Evangeline Nation-Breaker, an AAR

Chapter 2
March 23, 1257 - Early Morning

"'A pretty girl' they say, 'a pretty girl' they have said too many times. I swear, if this ridiculous brother of the merchant has not been suitably humbled by his captivity and feels as though he has something besides thanks to say to me he may just feel my blade as his captors will. First I just have to find the reticent bastards...

I wonder if the scum that attacked me in Praven's early morning streets fresh off the caravan had intentions to say something about this 'pretty girl?' We, sadly, will never know unless the pained 'hoomf!' from the first crossbow bolt in the chest and the sick 'crack!' of his head smashing back on the pavers of the alley from the second to his cheek were his way of expressing lasciviousness... Although terrified - that everything I was and hoped to be would end in the next seconds - and excited - at my first true combat with arms - I remember thinking that it was an amateurish and disrespectful to lower one's shield in preference to readying a killing blow whilst a dozen yards away - especially with a crossbow aimed directly at oneself. Crossbows are simple and dangerous in anyone's hands and as such I prefer them to bows. Scared, exhilarated, and noticing that my attacker displayed stupidity, arrogance, and a serious lack of discipline: that's apparently me under attack and I approve.



It really is too bad that merchant arrived to hustle me inside as I would have liked to search the cretin for anything of use. As it is, the merchant himself nearly received a third bolt but as I looked to raise the bow I realized I had not loaded it. Again, however, I approve of my instincts as I only noticed I had picked up the battlefield cleaver that had so recently been raised against me when the merchant firmly slipped it out of my hand to replace it with the body. Despite his conspiratorial tone I trusted him immediately though I am still unclear as to the cause for his caution.

On my way to a near village with the merchant's money - of which I am quite sure there is much more I can find as mine - I feel quite fast and free on a horse by myself but it is clear I will need companions and subordinates to rise to a place more suitable for my abilities. I saw the nervous body language of some travelers as I approached quickly and relished the fact that though I may not be a bandit as they had feared, there are few bandits who would bother to find a horse to chase me. Clearly I will have to choose my companions and troops carefully to maintain mobility; that which is slow is always vulnerable in some way to that which is fast. Do not flies eat away a horse's eyes in time without care? That is perhaps a poor example as I have no intention to be a mere fly.

I have heard that the Swadians enjoy terrific battlefield advantages on their heavily armored warhorses as they are heavily armored themselves as well. The ability to do damage simply on contact and to disrupt formations through a mass of horse flesh and steel are certainly welcome advantages. I will seek out, then, mounted troops to observe. Perhaps I can learn from my enemies as I go. As yet I have no enemies but in this land so torn by war and shifting loyalties I have no doubt such will not long remain the case.

When requesting information on and traveling to these little towns I see that it is clear the wars have sapped the population to nearly unsustainable lows. There is so much rich land and so many delicious animals! Calradia would be well-served by peace-time prosperity and her people would see a massive boom in population simply from a lack of people dying in war and then another boom from dispersed fear of untimely death for a child by a raid. Villages would suddenly become prosperous and the fertile and uninhabited lands in between would be settled. Resources would flow, craftsmen emerge, and Calradia would surge in strength. A wise ruler would put in place the frameworks of sustainable Calradian greatness on the way to the throne; and greatness this land could have! But I must concentrate simply on feeding myself first, outrunning those who would prey on a 'pretty girl,' and learning to kill those who my apparent charms disarm first."

Chapter 3
March 23, 1257 - Nearly Noon

"Of my first real battle I can only say just now that my hands are still shaking! My heart thunders in my chest and I care little that I care even less about my man who died! 11 looters! 11! I killed them ALL! We were moving from a little village to the next attempting to gather a mere handful of willing men to take on the kidnappers of the merchant's brother when they burst out of the underbrush where they were hiding like little squirrels, no doubt! I couldn't imagine 11 men and TWO horses ever hiding in a space so small! Sophisticated looters, these! Two horses but raiders can they call themselves to be? I'm afraid not for I was the only one present with an idea of how to ride and fight, taught to me by my father and brothers...

The looters came on and at first I was nervous for my 3 mere peasants so ordered them to stay back. I shake my head at the stupidity of thinking I could protect them but then remember exultantly that though I protected them not, I rightfully have blood from head to toe, little of it mine and what IS mine I am unsure of the source yet. I rode hither and yon, thinking nothing of the numbers I faced except to avoid large clusters for though I know my faithful Winston is a tough young man of a horse, too many hits or one in just the right place and he'd have left me to my feet which I doubted would outrun theirs. My rusty old sword sang a horrid little song as new sounds of such a blade crashing into and tearing through flesh filled my ears and added to my horror at the dire situation I was in. Had Winston been struck a deadly blow?! Would they slice those large muscles he needs to move me to, through, and beyond them?!

But no. They all died one by one with my blade through their heads, shoulders, faces, necks, upraised arms, and even a couple of shields. Though I knew it not at the time, upon inspecting the wreckage I wrought I see I broke two shields with my attacks! To be fair, there WERE two survivors in the looters' party, one apparently knocked out by one of those broken shields as part of it was driven directly into his face. But truly! What am I to do with surviving looters? Set them free, keep them, or kill them? So, by the time my two men recovered their wits there were no survivors and more fresh blood mingling with the rust down my blade... I love to watch it run, even now, bumping along on the uneven surface...

I sit by our fire in the looters' hiding hovel, our only fare - smoked fish - untouched beside me, and ignore the two men who chose to follow me as they assist each other with their wounds. Any thoughts that they might receive their healing care from one such as me, the woman, were never uttered and likely banished as they woke to find me slashing and dancing in victory and practice alone, stilled stained with the blood of the brave or foolish. I replayed as much as I remembered through my arms and legs, imagining the battle on foot as Winston chewed grass by the stream were there was no blood or emptied bowels to color it... A brave and reckless moment that might have been wise and bold was riding directly at the looters' only archer - the last one alive due to the distance allowed by that bow and the mobility of his horse - and waiting for his inevitable arrow to hit my old round shield before swinging again on his companions below. I ran him out of arrows it seems... after the last looter on foot ran from me - unsuccessfully - with blood around his ears, I faced off against my final foe but mostly, his horse. I had no interest in an equal battle now that I had reduced the odds to 1 against 1. His horse took more slashes to its face than I expected but, of course, fell. Then the man was killed with my next blow as I rode by screaming my victory within, maintaining frenetic concentration without.

I must say, if I am to have mounted troops they will need to know of the tactic I improvised to win against that last foe. In words, one need only have a determined enemy who is a bit slow-witted, a combination I am sure will be found aplenty on battlefields to come. When riding away from said enemy, turn to one side for a few counts then turn back and ready a slash to that side. A simple enemy will have the head of his horse there waiting as you have just wasted your lead but presented your side and blade to his mount and... mount versus blade... too many times and the blade will win. To bring oneself around for another attack simply continue that second turn until heading back the way one came and repeat when the enemy is positioned to fall for the confusion swivel again.

It only occurs to me after the fact that the two horses I killed to better have their riders at my mercy could have very conveniently served to carry all of my remaining troops instead of riding along myself and getting to watch them hobble in the dirt and mud...

In the aftermath I took a green hood and old kite shield for my own, stored a few other hoods and weapons that seemed like they could be used in the future, and promptly realized that I would need a lot more space to store a lot of new and unexpected items. Also, in the aftermath I realized that that second horse was actually a donkey! I thought it looked a little funny when I cut its nose nearly off!"

With this detailed battle description, we first see the exuberant bloodlust the young woman named Evangeline would display through much of her early journal. It is clear from this entry that she is a capable cavalry woman even early on, a trait completely synonymous with her as we know her now. Never have I seen a representation of her without being mounted on a horse, a mighty blade and large shield in hand. It is refreshing to hear of her describing her early equipment as rusty and old: Evangeline too, was once a mere girl on a (likely) stolen horse.

Chapter 4
March 24, 1257 - March 30, 1257

It seems that Evangeline quickly developed a love for battle as she is disappointed that she "only split one skull" in her second battle but felt great pride at the eagerness her new recruits showed in "bludgeoning and blading" the other 3 looters. The entry that describe this is, unfortunately, almost impossible to read else I would gladly include it here. She seems to express frustration that the invasion of the aforementioned kidnappers' hideout was delayed a full 2 days by the injuries sustained by one of her recruits in the previous battle. Though giddy and eager from her previous victories, she was not about to risk all and lose a vital battle for want of one peasant with a club. The attack was successful though apparently not the dead-of-night surprise she had hoped for. There are indications she had archers to contend with but no loyal Winston with whom to ride them down. Instead she commanded her men to stay close and moved methodically through the little camp. Seeming suitably pleased by the rescued man's thanks there appeared no need to run him through as she mentioned that she might have done.

At this point it also seems that she had become embroiled in a plot against the captain of the watch in Praven with the same merchant that had already employed her for the above rescue. What precisely her role was no one knows as both the merchant and captain disappeared shortly after her involvement. Speculation abounds and ranges from Evangeline killing both to take their possessions and positions to her being employed as the merchant's spy to gather information. Her journal is mum on this point but my assessment of her personality concludes that her holding a blade to the throat of the captain or even ambushing him with a rock to stave his head in is entirely within reason. I dismiss out of hand any talk that she betrayed the merchant to the captain or the king as none of her actions thereafter indicate a penchant for such treachery. Well, except for her treatment of the little-known wanderer Marnid who she apparently accepted into her company then stripped of possessions and ran off in preference to two warrior companions instead. His trade skills were eventually replaced by a woman, Ymira - though I am getting ahead of myself.

Traveling amongst the villages and cities first in Swadia then through all the lands of Calradia, Evangeline seemed surprised to find that nearly everywhere she went there were those willing to join someone, anyone and fight somewhere for something. This lack of direction appears to have annoyed her and tongue lashings were common when new recruits displayed unconcern toward their ordered actions. It seems as though she demanded obedience on the battlefield but encouraged independent thought off it. Alas, even in the end she remained despairing at the lack of individualism and purpose in her subjects but still forwarded her gift to us despite little hope that it would succeed. Also during her travels she seems to have met a man calling himself Nizar. He is mentioned only briefly at first and said to be "a complete ass, untrustworthy and excessively self-satisfied." Though undoubtedly a superior warrior to herself she felt strongly that she could make do without him, his "ridiculous self-aggrandizement, and his inevitable betrayal."

Funds running low, it seems Evangeline began hunting looters around the city of Uxkhal for a bounty offered by the local guild master. Accumulating throughout her encounters with them she expressed frustration at their foolish tactics: sending their mounted troops first to get overwhelmed then the infantry streaming in, entirely uncoordinated. Having no way to track the looters, Evangeline found the inability to get any information from other travelers to be an annoyance. After sending "a new companion skilled and equipped with a bow, Baheshtur, out to forage for some fresh meat and having him come back less all of his arrows on a previously-just-stubborn-but-now-also-limping donkey" she gave up on foraging altogether.

During a few battles she fondly harkened back to that first glorious slaughter as she rode about "staving-in faces and whatnot," untouched by the enemy. At one point she describes a battle with a mounted looter: "I was sure he meant to run - which I certainly will not abide when I'm being paid for heads; wait, am I? I'm not sure he actually mentioned bringing back any trophies... Hmm. I will need to lose some baggage then. Anyway, I thought he meant to flee so I attempted to cripple his mount but he turned to look at me just then and took the hit in his arm. Strangely enough, this caused him to rein the donkey in and give me time to swing again - a blow that nearly missed altogether thanks to my being slow to slow down. That blow convinced the donkey it did not want to continue and the next convinced him that slumping out of the saddle was preferred to continued resistance. I agree." She also makes mention that that very battle was the first in which her company received no serious injuries, though Baheshtur was still out of combat from "riding directly at a tree and wondering about the weapons that sprouted up around him while stopped" during a previous battle.

She had some words of praise for her "fast-learning and increasingly reliable troops" though she also stated that "the newly-instated Evangeline Protocol consists of one simple directive: If I'm coming to kill it, MOVE. This stems from an awkward moment when I crashed Winston into the spear freshly thrust into the last looter whilst my saber - thanks Baheshtur! - descended on his skull. Unfortunately Winston was only going fast enough to flip me out of the saddle instead of breaking the spear or knocking them both down.

I rolled with grace that surprised even myself, throwing my shield and saber to each side as I came out of it. Turning, I spied the militiaman at fault inspecting the looter's corpse to see if he had earned my fast-becoming-traditional reward for making the last kill - which he had not - and stormed towards him. A comrade alerted him to my approach and his eyes widened. I remembered this man from that very first battle so he was wise to fear me - and wise to instinctively drop his weapon though he kept the shield. I ripped the club from a soldier's hand and continued my approach, unsure of what I intended to do but thinking it had something to do with making him hurt... I raised the club and warned him with 'shield up!' then took a running step and kicked him square in the abdomen as he blocked his head. Though a grown man and wearing significant armor, he had the good sense to fall over and gasp for breath. I shouted some things I don't rightly remember at him then turned to find I had my first suck-up: a new recruit with my saber and shield in hand while he struggled with Winston's reins. It was adorable and he wasn't wearing a helmet so I might have broken a knuckle punching his lights out."

Sometime soon after the Evangeline Protocol was instated she made a near-fatal misstep, eagerly mistaking a group of 18 mountain bandits for mere looters. She and her 18 soldiers were alerted to this distinction by the war darts and military scythes they suffered through. Unfortunately, Evangeline was possibly the most surprised when, after ending two lives, she took the butt of a dart straight to the chest, knocking her from her Winston and taking a blow to the head from the next passing bandit. Luckily, her troops fought on and won despite grievous loses: 7 killed including her first hobilar, 8 wounded. The loot was apparently good though... At this point the someday-to-be-queen had had enough of hunting looters and enough money to move on in search of others to join her group but believed in following the contract through - despite the numerous Rhodok armies in the area that were undoubtedly scattering her prey to the winds.

Continuing to scour the area for what could only be 1 or 2 more bands of brigands the company came into battle with a group of forest bandits, quite skilled with their bows. Unfortunately for them, Evangeline held her line just below the crest of a hill. Fortunately for Evangeline they were not smart enough to sense the trap until too late. "Cantering Winston forward from sheer impatience to spring my ambush I found myself over the top of the hill facing a dozen bandits drawing their bows and looking down their arrows directly at me, some even smirking at the pin cushion they would make of me, I think. I kicked poor Winston hard in the sides and ducked behind my shield as we took off, screaming 'get 'em!' or something to that effect. I heard a flight of arrows pass through the air behind me and peeked my head out turning Winston to circle them so as not to provide a steady target growing smaller as I fled but instead continue testing their aim as a laterally moving target. My men swarmed over the hill and plunged blades into the idiotically turned backs of my most recent band of enemies. This is a tactic I must use again and really could have helped with those deliciously well-armed but tough mountain bandits..."

The final band of 3 looters became Evangeline's test to herself to see if she still had what it took. She ordered her men to stay put and rode out herself to fight them. Again, a man on a donkey with a bow was the last one of them standing and standing he was until her "saber caused him to slump across his similarly dead former mount." She expressed relief that the 3 arrows in her shield were not any higher else she'd have "eaten" them instead. It also appears that the lady's investment of time and effort to teach the less experienced of her group paid off as after that battle one young man managed to pass his trial for militiaman.

Chapter 5
March 30, 1257 - Suno

"Unkind as it may be to say, that ridiculous 'Count Floris' nearly made me break a rib as I fought to contain my laughter! 20,000 denars?! Not likely in this lifetime and all so he can rebuild his 'empire?!' He rattled on and on about stuff and things beyond count or comprehension, most of it certainly made up, and finally asked for a sure FORTUNE I can't even BEGIN to imagine parting with for the assistance of a single man! Let me ask you, how am I to be benefitted by this man using my money to rebuild himself to some supposed former glory? Will he take the money and go off onto great things, returning to hand me my share? Would I accompany him and forget my own new-found capabilities and precious freedoms? And just exactly what kind of superb financial situation would I have to be in to afford 20,000 to a knight in a tavern who claims to be great? Why, I would have to have an 'empire' of my own before I took that plunge! Ha! What a capering loon..."



I cannot help but smile at this passage every single time I read it. Evangeline's reaction to the storied Count Margrave Floris IV is truly priceless as she mocks his word and doubts his truth. The fact is that Floris should have been known to her prior to that unfortunate meeting where she had been used to being the fierce and capable one, even - as you read above - taking on her own troops who were too scared to fight back. Count Floris IV was a man of nearly singular vision and ability and more playful by far than the vicious battle queen. His influence stretched far and where it struck it did so with potency. Evangeline, still young in the world, couldn't know of such things so of course she mocked the mighty trader-knight.

Chapter 6
March 31, 1257 - April 3, 1257

A number of small passages appear independent of dates or locations but I have included their possible date range, lumping them together here:

"We passed within sight of a looted village, my first from this distant vantage point, and I felt hate, despair, sorrow, wrath swell up inside me. That would NEVER be me or my company, we would never do such a thing to anyone."

"Emboldened excessively, it seems, by my now seemingly numerous personal victories I managed to get beaten senseless by a drunken louse who I suspect may have been playing opossum though for what reasons I can't be sure as I haven't soothed my ego far enough to invent them. Baheshtur - which I have decided to pronounce 'basher' - found me dumped unceremoniously outside the tavern swinging my sheathed saber at passing feet and muttering incoherently, or so I am told..."

"God, Borcha is ugly. I would say that that man had better be glad he is a skillful tracker and scout else he'd be of no use to any woman anywhere but I actually suspect that is precisely why he developed such skills."

"In yet another tavern searching for yet another worthy adventurer I ran across the thoroughly disagreeable Matheld. Though I sympathized with her mistreatment, she maintained a haughty tone throughout her unsolicited and lengthy explanation of the wrongs piled on her. Her strong sword arm would no doubt be as useful Nizar's - who I suspect may be a threat as he was remarkably also in that same tavern - but under my style of leadership I will tolerate only minimal distraction and controversy, two categories I have no doubt at all she would have contributed heavily to. Besides, she mentioned intent to raise and army to return and claim her rights. Am I not raising an army now that she could usurp? I can't seem to stop talking young men in villages into joining us, even as the money flows out of my hands... Ever since that burned village I've... I've felt the urge to defend them, strangers... Regardless of my unconscious aims, however, I am in no position to offer serious contest to any of the banner-carrying parties I have seen roaming the land. I need to travel more, experience more, explore my options... This place is piled high with opportunity, I shall pick carefully.

On a side note, due to my hunger and the cold of Reyvadin the only thing I could think of to say to get Matheld to stop speaking turned out to be an ironic 'Your brother-in-law was right, women shouldn't lead. Go back home and tend your hearth.' I think the confusion such a rebuke inspired may be all that saved me from another quick beating. On my way out Nizar attempted to regale me with some verse or tale of his no doubt tremendous deeds since we had last met and at far too close a proximity, causing me to flinch at the SMELL of the man. I couldn't place it but it seemed like something I should know."

"I am unsure of the exact cause but the most likely culprit is that I simply have a terrible sense of direction. I observe our little map, I listen to directions, and I still always end up wandering off course. The most direct route is never taken between two points, always there is derivation from the best course and all too often I find forests both large and small along the way to slow us even further. I would kill, literally kill for a better sense of direction. I suppose I should offer a better sacrifice than just blood since I do that just for practice anyway..."

"Passing from Dhirim to Reyvadin to Curaw I noticed a severe difference in the prices of iron amongst them with Reyvadin charging the most. I rightly assumed this meant they would pay the most and quickly found myself up nearly 1400 denars! Then... Then I spotted a beautiful weapon I'm told is a scimitar. Handling it lovingly as the weaponsmith explained its attributes, I climbed atop a nearby sawhorse - much to the confusion of the weaponsmith though it did not disturb his speech - and joyously slashed slowly at enemies near my feet. The weaponsmith explained that the weapon was in fact an elite scimitar and therefore longer and sharper. He also said that it had been carefully crafted for balance but he didn't need to tell me, I was in love with its wicked grace already - and thus I lost all of the money I had gained from trading iron and then some, just over 2000 denars. I have no doubt I shall enjoy this blade for a long time to come and it shall help me earn many thousands more than it cost. For the first time, I found myself casting a critical eye at all the wares of the horse, armor, and weapon mongers with unclear intent for the future."

"Ran out of food AGAIN. Gah. You know what I really need? A quartermaster. I need someone in charge of keeping the troops in gear and food and that man will no doubt need a smith; who will need an apprentice for the lesser work. The baggage train for a smith could be tolerated and even divided up to keep from slowing us down. All this nonsense of swarming into a town or village and having everyone mob to the various craftsmen - ironworkers, leatherworkers, brothels - for repairs then the other merchants for the rest of the gear the men are entitled to after passing their trials is almost too much. I have to pry my troops out of shops and women's arms with the flat of Basher's saber every single stop ; I refuse to use my beloved head-splitter Annabelle for such work as slapping half-naked men and women. Oh how those silly wenches glare... I'm tempted to fetch Annabelle and sever a limb for their impertinence; these men are MINE until they die and even then they are deaths I send them to.

Additionally, I foresee frustrations equipping my specially skilled irregulars, another job for the quartermaster I don't have. I have already established a hierarchy amongst the two I have where I take the best for myself and pass the rest down. Basher had his saber returned to him and the rusty cleaver that he had been using was passed down to Borcha, ugly Borcha. When next I find something for myself I will personally have to pass items down again and I can only imagine what that will be like when I have even more irregulars, nearly a dozen or so, I expect.

On a side note my insistence that my irregulars pass on what training they can to the lesser warriors in the company seems to be paying off as every day another recruit or two passes his trial. I think the men are spurred on by the fact that I keep a partly inverted battle order and therefore as soon as they reach the point where I will provide them with a horse they will be the last into battle. This forces my lesser troops to the front to fight and learn and earn their reward of relative safety. However, it has been too long since we had a fight. My troops number 43 now: I need an enemy to slim my payroll some or provide me with loot to convert to cash. Luckily, I find myself in Khudan now and am told there are worthy bandits roaming to the north and east."

"Those bandits are cursedly fast..."

Chapter 7
April 4, 1257 - Ichamur

"ANNABELLE HAS TASTED HER FIRST BLOOD. It was sweet, and warm, and she loved it dearly... Two mere bandits attempted to ambush me upon entering Ichamur, a curious greeting to the lands of the Khergits... They were smart enough at least to attack from before and behind and even scored a hit with javelin I believe. I admit I felt serious trepidation when the javelinier ran dry and produced an enormous cleaver to charge at me with. He missed his first swing and luckily for my fragile shield he never got a chance at another. Slicing with my beautiful Annabelle as he stumbled, a mere shift of my wrist found wicked steel sliding through his soft, surprised neck... I think the fact that after I retreated into an alley to get them both ahead of me and his friend did not come back out but only I did should have been enough warning. However, it seems he relied on that giant cleaver as much as I worried about it shattering my shield. Oh, and I found a purse of 100 denars on one and that neither of their hide shirts was any good at cleaning off their own blood; how useless of them.

Incidentally, my next stop was the tavern where I met the woman adventurer most like myself: Klethi; I couldn't imagine anyone else I could immediately take to so much! I liked her, I liked her but I couldn't trust her as far as I could throw her! She was DANGEROUS, and capable and great with a blade but she was a damned thief! I liked her so much but all of those capabilities are the type that when the issue of theft came up and established itself as a deal-breaker they all added themselves to the list of why she had to be kept far, far away. I couldn't accept her though I wanted to hug her and at the same time knew I'd be exposing my 4th and 5th rib to her, an unacceptable risk. She was a killer and a loon but a dishonest one and therefore unreliable. I paid for her drink out of spiritual kinship then made sure to let her see that I still needed to clean the fresh blood off my dear and lovely Annabelle. The look of her was one of caution. I'm sure she understood that I too can find a heart with my blade and would be watching her carefully whenever next we met."

"An incident with steppe bandits: more blood for Annabelle and the profit of several ponies, one of which I have named Boris and now ride. It is not yet time for Winston to leave us but that may come soon... Just prior to entering Ichamur Borcha, ugly Borcha informed me of a nearby attack on a group of farmers by a pack of bandits. I didn't feel like rushing out in the night to help just then but emerging with two more deaths on my hands I was completely interested. We cleaned them up easily and the peasants were grateful to us for their lives but I was grateful to them for the scene that greeted the end of the battle: dozens cheering and waving weapons triumphantly in diverse and some brightly colored clothing... I wish had been able to capture the image but my mind slips, even now and image fades...

Back in Ichamur to sell the enemy's bloodied gear I spied a large and lovely heavy saber, the big beastly kind so perfect for smashing/slashing through skulls and leaving that ridiculous surprised and split down the middle look behind. I immediately saw that it was shorter than my beloved but I did consider buying it for one of my irregulars. However, I quickly concluded that they too would carry elite scimitars instead as the range would make up for any lack of battering damage. I also decided that I would not be buying anything subpar. This decision indicated I should be on a long, long path but going to where?

In a flash I saw the freedoms I had to have for myself on that journey and the freedoms I would not allow to be denied those living in burned and as yet unburned villages. That in itself presented itself as a purpose, my purpose: to end the abuses of these wars. Looking to that distant goal was blindingly far so instead I looked to my current state of things: my men, my companions. I had done well so far with my company and would, as my first order of business, continue searching specifically for other talented adventurers to add to my ranks of irregulars. From Ichamur I would head to Tulga and then the Sarranid lands. I would see what advantages, practices, and people all the lands held before choosing my enemies."

Chapter 8
April 5, 1257 - April 11, 1257

"Borcha, ugly Borcha... I find myself staring intently at him as he speaks wanting to, to just... SLAP THAT GODDAMN FROWN TO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD! My fingers itch and my eyes twitch when he goes on for too long. I think he sees that and, unknowing of its cause, still manages to wrap up, shut up, and go away."

"Another irregular recruit, Ymira. I will not like her but she will prove useful; these things I know. Another woman, Deshavi, was rejected - sort of. In truth, I hired her from a tavern in Narra - delayed the trip to Sarranid lands until more money is found - and immediately upon her returning to the group the frown of invaluable Borch, ugly Borcha impossibly deepened and she mirrored it. I could see right away there would be problems so, like Marnid before her I uh, stripped her and sent her back. Amazingly, she reacted just as amicably as Marnid! I got the feeling that were I to ever speak to them again it would be like I had never stripped them of clothing and weapons and kicked them out to the world. Strange folk... Her armor is actually my armor now and Basher gets his own back!"

"I was offered a bounty on Khergit bandit leader and sorely wanted to accept but they are damn fast, it'd be a waste of my word to accept."

"Finally, a battle! I'm not sure how my militiamen felt about fighting 12 of their own kind but they delivered a flawless victory that included completely unforeseen - no pun intended, you'll see - benefits for dealing with Borcha: conical (and comical) helmets with HUGE nose guards! As long as I'm around that man will never take it off except to possibly put on an even more complete helm!"




"A woman named Katrin and a man named Lezalit in a tavern... I hadn't the money to hire him as a trainer and soldier though money was precisely why I had returned to the mountains near Veluca, none too far from my first personal defeat in battle. I remembered those bandits were slow and well-armed and expected to run some down, bring justice upon them, and profit from it. The woman though... I couldn't tell what it was that stopped me... I liked her plenty well and was sure she'd be useful but something deep within me reverberated with misgivings..."

Shortly after leaving Veluca Evangeline's party chased down a medium-sized party of mountain bandits and late in the battle she found herself surrounded by those impressive cleavers she was fortunate enough to face only one of before. This time, however, her personal scimitar was not enough and she again faced what she refers to as 'personal defeat.' However, as can clearly be seen by the passage below, Evangeline did not let that stop her from continuing to raid against the raiders and even added to her personal bias against them.

"'Do you sell it back to them just so I can chase them up in the mountains and bring it back to you again all bloodied?!' I demanded of the merchant. 'I mean, why not just streamline the process? They come here, I kill them, and we split the money they brought!' At the moment the idea left my mouth I thought it actually wasn't half bad but first, wouldn't work more than once and second, I couldn't be sure that just because whoever came dressed, acted, and bought used equipment like a mountain bandit was actually a bandit so ambushing them would be... unfair. I SWEAR I picked up the same cleaver off a dead man 3 times now and sold it to that merchant in Veluca each time... Maybe I should just bury or burn the stuff and then I'd start seeing these little wretches running around with rocks and hatchets instead of the same javelins and military scythes! Bastards! Agh! How I hate them..."

"40 bandits down, 7 manhunters saved (kinda had the tables turned, huh?), and ROAST DUCK FOR EVANGELINE! That last one tried to squirrel away but Annabelle licked his head - and a good thing too! That damned accomplished hobilar was trying to take my duck prize from me! And these merchants! What business do they have running out of money?! That's no business at all, that's BAD business most surely! I mean really, I'm only bringing in all the gear of 40 dead men! Well, all the gear worth bringing which is another spot where my non-existent quartermaster and his attendant smith are failing me. I should really fire them as soon as I find some to hire..."



It is now clear that the reward for the last kill is roast duck, a choice that might have been made whimsically for the victim's apparent failure to, well, duck.

Chapter 9
April 12, 1257 - April 13 1257

"What use is a man like that?! Floris ran to hide on the stairs with the rest and just let the drunk ambush me by the door! I walked in and there he is, THE SAME MAN THAT BEAT ME BEFORE! He burbled something offensive and attacked immediately but this time I killed him dead! No favors for leaving me alive last time, I put him down. And where was this mighty Floris? Hiding with the others, not a word of warning nor even the kindness to beat the man away from the FIRST stool by the ONLY door so the next person had to deal with him immediately! ASS!"

"Alayan and Lezalit have joined my party and they are both grating on my nerves while having completely opposing effects on that silly woman Ymira. I swear, if the dramatic aspects of this company do not die down something else just might... Annabelle itches at my leg as she passes - it has been too long since the last enemies felt her smooth and slim tongue, my hand aches to slice her through... not bone or at least not skull-bone but instead... I don't know... I'm thinking I want to cut someone's arm off. Yes, that feels like it would be a satisfying slice-crunch-slice... I want to take someone's limb or limbs. As I write this I am staring off into the distance and slashing my Annabelle around to more thoroughly imagine the feel of separating man from arm. I notice my soldiers are all scrupulously out of range and not looking at me. These wenches of Tihr best be careful, my hand strays easily these days and though a mighty warrior I am not, perfectly capable of severing a woman's hand bearing impolite gestures I am. Basher has taken to getting into rooms before me to clear our troops out so that he receives the scorn and hand signs I might find myself in serious trouble for responding to."

"Bunduk seemed like a fine man and handy in a fight but I can't for the life of me explain why I decided to go on without him... He will likely swing for desertion if he stays drinking in that tavern... A shame it would be."

"Nizar's pride must have stung as I ignored him completely and instead left with a wretchedly unhappy man named Firentis. The man killed his brother and thus when I said 'redemption' he was mine forever more. I shall enjoy using him, able as he is, for my personal defense. Incidentally, outfitting both Firentis and Alayan from my store of weapons, armor, and horses has significantly reduced that store, bringing it to completely reasonable levels! I can't say how many more able folk I will find to add to my irregulars but I foresee the need for one skilled in healing arts at the very least. Ymira has been doing well but I think she should focus on the one skill that no one else has: getting me good prices for my loot!"

"Sargoth is under siege! I was threatened by a firmly held pike when I attempted to view the fighting itself as more than 500 Vaegirs stormed the walls held by a faltering bunch of Nords numbering less than 200. We left the city swiftly and still I craned my neck and stood in the stirrups to view any fighting I could. I was sorely tempted to declare sudden allegiance to the Nords just to take somebody's arm but the soldiers at work there were hard and dangerous men who would think nothing of running me right through. Suffer I would, yes, and die for nothing fore I likely wouldn't have even gotten my arm... I see now that I will also need a man with skills in engineering. To end the abuses of these wars I will need to take towns myself and those walls are a problem..."

"Another heavy saber spotted in a shop and though the impetus for my crusade, I will not wield them. My mind thinks it right but my sword arms feels the length and light razor of Annabelle and cannot be torn away. We are running hard on the heels of these legendary sea raiders I hear so much about. Having dispersed much of the gear I've lugged along this far we are now rolling along quickly, quicker than we've ever been, QUICKER THAN ANY ENEMY NORTH OF THE KHERGIT LANDS! This is the way it is supposed to be."

I have always imagined a feral grin when she ends that statement. The woman was a wolf and her troops were developing into her pack, mounted and armored, a powerful spear striking with the force of a hammer.

Chapter 10
April 14, 1257 - April 17, 1257

"Ymira's puny neck muscles are making it difficult to outfit her with something more than a bunch of padded cloth... AND ROLF! What a laughable yutz! He was almost as funny as Floris but requested only 300 denars so I hired him. I will keep him close to me to see just how long he can stand the fact that no one in my party is every going to call him 'baron' ever again. That should provide some entertainment. "

"Finally into the Sarranid lands! Deshavi did not seem amused as I hired one of her gawkers to the company. When the man said that he could knock down walls my eyes must have lit up for his speech became much more relaxed and assured. We have yet to see if he will mesh with the rest but I am confident I can find uses for him; no one claims engineering skills without at least some fore in this land, at this time, to fail in arts unknown to others brings the simplest of repercussions: violence."



"On our last day in Sarranid lands I discovered two things. Noticing cheap iron in Ahmerrad I spent all of our money on it, unsure of where I would sell it for profit. As it turned out, the next town over took it for a price nice enough that even after paying the week's wages an hour later, I was still ahead over 100 denars. My next discovery was made as I exited a local tavern in Shariz and smelled the strong odor of Nizar; so strong in fact that he had to be extremely, dangerously close. I immediately struck backwards with a small dagger I carried but hit nothing. 'He's quick!' I thought, then 'let's see him dodge THIS!' as I spun to face him, slashing Annabelle through his space. The camel standing there looked very friendly one second then blind, bleeding and screaming the unearthly warble that camels apparently do when in extreme pain the next. This noise brought the camel's owner out of a house nearby in time to see me - much to his horror and fury - finish up my accidental camel murder to stop the beast's pain. He came at me screaming and I thought I would have to take him down but he stopped a pace out of range. Screaming, gesticulating wildly and babbling at an insane rate in a language I didn't understand it became clear that the man was almost as upset as the camel had been.

I was suitably mortified and apologetic. Instead of wasting time trying to explain that I had thought a man was stalking me across the continent and had finally proven my suspicions correct by attempting an ambush, I produced a purse of a few hundred denars and tossed it to the man. Clearly well-versed in dealing with flying bags of money, the man was immediately silenced and deftly caught it, opening it quickly. His expression and body language promptly changed to that of a gracious friend. He pressed his hands together and bowed a few times, happily indicating that I should take my new property.

Apparently I had given him too much, having only intended to pay for the offense, not the camel and everything packed on it. I tried to explain that he could keep the camel and everything it had been carrying - some of which was crushed and smelled sickly sweet, perhaps a kind of fruit or just the natural smell for a recently slaughtered camel - I just needed some of the money back. However, he simply continued backing away, smiling, bowing, and waving my dead camel at me.

Basher arrived with Firentis and Rolf just in time to keep the watch from - I THINK - arresting me for possession of a smelly dead camel right next to the only tavern in town on a busy night. Rolf seemed to have some grasp of their language though from what I could tell he was only pissing the watch off further. I didn't have the money to throw to get them to leave so instead I knelt, splashed both my hands in camel blood, drew them down both sides of my face and screamed the war cry of camel killer.

In the stunned silence I slapped my hands on the chests of the two men standing beside me - Firentis and Rolf I found out later; Rolf was fine with it, Firentis was displeased - and charged, bloody hands held before me like claws. The watchmen were disgusted with my hands-only blood-bath, shocked at my facial blood-bath, horrified at my hand-printing two of my men, and running away before I took 3 steps.

With them gone I instructed Basher and Rolf to search the camel corpse for anything intact and useful -of which they found nothing - then find a butcher to buy the thing. Firentis I nearly had to slap to regain his attention and sent to round up the men so we could leave promptly. Shariz would not soon forget me but I couldn't guess if that would gain me respect or arrest when next in town.

Chapter 11
April 18, 1257 - April 23, 1257

"Today I find I have more mounted troops than not. From here on out, barring disaster, this will be the case."

Later that day Evangeline's party ran down 14 looters and she decided to put on an inspirational show for her troops whom she stationed at the top of a low hill. Rushing alone at the looters she killed 8 herself and injured 3 more badly enough to cause them to rout while the other 3 were stupid enough to charge her 44 troops stationed at the top of the hill. Just before Boris collapsed from the looters' blows and as the 3 who would rout were already running Evangeline called in her troops to finish them off.

"Fresh blood splattered across my face as one of my mailed knights speared the last looter brave enough to face me, the one who downed Boris. I was a mere meter away from him and thus privy to the amazing spectacle that is a man's dying face. I saw the confidence that surged within him as I picked myself up from my fallen mount. Taking a show-off such as myself off my horse must have been his greatest battlefield victory. I readied my shield but smirked at him as the knight that would kill him closed quickly from behind. The man was oblivious as his chest sprouted a spearhead, his battlelust blinding him to all but me, his target. The man could have been useful in my band with some training and I thought to tell him as much but his anger at being pinned to something that would not let him come finish me off was too engrossing. The anger turned quickly to pain, then despair as he realized he was done for. The spear seemed stuck in him but the knight realized I was enjoying the show so did not try to shake it loose. However, as the man's legs gave out the spear had to be released, allowing him to slump to the ground. I removed my helmet and visited him there, first kneeling and smiling pleasantly then laying in the spoiled grass beside him, looking at him. He lay on his side and as the last flickers of his life faded so, apparently, did his pain. He returned my smile and closed his eyes to die. I watched him for a moment more then stood, rolled him to his face, and ripped the spear from his back, handing it up to my confused knight with a happily beaming smile. I retrieved my helmet then and lightly skipped over to see how my brave Boris was doing."

"Passing through Suno we saw the Swadian lords preparing for a campaign. I was unable to get close enough to hear where they were going as tensions were high and I was assumed to be a possible spy, assassin, or saboteur. Viewing myself as such was an interesting thought. The ability to carry some of those out could be useful, I thought. Nevertheless, hundreds of men gearing for war with many more coming was almost too much excitement for me to bear! Horses and blades, armor and obvious training and professionalism... I loved it! I thought of someday having such a force to call upon myself and got light-headed. It was easy to imagine these fine soldiers as liberators instead of the terrible oppressors they likely were to be used as since the tense atmosphere kept their carousing and trouble-making down. Soldiers left alone with an enemy village will wreck havoc most assuredly as they have been told the inhabitants are evil and subhuman. I have told nothing of the sort to my men without a country. They already understand that everywhere we go there might be capable men joining our company and affectionate women to greet them, we already view all Calradia as our brothers or lovers... When we eventually do have a home to call ours I hope this tradition of brotherhood has already set itself deep in the company's morals. Even so, I will make it clear that the people we meet outside of armed combat are to be treated as our own."

Evangeline would soon find out by traveling to Dhirim that it was under siege by the khirgit khan and that the forces she saw being assembled in Suno were designed to be a relief force. History tells us this force would not arrive in time, that Dhirim would fall. Evangeline spent much of her time during the siege of the doomed city with her engineer, Artimenner, discussing the efforts being undergone on each side of the wall. She expressed delight at the extent of his knowledge beyond her own and confidence that he would be able to fill in the gaps in that knowledge their discussions revealed. We know from our present-day view that Artimenner or, "Arti the ingeneer" as Evangeline would call him to herself but not his face, would in fact fill in those gaps and much, much more to become the foremost siege engineer in Calradia.

"Another drunk in a tavern but this time a "student of natural philosophy!" and other such nonsense to help him after I soundly beat him stupider than he was before - with the stool he had been sitting upon and the table he sat before not less! I found the combination of one against the other with his head in the middle a delightful excitement. I surely would have ended the man then and there if another had not shouted for me to desist. The man looked to be a monk but described himself as a physician, much maligned by his peers. I ceased my efforts to destroy the drunkard's skull and, breathing somewhat heavily, allowed the good doctor access to his patient. Jeremus, as the monk-looking man called himself, set about gently probing the drunk's head and muttering to himself. After a short time he scurried across the room and retrieved a bag of strange little devices and set to work mending the broken man's broken head, first by flopping him back on a bench so his head lay on the table, blood puddling slowly from the numerous cuts and bruises I'd inflicted.

Most of the other patrons in the tavern decided that they had had enough when Jeremus retrieved a small chisel and drill from his bag, very precisely placed them against the man's head, and struck the other end with a hammer. The fleshy crunch was a sound I didn't mind at all - though it DID come just as I bit an apple, much to my brief confusion - and the procedure itself was interesting enough to stick around. The tavern keeper, a disgusted look on his face, made to check his store room but I stopped him. 'How long will this take?' I asked our little head-miner. 'Could be hours.' he answered quietly. Requesting and promptly receiving a full meal of lamb, fruit, bread, and ale I settled in to watch the show, chewing hungrily on the delicious fare. After a minute or two Jeremus shook his head and quietly commented that not even he could stomach the thought of eating at a time like this, his words punctuated by another chisel strike, this one apparently deeper than expected as the dying man's left foot suddenly kicked out; I couldn't help but laugh.

Firentis arrived with Rolf and Alayan looking for me in time to see Jeremus pacing, gesturing, and muttering about the possible reasons for his failure to save the dead-man's life. I had finished my meal and sat with my arms behind my head watching him. Rolf commented that he didn't think the local camel butcher would accept this particular body but we could try any way. Part way through the failed operation I had convinced Jeremus to join our party and as it was time to go I ordered him to wrap it up. As we walked out of the city with our newest member still muttering about his failure I queried him as to why he had not interfered sooner if the man's life was so important to him. He admitted with embarrassment that he had been waiting for the situation to raise to such a level as would challenge his not-inconsequential abilities. I clapped him on the shoulder and happily told him that he would be getting PLENTY of practice now and that he should not feel the need to wait idly by while I or mine to bleed to a level that suited his tastes as a test - especially since this last trial had ended tragically for the injured. He readily agreed that he would act promptly when the situation required and nodded sagely when Alayan suggested that for the most practice fixing heads he should simply stay close to me. Our doctor took that seriously and even walked a touch closer to his new employer as I smiled wolfishly at him."

Chapter 12
April 24, 1257 - May 7, 1257

"Another very profitable iron-run to Reyvadin! And another... large... beautiful... long... blade to again consume all of my profits plus 800... I felt like I'd betrayed my beloved Annabelle but then I looked into the edge of my new balanced heavy knight's bastard sword and feel its mighty swing and I screamed my joy to find her there! I nearly hugged the great blade as it was, naked, but slipped her dear sheath on and THEN embraced my lovely head-slasher! My scimitar has gone to Rolf, the mightiest of my irregulars, to compliment his small arsenal of javelins. With that transfer of equipment I noted with disgust that no shield nor armor in our party matched the delightful weapons I had found. With that determination I set out to find enemies with superior armor to overwhelm so that my troops could better reach the great destiny I had planned for them. But first, Curaw still has some cheap iron I need to sell..."

Returning to the mountains near Veluca, Evangeline pursued bands of bandits and deserters making good use of Firentis' advanced ability to forage amongst the dead for sellable items. It seemed to Evangeline as though Firentis viewed rummaging through the dead and bringing the wealth he found to his captain as some sort of penance; for her part she just enjoyed the bounty he amassed after every battle but knew there was more to be made somewhere. Seeking out a lucrative contract, Evangeline headed into the city.

"When I accepted the guild master of Veluca's request to exterminate a particular group of bandits plaguing trade in the area my company employed only 4 men still on foot. At the end of the short battle that followed a short chase (we acquired our targets immediately upon leaving the city gates thanks to Borcha, well-protected Borcha and his keen eyes) one of those men-at-arms felt confident he could pass the trial for hobilar and so, still wearing the blood of a bandit or two, he undertook that trial and passed. We cheered him heartily and the last three foot soldiers redoubled their efforts to learn. I have little doubt I will soon enjoy the colossal benefits of a fully mounted troop!"

"We held a small feast tonight to celebrate emptying the cache of weapons and armor I had been storing. Ymira, through many hours of training in a helmet much too large for her, has finally grown able to wear the best-we've-come-across-that-someone-else-isn't-already-wearing helmet. Now the best gear we've found in the field adorns my irregulars with no exceptions. Added to this, I found a great lance and another elite scimitar at the weaponsmith in Halmar. When I am strong enough I will be using the lance myself but for now Rolf will have the privilege of taking first blood with it.

I begin to wonder just exactly what my next steps should be once I have all my men on horses, on their way to becoming lancers in their own right. One thing I know: my irregulars will have to be able to keep up with them in battle and for that will require better mounts. It is clear from that and the weapons I have been purchasing that I will need great amounts of money to maintain and advance my troop to a place where it is able to take on the challenges I have laid out for it. My few and small trades have proven invaluable, I think I will pursue a greater understanding of the practice of trading; all the more reason for Ymira to advance herself to better serve her captain. However, nice as it will be to travel for money, I will undoubtedly need more than I currently have to even begin. We will seek out contracts to fill our pockets and enemies to fell for the contents of theirs.

We find ourselves on the outskirts of this Khergit city tonight thanks to a simple enough contract I think I'll get more than was intended out of. The guild master in Veluca, so pleased was he in the prompt destruction of the bandits troubling him, offered a second job: deliver a ransom and return with a girl. In my mind I do not see the kidnappers being capable of fleeing us once we have secured the girl. At that point I think it should be a simple thing to find the ransom returned to me. On the trip back to Veluca I will have to decide whether the goodwill generated by giving that bloodied ransom back to the guild master will be worth it or not. I think not as he has already deceived me, stating that he could afford no larger reward for my work against his bandits then producing nearly 900 denars for a ransom. On a side note, we would be dining near Shariz tonight as it was much more on the way but I do not yet feel like testing my welcome there."

"Another iron-run from Ahmerrad and again this southern iron-trade profit did not find itself spent on that which is sharp and slices or stabs, unlike my northern iron-trade profits... Today we fought Sarranids for the first time, a group of cavalry deserter. I have to say that smashing my Annabelle through the necks of their camels made me uneasy, I feel like a murderer."

"Reyvadin! How you take all of my profits! Such long weapons you sell! We found ourselves in Curaw with a bounty roaming the countryside to find and I decided to take advantage of the time spent searching to buy out all of the iron I could find and sell it in Reyvadin. Simply put, I discovered two more great swords with tremendous length, a feature of great importance to a cavalry troop. To be fair, even after the purchase of the swords for around 1900 denars total I am actually still ahead by a few thousand.

"I am still searching for that brigand leader but in the process have discovered some wonderful shields! The sea raiders that I catch so easily now possess some really beautiful shields! I was tempted to take them until I compared their sizes to those my troop already used. Arti the ingeneer pointed out that though smaller, the shields were of superior workmanship and materials and thus much stronger than many we had. Given the short duration of most of our battles I decided then and there that size would trump durability. Not long after I made that decree we ran across a group of tundra bandits and they had simply the greatest shields I've seen! Large and strong, it is unfortunate that we damaged them all beyond use! I will make a practice of hunting these taiga bandits to acquire more of their good shields while I search for this damned bandit leader - a contract I never should have accepted and only did because I thought we would find him promptly like the bandits terrorizing Veluca!

"Upon stepping into Reyvadin - again to sell iron - I was confronted by a single archer with a dagger. He kept up a steady barrage of arrows against my hastily raised shield but couldn't manage to hit me as every time he tried to aim around the shield it took him longer to steady himself than it took me to block the shot. When he tried to hurry a shot and he missed I chuckled, continuing to move toward him. Selecting a perch at the top of a set of stairs was all well and good for maintaining a large field of fire but that is only helpful when one has others keeping the prey in place. Without that, this particular archer found himself at the top of some stairs with an armed and armored target coming up and blocking the only way down. Well, maybe not the only way: he jumped.

I quickly followed but had to maintain my alert and keep my guard up as it was impossible this man was attacking alone with such poor equipment and positioning. By the time I was close to where he had landed he was no longer there, preferring to flee on a broken or sprained ankle rather than await my Annabelle. As he fled he called out to his partner in crime, still to be seen. I scanned my surroundings constantly while pursuing the man, even going so far as to turn my back on him. The second time I did that he attempted a shot that missed widely. The man soon collapsed from pain but then felt no more. I am quite sure the end was quick and as surprising as it could be since Annabelle lopped the top of his head clean off while his eyes were still closed in pain. I had only a moment to examine my work and notice the lack of blood within his head while so much flowed from the skin broken to reveal such a sight. I thought 'I will have to bring Jeremus here and discuss this oddity with him!' A mere moment after thinking this I heard feet shuffle to a halt and turned to find another archer staring. He ran.

Though it turns out I would have been safe to assume the man was too scared to wait in ambush as I pursued, I proceeded through the whole of the city's section with my shield held high and eyes scanning carefully. I finally found the second attacker all the way back at the city gates. He had apparently given up on opening the large and barred gates. He raised his bow with arrow at the ready. Don't point that thing at me.' I warned though the consequences were going to be the same regardless. His first arrow struck my shield, his second was broken along with his bow and life as Annabelle passed firmly through them all."

Chapter 13
May 8, 1257 - May 12, 1257

"This god forsaken bandit leader could be anywhere on the continent - except here of course. I've met quite a few people on the roads - some of them more than once - while asking about the man. To keep myself entertained once in a while I have described him as looking exactly like Rolf, the person I am talking to, or even one of their party. From such amusements I have concluded that almost no one I meet is paying attention. The Vaegir lords I've met pretend to listen if they find me attractive or make no effort at all and attempt an insult if they disapprove of a woman in armor addressing them. I tend to think that it is less that I am a woman at the head of a company than that I do not appear nearly as soft or vulnerable as they would prefer. Some of the pigs really try to get my ire up so as to cause a challenge but I am no fool and I know I am not warrior enough to fight them - though I do get plenty of practice around here.

I said that almost no one I speak to about this bounty pays attention to what I say but really the fact is that ABSOLUTELY no one pays attention - not really. The few times I've spoken to villagers who knew of bandits I could see them convincing themselves that the ones they saw were the ones I am looking for so as to better convince me so as to put me on their trail. Occasionally I can tell that a lord knows of bandits nearby, possibly even my bandit, but are staying quiet on the matter. I suspect mostly this is so the lords can fight the bandits themselves and thus claim the honor and thanks themselves but some of these men also strike me as the type that may be in cahoots with the outlaws for the purpose of gaining a little more tax revenue or because one of their disaffected sons rides in their number. I also suspect that one or two hate a woman leader so much that they will do whatever they can - passively at least - to stifle me.

Nevertheless, I find battles and profit aplenty here, one such battle rewarding me with one of the large shields I hold so dear, cracked though usable. Somewhere in these travels I have lost one of my men-at-arms and topped 12,000 denars to my name when I wasn't paying attention. Twice now I have been put on the trail of some troublesome bandits by farmers that both the farmers and I knew were not lead by the one I had asked about. I attacked them anyway and recovered what loot I could; a couple dozen less of the filthy thieving weasels. Tundra bandits abound and every few days I am able to buy out all of the cheap iron around and take it to Reyvadin where I then run the merchants out of money. It is mindboggling to me that the two cities, half a day's travel apart, have not concluded permanent trade agreements or that some enterprising merchant hasn't started doing exactly what I am doing; lord knows there is plenty of profit to be made here to pay for sufficient escorts.

When we are not lugging ingots of iron, I find Boris and I are fast becoming an extremely deadly team. At the start of any battle against these low-level bandits we are sure to win I command my troops to stay put then venture out before them, alone, to fight the bandits as I can. Boris takes the worst of their abuses but a few times now I have finished off the entire band myself. In fact, I have achieved victory by myself so many times and earned so much roast duck from myself that I have run out of duck to roast; an unacceptable situation since at any time I could find that I am unable to finish the job and will need the award available for the man - or Ymira - who brings us complete victory.

This most recent victory brought both Boris and I to the brink of collapse. The enemy band numbered 18 and I knew I would not be able to take them all but knew that I could try and that the men would be there to clean up any I left behind. They have taken to chanting 'ha-OOO! ha-OOO! ha-OOO!' loudly as I charge out alone then clanging swords against shields and roaring as my Annabelle slices down and comes up with blood, an arc of the stuff streaming off her very tip after the particularly meaty strikes. I have be careful how deep I swing my lovely for a few times now I've wrenched my shoulder and elbow quite hard against a solid and dying mass with too much of my blade in it. The men are wise enough to quiet down quickly after each strike so that I may maintain my concentration.

During this last battle all began as has become usual against these tundra-folk : I order my men to stay and ride out to their baritone chanting. These bandits always seem confused by me and often will bypass me in preference to attacking my stationary men. This intent typically reverses when they hear or see one of their companions feel the lick of Annabelle. The men produce their short cacophony and the bandits realize they are fighting in my arena and that they are fighting against me. Annabelle swings down and swings up, redder than she was before while another man stumbles or even falls... Boris carries me about and that which the enemy rides falls then the enemy falls. We were glorious to behold but Boris began to slow and I felt it too, I was nearing my edge. Another few blows rained in against us and I signaled the men forward against the last 3 bandits; this caused them to run. Tenacious to the end, bloody and exhausted on a horse with trembling legs, I followed. One man fell beneath Annabelle, another man fell beneath Annabelle, and the third, he too fell, also beneath Annabelle.

Too tired to find the glorious blade's sheath I held it out for someone to take from me as Boris stumbled and slowed. Alayan received the blade from my hand deftly and Basher brought my Boris to a halt; Firentis and Jeremus helped me to the ground. My legs were steady but I was losing blood from numerous wounds. Jeremus took charge of me while Rolf commanded the troops to go fetch what was salvageable. Firentis stayed by my side for some time then left to join the item hunt amongst my dead. When I awoke, bandaged and bruised, I emerged from the little tent to find my dead ready for inspection. The men had cut and tied simple gurneys to prop up all 18 of my defeated enemies. I walked down the line quietly, touching wounds and moving not-yet-stiff limbs, noting my work against them. The men had seen me perform such inspections after many a battle so as to learn from the evidence and a few times I had even given out minor awards for blows that were obviously particularly effective or well struck. Now, instead of needing to limp about the whole of the area, my men had ensured that those I had claimed as slaves for the afterlife were assembled here before me.

One of my soldiers saw me and gave a solemn 'ha-ooo', saluting with and upraised fist. Others mimicked this first, saluting with bread, meat, weapons, or sharpening stones, whatever was in their hand. I availed myself of some of the food with no objections. As I reached the end of my inspection the whole company was standing quietly. I raised a cup of ale and returned their gentle salute: 'ha-ooo.' They responded thunderously: 'HA-OOO!'"

Chapter 14
May 14, 1257 - May 16, 1257 - Rivacheg

"I've given up on that cursed bounty - at least in these parts. I've made a good deal of money chasing bandits about and slaughtering them for my troops and selling the bloodied gear, all while trading iron. I now have over 17,000 denars to my name, more than I can say I've ever had claim to. As this restlessness settles upon me who should provide me an answer? That ridiculous Floris. As I was in a tavern plying men with drink and the occasional veiled threat for information regarding that damned bandit and profitable trade ventures Capering Loon Floris IV slammed open the door and announced drunkenly that he had rediscovered his greatest enterprise, a trade route to span the continent and drain the purses of merchants all across it.

A half dozen men leapt at the opportunity to become the knight's newest confidant but he held his tongue. I bided my time until he was stumbling upstairs to collapse in victory with two wenches in tow who had obviously been paid by ambitious men to pump him for this great secret. As I made to follow, 3 of those ambitious men attempted to waylay me. They were neither subtle in their attempt nor organized. Hence, as they reached me one at a time they were injured one at a time. The first felt a blade to his balls and was undoubtedly cut. I had intended the slice to be on the inner thigh but with the way he jumped I cannot be sure what exactly I got. No matter; he stifled a yelp so as not to alert Floris of anything out of the ordinary and ran from the building holding his crotch. The next man grabbed for my wrist holding the now bloodied dagger and got it but only so I could better pin his own wrist to the post behind it with my second dagger. He bit his free hand and screamed into it.

I was about to pull the dagger out and let him run from the place as well but his last companion bear hugged me from behind. I lifted my feet and kicked off of the man I had pinned. His body pulled tight against the blade spiking him to the ceiling support and I thought to see him bite his hand again but instead he just sagged, unconscious from the pain. My hugger and I careened backwards, turning as he stumbled. He tried to catch his balance and released me to better do so but it was too late: a table full of crockery awaited us and would crash loudly when we landed, most certainly arousing Floris' curiosity and bringing him out of this pliable state. I was falling toward the table and twisted desperately to find something, ANYTHING to stop my fall. I wrapped my arms around my enemy and came to a sudden halt. Looking behind me I saw he had caught himself and therefore us both with both hands planted hard on the table. We smiled at each other with relief and I tried to kick him in the groin. He clamped his legs closed much too fast, however, and stated simply with a grim smile 'I have a wife.' He stood up and made to throttle me I think but I had only been waiting for him to move back far enough to maximize the damage my damage: I slammed my head into his face as savagely as I could - again, and again. The man fell from his feet and tried to rise but I kicked his crushed nose, causing him to reel back against the tavern keeper's counter and fall to his hands and knees. Climbing atop and empty table I leapt off onto his back with both feet, stomping him flat and dead; or at least unconscious.

In the boarding rooms above I heard laughter fading as it wandered down the hall. I ran to catch my secondary prey before they could hustle my primary prey inside a room. With my daggers lost to me in the confusion and likely not a good option anyway, I ripped a torch off the wall on my way up the stairs and smothered it with a bed sheet left in the hall at the top. The wenches and their mark were halfway down the hall and nearing the only room with a closed door, Floris' room. I charged on the balls of my feet, as quietly as possible, and smashed the makeshift club down on one woman's head. She gave a small sound like a kicked chicken then slumped. Dropping the torch, I grabbed her shoulders and threw her into an adjacent room - where I realized the torch must not have been completely out because her hair had caught fire. Apparently swinging the thing through the air had reignited the fresh embers. I quickly beat out the fire and turned to see the other wench had just completed the same task against the torch in the hall with her foot. She glared, Floris entered his room, and I tackled her to the floor.

Straddling the last of the most untrustworthy guardians Floris had ever had, I beat her head against the boards of the floor in the hall as quietly as I could, holding her hair for better grip. When she stopped struggling I gave her one more good bonk to be sure. Breathing heavily, I quickly looked back up and behind me to see Floris standing in his doorway looking surprised and significantly sobered by the sight. 'She was going to kill you!' I shouted desperately, holding up my empty hand and saying 'see?!' His eyes tried to focus on what I seemed to be holding up but I moved the hand quickly and stood. 'You're such a damned fool!' I cried at him as I slapped my hands against his plate armor. 'Why do you think I dress like this?!' I demanded, indicating to my studded leather armor. 'For my own benefit?! Damn you, you great idiot!' Faking a racking sob, I beat my head against his chest, falling deeper into the role of a completely crazy and woman who was also crying, the one creature all drunk men always react to. He put his hands on my shoulders and tried to gather his wits and comfort me but I shoved off of him, propelling him into his room. 'I save your life for the 3rd time this year and THIS is how you repay me?! Lecherous lout!' I shouted. 'If you know what's good for you, Count Floris the Fourth, you WILL NOT be wearing that armor when I come back up!' And with that I closed his door for him and walked downstairs, deep in thought.

Jeremus, Basher, and Firentis stood in the tavern below looking to me expectantly while Lezalit stared about in awe. I stopped on the last step and said 'Good, you're here.' Basher replied that they figured they ought to be after a man came out screaming for a doctor to sew his manhood back on. 'He's fine, by the way. Just a little nick through the skin but in a very tender -' Jeremus started to say before I cut him off - no pun intended. 'Great. I have Floris upstairs good and drunk and he is going to tell us the secret to riches. I'll need ale by the bucketful, some food for myself, bandaging cloth, rope, my daggers - they are around here somewhere -' I motioned generally at the room 'some fresh water, and a large pot I can build a fire in plus everything needed to build that fire, annnnd...' I tried to think of how to describe the last item I needed then spotted something that would work hanging on the wall. 'This.' I said, hefting the item. Lezalit was growing pale. 'What's his problem?' I asked. 'Not familiar with your special way of things when it comes to taverns.' Basher said. I spied the one dagger still stuck in a wrist on a post and pointed to the man there. 'Why aren't you trying to save that one, doctor?' I inquired of Jeremus. 'Dead.' he replied. 'Look at all his blood you are standing in.' I did. 'Oh.' Pulling the dagger free I started back upstairs with sticky footsteps then stopped and turned back to the men. 'Oh, and bring me about a thousand denars, all gold pieces, and one of those pullers they use to remove horseshoe nails. Go.' I turned my back on them and returned upstairs, trying to work my armor loose but deciding I'd have to work Floris doing that into the vague plot I had developed somehow too."

Here again Evangeline's journal becomes unreadable and for once I am glad of it. There is no telling just exactly what the young woman did to that man up there but we know it lasted for nearly 2 days. Part-way through the first day we know from a brief excerpt of Artimenner's own journal he was summoned to quickly teach her a knot that could cinch tight and only be released by the person who tied it. Since his captain was so drunk as to throw up once and she only had limited time to learn it, the lesson actually took two sessions several hours apart. While there she requested additional items: dice, cards, a spiked mace, and 2,000 more denars but this time none in gold stating that the gold ones "did not work as expected."

When her interrogation was over Evangeline stumbled down the stairs and announced loudly "THAT MAN NEEDS A BATH!" to all present then more quietly and less drunkenly to Basher and Rolf "and we need to leave - now." Once out of the city by several kilometers with her soldiers all around Evangeline outlined what she had learned from the pitiable Count: the largest and most complex trade route ever assembled, a trade route that they were just setting out upon.

Chapter 15
May 17, 1257 - May 24, 1257

"I have to say that for the first time I have seen Ymira happy to enter a town with the men. Ordinarily she is an intolerable harpy that cannot cease speaking of the evils and degradation that await in the arms of the working women. However, this day, this glorious day, she is contented. Well, she is contented THIS time into town, our 7th trip of the day... The men are awake and able but nearing the point where fatigue begins to take a toll on their work. We have defeated nearly 100 viking raiders this day and if anyone is tired it's the horses. Only being able to carry so much equipment, we have had to leave a few thousand denars worth of enemy equipment in the field. It is astounding the speed with which other raiders and folk move in to claim what we could not for though we rode to and from Rivacheg a half dozen times this day and crossed over several of the same battlefields, never was the gear we gathered but left still there.





I now boast a completely mounted troop and more than 23,000 denars! We will be celebrating heartily once safely inside the walls. We had two hard battles amongst the lesser ones where the group we pursued was suddenly reinforced by others. In the first I expected grievous casualties as we were outnumbered 40-33 and I was almost too injured to ride at all. We prevailed with surprising ease, only losing one man with two others wounded. The second battle I could not make up my mind about considering the results of the first. Again outnumbered but this time 47-30 I thought we might have bitten off more than we could chew. I started our charge well out in front, baiting the axe throwers with a tempting and solitary target as I rode around behind them. The morons fell for my ploy beautifully as my knights smashed into them from behind. We survived without a single man wounded! Tonight we will be riding high and eating and drinking 'til we are quite low!"

Evangeline reveals just after this that she, in fact, did not drink at all that night nor did she allow her closest lieutenants that privilege. Rolf, Basher, Alayan, Firentis, Lezalit, and Jeremus were all commanded to sleep in the same room as her with one always on guard. It appears, however, that a guard was not necessary as Evangeline seems to have not slept at all, nearly slapping Alayan awake with her great sword when she thought she saw him nod off. The reason for this concern was the cruel turn she had done to poor Floris in the very tavern where her men reveled. She did not buy the fearsome battle prowess the man claimed but also did not want to take the chance. He had disappeared from the city shortly after she left that morning at the head of her troop but no one knew the reason as he had been quite unwilling to talk in his full battle array. Some of her lieutenants suggested that perhaps he had left from shame, others that he had gone to ride his trade route, the start of which was quite nearby, to check for her or profit from it ahead of her. Either way, it was clear Evangeline had committed another offense she would need to be wary of for some time to come.

The next morning as her first order of business Evangeline completed running every merchant in Rivacheg out of money. As her second order of business she headed south and chased down a single tundra bandit out on his own, killing him with her first swipe. Next, she stormed a nearby hideout of the cretins with her trusty knights. In a battle against a group of around 20 bandits of the same stripe she apparently became blocked in by her own troops and a couple of mules previously belonging to the enemy. In her frustration she seems to have "hacked the head clean off!" both of them only to moments later have her dear Boris lamed. He was added to the train of lamed horses she had been assembling partly for her run of the Floris trade route and partly for their use as armored horses in battle once they healed. The reason for heading south was initially to sell the remainder of the scavenged gear but then also became an iron-based trade-run into Reyvadin where Evangeline again spent some of her profits but this time on two Swadian shields that, though somewhat weaker than her fur-covered shields, were noticeably larger.



It was apparently at this time that Evangeline noticed severe differences in the prices available for good and those the trader-knight Floris had quoted. Furious, she swore and oath to visit him again to demand answers but called off plans to run his trade route any time soon. Additionally, though her troops had dwindled to 32, she swore to her men that there would be no new recruits until all of her current troops reached the level of at least knight, lancer preferred. At this time we find in her own words exactly where her now-famous recruiting call came from. She addressed her troops and told them simply "You will all be knights or you will be dead." After that it seems that in preference to the Floris Trade Route Evangeline instead quickly traded more iron in Reyvadin since she was close then traveled to Tulga, the prime source of spice at the time. There she loaded down her party with salt and spice and traveled west, selling much of it in Narra, and buying more salt in Halmar to trade later.

Fortunately, before continuing on to Veluca and Jelkala to sell the rest she ran across a Swadian lord, Count Clais, who had seen her long-sought bounty 15 days previous near Ruluns. Evangeline hurried to the area, burdened by the additional goods she was unwilling to drop but also buoyed by the lightly armored and lamed horses she kept with the group to give to her lieutenants when they both able. When she got to the little village no one had seen the bandits at all. However, searching the area she found some farmers near Ibiran who stated that the bandits had been close a mere 4 days previous. Scouring around but also taking into account their apparent direction of travel Evangeline drifted toward Childe where another group of villagers said they'd seen the villains just over a day ago right there. Desperate to finally catch and kill the man that had plagued her for so long Evangeline stormed about the area, her fully mounted troop making quick work of searching through it. Finally, her scout Borcha spotted them ahead and the last chase was on. So determined to see the job finished was she that Evangeline alone attacked and destroyed the entire band just west of the village Tahlberl.

"From there we headed south again to finally unload the salt and spice that had been spilling out all over the place during our hurried romp through the Swadian countryside. While in Veluca the final cog clicked into place thanks to a random comment from a stranger and I realized what I would do to replace the income I could not get from Floris, bastard Floris' trade route: Start a business to produce some good. In all my travels never had I seen a city that did not desire more velvet including Veluca, the city closest to Jelkala, home to the strange orange bundles and dyes I have been told go into making that fine fabric. I had been considering buying and selling Jelkala velvet and might still do so but it would surely be infinitely more profitable to make it myself - or rather, hire someone to make it for me - and then sell it. And of course I would not set up shop in Jelkala but instead its closest neighbor that, despite the proximity, still suffered from a shortage. I would stock the business from the nearby producers of the raw materials needed and find myself a rich, rich woman!

Then I discovered just how much it would cost to undertake such a thing: 10,000 denars just for the facilities, more for the goods to keep it running... I had to think further about this so traveled to Jelkala to better understand the prices I would face there. While touring the market deep in thought I realized something spectacular: they were short on tools and tools are made from iron and iron is plentiful in Curaw. Quickly the plan formed and before I knew it I had bought an ironworking shop with the help of the local guild master. On the way north I decide to get into velvet for the long haul as well and purchased a small warehouse for production in Veluca as well. Funds permitting I determined that I would visit the same boon up on Yalen and even likely build more ironworks in the Vaegir lands where, like the south, a raw material was plentiful but the goods produced from it were not."

And thus we see the sudden transformation of Evangeline from a wandering half-trader and bounty hunter to a woman of industry. Never before had her voracious lust for knowledge been so severe. Men all along her trade route felt the effects of her demand for information regarding these new enterprises and most never wanted to see her ever thereafter, regardless of how much ale she had purchased for them.

Chapter 16
May 25, 1257 - March 28, 1257

"I have concluded that irrespective of training my irregulars will now and forever more be horrible with their bows and thus I have begun buying up the longest lances I can find to outfit them with instead. As they will still have some ability to carry gear after this I have considered finding them an additional shield each but determined that to be an unnecessary encumbrance. Additionally, I have put Ymira and Jeremus on a strict regimen of carrying all of my gear. When I attempted to outfit them with one of the large bastard swords I have been buying they complained of its weight; though they were able to wield it somewhat they could not do so for a battle. Borcha was on a similar regimen but then managed to grow some damned muscles and swing the thing properly leaving the other two as the last ones still swinging the lovely but slightly short elite scimitar."

Ah, the trials of mercenary captain and woman of industry...

After stocking her ironworks in Jelkala and doing her best to manage the same for her dyeworks in Veluca, Evangeline found she was again short on money so took another bounty figuring that the last one had been completed in plenty of time and the running about the countryside had been rather profitable anyway. Ironically enough, by the time she got around to actively pursuing the bandits, she had amassed a few thousand denars - plenty to move on - from raiding a few large bands of mountain bandits and even one of their hideouts. The animosity she felt toward that particular breed of brigand did not seem to have faded as she made a habit of dispatching any injured survivors herself, typically by cutting their heads in half at eye-level. Ever the pragmatist, however, she made sure to remove helmets of all types and often placed a log or cloth of some sort under her victim's head so as not to dull her blade on the dirt and rocks.

"Though this second bounty was much easier I found the same angry annoyance welling up in me as we brought the enemy into sight. These damned mountain bandits with their huge blades... I rode into battle with them alone and my dear Gracie, the poor replacement of poor Boris who is now ridden by Arti the ingeneer, was cut from beneath me after we killed half of the 4-man band. The last two failed to coordinate and both were bleeding before either landed a blow against my shield. Before a third blow was landed both were dead. I chopped their heads free and hurried back to be rid of them.



I wonder if I should thank Count Matheas for his tip? Perhaps I should but I won't. It just wouldn't due for him to think I owe him a favor and none of these lords are different, all abuse the poor that raised them up. Well, I've raised myself up and I'll continue to. But can I complete my task alone? My irregulars are not fit to lead their own warbands and I doubt ever will be. Will I have to have these despicable lords to complete my great crusade? If so, how can I say that I'm making anything better? How can I say that I am ending unnecessary abuses when THIER troops under MY name will be continuing as they always do? Sure, in our own lands we will not murder the poor but how will bringing another warring faction into being actually benefit that class upon which everyone else has already trod?

In the short run so very many more will die, on our side and theirs. Should I join with the mightiest and help them achieve victory then attempt a coup from within? The resulting violence could be contained to the upper classes - those that have looted without right or reason - but most likely will not. Were I to join with any side it would likely be the Vaegirs as their lands feel the most like home; this was shown to me by my feelings upon hearing that Curaw had been besieged by the strange and savage Khergits. However, I can't imagine kowtowing to such horrible lords for long enough to build and spring a trap that is not sure to work.. Is the only way total war? War without allies until the very end? I am not yet convinced that will save the folk I mean to.

During these somber thoughts word comes to me that Jordan, one of two that have been with me since the beginning, has passed the trial to become my first lancer. I nod solemnly and ask that he be sent in. I will have to compose myself to appear the sure and fierce warrior woman he as followed for so long lest sight of me struggling with grave matters shake his devotion."

Jordan's own journal reveals that since he was waiting right outside he had actually started to enter her tent when she had asked for him but stopped and backed out upon seeing her still distracted with writing. He observed her furrowed brow and serious demeanor then and puzzled over it for some time. A few days later, as one of her personal guards now, he saw the same conflicted look as she looked at a burning village and finally linked that to her loathing of the lords roaming the land. He understood then the length and breadth of her concerns and found himself more fiercely devoted than ever. For the first time this man, once merely a hired peasant, saw himself as a true knight, a man ennobled by his deeds and goals; and when he looked at Evangeline, for the first time, he saw a liege-lord he would willingly follow.


Chapter 17
March 29 - July 2, 1257

"More raiding these endless raiders and again all the denars in Rivacheg are mine. I can't say that it upsets me more than just a little but still it's a damned inconvenience... We've had some close scrapes and I'm down to 27 troops including myself. We still win quite handily and I'm unconcerned with how few we have become as we do not yet have any large enemies. I intend to keep from hiring new recruits until I have finished setting up and stocking all of my iron and dyeworks.




Through weeks of exhaustive interrogations and inquiries I've uncovered huge amounts of information
and virtually every city besides Dhirim, Yalen, Curaw, Khudan, and Reyvadin could use an ironworks. Whether there is enough iron available to stock enterprises in every city but those listed remains to be seen; I will begin with those closest to the iron producers Dhirim, Curaw, and Ahmerrad. I also am still intending to build a second dyeworks in Yalen and, supplies permitting, a third in Uxkhal."

Though opportunities were opening up in a seemingly endless series for Evangeline she still faced problems regarding her chosen mission. Twice she joined a battle alongside a Vaegir boyar against sea raiders and both times her troops decimated the enemy while the boyar remained back with his own troops. She was infuriated with the ruling class as even in the land that seemed like half a home to her they were "as fatheaded, self-absorbed, and useless as everywhere else." She believed that Calradia would be infinitely better off without them so long as another system could be put in place to keep order, a system wherein no one sat in a position of power for long enough to become entitled and elitist. Constructing such a system escaped her at the time, however, and she still had a very long way to go before it was needed.



While again considering the end she hoped to bring about, Evangeline decided with finality that the lords of the land were the root of most of the land's problems and thus could not be allowed to continue to roam free for any more time than it took to capture them and not a single one would ever be allowed to enter Evangeline's service. She decided that she would send a messenger to the fiefs of those she captured to instruct the commoners there to form a new order as every lord they raised would be deposed for their own sake.

"My name will be known everywhere and a catalyst of many a brawl and murder. When I set foot on this path I will forever be bound to it; I will have to prepare." These striking words are those of a great woman, she who forged our modern time with unbreakable determination: Evangeline Nation-Breaker.

However, the young woman who wrote those words was not fully the great self she was to become. At this point in her journal she is still a feral cat who next set her claws into the shore landing she had discovered was being used by many of the raiders she had been chasing.

"As we descended the rocky defile I was still angry at Rolf for insisting on coming along. I needed my very best troops and that consisted of my Lancer Guards and full knights. He had threatened to come to blows with the lancers so to prevent a fight I allowed him along. He is brave and strong but... I needed my best. Dropping onto one of the last ledges all such thoughts fled as I spied one of the raiders standing outside a cave. I wanted to address those with me but it was too late for that and besides, they all knew what to do: stick close to me.

Jumping off the last rock and landing in the sand, our clanking armor finally alerted the raider - who promptly whipped an axe at my head. I ducked behind my shield but never heard it hit anywhere. We pressed forward, my men fanning out in a line abreast behind me. Stalking forward we engaged the raider who had called two more from inside the cave. Rolf was beaten stupid almost immediately. As I watched him fall I hoped his injuries were enough to knock some sense into him but not severe enough to make him permanently idiotic."

Evangeline's party continued up and down the beach from one cave to another and back, searching both and the ships beached there as well. They felled 12 of the raiders and suffered injuries to one more of their party during the battle. Evangeline expressed confusion as to why the raiders did not rally themselves and attack en masse. She speculated that either "they were not paying enough attention to realize that the armed party joining them on the beach was not more of their own, they had imbibed too much of the ale they had stolen, or even that they had all been knocked as dumb as Rolf in previous battles."



After taking that hideout and all the loot it contained Evangeline headed south to the Sarranid lands to fill the warehouses of her ironworks there and trade salt and spice purchased in Tulga on the way. At this point she had achieved a minimum of a sort: the four standing ironworks and one dyeworks in her employ were together producing enough profit to fully fund her small war party with thousands left over. They had not paid for themselves yet, not by far, but given around 6 weeks in operation most would.

Chapter 18
July 3, 1257 - Emirin

On her way to buy more iron in Dhirim, Evangeline stopped in Emirin to see what wares they had to offer. She was greeted by three bandits attempting to ambush her.

WARNING: GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS BELOW, NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. The picture below clearly shows the fight's results.

"As salutations, I received an arrow past my ear in Emirin last night. Tired as I was it took a moment for me to collect myself enough to understand that I was being robbed - or at least they were trying to rob me. Seeing three archers with arrows knocked, I raised my shield and made for a building nearby to block their arrows. Almost as soon as I reached the corner of my cover I heard one of them give up on his bow and charge me with a blade. He died quickly with Annabelle chopping down through his head but his friends had been quick to follow, still trying to stick me from a distance. They shifted around the barn I hid behind and began firing again. I retreated down the length of the structure to the next corner then ran - around the building to take them from behind.

My plan did not really work though I didn't die so I can't say that it failed. One of the archers seemed to have wised up a little late but he was facing me when I rounded the last corner. He raised his bow and I charged the last bit of distance then thought better of it and just barely caught his arrow with the corner of my shield. He drew his own cleaver and I cut the front of his left knee off. Acting on impulse I had swung low and caught him below the shield. As he screamed and fell, I dropped the sharp side of Annabelle on the top of his head with what turns out was excessive force.

The screams cut off quickly with brief 'gugh!' from his mouth and 'chuck!' from his scalp and thin iron-and-leather helm as he fell to his knees. The last man came running while Annabelle was stuck in a skull and its cap. He swung as I dodged back, thrust as I leapt to a side then bellowed his fury since the whole time I had been kicking his dear dead companion's face and chest desperately while attempting to yank my beloved free of the corpse. As he swung his cleaver wildly I refused to let go of my great lady and kept dodging and kicking until the corpse she was stuck in finally fell from its knees to its face and pulled her from me.

Observing that the man I faced slashed furiously and a blade too large for him I decided to take advantage of his lack of control. When next he swung I danced toward him a bit and quite a lot to the right. He attempted to alter the course of the large blade mid-swing and managed to sink it deeply into his very own left leg, unable to stop it in time. He held his tongue for a moment and stared at me in hatred and despair before crying out in agony and falling to his hands an remaining knee. I thought to finish him with a dagger to the back of his skull but decided that a wounded animal such as he was still dangerous enough to warrant using a longer blade on him. I reached down and tugged on the hilt of my Annabelle: she hadn't come any looser in the past few seconds. With growing pain and horror, my last attacker discovered just how terribly he had wounded himself: The bottom of his leg was nearly severed, only the muscle on the back holding it together. Broken bone jutted from shorn skin unevenly on both sides of the horrible cut. I made a face, feeling a twinge in my own leg just looking at his, shook my head, and set out to find something to free my sword.

Returning moments later with a sledgehammer I found the last man had drug himself part-way to his friend's corpse. He screamed something incoherent at me with blood and spit flying from his lips. Apparently he didn't want me to come any closer to the corpse still holding my blade. I sighed and told him that much as I'd like to I couldn't just leave. I needed my Annabelle back and that meant I couldn't have him coming any closer since I didn't want to worry about him biting me or something while I worked. I told him that he could say his final goodbyes from where he was but he kept screaming and frothing and dragging himself along, obviously nearly unconscious from the pain. I sighed, hefted the hammer and circled around the man to smash his other leg since it was the safest thing I could get to that would stop his crawling and let me get back to getting my beloved out. I brought the hammer down and he passed out without a sound - well, besides the loud and wet noise of bones snapping and tissue tearing. His face hit the dirt straight on and even bounced a touch.

In the sudden quiet out I sighed and looked around to see if any of the residents of the village had been awoken by the terrible noises out here in the night. A baby could be heard crying but the cry was muffled by a hand over the mouth. People were up but they were neither fools nor soldiers so they were doing their best to keep from being noticed by me, the demon in the dark that was going to leave bodies for them to find in the morning. I wasn't sure how I felt about their terror. It was completely understandable but I didn't want them to fear me and I didn't want them to feel helpless in their homes, listening to men outside dying horribly. It wasn't right that they live in such a society as would permit such terrible and deadly danger to enter their village and kill with impunity in the night, right outside while they were powerless to stop it, even all together. I was but a single woman and could be over powered but they would face grievous losses before that happened and these poor people had to contend with, were used to contending with parties much greater than me. It wasn't right that they couldn't defend their village from the terror I brought or keep these bandits away or even depend on someone else to defend them. No, they were alone, frightened, huddled in the dark and waiting for the sounds to stop, the sun to rise, or me, the demon, to come pound on their door.

I shook my head thoughtfully and decided that I had best minimize my time here so that perhaps some of these good people could sleep later. I hefted the bloody hammer again and brought it down on the damned head of the damned man who'd trapped my blade and made this all so horribly difficult. After another blow I had pulped the mass enough to slide Annabelle free. She was a disgusting mess and so was the hammer. For that matter, so was I from the splatter of battle and blade recovery and so was the whole scene. I decided I was not likely to be greeted well in this town and business would be difficult here so I would move on. With nothing else reasonable to do with it I left the hammer on the ground and started to wander on back out to my troops and camp but remembered the last man was probably still alive. He would certainly die of infections or blood loss but there was no reason to leave him there to suffer or recover and seek revenge, unlikely as that may be. I whipped Annabelle about a bit to swing some of the gunk off and striped the front of the barn that had saved me with a line of brains, hair, and skull pulp. I shook my head again; they wouldn't like that either.

Approaching the man I couldn't see a quick way to sever his head without risking dulling Annabelle so I settled for a fatal heart stab. Standing next to him I brought the point down and stabbed right through his armor; he made no noise. Unfortunately, I missed the spot I had been aiming for by enough that I felt the attempt needed to be repeated. Trying again, I stabbed Annabelle through his back only to hit the target but remember that the heart was off to one side and since he was face down I had targeted the wrong side. 'Oh god damn it...' I muttered, frustrated, tired, and messy. Deciding to end this once and for all and standing on his back I stabbed him four more times in every location his heart could possibly be then swiped Annabelle through the back of his head quite successfully. Whipping more blood and gore off my blade in whatever direction, I didn't care anymore, I stalked out of the village and refused to answer the questioning looks of my night guards as I stormed to my tent. The next day I slept 'til Basher woke me mid-morning and found that I was still in a piss-poor mood, angry at that idiot with his skull cap that had caused so much trouble."

Chapter 19
July 4, 1257 - July 28, 1257

"Jeremus finally got back on my good side by demonstrating the minimal ability required to wield the long blade I bought for him. That brought the last scimitar, the one that had been inhabited by Annabelle when I first found her, out of our group and into the shop of the merchant of arms in Curaw.

After observing my lancers I have decided that my irregulars too will ride the plated chargers despite their slower speed; their tremendous ability to power through infantry ranks as well as their impressive armor will make up for that shortfall and who knows, I may find a few that are rather spirited.




Additionally, I've noticed that there appear to be plenty of men in the profession of brokering ransoms, enough even to warrant equipping my company to take the prisoners I have tended to kill. I will just have to be reminded every now and then that we can take them else I am sure I will leave them in the field to rot. Also today I have finished stocking all of my warehouses. It will be some time indeed before I have to return to tend any of them, allowing me to concentrate on starting new ones.

Around this time we find our first historic mention of Evangeline outside her own party as she entered herself in a tournament in Curaw. Scraps of her journal describe this great event but without reading the rolls from Curaw officially documenting the advancement of participants through the rounds they would remain unclear mysteries.

During the first round of the tournament Evangeline's entire team survived and she compliments herself on delivering some "wicked good hits" while using a sword from horseback. Feeling confident she placed a bet on herself before each round from then out. In the next round she finished alone but the one after that again saw her entire team advance. She explains in her journal that the success was due in no small part to her trading her javelins in for a two-handed sword. In the next round she was delighted to find herself assigned her preferred sword and shield and cooperated closely with her one teammate, a bowman. Again she found herself to be the last one standing. In the next round Evangeline barely managed to harm anyone as her voracious teammate defeated both members of the opposing team. That same shield maiden who was such a boon before was Evangeline's last opponent and proved to be more than she could handle despite knocking her horse from underneath her. With a mighty blow the shield maiden took Evangeline off her horse and laid her low in the dirt.

Disappointed in her own performance, Evangeline swore off joining any further tournaments until she could be more sure of success. That oath lasted exactly 3 days when she discovered another tourney in Khudan. Again, however, she met with defeat after receiving a couched lance to the side in the second round. Furious at the process that stuck her with a bow and dagger for that tournament she promptly joined a third tourney in Rivacheg. She was downed in the first and third rounds but allowed to continue. The fourth round was famously regarded as the longest one versus one match in the history of Rivacheg. The large pond in the arena made it very difficult for either Evangeline or her opponent - both equipped with a shield and lance - to manage a straight on hit so instead they rode their horses nearly to exhaustion around and around and around until she managed to strike a few blows to the horse, causing it to fall. However, the match was far from over as Evangeline was unwilling to stand and poke at her opponent. Instead she tried over and over to lure him to the more open area where she could get up enough speed for a good hit.



Finally successful, she advanced to the next round, entirely populated by boyars. Given a horse and lance to start Evangeline attempted an early hit on one of her opponents but missed. They both ignored her completely and promptly beat her teammate unconscious with their large two-handed swords. Refusing to again ride round and round to line up a good spike, Evangeline lured the men to one corner then quickly rode over to her fallen comrade, dismounted, retrieved his sword, and took off on her horse again. After attempting a few riding slashes that were countered and resulted in she and her horse taking injuries Evangeline considered dismounting and using the bridge over the pond to funnel her attackers to her and face them one at a time. However, in the process of attempting this both men downed her horse when it balked near the stairs. Recovering from the fall, Evangeline backpedaled quickly and even downed one of them but was overcome by a thrust to the chest. Seriously miffed, Evangeline again swore off tournaments for an indefinite period of time.



Evangeline's frustration is quite understandable. Nearly indomitable on the field of battle she was hobbled by the process of the tournaments that evened out the advantages she enjoyed everywhere else. With strong armor, an excellent armored charger, and a long and deadly blade she found herself to be a match for as many as 26 looters all by herself. She logs a number of inspirational demonstrations wherein she alone confronted large groups of men and killed, wounded, or routed them all. This great battle prowess proved itself vital when her group of 22 was ambushed by 95 tundra bandits. The battle was shorter than most of her demonstrations and ended with 2 wounded on her side against 69 dead bandits, 13 more wounded, and 13 more escaped. The escape was short-lived as Evangeline's knights quickly caught the bandits again and killed them all. This action was part of a brief campaign by Evangeline against the nearly 170 tundra bandits roaming the area in bands south of Khudan.