Chapter 18: While Shenis was Getting Runsa

Whilst Shenis and the retainers of the fallen house Savoy plotted in the halls of Runsa their next sortie in their campaign to reclaim the former walls and streets many in the company once called home. House Bruin, had been sitting by idly sense the confirmation that they had claimed the Jule and sent the savoy force to ash and dust, along with making immediate suzerain states of nearby minor vassal lords and villages alike, found their influence in the eastern lands of the central plains growing strong and solid with the day. Lord Chile felt overjoyed with the news that his occupation force had such a profound victory. He called quickly together his war counsel to discuss the next plot and scheme for his military conquest.

"With this news, I am thrilled that Conner Bolden has established control over the eastern territories. So say you men of my counsel, what can and should be done next to strengthen our grip? What can we do to go from being a domineering force that is holding hostile lands, to becoming a unifying country across all of Wiera?"

"Lord Chile Bruin, we have a solid amount of soldiers, but the majority of our army is…untested, and mostly would struggle in long term conflict against the main threats of the continent." A scholarly sage spoke as he examined a map and his notes on the military.

"Euron, are you referring to the Country beyond the western mountains, Yannis? Also the Southern Kingdom of Archana that hides behind their impregnable great wall?" The lord spoke while pointing to each of the countries on the map.

"Yes, both of the those lands do pose a threat, Yannis is known for their flying military and costal warfare excellence. They do possess a spate of a borderland near the southern area that isn't covered in mountains but they have many forts stationed on those fronts." The sage then turned his attention to Archana. "The Archana, sadly we have no knowledge other than the geographic boundaries of their nation. Over the years many have employed thieves and mercenaries to not even invade but simply enter and map the lands out. None have ever been known to return from those lands. So they must be guarded with the greatest of strength."

"So my sagacious friend where do we attack? Is it the northern armies of Valtrex?" Lord Chile seemed perplexed at what to do, and where the next occupation should move with the much of the plains falling quickly in line.

"I'd advise against that!" A seasoned knight spoke up. The man was clearly a great knight, riding the stoutest of horses and a man whom few stood equal to on the field. The lord asked the knight to explain. "Look, I have dueled several of the house Valtrex best men in knight competitions in the past. I have never brought home a win."

"So we call off a military effort because these nobles and knights of house Valtrex bested your pride Seutonis?" Chile seemed even more puzzled and confused as to why the smaller nation of ruffians from the north lands had this seasoned veteran so concerned about going against them in open conflict.

"Our men as they stand, will take great losses trying to best house Valtrex. We need a better way to gain power before challenging them!"

"Sounds like my grand knight general is a chicken!" Chile emerged from his seat and pointed at the veteran knight. The remark stung, and Seutonis had to bite his tongue and calm his nerves at the insult.

"Master. Seutonis is correct in his assessment." Euron waved his hands toward both men with a smile on his face asking each to return to their seats and regain their senses. "Valtrex have been at war for a solid time and we would incur severe losses challenging their might as we stand. So we should march a small occupation army south war and cut off all non seabound trade routes from the merchant city of Sultra as well as then send a fraction of those units further south to claim the island nation of Jali. This will give us control of the straight blocking off Sultra from not only the Eastern lord who defy us, but also blocking trade from Sultra to Archana."

"Will Jali prove troublesome to conquer? I know the road south has many minor houses that will be easy to either bring to heel or crush. But Jali?" The lord inquired.

"Jali is mostly tribal, sparsely populated and very, backwater. I doubt they will pose much of a threat with a proper show of force." Euron's hands on the map focused in on the island lands of Jali, but also his gaze then circled to a territory further south, the furthest on the map. An even smaller island.

"Euron, I see your hand." The great knight spoke. "What are you planning? Chasing the legend? Will the legend the merchant traders speak of be a target as well once Jali is in control?"

"Legend?" Lord Chile wished for the story to be revealed to him.

"It is a myth that strong dragon dwells in the lone volcano on that island known as remnant isle. I don't know of any long term human presence on the island. Perhaps for fear of the dragon. If we could kill it and harness its bones for armor and magic, or convince it to join our cause."

"Then we'd grow in stature and respect, and also remove a major threat to our long term conquest of the lands!" The Lord was convinced. He signaled for this plan to be carried out at once. Euron, Seutonis, and all others present bowed as they exited to their work.

….

Euron quickly set in motion a second occupation army comprised of two forces. The military in total for the two armies totaled 1200 men. 800 were under the command of Seutonis and were quick to march and easily conquer the towns of Tripe, Lowell, Berm, and the port city of Madrol. None of these cities posed any threat and most surrendered without even so much as an attempted fight, pledging their fealty to House Bruin. Seutonis once seizing the port of Madrol returned his main force to occupy and fortify Berm as a main point to maneuver between all captured ground and block trade across their new borderlines. These moves quickly forced other houses that had not yet been attacked or pressed all along the south eastern regions to begin sending riders and gifts to Dol for Lord Chile to accept.

The other 400 sent out by Euron were under the command of Rhein Bolden, a cousin of Conner Bolden who stormed Jule. Rhein was a halberdier of skill and note in the ranks of the Dol, prior to the start of the war the Bolden family specialized in a form of organized crime in the slums of Dol for decades being an unofficial voice of the Bruin in the low circles of the largest city in Wiera. Conner and Rhein were known enforcers and were thus sought out for military leadership as part of lord Chile looking the other way at how their family managed the slums. Euron thought this type of leader, ruthless and iron fisted was perfect to sack Jule, and also perfect to sack the Island nation of Jali.

Euron was right. Jali proved utterly defenseless, the people that fought back were of two sorts, a number of pirate bands that fell quickly to military tactics, and tribal natives who had no concept of iron working. They proved themselves weak in the might of Rhein and his men.

As the men began building their defenses and forts along the coast of Jali, and building a defacto regency house for Rhein, the military leader of course remembered the final phase of his military roll. Searching and conquest of Remnant Isle to the south.

"Walt!"

"Yes master Bolden." A strong knight huffed and move to the side of his regent general.

"You are to take your elite unit of our 100 best and sail to this location." Rhein showed the location on the map to the knight. Without any fuss the knight nodded and understood the assignment. "Kill and conquer whatever is on the island. If something proves worthy there, ask it to join, if it doesn't wish to then ask to bring me there to speak with it, and if not, kill it and bring its remains." Rhein didn't give specifics which somewhat puzzled the knight as to what he would find on the island. But knew that we was to reach the volcano lands and subjugate any and all present.

….

"Alright you bastards! What you wanna live forever?" The knight called out as the 100 under Walt set sail in three ships for the island a day's sailing south. While they followed their orders, and began planning how their unit would operate in their conquest of the small island. They could never have prepared for what would be in store for them ahead.