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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3141377" data-attributes="member: 3448">“Are there any other appointments we need to worry about in the short run?”“No, your grace.  But I also have a report for you about the military situation.  As you know, Lord Alphonse Brightspan, the Duke’s eldest son and heir-apparent, is marching with his army to the south.  In addition to the First Field Army of Brightspan, he also has the support of the entire armies of Caligshire and Caldra, as well as one hundred drow and two Noldar battlebarges.  We must also assume that he has substantial magical power because of his status as the host of the Abomination of Shur.  That army is powerful, but it will become much more powerful in approximately two days when it unites with the Horde of the Ripping Tusk.  The Horde consists of approximately 15,000 orcs and uruks, with some ogre and hill giant shock troops as well.  Once the full army has assembled, it will be the most powerful army on Drucien outside of Hanal, Masque, and Canberry.”“I should think so.  That’s nearly the equivalent of five full field armies, with substantial elite support.”“Indeed, your grace, and the troops are generally hardened veterans with ample combat experience.  The army has some weaknesses.  Most notably, it has very little clerical support, far less than would be advisable for a force of that size.  They do have a fair number of psions and are presumably relying on redactors for healing.  They are also dealing very carefully with the people of the regions they are passing through, purchasing rather than looting.”“Perhaps because of limits in their supply train?” asked Mahler, who had slipped into the Council chamber.“Unfortunately, that’s not what our intelligence suggests.  They appear to have enough supplies to support a campaign of nearly two years.  However, because of the size of the army and of its supply chain, they cannot make more than about eight miles per day, so it will take them some time to reach the Spice Lands.”“Do the Spice Lands have any defenses against an army that size?” wondered Kit.“They are mustering what forces they have,” replied Dame Brionna a little grimly.  “They are assembling at the City-State of Tulani, which is contributing the largest number of troops.  The Archbishop of the Light for the Spice Lands is organizing the effort-- most of the small holdings in the Spice Lands are devoted to Lord Glor’diadel, and they heed the Archbishop’s call.  All told, their army is substantial in numbers, although smaller than the Abomination’s army.  They have two organized field armies and four scattered legions from the smaller city-states.”“Half the troops… they might be able to hold out for a while in a defensive fight.”“If they were veterans, your grace, but most of the armies have not seen action in living memory.  They do have several special assets-- forty Knights of Valor, all of whom have combat experience, and strong clerical support from the Archdiocese.  They also have some powerful allies-- a grey elf lord is supporting them with his troops.  He is a supreme archmagus and has brought three companies of wood elf archers.  The army has also been joined by twenty-five snakemen archers.”“Snakemen?  Can we trust them?” asked Mahler.“I do not know.  They have never before involved themselves in a human conflict, as far as we can tell.  But some of my information services consider them notable, even with their small numbers.”“How long do we have before the army reaches them?”“Approximately 100 days, your grace.”“So we have some time to organize a response, but it would be difficult to get an army into position ahead of them, even if we could spare the troops.”“Yes, your grace.  There is another army in the field as well.  On the far side of the Tulani forces, the Empire of Seachen has mobilized its entire field army.  It is apparently intended as a defense if the Tulani army is overwhelmed, but it could also serve to pincer the Tulani if the Seachen are actually allied with the Abomination.”“Is there a reason to think they would be?” asked Kit.  “What do we know about the Seachen?”“Less than we would like, and we know nothing about their alliances.  We know that they are a highly matriarchal empire.  They also have a strange religion.  None of their clerics are more powerful than the third circle, and I have heard that they worship dead gods and are trying to bring them back.”“That doesn’t sound good,” said Mahler.“No.  And I wonder if the Abomination of Shur might be considered a ‘dead god,’” added Alistair.“That is my fear as well, your grace.  I have a contact who used to live in the Empire, and I plan to ask her for some more information, but I haven’t had the chance to yet.”“Good.  In the meantime, I think we have to assume that the Seachen are allied with the Abomination.  Which means that the Spice Lands army would be completely overwhelmed.  We need to get them some more troops.”“I agree, your grace, but I don’t think we could move any of our troops into position in time.  And we’re fairly extended already, between Sir Derrick’s war against the barbarians and posting Field Marshal Greening to defend the refugees against slavers.”</blockquote>

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