Lordaeron Turn 5
Your return to the Scarlet camp attracts rather less attention than your first visit and you find your section largely untouched. Servants have apparently come in and you find the place actually a little tidier than you'd left it.
As you set your sword down you hear a commotion and Sesk comes through your doorway, hauling a human child.
"This one thinks I'm you." he says simply, dropping the boy at your feet.
"Darion Mograine." you say, appraising the new arrival.
The boy is young, perhaps two or three years younger than yourself, yet the first thing you notice about him is the determination in his eyes and the well-worn sword on his belt. What sort of a life must he have had to look like that? Certainly he's seen more than you had at his age, you were still hunting in the Valley of Trials when you were twelve.
The younger son of the Crusade's first leader, Darion has been assigned to you by the Crusade's leadership to be your equerry, assisting and advising you in various military matters. Such duties are common among the humans, or so you understand, and it's a sort of training for their nobility to serve another officer. In his first duty you order him to report on the rumours and events of the camp while you've been gone.
"Lord Tirion is to travel to Tyr's Hand on some errand, and none know when he might return but many say the Grand Crusader means to march on Andorhal and is calling out his forces for the battle."
"Is it wise for him to go alone?" While it's somewhat disappointing Tirion will be absent you're aware he has other duties.
"The safest way." Darion confirms, "A single rider can slip through Scourge patrols where a company would be tracked down and overwhelmed."
You thought back to the Mills, indeed, your smaller groups had penetrated to the necromancers there easily where if you'd marched as one you might have run into thousands of the undead.
"The emissaries from Stormwind have brought all sorts of supplies, the King of Ironforge has sent cannon and powder, and a dozen priests from Northshire Abbey have also come, it's thought to be a great omen!"
You're unfamiliar with term. "Is this 'Abbey' a great fortress?"
Darion seems thrown, "No it's, uh, a church."
"Then why is it such a great omen?"
"The Brotherhood of Northshire officiated the induction of the Silver Hand during the Second War." and the boy launches into a somewhat prolonged explanation before Sesk growls, the orc twice the size of the child, sending him scuttling out for fear of the fel-sworn Blademaster.
"Yes?" you ask, unimpressed by his attitude. The Blademasters are utterly beyond your control, they follow you to protect you but have little interest in obeying you or fighting in battles they consider beneath them.
"Get a hold of your warriors." Sesk advises.
"I do." you insist immediately, eyes narrowing. "I know what they're doing. None of them have wandered off, Vark and Scorn are watching them, there haven't been any fights with humans." Indeed the later has rather surprised you but you put it down to the respect they've developed toward the various Light-wielders in the camp.
"Oh really?" Sesk asks, then he turns his head and speaks a word, something stolen away by the wind.
And with the wind the word returns, a gust blows open your tent and suddenly Ishi is standing there.
"Says he knows what the warband is up to." Sesk remarks.
"Told you." his other half replies, their smirks annoying you.
"What am I missing then? Get on with it and say it."
Though you don't and never had questioned their experience and teachings, the two bounce off each other and can be frustrating in the extreme when they're amusing themselves at your expense. At least they only do it in private rather than where the warriors can see.
"You've got too much of Akinos in you." Sesk continues, "He concentrated his efforts inward, he mastered himself and his blade, but on the way he forgot how to live."
"And your murders are better?"
The pair ignore the statement, "You can head out and fight, you can lead the others, but you've no overall strategy. It's like simply swinging at whatever you see. At best you'll exhaust yourself in a dozen little battles, at worst your enemies will take advantage of you."
And despite your bad mood you recognise what they're getting at. You've lost about a fifth of your force in battle so far and while you've hit strongholds of the Scourge it's easy to see how your warband might be whittled down over such battles, meaningless in the larger scheme of things.
"Don't try and do everything yourself either." Ishi joins in, "Your warriors have their own skills. The girl's been away for the last few weeks," and your stomach drops as you realise that no, you've not seen Kartha for a while, "The big one's been tinkering. Use what you have, that means those around you as well as your own resources."
After the two leave you try to calm yourself. Darion creeps back in but you dismiss him, setting aside your chair and sitting down in the middle of your tent. As you calm your breathing you sense something. You sense a:
Choose 1:
[ ] Wandering child, lost, in pain, confused and afraid
[ ] Vigilant soldier, ready to shield their liege
[ ] Loyal servitor, diligent and true
[ ] Vengeful sufferer, waiting for their time to strike
You can do write ins for any category. You can also vote for actions individually rather than in plans, or you can vote in plans if you want. The normal policies apply including plans without reasoning being ignored. I've shuffled the geography of Tirasfal a bit but most stuff still applies. Ask me if unsure. If there's an action which notes some unspecific element, this is where you're meant to indicate a preference or reasoning.
Two specific points I'm adding on this turn and future ones:
I've previously mentioned that you can be fairly flexible with actions. This includes delegation if it makes sense. Sesk (and I) are telling you to delegate, there's lots to do but you've got capable people to rely on. You can't send Vark off to study the Light, but you can send Kartha to scout somewhere instead of tramping out there with the whole warband. See the relevant heading.
For this turn, choose the sensing action independent of any plans so the counter counts it properly.
Choose 7 actions. At least 2 action have to be from your Warband, but you can take additional time to take more Warband actions if you decide to.
Delegate
You are surrounded by various capable people. You can delegate certain actions for free. You'll have little control over the conduct of the delegate while they're away, and they'll make decisions as seems best to them. If you want to delegate an action, clearly mark this in your plan and indicate any specific things you want from it.
The Warband
These actions relate to the activities of your warband.
[ ] Fields of Tears
From Dathrohan's words you know the Crusade will be expanding into the Plaugelands, a vast province which used to compost most of Lordaeron's kingdom. Currently the Crusade only control small pockets of land and rely on networks of couriers and caravans for communication and supply. Apparently the area just north of Anderhol is known to be particularly dangerous, full of farms and plague caldrons which corrupt the land. You cannot allow this.
[ ] Silverpine Forest (2 Actions)
The woods to the south by comparison seem less malevolent than those here in Tirasfel Glades. You've heard several things regarding Silverpine Forest, journey there are see what may be seen.
[ ] Terrordale
The warband are used to fighting the undead by now, but darker creatures serve the Scourge as well. To the east into the Plaguelands lies a region known as 'Terrordale', an evil place inhabited by horrors unlike what you've faced before. If you're to continue to aid the Crusade in more than just killing shamblers you should seek out more dangerous prey…
[ ] Training the Warband
There are a number of different competencies among your warriors, see if you might spread these among the others to increase the general level of skill of your band. Indicate if you want to train particular people or particular skills. This can include specialist training that might be offered.
[ ] Requisition
While you can train your warriors in particular things you already know, there are some things you have to get from elsewhere. Requisition supplies or personnel from the Crusade. The success of such requests will depend on your value to the Crusade. Write in what you want. This action represents the request and some basic integration into your force, if the action is relatively simply it can be delegated to Darion or others and will be free.
Lordaeron
These actions relate to specific areas around your current location.
[ ] Deathknell
Once the Forsaken used a hidden village to the east to acclimatise newly risen members to their lives, or rather deaths. As far as you can tell the Crusade aren't aware of it, could any Forsaken remain there? If so might you spare them the fate of their comrades in Brill?
[ ] Strange Lights
There were reports from a few warriors of strange lights seen in the sky over Lake Lordemere. You don't know what this might be, but perhaps you should journey there and see what may be seen.
[ ] The Scarlet Monastery
One of the earliest bastions of the Scarlet Crusade, the great fortified cloister to the north has stood for years as a light in the darkness. Supposedly there's a large library there, perhaps you could learn more of the Crusade's history there.
Training
It's important for a warrior to keep themselves well trained at all times.
[ ] The Blade Reborn (2 Actions)
Request a program of calisthenics from Sesk and Ishi.
[ ] Tactics
You're good with a sword but you know there's more to victory than the ability to swing a weapon.
[ ] Stealth
The Shattered Hand are known to be a dishonourable lot, striking from the shadows and using poison and though you don't intend to adopt their methods you might at least learn them.
[ ] Scholarship
Make use of what resources you can to learn, particularly the papers you took from the Kul Tirans, as well as anything you can find around the camp.
[ ] Shadow Magic
While you don't expect to learn the necrolyte's arts immediately, you decide to speak to Keldran to understand more of what his magic actually is.
[ ] The Light
Consult Fordring regarding the Light. You currently perceive it as another of the Elements, just as you've essentially decided that Fordring is a shaman, but is this true? You've learnt about the Three Virtues, but you're unsure how they relate to the Five Aspects of the Light, of which Tirion is the representation of Vengeance.
[ ] Slayer
You know something of the undead and their different forms, but you could do with learning more. You've heard tell of one among the Crusade called Vishas, a man who apparently knows a great deal about the undead.
[ ] Arcane
The Darkspear had mages, but the traditions of Dalaran are far more advanced and better codified. Tirion mentioned a mage, seek out this individual.
[ ] Ways of Battle
Tirion pointed out that you don't have other weapons than your sword, which is unsuited to tight places. Rectify this.
Personal actions
These actions relate to activities you take for your own benefit, or to improve yourself.
[ ] Meditation
Sit in contemplation. Be specific if there are particular things you want to consider otherwise it'll be fairly general.
[ ] Prisoners
The Alliance delegation have apparently brought a ship load of conscripts with them. Supposedly these are people who've committed various crimes and been given the option to pay off their various debts to the community though service in the war against the Scourge. Darion mentions there were orcs among their number, and certainly it seems you should command any of your people in this land rather than some human!
[ ] Pyre of the Light
Though you and Tirion managed to persuade a few, the Scarlet Crusade burned Brill to the ground. Fairbanks stands over the ashes, his new converts accompanying him. Might you aid in his ministrations?
[ ] Posture
Hold a conference of your officers to discuss your strategic posture over the next few months, or even years. You seek the knowledge of your peers and any suggestions they might have. In particular you've been considering the need for reinforcements and you'd welcome the suggestions of others.
[ ] Diplomacy
Lady Prestor has invited you to speak with her. Apparently she's interested in learning more about Draenor. Could this be an opportunity to make further steps toward diplomacy with the Alliance? Alternatively you could seek out Bolvar Fordragon to speak with him again, or even the newly arrived Lord Waycrest, the Kul Tiran ambassador. When considering the later you wonder if returning the loot you took from the watchtower in Durotar might gain you favour with the seafarer? Indicate which parties your want to talk to.
Social
Grok presumably has some free time, who does he choose to spend time with?
Spend time with [Write in].
This action is free, and will provide no specific benefits as it's just a social action.
