Empires of Ashes Reboot

"I see."

theresa lets out an exasperated sigh

Yenn turns away from theresa, observing instead, the auxillary soldiers around them

she can tell they're not far from the cavalry part of the camp now. she can see horses not too far off. Said horses are of incredibly fine stock indeed, even at a glance seeming larger and stronger than anything kelthro can provide.

"Fine beasts."

Theresa: aye. They're Karabachi horses. Biggest n strongest north of the vein.

Yenn: "A cross between then and kelthrovi stock, may have favourable results."

she shrugs
"Tell that t' the karabachi, doubt they'd be 'appy with that"

"How much silver would they ask for a stallion?"

she shrugs
"none o this lot'll sell to ye lass. Karabachi adore their damn steeds. Every man among em's had that horse since it were a foal. Best luck'd be gettin one from a dead man, or goin to Karabach yerself."

"There will be plenty of dead men soon enough"

Theresa: gotta bank on the horse outlivin the man eh? *she starts walking towards the horses*

Yenn shrugs, and follows

they see one of the soldiers tending to the closest horse. Beside it lies his armour, and the horses. there's a lot, enough to make man and beat together near impervious to harm

Yenn appears unimpressed

the man doesn't seem to notice, gently grooming the horse with some sort of brush

Yenn continues walking

Mord: “Pila make for a cumbersome and inefficient spear, they are serviceable but not good enough in my eyes. Plus, if my history is correct did Dracia too not equip her finest warriors with spear and sword?”

Trajan: once. Don't forget, we do still have spearmen, nephew.

Theresa keeps up with her
"They call this lot the Gravis Equites. Heavy horsemen, though guessin ye figured that out"

Mord: “In the form of your auxiliaries yes, but that still leaves your formations with an exploitable weakness. Still, back to the point...just how do you communicate with your army in battle? I have ideas but I’ve never led a true large scale engagement”

"I had indeed"

Theresa: not quite Voldamians but they're damn nasty. It'd take going head on at pikemen to break their charge.

Trajan: Musicians, riders and standard bearers. Proper support staff, in other words.

"Or sufficient weight of bodies."

Theresa: wouldn't break the charger, just bog 'em down after

"Much the same, if you do not care for the mens lives."

Theresa: aye lass. that's why ya don't just charge em into a massive blob o men head on eh?

"So what shall they be useful for? Fighting, as we are, kelthrovi slavers."

Mord: *Nods* “That’s what I imagined. I understand supplies and logistics, to feed an army and keep it marching. I just have yet to focus on the battlefield, it will be strange to not be in complete control...I will have to learn to let go and trust in my Dewi, while mastering the art of command. I don’t suppose you have any advice for that, Uncle”

Theresa:...lass yer not seriously askin me ta' explain what ya use heavy cavalry for are ye? Figured ye'd already know that.

Trajan: if you want to trust them, you need to know them. Keep them in the loop, keep them loyal, do not distance yourself from them. And I can say the same for your men.

Mord: “I’ll do that, of course as my legions grow it will become harder to maintain it. But thank you”

Trajan: there's a good trick to keeping your men loyal to you. *he grins* come. Just so happens I was about to do this anyway. *he unbuckles and unlaces his armour, placing it on a nearby stand. underneath he wears a surprisingly simple tunic, like those of the common troops*

Mord: “Dress like them? So upon seeing you they see you as one of their own?”

Trajan: not just that. It's not about appearing as one of them. It's about being one of them. *he gestures to two of his guards, who like him, with practiced efficiency, remove their armour. he then moves to the lip of the tent, the guards in tow*

Yenn: "I am asking how you will use them. I know how i shall, but you? Tsk. I am unsure."

Theresa narrows her eyes at that

Yenn: "You Dracians..." She rolls her wrist, gesturing. "You're... Direct. I do not like directness in war. I want to know how you will fight, before i must fight with you. So tell me, How will you break the grand army with these." She gestures at the men and horses before them

Theresa: did the accent not tell ye lass? I aint Dracian.

Yenn: "Does each clan and tribe which the Empress brought to heel still call themselves such? No. You bow to the senate, you are dracian."

Theresa: Damn right we still call ourselves such lass. Besides, dya reckon the empire'd be as big as it was if we didn't know what we were bloody doin?

Yenn: "I do not leave such things to assumption. Now tell me how you will utilise your cavalry."

Theresa: did ya make demands like that t' the consul lass? How bout the first spear?

Yenn: "I trust them to inform me, if they have not, upon the eve of battle, i shall make such demands."

Theresa: y' make demands o the guy payin ye? I aint a mercenary lass but I feel like he's holdin more cards here than ye.

Yenn: "Dead men can be paid no silver."

Theresa: and living ones can be denied it.

Yenn: "I did not take Consul Trajan as a man who would refuse to fulfil contract.

Theresa: He aint one to take kindly to people talkin down to his highest officers, lass. I'm in command of the auxiliaries attached to his 4th legion, and since the 4th legion's in charge here, i'm in charge of all 60 thousand of us bastards in the army. I'm the most powerful non dracian here, lass. I got his ear, we've bled together. If I decide I don't like ye, he hears about it. I'm tryin awful hard to like ye, and yer not makin it easy fer me.

Yenn: "I am not here to be liked. I am here to win your war for you."

Theresa: and that's gonna go a whole lot easier if ye get that stick out of yer arse.

Mord: *Follows behind Trajan* “I see”

Yenn: "It would be easier if you could maintain a semblance of professionalism."