Early Storm Season at the Pea Pod

[Quatlu]

Quatlu moved with steady deliberation as he quietly entered the welcoming atmosphere of the Pea Pod. Jorl was apparently busy with mama in the kitchen at the moment, so he simply walked over to his usual table and took a seat. When Jorl noted his arrival, the jovial proprietor came bustling over to Quatlu to apologize and take his order. "No worries, Jorl. A hot buttered rum this evening, I think, and a bowl of pea soup with crackers to warm my bones, please", he replied with a smile. He settled back in the chair and wrapped his cloak around himself as he tried to stay warm. As he did so, he noted a small stain of fresh blood seeping through his tunic, and he cursed under his breath. What a strange and disappointing season Dark had been this year, capped by the loss of Fionn, a fine man whom he greatly admired and had called friend. It will be good to get back to the Front in Storm Season, he decided, and to use his talents against the Lunar enemies of his King.

[Ivarenna]

Ivarenna entered the Pea Pod.

"Greetings Quatlu. By Orlanth, my friend, you are looking terrible. You should take yourself over to the Temple of Chalana Arroy. The healers there will check on your wounds and change your bandages. Even give you some magical healing if you ask them for it. In any event you need to get yourself patched up properly before heading off to the front.

"Speaking of which I wanted to reiterate my offer to joi
you with Mularik's 2nd battalion. Perhaps I can walk with you over to the healers and we can talk of your plans for the coming campaign season."

[Erik]

Erik entered the Pea Pod with a sigh or relief. The weather on the walk to the tavern had been threatening rain but fortunately he had arrived before the clouds broke. "I may be a devotee of the Storm Lord" he thought "but I still don't like getting rained on".
Moving towards his usual seat he saw his friends Quatlu and Ivarenna there before him. He ordered a drink of mulled cider from Jorl and told him to replenish their drinks as well. "Quatlu my friend, I heard about your epic duel with Baron Harold. I wish I could have seen it, but I must congratulate you both on your willingness to uphold your honour, and on your very good sense in knowing when to yield! I mourn the loss of Fionn, I have no wish to lose another good friend. But what the devil was Harold doing at the temple that week, when he should have been at the Royal feast? His absence from court this month was noted and it is a grave insult to their Majesties. I wonder that the King's Champion has not issued a challenge of his own. I hope that Harold will do the right thing and apologise profusely for his snub to the Crown."
"I understand that you will both have to miss my wedding to the fair Yealla, but you never need to apologise for taking arms to defend our city and King. I wish you all luck in the field, and we will drink a toast to you during the Wedding Breakfast. For myself, after the wedding I will have the first City Ring meeting, and then the Royal Games. So more orders for new robes from Grumbold's - no wonder he needs a new premises."
"However, we should look forward to the Sacred Time and the opportunity for a Heroquest. I am happy to lead one, the question comes, which should we try for?"

[Quatlu]

Quatlu stands when the lovely Baroness Ivareena enters the establishment, and says, "Baroness, you brighten this day by the enchanted light of your presence". He offers to hold her chair for her and then is seated again. "In actuality, I paid a formal call on the healing services of the temple of Chalana Arroy the week before the duel, which probably saved my life. But I thank you most sincerely for your kind concern for my well-being." He takes a drink from his mug and then says with a smile, "I am glad that you will be with me and the Royal Foot Guards in Storm season, though I understand the object of the campaign is to reduce the defenses of several smaller towns and villages and release the inhabitants from the yoke of Lunar oppression. A worthy ambition and one I look forward to tackling with the Guards Brigade, especially when Baron Rufus and the newly wedded Drighten Erik join us with the remainder of Mularik's Company." He raises his mug and offers a toast, "To Mularik's Company and victory for the Guards Brigade."

Then Quatlu turned the conversation to Baron Harold and the duel. "I must admit it surprised me to see the Baron at ceremony last month, as all the nobles were to pay their respects at Court. Something was troubling him, as this was not the Harold I have known and counted as friend this past year. What clouded his mind was not known to me, but I respect him for seeking solace and inner contemplation at the Great Temple during that period of time when his inner storms beset him." Then he smiled and said, "By the gods, you old campaigner you, congratulations are most certainly in order for achieving the post as a Ring Member! To the new Ring Member, Drighten Erik!"

As the trio settles back after their toasts, Quatlu has a question for Erik. "Though I am delighted to know that you and your battalion are joining the Brigade this season, I was surprised to learn that you were going to be able to miss the Ring meetings in Storm Period and pursue the campaign trail. It was my understanding that the two were mutually exclusive. Was I misinformed?"

[Julian]

Julian also visits the Pea Pod: he is preparing for the front. He buys a round for his friends already here and taking a long pull at his beer he smacks his lips and praises the proprietor! He listened to the discussion about the Baron’s behaviour and internally makes a note NEVER to let his friends down.

He states that he has applied for the position of Rune Lord at the Temple of Orlanth and intends to go again to the front to get experience of a seige and become truly worth of his lover….

He takes time of try to examine Quatlu who is not showing much evidence of his most recent duel and wonders if his commander is fully recovered? He makes a promise to himself to repay all the trust and support of this man……

[Quatlu]

Quatlu welcomes Julian into the group and enjoys the fresh mug as he talks with his friends and fellow officers. When Julian says he's going to try for the open post as a Rune Lord, Quatlu smiles and says, "I think you'd be a good fit for that role, Julian, and I'm proud of you for stepping up to take on that responsibility. I'm not sure if I have any influence with the selection team, but if I do then you shall have it."

He continued with the group, "While I've got both the Lt. Warlord and the Hundred Thane for Mularik's Company here together, I wanted to pose a question to you both, and Julian might wish to listen and take this in as well. I wanted to ask you about the strengths and weaknesses of Mularik's Company, so that I have a better understanding of how best to utilize the regiment in the field. We'll be functioning as a brigade in Storm season, and you both have the insider's point of view, so this is a chance I've not had before to pick your brains and help me lead the Brigade so as to perform at its very best."

[Julian]

Julian is fascinated with the conversation and listens to his seniors with great attention.

[Erik]

Erik listened to Quatlu's question about the best use of Mularik's company and took a sip of his mulled cider as he pondered his response. "Well, you will have seen us on the field, acting as the spell casters to our troops. A lot of our spells are merely trying to dispel those of the enemy. The problem has always been that the enemy are usually further away from us than the rest of our troops, thus often out of our range. But we can enhance their armour ability, raise their morale and increase their speed of movement, improve the accuracy and strength of our missile shooting, making our weapons sharper, that sort of thing. And if they get close enough we can try to trap the enemy in magic quicksands, lower their morale and try to fool them with illusions, though they usually see through those".
"Then there is Rune Magic. There is a limited amount of times we can call upon the Gods for aid before we need to rest and replenish our power reserves. So Rune Magic can be decisive - but the timing is vital. Which is where planning comes in - it helps if the lads know beforehand when to expect use to start flinging magic about and what we are likely to do. But you also need to think on your feet, to combat the fact that any plan will start to fall apart once we meet the enemy. So in summary, keep talking to your magic users - let us know what you want and when you need it."

[Quatlu]

Quatlu listens to Erik as he describes the most effective use of Mularik's Company in battle, and the wisdom of his thoughts. "I understand and agree", he says as he sips his mug and considers Erik's suggestions. " The powerful melee abilities of the Royal Foot Guards, combined with the awesome magic forces brought forth by Mularik's Company, should be closely coordinated in planning any engagements. However, as we both know well, no plan ever survives contact with the enemy, so it's my task as Brigadier, to be able to read the field and formulate a battle plan on the fly, to adapt and respond to the enemy's moves, while preserving and utilizing both units to the fullest of their potential." Another sip on his mug and he says, "Well, that's pretty much the way I've been trying to handle things since becoming Brigadier, so this Storm Season I'll continue to plan and discuss battle deployments with the senior staff, and we'll see if can knock the stuffing out of the Lunars, town by town."

He looked over at Baroness Ivareena and said with a grin, "Then I shall ensure the Baroness and I discuss operational plans in Early Storm season prior to our engagements, and we will welcome the arrival the remainder of Mularik's Company in Late Storm season, when the entire senior staff will then be present." He lifted his mug and offered a toast... "To the success of our campaign this Storm season, and gods bless the King."

[Erik]

"Alas my friends, I now face a dilemma. There are 2 Ring Assembly meeting scheduled for Late Storm and, as a Ring member, I am expected to attend. I have not yet decided but I fear I may have to either give up my military career, at least for a while, or renounce my Ring membership. Or to go on campaign, miss the meetings and accept the disfavour that will attract. I will decide before the end of this month which it is to be."