6th of Brzeszczny, 6E219
Węlke, Vardenholm Prefecture, Stromsgard Region
~17:00
The workshop was a mess. Plates, cups, and cast off articles of clothing littered the workshop, mingling with the various pieces of equipment, tables of papers and books, tools, and materials. A scruffy young man, with dirty blond hair, Matrellus Barenzian was snoring, head down at a desk. There were bags under his eyes, a clear sign of rather poor sleeping habits. Golden light from the sun streamed in through the few windows, making everything seem even more disorderly. As the man slept, a girl walked in. She looked a bit younger than him, a late adolescent. She looks at him and frowns. She shakes her head and sits at another desk and looks over some documents. She then begins to work, writing stuff down on blank sheets of paper.
Suddenly there is a dull thud as something hits the floor. The girl looks at the source of the sound, Matrellus Barenzian. He stirs, sits up, and groans.
"Unh… what the hell?" He mutters as he looks around and orients himself.
"You fell asleep. Maybe you should try living more healthily." She informs him. Matrellus looks at her and shrugs. Who knows if he would listen to her advice.
"When did you come in, Ani?" Matrellus asks. Ani was short for Anieczka Eichmann, Matrellus' apprentice. Her mother was from the Struyetsk Region, where she was raised, and her father was a migrant from the Konig Region. Her black hair was tied back in a purely functional ponytail. She was a bit better kept than Matrellus, but the loose ends in her hair and the shadows under her eyes suggested she herself could do with some attention as well.
"Oh, a few minutes. I figured I would run the math on the Model 7 designs for the Royal Navy." She explains. Matrellus just lazily nods and walks over to her. "Ew, stay away. You smell." She scowls at him, piercing him with her grey blue eyes. Matrellus cocks his head and sniffs himself.
"I don't smell anything..." He responds quietly.
"No wonder you have no luck with the ladies…" Ani mutters. She looks him over. "Go get a bath. I can at least do the math while you are away." She says to him, almost an order. Matrellus scratches his head and lets out a reluctant sigh.
"Alright…" He mumbles as he walks away and out of the workshop.
The workshop was connected to rather nice house. Not massive by any standards, but the furnishings were clearly high end, belying the wealth of the owner. Matrellus pays no heed to these things though, and instead walks to a the bathroom. Węlke was built over a massive underground water system, and as such, the availability of water was abundant.
There was a water organ in the bathroom for drawing water. The city had a sewage, plumbing and even a network of hypocausts. Those with enough money could buy a double pump water organ. One pump accessed the water below the city directly. The other pumped from one of the underground pools scattered throughout the city. This pool had another room under it, that was filled with furnaces for heating the water. Matrellus walks over to the water organ and pumps from the hot water pump into a bucket. He pours the bucket into the tub and repeats the process until the tub is full of water.
"Wish this city had access to volcanic springs..." Matrellus mutters as he strips and then slips into the tub. In the Sugari Boshi Commonwealth, as well as in the mountain ranges, the prevalence of the onsen had made hot water not a luxury, but rather a common amenity that most houses had. This was thanks to the islands and some mountains being volcanic, and thus there were reservoirs of hot water, both above and underground. As such, there was no need to have a water heating network under the house.
Matrellus closes his eyes and relaxes in the bath, theories and ideas shooting through his head as he ponders. He was also, of course, interested on what may come of these Elves and Middle Earth. Or even more, was that the only thing out there. They appeared to somehow, as a continent, have been transported to a new world. Perhaps there were even more new lands out there. If there were, what discoveries were in store, and what could be derived from those discoveries? This thought motivates him and he quickly washes up. He gets out and gets dressed. He then grooms his face a bit and then heads back to the workshop.
"Ani, pack your bags." He orders as he collects and rolls up a number of papers and stuffs them, along with a number of books and tools into a pack.
"What? What is going on?" Anieczka asks, looking at Matrellus, bewildered.
"We're going to do some field work. But first, we have to head to Caer Endaris." He informs her. Anieczka's eyes light up and she smiles, jumping once.
"Field work? And I get to go this time? You never let me go!" Anieczka responds giddily, quickly packing things into a pack. Once finished with that, she looks at him. "I'll get ready now!" She adds and rushes off. Matrellus shakes his head, amazed by her sudden, childish energy. He then shoulders his pack and heads to his room to pack a second pack with clothes.
9th of Brzeszczny, 6E219
Camp Raginis, Gliwicz Province, Struyetsk Region
~11:00
"Atakowacz!" The order is shouted by a man on a hill. The air is then broken with the thunder of hooves and a cheer of 'urrah' by the mounted soldiers. The storm of hooves, a 50 man charge, thunders down the hill and into a crowd of straw dummies. The cavalry proceeds to impale the dummies on the long pointed, light lances and continue riding, leaving the lances in the gored dummies. A few riders on the exterior of the formation have broken formation slightly.
"Very good, but keep formation. No spreading out unless you have cleared the enemy formation. Otherwise you may be surrounded and eliminated." The man on the hill instructs as he walks down the hill. The soldiers dismount, nodding as they retrieve their lances. "You're not as heavily armed or armored as the Husaria or Cataphracts. Your advantage is speed, don't slow down, and don't get bogged down in extended combat. As Uhlans, your job is to hit hard, hit fast, and get out." The man continues his lecture. The soldiers just nod. One of them raises their hand. The instructor looks at him and nods for him to speak.
"But, Captain Tadeusz-" The soldier speaks but is interrupted.
"We're in camp. It's Captain Mazurek." The instructor corrects the soldier.
"Yes sir! I was wanting to ask, if we do get bogged down, what is our best option?" The soldier asks. Captain Tadeusz Mazurek nods.
"Good question, Private. In the unfortunate chance you get cut off from your group, or get stuck in a situation you can't disengage from, you need to either stay out of the reach of the enemy, lest they pull you from your horse, or dismount and draw your saber. The Sr.46-C saber is reliable and as long as you don't neglect your practice, it will get your through thick and thin. Just make sure you take care of it." Captain Tadeusz answers the soldier's question, pointing at the simple but functional saber at the soldier's waist for emphasis. The soldier nods and salutes. "Any other questions?" Captain Tadeusz asks, looking around at everyone. They all shake their heads.
"Very well. Dismissed. Enjoy your lunch and report to First Sergeant Von Heinheim for physical training." Captain Tadeusz claps his hands and dismisses the soldiers. They all salute, and retrieve their horses to return to the stables. Tadeusz sighs and walks through the training camp to his office. He stops by the Officer's Canteen to get a cup of tea. Sipping his tea, he returns to his office and looks over the unread documents on his desk.
"Middle Earth huh? New world?" He mutters as he reads over the documents, sitting in his chair. "This is going to shake up foreign relations..." Tadeusz sighs and rubs his face. He sips his tea and continues reading.
After some time, there comes a knock at his door.
"Enter!" Tadeusz calls out. In response, a woman enters. She's in uniform as well. A captain as well. "Ah, Captain Schuller." Tadeusz greets her with a smile. She shakes her head.
"Just call me Klara. You know I hate formalities Tadeusz." She says plainly, staring at him with her blue, almost turquoise eyes. Her eyes would make most people squirm. She had a much more intense air than her brother, Leonhard. Tadeusz just sighs.
"Yeah… sorry, Klara. Anyhow, what's up?" Tadeusz responds. He wasn't upset. He was used to Klara's brusque personality. He looks her over. She had a powerful frame. Feminine, but clearly well honed from lots of exercise and military training. The sides of her head were shaved and her blond hair was tied in a short tail. Perhaps not the most ladylike look, but she was a soldier before anything else.
"If you're gonna keep looking me over like that, buy me dinner first." Klara crosses her arms. There is a hint of humor to her voice, but she maintains a serious face. Tadeusz frowns.
"Oh sod off. I'm just trying to figure out what's going on." Tadeusz retorts, amused.
"That's no way to charm a lady." Klara replies.
"Good thing there are no ladies here." Tadeusz grins. Klara breaks a small smile and snorts in amusement.
"Fuck you, Tadeusz." She says, shaking her head. "Anyhow, I'm here to make a request." She continues, digressing back to the original topic.
"Yeah? What's up?" Tadeusz inquires.
"Inventory. I'm waiting on the latest shipment of Ls.58's to come in, and with the new recruits, I have a shortage of the swords. Could you temporarily write off a transfer from the cavalry inventory for us to borrow some of the old Sr.38's and Sr.38-C's?" Klara asks. Tadeusz shrugs and pulls a paper out of his desk.
"Well, sure. But the Ls.58 is a straight blade longsword. A bit of a different beast from the Sr.38, you might reinforce bad habits." Tadeusz replies as he writes something in on the paper and then signs.
"I'm aware Tadeusz, but it's better than nothing, and we had to transfer the last of the Ls.44 longswords over to Camp Hirakawa in Ino to supply the marine recruits." Klara responds.
"Fair enough. Here, take it to the quartermaster." Tadeusz hands her the paper. Klara takes it and nods.
"Thanks." She then turns around and leaves. Tadeusz simply shakes his head and sighs.
"Not even a goodbye..." He mutters and chuckles. He then finishes his tea and gets back to reading.
15th of Brzeszczny, 6E219
Swamp of Sorrows, Eastern Kingdoms, Contested Territory
~12:00
The ERS Equinas was waiting just offshore. Matou was watching the swamp as Leonhard and the marines helped to get the diplomatic entourage from the Alliance into the dinghies. He frowned as he watched the trees. He was pretty sure that they had strayed too close to Horde controlled territory in the swamps on the journey back, and the likelihood of there being a Horde party following them was likely. He cursed silently. Why the King had let his son, Anduin, join the entourage was a mystery to him. The only thing it did was make more problems. If the Horde knew the Prince of Stormwind was with them, they would not hesitate to attack.
"Alright Matou, we're all loaded. Get your pale, milky ass on the dinghy and lets go!" Leonhard calls out to Matou. Matou nods and slowly turns away, scanning the trees one last time before jumping on the dinghy and pushing it into the water with one foot. The marines begin rowing. As they start to pull away from the shore, there is a roar from the tree line.
"Lok'Tar Ogar!" The voice roars as a number of large, muscular, green men charge out of the treeline, along with some tall, lithe blue skinned men. Matou calmly draws his bow and an arrow. He knocks the arrow and draws back the string, aiming the bow.
"Back off!" Matou orders, firmly and calmly. "We desire no conflict!" He continues.
"You carry enemies of the Horde into Horde territory! You will return to shore and surrender them to us and face questioning!" One of the green men shouts back. Orcs, that's what the Alliance called them, Matou recalls.
"They are under the protection of the Endarian Empire!" Matou responds. "We do not want any hostilities! Cease and desist or we will be forced to defend ourselves and our charges!" That seems to irritate the orc. He says something to his men and a number of the blue ones, Trolls, seem to prepare some sort of magic. The orcs seem ready to throw their axes, and a few with bows ready them. There was a total of 40 orcs and trolls on the beach. Matou casts a small spell on the arrow and releases it. The tip glows a bright, pinkish-purple. The arrow slams into the ground in front of the orcs and trolls.
"You think a warning shot will do any-" The orc is interrupted by seeing a bright, purple-blue flash of light from the ERS Equinas. Moments later, that flash of light has streaked across the distance and slams into the ground in the middle of the group. The violet explosion from the impact is loud, and those not caught directly in the blast are thrown away by the shockwave. When the dust clears, there is 12 dead bodies, mutilated, with parts scattered around. About 20 others are wounded, some missing limbs. They look at the group as the regroup. The dinghies were to far away now. The Horde collects its wounded and falls back into the trees to avoid a possible second strike.
Matou puts away his bow and sighs.
"You goddamn fool! The Horde could consider that an act of war! We don't want hostilities!" Leonhard curses and shouts at Matou. Matou just stares at Leonhard expressionlessly, his sky blue eyes seeming to pierce into Leonhard's soul.
"You saw them, Leonhard. They were ready to attack." Matou responds calmly.
"How in the fuck can you remain so calm? You may have started a bloody war!" Leonhard scowls angrily at Matou. Matou simply shrugs.
"Go ahead and hand over the entourage then. I'm sure that Varian will greatly appreciate you handing over his only child and heir to his enemy." Matou replies plainly. Anduin Wrynn, Prince of Stormwind, happened to be in the dinghy. He looks at them.
"Please, representatives of Endaria, don't fight. Regardless of how justified Matou was in his actions, we can't be fighting among ourselves." Anduin speaks up. Leonhard looks at Anduin and sighs.
"You majesty..." Leonhard seems to want to dispute Anduin's point. In the end, he concedes and calms down. "You're right. Besides, maybe things can be smoothed over." Leonhard says, reluctantly. Anduin smiles.
Not long after, they reach the ERS Equinas and board the ship. Wasting no time, the ship gets on the move, looking to put distance between the Horde and the Alliance entourage. Matou heads on below decks to put some stuff away in his locked chest. Leonhard takes the entourage and leads them to where they will be able to stay during the trip. The entourage was composed of a representative from each member state of the Alliance. A Draenei from the Exodar, a human from Stormwind, a Night Elf from Darnassus, a Dwarf and Gnome from Ironforge, and a Worgen from Gilneas, as well as the Stormwind prince.
Anduin was very interested in the politics of Endaria, having been first told about the electoral system, Trimarchy, and democratic nature of the country by Matou. Since then, he had been frequently seeking opportunities to get more informed about Endaria, though Matou usually directed him to Leonhard, who was the more talkative type.
After putting his things away, Matou heads above decks and watches the horizon. Who knew if they had seen the last of the Horde.