Why not the same why we dealt with the giant log blocking our path? Rot the walls. Not sure if that'll be quiet though. Do we have any life elementalists that can affect the shape of wood?

>>18113530
can we have Vi rot the palisade under cover of night? She took care of a FUCKHUGE ancient tree during the goblin ambush, from range!

the only real question is how much time she needs and how noisy it will be, and if she can stop it after we take the town?

>>18113671
Sounds great and if we mix it with earth ele due to the weakened wood it should work out fine

>>18113711
Yeah but, like Generic, I'm unsure how quiet this method might be. If our archers can take out any guards near that portion of the wall, it might be simple enough. Is the terrain level? I'm wondering if maybe we can get somewhat close and then have Justinian make a tunnel to bypass the palisade.

>>18113729
wood rotting and falling over is never quiet so it would depend on the guard's state so we should at least have Vi on standby I guess

>>18113530
Derp I suppose we COULD just scout the whole palisade out from a distance and see if there is a weak point. It's possible the lord of this place could be lax in maintaining it due to their location. I doubt we'll find much but we could get lucky.

>>18113729
>>18113711
>>18113818

really, it depends on -how- the wood is decayed.

does she create a wood-eating mold/fungus and rapidly accelerate it to destroy the wood? or does she destroy the wood directly?

if it is a mold or fungus, in theory she might be able to do it slower and quieter, after we pick off the guards...

>>18113847
I guess we will ask her then

After Gaius finishes catching up the mercenary captains, you interject "Vi. I just need to make sure she can do ti quietly." you pause to add "Though, Aurelius' men could easily make it so that it is a non-issue."

Grinning, Gaius replies "I will see how many of my men are able to participate in tonights assault, and pick the most suitable while you do that then, Commander." and is quickly echoed by the rest of your currently present command staff.

-----CQ-----

Vi is asleep, of course, but it is a light sleep, and she rouses easily enough. "Vi, my love, I will need your help in getting us a bed to properly rest after taht damn forest." you tell her as she pushes up from the cot she spread across the floor of the autowagon you had been traveling on.

"How can we help?" she asks, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

"Could you do to the village we are approaching palisade what you did to the log that barred our way int he clearing?" you ask her, cutting straight to the chase so that she can get back to resting.

She thinks for a bit before replying "We could, but it would not be quiet, and would take some time." your wife pauses, before adding "Or, we could use some of the syptionus sap we have to craft a fungus to destroy the wall... but we would not be able to stop it easily, and it would be likely to become uncontrollable. It would likely consume most of the villages wood and structures before we could burn it off, and the fires would be likely to destroy the rest of the town."

You frown "Do you think you could make a second fungus that would consume the first, then die?"

She sighs "We would be hard pressed to have it ready before midnight, and would need help from Jayne, and the other life elementalists with us."

>>18114152

damn.

we might be better off wiping out the night guard with stealth, then seizing a gate.

unless Vi could do the fungus and only have it eat a small area, say enough for a unit to pour through with about 4-6 men at a time?

>>18114240
How loud is loud? It'll wake people up loud or patrolling guards will hear this loud?

Regardless, I think it might be best to wait a day and let the men rest up and then do a proper assault at night. It doesn't look like we can do this quietly unless we can find a way to have them open the gates/let our men in and while we could put on some Uurlanth uniforms and try to look like refugees from a battle or something, that will probably result in a full battle.

>>18114240
I really want to say let's just forget about the town after what happen in the forest but that's not our M.O. We might have to stick to old fashion earth elementalism and have her prepare the fungus as a last resort if things go wrong as they always do.

We still have some of the siege equipment we looted from Estrok, right? Does that rope-growing arcana work on wood?

>>18114240
seconding this, the fungus sounds like too much of a risk though maybe we should have vi prepare it(along with the secondary one to stop rampant growth) as a back up

If we are going at this tonight, I say skip out on the fungus. It'll only cause way more problems in the long run. We can earth ele our way into the place in the worst case scenario.

Right. The fungi idea sounds too complicated. Too many things can go wrong.

I say:

Send in Deadeyes with arcana rope (or regular climbing rope and hook). Open a gate and start stabbing militia in their beds.

Kestrin Raiders should still be mostly fresh. Maybe send them in thru the gate skirmish-style (assuming that they are trained to fight out of formation) to support the Deadeyes.

Relatively fresh troops from the other battalions go in with formation, and mop up any organized resistance.

Panic mode: Tear down the palisades with earth elementalism. Set fire to everything. Retreat.

>>18114581
Fine since no one wants to prepare it at all we could just forget about it.

>>18114639
I just don't want Vi to tire herself out more making the fungus and using that sap up. It could be useful for something else in the future.

After dark, let's send in the Skywings to scout out the town first. We should find out where the militia barracks and town watch HQ are, before we breach the town, not look for them afterward.

>>18114663
Sounds good

You nod "In that case, I think we should save the sap. Go back to resting Vi, we will likely need you once the fighting is through." is your reply, before heading off to find Aurelius.

You find him just as he finishes talking to his men, all of whom are now rummaging through their packs for whetstones and blade polish before you. "All of my men are ready for battle, Commander, what are our orders?"

Looking over the battalion, you reply "You and your men will scale the palisade, after killing any guards. You will open the gates to allow the Kestrin raiders into the town, and make for the militias barracks, and head office of the town guard to kill the towns defenders before they wake."

Aurelius nods slowly, as he replies "I take it we are to burn the buildings after killing the inhabitants and taking anything of value?"

Shaking your head, and motioning for CAptain Damian, who you noticed passing by to jion you, reply "No, that is the job of the Raiders and whatever other soldiers have the energy to fight tonight. Your men will need to move swiftly to be successful tonight."

Aurelius grins "We will not dissapoint, Commander. Though, I must ask how we will know which buildings to strike at."
>cont'd

You tilt your head to Captain Damian, and reply "The Skywings will locate the buildings as best they can once darkness falls, and brief you on their location."

The captain, having heard his orders, quickly replies "I will have my best flyers set to the task. Will we be providing support if it comes to battle?"

Sansa walks up behind you "About a third of most of our line battalions are combat capable, and the captains all say about half of that number are skilled enough to be of use tonight. What are my orders, Commander, and where will you be for this raid?" she interjects, the bags mostly gone from under her eyes.

>>18115112
Yes to air support but stress not being hit by any archers over helping. Can't afford to lose air units now. I'm thinking have Sansa join Aurelius (Although let the man command damnit) since she has been trained by Dasesu. Or maybe we should just let her take the remains of the men she trained as her own unit again. We'll join the Kestrin raiders since I imagine they're the ones who are likeliest to get into combat.

The Skywings should provide harassing fire from the air against enemy troops. Focus on preventing any troops that our ground forces miss, or survivors, from rallying into formations. If a formation does get formed, pour bolts into them.

Our skirmishers (Deadeyes + Raiders) should be ordered to fade away if they encounter an enemy formation. Let the air cavalry and our line troops take care of them.

Both Justinian and Sansa should go with the Deadeyes. The rest of our combat retinue should come along as well, assuming that they are well rested and can be stealthy.

>>18115246
I like this

Non-stealthy combat retinue can go with the Raiders. I suppose it's mostly their personal preference and fighting style. For example Laelith would probably have trouble fighting "stealthily".

No objections to assigning Justinian to the Raiders either.

"Yes, if it comes to open battle, the you are to provide support. But make sure to not take any casualties, we can not afford them." you answer to Damian, who salutes and moves off to prepare his battalion for the nights raids. You look to Sansa "You are free to split off with the men you trained to act as needed, I will start with the Kestrin raiders, along with Laelith and Collin. As the battle develops, I will move as needed as the battle develops, however." Sansa nods, salutes, and heads off to make your orders known to the rest of the maniple.

Aurelius salutes "Again, thank you for this chance, Commander. I will not disappoint."

You salute the captain "And I have every confidence in you Aurelius." before moving off to prepare your own gear.

-----CQ-----

It is just past midnight, when Aurelius battalion springs into action, eyes glowing, charcoal cloaks thrown about their shoulders. Even with the moonseye paste, the handful of arrows that flit forth to execute the few guards at the gate are impossible to see or track until they are through their targets necks. Before the bodies stop twitching the first of the Deadeyes are over the palisade, blades glinting in the moonlight.

Less than five minutes later, the doors to the town creak open, unbarred, and ever so slightly ajar. Captain Trina flourishes her axe, and motions forward with it, and the entire force begins to silently advance on the town. Behind you, the portions of the line combat battalions await the signal to join open battle, should it occur, or to follow the Raiders to complete the securing of the town.
>cont'd

The area immediately inside the gate is devoid of life, and large enough for two full battalions to stand in formation, if needed. Of course, several corpses litter the place, all of them wearing the green and white of this towns militia, stained red with their own blood. "Make for the militia barracks and town guards quarters. Do not break the silence unless absolutely necessary." you order the battalion.

As the force begins to split off, and you quickly fire off the signal to silently consolidate control of the town through the now wide open gate, Sansa jogs up to you "The towns prison, and one of the local mayors manors guardhouses are awake and alert." she briefs you, her ten chosen men in tow "Neither place has more than twenty uurlanthi stationed within, but if either is given the time to get men to the bell at the mayors manor..."

>>18115745
"then let's hit the guardhouse first, quickly and quietly, since they'll be closest to the bell"

>>18115745
Hmm. Could Sansa sneak to the manor with her men and use the ropes to get to the bell tower and disable the bell?

Otherwise we're going to have to split up and take the men in those locations out. Ideally by setting up a few ambushes in likely route anyone escaping might take before we assault them.

>>18115798
I guess we split

>>18115924
Aye. Just make sure we have some men hidden near the manor to ambush anyone who tries to escape. I say we hit the guardhouse although I wonder if they'll have anyone interesting in the prison.

>>18115953
Sounds like a plan and if they do have anyone there which I don't but if they do it not like they going to say "Oh shit it's Trentz better kill all these prisoners here."

"I will go with you to the guardhouse then." you reply, drawing your sword. Then, you turn to the mercenary captain "Captain Eschron, take your best men and see that the prison is dealt with properly, Collin will accompany you."

At that, salutes are exchanged, and as you begin to silently race through the streets of the still sleeping town, a handful of Raiders make for the prison. The guardhouse is a squat, three story tower is rather unimpressive, but light is spilling from its windows. Outside of the tower are two groups of five men, half of them headed for the mayors manor, the other half in the direction of the militia barracks. If Aurelius' men did their job the latter group should not be able to affect the battle, however, they will have to pass through much of the town to get there, and if the town wakes up, the plan will fall apart, and battle will likely be joined... if only with a mob of panicked, angry peasants.

>>18116081
15 guys to chase the guys running towards the militia barracks, 15 guys chase the people going after the manor and we deal with the folks inside with what we got with us

>>18116365
Sounds like a plan but I believe a few ranged troops are with us. Have them focus on the group heading towards the manor before they realize we're here.

Also if there's a solid wall without windows, I suggest we scult ourselves a door and enter through there with a few men while the rest storm the tower's normal entrance.

>>18116412
Sounds great

>>18116412
second

rolled 56 = 56

>>18116457
Combat roll

I say prioritize the group headed for the manor, then the group headed for the barracks. The ones still in the tower can wait. Maybe bar the door shut from the outside.

You look behind you to the small group of soldiers that Followed Sansas chosen soldiers and yourself, and motion for them to split off and pursue the fleeing soldiers. Sansa looks to her men, and points to three of them "The town bell, I want its rope by the time we have this tower cleared."

At that, she motions to the door, and steps back. Grinning, you raise a few cobblestones from the street, and launch them into the tower door. You are the first through the ruined door, and are immediately set upon by a trio of the mayors personal guards. Armed with maces and circleshields they nearly push you back out through the door. Nearly. You manage to catch their initial strikes on your shield, stepping back to ablate the force of the impacts.

You duck to avoid a crushing blow angled for your head, and an arrow slips over your head, and into the eye of the guard who had been trying to strike at you. Using the confusion, you step forward, kicking one of the three guards who met you to the ground, and thrusting your blade through the others chest. And that, of course, is all the time Sansas men need to get into the tower.

As you move towards the captain of this little guard contingent, Sansa darts past you, sprinting for the stairs behind him, clearly intent on ensuring no more guards in the tower are able to raise any other sort of alarm. All around you, her chosen soldiers deftly dodge the heavy mace-blows directed at them, their daggers stinging at the uurlanthi soldiers, piercing weak spots in their armor, and splitting exposed flesh at will.

>>18116748
It's Five guys Trentz chasing them wouldn't do much if we use the some of the scouts and and send some guys after them unless we use Earth ele but that makes alot of noise and we kinda want to avoid that

rolled 7 = 7

>>18116767
Combat Roll

>>18116767
We should have a couple of men check to make sure that none of the guards escape via the windows on the other floors.

>>18116951
Nice idea

Trusting that Sansa will be successful, you take a second step towards the captain of this guardhouse. His first strike, you sidestep away from. His second, you catch on your shield, the third, you parry with your blade. It is surprising, when that parry takes the head of the mace clean off with your parry, but, judging by the break, the mace had been poorly maintained for some time, and the force of striking your shield was nearly to much for it. The guards face is one of total shock, before you bash it in with your shield. You run your sword through his neck before his body strikes the ground, and sever his head as you turn your back to the corpse.

Turning around as you flourish your blade, cleaning the blood from it, you see the rest of the guards in the building lying dead, and Sansas men moving up the stairs to support your wife if she requires any aid. You move to follow them, though, the three courses you pass on your way up were clearly felled by Sansa. As you pull yourself up onto the small towers parapet, you find yourself treated to an excellent view of the town below. Everywhere, you see soldiers in crimson, or mercenaries in familiar colors throwing down the mayors banners, many of them raising Imperial Crests in their place. "I do love it when a plan comes together perfectly." you muse as you step to your wife and aides side.

nodding as she sighs contentedly, Sansa asks "Can we sleep in the mayors bed, love?"

Before you can reply, the soldiers she dispatched return, shards of bell and a length of rope in hand. "We ruined the bell, and have its rope, Dominu." the leader of the small group reports "The household still sleeps."

>>18117010
"I think we should go inform the mayor that we'd like a room in his manor."

Time to go surprise a sleeping mayor while our men clear up the sleeping troops.

>>18117032
second

>>18117032
third

>>18117032
That sounds fine to me if no other enemy forces in the town are a threat.

>>18117032
i would fourth this, but the point would be moot

You look out at the town again, impressed, and reply "Then I believe it is time we went to inform the mayor of the recent change in ownership of this town, while the rest of the force finishes up with the militia and garrison."

Grinning widely, Sansa follows behind you as you start climbing down the ladder from the top of the tower "I do love rude awakenings."

You chuckle "It will be amusing, my love." as you move back through the tower at a leisurely pace. The manor is exactly as Sansas men described it, silent and asleep. Though, some of those sleeping will continue to do so for eternity, as they were the guards on duty when Sansas men passed through. the manor itself is opulent, much of it gilded in silver. the lamps are mostly out, but full of oil. The floor is of imported woods from the Guilds, richly finished and expertly laid. The walls are the same bright green as the now mostly dead or dying militia and town guard.

The mayor is a slightly pudgy man in his very late middle age. His hair was black, but is more steel gray than any other color, save the shocks of black holding on at his temples, and the base of his beard. His face, though sleeping, has clear laugh lines, and his wife, comfortable in his arms, is still pretty, despite her being at most of age with him. "They look so content, I almost feel bad waking them." your wife quips in a whisper, as she looks for you to make the first move.

>>18117278
nudge him as though we were a servant coming to tell him something "Mayor, wake up, the Degnarians are in the city!" when he wakes up take him into custody(quip optional)

>>18117309
Funny and to the point

>>18117309
Can't think of anything else. Also, sweet they have oil lamps. More oil for us to use for fire attacks and such.

>>18117309
Add to this something like "OH GODS THEY'RE ALREADY HERE!"

>>18117350
well we have to add this to now

>>18117350
Don't give the poor guy a heart attack. Just a gentle nudge and a "Sir I'm afraid the town has fallen to Degnarian troops..."

>>18117350

>>18117426
I'm fine with either one of these

You take a moment to collect yourself, before removing your left gantlet, strapping your shield to your back, and nudging the slumbering mayor "My Lord, Deganrians are attacking the town." you inform him gently as he begins to rouse.

He sits up quickly, eyes snapping open. Then, he freezes, as he takes you in. "It seems that they have already won the day." she adds.

The mayor, for his part, doesnt piss himself. Nor does his wife as she stirs beside him, while he stutters out "Th-th-the Midnight Dragon."

You chuckle "That is the moniker they gave me. And yes, you have already been defeated."

"I would suggest you go peacefully, little lordlings." Sansa half sings, half chides from beside you "We had a rough time going through that damn forest, and need a good nights rest quite badly."

Still terrified, and looking utterly defeated, the mayor replies "I keep no slaves, and suffer none to be kept. My sons are abroad serving at my lords court, or for the Golden Flame..."

"Commendable." Sansa replies "Now please, your towns people will be looking to you for leadership when our soldiers begin searching for beds, and fighting back would be..."

Nearly crying now, the mayor answers "I have heard the rumors, the stories. But..."

>>18117644
Hmm. I'm intrigued at what rumors and stories the Uurlanth say about us and why he's crying so much.

>>18117660
We have to know now

>>18117644
I'm impressed and appreciative that he hasn't pissed on the bed.

"Come, mayor. Let's see to it that my tired soldiers get appropriate accommodations. Then we'll find appropriate new quarters for you and your family. I'm not so cruel as to deny my prisoners rest."

Given that the last village dicked us over, we're all agreed that we're stripping everything of value in this town? Possibly burning down the rest? After our maniple rests, of course.

>>18117644
"Well now you have me intrigued. What DO they say?"

After he tells us we should reassure him that we aren't going to slaughter the town and do our best to find somewhere for our men to get some sleep. Those that aren't too tired can stand guard and make sure nobody tries to leave the town and search for valuables.

>>18117743
Like many /tg/ protagonists, Trentz likes to know his own rumors.

Seconding.

>>18117743
thirding

>>18117715
I'm actually tempted to be a little lenient with stripping this guy of all his riches just because he doesn't seem to be a dick with slaves and all. Maybe that's just because I want to go back to the last village and teach those merchants a lesson and I rather not treat this guy worse than we treated them since he's not being all "Rabble rabble rabble Degnar sucks, Uurlanth rules!" like other people have when they're in the same situation.

>>18117823
WE could interrogate him and see if he knows anything about the other villages plans to ambush us, or the other village leaders in general.

>>18117823
Fine but one day we gotta chase those guys who screwed us over. Man we gotta make a list for people who try to screw with us like a checklist for revenge.

>>18117855
agreed

>>18117830
I'm all for interrogation

>>18117855
Check with Kyria about books of grudges when she gets back. I don't want to piss off Finian. Kyria will be too horny to get mad. :D

At the very minimum, we strip the silver mine of silver ingots, and collapse the mine with earth elementalism. That will kill a sizable chunk of local tax income.

Are we positive that it was the last village that sicced the gobbos on us?

You let your smirk falter dangerously for a moment "Rumors, stories? Do tell me, while you vacate my new bed. we need to find accommodations for my tired soldiers, and then your family. I'm not so heartless as to deny my prisoners a proper place to sleep."

The man takes a moment to collect himself, before replying "The stories, are that you are unbeatable in battle, an avatar of Garagush on the field of battle." your smirk blossoms into a massive toothy grin "That you are magnanimous to those who concede defeat, and do no wrong in your eyes."

"They had families..." his wife trails off, pulling her nightgown about herself, before a quick glance from her husband silences her.

The mayor takes a deep breath "The fact that you are here, at this hour of the night would mean only one thing, that there were no survivors. I am good to those who live here. I pay well for working in the mines, and tax little. the only ones I force to work against their will are the hobgoblins that attack us from the woods. and even then, I only work them until they first collapse, then return them to their kin. I hold a grand fair for the town every season... I would have allowed you to pass my village without a fight, offered you my food and hospitality." he sniffles "Many of the guards were my friends, like the brothers I never had to me." again the man pauses to collect himself as you step out into the early morning darkness, Degnarian crests hanging wherever an Uurlanthi banner once flew, corpses being set out as peacefully as possible in preparation for their final rites. "You always know of your foes before you meet them on the field. You would have known that I am a good man, that I did not want this war, nor to fight you... why?" the mayor asks, broken.

>>18117891
Nope that what integrations are for and of course we are gotta take the ore it belongs to us now for payment for what happened at the forest even if they didn't do anything.

>>18117915
"unfortunately, the stories about me have been exaggerated." then go on to give a brief explanation and apology for killing the guards.

>>18117915
"Truthfully? I did not know who you were or how you treated your people so I ensured the safety of my men. All my campaigns, every Uurlanth mayor or lord has despised me and my nation. However, the last village I came across was the first one that seemed to be different and I showed more leniency than normal. For that mercy, I was allowed to walk into a forest full of hobgoblins unprepared. If you really are kind to your people, you understand then that I could not put my men at risk again in the off chance the next town's mayor would be friendly."

I say we have Autronius make sure this guy is on the level this time. We fell for the last towns attempt to be cooperative and I want to make sure this guy isn't giving us a fake sob story. And damnit Pax, I feel kind of bad about what we've done to this guy now.

>>18117989
This right here

>>18117915
"The answer lies with the last town I came across. They offered no fight and allowed us to take what we needed, then 'offered' us the 'safe' route through the forest. After four days of fighting through that mess, tell me what your first thought would be on seeing the next town?"

>>18117998
add this if he tries to complain

>>18117915
"You could have ordered a messenger to contact me when I exited the forest and request that we meet. Not having much information on your town, or you, I could only assume that you would resist like most other towns."

>>18117915
"... This war must end soon, for reasons that I cannot disclose. For what it's worth, I would much rather be at home in DragonsReach, and enjoying the warmth of my wives, than raiding the Uurlanthi countryside in the dead of the night. I never wanted to be here, mayor. Your King did not offer my much choice in the matter."

"Now. My men were attacked in the forest by the hobgoblins. SOMEBODY alerted them to our presence. SOMEBODY convinced the hobgoblins to attack us. TALK."

Keep walking with him. I meant it when I say he's to personally oversee getting our troops proper quarters.

>>18117989
>And damnit Pax, I feel kind of bad about what we've done to this guy now.

thats the whole point, fool! Pax feeds off your guilt, it fuels his writing...

"I take no pleasure in what i did, if that is any consolation. i did not know that you were a good man or not, or that you had no interest in fighting in this war, and i don't always know about my foes before i meet them. reputation or not, I'm still a human.'

You sigh, not turning to face the man, instead watching your men begin to file into town "Unfortunately, the stories about me are exaggerated, and I do not always have perfect intelligence prior to every engagement." as the mayor begins dejectedly pointing out inns, large houses, and taverns, you continue "However, I was allowed to pass into the forest unwarned of the hobgoblin presence there as a reward for my magnanimosity with the last village that surrendered to me, and kept nos slaves."

the mayor, despite his sullen nature, barks out a laugh "The Schwartan brothers are among the chief slavers in the region! Any slavers they sold to you are probably just their employees that would have tried to betray them to you as they did to the men you no doubt have in shackles."

You sigh again, as anger crosses your face "And after that, you no doubt know why I chose to strike at night, instead of approaching during the day. I would much rather be at home in Degnar, enjoying the warmth of my wives than raiding an Uurlanthi village in the dead of night myself. And if you care for your townspeople as much as you claim to, you understand my actions. This war _must_ end however, so I do what I must."

The mayor nods in sad agreement, though his face is setting itself in stone more and more, his features, features clearly made for laughter and kindness set into a mask of anger "Whatever you take, leave me my last hundred gold coins, I care for nothing else."

>>18118152
"I don't intend to destroy the town, mayor. I will leave the mine undamaged, though I will require all of the ore and ingots that you have." I'm all for letting this guy get by largely unscathed

>>18118179
The guy sounds legit but I want confirmation this time. I imagine Wulf will give that to us when he gets here but I'm all for not destroying this mans life/village like we have with other lords if he is as he appears to be. Not to say we'll leave him with everything he owns though. Those brothers though? They will pay. We will hunt them down.

"Why are those coins so important to you?"

>>18118193
sounds good to me

>>18118193
Yay I'm the best yes man in the world let's go with this

Wait. If the Schwartan brothers were lying to us, how come Autronius didn't catch it?

Have Autronius screen the mayor later, and wait for Wulf to arrive for confirmation.

I still say collapsing that mine though. This mining town is not exactly poor. They'll survive.

>>18118152
Let's just check out his story first before we do anything

>>18118193
>>18118240
Seconding both of these

You nod "I will not beggar you, though I will do my duty to my Emperor and make certain that your ability to wage war is no more. the barracks, the mine, any smithies..." you trail off as the last of your men make their way into the town "Though I must ask, why did you ask for one hundred gold coins be left to you?"

"That is the going rate for a contract with the Shadowed Brotherhood. the best I can purchase short of sending for a Bleak Raven, and such a payment would not go unnoticed. whereas an order that is closer to home..." he replies, the facade of an Uurlanthi noble sliding over his broken, diminished happy features.

You stop to look at the man before you more closely, and are surprised to find that he is very serious "Those sorry excuses men did more harm to me and mine than they did you and yours. They will hang on crosses for a long time before they are finally sent to the far side of the Bleak Coast." you pause, before asking more out of curiosity than caring for the mayors well-being "And, would your King not execute you for treason for having other nobles, no matter how minor, killed."

The mayor shrugs "My sons are old enough to rule properly, and I raised them as best I could. The peasants will suffer no more under my heir than they did under me. I will be punished for my crimes, but within a decade all will be right in this town again, and those heirless, unmarried brothers line will have been ended as it should have been long ago."

Just echoing some points I made in IRC:

This mayor may not be "evil", but he's doing evil by association. He rules a neighboring town from villages ruled by slavers. I bet he trades in products made with slave labor. I bet captured slaves are shipped through his town en route to the slaver villages. He pays taxes to, and is a cog in, a feudal machinery that not only condones but actively encourages slavery.

In essence, by being a "good guy", he lends legitimacy to an evil system.

Perhaps Justinian can make him see the light before he leaves. Perhaps this is the beginning of the Abolitionist movement in Uurlanth.

>>18118354
The one hundred gold coins sounds like a reasonable request to me as long as we can have Autronius verify he is telling the truth.

.

>>18118419
Yup sounds great

I believe the plan now is to find quarters for the mayor's family. Everything else can wait until morning. Just because we're the Midnight Dragon doesn't mean we don't need to sleep.

>>18118443
It's nap time

You sigh and nod "A reasonable enough request, all things considered. I will need to verify that you are not deceiving me however, and that will take until the rest of my force arrives here."

The mayor tilts his head "And how long will that be?"

You shrug your shoulders and respond "Within the next few days at the worst. You will continue to have the mine operated, and I will take most of what is produced, if not all of it. until then, my men and I will live in the town, though I doubt it will be much more than two days."

As you turn around to head back to the mayors manor, where most of your wives are most likely already asleep, the mayor replies "If I had a daughter, she would be part of your family by then, and I dont doubt that you will have some local turned to your service by then as well." as some of the villagers wake up at the clamor caused by your soldiers finding their resting places. Of course, the cries of recently widowed wives, and fatherless children begin to fill the night before long.

>I'm gonna call it here
>someone archive please
>I'll be back tuesday at 9pm server time

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