amberconarizona.theiforum.com

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

When Eric is done, Finn snorts softly again, “I seem to recall a certain Prince, when both of us were in our cups, telling me that ‘playing coy is for women and courtiers.” He smiles slightly, “The rules made over beer ‘tween Princes and Dukes, must change for Kings over wine.”

He falls silent for a moment, as the calculus of war runs thought his mind. “Less then one hundred men is not a lot, Eric, even with resources stretched as they are. Our men are likely the better of any two Golden Circle men.” His lips pressed together once again as he exhales through his nose. “I will have to be creative. Labro will be a major asset, as will all of the Rangers. As good as they are in a heavy charge, they also make excellent scouts and we’re headed right into their kind of terrain.” His tone is low as Finn is, more or less, thinking aloud.

Finn gestures at the maps, “I may owe our new kin an apology. I knew we would all be going, but without a solid plan beneath us, socializing seemed wasted. Now that we have a plan, we should let Eric introduce the more recent arrivals.” He smiles slightly, “I already know Altair’s worth, which should be lighter by the ten crowns he still owes me.”

He laughs softly and Rebecca’s reaction to her assignment. Finn nods to Altair after the exchange. “Rebecca, Faylinn, and I will Hellride more than likely.” He turns to Faylinn, “That will put you in the Forest more swiftly, Fay.” He leans back to address the group again, “I want to know what the situation is like before we commit my men. We can join up with the company when they make port via the Trumps, though we’ll have to do so through Gerard -- unless there are Trumps of us all in those boxes?” He looks to Eric for that answer, before asking the others, “Is anyone else thinking about riding out?”

sandrayln · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 244

Faylinn nods absently. "Once we reach the location, I will see what I can learn before the scouts arrive." She's still eyeing the forest and the mountains on the map thoughtfully.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:54 am Post subject:

[OOC:

fixed it]

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:03 am Post subject:

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

Finn raises an eyebrow unflinchingly, "You know that I have." He nods, "But I would be a fool not to ask for more, even if only a little. I have made do with half this number, but I would wager that if you asked Leonidas of Sparta if he wanted another three hundred, he would shake your hand and happily say 'Yes, Please'."

He tilts his head to one side, "There is always the option to recruit in Shadow." He glances to Rebecaa and then back to Eric, "How malleable are the axioms of Greymoor?"

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 7:55 pm Post subject:

"Plenty malleable I imagine... If I have the time, I can certainly ensure that gunpowder from Cimarron will work properly there on top of everything, if it does not already."

"The issue with finding troops in Shadow will come from finding a Shadow that has not been affected by the Black Road. As far as we can tell it is quite ubiquitous, especially around Amber and its Golden Circle."

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:12 pm Post subject:

"Not sure. If you make your way there and trump me I'll see if I can get away from here for a bit."
Something seems to be troubling him then, but he shrugs it off. The red glow on his chest intensifies just a bit, then dies down again.

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

She pretends not to notice; but Eric knows she does when she returns to her chair, flips it around and straddles it again to watch him instead of doing the little dance of gunslinger joy as Finn - and Eric - have every right to expect from her at this news.

"Finn can get us there quick enough," Rebecca states matter of factly. "We've been thar b'fore."

Arkadios · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 78 Location: Good old Yookay

Kade sits with a sardonic smile on his face, wondering when anyone will broach the issue of how the folks currently resident in Greymoor, will take to someone seemingly arriving and deciding to take over without so much as a by your leave.

So interesting in this is he that he raises a hand and coughs lightly before asking, “I take it the rulers of Greymoor will have a say in this?”

He looks around the room before continuing, “Speaking as a shadow dweller myself, with some experience of government thereto, were I ruling Greymoor I think I’d be inclined to resent Amberites simply arriving and muscling in, especially if they were to arrive with a large force of troops in tow, I might even suspect that the new arrivals were allied to the denizens of the Black Road.”

He shrugs and smiles again, “Just a thought.”

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca turns from watching her father to looking over at Finn. She raises an eyebrow. "Did I doze off for a spell? Where in the plan was the musclin' in part?"

Arkadios · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 78 Location: Good old Yookay

Kade nods at Rebecca, "Your pardon madam perhaps I was the one napping, I had assumed some sort of military action was in the offing." he grins before continuing, "Its simply that I suspect that the people of Greymoor would rather be asked before they receive Amber's help, and I haven't heard much talk of diplomatic contact as yet."

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

"Tha's what Altair, Daniel an' Preston are s'ppose ta do," Rebecca says as shew fishes out a silver cigarette case from the back pocket of her leather jeans. "I s'ppose if yer feelin' dipl'matic ya can go with 'em." She grins while removing a cigarette. She snaps it closed and tosses the case towards Finn without looking in the man's direction. "Dad did say we could shuffle 'round as long as it gits done."

She leans to one side and strikes a match on her boot. Before she uses it to light her cigarette, she pauses and eyes Arkadios over the top of the flame. "An' don' call me 'Madame'."

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

"Kade, a force of less than one hundred offering aid to an embattled Kingdom is hardly poor diplomacy. We arrive with a skilled force, rather than an overwhelming one. Even if I can disposition us to conquer the Kingdom of Almirior, or assassinate good King Melor, that is not something the Greymoorians are likely to understand until it is too late." Finn shrugs slightly, "And it is not unheard of for diplomatic envoys to travel in force. The roads are not always safe, even in the Circle, and the Black Road makes travel even less so. The strategy is diplomacy. I, and those with me, will simply be the iron fist behind the velvet glove." He smiles and nods to Altair, "And that is a familiar gambit."

"Besides, I mean to speak with Almirior's General. His opinion is likely to be closer to the truth than Melor's." Finn's hand flashes up and catches the cigarette case. He considers the silver surface for a moment, and then cracks it open to remove one, before placin the case on the table in front of him. He puts the smoke between his lips, and leans towards Rebecca for a light.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject:

"You are all correct. The troops we are sending will clearly bear the colors of our Kingdom and approach the Greymoor Leaders as equals, or at least as diplomats representing the word of our Government. As much as I had hoped my daughter to represent myself I can certainly see how others would be better suited for the position," Eric helps himself to more wine and sits back down.

"We will not increase troop numbers, from other Shadows or from Amber's force, into Greymoor until we have support from the leaders of Greymoor. They are likely to take different stances on your presence there but I don't suspect they will be hostile towards your arrival."

"Scouting the area is likely to be more dangerous than arriving as officials, that much is certain, but I am sure Duke Finnleagh has his reasons for that. Who will you take with you?" he asks Finn.