Reviews:
Guest 1: More the issue is going to be weaving through the web of intrigue and schemes already in place to actually be able to do anything of use...or actually infiltrating an actual Imperial Institution and not some tolerated front for a chaos cult, the lamians etc.
Guest 2: First WoW of the day!
Guest 3: Everything there is a great point.
Guest 4: Ghouls honestly by themselves aren't much of a issue...ironically most Undead in WHFB by themselves aren't much of a issue...and then a Vampire or Necromancer shows up and the threat posed grows exponentially as Ghouls suddenly have the potential to form the basis of a undead army, or due to magical lures ten became a hundred or more. Khuresh we probably wont see for some time.
Guest 5: Estallia was a Spaniard friend of mine's favorite (hmm wonder why?). But While on the surface the Estallians are very capable they don't scale effectively. They'd crush any minor issue with ease, but they start to lose effectiveness when the warfront starts getting wider than a town vs town or city vs city scenario. but that's as a kingdom as mercs, conquistadors and as adventurers they are top notch and my friend even was able to rub it in my face playing table top a few times when his Estallian mercs, ganked some of my Stormvermin units.
Dragon King of the West: I don't remember if I've openly stated but yeah like in a weird twist there isn't ENOUGH attrition in Total War Warhammer, even without Chaos, and Vampires. The forests of the Empire are, for whats probably the second or third most secure human kingdom in all of Mallus, INCREDIBLY dangerous. Like to WoW Fans who don't know Warhammer Fantasy, imagine walking around a max level area of the Alliance as the Horde, and this is about half the forests in the Empire's territory.
Hakuryuu: SI:7 given enough years will probably even be able to get someone close enough to even try to shoot the Dragon Emperor...though whoever signs off on the idea would probably be a idiot by that point and Shaw will personally have their ass... but yeah on the immediate they have little chance against well a society that's as fucked up as a Chinese Legalist culture that's somehow actually survived more than a decade.
Bretonnia would on the other hand be easy to deal with on the short term. The peasantry are already effectively a active partisan force waiting for arms at some places. Infiltration of the regime is a little harder, but long term op killing and replacing a young errant shouldn't be all that difficult especially if you have the peasents of a town on your side.
Kislev is weird. I've read stories where thanks to magic of the land the Tzarinna basically can't be fooled and has kicked ass from hundreds of miles away...and then ones where basically every infiltrator in the Old world was working to support or counter a slaaneshi plot in Praag and no one was the wiser...seriously the citizens didn't have a fucking clue even as straight up battles were happening in the room over.
Dawi are actually a bit easier...and it's odd, but more or less, if WoW didn't have Dwarves of their own and a few cultures to compare with, well they'd be screwed, but short and long term they'd have a rough time but easier than Cathay, or the Empire.
But again the Empire is using the USA'S cold war defense of having everyone else and their own guys all play...something, so no one really knows if their winning or losing.
Jak23: Giants in the Empire are a iffy business...where as Ogres already have plans for them. after all what self respecting Mordheim tabletop or videogame player doesn't regret having put a Ogre in their warband?
deadliestfan: Well ive got good multitask ability thanks to my work...just wish my phone would actually allow me to format and spellcheck properly.
but on the SI:7 one i emphasized long term vs short term operations. But point 1 they do excel but the Horde being the Horde are about as open and vulnerable as the USA...who possesses the longest unsecured border on the planet. And then a border check policy that's highly reflective of ones currently in use by countries frequented by terrorist attacks. And Skaven well you bring up the Dark Irons and then discount the Skaven having more tunnel access than any other race in WHFB indeed confirmed to have tunnels that go all the way to Cathay and even Nippon.
and the spy section never mentioned any counter work in Azeroth just paying out Azeroth's difficulties and challenges. Not a definitive yes/no.
But you say there's no detail on Empire Spies and other organizations. but ironically I got more info from old(ish) WHFB Black Library books than otherwise. The Lahmians convinently have infiltrated a number of them and have decent info on a number, noted most that info is from pre-Karl times but the Black Chamber, and just the Black Hearts book series puts a lot of the Imperial Intelligence capabilities out there. The Empire is specifically displayed to be easy to infiltrate and operate in, but never easy to remain undetected in. Nothing there challenges the supremacy of SI:7 but it does put their operational integrity into question.
But certainly part of the "problem" with SI:7 and their opposition agencies is one other factor that you incidentally touched on in your review. Specifically they preform forward operator combat missions. IE having armed agents trailing a enemy army, if we go to a CIA comparison SI:7 is now operating outside the boundries of the CIA as they are required to use PMCs or military assets to preform these missions (partially to prevent all intel to be controlled by a single unelected entity) but the SI:7 opposition agencies we primarily encounter in these particular scenarios. Besides this expansion of rolls inculuding the inherent reduction of specialization within the agency and a slight drop of quality. This also puts basic scout work out of the hands of the military and into a organization that's above and not answerable to said military. While not a negative for the Alliance, this would explain the Horde's horrible display in the Cannon War of the Thorns and prove the Horde's intelligence agencies to be a negative to the Horde as they marched into Ashenvale blind to not only the enemy they faced but also to their own forces condition (and the Saurfang/Sylvanas relationship/lack of shared intel during that war proves it) as they left all scouting to a spy agency that doesn't report to the military command, and will not be presenting a full account of all their information to their military command. a frequent problem with the CIA's relationship with the intelligence of the the branches of military as they keep blinding the US military to vital details either because they assume the military isn't in the 'need to know' or simply to maintain their own operational security...plus hiding all the ways their profiteering and betraying the US and its allies for personal profit.
MadFrog2000: Shandris Feathermoon will certainly have quite the quest before her, but we will have to see what actually becomes of her newest quest as well as everything else. Particularly with trying to get any forces to support or go with her.
Aftermath of Despair
Shandris Feathermoon, adoptive daughter of Tyrande Whisperwind and General of the Sentinels woke with a sharp pain coursing through her left side where her arm had once been. After a few moments of the phantom pain Shandris rose for the first time looking about the tent about her. While the tent was the familiar Imperial Human aesthetic, with griffins and skulls abundantly spread across the room. As she looked for the first time across the room Shandris felt up her missing arm, hoping that the limb would survive long enough to mended and returned to her.
Sighing the Night Elf General rose, dressed, and then cautiously walked out of the tent and into the open air of the Imperial camp. All about the Camp the Empire's soldiers, and the camp caravan prepared to set out, many of the tents already packed up, and entire formations of soldiers already set to march. On the outskirts of the Camp the Sentinels also prepared, the few Ancients to survive the battle for Mordheim were slowly roused as younger Treants wandered about them guided by ever frustrated Druids.
Lastly the final Hippogryph flights passed over head the intelligent beasts crying out in joy seeing the General of the Sentinels emerge. Moments later two imperial women appeared, both rushing to meet the Night Elf. The first was a Imperial Woman with slight peices of armor under what Shandris was told was the latest Imperial fashion, while a green cloak and broach covered the entire ensemble. The woman's eyes seemed to be filled with a mix of releif and a genuine concern, though Shandris could sense the calculations taking place behind even that. Emmanuelle Nacht was the defacto commander of the Imperial army as all the other individuals of rank had either disappeared or had been killed when the Skaven launched their initial assaults on Mordheim, yet the woman had neither been stressed by the command and nor did her demeanor ever seem to change unless the immediate situation had demanded it.
Next to the leader of the Imperials was Irma Schoff, the woman was hunched over carrying a thick stack of books and her red hair a mess. The woman wore trousers and a chestplate of armor looking tired with dark bags under her green eyes and glasses that had half fallen off her face. Irma was supposed to serve as a record keeper and aid to Emmanuelle, though she had also proven to be an adept warrior using a weapon that Shandris could only compare to a Pandaren Halberd.
Behind both of the Imperial Women walked an elderly Imperial Captain as well as Aethalas Captain of the Sentinels on Mallus, and Uydron Dusktree the current Druid leader among Shandris' forces. If not for these two likely the Night Elven lines would have collapsed against the sheer numbers of the Skaven wherever Shandris had not been at the time. Thus between the General, and these two leaders the Sentinels had held or retaken all their defensive posts along the City perimeter which is what allowed the Imperials to force their way in once they had gathered sufficient force to quell the Skaven threat.
The Imperial leader smiled as she neared. "I don't know if it was Taal finally choosing to intervene, Shallya's abundant Mercy, or Sigmar's plan, but thank the Gods you pulled through." Lady Nacht seemed cheerful as she spoke.
Meanwhile Irma curtsied to the General before catching her glasses as they fell off her face, then as she place them back over her eyes also began to address Shandris. "We were left quite worried this morning the Priestess of Shallya had thought you died in your sleep and the druids were needed to treat you. After some spells they left saying that you should survive."
"And indeed she did." Uydron Dusktree stated behind the Imperial noblewoman who glowered at the Druid behind her for a short moment before smiling and continuing.
"But now that you are awake there's a lot of planning and vital discussions we need to have." Irma stated while holding out scrolls and papers from her stack of books and papers.
"Why do you need me? While I'm honored to participate in the discussions, Jaina Proudmoor, King Anduin or Tyrande would be better to speak with making plans to counter this Skaven threat." The General stated, now looking with a small mote of worry between the two human women.
"I am certain that they would if they could. But during the battle something happened on Mount Hyjal and for the time being the portal is sealed." Uydron answered, earning a confused glance from the Sentinel leader.
"Sealed? Who learned how to seal the portal? I thought Jaina said that even she couldn't figure out how to seal the portals." Shandris asked astonished that someone had successfully sealed a portal.
"Not that way General." Aethalas interjected. "Currently the portal is still open, but sealed behind a hill of ice and snow. We fear the other side of the portal is where this ice came from, likely there is far more of it on Azeroth's side." The General paled at the thought. A tide if ice and snow, on Mount Hyjal...it terrified her to think of what could have caused that.
"Alright. Who do we have left?" Shandris asked looking to her two subordinates.
"Of our Sentinels, eight hundred and eighty are still alive and ready for duty, of the Pioneers a hundred and thirty-four are accounted for however they have had a growing problem in their ranks these last few days." Aethalas provided reporting swiftly to the Night Elf General.
"What's the problem? Supply shortage? Moral?..." Shandris began.
"Two days ago a Kaldorei was pulled from the ice, she claims that Elune has chosen her and is guiding her. She's calling for our survivors to wage war against 'the Demons of Mallus' as she puts it." Aethalas explained, clearly upset about what she was reporting to her General.
Emmanuelle Nacht smiled and hummed grabbing everyone's attention, while Irma struggled with. quill and ink trying to write everything said on her thigh. "The woman and these Pioneers underwent severe trauma, some extreme behaviors from those weak of mind or those of a strong spirit are to be expected. If your Elune did task her such, well I'm certain that the Cult of Sigmar would view her as a useful ally. If not then surely her state will fade or she'll be added to the casualties soon enough." The Imperial diplomat stated, not noticing the hidden looks of perturbment shared between the the three Night Elves.
"Perhaps a Priestess blessing will clear her mind." Shandris offered about to order the woman attended to by the Priestesses of Elune.
"That's already been done, and that's only caused her following to grow." Uydron interjected, now Shandris could only look between her two subordinates in shock.
"She has a following?" One mad Night Elf was always more trouble than they should be in Shandris' experience. One with a following was dangerous.
"She saved many during the battle, and she towards the end managed to fight on her own to the portal itself right as the Ice Tide poured through. Kyn'ra has also made some passionate and impactful speeches to those who would listen. I fear that even a few among the Sentinels are giving her words more credit than they deserve. And because of her the Pioneers independent and uncooperative attitude has been exasperated." Aethalas explained to her general, the Captain's features carefully measured.
"The source of this trouble is Kyn'ra?" Shandris asked sighing. "She should still be under arrest for her desertion, detain her before she becomes more unhinged and more problematic." Now Irma's writing was becoming frantic and once done the woman swiftly pulled out a flask taking a deep drink, at the sight of the flask Shandris noticed her own throat felt dry and coughed lightly to clear it only to descend into a strange coughing fit as a foul taste oddly filled her mouth.
A quick and simple healing spell and Uydron Dusktree, after confirming Shandris was fine spoke up. "I think Aethalas is underselling the gravity of the situation. Kyn'ra's following have been convinced that she has been chosen by Elune to save Azeroth. Any attempt to detain her is certainly going to end with violence between our own people." The Druid leader explained.
"How has so much happened in the day I've been down?" Shandris asked, confused as to how everything had progressed so quickly.
"Ma'am, you've been in recovery for over a week." Aethalas provided, looking concerned.
"Oh, may I help check her. I'm certain the archives would murder for some records on your Elven healing practices." The Human documentor, Irma asked looking both eager, bright and somehow pitiful at the same time.
Aethalas looked between the human woman and Shandris, before the General nodded her head in assent. Then with a sigh Aethalas turned to Irma. "I will show you some basic medicine yes." Before the Captain had finished speaking Irma was behind Shandris, one hand on the nook of her neck and shoulder while the other was rubbing one of Shandris' ears.
"Stop that." Shandris ordered using her hand to bat away the Imperial's probing hands. Shandris then tuned out the questions of the woman as Aethalas began to check over and see to the health of her General while instructing the Human.
"So Emmanuelle, what is the Empire's plan now that everything in Mordheim is more or less concluded?" Shandris asked the other human woman of the group, who had mostly been listening to reports from her own Captain at this point.
Emmanuelle dismissed her Captain with a dainty wave of her hand. "Besides securing Mordheim until the portal itself is open to prevent any more incidents, we will be escorting your forces north to Bechafen. There you will meet with the Elector Count Wolfram Hertwig, hopefully we can gain his support to hold Mordheim against any further invasions until we can then return to the capital.
Even before we reach Altdorf, we will need to cover up that the Grand Theologist was last seen by you going into a portal that was later taken by the Skaven. And besides delaying the inevitable succession crisis in the Cult of Sigmar, we will need to gain both their support and the support of the nobility and of course the Emperor. Once we do that and spread the tale of how the Horde unleashed a tide of mutants, beasts, and Undead against both the Alliance and loyal soldiers and nobles of the Empire, well then we can likely get talk of a Coalition against the Horde's influence here in the Old World started.
If we can get the Elector Counts aboard then we can likely muster a army and maybe even bring powerful enough Bright Wizards to clear away the Ice and Snow to get you back to Azeroth and to retrieve Volkmar. From there it might take a little more manipulation but getting some well deserved vengence against the Horde shouldn't be too hard after that. I think we have a decent chance since they did openly attack both the head of the Cult of Sigmar, and multiple armies of the Empire, so overall this could be fairly quick, we might even be able to stage a small invasion by the end of next year." The diplomat rattled off her political intrigues and plots as if Shandris could follow the convoluted mess the woman was trying to depict. Was it really possible that the Empire was a state that could sit back and accept being attacked, not out of a hope for peace, but simply apathy? And a whole year to stage this, Azeroth would need forces now, surely the Horde was already dragging in everything they had on Mallus and then some to fight the war they had started.
"How can we get forces faster?" Shandris demanded to know staring intently at Emmanuelle.
The Diplomat simply matched the glare for several moments. "The Ice on this side of the portal is estimated to take over a month, perhaps even a half a year to melt all the way if the weather is colder than normal, and your world's side likely has far more ice than here. One of your diplomats, the cow woman, had mentioned a Horde Portal. If you want quick, take your army and march to that portal praying to the Gods your not all killed on the path or by whatever forces the Horde has there. Or you can try to independently gather enough support to form an army to march on that portal. But depending on who will follow you, that could take just as long as it would take for the portal to open back up."
Shandris considered the diplomat's advice. "Would trying both be a viable option?" If Shandris could gather her own private army from this world even if the Hyjal portal was cleared first being able to immediately lend aid with that army and then having done much of the work to gather the Empire's support would certainly be of help to Alliance.
The diplomat smiled. "On your own, well how many chests if Gold do you have available?"
Shandris contemplated the Diplomat's words. "I'm going to assume 'not enough' is the proper answer to the question."
"Not on your own. But convince the nobles to give you short term financial backing, grant them promises of control of trade routes or trade of materials." The Imperial stated, a gleem entering her eye.
"And I assume you have all of that lined up. What is that going to cost me?" Shandris asked cooly, just before feeling a annoying poke at her side. "Could you not?!" The Sentinel General snapped at the two women crouching at her side.
"Sorry, Ma'am." Aethalas then began to pull Irma away also leading Uydron Dusktree and the Imperial Captain away.
After watching the attendents all leave Emmanuelle smirked and then spoke. "I'm a diplomat, Shandris, wealth and status aren't necessarily as valuable to me than with others. Garnering political capital is more important to me. I want your favor, to ensure that whatever I ask of the Alliance I also bear the weight of your voice as well." The Diplomat stated with a cooler calculating look behind her eyes.
"So this is free?" Shandris asked again, highly suspicious of the woman before her.
"No, but the price is you owing me your favor and oath of support." The Diplomat stated straightforwardly.
"Then if you want me to sign anything, I'll sign it. You have my support but what are we actually going to be doing?" Shandris stated.
"First priority for you when we reach Bechafen will be to restore your arm. Your army's druids are working hard to preserve it on the promise that I'll have that restored to you, and once I upkeep that promise you and I will be on equal standing." Emmanuelle Nacht started while walking to a small pitcher of water to pour a pair of cups for herself and the General.
After handing Shandris a cup, Emmanuelle continued. "Once we do that, then we'll want to connect to the Nobles and Merchants of the city. If we can convince them of the Alliance's trade value you could see some investment and that will form the basis for everything else we will develop later. Because with money and names behind you, then others will be a lot more likely to choose to support you and they will be less likely to overcharge for their services."
Shandris nodded, "That sounds reasonable."
"After that we will take the river Reik to Altdorf where we will smooth things over with the Cult of Sigmar and attempt to gain the Emperor's consent for our actions from then on. Once we attain that you would have three places to search for further support while I attempt to gain the Emperor and the Elector Count's sanction to form a Coalition against the Horde. With permission for a Coalition there are a few other nations we can attempt to reach out to for additional forces." The Imperial Noble finished.
"And what other nations would we be reaching out to?" Shandris now asked, more interested in what other nations surrounded the Empire or that the Empire was allied with rather than just increasing her troop count.
Lady Nacht smirked setting her cup on the ground. "While Kislev isn't likely to provide much, some of their Mercenaries are quite capable individuals. Likewise Tilia to the south of the Vaults is famous for the variety of Mercenaries they have avaliable. While to the west we have Bretonnia and Estallia. Estallian Diestros, Caballeros, and troops should prove highly effective supports if we have the coin. And while money wouldn't be spent, convincing the Bretonnians to support a cause would be harder though their Knights are perhaps the best in the world and we should at least seek, and be likely, to acquire a few Bretonnian Knights. But if we could get a full detachment or army from them that would certainly put many battles into our favor."
"Are these Bretonnians that powerful?" Shandris asked.
"They are backwards, and the least developed nation in the entire Old World. But the Empire and the Estallians and multiple other threats have learned to never underestimate the Bretonnians nobility nor their patron God." The Diplomat explained.
"So the power of their Knights sustains their kingdom?" The Night Elven general asked.
"Indeed, while trade and wealth sustain Estallia and Tilea, and magic, faith and steel uphold the Empire and Kislev. The Bretonnians will collapse the moment their Knights are no longer able to sustain their power. But then the last groups we can reach out to either Karak Azgaraz, or Karak Hirn, and we will be reaching out to Karak Kadrin." The answer was simple and helped Shandris frame the world she was in.
Then Emmanuelle took control of the conversation. "What would they be facing though? What do these Horde bastards who allied with the Skaven and Vampires actually possess that would be a threat?" The Diplomat asked now herself taking interest looking for answers from Shandris.
Shandris breathed out heavily as she considered what to tell the human woman. "The Horde is an alliance of races and kingdoms who oppose the Alliance and threaten my homeland with their excessive industry. The core of the Horde is the Orcish Kingdom of Durotar and Undead kingdom called the Forsaken. Though the Orcs there aren't the same as the ones I've read about in reports of your world, they are still brutish primitives but far more open to negotiation, and long term peace particularly for their children's sake. And compared to the Vampires forces each of the Forsaken has far more individuality, so they often will hide behind poisons and viral weapons." Shandris began trying to explain her world to Emmanuelle.
"Wait...Orc, Children?" The Diplomat began, her question quickly stopped by Shandris answer.
"The Orcs of Azeroth have both male and female, and thus give birth to children. They are also smarter based off of what I've heard but no less brutish." The answer was short and enough to answer the diplomats question.
"Alright what else?" Emmanuelle urged Shandris to go on.
"Then there are the Trolls and Tauren. The Blue man and the Cow woman you met before the Skaven assault. The Trolls have powerful regeneration, Voodoo magic, and are spread across our world with a large world wide population. The Tauren are just large and powerful but they are noble and honorable druids and warriors. After them are another race of Elves much like my own, but corrupted by magical addition, they however are far fewer in numbers and possibly unlikely to commit any major forces as their own are so limited." Shandris provided as Emmanuelle nodded and memorized what the woman was saying.
"And is there anything else?" Lady Nacht then asked, after swiftly summarizing everything she had been told by Shandris.
"They also have another seperate race, sharing details with your Goblin. However our Goblins are also male and female, and they are highly intelligent. However the Goblins are not quite as committed to the Horde, with large portions of their race serving as neutral merchants selling weapons and services to both sides." Shandris tried to explain simply.
"Mercenary Goblins. After your Orcs doesn't seem any more odd than that. I mean the Tilians are known to hire Greenskin Mercenaries so it doesn't seem so extreme as with your greenskins being more peaceful and intelligent." Lady Nacht answered back to Shandris,
"So what is happening now, what is your plan?" Shandris asked.
"I'd say the plan is the same. But based off of what I've seen of your Alliance I'd think the Kislevittes and Estallians might be valuable as Mercenaries and so if they have any representatives there, I'd seek them out in Marienburg, just a few days down river from Altdorf." Lady Nacht explained, and then stood up. "We need to start packing, we're going to be setting off to Bechafen before noon."
Shandris stood still feeling slightly unbalanced. "Unfortunately I don't think I would be of much help packing, but I don't have much to carry either."
"If you order your troops to help we should be set to march in short order." The Imperial answered with a shrug and a smile.
"I'm surprised that you're so quick, i thought you would still be identifying bodies and writing letters." Shandris stated, impressed with the Imperial's efficiency.
"Why would I be doing that? Is Volkmar dead, or any any nobles I should have been responsible for? The Captains and sergeants all should know their duties." Was the response which ended the duo's conversation.
Shandris then while stretching set off towards her own forces. As she walked her gaze cast over the Imperial, Kaldorei and Alliance Pioneer camps. The Imperials were still mustering into marching blocks while most of their tents had been disassembled, piled, and slowly were being placed into carts. Meanwhile Cannons were hooked up to Horses to tow the weapons and carts of supplies. Even as she walked the Tent she was in was swarmed by the Camp followers who were disassembling everything and already setting it into the carts.
Meanwhile the Sentinels were preparing and loading their backpacks and in loading heavier supplies onto Ancients who bore the weight with a reserved and quiet endurance. Thanks to the Druids and the skill of the Kaldorei their army had far less supplies to carry than the human army with only their arrows, weapons, and seige equipment being any extra supplies beyond what the Sentinels carried on their backs as they marched.
Meanwhile with fewer supplies, some clearly taken, loaned, or purchased from the Imperials, the Pioneers were slowly disassembling their camp. Some of them like the Night Elves had already disassembled their small camps and packed ready to march. Others, most noticeably the Gnomes, were struggling to pack away extensive encampments filled with strange contraptions, various books, and even full laboratories, but the Gnomes weren't alone in this aspect as the Humans had many who were the same and lastly the Dwarves seemed to have set up a small forged they were only now quenching the fires of and disassembling.
It was here with the Pioneers Shandris could see Irma Schoff observing while frantically writing notes or even sketching rough drawings of what she was witnessing. A short distance from the Imperial woman both Aethalas and Uydron Dusktree along with four other Sentinels stood facing off with a similar sized group of Pioneers. Both groups seemed to seethe at one another before one of the Pioneers tries to act as a mediator causing everyone to relax.
As the groups conversation wound down, Shandris finally arrived and interjected herself into the encounter. "What is happening here?" She demanded imposing her presence as the Sentinels General over everyone present.
"I recorded everything they said if you would like!" Irma shouted from her position several yards away. Immediately Shandris ignored the odd human.
"Aethalas, report please." The General then asked.
"General. We were trying to share our next destination with the Pioneers but they are resisting our leadership." Aethalas explained pointing to the stren faced Pioneers.
"You're trying to take us away from the portal home, and ignoring the threat to our back. We need to purify the area around Mordheim, to protect the portal from any other invaders." One of the Pioneers stated sternly and with a fierce defiance in it.
"We are not abandoning Mordheim. The Empire is securing it and we're gathering extra force to help us not only get home but to keep our home secure." Shandris tried to explain, while Uydron sighed behind her.
"And a small force of the Undead nearly conquered this city in one Night. You want us to spend what days, weeks, a month away just to return to find that the Horde's allies occupying our city." The Pioneer argued back to Shandris.
"And if they have the power to overwhelm the Imperial garrison being left here, they will overhwelm you all on your own." Uydron spoke with a flat reasoning.
"Not if adventurers and our army kills their leadership. These Vampire people, their armies require their leaders. If we kill them we'll be saving Azeroth from a great threat and removing a huge ally of the Horde!" One of the Pioneers argued.
"Kyn'ra tried and failed." Aethalas countered, the Captain was level but her face showed a mounting but under control tension.
"Because you all betrayed her! She shouldn't have had to go alone!" Another of the Pioneers shouted.
Shandris didn't have time for this. "If you want to go alone against ALL the Vampires then I'll be happy to put your corpses down when the time comes. But if you want to live long enough to possibly succeed in your self assigned mission then you will follow the Imperial Army North to Bechafen there we will be getting more support and allies."
Shandris stepped between the two groups holding out her hand to the Pioneers. " I understand the frustration. We've lost our way home for now and the Vampires hit us hard. The Horde and the Skaven hit us hard too. But these Imperials they've lived on this world a long time, they know the land and the threats better than we do, they might better guide us to where we can help, or how we might get home more quickly.
I've bled with you, lost my arm fighting for each of you. And right beside us were the Imperials, are they diffrent? Yes, but we all hail from an Alliance that has sought to see past such things. They've shown as much nobility as anyone from Stormwind. Allow them this chance if nothing more." Shandris' hoped her own empathy would reach the Pioneers, if not then things could become very difficult.
The Pioneers stepped back huddling together to discuss in hushed voices among themselves. Shandris' trained ears able to discern the conversation they were holding among themselves.
"We can't trust them, they want to reimprison Kyn'ra, and they left us for dead in Mordheim." One of the Pioneers whispered.
"That can't be right besides, wouldn't it be better to have these Imperials on our side anyways?" Another of the Pioneers whispered back to their companions.
"Does any of this matter, who knows if we're going to have a home to go back to. For all we know Darnassus could be in Horde hands a month from now. We didn't go through days of absolute hell just to lose everything to rubberstamping from a government that's not even ours. We need to forge our own way on this world while we have the chance." Another proclaimed, though their voice was such that even a Gnome lost in his work would have heard him.
"No, we MUST ask Kyn'ra, she's been chosen by Elune. The Priestesses confirmed it, She needs to be the one to lead. She'll have the vision to lead us, not these Imperials, not the Sentinels." One the Pioneers, a fanatic looking Kaldorei stated to her companions.
"Exactly Kyn'ra is more trustworthy, she's at least one of us. Chosen, Lunatic, doesn't matter she's not going to toss away our lives for some petty political bullshit." The first whispered.
"I don't think anyone in the Alliance would do that." The second whispered.
"I heard they abandoned good people to the Horde at the Gathering. Anduin let Sylvanas herself kill the last heir of Lordaeron. And I'm sure the Sentinels are complicet in much worse." The first rambled.
"Again does any of that matter you saw those numbers. There might not even be an Alliance by the time we get home at this rate." The third tried to whisper but was still by far the loudest.
"That's why we must wait for Lady Kyn'ra. She has Elune's vision, she will know what we must do." The fourth, the fanatic proclaimed.
Shandris gave up listening to the Pioneers, true they had plenty of Pioneers with them, but the group was clearly paralyzed with indesision following the loss of their leadership. Instead Shandris walked over to where Irma was sitting the woman intently watching the exchange and writing notes. Shandris had to wait several moments waving her hand in front of Irma, before the human responded.
"Yes General, I see that you are there. How may I be of service?" Irma asked, a slightly irritated tone in her voice as she still focused on the arguing group, writing down everything she saw or heard.
"What is your take on the Pioneers?" Shandris asked, straight and simple. No need to work around the topic.
"Stupid. They all want similar objectives, but without some officially selected central leader they're paralyzed and incapable of acting. They've even become hostile to the idea of outside leadership because there is a potential new leader. I would like to do a a study of the cultures of your world to see how common or uncommon this is. Because if it is a common trait then the elimination of Horde leadership even at the ecxclusion of destroying the Horde's armies might become a preferable tactic to employ." The woman never looked to Shandris her focus instead on a paper where she had drawn a rough sketch of the Pioneers arguing along with detailed notes on each including personal notes on details for future study.
"Well there might be something to it, but this behavior isn't common in the Alliance." Shandris admitted, then contemplated the observation for a moment before continuing. "It is oddly frequent in our enemies though."
"So is Kyn'ra and the Pioneers an enemy?" Irma then asked still focusing on her notes and observing the Pioneers.
"No, they are Alliance. They might be a little shell Shocked, but they were raised on Valor, the Kaldorei way, and their own selfless cultures." Shandris answered the Imperial.
"And you think those cultures don't inherently serve themselves?" Irma stated back.
"Not to our allies." Shandris answered simply and then after a sigh continued on. "We don't need the Pioneers, but we are going to save them anyways. I keep saying that you're leaving a garrison and you told me you are, but do you really think whatever garrison you leave would hold against another attack?"
"No. If anyone attempts to take the city the garrison will fail." Irma confessed simply.
Shandris nodded grimly. "That's why we need to bring them with us. They'll die otherwise and I can't let that happen."
Irma just scoffed as Shandris spoke. "So you'll leave the garrison to die, just to save some unwilling, and uncooperative, near rebellious Pioneers. But the Alliance's cultures are selfless and valorus... I guess except yours? Empire Nobles will sell you out just to smooth over an arguement over a bad night playing nug-a-nug. Leave these idiots to the fate they chose, at least then you won't have them serving as a weakness for the Nobles to exploit."
Shandris glared at her counterpart. "They are people, not weaknesses, not currency."
"Exactly, their people and people either work, get used, or work others over. So which will it be General. Who faces the battle they can not win so the other may try to win theirs?" With that Irma returned to her work drawing a fresh sketch of a Gnome's workshop ternty yards away, and copying the notes he left exposed on his table.
Shandris sighed, and prepared to leave. "You know, I'm just saying."
Shandris sighed again. "Enough."
"Oh sorry, but..."
"Stop."
"Oh I'm doing that rambling thing again aren't I?" Irma asked finally looking away from her work, however by then Shandris had left and was with Uydron and Aethalas.
Shandris walked over to her two lieutenants rejoining them between the Sentinels and the Pioneers. As she arrived Uydron noddes while standing his ground and Aethalas stepped back allowing Shandris to take a spot at the front of the two. As she arrived Shandris began retaking command. "What are they doing now?"
Aethalas immediately began to report. "They were arguing, but then a Gnome came from the tent that they have been keeping Kyn'ra in. Then they stop and now they're just waiting."
Shandris nodded again. "Right this farce has gone on long enough, but maybe they'll see reason once we make things blatantly obvious. Gather the troops and contact the Imp..." Shandris' words died in her throat as Kyn'ra stepped out of the tent.
Kyn'ra had changed. Many of the Elf's features were exactly as they had been before, but now she felt taller, and her skin had paled, now looking something like the surface of the moon, even some of the color from her hair had gone making her hair itself seem like a dull reflection of the night sky. And the Elf's eyes glowed with the what seemed to be moonlight, and even while in daylight because of this it felt like she was fading from sight.
Kyn'ra stepped up directly to the General of the Sentinels. The Renegade Night Elf smirking at Tyrande's adoptive daughter as if the pair were equals. Shandris would remind the foolish youth that she was indeed not an equal to Shandris Feathermoon, and remind her where she belonged. But before Shandris could act Kyn'ra spoke.
"I am Kyn'ra." The arrogant Renegade began. "Elected leader of the Mallus Pioneers. I am here to meet with Shandris Feathermoon leader of the Sentinel Army in order to coordinate the Pioneers future actions with her."
Shandris now smirked back. "Funny, Alliance law has stated for nearly a decade now that a criminal may not lead any Alliance organization. And you are a deserter, jailed and escapped."
"Oh, and who in the Pioneers holds me as a deserter? You are not a Pioneer and as far as I have checked, as General of the Sentinels you don't command the Explorer's League, nor the Mallus Pioneers. And when bereft of command such matters are left to vote, for services provided during the battle of Mordheim they voted and cleared me of the charge. When I faced off against Vampires who were killing our colleagues I was only independently acting in my position as a scout for the Pioneers. After that a second vote was held, and I am formally the elected leader of the Mallus Pioneers." The smirk on Kyn'ra's face made Shandris' blood boil.
"Stop trying to sell us Goblin crap." Aethalas barked from behind Shandris.
Shandris shook in impotent rage, while it would never hold up even upon regaining contact with Azeroth, for now Kyn'ra had an as legitimate claim command over the Pioneers as Shandris and unlike the general the Pioneers seemedto be willing to follow the unhinged Elf. "As leader of the Pioneers I've come to discuss our travel arrangements with Shandris. We are supposed to be traveling north are we not? I hope we can share a pleasent journey for the time being. At least until Elune calls upon us to act."
