Drachenwald/Moving the Capital

December, 15

King Si Ju Jarugi sends a message to all Drachenwaldian troopleaders: Do we have any progress about moving the capital back to Nazia?

The answer is a letter from Nemethos:

Greetings all,

I was on my way to Nazia with the whole depardment of military affairs and all our papers saved from the fall of Tarasac. But unfortunately I was captured in Alaise and am now in a Cagilan prison. I will see if it is possible to get out of here.

In the mean time we all need to work on restoring our regions and moving the officials and offices to the temporarily capital.

Yours,

Sir Nemethos

Although Nemethos did not succeed in his goal, this action inspired Risfou. In a letter to the Strategic council, he tells he has a plan to get the capital back to Nazia and asks permission to take charge in this. He also writes: we need to find out what happened with the military department, moved by Nemethos.

At first his asking for taking charge brings confusion and Lord Envirgar disagrees. But this is talked out and Si Ju Jarugi asks him to share his plan. Risfou shares his plan and gets permission from his king.

Risfou immediately calls for a scribe and sends a letter to all non-captures troopleaders in Drachenwald, in which he shares his plan and gives orders.

The plan needs two troopleader, Silver and Vinnie, to protect former queen Lucela and help her getting the departments with their officials and paperwork unnoticed out of Tarasac. Via Nazgorn-Galadia-Nazia these departments will be protected and guided by the so-called "Guiders": Penny, Arcadia and Krator. There are also two "Watchers", Ben's and Risfou, since the guiders will only travel between two posts. The "Watchers" are to guard the departments while they wait for the following "Guider" to take them with. Gilead is asked to prepare their arrival in Nazia.

With these orders he also send a personal request for Lucela. Then he waits the night for responses.

During the night Ben's responds and receives special orders from Risfou.

Roleplay from Melissa

To all concerned: I have done my best to prepare Alaise for its role as the new capital, and I'm happy to say...

... what? Nazia? Who's idea was it to put the Capital in Nazia???!!

And why didn't you merntion this earlier, you stupid scribe....

(Sounds of hurried packing)

Roleplay from Greed

wow, good plan, Risfou. hm....wait a minute...hey, where is my name? you dont include me in this project?!! what about me, what about Greed?!

Roleplay from Gilead

The Battle of Tarasac, the Fall of Gilead Occam, and the Rise of Nazia

Just inside the border of Sauvia, a hooded man walked down the center of the main road. Flanked by trees on both sides, dark shadows fell across the man’s scared face. While the man was only 30 years old, matters of state had added ten years to his appearance. The heavy pack he carried sat hunched over his shoulders, keeping his pace slow, and his back hunched.

After several hours of walking through small villages and sparse orchards, the man came to the border of Alaise. Across the road lay a short wooden barrier, painted with the seal of The Cagilan Empire. Slowly approaching the border, the man, with some exertion, climbed over the barrier, and began to continue walking, only to find his way blocked by the a Cagilan border guard.

“Stop! Identify yourself, in the name of the Empire!” The guard’s epilates identified him as a Lieutenant, fresh from whatever academy trained Cagil’s border militia. The hooded man said nothing, and began walking once again.

“I will not ask again!” the guard purposefully moved his hand to his sword.

Quickly, the man threw off his cloak. Revealed beneath were cloths of a noble, and, hanging at the man’s belt, a long rapier. In one smooth motion, the man drew the rapier, and pointed it at the ground. “There is no need for weapons; as you can see, my rapier is broken,” the man said. And it was true; just above the hilt, the rapier’s blade was neatly broken. “I broke it defending my palace, and now return to Drachenwald’s lands in peace.”

The guard moved his hand away from his sword as the man sheathed his broken rapier. He stared at the man. Defending his palace? Surly this man was a raving lunatic… but… could it be? The guard knew that face; he had seen it in the Tara Times! “You are Gilead Occam! The last Dictator of Drachenwald?”

“Yes,” replied Gilead, “I return to Drachenwald on bureaucratic business, carrying papers and historical records. I am not carrying anything of military value, and mean you no harm.”

The guard practically fainted. “How is it that you go from being the Dictator of an enemy to a single man carrying forms and papers?”

Gilead said nothing for a second, then replied, “Well, it is a long story; allow me to sit down for a minute, and I shall tell you my tale; the tale of the Battle of Tarasac, and the fall of Gilead Occam.

….

“It all started two weeks ago. The armies of CE and Darka had taken Sauvia, and cut us off from our mountain realm. Your allies planned to starve us out; it was the smart thing to do; what they had tried to do months ago when we had slaughtered CE’s army with little more than rocks and sharpened sticks!” I paused for a minute, recalling our singular (but rather grand) victory. “But I digress. What they didn’t know was that I had prepared for that contingency after they had tried it the first time; we had weeks, no, months of food stockpiled in Tarasac, with a group of traders being mobilized to shore up this supply. We could have held the siege for the rest of my days. But that was not to be.

Falasan’s army had been helping us guard our capitol’s walls. They had been allies of the most dedicated sort. But Tara’s army moved on their territory, and, just as I’m sure your General expected, they could not help us when we needed them most. On December 1st, the armies of Tara, Darka, and Cagil marched on Tarasac.

Our defenses were strong. The walls of Tarasac are of Taran design, and are as close to impenetrable as a wall can be. And attacker must first scale the outside wall. The wall is almost vertical; ladders are required. It is practically impossible to break this wall; it consists of two layers of solid rock, each seven hands thick. All the while the outer ramparts would be manned by archers raining down arrows, swordsman tossing rocks at unarmored opponents, and peasants splashing scalding oil on those who got too close to any breach. On that day, I ordered all our infantry and our archers to man the outer parapets. We would not budge one inch!

On that day, your forces stood in a single line that stretched as far as the eye could see. Your infantry and your archers had interspersed themselves, so your archers could provide covering fire for your infantry as they advanced together. Your infantry! Something was wrong with your Infantry! Squinting, I could see concealed beneath the shields of your soldiers, ladders enough to climb to the very realm of the Dragon! You had come prepared.

‘Stand ready!’ I yelled! ‘Today is the day we show them that we can defend ourselves! For the DRAGON!’ A thunderous roar was taken up by the Army of Drachenwald, and the armies of CE, Darka and Tara began to advance.

‘Archers, at the ready!’ I called. Captains and Sergeants relayed the order up and down the walls, and in unison, our archers drew their bowstrings taught.

For a second, just a second, your formation broke. Charging ahead, your cavalry and a few units of over-eager infantry arrived at the wall, without siege equipment in position. ‘Release the arrows!’ In the first volley, practically every man in all 9 foolhardy units was killed. A cheer went up through the defenders! There was hope! Perhaps we could turn them back!

But then, the main formation of Tara moved into position. The noise of 5000 arrows, fired at once, is a terrible noise. The sound that 10000 arrows made that day is a sound I will never forget. The first attacker volley blotted out the sun like a plague of locusts. One hundred, nay, a thousand of our men died in that single volley.

‘Hold your positions! FIGHT!’ I shouted. And everyone did.

Then, the ladders came.

‘Draw your swords! Push them back!’ I yelled, drawing my rapier. Foolishly leaving my unit, I ran to the closest ladder, and with all my strength, pushed it backwards, off the ramparts. But there were too many ladders, we could not hold the wall. We had to fall back!

I whirled around, looking for a way our forces could return to the inner gate. But then, our folly was apparent. To fall back meant opening the inner gate. Opening the inner gate meant letting our enemies into the city without a fight. Letting our enemies into the city meant losing the city. But I could not leave all our men to die here!

I was about to give the order to fall back, when a group of Cagilan infantry came running down the parapets towards me. I have my whole life been a bureaucrat, a Judge, a political operative. I am far more lethal with a pen than a sword. But with a scream, I charged the unit. Catching the first man off guard, I buried my point deep within his chest. With a gurgle, he tipped off the ramparts into a group of archers below. Whipping my blade to right, I neatly drew a red line across another soldier’s neck. But, as I said, I am not a solider, and a third man delivered a sword slash and kick to my back, and I tumbled ignobly off the wall into the inner moat 30 feet below.

Had the wound been deeper, or if I had not learned to swim as a child, that would have been the end of me. As it was, I could not move enough to fight further. Pulling myself out of the dirty water, I ran, nay, hobbled, to the inner gate ordering whoever I came across to rally at the palace. We would make our final stand in the streets of Tarasac!

For some time, I did not think I would even make it back to my palace. Tarasac is a large city, and the Palace lies nearly a mile inside the walls. At the time, it seemed like 100 miles. Ever step brought agony to the gaping cut on my backside. However, as I do stand before you now, I did make it not only to my Palace, but also up the hundred marble stairs that raise the structure above the roofs of the surrounding buildings.

At the top of those stairs stood four men I recognized; three infantry and one noble who I did not want to see.

‘Caliber! You traitor!’ Even in my present condition, I recognized the rebel leader (and the entire rebel force of 3 Infantry). Without gloating, without a word, they attacked.

Already wounded, if they had rushed me all together I would have had little chance of escaping alive or with my throne. But they had not seen the cut on my back, and were wary of my ability. So instead, they attacked one at a time. My rapier was still in my hand, and I deftly stabbed the first man through the eye. My blade caught in his skull, and his falling body dragged me off guard. Seeing his moment, the second man attacked with a great axe. With all my remaining strength (and a sickening crack), I wrenched my rapier from my first victim, and brought it above my head to block the axe.

As you might expect, a rapier does not have the thickness to block an axe. The great axe simply sheared my blade, and nearly took my head. But thinking quickly, I twisted out of the way, and took a step back.

My retreating foot did not find resistance, however, as I had stepped off the top of the grand stairs! Off balance, I tumbled backwards and felt sharp marble against my back, my arms, my neck, my head. Everything after this was rather blurry, but I recall both the sound of my own ribs fracturing, and the sound of Caliber declaring himself the new ruler. To this day, I do not know which was worse.”

The guard looked thoughtful as Gilead Occam ended his tale. “So we have taken your capitol. I imagine that means the end to this war. What will Drachenwald do now?”

“Since then, we have had, by the Dragon, at least 3 revolutions in hardly a week. I now serve as the Royal Treasurer, as we are now ruled by Divine Right.

For many years, the seat of Drachenwald’s power rested in Nazia. We have long since converted our old governmental buildings into museums and shrines to The Dragon. But with a little ingenuity, and our old records, we will reactivate them. We will return to our mountains, and start anew.”

Gilead knew he had tarried too long. Without another word, Gilead Occam stood up, and continued walking into Drachenwald lands, carrying with him the forms and record they needed to reform their government on its historic throne. The guard made no move to stop him.

Roleplay from Risfou

Risfou and his 2 scouts are exhausting their horses on the road towards Galadia, as they see another rider approaching.

They slow down their horses and slowly draw their swords. When the other rider sees them, he also stops and from a distance he shouts: "Lord Risfou?" "Yes!" "I bring you some messages."

Risfou rides towards the messenger and takes a letter from Arcadia. After reading it, he quickly writes a message with secret orders and hands it out to the messenger. "Is there more?" The messenger hands out a short letter from Penny, which is again followed by the writing of orders. "Anything else?" Risfou asks. "Yes, rumors say lady Lucela and lord Silver have been captured."

Risfou thinks for a moment. "Has Olan returned from Eaglin?" "I heard so." "Is he without a unit?" "I'm not sure, but I suppose he is." "Maybe he is willing to replace Silver, but Lucela will be a bigger problem."

Risfou thinks again. "There must be an elder one in Nazia, I will ask Gilead to replace Lucela until she comes back." He looks up to the messenger. "That was it?" The messenger responds with a smile and says: "Greed wondered why he was left out."

Risfou laughs and answers: "Tell him we need all soldiers to defend, I hope he still has some."

The messenger nods and leaves quickly. Risfou writes a few other messages, send his scouts away with them and continues his travel towards Galadia.

Of course did the message not arrive in time to get Ben's, but Ben's was perfectly able to take care of by himself. The other messages, however, did receive their message in time, as is clear in a message from Vinnie.

Roleplay from Krator

It is a dreary morning as I depart my family’s house in Nazia. The great sun is shrouded by many clouds and there is a wisp of rain in the air. All I can think about is my task and seeing it through. A plan is in motion which will bring the government back to my homeland, back to Nazia. As I set off towards Galadia, I notice that the sun begins to break through the many clouds in its way. I sliver of light lands on my face, I stop, and I can feel it’s warmth through my whole body.

Perhaps things won’t end as badly as I feared. I let my thoughts wander over the events of the past week and I ask myself how I got here. There is no answer, and I know I can only look to the future and find solace there.

The spirit of the Dragon flows in me, giving me strength and the weariness that has been creeping over me like a dark veil begins to wane. We each have a part to play in this, and when the people of Drachenwald play in harmony, the music that is brought forth makes the mountains tremble.

The sun is setting as I approach Galadia and my resolve is stronger then ever; I will see the departments and paperwork safely to Nazia. In this task I cannot fail, and I mean not to.

Roleplay from Arcadia

Arcadia and Robin mounts their horses and start their journey towards Galadia and ride in silence as they approach the borderpost between Drachenwald and Falasan. They show their papers to the guard and are allowed to continue. As the light starts to diminish, Robin rides up alongside Arcadia.

Maybe we should stop and rest for a while, Robin asks, even if it looks much the same we are no longer in Drachenwald and could easy get lost if we are not on the alert.

You are right Robin, Arcadia replies with a tierd voice, we will stop as soon as we find a good place were we can make a fire.

A little while later they umount near a small waterfall to rest a couple of hours, before they continue into the valley were the town they travel towards is supposed to be.

Meanwhile Gilead understood that Risfou had not heard of his achievements, yet, and sent him a letter. Also Penny was appointed to become Count of Alaise.

Roleplay from Risfou

When arriving at his parental home, Risfou's parents are waiting with a lot of letters from Drachenwald. Risfou does not read them immediately, however, but first explains to his parents that he needs them for an operation to move the capital of Drachenwald back to Nazia. He also tells them that it needs to be kept a secret, since CE might not be willling to coöperate.

When his parents agree in helping him, Risfou explains the whole plan and asks his father to come with him. On fresh horses they move about three miles west, where Risfou shows his father a well hidden cave. This will be my post, since it would be easily noticed when we move in and out of our house.

Coming back there are already visitors from Drachenwald. Risfou recognizes Krator and Vinnie and guesses that the other two must be Arcadia and Robin. They all confirm and are shown the cave by Risfou's father, while Risfou reads the letters and writes a quick letter. About the time they come back, Risfou is done and likewise is a festy dinner.

Roleplay from Si Ju Jarugi

I am on my way to Nazia to announce it the new capital.

Hopefully, other Mountain regions will eb pleased a morale and loyalty will raise towards Drachenwald once more.