A Grand Design 47.

Winter. The City Of Oaklynn. The Kingdom Of Girdane.

Dorc da Orc punches in the skull of one the regent's soldiers who has run at him.
The large ork grabs the polearm of another, and shoves into the guts of that soldier.
Who screams in agony as he's lifted up off the ground by the ork warleader, who flings him up against a garden wall.
The ork weaponsmith looks ahead, and sees another of the regent's soldiers come flying back over the garden wall infront of him, and land near the big, burly ork who is from the southern polar region of the world.
Dorkindle hurries forward, and goes through the smashed in gate in the garden wall, and enters another courtyard, here in the palace of the king of Girdane.
The ork general grunts as he sees lord Farque up ahead, making his way out of the courtyard, as they make their way through the palace grounds.
Dorc da Orc chuckles, then says "Get some" as he kicks a severed head across the courtyard. Then he follows after the undead warlord, hurrying to catch up to him.
Towards the other end of the long street, here in the center of the city of Oaklynn.
Mira Reinholt the mage and sir Percavelle Lé Dic have simply walked into the city council building.
The regent's soldiers who were on guard at the gates. Took off running down the long street, to see what was happening at the palace. Where a rather large explosion took place.
The mage Reinholt was a little disappointed he didn't have to create another distraction as he and the former paladin made their way towards the city council building.
But they and others, have freely entered through the gates, and crossed the square infront of the building, to get in to it.
It's obvious things are in disarray, as people wonder what's going on, not to mention it's still early in the morning.
The once powerful mage, who has a rough idea where things are here in the council building.
Is just wondering if he's taken the correct hallway to get to the council chambers, when he senses something. Or to be more precise, someone.
"In here" says Mira Reinholt the mage, who opens the first door to the right they come across.
The spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil, and the nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic enter a room, an office for a council official by the looks of it.
"What is it?" asks sir Percavelle Lé Dic who then adds "Wot" after the mage Reinholt closes the door behind them.
"A sorcerer" quietly replies the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands.
The former earl of Lé Dic sourly smiles. He's yet to use any of his weapons this morning.
And now another practitioner of magic has turned up. Who no doubt will try to kill them if they find out what he and the Vexilian mage in exile are up to.
The spellcaster who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster, who can't be sensed by other spellcasters due to an amulet he wears.
Definitely doesn't recognise the sorcerer as someone he knows. Not in the Farqian mercenary army. Or the armies of the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen. Who don't have many spellcasters to begin with.
"Now let's see what you can do" murmurs the mage Reinholt who is a member of the personal council to lord Farque.
A few moments later, and sir Percavelle Lé Dic, or Percy as he's more commonly called by the others in the group.
Sourly smiles as he sees a mageglobe appear in the right gloved hand of the spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil.
The Druvician nobleman who is a member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che, grunts.
Then slaps shut the faceplate of his full helm, when Mira Reinholt says "Come on Percy, let's see what happens".
The heavily armoured knight lifts the shield of Saint Mar-che, as he follows the councillor out of the room, who flings his mageglobe away, which takes off down the hallway here in the city council building.
Beldane the cleric swings his mace, hitting the side of a building, and large chunk of the wall goes flying inwards.
There's a hole in the side of the building, which Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy runs in through. Followed by Shur Kee the monk, then Tovis the war engineer. And finally the fighting cleric himself.
The spy Tanith kicks a dazed solder on the floor in the head. Then he leaps over some of the rubble in the floor, and throws a punch, square in the back of another of the regent's soldiers, dropping him to the floor.
The spy who is originally from the elven principality of Alínlae, who is now an officer in the armies of Farque.
Quickly turns to his left, and biffs a throwing dagger at another soldier, who is trying to scramble out the door.
The regent's soldier drops to the floor with the dagger in the back of his neck.
Shur Kee the monk has grabbed one of the regent's soldiers, and flipped the man over his shoulder.
And while still holding the soldier's right arm, as he lies prone on the floor. The short, statured monk wearing an odd, conical shaped had.
Slams his right sandled foot into the man's face.
The physical adept lets go of that soldier's arm. Then he leaps straight up, spins in midair, swinging his left leg as he does.
His sandled left foot, connects with the side of the head of the regent's soldier who has rushed him, and tried to grab him.
Tovis the war engineer dodges to his right, and avoids a sword swung at him by a disoriented soldier, who was hit by flying debris when the side of the building was smashed in.
The young engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic, where he served in the army of a baron Harkonin.
Slams his hammer into the side of the regent's soldier, who drops to the floor groaning.
Tovis steps over him, and kicks another soldier on the floor in the head, who is trying to crawl away, wondering what the hell is going on in his barracks first thing this cold, winter's morning.
"Seems I'm not needed" dryly says Beldane the cleric who is the last to enter the building, and look around.
As he sees the others have taken care of the regent's men in this particular barracks.
"Next one" says Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy, who then leads them out of the front door, and onto the street.
While a couple of prisoners in the holding cell, drunks who were fighting and apprehended last night, yell at the four exiting the barracks to release them.
Walking along a rooftop in the southern quarter of the city of Oaklynn on this exceptionally cold winter's morning.
Helbe the elven thief looks down at the street to his right, and sees more of the cavalry in the Farqian mercenary army go by.
The blurred and shielded elven magic user looks back, and sees that those in the mercenary army from the lands Farque, who are on foot, have started entering the city as well.
The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel knows it won't be long before the armies of the dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar will be in the city too.
"The city has fallen and they don't even know it" Helbe the elven thief murmurs to himself as looks down, seeing people on the street, looking around, wondering what's going on.
The elven master assassin shifts away, and is now on another rooftop, a couple hundred feet away.
He looks north to the center of the city, then he looks down at a square away to his right. Where it looks like one of the city markets is being set up for the day.
Though not a lot is exactly happening, as stall holders and others are standing around, wondering what's happening on this cold, winter's morning in the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane.
The highly talented elven magic user, blasts the minds of a trio of the regent's soldiers.
Who are rushing across the square, to a street, that a mounted company in the mercenary army from the lands Farque is just riding by on.
The three of them drop to the ground, while the people in the square look on in stunned silence, as they have no idea what's just happened.
The elven masterthief who happens to be the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel, and also a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
Looks around for a few more moments, then he shifts away again, heading north again towards the center of the city of Oaklynn.
Tamric Drubine the field commander has entered the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane.
The nobleborn teenager originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, who is now a field commander in the armies of Farque.
Looks back, and spots where the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen are in the line of march. And sees that they'll be in the city fairly soon too.
The young field commander who is on foot, looks to his left, where sir Kamson the avenger says in a slightly dry tone of voice "I think we're making an impression".
As people on the street, hurry indoors, locking doors and windows. As the mercenary army from the lands Farque walk by.
"They're lucky it's us and not some other mercenary army" says Lisell Maera the messenger who is behind field commander Drubine and the former member of the order of the Knights of the Dark.
Tamric Drubine the field commander nods in agreement with the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury, then he quietly says "We'll have to keep a watch on the armies of the dukes".
The nobleborn teen, who is the son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine, in the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin, continues with "A lot of them from out in the far west of the kingdom hate the crown and those of the nobility here in the east".
Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, then adds "They might get it in their heads to take it out on the locals since i doubt we'll get much resistance from the regent's forces".
Both Lisell Maera or Lis as more often than not, she's called by those who know her well. Along with sir Kamson nod in agreement with the young field commander.
Then as they continue northwards through the southern quarter of the city, the heavily armoured avenger who is essentially the second in command to field commander Drubine, says "This plan has been a hell of a lot more effective than i thought it would be" he then adds "The city's ours, and i doubt most of the residents know what's even going on".
Further back in the line of march, duke Hilloc of Dalmar walks into the city of Oaklynn.
The nobleman from the very west of the kingdom, shares a look with his cousin sir Passic.
Then with his fellow dukes from western Girdane, duke Korros of Girnath, and duke Lombasil of Falosen who are walking beside him.
All of them can't really believe that they're now in the capital city. When before dawn, they were over a hundred miles away, in the central region of the kingdom.
They also can't believe that in a little over a month since they publicly declared their rebellion, and set off with their armies from the very west of the kingdom.
They would be walking those same armies into the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane.
And with the king already dead, the crown has yet to realise that they're defeated as the rebellious dukes and their armies have entered the capital city.
Looking up, and seeing locals peeking out of second and third storey windows, watching the passing armies. Duke Hilloc muses "Wonder if they know who we are?".
"I think some will" says duke Lombasil of Falosen who sees some of the locals pointing at their pennants being carried by the flag bearers a bit behind the dukes and their senior officers.
"Word will soon spread quickly about who we are" adds the duke of Falosen.
The other two dukes nod in agreement as they along with their armies who are entering the city of Oaklynn, head north through the southern quarter of the city.
Making their way to the center of the capital city, where both the palace of the king, and the city council building is located.
In the palace grounds, lord Farque pauses for a moment, then looking back and seeing Dorc da Orc approaching, the undead warlord continues on his way.
Further behind the heavily armoured deathlord, the ork warleader scowls as he can smell and hear, enemy soldiers away to their left somewhere.
But the lord and ruler of the lands Farque is continuing on this way, south through the palace grounds.
Draugadrottin as he's also known as by the people of his lands, increases speed, so much so he becomes a blur of motion.
And he runs into the outer wall of the palace, smashing through the stone wall relatively easily.
The lord of the death realm could of easily leapt over it, as it's only about twelve foot high.
But the following ork weaponsmith would of wasted time climbing the wall, as they continue south through the center of the city of Oaklynn.
On the long street between the palace grounds, and the regent's mansion which is the next building along, towards the other end of the street.
Is what can only be described as a park. A park that the residents of the city hardly get to experience.
As they're only allowed into the treelined paths, and open greens on festival days, and days of celebrations.
The park is the domain of the nobility in the city. Or those who have connections to the nobility, such as the rich and powerful.
The park is near empty this early in the morning, especially as the day has dawned so cold.
Though those who lord Farque is pursuing, are making their way through the park, heading south towards the regent's mansion.
Lord Farque, who senses Dorkindle still following him, glances to his right, and says "Who's with the wizard?".
"An officer, and another soldier" is the reply from Narladene the ground pixie who just came up out of the ground.
The naturally magical creature, who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains, and is attached to Helbe the elven thief, briefly pauses before she adds "And the regent".
The undead being nods his full helmed head, as he thought as much.
Des'tier as elves of an older generation know him by, who like the tiny winged creature, is speaking in the ground pixie language, then says "That wizard is too shit scared to cast again".
Behind the visor of his full helm, the lord and ruler of the lands Farque as he runs, wryly smiles as he adds "Mira has that effect on some people".
"Ain't that true" dryly murmurs the ground pixie as she keeps pace with the heavily armoured deathlord.
"Speaking of" adds Narladene, as both she and the undead warlord sense a mageglobe created by Mira Reinholt, about to come to the end of it's brief life.
A couple of moments later, the sound of another explosion rocks the morning, coming from the city council building, on the otherside of the regent's mansion, at the southern end of the long street, here in the center of the city of Oaklynn.
"Hope that doesn't fucking spook them" mutters Draugadrottin, who senses those he's in pursuit of, and finds that they'll still heading south through the park.
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque, looks back, and yells out in the ork language "Hurry the fuck up cunt!".
Then switching back to the ground pixie language, he says to the naturally magical creature flying alongside him "Go and annoy that fat fuck, and get him to hurry up".
Narladene, who is more than pleased at such a request, grins as she turns in midair, drawing her tiny little sword, then she heads back to where the large ork is lumbering along, following after the lord of the death realm.
Who rolls his eyes, as he hears the ground pixie chuckling as she flies back to give Dorc da Orc a hurry up.
As they pursue a wizard, and three others. One of whom is the regent of the city of Oaklynn . . . . . .

A Grand Design 46.

Winter. The Kingdom Of Girdane. The City Of Oaklynn.

Captain Kilmane doesn't know what a mageglobe is, but he hears the tone of warning in the voice of Haric the wizard.
So he grabs lord Sammis the regent of Oaklynn, and pulls him down onto the roof of the palace.
They roll across the roof as the main building of the palace is rocked by an explosion.
The captain in the regent's army rolls over, and he sees a cloud of debris rise up into the early morning sky from the front side of the building.
And knows that if it was on the backside, where he and the others are standing on the roof. There's a good chance that they would all be dead now.
"Fuck" mutters captain Kilmane, who gets to his feet, and with the help of Sarmac the keeper, they help the regent of Oaklynn to stand.
The next moment, they're somewhere else. The three of them, along with the wizard Haric, are standing in one of the back courtyards of the palace on this bitterly cold winter's morning.
"Best we get the hell out of here" says Haric the wizard who is now holding his power within himself after teleporting the four of them.
"No way in hell do i want to face a mage" adds the portly spellcaster in the rumpled, ruby coloured robes.
As a confused looking lord Sammis looks back at the main building of the palace, and sees the cloud of debris on the otherside still rising up into the air.
Captain Kilmane takes charge, and says "This way" and leads them through the courtyard, grabbing the regent by the arm, to bring him along.
After a few moments, lord Sammis the regent of Oaklynn gets his wits about him, and he looks at his most trusted officer, and asks him "Think we can propel them Kilmane?".
"Let's hope we can" is the reply from the captain in the regent's army.
Who then shares a look with the keeper Sarmac to show what he really thinks. The former gamekeeper is of the same opinion.
The city of Oaklynn will fall to the rebels, who somehow have made it to the capital, when they should be in the central region of the kingdom.
The three of them, along with the wizard Haric, hurry through the grounds of the palace of the king of Girdane, which is under attack. 
As people start their day in the south of the city. Looking out their front doors, and those up early on the streets on what's an exceptionally cold morning.
They see riders going by on the streets. Dozens if not hundreds of them. Soldiers, clad in black. Heading towards the center of the city by the looks of it.
The residents of the city of Oaklynn who are up and about on this bitterly cold winter's morning wonder if they're mercenaries coming to join the crown's war against the rebellious dukes from the very west of the kingdom.
All thoughts of that being the case is erased. When some of the riders come upon a small squad of the regent's soldiers who are on their early morning foot patrol of the streets in the southern quarter of the city.
And the black clad riders, cut them down without warning. Riding over the four bodies of the dead soldiers in the regent's army they've just killed.
It's then, and in similar incidents, that the residents of the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane. Realise that this morning is like no other morning they've experienced before.
As the city of Oaklynn is under attack by the rebel dukes of western Girdane, and the mercenary army they've hired in their fight against the crown.
Behind the faceplate of his full headed helm, lord Farque sourly smiles as he looks at the front of the main building of the palace of the king.
A fair chunk of which is now rubble, with even more of it looking like it'll collapse at any time.
"Fucking mage" mutters lord Farque under his breath, as Mira Reinholt the mage went a little over the top with his mageglobe.
For even though the spellcaster from the city-state of Vexil is no where near as powerful as he was once was.
He can still create mageglobes that can be truly destructive if he wants them to be.
With a frowning Dorc da Orc beside him, thinking about the best way to get into the main building of the palace, without the rest of the front of it falling on top of him.
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque senses, and he quickly finds the wizard who from what those in the group who have been here in Oaklynn since the start of autumn have told him.
Is a close associate of a captain Kilmane, who if rumours are true, is the right hand man of lord Sammis, the regent of Oaklynn.
The wizard might be holding his power within himself so that he's undetectable to other spellcasters.
That doesn't work on someone like the undead warlord, who can sense all magic no matter what. As he can sense all that are living, and all who are dead.
"Come on cunt" says the heavily armoured deathlord in the ork language to Dorc da Orc.
The lord of the death realm, along with the ork warleader, head around one side of the main building of the palace. Making their way around to the back.
Where Draugadrottin, the name lord Farque is also known by to the people of his lands. Senses the wizard along with three others. Hurrying away from the main building, as they go south through the grounds of the palace of the king of Girdane.
Out on the long street in the middle of the city, Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy walks next to Beldane the cleric.
"They should come from up around here" quietly says Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy.
Behind them, Shur Kee the monk who is walking alongside Tovis the war engineer, nods in agreement.
The cleric Beldane, who is walking with his right hand upon his mace, slightly nods.
As people who are on the street early this morning, look towards the palace grounds, where the main building has been rocked by an explosion.
The four of them, the elven spy, the fighting cleric, the physical adept, and the war engineer. Stop just short of a side street that comes out onto the long street that runs through this part of the city.
And it's not too long before they all hear horses approaching along the side street.
The spy Tanith quickly glances around the corner of a building, and looks down the side street, then he steps back, and nods to the others.
The cleric in the church of Glaine takes his mace from his belt. And the fighting cleric from the kingdom of Nastell, stops holding his power within himself. Steps forward, and steps around the corner onto the side street.
Beldane casts a fear spell on the mounts and their riders coming along the side street.
They're a large squad in the regent's army who were about to go out on patrol, who heard the nearby explosion, and instead turned and made their way towards the palace.
The horses rear and buck, throwing riders out of the saddle. While other soldiers just jump from their mounts as they're effected by the mass fear spell cast by the powerful cleric.
Soldiers bucked from their horses hit the ground hard. While others, who have jumped out of the saddle.
Turn and run back the way they've come from, screaming in fear as they do so.
Some are run down by horses that are just as fearful as they are.
While others who lie injured on the street, are trampled by fearful horses that are fleeing.
Grimacing as he sees one of the regent's soldiers crawling away on the street, get his head smashed in by a fleeing horse. Beldane the cleric says "They won't be coming back this way".
Dalinvardél Tanith nods his hooded head in agreement, then the spy who hails from the elven principality of Alínlae says "Next place".
And he sets off with the fighting cleric beside him, with Shur Kee the monk and Tovis the war engineer following behind them.
Walking along the long street here in the middle of the city of Oaklynn on this exceptionally cold winter's morning.
Mira Reinholt the mage can't help but slightly grin as he looks back, and across the street at his recent handiwork in the grounds of the palace of the king of Girdane.
The once powerful mage who is from the city-state of Vexil, is walking south down the long street in the middle of the city.
Occasionally glancing at those who are up early, looking and wondering what's just happened in the palace grounds.
The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, nods his hooded head, as next to him, sir Percavelle Lé Dic says "I do believe that's it down there, wot".
The heavily armoured knight from the kingdom of Druvic has indicated the city council building near this end of the long street.
Where they see people who have just arrived for the day, are coming out to see what's going on at the other end of the long street, where the palace of the king is located.
The former paladin in the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che, trying to be discreet, and speaking in a quiet voice, asks "That large building beside it too?".
"The regent's mansion" quietly says Mira Reinholt the mage, who can't be sensed by other spellcasters due to the amulet he wears "Hardly anyone is in there" adds the Vexilian mage in exile.
The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands. Until he went offworld through a rift/void he accidentally cast.
Quietly tells the nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic "We might check it out later".
The former earl of Lé Dic grunts, and just hopes they get to see some action soon. As he knows his bitter rival, Dorc da Orc is already fighting the enemy in the grounds of the king of Girdane.
Riding through the streets in the southern quarter of the city of Oaklynn on this clear and sunny, though exceptionally cold winter's morning.
Arvelle Ganard the plainsman signals for some of his following company to turn right onto the street that's just up ahead.
While the tall plainsman with the shaved head, who in actual fact, is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to find himself inhabiting the body of Arvelle Ganard.
Along with the rest of his mounted company, continue riding along the street they're on. As they head north through the city of Oaklynn, making their way towards the center of the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane.
A little while later, and the tall plainsman with the shaved head, who happens to be a former illegal wrecker, who plied his trade up on the Kaldel Plains.
Signals for more of his company, along with some in the following mounted company in the Farqian mercenary army. To turn left into another street.
Arvelle aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman has sent them, and the previous lot. To where the regent's army have some of their small barracks in this part of the city.
Essentially what would be guard houses for a city guard in any other large city throughout the Southlands.
Looking to his left, Arvelle Ganard the plainsman says "We should be in the city center pretty soon".
The subaltern, who is his acting second in command nods his head in agreement.
Then the two of them see up ahead a person suddenly appear. It's one of their scouts, a water elemental courser. Who nods to the right, then disappears in a fine spray of mist.
And when Arvelle Ganard gets to where the scout was just standing. He leads his company around the corner to the street on the right. As they, and the following mounted companies in the mercenary army from the lands Farque, continue on their way to the middle of the city of Oaklynn, on this bitterly cold winter's morning.
Helbe the elven thief looks back and watches the army marching towards the city of Oaklynn.
The Farqian mercenary army is leading the way along the road. With the lead mounted companies already in the city, where they're spreading out.
The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, sees that field commander Drubine who is on foot. Is over the bridge that crosses the Tambir river. And is approaching the city that's the capital of the kingdom of Girdane.
The talented elven magic user, sees that the three dukes who have rebelled against the crown. The dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar. Are further back, still on the otherside of the river.
The elven master assassin who is blurred and shielded as he floats about a hundred feet above the ground.
Shifts towards the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane, ending up on a rooftop of one of the taller buildings in the southern quarter of the city.
The elven masterthief who happens to be the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel, glances at his right shoulder, and nods his hooded head.
Narladene the ground pixie nods in return. Then the naturally magical creature takes off, winging her way across the southern quarter of the city.
"And here we are" Helbe the elven thief murmurs to himself.
Then the elven princeling, who is a member of the personal council of lord Farque senses all around, particularly towards the center of Oaklynn.
Then as the highly talented elven magic user wonders how the dukes Lombasil, Korros and Hilloc are coping with being so close to their goals.
Shifts away, hoping to achieve those goals for the rebellious dukes from the very west of the kingdom of Girdane.
Duke Hilloc of Dalmar can't help but stare again as he looks at the city of Oaklynn which the rising sun, on this exceptionally cold morning is hitting at the moment.
The duke of the largest duchy in the kingdom, still can't believe they're here, almost in the city of Oaklynn.
As they're on the road that approaches it from the southeast.
And as they near the bridge that crosses the Tambir river less than a mile from the capital city.
The duke of Dalmar looks to his left, to where his cousin sir Passic is riding beside him.
On the face of the best swordsman is also a look of disbelief that they're here. As early this morning, well before dawn, they were still in the border region between the duchies of Wostin and Fandell, in the central region of the kingdom, just over a hundred miles away.
Duke Hilloc looks further away to the south, where a fair bit of the Farqian mercenary army. Along with contingents from the armies of the duchies of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen, are riding away to the south, away from the city of Oaklynn.
As the regent's army have their main barracks over a dozen miles south of the capital city.
And though, apparently most of them are in the city itself. It's never too careful to take care of what's essentially their base.
While more of the mercenary army, along with others in the armies of the dukes Lombasil, Korros and Hilloc.
Are going up along the open ground to the east of the city. Heading north, then around the city, to where the main airdocks of Oaklynn stand, about a mile and half north of the city proper.
But for now, the duke of Dalmar's eyes are drawn back to the city as they cross the bridge that goes over the Tambir river.
And though duke Hilloc wants to see the crown defeated, especially the regent of Oaklynn, lord Sammis.
What he wants most is his sister back, and he'll do anything to get her back.
I'm almost here Mera, duke Hilloc of Dalmar thinks to himself, who as they cross the bridge, and get to the otherside, and continue towards the city of Oaklynn, quietly murmurs to himself "I'm coming to get you little sister" . . . . . .

A Grand Design 45.

Winter. Oaklynn. Girdane.

"I expect you to be ready for me if i return for the midday meal" says lord Sammis the regent of Oaklynn as he looks at his wife the lady Mera, who is lying on their bed.
He waits to see if she bursts into tears. But as she lies there quivering after what he's just done to her first thing this morning. She just slowly nods her head in response to what he just said.
The regent of the city of Oaklynn grunts in satisfaction, then after donning his cloak he heads to the bedroom door without looking back.
Not seeing his wife, the young noblewoman from the duchy of Dalmar, glaring at him as he departs.
The nobleman who is the only living member of the royal family left alive. Makes his way through his suite here in the mansion he's lived in since becoming the regent of the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane.
He opens the suite door, and almost walks into one of the maids hovering outside the door.
"Out of the way" says lord Sammis as he looks at the maid, who is always hanging around his wife, as she hastily backs away from him.
"Sorry my lord regent" says Lissa the house maid by way of apology, hoping not to rile up the temper of the regent of Oaklynn.
Who looks at her in a dismissive manner, before he heads right, and makes his way down the hallway.
The house maid sourly smiles as she watches lord Sammis walking away. Lissa silently curses him, and wishes him ill fortune for the day. Before she hurries into the suite to check on her lady. Who in the recent days has suffered dearly under the hands of her abusive husband.
Out in the rear courtyard of the mansion, the regent of Oaklynn hurries into his covered carriage. As the morning here in the capital city has dawned exceptionally cold.
"Bloody cold this morning" says lord Sammis to captain Kilmane who is waiting in the covered carriage.
"That it is my lord" says captain Kilmane as the driver gets the horse drawn carriage underway, and it goes around the mansion.
After the regent of Oaklynn quickly looks to the east before the carriage heads around to the front of the mansion, and he sees the sun rising in the early morning sky.
He asks his most trusted officer "Any messages come in from the west overnight?".
"Just the one" replies the captain in the regent's army, who then adds "Commander Kaim reports that our defeated army has made it to Summerton" captain Kilmane continues on with "And that the enemy are no longer in pursuit of them".
As the covered carriage goes across the front courtyard, and out through the open gates, and turns right onto the long street that runs through the middle of the city of Oaklynn.
The nobleman who is acting as the defacto king at the moment, asks the captain in his army "Thoughts?".
"I'd say they've finally outstretched themselves, and their supply lines are too long and disjointed back to the very west of the kingdom" says captain Kilmane, who follows on with "And i wouldn't be surprised they've learnt how many soldiers and troopers from here in the east of the kingdom are pouring into Fandell and the town of Summerton" he then adds "They're right to be cautious in any advance from now on".
As the carriage heads along the long street towards the palace of the king at the other end, lord Sammis nods his head in agreement with the captain, as he thought something similar.
The regent of Oaklynn who adjusts his gloves, looks across to the captain after glancing out the door window, and says "Counterattack?".
"Counterattack" says captain Kilmane with a nod of his head, he follows that with "They won't expect it, and they won't be able to stand against an army now nearly twice the size of the crown's army they defeated previously".
"Send word to Jaqor to go ahead" says regent Sammis "I'm guessing the commander is already doing that as we speak" says the captain in the regent of Oaklynn's army "But I'll send word to him anyway" adds captain Kilmane.
As the horse drawn carriage trundles down the long street, heading towards the palace in the early morning sunshine just after dawn on this bitterly cold day here in the east of the kingdom of Girdane.
The nobleman who is the regent of Oaklynn then asks "Anything else?".
"Pretty much everyone from here in the east who have joined us, have left to go to the duchy of Fandell" says the officer in the regent's army, who continues with "The latest mercenary sign ups over the last couple of days left before dawn" he then adds "That's about it really".
Lord Sammis nods his head, then after a few moments of silence, his most trusted officer asks him "Plans for today my lord?".
As the carriage approaches the gates of the palace, the regent of Oaklynn quietly says "Since there's very few at court at the moment, someone i trust will put forth the motion that i take the throne".
"So today then?" quietly asks captain Kilmane, who has helped the regent over the last few years, to bring about his plans to be the king of Girdane.
"Today" says lord Sammis the regent of Oaklynn with a nod of his head, and a satisfied smile upon his face as the horse drawn carriage turns, and heads in through the gates of the palace of the king of Girdane.
"That's the regent" says Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy as they watch the covered carriage go in through the gates to the palace.
The elven spy looks at lord Farque, who along with Dorc da Orc, Mira Reinholt the mage, and Shur Kee the monk have just made their way to the long street in the middle of the city. After they left Oaklynn well before dawn.
Lord Farque slightly nods his full helmed head, then he senses away to the east of the city, and across the Tambir river.
"The first of them are on the road heading towards the city" quietly says lord Farque who continues with "Horse companies led Arvelle"  the undead warlord then adds "They'll be at the outskirts of the city soon enough".
The heavily armoured deathlord gestures across the long street to the palace, and as they see the horse drawn carriage of the regent of Oaklynn go across the marshalling yard infront of the main building of the king's palace, which it stops infront of.
"The palace first" quietly says the lord of the death realm, who then adds "Then the council building".
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque looks at the group who are here in the city of Oaklynn, and quietly tells them "You know what to do" as they've spent the last few days planning what they'll do at this moment.
Now they wait for the command from the undead warlord, who is sensing away to the southeast of the city.
And when Des'tier as the deathlord of Farque is known in the elven language, senses that Helbe the elven thief has come through the portal in the gnome hole less than two miles away from the city of Oaklynn.
He looks at Mira Reinholt the mage then says "Time to get things started".
The mage Reinholt nods his hooded head in understanding, then lord Farque says something in the ork language.
The next moment, he and Dorc da Orc are crossing the street, heading to the open gates of the palace, that's guarded by soldiers in the regent's army.
The others with the exception of Mira Reinholt glance at one another, while the spellcaster, who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands.
Holds out his right gloved hand as he prepares to create something.
While next to him, his fellow spellcaster, Beldane the cleric gets ready to cast.
It doesn't look like the undead warlord and the ork warleader are going to stop once they're at the gates.
And that's exactly what they do, they don't stop. Unfortunately for the regent's men who try to stop them entering the palace.
As the first of the regent's soldiers goes flying through the air when lord Farque grabs him, and flings him away.
Mira Reinholt the mage quietly says to Beldane the cleric "Get ready".
The fighting cleric who is a member of the church of Glaine nods to signify he's ready.
While behind them, a fidgeting sir Percavelle Lé Dic sourly smiles as he watches the large ork enter the king's palace alongside the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
Lord Sammis the regent of Oaklynn, has just got into the antechamber next to the larger chamber where court is convened.
When a page runs in, out of breath, and after quickly looking at captain Kilmane, he says to the regent of Oaklynn "Disturbance at the palace gates my lord".
"The guards are seeing to it?" asks lord Sammis after he quickly shoots a look at captain Kilmane.
"They are my lord regent" replies the young page, who after the briefest of pauses, adds "But they are having trouble".
The regent of Oaklynn, who is just wondering if there might be rebel sympathisers in the city, and is about to tell captain Kilmane to deal with the disturbance at the city gates.
Looks to a side door of the antechamber, that bangs open, and one of his soldiers runs in, nearly breathless.
"Sir" says the soldier, who takes a couple of deep breaths, before he continues with "An army approaching the city from the east".
Both captain Kilmane and the regent of Oaklynn frown, as basically every army they've expected, has already arrived and left to go out to the duchy of Fandell, to rendezvous at Summerton.
"A foreign mercenary army perhaps" muses a thoughtful captain Kilmane.
The soldier who has just entered the antechamber says "Perhaps captain" before he continues on with "But the lookouts up on the roof say they're pouring out of those woods just a couple miles to the southeast of the city" followed by "And their horse soldiers are almost in the city".
The regent of Oaklynn, along with his most trusted officer share a look, then the two of them rush from the antechamber. Heading for the nearest set of stairs that take them up higher in the palace, with captain Kilmane calling out for the wizard Haric.
It's not long before they're on the roof of the three storey main building of the palace of the king of Girdane, and they're looking to the south and east of the city.
And they along with the lookouts who are stationed here on this exceptionally cold winter's morning as the sun continues to rise in the east.
See a ribbon of moving figures upon the road to the southeast of Oaklynn.
The road that goes over a bridge on the Tambir river, and heads into the city that's the capital of the kingdom of Girdane.
A breathless Haric the wizard, along with Sarmac the keeper make their way up one of the trapdoors, and hurry over to where lord Sammis and captain Kilmane are standing on the roof.
"Horse soldiers in the city" says Sarmac the keeper who points to the southern quarter of the city, where they're just able to see cavalry entering the city of Oaklynn.
"Didn't that mercenary army they hired, were all in black?" asks the former gamekeeper, who then gestures towards the road from the southeast, and he adds "Pretty sure they're all in black".
"They are" says Haric the wizard, who is still breathing heavily.
The portly spellcaster in the rumpled, ruby coloured robes, who has cast a farsight spell upon himself, quietly says "I'm pretty sure that's them".
"That's impossible" says captain Kilmane, who continues on with "They're in Wostin, or Fandell at the most" he then adds "No way they could be here".
"Well they are" says the wizard in the regent of Oaklynn's army, who follows that with "Because that's them there".
Then just as captain Kilmane is going to argue again, as he knows. And even Haric has told himself. That it's impossible to have a rift or gateway open long enough. For an army the size of the one approaching the city to go through.
The wizard Haric who is looking closer to towards the woods, across the Tambir river. Grimaces, then looks sharply at the regent of Oaklynn.
"My lord regent" quietly says the overweight spellcaster "What is it wizard?" asks lord Sammis, the regent of the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane.
"It's them" says Haric, who doesn't want to say it, but he does, as he adds "The rebel dukes".
There's absolutely silence upon the roof of the palace after the wizard says that.
Captain Kilmane is about to argue again, but a runner has come up through one of the trapdoors, and handed him a cylindrical eyepiece.
And when he looks through it, to look at those on the road, on the otherside of the river. He sees that Haric the wizard is indeed correct. They are the rebel dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar.
"Fuck me" mutters the captain in the regent's army, who like the spellcaster, grimaces.
Then he looks at lord Sammis, and quietly says "Haric's right" followed by "It is them, i can see them flying their pennants".
The captain puts the eyepiece up to his face again. So that he doesn't have to look at the regent of Oaklynn.
Who has a look of incredulity upon his face, that's turning to anger. As he and the rest of them watch the enemy army approach the city from the southeast.
When they should be over a hundred miles away to the west, in the duchies of Wostin and Fandell in the central region of the kingdom of Girdane.
"How the hell did they get here?" demands regent Sammis, who then mutters "Suppose it doesn't matter how, really".
Then the nobleman looks at his most trusted officer, and says "Our army must repel them" followed by "You have command of them Kilmane".
"Yes my lord, regent" says captain Kilmane, who has about six to six and half thousand of the regent's army here in the city at the moment.
No where near enough to defend such a large city, like the capital.
And no where near enough to be effective against the size of the army approaching the city from the southeast.
"I think i can hit that bridge they're crossing" says Haric the wizard "That's something i guess" says captain Kilmane, who then adds "Go for it".
Then just as the rotund spellcaster is about to cast a spell that he hopes can destroy the bridge the enemy are crossing, he senses something.
"Mageglobe!" shouts Haric the wizard in warning, who slams up a barrier and a protection spell.
Just as an explosion rocks the main building of the palace of the king of Girdane . . . . . .

A Grand Design 44.

Winter. The City Of Oaklynn. The Capital Of The Kingdom Of Girdane.

Mira Reinholt the mage yawns as he walks through the darkness of the morning before dawn.
Next to him, Shur Kee the monk yawns too.
A sure sign to the once powerful mage that they're up far too early. As the short, statured monk is usually bright eyed and alert first thing in the morning.
The two of them are following lord Farque and Dorc da Orc. With the undead warlord leading them out of the city of Oaklynn, the capital of the kingdom of Girdane.
They head east out of the southern quarter of the city. Walking along a road, on what's a bitterly cold morning before the dawn.
Well it's bitterly cold for the mage who is from the city-state of Vexil, and the physical adept from beyond the Southlands.
Not exactly cold for the two infront. As lord Farque doesn't feel the cold. Since he's dead, or to be exact, undead.
While for Dorc da Orc, he wishes it was even colder. As the large ork from the southern polar region of the world, was born and raised in much colder climes than here in the central region of the Southlands.
No one is on the road for quite some time, until they get to a bridge that crosses the Tambir river.
Where they see a horse and cart heading towards the city. The driver on the cart, a local farmer by the looks of it, who is half asleep as he heads to one of the markets in the city.
Jerks awake, when his horse steps to one side, when it sees, and gets a whiff of Dorc da Orc.
Who eyes the cart horse with nefarious intent. Until the ork warleader grunts when lord Farque nudges him with an armoured elbow. Prodding him to keep moving, as the big, burly ork was about to stop.
They cross the Tambir river, and on the otherside of it from the city. Lord Farque quietly says "That way" as he points to the southeast, then looks at the mage Reinholt who yawns.
"Where?" asks Mira Reinholt the mage as he peers in the direction the undead warlord has pointed to.
"And how far?" adds the spellcaster who is in exile from his homeland, the city-state of Vexil.
"Another mile and a half" says the heavily armoured deathlord in response to the question from the mage who is a member of his personal council.
"I can't see shit" mutters the Vexilian mage in exile, who ignores the "Blind fuck" muttered by Dorc da Orc. And casts a spell to see in the dark, here early in the morning before the dawn on this bitterly cold winter's day.
The spellcaster, who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands. Until he went offworld through a rift/void he miscast, and he lost the vast majority of his powers.
Grunts when he's able to see where the lord and ruler of the lands Farque wants them to go.
The spellcaster who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster, drains some of the power from one of his spell gems he's pocketed about himself.
Then he teleports himself, along the lord of the death realm, the ork weaponsmith and the physical adept.
He does that two more times, as the council member is unable to teleport too far due to his lack of power.
After they reappear, lord Farque, who is also called Draugadrottin by people of his lands.
Leads them off the road, and heads due east. Beside the large, heavily armoured deathlord. The warleader of the ork race grunts as he catches wind of who isn't all that faraway.
The son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks, then sourly smiles as he catches the scent of the person who is with the other. Well, creature, would be a more apt description.
They head towards a thicket of trees off the road, about forty yards away as the first sign of dawn in the east starts to appear on the horizon in that direction, as the sun is about to come up on another winter's day, here in the east of the kingdom of Girdane.
As they approach the thicket of trees, a cloaked figure suddenly appears. And as they get closer, both Mira Reinholt the mage and Shur Kee the monk eventually recognise who it is.
"Morning" says Helbe the elven thief when the others, who left the city of Oaklynn early this morning to meet him, come to a stop infront of him.
A yawning "Morning" comes from the mage Reinholt, and a similar sounding greeting comes from the short, statured monk wearing an odd, conical shaped hat.
While Dorc da Orc just grunts, then he scowls as he smells an unseen Narladene the ground pixie on the right shoulder of the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel.
While lord Farque, one to never bother with unnecessary greetings, just nods his full, helmed head, then he asks "Where are they?" followed by "Still on the otherside?" as he can't sense that many people in the vicinity.
"They are" says the elven masterthief who is the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel, an island principality off the coast of the Southlands.
"Thought it would be best to come through all at once" continues the highly talented elven magic user, who like his fellow spellcaster, the mage Reinholt, is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
"Makes sense" says the undead warlord, who then nods his full helmed head when the elven master assassin tells him "We haven't told them where we're going, just eastwards".
"East alright" dryly murmurs Mira Reinholt the mage.
"Our army will come through first, followed by theirs" continues the nobleborn elf.
Nodding once more, the heavily armoured deathlord holds out a gauntleted hand, which the mage Reinholt places a rolled up map in.
The lord of the death realm hands it to elven master archer, and tells them "That's the best way" followed by "And there's no other lords or dukes armies in and around the city at the moment, the only ones heading out west today will be the latest intake of mercenaries the crown have hired".
"Just the regent's forces to worry about then?" asks the elven princeling.
Draugadrottin nods his full helmed head, then says "Pretty much" he continues with "Not that they can defend a city the size of Oaklynn".
Mira Reinholt nods his hooded head in agreement, Shur Kee nods in agreement too. While Dorc da Orc grunts with that assessment from the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
As false dawn approaches, the undead warlord, who is also known by the elven name of Des'tier, asks the grandson of Prince Raendril of Laerel "Have you spoken to the duke of Dalmar lately about what he wants to do?".
The heavily armoured deathlord continues with "Well apart from the obvious of getting his sister back, and taking out the regent".
"Not lately" says Helbe the elven thief, who after a moments pause continues with "You think he might want to take the throne?".
"Maybe" says the undead being "I get the feeling he doesn't want it" says prince Helbenthril Raendril, who switches from the common language, to the royal elven language and adds "I know for fact he's not interested in it, I've read his mind".
Continuing in the same language, the elven spellcaster says "He wanted the king disposed, and that's happened, all he wants to do now, is to kill the regent, get his sister back, and form a new court, so that those in the far western duchies aren't put upon anymore".
"Fair enough" says the lord of the death realm in the same language, who switches back to common, and continues with "We'll see to it that the palace, and the city council building is open for their arrival".
The young elven noble nods his hooded head, then says "They'll appreciate that i bet".
The undead warlord gestures to the nearby woods, where amongst some rocks, soldiers in his army, have been widening a hole in the ground, underneath which is a tunnel that has a gnome hole in it.
"You might as well go back through, and start sending the army through" says Des'tier, who then adds "You'll be in the city early in the morning, before they know what the fuck is going on".
The elven princeling nods his hooded head, then says "I'll just get going then".
The highly talented elven magic user disappears as he shifts away into the nearby woods.
While the lord and ruler of the lands Farque gestures back towards the Tambir river and says to the mage Reinholt "Let's head back".
After the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster teleports the four of them a few times back to the road, which they walk along, and are soon crossing back over the bridge.
As the first rays of light of the dawn start to appear in the sky to the east on this bitterly cold winter's morning, here in eastern Girdane.
Dorc da Orc asks lord Farque "So what the fuck we gonna do this morning?".
"Open the palace and the council building up" replies Draugadrottin "Open?" mutters the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world.
"Yes, open" says the heavily armoured deathlord, who then adds something in the elven language. Which obviously Mira Reinholt the mage and Shur Kee the monk, have no idea what he's saying.
But which causes the ork warleader, to chuckle, then say in the common language "Fucken get some".
Helbe the elven thief goes back through the portal in the gnome hole, and he's soon going through the tunnel below ground, that's lined with Farqian soldiers on either side, who make way for the councillor.
The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, goes up the dirt packed ramp. And once he's in the clearing in the woods, where it's still relatively dark here in the central region of the kingdom of Girdane. He looks around, and spots Tamric Drubine the field commander, Arvelle Ganard the plainsman, Larris the sorcerer, sir Kamson the avenger, and a number of others in the senior staff of the young field commander. As well as a few others, like Lisell Maera the messenger. And he makes his way over to them.
The elven princeling hands the rolled up map lord Farque gave him, to the nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin.
Who as he unrolls it, Helbe the elven thief tells him "You can get underway". The elven magic user creates a lightball so that Tamric Drubine can study the map, and the brief instructions lord Farque has written on it.
After Arvelle Ganard the plainsman looks over the young field commander's shoulder, and quickly looks at the map and instructions, he says to the nobleborn teenager "I'll go through with the first lot as planned".
Nodding to that, Tamric Drubine the field commander says "Do that" followed by "You might as well get going".
The tall plainsman with the shaved head, who is a member of the personal council to the deathlord of Farque, nods then hurries off, heading down the dirt packed ramp in the ground after he calls out some orders.
Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, turns to his second in command, sir Kamson and tells him "You know the order they're to go in Kamson, make sure it's done".
"Yes field commander" says sir Kamson the avenger, and as the former member of the order of the Knights of the Dark starts calling out orders.
Field commander Drubine looks at Helbe the elven thief and says to him "We might as well go and tell them what's going on" Tam briefly pauses before continuing on with "And where they're going".
The two of them, followed by a pair of Farqian soldiers, who have been trained by prince Helbenthril Raendril. Along with Lisell Maera the messenger, make their way through the woods. Heading out to the edge of it.
Once they're by their own army, who are starting to depart. And they go through the camp of the dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar armies, which is coming down at the moment.
They make their way to where the three dukes and a number of others are standing by the edge of the woods. As the first signs of dawn start to show here in central Girdane, on this bitterly cold winter's day.
After greeting the dukes Hilloc, Korros, Lombasil and the others, Tamric Drubine the field commander says "As you can hear, and see, our army are moving out" referring to the mercenary army from the lands Farque.
"Your armies will immediately follow, starting with those further in, closer to the clearing in the middle of the woods" adds the nobleborn teenager who is originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin.
Slightly frowning like his fellow dukes, and their officers are doing, duke Hilloc of Dalmar says "Why those in their first?" he follows that with "And where exactly are we going?".
Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, glances at Helbe the elven thief who is standing beside him.
"Those of your armies further in, go first for the simple fact they're closer to the point of departure" says the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, who continues on with "And as we've mentioned before, we're going east".
The elven masterthief who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, briefly pauses before he adds "To be exact, the city of Oaklynn, or close enough to it".
"Er?" says the duke of Dalmar after a moment of confusion, then after looking at his fellow dukes, then back at Helbe the elven thief and Tamric Drubine the field commander, he says "What, you mean this morning?".
"Yes exactly" says the highly talented elven magic user, who continues with "We'll be in the city of Oaklynn later this morning" the elven princeling looks at each of the rebel dukes, then he adds "Where you'll take the city council building, and the palace, and take over the court".
Just as the dukes of the three most western duchies in the kingdom of Girdane think the mercenaries have gone mad.
Tamric Drubine tells them "If you'll follow us, we'll explain" the young field commander of the mercenary army from the lands Farque adds "And have your officers get your companies to depart once your camp has come down".
And as the first rays of light start to appear on the horizon to the east on this bitterly cold winter's day here on the border of the duchies of Wostin and Fandell in central Girdane.
The dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar walk alongside field commander Drubine and councillor Raendril who explain to them how they'll be in the city of Oaklynn fairly shortly.
As below ground, beneath the woods they're walking through, Arvelle Ganard the plainsman leads the first of the companies in the mercenary army from the lands Farque through the gnome hole, that has a portal in it . . . . . .

A Grand Design 43.

Winter. The Duchies Of Wostin & Fandell. Central Girdane.

The white worm has been dragged out of the clearing. And the hole in the middle of the clearing has been dug out, so that there's a sloping ramp that goes down into the liar of the white worm.
Tamric Drubine the field commander watches as dozens of soldiers and auxiliaries in the Farqian mercenary army flatten out the dirt ramp that goes down into the ground.
So that the horses, wagons and carts of the army can go down it, into the liar of the white worm. Where below ground is an old gnome hole, that has a portal.
The otherside of which ends up in eastern Girdane, not that far from the capital city Oaklynn.
Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well. Turns and makes his way from the clearing. And heads through the woods.
The young field commander in the armies of Farque, has sent some of the scouts through the portal below ground. And Helbe the elven thief has gone through, and come back too.
But he doesn't want anyone else going down below ground, and through the portal in the gnome hole yet.
As he wants all of their army, their own, plus the armies of the dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar. All going through at the same time.
He doesn't want them turning up in the east of the kingdom in a piecemeal fashion.
Followed by a pair of Farqian soldiers trained by prince Helbenthril Raendril. Field commander Drubine makes his way through the trees.
The army from western Girdane have made camp amongst the woods, here in the countryside between some farms in the border region between the duchies of Wostin and Fandell in central part of the kingdom.
They're waiting for the rest of the Farqian army to turn up. Those who went east with lord Farque himself. And the companies, including the mounted one led by councillor Arvelle Ganard, who have gone searching for them.
The nobleborn teenager originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, looks between the trees, and spots the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen. And a number of their officers, chatting away to one another near the edge of the woods.
The young field commander who doesn't particularly want to talk to them at the moment, heads around the edge of the woods, away from them.
As he does so, Tam is met by a messenger in the armies of Farque, who tells him "Councillor Reinholt says they're coming in field commander" the Farqian soldier who is speaking in elven continues with "They should be in sometime tonight".
About time, Tamric Drubine the field commander thinks to himself, who then tells the messenger in the language of the elves "Inform his highness i will speak with him shortly".
"Yes sir" says the messenger who then hurries off, while the nobleborn teenager who is a field commander in the armies of Farque, continues around the edge of the woods, checking on their forces who are camped here.
Preparing to go through the portal in the gnome hole beneath the woods, which will take them to eastern Girdane.
Lisell Maera the messenger reins up, then looks around. The attractive young woman originally from the city-state of Brattonbury. Then urges her mount forward along the road, here in the duchy of Fandell.
And it's not long before she encounters more riders in the army of Farque, who are heading the other way, back towards the duchy of Wostin.
"Councillor Reinholt's company?" asks Lisell Maera the messenger in the elven language.
"North of us messenger" replies the Farqian sergeant at arms in the same language, who the lean, athletic looking young woman has spoken to.
Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well.
Nods, then continues on her way, riding along the road that goes through this part of the duchy of Fandell.
She then turns off the road, and cuts across some farmland, heading northwards.
And it's not long before she starts encountering Farqian soldiers on foot. Columns of them, as they head southwest. Back to the border with the duchy of Wostin.
They're those soldiers with the force that left at the end of last week with lord Farque. Who went up into the Kaldel Plains, then eastwards before coming back down into the kingdom of Girdane to attack the enemy from behind.
As Lis rides by them, she asks again about the whereabouts of Councillor Ganard's company.
Then continues on her way northwards, when she's told they're in that direction.
It's late in the afternoon, when the attractive young woman who is a messenger, or runner in the scouts division of the armies of Farque.
Starts to encounter riders in the company led by Arvelle Ganard, who is a member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
And as she rides along a country lane here in the west of the duchy of Fandell. Lis sees that they've been in combat recently. As some of them are sporting some freshly bandaged wounds. Who haven't had time to be seen by a healer or spellcaster yet.
The messenger rides off the road, going behind a row of trees on the edge of a field. She heads towards a clump of trees, where she sees some of her fellow Farqian soldiers, dismounted, or sitting upon their horses.
As she gets closer, Lisell Maera sees that some of them have cloaked wrapped bodies on the backs of other mounts.
The messenger faintly grimaces as she knows what that means. As some of the Farqian soldiers have been killed during combat they've had recently.
"Councillor Ganard?" asks Lis in elven when she rides up "In there" replies a Farqian soldier in the same language, who nods into the clump of trees they're beside.
The messenger dismounts, and makes her way forward. She passes a large soldier in her army, carrying a cloak wrapped body, who informs her that Arvelle Ganard the plainsman is further back amongst the trees.
The attractive young woman who is from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury. Whose mother was a street prostitute, and whose father, who she never met, was a sailor.
Spots councillor Ganard off to one side, speaking with a scout, who Lis recognises as one of the water elementals.
While behind them, on the ground behind the clump of trees, she sees dozens, if not scores of bodies, men and mounts, scattered across the field. They're the enemy, in the crown's army by the looks of it.
As they're a mix of soldiers in the army of Girdane, along with hired mercenaries.
The messenger looks to the left, where soldiers in the armies of Farque, are wrapping up bodies in cloaks.
She walks over to them, and looks down at the dead, and as another Farqian soldier, picks up one of the cloak wrapped bodies and walks away.
Lis spots at the end of the row of dead bodies, someone she recognises.
The messenger looks down at the dead body of subaltern Almic.
Who she spent most of yesterday morning in the company of, talking with him, as they chatted about all sorts of things, never mentioning the campaign they're in at the moment.
Lisell Maera kneels down, and puts her right hand alongside the face of the dead subaltern. A young man she knew was attracted to her. But he never did anything in regards to that.
As she looks at his face, Lis wonders what could of been. Then she closes his eyelids. And with the help of another Farqian soldier. She wrap Almic up in a couple of cloaks.
The attractive young woman originally from the coast of the Southlands watches as the other soldier picks up the cloaked wrapped body of the young subaltern Almic, and carries him away.
It's a few moments before Lisell remembers why she's here, then she turns to where councillor Ganard and the scout are standing, and she finds the two of them watching her.
The messenger makes her way over to them, and when she stands before the tall plainsman with the shaved head, Arvelle Ganard the plainsman says "I didn't know you knew Almic".
"Not well" says Lis who like the council member is speaking the elven language "But i knew him" adds the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury.
The tall plainsman who previously was an illegal wrecker who plied his trade up on the Kaldel Plains, looks at the messenger for a moment. Who he knows never really gets close, or makes friends with anyone.
Those she's closest to, are still the members of the group she's traveled with since she left Brattonbury at the age of eleven. The group who have essentially raised her.
The tall plainsman who in actual fact is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson. Who just happens to find himself inhabiting the body of Arvelle Ganard.
Thinks he and the others might of failed Lis, and to a lesser degree Tamric Drubine.
As not giving them a relatively normal childhood and adolescence. Has had an adverse effect on who they've become.
Then the former illegal wrecker remembers what the circumstances that both Lis and Tam were in previously in their respective homes homelands.
And if they weren't taken away from that. The two of them would definitely be dead by now.
They were taken for a reason, and they're alive and fulfilling that, Arvelle Ganard thinks to himself, who then silently adds, that's something i guess.
The member of the personal council to the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, then asks the messenger "So, what brings you here?".
"The field commander wanted to know if you had found the others yet" is the reply of the tall, lean, athletic young woman is a member of the scouts division in the armies of Farque.
Arvelle aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman nods his shaved head, then says "As you can see we did".
He gestures behind them to the field where the dead enemy lie and adds "And we ran into some of the enemy who have been sent out from the town of Summerton, to ride on the flanks of those who were retreating".
Lisell Maera nods in understanding, then the former illegal wrecker says "We're guessing more and more of them will come out from Summerton to try and locate us" he briefly pauses before continuing with "Good thing we're going".
As it looks like they'll be badly outnumbered by the enemy in no time at all, as more and more of them turn up from the east of the kingdom. Where the dukes and other lords, have joined with the crown to fight against the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen who have rebelled against the crown.
"We might as well head back" says Arvelle aka Zubutai Timaginson, who nods between the trees, to where the last of the cloak wrapped dead have been carried away.
The council member glances at the silent water elemental and slightly nods. The scout disappears in a fine mist.
Then the tall plainsman, and the attractive young woman make their way through the clump of trees to where their horses are.
They're soon riding back to the border area between the duchies of Wostin and Fandell where the rest of their army is located.
It's just after dusk, and in the early evening light, on what's a cold start to the night.
Helbe the elven thief stands at the edge of the woods, watching the columns of Farqian soldiers on foot approaching the woods and entering it.
The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel watches them for a little while, as they walk into camp here in the woods between farms on the border of the duchies of Wostin and Fandell.
Then he turns and makes his way through the trees, heading to the command tent of field commander Drubine.
Who he finds standing outside his tent, in conversation with the dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar. The three most western duchies in the kingdom of Girdane, who have rebelled against the crown.
The elven magic user who is just glad there's been no hassle with the trio of dukes keeping up with their weekly payments in their contract of hire.
Join those infront of the command tent, where he's not surprised about the topic of conversation.
As the three dukes, along with their senior officers, are asking why they've stopped here, and not continued their pursuit of the enemy they defeated in battle.
For the elven masterthief, along with his fellow member of lord Farque's personal council, Arvelle Ganard. Along with field commander Drubine, decided to not tell them about the portal in the gnome hole that's under the woods they're in.
It's why Farqian soldiers are the only ones who have been allowed into the clearing, and just around it. While the armies of the three dukes have been closer to the edge of the woods.
Interrupting the conversation as he stands beside Tamric Drubine the field commander, Helbe the elven thief says "All will be explained shortly".
The young elven noble who is the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel, continues with "The rest of our forces are coming in, once they're all in camp, we will explain what's happening".
The elven master assassin, along with his fellow councillor Arvelle Ganard, along with Tamric Drubine.
Thought it would be best the trio of dukes from the very west of the kingdom didn't know where they're going sooner, as it might cause complications.
As in all likelihood, their rebellion might be successful, a hell of lot quicker than they realise.
And as of yet, they've put very little thought into what they'll do once they've defeated the crown.
"What i can tell you is that we'll be leaving early in the morning" says prince Helbenthril Raendril who after a slight pause adds "Very early in the morning".
"And where will be going?" asks duke Hilloc of Dalmar, who is essentially the leader of the rebellion by the three most western duchies in Girdane against the crown.
"East" is the cryptic, though honest reply from the highly talented elven magic user.
"Now if you'll excuse me" says the elven spellcaster who has spotted away to the right, his fellow councillor, Arvelle Ganard along with others have just ridden into camp.
"I have some things to attend to" adds the nobleborn elf, who then nods his hooded head to the young field commander, then the trio of dukes, before he walks away.
The elven master archer joins Arvelle Ganard and the others who have just arrived, by a tie line, where they've put their horses.
The tall plainsman with the shaved head nods in greeting to his fellow councillor, and says to him "The last of them should be in shortly".
"Any problems?" asks the grandson of Prince Raendril of Laerel, who saw the cloak wrapped bodies of the dead being brought in a little earlier.
"A little" says Arvelle aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman in a slightly bitter tone of voice, who watches as Lisell Maera who has just tied up her mount, make her way between the trees to where some Farqian soldiers are around a cook fire.
"What is it?" quietly asks the elven princeling "Nothing" says the former illegal wrecker, who after a slight pause adds "Everything" before shaking his head, and pointing in the direction of the clearing in the middle of the woods.
As they walk between the trees to the large clearing, the tall plainsman, who is actually taller than the young elven noble, who is relatively short at six foot two inches for an elf, especially a nobleborn elf.
Quietly asks the elven masterthief "Told them yet?" referring to the dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar.
"Not yet" says prince Helbenthril Raendril who like the former illegal wrecker from the Kaldel Plains, is speaking in the elven language.
"Just that we'll be going early in the morning" continues the elven master assassin who like the tall plainsman walking beside him, is a member of the personal council to lord Farque.
They stop at the edge of the clearing, where by burning torch light, Farqian soldiers continue to work on the ramp that goes down into the ground, along with the tunnel that's below the woods.
"Think we'll get the mounts through?" quietly asks councillor Ganard "They should go through without any problems" replies councillor Raendril, who follows that with "It's just the heavy wagons and war machine pieces and equipment we've got to worry about".
Arvelle aka Zubutai Timaginson nods in understanding, then looks at his fellow councillor, who quietly says "I'll go through first" followed by "And get in contact with them, as they're expecting me" he then adds "Then the rest of you come through".
He briefly pauses before continuing with "Then onto Oaklynn". Nodding his shaved head in agreement, Arvelle Ganard the plainsman says "Onto Oaklynn" . . . . . .

A Grand Design 42.

Winter. The Central Region Of Girdane.

Arvelle Ganard the plainsman reins in, then says "Any sign of them?".
"Nothing councillor" replies the scout who stepped out from the trees when he saw the cavalry company approaching.
"Damn" mutters the former illegal wrecker who is from the Kaldel Plains.
"If we keep going north we'll definitely run into the enemy" muses the member of the personal council to lord Farque.
The scout nods in agreement, then quietly says "They're just a few miles from here" followed by "Their outer scouts as they continue eastwards".
The tall plainsman with the shaved head grunts, then mutters under his breath "Where the hell are they?".
After receiving the message from lord Farque, who is now in the capital city Oaklynn.
The army from the very west of the kingdom of Girdane, who are led by the hired mercenary army from the lands Farque.
Have turned south, then east, and are no longer actively pursuing the retreating forces of the crown of Girdane.
The bulk of the army who have rebelled against the crown are further south and east. And are heading to the border region between the duchies of Wostin and Fandell, here in central Girdane.
While a few companies in the Farqian mercenary army, including the mounted company led by councillor Ganard.
Are further north, closer to the retreating enemy. Searching for the force formerly led by lord Farque. Who have been harassing the enemy from the east.
The tall plainsman with the shaved head, who in actual fact is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to find himself inhabiting the body of Arvelle Ganard.
Asks the scout "You know where the courser is by any chance?". As two of the water elementals are with this part of the mercenary army from the lands Farque.
While the rest are with the force that was led by lord Farque, who took them up onto the Kaldel Plains, before turning east, then coming back down south into the kingdom of Girdane.
To attack the enemy from the east, and to attack anymore of them who come west from the eastern duchies. Like the duchy of Marsin, where the capital city Oaklynn is located.
"I don't councillor" says the scout who then adds "If anyone's going to find them, it'll be one of the elementals".
Arvelle aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman definitely hopes so, and after he tells the scout to continue the search. And the scout runs back amongst the trees.
Councillor Ganard turns to his second in command, and says "Move out". The cavalry company sets off, continuing eastwards, as they resume their search for the part of their army that's somewhere in this part of the kingdom, still engaged with the enemy.
The sorcerer Larris has climbed up onto the roof of a farmhouse, where he stays low, before lying down flat on his stomach at the edge of the roof, on what's a cold but clear day here in the central region of the kingdom of Girdane.
In the distance, across some fields, nearly a mile away, is a winding ribbon of road, that cuts through this part of the duchy of Fandell.
On the road is the enemy, who are retreating, presumably to the trade town of Summerton, the largest town in the duchy of Fandell. A town about ten miles further to the east.
"Good place to attack them again" quietly says the subcommander, who is lying to the right of the powerful young sorcerer.
"That it is" quietly says Larris the sorcerer in agreement with the subcommander, who leads their force since lord Farque and the others left.
On the sorcerer's otherside, lies one of the scouts. Who happens to be one of the water elementals in their force, he nods in agreement too.
The water elemental then quietly says "They don't seem to be moving as quickly as they were in days previously" he continues on with "No longer moving at a hustle, scattered across half the countryside".
The water elemental, a fairly non descript looking young man, whose only sign that he's actually in the Farqian mercenary army, is his black tabbard that you can just see beneath his leather tunic, quietly adds after a brief pause "As though they're no longer being pursued".
The sorcerer and the subcommander share a look, then the subcommander of the force that originally numbered around three thousand when they went up into the Kaldel Plains at the end of last week, quietly asks the scout "You sure?".
"Definitely" quietly says the water elemental who continues with "Those on foot are marching in a more orderly fashion, and they're not moving so quickly".
The subcommander is silent for a few moments, then he quietly says to the other two "You think the others have stopped attacking them?".
"Could be" quietly says Larris the sorcerer who is a subaltern in the armies of Farque. The scout lying beside him on the roof of the farmhouse, nods in agreement.
"Now why would they do that?" murmurs the subcommander, who has been taught to adapt to new circumstances, and to create new plans.
"Things must've changed" quietly says the subcommander, who then looks at the water elemental who is a scout, and tells him "Go west, and see what you can find out what's happened".
"Yes subcommander" quietly says the scout, who suddenly disappears in a spray of mist, which quickly floats away in the cold morning air.
"I gather we're not attacking them?" quietly asks the powerful young spellcaster.
"Not this time" replies the subcommander as they watch in the distance, the more orderly retreat of the enemy, who were defeated in battle by the rebels from the three most western duchies of Girdane, the duchies of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar.
"Maybe some other time" quietly says the subcommander, who then adds "First thing we've got to do, is to try and find out what's happening".
Larris the sorcerer nods, then says  "I can" in response to the more senior officer asking him "Think you can help out with that?".
The two of them crawl backwards across the roof they're on, then they hang over the side of the farmhouse, and drop down to the ground.
There's a small number of their force, waiting for them behind the farmhouse.
And as they all hurry across a field, keeping the farmhouse between them and the road in the distance to the north.
Larris the sorcerer who has been holding his power within himself, senses in all directions. Mainly to the west, in the direction the rest of their army are.
He doesn't locate any other spellcasters at all. Not even amongst the enemy in that direction.
So he starts sensing to the northwest, and the southwest. Alternating between the two, hoping to locate any of his fellow spellcasters in the Farqian mercenary army.
Arvelle Ganard dismounts, and looks at the ground, trying to find any recent tracks across a field beside a wagon track, which is muddy and churned up.
The tall plainsman with the shaved head, who is a fairly decent tracker, looks at the officer who is his second in command, and quietly tells him "Bugger if i know if somebody's been through here lately".
The officer, who is still mounted, nods his head in agreement, then he points away to the south, and a cluster of farm buildings, and says "They look empty" he then adds "Probably took off at the first sign of the armies in the area".
"Probably" murmurs the member of the personal council of the lord and ruler of the lands Farque.
Who after looking around, is about to hop back up into the saddle, when he suddenly feels a cold mist beside him.
He turns and sees a man like shape standing beside him, that changes from a misty form, to a human, fairly instantaneously too.
"Councillor" says the water elemental courser, who is one of the scouts sent out to locate the force in their army, who are somewhere further to the east, here in the central region of the kingdom of Girdane.
Arvelle aka Zubutai Timaginson nods in greeting to the scout, who then tells the former illegal wrecker from the Kaldel Plains "I'm pretty sure I've found them".
"Where?" asks the tall plainsman with the shaved head.
"Further north, and to the east" replies the water elemental courser, who continues on with "Over in the duchy of Fandell".
"No wonder we couldn't find them" murmurs Arvelle Ganard, the scout then tells the member of the personal council to lord Farque, "They've been shadowing the enemy eastwards" he continues with "I came back when i first saw sign of their passing".
The former illegal wrecker, who used to ply his trade up on the Kaldel Plains nods, then turns to his second in command, and tells him "Send two messengers down to our army, and have them inform the field commander and his highness, that we've found where they are, and that we're going to get them, and bring them down to the rendezvous point".
The second in command nods, and calls out to two of the other riders. As he does, councillor Ganard asks the water elemental courser "How long do you think it will take us to find them".
The scout looks up at the position of the sun in the sky this, clear though cold winter's morning, here in central Girdane, then says "After midday councillor" followed by "Probably in the early afternoon some time".
Arvelle aka Zubutai the son of Timagin nods, then he gets back into the saddle. And once the messengers ride off, heading south.
The tall plainsman with the shaved head, says to the scout "Lead the way" Arvelle Ganard turns to his second in command, and tells him "Give the order to move out".
And a moment later, the cavalry company are on the move again, heading east into the duchy of Fandell.
The subcommander looks over at Larris the sorcerer, who shakes his head no, and quietly says "Nothing of ours".
The subcommander grunts, then quietly says "Keep trying" he then asks "Any of the enemy?".
The powerful sorcerer who is a subaltern in the armies of Farque, nods his head, then says "I've sensed a couple of their spellcasters lately, still a few miles away".
They've rejoined their force, and though the scouts to their north, are still observing the retreating enemy.
They're now out of view, heading more south, as they shadow the enemy who are on their way to the town of Summerton here in the duchy of Fandell.
Their force, which numbers around three thousand soldiers in the mercenary army from the lands Farque, who are traveling lightly on foot.
Have been harassing the enemy army with ease. Now they're holding back as the enemy are now retreating in an orderly fashion.
A sure sign that the rest of their army, and the rebels from the very west of the kingdom of Girdane, are no longer in pursuit of the crown's forces here in central Girdane.
As they walk near the front of their force, another of the water elemental scouts appears, and says to the subcommander "I've just come back from the town of Summerton".
The scout then informs the subcommander and the subaltern that the enemy are in numbers at the largest town in the duchy of Fandell.
With more of them coming in from the east all the time.
"How many do you think?" asks the subcommander "Must be nearly twenty thousand there already, more were coming in as i watched them".
Both the subcommander and the spellcaster wince when they hear that number, then the water elemental tells them "Soldiers belonging to various lords and dukes from the east of the kingdom, along with mercenaries" he then adds "I caught sight of a mercenary company about two hundred strong on the road to the east approaching the town, and further behind them was some lord's army at least five hundred strong".
"Hell, the eastern dukes and lords have joined with the crown and the regent to fight against the rebels" quietly says the sorcerer Larris who continues with "Who knows how many more they'll be able to bring in".
The subcommander nods in agreement, then he and the subaltern look at the scout, who nods behind them, and says "Another one of us coming in" meaning another water elemental scout.
It's the courser, who was with them earlier in the morning, who went off to the west to see what's happening.
The fairly non descript looking young man says "We have to turn south sir".
"South?" says the subcommander in surprise, the water elemental courser nods, then says "And back west to the border with the duchy of Wostin".
The scout then explains that he came across another water elemental scout, who is with a cavalry company led by councillor Ganard, who have been searching for them.
"We're on our way then" says the subcommander, who then tells the other water elemental "Go and tell the other scouts watching the enemy what's going on" followed by "And that we're heading south, and back west to the border with Wostin".
As that water elemental disappears, the subcommander says to the courser "Lead the way" then he calls out an order to turn southwest.
As the fairly substantial force in the Farqian mercenary army turn and head southwest to the border between the duchies of Fandell and Wostin, the subcommander quietly says to the subaltern who is his second in command "Something significant must of happened for them to stop pursuing the enemy".
As they walk in the weak sunshine of the early afternoon, Larris the sorcerer nods in agreement as he resumes sensing, the powerful spellcaster then says "We'll soon find out what" as he suddenly senses another practitioner of magic in the Farqian mercenary army he recognises about four miles to the southwest, the direction they're heading . . . . . .

A Grand Design 41.

Winter. Oaklynn. Girdane.

They've had to relocate to the south of the city of Oaklynn, to the Grove Inn. For the simple reason the northeast quarter of the city, where the Ironmonger Inn is located, has too many dwarves.
While here in the southern part of the city, where many of the streets are treelined, where houses are more abundant as the neighbourhoods are predominantly residential. There's hardly a dwarf to be found.
Much to the annoyance of Dorc da Orc who was looking forward to doing a bit of casual murder in the northeast quarter of the city where there's plenty of dwarves.
Now he has to stick close to lord Farque, and go where ever he goes. If not the large ork risks getting knocked out again by the undead warlord.
And as they walk through the streets in the south of the city, on this cold winter's morning. The ork warleader rubs his chin at the memory of being punched by the heavily armoured deathlord when they first entered Oaklynn the day before yesterday.
As they head north through the southern part of the city, Dorc da Orc asks "Where we fucken going?".
"To check out the palace and the council building" replies lord Farque.
The ork weaponsmith grunts, then asks "We gonna kill any cunts there?".
"Not yet" wryly says the undead warlord, which causes the ork general to chuckle, as there's clearly the prospect that they will kill at either the palace or the council building.
Following behind the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, and the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world. Are Tovis the war engineer, and Beldane the cleric.
And while the fighting cleric from the kingdom of Nastell has visited the city of Oaklynn before. This is the first time the young engineer from the kingdom of Druvic has been here.
"Me fucken been here before?" asks Dorkindle, who can't remember if he's been here in the capital of the kingdom of Girdane before.
And after a while, cities. Especially those in human kingdoms, kind of all look the same to him.
"Yes" dryly says the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, who is also known as Draugadrottin by the people of his lands.
"Plenty of times" adds the lord of the death realm, who switches to the ork language and says "We used to rob the fucking counting houses here all the time".
The warleader of the ork race grins at the memory of that. As he, along with lord Farque, and Mira Reinholt the mage would travel across the Southlands. Robbing counting houses, royal treasuries, army paymasters and the like.
"And just north of here, is where you lost your fucking arm a number of years ago" says the undead being, who has the elven name of Des'tier, or The Destroyer as it's translated to common.
The grin is wiped off the broad, green, brutish looking face of Dorc da Orc at the mention of that, and instead he scowls, and growls a muttered "Fuck". As he remembers when he lost his left arm in a battle.
And only got a new one, when Helbe the elven thief found a greater healing potion for him.
The undead warlord gestures to their right, and they cross a residential street, and turn the corner onto a street that's a mix of houses, and businesses. And the end of which is a square.
The streets here in the south of the city aren't as busy as elsewhere. All the same, they garner plenty of attention whenever they go.
For the simple fact lord Farque is a large human being, who is head to toe in a suit of dark, heavy plate armour.
But more so, because of Dorc da Orc. Who at seven and half foot tall, weighing at least seven hundred and fifty pounds. Is a large ork to begin with. Who sticks out like a sore thumb. Not to mention most if not all people have never seen an ork before.
People stare at them as they walk by. Others quickly cross the street when they see them. For the ork warleader looks demented at the best of times.
Added to that he's covered in scores of weapons. Enough to equip an army company. To say he's an intimidating sight is an understatement in the extreme.
People think he's some kind of troll. Though if they really knew what he was, they would run away in a hurry.
As they pass through the square, a trio in the regent's army briefly think to stop them, to see what they're doing in the city.
But one look at the big, burly ork who is from the southern polar region of the world, they think better of it.
"Probably think we're mercenaries joining the army" quietly says Tovis the war engineer to Beldane the cleric as he looks back at the regent's men as make their way out of the square.
The fighting cleric who is a member of the church of Glaine, nods his head in agreement with the young engineer from the kingdom of Druvic.
The powerful spellcaster who has been told by lord Farque not to cast unless absolutely necessary.
From the time they've been in the city already. Has seen that it's basically a waypoint for soldiers and mercenaries at the moment. Who go on their way, heading out west to fight against the dukes of Dalmar, Girnath and Falosen, who have rebelled against the crown.
He's seen mercenaries, singly or in pairs, and in small groups, to companies, hundreds strong.
Who join the crown's army, then head west across the kingdom.
The same goes for soldiers in the armies of the nobility here in the eastern duchies of Girdane.
Many of whom stop off in the capital city Oaklynn, before continuing on their way westwards.
Lord Farque leads them down some steps between two buildings, to another street.
And though they're heading to the center of the city where the king's palace, and city council building is located.
Both Tovis and Beldane have noticed the heavily armoured deathlord is taking a roundabout way through the southern part of the city to get there.
The young war engineer from the kingdom of Druvic, where he served in the army of a baron Harkonin.
Is just about to ask the undead warlord why they're going through some many of the streets here in this part of the city.
When he realises the lord and ruler of the lands Farque is checking things out. To see the best way for their army to come into the city.
As the southeast, is by far the easiest way to enter, and move a large amount of people through it.
The war engineer, who is a captain in the armies of Farque, is sure of this. For the lord of the death realm will occasionally point something out to Dorc da Orc and say something to him in the ork language. And the large ork, who is a general in the armies of Farque, will respond with something in the same language. A language that only the two of them speak.
It's still well before midmorning, when they're nearly in the center of the city. And that stop at a park. A small space really, that has a handful of trees, and some shrubs, along with some bench seats beneath the trees.
It's empty this morning, due to it being one of the, if not the coldest day of the winter so far, here in the city of Oaklynn.
Turning to Tovis the war engineer, lord Farque quietly asks him "Think you'd have any trouble launching an assault upon the southside of the city?".
The young engineer, who knows the lord of the death realm is referring to an assault by war machines, slightly shakes his head no, then quietly says "Not really".
Tovis follows on from that with "Apart from that old wall further back, this side of the city is wide open to a bombardment compared to the othersides of the city".
Dorc da Orc grunts in agreement with the captain in the armies of Farque.
The undead warlord shakes his full helmed head no in response to Tovis quietly asking him "You think it will come to that?".
"Best to plan for all eventualities anyway" quietly says Draugadrottin, who after a few moments of silence, quietly tells the others "With so many mercenaries coming in, and soldiers belonging to local lords all heading out west, the city will be unprotected".
The undead being who is known as Des'tier to an older generation of elven kind, quietly continues with "They can't protect the city anyway, it's too damn big, and it has no outer defences like walls".
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque, then quietly says "The only thing we'll have to worry about is the regent's army who'll no doubt be on the streets" he briefly pauses before adding "From what Mira and the others have seen, the regent won't be sending anymore of his battalions out west, so they'll all be here in the city when our forces get here".
All three of them, the ork warleader, the war engineer, and the fighting cleric nod in agreement with what the undead warlord just said.
Then the four of them make their way out of the little park, and continue on their way to the center of the city of Oaklynn.
They're soon in the center of the city, and in no time, they're on the long street that cuts through this part of the capital city of the kingdom of Girdane.
They're on the left side of the street heading north, while along the right towards this end of the street, is the city council building, with the mansion that's the regent's residence, next to it.
While towards the other end of the long street, is the palace of the king of Girdane.
The heavily armoured deathlord slows down as they draw level with the city council building.
And as he looks across the street at it, the lord and ruler of the lands Farque senses.
After a moment, he slightly nods his full helmed head. And after seeing a number of people enter and exit the council building.
He and the others continue on their way. Slowing down a few moments later as they draw even with the regent's mansion.
Draugadrottin has a raised right eyebrow after sensing the mansion, and finding very few people in it for a building of it's size.
And as the lord of the death realm and the other three continue on their way again. Lord Farque wonders if the regent has moved his people into the palace. And just left the necessary staff behind in his residence next to the city council building.
They don't walk very much further down the long street, as the undead being turns left into a side street.
Before any of the others can ask him why they're not continuing on to get a closer look at the palace.
Des'tier points to a building, on the otherside of the street they're now on, which is a bit further down, and he says "That taverna".
Dorc da Orc brightens at the prospect of getting something to drink and eat. Even though he drank a copious amount, and ate an awful lot, a little earlier at breakfast in the Grove Inn.
The large ork sniffs, then he sourly smiles as he catches the scent of someone familiar in the taverna they're heading to.
The ork general is just about to complain, but the lord and ruler of the lands Farque has already crossed the side street, and is entering the taverna.
He's followed by Tovis the war engineer, Beldane the cleric, and finally Dorc da Orc.
"Move" says lord Farque to a pair of council workers by the look of it, who are sitting at one of the tables in a corner of the taverna.
One look at the large, heavily armoured figure in dark blue, black heavy plate. They get up and move away fairly quickly.
Draugadrottin drags the table closer to the other table in this corner of the taverna, and sits down. Followed by Beldane the cleric and Tovis the war engineer.
While there's a hush in the establishment, as the other customers stare at Dorc da Orc who makes his way to the corner where the others are.
After the lord of the death realm points at the floor next to the table he along with the war engineer, and the fighting cleric are sitting at.
And the big, burly ork from the frozen bottom of the world sits down where lord Farque has pointed.
The undead warlord looks at those sitting at the other table in this corner of the taverna, and dryly says in the elven language "So this is where you've been spending most of your time, here in Oaklynn".
"Pretty much" replies Mira Reinholt the mage in the same language, as he sits at the other table with Shur Kee the monk, and Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy, along with sir Percavelle Lé Dic.
And as the nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic scowls as he looks at Dorkindle sitting on the floor, calling out to a serving woman for booze.
The once powerful mage from the city-state of Vexil who is a member of lord Farque's personal council, quietly tells the heavily armoured deathlord "A lot of people from the council building, and others at court frequent this place at all times of the day".
The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, quietly continues with "Found out more information here than just about anywhere else in the city, because it's the closest taverna to both the council building, and the palace".
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque nods his full helmed head, then he looks at Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy who gets up and quietly says "Excuse me".
The elven spy originally from the principality of Laerel makes his way to a table towards the front door, where a young man has just entered the taverna and sat down.
"Who's that?" lord Farque quietly asks Mira Reinholt, as the new arrival greets the spy Tanith like a friend, and gestures for him to take a seat at his table.
"Larn" says the exiled Vexilian mage "He's a bit of a drunk" adds the highly skilled swordmaster.
And as Dalinvardél Tanith and the young man named Larn start chatting away, Mira Reinholt quietly says "He's also a court official who likes to talk a lot when he drinks" he then adds "He's been our main source of information since we've been here in Oaklynn" . . . . . .