L'Empire des Ombres (Empire of Shadows)

[Ahzek Ahriman]

Duke Jean-Luc


Upon his entrance into his governmental office, Jean was suddenly beset upon by Countess Olivia and Commander Gaeton Delon both of them glaring at each other before Countess Olivia began to speak in an angry tone "Your Grace! I must insist that Commander Gaeton be removed from his position, during your regency he tried multiple times to undermine your authority and mine by beginning to raise the full levy without mine or your permission!-" Immediately after she finishes speaking Gaeton began to speak over and louder then her, slightly shoving her aside while she sends a glare that could kill a mighty bear with a simple glance. "Your Grace, this woman is nothing more then a power hungry woman who wishes to attempt to take over this Duchy and lead as if some kind of Absolute Monarc!-" Jean-Luc groans, frowning deeply and holding his hand up and saying in a rather upset tone whilst glaring between the two of them. "Both of you! Put you Gods dammed arguements behind you now! You both need to go back to the main chamber and we need to have a conversation with the entire court..Please we can deal with your problems with one another at a less...Upsetting day."


Both of them look at him, frowning before turning and walking back into the chamber, both of them returning to their seats while Jean enters behind them, all of the other counts and the court rising and bowing towards him. Jean-Luc smiles, bowing to them in return before moving over and taking a seat, followed suit by the rest of his court. Jean-Luc then stood again after pouring and having a drink of water from a pitcher. Upon clearing his throat he then begins to speak, "Gentlemen and ladies, I have returned with...Rather poor news, currently not only have we run full on into a Civil War and not only that, we are under a current invasion by the Geshkhaganate and we must raise a full levy and march on Vermillion to join up and assist in the repulsion of the invasion..As such I am required to march with the levy to Vermillion and assist in the repulsion of the invasion, as such Commander Gaeton will accompany me and Countess Olivia will be regent once again during my leave. Now, all of you I expect fully to do your best to get this job done! And I have faith in all of you to get it done, dismissed!" Naturally, the room remained silent for a few moments, before Gaeton standing and looking about, his face much more stoic and thoughtful then usual before looking at Jean-Luc and saying in a soft tone. "Your Grace..I must insist that you shouldn't lead..Not because I dislike you..I may have my problems with you Your Grace, but I don't want you to march off and die and leave this Duchy without an heir!" Jean-Luc would look at him, raising an eyebrow before responding with a light chuckle. "Well Gaeton, I guess I can simply have you give me 'advice' you all know I'm not a good fighter, nor a military man. But what I can do is have you Commander, lead my men and I will help maintain our supply and reinforcement lines." Gaeton nods at this, all of the court standing and beginning to file out, giving their farewells, salutes, and handshakes before making their way out, leaving Jean-Luc alone with this thoughts, as he slips back down into his chairs he took up his cup again and mulled his thoughts over the cup of water for around an hour before making his way back home.

 

[Oberons Veil]

Word had reached the Legate-Marshal Errius of the situation in Val Calais the day before. He had sent orders to several Legates to ready their forces and prepare to march to Val Calais and relieve the siege there. Then they would be put under the command of the Legate-Marshal Celaarian as she marched back to Vermillion to assume supreme command. He had ordered the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Legions under Legate Belisarius, Nineteenth and Twentieth under Legate Auridon and the Twenty First under General Adonis to form the relief army.


They had their marching orders and were to make haste to Val Calais and engage the enemy upon reaching the city. They were to secure Val Calais, ensure that Legate-Marshal Celaarian was alive and well. If the Legate-Marshal perished in the siege then the senior most of the three relief officers was to assume command and that would be Legate Auridon, should she be lost in the battle then it would fall to General Adonis in the form of a promotion, and should and only then should it fall to Belisarius he would receive a promotion to Legate-Marshal and assume command of Nineteenth and Twentieth in addition to his own, making the Twenty First an auxiliary or reserve Legion until they met up with the forces at Vermillion. Effective field command fell to Legate Auridon. This was their mission and as they were informed... should they fail the fate of the Imperium hung in the balance.

@NorbertM

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[MarkNorbert]

Legate Belisarius Victiio

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'Are you sure about this?' Belisarius asked his brother, who was standing in front of him. They were both inside his tent, with Caesar wearing a black leather armor. 'You can remain here as long as you like. I believe you are safer here than anywhere else.' the legate tried to convince his younger sibling.


After Caesar's arrival, his heavy news and delivery of Father's letter, a few days have passed and as the two brothers did all they could to make up for the time lost together, Caesar has decided to finally make his departure. Belisarius did not enjoyed the thought of losing his brother, from his sight and, worse, from his life. He has already lost a member of his family, even if the two men, father and son, did not get along well enough to maintain a healthy, respectful relationship, they were from the same blood. You could never change that. Perhaps, his mother would be next to lose. The High Inquisitor might get assassinated or might not, but it did not matter if he would live or not, as Belisarius knew that this assault, this betrayal would only be repaid in blood. And if the High Inquisitor would not have the execution of his father enough to satisfy his desire for revenge, he might execute his mother as well. Divines, he might even look after their sons as well.


'For once, in my entire life, stop worrying about me and believe in me.' Caesar reassured his older brother. 'I am no longer the weak, always dependent young man that I was. I know how to take care of myself.' he offered a wide smile.


'Where will you go?' Belisarius deemed to ask.


'I do not know. Perhaps in the North. Free Marches maybe.' his brother answered, crossing his arms around his chest. 'If not, then the United Cities. Either way, I won't be lingering around. Can't return back to the Vale, the High Inquisitor might chop off my head. Can't go in Rebel provinces either. They might capture me and give me to him(High Inquisitor). Loyalist provinces aren't good either. Neutral ones are fine, but I prefer to keep away from this invasion as well.' Caesar explained his plan, or he was simply thinking it out loud. It made Belisarius widen his eyes, surprised about his brother. 'I will figure it out.' and with that, the two of them embraced each other into a brotherly hug and Belisarius watched as Caesar left. Deep in his mind, he did not excluded the possibility that he might never see his brother ever again. He knew he won't be seeing his father, and he could easily add his mother in as well.


With his brother's leave, Belisarius returned to his normal duties, ensuring his legions are in top shape and ready to march whenever. It was not long, however, until news arrived to the Vermillion legions. Terrible news indeed. Val Calais, the capital of the province was, under siege. Belisarius's simply responded with a calm, honest response. Either the Imperium's agents are becoming more and more lazy in doing their duties OR someone ensured that news would never arrive anywhere about the sneaking army. From the two possibilities, Belisarius hanged upon the last one, but kept his opinions to himself and to Marcus. Legate Marshal Errius explained the situation, and their orders. Perhaps it came with a slight shock, but Belisarius was surprised to have been him and his legions chosen to be the relief force. It was a great responsibility and honor. He ought to not make a fool of himself once more. Belisarius, alongside with General Adonis will be under the command of Legate Auridon. The man did his best to spot the legate and approached her, saluting her as he always has done and informed the legate that his legions were ready to move whenever, even in the same day, if it was necessary. Belisarius returned to his legions fort and ordered his officers to prepare to break down the fort in the morning, for leave. They awaited the night to come and to rest. This time, Belisarius allowed his men to sleep more than he should, to give them the energy for the journey to come. In the following day, during the morning, all legions from the Relief Force, under the command of Legate Auridon, the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty First. They broke down their forts and marched to Val Calais.


The journey was long and worrying. Belisarius worrying, slightly, of not being able to save and secure the capital from the enemy forces, but for the sake of every living soul within those walls, he had to do his best. And his legions as well. There will be no deserters, no rioters. The first man Belisarius sees running away and not turning back, if caught, he or she would face execution, by the legate himself. Throughout their march, Legate Belisarius used his limited contacts from Filis, to hire a mercenary band, filled with bandits and raiders, those who wouldn't turn down an offer, no matter how brutal or how difficult it might be. His guts told him, loud and clear, that he might need them, one way or the other. The hiring was done by his own personal expenses.


As days passed by, so did the distance between them and their destination thinned. In a matter of a couple of weeks, Legate Belisarius and his other companions, Legate Auridon and General Adonis. The Relief Force sent out their scouts to gather information about the enemy and the situation of the capital. Long time did not pass, and the scouts returned, with valuable information. From what Belisarius could gather from the scouts, the Geshkhanate's numbers counted about 85.000 soldiers, but what seemed interesting for Belisarius was that this army was composed out heavy infantry, archers and cavalry. No spears. No javelins, unless the infantry had them. He would have to begin planning how to relieve the capital. Now came the talk.


@Maven

 

[Oberons Veil]

"We have seventy-five thousand, and there are about sixty thousand in Val Calais. That's without pressing civilians into fighting." Legate Auridon's voice was firm. At least there was numerical superiority on the side of the Legions rather than the Geshkhanate. However it wasn't sitting right, the enemy surely knew that there would be forces sent to relieve the city and yet there were only eight-five thousand. "And the scouts still haven't spotted any other enemy forces nearby." She said motioning tot he map on the table before them. The enemy wasn't even bothering to fully cut the city off on the land routes. They had completely left the northern city gate unchallenged focusing on a quarter circle from the south to the west. East was the sea and thus naturally defended, especially since the Geshkhanate didn't have a navy here.


The map also showed that the bulk of the enemy forces were occupying the ruins of a village they burned upon getting there. A makeshift fort had been erected in the town itself, with a wooden palisades around the entire thing. "If we march rank and file we would have them on two fronts, if we could signal the city." General Abbadon said. It was a decent strategy and one that would likely work well, except for the heavy casualties that the Legions would likely sustain from the heavy troops. Legionnaires were well rounded sure, but against actual heavy soldiers you needed the Laera soldiers and fortunately for the five Legions that had been sent to the relief the Twenty-First under General Abbadon was almost completely composed of Laeras, it was known as a Heavy Legion. Specifically designed to meet numerically superior forces head on and be able to outlast the enemy while suffering moderate casualties where others would have lost completely.


"I agree, head on might be our best bet." Legate Auridon said, a grimace on her lips as she continued to ponder at length as to the possibility of the unforseen. "Legate Belisarius, you and your Legions will form up right behind ours and act as a secondary or reserve." She said motioning to him to come close and look at the map. This by no means was to snub Belisarius or his Legions of valor or honor. However out of the Five Legions they were the least prepared for battle, at least in experience. They had fought desert rabble and bandits most of their time, not hardened enemies such as this. The Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty First Legions had all served together on the North-Eastern Front the last nine years fighting an actual war. That only ended nine months ago, so by all accounts they truly were veteran legions.

@NorbertM

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[Ahzek Ahriman]

Duke Jean-Luc


After the week and a half of riding and long marching, Duke Jean and his full levy finally began to make the final stretch of the Royal Highway leading to Vermillion, his men being in rather high spirits having their Duke riding out with them. As they had made their march to Vermillion, the levy under his command were beginning to be properly sort out their weapons and unit formations, under Commander Gaeton, Jean-Luc began to get a crash course on basic military tactics. During their march towards Vermillion it gave time for Jean-Luc to think, time to ponder on what would happen if more nations attacked the Empire in its currently weakened state, What would become of an Empire beset upon all borders by millions of people who are gathered around her borders. What about the Legions sent north, would the Imperium be willing to set aside it's internal politics to defend against an outside invasion against her? Sadly nobody really knew other then those in charge, and with the lack of communication it was quite difficult for those in charge in the Southern theater of war to communicate, much less smaller levy commanders like himself.





Jean was brought out of his contemplative monologue by a nudge from Commander Gaeton, pointing to some of the fortified palisade forts outside of Vermillion. The grand city itself was set behind a series of curtain walls with multiple gates and turrets set into the stone, rising high above any other structures in the area. It brought the small walls of his hometown to shame, a true masterpiece of engineering. The army behind him let out a ragged hurrah as they marched their way up towards the city, it finally coming into view after the march from their homeland.


Jean sat up in his saddle as they began to make the final three miles towards the city, the large swaths of tents around the city and forts of the various multitudes of men and women gathered outside of the city and obviously within. Thankfully their banner must have been recognized because rather then arrows and sounds of alarms coming from the outer watch forts they got instead an outrider party to meet them and bring them towards the walls.


Being brought within the city, they were informed by their mounted guide that they'd be housed like most of the other levies within the military district of the city, it caught Jean by surprised, leaning over to Gaeton and whispering to him softly "Surely Gaeton, not all the legions are in there? I've not seen many large tent camps." Gaeton sighed, patting him on the shoulder and smiling slightly before saying. "Well Your Grace, if my time in the Legion taught me well, those forts were the Legions, us levies get the military district, those guys can rip up and build those forts in hours sir." This made Jean-Luc look surprised, before he put his head into his hand replying glumly, "I'm an idiot sometimes Gaeton, do forgive your sovereign, he's sometimes a blithering ass." Commander Gaeton smirks, patting him on a shoulder and saying in a sarcastic voice. "Oh come now Your Grace, I'd never feel like that towards you!" Sighing and slapping his hand away and sitting up, Jean ran a hand through his hair looking about at the road of the city, his men marching behind him also looking around as he was, many of them having not seen such a large city as this in some of their lives.





Eventually they'd make their way up towards the Military District, being given a block of building within the district to house their troops, the troops beginning the process of unloading the baggage train and set up their homes, Gaeton overseeing it while bellowing to the troops. "Not sure how long we'll be staying here boys! Keep light on the interior decoration!" Watching quietly next to him, Jean-Luc internally sighed and mumbled to himself. "No wonder I never wanted to get into this whole military business, these faces I'm looking at, with the gods luck they will be looking back at me when we march home...If not..Gods willing they won't appear in my dreams." Shaking his head he finally make his way inside, heading up to his quarters he shared with Commander Gaeton, sitting down and beginning to write out a letter back to his home, informing his mother that he was safe and well, and that he wasn't sure how long it'd take before they set out but that he'd do his best to not dishonor the family.