Consolidation The Munrian War: Tides of Empires

[Euthanor Nachimar]

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The year of 922 was a harsh period for the West. With the proclaimation of @Marcus Aumont as the God-Machine made manifest, Espada, now an Empire in its own right, had become an arch-enemy of the Iron Cult. With hundreds of miles separating the two mighty nations, a rivalry was limited to lesser skirmish actions between the Iron Cult's privateer fleets and the Zenithian navy, Espada's ally. Alas, witth various realms inbetween, and rising crisis in Pottaun and Gallia, the state of affairs remained in a cold war, with both Espada and Iron Cult conducting consolidating actions and small scale campaigns around their borders.

While the Zenithian navy engaged the various privateer ships sent on punitive raids against the shipping lanes between Eirelunn and Sparnia, the Iron Cult mobilized a large army to subjugate Munria, prior to further expedition in the Kraken Sea. But such a conquest, would not come without bloodshed...

In the thick mud and cold rain of winter, the Iron Guard crossed the Munrian Sea and laid siege to various ports of Beema, leading to a long and attricious war that saw troops endure the harsh weather from the Kraken Sea, while the warring navies fought for control over the crossings. On many an occasion, armies were cut-off and entire cities befallen by famine, as the situation grew all the more unstable. But the strength of the Iron Cult, could not be denied...

With reinforcements crossing the narrow sea almost daily, the sheer weight of the Iron Cult's armies drove the Beeman defenders into a breaking point, while a naval blockade starved the island nation. It was the shore forts along Beema, that held the Iron Cult at bay, yet contesting their naval superiority over the narrow seas. One such fort was Porut Egan. Built along the South Road, at the South-West reaches of Beema. Once, prior to the war, it served as a fortress, countering pirate raids along the nearby coasts, and command post for the local militia. During the war, however, Porut Egan was transformed into a supply bastion for the Beemans, with a wooden dock being built to allow ships to be moored by and be supplied with fresh provisions and ammunition.

With the Iron Cult's forces landing nearby, the fortress of Porut Egan made ready for a siege. The Iron Cult's naval blockade was finally established by Wolf Month's fading moon, with various privateer warships anchoring in the bay, cutting the fortress off any seaborne routes of relief. With few brave corsairs and troops managing to sneak through the blockade, Porut Egan braced for the coming clash.

 

[Euthanor Nachimar]

The sound of the stretching ropes and the creaking lumber composed a song proper for the ears of any a seafarer to embrace as an orchestra who played the music of the fair sea. Though winter, proper, the wind had dissipated and the skies had cleared, save for the West-borne fog that caressed the currents. Not thick enough to consume the presence of ships, yet present true to provide a strange inexplicable sense of comfort to those who voyaged the Kraken Sea.

Euthanor stood by the portside rails of the Witch Queen's Gallows. A fine Nau, she was, seasoned enough to carry marks of both harm and weather lashing. Her crew in silence, knowing full well the rather risky undertaking they had found themselves into. The Plague Doctor, ever a masked figure, placed his gloved hands over the railing, as if to feel the vibration caused by the cutting of the sea beneath the ship, as she slid onward to her destination.

"We are nearly there, sir." the Captain nodded.

"Kill the lanterns." Euthanor commanded.

His voice sharp and direct. There was no longer room for error. After weeks at sea, the Witch Queen's Gallows had made it past the Straits of Albion, to the Kraken Sea. Now, they made ready to pierce through the Iron Cult's blockade and deliver the most precious a cargo...

Little ammunition and even less provisions were onboard, for those who lived on her had but depleted them. Euthanor, as part of a deal struck with the Night Court, had made plans of delivering reinforcements to Porut Egan in exchange of certain schematics that were safely stored deep in the fortress' vaults.

Alas... The Plague Doctor planned not to be as honourable a guest...

 

[Vyona of the Wolf Clan]

Vyona breathed in the night air, smelling, inhaling, sensing, the atmosphere. She loved this moment the moment before a fight. It was almost as good as the fight itself. The anticipation the build up. Vyona knew that this wouldn’t be a straight up brawl however, and while she would always be a brawler at heart there was something… serene about tactics. About thinking things through, planning, outwitting out smarting your opponent.

Vyona couldn’t help wonder if she were the one being played. She still didn’t quite trust the good doctor, but so long as she got what she wanted she didn’t much care what he got out of it. Whatever hidden motivations and goals he may have, was frankly none of Vyona’s business. Not unless and until she were hired one way or the other to make it her business.

Right now her and her gladiators were to provide reinforcements to a besieged fortress. Vyona tended to despise sieges. They were boring, more akin to winning by digging then through actual warfare, and when the fight did come, half of it was flinging bodies at the walls until it was either overrun or softened up enough for the real warriors to get to work.

Vyona had never been on the defending side of a siege, but she’d read books and more importantly heard stories from the troops who had. It was forty percent boredom forty percent starvation with ten percent battle.

Vyona wondered if she were a fool volunteering her men for this kind of duty, but the doctor had assured her this was the way to get her Gladiators the guns they needed. Perhaps they wouldn’t be staying long, or perhaps it was their job to break the siege from the inside.

First they would have to get there. It was smugglers work, ducking through a blockade, thieves work really. Vyona had a martial contempt for thieves, not because they took what didn’t belong to them, but because they didn’t fight to obtain it. With honour, like a warrior should.

Regardless Vyona bit her tongue and did what needed to be done. She had her orders, for now the doctor was her client, the guns her prize and payment. Until circumstances changed she would outsmart rather than outfight. Still a part of her wished for a worthy any for her axe blade to cleave their skull through.

The ship was silent as it sailed through the blockade, not a sound or a whisper. Vyona held her breath, before letting it out slowly softly. The ropes creaked against the wood, the sails fluttered in the breeze. Every motion, every whisper threatening to give them away. Vyona knew that if they were discovered they would be blown out of the water, not given the chance of an honourable fight to the death, her people would remain unavenged.

So they waited, with halted breath as they smoothly, softly, slowly sailed by. They made it to shore. Vyona heard one of her men let out a breath. She hissed sharply. They were not out of the shoals yet.

With careful precision and the silence of men under strict orders, they unloaded into the row boats, with their limited suppliers and rowed gently to sure. Vyona had left her ogre’s and trolls behind for this mission, knowing stealth was crucial. Just men, goblins and kobolds, recently purchased from the Gladiator arenas. There mass attacks made them poor sport for the individual combat of gladiator school, but Vyona thought there reputation for skulduggery would come in handy.

They made there way swiftly and silently up the beach at a side sally port in the fortress. Vyona knocked the secret knock that had been agreed upon.

“You the reinforcements?” a voice asked from the latch window.

“No we’re the fucking faeries. Open up!” Vyona growled.

They were let inside.

@Euthanor Nachimar

 

[Euthanor Nachimar]

Running through the blockade itself was a tricky business. To be spotted was to be engaged by several ships, each of which had a prize to claim of their demise. For the Plague Doctor himself, being caught carried much more dire consequences than the others, and he could not let his mind forget even for a second. After all, the Gladiators were only just the enemy...

when his boots touched the rocky shores, he turned over his shoulder and looked up, to the now distant mast of the ship tha had carried them. He was a pirate, now. Flying the FreeGuild colours, false flag that would mark the ship for the garrison of Porut Egan. This, however, carried the risk of being spotted by the privateer ships that held the blockade. It was a gambit indeed, though Euthanor was aware of a reality most neglected, given the reputation of the Iron Cult...

These ships were pirates. Buccaneers, signing privateer contracts with the Cult, lacking any and all trainning that made the Iron Cult's military a dreaded machine. So late at night, most of these cutthroats were deeply asleep, now confident of their naval superiority. A perfect timing for the operation...

"You are most welcome, friends! We have been between dirt and powder for over a week."

The man speaking was an old, seasoned warrior. And he looked every moment of his age, marked by deep scars and grey hair, though trimmed, perhaps prior to the siege, to the best condition. His clothes dyed blue and white, hinting to his allegience to the FreeGuilds, though little of that remained in Munria, and the knotted chain on his breastplate signifying his rank of Captaincy. His head was wrapped with fabric and bandages, still soaking to the wounds received someday prior in the siege.

The troops behind him visibly fatigued.

"We have brought supplies." Euthanor nodded to the captain. "Food, and warriors to break the siege." he then gestured towards Vyona.

The very presence of such creatures, exotic as they were, caused a visible intrigue to the men of the garrison. But the captain, remained unimpressed.

"The Cult comes with fire and sword. Primitive shields won't do much to hold them back, I am afraid..."

The response impressed Euthanor. He simply glared, remaining silent as if to offer the captain a moment to reconsiliate.

 

[Vyona of the Wolf Clan]

Vyona bristled at the pirate captains tone. The Gladiators were the cream of the fighting pits, Vyona ensured it by scouting out each purchase and sign up personally. They certainly cost her enough money in doing so. When they got close enough. Which was the problem of course. The same problem that brought her on this quest. They needed firearms. The best firearms they could find. The doctor assured her this was the path to getting them. The captains sharp reminder that they were literally, badly and sharply outgunned did little to calm Vyona’s mood.

“At the very least we’ll hold the walls, better with my men here.” Vyona snapped “Not that we should waste the element of surprise. What’s the enemy position? Are their troops crack troops or dredges holding the worst position? They won’t be expecting you and your men to have the numbers for a sally night attack. If we’re fast and lucky we can break this siege in a single night.”

The captain hesitated eyeing Vyona and the Gladiators he had just let into his fortress. He sighed.

"With your reinforcements we have enough to give it a shot." He admitted

Vyona hated waiting. Patience was never her strong suit even as a child going hunting. And now this scum bucket was questioning her and her men’s usefulness? Vyona growled at the insult.

Vyona hesitated hunting reminding her not to be rash. That thought reminded her to look at her men, goblins and kobold. They were tired after a long journey and could do with a night’s rest. It would be foolish to force them to attack straight off without seeing to their needs. Vyona spat out a curse.

“Tomorrow night.” Vyona conceded reluctantly. “My men need bunks for the night.”

“In the mean time captain you can appraise me of the situation. When was the last time they attacked? Do they do so regularly? On a schedule or is it randomised? Has their leader attempted parlay? What are your stores? Are there any breaches in the walls? Weak points?”

Vyona continued to rattle off a list of questions relevant to the state of the siege, before it occurred to her that the doctor might have something to add to the situation.

"Gather the information and see my men to their bunks." Vyona commanded. The captain looked like he wanted to object.

"Or I kill you now and take command that way." Vyona said with a growl.

Vyona turned to the doctor.

"If tomorrow nights night attack doesn't go well we could be here awhile."

 

[Euthanor Nachimar]

Euthanor, for a reason he could not quite place, enjoyed the interaction between the captain and Vyona enough, he didn't bring himself to speak at all. He had folded his arms before his chest and observed. The captain, in contrast, was fuming. The barbarian, for some reason, though had come presumably for aid had resulted in bluntant threats and usurping his authority over the fortress.

"Your men will have bunks." he shook his head, clearly addressing a topic he did not enjoy.

The mention of the siege startled the Captain. He did not expect from what he perceived as a savage, to have any ability of processing a modern battlefield. The way she spoke, hinted otherwise, and that made the captain ever more suspicious.
Across the interaction, the Plague Doctor tilted his head, taking in the most hilarious a moment, though remained silent.

"They have not stormed the walls, yet, no" the captain shook his head dismissivelly. "This is a formal siege, lady... They are trying to starve us out before they commit to any assault. We had some skirmishing in the outskirts, but nothing against the walls. We know they have landed troops, but don't know where. None of our scouts made it back. If you want to help break this siege, you either deal with the ships, or the land troops.... I guess the latter you can do."

"A naval battle doesn't sound much to our liking, does it?" Euthanor shook his shoulders, looking over to Vyona.

The presence of a Plague Doctor, an image made symbol of the Iron Cult was not lost in the Captain.

"It is peculiar that one of your kind works against the Cult... What is your name, Plague Doctor?" he inquired. Suspicion finally voiced out. The rest of the surrounding soldiers, to the sound of the inquiry grew uneasy. Some reaching for the pommel yet hesitant to draw...

Euthanor was quick to lose his energetic attitude as soon as the question was asked.

"Now, is this a rude way to treat guests...? More so, those meant to end the siege...?"

His voice reflected the sudden change in tension.

A moment of silence followed. The Plague Doctor, as if mimicking the act of many among the soldiers surrounding them, he too reached calmly for the pommel of his sheathed sword, pressing against it to signify his readiness to draw. His masked gaze turning to Vyona. He nodded.

"It appears our presence is not appreciated..."

 

[Vyona of the Wolf Clan]

Vyona listened and grunted in acknowledgement of the Captains information. It appeared he had no intelligence. Either of the enemy or of himself. Vyona grunted in amusement at the thought. Thought about voicing the thought, then dismissed the thought. Vyona was already throwing her weight around as it was, if she started to outright insult the Captain his men would grow obstinant. Besides it was the sort of low petty insult a court gossiper might say and Vyona despised those creatures with vehemence.

So Vyona merely acknowledged the Captain with a nod, then thought through the problem of the siege.

“The fact that they’re not attacking is to our advantage it means so long as we’re careful they’ll not notice our reinforcements. Which means we may be able to overwhelm them in a mass night attack. Goblins and kobolds are known for their night raids.”

Vyona glanced at the goblins and kobolds who started grinning and nodding enthusiastically. Vyona grinned back.

“We could take them tonight Commander She-Wolf” One of the goblins rasped in his native language, a cousin to the native language Vyona had spoken amongst Orcs.

“Better to be rested. Besides we could use the Captain and his men.” Vyona responded in her native tongue.

The goblins gave hissing snort and eyed the captain and his men dubiously.

“Tomorrow night then.” Vyona confirmed in the common language once more. Vyona frowned at the continued looks of suspicion from the Captain and his men.

Vyona frowned at the good doctors observation about their reception or lack of it.

“Well if we’re not welcome we can always just go and leave these fine fighters to it themselves” Vyona shrugged made a circular motion with her finger and pointed out. Her men turned as one and started marching out.

“Wait! Wait!” The Captain all but bellowed in a panic. “No please… I was hasty. You shall have command. Just don’t leave.”

Vyona grunted mollified.

“We need to get my people out from the open and inside the fortress proper until nightfall tomorrow. Your men will have to keep up the ruse business as usual for one more day.”

“Think you can do that?”

“Yes. Absolutely” The Captain accepted with a mix of relief and resignation.

“That’s Yes Commander!” Vyona commanded sharply.

“Yes Commander!” The Captain saluted into parade ground stance.

“You’ll remain in command of your men as an attachment unit to my own. Should I fall, I’ve ordered my men to leave regroup and avenge me at a later date.”

The Captain nodded relieved and reluctant to hear he had a vested interest in keeping Vyona alive.

“Yes Commander.”

“Bunks Captain.” Vyona commanded.

The Captain lead them inside the fortress.

“What’s your name Captain?”