Savand (Dulcinea)

[Wayfarer]

"Here we are."

 

It was much like those scenes that one found described in a Gleeman's tale.  The heroes, cresting the road after a hard day's travel finding the settlement they sought nestled in the middle of a lush valley.  Savand was the home of House Palanda, their fort sitting in the midst of a village that had grown around it for generations.  House Palanda as far as families went had an interesting history.  Known to be highly independent in their own right, even for Altarans, the position of their land had much to do with it.

 

Possessing a commanding position on the trade route between Altara and Murandy, it had given House Palanda a certain degree of clout.  Possessing lands from the Manethendrelle River to the Lugardian Border, with trade captured they were also able to invest in more troops, of which they seemed better trained than most if the patrol they had passed by had been any indication.  As a result, they kept their independence and were used to dictating their own terms.  At the same time, they didn't abuse their power much so problems were rare within their territory or with their neighbours beyond the usual.  Something that made these circumstances unusual.

 

Stopping her horse, Lillian took a moment to view the countryside.  The valley slope was gentle at the bottom but quickly steepened and most spare land had been taken for growing crops and grazing.  Yet further down the valley, one could see the beginning of a wood where local timber would be collected from.  Not that there was much demand for it, if one paid attention they could see the majority of buildings were made of stone, suggesting a quarry lay nearby somewhere.  It would be good to get down there and begun with the work needed, but first of all she had a test for Dulcinea who was watching her quietly.

 

"Before we continue, Dulcinea I want you to look around our immediate vicinity.  Take note of our surroundings and describe our tactical position.  After you've done that, I want you to expand your assessment to this entire area.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of being within this valley, the use of the woods on the other side of Savand, etc.  Just give me as much information as you can."

 

 

Lillian Tremina

Sister of the White Ajah

 

OOC: Use your imagination with it, I only gave general guidelines so you're free to shape the terain and conditions etc.  As you know, don't have to get everything.  Just what you can pick out for now.

[Muirenn]

Dulcinea blinked stupidly at Lillian Sedai's challenge.  Their tactical position?  What in the Light would she know about that!?  Her only experience with strategy of any sort had come from her history classes, which were vague at best, usually only mentioning who won or lost.  Of course she knew a bit about the great generals, but she had never studied anything about terrain or battle plans herself.  She tried to come up with something, but her thoughts seemed sluggish.

 

"Um...We're on a hill, so that gives us a good view of anyone who would be coming to attack.  But also lets anyone around know our exact position and numbers.  Which for two women on horseback makes us look like easy marks.  An Aes Sedai ring cannot be seen at a distance.  The woods, they could be used as cover for bandits wishing to ambush unwary travellers. 

 

"For the fort below, being situated in a valley with a very gradual slope means that they will always see an enemy coming with at least some warning.  If they keep all the walls properly manned, that is.  The woods nearby supply lumber without them having to expose themselves overmuch.  Unless they let an army dig their heels in there.  Rooting them out again would be difficult, unless they were willing to simply burn down their lumber supply.  Which would be foolish at best.

 

"The best ground for the fort to fight a battle on would be in the open ground between the rise and the village.  If fighting comes into the village, then they will be disadvantaged as to manueverability, but still have the option to retreat inside the fortress.  However, because they are at the bottom of a bowl, they can be surrounded, leaving no option for retreat.  Burning the village around the fort would be a devastating loss, one that would require years to recover from.  Even if the stone stood, the thatching on the roofs, the doors, the contents of the homes would all be lost.  As well as enabling a strong force to raid the livestock pens for their own gain.  It doesn't look as though the fort could sustain the entire population of the village, at least, not for very long."

 

Dulcinea fell silent, surprised that she was able to come up with even that much information.  How much of it was accurate would be another story entirely.

 

-Dulcinea Velasques

Accepted

[Wayfarer]

Listening as Dulcinea spoke, Lillian made note of several particular points.  First of all, Dulcinea did not sound particularly confident about what she was saying, indeed it sounded very much like she was lifting this all from the top of her head.  Secondly, there was no real system to the way she identified different aspects of their tactical situation.  Thirdly, while Dulcinea made some good points, she was going to need a good deal of work in that respect if she was interested in learning.  Well, that was something they would address while they did what they were here to do, after all, this was the chance for them to discover where Dulcinea's interests were for sure.

 

"Its a start.  While we travel to the settlement, I want of you to think of the question in the context of; Terrain, Time and Us.  Make no assumptions about opponents because it will colour your evaluation of the field.  We'll talk about the ideas that you formulate tonight.  For now, let us continue to Savand.  Come."  Spurring her horse into a rolling canter, Lillian smiled as she heard Dulcinea quickly pick up the pace though she hung behind, she had a lot to think about now.  It would certainly keep her entertained as they made their approach upon the main settlement in the lands of House Palanda.

 

It was a good half hour before they made it to the Fort, though it would have been longer if they had passed through Savand proper.  The walls were only twenty feet high, small compared to that found on the Borderlands, yet for the purposes of the southern lands it did what it was meant to.  Any force capable of actually taking the Fort would be one that would be met outside the walls with allies at one's back or one that would lead a person to flee, much like the Whitecloak war where many Altaran nobles and their retainers had been displaced until they were able to reclaim their lands at the end of the conflict.

 

"Declare yourself!"

 

Looking up at the man on the wall that called down to her gruffly, Lillian smiled as she called back.  "Lillian Sedai of the White Ajah, I am here to meet with Lord Kareth Palanda.  Would you be so kind as to open these gates?"

 

Of the answers that the man had likely been expecting, that was probably not it.  There was a short moment of hesitation before the man turned about and called into the bailey for the gate to be opened.  Looking to Dulcinea as men from within attended to the gate, Lillian smiled.  "As much as the Altarans dislike authority, they near on universally welcome Aes Sedai amongst the nobility.  Putting aside the importance that is attached to the White Tower, the fact that we are enemies of the Children of the Light certainly helps.  Wherever you travel in Altara, you can be guaranteed lodgings with nearly any noble.  Those not of the nobility do not always have as high opinions of Aes Sedai, but they will rarely try to cross you nevertheless."

 

"And there we go."  The gates open, Lillian's steed went forward at a slow pace.  Greeting the men that they rode by with a smile and warm greeting, they didn't seem to quite know how to take it but one plucked up the courage to return it.  Dismounting once she was in the bailey, she gestured for Dulcinea to do the same and gave her the reins once she was on her feet and leaned in close to whisper an instruction. 

 

"I need to go and meet with Kareth Palanda quickly and inform him we have arrived.  I'd like you to see our horses to the stables and ensure they are taken care of as we will be here for at least a couple of hours.  While you're there, I want you to listen for any gossip, any mention of the current troubles.  I'd like you to do the same as you make your way through the fort and ask for directions for where we are.  Ask questions if you wish, pretend ignorance and invite people to give you their opinions.  I'd like to hear of what they are later."

 

Stepping back, Lillian reached over and squeezed Dulcinea's shoulder reassuringly before making her way toward the steps at the other end of the bailey that led into the Keep.  Somewhere within was Kareth Palanda, but the issue of finding him was solved as a servant in grey and green livery opened the doors and asked for her to follow.

 

It would prove to be an interesting meeting...

 

 

Lillian Tremina

Sister of the White Ajah

 

OOC:  Well, do your thing :)  Talk to stable boys, servants, guards, whoever as you go along and strike up conversations with them.  Let them tell you things about how the raids have gotten worse, several skirmishes between marauders and Palanda retainers, several deaths and others currently kept to their beds to recover, any local troubles that you'd like to invent, etc.