>>5441396

“Topotērētēs ! (place-warden, lieutenant) Crush those dogs !”

“With pleasure !” The man responds. Raising his lance, upon which flies the purple-gold wolf, he rallies your Scholae (School).

The noise of around four hundred heavily armoured cavalry thunders across the field, their horses neigh and protest the rough treatment, dirt flies behind the formation, dust swirls and blinds anyone close by trying to gaze upon the shining lamellar as the gleaming armour makes for a foreboding sight.

Following the formation with your gaze, you see as those brave, raised from birth to be warriors, exceptionally honourable men, turn about the moment they realize just how massive is your force compared to theirs.

Is it a faint ? A clever ruse ? Or are they truly running ? You wonder as the enemy cavalry flies towards the hills, were they commanded by less experienced men, no doubt your own cavalry would have given chase. But all of them are battle-hardened veterans. Realizing that the enemy force had run off, the Scholae begin to wheel about and slowly return to the battlefield proper.

“Kyvernítis (governor). Order an attack.” You order Honorius.

“Everyone ! Attack !” Spurring his horse onwards, the man shouts out. Quickly your banner bearers star sending signals as horns continue to blare the order for forwards march, or in this case, to attack.

Thousands of men shout out at the top of their lungs at once, causing the Earth itself to shake underneath their numerous feet. In a swift, short rush, your men smash into the line. It buckles, bends…but it does not break. Fighting like men possessed, the Akeonians portray sheer bloodthirst as they continue to attack without end. Their numbers are clearly inferior to your own, their lines buckling as easily as they did clearly indicate that their lines are two, perhaps three lines deep, incomparable to your own formations whom are at least five men deep.

You cannot help but give some praise to the Akeonians, their toughness is surprisingly impressive. For every one of them slain, they manage to drag down one of yours, if perhaps not two.

“These barbaroi (barbarians) fight well, even after their leaders fled.” You remark.

“They know what fate awaits them.” As a matter of fact, Honorius responds.

“Meaning ?”

“So far, we had executed everyone we captured, usually through crucifixion.”

“I am surprised, kyvernítis. I had thought you did not have it in you to do what was necessary.”

“I am no squeamish boy whom is yet to grow his beard. I do what I must, I simply have a duty to protect my people and their lands. I will draw blood, and I shall slay anyone who threatens my homeland.”

Giving the man a side-eye, you eventually turn your head to regard Honorius. “Still, such actions had made sure that these foreigners would not yield.”

>>5441398

“You should not be one to criticise me, domestikos (domestic, commander). You had hung many good men yesterday.”

You spit upon the ground. “Good men ? Traitors all, they deserved nothing else.”

“Hang your countrymen and spare the foreigner. An excellent philosophy.”

“Hang the traitor, enslave the enemy. I had spared no one.” You bite back. “And I shall enslave every single one of them that throws down their arms. And I shall kill all those that do not.” You say with finality as your cavalry slams into the back of the Akeonian formation. Despite their ferocity, that is enough to cause a rout.

“Many had died this day, domestikos, and that was against an inferior force in a battle that lasted less than half an hour. I can only hope that your decisions result in a swift victory.”

“What I do is for the best of the Empire. It will be a quick war, a brutal war, but one that will cost us less than your cautiousness.”

Honorius stares at you for a moment, before turning back to regard the battle.

“Best for the Empire.” He eventually responds.
.
.
.
The entirety of the chevaliers had managed to escape the battle, about 1,500 Akeonian lay dead, all of whom fought with the ferocity of lions, another 500 eventually surrendered rather than being run down by your cavalry, whilst around another 1,000 had managed to flee. And alongside the gathered dead about 400 retinue had also been found dead, spread across the line, they had exacted a reaper’s toll upon your forces, but they were also eventually brought low.

As for your own forces, the tagmata (regiment/battalion) had emerged unscathed, but around 2,000 of your own levies lay dead, alongside about 100 mercenaries, the only silver lining being the fact that they would be paid at the end of the campaign, meaning that you no longer have to compensate for their time. Of the better equipped levies, being from richer families, these men are very well armoured, as such only their own inexperience had caused around 50 of them to die.

It had taken more than a day to reorganize your army, but despite the deaths suffered, your overall losses were proportionally lesser than those of the Akeonians comparing your forces in their entirety. If the other two prongs had suffered similar losses and dealt similar damage, your tactics would have resulted in the Akeonian forces savaged beyond effectiveness, whilst your own would be more than capable of fighting on.

>>5441400

Once again, under a quick march, your forces move on, with 300 of your levies left behind to guard Imbryra. No doubt those routed chevaliers had already run off to their strongholds and informed the local garrisons of your force. That will either complicate things, as the defenders will prepare themselves to fight you off, or it will make things easier as your utterly overwhelming force will frighten them into surrender, now that you have prisoners to prove that you do not execute everyone you capture.

-
(End of POV shift. A day or so back.)

Leontius looks upon the throne from the centre of the chamber, the senators themselves cast glances as well, everyone avoiding your gaze, as they have no wish to be blinded for such insolence. You yourself are tapping your fingers upon the arm rest, you mind racing. Should you accept the senate’s demands ? Should you deny them, hoping that the mercenaries provided will be enough ? But wouldn’t that be considered an insult upon them, to demand their wealth to fuel a war directed not upon the empire, but upon you and your claim to the throne ?

Suddenly, you remember your father, how he led his army to march upon Myralos and seize the throne in a bloody fight in which he risked his life. You think of your uncle, a man whom you had barely known, but you have to admit that he had a certain amount of courage and charisma to lead the army himself, risking everything to gain everything. Certainly, barbaroi (barbarians) march upon your lands, but they do so under the banner of legitimate claimant. With families, sometimes even a millennia old, whom does not have a claim to the throne through numerous ancestors ? It is a battle between claimants, not one against foreigners.

Having made up your mind, your heart beating with ever-increasing intensity within your chest as you think of your own inadequacy, you stand to your full height and taking a few steps forward, stand right upon the edge of your viewing chamber, each and every whisper of your shall be audible to the gathered hundreds.

“Senators.” You begin with a single word, pausing to cast your gaze upon the gathered men. “We hear of your words, your wisdom. We know that what you do is for the betterment of the empire.” The senators are now sitting on the edge of their seats, many already expecting for you to decline their demands. “However, this war is not only a war against brutish foreigners, but it too is a war against our own countrymen.” A few looks of confusion flash across the faces of many of the senators, but you notice looks of shock upon a few, whom quickly turn to regard you with calculation clear in their eyes. “It is our duty, as the father of our nation to bring these wayward sons back into the fold, by Shepherd’s blessing.”

>>5441402

“Your majesty, do you mean to lead the war yourself ?” Leontius questions, seemingly shocked that you would suggest so. For good reasons as well, as you also know that other than what you read within the books, you know not the roughness of war, nor the great tactics, nor the great strategies.

“That is correct. We shall lead the army, that is why we shall call upon the loyal sons of the Empire to march alongside us.” Sweat covering your back, you confirm your intentions, perhaps years of rulership later, you shall not feel so much unease whenever you have to speak in front of the senate, much less so as you are always levelling your demands.

A general confusion takes over the senate, as everyone breaks out in a loud discussion. Whatever plans the senate may have had to curtail your influence, or raise their own by appointing a general more aligned with their interest rather than yours. If nothing else, you had utterly shattered whatever plans these old men had, you had done the unthinkable, by throwing yourself upon great danger, whilst barely having any skills to survive it.

Taking a step back, you quickly find yourself once more upon your throne, not giving the command to restore order, the senate should be allowed their discussion, you too need a moment to comprehend what you had just done. With fortune smiling upon you, the situation should not devolve to the point where you will have to constantly risk your life, but fortune is fickle, giving her attention and her scorn in equal measure as any woman would. Perhaps you should offer more prayers to God and his Shepherd ? You’d rather rely on his plans for you than fortune’s attention.

It seems that your decision had brought forth a far more intense discussion than the one concerning the potential war itself. And so you sit and wait, your own thoughts already moving far away from the senate chamber, thoughts towards potential dangers, logistics, enemy numbers, perhaps Isaac had already won, or his request had been an uncertain one, perhaps the attack is not coming ? Or mayhaps he is already dead, the fortifications guarding the heartlands already in the hands of the traitors ? Or…

You are drawn out of your thoughts as the endless discussions finally draw to a close, the lack of noise finally alerting you that a possible consensus had been reached.

Prōtoproedros (senior president) Leontius, the voice of the senate, bearing a heavy weight once again moves to the centre of the chamber and stands a top of the pedestal.

>>5441403

Clearing his throat, he once more begins. “Your majesty, whilst your sense of duty and bravery is commendable, and befitting of such great augustness. This senate does consider, as your majesty had put it, the betterment of the empire.” I don’t like where this is going. “As such, we must, most humbly point out, that your majesty has no battlefield experience. Please, your majesty, reconsider your choice. Your safety is paramount for the empire’s safety.”

“Would I not be safe, surrounded by all of you experienced warriors ? Would I not be taught by your endless knowledge ?”

You notice a small smile upon Leontius face, it seems your lack of diplomatic capability had seen you say exactly what he wanted to hear.

“If your majesty puts it in such a way, then we, the humblest of your servants, would be more than willing to assist your majesty in managing the war. If we are to march, then we would no doubt march alongside our men in your honour, your majesty.”

Damnded old men, they want to run the war themselves !

“So you wish to be appointed proper titles, for the duration of the crisis ?”

“That would only make sense, your majesty.”

If the nobility would send their men, they would no doubt march alongside them either way, or send someone who would look after their interests. Either way, you would have to keep these forces in line, its just the senate now has a foot through the door.

“If such is the will of the senate, we shall more than happily bestow these titles upon all those worthy of them whom dedicate themselves fully to the empire and its safety.” You say with hint of threat, if the senators want their influence, then they better dedicate a proper number of soldiers for it.

“As your majesty wills it, so shall we obey.” Bowing deeply Leontius responds.

Having had your fill of politicking for today, you rise without another word and depart. Your bodyguards loudly proclaiming that the senate is dismissed.
.
.
.
Loud cheers say their goodbyes to your departing army, the entirety of Myralos had gathered today, the first day of autumn, to give their praises and prayers for your task to protect the empire. At the head of this procession you ride forwards upon a white mare. You would’ve ridden a proper warhorse, had you known how to ride properly, well, you know how to ride, but not too fast, and definitely not a great giant warhorse that could crush you underneath.

>>5441404

A great purple cloak flutters hung over your shoulders and covering the back of the mare. Actual gold stitching had been used upon the wolf portrayed. The uncomfortable layers of armour had been bejewelled with a large collection of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, and even more glittering stones that blind any whom look upon you. A layer of gold covers your lamellar, meanwhile your scale gauntlets are masterful works of craftsmanship, portraying a running wolf, with its jaws opened, and your own armoured fingers being a layer of cut down pearls, making them appear as ferocious fangs ready to bite for the throat.

The wind blows against you, causing the cloak to flutter alongside your own purple-gold plume. The diadem’s, which is worked into the helmet, pearls hit against your steel helmet, causing clinking, clattering noises.

Just this armour could be worth a king’s ransom. It had taken six attendants, forty minutes to ensure that everything looked as perfect as possible. All so that the people could see their emperor at their greatest. And even then, you will take this horribly encumbering set of armour off the moment you set camp, and if everything goes according to plan, you will only ever put it on once you re-enter the city victorious.

Directly behind you is a collection of six of your tagmata (regiment/battalion), bearing the large purple-gold banners reminiscing of your own cloak.

Behind that is the last of your 900 tagmata. You had left 100 of them to guard the palace and your interests. Moving in perfect lockstep, their dark horses, covered in golden barding make for an impressive sight, their lances raised high, the Scholae (School) inspiring another generation of young boys to strive for perfection, to perhaps one day join their prestigious ranks.

The procession following your tagmata is much more diverse, whilst every single one of them is upon horseback, their equipment ranges from those similar of your own tagmata, to a lesser ones, something as simple as a cuirass over a hauberk and a thick layer of padded cloth. At the end of the day, a grand force of 4,000 cavalry of various weights and armaments led by the senators, with another 3,000 to be picked up along the way, for a total force of 7,000. An impressive cavalry formation, more than capable of overwhelming many others, presuming they can all cooperate with one another and not backstab each other.

And finally, bringing up the rear are 5,000 mercenaries, decently well armed and armoured, they all march on foot, making up the anvil for your hammer. Overall, they usually have chain hauberks on the lower end, and proper scale and lamellar armour on the higher end. They are mainly armed with shields, spears and axes. Still, they will all be payed at the end of the conflict, so if patriotism does not motivate them, the promises of gold and silver should.

>>5441405

This large force had taken about a month so assemble, organize, and supply. Throughout this time, no more messengers had come from Strategos (General) Isaac, but you suppose that no news is good news. If the line had been broken, the local kyvernítis (governor) would send messages, and if not them, then your soon to be father-in-law most definitely would.

As for the war for the isles ? Armentarius has been making decent progress, the need to lay siege on larger towns slowing his advance, but it continues on without much opposition, there being only a single field battle waged, one that Armentarius had won. Other than that, it seems that the Akeonians are perfectly content to sit in your towns, and pillage your countryside.

Meanwhile, Mundus had been striking at Akeonians upon the seas, hitting their supply ships with middling success. The supplies captured however, make up for the fact that you had to cut them in half, allowing Armentarius to continue his assaults upon land.

However, reports for Colale, the other contested isle, had not been as great. The local kyvernítis there had been slain, his body crushed beneath a charge of chevaliers bearing banners of a silver dragon. Reinforcements will be needed there, but the towns are large, their walls highs and garrisons, whilst not plentiful, are sufficient to hold their ground. A few swift victories here and there, and you will be able to send a relief force large enough to make a difference.

Marching down the main road, your eyes catch the sight of the still green birch tree. By the time you reach Orospulón (east mountain), those very same trees will have their leaves turn brown and golden, as the chilly winds will descend onwards onto your lands.
.
.
.
“…and another fifty men from house Zimisces.” Protasekretis (first secretary) Auxentius finishes reporting. The man had joined the march, contributing sixty men, and of course the simple need of you having to keep the empire running even whilst on campaign had necessitated a gaggle of bureaucrats to follow you.

“And how is our food situation ?”

“The route your majesty had planned is still being stuck to, we should be able to move swiftly enough and resupply at the nearest town.”

“Good. Any messengers from Strategos Isaac ?”

“None yet, your majesty.”

Frustrating, you are perhaps only a week’s march from the mountain forts, and yet still no word reaches you.

“What word from the scouts ?”

“They should be returning soon, your majesty.”

>>5441406

You lean back in the small wooden chair, a cushion placed upon it being the only means of softening it up. Your tent is illuminated by a single large firepit raging in the middle of it, the smoke rising straight up from a large hole at the top of the tent. A simple bed, a luxury on the march, is placed in the right corner, deeper in, underneath it is a large rug placed upon exposed ground, upon which Pistis is currently dozing off. Satchels, bags, chests and the like litter the tent proper as some of your aides continue on their daily routines of running the empire even in the rough circumstances.

Despite the fact that you are on the road, your duties had only continued to increase, the fact that their Emperor is so nearby had resulted in locals coming and begging for audiences every single day of your travels, further adding more work upon your table. Even so, it had calmed you down if nothing else, this is something you are used to, something that is easy to do and one of your greatest strengths. You also have to admit that the senators know what they are doing, the camps were set properly, frequent patrols were established. Surprisingly, you had not witnessed the usual factional bickering you had expected to, something that can be both a threat and a blessing, since a disunited senate can be easily controlled, whilst a united one can be a powerful force for the empire, or against their emperor.

“Your majesty, the scouts have returned.” One of your men steps into the tent and informs you a few hours later.

“Bring them in.” You quickly say, putting down some of the paperwork you were looking over.

Quickly, a trio of your tagmata kowtow before you. “Your majesty, we bring word from Strategos Isaac.”

“Speak.” You say, nervousness and curiosity quickly mixing together.

“The traitors had launched skirmishes alongside the forts protecting the main passages leading into their territory. All five fell under assault, but they were entirely carried out by barbaroi (barbarians), all of the attacks have been repulsed.”

“Anything else ?”

“No, your majesty. The strategos had halted any movement between the passages out of a fear of spies and infiltrators, but no attempts were made to attack in a serious manner.”

“Had any attempts to scout been made ?”

“Yes, your majesty, but none of them had returned. As such, the strategos is simply holding the forts, with no immediate plans to surge forth.”

Perhaps the threat is not as serious as I had thought. You will have to find out once you get there.

“Anything else ?”

“Yes, your majesty.” Another of the scouts speaks up. “Small skirmishes, perhaps only a dozen of men each are happening alongside the borders facing the Lucenians.”

Lucenians ? I had thought we bloodied their noses enough for them to leave us alone for a while.

>>5441408

You direct a questioning gaze towards your protasekretis (first secretary).

“Small skirmishes a such are common place your majesty. Young men testing themselves against our defences, loosing a couple of arrows before running away once their bravery runs out. No one usually even gets injured. Though for it to be happening every day is unusual, perhaps they dreamed up that their pagan gods want to test them more.”

You simply nod. “You are dismissed.” You say waving your hand towards the scouts.

You will have your answers in one week. For now, you return to your work. One troubling you as there’s nothing that you can do, some fishermen from the locals are had went onto the seas and never returned. Unsurprisingly with the rapidly shifting weather, whilst their presumed deaths are a tragedy, there little you can do about it. Perhaps you shall make a speech when you reach Phasydos, the last town upon your way before you depart for the forts. A small town, primarily reliant on fishing, the only reason why it is important is because it serves as one of the main supply centres of the surrounding areas.
.
.
.
Phasydos, a small town with a population of maybe eight thousand, and hardly any bigger during the most prosperous of times. Large stone walls reaching perhaps seven metres, surround its entirety, a large port of the town allows for large merchantships to dock and deliver large quantities of supplies for the always hungry soldiery keeping a keen eye upon the empire’s enemies.

And to your great surprise, what awaits you outside the town’s gate is a small contingent of horsemen, clad in gleaming splint and lamellar awaits your army. Quickly spurring their horses, the small formation is stopped by your own outriders, before a couple of minutes later they fall in line and continue onwards towards the army, specifically towards you.

Moment after moment, the identity of the riders becomes clear, especially that of the one riding in front – Isaac. The last time you had seen the man was the day of your father’s death, but he looks just as stern, and bored, as ever.

“Your majesty.” He says with a bow of his head, still upon horseback of a large warhorse.

“Strategos, we had not expected to see you so soon.”

“The forts hold even without my presence, your majesty. I had come to inspect the forces gathered here. Your majesty’s arrival had also been unexpected.”

“It is our honour and duty to defend the Empire. It is only natural for us to come.” You continue the conversation as the rest of your army marches onwards, beginning to set camp in the outskirts of the town.

“I doubt that there will be much glory to be won, your majesty. The traitors most likely intend to just hurl the savages at our lines until they exhaust us and move it with proper troops. It will be a slog in which the footmen shall give their all in your name.”

>>5441409

“You do not expect that we will be able to retake the lands of the traitors ?”

“I do not know, your majesty. Our forces are small, we are already at war, to pursue further conquest whilst doable, may stretch us far too thin in pursuit of glory. I had seen the consequences, experienced them personally in fact, of what overambition can wrought.”

“So what do you suggest, strategos ? For us to simply wait and see ?”

“Not necessarily, your majesty. The traitors should have known that I would request assistance if they pressed me hard enough without breaking me. Their, lack of speed and dedication makes me thing that they are either lacking in unity, or that they have some different scheme in mind. A such, the cavalry your majesty had brought will be invaluable in order for us to find out what exactly they are planning. Simple scouts had never returned, so the only other option is to send out formations large enough for them to be unopposed.”

“And what of the Lucenians. I heard that small groupings are constantly harassing the border.”

“They are a concern, but with the beating we delivered to them, I doubt that they themselves would launch any sort of an organized attack. And there is also the fact that there simply are not enough men to fully garrison all of the forts facing their direction, not after the havoc they delivered last time.”

“But there’s a chance, is there not ?”

“There always is, your majesty. Nothing in this world is certain other than God’s plan for all of us, but even that can change due to our free will.”

“A very theological argument.”

“Part of any proper education, your majesty.”

The rebels, the rebels, what to do with them ?

>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.

>No. You dragged yourself out here, to simply sit behind and do nothing will invite senate’s criticism, and perhaps allow them to worm themselves into more important positions. Strike out with full force against the rebels.

>Whilst you are no strategic genius, you feel like there is something else that you should do. (Write in)

As for the border with the Lucenians, it could very well be nothing, or it could be the largest invasion you could ever imagine. Either way, your forces are limited and small, to split up too much could very well invite disaster, or just waste time in the best-case scenario.

>Leave it to the locals. You cannot afford to split your forces.

>Perhaps, just to be safe, you should send something out. (What ?)

>(Write in)

Twitter for update announcements: https://twitter.com/NewbQm

Archive links: https://pastebin.com/YKkQ2YWT

Dramatis personae: https://pastebin.com/9vw43LdL

>>5441410
>>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.
>>Leave it to the locals. You cannot afford to split your forces.
I am going to trust Isaac on this one. He is our general for a reason.
He is a sufficently experienced commander and I don't want Manuel to barge in and try to teach him how to conduct war.

Finally. No longer will I have to wait forever for the thread to open.
BTW QM could you maybe give us a rough map of the region? Like where our forts are and stuff?

>>5441410
>>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.
>>Leave it to the locals. You cannot afford to split your forces.
Those lucenian skirmishes are kinda suspicious but I don't want to do anything rash before scouting out the area. Look before you leap and all that. Once our horsies return we will figure out what should be done.

File: Area around the mountains.png (91 KB, 886x582)

91 KB PNG

>>5441456

Ask and ye shall receive.

The area marked red is the five forts in question.

>>5441483
Thank you my guy
You are the best

>>5441410
>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.

>Perhaps, just to be safe, you should send something out.
Does Isaac have infantry outside of the forts? Would it be possible to take enough of them away to reinforce the Lucenian defenses, while not negating the overall increase in size of his army when combined with our Senatorial army? I certainly don't want to send our mercenaries.

>>5441563

>Does Isaac have infantry outside of the forts? Would it be possible to take enough of them away to reinforce the Lucenian defenses, while not negating the overall increase in size of his army when combined with our Senatorial army? I certainly don't want to send our mercenaries.

If he had forces to spare, he wouldn't have sent the urgent missive requesting more reinforcements. He is already working with forces stretched thin.

>>5441410
>>5441563
>Leave it to the locals. You cannot afford to split your forces
So it is then.

>>5441410
>>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.
>>Perhaps, just to be safe, you should send something out. (What ?)

I propose we ask if there are any among the senate who would volunteer to be posted to the south to help safeguard a potential incursion from the Lucenians. Only a few should be allowed of course, but in this way we can rid ourselves of cowards and shirkers who may prove to be a liability.

>>5441408
>All five fell under assault
>all of the attacks have been repulsed
So have they fallen or no?

>>5441410
>Whilst you are no strategic genius, you feel like there is something else that you should do. Examine the state of logistics and general organisation of our forces. There's always something that might be improved. Otherwise,
>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.

>Perhaps, just to be safe, you should send something out.
A sizeable raiding contingent to capture one of the barbarians. Perhaps even laying a trap at one of the forts. We need to know what is going on over there, lest something happens. I have a very bad feeling about that border, and I don't want to risk the collapse of the entire Eastern Front on something that's only "unlikely".

>>5442003

>>All five fell under assault
>>all of the attacks have been repulsed
>So have they fallen or no?

Fall under assault as in they were attacked. You still hold all 5, sorry if I was not clear enough.

>>5441410
A few things stick out to me. This could be a lack of unity on the part of our foe as Isaac says, or hypothetically it could be some sort of strategy whereby alternating the tempo of their operations is intended to weaken us by demanding a response and then slowing down so the conflict lasts longer and burns more money and supplies and patience. This would lead to us either returning home just in time for them to ramp up the assault again and thus forcing us to waste time rushing back or just go home and stay there and hope Isaac doesn't get overwhelmed because the true strength of the enemy and the scope of their attack is uncertain or staying in the field and...well I'm not sure really, though I have a few ideas.

Another thing I worry about is that perhaps there is a naval aspect to this particular war, perhaps the missing fishermen are not some random accident but murders committed by forward naval elements of our enemy meant to protect their force from detection. Perhaps they have a similar strategy to our own naval strategy in our island war, maybe they want to siege Phasydos from the sea and cut off our supply lines once we are further into the theater. Or this is just a random mishap after all or a red herring by the QM.

I'm a little worried about treachery from Isaac or the senators, but that is a persistent worry, no point thinking about it until something substantial indicating foul play comes up. I'll admit to constantly wondering if Isaac is accurately reporting the threats or if he is just trying to gain control of more forces that we send to reinforce him so he can one day usurp us after potentially achieving victory over one of our border foes. Or alternatively if he is looking for an opportunity to get us killed when we come to his aid directly and participate in a battle.

>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.

As Isaac says, our army is small, this is not the decisive battle that will reunite the empire, we are just pushing back their assault and keeping them honest. Gain some experience, learn from the more knowledgeable commanders, defeat the enemy, no need for more.

>Ask Isaac if the littoral waters have been surveyed and/or secured. We heard there was some missing fisherman, most likely an accident but it never hurts to be careful. We wouldn't want our supply lines being cut.

>Leave it to the locals. You cannot afford to split your forces.

If they breach the forts then we'll turn our army around to face them. If the army is so large that we'd have no chance of defeating them with our army then the protection our forts would've provided the force we split off to help the garrisons would be worthless anyhow. Either the forts are good enough on their own or we'd need more then whatever we can afford to reinforce them to push back this hypothetical army. We should retain our strength for the primary threat we are aware of.

>>5441410
>>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.
>Ask Isaac if the littoral waters have been surveyed and/or secured. We heard there was some missing fisherman, most likely an accident but it never hurts to be careful. We wouldn't want our supply lines being cut.

>Perhaps, just to be safe, you should send something out.
A sizeable raiding contingent to capture one or more of the barbarians.
Essentially a counter raid.
Lucenians all are sending small parties. This is the surprise for their surprise, the difference is that we mop them up and interrogate the survivors.

>>5441410
>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.
>Whilst you are no strategic genius, you feel like there is something else that you should do. (Leave a small garrison force in Phasydos, and sent out some experienced fishermen to scout out and patrol the sea.)
The last thing we need is Phasydos to fall, given it’s strategic importance.

>Leave it to the locals. You cannot afford to split your forces.
If the nobles get grumpy about the lack of combat, we can always send a few out this was for a counter-raid as a pressure valve.

It’ll be interesting getting to know Issac at least.

>>5441404
>it seems your lack of diplomatic capability had seen you say exactly what he wanted to hear.
We should've chosen the diplomacy chick. It's concubine time lol.

>Marching out with a bunch of uppity nobles and mercenaries.
Phew. I honestly think we can play the nobles against the Strategos. The only concern I have is if we have the politicking capabilities for it if it's needed.

>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.
>Perhaps, just to be safe, you should send something out. (What ?)
Counter raid light cavalry force of 400 horsemen.

>>5443361
>We should've chosen the diplomacy chick. It's concubine time lol.
Agreed. Diplomacy will forever be our weakness.

>I honestly think we can play the nobles against the Strategos.
Any ideas?

>The only concern I have is if we have the politicking capabilities for it if it's needed.
If it’s any consolation, we can probably outsmart the lot of them, it’s only the diplomatic execution I’m worried about (and I’d definitely have chosen charisma instead of smarts, smarts haven’t been all that useful while we’ve been Emperor desu).

>>5443361
>>5444056

Sadly we are outnumbered by autists

>>5442005
QM, can we improve our charisma by practicing our rhetoric and courtly manners?

>>5444380

You can, though what free time Manuel has is spent training in how to fight. You will have to change his focus in order to do that. I should also point out that his rhetoric skills slightly increases as time goes on due to his position.

As for Manuel's smarts, his administrative ability had significantly increased the DC for anything bad happening concerning matters related to it. It also decreases the DC for good admin events to happen.

>>5444106
Damn those pesky autists. For 4 threads now they've been shamelessly getting in your way.
If it wasn't for them stopping you from executing your devious schemes you would have already conquered the whole map and would have been declared the god-emperor of mankind by the church.
And also gathered yourself a 100 woman large harem. Can't forget about that one lmao.

>>5444601
lol

>>5441410
>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.

>Perhaps, just to be safe, you should send something out.
Form up a sortie of outriders skirmisher light horse.

>>5441410
>A conservative strategy, but one unlikely to fail, better leave it to the experts.

>Leave it to the locals. You cannot afford to split your forces.

I thought I missed some votes, luckily that doesn't seem to have happened.

>>5442043
>>Leave it to the locals. You cannot afford to split your forces.

>>5444800
You missed the first vote anon

i'am not the Admin, but nice thread.

>>5445446
What did he mean by this?

What lol

“We trust your judgement, strategos (general), but it is arrogance that had brought many a great man low in the moments of their greatest triumph. We shall seek out volunteers and send out perhaps one or two hundred of them to face the Lucenians, just to be safe.”

“Very well, your majesty. If that puts your mind at ease, a small force as such wouldn’t impact my plans.”

“Your majesty, strategos.” Leontius approaches both of you.

“Prōtoproedros (senior president).” With venom clear in his voice, Isaac responds.

To this Leontius simply smiles, genuinely as far as you can tell, but one does not reach such an important position without being skilled in the arts of persuasion. “Good day to you too, strategos.” He swiftly responds before turning to regard you. “Your majesty, everyone is quite weary from the long travel, especially the more venerable of our numbers. I’d do good for them to rest in proper accommodations.”

Well, the implication is rather clear. Though a lot of the senators are, as had Leontius described them, venerable men. The long and rough journey must have been quite exhausting for them.

“We shall be resting the night within the city’s walls, worry not Prōtoproedros, soft beds, warm rooms and hot wine shall be in easy reach.”

“Thank you for your great magnanimity, your majesty.” He bows talking sweet words.

“We assume that shall not inconvenience you or your plans, strategos ?”

“No, your majesty. To send men into battle with sore feet and empty stomachs is a foolhardy measure.” Giving the occasional stink eye to Leontius, Isaac still tries to politely respond.

“Oh, and before we forget. Prōtoproedros, we had decided that we require to ensure the safety of our people, as such we desire to send out a small force, perhaps one or two hundred men, to the South. We wish to be sure that the Lucenians do not pose a threat, capture a few of these uncivilized savages for interrogation and find out why they are inconveniencing our border guards. The decision shall be left up to the Senate’s discretion, we are sure that some of the more elderly and wiser of our senators would prefer to spend what twilight years they still posses not engaged in deadly warfare.”

“As you command, your majesty.” Quickly moving his head, notably hiding his expression, Leontius happily responds.

“You are dismissed.” You state and he begins to slowly move away, still keeping his head hidden.

“Your majesty, may I ignore decorum ?” Once Leontius gets out of his earshot, Isaac asks you a surprising question.

“You…may.” You say, hesitation clear in your voice, it is a surprising situation after all.

“The man’s a snake, the entirety of the senate is filled with them, and that one in particular is dangerously venomous.”

Even Armentarius is subtler in his words. [/blue]How did such a man make strategos ?[/blue]

>>5450464

“Whilst we do agree that the senate looks after their interests, it is also they that had gathered and funded this army in the name of the empire’s defence.” Whilst you do not particularly enjoy the ancient men bleating at you like old goats, you cannot really condemn them so harshly and so outright.

“In the empire’s name ?” He chuckles. “They are here for their own prestige and name. Where was their heart bleeding patriotism when the East fell to those savage Lucenians, who mutilate bodies to appease their cruel gods ? Where were they when their own peers, blinded by greed and collapse of authority on the other side of these mountains, rose up in rebellion further weakening our thousand year long leagacy ?” He now turns to regard you, whilst avoiding your eyes as is custom, his voice that had risen throughout his speech becoming barely audible. “Where were they, when a usurper marched upon Myralos, overthrowing the ruling dynasty and causing the empire to fall to chaos ?”

You feel a cold shiver roll down your spine, gazing upon the now cold eyes staring straight at you. Your voice is stuck in your throat. Your eyes slowly turn towards the sheeted blade by Isaacs side. Would your bodyguards be able to intercept him ? Or would he be fast enough to slice your throat ? Condemning the short-lived Angelus dynasty to have one mad tyrant, and one ineffectual child.

“They had come with great enthusiasm when we had asked for their assistance against the Akeonians.” You say moments later, finding your voice once again. And regret instantly, to argue had been instilled into you since young by the village’s priest, as means of engaging in theology and philosophy.

“It is easy to find a spine when your endless failures cause every citizen who sees you to hurl rotten food and excrement at you. Even easier so if you only have to spend a few coins.” Returning his voice to normal, Isaac stops staring at your neck and instead turns to regard Phasydos. “I had been raised from young upon the great stories of empire, of our magnificent emperors, valorous heroes and the excellence of our advanced civilization compared to mud dwelling barbaroi (barbarians) everywhere else. I still live to such an ideal, your majesty.” He once again turns to you. “To protect the empire is both my duty and my honour. A duty I am oath-bound to carry out, no matter the costs. I beg for God’s wisdom to be always with you, your majesty. So that the empire I love so shall return hale and hearty instead of being old and ailing.” He finishes, now simply staring at the mountains.

“Shall we retire, your majesty ?” He once again asks, minutes after as your silence continues, you yourself falling deep into contemplation.

>>5450469

“Ah, yes. The journey had been long and we are quite exhausted.” You reply, subtly shifting away from Isaac, if he notices, he has no intention of stopping you as your own bodyguards quickly fall in line and form a protective shell around you, one that excludes Isaac. [blue]Should I have him killed ?[/blue] A stray thought goes through your mind. The betrayal of your uncle now fresh in your mind. [blue]But why had he spoken so openly ? Now that I think about it, there had not been any over threat in his words.[/blue] There’s nothing you can do, right now at least, whilst getting rid of Isaac is an easy task as there clearly is no love between him and the senate, but the only proper field army and undoubtedly the border guards might be loyal enough to him to rebel against you if you do so. Not to mention he’s the only general of known skill, without decades worth of lack of commanding men from the old guards, still within the empire.

[blue]I have to look over the logistics in the area.[/blue] You quickly shift your focus onto something that you can in fact do things about.

-
(POV shift: You are Armentarius Theocritus.)

The noise of stone dragging against wood irritates your ears as a trebuchet unleashes its lethal ammunition. It flies through the air, and impacts loudly upon the already crumbling limestone wall.

You are currently facing down Apiunta, one of the largest towns upon the isle, and also one of the first to fall through a lack of spirit.

But it seems that they had finally found their spine when facing their own countrymen. [blue]Traitors all.[/blue] You cannot help but dismiss, the word of your executions had quickly spread, reaching an ironic point where the Akeonians themselves are a bit more willing to surrender into slavery rather than your own kinsmen. Though it is something you are willing to do, these men are unfit to carry the name of Thephians, surrendering to foreigners without thought.

Your ears rings as the noise of a collapsing fills them, the dust cloud that had kicked up from that makes it hard to spot exactly what is happening.

Still, you cannot let this opportunity pass, you had been bombarding the wall for the past few days, that’s not taking in the fact that you had to spend a few days before that just buildings the siege weapons. With autumn in full swing, it is only a matter of time before winter sets in and grinds your campaign to a complete halt.

“Signal the attack.” You command Honorius, whom had been rather quiet in the past few weeks. Siege after siege, you had increased the numbers of men hanged, to the point where his protestations grew quieter and quieter with each subsequent hanging.

>>5450470

Soon enough, horns blare and your forces begin their advance. Whilst you had suffered losses with each town taken, they are negligible as the Akeonians had yet to show themselves in full force. That had allowed for your overwhelming assault to carry on more successfully than you had expected, the single engagement in which, you have to admit Akeonians fought like lions, there is yet to be another battle reaching a similar scale. That means that your other two prongs had advanced more or less unopposed, taking town after town suffering similarly low losses just as your main force.

The attack carries through, despite the rubble being a hindrance for your forces, the defenders were unable to plug in the gap in time, allowing your men to get a foothold.

“It is over.” Honorius says.

“It is indeed.” You respond.

“I see plenty of Akeonian banners, but no Akeonians.”

“Perhaps they consolidated their forces upon the last town ?”

“Messengers sent from Kannida say that they had not seen any large-scale movements.”

“What of Nenda ?” You cannot help but feel uncomfortable over the fact that somehow, you had lost the sight of over two thirds of the Akeonian invaders.

“Recently encircled. They had reported more banners flying high from the walls.”

“And there being but scant dozens representing those banners.”

“Most likely.”

“What of Mantina ? You had said it was sacked and burnt, but could they be hiding there ?”

“Not with this weather, when it rains every other day. The locals around the area also had not said that they had seen anyone living within the ruins.”

You start pondering, gazing as more and more of your men get into the town. “Could they have run by boat ?”

Honorius stares at you for a moment. “Possible. I had outlined it being a potential course of action.”

“But no word had come from the rear, and our supplies are still flowing freely, if tightened.”

“What of Megas doux (Megaduke) ? You know him better than I.”

“Attacking Akeonian supply ships, but they also make passes alongside the coast, just in case.”

“So we can only hope that they had simply disappeared instead of attacking us behind our backs, as I had feared.” Honorius concludes.

“They already lost their foothold, even if they manage to take a town or two, they will be in a weaker position than they are at now. I’d say we had won this one.”

“I hope you are correct, Domestikos (domestic, commander). For all our sakes.”

-
(POV shift: You are Mundus Helenos.)

The winds had already begun to pick up, growing stronger and stronger with each passing day, making it increasingly harder and harder to safely and swiftly navigate the high seas.

>>5450473

Tedwin de La Mare, Roi et souverain des Akeoniens. King and ruler of Akeonians. Mighty words put upon the silver coin held up by your fingers. This piece of silver is one of many you had just recently captured from one of the many warships hastily turned into supply ships. Your overall pickings had been, fine, you suppose. Not the best, not the worst. With the Emperor slashing your own supplies in half, your decision to take on Akeonian supplies seem to have been a brilliant one in hindsight. Its not enough to replace everything, but it can help to make do, at least when it comes to you supporting your own fleet and throwing what you have left over to Armentarius.

Still, it had been damned annoying, this entire war, you doggedly moving around and avoiding any large Akeonian fleets, to only strike when the enemy force is smaller than your own. But as of late, you had not managed to encounter any small groupings, rather the Akeonians had been moving in large groupings, hundreds of ships moving at once, if the reports of the holy knights are to be believed. You had been tempted to strike at them in a single decisive engagement, but you had dismissed so when you recalled the smell of those manure covered barrels filled with alongside with naphtha. You would need a larger numbers advantage to take that particular risk. The fact that you can even muse upon a single direct engagement does however lighten your mood somewhat, a clear indication of the losses suffered by the Akeonians being just as bad as yours, or at the very least bad enough that when considering your reinforcements, you could face them man to man.

“Megas doux (Megaduke), Chersacuse is already visible upon the horizon.” One of your men informs you.

Rising from the railings around the deck, you pocket the coin, silver is silver after all. Fresh grain, salted meats, fish and some silver with which to pay soldiers. Not a bad haul, everything considered. The rest of the fleet should also be returning to Chersacuse soon enough.

Walking forward to the bow, you try to gaze upon the town, and you see a large number of ships docked into port. [blue]No fires, no smoke, no screaming. The Paterans ?[/blue] You come to the only conclusion available to you. Another hundred warships had been promised by the Pateran representative and it is around the time they should have returned.

“Holy brother.” You call out for one of the griffon riders. “Take to the skies, observe the town. If it looks safe, find out if it’s the Paterans down at the dock.”

“Right away, Megas doux (Megaduke).” The man responds before his mount begins flapping their wings, kicking up wind around, throwing your clothing into disarray.

>>5450475

Quickly fixing up your appearance, you try and ensure an aura of authority around you. If these foreigners had come to assist you, they must know that they have to obey you. Even if the forces that they had fully brought to bare out number your own three to one.
.
.
.
You find yourself once more next to the stout and ugly brick gubernatorial manor. Standing upon the steps leading up to it to be specific. Even from here you can hear the noises of men celebrating, drinking heavily, fighting, and doing other things whom are best left undescribed.

Over the course of the last week or so. Your entire force had once again gathered, a force of well over two hundred ships. Primarily Pateran, but a few more warships had been finished upon the mainland and sent over. With this, you could have that singular, dedicated, decisive battle that can and will determine the outcome of this entire war. You can already imagine the rewards bestowed upon you.

Now if only you could get the Paterans to stop antagonizing the Tarrizans, that would be even better. Now having outnumbered their rivals so massively, you had to personally intervene between quite a few fights that had broken out. And once antagonized, the Tarrizans start rubbing in the fact that they had won the latest war between the two sides, seemingly against their own better judgement.

Your happiness and annoyance comes to an end as you watch a sweat covered man, run up the path leading into the manor. His breathing heavy, he must’ve been running without stop.

“Halt there. Who are you ?” You cannot help but question the man.

“I-“ He takes a deep breath. “I am a messenger sent by the new kyvernítis (governor) of Dyrea, Lukas Psellus, bringing word to kyvernítis Zonaras.”

“The kyvernítis is currently on the other side of the isle, pushing out the remainder of Akeonian invaders, you will not find him here. Now, tell me the message.”

“I am sorry, but I was only allowed to-“

“I am Mundus Helenos, Megas doux (Megaduke) of the great Thephian Empire. You will tell me everything I want to know, or I will have you flogged for disrespect. Now, what news do you bring ?” A bit of intimidation later, you can see that the sweaty man had gotten even sweatier.

“Bylleira is under siege, the largest town upon the isle and the théma (placement, district) capital.”

“I had heard of the previous kyvernítis failure and passing, but had the situation devolved so ?”

“I am afraid so, Megas doux (Megaduke). We still could’ve emerged victorious, but out of nowhere even more Akeonian forces had emerged that we had never seen anywhere before.”

“Besides Bylleira, what of the rest of the isle ?”

“A few towns are holding, here and there, but they are all besieged, lacking defenders it is only a matter of time before they are overwhelmed.”

“For how long you had been travelling, messenger ?”

>>5450476

“Around six days, Megas doux. The ship had just docked and I ran all the way here to bring the news.”

“What of food ? Arms and armour ?”

“It is, hard pressed, but sufficient for Bylleira. We have enough food from our own harvests, but we are beginning to lack proper armours, and there are not many replacements coming from the heartlands. I know not about other towns.”

“And the town’s defenders ?” You ask the most important question, and perhaps the cruellest question. One that will determine whether or not it is even feasible to send help.

“We number perhaps two thousand strong. All that’s left after the previous defeat.”

“I see, and what of the attackers ?”

“I, I do not know.” We thought that they had a few thousand at best against our tens of thousands total. But following our defeat, their numbers had only grown. Seemingly ignoring all the losses they had suffered from the previous skirmishes, battles, and sieges.”

>>5450478

>Send help immediately. Your own sailors will have to do, the local garrisons are as stretched as they can be already. With winter coming, you only have a month and a bit before sailing becomes too dangerous to carry out reliably.

>Sail your ships towards the front upon your isle. It will take time, but with the ports in that area back under your control, you will be able to request forces from Armentarius and perhaps deliver a sizeable enough force before it is too late. Even if that force may not be fully supplied.

>You will need a proper response. It may very well take upwards to a month, but you will ensure that your ships are laden down with troops just as much as they are laden down with supplies.

>The Town’s good as finished. To respond hastily will do nothing but send more men to their deaths.

>(Write in)

-
(End of POV shift. Perhaps a week back.)

The clattering of utensils dominates the room. Wax candles brightly illuminate the room, as a good few dozens of them lightly sway along the movement of the servants busily attending to your, and everyone else at the dining room, needs. You notice a few paintings hanging upon the painted walls, each depicting the local kyvernítis predecessors, most of whom are also his family members. They all appear dour, draped in furs, steadfast and unflinching, with the Orospulón (east mountain) clear behind them. For some reason that does remind you of Irene. You are in the area, perhaps paying a visit is not entirely out of the question ? Taking your attention back to the room itself, as mentioned, the walls are painted, whilst they are primarily white, vibrant colours of green are intermixed in patterns making it seem like real living vines are currently growing from them, with smidgens of blues, reds, yellows here and there masterfully colouring the wall flowers. A rather contradictory choice, given the terrain and the serious men portrayed in a life-like manner. As you are sitting upon the head of the table, a large clear window is behind you, allowing one easy viewing of the wide sea, nowhere near impressive as what you can observe from your own palace, but no doubt impressive for most people. If not the view, then definitely the cost of such clear glass. The ceiling itself is domed, upon it is painted a scene depicting one of the many tales of Shepherd’s generosity and wisdom.

This particular one showcasing how he had made two warring clans to put away their animosity, and break bread together in the face of oncoming famine, and how through unity both clans had been able to avoid feeling the pang of starvation.

The large table, capable of sitting perhaps a dozen, appears to be made out of fine, dark spruce. Relatively simple, it is nevertheless polished to perfection, with clear craftsmanship showcasing its sturdiness and giving its simplistic construction a feeling of reliance, making you wonder just how old it actually is.

>>5450479

And the cutlery, which is currently striking against the fine porcelain, is anything but simplistic. The set that you are currently using have finely crafted and detailed depiction of a wolf, for the fork, making it seem like it is about to pounce upon and devour whomever is at the receiving end. Whilst the knife depicts a dragon, subtle coloration upon the blade itself and intricate markings making it seem like the blade is a is not metal at all, but rather fire spewed from the monster’s depths.

You had read about them, great flying beast able to spew fire and devour cities, making empire’s crumble into dust. Sadly, the only records you have of the beasts are, unreliable. Older than the empire even is, which goes to show how truly wonderous the imperial library is you suppose. Other than a few fat and overgrown lizards, whom are known on occasion to eat man whole, far, far to the South in the lands of distant foreigners, there are no magnificent beast of this kind and size left out there. Had they even existed in the first place that is. Whilst giant beasts are not that particularly rare, they are few in number, as with size one needs to eat more, if your bodyguards are anything to go by. But spewing fire ? That is much harder to believe, you had not the chance to tinker with dragon’s breath machines, but you know how immensely complex they are to be able to spew forth such vast destruction, and how difficult and expensive it is to make so.

As for the food itself. It is what you had expected. Greasy, fat, filling food primarily based on meat, with lamb being the most heavily favoured, and large helpings of stews filled with hardier vegetables for flavouring and giving it some colour, alongside helpings of fish soup boiled in milk. The food tastes, a bit bland from what you had grown accustomed to and certainly even hardier than what you ate back at the village, but you do not overly dislike it.

“Is everything to your liking, your majesty ?” Comes an uncertain voice.

You look over at the other end of the table, housing your host. A small, petite man, slightly shorter than you in fact, wearing a big bright smile. He certainly does not fit the look of his forefathers. Thinning, short cut black hair, which he had combed over to hide the ever bigger bald patch, cleanly shaven face, rather clever looking brown eyes. You wouldn’t be surprised if it would come out that he was a sickly child, given the rather weak looking frame, to the point where you think you could take the man in a fight, easily at that. However, the man had passed your exam, so he has the competence to rule, if nothing else.

“It is fine.” You respond, trying to fight through the awkwardness.

>>5450480

Said awkwardness is caused by the three other people sitting besides you, or well, two of them. The first is your Protasekretis (first secretary) Auxentius. Whom seems to be quite content and happy to sip upon the fish soup, seemingly blissfully ignorant to the tension in the room. That, or he simply does not care. The biggest problem comes from Leontius and Isaac, both of whom just so happen to sit opposite one another. With Isaac openly glaring and Leontius maintaining a cordial smile, though both of them have barely touched their food. You are glad that your bodyguards are within the room, for everyone’s safety.

“Oh, your majesty. I had finished looking over the supplies as you had asked me to.” Once again, ignoring the situation Auxentius states matter-of-factly.

“What is the situation ?”

“Well, whilst the stores are not entirely full, what the locals had gathered and given our own supplies mean that we have enough food to sustain ourselves throughout the winter well enough. Though I suppose we cannot hold sumptuous feasts every week.”

“To have or to have not hardly matters, protasekretis. If one wants to, he can just throw others to the cold ignoring the surroundings and continue to indulge in excess.” Isaac cuts in deeply.

“To have or not to have not depends on one’s efforts, to simply blame others for their own failings is rather unbefitting.”

“We had just recalled something weighing on our mind.” You, rather clumsily cut in. “Kyvernítis (governor), we had heard that many a fisherman had gone missing as of late. Matters as such concern us deeply, to know that loyal imperial citizens perish not being granted even the most simple of rites.”

“A, AH. Yes, your majesty, it is quite saddening. It had been on my mind as well, but with every proper ship we have currently sent to face those foreign primitive Akeonians, I simply do not posses the means to search for them, other than sending out more honest, hard-working men upon their own boats just as the weather is turning foul.”

“Is it common for so many to disappear ?”

“Oh, no your majesty. Fishing is one of the more important vocations here. Those men come from families that had fished for decades if not centuries, they know the terrain, the hidden, jagged rocks, the tumultuousness of these parts. Though it could very well be greed, with the price of fish rising due to the droughts, merchants come and willingly buy everything they can from the fishmongers. Still, the number does cause me some concern, and the citizens are demanding that I find out what happened.” He knows starts looking at you with a slightly pleading expression. “if your majesty could spare a few ships from the front, I would be most appreciative of it, and no doubt the citizens would give great praise for your magnanimity.”

>>5450481

“Those vessels are being used for the empire’s defence, but we shall, consider it.” A lie. One that the man knows, for he asked for the sake of asking so that he could respond that the emperor was unwilling. And a response, that you are unwilling because of your love and care for your empire.

“I am most humbled by the time you shall take, your majesty.”

“On the topic of the town. How are its defences are looking ?”

“Well, your majesty, you had already witnessed our sturdy walls. Begin a supply town that we are, we also have deep storehouses, if filled to the brim we can easily survive a siege for years, perhaps even a decade. As for defence, the traditions of mining, smiting and martial discipline, mean that our themata (placement, district) army is much better equipped than most. Proper chain hauberks, large shields, spathions those sorts of things.”

“Impressive.”

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“And of your numbers ?”

“Ah, well. Phasydos had always been a small town, not enough farmable land around us to support a larger populace, your majesty. This means that we have perhaps four hundred men fit for battle, a bit more than double that if we press every man into service every man that we can.”

“Strategos, what is your evaluation, should we give the town a bigger garrison ?”

For once, Isaac stops glaring and takes on a ponderous expression. “Well, your majesty. The five thousand mercenaries you had brought are not enough to fill up all five forts and unless the traitors have a navy with which to land behind our backs, strengthening the town is a pointless endeavour.”

“Then that is my question. Do you think they can do so ?”

“I am not a man of the seas, your majesty. But I do know that men eat a lot, soldiers especially so, and with most grain harvested supplying an army will be exceptionally difficult since living of the land will continue to become more difficult. If someone does make a landing of the scale needed to take even the smallest of towns, they need to take them quickly, or everyone will simply starve to death. From the perspective of a man who cares for his soldiers.” He directs a stinkeye towards Leontius. “It is a risk I would not take.”

You nod. “Then, kyvernítis what is your opinion ?”

“Well, your majesty. As I said, the seas are getting rougher, though the only really dangerous area is around the mountains, the seas there are filled with whirlpools and sharp rocks, but everywhere it is relatively calm. So it could be possible, though inherently risky.”

Answering that question, the room once again falls into silence. Though you see that both Isaac and Leontius had started eating. It seems hunger got the better of both of them.

>>5450483

“Your majesty, if I may.” Leontius says after swallowing a piece of lamb. You gesture for him to continue. “With winter soon to come, the campaigning season, such as it is past summer, will soon be completely halted, but we will still have to pay the mercenaries. Naturally, the senators inspired by your valour shall too have to properly compensate their men for time spent in hardship.”

“If you are suggesting a full-on charge, I suggest you quiet yourself. Their majesty already approved my plan. You will get your glory by sorting our and finding out what those forested tribals wish to do by mindlessly throwing themselves against the thick walls of your forts.”

“I am aware, strategos. I simply wish to point out that to come all the way here with nothing more for show than a few penniless, starving barbaroi (barbarians) would, unsatisfy some of my more, valorous peers.”

“Greedy warhounds you mean.”

“A hound is a fine anime, much more so one bred for war. Loyal, obedient, capable.” Leontius bites back.

It looks like your intervention may very well be needed.

>What questions do you have for the four men ?

And the missing fishermen, it could be nothing, or it could be the forewarning of an impending invasion. An exceptionally risky and fool-hardy one, or at least most think so within this room.

>Leave a strong garrison here. (2,000 mercs. 3,000 senatorial men)

>Leave a middling garrison here. (500 mercs. 1,500 senatorial men)

>Leave a weak garrison here. (300 mercs. 700 senatorial men)

>The town’s garrison seems capable enough as it is, no need to leave behind good fighting men.

>(Write in)

>>5450479
>>Sail your ships towards the front upon your isle. It will take time, but with the ports in that area back under your control, you will be able to request forces from Armentarius and perhaps deliver a sizeable enough force before it is too late. Even if that force may not be fully supplied.
We shouldn't abandon the town without a fight.
Sailors are unlikely to be a match to properly armed soldiers. Sending them in alone would just be throwing their lives away.
Maybe send a griffon rider to Armentarius ahead of us so he would have more time to prepare.

>>Leave a weak garrison here. (300 mercs. 700 senatorial men)
There is no way it is nothing. People don't disapear into thin air for no reason. The garrison here seems fine enough quantitywise but I believe leaving a few trained experienced men just in case would be for the best.

>What questions do you have for the four men ?
Ask them about the magnates rebellion. Were there an armed conflict? Any battles we could gleam their prefered strategies from?
Also ask the governor about local geography. Any forgotten mountain roads that
could be used by daring and desperate enough enemy commander?

Every time this quest updates I get stressed lol
Why is it just nonstop stream of problems for poor Manuel? When is it going to be relaxing slice of life times?

>>5450501
Such is the life of a ruler. There will be good times ahead, even if small. I enjoyed the small slices of peace between Manuel and Pilpas(can t remember hia name aaaargh)
Damn this meal is quite funny. But I might have some ideas while we wait.

>>5450501
I mean, it is a quest about trying to turn around an empire that's on its last legs and I'm sure QM is rolling some dice on event tables behind the screen. I would like some downtime lest this quest just become exhausting to keep up with, but I don't know to what degree the goings-on are in designated scripted arcs or are just being thrown at us at semi-randomly.

>>5450553

There isn't any scripting. Things happen due to dice rolls and me trying to think on how a ch would act in any given situation, but the outcome of their success is tied to chance as much as yours is. So I suppose you can take comfort in that, the fact that various chs are just as prone to failure and bad luck as anyone is.

>>5450526

The direwolf pup is called Pistis hehehehe[spoiler/]

>>5450479

>Sail your ships towards the front upon your isle. It will take time, but with the ports in that area back under your control, you will be able to request forces from Armentarius and perhaps deliver a sizeable enough force before it is too late. Even if that force may not be fully supplied.

Every settlement will matter at the end. It will be an hard fight, but if we can bring supplies later it can be won.

>>5450484
>Intervention
"Leontius you have a good point. Simply waiting is not ideal, perhaps some military exercises could be a good way for keep the men sharp and ready. It might not bring any glory, but there are many men in our ranks that haven't seen much of a fight. Installing some discipline and ensuring the army is prepared to fight together would be ideal."
>What questions do you have for the four men ?
"Kyvernítis, do you believe there could be huntsmen and shepards willing to scout in to the magnates territory with proper payment ? A small group of experienced and hardy men, that know the land and will do what I order them to do. We know too little of the usurper forces and movements."
"Isaac, what you can tell me of the foe we are facing ? Do the magnates soldiers use different weapons, equipment and tactics than us ? What of the barbarians that joined them ?"
"Auxentius, what can you tell me of were we will place our supplies for our army ? The town depots can suffice ? In case they aren't, i want any new position to be well guarded and near reinforcements. In addition i want soldiers that protect the depots, to control any worker or unknown
soldiers for signs of barbarians or men of the magnates"
"Leontius what do we know of the man that has decided to crown himself emperor ? What about his origins ? Have we heard if he did anything else after uniting thepians and barbaroi under him ? He can certainly lead them, but can he rule them without infighting ?"

>Leave a weak garrison here. (300 mercs. 700 senatorial men)

>>5450564
Ah yeah. Lol

>>5450564
Random incompetence being mutual is one thing, but at this rate the QM might not be the only one in danger of burning out on this quest.

>>5450582

Well, you will be getting a wife soon. Followed by children. So if nothing else I am planning some more wholesome moments there. Presuming the players wish to be wholesome.

Come on anons do not despair
I am sure after we deal with those two wars we will have a break
We knew what we were getting into when we started playing the not!Byzantium quest
Our success will be that much sweeter after the struggle

>>5450500
>>5450577
+1

>>5450593
Yeah, I just hope we have some quality time to spend with them instead of running around from crisis to crisis spending all of our time fighting fires and herding nobles.

>>5450500
>>5450577

Generally support.

Rather than a training exercise, perhaps we can organize some reconnaissance in force/raiding across the mountains? With the use of some local guides we should have a decent chance of success.

Probing the magnates in this way will hopefully either goad them into attacking us if they are in force here or reveal the relative lack of forces indicating a naval invasion.

>>5450500
>Leave a strong garrison here. (2,000 mercs. 3,000 senatorial men)

I'm gonna call it. The middling raids to the south is bait. The real invasion will come from the sea! The magnates and Lucenians have entered an unholy alliance!

When confronted, the elder Maniekes said he had never traded with those barbarian Lucenians. And why would he? They have nothing to give, but primitive scraps. However, if the Lucenians gave the poison to the Eastern Magnates, who then traded it to the Maniekes family and from there it gained access to our father...

I'm telling you those Eastern Magnates fucking hate our dad and are now coming for the rest of the empire!

Supporting >>5450500, with:
>Leave a strong garrison here. (2,000 mercs. 3,000 senatorial men)

>>5450479
>Sail your ships towards the front upon your isle. It will take time, but with the ports in that area back under your control, you will be able to request forces from Armentarius and perhaps deliver a sizeable enough force before it is too late. Even if that force may not be fully supplied.
I suspect that the Akeonians have abandoned this isle in favour of throwing everything at the other one. It's a clever strategy, trading the opportunity to take over one isle in exchange for another. Remember, the Akeonians are desperate now since we've been squeezing them for supplies, and they're obviously not summoning reinforcements from thin air.

>Leave a strong garrison here. (2,000 mercs. 3,000 senatorial men)
The fishermen disappearing is obviously not nothing. It's too small-scale to be a distraction, therefore we must conclude that they are gambling on us ignoring it and throwing a sizeable force at the town in the hopes of cutting us off.

>What questions do you have for the four men ?
Ask them about the new leader of the magnates. How he took power and what they have heard from over the border. Also their general opinions on the magnates themselves.

>>5450564
Could we spend some time with our direwolf? Been a while since we've hung out with the doggo. How big is he now?

>>5450664
I'm going to swap to middling garrison

>>5450797
I feel that the large garrison leaves too many of our men bottled up in case it's just paranoia getting at us, but perhaps the middle ground approach would leave enough men to hold out until we can break the siege.

Whatever amount we leave behind hopefully they can be put to use alongside the garrison hardening the defenses of the town rather than sitting idle.

>>5450484
>Sail your ships towards the front upon your isle. It will take time, but with the ports in that area back under your control, you will be able to request forces from Armentarius and perhaps deliver a sizeable enough force before it is too late. Even if that force may not be fully supplied.
>Leave a weak garrison here. (300 mercs. 700 senatorial men)
Doubling the size of the garrison will make it significantly stronger without straining our own forces. Worth it for peace of mind.

Questions wise, I support both of these
>>5450500
>>5450577

>>5450501
Weak men make harsh times, harsh times make strong men, so on and so on. The Thephian Empire has been host to a great many weak men, for a great many years...

>>5450484
>leave a small garrison
The town by itself isn't strong enough, but I have doubts if they can feed the middling and large options through the winter.

>>5451047
They said that the issue is manpower, not supplies.
>Being a supply town that we are, we also have deep storehouses, if filled to the brim we can easily survive a siege for years, perhaps even a decade.

>>5450479
Good to know you're still alive boss, by the way even though I don't trust Isaac I have to respect him for the Based opinion he has.

>Sail your ships towards the front upon your isle. It will take time, but with the ports in that area back under your control, you will be able to request forces from Armentarius and perhaps deliver a sizeable enough force before it is too late. Even if that force may not be fully supplied.
The enemy invasion force has little supplies and little chance of acquiring them without risking huge losses, these small towns won't sustain them for long. In a situation where they suffer catastrophic losses in failed sieges, we can finally begin peace negotiations.


>Leave a weak garrison here. (300 mercs. 700 senatorial men)
Even if nothing happens the emperor will not have the reputation of being cold and cruel, even if he doesn't have the resources to guarantee everyone's safety he won't be abandoned with nothing.

>>5451159
Chekov's gun y'all. Why would this be relevant detail lmao.

>>5450867
Support.

>>5450500
Support

So our fears are unfounded. Issac, while having some rough edges, is largely loyal to the Empire, and won’t throw it into chaos without just cause. He also hates the Senate, so fears about them collaborating together are unfounded.

Assuming the military situation is in good hands, the problem we face is largely a political one. Do we send a portion of the nobility to rough up the barbarians, or do we not?

Personally, I think we should send some ‘heroic volunteers’, even with the inherent risks and Issac’s disproval. We shouldn’t send a large enough force to seriously weaken us, but being an uncouth autist means we show reasonably appease the Senate whenever they’ve done something positive for us, to at least encourage a positive working relationship, and to prevent them from agitating too much from our decisions.

>>5450593
>not wanting degeneracy with waifu
What has this world come to?

>>5454009
The only way i see Issac betray us is if we become ultra corrupt or incompetent to a degree he feels taking us out is the only way to save the empire.
The much more realistic senario would be if he believed he found a hidden prince of an older dynasty whose claim and skills were superior enough to justify the chaos of a coup. Though given daddies paranoia levels legit hidden claiments with strong claims are unlikely as well. A good fake and somebody capable of fooling Issac would be the most likely
Danger imo

>>5454930
You mean way more unrealistic scenario. The realistic scenario would be if our autist got assassinated early and we either die without an heir or the Senate puppets our heir. Or if we piss of Issac to Leontius levels of seethe.

Now, even though I agree with Issac that Leontius is a snake, I do think the President raises a fair point about the political repercussions of letting the nobles sit on their ass after we decided to ‘take command’ of this army. We have to do something, both to throw the Senators a bone and distract them from agitating against Issac.

>>5454015
autism waifu is for awkward but cute handholding followed by gentle procreation. The upshot of having about as much mutual social subtlety as a low-yield nuclear weapon is that that there will be no communication issues.

By the way QM, completely unrelated question but what would be our regnal name in the historical record? Manuel I?

>>5455030
Amazon waifu is bold, direct, and efficient. She’ll be riding us on the throne every moment that she isn’t pregnant (or horny).

If you wanted shy and gentle handholding, Merchants waifu or Social Butterfly would’ve been it (in the Butterfly’s case it would’ve been funny to see her flounder do to being a virgin).

File: 1637882772307.gif (3.03 MB, 234x240)

3.03 MB GIF

>>5455574
>Imagine falling for the appearances that women put up.
The stoics are often the most vulnerable of people anon and I think the waifu is just such a case.

>>5455591
I dunno anon she seems like an extremely straightforward person
She said straight to Manuel's face that she doesn't give a fuck about God while in the middle of the marriage race
Someone like that is unlikely to put up any kind of fake front
She is not some ice queen she is just autistic

File: A better image.jpg (35 KB, 680x672)

35 KB JPG

>>5455603
She won't put up the usual sort of fronts that women do yes. Not the ones that are meant to make you look virtuous or well-mannered or what have you. But she does, in my view, put up a front of stoicism. An appeared indifference or apathy to events and people, something that makes things hurt a lot less. I know it because I do it all the time.

>>5455610
I do it too but it doesn't mean the person I'm killing isn't less dead for it

>>5455630
You're killing a person? Sounds like a problem between (You) and them mate.

>>5455652
While that is true, my point still stands

>>5455610
I don’t think it’s a front anon, I believe her stoicism (or apathy, or whatever) is genuine. I think she’s a hard woman (and I don’t just mean her abs lad).

File: literally me.jpg (28 KB, 580x548)

28 KB JPG

>>5455726
It's genuine in the sense that it comes naturally but it's a front in the sense that it's not the whole picture. Maybe there's a word that better describes this so as to distinguish it from more deceitful and socially machiavellian fronts but Im just a retard speaking from experience, both from myself and from others.

>>5455746
it eeeeez what it eeez

I am alive, just have been busy with my studies, update will be coming next weekend.

>>5462072
>next weekend.
Well damn. Thanks for the heads up

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>5462072
Goodluck man.

“We are not an expert in warfare, but we can agree with your opinion, Prōtoproedros (senior president). However.” You cut in before the man’s smile grows too large. “As had been stated by the strategos (general), we had deterred to him when it comes to strategic decisions, with our approval, of course. Still, the question of restless soldiery has to be addressed. So why not organize some military exercises ? It shall give men something to do, promote unity, ensure that everyone will be prepared for battle ?”

“Whilst a brilliant idea, I-“ Leontius begins.

“Fully agree with your decision, your majesty.” Isaac cuts in. “To hold proper wargames will keep the men’s skills honed and prepare.” He turns to regard Leontius with a smile of his own. “And it will surely put everyone back into shape over the course of the cold winter.”

Well, seems like you had provoked an even larger conflict. Still, the rivalry between the two men should keep their hatred directed to one another rather than you.

“Kyvernítis (Governor).” You quickly try to change the discussion. “We had also decided that the importance of Phasydos cannot be denied. As such we shall leave around a thousand men to help in the defence of the town.”

“I most graciously accept your majesty.” The thin man responds. “Their presence shall be most appreciated.”

Nod and are about to continue, when a clear, distinguished rattling noise behind you, draws your attention. Turning back, you watch as the large clear window moves back and forth ever so slightly, far, far upon the horizon, you watch as with a rapid speed the darkest clouds you had ever witnessed scream towards the coast.

“A great storm is coming, your majesty. I would recommend everyone here stay indoors for the foreseeable future.” The kyvernítis says.

“How common are such storms ?” You ask.

“The changing of weather mean that we usually have a decent amount of rain, especially late autumn and late spring, but a powerful storm as such is a rarity, your majesty.”

You simply nod, bringing your attention back to the food placed before you. Taking a few sips of cider, to refresh your parched throat. You find yourself once again in the position of being the one to lead the conversation, as now quite cheerful Isaac drinks strong wine, whilst a slightly annoyed looking Leontius tries his best to maintain a look of civility.

“Since we had come to our most esteemed position not too long ago, all we know of these rebels is that they had risen against our father. Strategos, are you aware of the tactics that our foes may employ, those of the barbarians they had now employed to assist them in their unrighteous rebellion ? Their equipment, level of skill ?”

>>5470984

Isaac puts down the silver goblet, still tasting the sweet taste of it. “Well, your majesty, as far as I know, my peer, strategos Mercurius Chalcocondyles, had joined the rebels with his own Hikanatoi tagmata (Able Ones, regiment/battalion). Their numbers had been at half strength, stronger compared to my own Optimatoi tagmata (The best, regiment/battalion). But taking in the fact that they had fought against the various forest tribes for perhaps around a decade if not longer, their true numbers I do not know. As for the rest, well, no doubt our foes will follow similar organization of their forces just as us, men raised to fight with varying degrees of experience, equipment and training making up the bulk of the themata (placement, district) armies. Though perhaps more experienced than our own, considering that they had been fighting with no end. Finally, the barbaroi (barbarians). I know little of them, whilst I am familiar with the Lucenians, they are the only tribe I had to face, perhaps they are similarly fierce and well-equipped, or maybe they are just naked warriors with nothing but spears and shields screaming atop of their lungs and charging forwards to their deaths.” He once again takes the goblet and drinks a few more sips of wine.

“And this, Mercurius, what do you know of him ?”

“I had never met him, my promotion just before the east had revolted. What I heard was that the man has deep connections in the area and owns his appointment to the last dynasty. A politician, rather than a soldier.” He throws a derisive look towards Leontius.

You direct a questioning gaze towards the man, a questioning one rather than an aggressive one that Isaac is so fond of.

“Well, your majesty. Mercurius is a man whom appreciates, temporal, matters in life.” He says with a bit of thought. “I do recall him throwing some of the best parties around whilst he had still been the part of the senate, the man could easily make friends with anyone and everyone if he put his mind to it.”

“And how is he as a leader ?”

“Ah, well, I am certain he has an inspiring presence when upon the field of battle.” Leontius concludes, and refuses to elaborate further.

“From what I heard; he is certainly a large presence.” Isaac lets out a small chuckle. “Everything that’s wrong with people like you, em-“

“And of Ancius Glycas, the man whom dared to proclaim himself our equal ?” You hastily cut in.

>>5470985

Maintaining an inmoving face, with a small smile upon it, Leontius quickly turns back to regard you. “An ambitious man. From the conversations and meetings I had with the man, I could tell that much. He goes at his own pace, be it in simple conversation, philosophical debate, banquet, hunt, what have you. And that pace is fast. He would always continue to do things without rest. Though I could not describe him as overly friendly, things would be done his way, or they would not be done at all and whenever possible, he’d do things himself. In his prickly nature I’d say he’s an equal to the good strategos.”

“Do you believe that is enough to keep the rebels under his command ?” You ask, ignoring the snide comment.

“Perhaps. Again, the man’s nature is quite ruthless, both to himself and others around him. Those that support him had no doubt been rewarded plentifully, but those who oppose him, well, I do not know of their fates, but I doubt that they would be overly comfortable ones. He is perhaps one of the few men who could emerge as a leadership figure in such circumstances, though for how long he could rule without there being external threats that would justify his heavy-handedness remains to be seen.”

“So it is entirely possible, that if we were to deliver a crushing defeat upon him, the rebels would return back to our fold ?”

“Most likely. Whilst Ancius certainly inspires confidence, he most certainly does not inspire loyalty, at least not one that wouldn’t shatter the first chance it is given.”

A flash blinds everyone in the room. Once again, drawing your attention to the window, where upon you watch as the skies had turned completely black, a literal torrent of rain washing down upon the window informs you just how miserable it must be to be outside. Finally, the noise of thunder echoes outwards, being clear and distinguished even within the room.

“The storm had come quickly.” You remark. “Have the local fishermen returned to port ?”

“Probably, but the swiftness of the storm had been rapid, no doubt I shall have to issue more orders to locate missing persons.” The kyvernítis responds.

“Since the topic of weather continues to come up, the Orospulón (east mountain) is a rather treacherous piece of land. Would it be possible for someone to pass it, say a daring enemy willing to risk it all ?”

The sickly man smiles. “That is not likely, your majesty. Whilst there are plenty of passes, they are small, dangerous. To move anything bigger than a dozen men between anyone pass would be exceedingly difficult. I suppose it could be possible if one were to use all of the passes, but that runs into the issue of ensuring that all of those scattered men manage to come together unnoticed by the ever-vigilant guards of our brilliant empire.”

“Still, it would be possible for scouts to come through the passes ?”

>>5470987

“It would be, merchants that travel on foot tend to use the passes, so some of them are relatively well kept, it would be possible, as I had mentioned, for small groups to come through if they are willing to risk it.”

“Then perhaps we can employ local huntsmen or shepherds to scout out the lands of the traitors ? Those that are familiar with these treacherous passes. Naturally, just compensation shall be offered.”

“I had already employed such measure, your majesty.” Isaac cuts in. “These men can inform me of enemy movement when they approach close by the forts, but they are no infiltrators capable of blending in with the crowds and keeping a cool head to provide any actually useful information.”

“Since we are on the topic, is there anything that we know about the rebels, militarily ? As in what battles had been fought, anything of worth we can gleam from them besides the fact that they are similarly equipped to us.”

“Other than a few minor skirmishes here and there, we are low on details, the best I know had come from merchants describing the rebels’ victory over the forest tribals, but that was done in the old fashioned way of simply presenting formations of disciplined men, shields raised, spears pointed forwards and holding under the tidal wave of screaming savages. How accurate that description is to the actual fight, that I do not know.: Isaac summarizes.

“Then the last matter at hand. The matter of supplies.” You say directing your gaze onwards to your protasekretis (first secretary). “Are the stores here in town sufficient for what we had brought with us ?”

“They are, your majesty. We certainly could have brought much more, but as it stands now, what we do have in our possession should be enough to last the winter, still, if possible I would recommend far more, but the matters of war mean that our attention has to be split.” Auxentius replies, having long finished his fish soup and moved onto appreciating the steaming hot meat buns that had just been brought over by the servants.

“And of the forts ?”

“We shall begin distributing supplies as soon as the men are rested, your majesty.” Leontius interjects, before Isaac can open his mouth. “And when the storm passes over.” He says in a quieter tone, as another bolt of lightning illuminates the room.

You cannot help but think back to old pagan superstitions about how thunder and lightning are the manifestations of their Gods’ wrath, drowning the unprepared, washing away crops and condemning livestock. Upon how those of sin and lack of virtue, or simply those that had angered the fickle devils proclaiming divinity, are struck down in flashes of rage and fury. Certainly, the one true God and his Shepherd are far more merciful beings, bringing the truth of enlightenment to all who’d listen.
.
.
.

>>5470988

-
(POV shift: You are Mundus Helenos.)

“Put your backs into it ! Good, loyal fighting men need you to move for the empire’s glory !” One of your subordinates shouts out encouragements, whom mainly fall upon deaf ears as the only real thing that would motivate your mercenary sailors are the promises of gold and silver, rather than honour and glory. The men’s lack in patriotic spirit notwithstanding, you had been pushing them hard and without rest for about two days now, coming ever closer to your destination at the other side of the isle. Luckily, Armentarius or the local kyvernítis (governor) will be awaiting you there with some fighting men ready to be transported over, as you had sent out the holy knight ahead of you, whom unlike you do not have to contend with the stubbornness of the local terrain, being the fact that ships cannot move on land, nor do they have to deal with the tumultuous and increasingly agitated sea. Though it is quite cold up there, you suppose.

“Row ! Row !” A deep voice shouts alongside the rhythmic beating of drums propelling your dromōn (runner) forwards. Over two hundred warships, of various makes and affiliations, move besides you, making for an impressive showing compared to the rather dire and slap dashed look your fleet possessed when the war had first started.

Stroking your beard, you watch as the horizon finally reveals the symbols you had been hoping to find. Smoke rising into the skies from numerous cooking fires and firepits, tents erected alongside and within a town, numerous armed men, whom look like ants at this distance, scurrying about, their strength only visible due to the gleam of their arms and armour. You had reached your destination, it would seem.

Slowly but surely, your ships begin sliding into port, for those that are lacking in space drop their anchors close to the coast and begin to lazily wait for their chance of loading up for more supplies and fighting men. As a plank heavily impact the dock, your good mood sours when you notice a distinct lack of prepared men, other than the Scholae Tagmata (School regiment/battalion), whilst they stand prepared and at attention, there is a current of unease just hidden out of sight, as you quickly notice that all of them have their weapons draw, resting by their sides in easy reach. Around the group, and their neighing horses, stand the local themata army. Some of the better equipped men of the locals, having chain hauberks, occasional lamellar here and there, some have bronze greaves and shin guards, others have cheaper ones made out of iron, gleaming steel helmets and spears clutched in steady hands hidden behind large shields.

To top it all off, there seems to be a large gathering of mercenaries of varying degrees of equipment and drunkenness, seemingly amused by the uneasy stand off and unwilling to interfere with what might happen.

>>5470991

And finally, the most annoying sight of all. A holy knight, besides his proud and ferocious beast, stands upon the docks, nervousness clear in his eyes.

“What happened here ?” You ask, a hint of threat obvious in your tone.

“Kyvernítis (governor) Honorius and Domestikos (domestic, commander) Armentarius are at a standstill.”

You sigh. “Why ?”

“Something about arguments over whom has authority over what, I was instructed to guide you to the meeting room as soon as you arrived, Megas doux (Megaduke).”

Every. Single. Time. “Fine, lead the way.” In now obvious annoyance you respond.
.
.
.
The walk had been a short one, seeing as there had been no crowds to contest you, other then men camping out in ruined buildings, making do with what rations they have, which you note appear to be increasingly sparse. You had dedicated what rations you could, but with the arrival of the rest of the Paterans, combined with the emperor’s decision to split what supplies did come, you had become hard pressed to keep all men under your command fed and clothed. And seeing a slowly roasting rat on some fire damaged piece of metal or another, it seems that the situation is becoming dire, having to field so many men in such close proximity. Still, the eyes of said men are not hollow as you might have feared, the fact that they are now camping in the remains of the first city seized by the foreign invaders, well, the symbolism is enough to last through a few more tough days, if nothing else.

The building you had come over to had once been a rather nice-looking patrician household, with wide chambers, a long roof and an undoubtedly a beautifully tended to garden. But the darkened walls, weeds growing around the structure, on occasion collapsed chamber roofs due to clear signs of fire, showcase just what destruction had ravaged the town.

As for the men occupying said building, they are the exact same mixture of the, well two factions now you suppose, eyeing each other nervously, though this time there is a distinct lack of drunken mercenaries to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. You are unopposed as you walk inside, your guide being enough to inform everyone around you of your status. Moving down the rather barren, closer to utterly looted, rooms and hallways, you quickly find the heart of the malaise over the soon to be ghost town.

Sitting at the opposite ends of a long table, are Armentarius, and what you presume to be Honorius, each having about half a dozen men behind one another, judging by the extravagance upon their armours, clearly officers of both men. The room itself had been absolutely silent, the only noise coming from the occasional crackle of firewood keeping the room warm and the uncomfortable shifting of servants, camp slaves no doubt, providing drink and food, that seemingly goes untouched by either side.

>>5470993

Stepping inside, you do not even register the various greetings that your position merits, instead you plop down upon the nearest chair. Take a deep drink of wine from a jug, having quenched your thirst, you then grab the side of a duck and bite greedily in it, the crispy outside tastes wonderfully in your mouth as it is stained by grease and fat. Slowly chewing, your eye both men, whom seemingly had only now realized the presence of food in front of them. One that they quickly dismiss.

“So.” You being, having wiped your mouth with a piece of cloth provided to you by a servant. “Am I getting the soldiery I, no, our emperor needs to maintain his domain ?”

“My men are already prepared to depart, as you had seen at the docks. The problem here is the good kyvernítis (governor).”

“I am indeed a good kyvernítis, one that cares for the lives of those that I am sworn to protect.” Here unfurls a scroll, imperial seal clear upon it. “As had been decreed by the emperor, I had to relinquish my authority to domestikos for the duration of the campaign, upon, the, isle. That campaign had concluded in a glorious victory, with only hundreds of my men hanged because they refused to condemn their families to death. And thousands more that had died in open field and during sieges against those very same men who now feared to be hung.”

“You are to support the war effort.” You say, frustration rising.

“And I do, I had given what supplies I have, I had mustered the men, to the point where we had missed the harvest. My stores are barely enough to last the winter, and that can only happen due to rationing. I cannot support an army for any longer. Naturally, should the emperor issue their imperial decree for me to muster my men for further battle, I shall gladly do so.”

“The emperor is on the other side of the empire, by the time the message reaches them Dyrea would have long since fallen.” Angered, Armentarius shouts, rising from his seat. The men in the room begin drawing their blades, whilst Honorius, steadfast, sits unperturbed.

You chew upon a rather nice soft cheese, and as it melts in your mouth, you speak up again. “The mercenaries, why are they drunk ?”

“They believe that my refusal to take part in further battles means that they can wait out the rest of their contract doing nothing.”

“So they are payed from the théma (placement, district) treasury ?”

“That is correct.”

“How many ?”

“About three thousand.”

“Then they shall come alongside us.”

Silence once again takes over the room.

“Very well. I shall give their contracts over to you, megas doux (megaduke).”

>>5470994

“Good. There’s no time to waste, I wish to depart in a few hours once my oarsmen had rested.” You finally respond, rising from your seat. Though you can tell that neither party is truly satisfied by your solution, but you do not have the time to pointlessly bicker, you had laden down your ships with enough food to sort out the egos of these men.

As you are walking down the hallway, the rapid noise of approaching feet, metal scratching against metal, grates against your ears.

“Megas doux (megaduke) !” Armentarius calls out. “Do not tell me you shall suffer such insubordination ?”

“Legally, he is in the right.”

“But he is not in the right of the spirit of the law. He condemns an entire théma after his had been secured.”

“That will be for their majesty, the emperor, to decide.” You throw that out. Watching Armentarius’ face distort does give you some sick pleasure, as his own beliefs and loyalty mean he has no way to rebuke you.

“Then we shall have to make do with what we have. It will be I that shall have to lead the battle, so I must prepare.”

“Wait. Will the local kyvernítis actually obey you on the matters of command ?”

“Unlike Honorius, this one is in power due to an emergency, if he wishes to keep that position, opposing the leader of the emperor’s bodyguards will be nothing more than political suicide.”

“I did not take you for a politician.”

“I am not, I have always been, and I shall always be a warrior loyal to the emperor. But unlike some, I do not dismiss it out of hand.”

You simply nod in response. “We depart at dawn, rest your men for now, they look like they’d not slept for days.”

With those final words, you conclude the conversation.
.
.
.
With a screech, one of the holy knights finally returns.

“How many ?”

“Difficult to tell from the height, but judging by the sheer number of tents, I’d say the entire, or most of the Akeonian forces are gathered here. There also seem to be some permanent structures in the enemy camp, they seem prepared for a long war.” The man in gleaming armour responds.

“There seems to be, maybe a hundred ships.” Vincenso says, using the strange Pateran device that allows one to see things from closer than it actually is. You had already questioned about it and secured an order from the Paterans for one for yourself.

“All warships ?” You ask

“Seems so.”

>>5470995

The area around Bylleira, the largest, and perhaps the only, remaining settlement within Thephian hands is currently under siege. Though there appears to be a lull in the fighting. Clear burnt out husks of wooden siege towers and trebuchets showcasing that the defenders had not been sitting idle whilst under siege. Meanwhile, the docks seem to house Akeonian warships, lazily maintaining the blockade around the town. The issue being a large amount of earth dredged around the docks. Acting as protection against harsh waves and strong storms, protecting the dock proper, but also serving as a bottleneck for any ships entering and leaving. Something that could serve as an advantage for the defenders, but unfortunately, in this situation your numerical superiority is negated. Worst case scenario, there is another Akeonian fleet, lying in wait ready to spring a trap and encircle your entire fleet.

“What of the army ?” Armentarius inquires. Swaying a bit on his feet, he, like most men unused to the sea, suffer exceptionally when the ocean turns tumultuous.

“Encamped around the town. There seem to be ditches, and a quick makeshift wooden wall around their camp. So there’s not much sneaking around.” Vincenso responds once more.

“Cavalry ?”

“I do not know.”

“Well, Megas doux (megaduke), whilst on the seas you are in command. I’d suggest landing at the docks and breaking through the blockade. That would allow me to assist the town the fastest, and it means that I might not have to face a superior Akeonian force on the open field.”

“I suggest caution.” Vincenso interjects. “Land the army far off. The landing should be uncontested and it should allow for you landmen to recover and get your stomachs into order.” He finishes with a laugh.

“By the time we reorganize, we can still be found, or the garrison could be overwhelmed.” Armentarius responds.

Or I could take the halfway point, not too far from the town, but not too close. Still, chances of discovery increase, especially if those damned Akeonians contest the landing.

>Punch through, land in the town.

>Halfway point. A decent chance of discovery, but considering the supply situation, it would allow Armentarius to march forwards the soonest.

>Far away. It will take some time to reach the town and there will be a need to forage supplies, but it is the safest landing.

>(Write in)

>>5470997

Then there’s the matter of the enemy fleet. Should you decide to punch through, you will have to engage it regardless, but the other two options give some more flexibility, no longer being laden down by men, horses, and supplies.

>A combined attack, once Armentarius assaults the camp, your holy knights could try and persuade the garrison to sally forwards. Meanwhile you shall attack the navy, tying down all Akeonian forces. Perhaps some of their fanciful officers will fill griffon stomachs.

>Leave the fleet be, if the army is beaten the blockade is meaningless. Instead, you shall surround them yourself and force them to engage you.

>Leave the fleet be, if the army is beaten the blockade is meaningless. There is no need to risk an engagement here, better let them break off when given the chance.

>(Write in)

-
(End of POV shift. Two weeks later.)

“And that is everything that they had found.” Isaac finishes his report.

The forces you sent to scout had reported odd things in the passing days, for perhaps a week and a half, the intensity of barbaroi (barbarians) attacks had continues to intensify, but the reinforcements you had brought with out were more than enough to repulse this threat. And now, your scouts report that other than a few unorganized warbands, the savages seem to have almost entirely abandoned the battle.

“Do any of you have any idea why this is happening ?” You question everyone in the room, the usual gathering of important persons, and some of your lesser. The large hall you had dinner in couple of weeks prior now bustling with people.

“Perhaps they are reorganizing for a full-blown attack ?” Isaac ponders. “That would explain why other than some rearguard savages, we had not encountered anyone else.”

“Or maybe they had seen the light and decided to embrace their true emperor.” Leontius says, a delusional thought put out for no other reason than to oppose Isaac.

“Kyvernítis (governor), you are familiar with the surroundings, any ideas ?”

“Perhaps there had been a landslide, maybe flooding that had forced them to pull back. The area can be quite treacherous if storms such as the one two weeks past become common.”

Since you are fielding questions, a few more ideas come from the gathered ranks, from ideas of infighting, to another foreign invasion, to simply the rebels changing their minds and returning home to wait out the soon to come winter.

That is until the door is heavily slammed open, and your two bodyguards drag in a shivering man, covered in soaked furs, heavily dropping him onto the floor.

You are confused for a moment, until Leontius starts to talk. “Demetrius ?”

“Do you know him, prōtoproedros (senior president) ?”

“I do, your majesty. Senator, well, former senator Demetrius Vatatzes. One of the eastern traitors.”

>>5470999

You look upon the shivering body, kowtowing before you, as expressions of disgust and anger flash across the faces of the gathered.

“How was he captured ?” You ask your bodyguards.

“He had come riding a mule, your majesty. He had not even tried to hide his identity.”

Well, that is odd. You think, now turning your gaze towards the man.

“We allow you to speak, but do not test our patience.”

“I thank you, your majesty. This humble one had come here to beg for your mercy, the foreigners, once subdued by the thrice damned traitor Ancius, had turned upon the citizens of the empire, ravaging and looting the lands as they will.”

“And why should this concern us ?”

“For, your majesty, we had all realized our mistakes, with the coming of a new emperor, I and my peers believe that we need to return to the fold ! And-”

“And ?” You question, confused by the fact that you may very well not have to fight the foes you had thought you will have to bleed to death.

“The traitor Ancius had taken his most loyal and best men upon the seas, intending an act most foul, to burn and raise the lands loyal to your majesty. But God had seen fit to punish the traitor, and no word had come from him other than a few survivors whom had managed to swim back after God unleashed his wrath and drowned his ships by his fury.” He continues to shake as he talks.

The storm ! You cannot help but me slightly amused. Perhaps those pagans had a point showcasing that such power of nature is indeed a divine domain.

“So, what do you wish of us ?”

“Just the protection your majesty offers to his loyal subjects. I can guarantee that any and all town shall gladly open their gates to their emperor ! All they ask is to show your endless mercy and grace !”

>”Very well. We shall march at once. Send the word that those who kneel before me shall be spared.”

>“I thank you for the news. Guards, execute him. Everyone else, prepare to march to reclaim what is rightfully ours !”

>”No, you shall suffer for your sins. Guards, let him go. After you suffer the foreigners wrath, I may decide then to assist you. After all, it is a father’s duty to teach his children valuable lessons.

>(Write in)

Isle forces:

Thephians:
2,780 well equipped mercs

400 scholae tagmata

Total fleet strength:

18 Warships (Tarrizo)

5 Warships (Maniakes)

50 Warships

10 Warships (Merchants)

170 Warships (Pateran)

A total of 253 warships.

>>5470997
>>Far away. It will take some time to reach the town and there will be a need to forage supplies, but it is the safest landing.
Storming the bottleneck is extremely risky. If enough ships get sunk in the most narrow point of entry we will lose any chance to land. At the same time Akeonians seeing our fleet storming the docks might decide that this is their last chance to take the city and rise for a decisive attack.
We were as fast as we could be so let us hope that the defenders will hold for a day or two while our army prepares to strike the enemy in the rear.

>>Leave the fleet be, if the army is beaten the blockade is meaningless. Instead, you shall surround them yourself and force them to engage you.
I think besieging the besiegers would allow for a more advantageous position for our forces. Maybe some enemies will even surrender.
If it comes to a tie I am prepared to switch to support the first option.
The last option is the worst. We have an opportunity to sink/capture a hundred warships. Throwing that away would be silly.

>>5471002
>>”Very well. We shall march at once. Send the word that those who kneel before me shall be spared.”
Spare him and all who are willing to serve us but for the Sheperd's sake keep them away from any important information like the number of our troops or our strategy. And put some guards on our prodigal subjects. To ensure their safety against those who could hold grudges of course.

>>5471026
To add to the last vote - I am not opposed to punishing the rebels but only after they opened the gates of their cities to us.

>>5470997
>Punch through, land in the town.

>>5470999
>A combined attack, once Armentarius assaults the camp, your holy knights could try and persuade the garrison to sally forwards. Meanwhile you shall attack the navy, tying down all Akeonian forces. Perhaps some of their fanciful officers will fill griffon stomachs.

>>5471002
>”Very well. We shall march at once. Send the word that those who kneel before me shall be spared.”
New dynasty, fresh start. You get one chance to surrender and return to the fold, otherwise you get the sword. Every man that surrenders peacefully is one we don’t have to fight right not. (We can decide who to purge after this is over).

>Make sure this man is well seen to (and under guard)
If he tells the truth, he’ll be rewarded with a new position (somewhere that doesn’t hold real power). If this is ploy, he gets the sword.

>Issac, ensure there’s enough guards in case there are intact survivors, and immediately send out a reconnaissance in force. Kyvernítis, send out men to confirm his story at sea. We march to reclaim what is ours!

Hopefully this isn’t a ploy, but the evidence does suggest that it isn’t, and it’s time to be bold and show strength (especially when the reconnaissance comes back with info).

>>5471002
>Halfway point. A decent chance of discovery, but considering the supply situation, it would allow Armentarius to march forwards the soonest.

>Leave the fleet be, if the army is beaten the blockade is meaningless. Instead, you shall surround them yourself and force them to engage you.

>”Very well. We shall march at once. Send the word that those who kneel before me shall be spared.”

Could this be a massive trick? Perhaps. But Shepherd, if it is true...

>>5470997
>Punch through, land in the town.
I know it's risky but we already know that invading knights don't fight so well in sieges, risking a fight in the open field is too risky.

>A combined attack, once Armentarius assaults the camp, your holy knights could try and persuade the garrison to sally forwards. Meanwhile you shall attack the navy, tying down all Akeonian forces. Perhaps some of their fanciful officers will fill griffon stomachs.
Dividing the attention of such a decentralized force is our best option, it would be impossible for all the knights to advance in the same direction thus leaving our task of destroying them piece by piece, possible.

>”Very well. We shall march at once. Send the word that those who kneel before me shall be spared.”
Shit, this is an ambush but still showing cowardice is out of the question. With no spies, our best option will be to send our scouts out to keep an eye on the movement of supposedly loyal troops. Hopefully we won't be in an irreversible position.

>>5470997
>>Halfway point. A decent chance of discovery, but considering the supply situation, it would allow Armentarius to march forwards the soonest.

>>A combined attack, once Armentarius assaults the camp, your holy knights could try and persuade the garrison to sally forwards. Meanwhile you shall attack the navy, tying down all Akeonian forces. Perhaps some of their fanciful officers will fill griffon stomachs.

>>”Very well. We shall march at once. Send the word that those who kneel before me shall be spared.”

I would hope that we make ample use of screening forces and reconnaissance, as well as leaving a few additional men as a rear guard. Just seems too good to be true, though the storm and all the foreshadowing makes me want to believe it is true.

>>5470997
>Halfway point. A decent chance of discovery, but considering the supply situation, it would allow Armentarius to march forwards the soonest.
>A combined attack, once Armentarius assaults the camp, your holy knights could try and persuade the garrison to sally forwards. Meanwhile you shall attack the navy, tying down all Akeonian forces. Perhaps some of their fanciful officers will fill griffon stomachs.

I consider the blue has something important here.

>>5471002
>”Very well. We shall march at once. Send the word that those who kneel before me shall be spared.”
>Write In
"This said, all magnates will cast down all symbols of paganism from their provinces and repent. For having abandoned or allowed men to abandon the protection and love of the Sherpard, is a sin without equals. Wolves were left to enter among the sheeps for feast upon them and tarnish the lands. Do you understand what you and your peers allowed ?"
"All magnates shall make a public oath of loyalty to serve again the empire, and me their rightful emperor, and to accept the Sherpard and only him."
"And I demand to see that all idols of the barbarians taken and burned to ashes."
"May they be damned and shamed if they betray this oath or fail to destroy any idols of the pagans, and if they flee their families will be all considered infamous and traitors of the worst kind."
"And since you are the first to reach me you will be the first to do such oath in front of all and then repent for your sins, after you will be interrogated on the east. Numbers of barbarians, how many settlements are standing, if refugees have been organized and sent here instead of leaving them on their own, which magnates are fighting the barbarians, which magnates serve the pagans, how many magnates and men will fight with me and anything else me or my men want to ask you."
"When this oath is done, you and the other magnates will fight against the barbarians. Spill the pagans blood, repent and avoid that your families will be know has blackguards to all. I will consider any and all pacts or agreements you did with barbarians no more, if they are destroyed."

>Have Isaac and Kyvernítis, confirm if what has been said is true by sending groups of men on locations were we can find results.
>Make a gesture for the man to be brought out, and prepare an additional plan with Isaac, Leontius and Kyvernítis
in case the barbarians in the east or the
magnates, are using this has a trap of sort against us. We are no fools, keep a tight watch and the men ready.

Maybe ask our doctor to check the man wounds ? If they are very very, bad it should be unlikely he is a traitor. Unless he is that loyal.

>>5470997
>Halfway point. A decent chance of discovery, but considering the supply situation, it would allow Armentarius to march forwards the soonest.
>A combined attack, once Armentarius assaults the camp, your holy knights could try and persuade the garrison to sally forwards. Meanwhile you shall attack the navy, tying down all Akeonian forces. Perhaps some of their fanciful officers will fill griffon stomachs.
We shall surround them, and unless they somehow manage to pull a Siege of Alesia, which is unlikely, we shall crush them. The town's defenders are obviously strong, this should be a success.

>”Very well. We shall march at once. Send the word that those who kneel before me shall be spared.”
Just because we'll spare them doesn't mean that they'll remain in power.
>Request the most experienced sailors and fishermen that remain in the town present themselves before us. We need to be absolutely sure that there is no chance that Ancius could have survived. The locations of safe harbours, the probability of surviving the storm, etc.

>>5470997
>Halfway point. A decent chance of discovery, but considering the supply situation, it would allow Armentarius to march forwards the soonest.

Decent chance of stealth, allows us to recover from sea sickness without being thrown into an amphibious assault, and we won't have to forage.

>Leave the fleet be, if the army is beaten the blockade is meaningless. Instead, you shall surround them yourself and force them to engage you.

We should not shy away from battle, I'd have to go back and reread but I think we out number them, and the earth dredged up to serve as a bottleneck shall work against them as a trap preventing their easy escape and limiting maneuver. Our supply strangling strategy has worked pretty well so far, but we shouldn't feel so constrained by it that we pass up a favourable decisive battle when it presents itself, not to mention the enemy adaptions to our strategy are beginning to render our plan obsolete anyways.

If we do choose to punch through, at least send scouts first.

>>5471002
>Ask our gathered advisors whether they buy this man's story, if they offer opposition then...
>”Very well. We shall march at once. Send the word that those who kneel before me shall be spared.”

This could be a trap, we even note that this is odd. They could very well be using their own observations of nature to aid a deception stratagem. Nonetheless, this is a good opportunity, we should probably cautiously proceed but take note of anything that contradicts the man's story on our advance, don't get over confident. The storm screwing over our enemy is plausible, as the QM notes, misfortune affects our foes as well as ourselves. Freak storms have historically often screwed over naval actions. Ancius is noted to be restless and impatient, or at least that is my reading of him based on us being told that he likes to set his own pace, so it'd make sense for this story to be true.

>>5471831
>Veteran fishermen with sailing experience start going missing
>Nothing's happening on the border
>A freak storm occurs, and we receive news that his fleet has been sunk
If it's a trap, it's an extremely elaborate one, and I wouldn't even be mad if we fell for it.

>>5471888
On the contrary, it is possible that the trap - if there is one - is actually quite simple. The plausibility of the story isn't in question, those things all could've happened, nor is the storm itself in question. All the enemy would have to do is send this guy with a made up story either having predicted the storm through either mystical or traditional means (augurs or old sailors with aching bones) or having acted quickly after having observed the storm in progress.

We don't know the nature of the "trap" after all. Is the intent of this hypothetical trap for us to decide not to garrison this town after all and then perform a feat of miraculous seamanship and strike this town and cut our supply lines? Is it for us to accept surrenders of towns as we advance, have us go deep into enemy territory, then have the supposed surrendered towns kill our garrisons and use their troops to pincer us or cut our supply lines? Is it just to lull us into overconfidence and have us stop scouting and then just get ambushed? We just don't know.

The point is the hypothetical ambush itself and the steps needed to lure us into this trap weren't actually that complicated, again, everything you just listed could be a combination of the storm affecting our fishermen, them predicting or observing the storm, followed by them ordering the troops under their command to cease any border actions and/or fall back, then send this guy.

I am not sure it's a good idea to move during winter in this mountain passes. If we could learn more from this man it would be best, and to confirm if anything he said is true, so i suggest to interrogate him. If barbarians actually rebelled and are raiding and looting all around, there should be a lot of desperate people fleeing from them toward us the only bastion of safety and civilization in our continent (south there is the Lucenians (barbarians), east and north more barbarians).
A shore pieces of ships and sailors should arrive if the traitor fleet remained close to the coast when the storm arrived, and survivors from land it seems only this man for now.
Did the barbarians rebel because the traitor had no successors ? He essentially defeated them and put the remains under him.

>>5470997
>>5470999
>Halfway point. A decent chance of discovery, but considering the supply situation, it would allow Armentarius to march forwards the soonest.
>A combined attack, once Armentarius assaults the camp, your holy knights could try and persuade the garrison to sally forwards. Meanwhile you shall attack the navy, tying down all Akeonian forces. Perhaps some of their fanciful officers will fill griffon stomachs.

>(Write in)
>>5471921
Supporting further interrogation. If everything checks out:
>”Very well. We shall march at once. Send the word that those who kneel before me shall be spared.”

>>5471921
Given that the three options the QM gave us were related to how we treat our prisoners, and all involved marching, I think it’s all legit. It’s a bit meta, but I don’t think the QM would jerk our chain into marching into a trap like this.

>>5473331

I always just give the most obvious of options. :)

File: images (1).jpg (8 KB, 396x127)

8 KB JPG

It an honor to play the quest ran by someone who is on the level of pro game writers

>>5473368

This is the worst insult I had ever received. :(

But in all seriousness anons, the decisions I give are there after a multi-hour writing session, which usually comes around the time when I am about to head off to bed. That is why I might have an occasional brain fart, and it is one of the reasons why I so strongly encourage and appreciate write ins for any given situation.

For example: Count Durant Dufour, you anons choosing to spare him lead to different things happening and important information being revealed. Something my tired ass brain had not even considered as a possibility.

>>5473379
On one hand I understand
On the other hand you gotta realise that when you give people multiple options every single one of which has something in common people are going to assume that common part is a constant

>>5473379
Was that the good noble messenger? He was one of my favorite parts of that thread.

>>5473388

Tbf

>”No, you shall suffer for your sins. Guards, let him go. After you suffer the foreigners wrath, I may decide then to assist you. After all, it is a father’s duty to teach his children valuable lessons.

Was the decline option.

>>5473391

Yes he was.

>>5473411
So… not a trap confirmed, this is a legitimate call for help.

Thanks for relieving the load on my mind, between this and other quests I was starting to question my sanity.

>>5471326
Supporting

>>5473426
It's too overcomplicated to be a trap. If the ex-senator arrived by himself claiming these things then maybe, but fishermen coincidentally disappearing and waiting until a freak storm to relay the news relies on too many variables. Kidnapping the fishermen is risking us being paranoid and staying in the town, and if we were cautious we might have sent less troops to the front, while waiting for the storm is something that nobody could have predicted, and it's far too much of a stretch to think that it's part of an elaborate plan. Now of course, this guy could be a brilliant commander unparalleled by any other, but this is a lot of tenuous bait when a simple attack on the border would have had the same effect.

File: Couldn't find it without (...).jpg (160 KB, 1200x627)

160 KB JPG

>>5471002
>Halfway point. A decent chance of discovery, but considering the supply situation, it would allow Armentarius to march forwards the soonest.

>A combined attack, once Armentarius assaults the camp, your holy knights could try and persuade the garrison to sally forwards. Meanwhile you shall attack the navy, tying down all Akeonian forces. Perhaps some of their fanciful officers will fill griffon stomachs.

Maybe we could do as the Vandals did to the Romans at the Battle of Cape Bon with a fireship attack. It seems like they would be particularly vulnerable to such a maneuver given how they're lazily blockading the town and bunched up within the docks.

>”Very well. We shall march at once. Send the word that those who kneel before me shall be spared.”

I find it extremely unlikely for this to be a trap. For an aristocratic senator to effectively sacrifice his own life for a man that, even in the highest estimations, comes nowhere close to inspiring such loyalty for a plan that could not be an ultimate checkmate is as close to impossible as we're gonna get.

As for what should to them after they surrender, I'd say take all their possessions and titles. The possessions should be used to pay off debts and the titles should be put through our exam system.

>>5473927
Supporting the single fireship attack, they've done it to us enough times.

>>5473927
The fireship is a wonderful idea. Maybe combine the crew of a damaged, shitty ass ship with a better ship, than launch that towards the enemy. Supporting that.

>>5473927
Ditto, I like the idea

>>5473927
support all within

“Guards, call for our giatrós (doctor), take this man to him.” You call out and the two men who had originally dragged him roughly put the man on his feat and quickly depart the room. “After the giatrós is present, We wish for him to be question as to ascertain the validity of his claims.” You direct your command towards one of the bodyguards still within the room. The man bows and silently disappears from the room.

“Kyvernítis (Governor), gather the bravest and most daring of the fishermen that you can find. We wish to ascertain his claims. Have them look for wrecks or anything else that could validate the man’s claims.” You address the thin man.

“As your majesty commands.” He responds and rapidly departs.

You turn to regard the room and the gathered mass of people. Looks of confusion, intrigue, curiosity, apathy from a couple, a few eyes shining with excitement from others seem to dominate the room.

“We wish to hear opinions of all gather here, whom have advice to share.” Finally, having given everyone a few minutes to ponder, you say.

“The senate would be more than excited to see your majesty bring our wayward kin back into the fold.” Leontius is the first to jump at the opportunity. “I can guarantee that Demetrius is not a man to willingly throw away his life for a petty scheme, this is a genuine call for help and as such, we must come to their aid against these uncivilized savages now rampaging across the lands !” He finishes.

Loud shouts of approval rise across the room, strong encouragements to sally forth, smash away your foes with ease and emerge triumphant. Though you do note, that the elders within, men of experience, remain utterly silent, their faces stone cold and unchanging. And as you had expected, Isaac looks utterly disgusted at the senate’s enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Auxentius for once has a ponderous expression, remaining silent during the storm of pleading for you to attack, some senators even start making oaths and pledges to earn honour and glory.

You simply nod, listening to pointless drooling of the men before you, watching with curiosity as Isaac’s expression get progressively darker and darker. Finding the opportunity, you raise your hand, silencing the room.

“Strategos (General).” You draw the man’s attention. “Your opinion ?”

Isaac looks around the room, throwing glares specifically at the most enthusiastic of senators whom had gone so far as to request to be allowed to ride with their retinues ahead of any invasion force.

“To blindly rush forwards is the greatest foolhardiness. Even if it is not a trap, a fact most of you seem to ignore for reasons only known to you and the very ideal of stupidity.” Now that had angered everyone in the room. “The fact of the matter remains that there is a rampaging horde out there whose size we are not aware of.”

“A horde that had been previously defeated.” Leontius interjects.

>>5475770

“A horde that had a chance to learn. You are not a soldier, Prōtoproedros (senior president). Defeat is the fastest way to learn and adapt, even the forest tribals are disunited, disorganized and lacking leadership, they would no doubt know that it was one of the reasons for their initial defeat, and if they are even slightly smarter than the average senator, they will be able to quickly adapt.” Just having a quick look, you can see that the only reason why insults are not exchanged is because of your presence. “Then there is the fact, that even if that wet rat fleeing a sinking ship claims that every city and town will gladly throw open their gates, we have no way of verifying that it is the truth or just a simple delusion of his and few of his cronies.”

“Strategos, watch your tone, lest you draw the wrath of the entirety of the senate. Every man here had fought in battles before and they had seen and experienced war.”

“Curious how all of you great warriors always end up on the winning side, equally surprising is the fact that whenever you do emerge victorious it is always underneath a new emperor.”

You sit there in mild shock and complete silence. Once again, the thoughts of how is Isaac still alive, much less a strategos?! Utterly occupy the forefront of your mind.

The sound of Auxentius clearing his throat draws everyone’s attention to him. “Your majesty, if I may ?” You simply gesture for him to talk. “I, and many of my peers.” He says regarding the older men of the senate. “Would advise caution. A vanguard to scout ahead, a rearguard to ensure a pathway of safe retreat. This should grant those who desire glory what they want.” He eyes Leontius. “And those whose mind is preoccupied with caution shall have a means of safe withdrawal.” He now regards Isaac. “But this is a chance we cannot miss if it is true, to wait and hesitate further would only see our glorious empire bleed further, and it would make our countrymen believe that the empire had abandoned them, as had happened to most of the empire throughout the centuries.”

You can see why the senate had appointed the man as your protasekretis (first secretary). A neutral party indeed, finding compromises wherever possible.

“We agree to your suggestion. We shall march as one, underneath a single uniting banner, should the claims of the current situation prove to be correct. But for now, rest, prepare, for soon we shall march.” With those words you dismiss everyone from the room.
.
.
.

>>5475771

“He appears to be in good help, other than some exhaustion from the long travel, as well as a potential cold due to the foul weather.” Your giatrós reports within the dining room that had more or less become your throne room for the duration of your stay. Pistis lazily lays besides you today as well, as thunder rages outside. Your powerful direwolf, having grown now to reach above your groin, strong enough to actually rip out throats of men, still shyly hangs around you and pushes his head into your arms whenever a thunderbolt strikes.

“And the interrogation ?” You now direct the question to one of your guards.

“He kept proclaiming the same thing he had said before, your majesty. That the would-be usurper is dead, his fleet scattered and his army drowned. Though he had confessed that his claim of every town gladly opening their gates may be an exaggeration.” The guard reports.

To be expected. “And the rampaging savages ?”

“He has no idea about their numbers, other than the fact that it is made up of a few smaller tribes, whom appear to be cheaply equipped, at least they were when he last saw them, it is entirely possible that they had stolen better equipment in the meantime.”

“Is that so ? Very well, have the man put in proper quarters, ensure his comfort and safety. Make sure that he is watched day and night, we desire not to see again, the same failure that had led to the death of Count Dufour.”

“Your will be done.” With a bow, the guard responds. Taking the hint, your giatrós bows alongside him and also swiftly vacates your presence.

Having been left alone, you continue to play with Pistis, stroking his darkening grey fur, as he occasionally sharply raises his head to stare out the window. And when thunder echoes, he pushes his head deeper into your embrace. You continue to pet and calm him. It is then that you notice Pistis’ ears stand tall and him shifting his gaze towards one end of the room, specifically a door. You let him go and sit back into your chair, and just as you had expected, a knock soon comes.

“Enter.” You say.

Opening the door, you watch as the local kyvernítis (governor) enters the room. “Your majesty, the fishermen had returned.”

“Had they found anything ?” Your back straightens as the news delivered here could easily set you back by weeks if not months. A few days had passed and the army had been prepared, supplies had been expended, drills were undertaken. Though you had yet to receive any reports from the men you sent to reinforce the border against the Lucenians, still, no news can be good news.

“The poor recent weather and strong waves had made it difficult to truly locate anything, your majesty, though pieces of wood, crates, barrels and the like had been spotted washed up upon the shores, when they were checked, the fishermen found them mainly filled with food, preserved food that is.”

>>5475775

“Can this be the confirmation of the failed invasion ?”

“Perhaps, your majesty. A few bloated corpses had also been found along the shores, most likely dead sailors, but since to wear armour upon the seas is usually a deathwish, it is hard to tell if those found dead had once been proper soldiers.”

“Everything has been prepared, as such we shall march regardless. Kyvernítis, we task you to do your duty and ensure that our logistics do not fall off.”

“It will be my honour, your majesty.” He says with a deep bow.
.
.
.
Your village had been deeper inland, whilst the winters were cold, especially the last few had been dry, it is the first time you had witnessed the strangeness you see now. You couldn’t call what is happening as snowing, nor could you describe it as rain. More like a mixture of both, as wet clumps fall from the sky and land upon the ground only to quickly melt.

“Strategos.” You say, sitting atop of the gentle mare you had gotten quite used to in your travels. Your gleaming, golden, overly decorated, armour had long since been replaced by a more subdued suit, the only real showcase of your statues being your large purple-gold cloak and a helmet into which a diadem had been forged into. “What is this weather called ?”

“Sleet, your majesty, holding the worst parts of both rain and snow. It will make advancing forward hard and slow.” He responds, atop of a mighty looking warhorse, his own armour having been stuffed full with furs, oiled and reeking, so as to prevent them from getting overly wet in the harsh weather. You yourself had also been stuffed full of furs, something you had come to appreciate is why everyone from the East dresses in such a way. As thick cotton, layered linen or anything else similar would become easily soaked and absorb the cold water, rather than repelling it somewhat.

You turn to regard the once proper looking stone road, now being filled with puddles and slippery muck. Carefully, ever slowly, your men advance upon it, their wet feat thump onwards as they march, horses neigh trying to avoid the water best they can but are reeled in by their riders to stay in line. Pistis also observes the endless lines of men, his fur long since soaked, occasionally directing a questioning gaze your way, you can almost read the wolf’s thoughts, its pleading eyes informing you just how badly it wishes to head back someplace dry and warm. But despite the pleading look, your loyal pet had not once left your side since you had started preparing, seemingly knowing that you are marching to war, to danger.

“Do you think we shall succeed ?”

>>5475776

“To pointlessly ponder does nothing but instils one’s mind with fear and indecision. Decision had been made to march, so we march. Even though I am personally opposed to this, if the rumours of rampaging savages are true, they will burn everything in their way to keep warm during the winter. I would caution your majesty to simply take what few towns we can before winter sets in deeply. To march as we do now, is dangerous.” He says pointing towards a wagon laden down with food and weapons, whose one wheel had broken off and the mules pulling it are shouting in annoyance of not being able to move. Those shouts are met with the curses of men now struggling to lift the wagon and replace the wooden wheel. “Let those whom had never felt starvation rush ahead, if they so wish.” He finally finishes.

“Prōtoproedros (senior president) Leontius would disagree with you.”

“He is a fool playing at a soldier.”

“We believe that perhaps you are overly harsh in your criticisms. Prōtoproedros and his peers are the ones financing this war and in part they are paying for the war against the Akeonians.”

“Better pay in gold than in blood. Once they get their little bit of glory, their drop of honour with which to propel their political careers, they shall more than gladly stop spending their coin once they secure their position.” Isaac continues on with his cynicisms.

You simply sigh, the man’s stubborn as those mules trying to pull a broken wagon, set in his ways, for good or for ill.
.
.
.
“That is Kittos, your majesty.” Leontius says. “The first step in the glorious reconquest that shall be noted down by historians in ages to come.” He says with an encouraging tone as you both regard the town’s walls. Made from simple stone and mortar, the walls reach a stout five meters, with noticeably high-flying banners of red, each and every portraying the golden wolf of the empire.


“Protasekretis, (first secretary), what do we know of the town ?” You direct a question to Auxentius, responding to Leontius’ praises with a nod of your head.

“Last census pointed to a populace of around four thousand, but that had been more than a decade ago, last known logothétēs (one who accounts) of the town was one named Synesius Phocus, the local administrator subordinate to kyvernítis (governor) Alypius Ooryphas, whom if Demetrius is to believed, had been killed in the internal struggles of the traitors.” He concludes.

You eye the top of the walls, crossbowmen nervously stand, shielding themselves from the harsh wind of the uncommonly bright day. “They fly our banners, but yet they stand ready to strike us down.”

“Nervousness, your majesty. Please showcase your mercy as these men clearly know not of your august presence and the forgiveness you extend to all whom stand loyal beneath you.” Leontius says.

>>5475778

“We had brought siege ladders a plenty, the walls won’t hold back, if need be, we can take the town within a day. If their shivering bodies are anything to go by.” Isaac quickly interjects and provides you with a military solution.

“Are you willing to use your men in an assault, strategos ?” You question.

“I ? Why I can offer solutions, may I offer the honour of the first charge to the gathered senators.”

“Do not worry, strategos, whilst we shall fight bravely as your retire after their long service, I do believe fighting can be avoided this day.” Leontius bites back. “Your majesty, if I may be given permission to talk to the gate guards ?”

“You are.” You respond, watching as Leontisu gently encourages his horse forwards, his own lamellar, decorated with a layer of gold, makes him shine like a beacon as he rides forth, his bodyguards quickly closing distance, their shields raised and prepared, despite their master’s claims.

Your rapt attention is instantly taken by the loud sneeze besides you. Glancing down, you watch as a particularly annoyed looking Pistis scratches himself using his hind legs. His perfectly groomed, almost glowing darkening grey fur had long since been messed up and covered by light sprinklings of snow. And he appears to be quite miserable to be outside for so long.

With a chuckle, you turn back to regard the gates, where words are being exchanged, until a few minutes later Leontius rides back.

“Your majesty, the people of Kittos are awaiting the triumphal return of their emperor.” He says with a smile.

“So why are the gates closed, and my men are exposed to the winds ?”

“Well, your majesty, they fear your righteous wrath for the fact that they had strayed from the correct path, as such they request that your majesty would swear upon God’s name that you shall not punish them for their mistake.”

“I had promised to spare all whom return to the fold.” You reply, specially not mentioning the oath.

With a clear glint in his eyes, Leontius once again smiles and rides back towards the town.

Once again, you watch the exchange, until the gates of the town slowly, but surely, are thrown open.

“Strategos (General), if you would.”

“Soldiers ! Advance into the town !” He shouts atop of his lungs; horns quickly bellow to carry his command to the rest of the army.

The sound of marching feet once more returns, a sound you had grown quite accustomed to in the last few days. As the first of your soldiers enters the town, you notice as a few snowflakes far right before your eyes. Looking up, you see as clouds had begun to gather, and soon enough, as more and more of your men enter the town, the sunlight that had been so shyly kissing your skin once more disappears.

>>5475781

-
(POV shift: You are Armentarius Theocritus, 4 weeks ago.)

The dromōn (runner) smashes into the sands, forcing you and your men to try and hold on lest you be knocked down to the ground. You watch as the first of your men jump of the ships, the heaviest armoured of the hired mercenaries quickly beginning to form a shieldwall around your landing. Meanwhile, your own tagmata (regiment/battalion) rushes to clam down the horses and guide them out upon the beach. This will have to be done quick, you are close enough to the Akeonian warcamp that the chances are that it is not a question of if, but a question of when their scouts and foraging parties notice you. And no matter how confident you are, three thousand against as many as twenty thousand men is still some steep odds, even for you. Meanwhile, the sailors whose ships had been beached run about and prepare to get their ships back on the seas the moment you finish unloading your cargo.

You grab your own warhorse by his reins as he kicks his hoofs. “Whoa ! Whoa ! Calm, calm.” You quickly try to bring back its confidence. “Come on, everything will be fine.” You continue to sweet talk the startled beast.

The sound of something whizzing makes you jump backwards out of instinct as an arrow imbeds itself right next to you, the attack is quickly followed by the screams of men as more and more arrows rain down upon the more lightly armoured mercenaries.

And with horror, you watch as a large group of riders emerge from the top of the beach. “Shields, get your shields and spears ! Brace !” You shout out quickly grabbing your weapons and jumping onto the sandy beach, if the front-line crumbles and breaks, the entire point of you coming here so quickly will be wasted.

The sickening noise of metal being torn open, wood breaking, bones snapping and blood dripping follows the devastating charge. A small grouping of perhaps one or so hundred heavily armed chevaliers had smashed right through the hastily assembled line, alongside this shock force are nearly five or so hundred light cavalrymen, hurling javelins upon your slow-moving heavy infantry, with their formation shattered, these javelins had become exceptionally deadly.

“Form up, form up ! Do not run and form squares !” You keep shouting out as more and more of the less than courageous mercenaries try to clamber back onto the ships or run for the hills. The ruthless chevaliers quickly cut down those foolish enough to abandon the beach and javelins riddle those no longer holding their shields and pin them to the ships.

Some of your officers quickly hop down from the ships and try to begin rallying the mercenaries, whilst the remainder quickly begin ordering the rest of the Scholae (School) to prepare their bows.

>>5475783

“Come on you cowards, with me, raise your shields !” You shout towards a small grouping of men who quickly follow your order. “Over the head, over the head, protect the man next to you !” A loud thud moves your shield around and you see the head of the javelin pierced right through the shield.

“Loose !” You hear a familiar voice of one of your officers scream out. Once again, the noise of something whizzing sounds besides your ears and soon horses neigh out from pain. As you look through the gaps in the line of shields, you watch as the more lightly armoured of the riders fall down to the ground, arrows jetting out from their bodies, some had died when their own horses had thrown them off, or if the horse itself had been riddled to death and crushed their rider underneath.

Your ability to fight back seems to have discouraged the riders from further attack as they begin to break off and flee.

“There’s no time to rest, get everything prepared, more Akeonians are going to be coming shortly and I want to have a proper battle line, move !” You shout out again just the as men begin to relax, quickly putting them on alert.
.
.
.
-
(POV shift: You are Mundus Helenos.)

You watch as the holy knight dives into the town, gracefully dodging any of the incoming arrows, javelins, stones and everything else that could be hurled at him.

Now that surprise is out of the question, might as well coordinate a proper response. You dourly think. Just your luck to stumble across an Akeonian raiding party just as you had landed upon the coast. Around two and a half hundred dead in but scant dozens of minutes. The only redeeming factor was the fact that Armentarius was able to rally defenders and stem further losses, as well as the Akeonian willingness to simply retreat when they thought they were at a disadvantage.

“What had you seen ?” You ask the holy knight the moment his beast loudly lands upon the deck of the ship, something you had grown quite accustomed to the point of no longer even trying to keep your head down, you now realize.

“An army numbering perhaps seven or eight thousand have left the main Akeonian camp and are marching towards Domestikos (domestic, commander) Armentarius. Whilst the cavalry for that had attacked him to begin with is continuously shadowing him.”

Damn ! To try and retreat under these circumstances would mean more men lost for nothing.

“Is Armentarius prepared to meet them ?”

“Yes Megas doux (Megaduke), his forces had assembled and prepared themselves for any upcoming battle.”

“I see, wait here until one of your brothers returns with the news about the town’s defenders, I shall have a need of you to relay more orders.”

“Understood, Megas doux.” The man simply dismounts and stretches his legs, resting for a moment.

“Is the ship prepared ?” You ask one of your subordinates.

>>5475784

“Aye, it is.” One of the pirates turned officer responds to you. “Showed that thing full of oil, dry wood, leaves and whatever else we could get on our hands. Ain’t no dragon’s breath it and we don’t have that quickly burning tar that the Akeonians have, but it will light up just as well, just need a bit longer.”

“Good, good. Since they are so fond of burning their own and our ships, why don’t we give them a hand, eh.”

“With those ships bunched up as they are, even if they manage to get some distance, they will either beach themselves or dozens of ‘em will still burn. An excellent scheme, Megas doux.”

“It is virtuous to learn from others.” You respond with some glee and pride in your voice.

With a loud screech, the other griffon rider finally returns back to you. “Megas doux, the locals had been expecting help and told me to give you this list.” He extends his hand still atop of the griffon.

Taking it, you unfurl the note. To the most… blah…blah…blah…most gracious hero…empire’s glory…God’s blessings…Aha ! You finally reach the information you wanted to see.

And so, you begin scratching your beard, the forces within are, not overly terrible. What mercenaries had been employed for the defence of the théma (placement, district) had either been killed in the fighting, fled by bribing merchants or defected. Bad, but not unexpected. As for the defenders themselves, the town has around five thousand men still fit for fighting. Most are poorly equipped, but more than capable of defending the town’s walls. Still, a force of about seven hundred could be considered well-equipped enough to be part of a tagmata (regiment/battalion) army, if perhaps lacking experience and training. Of those seven hundred around three hundred have horses and are capable of acting as cavalry if need be. If used correctly, such a force could be decisive. Problem is, Armentarius now finds himself in a position in which he cannot exploit those numbers.

May God favour you, domestikos. You utter a silent prayer.
.
.
.
-
(POV shift: You are Armentarius Theocritus.)

This is probably how those Akeonians you had butchered weeks ago must have felt, being so massively outnumbered. Still, victory shall be yours this day.

Why ? Because you have an ultimate weapon. High, high above you fly the holy knights upon their griffons, numbering five in total, half of all the holy knights assigned to this bloody war. It is thanks to them, for example, that you know exactly where the enemy chevaliers are currently hiding, how their forces are deployed and how deep do their formations go. And with but a single signal, you shall unleash these hidden weapons.

>>5475785

You had positioned your troops scarcely, stretching your line as far as you can, to give an impression that you posses a much larger force and to make sure that you are not easily flanked by the Akeonian infantry. What gives you the most pause would be the Akeonian centre, that is where the elite men-at-arms had been stationed, making up a large portion of the force. An oddity compared to how the Akeonian wage war, where their most elite stand in reserve until the most decisive moment arrives. But the high-flying silver dragon banners clearly showcase who is commanding, or in whose name the orders are being given. Then, the large cavalry forces that had been shadowing you had disappeared from sight of even your holy knights, having confirmed that you had been forced into battle. No doubt to rest, eat, and acquire more lances with which to pierce your lines, and javelins with which to harass you to death. Still, there appears to be a solid block of chevaliers on the Akeonian extreme left, a force meant to go around your own and encircle you, as you had positioned close to the sea in order to ensure that your left cannot be flanked there. Meaning, the fight upon your right may very well determine who emerges victorious. Success here means that the Akeonians may disengage, unwilling to risk more losses right before their ultimate victory. Whilst defeat, well, your cavalry might get away, but the mercenaries would certainly be doomed. And eventually, so would you, if proper distance cannot be gained in order to ensure that you can safely board back upon Mundus’ ships, or if Bylleira is truly the only town still within imperial hands.

Trumpets sound from the distance and the Akeonian banners begin to wave in the wind with an increased fervour as their lines begin to advance. You watch with some annoyance as the mercenary army under you begins to flinch as they regard the numerically superior foe. But your elite four hundred at their backs make it well know the fates of deserters.

A bloodcurdling cacophony of shouts echoes from the barbaroi (barbarian) lines.

Fifty metres, and the shouts only grow louder as the Akeonian formations begin breaking apart as they dash forwards in a mad frenzy.

The thin mercenary line is smashed right into and it buckles and bends.

But.

It holds.

Your lines are only three men deep, and in some cases only one man is all that stands between a gap opening in your line and your front holding their line.

>>5475788

“Topotērētēs (place-warden, lieutenant) !” You shout out. “We move !” Spurring your horse forwards, you move in full gallop upon your right. And as you had expected, the Akeonian chevaliers meet your charge. You are unaware of precise numbers, but the reports given to you seem to indicate that the Akeonian elites number similar to your own force. It will a battle of whom is the better warrior, whom is more skilled and daring. “Signal the Knights !” You shout out your final command. A horn bellows right next to you, and it is soon answered by barely heard screeches high above.

As you close the distance, you can see the excitement for battle from your enemy and – “RIGHT !” You command, and your formation obeys, with swift and practiced movement, your cavalry easily avoids the enemy formation. “LOOSE !” You command as every single one of your men had instead put their lances upon their thighs and pulled out their arcus (recursive bow). As one, four hundred arrows fly and such a close range, against such a massive formation, that to miss would certainly put one to shame. “LOOSE !” You command once again as the shocked chevaliers still try to understand what had happened as their formation had utterly collapsed. Those who could rode onwards, before slowly turning their mounts around, but others had fallen and stumbled, due to injuries, deaths, or the blockades caused by the brand new corpses now littering the ground. “LOOSE !” You command yet again as the third volley flies true, butchering more panicking chevaliers, but this the last time this will work, you have to win this, and fast. “KONTOS (oar, barge-pole) !” Quickly holstering their bows, your men in a drilled and skilled fashion change back to their primary weapon. With shields strapped to their left arms, the men use both hands to direct the weapons as what remains of the Akeonian chevaliers slam against you. The heavy impact burns your hands as you drive your Kontos right through one of the heavily armoured men, your weapon piercing right through the thick plating, but such strong armour combined with the rapid speed of the impact sees your kontos crack and break from the sheer hit.

Turning to your right, you see as a cavalier impales one of your men, allowing his armour to absorb the impact and deflect the strike. With rage clouding your mind, you draw your two most favoured weapons and charge ahead, turning your horse to face the man. Unexpecting such a daring attack, the man goes to draw his own mace, but he’s not fast enough as your own mace cracks his skull open from a single powerful, accelerated blow.

>>5475792

With curiosity, your attention is pulled from the battle as a heavily armoured figure is dragged into the skies, his flowing red-gold cloak and immaculacy decorated armour makes him stand out in the griffon’s claws. The struggling ends as the griffon leans downwards and rips the man’s throat out, raining blood above the fighting men. Meanwhile, four more griffons thrash the just behind the frontline, dragging down and tearing apart the heavily and beautifully armoured men. And soon enough, despite the fact that your own centre had collapsed and your army had been almost completely split into two, the Akeonians begin to panic and retreat in poor order, as their own nobles, fearful of what fate would await them at the griffons claws begin to order their men to disengage and protect them, throwing the Akeonian frontline into utter chaos, allowing the mercenaries to find purchase and bite back against the disorganized foe. And soon enough, the chevaliers begin to disengage, obeying the orders of their lords.

“Shall we chase them, domestikos (domestic, commander) ?” Your man asks, breathing heavily.

“No.” You shake your head. “If they turn around now, it is us who will lose. Reorganize the men and prepare to head out, as soon as possible, spread our line as much as possible and make the griffons as prominent as you can. We must appear strong as we advance.” You quickly get a hold of your situation.

-
(POV shift: You are Mundus Helenos.)

“Do you see it ?” You ask.

“I do.” Vincenso replies. “The purple banner of the emperor’s bodyguards. A bit stained, but it’s there.”

“Good. The Akeonian, or at least their lords should be terrified of leaving their encampment. Get to your ship, we’re beginning the battle as planned.” You quickly turn about and begin issuing orders to your men.

And soon enough, your fleet begins to move, drawing closer to the town and its port. Clearly noticing your presence, the Akeonian fleet begins to try and draw up their own battleline, but they’re being hampered by the dredged-up earth.

“Release the fireship !” You command and soon enough one of your ships breaks off from the fleet and beings to quickly accelerate. The oarsmen deployed upon it are the best of the fleet, and you had to promise them a substantial bonus for their task, but the speed of the vessel makes it more than worth it.

In but scant few minutes, smoke begins to clearly rise from the fireship as it sails straight towards the Akeonians, whom seem to have realized what is coming towards them, which simply causes a bigger bunch up to happen bar a few warships that had managed to leave the port proper, your brave, and well compensated, crew quickly jumps for the freezing tumultuous waters as they begin to swiftly swim towards you.

>>5475793

With great pride, to the point where you unconsciously puff out your chest like a peacock, you watch as the fire ship rams right into the first line of warships, the impact bringing forth blazing cinders and burning planks, quickly forcing the nearby drier wood to heat and smoulder, and eventually catch fire. It is a slow process, but an unstoppable one, no matter how badly the Akeonians struggle to put out the flames using wet cloth, salt, and soaked leather. They can delay it, but by the time they put out one fire, another flares up as their sails burst into flames, the heat from the fireship being carried forth by the favourable winds. Seeing no other option, the sailors begin jumping for the salty waters, making a desperate attempt at the storming of the docks themselves, whom, thanks to your griffon riders, are filled to the brim with angry imperial soldiers, driving down their spears and slaughtering the sailors without mercy. Those smarter one that had decided to hug the earthwork and perhaps rest atop it are riddled with arrows, receiving a coward’s death rather than one befitting a warrior. The lucky ones manage to reach the shore proper, and flee to their camp, the wooden wall set up by the Akeonians for the siege put them onto no man’s land, though some more skilled bowmen still manage to pick a few up. All in all, a smashing success. And a sweet one as well, months of frustration let forth in a single moment.

Naturally however, you cannot rest upon your laurels. “Prepare the ships ! No Akeonian escapes this day !”

-
(POV shift: You are Armentarius Theocritus.)

Another horn sounds as the town defender rush outwards and attack the Akeonian camp, whom themselves are currently busy trying to reorganize the force you had just beaten. And now, since their camp is entirely exposed to your assault, they begin drawing up battle lines, not being able to commit their full force to the defence of the siege wall. And that suits you just fine. Your own force just being there, as thinly spread out as it is, is giving the Akeonians more than enough concern.

Out of the largest tent emerges a figure, his armoured lacquered black, with a silver dragon prominently portrayed upon the chest makes him truly stand out, alongside the expensive blue and red cloak trailing behind him. The plate armour appears to be excellent and form fitting, golden decorations upon its edges gleam even from the distance, two wide dragon wings jut out from his helmet, their edges painted blue. The half dragon, half lion banners are unfurled as he stands prominently upon a slightly raised hill.

As impressive as the man looks, you are already looking upon a holy knight, having taken initiative and diving towards him, ending the war in a single fell swoop.

>>5475795

Suddenly, the sound of rattling chains pierces through the sky as a net of metal smashes into the diving griffon, who loses all control and violently plummets to the ground, crushing his rider underneath and expelling guts and viscera from the crushed body.

Hidden ballista ?! You eyes quickly start to survey the environment. Almost as if knowing of your confusion, the man stretches out his arms to the side and looks to the sky, seemingly taunting the remaining holy knights. All of whom simply continue to circle around, not taking the now more than obvious bait. Having had his filled, the man roughly drops his arms to his side as he turns to regard some noblemen, whom judging by the blood staining their armour, had just been recently routed by you. Simply judging by their body language, there’s no doubt that the man playing at dragon is lambasting them for their failure. He finally turns to regard a man atop of his horse, seemingly having a calm conversation as men behind him struggle to keep the town’s defenders from breaking through their own wall. Which as a matter of fact, you can see had started to smoulder. The raging inferno in the port having spread out…wait…you can also see smoke rising from the port itself proper. It seems that Mundus’ tactic perhaps had been slightly, too effective.

The single rider begins to move and starts to approach your line, without any seeming worry or hurry, as every minute more of his countrymen die trying to now fight off not only the town’s ferocious defenders, but also the rapidly spreading flames.

Your mercenaries part as the man calmly rides forth, and your own elite begin to escort him towards you. “Meh Ah now you name ?” He asks in utterly broken Akeonian.

You exchange a glance with your subordinates. “Domestikos (domestic, commander) Armentarius Theocritus.” You eventually respond.

“My, uh, senahtor, like to fights you.”

“A duel ?”

He nods in excitement, seemingly being happy that you had reminded him of the word.

“Fot on fot. Winah, uh, take land. Losah, left, honour held. No ransom.”

“To the death ?”

“Yield.” He responds a moment of pondering later. “But duel…no predict.”

>>5475799

>Whilst rather, unconventional. You are quite sure of your skills. You could end the war in a single duel for honour.

>These western barbarians and their strange customs. You will fight and smashes upon the field. Killing all, and enslaving the rest.

>(Write in)

And of course, in a distant land, in the future and away from this conflict. Manuel had claimed the first township and shown everyone that their emperor is present. He can now leave it in the hands of his trusted subordinates and return to his administrative duties, or tough it out till the end.

>An emperor is supposed to rule, not run off and play war any chance he gets. Return to Myralos.

>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.

>(Write in)

Thephians:

1,711 well equipped mercs

354 scholae tagmata

Total fleet strength:

18 Warships (Tarrizo)

5 Warships (Maniakes)

50 Warships

10 Warships (Merchants)

170 Warships (Pateran)

A total of 253 warships

Such a huge update in such a short time.
Damn QM you are spoiling us.

>>5475801
>>Whilst rather, unconventional. You are quite sure of your skills. You could end the war in a single duel for honour.
This is scary but I will believe in our boy Armentarius. We are lacking manpower and this is our chance to preserve it.

>>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.
We really REALLY shouldn't leave Isaac alone with senators.

>>5475801
>Whilst rather, unconventional. You are quite sure of your skills. You could end the war in a single duel for honour.
>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.
I trust our boy to show this savage the what-for in person. As for us, what's the point in us personally marching off to war if we turn around and go home after the first non-battle?

Is....is.....this things going our way? I don't know how to handle this and expect it to go pear-shaped again any minute.

>>5475827
I honestly still do not dare to believe that things are going to go well for once.
If all of this turns out to be genuine though I do wonder how did this go so badly for our enemies.
Not in the narrative but in the meta way. Did they roll a string of crit fails or something?

>>5475836

Mechanics for the game, do not read if you wish to keep the immersion.

Landing was high roll on both sides, that led to akeonians inflicting heavy casualties for little losses on their side and noticing you, preventing any ambushes. But it also meant that the Akeonian attack was quickly repelled and you were able to set up.

Battle proper was good roll on your end, enemy barely beat their DC, thus inflicting casualties proportional to their numbers, but losing in the end.

The port was you beating the DC by decent amount and the enemy failing to beat the DC.

There were other minor rolls involved, such as weather, but over all, good rolls in the favour of anons.

The system I use is that I make 3 rolls, two out of three need to beat the DC to succeed. I then take the two successes (presuming both rolls beat the DC) and have the average be the degrees of success. If all 3 succeed, I take the two highest to average.

>>5475801
>These western barbarians and their strange customs. You will fight and smashes upon the field. Killing all, and enslaving the rest.
I fear the Akeoinians, even when they bear such gifts. The current king and his ilk cannot be trusted to honor oaths. I would be very sad if best boy Armentarius died in a foolish duel or to treachery

>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.
Isaac + Senators = Disaster. Also, this is a massive PR opportunity. Manuel, the restorer of the world!

>>5475861

And I should mention, Broken Empire update coming tomorrow. Might try my hand at a tactical map.

>>5475864
Based

>>5475799

>He asks in utterly broken Akeonian.

Should be Thephian. Utter brain fart.

>>5475861
It's interesting to see the numbers once in awhile but I was wondering more about our eastern opponents.
Their whole situation so far seems to be a conga line of fuck ups. Barbarians rebell, fleet gets fucked over by the storm, cities start to switch sides.
If it's not some 4D chess scheme they seem to be almost finished.

>>5475882
It's God's wrath coming down on the traitors anon, isn't it obvious?

>>5475801
Well well well, anon plan worked.
Considering that the rains of the new season are related to the size of the storm, in theory we will have record rains this coming year.
Besides in the east, god himself gave us victory, now it's just a matter of managing the situation well, which for young Manuel the lucky one won't be difficult.
Which means that before marrying the Iguinorant peasant, conquered vast swaths of territory into the Empire and repelled an invasion that could have ended the empire's history.
>Not bad.

>Whilst rather, unconventional. You are quite sure of your skills. You could end the war in a single duel for honour.
The plan is to win back their kingdom into the empire, lessening the cultural aversion is therefore a priority.

>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.
For propaganda reasons we have to ensure the conquest of most of the territory personally, besides it would be political suicide to act against manuel now. Winners tend to be liked by the people especially when they think god agrees with them, I love the mandate of heaven that we have in our civilization.

>>5475799
>These western barbarians and their strange customs. You will fight and smashes upon the field. Killing all, and enslaving the rest.
I am not quite sure the De La Mare royalty will just agree with ending the war after a single duel. Furthermore we are the ones losing lands, at the end of the day the De La Mare might start fighting eachother if they lose but "their" island would be still in their hands. With a lot of Thephians, but Akeonians still ruling over them. If they win, they get more Thephians to rule over.
Akeonians also have spies to use which is a problem.

Still there is two questions to make regardless of what we vote.
>(Write in)
"And I have the word of honor of your commander and of your king ? I only see the banner of your commander here"
"I have fought while your commander is still fresh, you would wait before a duel would you ?"

>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.
>Write In
Meet with the leaders of Kittos, and see how many men can be recruited and what they know of the foe. And the lands.
We need to see if we can call the Magnates of the land to us (unless they are all dead), and how many settlements can join us.
Furthermore many here will want their families safe until barbarians are dealt with. They shall find shelter in our lands.

Anything pagan burn it (not humans). Keep some for future Triumph if we manage it (so we burn it in Myralos)


>>5475802
The Tarrizo Halberdiers are counted with the rest of the mercs ?

>>5441483
Lastly, we can send a messanger to Phasydos (with bodyguards) for talk of our first reconquest. If we want we could also take with us the troops we have placed in Phasydos, growing our army again to the previous size.
Something to consider against the barbarians.

Hopefully the eastern Thephians will join our ranks.

>>5475801
>>These western barbarians and their strange customs. You will fight and smashes upon the field. Killing all, and enslaving the rest.

They would not be offering a duel if they didn't think they were in a tight spot.

>>5475801
>>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.

Clearly we are what is keeping this army together, we can't risk them falling to infighting when we appear to be so close to a great victory.

>>5475827
Actually, I will reconsider to
>These western barbarians and their strange customs. You will fight and smashes upon the field. Killing all, and enslaving the rest.
While I still think Army boy could win, it doesn't deal with the rest of the army, they can't be trusted to uphold anything and if he does get shanked, it would be a huge loss to us.

>>5475801
>These western barbarians and their strange customs. You will fight and smashes upon the field. Killing all, and enslaving the rest.
Their fleet is burning, their walls are collapsing, and the town's defenders are breaking through howling for their blood. We have essentially already won, the duel is just giving us a chance to lose, with the tradeoff being less losses. Ask him to surrender or attack, there should be no other choice. Plus he has proven that he is favours trickery in battle, I do not doubt that there is something up his sleeve.

>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.
This is our rightful land, and to not take it back in person would be shameful.

>>5475801
>These western barbarians and their strange customs. You will fight and smashes upon the field. Killing all, and enslaving the rest.
More bloody, but it sends a message.
>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.
We dragged all the Senate here, can’t back out now. Plus, seeing Issac and the Senate fight each other is turning into a pleasure.

File: we got em.jpg (29 KB, 400x294)

29 KB JPG

>>5475793 >>5475795
>pic rel

>>5475801
>These western barbarians and their strange customs. You will fight and smashes upon the field. Killing all, and enslaving the rest.
I'd be willing to entertain the idea if it were not for who we are fighting against. This man is a known trickster, now put in quite the precarious position, the chances of him pulling some bullshit are too high to risk snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in a understandable but risky attempt to save lives.

>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.
As Manuel himself said, the only thing preventing Isaac and Leontius from strangling each other is his own presence.

Now I must go to bed and be unable to sleep for another hour.

>>5475863
Supporting

>>5475966

>The Tarrizo Halberdiers are counted with the rest of the mercs ?

No, they remain with the fleet, they can be deployed wherever and whenever, as they do not suffer from sea sickness. With the casualties suffered, the Tarrizan had become hesitant in expending more of their elite men.

>>5476478
Then our good Admiral might need to consider to give a signal and deploy them. Either alongside the men of the town or with the soldiers of the army of Armentarius.
Elite soldiers like them are likely to change completely the outcome of a battle.

More importantly if the men of the town are attacking the Akeonians back, there might be a chance for them to capture or destroy the special war machines.

>>5476478
QM let's assume for this example that we reconquered all the east, would we be forced to create a new army to defend the new territory? If so, what would the hierarchy of this second force look like? Would we have two generals representing the army in this theoretical example?

>>5476693

>QM let's assume for this example that we reconquered all the east, would we be forced to create a new army to defend the new territory?

No. If you desire so, you could just allow the local districts to deal with the issue, as they themselves will raise armed men of varying quantity and quality in order to defend themselves.

The upside of Tagmata armies is the fact that they are well-equipped, professional soldiery, able to move rapidly and fight against serious enemy incursion, they also perform much better on the offensive since they are salaried soldiers rather than levies pressed into service whom wish to return back to their jobs and families. It alsos mean that Tagmata armies can fight no matter the time of year, as thema armies would see men taken from the harvest.

But again, they are not a strict necessity.

>If so, what would the hierarchy of this second force look like? Would we have two generals representing the army in this theoretical example?

It would have its own general and officership corps, with the Strategos being appointed directly by you, the emperor, and acting as an independent force assisting local administrators against internal and external threats within their designated area. If two generals have to cooperate, authority defaults to whomever is supposed to be defending the local territory. For example, Isaac is technically in command of defending everything within the empire's mainland east of the mountain range. So he would be the senior general for anything concerning matter of defense in the area. Otherwise, it defaults to who's the most senior, as in, who had been a general the longest. Whilst this sounds effective and efficient, the local governors are not subordinated to the generals and may refuse orders, the generals themselves may begin to bicker and start to act on their own. As such, whilst this reduces the chance of coordinated mass rebellions, it does mean that the emperor himself must issue orders to ensure that a chain of command is clearly established.

>>5475801
>These western barbarians and their strange customs. You will fight and smashes upon the field. Killing all, and enslaving the rest.

As far as I'm concerned the war is in our favour if not outright in the bag now. No need to indulge some foreign custom and risk ceding the Emperor's land to some heathen.

Also this guy is probably one of the very few men who stands a chance of beating Armentarius in a fight, so that's another reason not to risk it.

>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.

We ought to stay to gain battle experience, acclaim, and most importantly to keep the senators in line and prevent them from doing as Isaac says; winning some easy battles before returning home to reap accolades. Plus, if we leave there will probably be discord between the senators and Isaac, thereby jeopardizing the campaign.

>>5476706
Thanks for the Intel boss.

>>5475801
Here's the tally of the votes so far:

Duel: 2
Battle: 9

Leave: 0
Stay: 11

Write-in ideas, all of which come from >>5475966:
- Ask questions to the messenger about the duel. (Seems rather pointless since we're rejecting the offer)
- Ask questions to the leader or leaders of Kittos, troops that can be taken and intel on the enemy and the land. (Sensible enough)
- Be a religious zealot and burn or pillage any pagan icons we can find then burn what was taken later. (No.)
- Send word of our reconquest back west. (Seems unnecessary since the news will travel on it's own)
- Call forth the troops that were left at Phasydos. (If we have the supplies to sustain them then sure, have them stationed at Kittos to be picked up later)
- Deploy the Tarrizan Halberdiers. (Also sensible)

>>5478568
>Call forth the troops that were left at Phasydos. (If we have the supplies to sustain them then sure, have them stationed at Kittos to be picked up later)
>- Deploy the Tarrizan Halberdiers. (Also sensible
No reason not to do those things I suppose

>>5476783
Supporting this

>>5478568
>Send word of our reconquest back west. (Seems unnecessary since the news will travel on it's own)

I disagree anon - word will filter back, but we will not control the narrative unless we actively drive it

Caesar found great popularity with the masses thanks to his proactive reporting on the conquest of Gaul

>>5478568
>- Be a religious zealot and burn or pillage any pagan icons we can find then burn what was taken later. (No.)
We will have to do it sooner or later though. The church is one of our main supporters and I don't see any reason not to bring the true faith at the end of the sword to score some points with the patriarch.
The only reason I am not supporting this is cause I don't believe that to be something we need to concentrate on right now. I am sure our soldiers can destroy some pagan shrines without us holding their hand.
Once we secure the region we will have to cleanse it of heathens.

>>5475801
>Whilst rather, unconventional. You are quite sure of your skills. You could end the war in a single duel for honour.
>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.
And +1 to meeting whoever is in charge of Kittos and shaking them down for any important information
And +1 to sending the halbediers

Don't see any reason to move the troops so far. Let Isaac handle that.
Sending the word back to the capital seems like a hasty move. We only took one town so far and the winter is close. The campaign could last for months.

>>5479333
Fair enough, but >>5479335 raises a good point that it may be too early to start celebrating.

Speaking of which, >>5479335.
No, we don't have to be that much of a zealot. I don't have a problem with bringing the true faith at the end of a sword since, for example, I'll be more than happy to put down the heretics if diplomacy fails. What I take issue with is burning shit for no reason. Come across pagan artifacts and icons? Take them as trophies and curios. Conquered some pagan temples? Convert them into churches or chapels. There's no good purpose for wasting them.

>>5479346
>Sending the word back to the capital seems like a hasty move. We only took one town so far and the winter is close. The campaign could last for months.

We need to claim credit or the Senators with us will

A victory is still a victory after all

And if things go bad, we alter our reports back to blame others (most likely the senators)

If we don’t act, others will.

>>5475801 #
>These western barbarians and their strange customs. You will fight and smashes upon the field. Killing all, and enslaving the rest
From what i remember, we wanted to cripple their ability to wage war so we could force them not only to pay for war reparations, but to also compensate us all for the loss on our monopoly on silk. If war goes well we should probably get some merchants and clerks to estimate the total sum required to compensate such losses.
>No, you shall tough it out. The people will see their emperor at the forefront of battle. Whilst maintaining a safe distance of course.
It's a matter of prestige. Winning back long thought provinces back to the empire will solidify our rule.

bep bop bep

>>5476478
Hey qm, any eta on the next update? I get you are busy so take your time.

>>5488544

Today, most likely. I had my final exam yesterday and I am currently working on some of the last projects I need to do before my internship starts. I will also make a new thread in all due likelyhood.

Oh, and since I am here, might as well shill that I updated broken empire yesterday:
>>5487769

>>5488599
Sweet

>>5488599
cool

>>5488599
YES

>>5489116 new thread