A Grand Design 19.

Late Autumn. The City Of Oaklynn. The Kingdom Of Girdane.

In the smiths quarter of the city of Oaklynn, not all that far from the Iron Monger inn where they're staying.
Mira Reinholt the mage who is in the shop of a weapons dealer. Looks over at two men, obviously mercenaries, who are purchasing new blades.
The once powerful mage who is over by one of the cabinets, looking at some of the weapons for sale.
Listens to the conversation between the two mercenaries, and the shopkeeper. And hears that the mercenaries, who have recently arrived here in the city of Oaklynn. Have got a new hire.
The spellcaster, who is from the city-state of Vexil, who is in exile from his homeland.
Isn't all that surprised by the mercenaries being hired. But he is surprised at who has hired them.
After the mercenaries have conducted their business, and they've left the shop.
The mage Reinholt, who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, makes his way over to the counter.
"Ah swordmaster, here to pick them up are you?" asks the weapons dealer after he and the once powerful mage greet one another.
"I am" says Mira Reinholt the mage, who the shopkeeper immediately recognised was a swordmaster by the unique weapon the Vexilian mage in exile has across his back.
As only an expert swordmaster would use such a double bladed weapon. Or a complete idiot. And the spellcaster definitely doesn't come across as an idiot.
"Were they difficult to find?" asks the mage who is also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster.
"Not too difficult" says the shopkeeper as he goes into the backroom behind the counter.
As he comes back carrying a leather fold, the weapons dealer adds "I had one of the nearby weaponsmiths make them from the example you gave me".
The shopkeeper lays the leather fold out on the counter, then opens it. To reveal a number of bolts, that slightly resemble crossbow bolts. But they're smaller, and much smoother.
"Fine quality" says the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands.
Until he was stripped of the majority of his powers when he accidentally cast a rift/void spell and went offworld.
"That they are" says the weapons dealer, who then shakes his head and adds "Why you'd need such things as these is beyond me".
"Back up" cryptically says the swordmaster from the city-state of Vexil.
"I guess so" says the shopkeeper, who then closes up the leather fold. And the mage Reinholt hands him over the amount they agreed upon when he ordered the small bolts.
After the weapons dealer hands the leather fold over to the spellcaster who is in exile from the city-state of Vexil, the mage Reinholt says "Your last customers" followed by "Getting many of them in the shop of late?".
"There's been a few of them over the last couple of days" says the shopkeeper who continues with "Getting hired by the crown for the upcoming campaign against those rebels out west". As it's no secret that word has reached the capital that the duchies of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar have rebelled against the crown, and that their armies are on the march.
The proprietor of the small shop that sells mostly weapons at the more expensive end of the market, then says "You looking for a hire swordmaster?".
"Hardly" says Mira Reinholt in a slightly dry tone of voice, who continues in that same tone with "I doubt they could afford me".
"I don't know" says the weapons dealer who continues with "Word is that the king has opened up the treasury, and is spending up large to hire mercenaries to supplement his army".
The once powerful mage who has the hood of his cloak off his head at the moment, nods his head, then quietly says "Interesting".
Then the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, gestures around at the shop, then asks the weapons dealer "Will you be called up to serve?".
"Thankfully not" says the shopkeeper, who then adds in a slightly sour tone of voice "Though I'll have to give a quota of goods, which of course they'll pay the least amount they can for" he then adds "The crown might be willing to pay up large for mercenaries, who of course have their own weapons and armour. But they'll pay as little as possible to the local merchants to outfit their own army".
"You could refuse" states the Vexilian mage in exile, the shopkeeper snorts then says "And watch them put up my taxes, no thank you".
"They'll do that anyway" says the swordmaster Reinholt with a shrug of his shoulders, who then continues on with "Governments always do that in times of war, I've seen it all across the Southlands in my travels".
"Bloody governments" mutters the weapons dealer, who then chuckles when the once powerful mage says "That they are" as he softly laughs.
After that, they chat a little bit longer, until another customer enters the small shop. The mage Reinholt shakes hands with the proprietor, who says "Good doing business with you swordmaster". "And with you" says the member of the personal council to lord Farque, who then makes his way out of the shop.
Out on the street, Mira Reinholt with the leather fold in his pack that he brought with him. Looks around, and spots Shur Kee the monk infront of a shop at the other end of the quiet street. One of the few such streets in the busy part of the city, where most of the smiths, metal workers and foundries can be found.
The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster makes his way down to where the short, statured monk is standing out of the wind, on this cold and windy morning, here in the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane.
When he reaches the acolyte in the order of Bru Li, Shur Kee the monk quietly tells him "Word is that a large number of them are leaving this morning".
The physical adept, who happens to be the living conduit of the Jade Warrior Bru Li, points out into the larger and busier street infront of them, and quietly adds "People have been talking about it on the street as they have gone by".
The mage Reinholt, who has put his hood back on his head, nods then quietly asks "From the palace barracks or the army ones?".
"The army ones" replies the short statured monk, who hails from the otherside of the continent. The far east coast to be exact. Where his homeland, the kingdom of Wah Lee is located.
"Let's go and check it out" says the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster as they step out onto the larger street, and go right.
"Where to?" asks the acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li "To that tower beyond that stretch of foundries" replies the exiled Vexilian mage who continues with "Should get a good view from up there".
The physical adept nods in agreement, as they set off towards the tower in question.
As they walk through the streets in this quarter of the city, Mira Reinholt quietly tells Shur Kee "The crown has started to hire mercenaries".
The thin eyebrows of the short, statured monk lift up in surprise when he hears that.
"I know" says the once powerful mage, who continues on with "The king is either worried or cautious" followed by "But whatever it is, he's not taking the threat of the rebellion from the three dukes out in the west lightly".
The acolyte in the order of Bru Li, who is about five years younger than the highly skilled swordmaster, nods and quietly says "He is wise not to" he continues with "A campaign in the wintertime will be long and arduous for both sides. And it will prove difficult to win".
The mage Reinholt nods his hooded head in agreement, then softly says "We'll have to do all that we can so our side is victorious".
They soon get to the tower, which is located behind one of the larger foundries here in the northeast quarter of the city of Oaklynn.
The tower formerly belonged to the old city watch, a few centuries ago. Now that organisation no longer exists as such. As it was folded into the auspices of the regent of Oaklynn. And for the last two hundred and fifty years, has been in within the regent of Oaklynn's army.
The tower was abandoned, until the guild of metal workers nearly two centuries ago, purchased it from the city.
And though it's used predominantly to watch vessels coming into the airdocks to the north of the city proper.
It's also used by the general public, as an observation tower. The only tall tower in the entire city to do so. For a small fee, you can go up the tower to look around at the city of Oaklynn, the capital of Girdane.
Entry is only a couple of copper coins, which Mira Reinholt and Shur Kee both pay the guild representative at the base of the tower. Then the two of them start making their way up the tower.
A tower which normally on a cold and windy morning, at the end of autumn. Wouldn't be particularly busy. But word has spread that a large contingent of the king's army is departing the city this morning. So many people in this part of the city. Have come to the tower, to watch them leave Oaklynn. And head westwards to confront the armies of the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen. Who have rebelled against the king and crown.
At the top of the tower, it's open. With a waist high wall all around the edge. There's about twenty five people up here. Even though it's a blustery cold day. A sure sign that winter isn't all that far away.
The once powerful mage and the physical adept get a spot by themselves. Simply by the mage Reinholt casting a group spell, to have the others up here, get out of the way. Allowing them an unobstructed view towards the army barracks over in the west side of the city.
The exiled Vexilian mage takes out his leather wrapped, cylindrical brass eyepiece, and hands it to the short statured monk.
While the spellcaster who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, casts a farsight spell upon himself.
"Quite a lot of them leaving this morning" quietly says Mira Reinholt as they watch soldiers, both on horseback and on foot. Leaving the army barracks over in the west of the city.
There's a long line of them, going through the streets of the city, as they start their journey towards the west of the kingdom.
The mage Reinholt wonders if any of them will travel via rift or gateway. As they've seen some of the king's army do over the last couple of days.
He rather doubts it, as it looks like these companies are equipped for a fairly decent time on the roads to the western duchies of the kingdom.
"Must be two and half thousand at least making their way through the city" softly says the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, who then adds "And probably that amount again, still in the barracks waiting to leave".
Shur Kee the monk, who is an honorary member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, quietly says "I agree".
Then the physical adept, who is an acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li adds "There is friend Dalin".
"Where?" asks the Vexilian mage in exile, who after the short, statured monk tells him when the elven spy is, he spots Dalinvardél Tanith.
The spy Tanith is on the rooftop of a taverna. He's the only customer sitting at one of the tables on the roof. As it isn't a particular pleasant day to be out in the blustery wind today.
But the rooftop is on a street, down from the army barracks in the west of the city. Which gives the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alínlae, a clear view of the gates at the front of the barracks.
That company after company, battalion after battalion, of the king's army are making their way out of.
"He should be able to give us better count of how many of them are departing" quietly says Mira Reinholt, who then looks away to the north of the city, to where the airdocks are located about a mile away.
From the largest of the circular airdocks, which is hundreds of yards across. The once powerful mage with his farsight spell, clearly sees a number of airships getting ready to depart. There's already a fair few in the air heading north.
And though some are in the king's fleet, most of them are merchant vessels that the crown has hired. To carry troops and supplies out to the western part of the kingdom.
Knowing that the three rebellious dukes, and their forces. Are less likely to attack airships that don't belong to the crown.
"I'll have to send another message out" quietly says the mage Reinholt, as a number of others up here, head back down the tower as the blustery wind has got even stronger.
"Hopefully it'll get through" quietly adds the exiled Vexilian mage, who has sent messages everyday since the king of Girdane, Jarnard the Second. Declared the dukes Hilloc, Korros and Lombasil rebels. Who have launched a revolution against the crown.
The acolyte in the order of Bru Li nods, then as he looks through the leather wrapped, cylindrical eyepiece, Shur Kee slightly frowns, then he quietly says "Hmmm" followed by "Ah that is what they are".
The physical adept, who is a master of unarmed combat, quietly tells the mage Reinholt "From the squat towers at the back of the barracks".
The highly skilled swordmaster looks back towards the army barracks in the west of the city, as Shur Kee quietly says to him "Wyverns".
The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation, to be found anywhere in the Southlands.
Nods his hooded head when he spots the wyverns and their riders. There's four of them, two on the top of each tower. And though one tries to snap at another one on the tower they're on.
All four of them launch, with two heading out west. While the other two go south across the city. Presumably to the main army barracks in the region. Which are about twenty miles south of the capital in the duchy of Marsin. Which the city of Oaklynn lies in the north of.
"A big push" quietly says Mira Reinholt "Airships heading west, and wyvern riders departing, as well as mercenaries being hired by the crown, for a decent price too" quietly adds the exiled Vexilian swordmaster, who continues on with "The king isn't holding back is he".
"He is not" quietly says Shur Kee "He wants to crush this rebellion" adds the honorary member of the personal council of the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
The short statured monk, who wears odd white clothing, with a thick white wool cloak. And a strange looking, conical shaped hat, takes the eyepiece away from his face, and looks at the taller man standing beside him, who he's known for nearly fifteen years, and quietly says "This will be a lot more difficult than the campaign in the north of Nastell we did for those robber barons".
The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, just slightly grunts in agreement with that.
As he too sees that the upcoming campaign between the crown. And the trio of rebellious dukes from the very west of the kingdom.
Whose side they're on, as the dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar have hired one of the armies of Farque.
Is going to be a lot more difficult than the campaign they were a part of in the duchy of Phelm in northern Nastell at the end of spring, and the start of summer.
For the simple reason this coming war is going to be in the winter. And that there's a lot more combatants involved on both sides of the conflict.
"Come on, let's go and get Dalin" quietly says Mira Reinholt who drops his farsight spell, and takes his leather wrapped, brass cylindrical eyepiece back from Shur Kee.
"Then i have to write some new missives" quietly continues the Vexilian mage in exile, who then dryly adds "Hopefully i can find another bloody ship to take them out west".
The acolyte in the order of Bru Li nods his head, then the two of them make their way to the steps, that wind their way down through the tower that's nearly a hundred and fifty feet tall.
They go to get Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy as the three of them continue to observe the goings on here in the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane . . . . . .