The Camp of the Dawn (IC)

On his way back from the smith, Fitzmerwill paid the Griffons a visit, asking to speak to Sir Darlion. When the duke received him he slightly bowed and said:

Your grace, with all due respect, I am irritated that you and your men are so easily sent away by some old laws. I understand you cannot act against Redsword based on your investigation in the city, but you reported yourself, that your men had found enough evidence in the countryside, that the Red Dawn are committing crimes and atrocities. As it is the king's duty to care for his subjects and protect them against such threats as the Red Dawn and as Redsword harbours these criminals and refuses to deliver them to a royal court to trial them, he has done enough crimes to be acted against. Therefore I beseech you to think about your decision again, as your troops would be invaluable in putting an end to this red nuisance.

Sir Darlion looked up from where he was seated, dozens of papers scattered in front of him. He listened to Fitzmerwill speak before patiently holding up a hand and finishing writing a letter he had been constructing before the knight entered. When he was finished, he called for a rider and handed the man a note. The knight left quickly, leaving Darlion and Fitzmerwill alone.

"You are irritated? Irritated? You mean like how half of my army is irritated? Or how the Dawn army who we promised to are irritated? Or how I myself am irritated? This is not a decision made lightly.. Captain, was it? I am not familiar with the Silvermist command structure, so forgive me of my ignorance of your rank. Were the knights of the Dawn holed up in that city criminals, my army would march against them. However, as they are currently acting as the Duke's soldiers, and their actions have broken no laws while acting as such, there is little I can do. It is not a matter of right and wrong, I would love to see their heads on pikes. It's matter of not generating a political shit storm for Mordred so soon after ascending the throne."

"I am leaving engineers here under knight-commander Renault to tend to your siege engines, and a small force of Griffons up north to repel any Dawn attacks against civilians in the area, as well as warn your forces in case the enemy advances from Windholm towards you. The rest of my army marches for Sarleon, whether I wish it or not."

"Excuse me sir." Said Sir Fabien.

"Captain." Fabien greeted Fitzmerwill with a nod.

"Lord Darlion, I have come of my own accord, Sir Aranor sent me to go send for Boar, but I wished to thank you for trying to help us. I speak not only for myself, but for many of the Dawn knights. The younger squires and retainers are somewhat mad, but they are young and do not understand. The older knights know the reasoning on why you have decided to leave, you are not like us, you serve a king, and you have your orders, unlike us, who follow the will of Astraea and our consciouses. I want to personally thank you for sending troops to Windholm and leaving behind those engineers, the order is stretched enough as it is."

Sir Fabien also took out a necklace from his pocket. It was a golden sun on a silver chain. He held it out to Darlion

"Please Darlion, take this. It is a symbol of our gratitude. Whether or not you follow Astraea, you are doing her work, and we wish you luck in Cez."

Sir Fabien takes a small bow, excusing himself.

"Farewell Sir Darlion, Captain."

Fabien then went off in search of Boar.

Boar was to be found in the Dragon camp, his tent in a central location and raised to a height so that those no taller than the average man would not have to stoop to enter its confines, a perfect command post. As Sir Fabien entered, he saw that Boar was hunched over a large number of papers, and was carefully noting something down on a piece of parchment, the quill in his massive hand seemed minute and childish.

"Be with you in a minute" the massive Dragon rumbled by way of welcome, glancing up from his work only momentarily. A messenger butted around Sir Fabien with a squaking pigeon in one hand, and a tiny scroll in the other, clearly just extracted from the poor creature's leg.

"Ravenstern" the man mumbled by way of explanation, and without looking up, Boar tapped the desk with a stubby finger. The man dropped the scroll infront of him, then fled from the tent.

Finally Boar seemed to finish, and leaked some wax on the parchment, he then hammered his signet ring into it to form his seal. The table groaned with the force of the strike, but the big man barely noticed. He then stood, and tearing the scroll open, walked over to Sir Fabien glancing over the writing as he did. With a quick nod, he handed the scroll to the man of the Dawn, and leaning back against the desk watched for a reaction.

Sir Fabien looked to Boar, not betraying any emotion that he may be feeling.

"I shall give this to Sir Aranor, and return with his answer."

Sir Fabien leaves, only to return within the hour with a letter of his own, he hands the letter to Boar.

"Now if you'll excuse me Boar, I must return to my grandmaster."

The Boar gives a quick nod to Sir Fabien before the man returns to his own people, the action speaking a thousand words. He then disappears into the tent once again, and moments later another pigeon takes to the skies, flying fast for the north.

Belethor is practicing his sword play and fighting techniques in a crudely constructed training ground when he spots Sir Fabien leaving Boar's tent and hurries over to him.

"Sir Fabien is there a plan as to what we are going to do now with the Griffins leaving? If so what is it? Please tell me we aren't about to give up on these treacherous Red Dawn "Knights" just because Sir Darlion says he can't help."

Sir Fabien walks over to Belethor.

"Of course we have a plan Belethor. We were going to attack the Red dawn long before the Griffon's arrived, and we still are. You should have more faith in Sir Aranor."

As you say, your grace, Fitzmerwill responded, obviously trying to sound respectful.

He slightly bowed and left the tent to see whether the smith had already finished his work.

In fact the device was already completed and Fitzmerwill took at along to the command tent, having thanked the smith for his good work.

At the tent he presented the metal cone to Aranor.

This might help amplifying your voice, Lord Aranor. The Lord Constable used a makeshift version of this device at Stormcliff Cove to great effect. It helped to make the mass of the enemy infantry surrender after the warrior-women had fallen.

Sir Aranor takes the cone.

"Many thanks Captain. You are a good example of the spirit of ingenuity that the Silvermists are famous for."

Sir Aranor faces his lieutenants, captains, and friends.

"Brothers. The Griffins have left yes, but the Dragons are staying. Mastifus has pledged his forces to remain here to aid us. The Griffons have also decided to leave their siege engineers for our engines. I know some of you are slightly anxious about the number of enemies we face. But fret not. The city of Javiksholm has the normal garrison of around 500 men. about 120 of those 500 are actually true soldiers, while the rest are mostly militia and levies. If we take into account of the purges that the Red Dawn has made, we can lower the number of 500 to about a little more than 350. Of those 350 soldiers, how many are actually willing to fight to the death? They fight out of fear."

Sir Aranor shows them the device.

"With this voice-amplifying device, I can project my voice out to the populace of the city. When the garrison and the people see that we have come to rescue them, I can almost guarentee that the militia not fighting with the Red Dawn directly at their backs will drop their weapons. When they see Pendor's finest riding through the gates and over the walls, they will cower."

"Men, we siege the city at Dawn. Some of you may have noticed the extra soldiers coming in. Those 200 men that I have requested from our holdings will hopefully make up the difference of the Griffins."

"Merzinas, you will try your ruse at Dawn as planned. Remember that the men you lead are squires and men-at-arms, do not throw their lives away. Make sure to grab their attention while the Dragons and the militia wheel up with the battering ram.

He looks to Fabien

"Fabien, you shall go with Merzinas. Take your squire too. Without Darlion we need a commander over there."

Aranor looks to Fitzmerwill.

"Fitzmerwill, after you perform your feint near the southern gate, you'll run up to our main gate as planned before. But this time, you'll leave the militia alongside the dragons at the south to keep the enemy divided."

Aranor's eyes skim over the map.

"When we have the Rangers with the main force. We shall give the order to charge. The Wyverns shall be put under Blaze's command. Then Blaze shall charge with the Gauntlets, while the militia wheel up the siege weapons and the Rangers provide ranged support. Then, when the walls have been captured, Blaze shall secure the entry plaza and gatehouse, with the Gauntlets providing ranged support. The Silvermists shall then run to the walls to relieve the Gauntlets. When the gate opens, the main force will charge into the city."

"Fabien, when you and the dragons have broken into the city from the north. Keep hold on the walls and the district. You need to distract them however you can."

"When the main force has entered the city, I shall use this device to tell the populace we have come to liberate them."

"Any questions?"

"How much of Redswords head do you want on the pike."

Sir Aranor's face darkens and he looks down onto the map. He taps his finger a few times on the table.

He looks up into Merzinas's eyes.

"If he remains alive by the end of this siege, we are dragging him to Sarleon for trial. My main concern is to make sure that Vigdus Bloodsword doesn't inherit Javiksholm. If he does, then all of this would have been for naught. But, if Redsword does attack one of you, kill him. Then, we burn his body for the city to see."

"As for the bishop and Tenorio.. kill Tenorio, keep the bishop alive. Sever his arms and break his legs if you have too. Keep him alive."

Wolfarmin walked into the tent with his right hand on his hip, his chest poked out, and a excited smile on his face.

"I like the sound of that" , slaping Merzinas on the back two times then sitting on on a wooden chair

Thaddeus limps into the tent

"Laralthir is dead, Sir fancy-pants Gregory Herlin told me himself, I want that bastard's helmet."

Sir Aranor raises his hand to his face.

"I sensed it when I didn't see him come back with the rest of the prisoners."

Sir Aranor looks to Thaddeus

"If you can claim it, it's yours. Are you sure you can fight with that limp?"

"I'll be fine, can't say much for the other prisoners, they'll be out for some time."

Thaddeus tilts his head

"I do have a question, what was the purpose of that mission?"

Aranor was silent for a little bit.

"We sent you in there for some candy!" Aranor exclaimed.

"You were the co-leader of this operation and yet you don't even know why it even happened? We sent you in to infiltrate that damn city. We sent you in to gauge the Red Dawn, and to secure the gate during the night. Did you not do your job? Did Laralthir not tell you to keep a low profile and scout the city?"

Aranor waves his hand

"I don't want to hear anything right now. I just want to get this dreadful affair over with."

"Someone ratted us out, someone who knew exactly who we were"

Thaddeus limps to the exit.

"Do not expect any more special favors from the Gauntlets, my forces will assist you with the siege and then I will withdraw. If there is a spy amongst your ranks, I won't have anything to do with it."

Thaddeus limps out of view

Aranor looks up.

Thank you for your sacrifice. When we find the traitor, we'll send his head to Ethos.

What weapons do the new dawn ships possess?

Also, so what, they just leave? Does that mean they will be an order in pop4?

coming to break the siege methinks

Not to break the siege, just to reinforce it.

If they were coming to break it, then they would have just charged south as mounted combat is their advantage.

Ana Sulran approached the camp at a brisk pace, riding her white warhorse and wearing her silver-painted light plate. The sun's light, combined with the cloth of gold cloak over her shoulder, gave her something of an aura. The two men comprising her escort looking all the more poorly equipped in comparison.

Where is the Grandmaster's tent? She asked one man bearing the Dawn emblem.

Upon receiving an answer, she turned her horse and rode in the direction given, hoping to find the Grandmaster still in his tent.

A man approaches Ana, clad in a mail surcoat emblazoned with the Rising Sun.

"Excuse me milady, I am captain John, leader of the Dawn remaining here. The Grandmaster has already left with the army. We are just militia the Grandmaster has left to protect the village of Kulum."

He points towards Javiksholm

"You'll want to go there."