[X] Thwart an attempt to convince several figures close to the Emperor, including his teacher of mathematics, that Kiralo's plans to move out are hasty and foolish. Thus far their attempts have not truly yielded fruit, and the Emperor struggles with math at the moment anyways, but it'd discomfit his enemies.
[X] Spread counter-rumors to counteract any claims that Kiralo is going to be recalled soon at Kuojah's demands. His strained relationship with his father has only made this seem more plausible, and it's igniting a fever of plotting that is only going to get worse, and so cutting it off might save Kuojah more than a few headaches.
[X] Thwart an attempt to convince several figures close to the Emperor, including his teacher of mathematics, that Kiralo's plans to move out are hasty and foolish. Thus far their attempts have not truly yielded fruit, and the Emperor struggles with math at the moment anyways, but it'd discomfit his enemies.
[X] Spread counter-rumors to counteract any claims that Kiralo is going to be recalled soon at Kuojah's demands. His strained relationship with his father has only made this seem more plausible, and it's igniting a fever of plotting that is only going to get worse, and so cutting it off might save Kuojah more than a few headaches.
[] Thwart attempts to get certain select young noblemen he'd rejected onto official positions of influence on the Council in an attempt to gain control of the war when he inevitably fails and is removed. Except they have no plan other than 'surely Cs-Kiralo will be removed, mid-campaign, and he'll listen and then immediately devolve things to a council that will only partially be present.'
I mean, if we fail and are removed, we're already in deep trouble. If we don't fail, no problem. If we fail but somehow aren't removed, they will raise a stink and ask for greater power, but what's the chance of us not being removed if we fail?
[] Thwart an attempt to convince several figures close to the Emperor, including his teacher of mathematics, that Kiralo's plans to move out are hasty and foolish. Thus far their attempts have not truly yielded fruit, and the Emperor struggles with math at the moment anyways, but it'd discomfit his enemies.
Perhaps unlikely to succeed, but I don't want us to wait another week or two with moving out if they do succeed. People trying to put the Emperor against us is bad in general.
[] One particular faction is claiming credit for work done in the foundries based on a notable bureaucrat aligned with them being on the supervising committee. Allowing them to take credit could make friends of them...if they're worthy of being friends, considering that they're taking credit for something they didn't do.
My first reaction is: "hahaha, no."
My second reaction is: "piss off!"
My third reaction is: "maybe they'll make good allies, but if they often pull stuff like this, they're going to cause problems for us sooner or later."
[] Spread counter-rumors to counteract any claims that Kiralo is going to be recalled soon at Kuojah's demands. His strained relationship with his father has only made this seem more plausible, and it's igniting a fever of plotting that is only going to get worse, and so cutting it off might save Kuojah more than a few headaches.
[] Kiralo is being accused of favoritism of the worst sort. The absolute and undisputable worst kind of favoritism: favoring someone based on their actual talents and abilities. Several of the young nobles that he thought showed some moderate competence have also showed more than moderate contempt towards Kuojah and his faction, and those within his orbit are calling for their removal. And calling Kiralo names. Kuojah has held it off for now, but it might be important, depending on several factors. Most of all, if it is important...it's important for what will happen after Kuojah dies. To what extent will Kiralo inherit his support? Certainly, while Kujoah's support is often ideological, there are those who *might* merely follow him out of family ties.
-[] Suggest to Kuojah that these insinuations should be tamped down even more.
-[] Give in and remove a few of the offenders, as a gesture of goodwill.
Ouch. I really don't want to give up any talent that we have, we'll need all the competence we can get. Not doing anything about this might force Kuojah's hand though.
[] ...and then there's the big one. Kuojah has used this as an opportunity as well. He's shut down the only printing press not indirectly controlled by him, on suspicion that it might be allied with Prince Jinhai. It might be...it might not be. Kiralo had not talked to the person in charge of it, though reading what he'd written it seemed that he was merely opposed to Kuojah. But it was hard to tell. Very hard. It'd take some real effort and if he approves all he has to do is nothing [IE, don't pick this option], but if it's a problem, well. Then he might have to pit himself against Kuojah on this matter, whatever the consequences.
Publishing Dangerously: Recently a scholar has been generating a lot of attention with his bold new theories involving both history and philosophy. Shing Yan, of lineage Nu, was already a figure of great interest. He was one of the few to have risen as far as he has despite opposing Kuojah's philosophical definition of virtue, and his foundational critical reading of the eight interpretations of the just act has put him in a class all his own. Intelligent, dissolute, and given to extravagant claims and even bolder acts, he is shameless and without honor.
He is also now the owner of a printing press, and he has created a very small company outside of the Imperial Presses that seems to be sanctioned mostly by bribery, since such an act might lead to the publishing of material the government does not approve of.
Thus far it has not been, but nobody can see it as anything but a house organ for Shing Yan's views, and this might indicate a rupture between him and the general schools who collectively held one of the imprint licenses, the only one to oppose Kuojah, in fact.
We haven't taken the action related to this, so we don't really know much of the situation other than 'dad is shutting down his detractors'. He could make a good ally to have, but my first reaction would be to stay out of this.
[] Try to talk to a few people. Convince them of a few points. Those that actually legitimately are arguing about points of strategy might be convinced otherwise...though he has to be careful that none of them will report anything to Prince Jinhai. It's possible some of them are trying to smoke out his ideas, or not? It's hard to be sure, in all honesty.
Convince people that our strategy is the right one. These are people that seem to know atleast something about strategy, so getting them on our side makes it harder for others to argue against it. There's the possibility of the Prince's spies picking it up though.
So far I'm undecided between:
[] Thwart an attempt to convince several figures close to the Emperor, including his teacher of mathematics, that Kiralo's plans to move out are hasty and foolish. Thus far their attempts have not truly yielded fruit, and the Emperor struggles with math at the moment anyways, but it'd discomfit his enemies.
[] Spread counter-rumors to counteract any claims that Kiralo is going to be recalled soon at Kuojah's demands. His strained relationship with his father has only made this seem more plausible, and it's igniting a fever of plotting that is only going to get worse, and so cutting it off might save Kuojah more than a few headaches.
[] Kiralo is being accused of favoritism of the worst sort. The absolute and undisputable worst kind of favoritism: favoring someone based on their actual talents and abilities. Several of the young nobles that he thought showed some moderate competence have also showed more than moderate contempt towards Kuojah and his faction, and those within his orbit are calling for their removal. And calling Kiralo names. Kuojah has held it off for now, but it might be important, depending on several factors. Most of all, if it is important...it's important for what will happen after Kuojah dies. To what extent will Kiralo inherit his support? Certainly, while Kujoah's support is often ideological, there are those who *might* merely follow him out of family ties.
-[] Suggest to Kuojah that these insinuations should be tamped down even more.
The first is basically to convince the Emperor that our way is the right way and to prevent other from setting him against us.
The second and third are basically a trade-off. We help Kuojah with these rumors and in return he'll stop his supporters from criticizing us. We could of course take the third and not the second, but....
[x] Spread counter-rumors to counteract any claims that Kiralo is going to be recalled soon at Kuojah's demands. His strained relationship with his father has only made this seem more plausible, and it's igniting a fever of plotting that is only going to get worse, and so cutting it off might save Kuojah more than a few headaches.
[x] Kiralo is being accused of favoritism of the worst sort. The absolute and undisputable worst kind of favoritism: favoring someone based on their actual talents and abilities. Several of the young nobles that he thought showed some moderate competence have also showed more than moderate contempt towards Kuojah and his faction, and those within his orbit are calling for their removal. And calling Kiralo names. Kuojah has held it off for now, but it might be important, depending on several factors. Most of all, if it is important...it's important for what will happen after Kuojah dies. To what extent will Kiralo inherit his support? Certainly, while Kujoah's support is often ideological, there are those who *might* merely follow him out of family ties.
-[x] Suggest to Kuojah that these insinuations should be tamped down even more.
I'm prepared to let the emperor be for now. We shall prove that we're right by winning the war, or we'll have greater problems than emperor's teachers saying mean things about us.
And we need competent people soooo... suck it up, for now?
[X] Thwart attempts to get certain select young noblemen he'd rejected onto official positions of influence on the Council in an attempt to gain control of the war when he inevitably fails and is removed. Except they have no plan other than 'surely Cs-Kiralo will be removed, mid-campaign, and he'll listen and then immediately devolve things to a council that will only partially be present.'
[x] Kiralo is being accused of favoritism of the worst sort. The absolute and undisputable worst kind of favoritism: favoring someone based on their actual talents and abilities. Several of the young nobles that he thought showed some moderate competence have also showed more than moderate contempt towards Kuojah and his faction, and those within his orbit are calling for their removal. And calling Kiralo names. Kuojah has held it off for now, but it might be important, depending on several factors. Most of all, if it is important...it's important for what will happen after Kuojah dies. To what extent will Kiralo inherit his support? Certainly, while Kujoah's support is often ideological, there are those who *might* merely follow him out of family ties.
-[x] Suggest to Kuojah that these insinuations should be tamped down even more.
These guys are highly likely to make everything worse, aggressively.
The recall plots are limited at present for lack of solid organization or backing, but these two would lead into some hard to counter power plays in the later phase
Adhoc vote count started by The Laurent on Apr 11, 2017 at 9:46 AM, finished with 2663 posts and 12 votes.
[X] Spread counter-rumors to counteract any claims that Kiralo is going to be recalled soon at Kuojah's demands. His strained relationship with his father has only made this seem more plausible, and it's igniting a fever of plotting that is only going to get worse, and so cutting it off might save Kuojah more than a few headaches.
[X] Thwart an attempt to convince several figures close to the Emperor, including his teacher of mathematics, that Kiralo's plans to move out are hasty and foolish. Thus far their attempts have not truly yielded fruit, and the Emperor struggles with math at the moment anyways, but it'd discomfit his enemies.
[X] Kiralo is being accused of favoritism of the worst sort. The absolute and undisputable worst kind of favoritism: favoring someone based on their actual talents and abilities. Several of the young nobles that he thought showed some moderate competence have also showed more than moderate contempt towards Kuojah and his faction, and those within his orbit are calling for their removal. And calling Kiralo names. Kuojah has held it off for now, but it might be important, depending on several factors. Most of all, if it is important...it's important for what will happen after Kuojah dies. To what extent will Kiralo inherit his support? Certainly, while Kujoah's support is often ideological, there are those who *might* merely follow him out of family ties.
[X] Thwart attempts to get certain select young noblemen he'd rejected onto official positions of influence on the Council in an attempt to gain control of the war when he inevitably fails and is removed. Except they have no plan other than 'surely Cs-Kiralo will be removed, mid-campaign, and he'll listen and then immediately devolve things to a council that will only partially be present.'
[X] One particular faction is claiming credit for work done in the foundries based on a notable bureaucrat aligned with them being on the supervising committee. Allowing them to take credit could make friends of them...if they're worthy of being friends, considering that they're taking credit for something they didn't do.
[x] Kiralo is being accused of favoritism of the worst sort. The absolute and undisputable worst kind of favoritism: favoring someone based on their actual talents and abilities. Several of the young nobles that he thought showed some moderate competence have also showed more than moderate contempt towards Kuojah and his faction, and those within his orbit are calling for their removal. And calling Kiralo names. Kuojah has held it off for now, but it might be important, depending on several factors. Most of all, if it is important...it's important for what will happen after Kuojah dies. To what extent will Kiralo inherit his support? Certainly, while Kujoah's support is often ideological, there are those who *might* merely follow him out of family ties.
-[x] Suggest to Kuojah that these insinuations should be tamped down even more.
[x] Thwart an attempt to convince several figures close to the Emperor, including his teacher of mathematics, that Kiralo's plans to move out are hasty and foolish. Thus far their attempts have not truly yielded fruit, and the Emperor struggles with math at the moment anyways, but it'd discomfit his enemies.
[X] Thwart attempts to get certain select young noblemen he'd rejected onto official positions of influence on the Council in an attempt to gain control of the war when he inevitably fails and is removed. Except they have no plan other than 'surely Cs-Kiralo will be removed, mid-campaign, and he'll listen and then immediately devolve things to a council that will only partially be present.'
[X] One particular faction is claiming credit for work done in the foundries based on a notable bureaucrat aligned with them being on the supervising committee. Allowing them to take credit could make friends of them...if they're worthy of being friends, considering that they're taking credit for something they didn't do.
[X] Thwart an attempt to convince several figures close to the Emperor, including his teacher of mathematics, that Kiralo's plans to move out are hasty and foolish. Thus far their attempts have not truly yielded fruit, and the Emperor struggles with math at the moment anyways, but it'd discomfit his enemies.
[X] Spread counter-rumors to counteract any claims that Kiralo is going to be recalled soon at Kuojah's demands. His strained relationship with his father has only made this seem more plausible, and it's igniting a fever of plotting that is only going to get worse, and so cutting it off might save Kuojah more than a few headaches.
[] Kiralo is being accused of favoritism of the worst sort. The absolute and undisputable worst kind of favoritism: favoring someone based on their actual talents and abilities. Several of the young nobles that he thought showed some moderate competence have also showed more than moderate contempt towards Kuojah and his faction, and those within his orbit are calling for their removal. And calling Kiralo names. Kuojah has held it off for now, but it might be important, depending on several factors. Most of all, if it is important...it's important for what will happen after Kuojah dies. To what extent will Kiralo inherit his support? Certainly, while Kujoah's support is often ideological, there are those who *might* merely follow him out of family ties.
-[] Suggest to Kuojah that these insinuations should be tamped down even more.
Still undecided between a combination of any of these three though. Hmm. Will probably edit this post later, once I've decided.
Edit: Decided to go for Emperor and helping dad.
[] Kiralo is being accused of favoritism of the worst sort. The absolute and undisputable worst kind of favoritism: favoring someone based on their actual talents and abilities. Several of the young nobles that he thought showed some moderate competence have also showed more than moderate contempt towards Kuojah and his faction, and those within his orbit are calling for their removal. And calling Kiralo names. Kuojah has held it off for now, but it might be important, depending on several factors. Most of all, if it is important...it's important for what will happen after Kuojah dies. To what extent will Kiralo inherit his support? Certainly, while Kujoah's support is often ideological, there are those who *might* merely follow him out of family ties.
-[] Suggest to Kuojah that these insinuations should be tamped down even more.
@The Laurent, I don't quite understand this vote. So there are some competent nobles, and Kiralo has favored them. And now they are calling Kiralo names? Why? (Or should that read Kuojah?)
And what insinuations should Kuojah tamper down? That Kiralo is promoting competent people?
@The Laurent, I don't quite understand this vote. So there are some competent nobles, and Kiralo has favored them. And now they are calling Kiralo names? Why? (Or should that read Kuojah?)
And what insinuations should Kuojah tamper down? That Kiralo is promoting competent people?
The ones calling Kiralo names are Kuojah's supporters, who appear to be pissed that Kiralo has promoted anti-Kuojah nobles to high positions because of their competence, so they (Kuojah's supporters) are asking for them to be removed.
I think the "favoring them based on their competence" part was supposed to be sarcastic and that the impression is that we're merely promoting them because they're anti-Kuojah. It's pretty well known that Kiralo and his dad don't really see eye to eye.
Thanks. On rereading the passage it seems pretty obvious. Reading comprehension failure...
[X] Kiralo is being accused of favoritism of the worst sort. The absolute and undisputable worst kind of favoritism: favoring someone based on their actual talents and abilities. Several of the young nobles that he thought showed some moderate competence have also showed more than moderate contempt towards Kuojah and his faction, and those within his orbit are calling for their removal. And calling Kiralo names. Kuojah has held it off for now, but it might be important, depending on several factors. Most of all, if it is important...it's important for what will happen after Kuojah dies. To what extent will Kiralo inherit his support? Certainly, while Kujoah's support is often ideological, there are those who *might* merely follow him out of family ties.
-[X] Suggest to Kuojah that these insinuations should be tamped down even more.
Kuojah certainly won't like being asked to rein in his supporters and thus help his enemies. So not to overtax his patience, I think we should lend him a hand, too. Thus:
[X] Spread counter-rumors to counteract any claims that Kiralo is going to be recalled soon at Kuojah's demands. His strained relationship with his father has only made this seem more plausible, and it's igniting a fever of plotting that is only going to get worse, and so cutting it off might save Kuojah more than a few headaches.
[X] Thwart an attempt to convince several figures close to the Emperor, including his teacher of mathematics, that Kiralo's plans to move out are hasty and foolish. Thus far their attempts have not truly yielded fruit, and the Emperor struggles with math at the moment anyways, but it'd discomfit his enemies.
[X] Spread counter-rumors to counteract any claims that Kiralo is going to be recalled soon at Kuojah's demands. His strained relationship with his father has only made this seem more plausible, and it's igniting a fever of plotting that is only going to get worse, and so cutting it off might save Kuojah more than a few headaches.
Vote Tally : Original - Fantasy - Behind the Serpent Throne (CK2) | Page 106 | Sufficient Velocity ##### NetTally 1.7.10.1
[X] Spread counter-rumors to counteract any claims that Kiralo is going to be recalled soon at Kuojah's demands. His strained relationship with his father has only made this seem more plausible, and it's igniting a fever of plotting that is only going to get worse, and so cutting it off might save Kuojah more than a few headaches. No. of Votes: 8
[X] Thwart an attempt to convince several figures close to the Emperor, including his teacher of mathematics, that Kiralo's plans to move out are hasty and foolish. Thus far their attempts have not truly yielded fruit, and the Emperor struggles with math at the moment anyways, but it'd discomfit his enemies. No. of Votes: 7
[X] Kiralo is being accused of favoritism of the worst sort. The absolute and undisputable worst kind of favoritism: favoring someone based on their actual talents and abilities. Several of the young nobles that he thought showed some moderate competence have also showed more than moderate contempt towards Kuojah and his faction, and those within his orbit are calling for their removal. And calling Kiralo names. Kuojah has held it off for now, but it might be important, depending on several factors. Most of all, if it is important...it's important for what will happen after Kuojah dies. To what extent will Kiralo inherit his support? Certainly, while Kujoah's support is often ideological, there are those who *might* merely follow him out of family ties. No. of Votes: 6
[X] Thwart attempts to get certain select young noblemen he'd rejected onto official positions of influence on the Council in an attempt to gain control of the war when he inevitably fails and is removed. Except they have no plan other than 'surely Cs-Kiralo will be removed, mid-campaign, and he'll listen and then immediately devolve things to a council that will only partially be present.' No. of Votes: 2
[X] One particular faction is claiming credit for work done in the foundries based on a notable bureaucrat aligned with them being on the supervising committee. Allowing them to take credit could make friends of them...if they're worthy of being friends, considering that they're taking credit for something they didn't do. No. of Votes: 1
[X] Spread counter-rumors to counteract any claims that Kiralo is going to be recalled soon at Kuojah's demands. His strained relationship with his father has only made this seem more plausible, and it's igniting a fever of plotting that is only going to get worse, and so cutting it off might save Kuojah more than a few headaches.
[X] Thwart an attempt to convince several figures close to the Emperor, including his teacher of mathematics, that Kiralo's plans to move out are hasty and foolish. Thus far their attempts have not truly yielded fruit, and the Emperor struggles with math at the moment anyways, but it'd discomfit his enemies.
A flick of the hand, a whisper in the right ears. A rustling of a robe. These are the sounds of plotting, when it was spoken beneath one's breath. These were the sounds he heard. He didn't have to act, he merely had to give out rumors, he merely had to consider just what was important.
He had very little time to waste with this, and he used that as a cloak. He wrapped himself in his annoyance, and played the monster from the land of the Judges. He roared, he thundered, he smiled politely and threatened people with being cast out of the court once he won.
Once he won against Prince Jinhai, never if. He used his confidence as just another weapon, and left behind many enemies. Vanquished...but not dead, as they would be in war. That was just the nature of court politics. It could be deadly, but most often, especially when it came to Kuojah, what you actually left behind were weakened, cast-aside enemies that still could strike out if you looked away from them.
Kuojah had never done so. Wouldn't have done so. Not for even a moment. It was why he had survived for so long. Basic tactics, and yet Kiralo felt tired already of it. Tired of the fact that they'd still be there in a year, two years. Three. Kuojah had survived for decades, showing more mercy than a less patient man would.
Kiralo sipped his tea and tried to contemplate becoming that sort of man. He was patient enough, but there was the patience that waits for a little food, that contemplates the best move, and there was the patience that could not be worn down. He acted, and in acting, he was going to make many new enemies.
Still, at least it worked both ways. People had lived, reached the height of whatever power they could grasp, and then fallen from power or even died in the time Kuojah had been playing. They wore him down…
But he wore them down, the river running through everything, the heart of the Empire, as some said. A still, cold heart, Kiralo thought, staring out at the trees, the leaves almost wilting in the heat of that miserable afternoon as he contemplated the messages.
Kuojah's support mattered. His hand felt heavy as he wrote. He didn't want his father to matter, but if he hadn't wanted him to matter...then he should have gone south and south and south. Again and again, down into the badlands. Then beyond them. Where men fought the jungle, and it was rumored everything grew. And then perhaps west, even to the land of the Anlan.
Only there would Kuojah not matter. He'd mattered in the Southlands, certainly.
Maybe it was a foolish idea. Certainly, it was not a very pious one.
To the God of fathers, who is not the father of Gods, Lao-Hah, that I can live with his shadow.
*******
He prayed when he wasn't working, and didn't sleep more than a little bit each night. There were hundreds of Gods, each with a specific role. Shen and Shang, river and sea, Zhu, the journeyer goddess, who ran with the horses and called on the spirits of them to keep the world in motion, God after God, each vital and carefully proscribed to their place.
Or rather, they knew and accepted what they were, and acted with justice and mercy to uphold the world. That they each had a station seemed, to Kiralo, just more proof of their sensibility, compared to the Gods that were nothing more than men, with the appetite of men. Even the God of alcohol was not a drunkard, the God of war was not a sadist, nor a murderer, not any kind of monster. Each oversaw and was their field.
Field? As if it was merely a matter of study. The Gods were born of the pleas of the spirits, and that meant that they were born for this world, and this world was born for them, for whatever existed before, when the Great Spirits warred without thought...wasn't to be thought of.
The Great Spirits did not oversee what they were: they just were it. They had been War in all its forms, Death in all its forms, without limit and without sanity. Even the simplest regular spirit had at least a little more nuance and personality. Or so the stories went.
The most just Emperor, the ancient wisdom said, was one who both was and oversaw the Empire.
So was it the same with the general? It had been said before, more or less, he thought. Kneeling in water up to his waist, staring into the reflection until his eyes strained, trying to see what there was beyond the pool. There was not a new thought in warfare, not really. But there were...rearranged thoughts.
There was the fact that things were changing. Cannons would change them, and so would--
Kiralo dreamed, even as he had the seargants and generals push as far and fast as possible. The wall of spear, and the Hanin behind them, perhaps expanded in number, or some lesser version of them. Pushing back. The cannons breaking up any enemy formation, as the cavalry took advantage of a broken formation to tear it apart.
Rassit were very good at tearing apart a tattered enemy, but when they were strong and steady it could be hard to do more than nibble at the enemy's edges. That was enough, often, but there was a joy in doing more. Tarnarin were better at acting on their own, but a Rassit such as himself always had to think about how to use other people. The environment. The luck of the world.
He thought about it, aware that what he was trying could backfire. Try a new strategy in the middle of a war, and as often as not it meant defeat. Not because there was anything wrong with it, but these things took time. Still, as long as the infantry at least knew how to obey the right orders and work to put pressure on the other side, then he could use his Rassit to good effect.
That's what he decided, kneeling there. He decided that this could work, that it was working. He knew that some of this was fancy, and even more of it was a matter of wishful thinking and a desire to get something out of it. And each new change he instituted, each new formal signal he changed--the lowering and raising of banners and the shouted order in the winds--was an affront to the dignity of the army.
It had stood as it had stood. Axiomatic, tautological, and all sorts of other words that his father had written in amused fury at the complaints. It was a virtue of his father's that since he didn't respect the military in the first place, he didn't respect their traditions the way the old bastard respected every other tradition under the sun and moon in Csirit.
It meant he had space to breathe, and space to accept that he wasn't making friends with this. It didn't matter. Victory at every price. He sighed.
At least the scouts were doing well. The generals were taking well to the exercises he was putting them through to demonstrate what a scouting mission would be like from their perspective. How to interpret the reports, what to look for, it was all so simple.
Scouts were the eyes and ears of a formation, and Rassit scouts were the best mounted scouts in the world...and those trained by Rassit were a close second. They could travel a sixty or seventy miles in a day with comparative ease, which meant that you could scout an entire day ahead if you really needed to. The only trick was that the Rassit unit had to be able to keep in touch, which meant you wanted carrier birds, spirits, anything at all that extended the range.
It also meant that you needed people who paid attention. You needed experts.
He froze. You needed experts, he thought...and so did he.
*******
"What can you tell me about cannons, then?" Kiralo asked. In the Southlands, they had cannons for sieges, and naval guns, but no more than that, and even those were rare. It was too wide open, and too easy to flank a cannon and slaughter its users--
Or was it? Perhaps there were other constraints. Tactically and strategically, there was the mobility issue.
"Cs-Kiralo, be more specific," the old, grizzled cannoneer said, staring out at him from a single, bright eye. "What the fuck do you want?"
"How good are our cannons? The Anlan's? The Sea-Raiders?"
"The Anlans are a little better than ours, from what I've seen, the Sea-Raiders a lot better, though they're mostly bound to ships, the bastards. Some of the wheeled cannons we have now, they can match the bastards."
"The barbarians have an advantage though?"
"Some, I guess," he shrugged.
Kiralo nodded, thoughtfully, "If this war ends, we will get rid of any advantage. And I'll have something for your department to look at."
If he was going to check the Anlan's technology...then he should check it. Insist that they send their best cannons to outfit the Turtle. He'd pay them well enough, if the politics allowed it. It wasn't as if it was likely.
He had to live, first, and win second if he was going to ever do anything about the idea slowly worming its way into his brain.
Victory first.
******
The army, the army that would scour the traitors clean, left early in the morning, and yet the people gathered in the thousands, in the tens of thousands, in numbers beyond counting to watch them march and march and march. The sun was just a pale glimmer on the horizon, and still they cheered. Still they watched.
Kiralo couldn't blame them.
Then again, he also knew that they were fickle. If war was brought to the city, then they would spit and curse his name.
Best, best of all things in the world, to win. He had too much to do to bother with defeat.
Title: Horse and Foot As One
Dice Rolled: Martial
Chance of Success: ???
Text: Combining mounted bowmen and infantry is a very hard task indeed, especially without Tarnarnin to serve as the shock forces. But it was something he'd seen done plenty of times, and so he was confident that he could manage something. How much could be managed in two weeks? Even a little bit might help.
Requirement: 1 General
Need: ???, Rolled: 1d100+15=72, bare success
Title: Scouting and You
Dice Rolled: Martial and Diplomacy
Chance of Success: 75%
Text: The army needs to understand and respect its Rassit scouts and their abilities, or else he might be arguing with other generals for the rest of the campaign about what they can and cannot do.
Need: 25, Rolled: 1d100+13=49
[1.2x] Title: Prayer for The Future
Dice Rolled: Learning, Diplomacy...
Chance of Success: Variable.
Time: 1 Turn
Text: The Gods watch him. They also, if Aiyistin is any judge, watch things more important than him. Now is the time to pray, now is a time for peace and for contemplation, now is a time to hope that they have in store for him victory. That he can win.
That they each had a station seemed, to Kiralo, just more proof of their sensibility, compared to the Gods that were nothing more than men, with the appetite of men. Even the God of alcohol was not a drunkard, the God of war was not a sadist, nor a murderer, not any kind of monster. Each oversaw and was their field.
Field? As if it was merely a matter of study. The Gods were born of the pleas of the spirits, and that meant that they were born for this world, and this world was born for them, for whatever existed before, when the Great Spirits warred without thought...wasn't to be thought of.
The Great Spirits did not oversee what they were: they just were it. They had been War in all its forms, Death in all its forms, without limit and without sanity. Even the simplest regular spirit had at least a little more nuance and personality. Or so the stories went.
The most just Emperor, the ancient wisdom said, was one who both was and oversaw the Empire.
So was it the same with the general? It had been said before, more or less, he thought. Kneeling in water up to his waist, staring into the reflection until his eyes strained, trying to see what there was beyond the pull.
Loved this—the way his thoughts about the world and his musings on the the gods flow straight into a reflection of his position and his power. (And I love the way you set the scene too.)
The Army of the Capital: Combining the Imperial Army, the Armies of Xissand, the men of Hari-Bueli, who raced there even ahead of Yeadalt, closer to the capital, the forces of Hirand, and a number of troops from quite a ways farther, it is a powerful, united weapon, having within it all manner of forces, all kinds of units. It is strong, and it is spread out some, for their numbers long ran beyond what would fit in the capital, and so all around the countryside they'll have to gather.. Special Units: Wind Dancer Rassit (1k), Hanin (3k), Kueli's Scouts and Skirmishers, The Cannons of War (Dozens and dozens), Others. Total Troops: 175k, yes, a lot of troops. Enough that moving all of them out on the roads would be dangerous indeed.
Northern Irit:
The Army of Irit: Made up of the levies of the Imperial Army and of Irit, those that are not holding ground in various forts and other areas (and many are), their morale is currently average, and could certainly be worse. 15,000 Imperial Troops (10,000 spearmen, 2,000 Skirmishers, 1000 Hanin, 500 Cavalry, assorted 1,500 units) and 24k Iritan troops. The latter are almost entirely poorly trained militia, but do include a unit of a thousand Hanin, as well as a number of monks who have left their monasteries to fight in the name of the Emperor. Total Strength: 39k.
Southern Irit/Coming North:
Rerin Army: Heavy on skirmishers and light infantry, as well as more than a few bowmen, they are about two or three weeks ride from The Army of Irit. Rerin itself has been divided on a number of matters, and troubling bandits as well as a fear of raids has lowered the forces they'd normally send considerably, though they are held in 'reserve' as always. Total Strength: 15k
Nestirin Armies: Two competing armies, under different lords, as part of some strange power sharing agreement, they are heavy in Mage support and magical power, but have been slowed down somewhat. They are probably a month or so off, at this rate, if they keep on running into bandits and bad weather. Total Strength: 30k
Along the Hari-Os, Hari-Su border:
Armies of Hari-Su: Tens of thousands of raiders, bandits, and pirates, all carefully leashed and let loose on the Hari-Os countryside. They will cause considerable chaos and death, that much is for sure, and yet depending on how much Hari-Os sends with the Prince, they still might run into problems. Maybe even more problems than expected.
Coming South to Csrae the City:
The Army of Yeadalt: Three weeks from the city, they are surprisingly heavy on skilled veteran spearman, and it seems that things were peaceful enough at that moment to allow a real influx of people. Well above the minimum, and that even with most of them being eaten up by supplying, garrisons, and so on. Total: 25k in fighting men.
The Forces of Hari-Nat: Word has come. Very, very welcome word. They are marching in strength as they have not in previous wars, and they are taking all their strongest men. They fear not any raids or attacks, and the Governor seeks to win for his son the glory and fame that is needed for later political battles. For journeys north that might expose the whole Empire. They come with heavy cavalry, the closest to Tarnarin (and that is a sad statement, is it not) that the Empire has. They come with heavy troops, spearmen and axemen, men who kill and kill with cold fury and precision. They come with the Governor himself, and his full entourage. They come to kill, they come to die. They are only two weeks out, and might yet be able to catch up if they hurry, or if Kiralo slows down the train for them. Total Numbers: 45k, yes, you heard that right.
Deployment Orders
Martial Roll: d100+30=?
Currently, as the situation stands, the Prince himself has, close to or in Basrat, 120-140k in troops. They could, if they drew up as much as possible at the last moment, perhaps get 30,000 more, and that'd involve stripping Hirand even more bare and allowing Hari-Os to fend entirely on its own against the creeping raids of Hari-Su. Which probably wouldn't be acceptable. What this means is that he has numerical inferiority in his main body, but not so great as to truly doom him, especially since once one gets beyond a hundred thousand men, the roads start to struggle, though one can thank Kuojah for making all of that a lot more uncertain with his road-building projects. They've benefitted Csrae and the Empire as a whole plenty, and it does mean that Kiralo might have a slight transportation advantage.
Slight, but he'll need what he can get. Kiralo has several things he has to worry about. He needs to protect the Capital, he wants to unite with the forces in Irit, and he also has to be weary. If the Prince is smart. Kiralo would be aware that while he could still win, there were now numbers against him.
Kiralo would feint into Irit and have his main force go through Hirand. Ultimately, if Jinhai took the capital and Kiralo took Basrat, that meant that Jinhai won. With control of the Emperor, he'd be able to tear apart the coalition, and the army would no doubt dissolve into infighting and distrust, at best.
It was why it seemed so absurd, all of the court plotting. Because if he lost, the plots wouldn't matter, because the Emperor wouldn't matter.
So, there were several things he could do with the army. He needed to save at least some of them for capital duty, and not just the ones coming, because that'd leave the city undefended for weeks, even if attack was unlikely--a political folly, to say the least.
He needed to take an army down to Irit, because that was still Jinhai's most reasonable move, even if he could use it as a bluff.
And it might be wise to have a force to either hold at a city near the Hirand-Csrae border, or even plunge into Hirand, if he could trust himself to have the numbers to threaten from two places at once. Either way, the world was now in motion.
The Rerin and Nestirin Armies were going to join with the Irit army unless something else was ordered, and the Yeadalt, Hari-Nat forces need to be commanded as well.
Deployment Orders!
[] Write-in. Move people around in units of a thousand, in the sense that you can't order, "100,538" people to do this or that. Assume that Kiralo will optimize who goes where and what on his own, in terms of elite units, but feel free to specify. Finally, the next stage is the deployment of people to specific jobs/etc, but I wanted to wait until we order up deployment. Remember to consult the map!
*****
A/N: Okay, I'm going to admit that this might be a little complex, but hopefully people will surprise me. It's not that hard, in a way. There are three main places you can send troops. To the border, to the capital, and to Irit. The border troops could be ordered to stick along the border as a trip-wire/delaying force, or ordered into Hirand as a more offensive sort of thing. Either way, just be aware of the timeline that's going on with all of this.
Oh thank the spirits, I was starting to get afraid we had botched the Hari-Nat action.
@The Laurent Where exactly is the Hari-Nat army right now? Are they already in Csrae or are they still marching through Hirand or Xissand? I'm not really sure how much distance they can cover in 2 weeks.
