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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 1815011" data-attributes="member: 99">Lazarius and Marius sat in an empty classroom, hunched over a broad desk covered in maps.  Both wore grim countenances.“I don’t see how it can take them longer than a month at the absolute most, barring horrible weather or them stopping somewhere along the way.  And that assumes they are striking somewhere along the southern coast where the beaches are the best suited for a large landing.  They could easily land at one of the west coast harbors.  Those defenses were never strong to begin with and they were the first to be abandoned when things got bad during the Slave Wars.”  Marius shook his head and started rolling up his maps, knowing that little more could be gained by staring at them.“I think you’re right about the west coast.  They will likely land there because that would be the furthest from any of the forces that could oppose them.  Most of the Legions still in the Empire are either bunched up along the Sythian border or scattered along the north coast in preparation for being sent to the Northlands.  That leaves only a couple of under-strength ceremonial Legions here in Emor and whatever Auxiliaries are quartered in the south coast garrisons keeping watch for pirates.”  Lazarius was no more optimistic than the Imperial Explorer.“Well if that’s where they’re headed then I’d say they will be there in under three weeks.  How quickly can the Legions move to get there?” asked Marius“They can march fairly quickly within the Empire.  The roads and existing forts with stocks of supplies see to that.  The real problem is going to get them moving in the first place.  That will all depend on how convinced the Senate is of the dangerous nature of the situation.”As if on cue, the door swung open and a young student addressed Lazarius with a quavering voice, “The Chancellors will see you now, Master Lazarius.”The two Imperials looked at each other and Marius broke into a smile, “Better get going, Master Lazarius.  I need to get on the street and see what I can find out for myself.  I’ll meet you back here by morning.”  He stuffed the last of the map cases into his Haversack and exited the room as Lazarius headed for his meeting with his former mentors.They were seated in the Chancellors Audience Chamber, a room designed with great formality in mind.  But Felix dispelled any notion that etiquette and procedure would reign when she abruptly addressed Lazarius without any formal introduction.  “Sit down, Lazarius.  I know you’re tired and we may be here for a while.  I’ve already told the others the basics of your story but why don’t you run through it again so they have all the facts.”Lazarius let out a sigh and recapped all he had learned about the City of Endless Summer, the Banites, the armada of ships and, of course, Bane being broken out of his prison in Hell.  Both Evilada and Scapula sat quietly, not interrupting as he revealed this information as though they either didn’t quite believe it or couldn’t figure out what questions to ask.As Lazarius finished, Scapula nodded.  “Well that explains something else.  I was at the Capital when I got the message to return here at once.  As I was departing, I had just heard that High Priest Novanus of the Church of St. Cuthbert had called for an emergency session of the Senate this afternoon, that he may address as many of the Senators as were in town.  That is probably going on right now.”Evilada squinted his narrow eyes, “We must gather as much information on this fleet of ships as we can.  Tonight, or tomorrow morning at the latest, the Senate is going to be howling about why we didn’t know this sooner.  I’d best get to the Scry Crystals and see what I can find.  Titus Pontius Macer you said his name was?”“That’s correct,” replied Lazarius.  He continued, “We’ve got to get word to the Wizards among the Legions and tell them to get those men moving!  If they intend to land along the western coast then we haven’t much time!”Scapula replied, “Lazarius, you know as well as we do that the War Wizards answer to the Generals, not the other way round.  And since we have no idea as to where they are going then it makes no sense to start mobilizing those troops anyway.  The last thing we want is to leave the Border vulnerable without a plan for guarding it as we pull out those troops.  And the Orcs must march and eat too.  The Auxiliaries will hold them until we can get the troops there.  If this army is no larger than you say then they can’t hope to win against us.  They just don’t have the numbers.”Lazarius stood and started to exit the chamber in barely contained frustration.  He turned back as he got to the thick, rune-covered door, “What scares me is that they are smart enough to realize that.”</blockquote>

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