Pax: Portal, 30th of Jygust, Late Trade Tide

[Michel Carbonneau]

This was bad news. The situation in Pax was worse than Michel had expected. Foreno's men had infiltrated the city already and the legion was at a disadvantage. Even when he would order the men to stand down and declare pax a free city, there would be a big fight. And things wouldn't be easy. The commander was realizing that he wouldn't be able to get both Pax and Kings Court in one day. He had to come up with a different plan. If only he could be at two places at the same time.. He looked at Brytan and Thomas and yet his gaze remained distant, thinking about all the possibilities.

He would have to delegate authority sooner or later, at least if his plans were to succeed. Brytan had been the most loyal spy and officer that he had ever had. The man had some serious skills and seemed to be controlling his contingent with ease. The plan formed in his head. It is time. "Let's discuss this further in my office." Without any more hesitation, he walked to his office together with Brytan and Thomas.

"Ok, listen up. Thomas, I trust you. You are one of my most loyal sergeants. This is Brytan, he has been in the army most of his life and has always served it with full loyalty. He has stood side by side with me in the war of Taloh and we fought the demoness together. I owe him my life." The commander looked back and forth from Thomas to Brytan to make sure Thomas understood exactly what he was saying. "Now there are things going on in Kings Court that require my attention. I had come here to set the people of Pax free and tell the legion to stand down and then take them with me to Kings Court. Unfortunately it seems that Foreno's men have been infiltrating the town much more than I had expected and I can't risk being trapped here. If we lose Kings Court, we lose Pax. If we lose Pax, but win Kings Court, we could take Pax back in an instant, using the forces of the Western Kingdom army." Another interesting note would be that when the Pax Honestus tells the people that they are free, but Foreno takes over the city, the pagans could see the WK army as liberators after they take over Pax again. White becoming black, black becoming white. All in the eye of the beholder.

Michel stepped around his desk, walking around as he was explaining his plan. "It is for that reason, why I will appoint Brytan as the new commander of the Pax Honestus. As of this moment, he will be in charge of the legion. He will also receive the orders to free the people of Pax and to let the men stand down. The men will remain in the city, but they will remain passive until Foreno's men attack. They aren't here to oppress anymore, they are here to help. For me, I will return to Kings Court immediately, before things become even more dangerous here. You will help Brytan spread his commands. He is in full control of the legion. We will have to keep this a secret however untill I've traveled back to Kings Court safely through the portal. Once I'm gone, you will have to step in."

He looked at Brytan before he continued. "Brytan, we have been over the plan numerous times now. You know what to do, right? I have complete faith in you. I know this wasn't the initial plan, and for that I am sorry, my friend, but I see no other way. I can't risk losing Kings Court. Please make sure Ulder and the Swordmark will understand this as well and help them to free the city and make it secure." The commander also looked at Thomas. Do you have any questions?"

[Brytan]

Brytan's mind raced the flicker the sergeant told of the lieutenant's interference. He had not given any orders to that effect, so him himself could do no other than suspect the same Michel was thinking; that it had been a ruse to get the soldiers away from the barracks. Foreno wasn't just planning to take over the city AFTER they had released it. He also seemed dead set on making sure the guards would not be there to interfere once he had.

As Michel spoke it dawned on him that suddenly he would be the one dishing out the orders to retreat from Pax Balthasar.

"I know what to do. At the festival I will give the order to withdraw the Pax Honestus from the city, releasing the city onto it's inhabitants. The kingdom's restraints will no longer apply. We will remain behind to keep order, until a militia or other form of law enforcement has been established. After which we will leave." One thing bothered him still. Even with the noble intentions behind the plan, he could not help but feel something had to be done against Foreno.
"I have one question; I do not feel good in leaving any of my men behind. I have intelligence informing me of the whereabouts of at least a portion of my contingent. Permission to do whatever is required to ensure my men return to King's Court safely. ALL of my men..."

"Dominicus save me...they're going to make me wear the uniform too, I bet..."

[Michel Carbonneau]

The commander saw that Brytan understood the meaning of what he was saying. He understood what needed to be done and why it had to be done this way. A smile appeared on his face. He knew his friend was the right man for the job. Together they would change the Western Kingdom.

"You have permission to do whatever is required. After the town is free and safe, bring them home."

Michel looked for the bar of wax and a candle so that he would be able to put his seal on the official orders. One everything was done, it was time to get back to the portal. He had to go back to Kings Court.

[Guido Cercatoro]

Thomas accompanied his two companions to the Commander’s office and listened gravely as Michel outlined his orders concerning Brytan. The sergeant was a good man; solid, unimaginative but used to obeying orders. He nodded, indicating that he fully understood what was required. The materials necessary for the Commander to write out his orders were rapidly procured and the veteran sergeant stood stiff-backed awaiting further instructions.

In the background, the sound of the motley crew of remaining soldiers being assembled in the courtyard could be heard.

[Michel Carbonneau]

Two orders were made and Michel made them official by placing his sign on them with the wax. He handed them over to Brytan. "There are two orders. One gives you full command over the Legion Pax Honestus, effective immediately. The other one is an order to give the people of Pax their freedom. They are welcome to stay or go. The function of the legion will be to defend the people of Pax from any intruders. Pax will from now on be like any other town in the Kingdom and therefore it will be under the protection of the Western Kingdom Army. It will no longer function as a prison. Should the town be attacked by any force, the legion Pax Honestus will defend it and if needed, backup from other legions within the army will be called to aide."

The commander walked to the door. "Now remember, don't do anything with these orders until I've left the city. I will do a quick inspection of the troops and then Thomas and I will go to the portal. Brytan, You can go see Ulder after the inspection. I think you two have a lot to talk about for tonight. He should be informed about the situation as soon as possible."

Once outside, Michel would set on his dark, dissatisfied look again. His plan was to walk up and down the line of soldiers a couple of times, making some standard comments about clothes not being right, weapons not being clean or the smell of a soldier's breath. He would then go back to the sergeant and tell him that he would have two marks to clean up the barracks before Michel would be back and that he'd better have everything in order. If all went to plan, they would head towards the portal.

[Brytan]

Brytan took the orders. He knew what he had to do. At some point he should really learn how to read and write, especially if he was going to be ordering this many people around. He got away with thieves symbols and basic diagrams, but the intricacies of the alphabet had never been bestowed to people of his class. He took it on faith though, knowing that Michel and he both understood the importance of what had just happened.

He proceeded to follow Michel outside. He would have to send two messengers out after he had been escorted safely to the portal again. One to Ulder with the message that this evening at the festival, the plan as it had been discussed would go into effect. And one to the provost, requesting a short interaction before the festival's official bit would take place.

As he walked he silently wondered what the provost would think. Only a moon prior had he come into the city pretending to be a humble leatherworker bartering his trade. In the time he had spent in the city, he had gotten to know both the Honestus and the people of the city, and spied on whatever threats the army perceived as important. Now he would have to stand up to lead the same men he had walked among but a short time ago. Or rather walked along side of, since his particular definition of "doing his duty" was not quite the same as that of a typical soldier.

"They're all in for a big surprise..."

[Guido Cercatoro]

It was as Thomas had warned. The remaining soldiers in the barracks were a motley crew of the sick, injured and malingerers. They managed little more than a ragged line. The young sergeant scurried to do his commander’s bidding and with only a slight mutter of grumbling the guards began the process of tidying the barracks. Within a few burns, the sergeant reported that matters were in hand.

With all done that could be done, Michel, Brytan and Thomas set out for the portal. Nothing untoward happened on the short journey and they found the portal still well-guarded with no indication of any trouble.

[Michel Carbonneau]

Standing in front of the portal, Michel inhaled deeply. He turned towards Brytan and Thomas. "This is it, my friends. We are at the turn of the tide. Time to set things in motion at last." He directed his attention towards Thomas. "Sergeant, stay with Brytan. Follow every order he gives you. He will need any help he can get tonight." Then he looked at Brytan. "Try relay as much information as you can about the status in Pax. As long as the portal is working, I will keep you updated about the situation in Kings Court as well." He grinned. "Looks like we'll be fighting this battle back to back with a portal between us. I'm sure we will meet again after all of this."

The commander stepped towards the portal and turned around once more before he stepped in. "See you on the other side." He then vanished into the Aether, back to Kings Court where a lot of unfinished business was waiting.

[Brytan]

Brytan nodded at Michel. "We will sort this out, see you in King's Court soon commander." He grinned as he used the military title. Then he saluted to show good form. He was commander now aswell after all.

After Michel stepped through the portal, he turned to the sergeant. "Alright, here's my orders; I want you to go back to the barracks and send two men out with messages. Write them down and seal them properly. Send one to the Provost directly, requesting a meeting with him before the festival. I also want one sent to Ulder Synkaaros. He stays at Tuirdhiel's tavern. Let him know all has been set in motion and that I need him and his men to be at the ready at the festival."

He then turned to the Portal guards. "We need this portal secure men, be aware there may be a force standing by to take it. We can't have our connection to King's Court severed. But if there is trouble, trouble you can't manage, shut the portal down and do whatever it takes to make sure no one else can use it. Even if that means destroying the damn thing." Brytan had little understanding of portal matters. But he did know they wouldn't want an unseen army pouring in through it. If if got shut down, destroyed, the trek to King's Court would take days. But he'd rather have that than getting killed in Pax.

He looked over at the sergeant again. "You have your orders. I want all the able bodied men at the barracks at the ready. All the sick and injured rest. I am not straining our men for the sake of force. Send someone on horseback to check on the soldiers taken away by that lieutenant. Tell him to return within the tide and bring them back. If he does not return when the tide is out, we will presume the soldiers taken or even dead."

A sigh escaped his lips.

"Oh, and find me a dress uniform. I can't show up at the festival in civilian clothes."

After the sergeant left, Brytan did not return to the barracks directly. He had not forgotten what he had been told by the wench in the alleyway shortly before he met up with Michel. His men were in danger, some of them. He needed to check how many were actually gone and to notify the others of what was happening, without compromising their positions. A little wall scribling seemed in order before the start of the festival...

[Guido Cercatoro]

After giving his final orders, Michel stepped back through the portal to Kings Court. Thomas was a reliable veteran and he also quickly departed to carry out Brytan’s wishes.

The portal guards appeared to be a solid and professional group of soldiers. The guard in charge nodded in understanding of Brytan’s orders and sent one of his colleagues to spread the word around his men. “We are ready here, sir. We have a good force stationed outside and a small reserve in the guard-post across the road. I am sure that we can withstand against any likely attack.”

A quick survey of his Brytan’s own men revealed that half the expected number were in place close to the portal but the remainder were missing. It appeared that the whore’s information was correct. Given that this was the case, it was also likely that her information about the location of his men: “held in the house with the white fence by the forest gate,” was correct as well.