OG: Chapter 41

For two weeks, I did the best I could here at Alynda. Militarily, I spent time largely training my forces, augmenting them with Alchemy, and generally helping them get used to their new, upgraded equipment. Thankfully, between memory potions, my own personal abilities as a teacher, and the cadre system I had set up, I was looking to hit my targets for minimum standards earlier than expected. Which was good, because everything I had heard about how the war was going was not painting a great picture of the effort to defeat the Corpsecaller. There had even been rumors that the Zani Tribes of the Hills were beginning to move south into Khypris to test the defenses, now that the majority of Khypris' military force was engaged against the Corpsecaller.

In terms of the Economy, I spent my time selling ore from my mines and metalwork from my Autofactory. Ironically, I was getting interest in my metalwork from some of the nearby Dwarf Holds, Karak Izor, notably had sent a group of Dwarves to inspect my metalwork, claiming it to be 'Too Good for Umgi Work'. Apparently, they were suspicious of my having a Dwarven Smith in my employ, and while they were willing to buy ingots of my alloys, they didn't want to buy any finished work because of that suspicion, thinking that without more trade, the supposed Dwarven Smiths that I had working for me would eventually migrate back to a Hold like theirs instead of staying.

However, the Dwarves of Karak Gantuk saw trade with me as a chance to not only grow in wealth but also power. As the smallest independent Karak in the Black Mountains, Karak Gangtuk saw their chance to monopolize on talented manlings and took it, purchasing not just Ingots of my Alloys, but finished metalwork for export to places in the Empire. The demand was enough that I had to set my Autofactory to produce more machinery for expansion of itself if I wanted to not just grow my exports but also keep up with the tax demands for weaponry that I had negotiated with Wilhelm Landa and the equipment I had promised the Elders of Clan Solomance in exchange for their Horsemen Unit accompanying me to battle. Fortunately, the expansion was easily done, and I soon had one and a half times the manufacturing capacity I previously had.

Of course, that also strained my need for clerks and bureaucrats further, forcing me to redirect some from the Courts in order to keep up with the trade demand. Fortunately, I had a source of potential Magistrates from the Strigany of Clan Solomance who had redoubled their efforts to move into the Walls of Alynda from their camp. Some of them were engaged in trade themselves and knew their numbers and letters well enough to plug the gaps the increase in trade opened in my bureaucracy. Something for which I was grateful. I would still need to really get more from House De Roelef, though. Especially if I wanted to expand.

Speaking of the Strigany, thanks to aid from Elder Antonio, I was now capable of using my Looted Arabyan Puzzle Box to manipulate Chamon, the Gold Wind of Magic, and would be able to not only using all the basic first circle Alchemist spells, such as Channeled Shock, Cool, Heat, Maintain Pressure, and so on, but was also capable of casting Distill Homonculus and Enchant Weapon, making me a Master Alchemist by any stretch of the imagination, by the end of the month. By the end of the month, I would even be capable of casting Lore of Gold Spells such as Crucible of Chamon, Forge of Chamon, Mutable Metal, Stoke the Forge, Transformation of Metal, Tale of Metal, Secret Rune, Feather of Lead, and Burnished Gauntlet. At least, I was on track to do so as of the second week of my training.

Effectively, I would be at the level of a fresh Journeyman Gold Wizard and Master Alchemist in one month, largely based on my previous Magical Abilities with out-of-context magic, memory potions, and my various enhancements. Of course, this would only hold so long as I had my Arabyan Puzzle Box on me. Also, unfortunately, events would conspire to force me to not be able to meet with Elder Antonescu for training with Ghur before I would have to muster my forces North. Still, Master Antonio was a bit puzzled by how well and how swiftly I had picked all of this up. He brought it up at the end of my second week of training in Magic.

"It's uncanny. It's only been a few weeks, and you already seem to be on track to attain the level of a Fresh Journeyman Gold Wizard and Master Alchemist by the end of the month. I've never seen anything like it from anyone." Wondered Elder Antonio.

"Perhaps it is because of my primary patron? Dazh is the God of the Forge as well as of Fire, the Hearth, and the Sun?" I questioned, knowing that wasn't the truth.

"I suspect if that is the case, you'll have an easy time learning Aqshy and possibly Azyr and Hysh Magic as well, given Dazh's status as God of the Sun in your pantheon. Possibly Ghur as well, given you also seem to have some affinity for Ursun's Blessings. However, I don't know if you will be able to do much with Ghyran, Ulgu, or Shyish. I would be tempted to say that the fact you have to use a rare artifact like an Arabyan Puzzle Box to cast spells also seems to play a part. The Artifact seems to handle the tricky parts of channeling in such a way as to lessen the chance of catastrophe." Mused Elder Antonio.

"Who can truly say?" I queried with a shrug.

"Indeed, however, you have a meeting with Piers Van Rijn and his own, less divine, but still powerful Patron to get to now, do you not?" Asked Elder Antonio.

"I do, and it wouldn't do to be too late." I affirmed.

"Then I will not keep you. Return here for tomorrow's lesson." Nodded Elder Antonio.

And with that, I headed out to return to the Kremlin of Alynda to change into something more appropriate for the high-class meeting that I was about to attend. Piers Van Rijn might not have minded me showing up in armor or anything, but Anita De Roelef was another story. She was the First Cousin Once Removed of Director Clotilde De Roelef of the Marienburg Directorate, after all, and that sort of power demanded that it be treated with respect. After all, a Director of Marienburg could make or break larger countries than my small barony of a small principality.

As I arrived, I headed up into the keep and my Apartments, passing by more of my Guards Training in the Courtyard. I changed, Radamenes looked up from the cushion in the corner of my apartments in the Kremlin of Alynda, where he had sprawled out napping after hunting for rabbits through the plains this morning.

"Mrrp?" Questioned Radamenes, the Cat Activation Noise easily translated thanks to my capabilities with animal speech.

"I have a meeting with a powerful person, I can't very well go dressed in practice leathers now, can I?" I queried back at Radamenes.

"Pfff." Snorted out Radamenes, clearly doubtful.

"Yes, well, that's all well and good for a Sabretusk to say, but Humans aren't exactly willing to flout decorum like that." I scoffed.

Radamenes merely rolled over with a flop, the Sabretusk clearly seeing this whole exercise as another pointless thing that Humans did. I couldn't help but chuckle as I threw on my fanciest doublet and breeches, shaking my head.

"Lazy cat." I grumbled, good-naturedly.

Radamenes just yawned, as if supremely unconcerned. As far as he was concerned, it was all stupid Human stuff he didn't need to worry about. It reminded me that for all that he acted like a big housecat at times, Radamenes was still a Sabretusk, and thus still a wild animal, even if he was a trained one. He simply thought differently and had different priorities than a person, accordingly. Of course, I had a bond with him thanks to the Celestial Menagerie giving me outside context abilities, but I doubted anyone else would be able to manage this sort of thing.

Regardless, as I finished dressing, Radamenes was already back asleep. I shook my head at his antics and headed out for the Van Rijn Trade Post and my meeting with Anita De Roelef. As I arrived, I was greeted by Bori Burisson, who seemed to be on duty at the moment. The Dwarf nodded at me before frowning. I cocked an eyebrow at him as he began to chew on his mustache in hesitation. Finally giving a grunt as he made a decision, Bori just came out with what he was going to say.

"You shouldn't've started trading so much with Karak Gantuk. It's causing a bit of a stir in the Karaz Ankor." Huffeed Bori Burisson.

"What kind of a stir?" I asked.

"The kind that comes with a small independent hold beginning to grow in wealth and power. Your weapons are selling in Averland in the Manling Empire like they're going out of style. It's making the Dawi of Karak Gantuk a lot of gold in a short time. They've already begun looking at expansion. They've already vassalized a small settlement, Khazid Ungstromez, near the source of the River Stacnek, along with a few Skarrenawi Settlements in the Foothills of the Black Mountains. Nobody cares too much about the Skarrenawai, mind you, but Khazid Ungstromez? That's made some of the other Holds in the Black Mountains wary." Explained Bori Burisson.

"May I ask why?" I questioned.

"Aside from the usual grumbling about a small hold getting larger?" Queried Bori Burisson.

"Yes, aside from that." I confirmed.

"It's because of Karak Gantuk's Alliance with Karak Angazbar. That's the second-largest hold in the Black Mountains. King Alrik Ranulfsson of Karak Hirn, the Largest Dawi Hold in the Black Mountains, is a very traditional dwarf. When he sees a small hold getting larger, his first instinct is to stamp down on it. However, because of Karak Gantuk's Alliance with Karak Angazbar, that isn't possible. There hasn't been a civil war in the Karaz Ankor in thousands of years, but with the way things are headed, that might become a real possibility in the future, Manling." Informed Bori Burisson.

"So what should I do?" I asked.

"Limit the sales of your weapons to Karak Gantuk before it's too late. Maybe sell some to the other holds to maintain a balance. I can't make you do anything, but if you want to avoid your name being written down in the Book of Grudges for half the holds of the Black Mountains, you ought to at least stem the tide of weapons sales to Karak Gantuk." Advised Bori Burisson.

"Fair enough. I'll try and cut the other Holds in on trade and slow down sales to Karak Gantuk, in the interest of peace." I nodded.

"Good. Now, I believe you're meeting with Piers and Lady De Roelef soon?" Questioned Bori Burrisson.

"I am." I affirmed.

"Well, Piers is in his office, but the Lady De Roelef isn't here yet. Head on up, though. Doubtless she'll be along shortly." Offered Bori Burrisson.

"Thanks." I responded.

Then I headed past Bori at the door and down the hall, before heading up the stairs to Piers' Office in the Tower. Knocking on the door revealed the face of the Diestro who Piers had hired on as a bodyguard, Diego Miguel Sanchez Casador Y Ortiz, future Marqués of Cefiro in the Estalian Kingdom of Obregon, as I recalled his full name and title. The perpetually drunk Estalian Diestro nodded at me, opening the door and gesturing for me to enter.

"Lady De Roelef isn't here yet, Mi Barón. However, El Jefe is here and he's brought a very nice Ravolan Frizzante Wine with him, though he refuses to open the bottle until her Ladyship arrives." Informed Diego.

"Thank you, Diego, that will be all." Sighed Piers from inside.

Diego shrugged and stepped away from the door, allowing me to enter. Piers Van Rijn was already seated behind his desk, scribbling down a few notes in one of his large, leatherbound ledgers as he did so. Indeed, there was a bottle of Ravolan Firzzante, a Wine of the Highest Quality, just sitting there, along with a trio of glasses, all untouched. Piers nodded at me and gestured for me to take a seat. I did so as he finished scribbling down some figures in his ledger before sprinkling pounce onto the paper to dry it, wiping the page down with blotting paper, and closing the ledger.

"Some last-minute profits, Piers?" I queried.

"Indeed, My Lord. We had an unexpected windfall from some of the goods recovered from Zarwai." Nodded Piers.

"I would have thought those had all been sold by now? Vanished into the vast De Roelef Trade Network?" I asked.

"They had, but we recently found a few crates of Lapis Lazuli stone that had been overlooked in the initial efforts to clean up the town. We recently managed to sign a deal with a dyeworks in Castle Carcassonne in Western Bretonnia to purchase it. They will be turning it into Ultramarine Dye. My own share of the profits from that arrangement had to be logged." Informed Piers.

"I see. Breaking into the Bretonnian Markets? Will that not Anger House Van Onderzoeker?" I questioned.

"Perhaps, but they are hardly present in Southern Bretonnia, and while House Bacher is present there, they aren't truly a threat for the moment." Shrugged Piers.

"A bold move, then." I opined.

"Not nearly so bold as the moves you have been making of late with the Dwarves, My Lord." Mused Piers.

"Yes, Bori warned me about potential instability if I don't control the flow of goods better." I admitted.

"Still, you've made quite a sum already. How much exactly are all your trade deals worth in a year?" Queried Piers.

"Roughly seventy-five thousand Dwarven Gold Crowns in trade every three months from Karak Gantuk and another thirty-five-thousand Dwarven Gold Crowns in trade every three months from Karak Izor. I also have been making another ten thousand Guilders every month trading with Zarwai and a further fifteen thousand Guilders every month trading with Port Donkerzee, as you well know, plus eight thousand Guilders each month trading with Khypris City, five thousand Guilders every month trading with Cabanal, and another three thousand Guilders each month trading with Mentreda." I answered.

"Dwarven Gold Crowns are heftier and made from better quality gold than their Imperial Counterparts, which makes them worth three times what a standard Guilder is worth. That's a trade income of one-million-eight-hundred-twelve-thousand Guilders a year. That is roughly what a much larger town, such as Bögenhafen on the Empire-to-Bretonnia Land Trade Route, makes in a year." Summarized Piers.

"Profitable." I shrugged.

"And dangerous. You have but four-hundred-fifty Guards, plus those one-hundred-fifty Strigany Cavalry you think you have hidden. A total of Six Hundred Troops to hold such a profitable territory. It seems to be spreading yourself quite thin, especially with the recent troubles in the North." Pointed out Piers.

"True, but they are also well-drilled, well-equipped, and I would put them up against any foe in the Border Princes and give them decent odds." I shrugged.

"You may have to put that to the test sooner rather than later." Came a feminine voice from the doorway.

I turned to see Anita De Roelef enter. She was a full-figured woman with red hair held back by a piece of jewelry that was studded with pearls. Her generous cleavage was accentuated by the silk bodice she wore, and the rest of her clothing was likewise made of the expensive Cathayan cloth. At her throat, a Pigeon's Egg Moonstone Pendant hung off a silver chain, something which would cost a small fortune. Clearly, this was a woman of wealth and power. I stood, offering my hand.

"We have not formally met, My Lady. I am Konstantin Henryk Ptorski, Son of Michal August Ptorski, Boyar of Ptorsk in the Southern Oblast of Kislev, and Baron of Alynda in my own right." I introduced myself.

"Anita Theresa De Roelef, Daughter of Hubier-Jan De Roelef, Jonkheer Van Gorssel and First Cousin Once Removed to Clotilde De Roelef, Director of Marienburg, Charmed." Offered Anita De Roelef, taking my hand.

I brushed my lips over her knuckles before straightening up. As I introduced myself to his patron, Piers opened the bottle of Highest Quality Ravolan Frizzante Wine he had been saving and poured a trio of measures into the glasses he had set aside, handing first Anita a glass and then me before taking up his own glass. He sent Diego down to the Tilean Vine Tavern for some cheese and bread before we all took a seat and began to discuss the situation.

"So, am I to understand that things didn't go well up North, then?" I asked.

"I do not know specifics, but there are rumors beginning to spread of a massacre. An ambush was performed on the Vimera Relief Army, which seems to have routed the force. Naturally, getting any real specifics is difficult in the fog of war, but my Contacts in Aldium have gone silent, and those few snippets of real information that come my way are quite contradictory about most things. The one thing they all agree on is that the Vimera Relief Army did not fare well in the battle. I have heard that a small force managed to make it into Vimera, led by your friend, Anders Hellmann, Baron of Mantreda. Aside from that, no one seems to know what happened to Prince Harmis Detz or Baron Ruggiero Colosimo of Cabanal. We've gotten reports that some of the remnants of the Vimera Relief Army headed south, but nothing concrete." Sighed Anita De Roelef.

"In that case, perhaps it would be prudent to ask about mercenary hiring?" Questioned Piers.

"Or giving up the territory as a bad investment altogether." Intoned Anita De Roelef.

"No. I won't run. I'm confident that I will be able to push back the Corpscaller." I refused.

"It may not just be the Corpsecaller you have to deal with. Zani Raiders have been seen testing the defenses of Malko across the border to the East, and Ghoulstone Keep is currently dealing with an Orc Warband under Warboss Stabbahand. Both the Zani and Greenskins may yet turn west." Warned Anita De Roelef.

"There's also Prince Waldemar of Greymere to the West, he's only just come into power, but they say he's a greedy and power-hungry man. I would not put it past him to attempt to steal the much richer lands of Khpyris in the chaos." Cautioned Piers.

"I won't run." I reiterated.

"Then perhaps we should discuss those Mercenaries after all?" Queried Anita De Roelef.

"First, we discuss what I wanted to discuss. Old Business before new." I insisted.

"Very well, but any clerks or bureaucrats we can muster for you will not be willing to come to a land that is seemingly about to be overrun. It would be better to speak of mercenary troops first." Repeated Piers.

"Very well, if we must. My treasury is currently full of Guilders. What contracts could we get?" I asked.

"Quintavalla's Quarrellers and Von Hagedorn's Halberdiers are both available for hire. Their Contract with Prince Ramirez of High Hall just expired. That should give you another three hundred Infantry." Offered Piers.

"And of course, I can release Montjoie's Mounted Yeomen to you, though you will be paying me a premium to expedite the end of their contract." Intoned Anita De Roelef.

"That would give me another one-hundred-fifty cavalry. Between my forces and those mercenaries, that would be one-thousand-fifty troops and four guns." I mused.

"A substantial force." Agreed Piers.

"How much will this cost?" I questioned.

"Call it seven-thousand-two-hundred Guilders per Verenean Month of service, plus a further flat fee of one thousand Guilders each as a signing bonus." Estimated Piers.

"And you would be paying me five-thousand-seven-hundred-fifty guilders to free up Montjoie's Mounted Yeomen. Three-thousand-seven-hundred-fifty to finish the rest of their contract and two thousand to me for allowing it." Added Anita De Roelef.

"So in total, I'm going to be paying fifteen-thousand-nine-hundred-fifty Guilders for this month of contract?" I queried, running the numbers.

"Indeed." Concurred Piers.

"Fortunately, the Treasury is flush with Guilders." I sighed.

"Excellent. Then you won't mind paying." Grinned Anita De Roelef.

"No. I won't. How soon can they arrive?" I asked.

"By the end of the month, most likely." Informed Piers.

"Then the deal is done. I'll have your payments delivered by the end of the day." I answered.

"Fabulous, as for your clerks, I can provide those easily enough. Pay is ten stuivers a day, plus another payment of one thousand Guilders to House De Roelef per every hundred Clerks you require." Continued Anita De Roelef.

I think I'll only require a hundred for now, though that may change as I expand." I answered.

"Fabulous! Then I will draw up a contract for you to sign." Nodded Piers.

With the negotiations over, I sipped my wine and ate some of the cheese plate that Diego had returned with from the Tilean Vine Tavern sometime during the negotiations. We made small talk about various subjects, such as fashions in Nuln, or the prices of certain commodities in Miragliano rising as that particular City-State prepared for War with Trantio. After about an hour, however, Piers had finished drawing up a contract, and reading through it made me realize just how glad I was that I was dealing with House De Roelef instead of, say, House Van De Kuypers. It would be almost too easy to hide hidden clauses in the fine print, though thankfully, there were none present here. I eventually signed the Contract, concluding our business for the day.

When I returned to the Kremlin, I sent a message down to the treasury to have them send over the coin promised to House De Roelef, along with the coin for the Mercenaries. With that done, however, I returned to my standard routine, training, administering my territory, creating equipment for trade and for taxes, and drilling my guards. It wasn't until the last week of the month that all three Mercenary Forces, Von Hagedorn's Halberdiers, Quintavalla's Quarrellers, and Montjoie's Mounted Yeomen arrived. Their Captains were Ernesto Quintavalla, Augustus Von Hagedorn, and Francois de Montjoie, a Tilean, an Imperial, and a Bretonnian, respectively.

Ernesto Quintavalla was, somewhat oddly for a man whose Mercenary Company were crossbowmen, a Large man wielding a Bastard Sword in full plate, though he bore a Miraglanese Crossbow slung across his back. I got the impression he barely used it, however. His black hair was long and unbound, while his beard was much shorter, though he was quite rugged in looks. Next to him, the Bretonnian Knight Francois de Montjoie was far more of a pretty boy, having his Chestnut Hair and Beard the same length as Ernesto's, only far better cared for. Between that and the patina of burnished bronze that coated his plate armor, I was beginning to suspect the smaller Bretonnian Knight of being a bit too vain to be on campaign, though his choice of troops, Yeomen instead of Knights-Errent, said otherwise. Lastly, Augustus Von Hagedorn was a man with shorter auburn hair and a beard and mustache that seemed groomed with wax. He wore a plate cuirass complete with pauldrons and assets over a sleeved chainmail coat.

"Gentlemen, thank you for arriving so promptly. We'll be leaving for the North at the start of next week, so I'll make this brief. Our primary enemy is the Corpsecaller, a Beastlord whose Bray Shaman is being aided by some sort of Daemon of the Plaguefather. I won't lie to you and say that fighting such an enemy will be easy, nor will I lie to you and say that is our only potential enemy, but I will say that if we pull this off, we will all be covered in fame, glory, and most importantly, wealth." I began.

"I like that first one." Mused Francois de Montjoie with a cocky grin, his voice carrying the slow, singing intonation of Parravon.

"I prefer the last one." Smirked Ernesto Quintavalla, pronouncing the last one with the shortened word pronunciation and the SH sound in place of the hard S that was characteristic of a Tobaro Dialect.

"And I would prefer the second." Added Augustus Von Hagedorn, in the harsh, barking tones of a Nordlander Accent.

"Good. All should get all three if we win. I will say, however, that once we have defeated the Corpsecaller, I will be taking the army east toward Malko to deal with the Zani Tribesmen that are attacking those lands before they turn west to attack us. That also runs the risk of getting drawn into Ghoulstone Keep's current conflict with the Greenskin Warband of Warboss Stabbahand." I warned.

"We can handle a few Orcs and Marauding Barbarians." Insisted Francois de Montjoie.

"So long as we're paid to, at least." Agreed Ernesto Quintavalla.

"Indeed." Confirmed Augustus Von Hagedorn.

"Then it sounds as if we're good to go on campaign." I nodded.

Before anything else could be said, however, a Horn sounded out from the walls, and I rushed to the window of my Office in the Kremlin of Alynda to see exactly what was happening. I wish I could say I was surprised by what I saw, but that would have been a lie. Coming out of the badlands to the Northwest, a dust cloud on the horizon was forming. My Optics magnified the sight, and what I saw was a battered and beaten group of Khypris Border Guards and Guardsmen from Cabanal and Mantreda, perhaps four hundred fifty in total, being pursued by two times that number of Gors led by a Gorebull. At the head of the Khyprian Force, the wounded form of my old Companion Ruggiero Colosimo clung desperately to his horse. Running the numbers, it seemed they would arrive at Alynda's gates in a little less than an hour, just enough time to muster my Guards out for battle.

With a frown, I turned to the trio of Mercenary Captains and gestured to the dust cloud as I did so. Their gaze followed my arm, and I saw frowns appear on all three of their faces at roughly the same time as they saw what I had, albeit not in the same definition.

"Muster your men, it seems the war has come to us earlier than anticipated." I ordered.

And with that, I began shouting for my Captains to muster before heading to the Armory to Armor up myself. The shouts for muster were taken up by my guards, and I joined them once I had fully equipped myself about twenty minutes later. Radamenes had found his way to my side at some point during the hustle as my forces mustered on the field outside the Gates of Alynda. We were joined by the Mercenaries and the One-Hundred-Fifty Strigany Cavalry, currently under Ion, as Elder Manfri was busily organizing the Camp's defense with his remaining Guards.

"Advance to contact!" I ordered, and the drums began to beat a tattoo.

The assembled Army began to move out and prepare for a full-scale battle within sight of the Walls of Alynda. Twenty-three minutes after we moved out from the Muster Ground, we would set up in the middle of a field of Turnips, where we would meet with the Beastmen Army in the first clash of the War for Alynda.

And I would finally get to see just how well my military preparations held up in the face of actual battle. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the next chapter. The SI is finally going to the war, though it may be too late to save Prince Harmis Detz, depending on what happened to him and if he made it into Vimera with Anders' Forces. As it is, the fact that there are Beastmen this far South is not a great sign. The fact that it looks like various forces are converging to effectively sack this region of the Border Princes is a problem, though it is one that the SI can solve if he does well. One thing is for certain, if he manages to smash all the threats in the area, it's likely that he'll become Prince of Khypris and other territories as well, which will finally put him on the radar of various people.

At any rate, the next chapter will include the Battle of the Alynda Turnip Field, as I've been rather uncreatively calling it. I'll also have more images and an updated character sheet out before then as well.

Stay tuned. . .