General Senojnai field reports

[DribNairb]

Here follows the strategic plan provided by General Senojnai for the liberation of the border cities close to The Founders empire:

"As our scouts walked through the myrmidons lands, talk amongst their people suggested a large stone structure had been erected just outside the capital city of volsinii. Our priests confirmed the structure was the cause of the uprising near our borders - peasants were invading outlying lands owned by The Founders. I have been asked to seek a possible military response to this should diplomatic reasoning fail. For obvious reasons, this journal will be kept secret until such time as the notes can be published for historial records."

"There are 3 cities causing the dispute:
1) lakhama - this city infringes upon the borders of The City of Wisdom
2) folsina - this city infringes upon the borders of The City of Strength
3) volsinii - this city is believed to be home to the stone structure (unconfirmed)

The initial plan was for a 3 pronged attack along the eastern border of the myrmidons. This was considered unacceptable as the journey time would be too long and the troops required would take too long to assemble.

I therefore choose a more subtle attack. The city of lakhama is surrounded by jungles. A small workforce from The City of Wisdom is being detached to lay a road leading up to the borders of lakhama. This will provide the launching point for one fork of the military response as the jungle will provide excellent cover until such time as they wish to be seen.

The city of folsina will be ignored in the initial troop movement. This will fall more easily once the stone structure has been brought under control.

The city of volsinii is lightly defended according to a recent naval pass. The galley has been ordered West to pick up wandering troops from near the borders of Skarsgardia. These troops will lead the assault on the capital city.

Additional reinforcements are being trained as I write. These will be used to defend our own cities should the myrmidons fail to understand a counterattack is futile, or may backup our main forces should they be required."

[DribNairb]

"Troops have been moving into position under my command. Diplomatic negotiations are, I am told, about to begin.

We will be ready to strike should the need arise. The main forces will be in place by nightfall and I have just received word that the two battalions in outlying regions have made contact with our Galley. It is my belief that the location and even existance of most of these troops are unknown to our potential enemy"

[DribNairb]

"I have learned that negotiations are not going well. Initial communication has been ignored, and follow ups suggest the leader of the myrmidons is MIA - or perhaps does not exist at all. I have been ordered to await further outcome, but this does not look promising. I have told my troops to be ready. I expect we will be called into action if only as a show of force to prove our intentions. However, I do not expect we will have to engage the enemy as our superiority is clear and only a fool would attempt to deny that"

"Supplement: I have just received word that a small group of travelling myrmidons have been sighted close to my troop encampment near the city of Wisdom. Should they stumble upon the camp the element of surprise will be gone. I have sent word to our leader to inform him of this.

While a small number of troops have not yet arrived at the camp I believe we have enough to overwhelm any resistance. I have therefore recommended we move in immediately"

[DribNairb]

"The order has come in. We move by the cover of darkness. It is difficult to co-ordinate multiple attacks over such a large distance. However I am sure my message has got through to the galley far away to the South. Diplomatic negotiations have been unresponsive. The hope is that this troop movement will force the hand of the myrmidons to - at the very least - respond to our messages.

The first wave consists of 4 batallions of soliders, each trained in their specialisation of swords and axes. They are covered by a highly trained group of archers who have exceeded all expectations during their military upbringing. A brief march along the newly constructed road will lead them through the jungle and emerge on the outskirts of the city of lakamha. Backup will be a mere days march away should they be required. The small scouting party - the cause of the change of timetable - will be escorted in silence with the troops where they will rejoin the city once it is under our control.

Meanwhile, the oarsmen of the galley will be rowing quietly along the shore under cover of the small hill south west of the city of volsinii. Upon landfall the two groups known as Heat and Fire will disembark and assess the situation from their vantage point.

I am confident in my men. I am also confident that bloodshed will not be necessary as the myrmidons will immediately see the situation must be resolved by allowing the liberation of the border cities."

[DribNairb]

"We have shown our hand. While only soothsayers can predict the future with accuracy, surely the myrmidons must see what will become of them if they continue with their silence. However, no word has yet arrived to say they have even acknowleded our messengers.

I will wait as long as possible before giving the order to attack."

** further reports are censored until such time as deemed safe by the general **

[Indiansmoke]

The Myridons are in shock from this unexpected attack 

It is not the first time however in the history of our people that foreigns present themselves friendly asking for open borders, scout our land, find our weakspot and attack at an unexpected time....during the night. It is common tacktiks of thiefs and cowards.

By the looks of things these cowards are dilusional as well, talking about diplomatic actions and land that was theirs....they must have eaten the mushrooms that grow near our borders, we forgot to warn them about that 

[DribNairb]

It is ludicrous to suggest that our actions were pre-empted by friendly actions with open borders. We had no intention of any kind of attack while our scouts wandered the lands.

It was the expansive actions of the myrmidon people which caused the problems. The existing open borders merely served to confirm our suspicions that a stone circle had been erected to force the natives (no doubt through fear) to expand their horizons faster than should be expected.

The Founders have been around since the foundation of time itself. This world belongs to our forefathers and hence our children too. Other tribes are allowed to reside in peace providing they do not attempt to prevent the way of The Truth.

This war is on your head. Take action while you still can and prevent further bloodshed.

[Indiansmoke]

The diplomatic lies from your ambasador continue. The last city we founded towards your border was 1.000 years ago. Not some newly claimed area.

Then you call peace offering giving away 3 cities including our capital. That is laughable at least.

The sneak attack on our capital would not be possible had we not allowed your galley to pass through open borders.

This was an attack planned from the begining using the false illusion of friendship and open borders.

The fact that you waited for recently made peace deal with the people of dokos to your north to be completed before attacking, proves that this was preplanned. Now with your north borders secure because of the peace deal you can come and ask for our cities.

You are welocome to carry on with your invasion.

[DribNairb]

What utter nonsense!

The city was founded many years ago - true. But it's borders have only recently expanded to claim land which is rightly ours. During this time we have mentioned this is unacceptable, but no diplomatic envoy from your people was ever sent.

Peace was offered as part of a deal to include relocation. To say that is laughable is to say you prefer to be in a war you cannot win and cause your own people significant suffering.

The sneak attack was planned a significant time after open borders was accepted between our two people. Indeed, had this been pre-planned rather than a hasty decision, why would such an attack consist of such a small, untrained, force?

And to claim this is caused by a recently made peace deal - the deal with the Dokko was initiated millennia ago (as can be seen by our records). Had you considered to request a similar border deal before arrogantly settling where you did this situation would never have occurred.

I hope your people forgive you.

[Indiansmoke]

and the lies continue.

Our once uppon a time capital had a bunch of stones known as the stonehedge. There is no way to stop our borders popping because of these stones.

But the borders of the city in question have poped at least 30 turns before your war declaration.

Furthermore, your people are creative. If as you claim had settled these lands before us, your borders would have expanded much sooner.

In fact when we sttled we did not know you had a city close, it was all jungle as far as we could tell.

Another reason that shows your cowrdly act was preplanned is the 2 units you had in the galley...you had hoped for our capital to be ill defended, which it was and passed from the other side of our borders from were it was convinient to strike in 1 turn...waited for our people to go to sleep and stroke after we were done with our daily tasks.

The fact that you have superior forces as we have no metal in our lands, did not stop you from acting like a coward, finding petty diplomatic excuses and striking like a thief. A true king would walk to battlefield holding his flag up high making his demands and intentions clear to make his people prowed and not acting like you did.

[DribNairb]

OOC: Doesn't seem very RP to me to refer to being "creative" and having no way to prevent borders popping because of stonehenge. But maybe that's just me

Had you read the published notes (above) you would see the galley contained NO military units when it passed through your borders. The units involved in the strike were scouts already in lands way to your east who were recalled once we discovered your people were attempting to take over our lands.

If anything, it seems your own 'attack' on our borders was far more pre-meditated if, as you say, you knew precisely the effect it would have on your people.

And the location of the cities has been available for all to see in The Treaty of Sweet Tooth, published eons ago.

I assume you will simply state that these are lies again? Despite proof to the contrary. Clearly you do not with to believe The Truth.

If this continues we will simply ignore your statements. I hope we find your hideout quickly so that your people may rise against you and prevent further bloodshed.

[DribNairb]

Field report (now uncensored from a previous day):
 The initial plan was carried out perfectly and the two cities are now under the control of The Founders. The people already realise how much better it is to believe in The Truth, and are gaining from food, gifts and technology from The Founders capital. They will soon be contributing to The Path.

 I must report the loss of a newly trained squad however. The group of Vultures were given orders to provide backup in case they were needed. The squad leader was young and brash though, and chose to move towards the borders and make camp without proper cover. The myrmidons attacked at night and killed them all in a bold move. Only now have reports come in to explain how this took place:

The myrmidons have trained domesticated animals and forced them to drag chariots at high speed. A most intriguing concept. In the night, these speeding horses swept through the camp before the Vultures could react. The chariots then immediately retreated into the night. They have recently been spotted heading back towards one of the fallen cities. Some of the men want revenge, but I offer them sanctuary if they cease and desist all military moves. Should they attempt further action I will not hesitate to allow that revenge.

Meanwhile, the pasture where the horses are trained has been contained to prevent any further occurrences of such a fast attack.

[DribNairb]

Field report: the capture of Folsina

My troops are moving in a pincer movement towards the city of Folsina. This move is a continuation of the initial attack allowing Founders Forces to move together. The city appears to be lightly guarded. Again, we offer the chance for peace and for the myrmidon leader to bow to the inevitable. Alas, I fear his arrogance will prevent such diplomacy.

We will attempt to take the city with as little bloodshed as possible. The military forces appear underwhelmed at the prospect of defending a city which they know they cannot keep. In fact, I am sure most of the population would be quite happy to become part of The Truth once they learn of it's wisdom. Indeed, the people of lakhama already see The Wisdom in this.

[DribNairb]

Field Report:
 In fact the guard of folsinna have retreated. No doubt they had been told to hold their ground by the arrogant leadership, but they know the situation is futile. We offer them protection and friendship should they decide to return to join our cause.

In the meantime, due to the lack of orders to the contrary we must push on. The Initial aim of the campaign has been achieved. However, the admission of guilt by the myrmidons has not been shown. The offer for peace is still open, but short of calling us liars we have received no diplomitic communication from them.

[DribNairb]

We have been under orders to hold station in recent days. Our leader hopes the myrmidons will come to the peace table. However, as time draws on this is looking less and less likely.


Today, during a shift rotation of the guards in Folsina, one group of the speedy chariots of the myrmidons moved in and attempted to take back the city. This was such a strange move since it is clear the army of The Founders is merely an hour away. However, even more strange was the fact that the chariot quite literally disappeared before our troops returned.

Even more disconcerting is that I have just received word that a second chariot battallion has also disappeared in mysterious circumstances. This group had been chased through the jungle near our borders for the past week or so. We know they were injured but still they moved at great pace. This morning our scouts could find no trace of them anywhere.

This has led to consternation amongst some of The Founders. Tall tales have been told about ghosts in foreign lands, but I have taken them all to be folly. However, even I must admit that I cannot explain the situation.

General Senojnai