The War of Lilacs

[Achlad]

Thom joined Charles after the older man had been introduced, bowing his head in respect to the Lady Bresee. "My Lady." He was nervous. He didn't let it show, but he knew he had no real friends here in the camp, after the trial and all. He had never been completely fond of Fae either, though Charles' best efforts had reaped some fruits.

 

[SpringNixie]

Lady Bresee looked over to Thom and she frowned slightly. "Thomas Haeftenn, I may be one of the only fae in this entire camp who sees you as something greater. Your attempts to prevent this war, while ultimately bearing no fruit, were commendable. Even Avery grew to see your actions as something necessary." She bows to the man. "I shall ensure the troops here give you the respect a hunter such as yourself deserves. You have my respect and the respect of my courier. That should keep them pacified."

 

[Inkwell]

Jules is not happy. He likes to keep things simple and to the point. And when Jules is unhappy, he does the exact opposite, he spreads the chaos. Which is just what he is doing now. Cursing to himself while reading through the last messages on his phone he mumbles something about never should have let Avery out of his sight.

And while Jules might not be great with either technology or diplomacy, he knows how to solve both issues. You use your lack of diplomacy to get someone to take care of the technology.

Still giving the radio operator an evil glare from his one remaining eye, Jules clears his throat and start speaking.

"Lady Bresee? This is Jules here. Sir Burnet, or what ever we are running of titles today. The tech nerd here told me that he had patched me through to you, so I am just going to pretend like I know how this works and lay it out straight.

I should be by Avery's side. That's why I came here in the first place. Then I was sent to guard this freaking forest here and Avery got hurt while I couldn't keep an eye on her. That don't really work in my book. I hope you understand this.

So here is what I am thinking. The reason why we are guarding this spot to start with, is because we are afraid the enemy will march straight through.

How about we turn things around a bit. How about we make sure the fuckers don't get to march at all.

I want to take a small team and go behind the lines and I will rain destruction all over them and create so much chaos that they wont be able to march on this position. And if they do, at least it will be much later and in smaller numbers than we expect right now.

The troops here knows what to do. The veterans already got the strategy figured out. I am wasted here, so why not throw me at the enemy and watch me blow up in their faces? Hm? you got to admit it sounds like an idea that's fucked up just about enough to actually work, right?"

Jules waits a second, while running through his mental checklist and hurries to add, "With all respect, Sir. Ma'am. You know what I mean."

 

[SpringNixie]

The centaur turned to the radio with anger in her eyes at having been referred to in such a disrespectful manner. She snatched up the radio's receiver, fingers clenching around it in a stranglehold as she yelled into the device.

"You will do no such thing, Sir Burnet! I do not care what kind of battles you may have been a part of in the past, but let me assure you that throwing yourself into the salivating maws of your enemy and hoping they choke on your bones is hardly ever a viable strategy. Especially in this war. Especially when they have reinforcements moving into the area." She snorts and pounds a hoof on the ground to throw up a cloud of dirt. "You will stay where you are until you are relieved of your duties within Sommerda. Do you understand me?" Her voice was so cold and commanding that, even through the radio, Jules would feel as if she was looming directly over him.

"I am sorry that Courier Avery was harmed during the defense of Erfurt [11] without your being there to protect her, but that does not mean that you get to run off to impale yourself on a spear. I am not without a heart, however, so If you wish to move southwest so as to defend the city then feel free to start marching. We shall even begin sending some forces towards Sommerda [6] to replace you there so that you may do so." She glares at the radio. "You do not move east. Not yet. Not alone. You will have your chance for revenge soon enough."

 

[sam4books]

Charles bow back respectfully, his familiarity with the customs of the fae coming back to him. Viyola was correct, this Lady of the Spring was a kind one, though he would not mistaken her firmness.

"Thank you Lady Bresee. I have bought rations for your soldiers and equipment for your smiths. If there are any other ways I can aide the war effort, please do not hesitate to tell me. My services and expertise as a businessman and supplier are at your disposal. As well as my portals." He told her courteously. He would then give a brief pause...having heard the transmissions and conversation with Jules. He wasn't exactly clear on what was going on in terms of the war, but what he heard so far did not seem too good at all.

"If you need me out on the field to supply support, I am also able to do that as well." he offered, face full of concern.

 

[SpringNixie]

Lady Bresee put down the radio and crossed her arms as she regarded Charles.

"We shall require your portals," she states with a nod of her head. "They could be of great aid to us in quickly transporting units from this camp out into the field. We shall have to keep a close eye on where we place them, however, as the enemy could likely use them as an avenue of attack before they close completely."

The Lady of the Plains then turns to Thomas. "Sir Haeftenn, would you be willing to take Sir Burnet's place within Sommerda [6] whilst he moves to help defend Erfurt [11]?"

 

[sam4books]

Charles nodded, "I am more than happy to lend this service." he replied with sincerity. "Just tell me where to go."

 

[Achlad]

Thom could not help a small sliver of a smile from crossing his face when she stated her own opinions on him, and gave her a bow. "I thank you, My Lady.."

He then fell silent as Jules voice came crackling across the radio, frowning as he was reminded of Avery's injuries. It was swiftly subdued when he heard Lady Bresee's voice, the firm, commanding tone that he was so used to. He couldn't help but feel his respect for the woman grow by quite a bit, nodding along as she re-established control over the situation.

As he was addressed, he straightened up and scratched his chin. "Sure. Tell me what I need to do, what's the opposition look like, and I'll get it done."

 

[SpringNixie]

"Sir Charles, I want you to begin work on creating a portal between here [2] and Sommerda [6]. We shall then send you, Sir Haeftenn, through this portal with a contingent of plains fae and aquatic fae so as to reinforce the area." She looks down at the pair with a confident smile. "We shall wait for the enemy to make a mistake and then, with our superior numbers, will move in to push back their forces from Weimar [13] and the surrounding area [12]."

 

[Ms. Zhuge]

She paced through the camp, red coat over white screaming her allegiance to any human with half a moment to glance her way. An unimpressive figure, 5'1", with no distinctions to speak of on her record, Investigator's Aide Gillian Zhuge nevertheless made for the tent of command with an easy stride that seemed above challenge. The massive red-haired man in her wake didn't hurt, obviously.

Fae, on the other hand, received a different image, of grandeur, tragedy, and loss, as the woman gracefully tapped through the camp. The impossibly long train of her gown seemed to barely skim across the ground despite the rich weight of the brocade, endlessly embroidered as it traced up her body. Zhuge Gillian, clad in the raiment of a chosen great-grandchild of the Jade Emperor's court, her hair cascading in grand silken tresses to just above the ground. The precise mix of reds and whites spoke of the court of Daylily, an imperial granddaughter, and her tragic end, losing her life for her fae court in Hong Kong, a heroic and difficult choice. A human posing as her chosen progeny would be not just unthinkable, but most likely impossible, but the fit of the gown, the carefully detached air to her expressions, all bespoke of a favored youth. This passive glamour spread even to her confidant, the giant clad in glistening armor, decorated with sigils of the lion, a peacock-feather headdress blending into his fierce red mane.

With a moment of hesitation, Gillian's mouth crept open, and after a long, deep bow, she spoke with a voice not unlike gravel, "need replacement?" A campfire crackled outside, seeming to finish for her. "have plan."

The curt phrase was lost on the fae, however, as when she opened her mouth, lips painted red, a melodious story fell forth. "War does not spare the gentle or the kind; Avery is wounded, and you have need of assistance. With the court of Daylily scattered and lost, I can but offer my own meager skill and knowledge of the means of battle and the art of tactics, no grand armies marching forth. But I have a stratagem, one that might well draw all the benefit one can from our dreadful loss."

She stepped to the map, glancing at it for a moment, then murmuring aloud, "colt. scroll." The knight nodded, retrieved a scroll from the heavy satchel he carried. After checking the date to be certain, he broke the seal, and unfurled, speaking.

She stepped to the map, regal in bearing. "I would like word to be spread to the enemy, through a false desertion or other ploy, that Avery is more badly wounded than she is letting on, that otherwise stalwart soldiers are fleeing her side in droves, and even other units fear her; The lie we will spin is that she has become afflicted by darkness, and our side considers the city (( [11] )) lost. During this time, I would like to propose that whatever units can be spared go into hiding around the outskirts of the city."

"We shall spirit Avery away in secret, and I shall take her place. When the enemy investigates, bombards will fire, flames will seize the sky, and the enemy will be driven into ambush after ambush by our split unit, shattering them and sweeping up the pieces, and with luck, seizing a prize. I shall need use of some provisions of the Templar that I have brought with me, my fellow Colt Mahoe, and some select trustworthy lieutenants among your cause."

Mahoe the mountain spoke in a low, even tone. "The proposed plan is to spread disinformation to the enemy implying that Ms. Hughes is mortally wounded and infected, and if she does not die, she will become filth. The enemy will be made to believe that our units have fallen back and soldiers from her group have been encouraged to join with others, and that therefore Ms. Hughes is quite isolated with only a handful of personal guards. Obviously, this will not quite be the case, as the units will only fall back enough to hide themselves in the edges of the city in preparation."

"We will need to remove Avery, and prevent her from making social contact if possible until the jaws of the trap close; I will take her place in the city. Likely, the enemy will split their force, moving in to investigate and capture or kill Avery. When they do, I will reveal myself, and set off remote explosives scattered through the city. Simultaneously, some pre-prepared elementalism effects will activate, driving the enemy into a kill corridor with repeated ambushes, resulting eventually in the death or capture of important personnel. I will have made contingency plans, obviously, using the munitions Colt has brought with him. I will also need some select trusted sub-commanders to remotely carry out aspects of the plan."

With that spoken aloud, the scroll is quickly burned, and Colt returns to standing behind Gillian, arms crossed behind his back.

 

[SpringNixie]

Lady Bresee looks to the newcomers and bows to them.

"Your plan is sound, Newcomer, but there are a few flaws to it." The lady of the plains trots around the table and examines the pair who had entered into her domain with a curious eye. "For one, the fae of the Court of Spring may not knowingly tell a lie. We may trick and mislead... but never lie. The Courier, therefore, would have to be convinced of her own infection so as to lend credence to the trick. All of us here must work to make that happen." The centaur makes her way back over to the radio but she does not start broadcasting yet. "I will tell her doctors and kindred to keep their distance so that her fear begins to take hold of her. Once she is certain of her infection, we will then separate her from any sort of mass communication. We will make it so it seems we have abandoned her. This will give you the lure you need in order to strike."

She nods to all of those gathered within the war tent, her eyes cold. "Everyone but Avery may know of this deception. She will understand in time but, for now, she must be left in the dark. Do you all understand?"

 

[Ms. Zhuge]

Gillian nods without emotion. "agreement. preparing."

Zhuge nods with overflowing appreciation. "Thank you, my lady. With your permission, I should begin my dire preparations."

 

[SpringNixie]

Lady Bresee nods her agreement. "May I have your name before you leave?"

 

[Ms. Zhuge]

"gillian zhuge," the gravel speaks.

"Zhuge Gillian, briefly of the tragic Imperial court of Daylily, late granddaughter of the Jade Emperor of the celestial bureaucracy." The Chinese fae have a somewhat different, independent structure, but the values of Daylily are comparable to a more sedate Autumn court.

 

[Pattern-Weld]

Nick, upon hearing news of Avery was distraught. Going to anyone who could listen. "No, that's....it's a good plan but that's exactly the type of thing that hastens someones turning. Despair. Just give me some time for my invention? I know I can fix it before it's too late." He would beg, and no doubt be denied. There was no evidence he could find the missing piece he needed after all. He sat in his lab all day cursing himself. Slamming his head again and again against the problem with no progress being made. Despair in himself. "I could have gone out there and done something." He would whisper to himself. "Now I will lose another person before I even became friends with them." His metal fist slammed against his keyboard, keys flying everywhere. "Fuck!"

 

[sam4books]

Charles looked up from his work with a third age device with a hint of concern at Nick's outburst. Watching him as the reality of the situation dawned on him. He remembered that time when he found him drunk in the Sinners and Saints Club. He hated seeing the kid like this. Silently he walked up besides him, placing a warm hand on the soldier. "Don't worry about it kid. If worse comes to worse we have Viyola here. She will help us. Please don't beat yourself up over this."

 

[Pattern-Weld]

Nick would offer his thanks to Charles, before going to sleep for the night. The next day Bite might find a note at his work station. "I am heading back to Iceland to continue working on the Hear No Evil project. The camp is currently clouding my mind. If you could, in my absence gather some colloquial songs from the various fae, I have a recording device laid out for you along with instructions on how to use it. Sorry to abandon you, but I made sure you will receive regular shipments of my anti filth bombs to aid you. Thank you Bite. Be nice to Charles for me. He can be a bit grumpy at times, but he is a good man."

 

[Inkwell]

Fortunately Jules got no idea about the plans being made to use Avery as bait. If he would have had any knowledge about this, chances are even his present plans would have gone out the window.

As it is now, Jules is already done listening to any commanders who in his book have not earned the right to give him any orders of any kind.
He came here to keep Avery safe and when he failed that.... well. Jules didn't taking failing all that easy.

During the early evening hours he packed up his gear, approached just a few of the most gnarly veterans he could find - and spoke to each one of them in turn. Some of them stayed behind, fully aware of him going away and already making plans for how to shift the other resources around, to cover for his absences. And a few of them, no more than a small handful, disappeared in the night with him.

Using the less traveled roads and staying mainly out of sight, Jules and his new friends set on their way towards Erfurt.

And now Jules were smiling. Slowly picking up momentum, getting ready to create that certain type of chaos he thrived so well upon.

 

[Viyola Marcotte]

It would be a while, but Viyola's voice eventually rang on the radio. Between Avery's possible infection (as far as she knew) and some news she had learned about Egle's child, the Tear was worn out. Not physically, but mentally -- and the fact that her body refused to let her nap, as it realized it didn't "need" sleep, left her brain stirring, stale and stuffy.

"I..." Her voice lacked the bold ring, the energy that it had these last few days. "Viyola Marcotte reporting. I, um. I need to fall back for a bit. I'll reinforce the village within Gotha [10] but... I'm sorry, I need to rest. Please let me know if there are any serious issues with this." The radio clicked off, and she kept moving through the plains, all too excited for contact with other beings, to work with them, once more.

 

[Pattern-Weld]

After having not been attacked, Stray called for the troops to rally back into Suhl[20] and prepare for the oncoming battle. "Have our forces in Erfurt [11] keep an eye on [21]. We can preform combined attacked on anything trying to get through."