OG: Chapter 44

The Great Hall of Mantreda was a long, oblong room built of stone and wood. An iron chandelier hung down from a high, vaulted ceiling crisscrossed with wooden beams. In normal times, a small throne would be placed at one end of the Great Hall for the Baron to sit on. Unfortunately, the last Baron, prior to Anders having taken the territory, had been slain after his steward, a local landowner named Lothar Von Haast, whose grazing lands held a vast flock of the sheep the local economy thrived on, suddenly went mad and attacked the former Baron, a retired adventurer named Bedwyr ap Griflet from the far off Isles of Albion. Supposedly, they struggled for a few moments before Lothar suddenly mutated and slew Bedwyr, breaking the throne in the process and forcing the Guards to slay him.

Actually, resolving what to do with Lothar's lands had taken up a decent chunk of Anders' time, meaning he had less to help kit out more Guard Forces. The large amount of grazing lands and the vast flock of sheep technically now belonged to Lothar's nephew and heir, Ulrich Von Haast, minus a third, which Anders had taken to add to the Baronial Lands. He had compensated Ulrich von Haast for this by appointing him as steward in place of his tainted Uncle, just as soon as he had managed to confirm Ulrich didn't share his Uncle's Taint. Anders also had not had time to replace the destroyed Baronial Throne before marching North.

Ulrich and his uncle had belonged to a Minor Imperial Noble House from Stirland. The Von Haasts had been the Barons of the Town of Hertenfeld, which was one of four towns of any note between the Moot and the borders of Sylvania. Ulrich's father, Baron Herman Von Haast, had been caught in a dispute with the Count of Liecheberg and slain in a duel when Ulrich was just seven years old. His Uncle had taken over as regent, only for Elector Reinhard Haupt-Andersson to place him and his uncle under Electoral Sanction for starting turmoil with Leicheberg, disinheriting the House of Von Haast and making the relatively minor nobleman Freiherr Emil von Schaft the new Baron of Hertenfeld, which was how they had ended up here.

Ulrich himself was a lad of seventeen years, tall and clean-shaven, with strawberry blonde hair and broadcloth clothes in brown and black, which were the colors of the Von Haast Arms, a brown fox on a black field. He had stayed behind to help administrate while Anders had answered Prince Harmis Detz's call to war. He wound up as one of four local voices on the current council of war that we had assembled in the Great Hall of Mantreda around a large, oaken trestle table that had been carried into the Great Hall for the purpose of the council meeting. The other three were the two younger teenage girls from before and the older, grizzled, crossbowman, Ygraine de Salignac, Henrietta Steiner, and Esteban Cortez, respectively.

Ygraine was interesting, the Bastard Daughter of Sir Henri Valroux, Seigneur of Salignac La-Rouge in the Brettonian portion of the Vaults. She had been exiled by her father for two reasons. The first was, of course, her Bastard Status, belonging to the daughter of a Wine Merchant, which in Brettonia meant she was the daughter of just another peasant girl. That by itself meant that Ygraine's presence in Brettonia was mucking about with the succession to the already small holdings of her Father. The second was that she had displayed signs of being able to use magic once she had begun puberty. Since such things meant that she would need to be sent away or she would receive a visit from the Fay Enchantress and be taken to become a Grail Damsel, which would, if she survived, necessitate her retaining her complicated position within the succession, as the House of Valroux would not be able to avoid acknowledging a bastard-born Grail Damsel.

She and her mother had been sent to the Border Princes with the thought that if she turned into a full-blown witch, the constant wars between principalities that saw Princes and whole mini-kingdoms rise, fall, and change hands would kill her eventually. That by itself would have solved all of Sir Henri Valroux's problems. Instead, her mother had used the Ecu afforded to her for travel to show up in Mantreda, where she had used the fact that she was both literate and numerate to help the Tallow Merchants keep records of candles made, tallow rendered, and both candles and raw tallow sold. They had arrived here last year, and Ygraine's powers had only grown. It was getting to the point where she would have needed either a teacher or to be slain when Anders arrived to teach her. Ygraine was now his official apprentice and had been left behind to continue her studies while he answered the call to War.

Next, Henrietta Steiner was the only child of Bruno Steiner, Captain of the Guards of Mantreda. Bruno had been a Mercenary Halberdier for several years before settling down with his Tilean Wife, Ottavia, and the four-year-old Henrietta, in Mantreda. That had been a dozen years ago, back when the Baron of Mantreda had been Stenn the Far-Travelled, a Norscan from Skeggi who parlayed the wealth he had plundered from the Jungles there into a Barony. Stenn had recognized that Bruno had what it took to be a good Captain for the Mantreda Guards and hired him on as a Sergeant. Bruno took the work and began to teach Henrietta about soldiering as soon as she could understand the lessons, reasoning that if he was going to work his way up to Captain of the Guards, he should at least have an Heir who could do something similar, female or no.

Bruno Steiner had indeed worked his way up to Captain of the Guards from there, outlasting Stenn, who had been slain by another Norscan in a duel over Stenn's 'Abandoning Norscan Ways for the Weak Ways of the South'. He had subsequently outlasted the next baron, Boleslaw of Emsk, who had been slain while killing the Warboss of a Tribe of Orcs that had attacked from the Black Mountains. He had even outlasted the next Baron as well, Christoph Van Der Linden, a Marienburger Cheese Merchant, who had been put in place by House De Roelef to try and control Mantreda by proxy. Christoph had lasted the longest out of any of the five Barons that Bruno had served so far, thanks to his focus largely being on peaceful investment into the local wool and tallow industries, only to die of a massive coronary at a feast. Then had come Bedwyr, as had been stated, until finally Anders had arrived.

It wasn't the most stable situation for Henrietta to grow up in, though she had taken to it all the same. Unlike Ygraine, who was more circumspect, almost shy, Henrietta would never hesitate to speak her mind if she felt something off was going on. Outgoing, a natural leader, and a decent athlete, Henrietta had rushed to join the scratch militia that had been set up to defend Mantreda against the Beastmen Attack. Her youthful exuberance and Ygraine's Natural Caution were tempered by the sheer experience of the next local member of the Council of War, though perhaps local was a stretch.

Esteban Cortez was an older man in his very late forties or very early fifties, judging from his appearance and mannerisms. He was a Veteran Mercenary Crossbowman from the Minor Estalian Kingdom of Avila who had recently completed working a Bodyguard Contract with an Arabyan Spice Merchant named Haroun Al-Zaid, who had set up in Aldium. Esteban had been making his way south toward Port Donkerzee and a potential ship to a more active front when news of Prince Harmis Detz calling for more troops reached him on the road. He'd made his way to the nearest settlement, only to find Anders had already left for the rally point at Aldium the day before. When the Beastmen had come, he'd found himself pressed into the Scratch Militia to defend Mantreda and had provided a needed level of experience to the defense of the town.

After all, not only had Esteban fought in the frequent skirmishes between Avila and Obregon, but he had also turned Mercenary decades ago, building on that experience by fighting in Tilea, hunting Beastmen that had been attacking villages in Talabecland in the Empire, joining a Company hired by Marienburg to shatter a Fomor Incursion out of the Fens, fighting Orcs coming down from the Massif Orcal in Brettonia, and taking individual contracts for bodyguard and bounty-hunting work in dozens of cities and towns throughout the Old World. He was the next-most well-traveled member of the War Council after me, speaking Estalian, Tilean, Reikspiel, Kislevarin, Westerlander, Breton, and Arabyan.

Clearly, Esteban's age hadn't slowed him down any, which was good, though he was pushing his luck and he knew it. He intended to settle down after this was all over, thinking of maybe getting a drill master position somewhere. If we managed to rescue Anders, he was thinking of asking for that Job for the Mantreda Guards as his reward. With him, however, our Council of War was complete, and as I called everyone to order, we all took our seats at the trestle table.

"All right, let's start with the basics. Prince Harmis Detz is dead. The War Effort needs a leader." I began.

"You want us to back you?" Questioned Ygraine.

"Why not? It's worked well so far. We could do worse, yes?" Queried Ruggiero.

"I agree. You proved to be a friend to my Clan, and the Strigany do not forget such things. Besides, the elders will be thrilled." Huffed Ion.

"Will House De Roelef allow that? Surely they would rather put someone they control in that position?" Asked Martine.

"House De Roelef would prefer that Khypris is still standing to do business with than try and stick their nose in and get it cut off by a Beastman's Axe. Trust me, I have dealt with them before, as had my uncle. Extensively so." Pointed out Ulrich.

"They're probably the most reasonable member of the Directorate of Marienburg. I believe they'll back me on this, if only because they stand to make a decent amount of money from doing so." I affirmed.

"Well, I guess you're all right. You did manage to slay the Beastlord and save Mantreda from attack, so we at least know you won't be easily gotten rid of by anyone who might want to attack the Principality." Shrugged Henrietta.

"Any objections?" I questioned.

"I'm just a hired gun here to advise on Military Matters. I think I'll abstain from the vote for now." Offered Esteban.

"No. My Master spoke highly of your abilities. Besides, I can see your power for myself." Chimed in Ygraine.

"Speaking as Baron Anders' Steward, I know he wouldn't want the job himself, but would be thrilled to see it go to one of his companions. After all, he has his hands full with teaching Ygraine, Administering Mantreda, and his own research as it is. He would want us to vote yes on this." Piped-Up Ulrich.

"Indeed. You got us through Zarwai, against all odds. Ruggiero, Anders, and I would not be Nobles if not for you. I'm in favor as well." Spoke up Martine.

"Yes. Plus, you saved my life recently as well. I will back you to the hilt on this." Confirmed Ruggiero.

"Like I said, it could be worse. I'll agree to back you for Prince, not that my vote really counts for much outside this chamber, anyway." Remarked Henrietta.

"I can't very well vote no now, can I? You've got my vote and that of Clan Solomance." Smirked Ion.

"Then, with a vote of six ayes and one abstention, the motion carries. This Council of War will proceed under the assumption that I will assume the title of Prince of Khypris on victory. The next order of business is the supply situation. Ulrich, what can you tell us about that?" I intoned.

"It's a lot better than it has any right to be, thanks to the supply ships coming up the Tana Dante from Alynda and Port Donkerzee. As it is, we have enough food to feed everyone, enough fodder for the cavalry, and enough spare ore for equipment repairs. If the Beastmen had managed to break through the walls, it would have been a different story." Reported Ulrich.

"That's my doing. I've been in contact with the Court back in Alynda, as you requested. It seems Piers Van Rijn managed to talk Anita De Roelef around into sending a bit extra food for the City of Mantreba with the latest supply shipments." Informed Ion.

"And why would Piers Van Rijn do that?" I queried.

"Why else? Money, most likely." Scoffed Ruggiero.

"Actually, no. At least, not immediate money." Opined Ion.

"You'll have to explain that one, I'm afraid." Frowned Henrietta.

"Agreed. In layman's terms, if you would, the intricacies of such negotiations are not my forte. I am hardly a quartermaster, after all." Insisted Esteban.

"Our working relationship with not only House De Roelef, but the Van Rijn Trade Coster means that if you become Prince of Khypris, House De Roelef stands to make far more money through trade deals with Khypris than they would by squeezing every groat they could get out of a less capable Prince who might be in a position of weakness." Explained Ion.

"So they went for less money immediately in favor of more stable money over time?" Asked Ygraine.

"Exactly. I know Anita, that is just the sort of long-term gains she prefers over short-term windfalls." Nodded Martine.

"You mean she wants to bleed Khypris slow instead of all at once, yes?" Questioned Esteban.

"Not how I would have phrased it, especially since trade is a two-way street. Even if one way sometimes has more traffic than the other." Pointed out Ulrich.

"It's immaterial. Ultimately, this can be taken as a signal of intent by House De Roelef to not only support the War Effort, but also back my candidacy for Prince of Khypris. It also means we can afford to continue the campaign sooner rather than later." I responded.

"Speaking of which, we have one-thousand-eight-hundred-sixty troops still able to march, thanks to the alchemical cures for the wounded you provided. However, as we're not in Alynda any longer, I must ask where replacements for the dead will come from?" Queried Ion.

"Why not get them from the Scratch Militia of Mantreda?" Asked Ruggiero.

"Our Scratch Militia isn't the best quality. Old Men, Young Boys, and a few Tradesmen and Women." Pointed out Esteban.

"There is also the fact that the Scratch Militia was just that, a Scratch Militia. We armed and equipped them fast because we needed speed. Senor Cortez drilled them as much as he could, but they're unevenly equipped, most can't ride a horse, and the majority have very little real military ability." Added Ulrich.

"I think we can find forty who might work, though." Offered Henrietta.

"You're not thinking of Helmut and Sergio's Groups?" Questioned Ygraine.

"Who are those?" Queried Martine.

"Helmut Klein and Sergio Triano are two of what passes for Gang Leaders in Mantreda. Each group has around twenty or so teenagers my age and a few years older among them. They were actually some of the better fighters we had in the Scratch Militia. If anyone can act as replacements, it would be them." Informed Henrietta.

"Indeed, though you may want to shuffle around some troops so that you don't have too many of either group in one place." Pointed out Ulrich.

"Will they cause trouble?" Asked Ruggiero.

"Not physically. You may find a black market springing up in the camp, though." Answered Esteban.

"I can tolerate a certain amount of Black Marketeering and illicit enterprise, just so long as it doesn't impede the functioning of the army enough to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory." I mused.

"I'll keep an eye on the groups." Offered Ion.

"That might be for the best." Nodded Ygraine.

"We'll want to get them some decent gear, though. If they're as poorly equipped as some of the Scratch Militia, they'll need it." Informed Ruggiero.

"That bad?" I questioned.

"Captains Von Hagedorn, Montjoie, and Quintavalla have been evaluating the Scratch Militia today, drilling them, checking their equipment, and so on. Their full reports haven't crossed my camp desk yet, but I received the preliminary ones earlier this afternoon. They aren't great." Explained Ion.

"How bad is it?" Queried Martine.

"Most aren't great." Admitted Henrietta.

"Which may be an understatement." Added Ygraine.

"I drilled them as best I could under the circumstances." Defended Esteban.

"And I made sure that everyone at least had a weapon and a padded jack, though I could not guarantee more than that uniformly." Opined Ulrich.

"From the reports I'd gotten, many of those weapons are tools. Pitchforks or scythes that had been hastily converted to polearms, felling axes, smithing hammers, butchers' cleavers, shepherd's slings, hunters' flatbows, and the like. Most have those, though some have proper spears and crossbows, or even better equipment in a select few cases. The Armor is at least uniform. Everyone has at least a padded jack and a leather skullcap, though most only have those. As for the drill, the preliminary reports I've gotten say it's patchwork. Some seem to have been fighting in groups for a while, others are decent individual combatants, but need work on their ability to fight in formation, while the overwhelming majority are green as goose shit." Pointed out Ion.

"How many can be brought up to snuff by the time decent equipment arrives from Alynda?" I asked.

"I won't know that until the final reports. At least enough to be replacements, though, hopefully." Shrugged Ion.

"Very well. We can't stay here for more than a week drilling. Not while Vimera is under a renewed siege and the Corpsecaller may be raiding Aldium as well. Not with the Zani coming down from the hills to test for weakness." I intoned.

"Vimera had six months' worth of supplies in case of a siege by the Zani, at least that was what the late Prince claimed. It might be substantially less than that, with the Beastmen clearly so favored by the Father of Plagues and the Garrison of Alynda having recently taken in reinforcements from Anders' Group. I'd say plan to attempt a relief no later than one month from now. Anything more risks a total disaster." Warned Ruggiero.

"Then that is what we will aim for. The next supply shipment should arrive in a week with decent gear for the replacement troops. Until then, I want us drilling. When one week is up, we need to move north toward Aldium and Vimera, whether we have enough Militia trained up enough to be replacements for casualties or not." I ordered.

And with that, the War Council of Mantreda ended. Our course of action was set, and all that remained was to carry it out. Everyone headed to their various assigned tasks. For myself, that meant making my way to the small office I had claimed for my own in Mantreda Castle. Radamenes looked up from the pile of cushions he was snoozing on, the remains of a haunch of venison hanging from his fanged mouth. He made the cat activation noise as I entered, which I couldn't help but smirk at. I ruffled his fur for a few moments, petting him as he lay there, eating his dinner and purring, before I moved to the desk I had been using for correspondence. The thing had belonged to some supply clerk for the Castle or other, who had been killed by the Beastmen. It was mine now, and I began to write out my orders for the supply officers back home to dip into the stocks of extra gear I had created to come up with forty sets of equipment for replacements.

By the time I was finished, Radamenes had finished his dinner and lay down for a nap. I had to go find Ion and hand him the orders, which would go south along the Tana Dante by riverboat. By the time the equipment arrived, we had enough Militiamen drilled enough to be replacements that we could leave. Unfortunately for Henrietta's suggestion, Helmut Klein wasn't among them. Apparently, he had gone drinking one evening to help soothe his aching muscles from the constant drilling, overindulged, and wound up throwing up in his sleep, choking to death on his own vomit. Sergio Triano would wind up inheriting Helmut's gang members. That practically ensured a black market would spring up in the camp, now that the two gangs of ruffians had consolidated. So long as it didn't impede victory, I'd allow it, though.

Sergio himself was a rather tall man of eighteen years, broad-chested from exercise, with a dark, patchy, five o'clock shadow-style beard, chestnut curls, and a leather jack he wore as armor, and a pair of long, fighting daggers that I would consider to be Baselards, though Basel didn't exist on Mundus. The leather jack was slightly more protective than the basic Padded Jack all the militia had gotten, upgrading padded cloth to leather. It wasn't a patch on the breastplate and sleeved chainmail coat he had been given at the end of the week, though. I let him keep his Baselard Daggers, though. He would effectively be acting as a platoon leader, and so could get away with such things, even if his gang members were getting Halberds or Crossbows like the rest of the Units they were joining.

By the time we headed out on the march, we were as well-equipped and drilled as we could be. We marched along the right fork of the Upper Tana Dante toward Aldium and Vimera. It took us a week to reach Aldium, though Vimera wouldn't be too far away from there. When we arrived, however, we found the City Under Siege by a force of Minotaurs, Ungors, Gors, Centigors, Wargors, and Doombulls, all led by a massive brute of a Wargor. Unlike the Doombull I had slain at Mantreda, however, this one was clearly favored by Khorne instead of by Nurgle, judging from the Brass skull motif armor, unnaturally bulging muscles, and red-glowing eyes.

As I watched, the Wargor let out a howling, bleating war cry and led his forces to attack the smaller force of mixed mercenaries and Caravan Guards holding the line inside the gates of Aldium, which had been broken open by the Beastmen's attack. I ordered us to form up and prepare to attack the Beastmen from behind. After all, Aldium was a town of sixteen thousand and the closest thing to a major trade hub that Khypris possessed. If the Beastmen sacked it, then the Principality likely wouldn't ever recover.

The battle of Aldium was about to begin, and the fate of Aldium and Khypris as a whole would be on the line. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the next chapter. We get to see what the plan is going forward, get a bit of character interaction at the War Council, and finally get a look at just how the MC is planning to become the Prince of Khypris. We are also set up for a major confrontation at Aldium between a large force of Beastmen and the Corpsecaller's Second In Command, who is, interestingly, not powered by Nurgle, but Khorne.

At any rate, the next chapter will be an interlude showing how Eric Dahl is getting along in Pugno and his reaction to events in Khypris. I'll also have more images and another character sheet update out before then as well.

Stay tuned. . .