555/1/75.
Today we celebrated the end of Auweor season. It's not something that
would normally be a cause for festivities, but Nakaro insisted. Strange
since yesterday we threw Tok a birthday party. Timroth prepared the
worst cake I've ever had, almost surpassed by the cake he made today. I
knew I should have bought those spices for back at Tenenbrea. Nakaro
presented Tok with a gift, which looked suspiciously like the long bow
Nakaro borrowed from Tok. Then Nakaro went on and on about how a long
bow is a warrior's weapon and the pike is for peasants. A strange
snowflake that one.
555/2/3. We crossed into Military District B yesterday, as we head
North following the Great River. This district is ruled by Warlord
Aranten -- from what I've heard a fair and just Warlord. But he is old,
ancient even. Not long for this world. Unfortunately, his three sons
are not suitable Warlord material. Vain, venal, and corrupt, Phad,
Iitee, and Orgal will likely tear apart the District in civil war. It's
the Chaos influence in our Empire, one that I'm determined to see
stamped out.
Today we encountered a patrol of red riders, obviously liegemen of
Iitee. They intimated that they had been warned about us and that we
should leave their lands. Strangely they did not try to apprehend us.
They probably have bigger fish to freeze. We saw another patrol towards
the end of the day, but they were too far away to tell to which faction
they belonged.
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555/2/5. There
are patrols everywhere! We met another one, this one
wearing the yellow livery of Orgal. Tok was visibly impressed by their
regal colors. These riders were friendlier than the red ones, saying
that we could garner safe passage through this land if we joined their
cause. That's the best offer we've heard since we started this forsaken
quest, so we quickly agreed.
Once at the military camp Nakaro negotiated our salary. Two silver a
day and all the loot we can take from fallen foes (though not for
castles and other buildings). We also get as much yellow clothing as we
care. Nakaro got a himself a yellow tabard, Tok a yellow cloak. I think
I'll skip that, as yellow doesn't go with my poleaxe. The army also
repaired most of our weapons and armor. Tev once again wanted some
armor, but alas there was none for his sausage-shaped body.
555/2/11. A week of inactivity has made us all antsy. There's only so
much training that we can take. Tok has been training with his pike,
though once again Nakaro tried to convince him of the nobleness of the
long bow. I've been researching dexterity. Once I get my reaction up I
can have my Da's poleaxe metal sheathed to protect it. After seeing how
fragile the others' pikes are, I'm a bit afraid that the poleaxe will
break in the heat of battle, much to my sorrow.
Our company packed up camp and moved out early this morning. We met two
other of Orgal's companies, then three of Phad's blue-clad companies.
Apparently this will be a joint operation against the red horde of
Iitee. Rumors are that we are going to assault a castle. Given the
choice of being on the battering ram team (hot oil) or one of the
ladder teams (rocks), we chose the safer rocks. So we've been given a
ladder to use. It feels good to be marching with a purpose. |