[color=red]If your magic is your sowrd magic it would seem to me that you need further practice . Your footwork was sloppy and your parry late, the strike itself was not bad although it only succeeded becasue the man;s guard was weak a competent swordsman should have defeated you
(Kilica has unreasobly high expectations of other peoples swordsmanship, I know ROberto is actually a good swordsman but all is relative)
[color=red]The question is whether they have departed to go back home or departed ot go to the ford further up river and come back to us. All you would have to see is if they cross at the Schore Ford.
Roberto is a competant swordsman, but not excellent. His score is only 5, and 6 is the benchmark for being "Good". He needs work, that is for sure 
Roberto meets Havlard’s gaze with that knowing look, nods, then turns to Iolar with a smile that is somewhat patronizing (though not purposefully so).
[color=red]The word is “Reconnaissanceâ€, see sweetheart? It comes from Latin, which is the language we are speaking in. Recognosco, “to know againâ€. Hence Reconnaissance; the act or operation of examining or surveying a territory or enemy position for military or engineering purposes. It is something that needs to be done always and at all times, again and again. Intelligence is the greatest weapon, and you can never get too much. Our advantage over the mundanes is that we have command of the sky, a subtle eye.. And then with bold confidence, he places his hand on Iolar’s shoulder and looks her square in the eye. [color=red]All our hopes are on you sweetie. Find out everything you can. How many there are, where they slept last, when they ate last, what they ate last, check on the retreat of the other force, as much information as you can. Report back here, debrief us, and then go do it again. And again.
(OOC: Andrew, I know this is asking a bit much 
. I don’t know if you are just playing in this story or running a co-op with Max again (you guys are sneaky). Bu even if she obtains no information that has any game relevance, she should be logically be doing something useful. I also want to eliminate the potential for any surprises . I got a little 1940’s with my dialogue, but I refrained from calling Iolar “broad†or “toots†
, so I hope you let it slide 
)
Afterthought: We also need a map. Can I presume we have one? A large one laid out on the council table. Roberto takes pieces from a chess set and uses them to indicate each forces last known position in relation to our own.
Halvard shakes his head at Roberto's speech.
[color=red]We just need to know if they are crossing the Schore ford ( points up river) and coming back here or not. You are best able to do that as I seem to be best able to make a fake army.
((Where is David and his zombie/skeleton minions when you need him))
[color=red]Let me give the order to the masons and laborers so we can start building the rampart. I will attempt to move a lot of earth to quickly build the wall or fort.
[color=red]Trust me Havlard. I may have exaggerated a bit, but good recon is essential. And the bit about their food, I was serious. Say they have about a hundred soldiers, more or less. They require nearly an equal number of service and support staff. Cooks and messangers and forragers and ditch diggers and so on. They are either carrying their food supply with them or they have a supply line established. Eliminate their stores or cut off their supply line, and they will not last a single day. After Intelligence, the most important consideration in military strategy is Logistics. An army consumes a large numer of resources. The Romans invented the sausage originally for mlitary food supply logistics. The Spartans would plunder territories they moved through. Richard the Lionhearted marched his crusaders along the shore so that they could be constantly supplied by ships. Without a food supply, an army quickly capitulates and disperses.
[color=red]I admire your knowledge of sausages but it is irrelevant to the question of are they crossing the ford at Schore...where they could buy to take more food, and coming back here. If they show up hungry then we must be ready to fight. If they show up with full bellies then we must be ready to fight. While the information might be useful later it is more pertinent now to find out if they are coming back and how soon they will be here.
and before you say we could destroy the village of Schore to cut off their Logistics please stop.
[color=red]But, I...
OOC: That is an example of informaton I did not know. I thought Schore was just the name of a ford, I did not realize that there was a village there. That's an example of the kind of recon I need. Are they in the village or on the other side of the ford still? Is the village able to sustain and support them?
They are not going to show up with empty bellies. It is at least a full day's journey from there to here? They won't be in any condition to fight if they march all day on an empty stomach. They will be easilly dispersed if they do, and more likely will simply desert their commander to go find food.
But if there is a village that supplies them, then that is another matter. I will not advocate destroying the village or posioning their well or eliminating their food supplies or anything like that. However, this village seems like a good place to confront them and request a parley.
Well to sum up a few things. Iolars recognisance reveal the following. The force with the commander that where defeated in the duel are supported by a minor noble estate further east of the covenant, a fancy and large manor house. They return there and sends of a messenger towards Brugge. The other force seems to live of a village further to the north east, and there seems like the villagers are not to happy about this. This village is located near the sea. It seems likely that they are not on their home soil, just borrowing the “resources†of their rival. They have sent out several scouts to perhaps investigate the other force and to scout out the covenant.
There are not too many skilled craftsmen and masons at the covenant but if the magi are willingly to spend some time a crude fortification could be made at the ford. Perhaps a small hill right next to it?
The pirates could go on a nightly visit to someone if needed. They are not keen on facing down a force head on, especially if they are greater in numbers than the pirates. But grim deeds in the night are possible.
Aelianus speaks later with his soldaes.[color=red] If we can mangage to stay out of this crisis and secure our safty for a season then I could craft charges items that will give us a great deal of power when it comes to fighting of mundanes. For example as penetrating any mystical protection is not necessary then I could spend more energy on great power. I could craft wands that spat out a thousand pillums of fire or that made a thousand mundanes spend the day running and screaming in panic. One such display and they would tremble at our power.
[color=red]".... and the Quasiotors would have us before the tribunal. I do not think that we can in the log run win by violence. We must either deal preferably from strnegth or use our magic to avoid a confrontation, We could hide in a regio it works for some covenants however we don't know how to do that. Is there another group of magi or faeries who could help us achieve such an effect?
Guys, I have a Radical plan.
[color=green]Roberto: [color=red]It seems that our second foe is not as honorable as the one we just drove away. I would have rather we had thrown our lot in with him. Hired our men as mercenaries, not as conscripts. He earned my respect by facing me in combat and by keeping his word afterwards. I would like to go and meet with him in parley, cover him with my Parma and have a serious discussion. We can combine our mundane forces with his and route this less honorable opponent. It is interfering with mundanes, yes. But if we keep magic to a minimum, nothing obvious, and we are successful; then there is no case to be made against us for bringing potential ruin on our sodales. I will be the only magus to ride with him. I know how to keep it subtle, the way we did it back in Spain. And if it fails, I am the only one who will face charges.
In return, having made friends and coming to an understanding, we can have more cordial relations in the future. We have to pay our taxes, but at a just and lawful rate. Not the robbery that was proposed. And no conscripts. I am adamant about this. And no magical servitude. Aelianus may sell items through vendors in the manner permitted, but according to his own will and desire. What we can offer them is real estate. The commander that honored the duel, make a Tame Noble out of him. Or Berger, whatever they call their mayors around here. They can build a tower or something, which will fuel our economy and provide us with soldiers. We will have to puppet master the whole thing, but that’s how other covenants get away with it. They serve us, we don’t serve them.
(OOC: Guys, Dragor would be perfect for the political manipulations needed to make this happen. Andrew, does this satisfy your desire for a long term solution?)
[color=red]That sounds like the best plan anyone has come up with yet. Is there anything I can do to help?
[color=red]A sound plan my soldae, Aelianus sighs, [color=red]but we be forced to give up our independence. But sure we would be masters of the situation. I can’t see any other way out but it seems my plans for independence are lost. Now we should think of means to make sure that we are independent, magical weapons will ensure that we can remain independent even if these mundanes come here demanding more powers. It is my honest thought that I think that mundanes should be our subjects and not the other way around. We are the ones the gods have given power, mundanes just happened to have the right parents.
The best way you can help is to keep obtaining new information. This last tidbit you brought inspired a plan you finally approve of .
He then calls over to Carlos [color=red]Carlito! Saddle up four horses, one using the special rein. Pack your gear ecause you are one of the four. I will take Marcellus with me as well. Then one more...
[color=red]We will rule over them, through puppets and persuasion
[color=red]I would just point out that the man you fought might be honorable but his mistress may not be. She is the one to control not him.
[color=red]The other option is to join this other town as a commune for mutual protection and freedom.
[color=red]This commune is a much preferred option. It reminds me of the Fuero system back home in Spain. But can we pull it off? We have Aelianus wanting to wipe out mundanes on the one hand, on the other hand Iolar wants us to roll over and cater to their every whim like subservient peasants. Where is there middle ground to satisfy us all?
[color=red]It seems that we are going to join someone's side. Perhaps we should find out more about the sides involved before we choose.
Aelianus speaks. [color=red]Personally I prefer the commune option and that is what I have strived for but we seem to not be able to hold our independence. Perhaps it is wise to speak with our foes to see if we can strike a deal. Our dignity will suffer but in a few years we could shake of the choking chain of the mundane rule. In a few years I will have enough mastery of fire magics to be able to secure our independence. A wall of fire or flaming conflagration will stop any foe.