To War 65.

Summer. In The Province Of Corlinda.

"A castle?" asks Dorc da Orc with a scowl upon his broad, green, brutish looking face.
"Why the fuck we gotta go there?" adds the large ork, who follows that with "We fucked up those cunts who came down here".
"Because more of them will cross over into this area of Corlinda" says Tamric Drubine the field commander.
The ork warleader grunts at that, though he continues to scowl as the young field commander tells him "As for why a castle?".
The nobleborn teenager who is originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, who is now a senior officer in the armies of Farque, continues with "If we garrison this castle, and the others near it" followed by "It'll draw them in, as they can't afford to bypass them, as those we've garrisoned in them, can come out and harass them as they continue southwards".
Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, gestures at the army which has briefly stopped in the middle of the afternoon, and he says "And it'll give the rest of us the chance to attack any of their other armies that might show up further to the east, or the west".
"Not north" mutters Dorc da Orc who then continues muttering with "Fucken both of 'em".
The large ork who is a general in the armies of Farque grunts as field commander Drubine tells him "And they're the only castles here, in this area of the north of Corlinda that survived the recent war between Corlinda and Karricaw".
The big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world sourly smiles, and looks away to the right, where his bitter rival, sir Percavelle Lé Dic says "I do prefer fighting from a castle".
The large, heavily armoured knight then adds "Nothing like some thick, tall walls to add into the mix during a battle, wot".
"You fucken would ya cunt" mutters the ork weaponsmith as he looks sideways at the former paladin who is his bitter rival.
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic, or Percy as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, then says "Young Tam i shall be honoured to help protect these castles, wot".
The nobleman originally from the kingdom of Druvic, who has no actual rank or position in the armies of Farque, then adds "Best to send a gallant knight instead of a foul smelling beast anyway, i say".
The nobleborn knight briefly pauses before he adds "Wot".
While his bitter rival, the warleader of the ork race growls in a threatening manner.
Tamric Drubine shares a look with his lover Saanea the witch, then he looks at Dorc da Orc and sir Percavelle Lé Dic, and just shakes his head.
"Send them both" says Dargarven the undead scout in the elven language.
He's standing to one side of the couple, the nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, and the witch who hails from the Maldin Hills.
The undead scout looks around, and nods away to where the goblin battalion are waiting, and continues in elven with "Send the monk with them" followed by "He'll keep them from trying to kill one another".
Tam looks to where Shur Kee the monk is standing with the goblins, and nods his head.
"Well, I'm not going with them" says Lisell Maera the scout in elven.
The tall, lean, attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury, who is standing on the otherside of the couple, then adds "Even if you ordered me to go with them Tam, i won't".
"I'll send Shur Kee with them" wryly says the nobleborn teen who is the son of a previous Knight of Castle Drubine, a castle and it's lands, found in the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin.
Then switching back to the common language, because both Percy and Dorc, especially Dorc can't understand elven, the young field commander tells them "You'll both go".
As both the ork general, and the Druvician nobleman who is a member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che scowl at him, field commander Drubine says "Shur Kee will go along with the two of you".
Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name, mutters "Fucken shitballs".
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic sourly smiles at the prospects of spending time with both his bitter rival, the ork general. And the enigmatic monk, who truth be told, the large, heavily armoured knight is more than a little cautious around, especially in battle.
As the ork warleader stomps away, and goes over to the battalion of goblins.
And the former paladin goes over and sits down upon a broken wall, that runs along the field behind the Farqian army led by Tamric Drubine.
The young field commander calls over Shur Kee the monk to discuss things with him.
A little while later, and they're ready to depart. Before they set off, field commander Drubine says to councilor Kee "It shouldn't take too long" followed by "You'll get there well before sunset".
The nobleborn teenager originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin continues on with "They'll be ready for you".
Tam looks over at the bitter rivals, Dorc da Orc and sir Percavelle Lé Dic, and quietly says to the physical adept "Keep an eye on those two Shur Kee".
"I will friend Tamric" says Shur Kee the monk, who then shakes hands with the young field commander, nods to Saanea the witch, and Lisell Maera the scout.
They set off, the goblin battalion. Along with general Dorc, sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Shur Kee the monk.
With them are about a hundred soldiers from the Farqian force led by field commander Drubine.
They're predominantly infantry, both light and heavy. As well a number of those in the scouts and rangers division, including runners.
Dorc da Orc who is glad it isn't particularly sunny today, infact it's quite cloudy. And the later in the afternoon it gets, the more cloudy it gets.
Is at the front of the force of about three and fifty or so. Who are heading south and west.
The big, burly ork from the frozen bottom of the world isn't in command.
Shur Kee the monk is, considering the short, statured monk is the honorary member of the personal council to lord Farque.
Nor is the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks actually leading the way.
As the monk who is from the far east coast of the continent, the kingdom of Wah Lee to be exact.
Has a number of the scouts and rangers out infront, leading their small army to a nearby castle, here in the northeast corner of the province of Corlinda.
As they head down a road that goes through farmland here in this part of northern Corlinda.
Councilor Kee walks in the middle, with Dorc da Orc to his left, and sir Percavelle Lé Dic to the physical adept's right.
The monk who is a member of the philosophical order of Bru Li, thinks it's best he keeps himself between the two rivals who detest one another.
Shur Kee who is keeping an eye on the two scouts up ahead along the road.
Glances sideways at the former paladin, sir Percavelle Lé Dic. Who for him, has been relatively quiet ever since they left the rest of the Farqian mercenary army led by the field commander, Tamric Drubine.
Though the large, heavily armoured knight, who stands a couple of inches over six feet in height.
And is encased in a suit of full plate armour, that he keeps bright, and polished to a high sheen.
Who has a white cape attached to his heavily armoured shoulder plates.
Is a little more talkative the further they walk, as they head southwest to a nearby castle.
"I say my fine short fellow" says the nobleborn knight who is now in his mid forties.
"Do you think we'll actually face any more of these king's men, or his allies, wot" adds the former paladin.
"Friend Tamric seems to think so" says Shur Kee the monk, who after a slight pause, continues with "And that is what lord Farque told him".
Both the heavily armoured knight, and the large ork look down at the physical adept who is walking between them.
"Well, i believe that is what one of the krean on the command ship told friend Saanea by way of a spell" continues the acolyte in the order of Bru Li. The bitter rivals both grunt when they hear that.
Then the ork who is a general in the armies of Farque, who was against taking his battalion of goblins to the nearby castles, says "If Farque says it's fucken so, then it's fucken so".
Though he won't voice any agreement with the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world.
The nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic, the former earl of Lé Dic to be exact.
Nods in agreement with what his bitter rival, the ork weaponsmith just said.
Shur Kee the monk, who is the living incarnation of the Jade Warrior, Bru Li. Glances to either side of him, at the two large figures he's walking between.
Glad that they're actually agree on something. And for now, they're not arguing with one another.
Which the short, statured monk knows they'll eventually end up doing.
It's who they are. And it's what they do. They're bitter rivals. And nothing will ever stop that.
Since arriving at the castle, and being left here by the krean strikeship that took off after they dropped him off earlier this afternoon.
Tovis the war engineer has got to know the local lord and his men. One of the lords of Corlinda who didn't get involved in the recent war between the provinces of Corlinda and Karricaw.
The young engineer originally from the kingdom of Druvic, who is now a captain in the armies of Farque.
Has just done an inspection around the outside of the castle with the local lord's captain of the guard.
The castle, which is a classic moat and bailey example. Has sturdy walls in the opinion of the war engineer in the armies of Farque.
And though he'd have heavy iron banding on both sides of the drawbridge.
For the most part he's satisfied with it's construction, as well as it's maintenance.
As Tovis knows it's the upkeep of castles over the years, that ruin them more than anything else.
The two of them, the Druvician engineer and the local lord's captain of the guard cross the drawbridge, and make their way back into the castle itself.
The captain in the engineer's corp of the first army of Farque once again looks at the mechanism and chains to raise and lower the drawbridge.
And nods in satisfaction before he and the captain of the guard continue on.
"When are you expecting them?" asks Domall, the captain of the guard to lord Measum.
"Sometime later this afternoon" is the reply from Tovis the war engineer, who then adds "Before sunset for sure".
The young engineer was informed by lord Farque before he arrived here at lord Measum's castle.
That a number of soldiers from the Farqian force led by Tamric Drubine will turn up here later this afternoon.
The captain in the armies of Farque doesn't know who it will be, or who will be in command of them.
He knows whoever it is, they'll be up the standards of all the soldiers and officers in the armies of Farque.
As they go around and look at the inner buildings of the castle, which is large enough, that there's essentially a village within it.
Tovis looks up at the late afternoon sky, and sees how cloudy it has gotten.
And wonders if it might rain later tonight, or maybe tomorrow. The day is definitely cooler than it has been recently here in the north of the province of Corlinda.
And it could do with some rain in the opinion of the young engineer originally from the kingdom of Druvic.
Who is pretty sure it hasn't rained at all since the first army of Farque have been here in the south of the kingdom of Melaurn.
Tovis, who when he was still in the kingdom of Druvic, served as the war engineer to a baron Harkonin in the east of his homeland.
Knows that his engineering corp will show up in the next couple of days or so.
As they fly straight here with all their equipment from the province of Corlinda.
Is just mentioning to the captain of the guard about how best to garrison those who will turn up here today, and the others over the next couple of days.
When one of the guards on wall duty, calls out that there's someone on the road approaching from the north.
Tovis the war engineer, and captain Domall make their way to the nearest set of steps on the castle walls, and head up them.
Once on the battlements, they head around to the north wall, as they were over on the southwest side of the castle.
On the north wall, Tovis looks northwards, and says to the captain of the guard "Can't really see anything".
Captain Domall nods, then explains "Can't really get a good view this way" he follows on with "Might be able to pick up on any dust kicked up on the road" he then adds "That's what the guard probably saw".
As they approach the northwest tower of the castle, the captain of the guard points then says to the young engineer "There" followed by "Looks to be a fair few too".
The war engineer in the armies of Farque nods in agreement, as he sees the dust in the air in the distance.
And though you can occasionally see the ribbon of the road as it winds through the countryside here in this area of northern Corlinda.
You can't get a good view of it, and whoever is on it, until it's bends around a rise, about three quarters of a mile to the north of the castle.
As they wait to see those on the road come into the view, the young engineer in the first army of Farque, and the local lord's, captain of the guard.
Talk about what life's like here in this part of northern Corlinda. Where the nobility kept out of the recent war between the provinces of Karricaw and Corlinda.
Just a little while later, captain Domall nods northwards and says "Should be able to see them shortly".
They along with the guards on duty here on the north wall, look away to the north.
And they soon start seeing who it is that's approaching the castle from the north.
Once whoever it is starts to come into view, Domall the captain of the guard frowns, then asks "Who are they?".
Tovis the war engineer finally gets a good look at who is on the road to the north.
"Oh hell" mutters the young engineer with a shake of his head as he sees who it is from the first army of Farque who are approaching the castle.
Tovis sourly smiles as he sees who it is that's out infront, of the black clad soldiers on the road.
"Should i be worried?" asks the captain of that guard, who after a brief pause adds "To be fair, they're not who i was expecting".
"Yeah, you could stay that i guess" wryly says the war engineer who with a shake of his head, continues with "Hell, no one ever expects them" . . . . . .