Hino'ri looked at him, curiously, but of course Kiralo didn't say that the person who had taught him the most was not his father. The lessons his father had given had been ones of bitterness and resistance. And yet the old man asked, "Your father sent you letters?"
"Yes," Kiralo said, as if that were an answer to what he was truly wondering. "He did."
I really like how smoothly this works? Like, the difference between what people are assuming about Kiralo constantly and how he uses that. It came up a bit with Han too, and Kiralo is probably the most savvy character for actually noticing things like this.
Ooo Ayila is exciting. Hope we learn more about her soon.
[X] Yes. Though you are a woman, perhaps you have the heart and will of a man.
[X] Work with Hanin spirits. A...little bit more dangerous, obviously, considering the Hanin are less tolerant of weirdos than the Rassit.
[X] Try to sniff out any spies?
[X] Move to act as a counter-magic, to stop any major attacks in action.
*nitpick*
Counter-magic would be her role during battles though. It's not really sabotage if the Prince's mages are directly throwing magic at our lines during a battle.
I didn't go with defending the supply chain due to the limited ability of a single individual, and the sheer length of it. I have faith in those Kiralo would have naturally assigned to defend without knowing about her because it's a basic fact of military campaigning, so we should use her uniqueness on something we wouldn't be able to other wise achieve.
Sorry for quoting this again, but we should probably keep in mind that possible saboteurs are likely to use spirits, which our guards may not be able to deal with as effectively as Ayila.
Ooo Ayila is exciting. Hope we learn more about her soon.
[X] Yes. Though you are a woman, perhaps you have the heart and will of a man.
[X] Work with Hanin spirits. A...little bit more dangerous, obviously, considering the Hanin are less tolerant of weirdos than the Rassit.
[X] Try to sniff out any spies?
[X] Move to act as a counter-magic, to stop any major attacks in action.
Hmm, why did you pick the Hanin? I get the idea of improving an elite unit to make it even better, but why the intolerant ones who are more likely to cause problems?
[X] Yes. Though you are a woman, perhaps you have the heart and will of a man.
[X] Work on crafting spirit-objects and the like for use in battle, perhaps by officers.
[X] Try to sniff out any spies?
[X] Move to act as a counter-magic, to stop any major attacks in action.
[X] Work with Hanin spirits. A...little bit more dangerous, obviously, considering the Hanin are less tolerant of weirdos than the Rassit. No. of Votes: 1
[X] Yes. Though you are a woman, perhaps you have the heart and will of a man.
[X] Work with Hanin spirits. A...little bit more dangerous, obviously, considering the Hanin are less tolerant of weirdos than the Rassit.
[X] Try to sniff out any spies?
[X] Move to act as a counter-magic, to stop any major attacks in action.
Kiralo's sense warred with his senses. She was a woman, there was no way around that unfortunate fact. Women didn't have a place on the battlefield, theirs was not a warlike nature, and nor did they have the strength in order to survive the harsh battlefield. Sometimes it seemed that not even men had that, but it was beyond their natures, and while Kiralo could accept that women could reach their intelligence up equal to or beyond many men, after all he had the example of his mother and his half-sister, that was not the same as thinking they should be involved in war.
Scholarship and painful necessity were very different from war. But Ji'lae was looking at him, and Kiralo knew that he couldn't simply anger them. Their voices mattered as well, and these Mages seemed, for the moment, united around their leader, who was, besides all that, rather fond of Kiralo in general. And that was something to be encouraged, something to be cultivated, considering that they might well be the future of the magical portion of the army, and might have something to say about the future of the Academy, as well.
And he couldn't deny the power in front of him. She looked at him with calm self-assurance, so cocky at...not much older than he'd been when he'd joined the Rassit. And she was already that powerful? It was insane, Kiralo thought, feeling a little nervous around that much power. One always was, around the true gurus of the Southlands, and unlike the Mages, there wasn't a feeling that it was contained.
It flowed out, threatening to flood the entire area, like the rivers of south Irit, and that was where the idolatrous worship came from. These gurus, these thinkers, whose very magical power and insight seemed to justify their beliefs.
Their wrong beliefs, in this case, often in spirits or other stranger beings as the creators of the world, or somehow the guardians of the afterlife. And yet she claimed to have been told by spirits about fate?
"I...think I have uses for you." He sighed, "My camp is likely infested with spies, and if I were Prince Jinhai, I would stop at nothing to destroy the supplies of this army. If we are starving, angry, and undermined, that's even more chance of our defeat."
Kiralo looked at them, "This war can't be won by him by conventional means. He can't win if he plays the game by my rules, and I have the Rassit--"
"Yes," she said, "An impressive weapon, sir."
"Thank you," Kiralo said, still a little unnerved, "And so he will cheat. As I would in his place. And I want your help against that. And when it comes to battle, I want you to stay out of the main combat, and focus on countering any magic he does."
"Really? That's all. Countering magic? A dog could counter magic--"
"Provided they were a powerful dog indeed," Ayila countered, "I would be honored to serve in this capacity." She bowed, low, in the manner of a peasant to a lord, far lower than she had to, considering her magical prowess.
"I give you full authority to use violence in the name of guarding the supply train, both from attacks and spies, and I shall give you a pass," Kiralo said, "One that gives you authority to do what needs to be done. If you find any spies, however, report it in a way that it will swiftly reach me. Dead spies are less useful than living ones," Kiralo said, aware of how cold that sounded.
Cold, yes, but it was also quite true.
"That we can do, hopefully," Ji'lae said. Accepting his judgement, after a moment of defensive incredulity.
And so it was done.
******
On the whole, it was not the least pleasant trip ever. The rivers made for lovely scenery, and the mundanity of his work meant that at least nothing was going wrong. And that was more important than it might seem. The forces were finally converging in Irit, Prince Jinhai continued along his careful middle-path, even as armies marched behind them, armies marched everywhere. It was exhausting for everyone, and as time went on, there were more and more cases for the law to deal with.
Exhausted soldiers drinking too much, yes, but also many cases of desertion that had to be fairly punished with lashing and caning and docking of pay money.
Merchants made it so that as soon as a soldier got the money, he was already spending it out on women and boys, and sometimes men, on food that the strict rations couldn't supply, on more than the little bit of alcohol the rules mandated was given to the soldiers for free, as part of their rations.
They wasted the money, but then that was something that couldn't be helped. The Rassit were only a little better at saving up. Most Rassit only worried about savings once they got old enough that their bones ached in the rain after a day on the saddle, only when they began to realize that they wouldn't be young forever.
Being a Rassit was often a young man's game, and by the time you were forty you were either an officer (and even then you'd struggle to keep up) or you were out of the entire business. It was that simple. Most officers were younger than that, and there was no such thing as an old Rassit, not really.
It was the nature of young man everywhere, perhaps, not just soldiers. But this was a microcosm, and it was frustrating enough to bring people up, frustrating enough to hear reports of rampant diseases spreading through the camp because of prostitutes, even if there were spirits that could treat the symptoms and ease the pain. Spirits whose natures were usually against such acts, in the way.
A spirit of fire could stoke a blaze, or it could dampen it, as the saying went.
So the army progressed, and another army followed it, and day trailed day. An army was a huge undertaking, and yet it was led by men.
Men who had to be appeased, who had to be talked to.
*******
"I hear some foreign woman is running around," General Hulongang said, coughing a little. He had a habitual cough, and his job in charge of a portion of the forces of Xissand was in some ways a concession to his political power. His father was a scholar of great renown, his grandfather had been a bureaucrat who had influenced things greatly in some matters, and, even at middle-age, he had a reputation as a rebel fighter, though he had retired to court. "Doing vile, heathen-ish[1] things."
"Maybe," Kiralo said, glancing at the circle of men. The leader of the Hanin, Ishinori, the General of Logistics, Lung, the Xissand General (Hulongang), Chao, in charge of the cavalry other than the Rassit, Jun, one of the Foot Generals and a fierce fighter, and Mao, the Imperial General in charge of part of the Foot Reserve: it made a good gathering, and he switched up who he was with each day. There were very important politics behind this gathering, behind sitting here with a cup of very strong rice wine in his hand.
Most of all, it was to symbolize friendship, and of course in this case it meant he had to have at least two or three allies in every such gathering, in order to make sure that the conversation didn't go too far.
"Maybe?" Mao asked. He was a bristly, proper man, from a line of bureaucrats and scholars going back ten generations. He had enough experience in war, though, and he'd been a pick that Kiralo could not refuse: Kuojah's man, in other words. Kuojah's man through and through, and while his reputation was not as a great fighter, he was solid and versed in the literature of war, enough that he would at least make no obvious errors, Kiralo hoped. "It is said that to equivocate is to lie."
"To the old classics!" Jun said, raising his glass. A fighter and a drinker, that man, and remarkably, stunningly ugly.
In a wine feast like this, no food in sight, the only proper time to drink was in toasts. And so they toasted a lot. Kiralo drank.
"I say maybe because what he is asking is difficult to answer," Kiralo admitted.
"Why? I've heard--" Chao began, but Kiralo raised a hand.
"She is a barbarian, that is true, and a woman. But there is a saying also that if all you have is rotten wood, you build with rotten wood," Kiralo said, "Let the barbarians do the work for us, if that's what it takes."
Say what people want to hear, speak with a crisp Csiritan accent. "I care about only one thing," Kiralo said, "The safety of the Emperor and the Empire. All else is secondary to that, you understand? To the Emperor!"
Kiralo drank quickly, watching the others. Chao was getting rather drunk, and just as importantly Mao and Hulongang were slowing down.
"Well I'm fine with it," Lung said. He was in his early fifties, weathered and game-eyed, "She's done good work. Bandits slaughtered, spies caught. Who can expect a barbarian to know how to behave like a proper woman, after all?"
"Here here!" Jun yelled, "And who can expect a woman to show any sense in the first place!"
"I can drink to that," Mao said.
"A toast, then!" Jun yelled.
"To women, foolish though they are," Mao said, and they drank. Mao looked like he was about to fall over.
Kiralo would drink to anything, if it won the war. Anything at all.
"To victory, hard though it may be," Kiralo said. This time only half the people took a drink, exhausted from the constant drinking, heads buzzing. But Kiralo could hold his alcohol decently, and he'd drank plenty of water and, cheating, eaten a full meal beforehand to help soak it all up. "And I will say this, Ayila has earned my confidence, as have some of you here. You are all excellent generals, and if we can merely stand together rather than splitting apart, then all will be well! Once this war is over, she will leave, that I am sure of."
"Good, good," Hulongang muttered.
"And on that matter, how are your men?" Kiralo asked, holding out a hand to gesture for another round of rice wine.
And this time, he used another trick. This time he was given a heavily watered cup.
They talked and drank through the night, but when the sun pierced the world the next day, he was the only one left ungroaning, ready to stumble back into his saddle and continue onwards.
The army was working, as much as any army truly worked.
Battle drew closer.
[1] Not the word they'd use, but I wanted to get the vibe.
*******
1d100+14 (Magic)-5 (Not a spy)=96
1d100+14 (Magic)-2 (Martial penalty compared to magical prowess)=101
1d100+14=58
[Locked in[ Title: Meeting the Mystery
Dice Rolled: N/A
Probability: 100%
Text: Time to meet the Mystery Mage, and see just what they're in for.
-[X] A Bunched Fist
Need: Variable, Rolled: 1d100+15=54
-[X] Drinking With Officers
Need: Variable, Rolled: 1d100+12=65
Weather: 24, not great
Marching: 1d100+15 (Martial)+5 (Rassit speed)+5 (Roads)-10 (Cannons)-10 (Size)=60, 44, 82, 58, 89
Jinhai: 1d100+13=110+1d100=150
Sea-Raiders: 1d100+???-??? vs 1d100+10=54 vs. 90, enough to stall for now.
Raiding By The Hari-Os: 1d100+11=24, ow…
Bueli Raids: 1d100+8=25, well, things are going well there, at least.
A/N: She did really, really well so far. Quite impressive, actually!
That really was fortunate, particularly the first one given our own poor roll there.
The rest of the update kind of went as expected fortunately, as we got pretty much average rolls which is a good outcome generally, and Jinhai's critical roll was pseudo-countered by our Spirit's Fly roll mitigating the need to commit any rash decisions by Kiralo.
Prince Jinhai doing that seems to be pretty good for us honestly, as our Irit force is the weaker of our fronts and it's giving them time to reinforce and fortify even further. We just need to not make rash moves with our Hirand army and we're all good, particularly with the female mage countering three different potential avenues that we could have been surprised.
That really was fortunate, particularly the first one given our own poor roll there.
The rest of the update kind of went as expected fortunately, as we got pretty much average rolls which is a good outcome generally, and Jinhai's critical roll was pseudo-countered by our Spirit's Fly roll mitigating the need to commit any rash decisions by Kiralo.
Prince Jinhai doing that seems to be pretty good for us honestly, as our Irit force is the weaker of our fronts and it's giving them time to reinforce and fortify even further. We just need to not make rash moves with our Hirand army and we're all good, particularly with the female mage countering three different potential avenues that we could have been surprised.
You got pretty lucky with the Hari-Os stuff. I mean...it also helped Prince Jinhai at the same time, so! But, let me just say that those two rolls could have gone either way.
The great Emperor, may his reign be forever venerated as most exalted, in the first year of the Era of Harmonious Prosperity, has declared, with the full weight of nearly two thousand years of rule, only briefly interrupted for but a small period of time, that upon the inevitable defeat of the traitor-Prince whose unjust and ruinous course goes against the will of the Gods, and who is guilty of a thousand dark evils, changes will be enacted. These changes, the decrees declare, will surprise and delight all loyal souls in the Empire, and bring general prosperity to all, enacted in ways to affect Basrat, Hari-Os, portions of Hirand, and in fact the whole Empire.
These changes will not yet be unveiled, for the wise do not overload the minds of their lessers--and all men's minds are inferior to that of the Emperor--with too many tasks, for the inferior mind is often best placed to the toil of their days. But, between the lines, there was, in the three documents that Kiralo was sent, a deliberate refusal to state the nature of the changes...and yet a hint that they might have to do with great spoils for those loyal to the throne.
But it did not say it, as might have been expected. Kiralo, whose grasp of politics was matched only by the strength of feeling he had for his father realized at once what the old bastard had planned, even if he could not imagine the specific details. Not spoils, or at least not beyond that which politics and his son's promises demanded. Instead, confiscation, centralization, and wide-scale reform.
Over the last decade, Kuojah had been stymied, had been forced to react as his great reforms, to the road and the taxation system, to the economics of famine and feast, to the system of bureaucracy that was designed to take as much of the burden of leadership from the Hereditary Governors as possible, to many other stances...but all of them had been in danger. But, as old as he was, and if he triumphed over his open enemies, he could afford to kick over the anthill, to demand as the water for his burial pool, the tears of the corrupt and self-centered.
Or of the innocent, though Kiralo realized at once that this was self-centered. Peasants had prospered, at least relative to what they had faced before, because of the reforms that reduced taxation in areas where at least two bureaucrat observers had noted that there was famine (two, because it made them harder to bribe to lie about famine in order to drive up the price), and other reforms that at least meant that in the great cities of Csirit, the poor were somewhat less likely to starve.
His father was not always a monster. And this was his father's decree, for all that at no point was his name mentioned.
With the Storms
Even as the Sea-Raider armies have been temporarily held back, there are rumors that the man in charge of them is someone dangerous. Whispers that he was behind the raids two years ago that managed to capture several important villages, and that thus far he has demonstrated tactical brilliance, and cannons and explosive rounds even beyond what they had possessed before. Either way, though he has not taken a city yet, and has been kept at bay, there is no doubt that as summer turns to fall, if nothing is done he will continue to push.
He is known as the Typhoon, and nothing more.
Those enemy soldiers who are captured fear him more than death itself.
******
A/N: Fewer rumors because you've heard most of the news, like how things in Bueli are...okayish, and how Prince Jinhai is doing great, because the dice love him.
Not surprising Kuojah is taking the opportunity to enact one last great reform, or at least to fully establish the previous ones taken to ensure there will be great difficulty in changing or removing them.
If it's the latter while Kuojah has mentioned implemented great policy for the majority of Csirit, it could mean changing foreign attitudes is harder.
Though, there is also the snake people to the north that likely will have changed things greatly.
Those who rebelled or supported the former getting their possessions taken is par the course.
Not surprising Kuojah is taking the opportunity to enact one last great reform, or at least to fully establish the previous ones taken to ensure there will be great difficulty in changing or removing them.
If it's the latter while Kuojah has mentioned implemented great policy for the majority of Csirit, it could mean changing foreign attitudes is harder.
Though, there is also the snake people to the north that likely will have changed things greatly.
Those who rebelled or supported the former getting their possessions taken is par the course.
Title: Slow Down The Pace
Dice Rolled: Martial
Probability: 100%
Text: With cannons and quite a few troops being dragged along, slowing down the pace slightly could be a good move. It could also be a mistake, but it might help to hold the troops together, and make sure that the army isn't exhausted on their march, though there's essentially no danger of warfare this early, with the border still three weeks out, or so.
Title: Faster, Faster!
Dice Rolled: Martial and Diplomacy
Probability: 75%/50%/35%
Text: Convincing people to speed up, and pulling it off without major dissension, and even harder, without causing at least some exhaustion and disorganization. But it might be worth it. How much time will be saved depends, but...again, there is certainly the possibility that it will not be wasted.
Title: Picking up spares.
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Probability: 60%
Text: At every town, at every city they pass, there are plenty of men who have been raised and serve as 'honor guards' for the area, or in general as raised levies that were not entirely sent. They could be a pool of troops to draw from, to swell their army on the way to Hirand, but this would leave garrisons stripped, and would take some diplomacy to keep from there being complaints, but adding numbers wouldn't hurt.
Title: Drinking With Officers
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Probability: Variable
Text: Get to know the officers that Kiralo has been saddled with. He could choose some of them, in some positions...but not all of them in all positions. Which leaves plenty of nobles that need to be talked to, plenty of officers petty and grand. It has had a good effect so far, actually.
Title: The Symbolism Is Not the Act
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Probability: Varied
Text: Entertainment while marching can be pretty limited, and for the most part it is sufficient for most of the troops. Except the nobles. Stage a few plays using the rough stages that provincial players use, and it might raise morale for the rather richer and more refined of the officers.
Title: A Little Unwinding
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Probability: 100%, effect variable.
Text: Being a general is a hard job. Go out drinking with Kueli, maybe talk to some of the camp followers, maybe do more than that. It would certainly relieve stress, and might win some confidence in their general...or might not, it all depends. Better now than right in the middle of the full campaign, though, since these next two weeks will not see you at the border. Danger is thus low.
Title: Counter-'Bandit'
Dice Rolled: Martial
Probability: Variable
Text: Bandits are trying to raid the supply train. Except no bandit is stupid enough to do that unless they're being paid by someone. Ayila has done wonders in helping with that problem, but adding to the guards could certainly help things.
Title: Demonstration of Force
Dice Rolled: Martial, Stewardship
Probability: 60%
Text: As the border cities are reached, perhaps a march of some of his forces into the city where the secondary army is going to be staying would be helpful. It would show them the might of the army, might allow a last few troops to be gathered, and would be good for the very unsteady morale of the troops.
Title: Demonstration of Grace
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Probability: 65%
Text: In the cities of the border, there are merchants, there are lords. There are people of all kinds, and while Kiralo cannot be long separated from his army, if he were to stop nearby, he might be invited to dinner with some such notables. Meeting with them could shore up support or gain new contacts.
Title: A Great Destiny?
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Probability: ???
Text: Ayila is...an odd girl. An odd, startlingly effective girl. Perhaps Kiralo would like to quiz her more on this 'destiny' of hers and what she's even doing here, and how she expects Kiralo to help her?
Title: Managing Spirits
Dice Rolled: Magic
Probability: 55%
Text: Aiyistin has been antsy lately, and it's been troubling and annoying. Find out what it is doing, and find out why it's trying to rile up all of Kiralo's other spirits.
Title: Massaging Expectations
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Probability: Variable
Text: Back in court, they plot and scheme and demand updates. It has been mere weeks since they set off, and yet there are some in the court who already expect that the war would be going even better than it was. Address those critics, try to promise the world without...promising anything at all. It's a complicated matter, really, but Kiralo can't just rely on Kuojah, not if he wishes to be his own political actor.
Title: Scouting Trips
Dice Rolled: Martial
Probability: 80%
Text: Get a lay of the land. Kiralo cannot act as a scout at all times, after all he is in charge of the army, but he could ride ahead with the Rassit for a while, try to get a feel for scouting in general, and the terrain in particular. Especially with the bandit problem, the army might be forced to pay close attention to the terrain in any case.
Title: Dispensing Justice
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Probability:
Text: The enforcement of the rules was always a very, very difficult process. Checking in with the bureaucrats and sergeants is always important to make sure that none of the laws are being ignored.
Title: Baths! Baths! Baths!
Dice Rolled: N/A
Probability: 100%
Text: Along the route of the rivers is a town known for its hot springs and baths. Both for Kiralo and others, it might be a relief to time the movement of the army so that parts of it could visit the town and bathe once the army had stopped in for the night. It might improve morale, and certainly it could be interesting and relaxing.
Title: Vend Only
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Probability: 60%
Text: Merchants are dangerous sorts to a soldier, and making sure that none of them promote anything dangerous...or help spread diseases, or rip off the soldiers, is often very important. Of course, it's also difficult to control, since what the soldiers want, they will get, unless a good deal of force is used to stop them.
Title: Deserter Patrols
Dice Rolled: Martial
Probability:
Text: People desert. Draw together a bunch of half-trained peasants and the like, and some of them are going to run. Some of them are going to hide. it is inevitable, and more than that, dangerous. Deserters are sometimes merely scared people trying to escape from brutality and violence (for it is not like the life of the common conscript is that good), but they can also turn into bandits, if allowed to leave. Patrol for them to bring them back and...punish them if need be.
Title: Training with the Dancers
Dice Rolled: Martial/Personal Combat
Probability: Variable
Text: Before too long, in battle at least, Kiralo might be fighting with his unit again. Perhaps some practice riding out with them could help, as well as more practice at group maneuvers. Of course, he might decide to take his place in the back as a Csiritan general, but one shall see.
Title: Fighting the Next War
Dice Rolled: Martial
Probability: Variable
Text: Start looking into and asking questions about just what the Sea-Raiders are doing. Isn't it typhoon season? This is usually not the time for such raids, and yet...here they are. What will the plans be for the Hari-Os forces?
A/N: Pretty simple, no? Just get to voting. By plan, mind.
Title: Dispensing Justice
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Probability:
Text: The enforcement of the rules was always a very, very difficult process. Checking in with the bureaucrats and sergeants is always important to make sure that none of the laws are being ignored.
Title: Deserter Patrols
Dice Rolled: Martial
Probability:
Text: People desert. Draw together a bunch of half-trained peasants and the like, and some of them are going to run. Some of them are going to hide. it is inevitable, and more than that, dangerous. Deserters are sometimes merely scared people trying to escape from brutality and violence (for it is not like the life of the common conscript is that good), but they can also turn into bandits, if allowed to leave. Patrol for them to bring them back and...punish them if need be.
Both are missing the chance of success. Though it's probably variable, I suppose?
My plan so far looks something like:
-Dealing with bandits
-Dealing with deserters
-Something to improve morale
-Diplomancing officers/nobles
-Aiyistin x2
The first two to prevent loss of supplies and too many men, morale is self-explanatory and the fourth to keep the officers and nobles under us in line so that they won't start undermining us for some reason or another. The Aiyistin action is because Kiralo hasn't done much in trying to control him and I'm wary of the possibility of it causing problems during battles. Two dice because the chance of success isn't that high and failing it can have some potentially very bad consequences (Which is of course the case with most actions, but I think the potential consequences are bigger for anything involving spirits this powerful). In short, nothing too flashy just trying to keep our army together and working.
Title: Dispensing Justice
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Probability:
Text: The enforcement of the rules was always a very, very difficult process. Checking in with the bureaucrats and sergeants is always important to make sure that none of the laws are being ignored.
Title: Baths! Baths! Baths!
Dice Rolled: N/A
Probability: 100%
Text: Along the route of the rivers is a town known for its hot springs and baths. Both for Kiralo and others, it might be a relief to time the movement of the army so that parts of it could visit the town and bathe once the army had stopped in for the night. It might improve morale, and certainly it could be interesting and relaxing.
Title: Vend Only
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Probability: 60%
Text: Merchants are dangerous sorts to a soldier, and making sure that none of them promote anything dangerous...or help spread diseases, or rip off the soldiers, is often very important. Of course, it's also difficult to control, since what the soldiers want, they will get, unless a good deal of force is used to stop them.
Title: Demonstration of Grace
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Probability: 65%
Text: In the cities of the border, there are merchants, there are lords. There are people of all kinds, and while Kiralo cannot be long separated from his army, if he were to stop nearby, he might be invited to dinner with some such notables. Meeting with them could shore up support or gain new contacts.
Title: Managing Spirits
Dice Rolled: Magic
Probability: 55%
Text: Aiyistin has been antsy lately, and it's been troubling and annoying. Find out what it is doing, and find out why it's trying to rile up all of Kiralo's other spirits.
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Probability: 100%, effect variable.
Text: Being a general is a hard job. Go out drinking with Kueli, maybe talk to some of the camp followers, maybe do more than that. It would certainly relieve stress, and might win some confidence in their general...or might not, it all depends. Better now than right in the middle of the full campaign, though, since these next two weeks will not see you at the border. Danger is thus low.
Dispensing justice, Vend Only, and Baths will all help maintain troop morale and discipline. They'll should also improve the overall health of the army, which is invaluable due to the role disease plays on the army.
A demonstration of Grace to apply some of Kiralo's politcal skill to the local rulers, which is going to be needed as we move into enemy territory. You don't need to defeat the enemy necessarily via battle after all. The local rulers here are likely to have contacts with others nearby regardless that could be drawn upon.
Finally two dice are spent on Kiralo himself. The first on finding out what's wrong with Aisyitin, and the second on following up on Kueli's suggestion. Chances are more than a few of the leaders of the army are going to be there too, so it's a good exercise regardless in building camaraderie.
