A Grand Design 35.

Winter. Oaklynn. Girdane.

Shur Kee the monk hurries through the streets of the city of Oaklynn. It's a cloudy morning, that looks like it could snow. The first snow since the night the king of Girdane, and others were killed in the palace.
The short, statured monk who is an acolyte in the philosophical order of Bru Li. Who as usual was up early this morning.
Is making his way through the west side of Oaklynn after being near where the road in that direction, enters the city that's the capital of the kingdom of Girdane.
The physical adept who overheard something rather important from a post rider in the regent's army, who was talking to his fellow soldiers in the regent's army.
Figures it will soon spread throughout the city, and fairly quickly too. Considering what it entails.
The short, statured monk wearing his odd, conical shaped hat as he rushes through the city streets. Is just glad he's not been stopped by the regent's men who are out patrolling the streets this morning.
Infact he's hardly seen any of them this morning. And he wonders if the threat of snow is keeping them indoors. Or if it's something else.
The physical adept who is the conduit or living incarnation of the Jade Warrior, Bru Li. Will try and figure that out later.
Now, he's more concerned about making his way through the city, to find Mira Reinholt the mage and Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy.
The two of them are making their way down the long street in the center of the city.
They've just gone by the king's palace, and are on their way to a taverna on a side street, basically opposite to where the regent's mansion is.
Mira Reinholt the mage who is planning to go to the city airdocks later in the day, probably in the afternoon sometime.
Yawns as he looks up at the cloudy sky that's over the city of Oaklynn this morning.
"Late night?" quietly asks Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy as they make their way down the long street in the center of the city.
Mira Reinholt the mage grunts in reply, then he says "Reading".
The once powerful mage who like the spy Tanith is conversing in the elven language, continues with "Trying to learn something".
The spellcaster who is from the city-state of Vexil, which he's in exile from, then dryly adds "Learn is the operative word here".
Which causes the elven spy from the principality of Alínlae to softly chuckle, while the mage Reinholt sourly smiles.
The two of them, the spellcaster who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster, along with the elven spy.
Who have only been stopped the once by the regent's soldiers this morning as they've made their way from the northeast in the city. Where the Ironmonger Inn, where they're staying at, is located.
Are about to turn into the side street, when the elf who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alínlae.
Glances back down the long street they're on. And catches sight of the distinctive figure of Shur Kee the monk hurrying in this direction. Infact the short statured monk is running this way.
"Something's happened" quietly says Dalinvardél Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group.
The elven spy in the grey hooded cloak, quietly tells the mage in the black hooded cloak beside him "Shur Kee is running towards us".
The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands. Until he lost the vast majority of his powers when he went offworld through a rift/void he accidentally cast.
Looks back along the street in the direction Dalin has indicated. And after a few moments, the Vexilian mage in exile spots the physical adept running this way.
"Something's definitely happened" murmurs the swordmaster Reinholt, who then says to the spy Tanith "I wonder what?".
The two of them wait for Shur Kee at the street corner. And when the short, statured monk who is not a Southlander, but is originally from the otherside of the continent. The far east coastal kingdom of Wah Lee to be exact.
Reaches the mage Reinholt and the spy Tanith, he quickly gets his breath back, and indicates they should go into the quiet side street.
And as they make their way to the taverna they often frequent in this part of the city of Oaklynn.
The acolyte in the order of Bru Li quietly tells them what he overheard a post rider in the regent's army was talking to some of his fellow soldiers when he entered the city from the west.
Both Mira and Dalin blink in surprise at what they hear from the short, statured monk. As the clouds above the city start to get thicker, and heavier. Threatening to snow by the looks of it.
"Are you sure?" quietly asks the spellcaster who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
"I am" is the reply from Shur Kee the monk who continues on with "He was most adamant about it, though it is definitely not what the regent will want to hear".
"By the shape of fire" murmurs the mage Reinholt, who then shakes his hooded head as they stop near the taverna they often come to, and he quietly adds "We defeated them far quicker than i thought we would have".
The spy Tanith nods in agreement to that, then he quietly says "True" followed by "But one battle doesn't make a campaign".
The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster grunts in agreement with the elven spy originally from the principality of Alínlae.
After a few moments of silence as couple of people walk by them, councillor Reinholt quietly says "The regent will be forced to either send the rest of his army west".
The exiled Vexilian mage follows that with "Or to rope in those dukes on this side of the kingdom to fight against the three dukes from the very west of Girdane".
Dalin nods his hooded head in agreement, then the elven spy who is an officer in the armies of Farque quietly says "I'm guessing the latter".
The spy Tanith then adds "I've got a feeling he won't want to send everyone he commands out west to fight against the rebels".
He continues with "He's done whatever he's done to gain power here in the capital, and is king in all but name" Dalinvardél Tanith then quietly says "He won't want to give that up".
Both Mira Reinholt and Shur Kee nod in agreement to that, then the once powerful mage gestures to the taverna they often frequent, and the three of them enter it.
Once inside, and at a corner table. And they've ordered something, as the mage and the elven spy have yet to eat anything this morning.
Shur Kee the monk quietly tells the other two "I wonder if they already know that something has happened?".
Arching an eyebrow as he looks at physical adept, the swordmaster from the city-state of Vexil quietly asks him "Why do you say that Shur Kee?".
"Because i saw very little of the regent's soldiers patrolling the streets so far this morning" quietly says the short, statured monk who has taken off his odd, conical shaped hat after sitting down.
"They might already know what has happened to their battalions, and the crown's army out west" continues the living incarnation of the Jade Warrior, Bru Li.
As the spy Tanith slightly frowns as he thinks about that. The mage Reinholt slowly nods his head, then quietly says "Maybe" and after a slight pause he adds "Dalin and i were only stopped the once this morning".
As the regent's patrolling soldiers aren't stopping people as often as they were the first couple of days after the death of king Jarnard the Second, and others in the palace.
They still stop those who are obviously foreigners and visitors to the city of Oaklynn. But not as often.
The Vexilian mage in exile looks around the taverna they're in, which is a lot quieter than it normally is. Even for this time of the day, which is still relatively early in the morning.
"Not so busy in here this morning" quietly says the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, who looks at the spy from the elven principality of Alínlae, and says to him "Your buddy that palace official isn't here yet".
Dalinvardél Tanith nods, as the person in question, a bit of a drunk, is usually here in this taverna, even at this time of the day.
"No he's not" quietly says the elven spy, who follows that with "He must be busy at court".
The spellcaster, who was the youngest ever member of the mage council of Vexil quietly says "I'm guessing a few will be at the palace this morning".
Mira Reinholt nods to Shur Kee as he adds "Especially if someone already knows what's happened out west with the defeat of the kingdom's army at the hands of the rebels".
The three all know that the defeat of the crown's army, as well as some of the regent's army that was heading out west. Has everything to do with their own army, the Farqian mercenary army.
Who they know are in command of the campaign of the three rebellious dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen. Against the forces of the crown, as well as the regent of Oaklynn.
"If others do know what's happened out west" quietly says the mage Reinholt after a serving woman delivers them their food, and their drinks they've ordered.
"Hopefully we can find out what they're up to, in terms of retaliation" quietly adds the once powerful mage who is in exile from his homeland of Vexil.
The short, statured monk from the far eastern coastal kingdom of Wah Lee, and the elven spy from the principality of Alínlae are in agreement with the highly skilled swordmaster from the city-state of Vexil.
As Mira and Dalin start eating their breakfast, Shur Kee watches the front door of the taverna, to see who enters while they're here this morning.
As the other two eat, the acolyte in the order of Bru Li sees very few people entering the taverna. And those that do are locals from the surrounding shops.
The physical adept doesn't see anyone he recognises from either the palace, or the nearby council building.
The living incantation of the Jade Warrior Bru Li quietly mentions this to the other two.
The mage Reinholt nods his hooded head, as he too has noticed it this morning in the taverna.
Then after the member of lord Farque's personal council, and the elven officer in the armies of Farque finish their meals.
The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster says "Come on, there's something i want to see".
The trio exit the taverna, and walk along the side street, to the long street that goes through the center of Oaklynn.
Mira Reinholt gestures in the direction of the nearby council building, and quietly tells the other two "There first" followed by "It's closer".
The three of them walk that way, on the opposite side of the street from the regent's mansion, and the city council building that's located right next to it.
As they walk that way it starts to lightly snow upon the city of Oaklynn on this cold and cloudy winter's day here in the east of the kingdom of Girdane.
While walking through the falling snow they notice a number of people entering and exiting the city council building.
And most of those doing so, have come from, or are going to the palace of the king, which is towards the northern end of the long street.
Many are traveling by carriage or covered coach. While others are on horseback. Some are even running between the two.
"Busy, busy, busy" murmurs Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy, Mira Reinholt the mage who hears this, nods his hooded head in agreement as the snow continues to fall.
Then the Vexilian mage in exile who is shielded from other spellcasters due to an amulet he wears. Starts reading the minds of some of those who are making their way into, or exiting the city council building. Either coming from, or going to the palace at the other end of the long street here in the center of the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane.
It doesn't take long for the once powerful mage to find out something of interest.
The practitioner of magic who is also a highly skilled swordmaster nods for the other two to turn around, and head towards the palace that's at the other end of the long street.
As the three of them start walking back that way, councillor Reinholt quietly tells Shur Kee and Dalinvardél Tanith "They already knew alright".
And as they walk through the lightly falling snow, the exiled Vexilian mage quietly continues with "There's a full session at court this morning" followed by "Dukes from here in the east of the kingdom who were already in the city, are pledging their armies to fight against the western rebels".
The elven spy and the physical adept share a look as the mage Reinholt quietly tells them "Riders and messengers, by magical means have already been sent out to those dukes here in the east, and in the central region, not already here" he then adds in a quiet voice "To see if they'll join in the fight against the rebellious dukes".
"By the forest gods" murmurs Dalin in his native language, who continues on in common with "If it wasn't a civil war already, it definitely is now".
The swordmaster who is member of the personal council of the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, and the physical adept who is an honorary member of that same council. Nod their heads in agreement with what the spy Tanith just said.
"We have to find out the numbers that are going to be involved" quietly says Mira Reinholt as they head in the direction of the palace of the king of Girdane, as the snow continues to lightly fall upon the city of Oaklynn and the surrounding countryside.
"Whatever they are, our army, and those of the three western dukes, who if they weren't already, are now going to be severely outnumbered" adds the once powerful mage who worries that this latest development, is going to put a sudden halt to the advance across the kingdom of Girdane by the rebellious dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar and the mercenary army from the lands Farque they've hired . . . . . .