The War for the Rose: Book One Complete

[OnBackorder]

Safe: The rebels are at their weakest. In two weeks there will be one final push and when they are defeated there the war is over. The troops sent will be gone no more than a month.
Worthwhile: A skirmish like this one would be an excellent test for his heir, Lord Granite. Also, the future strength of the Roselord holding two cities.
Necessary: Some BS about the unity of Whitesky and not allowing a commoner like Mud to hold such power else the idea spread.

Honit is the real reason he wouldn't sign on. If we can think of some way to maintain relations a bit longer with them then there is no issue. Summits are a good time waster. Really anything political will waste plenty of time.

> Why are Honit and Whitesky on poor terms?

[alexthewhite]

Am at a loss though as to how to accomplish this goal. Perhaps we should discuss this over dinner; holding up everyone else's hunger will only make people mad at us :P

FROWNING SAGE: Perhaps we can speak about this over dinner?

GRINNING ROSE: An excellent preposition. Bring out the food!

And the chefs do, carrying whole roast pigs, honeyed nuts, casks of spiced wine, and plates of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Roselord takes his seat at the head of the table, while you take your seat to his left. Lady Rose sits to his right, and you make eye contact with the older woman.

SWIRLING ROSE: Lady Sage, how lovely to see you again. I love your dress; it must have taken you hours to get inside of it.

The Lady is in her late twenties, with long legs and big hips. She has exceptionally light hair; she's one of the daughters of the now-deceased Starlord, and that entire family look like Honitians. Her eyes are wide and cold, and you take note of the fact there isn't a hint of amiableness in her crimson smile.

You don't become the second most powerful person in Palegarden without knowing what you're doing. You must be very cautious in your response to that back-handed compliment.

FROWNING SAGE: A compliment from my lady is something I will treasure. You really must come by Strongvine soon. We cannot possibly match you and your husband's boundless generosity, but you simply must let us try.

In other words, why don't you come to my territory and see what happens if you talk to me like that.

SWIRLING ROSE: I look forward to it.

GRINNING ROSE: Enough, my love. I must speak with Lady Sage about a most important matter.

SWIRLING ROSE: I will not impede you, my love. Now then, let's hear your case, my lady.

Safe: The rebels are at their weakest. In two weeks there will be one final push and when they are defeated there the war is over. The troops sent will be gone no more than a month.

GRINNING ROSE: A week to get there and a week to get back. Fighting for a city is slow work, my lady. Each street, each building must be cleared individually. And when it comes to a city like Southflight, that goes double. Have you ever seen it, my lady? The streets are narrow, the buildings are tightly packed. Perfect for ambushes and for a small force to elude a large one.

FROWNING SAGE: Do you doubt the strength of your armies?

GRINNING ROSE: Not at all, but slowly cleansing the city of the rebels will be slow work. It will take lives, resources, and time we do not have.

Worthwhile: A skirmish like this one would be an excellent test for his heir, Lord Granite. Also, the future strength of the Roselord holding two cities.

GRINNING ROSE: Leaping is a good man. A lot like me, when I was his age. He's proven himself in the courtyard before.

FROWNING SAGE: But not in real battle.

GRINNING ROSE: He can do that against the Honitians, when war breaks. If he gets hit with an arrow or something equally dreadful in Southflight, then I'll be left heirless a few months before half of Whitesky's lords will be slain. I have much bigger concerns than making my family stronger right now. I would like for my family to keep existing.

Necessary: Some BS about the unity of Whitesky and not allowing a commoner like Mud to hold such power else the idea spread.

GRINNING ROSE: True, but who knows? Perhaps he'll do a good job. If he causes too much trouble, the other Southern lords can gang up on him. No need for me to involve myself in what doesn't concern me.

Honit is the real reason he wouldn't sign on. If we can think of some way to maintain relations a bit longer with them then there is no issue. Summits are a good time waster. Really anything political will waste plenty of time.

> Why are Honit and Whitesky on poor terms?

GRINNING ROSE: Ah, now that is a story. After the war thirteen years past, Honit started rebuilding their army. We had won that war, so that meant we had grabbed a big chunk of fertile land called the Blue Sands from them that they wanted back. To defend it, the Skys and the Stars began to arm and supply bandits to harass Honitians towns and cities in the south, take their army's attention away from the Blue Sands.

FROWNING SAGE: And this worked?

GRINNING ROSE: For a time. Eventually, the Honitians got wise to what we were doing and started to build a lot of military installations north of the Sands. They said it was to fight the bandits, but that's fairly obviously a lie. The Honitians are going to use those positions to attack Northern Whitesky. It's only a matter of time.

[Jonaristotle]

Mud is not fit to lead a city. If he takes it, who is to say he isn't going to make very stupid decisions? Southflight is close to the southern border of Avalia, and if Mud decides he wants to expand his territory, the Avalians aren't going to think of it as an attack from Southflight, they will think of it as an attack from Whitesky. And when the Honitians attack, can this country really afford to have two frontlines?

show spoiler

hide spoiler

Looking at the map, i'm guessing Southflight is on the southernmost peak of whitesky. If I'm wrong, ignore everything here :S

[OnBackorder]

Okay, I've underestimated how stubborn he is. Still haven't mentioned Spire forces joining. After the initial push, clearing the city can be left to Sage or Spire forces until the Granite are back to health. I'm not even sure guerrilla warfare will be an issue, Mud's army is all mercenary. If yuns want to try, we still have all three lifelines. I'm for calling backup from her husband because Limestone will probably come by on his own and Leaping Granite said he would help us AFTER dinner.

Honit claims military position by threat of southern bandits. What would happen if we gift them the "leader(s)" of those bandits; Call it an expression of goodwill by removing a common enemy. They wouldn't have the excuse for military there, and would be forced to temporarily shift those forces.

show spoiler

hide spoiler

Whitesky borders every other nation. From what I can tell, there is a threat coming from every direction at all times.
Having a wildcard like Mud sucks no matter where the city is.

[Cadorean]

I'm... I'm actually going to agree with OnBackOrder on this one. It seems to be far too logical to dispute. My only concern is the emphasis put on taking out the "bandit leader(s)"; it seems more likely for that to be heard as a baseless claim in his ears, rather than a viable promise. What we need to emphasise is the fact that his troops would not need to be away from Palegarden for more than a month, because cleanup is able to be left to house Spire and house Sage and house Granite.

[Jonaristotle]

Whoa.. Agreeing with OnBackOrder... Crazy times.

Also, I think this could work, we've got a pretty strong argument.

[alexthewhite]

Mud is not fit to lead a city. If he takes it, who is to say he isn't going to make very stupid decisions? Southflight is close to the southern border of Avalia, and if Mud decides he wants to expand his territory, the Avalians aren't going to think of it as an attack from Southflight, they will think of it as an attack from Whitesky. And when the Honitians attack, can this country really afford to have two frontlines?

GRINNING ROSE: You don't know very many Avalians, do you, my lady? They could not care less about cities besides the one they live in. Avalia's got dozens of major families, we've only got five. They wouldn't see it as Whitesky attacking Avalia. They'd see it as Southflight attacking Ankeris or Prosecho or some other city along the border. The Avalians know that if someone is going to attack them, they aren't going to have one city attack one city. Maybe if Mud sends a hundred ship to bomb Fourthmon, Avalia will invade Whitesky.

FROWNING SAGE: They seem to be unified enough when they invade Reegus or Etonsia.

GRINNING ROSE: Hardly. That's when maybe five or six city states decide to work together. If Avalia dedicated everything they had to conquest, we'd be under their thumbs in a year's time. Only infighting and mistrust between the city states keeps us from that.

I'm for calling backup from her husband because Limestone will probably come by on his own and Leaping Granite said he would help us AFTER dinner.

You notice Lord Limestone hobble inside, being aided by a servant in standing up. He sees you and slowly nods that he's ready to aid when you need him.

Honit claims military position by threat of southern bandits. What would happen if we gift them the "leader(s)" of those bandits; Call it an expression of goodwill by removing a common enemy. They wouldn't have the excuse for military there, and would be forced to temporarily shift those forces.

GRINNING ROSE: Not a bad idea, except for the fact the bandits are working exclusively in Honit. For us to gift them with the leader would require us to send forces into Honit...

FROWNING SAGE: Which would be seen as an act of war. Of course. Can't the Masked do it?

GRINNING ROSE: I am not privy to the affairs of the Masked, but I would assume they are presently sabotaging Honitian supply lines and gathering information for the king. Taking the leader alive would take precision and manpower that I have little doubt the Masked cannot spare.

What we need to emphasise is the fact that his troops would not need to be away from Palegarden for more than a month, because cleanup is able to be left to house Spire and house Sage and house Granite.

GRINNING ROSE: You are willing to commit your forces to the South for months and months, then?

FROWNING SAGE: Well, if I must...

GRINNING ROSE: Why? The Sages are in the same situation as us. I would do my best to shield my allies and friends, of course, but the Roses must worry about the Roses first. What if Honit stormed Strongvine while your forces were stuck in the military equivalent of a sand trap hundreds of miles south? You cannot afford to commit your forces long-term to the South, my lady. I am sure your husband would agree with me on that.

[Cadorean]

There will be more than just Sages in Southflight. There will also be Spires, and there are still the Granites. If it is truly necessary, the Sage force can pull out along with the Roses, but for that to be an option, we need both of those forces. I agree that there is still a risk of Honit attacking while our men are away, but the chance of that happening is exactly the same as any other given day.

You preach the foolisness of Avalia for squabbling within itsself and not being united. But your argument against helping another city in Whitesky is just proving you a hypocrite and a coward. If Mud is no threat, then why not go and snuff him out? Like you said, Whitesky has only five major families, and you are the head of one of them, my lord. The power of Whitesky is highly concentrated and refined, and you have the strength to stay this rebellion, yet you choose not to? It is a coward's way to hide from a fight, and that is exactly what you are doing. You expect the Honitians to come strike you any day now, but are they really that much less wise than you to think that an invasion would not bring all the Whiteskian forces against them? You could be considered a traitor to doubt our military so. I know you to not be a traitor, my lord.

[Jonaristotle]

I like the idea, but I don't like the calling the guy who's house you live is a coward.

[meekmeep]

There will be more than just Sages in Southflight. There will also be Spires, and there are still the Granites. If it is truly necessary, the Sage force can pull out along with the Roses, but for that to be an option, we need both of those forces. I agree that there is still a risk of Honit attacking while our men are away, but the chance of that happening is exactly the same as any other given day.

You preach the foolisness of Avalia for squabbling within itsself and not being united. But your argument against helping another city in Whitesky is just proving you a hypocrite and a coward. If Mud is no threat, then why not go and snuff him out? Like you said, Whitesky has only five major families, and you are the head of one of them, my lord. The power of Whitesky is highly concentrated and refined, and you have the strength to stay this rebellion, yet you choose not to? It is a coward's way to hide from a fight, and that is exactly what you are doing. You expect the Honitians to come strike you any day now, but are they really that much less wise than you to think that an invasion would not bring all the Whiteskian forces against them? You could be considered a traitor to doubt our military so. I know you to not be a traitor, my lord.

I think all of these points should be made clear to the Rose Lord - but don't talk about him being a coward or a traitor!!!!

[alexthewhite]

There will be more than just Sages in Southflight. There will also be Spires, and there are still the Granites. If it is truly necessary, the Sage force can pull out along with the Roses, but for that to be an option, we need both of those forces. I agree that there is still a risk of Honit attacking while our men are away, but the chance of that happening is exactly the same as any other given day.

FROWNING SAGE: But my lord, we will also be securing Spire aid. My father is a southern lord, and he will not rest until the job is done. So long as the Roses and Sages crush their initial defenses, we can leave the clean-up to the Granites and the Spires.

GRINNING ROSE: The Spire's strength pale in comparison to my own, my lady. Do you really believe they can handle the forces of that city by themselves?

FROWNING SAGE: I do. And they will have the experience of the remaining Granites, as well as a severely weakened foe. Unlike our families, my lord, the Spires do have time and manpower to spare.

GRINNING ROSE: And you know for a fact they will help?

FROWNING SAGE: They should, once I explain the situation to my father.

GRINNING ROSE: He was not willing to send troops before, yes? Just a small team of assassins. That does not strike me as a particularly committed effort, my lady.

You preach the foolisness of Avalia for squabbling within itsself and not being united. But your argument against helping another city in Whitesky is just proving you a hypocrite and a coward. If Mud is no threat, then why not go and snuff him out? Like you said, Whitesky has only five major families, and you are the head of one of them, my lord. The power of Whitesky is highly concentrated and refined, and you have the strength to stay this rebellion, yet you choose not to? It is a coward's way to hide from a fight, and that is exactly what you are doing. You expect the Honitians to come strike you any day now, but are they really that much less wise than you to think that an invasion would not bring all the Whiteskian forces against them? You could be considered a traitor to doubt our military so. I know you to not be a traitor, my lord.

I like the idea, but I don't like the calling the guy who's house you live is a coward.

I think all of these points should be made clear to the Rose Lord - but don't talk about him being a coward or a traitor!!!!

You're with those last two. Insulting the person whose help you want is probably not the most prudent move right now.

Oh, and Whitesky's five major families are the Stars (far to the north,) the Skies (the king and his family,) the Swords (in the center of Whitesky,) the Sands (southeast of Tritower,) and the Steels (the farthest to the south, nearly bordering Avalia and Reegus.) The Roses are the most powerful family in Whitesky that isn't a member of the First Five Families, but their power and influence is lesser than even the smallest and weakest of the Five.

FROWNING SAGE: Will we not need unity in the face of Honit? We plan to rely on the southern lords to support us when the Honitians invade, yes?

GRINNING ROSE: Correct, although the lords will most likely do as they wish. For instance, the Steellord hates me, so we will likely not see any Steelmen defending Palegarden any time soon.

FROWNING SAGE: This is an excellent way to earn Southern support for Palegarden, then.

GRINNING ROSE: From who? My lady, I am remiss to speak ill of the dead, but the late Lord Granite was not a popular man among southern lords. He had his fans up north, though they were not many. I won't be seen as showing support for the South, just for my son, and for Southflight. Now, if it was the Sands or some family with actual sway, then I would consider sending my support. But for now, I really do not see much to be gained.

[Jonaristotle]

Why not offer the city to the Steels or Sands? Right now the heir to the throne is leaping Granite, and as he doesn't seem want it (hoping for this city instead), would he not be able to pass it on to whoever he chooses? That way Palegarden has another ally in the event of a Honitian attack, and Southflight is to be properly looked after again.

[OnBackorder]

^ I like this plan, but would a message and army be able to travel fast enough to meet the deadline?

Politics is hard. We should just poison him call one of our allies. Limestone seems pathetic and knows the war condition.

[alexthewhite]

Why not offer the city to the Steels or Sands? Right now the heir to the throne is leaping Granite, and as he doesn't seem want it (hoping for this city instead), would he not be able to pass it on to whoever he chooses? That way Palegarden has another ally in the event of a Honitian attack, and Southflight is to be properly looked after again.

GRINNING ROSE: Not how it works, my lady. We don't get to decide who receives the city; Leaping Granite does. He is the Granite-lord, after all. He may not want to rule the city, but I doubt he would want to hand over his birthright, either.

FROWNING SAGE: He did mention that he was content to hand the city off to one of his liege lords.

GRINNING ROSE: Likely what he'll do. He has a choice between Whitesky's most beautiful city and a big, smelly port that was a mess before the citizens started getting slaughtered. Of course, even from here he'll still take a portion of the tax revenue and command Southflight's troops, and he gives the city to the Sands or Steels, that won't happen.

Politics is hard. We should just poison him call one of our allies. Limestone seems pathetic and knows the war condition.

FROWNING SAGE: Lord Limestone? Could you come over here, please?

Limestone hobbles over in his loose white robe, aided along by a servant. He blinks at you, then bows his head to Lord Rose.

RISING LIMESTONE: My lord, you have my infinite thanks for your generosity and kindness.

GRINNING ROSE: No trouble, no trouble! Any friend of Granite is a friend of mine!

RISING LIMESTONE: ...Friend. Right. I understand Lady Sage has told you of our preposition?

GRINNING ROSE: In great detail, yes. She makes a good case, but I simply cannot leave the city undefended for such a long period of time. Not when Honitian forces could invade any day now.

RISING LIMESTONE: I understand, my lord. You see little reward for a great risk.

GRINNING ROSE: I like you, my lad! Bright as Lady Sage is, I do not think she understands how I am thinking about this.

RISING LIMESTONE: She is but a girl, my lord.

GRINNING ROSE: And you are a barely-bearded youth, my boy. Still, let me hear what you have to say.

RISING LIMESTONE: Only that there is a great deal to be gained by retaking Southflight.

GRINNING ROSE: Militarily? I do not see much. I might earn Spire support, but it'll be a decade before Southflight returns to its old glory. There really isn't much to gain here.

RISING LIMESTONE: I did not mean militarily, my lord.

GRINNING ROSE: Oh?

RISING LIMESTONE: Lady Sage, why don't you tell Lord Rose what he stands to gain in Southflight?

FROWNING SAGE: Huh? Oh, yes, err...

show spoiler

hide spoiler

These are the repercussions I mentioned earlier. Frowning Sage knows everything Hiding Spire knew, and Limestone has given her a hint and an opening. Failure to properly exploit it, though, will damage your reputation in Rose's eyes.

[mellifluousMastermind]

>My gut instinct wants to say that this is a reference to the secret prisoner dealie that Lord Granite committed suicide over. If I'm wrong, IGNORE ME.

[DS Piron]

Wasn't there a golden idol that was also an objective?
After all the craziness, odds of even killing mud or ten knife became impossible, and this was just forgotten...

> Frowning Spire: Remember The Golden Head of Rising Sand, silently curse yourself for forgetting this fact (Who are you, your Twin?), and mention that it might be there, along with it's political uses, if need be.

[OnBackorder]

^ I agree with both of those suggestions.

Whatever power the Ornegian Empire has is enough to keep a foothold on a continent of magic using freaks people with differences. The only things we know for sure about them is that they all wear helmets that cover the entire face, rarely speak, and a few of their soldiers are 3 meters tall with super strength. Also, a reigning lord is willing to commit ritual suicide to avoid even the threat of encountering whatever was kept on that now beached ship only seconds after reading a letter..

The golden whatever from chapter one, I remember nothing, was rumor and we never asked about it once we got to the keep, I think. Wouldn't hurt to mention that either, since it is a tasty urban legend.

PS: Can Limestone use sound effects when describing the Onyx warrior, or would that be too childish?

[meekmeep]

^ I agree with both of those suggestions.

Whatever power the Ornegian Empire has is enough to keep a foothold on a continent of magic using freaks people with differences. The only things we know for sure about them is that they all wear helmets that cover the entire face, rarely speak, and a few of their soldiers are 3 meters tall with super strength. Also, a reigning lord is willing to commit ritual suicide to avoid even the threat of encountering whatever was kept on that now beached ship only seconds after reading a letter..

The golden whatever from chapter one, I remember nothing, was rumor and we never asked about it once we got to the keep, I think. Wouldn't hurt to mention that either, since it is a tasty urban legend.

PS: Can Limestone use sound effects when describing the Onyx warrior, or would that be too childish?

I concur.

[alexthewhite]

Whatever power the Ornegian Empire has is enough to keep a foothold on a continent of magic using freaks people with differences. The only things we know for sure about them is that they all wear helmets that cover the entire face, rarely speak, and a few of their soldiers are 3 meters tall with super strength. Also, a reigning lord is willing to commit ritual suicide to avoid even the threat of encountering whatever was kept on that now beached ship only seconds after reading a letter..

GRINNING ROSE: An Ornegian?

FROWNING SAGE: Apparently.

RISING LIMESTONE: A behemoth, my lord, slaughtering everyone in his path. He was looking for something, and seemed intent on finding it.

GRINNING ROSE: ...The Ornegians are not wont to show their faces unless there is something very important to be done. They were there, when- never mind. However interested I am, meddling in Ornegian affairs sounds like a frivolity I have no time for. Is that all you have?

The golden whatever from chapter one, I remember nothing, was rumor and we never asked about it once we got to the keep, I think. Wouldn't hurt to mention that either, since it is a tasty urban legend.

PS: Can Limestone use sound effects when describing the Onyx warrior, or would that be too childish?

> Frowning Spire: Remember The Golden Head of Rising Sand, silently curse yourself for forgetting this fact (Who are you, your Twin?), and mention that it might be there, along with it's political uses, if need be.

As soon as you mention the head, Rose's eyes go wide, though they immediately retreat back to their relaxed, half-closed state.

GRINNING ROSE: Mmm...I will not lie, I have great use for the head. It'd be worth sending a ship down there just to retrieve it...a ship.

FROWNING SAGE: My lord, it will allow you to parley a marriage with the Sands. You have an unmarried daughter; wedding her to one of the First Five families would be nothing short of tremendous.

GRINNING ROSE: Careful, girl. Speaking of it like that, I imagine every lord in Southflight will want that head. However, I cannot say I want it enough to send my strength. I already have a Southerner in my family; I intended to marry my Blushing Rose to a good Northern boy; perhaps one of Lord Table or Lord Dune's sons.

You grimace at Rose. He may very well be bluffing right now, and you can't tell. He could be sold, and is just trying to see if he can squeeze any more promises out of you. Or, alternatively, he really is still unconvinced that he should send his strength.

You have a choice here; either keep trying to convince him or bring things home with one last speech. This is the pivotal point of this battle of wills. You need to choose carefully.

[CzBacklash]

Drive in the last speech.

[mellifluousMastermind]

No. Eat up and enjoy your dinner; watch him closely as he eats. Use the silence to your advantage.

[alexthewhite]

No. Eat up and enjoy your dinner; watch him closely as he eats. Use the silence to your advantage.

You take what you realize are your first bites of the roast pig. It's succulent and juicy and seasoned perfectly; your husband must have brought his own personal blend. As you chew, you discreetly watch Lord Rose.

His fist is over his lips, and he's clearly deep in thought. He doesn't say anything to you, which you take as a good thing. Now is as good a time as ever to take the leap of faith.

Drive in the last speech.

FROWNING SAGE: My lord, you have a great amount to gain in the south. You can secure your son's birthright, strengthening your family in the future. You can retrieve the head of Rising Sand, which will send your family's prestige and power up even further. You can find out more about the Ornegian Empire, be the lord who answered some of the many questions we have about them. You can show off your military strength to the Southern lords. You can win Spire support. You can put down a rebellion and show your solidarity with your fellow Whiteskyan as war approaches. My lord, the only downside is a month or two of a weaker defense here in Palegarden, but you stand to gain so much, and the Honitians remain at bay.

GRINNING ROSE: ...Alright. Alright, little lady, you've convinced me. Palegarden will send...three quarters of its fleet south. That's 1,500 men, and over fifty ships, all commanded by my son, Leaping Granite. Combine those with Spire and Rose forces, that should be more than enough to take the city.

FROWNING SAGE: Thank you, my lord. This will not be forgotten.

GRINNING ROSE: Yeah, yeah. If you'll excuse yourself from my ear?

You take your plate and stand up. The seat you were at is for the person who wants to speak to Lord Rose, who is, in this case, a dark-haired man with several deep scars on his face.

FROWNING SAGE: Commander Parsley.

DUCKING PARSLEY: M'lady.

Parsley takes a seat and begins to speak to Rose, but you walk to your own spot; next to your husband.

READING SAGE: So? How'd it go?

FROWNING SAGE: A success. Fifteen hundred Rosemen, eight hundred Sagemen, maybe five hundred to a thousand Spiremen...this shouldn't be hard at all.

READING SAGE: That's three thousand men, maybe even more, and a hundred ships. The Mudmen don't stand a chance, right Lord Limestone?

RISING LIMESTONE: ...Err. The Mudmen had, at the last known count, three quarters of our city guard.

READING SAGE: How many men was that?

RISING LIMESTONE: A bit over seven thousand in total. There's somewhere between three and four thousand Mudmen left after all the fighting that's occurred. Maybe less. Either way, we won't have a significant numbers advantage...and they have walls. And cannons.

FROWNING SAGE: ...Hmm.

[Whimbrel]

>Any other nearby allies we could call upon?

>(OCEAN PERSON, perhaps?)

[Jonaristotle]

We do have the air advantage, and I bet somebody's gonna know where we can bomb to significantly damage there resources. Say, someone who's been inside there camp? And is awesome?

[alexthewhite]

>Any other nearby allies we could call upon?

RISING LIMESTONE: No one quickly. We aren't...popular.

READING SAGE: Why not? You seem nice enough.

RISING LIMESTONE: Too much Southern Islands in us. And it's the South. Most of the cities are warrior's cities, we're traders. We didn't even send troops into Honit or Etonsia thirteen years ago. We're seen as cowards by most. The Spire-lord's always been good to us, though.

>(OCEAN PERSON, perhaps?)

FROWNING SAGE: That reminds me. I have to ask Lord Rose about someone called Skulking Ocean.

READING SAGE: Never heard of him.

RISING LIMESTONE: I'd be careful if I were you. A very dangerous woman wants that information. It could be...sensitive.

FROWNING SAGE: Not that it matters much at the moment. Lord Rose looks quite busy with Commander Parsley. I'll ask him later.

You instead decide to enjoy your food some more. Whatever problems you have with northern families, they know how to eat, unlike that bland, long-lasting stuff they eat in the South.

We do have the air advantage, and I bet somebody's gonna know where we can bomb to significantly damage there resources. Say, someone who's been inside there camp? And is awesome?

RISING LIMESTONE: I'm not a warrior, I don't know these things.

You look at your husband, but he just gapes back vacantly.

READING SAGE: Err...maybe we-

LEAPING GRANITE: The tunnels.

You whirl around to see Leaping Granite standing there, his fists on his hips. Brusquely, he makes space for himself next to you and pulls out a scroll. He unrolls it to reveal a map of Southflight.

LEAPING GRANITE: There were tunnels built under the walls hundreds of years ago, as a way for traders to get in and out quickly. They fell into disrepair, and now only thieves and criminals use them. The bombs, if they hit over the tunnels, will collapse that entire section of the wall. We have hundred ships, four of them. The Sages have one, too. How many do the Spires have?

FROWNING SAGE: Three, I believe.

Leaping Granite draws several black X's on the walls with chalk, then eight ovals about the size of his thumb print.

LEAPING GRANITE: Eight ships hit the walls at once, blow up structural weaknesses in the walls while five and ten ships swarm and harass the Mudmen away from their own cannons. Then we pull back any damaged hundred ships, bring in the twenty and fifty ships to start capturing the walls while the five ships fly over and secure the breaches. Once the battle's about won, we take our hundred ships and start hunting down Mudmen, then blowing them to a fine red cloud.

READING SAGE: Yes, uh, that's what I was going to say.

LEAPING GRANITE: None of you seem to understand the power of a hundred or even a fifty ship. They aren't troop transports, they're mobile artillery platforms. Only about half a hundred ship are actual soldiers, the rest are either crews to fire or maintain the cannons, engineers to keep the ship running, or priests. Leave the war to the people who know how to fight it.

Granite takes his scroll and storms away. You watch him go, feeling equally impressed and annoyed.

FROWNING SAGE: Was he always like that?

RISING LIMESTONE: Aye. Why do you think we sent him away? Didn't even say hello to me, the prick...who I have sworn my life to serve and protect.

You glance at Lord Rose. He's still busy with Commander Parsley, the warrior in charge of the Sage's forces, but it looks like nobody else is. That includes the rest of the Roses, your own personal group of well-bred ladies/information gatherers, the guards...

And you do have another job to do, you remember. You should work on that soon, too.