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The Trappings of War: Volume XIV
An UnOrthOdOx view of the Glory of War
Awakening in a cold sweat, I sat there for a moment attempting to divulge the meaning of such a peculiar dream. This damn dragon had obviously effected me more than I would have ever thought possible. It soon became obvious that I would not soon get back to sleep so I slipped from my bed to go and sit under my favorite tree and take in the beauty of the ocean as the moonlight slowly gave way to the morning sun. I had found that I needed these quiet times more and more often to focus my thoughts and prepare for the tasks at hand. I pondered what this new assignment Ghengis had for me would be, and as the first rays of sun began to stretch across the land, I began preparing the ship for my departure.
The morning was soon filled with the joyous sounds of the towns’ children as they had all awaken early after having fallen asleep far too early the previous day due to the trials that carving and preparing the Dragon had caused. I was soon overrun with the children also reminding me of my promise to begin the training of their Ravens that they had all been so patiently letting sit the their respective cages with cowls over their heads. Concerned that I would soon have to leave, I decided to take the next step extra slow, and instructed them the proper way to carry the birds. Leaving the cowls in place, they were to walk around with the birds on their arm for at least an hour each day to get the birds used to sitting upon a human are and to feel the movement of people walking. Leaving the cowls in place, I told the children, would ensure that they did not fly away and become lost.
Gleefully the children drug their birds out from their respective cages and began prancing about the town eagerly showing off their new pets to everyone they came in contact with, and as I prepared to leave, I instructed them to continue to do this each day until I came back, and I bid Aro to oversee the ‘training’ until such time. He muttered something under his breath about overseeing the development of **** birds but I could see he was at least enjoying the children’s excitement. I decided to take both hEtErOdOx and schIsmAtIc along with me for company this time as I fully trusted Aro with the task of overseeing the town, besides it would be good for them to see the mainland again.
It was a quiet trip across the narrows to Bob. A time spent enjoying the sway of the boat, the smell of the sea, and the company of my family. Upon arriving in Trafalgar, though, I found a land in complete chaos.
Fights were breaking out in every direction I looked, and in no time I found that there were two main groups doing the fighting. Those who were claiming that Ghengis was our leader, and those claiming that it was Panzer who should now be on the throne.
By the Gods, if only they would have listened to me to begin with, I knew damn well that something of this sort would happen as soon as we changed to this infernal ‘republic’. Give the peasants a voice and we only lower the national intelligence to that of the peasants. Kings were born to rule, not these common folk. The absence of a police force only encouraged such outlandish behavior as well. I quickly marched up to the local fort and organized a militia. Like it or not, there was about to be a police force in Trafalgar, rules and laws be damned.
The sight of an armed column marching through the center of town immediately inspired order to return, just as I knew it would. Anger began to swell within me, and after seeing to the comfort of my wife I set out to ride ahead to Imperial City to have my own voice heard on this nonsense of no police forces.
The trip was a short one as I pushed the horse beneath me to his very limits and arrived in Imperial City within the day. The streets were strangely quiet, and as I made my way to the palace a strange feeling of danger washed over me. The local tavern suddenly burst into commotion as a riot broke out, and I made my way past in a rush to see some order returned to the streets.
Strangely, there were only the sounds of laughter and drinking within the palace. It took me some time to catch up, but apparently there was some confusion among the local populace about the nature of Panzer’s service. What was originally a temporary position had been confused by a successor and some argument was initially instigated upon the return of Ghengis. Things had already been settled by the time I arrived, and there was to be an election of a new leader to follow within the month. A group was dispatched to see to the disturbances, and Ghengis settled into his chair, obviously preparing to speak business.
“Well ‘dOx, how goes things in Camulodunum. I hear you finally slew your dragon?”
“Yes, there were a few unforeseen difficulties with that, but Aro is hammering out the details as to how to deal with them now. Why don’t we just dispense with the small talk and get to the point? I hear you need to speak with me.”
A smile graced Ghengis’ face “As you wish. I assume you know that Master Zen has been very busy as of late? Well, we would like you to return to your capacity as the Ambassador to Gathering Storm. Frankly, everyone else is afraid to.”
“Afraid? Why? Zeit is such a nice fellow.”
“Well, the last Ambassador we sent over there was…killed. Along with his escort.”
“What?! Is there some reason we felt a personal visit was in order? What is wrong with the trading of messages as we have been?”
“There was an interest in a personal meeting, however, Gathering Storm seemed to feel that it was not in their interest. We would like you to attempt to remedy the situation and then return as their Ambassador.”
I had worked with Gathering Storm since the beginning, and could see no reason for such nonsense to be happening. They had always been easy to work with in the past, what could be happening? “Very well, I do miss the conversations with Zeit. Ill set out tomorrow, but YOU get to tell hEtErOdOx!”
Ghengis laughed at this, and we shared a drink as he filled me in on the current matters of state that I may be informed when I met with Gathering Storm and as night approached, I sought to leave and find my family as they would be in town shortly.
“Oh, one other thing.” Ghengis said, halting me. “We would like you to become vice CALF as well.”
By the hells! Vice CALF, essentially third in the chain of command of the armies. Should both the CoW and CALF be somehow removed from the field, I would be in full command of the military. I must have been standing there stunned for some time, for Ghengis finally broke the silence.
“Sleep on it, speak with your family, then see Hot Enamel. He has some new things he is eager to show you, and will fill you in on the exact nature of the immediate duties.” Ghengis was very calm, a strange sight for him, almost disturbing. “Think it over before you answer, there is no rush yet.”
An UnOrthOdOx view of the Glory of War
Awakening in a cold sweat, I sat there for a moment attempting to divulge the meaning of such a peculiar dream. This damn dragon had obviously effected me more than I would have ever thought possible. It soon became obvious that I would not soon get back to sleep so I slipped from my bed to go and sit under my favorite tree and take in the beauty of the ocean as the moonlight slowly gave way to the morning sun. I had found that I needed these quiet times more and more often to focus my thoughts and prepare for the tasks at hand. I pondered what this new assignment Ghengis had for me would be, and as the first rays of sun began to stretch across the land, I began preparing the ship for my departure.
The morning was soon filled with the joyous sounds of the towns’ children as they had all awaken early after having fallen asleep far too early the previous day due to the trials that carving and preparing the Dragon had caused. I was soon overrun with the children also reminding me of my promise to begin the training of their Ravens that they had all been so patiently letting sit the their respective cages with cowls over their heads. Concerned that I would soon have to leave, I decided to take the next step extra slow, and instructed them the proper way to carry the birds. Leaving the cowls in place, they were to walk around with the birds on their arm for at least an hour each day to get the birds used to sitting upon a human are and to feel the movement of people walking. Leaving the cowls in place, I told the children, would ensure that they did not fly away and become lost.
Gleefully the children drug their birds out from their respective cages and began prancing about the town eagerly showing off their new pets to everyone they came in contact with, and as I prepared to leave, I instructed them to continue to do this each day until I came back, and I bid Aro to oversee the ‘training’ until such time. He muttered something under his breath about overseeing the development of **** birds but I could see he was at least enjoying the children’s excitement. I decided to take both hEtErOdOx and schIsmAtIc along with me for company this time as I fully trusted Aro with the task of overseeing the town, besides it would be good for them to see the mainland again.
It was a quiet trip across the narrows to Bob. A time spent enjoying the sway of the boat, the smell of the sea, and the company of my family. Upon arriving in Trafalgar, though, I found a land in complete chaos.
Fights were breaking out in every direction I looked, and in no time I found that there were two main groups doing the fighting. Those who were claiming that Ghengis was our leader, and those claiming that it was Panzer who should now be on the throne.
By the Gods, if only they would have listened to me to begin with, I knew damn well that something of this sort would happen as soon as we changed to this infernal ‘republic’. Give the peasants a voice and we only lower the national intelligence to that of the peasants. Kings were born to rule, not these common folk. The absence of a police force only encouraged such outlandish behavior as well. I quickly marched up to the local fort and organized a militia. Like it or not, there was about to be a police force in Trafalgar, rules and laws be damned.
The sight of an armed column marching through the center of town immediately inspired order to return, just as I knew it would. Anger began to swell within me, and after seeing to the comfort of my wife I set out to ride ahead to Imperial City to have my own voice heard on this nonsense of no police forces.
The trip was a short one as I pushed the horse beneath me to his very limits and arrived in Imperial City within the day. The streets were strangely quiet, and as I made my way to the palace a strange feeling of danger washed over me. The local tavern suddenly burst into commotion as a riot broke out, and I made my way past in a rush to see some order returned to the streets.
Strangely, there were only the sounds of laughter and drinking within the palace. It took me some time to catch up, but apparently there was some confusion among the local populace about the nature of Panzer’s service. What was originally a temporary position had been confused by a successor and some argument was initially instigated upon the return of Ghengis. Things had already been settled by the time I arrived, and there was to be an election of a new leader to follow within the month. A group was dispatched to see to the disturbances, and Ghengis settled into his chair, obviously preparing to speak business.
“Well ‘dOx, how goes things in Camulodunum. I hear you finally slew your dragon?”
“Yes, there were a few unforeseen difficulties with that, but Aro is hammering out the details as to how to deal with them now. Why don’t we just dispense with the small talk and get to the point? I hear you need to speak with me.”
A smile graced Ghengis’ face “As you wish. I assume you know that Master Zen has been very busy as of late? Well, we would like you to return to your capacity as the Ambassador to Gathering Storm. Frankly, everyone else is afraid to.”
“Afraid? Why? Zeit is such a nice fellow.”
“Well, the last Ambassador we sent over there was…killed. Along with his escort.”
“What?! Is there some reason we felt a personal visit was in order? What is wrong with the trading of messages as we have been?”
“There was an interest in a personal meeting, however, Gathering Storm seemed to feel that it was not in their interest. We would like you to attempt to remedy the situation and then return as their Ambassador.”
I had worked with Gathering Storm since the beginning, and could see no reason for such nonsense to be happening. They had always been easy to work with in the past, what could be happening? “Very well, I do miss the conversations with Zeit. Ill set out tomorrow, but YOU get to tell hEtErOdOx!”
Ghengis laughed at this, and we shared a drink as he filled me in on the current matters of state that I may be informed when I met with Gathering Storm and as night approached, I sought to leave and find my family as they would be in town shortly.
“Oh, one other thing.” Ghengis said, halting me. “We would like you to become vice CALF as well.”
By the hells! Vice CALF, essentially third in the chain of command of the armies. Should both the CoW and CALF be somehow removed from the field, I would be in full command of the military. I must have been standing there stunned for some time, for Ghengis finally broke the silence.
“Sleep on it, speak with your family, then see Hot Enamel. He has some new things he is eager to show you, and will fill you in on the exact nature of the immediate duties.” Ghengis was very calm, a strange sight for him, almost disturbing. “Think it over before you answer, there is no rush yet.”
Good stuff. Though I might quibble with our killing GoW "ambassadors" 
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