To War 122.

Summer. In The West Of The Province Of Moleau.

"I don't care what you do councilor, just as long as they do what i want them to do" says subcommander Karmaé.
The senior officer in the armies of Farque, continues with "They'll do it if you tell them" she briefly pauses before grinning then saying "I think they like you".
"Thanks" dryly says Jarjin Littlefoot the hobbit as he glances up at the tall woman standing beside him.
The subcommander, the senior most Farqian officer with the army. Isn't what you would call a pretty looking woman.
But she is attractive, with her short cropped blonde hair, and her tight fitting leather armour that hugs her lean, athletic looking body.
"Besides" says the subcommander, who has held the rank for the last few years, after achieving it not long after her twenty third birthday.
"They've been doing what you've told them to do of late" continues subcommander Karmaé who follows that with "So that's something".
"I think a lot of that has do with our recent victories, and advancing further northwards into Moleau more than anything else" dryly says the halfling who is a member of the personal council to lord Farque, who then adds "More than it does have anything to do with me".
"Don't sell yourself short" says the subcommander, who pauses then slightly winces before looking down at the hobbit standing beside her, and says "Sorry councilor".
With his cheeks red with embarrassment, Jarjin Littlefoot who isn't what he appears to be, says "No need to apologise" followed by "I am short".
The subcommander faintly smiles, then she gestures towards the camp the army has set up as they've stopped late in the afternoon.
On what's been a mild summer's day, here in the west of the province of Moleau.
"Looks like the brothers have spotted us" says the senior officer in the first army of Farque.
"You deal with them" adds the lean, athletic looking woman, who then turns and walks away.
The subcommander's adjunctant smiles in apology to councilor Littlefoot, before hurrying after her.
While the halfling, who is a former air sailor. Who hails from the Sultanate of Dreese. Which is on the far east coast of the continent. Basically on the otherside of the world.
Remains here, just outside of camp. With a pair of young messengers standing nearby to answer his needs.
The hobbit, who in actual fact is really a barbarian hordesman from the southern tundra.
By the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to find himself inhabiting the body of Jarjin Littlefoot.
The latest body he's inhabited since he first died about fifteen years ago. Here in the kingdom of Melaurn, in the northern province of Sorros.
In a battle between two feuding noblemen, who were vying to be duke of Sorros.
Lets out a slow breath as he sees the twin brothers, lord Gormica of Salmah Forest and baron Wilmot of Pirtgott.
Have spotted him, and are heading this way. When he made his way out here, to avoid the two of them.
Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman maybe the one who is in charge of this army.
That's predominantly made up of forces from the provinces of Karricaw and Corlinda.
But it's actually subcommander Karmaé who makes all the military decisions, and with good reason.
Councilor Littlefoot has had plenty of training when it comes to warfare, especially cavalry tactics in the lands Farque.
But he knows he's no match for the Farqian subcommander, who has been basically trained up since she was a child, to be an officer in the armies of Farque.
Jarjin aka Zubutai Timaginson in his time that he's actually been in the lands Farque.
Has seen first hand how the society works there. Where in their childhood learning centers which they begin at the age four.
Children are noted at that early age, at what they will be best suited to doing.
And though all Farqian children at around the age of twelve do an army training course.
By that time, those deemed to be exceptional, who will be officers, and and other specialists in the army, air and sea fleet of the lands Farque.
Will be given an enforced training, that's more difficult and demanding than the other young recruits.
The halfling who is a member of the personal council to lord Farque. Glances over at the two young messengers who will answer his beck and call.
He knows the two Farqian youngsters, who are only about thirteen or fourteen years old.
Will be scouts in a few years time. And that they can probably outrun all day, every single soldier from the provinces of Karricaw and Corlinda who make up the bulk of this army.
Jarjin aka Zubutai the son of Timagin quietly gives the two of them an order in the elven language.
They both reply with a murmured "Yes councilor". As they, along with the halfling from the Sultanate of Dreese. Watch the twin brothers Gormica and Wilmot, and those with them, approach councilor Littlefoot.
The hobbit, who previously served in the air fleet of the Sultan of Dreese.
Is glad to see that the twins haven't brought along a lot of their retainers.
As they're the ones most likely to argue with one another.
Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman has been fairly happy since the rest of the group left.
That lord Gormica and baron Wilmot, for the most part are getting along.
He knows the recent victories, and the advance north through western Moleau has a lot to do with that.
But he also knows the twins who were at war with one another just last month.
A war that the lord of Salmah Forest won thanks to the mercenary army from the lands Farque he hired.
Have come to some kind of agreement if they're victorious in the war against the crown and king of Melaurn.
Jarjin Littlefoot who hasn't told the nobleborn brothers where the rest of the group went to at the start of the week.
Greets the twin brothers, one from the province of Karricaw, and the other from the province of Corlinda.
The halfling, who isn't what he appears to be. Tells them, again. Why they're stopping here for the night.
Not specifically why. As subcommander Karmaé wants the retreating enemy to gather in one force in this part of western Moleau.
As it will be easier to find them, and wipe them out.
For she like all Farqian senior officers, will do their best to wipe the enemy out in one go, or in as few engagements as possible.
It's a tactic from lord Farque himself, who advocates a quick and as brutal war as possible.
Sustained campaigns are only for when you're at a disadvantage. And you have to use your resources. Both coin and manpower, as judiciously as possible to gain a victory.
Though a couple of the vassal knights to the twin brothers briefly argue that they should of kept traveling through the night.
Jarjin aka Zubutai Timaginson ordered that to stop here was best. Well, it was subcommander Karmaé's order, which the member of lord Farque's personal council then gave to the army.
That's predominantly made up from the neighbouring provinces of Corlinda and Karricaw.
"This is the best place to stop for the night" says the halfling who is a former air sailor.
"They'll be stopping too" adds councilor Littlefoot, who continues with "And in the morning, they'll keep going where we want them to go".
Jarjin aka Zubutai the son of Timagin then says "They won't go west or they'll run into that lot from Selvah Na".
The twin brothers and their retainers murmur agreement at that. As that's one of the major advantages they've had of late in the war against the crown and king of Melaurn.
The rebellious lords of the southern most province Selvah Na, have joined them in the war.
A province that's been itching to go to war against the crown for ages.
"And they definitely won't turn and come back this way" says the halfling who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
Jarjin Littlefoot, who wished to the tundra gods that Helbe the elven thief was here to deal with lord Gormica and baron Wilmot.
After all, the elven masterthief is the envoy for the armies of Farque. Who deals with those who have hired one of the armies from the lands Farque.
Then tells the twin brothers and their vassals "No, we've got them doing what we want them to do".
The halfling from the far east coast of the continent, who is privy to the plans of subcommander Karmaé.
Plans they haven't completed revealed to the lord of Salmah Forest, and the baron of Pirtgott.
"One final encounter with this enemy army will see their demise for sure" says the hobbit former air sailor, who continues on with "And no more running across the countryside for us".
As there's no other enemy army in western Moleau. And though there's word that the crown has more forces up in the province of Olind.
They've yet to organise to come south, and join in the crown's war effort against lord Gormica of Salmah Forest.
After the vassals wander back into camp as the sun begins to set in the west.
The twins Gormica and Wilmot, remain behind to speak with the halfling who is a member of lord Farque's personal council.
"Any plans for what we'll do after we defeat this lot we've been chasing?" asks baron Wilmot of Pirtgott, who is the older of the brothers.
Though twins, they're not identical twins. They have the same basic facial features. But that's about the only physical similarities they have.
As their body types, are completely different. With Wilmot the taller of the two. And Gormica, the leaner and more athletic looking of the two.
This correlates to the armour and weapons they use as well.
With the baron of Pirtgott in heavier halfplate armour, who prefers a broadsword.
While the lord of Salmah Forest's weapon of choice is a slimmer blade. Who though he has plate roundrels on his shoulders. His armour is predominantly leather.
And though many consider baron Wilmot to be the more accomplished warrior in battle.
Lord Gormica is without doubt the better swordsman, and is considered one of the finest nobleborn swordsman in all of Melaurn, especially in the south of the kingdom.
"After we defeat this lot who we've been chasing" says Jarjin Littlefoot, who continues on with "We'll wait to see if they'll send an army down from Olind".
The hobbit from the far east coast of the continent briefly pauses before he tells the nobleborn brothers "I get the feeling they don't want to expand the war beyond where it's already been".
He briefly pauses once more, before continuing with "Hell, you've seen how this lot we're after don't really want to fight us here in Moleau".
Nodding his head, baron Wilmot, the more demonstrative of the twins, says "They were fine fighting us easy enough along the border region, but not so further north, that's for sure".
Nodding his head in agreement with his brother, lord Gormica of Salmah Forest, who is the more calm and collected of the twins when it comes to their personalities, says "The further away from Karricaw and Corlinda they fight, the more they know they're losing the war".
The nobleman from the province of Karricaw who the crown and king are at war with, then says "If word gets out that we're fighting in northern Moleau, or up in Olind, all hell will break out at court, and amongst the people".
Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman nods in agreement with that, then he says "That's what we're trying to achieve".
The halfling who is a former air sailor, doesn't mention the fact that they're trying to end the war, before it expands into northern Moleau, and up across the border into the province of Olind.
The member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
Hopes to hell the others in the group are successful in the capital city Calinar.
As they plan to bring about the demise of the dowager queen. Who is the one most responsible for the crown's war against lord Gormica of Salmah Forest.
As dusk takes over as the sun heads towards the horizon in the west, the hobbit gestures back to the camp, and says "I don't know about you two, but I'm hungry".
He continues with "It's been a long day, and i could do with something to eat".
The twins Gormica and Wilmot nod in agreement with that, and they start heading back to the camp that the army has set up.
"I'll catch up" says councilor Littlefoot to the nobleborn twins from southern Melaurn, when one of the nearby messengers calls out to him in the elven language.
As lord Gormica of Salmah Forest and baron Wilmot of Pirtgott head back into camp.
Jarjin aka Zubutai Timaginson walks over to the pair of runners, where one of them in the elven language says to him "Councilor i think there's a ship in the sky to the west heading this way".
The halfling with his natural ability to see in lowlight conditions, as well as his race's natural farsight, looks into the sky to the west as the sun slips down below the horizon, and dusk takes full effect.
After quickly scanning the sky to the west, Jarjin Littlefoot spots a sail. It's from a single masted airship that he sees.
A sleek, dark looking vessel, obviously not built like the airships here in the kingdom of Melaurn.
Or for that matter, pretty much anywhere in the Southlands.
Councilor Littlefoot slightly smiles and he quietly says in elven to the two messengers "It's them".
As he watches the Quick Gull in the distance to the west, heading this way towards where the army has made camp for the night . . . . . .