The Spring of 503
In the Spring of 503 peace would return to Makria - though not in the way that anyone had expected. As a Crusader army camped outside of Desrois, with the body of the old King of Meddeland hardly cold, a messenger arrived from Kandon. He bore entreaties from the new King of Meddeland, King Rupert, who wished to finally sue for peace in Ardans. King Magnus of Dalmira had already begun the same entreaties. The Marcher, it seemed, was eager to come to terms with the crusading Kings and a deal was struck. The dragon-blasted city of Sevala would be ceded to the Meddish - ending the Ardans dreams of a march to the sea - and no attempt would be made to centralize the Old Statist church. Ardans would no longer use "Death to Kings" as its great national saying. In return, there was peace.
There had never been a more monumental peace treaty on Makria, not for its terms, but rather because of what happened next. No sooner had the peace treaty been signed than King Magnus was (or so the soldiers said) struck dead by a bolt of lightning, perhaps a sign of Namid's wrath against him for daring to make peace. His large army, composed of mainly peasants, immediately panicked and dispersed, fearing their god's wrath. Meanwhile, the Marcher sent a letter to King Rupert of Meddeland bearing not just the signed treaty but an incredible message - he sent evidence that Alfons Windfell had been complicit in the murder of the old King, having betrayed Maximilian to the Ardans' assassins. Rupert's wrath was terrible and Windfell, caught off-guard by the Ardans' sudden treachery, attempted to flee the country.
Meanwhile, the Marcher himself faced a backlash from the rest of the Ardans that would quickly end his career as Marcher - and indeed his life. Horrified that he would cede the city of Sevala, dragon or no dragon, to the Meddish, various authorities in Ardans declared themselves against the Marcher and moved to kill him. Michel Szabolcsi's men actually seized the Marcher and quickly executed him on charges of high treason. However, Ardans was destabilized, and civil war was now looming.
For the common folk, though, the Spring was almost something to celebrate. The planting season came and went with no plagues, new levies of troops by their superiors, fires, dragon attacks, insects, droughts, over-heavy rains, or anything else that would be cause for alarm. Though starvation continued, most were optimistic that by summer or fall the famine would be ended. A church attempt to raise an extra tithe failed miserably, however, as the common people had little left to give.
Hendal
Queen Marie of Hendal was the only Makrian ruler (excepting the Dagch Morin) to survive the Winter of 502 and the succeeding spring, which claimed the lives of two Kings and an Ardans Marcher. Her spring, however, was tainted by news of another jailbreak in Burnhem - the second in roughly two years - which again released a wave of criminals into the streets.
Queen Marie concerned herself with what amounted to budgetary matters for much of the Spring. With the exception of the Iron Hands, all mercenary forces were to be discharged and actually disbanded - specifically accepting the Iron Hands, who had been instrumental in fighting the Barbarians. This represented over 90% of the Kingdom's mercenaries and more than 20% of its armed forces being disbanded, though it also certainly meant the Iron Hands were in favor with the crown. It significantly reduced the military's burden on the budget. The Queen offered final payments to these groups, which went a long way to quiet their grumblings at being discharged.
The Queen also ordered that all lands, title, and properties of those who lent money to the Ardans should be confiscated. Though clever, only a few renegade lenders were subjected to punishment - the others had covered their tracks too well to be found. Nevertheless, the treasury benefitted from it.
Prince Henry, for his part, continued to oversee the reconstruction of North Hendal. Though the Prince himself knew little of such matters (and in fact was plainly disturbed what he saw there, as was his wife), planting and farming efforts continued under his guidance. His idea to offer the land as settlers to be owned rather than rented or held in serfdom was a good one; people began to resettle in droves. Still, the damage the Tavan Morin had wrought on the place was clearly not going to be reversed quickly. The Prince also issued an order in the Queen's name to establish a network of food banks across the Kingdom. This was done, though by the time the food banks were built it seemed as though the famine was practically over anyway. Still, they could come in useful in the future.
Prince Henry also sent the head of the Wizard Kishburne to the Meddish as a gift; it was said to be well received by the court of King Rupert.
The entire Hendal army under Baldwin Montague assists the Prince's construction project. The project proceeds at roaring speed as a result.
The Iron Hands are absorbed into the army as a regiment, with Riddleman himself made a knight. He bases himself in Sanapiro and seeks to improve his situation and position in Hendal society. Though most of the Iron Hands choose to integrate into the army, Riddleman generously books some passage to depart Hendal for Meddeland.
Dalmira
In Dalmira, the death of childless King Magnus left the throne in the hands of the bankrupt Duke of Weldheim; in practice, this meant that Chancellor Vasa was running the Kingdom until the Duke (who some had said had fled his own castle for fear of his rebellious and unpaid army) could be located. The local nobles were eager to have him crowned, however, because the next in line of succession was Duke Krasnickas of Erdheim-Rortzen, who was widely known to be afflicted by madness. Vasa himself would have some good fortune in the Spring of 503; a chance meeting with some of Halbstadht's lesser counts and barons gained him the confidence of the local nobility, who it seemed were willing to entertain his regency until a new King could be crowned. Whether the same could be said of the nobles beyond Halbstadht remained to be seen.
Vasa - in his own words - "raids" the Kingdom's treasury to purchase food and mitigate starvation in Halbstadht. This does not stop starvation in Halbstadht, though it certainly does reduce it. The principle problem is that there is simply not enough food to go around; only so much can be bought from the south, which itself lacks for food. However, there are signs that the end of the famine is in sight; very welcome for Vasa. The bread riots slowly end.
However, Vasa's policy of incentivizing workers with food to work on the castle proves to be a misstep. While work is done in the spring - slowed by inclement weather - beggars, refugees, pilferers, and others begin to harass the construction site, looking for food (honestly or dishonestly).
The mad Duke Krasnickas, however, prosecuted his spring agenda with remarkable clarity. Recognizing the problems that starvation posed to his nation, he ordered the construction of several terrace farms to alleviate future food shortages. These terrace farms (which proved not to be very complicated to build) were finished by the end of the spring and seeds sown on their fields. Of course, more farms could always be built if these proved insufficient to the task. He also ordered the construction of a small monastery/chapel in the shadow of his border fortifications. This was done, but the structure proved very modest indeed; it was scarcely more than a little house of prayer and a few huts for the monks. Redvin was also gifted 10 ducats for his services. Redvin Castillien, however, seemed to have other ideas, traveling to offer his services to the King of the Meddish.
For some, the war will never be over. Duke Wiegraf of Victorsburg and Foldgart finishes work on his military academy in Spring, then raises a band of 2,000 raiders. They burn a few buildings on the border but not much else, as Ardans partisans and a lack of supplies keep them from efficiently travelling far into Ardans territory south of Leganum.
Meddeland
With Meddeland now at peace, the Meddish army - 30,000 strong and under the command of Albert Capning - began a slow march back to the homeland. With Meddeland war-weary and spending heavily on a standing force of this size, some courtiers began to suggest to King Rupert that a demobilization should be considered. If nothing else, it would put him in a more tenable fiscal position. The King ignored these orders and tried to start a recruitment drive - a drive that failed. Between the famine, the war-weary population, and the fact that the crown had already recruited and drafted and fought to the limits of its capability, Rupert found no new volunteers for his army. Meanwhile, some of the Meddish nobility, famous for their love of diversions, organized a new tournament, perhaps to celebrate the occasion of the peace - it certainly provided them with a momentary distraction.
Alfons Windfell sought to make several appointments in the Spring but these all came to naught as he was forced to flee Meddeland for his life. Though King Rupert ordered his men and councilors to search high and low for Windfell, the councillor proved wily... he knew all of the King's tricks.
Sane Thunderfalcon, however, proves shrewder. He intercepts Windfell, finding him disguised as pilgrim, and quickly puts him to death. The King, who was said to be unable to sleep nor eat for want of the traitor's capture, was most pleased with Thunderfalcon. On the other hand, Thunderfalcon's efforts to convince people to migrate to Ardans mostly failed. The lands ceded to Meddeland were those around Sevala, and people had already heard stories of the dragon that had taken residence there...
Rupert makes the capture of Windfell one of his dominating concerns, but not his only one. The anarchy across much of Meddeland makes it difficult to administrate. He tries to muster temporary militias to put an end to banditry; this seems to fail in the face of famine rather than a rogue wizard as an enemy. Charity through the giving hand is effective at reducing starvation, and as elsewhere, people across Meddeland hope that the end of famine is at hand.
With Windfell out, Meddeland needed new administrators. Lord Janus Treager Hantre, the Kingdom's seneschal, seemed the chief candidate to replace him. Though he had been sidelined for his well-known
pacifism during the war, perhaps he would find the new King's favor with the war ended.
Redvin Castillien found more work with the Meddish - Alfons Windfell summons him to Meddeland, where he travels. Most of his small band of hunters, however, refuse to follow him, prefering to stay where they are. Only about ten choose to go with him to Meddeland. When he arrives in the east, Castillien finds something shocking - Windfell, who summoned Redvin, is a traitor and has fled. He instead offers his services to the King.
General Albert Cappning camps on the Meddish side of the Bar River and prepares an ambush for pursuing Ardans forces. This proves to be a wasted effort as there are no pursuing Ardans forces. His efforts to secure his own supply lines against bandit actions don't go particularly well; the lines are long and his cavalry overextend themselves trying to protect the wagon trains. His army is left in a state of starvation.
Ardans
With the Marcher dead, there was a power void in Ardans that had to be filled and no one knew exactly who the disputants were. There as yet had been no attempt to elect a new Marcher, and many began to fear that civil war would follow the peace. Public reaction to the news of the peace was also severely mixed, with some celebrating and partisan militias disbanding while others declaring they would seize Sevala or die in the shadow of its walls. The professional army, having done its duty for Ardans, also began to grumble about its severely low pay; Ardans soldiers were paid less than half what they could earn in any neighboring state and an even smaller fraction of what they would make as mercenaries. In the midst of this growing turmoil, some voices began to suggest a domestic marriage-alliance between some of the oligarchs might stabilize the nation.
Reynald Haaken, the well-known Vandal and Oligarch of Desrois, seemed to be aligning himself with Ailxander, the radical revolutionary of growing renown. Ailxander named himself National Marshall (essentially Marcher) and tried to ally himself with local people of importance while continuing a witch-hunt against the traitors in their midst. Again, Ailxander surprised and shocked the local leaders with his charisma and ability to rapidly muster followers to his cause; there was broad public support for his declaration for himself as national marshall. Chaos continued in the streets of Desrois as his radical followers, now more convinced than ever of the presence of traitorous elements in Ardans society due to the Marcher's shocking "treachery," ramsacked the city. His attempts to lure local leaders to side, however, were stuttering as many saw him as a rival rather than a leader. Still, with Haaken on his side, Ailxander seemed well positioned to establish himself in Desrois.
The Vandal himself leaves the city partway through the season - where he has gone or what his plans are remain to be seen...
Meanwhile, the (more) legitimate acting Marcher and regent of Ardans, Michel Szabolcsi, rapidly captured and executed the Marcher. He sent missives to radicals in Desrois to oppose the Meddish, not the Oligarchy (which they were rapidly losing faith in) - while his words might have swayed some, it was seeming increasingly like Desrois was in a state of revolution. Meanwhile, he deployed the army to end the witchhunt in the countryside and focus on the harvest. This ended with great success as Szabolcsi's crackdown prevented Ailxander's witchhunts from spreading beyond Desrois' walls. Order reigned in the countryside while chaos gripped the city; Szabolsci's planting initiatives also proceeded quickly and it looked likely that the famine would soon be ended in Ardans.
With "peace" returned, Morgan Bolingbroke began a society to manage the evacuation of the Ardans refugees, trying to rehouse them at low prices. Bolingbroke himself worked for reduced wages. While most of the refugees from Sevala had already settled in the camp that the marcher had built around the walls of Desrois, chaos in Desrois meant that some were fleeing this camp too; Bolingbroke's initiative helped them somewhat.
Tavan Morin
As the Tavan Morin approached the Kitrine Sea, they experienced a phenomenon they had never dreamt of before - piracy. Some of the extremely desperate, starving Arevmarch peasants had taken to boats, sailing to raid nearby ports (including those held by the Tavan Morin) and then making off with their bounties to local islands. While what to do about this momentarily baffled the Tavan Morin - they could not, after all, ride across the sea - they had other matters to occupy them.
The Dagch Morin has an ambitious Spring, as he attempts to create a code of laws for the Tavan Morin while laying siege to Arevmarch. Despite his attempts to demoralize defenders, the city does not surrender outright. His attempts to undermine the walls also fail when he learns the city is built on hard bedrock; it seems that mining is not an option in Arevmarch. The siege continues - though the morale of the defenders is surely wavering. His dictates a code of laws, as promised - hopefully this will finally put an end to banditry. Written language, however, will have to be a longer-term goal for the Tavan Morin.
Jo'chi Hasar spends his spring fighting the militias of Arevmarch; wherever he finds them he defeats them horribly, burning their villages and killing them wholescale. However, his initiative falters as the militias essentially descend into banditry, raiding neighboring villages that have capitulated to the Tavan Morin. Ironically, in some ways they are becoming like the Tavan Morin raiders themselves. Nevertheless, may are killed by the end of Spring. His food redistribution initiatives fail as he discovers that he has only raided enough food for the Tavan Morin themselves; there is none left to give the locals.
Other
Chryfallnioch, with bold persistence, managed to gain access to the archives in Halbstadht and with it, access to the ancient scrolls that Armand Vasa had so painstakingly excavated from the ruins. What will he make of them? Who can say?
The Forgiven Knights travel to Meddeland to aid in the capture of Alfons Windfell; he has already been captured and killed by the time they arrive. They instead plan to deploy to the Sevala territory, risky as it may be.
((King cruel, I got your orders but I don't understand them. "Secure the room?"))
((Syriana - the Ardans er... - theoretically - have their own process for electing a new Marcher. However, there are probably some Oligarch positions open now if you want to take one.))
((end of update. Next update is next Saturday, as usual. The City of Leganum is still open, and the Ardans need a Marcher - if they're not about to deteriorate into civil war, that is.))
Hint: If you submit multiple sets of orders, I will execute all of them unless you make it clear that I shouldn't.
))
