Winter.
A young runner makes his way across the courtyard, rushing to the main council building, after coming from the nearby barracks where he was delivered a message.
He rushes in through an open door, and hurries through the hallways here in the main building of the city-state's council.
He rounds a corner, and is almost running down a hallway, to a guarded set of doors.
The council guards recognise him, and they allow him entry. He passes through the antechamber in a rush. And makes his way into the main chamber, where a meeting is taking place.
There's council members, their assistants and military leaders, both local and foreign gathered around the large map table in the middle of the chamber.
He looks around to see who is present, and since he's in the loyalist army.
The young runner makes his way around to a senior officer, who is standing behind the leader of the loyalist army.
"Urgent message sir" quietly says the young teen, who follows that with "A trading vessel just docked and informed the airdock authorities".
The adjunctant Morris nods his head, and takes the missive from the runner, who steps back and out of the way, to wait for orders.
Meanwhile the adjunctant to commander Tracklen, unfolds the missive, and quickly reads the message.
Stepping forward, the adjunctant Morris quietly says "Commander, a message".
The senior most officer in the army loyal to the ruling council of Kuradum, takes the missive from his adjunctant, and quickly reads it.
"They're definitely on the march north through the southern region" announces commander Tracklen as he interrupts the current conversation around the large map table.
"Their army has been spotted by those who are independent in the conflict" continues the loyalist army commander.
"A freighter from the otherside of the Sunreach Mountains has done a winter run, and just docked a short time ago" adds commander Tracklen, who follows that with "They spotted the rebel army in the south, making their way north".
He briefly pauses before he continues with "They collaborate the reports we got earlier from our allies".
Tracklen nods in acknowledgment to lord Farque who is standing further down the table to his right.
There's a moment's silence as people take the latest information about the enemy in.
A silence that's broken by councilman Sammis, the unofficial leader of the ruling council of Kuradum, who asks "Do they say how many?".
"As the earlier reports suggested, between fifteen and twenty thousand" is the succinct reply from commander Tracklen.
There's a number of winces, and a few grimaces from some of those around the table, at hearing that from the senior army commander.
They'd been warned about how many the enemy would bring from the south of the city-state.
And though many on the council, and their assistants were hoping it wasn't true, turns out it's infact absolutely true.
After listening to a whispered comment from his assistant Nahor, councilman Kolmar says "Maybe we should bring back some of those we sent north" followed by "We're seriously undermanned in the city now".
"No, they'll stay in the north for now" says lord Farque who until now, has been silent during the meeting.
"They're needed to withstand the siege at Gensa" adds the undead warlord.
"I agree with lord Farque, the siege of Gensa must be maintained" says commander Tracklen, who along with his adjunctant Morris.
Along with the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, and the others of his group who are in attendance today.
Know of the truth about the siege of Gensa, and how the enemy there have already been well and truly defeated.
And that the largest town in the north of the city-state, is now just ruins after being burnt down by the defenders.
And those that defended Gensa, including fifteen hundred or so loyalist soldiers from the Kuradum City barracks.
Are elsewhere now, waiting for new orders from the deathlord of Farque, who is in overall command of the loyalist's forces.
"We'll just have to make do with what we have here" says the large, heavily armoured deathlord who towers over everyone else standing around the table.
As Dorc da Orc is sitting in a corner of the main chamber, gnawing on a leg bone of some sort.
"Or bring reinforcements from elsewhere" continues the undead being, who is also known by the name of Draugadrottin, by the people of his lands.
"From the main battlelines in the east?" asks commander Tracklen hoping to steer the conversation away from what's happening up in Gensa.
Or to be exact, what the ruling council believes is happening up in the northern town of Gensa.
"More than likely" says lord Farque, who continues with "Though we'll have to give up some of the ground we've recently taken out east".
There's a few grumbles from some of the council members and their assistants at hearing that.
As the recent victories against the enemy in the east of the city-state, along the main frontlines in the conflict.
Have been the most significant victories by loyalist forces, in what's essentially a civil war to see who rules the city-state of Kuradum.
"Either that, or you can lose your capital city" states lord Farque, who then adds "Which one do you want?".
Which instantly shuts up the grumbling from those members of the council who are upset at the prospect of losing the ground the loyalist forces have taken along the frontlines in the conflict.
After clearing his throat, councilman Sammis asks "Is there anyway we can defeat that lot coming up from the south".
"Of course" replies the undead warlord who, as part of the agreement for his army being hired by the ruling council of Kuradum.
Is to have complete control and command of their war against the rebels, who are lead by the self styled duke of Kuradum, councilman Hirrye.
"Attack them before they get to the city?" suggests councilman Kolmar after his assistant Nahor whispers something to him.
"We'll probably do some of that" replies the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, who has the elven name of Des'tier. Which translates into the common language as, The Destroyer.
"But most of the fighting will be here at the city against that southern force of their's" says the large, heavily armoured deathlord.
Who doesn't elaborate on anymore about the defence of the city of Kuradum.
No matter how many council members ask him, and how many times they ask him too.
Draugadrottin glances at Helbe the elven thief and Tamric Drubine the field commander, both of whom are standing directly to his right.
The lord of the death realm gives them a few discreet hand signals. And the elven masterthief slightly nods his hooded head, then steps back, and moves away, heading to the ante chamber, and out.
While the young noble from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, takes a step to the left.
And takes the spot right next to the undead warlord that the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel has just vacated.
Throughout the rest of the meeting, both lord Farque and Tamric Drubine the field commander, don't elaborate on the defence of the city of Kuradum.
Though they do speak about tactics elsewhere throughout the city-state against the forces of the rebel councilman, Hirrye. Who sees himself as the duke of Kuradum, and it's sole ruler. Something the ruling council is dead set against.
The meeting eventually breaks up, and as people slowly drift away, Tamric Drubine, or Tam as he's more commonly called by the others in the group.
Quietly says to commander Tracklen "You and your immediate staff come to our inn" followed by "There's things we need to discuss".
The loyalist army commander nods, then says that he will. Then he has a quiet word with his adjunctant Morris.
While lord Farque, and the group depart. Though the undead warlord has to yell at Dorc da Orc in orkish.
To get the ork warleader's attention, and to have him join the rest of them as they make their way from the chamber, then depart the main building of the council of Kuradum.
It's another cold, and windy winter's day here in the capital city of Kuradum.
And the group, minus Helbe the elven thief, along with Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, and Lisell Maera the scout.
Make their way back to the inn, that they've been staying at, while here in the city of Kuradum.
As they walk, Mira Reinholt the mage quietly says "A lot of luck is going to be needed for this to work".
"I agree" says Jarjin Littlefoot the hobbit who is walking beside the once powerful mage.
The halfling from the far east coast of the continent, the Sultanate of Dreese to be exact.
Looks quickly ahead to where lord Farque is walking with Tamric Drubine at the front of group.
And sees that the undead warlord, who in all likelihood, overheard him and the mage Reinholt.
Is ignoring them, as he quietly speaks with the young field commander in his armies.
"Even with our army, we're still outnumbered by them" quietly says the spellcaster, who is in exile from his homeland, the city-state of Vexil.
The hobbit, who is a former air sailor in the fleet of the Sultan of Dreese. Doesn't say anything, as lord Farque glances back at them, as up ahead he and field commander Drubine lead the group around a street corner.
The halfling who isn't what he appears to be, shares a look with the mage Reinholt. Who like him, is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
The two of them remain silent as they turn onto the street the inn they've hired is on.
And they follow behind Saanea the witch and Shur Kee the monk, into the inn that the group has had to themselves since being hired by the ruling council of Kuradum.
In their war against the rebel councilman, Hirrye. Who wants to be the sole ruler of the city-state.
Helbe the elven thief, along with Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy and Lisell Maera the scout are already there waiting for them.
Now the group is just waiting for commander Tracklen and his senior staff to arrive.
As they wait in the common room of one of the better inns in the entire city, lord Farque quietly asks "Anything?".
"Just a few things" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, who like the undead warlord, is speaking elvish.
"Our spies have found some new infiltrators" quietly says the elven spy originally from the principality of Alínlae.
Where he previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland.
"From their army coming up from the south of course" adds Dalinvardèl Tanith, who is more commonly called Dalin by the others in the group.
Des'tier nods his full helmed head after the spy Tanith says "They're being followed at all times of course".
"Continue to do so" says the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, who follows that with "They'll come in useful a little bit later on".
The elven spy who is a company commander in the scouts and rangers division in the armies of Farque, nods in understating.
Then Draugadrottin looks across at Helbe the elven thief, and asks him "They paying tomorrow?".
As it's First Day tomorrow, the day the ruling council of Kuradum make their weekly payment to the armies of Farque.
"They are" replies Helbe the elven thief, who continues with "We've got nothing to worry about there, they'll keep paying us".
He briefly pauses before saying "Hell, they can keep paying us every week until the end of spring without any problems".
The elven masterthief then adds "And deep into the summer if they stretch it".
The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel then dryly says "They're not exactly short of funds".
The lord of the death realm, who is in command of the Kuradian ruling council's war against the rebel councilman, Hirrye.
Nods his full helmed head in understating, then the lord and ruler of the lands Farque quietly says to the entire group "They're here".
A few moments later, and a pair of black clad Farqian soldiers out the front of the inn.
Allow the loyalist army commander Tracklen, and a handful of his senior officers, including his adjunctant Morris to enter.
They make their way into the common room, and after lord Farque says in the common language "Good, you're here".
They gather around the tables in the center of the common room that have been pushed together.
After the local army officers join the group around the table, and Helbe the elven thief slightly nods his hooded head when Draugadrottin glances his way.
Lord Farque says "Right, concerning that army coming up from the south" he follows that with "And the defence of the city".
The undead warlord pauses for a moment or two, before he continues with "This is what we're going to do" . . . . . .
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